Transcript

Hello and welcome to “Just a Moment News,” I’m your host, Erika, and today’s date is October 1, 2024. Let’s dive into today’s news stories.

First up, let’s talk about Eskom’s current situation in South Africa. Over the last one hundred and ninety days, South Africa has enjoyed a period without load shedding. This is attributed to a combination of reduced electricity demand, which has dropped by approximately eight hundred and four Mega Watts per hour from 2023 to 2024, and improved performance at coal-fired power plants, which have contributed an additional one thousand and twelve Mega Watts per hour. Notably, the Kusile power station has made significant improvements, with its Energy Availability Factor jumping from 11% to 79% between April and August 2024, providing over 7,000 GWh of additional electricity. However, some plants like Duvha are still struggling with frequent breakdowns. Eskom has implemented several initiatives, including the return of Original Equipment Manufacturers for maintenance, a performance incentive scheme, and leadership changes at power stations, which have collectively helped reduce breakdowns by 10%.

Moving on to Gauteng, the province has recently made a payment of three point eight billion Rand to Sanral to cover its portion of the e-toll debt. Finance MEC Lebogang Maile outlined a strategy for addressing the remaining payments through budget reprioritization, which includes a five-year plan with debt management and spending restrictions. The province is also responsible for covering five hundred and forty-six million Rand in maintenance costs. This financial strategy marks a shift from previous proposals and comes amidst ongoing debates about the efficacy of the e-toll system and the potential for motorist refunds, which have been largely ruled out by the National Treasury.

In London, a new restaurant called Home Kitchen has opened its doors, staffed primarily by individuals who were recently homeless. This initiative, led by Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds, aims to break the cycle of homelessness by providing culinary training and employment. The restaurant operates not for profit, supported by three hundred and fifty thousand pounds raised through crowdfunding and additional social-impact loans. The staff, who are new to professional kitchens, are offered full-time contracts and the opportunity to earn culinary certifications while receiving London’s living wage.

In Cape Town, Uber has launched a new service called Uber Safari, which offers a one-day game drive to Aquila Private Game Reserve for two hundred US dollars. This service includes a one hundred and seventy-five-kilometer round trip and features a welcome toast, lunch, and a safari led by experienced guides. The initiative, which supports wildlife conservation efforts, will run on Fridays and Saturdays until January, with bookings requiring a twenty-four-hour advance notice.

Google’s NotebookLM has introduced an innovative feature called Audio Overview, which turns written content into podcasts with AI hosts simulating natural conversation. These AI-generated podcasts last about ten minutes and are designed to provide deep dives into various subjects, making them sound like professional podcasts. The underlying technology involves generating an outline, revising it, scripting, and adding conversational elements to mimic human interaction.

Lastly, a recent scientific study has revealed that Mount Everest’s height has increased due to an ancient event known as river piracy, where the Kosi River captured part of the Arun River roughly eighty-nine thousand years ago. This event triggered a series of geological changes that enhanced erosion around Everest and caused the mountain, along with nearby peaks Lhotse and Makalu, to rise further. This phenomenon continues to shape the Himalayas and similar processes have been observed in other mountain ranges around the world.

That wraps up today’s news on “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, and I hope you found these stories enlightening. Thank you for joining us, and we’ll see you next time!

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