News 16:00
BULLETIN 15 January 4 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The City of Tshwane remains on high alert for a possible cholera outbreak
# China is firmly opposed to all official US-Taiwan exchanges
# And, tennis: Murray possibly played in his final Aussie Open after losing in the first round
# The Department of Health in Tshwane says it is on high alert for a potential cholera outbreak as community members return from all over the country and neighbouring countries. With factories and schools reopening, the department has implemented preventative plans and health education initiatives. While no cases have been reported in Tshwane to date, residents are urged to be vigilant for symptoms such as watery diarrhoea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. Mayoral committee member for Health, Rina Marx, says outbreak response teams are ready to act swiftly:
# The George Municipality in the Western Cape is urging residents not to eat shellfish from the sea. Red tide has been observed in the Garden Route with reports from Storms River Mouth, Plettenberg Bay, Swartvlei Beach, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Glentana up to Mossel Bay. The municipality’s spokesperson, Debra Sauer, says red tides are a natural phenomenon in coastal waters caused by a dense accumulation of microscopic algae. She adds that the appearance of red tide is expected to last for several days:
# China says it is firmly opposed to all official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, as the island’s president-elect Lai Ching-te welcomed an American delegation following his election victory. The US maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, which China regards as its territory, and remains its most important backer and arms supplier. Reuters reports China’s Foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, has told the media China resolutely rebuts the US for interfering in Taiwan’s affairs in any way and under any pretext.
# Tennis: Former world number one Andy Murray says he most possibly may have played his final Australian Open. The Scotsman was ousted by Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina in straight sets in the first round in Melbourne today, losing 4-6, 2-6. 2-6. The 36-year-old Murray won two Grand Slam tournaments between 2012 and 2016, but a slew of injuries curtailed his career ever since. Twenty-four-year-old Etcheverry says Murray is one of his idols, and it was very tough to play against a legend like him.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-67-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-681-dollars-74-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-53-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-54-cents a barrel.
# And finally: A researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, Chris Desmond, says children’s needs in South Africa are not hierarchical and are best met by and in families. He says although basic needs like food, shelter, health and education are important, all their needs are important, immediate and interconnected. He adds social services are critical because they can potentially facilitate the intensive interventions required by the most vulnerable families and children. Desmond urges government to strengthen the social service workforce to support families whose functioning is highly compromised and whose children are at risk.
Stay tuned for more news………….