Director of the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Director of the Centre for Civil Society at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa; author of Zimbabwe's Plunge and Uneven Zimbabwe
PROFILE
Patrick Bond
Guest
FROM Patrick Bond
To the Point
How Will the World Respond to Mugabe's Re-Election? Zimbabwe, which used to be called "the breadbasket of Africa," is now an economic basket case, with half the people depending on food aid and inflation pegged at nine million percent. After weeks of bloody political violence and political opposition, the UN Security Council will debate Robert Mugabe's re-election, despite his already having been sworn in. Mugabe is now in Egypt for a summit of the African Union, which may, or may not, play a crucial role in restoring stability to his devastated country. Is there any chance for political reconciliation? Will the opposition try to set up a government in exile? Can international intervention avert an extended bloodbath?
Recommended
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.