Steenhuisen to step aside as DA leader
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen is expected to announce he will not seek re-election at the party’s federal congress in April, opening the way for a new leadership contest. Reports suggest Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is among those tipped to succeed him.
US shoots down Iranian drone near aircraft carrier
A US F-35C fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, said US military officials, amid heightened tensions in the region. No US personnel were harmed and the incident occurred as nuclear negotiations with Iran remain under discussion.
Sudanese army breaks siege on Kadugli
The Sudanese armed forces say they have broken a long-running siege on the famine-stricken city of Kadugli, reopening a key road and offering potential relief to civilians hit by conflict and hunger. The move represents a significant shift in the nearly three-year civil war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Departments cooperating to have foot and mouth declared a disaster
Government departments are working together to have foot-and-mouth disease officially declared a disaster in South Africa to facilitate a coordinated response to the outbreak affecting livestock and farming communities. Officials say formal disaster status would unlock additional resources for containment efforts.
French prosecutors raid X offices in cybercrime probe
French authorities, backed by Europol, raided the Paris offices of social media platform X in an expanding cybercrime investigation that includes allegations of algorithm abuse and the spread of harmful content. Elon Musk and the company’s former CEO have been summoned for questioning in April.