White South Africans Arrive in U.S. After Trump Administration Grants Refugee Status
"It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years," Rowe said in a statement.
The group — which includes families with children — was greeted at the D.C.-area airport by U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar. Landau told reporters the group has faced "egregious discrimination" in South Africa — which the country's government has denied.
A plane carrying dozens of White South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport on Monday, a State Department official said, after the Trump administration granted them refugee status in the United States.
The group — which includes families with children — was greeted at the D.C.-area airport by U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar. Landau told reporters the group has faced "egregious discrimination" in South Africa — which the country's government has denied.
Landau said the new arrivals were "carefully vetted" in South Africa prior to their arrival. They departed Johannesburg via a charter plane on Sunday.
Earlier this year, President Trump directed his government to allow South Africans of European descent — particularly Afrikaners, who are largely descended from Dutch settlers — to be resettled through the U.S. refugee program.
The administration and its allies, including South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, allege members of South Africa's White minority have faced discrimination by the country's post-apartheid government, including through a controversial law that allows the government to take private land in some circumstances.
The first group of Afrikaners from South Africa to arrive for resettlement listen to remarks from US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar (both out of frame), after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, on May 12, 2025. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
The South African government has strongly denied any discrimination, and argues the land seizure law respects private property rights and only targets land that isn't used or doesn't serve the public interest. Land ownership has long been a sensitive issue in South Africa, which was ruled by its White minority under the apartheid system until the mid-1990s.
"It is ironic that the executive order makes provision for refugee status in the US for a group in South Africa that remains amongst the most economically privileged, while vulnerable people in the U.S. from other parts of the world are being deported and denied asylum despite real hardship," South Africa's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said in a February statement.
Landau also cited attacks on South African farmers in recent years, saying the new arrivals have faced "egregious and targeted threats." The South African government argues attacks in the country's rural farming communities are not racially targeted and are part of South Africa's broader crime problem.
The Trump administration has also clashed with the South African government over foreign policy, including its criticism of Israel. Mr. Trump signed an executive order in February directing his government to halt aid to South Africa.
The South Africans moved through the refugee process at an unusually fast clip, arriving in the United States after a few months, even though the process frequently takes years.
They also arrived in the United States despite a broader effort by the Trump administration to suspend the refugee admission program — a move that has drawn court challenges.
Refugee group declines to help resettle South Africans
The federal government typically relies on nonprofits to help resettle refugees in the United States, but at least one group, Episcopal Migration Ministries, said Monday it will not assist with the South African arrivals.
Episcopal Bishop Sean Rowe said the government informed the group — which receives federal grants — that it would be expected to assist the South Africans. The group opted against assisting and will instead wind down its work with the government, he said, citing the group's "steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation."
"It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years," Rowe said in a statement.
Some other refugee resettlement groups have indicated they are willing to work with the South Africans.
Church World Service CEO Rick Santos criticized the government for restricting most other refugee admissions, but said the group "remains committed to serving all eligible refugee populations seeking safety in the United States, including Afrikaners who are eligible for services," in a statement to the Associated Press.
By Joe Walsh | Updated on: May 12, 2025 / 4:25 PM EDT / CBS NewsJoe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston.
“Cyril Ramaphosa, the current president of South Africa, responds on ‘X’.”
“eNCA is one of SA’s top-ranked and trusted TV news channels ~ ”
The African National Congress registers its firm rejection of the United States government’s decision to grant refugee status to 49 individuals self-identifying as Afrikaners.
“If you believe there’s a genocide in South Africa, but not one in Gaza — you are astonishingly retarded” ~ Jackson Hinkle @jacksonhinklle
Australian President Albanese Wins Second Term
Donald Trump looms large over Saturday's election. As with Canada's election, wannabe Trump opposition Leader and Liberal Party Peter Dutton was trashed in a landslide, losing his parliamentary seat. The coalition is on track to suffer the biggest election loss in decades. Labor Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won his second term. The latest left-leaning leader to achieve a comeback victory as President Trump roils global markets and upends international affairs.
“Our government will choose the Australian way, because we are proud of who we are,” Albanese told a cheering crowd at Labor headquarters. “We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else.”Theo Edwards for YAME Digital from the Australia Capital Territory, ACT, Australia 
Liberal Party Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Labor Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
“Our government will choose the Australian way, because we are proud of who we are,” Albanese told a cheering crowd at Labor headquarters. “We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else.”
Donald Trump looms large over Saturday's election. As with Canada's election, wannabe Trump opposition Leader and Liberal Party Peter Dutton was trashed in a landslide, losing his parliamentary seat.
Labor has won the 2025 federal election, and Anthony Albanese secured a second term as prime minister.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suffered a catastrophic result with the Liberal Party. Not only did they lose countless seats, but his seat of Dickson, has fallen. His coalition is on track to suffer the biggest election loss in decades.
The latest left-leaning leader to achieve a comeback victory as President Trump roils global markets and upends international affairs.
Anthony Albanese: Thank you, Australia
“Australia’s strong democracy is something to be proud of. A pleasure to thank volunteers in Sydney with Labor Member for Reid, Sally Sitou.”
As of about 11 PM Saturday Sydney time, Albanese’s Labor Party is projected to win at least 87 seats in the nation’s House of Representatives—where the government is formed—defeating the conservative bloc of the Liberal and National parties, which was projected to win at least 40, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
The Liberal Party will need to choose a new leader after tonight.
Theo Edwards for YAME Digital from the Australia Capital Territory, ACT, Australia 
In His Victory Speech, Mark Carney Warns Canadians That 'Trump is Trying to 'Break Us'
In a remarkable turnaround fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has won the federal election. In his victory speech, Carney emphasized the importance of unity in response to threats from Washington. He stated that the mutually beneficial relationship between Canada and the U.S. that has existed since World War II has come to an end. "We have moved past the shock of American betrayal, but we must never forget the lessons," he said. Carney warned that America desires our land, resources, water, and control over our country, adding that these are not mere idle threats.
"President Trump is attempting to weaken us so that America can dominate us. That will never happen," he declared. However, he acknowledged that our world has fundamentally changed.In a remarkable turnaround fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has won the federal election. In his victory speech, Carney emphasized the importance of unity in response to threats from Washington. He stated that the mutually beneficial relationship between Canada and the U.S. that has existed since World War II has come to an end. "We have moved past the shock of American betrayal, but we must never forget the lessons," he said. Carney warned that America desires our land, resources, water, and control over our country, adding that these are not mere idle threats. "President Trump is attempting to weaken us so that America can dominate us. That will never happen," he declared. However, he acknowledged that our world has fundamentally changed.
April 28, 202510:32 PM ET | Heard on Morning Edition | Jackie Northam for npr
Canada's Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney applauds at a victory party in Ottawa, Ontario on April 29, 2025 | DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images
Mark Carney stays on as Canada's prime minister, according to the projections of the national broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada, in one of the country's most consequential elections in decades.
But it's still not clear if his Liberal Party will win the 172 seats needed for an outright majority in Parliament. The full results will not be available until Tuesday.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre lost his own Ontario seat to the Liberals, a seat he has held for 20 years. In a concession speech early Tuesday morning, Poilievre said that his party "didn't quite get over the finish line."
The vote was widely seen as a decision about which candidate could best handle President Trump, who helped spark a wave of nationalism across Canada by threatening to annex Canada and placing stiff tariffs on the country.
"As I've been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country," Carney told supporters Monday night. "These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never ... ever happen."
Carney now enters parliament for the first time after winning a seat in Ottawa's Nepean constituency.
The election results quickly drew international reaction. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union's top official, quickly praised Carney. "I look forward to working closely together, both bilaterally and within the G7," she wrote on ‘X’. "We'll defend our shared democratic values, promote multilateralism, and champion free and fair trade."
Added Australian Prime Minister, also on X: "In a time of global uncertainty, I look forward to continuing to work with you to build on the enduring friendship between our nations, in the shared interests of all our citizens."
And after a rocky few years of Canadian-Chinese relations, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said "China is willing to develop China-Canada relations on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit."
The 60-year-old Carney had a career in investment banking before becoming the governor of the Bank of England during the Brexit turmoil, and as the head of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 economic downturn.
Carney had never held political office before being named leader of the Liberal Party in March. His background in finance and his seemingly unflappable demeanor helped convince voters he was the candidate who could best tackle Trump and his sometimes erratic policies.
Carney beat out Pierre Poilievre, a 45-year-old career politician and head of the Conservative Party. It was a stunning reversal of fortunes for Poilievre, who for more than a year rode high in the polls, at one point with his Conservatives up 27 points over the Liberals.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to his supporters after losing the Canadian Federal Election on April 29, 2025 in Ottawa, Canada.
Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
Poilievre's momentum began to slip in January when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned. The Liberal Party's Trudeau was widely disliked in Canada by the end of his decade-long tenure, and his resignation gave the Liberals a lift. Carney became Trudeau's successor.
But the real boost came when President Trump began targeting Canada's economy and its sovereignty. Many Canadians were outraged by Trump's threat to make Canada the 51st state — a threat he repeated in a post on social media on election day.
Many of Poilievre's positions and much of his rhetoric mirror Trump — albeit on a more moderate level. The Conservative leader has a "Canada First" slogan, he wants tighter borders, smaller government and to end what right-wing politicians consider "wokeness." While his proposals resonated with some voters early on, Poilievre's association with Trump ultimately ended up hurting him badly.
It is the fourth consecutive federal election the Conservative Party has lost, leading some analysts to believe the party will now go through a time of reckoning about its message and appeal.
‘Bonkers Crazypants’: American Diplomats Shaken by Reports of Possible Cuts
The diplomat added: “There’s a lot that could be reformed, but you could give infinite monkeys infinite typewriters, and they would come up with something better than that.”
Some of the most startling shifts outlined in the purported order address how the U.S. approaches Africa. Under changes proposed within it, much of the State Department’s work on the region would be farmed out to the White House and all “non-essential embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa” would be closed by Oct. 1, 2025. A special envoy for African affairs reporting directly to the National Security Council would replace the African affairs bureau.
The purported order would eliminate the Policy Planning Bureau, traditionally a center of power in State Departments of both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the Bureau of Conflict Stability Operations and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
U.S. diplomats were shaken and even panicked during the weekend as a document purporting to be a draft executive order that would radically reshape the State Department circulated and boosted their fears of massive job cuts.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed reports of the document as “fake news,” but the jitters underscored how alarmed many are about the lengths the Trump administration will go to to reshape the State Department as part of a so-called efficiency drive.
The document calls for eliminating scores of traditional State Department offices and bureaus and overhauling how Foreign Service postings work. Among other changes, it would eliminate the regional bureau devoted to Africa and shrink the U.S. diplomatic presence in Canada.
POLITICO obtained the document, and two current and one former official familiar with the matter verified the proposal has been circulated inside the department but couldn’t confirm when it was drafted, by whom, or how it pertained to the Trump administration’s final reorganization plan.
A State Department spokesperson called the draft “a fake document.”
The administration is planning to announce its reorganization plans as soon as Tuesday, which could come in the form of notices to the Department, two U.S. officials said.
The speed at which the document circulated among diplomats over the weekend — real or not — speaks to how on edge State Department officials are over the fate of their agency amid the Trump administration’s drive to drastically slash government bureaucracy.
Diplomats sharing the draft with each other said they were puzzled by the logic undergirding it. One U.S. diplomat described the draft to POLITICO as “bonkers crazypants.”
The diplomat added: “There’s a lot that could be reformed, but you could give infinite monkeys infinite typewriters, and they would come up with something better than that.”
There are signs that the document is not the final plan for the State Department. It does not follow the standard format of an executive order, even from President Donald Trump.
Many pieces of it would violate or undermine laws that authorize the State Department’s operations, and it is also not logistically consistent with other communications sent to Congress from the administration detailing other revamps, such as what it plans to do with the leftovers of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Trump and his administration have made their intentions for the State Department clear. POLITICO reported last week that the administration is weighing asking Congress to slash the State Department and USAID budgets by nearly half to $28.4 billion.
The document calls for eliminating regional bureaus within the department and replacing them with four new diplomatic “corps” on Eurasia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Indo-Pacific.
Some of the most startling shifts outlined in the purported order address how the U.S. approaches Africa. Under changes proposed within it, much of the State Department’s work on the region would be farmed out to the White House, and all “non-essential embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa” would be closed by Oct. 1, 2025. A Special Envoy for African Affairs reporting directly to the National Security Council would replace the African Affairs bureau.
The plan would also see the U.S. significantly reduce the number of diplomats dedicated to managing U.S. relations with Canada, including by downscaling operations of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa with a specialized team of less than 20 to work with the top diplomat there.
Both moves have the potential to upend routine services for Americans abroad in those places, such as helping travelers with lost passports or registering births, but the plan makes no mention of how it would address that.
The purported order would altogether eliminate the Policy Planning Bureau, traditionally a center of power in State Departments of both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the Bureau of Conflict Stability Operations and the Bureau of democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
Felicia Schwartz, Nahal Toosi and Robbie Gramer | Sun, April 20, 2025 at 11:28 AM EDT | The article was originally published on POLITICO
Trump Exempts Phone, Computers, Chips From 'Reciprocal' Tariffs
The exclusions apply to smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives and computer processors and memory chips. Those popular consumer electronics items generally aren’t made in the US.
The exclusions apply to smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives and computer processors and memory chips. Those popular consumer electronics items generally aren’t made in the US.
Bloomberg
Apple, Nvidia Score Reprieve from Trump Tariffs With Exemptions
Debby Wu, Josh Wingrove and Shawn Donnan | Sat, April 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM EDT (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump’s administration exempted smartphones, computers, and other electronics from its so-called reciprocal tariffs, representing a major reprieve for global technology manufacturers including Apple Inc. and Nvidia Corp. even if it proves a temporary one.
The exclusions, published late Friday by US Customs and Border Protection, narrow the scope of the levies by excluding the products from Trump’s 125% China tariff and his baseline 10% global tariff on nearly all other countries.
The exclusions apply to smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives and computer processors and memory chips. Those popular consumer electronics items generally aren’t made in the US.
The pause will be welcome news to consumers, some of whom rushed to buy new iPhones and other devices amid fears that the tariffs would send prices soaring. It’s also a big win for major technology companies that have presented massive US spending pledges for Trump in recent months. Trump’s tariffs upended global markets, triggered a selloff in stocks, and ignited a rapidly escalating trade war with China.
The move is the first significant softening of any kind in Trump’s conflict with China. It was backdated to April 5.
“Honestly, I’m very comfortable now” with the China tariffs, Trump told reporters earlier Friday on Air Force One, while touting his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “And I think something positive is going to come out of that.”
The tariff reprieve may prove fleeting. The exclusions stem from the initial order, which prevented extra tariffs on certain sectors from stacking cumulatively on top of the country-wide rates. The exclusion is a sign that the products may soon be subject to a different tariff, albeit almost surely a lower one for China.
The products that won’t be subject to Trump’s new tariffs include machines used to make semiconductors. That would be important for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which has announced a major new investment in the US, as well as other chipmakers.
“All products that are properly classified in these listed provisions will be excluded from the reciprocal tariffs,” the notice said.
The move appeared to exclude the products from the 10% global baseline tariff on other countries, including Samsung Electronics Co.’s home of South Korea.
Bloomberg Reporting.Excerpts from a China analyst interview with Channel 4 News, a British Broadcasting Service, on April 11, 2025, ‘China is determined to fight to the very end of the trade war.’
“China is determined to fight to the very end of the trade war.”
‘China has been here for 5000 years. Most of the time, there was no United States, and we survived’ China analyst Victor Gao says that ‘China will fight to the very end’ in a trade war after President Trump hit China with 145% tariffs.
“Scott Galloway breaks down how President Trump’s tariff war will affect American consumers.”
‘We have someone at the wheel of the global economy who is blackout drunk right now.’
“Trump’s Trade War Will Hit US Prosperity Hard, IMF Warns.”
U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war will significantly impact the global economy and has increased the risk of a financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund warned.
"The uncertainty in trade policy, and policy generally right now, is a big drag on global activity," Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told AFP ahead of Tuesday's publication of the IMF World Economic Outlook report.
"And the sooner we can lift it, the better off everyone will be," he said, adding: "Bringing back stability, clarity, predictability to the trading system is the first order of business."
Trump's new tariffs contribute to nearly half of the significant reduction in the IMF's growth forecast for the US this year. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF's chief economist, mentioned in a blog post that uncertainty surrounding policy has already weakened demand in the US, even before the recent announcements about the tariffs.
Gourinchas noted that the tariffs implemented by Trump have raised the U.S. tariff rate, in real terms, to a level higher than it was during the Great Depression in the 1930s. In response, major trading partners of the U.S. have also increased their tariffs, contributing to a significant rise in the global tariff rate. As a result, global trade, which has consistently supported growth rates and kept inflation in check for the past 35 years, is expected to grow this year at only half the rate that the Fund anticipated just three months ago.
The latest World Economic Outlook was compiled under “exceptional” circumstances, the IMF stated. Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on April 2 “forced us to abandon our projections, which were nearly finalized at that point,” it noted.
“DW News Africa with Michael Okwu.”
Can Africans trust Trump to do a deal in ninety days? What's policy one day is postponed the next: After Liberation Day, it's Hesitation Day - the highest tariffs slapped on African nations, then slashed for a three month pause. South African farmers in Citrusdal export millions of oranges to US markets. They're worried that Trump's tariff uncertainty is putting thousands of African jobs at risk.
“UPDATE: US lawmakers have introduced a draft bill proposing a 5 percent excise tax on all remittances sent abroad. This proposal could significantly impact African countries that rely heavily on funds from their diaspora.”
US lawmakers have introduced a draft bill proposing a 5 percent excise tax on all remittances sent abroad. This proposal could significantly impact African countries that rely heavily on funds from their diaspora. The bill, presented by House Republicans, specifies that the sender will be responsible for paying the tax, which will be collected quarterly by the US Treasury Department. This initiative is part of a series of stringent measures implemented under President Donald Trump's administration, which has recently intensified its immigration and trade policies. #DWAfrica
For more information on the "GOP Proposal to Tax Remittances," please refer to the key facts.
Diaspora-Dependent Economies at Risk
The proposed remittance tax has triggered alarm among African experts and governments, where diaspora remittances serve as a lifeline for millions of families. In countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia, remittances account for a significant portion of GDP, often surpassing foreign direct investment and aid flows.
Policy in Line with Trump’s Tougher Agenda
The remittance tax proposal reflects a continuing trend under the Trump administration toward stricter border control, immigration limits, and transactional foreign policy. It comes on the heels of recent crackdowns on asylum seekers, expanded visa restrictions, and tariff-driven trade negotiations.