News 11:00

BULLETIN 7 April 11 am 

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COPE advocates youth voluntary military conscription
# Cape Winelands Fire Services battle multiple fires
# And, cricket: Two unbeaten centuries in an IPL thriller

# Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota has advocated for youth empowerment in South Africa. Delivering the party’s election manifesto in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, Lekota proposed introducing voluntary military conscription if the party comes into power, aiming to instil patriotism in young people. Lekota also emphasised the importance of education and youth empowerment programmes to nurture future leaders:

# The Fire Services of the Cape Winelands District Municipality have been tirelessly combating numerous fires across various locations since yesterday. The department’s spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto says the fire on Papegaaiberg in Stellenbosch has been contained, following cooler weather aiding operations. However, fires in Simonsberg, Pniel, Jamestown and Mitchell’s Pass persist. Otto adds that fires on the outskirts of Cape Town have also required attention, totalling over 24 incidents:

# Israeli strikes targeted eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a strong presence, today at dawn. A source close to the Iran-backed group told AFP Israeli strikes targeted two areas in the Bekaa Valley, Janta, an arid, mountainous region close to the border with Syria, and Sifri, in the centre of the Bekaa Valley. The latest strikes in eastern Lebanon follows Hezbollah’s announcement yesterday that it had shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over Lebanese territory, and reiterating it would cease its attacks only when the war in Gaza ends.

# Cricket: Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 100 to trump Virat Kohli’s first century of the IPL season as Rajasthan Royals beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets yesterday. England’s Buttler reached his ton, from 58 balls, with a six in his 100th IPL match when Rajasthan needed one for victory in their chase of 184, with five balls to spare in Jaipur. Earlier Kohli reached his eighth IPL ton in 67 balls and finished on an unbeaten 113 to take Bengaluru to 183-3. He put on an opening stand of 125 with skipper Faf du Plessis, who hit 44, to lay the foundation for the total.

# And, today, World Health Day’s theme, ‘My Health, my right,’ underscores escalating threats to global health rights. While 140 nations acknowledge health as a human right, inadequate laws hinder access to essential services. Globally, 4.5-billion people lack crucial health coverage, exacerbated by rampant air pollution claiming a life every five seconds. The World Health Organisation urges universal access to quality healthcare, education, clean air, safe water, nutrition, fair labour conditions and freedom from discrimination to safeguard health rights for all.

Stay tuned for more news………….