Amnesty backs down on JK Rowling report
Human rights body Amnesty International UK has expressed “regret” for a report that described a facility established by author JK Rowling as “anti-rights”. Beira’s Place, established in Edinburgh in 2022, is a place of safety and support for sexually abused women. It provides “women-centred and women-delivered care”. Amnesty’s report, A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK, had attacked Beira’s Place and numerous other organisations for being hostile to transgenderism. An abuse survivor herself, Rowling has criticised the inclusion of transgender women alongside biological women. Amnesty has conceded that it failed to review the document properly and “promptly” withdrew it. Rowling has previously called for groups named in the report to approach her Women’s Fund for possible legal action.
Labour Court says firing for racism was justified
Cape Town’s Labour Court has set aside a decision by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration that an employee fired for racism should be reinstated. Team leader at Full Circle Contact Centre Services, Shaun Williamson, had made disparaging comments about subordinates, including remarking that he had trained his dog to attack black people and he was amused when it chased a black child. After a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of various offences and he was dismissed, he contested the outcome at the CCMA. It found the sanction too harsh for a first offence and ordered him reinstated. The firm appealed this decision.
China misses economic growth target
After a 5% rise in the first quarter, official gross domestic product figures showed the world’s second largest economy grew in the second quarter by 4.3%, below Beijing’s annual target of 4.5% to 5%. In March, China cut the growth target, its lowest economic expansion goal since 1991. Some analysts say this has given Beijing space to acknowledge pre-existing economic weakness.
Ramaphosa interfering in inquiry, court told
The Western Cape High Court heard that President Cyril Ramaphosa was trying to undermine the parliamentary process in connection with the Phala Phala saga. This is according to Adv Aton Katz, representing Vuyo Zumgula from the African Transformation Movement. He added that the President would face no reputational damage if the process went ahead. President Ramaphosa is attempting to interdict the panel looking into his possible impeachment. Katz said that the President’s actions amounted to an attempt to “interfere in a process that is not unlawful”.
Zimbabwe claims close to 100 000 citizens have returned from South Africa
A total of 99,418 Zimbabwean citizens – 70% of them women and children – have returned home from South Africa since 28 May, according to the country’s information minister, Zhemu Soda. He said efforts to receive and reintegrate the returnees into Zimbabwean society were proceeding, in conjunction with civil society, neighbouring states and development partners. The country’s first lady had been active in these efforts. Zimbabwe was also working with Malawi and Zambia to help their citizens get home.
Strait of Hormuz to stay closed until US strikes cease – Iran
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said that the Strait of Hormuz would remain shut until renewed US strikes ceased. It also threatened to close other routes to export oil and gas from the region. The renewal of the conflict has pushed oil prices upward. US President Donald Trump has said that the US would attack Iran’s power plants and bridges if it did not return to talks.
ICE halts most vehicle stops after two fatal shootings involving immigration agents
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been told to halt most vehicle stops nationwide immediately, following a pair of fatal shootings in Texas and Maine involving ICE agents. The change, officially described as a “temporary pause”, marks a significant tactical shift for the agency, which has faced criticism in the past year over allegations of excessive use of force and scrutiny over deaths that have occurred during its operations. In one of the recent incidents, an ICE agent fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian national during an immigration enforcement operation in Maine. In the other incident, a Mexican national who had been living in the US for decades was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Houston, Texas.
Sources: News24, news.stv.tv, IOL, BBC,