News 15:00

BULLETIN 4 November 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says the US election results could usher in a new era
# Helen Zille rules out a DA-EFF coalition in Johannesburg
# And tennis: Cobolli secures an ATP Finals spot for the first time

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Democrats’ gains in the US midterm elections could usher in a new era in international relations. He says changes in the US House and Senate could influence global trade, investment and geopolitical relations. Ramaphosa was speaking in Johannesburg after voting in today’s elections. He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to maintaining good bilateral relations with Washington, while emphasising the country’s sovereignty and right to advance its national interests:

Meanwhile, the DA’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille, has ruled out a coalition with the EFF after the elections. They take place amid growing frustration over poor municipal services and concerns about the state of local government nationwide. Zille addressed the media after casting her vote at Emmarentia Primary School in Randburg. She remained tight-lipped on whether the party would consider coalition talks with the ANC or the MK Party:

# Deputy minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, says governmental agencies have intensified efforts to address ongoing water supply challenges in Gauteng. This follows disruptions at Rand Water’s Mapleton pumping station in Boksburg on Monday, which affected pumping operations and threatened water supplies to several communities. Mahlobo says water supply is at risk in metro’s and municipalities such as Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Lesedi, Govan Mbeki, Victor Khanye and Thembisile Hani.

Moving abroad:

# North Korea has fired multiple missiles towards waters off its east coast, in its fourth weapons launch in a month. South Korea’s military says the missiles were launched from the Sondok area and are being analysed in cooperation with the United States. The latest tests follow another launch involving around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles last week. Seoul and Washington say they remain on alert and ready to respond to any potential provocation.

# Tennis: Italian Flavio Cobolli has qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old clinched a spot in the season-ending tournament when Norwegian Casper Ruud defeated Spaniard Rafael Jodar 6-3, 6-4 at the Paris Masters yesterday. Cobolli joins world number one Alexander Zverev of Germany, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, American Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who have already qualified. Three spots are still available.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 18-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-517-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-43-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-14-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….