International
The Republican Party formally nominates Trump as its candidate
The Republican Party on Monday formalized, during its national convention in Milwaukee, the nomination of former US President Donald Trump as its candidate for the elections next November.
Just two days after surviving an assassination attempt at a rally, Trump was crowned by party delegates as the Republican candidate for the Nov. 5 election, in which he will likely face incumbent Democrat Joe Biden.
The nearly 2,400 delegates representing the country’s various states and territories cast their votes en masse for Trump, who ultimately obtained 2,387 votes.
When Eric Trump, the former president’s son, announced that Florida’s votes had been cast for his father, the number needed to formalize the nomination was reached and a standing ovation erupted to the tune of the song ‘Celebration’ by Kool & the Gang and Pat Boone.
Delegates gathered at the Republican National Convention also unanimously approved the selection of Ohio Senator JD Vance, a 39-year-old politician who is also a businessman and writer, as Donald Trump’s presidential running mate.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the attack on Trump on Saturday during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that left him injured in the ear and killed a member of the audience.
The venue is surrounded by tight security and the red, white and blue balloons, the colour of the American flag, are already ready on the roof to mark the celebrations following Trump’s final speech on Thursday.
This is the former president’s first public shower since a man shot him in Butler. In addition to the person in the audience who died, two others were injured and the attacker was neutralized by law enforcement.
According to what he told the conservative magazine Washington Examiner, the events have led him to rewrite his speech to focus on the need for unity in the country and not on his likely electoral rival on November 5, President Joe Biden.
The Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee on Monday with Trump’s nomination mathematically assured: he needed the votes of 1,215 delegates to secure it, and the primary process guaranteed him 2,268.
In addition, his primary rival Nikki Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN, released her 97 delegates so they could vote for the former president.
The party’s unity around Trump has grown even stronger since the Republican survived the attack last Saturday in Pennsylvania.
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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