My Take On It: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Ugly of 2025, Part III

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16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Open up prayer for all governmental leaders and their institutions so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.” —1 Timothy 2:2

The year 2025 continues to be a year where the country and the world is losing many of its greats – forming what we call the Bad. It is also the year many disastrous and Downright Ugly things have happened, right along there with the Good. Among those we have lost in 2025 are relatives, nationals, and international icons. While this week we outline the Downright Uglies of 2025, a section is reserved for the Bad. Losing loved ones or icons are Bad and unbearable experiences.

This week, as the year draws to its twilight, the Mayombo clan weeps again; this time with the loss of our brother, cousin, uncle, and friend, Ronald Mtisunge Mbekeani; he is the second from the clan to breathe his last. Earlier this year, we lost Rogers Zamachetcha Mbekeani.

From the international scene, former New York Congressman Charles Wrangle passed away this year. Others are musician Marianne Faithful, Brandon Clackson (husband to TV personality Kelly Clackson), Dolly Parton’s husband Carl Dean, a song writer and married to the singer for 60 years, died early in 2025. Phil Robertson, Ruth Buzzi, Uche Ujeh, David Lynch, and Diego Jota were all lost to us in 2025.

Three very gruesome killings took place in 2025. These include the slaying by gunshot of a Republican Party activist, an actor/director and his wife, and Hanukkah celebrants in Australia.

On September 10, 2025, an assassin gunned down, Charles James Kirk. He was an American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA in 2012, and was a member of the Republican Party, and a highly influential figure in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) Movement. The assassination took place while Kirk was speaking at an outdoor campus debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Twenty-two year old Tyler James Robinson, from Washington, Utah later surrendered to Police.

Acclaimed director, producer, screenwriter and actor Rob Reiner and wife Michele Reiner (née Singer), were found dead in their Brentwood, California, home on December 14, 2025. Their son Nick has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The cause of death was from knife wounds.

The shocking headline read: At least 15 killed in mass shooting at Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The assassins turned out to be a pair of father-and-son duo who used two “basic” improvised explosive devices that were found at the scene of the slaying. Among the dead was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event.

This killing took Australians by surprise as mass shootings are rare in Australia. It also took place during the annual Jewish festivity and celebration of Chanukah by the Sea, an event celebrating the start of Hanukkah. Meanwhile,Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday called the shooting a “targeted attack against Jewish Australians” and a “terrorist incident.”

“An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian,” Albanese said in a statement posted on social media. “There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear. We will eradicate it.”

Turning to the US, let us continue to seek God’s face and pray, especially for President Donald Trump. The American leader is a gifted, highly admired gifted, and skillful communication professional. Let us pray that in 2026 President Trump uses his skills to bring global and national unity and peace beyond measure – in Europe, in the Middle East, in Latin America, and everywhere.

Let us pray that he uses his communication skills to bring an end to divisive, corrosive hatred, and racism. Let us pray, praising the LORD our God, that President Trump will bring about lasting respect for the rule of law and order within and even outside the USA.

Lastly, as the USA marches toward its celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Independence, let us pray that Mr. Trump will genuinely lead America to be the loveable country this land of the brave and free, land of opportunity continues to be the true bulwark of democracy it has been all these years. Let us pray, believe, and hold to be true that with God’s Mighty Hand, this President of the United States can do it.

Yes, he can, by God’s grace!

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Trump imposes tough US visa rules on 24 countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria

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Airtel Malawi

WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-US President Donald Trump has announced expanded entry restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that pose national security and public safety risks.

The new proclamation includes full suspensions for eight countries and partial suspensions for 16 others, affecting both immigrants and certain nonimmigrants, including travelers and students on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.

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Countries facing full suspension include Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals using Palestinian Authority–issued or endorsed travel documents.

The administration cited terrorism concerns, conflict and instability, high visa overstay rates, and claims that countries have not consistently accepted the return of removable nationals.

The partial suspension list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The administration cited a mix of overstay rates, screening challenges, and concerns around certain citizenship-by-investment programs.

The White House said the steps are intended to prevent entry of individuals the US lacks sufficient information to vet, while enforcing immigration laws and advancing national security objectives. Restrictions on some Turkmenistan nonimmigrant visas are lifted while immigrant entry remains suspended.

The affected countries are spread across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

Nigeria’s inclusion has raised concerns, with the country’s foreign minister expressing worries about the impact on trade deals and energy partnerships.

Trump defended the expanded entry restriction, saying it builds on his previous policies aimed at protecting national security and public safety. The Supreme Court has upheld similar restrictions in the past, ruling they are within presidential authority.

The move has sparked debate, with some arguing it undermines global cooperation and trade opportunities.

As the US continues to tighten its immigration policies, the impact on affected countries and individuals remains to be seen.

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Trump bars South Africa from 2026 G20 summit in Miami

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WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-US President Donald Trump has blocked South Africa from attending next year’s G20 summit in Miami, Florida, citing the country’s alleged “horrific Human Right Abuses” against white farmers and its refusal to hand over the G20 presidency to a US embassy representative.

The move has sparked a diplomatic row between the two nations, with South Africa calling Trump’s decision “an insult” and vowing to continue participating in all G20 meetings.

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The tension between the US and South Africa began when Trump returned to the White House in January, with him repeatedly targeting South Africa on several issues.

Trump has claimed that South Africa is engaged in a “white genocide” against white farmers, a claim that has been widely debunked as false.

South Africa has denied these allegations, insisting that its G20 membership is decided by the group itself, not by Washington.

According to Trump, South Africa refused to hand over the G20 presidency to a senior representative from the US Embassy, who attended the closing ceremony.

In response, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “At my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year”.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed regret over Trump’s remarks, stating that the country’s instruments of the G20 presidency were lawfully handed over to a US Embassy official. Ramaphosa’s office condemned Trump’s behavior, calling it “regrettable” and based on “misinformation and distortions” about South Africa.

The US is South Africa’s second-largest single-country trading partner after China, with total goods and services trade between the two countries reaching an estimated $26.2 billion in 2024.

Trump’s decision to bar South Africa from the G20 summit has been seen as a major diplomatic blow, deepening the rift between Washington and Pretoria.

The G20 summit is scheduled to take place in December 2026 at the Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in Florida, owned by Trump’s family.

The move has raised questions about the future of US-South Africa relations and the impact on global economic cooperation.

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Trump launches sharp attacks on democratic rivals during White House Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon

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Trump to speak with Putin, then Zelenskyy, to push for Ukraine ceasefire

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WASHINGTON DC-(MaraviPost)-During the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump targeted his political opponents.

Trump’s remarks took aim at several prominent Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Joe Biden, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

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The former president used the occasion to criticize their policies and leadership in a series of pointed comments.

Observers noted that Trump’s attacks were unusually direct and combative for a ceremonial event that is typically light-hearted and symbolic.

The turkey pardon, a longstanding White House tradition, involves sparing one or more turkeys from being slaughtered for Thanksgiving.

Despite the festive setting, Trump’s speech turned political, highlighting the ongoing tension between him and the Democratic Party.

Political analysts suggest that such remarks are likely intended to energize his base ahead of upcoming election cycles.

Democratic leaders have not yet formally responded to the former president’s comments from the ceremony.

The event drew media attention both for the traditional turkey pardon and for the unusually aggressive political rhetoric.

Trump’s appearance underscores his continued prominence in American political discourse and his readiness to publicly challenge Democratic figures.

The White House ceremony, typically a light-hearted celebration, was overshadowed by partisan attacks and pointed commentary.

As the holiday season continues, political observers anticipate that Trump’s rhetoric may influence public debate and media coverage in the weeks to come.

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South Africa to hand over G20 Presidency to “Empty chair” amid U.S. boycott

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PRETORIA-(MaraviPost)-South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Friday that his country will symbolically hand over the G20 presidency to an empty chair during the upcoming summit in Johannesburg, as the United States declines to attend.

The gesture highlights what many interpret as a diplomatic gaffe and a strain in relations between Pretoria and Washington at a time when South Africa seeks to assert its role on the global stage.

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Ramaphosa, speaking from Soweto while overseeing preparations for the summit, said: “I have said in the past I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there. I will probably symbolically hand over to that empty chair and then talk to President Trump…”

The remark was prompted by the announcement from the U.S. that no government officials would attend the 22–23 November summit in South Africa.

The absence of U.S. leadership at the summit marks a rare low point for the G20 — an institution built on the cooperation of the world’s major economies.

The United States cited alleged human-rights abuses in South Africa, particularly claims of violence against white South Africans, as grounds for the boycott. These claims have been widely rejected by South African officials.

For South Africa, the presidency of the G20 is a major diplomatic milestone — the first time an African country holds the rotating leadership of the bloc.

The handover to the U.S., traditionally a powerhouse in global governance, was expected to go smoothly and symbolically.

Instead, the “empty chair” moment signals tension, distrust, and a rerouting of global power dynamics.

Ramaphosa’s reference to handing over to an empty chair carries significant symbolism.

On one hand, it reflects South Africa’s willingness to proceed with leadership and agenda-setting even when one of the bloc’s most influential members opts out.

On the other hand, it may be seen as a diplomatic rebuke — a message that the U.S. absence will not halt the G20’s function, but that the void will be visible.

Despite the tension, Ramaphosa made clear that trade and cooperation with the United States remain priorities for South Africa.

“We export products to that country that in the end don’t end up in the White House. They end up in the hands of consumers in the United States,” Ramaphosa noted.

He added that while some might argue for disengagement, South Africa must sometimes engage with countries that are not friendly to safeguard the interests of its people.

The upcoming summit in Johannesburg is expected to focus on issues high on the agenda of the Global South: climate resilience, debt relief, and inclusive development.

South Africa’s theme for the presidency, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” reflects this shift in priorities.

With the U.S. absence looming, the onus falls on other leaders and emerging economies to fill the vacuum.

Critics argue that without robust U.S. participation, the G20’s influence could diminish.

The United States has historically played a central role in shaping global economic and financial governance. Its absence may reduce the summit’s capacity to enact major agreements.

Supporters of South Africa’s approach, however, view the moment as an opportunity: the Global South can step forward, diversify leadership, and reduce reliance on traditional powers.

Ramaphosa’s “empty chair” gesture may thus serve dual purposes: a provocation and an invitation. It warns that global diplomacy cannot simply rely on one dominant player, and invites others to engage more fully.

For the Johannesburg summit, it may encourage African, Asian, and Latin American leaders to press their agenda, potentially with greater autonomy.

How the U.S. responds if invited to the hand-over remains uncertain.

Whether it sends even a low-level representative or stays completely away could send even stronger signals about its role in global governance.

For South Africa, the practical implications are serious: hosting a summit of this scale demands security, infrastructure, and resources.

The eyes of the world will be on Johannesburg next week.

In the end, the “empty chair” might become a powerful reminder: that in a changing world, leadership vacuums speak as loudly as fulfilled seats.

How the G20 adapts will reveal whether it remains relevant or becomes a relic of a shifting geopolitical order.

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