SRF survey found strong support among ANC and DA voters for a coalition between the two parties.

I don’t see any reason for panic about South Africa’s political stability after the ANC lost its majority.

DA did not want to be in a situation where “the ANC, because of our unwillingness, is driven into the arms of the EFF and MK.”

Since the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, political uncertainty has run riot in Iran. In this article, which we are republishing with The Conversation’s permission, Afshin Shahi, Associate Professor in Middle East Politics & International Relations at Keele University, details how the new power vacuum has triggered a tense power struggle between hardliners at a time when Iran is facing severe internal and external challenges. Iran: president’s death has set hardliners jostling for position to replace ageing supreme leader

With Iran continuing its sabre-rattling in the Middle East, NSN speaks with Henry Jackson Society Senior Research Fellow Barak Seener, at the launch of his new report, Restoring Deterrence: Destabilising the Iranian Regime, where Seener calls for a new Iran policy of disproportionate response to Iranian aggression, including military strikes in Iranian territory, to destabilise the regime and scupper Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. In this interview, Barak takes us through the complexities of Iran’s machinations in the Middle East, how they are using proxies to foster regional instability, and how a more robust and aggressive response to Iran and its…

Former members of the Chinese Army are fighting for Russia in Ukraine as part of an international force of mercenaries recruited by the Kremlin.Videos on social media have allegedly shown two former members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recalling their experience of fighting for Russia in Ukraine.In one post on X(Twitter), a person who is named as Li Jianwei claims to have served in the PLA for two years and is now a Chinese mercenary fighting for Russia in Ukraine.In a 17 minute video, Jianwei, who comes from Zhengzhou, Henan, appears dressed in military uniform and provides a vivid…

South Africa is entering uncharted waters as the ruling African National Congress, following its historic loss of a parliamentary majority, has to decide within the next fortnight on who it will choose as a coalition partner to lead the country. It faces a binary choice between the market-oriented Democratic Alliance and the umKhonto weSizwe( MK Party) of former President Jacob Zuma, which has threatened violence and is spreading the narrative online that the election has been rigged. President Cyril Ramaphosa is reported to be advocating a unity government. The elections in South Africa were a moment of reckoning for the African National…

In a significant showdown marking the first face-to-face meeting between US and Chinese defence chiefs in two years, the hot-button issue of Taiwan took centre stage. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s defence minister, Admiral Dong Jun, convened in Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security summit.  During the 75-minute meeting, Secretary Austin voiced concern over recent intensified military activities by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) around the Taiwan Strait following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te. Austin called China’s military exercises “provocative” and insisted that Beijing not use Taiwan’s “political transition… as a pretext for coercive measures”.…

With counting underway in South Africa’s watershed elections, predictions point to the ANC suffering a 15% collapse in support, plunging the country into uncertainty for the next two weeks. The party still remains the dominant force in South Africa; however, it would need the support of another party or political parties to cross the 50% threshold required to stay in government. Final results for the election are expected to be announced on Sunday. Former President Jacob Zuma, who was a wrecking ball within the ANC and hollowed out the country’s state-owned enterprises including Eskom proved to be the man who also dealt significant…

In light of the upcoming UK election, the threat of AI-driven disinformation, like deepfakes, is a growing concern. The UK’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy emphasised the urgency, stating “It is more important than ever that the UK Government equips the public with the information necessary for spotting a deepfake.” In a recent letter, the committee urged that this is “a matter of priority now that an election has been called,” recognising that a comprehensive approach should include public education efforts.   India’s proactive battle against disinformation, focusing on empowering informed online users, offers crucial lessons for the…

In a landmark case under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law (NSL), Hong Kong has convicted 14 pro-democracy activists and former lawmakers on charges of subversion. This mass trial, the most severe application yet of the NSL, highlights the Chinese government’s intensifying crackdown on dissent and erosion of civil liberties in the territory. The same law is currently being used to prosecute media tycoon Jimmy Lai. The Trial and Convictions The National Security Law, enacted in 2020, has been a controversial tool for curbing freedom of speech and dismantling the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. On 30 May 2024, three judges,…

OP-ED Early results of South Africa’s national election point to the ruling party, the ANC losing its majority after being in power for 30 years. The final result is expected this weekend and it will be followed by two weeks of intense negotiations before a final picture will emerge. – Linda van Tilburg who has been reporting on South African politics for 30 years. The sight of millions of South Africans queuing patiently to cast their votes on 29 May in the country’s provincial and national elections evoked memories of the 1994 election, marking the end of apartheid. This election…