Talks continue after US launches strikes on Iran
As negotiators from Iran began new talks in Qatar today, the US said it had launched strikes on southern Iran, targeting missile sites and boats attempting to place mines. The second major attack in the seven-week ceasefire came as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, led a delegation of negotiators to Qatar, reportedly including Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and central bank governor, Abdolnaser Hemmati. Speculation over Hemmati’s presence is that the talks will focus on the release of frozen Iranian assets. The US said its strikes were taken in “self-defence” and were designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”. Subsequently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal was still possible, pointing to today’s talks in Qatar. He said later: “The straits have to be open. They’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.” Yesterday, President Donald Trump said on social media that a deal would either be “great and meaningful, or there will be no deal at all”.
“No reason to panic” over anti-illegal-immigrant protests – Motshekga
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has said of protests over illegal immigration: “There is no reason to panic, because it is legal to protest. People do not need to be anxious.” Protesters had the right to protest, as it was “in our Constitution”. She was speaking at the Union Buildings yesterday after meeting political parties and organisations campaigning to combat illegal immigration. There were no grounds for authorities to stop anyone from protesting, but she urged organisations to act responsibly.
Parliament names members of impeachment committee
Thirty-one MPs have been chosen to sit on the impeachment committee charged with considering the case against President Cyril Ramaphosa, after the Constitutional Court ruled that the impeachment process must be restarted over his handling of the Phala Phala farm robbery allegations. They are Doris Mpapane (ANC), Xola Ngola (ANC), Molapi Lekganyane (ANC), Faith Muthambi (ANC), Cameron Dugmore (ANC), Dikeledi Direko (ANC), Boyce Maneli (ANC), Mikateko Mahlaule (ANC), Lusizo Makhubela (ANC), George Michalakis (DA), Glynnis Breytenbach (DA), Baxolile Nodada (DA), Karabo Khaukhau (DA), Nazely Sharif (DA), John Hlophe (MK), Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi (MK), Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala (MK), Julius Malema (EFF), Omphile Maotwe (EFF), Wonder Mahlatsi (UAT), Vuyo Zungula (ATM), Steve Swart (ACDP), Wouter Wessels (FF+), Mmusi Maimane (BOSA), Makashule Gana (RISE), Imraan Ismail-Moosa (AL JAMA), Nhlanhla Hadebe (IFP), Fadiel Adams (NCC), Lerato Ngobeni (ActionSA), Marlon Daniels (PA) and Ngabayomzi Kwankwa (UDM). No date has been set yet for the committee’s first meeting.
Pope calls for “robust” controls over AI, repudiates “just war” theory, apologises for slavery
In his first encyclical, entitled Magnifica humanitas, Pope Leo XIV dwelled on the challenge of “preserving the human person in the age of artificial intelligence”. Warning of some autonomous weapons systems having advanced “practically beyond any human reach to govern them”, he urged governments to more closely regulate the development of AI systems. He called for “robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility”. Acknowledging that the Catholic Church did not forcefully condemn transatlantic slavery until the 19th century, the pontiff said: “This constitutes a wound in Christian memory. For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.” Pope Leo also repudiated “just war” theory as “now outdated”, having been “too often … used to justify any kind of war”. He added: “The use of force, violence and weapons reflects a relational poverty that always has disastrous consequences for civilian populations.”
Only one athlete beats world record at controversial Enhanced Games
Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to beat a world record at the controversial Enhanced Games in Las Vegas before what has been described as a curated crowd of about 2,500 (no tickets were on sale to the public). Results at the inaugural event are considered illegal by global sporting bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency, because athletes could take banned performance-enhancing drugs. Thirty-two-year-old Gkolomeev clocked 20.81 seconds in the men’s 50m freestyle, eclipsing Australian Cameron McEvoy’s March record of 20.88. On the track, American former world champion Fred Kerley – one of the athletes competing ‘clean’ – won the men’s 100m in 9.97 seconds, short of his personal best of 9.76.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian, News24, Reuters, Netwerk24