News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africa is strengthening its trade and investments across the globe
# Psychiatrists say the high rate of police suicides signals a deep mental health crisis
# And tennis: Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev reach the Vienna Open semi-finals

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government of national unity is working on its commitment to economic growth by encouraging countries like Malaysia to invest in South Africa. Ramaphosa, who is on a three-nation working visit in Asia, was speaking during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Malaysia. The president says South Africa is still the gateway into Africa:

# North-West University Business School economist, Professor Raymond Parsons, says South Africa’s removal from the grey list will help to improve investor confidence and reduce the costs associated with overseas financial transactions. The Financial Action Task Force announced the removal of South Africa after it sharpened its tools to detect money laundering and terrorist financing. Parsons says this is good news for the economy and is a confidence-building factor at a critical time in the business cycle:

# The South African Society of Psychiatrists says South Africa is facing a mental health crisis among first responders, with one police officer dying by suicide every week. In the past year, 54 officers took their own lives, and more than 300 suicides were reported in seven years. The organisation’s Lerato Masenya urges the government and emergency services to provide confidential counselling, regular mental health checks, and better rest schedules to protect those on the front lines:

# Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of “fabricating a new war”, after it ordered the world’s largest warship to be sent to the Caribbean. The USS Gerald R Ford can carry up to 90 aircraft, and its deployment marks a massive increase in US firepower in the region. The US has conducted 10 air strikes on vessels in the area as part of what it says is a war on drug traffickers, but there are fears in Venezuela that the US military build-up is aimed at removing the long-time opponent of Trump from power.

# Tennis: Top seed Italian Jannik Sinner dominated Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Vienna Open semi-finals. Sinner will face Alex de Minaur, who defeated Matteo Berrettini. In the other semi-final to be played today, second seed Alexander Zverev from Germany secured his place in the ATP Finals after advancing by walkover against Tallon Griekspoor. Zverev will play Lorenzo Musetti, who ousted Corentin Moutet.

# And finally: The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has issued a road closure alert ahead of tomorrow’s Virgin Active 94.7 Ride Joburg Cycle Race. The event includes a 97-kilometre road race and a 35-kilometre short route. JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla says officers will be deployed to ensure safety and manage traffic from 4 am to 5 pm across affected areas, including Soweto, Randburg, Fourways, and Nasrec. He urges motorists to plan routes and exercise patience:

Stay tuned for more news………….