Transcript

Hello, and welcome to “Just a Moment News.” I’m your host, Erika, bringing you today’s news headlines on August 29, 2024. Let’s dive into the stories making waves today.

First up, we’re looking at the ongoing issue of food inflation in South Africa. The Daily Maverick has been tracking the prices of fourteen essential food items and noted a decrease in the overall basket cost to under four hundred Rand for the first time in months. This drop is attributed to lower prices for mealie meal, rice, tea, and curry powder. However, despite this decrease, the annual rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages was at four point five percent in July this year, a slight decrease from June. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group’s August Household Affordability Index highlighted that the cost of a basic food basket remains unaffordable for many, with the average cost in August at five thousand two hundred and twenty-seven Rand. Discussions around the National Minimum Wage indicate it is insufficient to support a family of four, with suggestions that employers should aim to pay a monthly minimum of twelve thousand to fifteen thousand Rand to ensure a decent standard of living.

Moving on to cybersecurity, the South African online retailer OneDayOnly has been hit by a data breach. The hacking group Kill Security, also known as KillSec, has claimed responsibility, allegedly extracting contact details and payment methods. They are demanding a one hundred thousand Dollar ransom and threaten to release the data if not paid by September third, 2024. OneDayOnly has confirmed a security incident but reassured that no customer data was compromised, stating that sensitive data is stored with a separate provider unaffected by the breach.

In sports, South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza, aged eighteen, clinched the 100m gold at the U20 World Championships in Peru, clocking ten point nineteen seconds. His teammate, Bradley Nkoana, aged nineteen, secured bronze with a time of ten point twenty-six seconds. Additionally, in the women’s 100m final, South Africa’s Viwe Jingqi placed fifth, and JL van Rensburg earned a silver medal in the men’s shot-put.

In other news, YouTube chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo has been found guilty of the gruesome murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a Colombian plastic surgeon, on a Thai holiday island. The case has garnered significant attention due to Sancho’s family background in the Spanish acting scene. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was reduced to life imprisonment following his cooperation during the trial.

Turning to entertainment, the second season of Amazon’s fantasy prequel, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” is reportedly struggling with its narrative balance. The show continues to impress with its vast landscapes and epic battles but has shifted focus towards larger, lore-heavy events, which some say diminishes the emotional connections between characters.

In the tech world, OpenAI is currently in talks for a funding round that would value the company above one hundred billion dollars. Thrive Capital is leading the round with a one billion dollar investment, and Microsoft is also expected to contribute. This funding is crucial for OpenAI’s development of advanced AI systems, including artificial general intelligence.

Lastly, the Paris Paralympic Games kicked off with an opening ceremony at Place de la Concorde, featuring four thousand four hundred athletes from one hundred eighty-four delegations. The event, directed by Thomas Jolly and titled “Paradox,” symbolizes inclusion and resilience.

That’s all for today’s news on “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, and I hope you found today’s discussion informative. Have a great day!

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