SACP invites ANC, MK and EFF to join concerted “left” initiative
The SACP has invited the ANC, MK and EFF, which together secured 64.28% of the national vote in the last election, as well as trade unions, community formations, social movements and other political organisations to its “Conference of the Left” at the end of May. So far, only the EFF has confirmed its participation, with the ANC and MK only acknowledging receipt of the invitation. The conference has been convened by a steering committee led by SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila. A concept document on the gathering notes that the “left is fragmented”, while “[c]apital holds the commanding heights”. It emphasises the importance of the local government elections later this year, advising: “Left forces must approach the electoral terrain not as an end in itself but as one front in a broader struggle for working-class and popular power.” Mametlwe Sebei of the Workers and Socialist Party said the summit would not be a true representation of the left.
Trump says ceasefire holds despite exchange of fire
US President Donald Trump says the ceasefire with Iran is still in place, despite clashes between the countries’ forces. The US said Iran launched missiles, drones and small boats against three of its warships, in what it called an “unprovoked attack”, while Iran’s top military command claimed the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz and carried out “aerial attacks” on several coastal areas. The United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted Iranian missile and drone attacks hours after the US said it thwarted attacks on the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason. Trump said of the prospects of a negotiated solution: “I believe they want the deal more than I do.”
DA remains party of principle, reliable GNU partner – Michalakis
The DA’s newly elected parliamentary leader, George Michalakis, says the party’s conduct will show “a strong DA that sticks to its principles while we will also continue to be a reliable partner in the GNU for the sake of the country’s progress”. He is also quoted as saying: “Between now and the municipal elections, as well as afterwards, we really need to focus on issues that matter to the people, firstly at the municipal level and to bring them to parliament as well. But also law and order, crime and all these issues because they are currently holding back the economic growth of the country. This will definitely form part of our efforts in parliament.”
WHO says hantavirus infections not a pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the outbreak of hantavirus infections on the cruise ship, MV Hondius, as a “serious incident” but said the risk to the public was low, stressing the outbreak was not similar to the Covid-19 pandemic. Five cases of hantavirus have been confirmed, including one of the three passengers on the cruise who died. The WHO anticipates more may follow due to the virus’s six-week incubation period. Infectious disease epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove is quoted as saying: “I want to be unequivocal here. This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a Covid pandemic.” The vessel is expected to dock at the Canary Islands at the weekend.
Wasp named after Attenborough for his 100th birthday
Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday is being marked with the naming of an entirely new genus in his honour. Scientists from the Natural History Museum in London have paid tribute to the world-renowned broadcaster on his birthday today by describing a new genus of parasitic wasp and a new species found within the museum’s collections. Attenboroughnculus tau is an enigmatic ichneumon wasp with a body just 3.5mm long. The specimen was collected in 1983 in the Valdivia province of Chile but lay forgotten in an unsorted drawer in the Natural History Museum until recently.
Sources: The Guardian, BBC, Netwerk24, Business Day