SA appoints top diplomat to Washington embassy – report
Business Day reports that Pretoria has appointed veteran diplomat Thabo Thage as minister plenipotentiary at its Washington embassy, seen as a key step towards selecting a permanent ambassador. South Africa has been without an ambassador in the US capital since early last year, when Ebrahim Rasool was expelled for making what were considered controversial remarks about US President Donald Trump. The appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy in April fell through when he failed to receive a visa to travel to the US. Thage’s appointment, reportedly confirmed by sources within the department of international relations & co-operation, comes at a critical moment as South Africa seeks to reset its relationship with the Trump administration. Thage is described as holding one of diplomacy’s most senior designations, which grants full authority to negotiate and sign treaties on behalf of the South African government.
Pakistan prepares to host talks on ending Iran war
Pakistan has said it is preparing to host “meaningful talks” to end the conflict over Iran in the coming days. It was not immediately clear whether the US and Iran had agreed to attend. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf earlier warned: “As long as the Americans seek Iran’s surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation.” US President Donald Trump insisted yesterday that talks were going well, saying: “We’re doing extremely well in that negotiation. But you never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them, and then we always have to blow them up.” Tensions remain high in the Gulf over speculation about US military intentions and whether it will deploy Marines on the ground, and Iran’s saying it is ready to meet any such threat. In recent says, risks to commercial shipping have been heightened by Houthi attacks from Yemen.
Pope says God rejects leaders who have “hands full of blood”
Addressing tens of thousands who had gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome to celebrate Palm Sunday and the beginning of the holy week leading up to Easter, Pope Leo warned that Jesus could not be used to justify any war. The pontiff did not specifically name any world leaders, but he has been ramping up criticism of the Iran war in recent weeks. Citing the Bible, the Pope said: “(Jesus) does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood’.” Some senior US officials have invoked Christian language to justify the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, who has taken to leading Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, prayed at a service last week for “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”.
More than eight million in latest No Kings protests
The third round of anti-authoritarian No Kings rallies across the United States is estimated to have drawn more than eight million Americans on to the streets in mass demonstrations against the Trump administration. Organisers said: “[US President Donald] Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant. But this is America, and power belongs to the people – not to wannabe kings or their billionaire cronies.” A White House spokesperson called the protests “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” and said the only people who cared “are the reporters who are paid to cover them”.
Transnet ordered to scrap R300m security tender award and start again
The Gauteng High Court has ordered Transnet to scrap a 12-month R300 million tender for infrastructure security – which it awarded last August to Sinqobile Equestrian Security Services after having advertised the tender for just three days – and start again. The review was prompted by an application by Fidelity Security Services. The court ruled that Transnet treated the bidders unequally and that the cumulative irregularities rendered both the award substantively irrational and the procurement process unconstitutional.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, News24, Business Day, Netwerk24, Associated Press