News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa plans to lead a delegation to the US to better understand artificial intelligence
# The Social Development Department warns against unregistered substance abuse treatment centres
# And, an Austrian cyclist dies in the Western Cape hours after his final call to wife

# President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to lead a delegation to Silicon Valley in the US next month to engage with senior artificial intelligence industry executives. The delegation will include government representatives, academics, business leaders, researchers and students. Ramaphosa says countries worldwide are grappling with A-I’s rapid advancement and its growing influence on society, the economy and public life. He says the aim of the trip is to explore how the country can harness A-I while guarding against its dangers.

# The Department of Social Development is warning about the growing number of unregistered treatment centres operating across the country. This follows allegations of abuse and degrading treatment of people at a suspected illegal treatment centre in Waterval B, Siyabuswa, in Mpumalanga. The department’s spokesperson Sandy Godlwana says people seeking help for substance use disorders have the right to safe, professional and compassionate care. She adds that their vulnerability must never be exploited:

# An Austrian cyclist was killed on the N2 near Swellendam in the Western Cape, just hours after speaking to his wife about his travels through Africa. The 72-year-old Rudolf Köberl-Labenbacher was cycling towards Heidelberg on Wednesday when he was struck by a vehicle about four kilometres outside Swellendam. He had told his wife, Hertha, how much he missed her and spoke of hoping to see a majestic sunset. South African police later called her in Vienna to tell her he had died. A culpable homicide case is under investigation.

# Myanmar’s military-backed government says Britain’s King Charles has sent two books and a sealed diplomatic letter to detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Officials delivered the items yesterday and released rare photographs of the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been held since the military coup in 2021. Her son, Kim Aris, welcomed the gesture but warned against the regime using it to create an illusion of normality. The family is not able to independently verify her health condition.

# Golf: Reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark’s participation in December’s Nedbank Challenge in North West had been confirmed. He will join compatriot and two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau as well as England’s Justin Rose, who won that tournament in 2013. The tournament tees off at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club on the third of December. Player, who hosts the tournament, says they continue to bring global talent together. It has 98-million-rand in prize money this year, with the winner pocketing 19.7-millon-rand.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-646-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-124-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 110-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….