News 09:00

BULLETIN 15 June 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU is happy with the government’s progress on grey listing compliance
# There are nationwide protests while Trump’s military parade rolls through Washington
# And golf: Thriston Lawrence is still in the run at the US Open

# The Congress of South African Trade Unions has welcomed progress made by the ANC-led government in addressing all 22 findings raised by the Financial Action Task Force. This comes as South Africa pushes to exit the grey list by October 2025. The federation’s Matthew Parks, emphasised the need for strong, well-resourced institutions to combat financial crimes, stating that removal from grey listing would boost investment and job creation:

# UNAIDS executive director, Winnie Byanyima, warned that global efforts to eliminate HIV/Aids by 2030 are off track due to the loss of life-saving funding, and service delivery disruptions. With eight-million people living with HIV in South Africa, Byanyima encouraged wealthier nations to step up. She highlighted early signs of falling clinic visits and stressed the urgent need to fill the funding gap to prevent higher infection rates:

# The DA Western Cape Health and Wellness spokesperson, Memory Booysen, is urging South Africans to engage openly with the men during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Booysen emphasised that mental health remains under-discussed, especially among men, despite alarming statistics. Suicide accounts for eleven-percent of injury deaths in the Western Cape, with men aged 20–39 most affected. He says it’s time to break the stigma and prioritise support and professional help:

# President Donald Trump’s long-sought military parade rolled through the streets of downtown Washington yesterday. It was also Trump’s 79th birthday. However, the celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary was marred by a day of violence and discord. In the hours before the parade began, hundreds of thousands of Americans marched and rallied in streets in cities from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, protesting Trump’s actions while in office. Observers say this is the largest protest since his return to power in January.

And finally sports news:

# Golf: South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence is still within a shot at the US Open at Oakmont after the the third round yesterday. Lawrence played an even par 70 leaving himself at 211, three shots behind the leader Sam Burns of the USA. The other South African still in the field, Christiaan Bezuidenhout finished the round with a one over par 71, that puts hm six shots off the frontrunner. Burns has a one-stroke lead going into the final round today with one under par 69.

# And motorsport: Mercedes driver George Russell pipped Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the post to start in pole position at today’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Russell achieved the best time in the final qualifying round yesterday. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start from third, while his title rival, and McLaren team-mate, Lando Norris could only manage seventh. Behind Piastri will start Kimi Antonelli, with Lewis Hamilton fifth in the leading Ferrari.

Stay tuned for more news………….