News 12:00
BULLETIN 22 April 12 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Ukraine urges South Africa to support president Volodymr Zelensky’s visit and G20 inclusion
# The EFF says Pope Francis was a voice of moral clarity
# And tennis: Carlos Alcaraz has renewed respect for Rafael Nadal over the gruelling European clay-court season
# Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, has called on South Africans to support president Volodymr Zelensky’s state visit on Thursday. This follows president Cyril Ramaphosa’s formal invitation to Zelensky and participation in the upcoming G20 leaders’ summit. Abravitova emphasised that South Africa’s leadership of the G20 would be incomplete without engaging Ukraine and supporting efforts toward a just and sustainable peace. She highlights the importance of condemning Russia’s invasion and ensuring Ukraine’s inclusion in global peace discussions.
# The EFF says Pope Francis was a strong advocate for the rights of refugees and migrants, urging nations to open their borders and their hearts to those fleeing war and economic despair. The 88-year-old Argentinian died of a stroke and heart failure yesterday morning. The EFF’s spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, says since his election to the papacy in March 2013, Francis became a voice of moral clarity in an era of growing inequality, conflict, and economic exploitation:
Meanwhile, United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, says the Pope was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity, and social justice. Joining the world in mourning the passing of the pontiff, Guterres says he leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, and compassion for all:
# Tennis: Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has renewed respect for his famous compatriot Rafael Nadal over Europe’s gruelling claycourt season. The world number two lost to Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final of the Barcelona Open this weekend after winning the Monte-Carlo Masters a week earlier. Alcaraz also plans to play in another tournament in his home country, the Madrid Open, this week, with the claycourt season culminating in the French Open, which Nadal won an unprecedented 14 times. Alcaraz says it’s tough to adapt to another tournament within days.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-61-cents and the euro at 21-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-633-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-468-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-39-cents a barrel.
# And finally: Today is World Earth Day, which is being marked under the theme, Our Power, Our Planet, calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy in a bid to triple clean electricity by 2030. Earth Day has become an internationally recognised day and is celebrated across more than 192 countries. Earth Day president, Kathleen Rogers, says at a time when environmental challenges and opportunities are rapidly evolving, Earth Day continues to unite people, organisations, and governments around a shared mission: to drive meaningful action for the planet.
Stay tuned for more news………….