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Norris on Vegas pole with title rival Piastri fifth

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Lando Norris, a McLaren driver, finished fifth in the wet qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, trailing only by team-mate Oscar Piastri.

By 0. 23 seconds, Norris defeated Max Verstappen, the only other driver still faking it in the title race.

Carlos Sainz of Williams came third, ahead of George Russell and Piastri of Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton steers his Ferrari as water is thrown up from the track during a wet Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifyingReuters
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Colombia hails ‘historic blow’ after largest cocaine bust in a decade

As President Gustavo Petro continues to defend his innocence in the wake of allegations from the administration of US President Donald Trump about his complicity in the drug trade, Colombian authorities have seize 14 tonnes of cocaine from its main Pacific port.

Bolivia, the country’s largest cocaine-producing nation, announced that the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would be invited back into the country in 2017 to support the new conservative government’s efforts against cocaine.

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The Ministry of Defense of Colombia praised the “historic blow” to drug traffickers on Friday when it announced the scavenging of dozens of 50-kilogram (110-pound) sacks of cocaine inside a warehouse in Buenaventura, a strategic port for Colombian cocaine.

The container was headed for the Netherlands, according to the statement, adding that “the drug was camouflaged under the method of being mixed with plaster.”

“With this seizure, we prevented the distribution of 35 million cocaine doses and had a significant financial impact on those structures,” the statement read.

Petro confirmed the seizure in a post on X, calling it the largest seizure by Colombian police “in the last ten years” when he videoed officers and canines raiding a warehouse in the Port of Buenaventura.

He continued, “There was no single death during the operation.”

ALERT! Colombia’s police have recently conducted the largest seizure. In the Port of Buenaventura, 14 tons of cocaine have been seized without a single fatality.

Washington’s pressure

The Trump administration has increased its clampdown on Bogota over the past few months, calling its anti-drug policies ineffective, and threatening to have Colombia off its list of allies in its drug war.

President Petro, his wife Veronica del Socorro Alcocer Garcia, his son Nicolas Fernando Petro Burgos, and Colombian Interior Minister Armando Alberto Benedetti were given sanctions by the US Department of the Treasury in October for their alleged involvement in the world drug trade.

Petro “allowed drug cartels to prosper and refused to stop this activity,” according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Since President Gustavo Petro took office, cocaine production in Colombia has soared to the highest level in decades, inflicting flooding and poisoning Americans, according to Bessent.

Petro demanded on Monday that Colombia’s Financial Information and Analysis Unit make his bank records&nbsp public, to show that he has no connections to drug trafficking.

Do you find it alarming that the president was democratically elected by Colombians in your eyes? On X, Petro wrote.

Petro has criticized Trump’s anti-drug policies since taking office, calling them “extrajudicial executions” for the repeated bombings of suspected traffickers in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean since September.

The Trump administration has used its military actions to combat illicit drug flows, including a recent surge in the number of warships stationed in the area.

As Caracas grows concern that Trump is preparing troops for an upcoming military conflict against Venezuela, Venezuela has decried it as a pretext to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office.

Bolivia’s shift toward conservatism

US ties to Bolivia are improving as Colombia and Venezuela continue to face off against each other as they approach Washington in a new era of conservative rule.

Ernesto Justiniano, Bolivia’s brand-new narcotics tsar, announced to the AFP news agency on Friday that the socialist former president Evo Morales had been invited to reappear.

According to Justiniano, who is a member of the new administration of President Rodrigo Paz, a pro-business conservative who took office on November 8, “there is a political commitment” for the organization to return to Bolivia, where cocaine production has allegedly gotten out of hand.

“We will no longer be a country that acts solely out of political necessity,” Justiniano declared.

He continued, “International cooperation is essential” in the fight against the drug trade.

Kerry Katona shows her true colours with jaw-dropping interview about Katie Price

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In an astonishing interview, Kerry Katona, a TV personality and former member of Atomic Kitten, spoke openly about her best friend, former model Katie Price.

Kerry Katona’s impressive loyalty glistened in a candid interview about pal Katie Price — in which she praised the reality star’s strength and determination.

In a remarkable new interview, Kerry, 45, received praise online for the support she has given Katie, her best friend. Kate is not fragile, according to the former Atomic Kitten member. She is the most powerful person I know. She also drinks more together than anyone would give her credit. And she’ll regain control of her empire. I admire her tremendously.

Her clear verdict of Katie’s character comes despite the former model’s health battle, for which fans have expressed concern. Katie had said last week her life became “sad and lonely” following mental health challenges some time ago. She has had several cosmetic surgeries in recent years, including one just this month on her lips and this has divided opinion.

Kerry, the mother-of-five, says that Katie and she “live each other’s lives,” when she expressed support for the actress today. “Don’t touch Kate,” Kerry remarked. Avoid touching her. What’s wrong with them, exactly? Kate and I both went where we went. I’ve divorced, filed for bankruptcy, and used the drugs. Our lives are very mirror-free. Why wouldn’t I back her? Nobody has backed me.

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Following the interview, Kerry’s supporters praised her devotion. One online user said, “Tough cookie, Kerry, you look fantastic.” Another person praised “Kerry’s loyalty.” You also have the strength of Katie.

Kerry, who was born in Warrington, Cheshire, recently appeared in a documentary about girl bands and how early success at age 18, with Atomic Kitten, can be unhealthy. She claimed that watching the program after it ended was difficult because it brought back unpleasant memories.

Two days prior to the release of Whole Again, the band’s first UK number one single, Kerry left Atomic Kitten in January 2001. The TV star has since experienced additional difficulties, including several bad jobs and two bankruptcies.

Continue reading the article.

And it is through these hard times, she and Katie haved remained close and crutches of support. They may both have five children but Kerry believes their parenting styles are different. The former glamour model, who endorsed Donald Trump during his electoral campaign last year, told the Daily Mail today: “Well, she’s really laidback about everything — including parenting. I’m more strict. And I’m more fiery. I’m more likely to headbutt someone.”

Can Pakistan join the Gaza stabilisation force without facing backlash?

Islamabad, Pakistan, which presided over the UN Security Council on Monday and voted in favor of a United States-authored resolution that established a transitional administration and an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, had an ostensibly contradictory response.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, thanked the US for tabling the resolution and voted in its favour. He added that Pakistan was not entirely satisfied with the outcome and that the final text did not contain any “critical suggestions” from Pakistan.

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Though the resolution promises a “credible pathway” to Palestinian statehood, Ahmed, in his comments to the council, said it did not spell that path out, and did not clarify the role of the UN, a proposed Board of Peace (BoP) to oversee Gaza’s governance, or the mandate of the ISF.

“Those are all crucial factors that affect the success of this endeavor. We earnestly hope that further details in coming weeks will provide the much-needed clarity on these issues”, he said.

The US president’s 20-point ceasefire plan, which served as the basis for the UN resolution, had already been approved by the nation in September. And while several other Arab and Muslim countries have also cautiously supported the resolution, Pakistan, with the largest army among them, is widely expected to play a key role in the ISF.

According to analysts, Islamabad will need to navigate a careful tightrope walk as it grapples with questions at home regarding a potential military deployment in Gaza as a result of the resolution’s support and the suggestions that Pakistan still has questions it needs to address.

“The US playbook is clear and has a pro-Israel tilt. However, Salman Bashir, the former Pakistani foreign secretary, said to Al Jazeera, “We need to acknowledge that this is the best option that we have.” “After the sufferings inflicted on the people of Gaza, we did not have any option but to go along”.

Pakistan’s rising geopolitical worth

In recent weeks, Pakistan’s top leaders have engaged in hectic diplomacy with key Middle Eastern partners.

King Abdullah II of Jordan traveled to Islamabad over the weekend to meet with the army chief Asim Munir and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. Munir had earlier travelled to Amman in October, as well as to Cairo in Egypt.

In the wake of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, Pakistan has traditionally had close ties with Gulf states. These ties have grown even stronger. Pakistan has long called for “Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign, independent and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with al-Quds al-Sharif]Jerusalem] as its capital”.

Pakistan, the only Muslim country in the region with nuclear weapons, has recently come under increasing scrutiny from both the United States and significant Arab allies.

In September, Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia, days after Israel had struck Doha, the Qatari capital. The formal signing ceremony of the Gaza ceasefire agreement was held in Cairo in October, along with Trump, Field Marshal Munir, and a number of other world leaders. Sharif lavished Trump with praise on the occasion.

By that time, Trump had already referred to Munir as his “favorite field marshal.” Following a brief escalation with India in May, during which Pakistan said it shot down Indian jets, Munir met Trump in the Oval Office in June, an unprecedented visit for a serving Pakistani military chief who is not head of state.

Munir and Sharif made another trip to Washington in the late fall. The prime minister and army chief met Trump and promoted potential investment opportunities, including Pakistan’s rare earth minerals.

Pakistan’s government is currently considering joining the ISF. Though the government has not made any decision, senior officials have publicly commented favourably about the idea. On October 28, Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif stated, “I think it will be a matter of pride for us,” adding that “I think it will be a matter of pride.” “We will be proud to do it”.

Some analysts cautioned that’s easier said than done.

Palestine is an emotive issue in Pakistan, which does not recognise Israel. Any suggestion of military cohesion with Israeli forces or even de facto recognition of Israel is still politically fraught because the national passport specifically states that it is prohibited from using it for travel to Israel.

That makes the prospect of troop deployment to Gaza a highly sensitive subject for politicians and the military alike.

On September 17 in Riyadh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defense agreement. [Handout/Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office]

Government keeps cards close to chest

Officially, the government hasn’t disclosed its position on joining the ISF.

Even while describing any participation in the force as a cause for pride, &nbsp, Defence Minister Asif said the government would consult parliament and other institutions before making any decision.

I don’t want to preempt anything, he said, adding that the government will decide after the process is completed.

In a weekly press briefing earlier this month, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the question of Pakistan’s contribution would be decided “after consultation at the highest level”.

“The decision will be made as and when necessary.” Certain level of leadership has stated that the decision will be taken with the advice of the government”, he said.

No response was sent to Asif, the defense minister, Attaullah Tarar, the minister of information, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media outlet, Al Jazeera.

Some retired senior officers claim that Pakistan won’t make a decision behind closed doors.

Muhammad Saeed, a three-star general who served as Chief of General Staff until his 2023 retirement, said he expects the terms of reference and rules of engagement for any ISF deployment to be debated in public forums, including Pakistan’s National Security Council and parliament.

No government can possibly keep it under wraps because this is such a sensitive subject that it needs to be debated publicly. So once the ISF structure becomes clear, I am certain that Pakistani decision-making will be very inclusive and the public will know about the details”, he told Al Jazeera.

According to Kamran Bokhari, senior director at the Washington, DC, New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy’s (NLP) senior director, both countries’ mutual defense agreements meant that Pakistani troops in Gaza would likely represent both. He, however, added that Pakistan would likely have participated in the ISF even without the Saudi pact.

Experts contend that the UN resolution’s lack of specifics about the ISF and Gaza’s leadership is still a hindrance.

Several countries on the council said the resolution left key elements ambiguous, including the composition, structure and terms of reference for both the BoP and the ISF. China, which abstained, also described the text as “vague and unclear” in key areas.

The resolution asks for the Gaza Strip to be “demilitarised” and for the “permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”, a demand that Hamas has rejected.

Palestinians and resistance groups oppose the resolution, which Hamas claimed violated Palestinian rights and attempted to impose an international trusteeship over Gaza.

So far, the US has sent nearly 200 personnel, including a general, to establish a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) near Gaza on Israeli territory. The ISF will coordinate humanitarian aid and serve as its main location.

US-based media outlet Politico reported last month that Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Indonesia – all Muslim-majority states – were among the top contenders to supply troops for the ISF.

The United Arab Emirates, which recognized Israel during Trump’s first administration and signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, has stated that it won’t participate until the legal framework is clear.

King Abdullah of Jordan also warned that without a clear mandate for the ISF, it would be difficult to make the plan succeed.

epa12533972 The ruins of destroyed buildings in northern Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 18 November 2025, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Around 1.9 million people in Gaza, nearly 90 percent of the population, have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023, according to the UN. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
As a result of Israel’s ceasefire and Hamas, the ruins of destroyed buildings were discovered in northern Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on November 18, 2025. About 1.9 million people in Gaza, nearly 90 percent of the population, have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023, according to the UN]Mohammed Saber/EPA]

Costs, incentives, and the historical significance of Pakistan

Bokhari argued Pakistan has limited options, adding that many of its close allies are “deeply committed” to the initiative and have sought Islamabad’s participation.

According to him, Pakistan’s economic and financial problems require it to “repair” its military in order to win the support of Islamabad’s Gulf allies. “We have to assume that the current civilian-military leadership is aware of the domestic political risks”.

Others credit Pakistan’s long involvement with UN peacekeeping. As of September 2025, UN figures show Pakistan has contributed more than 2, 600 personnel to UN missions, just below Indonesia’s 2, 700, ranking Pakistan sixth overall.

Pakistan has “extensive experience of providing support in conflict zones in the past,” according to Qamar Cheema, executive director of the Islamabad-based Sanober Institute.

Pakistan currently faces security challenges on both its borders – with India to its east and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to the west. However, because there may not be enough troops needed in Gaza, Cheema said, “because various countries are also sending troops,” it may not need to cut troops from its eastern or western borders.

Saeed, the retired general, said Pakistan’s historic position on Palestine remained intact and that its prior peacekeeping experience meant that its troops were well-equipped to help the ISF.

“Pakistan has one of the most rewarding experiences with the UN in terms of peacekeeping and peace enforcement. We have a sizeable force, with a variety of experience in maintaining peace and order”, he said.

The former general said, “The hope is that we can help bring humanitarian aid to Gaza and implement the UN resolution.”

Domestic political risks and the Israeli factor

Despite those assertions, many Pakistanis question the viability or political acceptability of collaborating with or supporting Israeli forces.

Bashir, the former foreign secretary, acknowledged the risks and said the demand that Hamas deweaponise made the ISF “a difficult mission”.

He continued, “Realism requires that we accept a less than ideal solution.”

Bokhari of New Lines Institute said stakeholders often sort out details “on the go” in the early stages of such missions.

There is no way for Pakistan or any other participating country to avoid coordinating with Israel, he said.

Saeed, however, disagreed. He claimed that the ISF would likely be a coalition with one partner that would coordinate any negotiations with Israeli forces, leaving Pakistani troops without any direct contact with Israel.

“There are other countries potentially part of ISF who have relations with Israel. They will likely assume the position of commandant in the ISF, and not Pakistan, he said. He added Pakistan’s involvement – if it happens – would be narrowly focused on maintaining the ceasefire and protecting Palestinian lives.

However, retired three-star general Omar Mahmood Hayat warned that any operational ties to Israel “will stoke domestic backlash and erode public trust.”

Hayat said Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel “for principled reasons” and that blurring that line, even citing humanitarian considerations, would invite domestic confusion and controversy.

G20 summit in South Africa: Who’s attending and what’s on the agenda?

The Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ summit, the first of its kind to be held in an African nation since the United States boycotted claims that the host nation mistreats white people, is taking place this weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic capital.

About 42 countries and institutions will be represented at the meeting that starts on Saturday, but the US, under President Donald Trump – who has condemned South Africa’s position as host – will be conspicuously absent.

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The rotating presidency will be held by Washington, a founding member of the organization, and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to hand it over to an empty chair at any time.

On Thursday, Ramaphosa said the US had reached out at the last minute to agree on some kind of participation, but did not disclose details. However, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt responded by accusing Ramaphosa of “running his mouth” and claiming that Trump’s or his team had not considered the South African leader’s remarks as “not appreciated by the president]” or “the president’s position had not changed.”

She did, however, indicate that the US would send an official for the handover ceremony, as it takes over the G20’s presidency from South Africa. Although it has not been confirmed, the official tasked with this task might be the acting US ambassador to South Africa, Marc D. Dillard.

Despite the drama over the US attendance, Johannesburg has been buzzing with activity all week in preparation for the summit, as workers clean up and decorate the bustling city. When Ramaphosa donned dungarees and picked up cleaning supplies, he also caught surprise.

Bright flowers and colourful G20 billboards adorn the streets through which dignitaries will pass on their way from the OR Tambo international airport into the city.

The army is on standby, while at least 3,500 additional police officers have been stationed to increase security for the high-level guests.

Some South Africans, though, have voiced criticism of the expensive event, pointing to the economic challenges the country faces. Around the airport and the summit’s location are planned several protests, including those involving women’s rights activists and organizations involved in climate change.

Here’s what we know about the summit:

Prior to the meeting scheduled for November 22 through November 23, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa, banners featuring European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Angola’s President Joao Lourenco are displayed inside the secured area of the G20 summit venue.

What is the G20, and when is the summit?

The G20 was established in 1999 as a covert economic organization of the world’s largest economic powers.

But it was the 2008 economic crisis that propelled the G20 into prominence: In a world where major Global South economies like China and India were playing increasingly vital roles, the G7 grouping of seven wealthy nations was no longer equipped to stop the financial bloodbath that spanned continents.

G20 leaders have met for summits at least once a year since then.

The grouping originally comprised 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the US), plus the European Union as the 20th entity. The African Union has a membership since 2023. Combined, they represent 85 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and two-thirds of the world’s population, according to the G20.

Representatives from the G20 nations discuss pressing issues at regular meetings throughout the year. But in November, the leaders meet for the annual summit.

The leaders’ summit typically ends with a non-binding leaders’ declaration, marking the culmination of the host nation’s yearlong leadership. In Brazil last November, leaders issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to achieving the United Nations ‘ Sustainable Development Goals by a 2030 deadline.

South Africa has been in office since November 2024, and it will turn that office over to the US on November 30th, 2025. This weekend’s meeting will take place over two days from Saturday, November 22, at Johannesburg’s 150, 000 square-metre Nasrec Expo Centre, the country’s largest convention centre.

Who will be there?

Forty-two countries and organisations have confirmed their attendance, according to South African officials speaking to reporters on Monday.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola described this attendance rate as a “success” for South Africa, noting that at least six heads of state are not present at the summit but, aside from the US, the others are sending high-level representatives.

Some of the most notable names expected at the summit include: China’s Premier Li Qiang, French President Emmanuel Macron, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Additionally, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the African Union Commission Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and President of the European Council Antonio Costa will be present.

Why is the US boycotting the summit this year?

The most notable of all the allegations that Trump’s absence from the meeting will overshadow the summit’s goals and undermine South Africa’s position will be made will be in the absence of Trump.

Last week, the US president denounced South Africa’s leadership of the G20 and said he would not attend, citing alleged discrimination against South Africa’s minority white population and inaccurately alleging a “genocide” of white farmers.

Following the passage of a new law in South Africa, which addresses disparities in land ownership, three-quarters of which is owned by the country’s white minority, Trump has made a number of unsupported claims of “genocide” since returning to the White House in January.

In February, the Trump administration cut foreign aid to South Africa, a move which could be a major threat to the nation’s HIV response, according to experts.

President Ramaphosa disputed claims of a “white genocide” during a heated exchange with Trump at the White House in May, saying that all ethnic groups are at risk in South Africa.

In July, Trump said that while he might not attend the G20 summit, he would send Vice President JD Vance instead. Trump, however, attacked South Africa’s claims in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on November 8 and said no US official would be present.

“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa”, he wrote, while recounting his claims again. As long as these human rights abuses continue, no US government official will be present. I look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida”! he continued.

South African officials have attempted to downplay the US’s absence. After Trump made his announcement, Ramaphosa, who spoke to journalists in Cape Town, said the move was unlikely to have an impact.

“It is unfortunate that the United States has decided not to attend the G20″, he said. According to my political experience, boycotts never actually work. They have a very contradictory effect”.

Ramaphosa made a similar statement to the media, saying that the US boycott was “their loss.” The South African leader, this week, however, said he would hand over the presidency to an empty seat meant for the US representative in a symbolic gesture, and stressed the need to repair ties with Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looks towards a monitor (not pictured) that shows videos allegedly pertaining to the genocide of white people in South Africa, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
On May 21, 2025, US President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa examine a monitor (not pictured) that allegedly records videos of the genocide of white people in South Africa.

Who else will not attend?

  • Trump ally Javier Milei won’t attend the meeting, but Pablo Quirino will, too. Milei did not state why he withdrew.
  • President Xi Jinping was informed by China’s Foreign Ministry on November 14 that Li Qiang would be the one representing him at the meeting. The ministry did not state why, but South Africa and China have a thriving trade relationship. The 2023 BRICS summit, another informal grouping of developing nations, was held there as President Xi.
  • The Kremlin announced in October that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would not attend the meeting and would instead send his deputy head of the presidential administration, Maxim Oreshkin. Puntin is the subject of an international arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine, and South Africa is required by law to detain him if he enters the nation.
  • Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cancelled his trip after 25 girls were kidnapped this week from their school amid a security crisis in the country.
  • Due to scheduled national events, the Mexican government announced this week that Claudia Sheinbaum would not be present. Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente usually represents her abroad.

What’s on the schedule?

South Africa, as host, will emphasise issues which affect Global South countries and is hoping to persuade leaders to collectively pledge their commitment to addressing topics from economic inequalities to improving development financing for vulnerable countries.

South Africa will also lobby nations to pledge to increase global spending on climate-related disaster resilience and response efforts, increase global funding for climate-related projects, and provide better debt restructuring and relief for poorer nations through bilateral lending and international financial institutions, and give local communities and source countries priority in a global resource war for access to crucial minerals, some of which are concentrated in African countries.

South Africa has not hosted an international event on this scale since the 2010 FIFA World Cup. According to Gilad Isaacs, executive director of the South African think tank, the Institute for Economic Justice, this is an important time for the country and for Africa, despite the criticism from the US, where Pretoria has raised “real issues” affecting African countries at this time.

“The US boycott will not derail the work”, Isaacs said. The presidency’s credibility will be determined by whether the agenda put forth in the interests of the Global South is implemented and used in other forums, not by the presence of any one country.

g20
Banners featuring world leaders are displayed inside the secured area of the G20 summit venue ahead of the meeting scheduled for November 22–23, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 21, 2025]Yves Herman/Reuters]

What protests are on the horizon?

Several protests are planned around the event, and started on Friday. Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, the deputy national commissioner for policing, informed reporters on Tuesday that protests are expected in Johannesburg and other significant cities in South Africa.

“We will allow that right]to protest] to be exercised”, she said. However, within the law’s proper guidelines and restrictions.

Femicide protests

The Women for Change advocacy group planned one of the biggest demonstrations to protest femicide and the rise in violence against women in South Africa. The group demanded a national shutdown on Friday, the eve of the summit. Three women are killed by intimate partners every day, according to government figures.

In order to raise awareness, the organization had spearheaded a significant social media campaign in the days leading up to the event. On Friday, it asked South African women to boycott work and school and to wear all black to signify mourning. In honor of the women who had been murdered, women were also urged to lie down for 15 minutes at 12 p.m. (GMT).

“Because, until South Africa stops burying a woman every 2.5 hours, the G20 cannot speak of growth and progress”, Women for Change said in a campaign statement.

President Ramaphosa made an emotional statement at a G20 event on Thursday evening, calling gender-based violence and femicide both a national and global crisis. Women’s rights groups, however, say they are pushing for femicide to be declared a national disaster.

Protests against climate change

On Thursday, a coalition of climate change and wealth inequality activists called The Citizen began an alternative summit in Johannesburg, decrying the G20 gathering as “for the rich”.

White minority protests

Separately, Solidarity, a trade union representing members of South Africa’s Afrikaner white minority, is also set to protest against the alleged marginalisation of white South Africans. The organization has placed controversial billboards in Johannesburg that read, “Welcome to the most RACE-REGULATED country in the world.”

Unemployment protests

Major MAGA figure Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns after Trump clash

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a leading figure in the far-right and a long-time ally of Donald Trump, announced today that she will step down from Congress.

Under the Trump administration, Greene wrote in a protracted resignation statement on social media late on Friday, saying that loyalty should be a two-way street, while Congress “has mostly been sidelined.”

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The Georgian congresswoman, 51, claimed in her video statement that she had “always represented the common American man and woman as a member of the House of Representatives, which is why I’ve always been despised in Washington, DC, and never fit in.”

She stated, “My last day is January 5, 2026, and I’ll be resigning from office.”

Greene reaffirmed that she did not want her supporters and family to go through “the President we all fought for’s hurtful and hateful primary.”

President Trump responded to the news by saying, “I think it’s great news for the country.”

Trump reportedly said in an interview, “It’s great,” according to ABC News.

Greene, a former leader of Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, had a very public disagreement with the president after he announced earlier this month that he would withdraw all support for the congresswoman he referred to as “Wacky Marjorie.”

Greene has cited as a reason why she disagrees with Trump her outspoken support for the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s government records.

Trump had criticized the Epstein controversy as a “Democrat hoax” and has struggled with unrest in his MAGA base as a result of his U-turn on his pre-election promise to release the case’s government files.

Trump signed a bill this week to release the Epstein files, but it came under increasing pressure from Democrats and members of his own party. Its motion passed in the House and Senate with unanimous support.

Greene mentioned the Epstein controversy in her resignation statement.

The president of the United States, for whom I fought, should not condemn me for standing up for American women who were raped at the age of 14 and used by wealthy, powerful men, Greene said.

Greene also became the first Republican lawmaker to refer to Israel’s attack on Gaza as a genocide this year.

Trump’s continued criticism of Greene as a “lightweight” and even a “traitor” to the Republican Party comes after his earlier withdrawal earlier this month from his Truth Social platform.

Following that, Greene claimed that a string of threats were threatening her.

In light of Trump’s warm White House meeting with New York’s leftist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani earlier on Friday, Greene’s decision to step down from Congress before the 2026 midterms is the clearest sign yet of a growing split in the MAGA community.

On November 21, 2025, US President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani meet in the White House’s Oval Office in Washington, DC.