International
Cyril Ramaphosa says that the CNA will invite other parties to form a Government of national unity in South Africa
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced that the ruling African National Congress (CNA) will invite other parties to form a Government of national unity after that political movement lost an absolute majority in the elections of last May 29 for the first time since 1994.
“We have agreed that we will invite political parties to form a Government of national unity as the best option to move our country forward,” Ramaphosa said when announcing the conclusions of the marathon meeting held by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the CNA in a hotel in the city of Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
“The NEC of the CNA has agreed that this moment demands the widest unity of the people of South Africa, multi-party cooperation and the collaboration of multiple stakeholders if we want to overcome the serious challenges facing our country,” stressed the president at the end of the meeting of the party’s highest decision-making body.
After more than twelve hours of closed-door deliberations, the leader of the CNA declared the party’s commitment to ensure that that power-sharing Executive “has the means and capacity to build an inclusive economy, create jobs, end corruption, address crime and improve the provision of services.”
The head of state also stressed the need for a “national dialogue that brings together all parties, all social partners and all sectors of society to seek consensus on the actions necessary to move the country forward.”
Ramaphosa confirmed that the NAC has held “constructive conversations” with five parties, including the Democratic Alliance (AD, liberal center-right) and the far-left Fighters for Economic Freedom (EFF), which are the second and fourth parties in the country, respectively.
“The CNA,” he explained, “has entered into these discussions with an open mind and the commitment to talk to all the parties that have a declared intention to promote the interests of the people.”
The president did not mention the new party of former president Jacob Zuma (2009-2018), the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party), who was third in the elections after competing for the first time.
However, the MK Party assured on Thursday that it has had contact with the CNA and that both formations will meet “soon” to discuss government pacts and a hypothetical coalition.
According to Ramaphosa, the agreements between the formations “must be in writing” and “must be public, transparent and include measures to hold the parties accountable.”
“A Government of national unity is the most viable, most effective and most powerful way to meet the expectations of all South Africans at this time,” the president concluded.
The CNA won the elections with about 40.20% of the votes and won 159 seats out of 400 in the National Assembly (Lower House of Parliament).
But its results were well below those obtained in the previous elections of 2019 and it lost the absolute majority for the first time since the end of the segregationist regime of ‘apartheid’ and the establishment of democracy in South Africa in 1994,
So he will have to negotiate for Ramaphosa to remain at the head of the Executive in a second and last five-year term.
In second place was the Democratic Alliance of white John Steenhuisen, which slightly improves its results with 21.80% of the vote and 87 seats in the House.
The AD is heir to the white political leadership that opposed ‘apartheid’ and traditionally associated with the vote of the white minority.
The surprise was given by the MK Party, which broke into its first general elections with almost 14.60% of the votes and snatched the third position from Julius Malema’s Fighters for Economic Freedom, who fell to fourth place with 9.50%.
These percentages translate into 58 seats for the MK Party and 39 for the EFF, respectively.
Thus, the CNA has been forced into an unknown scenario: that of the electoral pacts that, predictably, will give the young South African democracy its first coalition government.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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