Author: newsnote correspondent

More than 130 cardinals from across the world have gathered in the Vatican to begin the process of electing a new pontiff following the death of Pope Francis During the voting period, the cardinals are cut off from the outside world – denied phones and access to the internet or newspapers. They sleep and eat in Casa Santa Marta, a five-story guesthouse within the Vatican complex. The election is held in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, famously painted by Michelangelo. Each cardinal votes for the candidate they wish to become Pope. They can vote for themselves if they wish. If any…

In a significant escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, the Indian government has confirmed that it has launched air strikes targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, following a militant attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 tourists. This military operation signals a worrying deterioration in relations between the two nuclear-armed nations. The Indian Ministry of Defence announced the air strikes as part of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which aims to dismantle what India describes as “terrorist infrastructure” within its neighbouring adversary’s territory. Following the strikes, it was reported by Pakistan’s military that three locations were affected, resulting…

South Africa’s economic outlook has taken a downward turn, as the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) announced a reduction in the country’s growth forecast for 2023. The Stellenbosch-based research body has revised its expected growth rate from 2% to 1.5%, aligning its predictions with the median estimate from a survey of 27 economists by Bloomberg. At a briefing held in Johannesburg on Tuesday, BER Chief Economist Lisette IJssel de Schepper highlighted a combination of domestic political instability and the ongoing tariff controversies led by the United States as key contributors to this revised outlook. The currents of uncertainty are particularly…

A 44-year-old woman from the Eastern Cape, who was charged with the murder of her disabled daughter’s alleged rapist, has been acquitted of all charges. The decision came after a brief court appearance at the Lady Frere Magistrate’s Court in the Emalahleni Local Municipality on Monday. The incident that led to her arrest unfolded early last month in Cacadu, where the mother reportedly confronted the man accused of raping her daughter. Following the altercation, she was taken into custody but was subsequently released on R500 bail. Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane was present at the court proceedings, expressing his…

In a landmark ruling that promises to reshape the landscape of South African citizenship rights, the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) declared a portion of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional. The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, centred on an appeal from the Democratic Alliance (DA) challenging Section 6(1)(a) of the Act, which automatically revoked South African citizenship for individuals who voluntarily acquired citizenship of another nation. Judge Steven Majiedt articulated the court’s findings that Section 6(1)(a) infringes upon fundamental rights guaranteed by the South African Constitution, particularly the right to citizenship under Section 20. The ruling signifies the ConCourt’s commitment to safeguarding individuals against…

In a bid to assure its passengers and stakeholders, South African Airways (SAA) has announced the recovery of its systems following a significant cyber incident that disrupted its services for several days. The attack, which began on 3 May, affected online access to the airline’s website, mobile application, and several internal systems, resulting in a temporary strain on customer service operations. Upon detection of the cyber attack, SAA promptly activated its disaster management and business continuity protocols. “These swift actions successfully contained the incident and minimised disruption to core flight operations,” the airline stated in a recent announcement. Importantly, SAA…

In the case of missing Pretoria-based journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli, four suspects have been apprehended by South African police. The couple’s mysterious disappearance in February has now escalated from a missing persons investigation into serious allegations of kidnapping and car hijacking. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the police spokesperson, confirmed that the arrests were made after three of the suspects were reportedly found in possession of vehicle parts connected to Ndlovu’s car. This evidence has shifted the focus of the investigation, raising urgent concerns for the safety of the missing couple. The couple was last seen on 18…

When the Catholic Church enters the solemn act of selecting a new pope, the world turns its attention to one small yet significant detail: the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. Here, amid centuries of ritual and tradition, black or white smoke rises to convey a pivotal moment in Church history. Black indicates that no decision has been reached; white, the triumphant declaration of Habemus Papam – ‘we have a pope.’ This spectacle, steeped in drama, echoes through the centuries, yet beneath its surface lies an elaborate system of engineering and symbolism. The recent passing of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday…

The area where Elon Musk’s SpaceX company operates on the southern tip of Texas is to officially become a city called Starbase. Residents approved incorporating a patch of land as the new municipality in an election on Saturday. Most of the 283 eligible voters are SpaceX employees. Results published online by Cameron County show 212 votes in favour versus six opposed. Billionaire Musk wrote “Starbase, Texas is now a real city!” on his social media platform X. The new city covers about 1.6 sq miles (3.9 sq km) that was sparsely populated before SpaceX began buying land in the area…

A collision involving a minibus taxi and a bakkie has claimed the lives of 15 people and left five others injured. The tragic accident, described as one of the deadliest in recent memory for the region, occurred just after midnight on Saturday on the R63 road between Adelaide and Maqoma, formerly known as Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. The minibus taxi was reportedly en route from Qonce to Cape Town when it collided head-on with the bakkie. The impact was catastrophic, resulting in the immediate death of the bakkie’s driver at the scene. Tragically, 13 passengers in the minibus…