Wednesday, 21 October 2026

A University of Pretoria whale researcher has become the first South African appointed to a leadership role on the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee, a six-year appointment.

Southern right whale females now take four to five years to give birth to a calf, not three, with researchers linking the slowdown to Antarctic sea ice declines and longer feeding trips.

Haleon told Wendy Nola the Sensodyne change was aesthetic only, with titanium dioxide removed for appearance and no regulatory requirement, and that active sensitivity ingredients were unchanged.

Listeners reported peeling tissue inside the mouth, more sensitivity and bad taste after switching to the new blue gel, and several said they had stopped using Sensodyne altogether.

Home Affairs confirmed banks can act as biometric capture agents, so customers with fingerprint problems need not visit Home Affairs and can ask banks for alternative verification.