On the issue of the widening and constriction of our sovereign borders, the propulsive fuel for populists far and wide, the virus is a global crisis, though infection rates and governmental responses differ widely. US President Donald Trump’s cry of “America First” and Boris Johnson’s “take back control” Brexit had winning voter appeal. Writing in [...]
It is both uniquely national, even intensely parochial on any given day, and yet it really matters hugely to the world, even here, beset though we are with our own problems. I refer to the current spectacle of the US presidential election, which still has nearly eight months to go until voting day on November [...]
The apparently reckless US president has mastered the art of blurting out falsehoods - particularly in the witness box Here’s a teaser as political enthusiasts absorb the results this morning of the hugely significant midterm elections for control of the US Congress. What is the difference between embattled local home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba and [...]
In the face of a murderous Assad and possible war in the region, our response has been tepid and fearful Two events of global significance occurred this week. On Tuesday, in the US, President Donald Trump signalled his decision not to apply a further waiver on sanctions against Iran, thus resiling from the nuclear deal and [...]
Tony Leon: The president-elect might pay little attention to SA or tear up key treaties in order to ‘make America great again Karl Marx was right and Thomas Friedman was wrong. That’s one of the "huge" — to use one of US president-elect Donald J Trump’s favourite words — consequences of Wednesday’s US electoral earthquake. [...]
Two events last Friday morning, oceans and several time zones apart, remind us that politicians embrace the full spectrum of the ethical universe. First up, literally since it was predawn, were the intemperate, vituperative and ranting tweets - starting at 3am - of US presidential candidate Donald J Trump. These were on heavyweight matters: on [...]
Tony Leon is a major figure in South African politics. He became the leader of the Democratic Party in 1994, and over the next five years, he helped grow it into South Africa’s second largest party, making him Leader of the Opposition. He held this role for several years until 2007, keeping the ruling African [...]
