Thiam Party Forms Alliance With Ex-President Before Ivorian Vote

Parties led by former Credit Suisse AG Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam and ex-President Laurent Gbagbo agreed to form at alliance after both men were excluded from competing in October elections.
Thiam's Democratic Party of Ivory Coast and Gbagbo's African People's Party will unite to challenge the candidate of the ruling Rally of the Republicans, which meets this weekend to select its nominee for the race. President Alassane Ouattara, who's led the West African nation since 2011, hasn't ruled out plans to seek another term.

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News24

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• News24

Ramaphosa urges renewed commitment to constitutionalism at 30th anniversary of Constitutional Court

President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for continued recognition of the Constitutional Court's role in upholding democracy. He noted the gap between the Constitution's promises and the daily struggles of many South Africans, especially regarding basic service delivery. Ramaphosa confirmed steps to ensure judicial independence, including giving the judiciary control over its own budget and operations. As the country marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all sectors of South African society to recommit to the principles of constitutionalism. Speaking at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Friday, Ramaphosa said the occasion was not only a celebration, but also an opportunity for reflection and renewed purpose. READ: Families of apartheid victims launch R167m constitutional legal action against government for justice failures 'The Constitutional Court was established as a bold response to a painful past, a past in which the law was used to exclude, repress and divide,' Ramaphosa said. 'Thirty years later, this institution continues to serve as a cornerstone of our democracy.' He paid tribute to the founding justices and legal professionals who had helped shape the court's jurisprudence in its formative years. Reflecting on the symbolism of the court's location on the site of an apartheid-era prison and military fort, Ramaphosa said the institution represented a transformation of justice in South Africa. This building, once a place of suffering, now houses a court that upholds dignity, equality and freedom. Cyril Ramaphosa Ramaphosa recalled his role as chair of the Constitutional Assembly when the Constitution was adopted in 1996. He likened the document to a birth certificate for the nation, affirming its identity, legitimacy and access to rights. Without it, he said, the country would be 'cast adrift and vulnerable to the excesses of unchecked power'. The president acknowledged the court's legacy in shaping democratic life and delivering key judgments on housing, healthcare and equality. He highlighted landmark rulings such as the abolition of the death penalty in S v Makwanyane, the right to housing in the Government of the Republic of South Africa v Grootboom, and access to HIV treatment in Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign. These were not just legal decisions; they changed lives and contributed to building a more inclusive society. Ramaphosa The president was candid about the continuing challenges facing constitutionalism in South Africa. He pointed to the gap between the rights promised in the Constitution and the lived reality of many citizens, citing persistent inequality, service delivery failures and delays in the implementation of court orders. 'The irony of praising judgments that affirm socioeconomic rights, while the state must be compelled to fulfil them, is not lost on us,' he said. 'People should not have to go to court to access basic services.' He noted that, while the judiciary had remained largely resilient in the face of political and societal pressures, systemic challenges continued to affect its ability to function effectively. The Constitutional Court, in particular, has faced mounting caseloads since its jurisdiction was expanded in 2013 to include matters of general public importance. In response, Ramaphosa announced progress in addressing judicial independence and institutional support. He confirmed that the judiciary would soon enjoy full independence, with control over its own budget and administration – a long-standing concern among legal stakeholders. 'This anomaly in our constitutional architecture is being resolved,' he said. The judiciary will now stand as an equal branch of the state, alongside the executive and the legislature. Ramaphosa Budget allocations for 2024/25 have included funding for court services and judicial training, and to fill vacancies. Ramaphosa reaffirmed government's commitment to supporting the judiciary through infrastructural, financial and administrative means. He also acknowledged the role of civil society, legal practitioners and the public in upholding the rule of law. 'The court derives its legitimacy from the public's confidence in the justice system.' Ramaphosa concluded by urging all South Africans to ensure that the values enshrined in the Constitution continued to define the country's national identity. 'As we look to the next 30 years, we must ensure that the Constitutional Court remains a living institution, principled, responsive and rooted in human dignity.' He paid tribute to former president Nelson Mandela, who inaugurated the court in 1995, saying: 'He would be proud that this institution continues to serve the people with strength and integrity.'

News24

an hour ago

• News24

Oil drops, Sasol slumps as Trump delays Iran move

• For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. Oil prices retreated Friday while stock markets gained ground as concerns over a war escalation in Iran eased. International crude benchmark contract Brent dropped more than two percent, weighing on the share prices of energy majors, after US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would decide whether to join Israel's strikes on Iran within the next two weeks. Traders said it suggested Trump preferred negotiations to end the fighting, as top European diplomats met Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday to discuss a "diplomatic solution" to end the war. The JSE's All-Share index ended flat, while Sasol lost almost 6% to R95.36. The synthetic fuel producer's shares jumped along with oil prices since the attacks on Iran. It was trading around R87 before the conflict. The rand lost half a percent over the past week, spiking to almost R18.16/$. By Friday afternoon it was back below R18. US indices opened slightly higher Friday, though analysts said volumes were likely to be lacklustre with many traders taking a four-day weekend after Thursday's Juneteenth holiday. European stock markets were up in afternoon deals while Asian equity indices closed out the week mixed. "News that president Trump would delay any decision on joining Israel's attacks against Iran has boosted the market mood," said Kathleen Brooks, an analyst at trading firm XTB. "Brent crude has dropped... as traders price out the worst-case scenario for geopolitics," she said. Crude futures had soared and global equities slumped in recent sessions as the Israel-Iran conflict showed no signs of easing, with investors pricing in the risk of tighter oil supplies that would likely weigh on economic growth. "While the immediate prospect of a US intervention in Iran may have diminished, the fact this is reportedly a two-week hiatus means it will remain a live issue for the markets going into next week," said Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at AJ Bell. "A meeting of European ministers with their Iranian counterparts to try and formulate a deal today could be crucial." While the Middle East crisis continues to absorb most of the news, Trump's trade war remains a major obstacle for investors as the end of a 90-day pause on his April 2 tariff blitz approaches. "While the worst of the tariffs have been paused, we suspect it won't be until those deadlines approach that new agreements may be finalised," said David Sekera, chief US market strategist at Morningstar. "Until then, as news emerges regarding the progress and substance of trade negotiations, these headlines could have an outsize positive or negative impact on markets," he said. In Europe, Eutelsat shares soared 27 percent on the Paris stock exchange after the French government said it would lead a 1.35 billion euros in the European satellite operator. French President Emmanuel Macron urged a "speedy reconquest" for Europe in the space sector in the face of growing American competition, in a speech at the Paris Air Show.

CBS News

an hour ago

• CBS News

Book excerpt: "Far From Home" by Lisa Murkowski

Forum Books We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. After losing a Republican primary in 2010, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski – bucking party orthodoxy – ran for re-election with a write-in campaign, and won. That victory, thanks to a diverse coalition of Alaskans, instructed her service as a senator in an increasingly partisan Washington, she writes in her new memoir, "Far From Home: An Alaskan Senator Faces the Extreme Climate of Washington, D.C." (to be published June 24 by Forum Books). Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Norah O'Donnell's interview with Lisa Murkowski on "CBS Sunday Morning" June 22! "Far From Home" by Lisa Murkowski Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. Introduction I want to offer hope. The traditional tools of American democracy do still function. I wrote this book to tell the story of one consensus-building senator—grounded in her home, aware of who she serves, and honoring the process—who produced results and won elections. The chapters ahead explain how this happened. I began as president of my sons' elementary school PTA. That satisfying community leadership encouraged me toward state elected office before I found myself suddenly catapulted to the national stage and challenged by overwhelming responsibilities. My story took a major, positive turn in 2010, after I lost a primary election and voters themselves convinced me that my service was still important, and why. A diverse coalition of Alaskans returned me to the Senate in a write-in campaign, with a mandate to vote my conscience and keep their practical needs foremost, not my party. With their confidence, I became a newly self-directed and more successful senator. Alaskans' voices still guide me every day. Independent Alaskans became the largest part of my electoral coalition, and they supported me in thinking for myself, even if they sometimes disagreed with the result. I took that to heart, and followed my own judgment on votes, many times contrary to party leadership. For example, as the Senate process of confirming presidential appointments degenerated, with party-line votes for or against nominees based purely on politics, I chose to prioritize qualifications rather than party. In one of my toughest stands, I was the only Republican to oppose the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. I got heat for these choices, but I believed I was helping the system work as the founders intended. At times, my independence also yielded political benefits, although that had not been my goal. Senators began working for my vote, knowing they couldn't take it for granted. The White House realized nominees had to be qualified to gain my support. The system works if we use it. We don't need an overhaul with drastic reforms (although I will touch on election changes in Alaska that empowered the center and could help elsewhere). The more discouraging message is that being a pro-institution problem solver is hard, and not many of us remain in the Senate. We have passed a lot of good laws, because our swing votes controlled the balance of power, but our team of roughly a dozen senators spread across both parties has been shrinking. Intense pressure weighed on bipartisan lawmakers such as Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, and Mitt Romney. The parties demand conformity, and their loudest voices are also their most extreme and uncompromising. As holdouts for bipartisanship, those of us building consensus brought abuse on ourselves. Now all three of these smart, honorable, productive colleagues have retired from the Senate. The solution is to keep electing people who want to solve problems. We can do this only one senator—and one voter—at a time. The partisanship and division in our country has come with a loss of community and a weakening in many of the local organizations that connect us. We no longer spend enough time talking to people with different points of view. I'm an example of someone who started out in public service, in our highly diverse neighborhood in Anchorage, learning about families unlike my own while we worked together to improve our children's lives. We build up American democracy from that community level. It is up to each of us to get involved. And that brings me to one more reason for this book: We need stories so we can see the possibilities. We need to be able to imagine ourselves in our leaders' roles. Washington, D.C., should be visible from Newtok and from every community in our country. This is why I've chosen to be open about my feelings and my failures as well as my successes. I have no exceptional talent. One reason I legislate with partners is that others have great ideas I would never think of. I know how to bring people together and get things done, but I'm no better than anyone else. My hope is that when you learn my story, my struggles, and my fears, you will realize that you can do this, too. We need you. Only good people can get our government back on track. We need regular people who care about their communities and are willing to do the work, follow the rules, and think for themselves. We have plenty of ideologues and party-oriented political warriors in Congress. We need more Little League coaches and soccer moms. If I can do it, so can you. In fact, it's your responsibility. Excerpted from "Far From Home: An Alaskan Senator Faces the Extreme Climate of Washington, D.C." Copyright © 2025 by Lisa Murkowski. Used with permission. Published by Forum Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Get the book here: "Far From Home" by Lisa Murkowski Buy locally from For more info: