Extending ceasefire, opening of Hormuz central to draft plan – reports
Extending the US-Iran ceasefire for another 60 days and allowing traffic to flow through the strategic Strait of Hormuz while negotiators tackle difficult issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme are the key points of a draft agreement now reportedly awaiting approval in Washington and Tehran. News of the possible agreement came after renewed hostilities between the two countries this week. US President Donald Trump has not yet approved any deal, and Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to the negotiating team, said the text of the agreement had not been finalised or confirmed. US Vice President J D Vance said last evening that negotiators were “going back and forth on a couple of language points”, which included the “question of enrichment”. He is quoted as saying: “We’re not there yet, but we’re very close and we’re going to keep on working at it.”
DA’s Emfuleni win “hopeful sign” SA is “choosing change” – Hill-Lewis
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has said the party’s Emfuleni by-election win is “a hopeful sign that South Africans are choosing change, hope, and governments that work”. In striving for this, the DA showed it was not a party for any narrow group, but for all South Africans wanting a better future. The party’s successful candidate, councillor-elect Maki Tshabalala, says claims that the DA would not find traction in a majority black ward were disproved, since residents really wanted services to function. People had seen the progress in DA-controlled Midvaal, and wanted it emulated in Emfuleni. However, she was concerned that the municipality would attempt to undermine her. “They are not going to provide me with resources – they want to ensure that I fail,” she is quoted as saying.
Netanyahu says he ordered IDF to expand control of Gaza to 70%
In what reports say would contradict the terms of the Donald Trump-led ceasefire agreed to by Israel and Hamas in October 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase control of Gaza to 70%. He is quoted as saying at a conference yesterday: “We are currently squeezing Hamas; we now control 60% of the territory of the Strip – you know this. We were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to…” When someone in the audience said, “100”, Netanyahu went on: “Let’s go step by step. First of all, 70. Let’s start with that. We’re pressing them from all sides, we’ll deal with the remnants.” Under the ceasefire agreement, the IDF withdrew to a demarcation line, known as the “yellow line”. His statement comes as Israel continues strikes on Gaza despite the ceasefire, and as Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked in indirect US-brokered talks to advance Trump’s peace plan.
MKP’s chief whip up for fraud – again
Mmabatho Mokoenaa-Zondi, parliamentary chief whip of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of fraud. She is alleged to have hired four people as researchers for the party in 2024, and once they were employed, demanded a large share of their salaries, on the pretext of making contributions to the legal costs of party president Jacob Zuma. This amounted to more than half their remuneration, which, according to a Hawks source, totalled R233,317.99. During her appearance, it was noted that she had a previous conviction, also for fraud, the details of which are not known. She was granted bail of R30,000 and the case was postponed until next month. MKP spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said that the party was studying the situation, and reaffirmed “its commitment to constitutionalism and the rule of law.” The MKP’s political platform explicitly calls for abolishing constitutional governance.
Portugal sets new record as Europe’s heat wave persists
Portugal has set a new hottest day in May with 40.3C recorded in the central town of Mora, as countries in western Europe grapple with sweltering-hot weather. This bests Portugal’s previous record of 40C set in May 2001. The heatwave is also affecting France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. According to the Copernicus climate service, Europe has been warming by 0.56C per decade over the past three decades. The UN’s weather and climate agency says the 11 hottest years ever recorded were all after 2015. The trend is predicted to continue, with a new hottest-ever year “likely” before 2031.
Sources: BBC, eNCA, Daily Maverick, News24, Politicsweb, Reuters, The Guardian