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Public dissent: Minnesota protesters demanding accountability and questioning the scale and conduct of
federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. Photo: Mohamad Safa/X

Very bad things happening in the US

The emphasis on might and control risks further weakening America’s position as a dependable global partner in diplomatic settings

(Graphic: John McCann)

United States renews Agoa for another three years

However, it’s not certain whether South Africa will continue to benefit from the concessional trade pact for qualifying African countries

South Africa accounts for 54% of all exports to the US under Agoa — a trade law which  gives eligible African countries duty-free access to the US market for thousands of products including clothing, agricultural goods, crafts and manufactured items.

South Africa-US trade faces uncertain future as Agoa renewal stalls

Business and economic leaders warn that diplomatic tension, tariffs and shifting global alliances could shape whether the country remains part of the renewed agreement

Iron ore mine in West Africa. The Liberty Corridor railroad  provides a mechanism for Ivanhoe Atlantic to get that ore to market on favourable terms. Photo: File

US Congress should ask questions about the Ivanhoe Atlantic Deal

Did US ambassador to Liberia Mark Toner, US Africa bureau official Troy Fitrell, Africa adviser to the US president Massad Boulos and former US special envoy J Peter Pham have…

United States President, Donald Trump. (Allison Robbert, Getty Images via AFP)

Trump nominates rightwing media critic as ambassador to SA

Brent Bozell is a long-time crusader against alleged liberal media bias and more recent Trump supporter

Even if Harris was the perfect candidate, the way that she ended up at the top of the Democratic ticket is harmful to the institution of democracy in America. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Why I am wary of giving anyone from the Biden administration my vote

The current administration delivered an American foreign policy that continues to benefit vested interests. Different administration, different party, same script

Ruinous: Up to 640 000 children in Gaza are being vaccinated against polio by Palestine’s health ministry, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The US has suspended funding for the latter organisation until March 2025. Photo: Ashraf Amra/Anadolu/Getty Images

US mustn’t undermine SA foreign policy

An American Bill’s call for a review of US-SA bilateral relations is likely over policy differences.

Meta’s algorithms have deprioritised news content, reducing organic reach and referral traffic for local publishers.
 (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How Facebook became the opium of the masses

Facebook’s micro-targeting algorithms have been used to spread disinformation and sow distrust in democratic institutions around the world. It has a responsibility to act

SAA is about to be closed, which will pave the way for a new airline. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

SAA rescue costs us social reforms

As with the ban on SAA flying to the United States in 1986, political pragmatism will eventually be trumped by economic realities

President Donald Trump has reshaped the contents of American constitutionalism and the effects of his presidency will reverberate through the United States’s legal and social fabric for generations to come.

New future from Trump tyranny

The demagogic president has unwittingly created the opportunity for constitutional growth

Huawei is the world’s biggest supplier of telecommunications networking equipment and number-two smartphone manufacturer. (Getty Images)

Huawei asks US court to throw out federal ban

Huawei filed suit against the US bill in March, calling it "unconstitutional"

US President Donald Trump (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Trump walks out on Democrats as impeachment talk heats up

A livid Trump abruptly shut down a White House meeting with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer

US President Donald Trump. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

Trump sues banks in bid to block Congress subpoenas

Donald Trump on Monday sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to stop them from complying with Congressional subpoena

Mueller’s 448-page report documents extensive contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians, including attempts to cooperate or collude, neither of which is a specific crime. (Joshua Robert)

Trump says Mueller investigation report should be made public

The nearly two-year-old investigation is examining whether the US president himself criminally obstructed the probe

Protesters from the climate change pressure group Extinction Rebellion demonstrate. (Simon Dawson/Reuters)

These climate activists want you to give up hope

​The Extinction Rebellion is rooted in the conviction that humanity has dug its own grave and has one foot dangling over the edge

Trump announced the emergency on Friday in order to bypass Congress, which approved only a quarter of the $5.6-billion he wanted for the wall in a spending bill. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

US states sue Trump over border wall emergency

Trump announced the emergency on Friday in order to bypass Congress

A respected and robust United States — with all of our flaws, mistakes and missteps — can be good for the defence of democracy, not least in Africa.

EXPLAINER: Why Trump has not been impeached — and likely won’t be

Trump will not be removed from office until Republicans in the House decide to support the idea or the midterms hand the Democrats more seats

The anti-establishment fervor unleashed by Trump’s spectacular 2016 election win has proven hard to control.

Trump opposes Senate candidate who’s ‘Trumpier than Trump’

Proclaiming himself "Trumpier than Trump", Don Blankenship has mounted a highly controversial campaign

Pharrell Williams will be performing in South Africa in September.

Zuckerberg grilling shows generational divide

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg began his testimony before the United States’ Congress on Tuesday.

Rand Paul made a move to block the budget bill on Thursday night over objections to what it will do to the US deficit.

US government shuts down for second time this year

​The US government has shut down for the second time this year after Congress failed to reach a deal on the budget