News 08:00

BULLETIN 11 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The death toll in the George building collapse has risen to 13
# The UN General Assembly backs a Palestinian bid for membership
# And, rugby: An experienced Springbok women’s team will tackle the final African hurdle 

# The death toll in the George building collapse in the Western Cape has risen to 13. Rescue operations continue for the fifth day today with emergency services actively searching for another 40 missing people. The municipality’s spokesperson, Rowena van Wyk, says another body was recovered at about half-past-two this morning:   

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has meanwhile offered condolences to families of workers killed in the collapsed building in George. NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola accuses the building owner of negligence, alleging weak pillars led to the tragedy. Hlubi-Majola criticises the DA’s stance on labour laws, accusing it of favouring businesses over workers’ rights. She warns that a DA-led government could endanger worker protection:

# The United Nations General Assembly has backed a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognising it as qualified to join. According to Aljazeera, yesterday’s vote by the 193-member assembly was a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member after the United States vetoed it in the UN Security Council last month. The move could effectively recognise a Palestinian state. Nine of the 193 General Assembly member states voted against the bid while 25 countries abstained.

# Rugby: Springbok women head coach Louis Koen recalled three experienced players to his starting team to face hosts Madagascar in tomorrow’s final match of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup. The clash will not only determine who will leave the tournament as champions of Africa, but will also confirm entry to next year’s Rugby World Cup in England. Koen says the Boks are ready to defend their title:

# And, the South African National Space Agency has issued a severe space weather alert. It warns of potential key grid asset trips and possible widespread voltage control problems as a solar storm is about to impact with the Earth. Sansa Space Weather spotted three coronal mass ejections earlier this week. Coronal mass ejections are huge explosions of plasma that erupt from the sun from time to time. They can send charged particles, known as solar wind, towards Earth.

Stay tuned for more news………….