News 09:00

BULLETIN 29 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC Study Group on Health welcomes the new HIV prevention drug
# The SA Weather Service rejects allegations of mismanagement
# And over 60 are killed in the largest police raid in Rio de Janeiro’s history

# The ANC Study Group on Health welcomes the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority’s approval of the registration of lenacapavir. This is a new, groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug that only needs to be taken twice a year. South Africa is the first country in Africa to approve lenacapavir. The ANC says this milestone marks a significant step forward in expanding HIV-prevention options and demonstrates South Africa’s leadership in the global HIV response. It adds that this also reaffirms the country’s readiness to scale up equitable access to new long-acting HIV-prevention technologies.

# The South African Weather Service has dismissed claims of governance failures, financial mismanagement, and executive impropriety, calling them unsubstantiated. The entity said delays in acquiring a new High-Performance Computing system are due to strict compliance with procurement laws. SAWS spokesperson Oupa Segalwe stressed robust oversight, probity reviews, and contingency plans are in place, while maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption:

# The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment has determined the total allowable catch for the South African abalone fishery for the 2025/2026 season at 12.01 tons. This drastic cut comes as abalone stocks have continued to decline severely across most zones, with near-zero densities recorded along much of the coast. Minister Dion George says there is an urgent need to combat the scourge of abalone poaching, with illegal catches in 2023 exceeding 13.85 million abalone:

# At least 64 people, including four police officers, were killed in Rio de Janeiro’s deadliest police operation targeting the Red Command gang in Brazil. Up to two-thousand-500 heavily armed officers took part in Operation Containment, which resulted in over 80 people being arrested. Rio de Janeiro State Governor Cláudio Castro says police confiscated a large quantity of drugs and dozens of firearms during the raid. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed horror at the police operation, urging prompt and effective investigations.

# Tennis: Britain’s Cameron Norrie stunned Carlos Alcaraz to reach the Paris Masters last 16. Norrie came from a set down to beat the Spaniard 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, his first victory over the world number one. Alcaraz was competing for the first time since he won his eighth title of the season in Tokyo in September. There were also wins for American Taylor Fritz, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. Alcaraz says he is disappointed with his level in the match:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 112-thousand-733-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-958-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….