News 08:00

BULLETIN 24 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

#Parliament welcomes Revised White Paper as the foundation for municipal reform
# Paul Mashatile says investing in the youth is key to South Africa’s future
# And rugby: The Sharks overcome Cardiff, but the Lions struggle against Edinburgh in the fourth round of the United Rugby Championship

# Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has welcomed the launch of the Revised White Paper on Local Government, describing it as an opportunity to address structural weaknesses in municipalities. The policy framework aims to build accountable and financially sustainable municipalities that can deliver reliable services and respond to community needs. Committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize emphasised that effective implementation of the revised policy framework will require clearer accountability across all three spheres of government.

# Deputy President Paul Mashatile says South Africa’s future depends on investing in young people. Addressing learners at Ohlange High School in Inanda, eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, Mashatile says empowering the youth with education, skills and economic opportunities is essential to building a stronger country. The deputy president has called for greater efforts to ensure young people can participate meaningfully in the economy and contribute to the country’s development:

# RISE Mzansi Johannesburg mayoral candidate Lukhona Mnguni says he is ready for a constructive but firm relationship with National Treasury to address the city’s fiscal crisis. Speaking at a Henley Business School breakfast on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, Mnguni questioned the logic behind green fencing and the city’s decision to transfer only 70-percent of electricity revenue to City Power. He says Johannesburg needs transparent finances, accountable leadership and urgent action to address mounting debt and financial pressures:

# Tehran has drawn up detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel attack Iran again. Two senior Iranian security officials ​told Reuters that undersea cables in the region could become targets in any renewed conflict if diplomacy with Washington ‌collapses. The two officials gave few details and did not say how or where exactly Tehran would carry out such attacks, but warned Washington not to “play with fire”. They said Iran had full access to the undersea cables and could easily destroy them.

# Rugby: The Sharks have strengthened their position in the United Rugby Championship with a bonus-point victory over Cardiff last night, while the Lions suffered defeat against Edinburgh in Round Four. The Sharks fought back to beat the Welsh hosts 36-21, scoring six tries in an impressive away performance. The visitors led Cardiff 17–7 at half-time. The Lions, meanwhile, struggled against an unbeaten Edinburgh side, losing 31-10 in Scotland. The results leave the Sharks well placed in the top half of the standings.

# And finally, an international trial led by Professor Georgina Long of Australia’s Melanoma Institute has found that a personalised cancer vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma returning or death by 42-percent. The Phase Three trial involved one-thousand-137 patients whose tumours had been surgically removed. Researchers from pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck conducted the study across 157 sites worldwide. The results will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress in Madrid, Spain, this weekend. The vaccine was given alongside existing immunotherapy.

Stay tuned for more news………….