Trump hits back with tariff warning
He said in a post on truth social that the US would impose an additional 10% tariff on any countries aligning themselves with the BRICS group of nations and what he calls its Anti American policies.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is among leaders attending the BRICS summit that kicked off in Brazil yesterday.
South Africa is already facing tariffs of up to 30% on exports to the US if a deal is not struck.
Trump's deadline arrives in two days time.
The US President announced retaliatory tariffs earlier in the year but then said they were suspended for most countries until 9 July.
In the meantime several nations have signed trade deals with America which reduces their tariffs in relation to those first announced, but there's been no news of such a deal with South Africa.
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Thailand and Cambodia begin truce talks as fighting drags on
Cambodian migrant workers carry their belongings as they return from Thailand through the Doung International Gate in Battambang province on July 28, 2025. Thailand and Cambodia's leaders are due to meet for peace talks on July 28, as a festering territorial dispute along their shared frontier dragged into a fifth day of open combat. (Photo by Chor Sokunthea / AFP) Image: AFP Thailand and Cambodia's leaders opened peace talks Monday in Malaysia, seeking a ceasefire after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 35 people. More than 200,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets, and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples. The flare-up is the deadliest since violence raged from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, which is claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. Hours ahead of the talks, an AFP journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong -- 17 kilometers (10 miles) from the fraught frontier -- reported hearing a steady drumbeat of up to 10 blasts a minute. US President Donald Trump -- who both nations are courting for trade deals to avert the threat of eye-watering tariffs -- intervened over the weekend and said both sides had agreed to "quickly work out" a truce. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet began their talks in the administrative capital Putrajaya around 3:15 pm (0715 GMT). They met at the residence of Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, serving chair of the ASEAN bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members, who earlier told media he would focus on an "immediate ceasefire". Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Washington's top diplomat Marco Rubio said State Department officials were on the ground in Malaysia to assist the "peace efforts" while Cambodia said a delegation from its close ally China would also attend. But ahead of the summit, Thailand and Cambodia traded fresh fire and barbed accusations. Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said it was "the fifth day that Thailand has invaded Cambodia's territory with heavy weapons and with the deployment of a lot of troops". As he departed Bangkok airport, Phumtham told reporters he did not believe Cambodia was "acting in good faith" and called on the country "to demonstrate genuine intent" in the meeting. In Thailand's Surin city -- 30 kilometres from the border and a hub of evacuees fleeing the fighting -- 58-year-old Lamduan Chuenjit shared her leader's scepticism. "I hope the negotiation goes well today and ends with a ceasefire," the cleaner told AFP while sweeping a shopfront. "But I do wonder how trustworthy Cambodia is." Both sides point the finger On the eve of the talks, Thailand's military said Cambodian snipers were camped in one of the contested temples, and accused Phnom Penh of surging troops along the border and hammering Thai territory with rockets. It said there was fighting at seven areas in the rural region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and fields where locals farm rubber and rice. "The situation remains highly tense, and it is anticipated that Cambodia may be preparing for a major military operation prior to entering negotiations," the Thai military statement read. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said his public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace have been cancelled amid the strife. 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Commission must lead to consequences, sanctions and ultimately justice
A few weeks ago, South Africans heard the serious allegations about the existence and operation of a sophisticated criminal syndicate that has allegedly infiltrated law enforcement structures. On Sunday, 13 July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the formation of a commission of inquiry to focus on the shocking allegations that KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi recently made and how the alleged deep-rooted corruption will be dealt with. While I agree that the allegations must be attended to with the necessary diligence and all parties must be given a fair chance to express themselves, citizens are tired of the many costly, time-consuming and unsuccessful commissions of inquiries.
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Audi cuts forecast over US tariffs and restructuring costs
German carmaker Volkswagen's premium brand Audi lowered its full-year financial guidance on Monday, citing the impact of higher US import tariffs and ongoing restructuring costs. The Ingolstadt-based company expects revenue of between €65bn (R1,355,406,000,000) and €70bn (R1,459,560,200,000), down from its previous forecast of €67.5bn (R1,407,537,000,000) to €72.5bn (R1,511,687,350,000). Audi also cut its operating margin forecast to 5% to 7%, compared to the earlier range of 7% to 9%. Audi said it is assessing the implications of the trade deal reached between the US and the EU on Sunday. The agreement set a 15% baseline US tariff on imports from the EU, including cars, which had previously faced customs duties of 27.5%. "Should the 15% tariff stay in place long-term, it would put Audi at a competitive disadvantage because its key peers have a more pronounced US production footprint," said Fabio Hoelscher, an analyst from Warburg Research. Audi is among the carmakers most exposed to US tariffs as it has no manufacturing facilities in the US. Though the deal provides clarity on the new tariff regime, enabling better operational and strategic planning, the 15% rate represents a structural shift from the 2.5% rate before US President Donald Trump took office, said Pal Skirta, equity analyst from Metzler Equities. That leaves German carmakers facing persistently higher US tariffs on their exports and long-term competitiveness challenges, he said. The Volkswagen Group also cut its full-year guidance on Friday after taking a $1.5bn (R26,781,448,350) tariff hit in the first half of the year. Global carmakers have booked billions of losses and some issued profit warnings due to US import tariffs. The European industry is also facing stiffening competition from China and domestic regulations aimed at speeding up the electric-vehicle transition.
