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President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa is re-elected for a second term following a stunning last-minute coalition agreement.

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Legislators on Friday re-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to a second term. This came about when his party, hours before the election, forged an unexpected coalition agreement with a former political rival.

In Parliament, African National Congress leader Ramaphosa defeated the unexpectedly nominated Julius Malema of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters with a decisive win. In the 400-member house, Ramaphosa earned 283 votes to Malema’s 44.

With the support of some smaller parties and legislators from the Democratic Alliance, the nation’s second-largest party, 71-year-old Ramaphosa was able to win a second term. After the African National Congress (ANC) lost its long-held majority in a historic election two weeks ago, reducing it to 159 members in Parliament, they supported him in the vote and helped him over the finish line.

The ANC and the DA inked the last-minute deal during a break in what ended up being an extended parliamentary session, thereby guaranteeing Ramaphosa’s continued leadership of Africa’s most developed economy. In their first national coalition in which no party holds a majority in Parliament, the parties will now share governance of South Africa.

The agreement, known as a government of national unity, unites the ANC with the Democratic Alliance (DA), a white-led party that has long served as the primary opposition and the ANC’s most ardent opponent. Two smaller parties at least joined the deal as well.

The agreement, which thrust South Africa into unknown territory, was hailed by Ramaphosa as a “new birth, a new era for our country” and he urged the involved parties “to overcome their differences and to work together.”

He declared, “This is what we are going to do, and this is what I promise to accomplish as President.”

Since the apartheid system of white minority rule ended in 1994, the ANC, the renowned party of Nelson Mandela, had controlled South Africa with a comfortable majority.

However, in the humiliating national election held on May 29, a pivotal moment for the nation, it lost its 30-year majority. The vote took place in the midst of a general outcry among South Africans due to the country’s high rates of unemployment, inequality, and poverty.

Given the radically divergent philosophies of the ANC, a former liberation movement, and the centrist, business-friendly DA, which received 21% of the vote in the national election—the second-largest percentage after the ANC’s 40%—analysts caution that difficulties may lie ahead.

To start, the DA took issue with the ANC government’s decision to bring a highly sensitive case before the UN Supreme Court, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

The first person to confirm the deal was DA leader John Steenhuisen.

He said, “A deal has been signed, and the DA lawmakers will vote for Ramaphosa for president,” as he left Friday’s sessions to give a speech that was broadcast live on television. “From today, the DA will co-govern the Republic of South Africa in a spirit of unity and collaboration,” he stated.

The Parliament session started at 10 a.m. in the unusual setting of a conference center near Cape Town’s waterfront, after the city’s historic National Assembly building was gutted in a fire in 2022. The house first went through the hours long swearing-in of hundreds of new lawmakers and electing a speaker and a deputy speaker.

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The presidential election took place late at night, and the results weren’t made public until well after 10 p.m. As midnight slipped into Saturday, Ramaphosa concluded his acceptance speech.

The MK Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, boycotted the meeting, although this had little bearing on the results because a quorum only requires a third of the chamber.

Speaking with anyone else who wished to join the unity government, the ANC was willing to listen, according to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. He claimed that the multi-party accord will “prioritize the country across the political and ideological divide.” There are eighteen political groups represented in Parliament.

A few parties declined to participate, among them Malema’s EFF.

The Patriotic Alliance, whose leader, Gayton McKenzie, served a prison sentence for bank robbery, and the Inkatha Freedom Party were the other two parties who signed onto the coalition agreement.

McKenzie claimed that just as he had been granted a second shot at life, South Africa now had one as well—a chance to address its severe socioeconomic issues.

After the election results were announced on June 2, Parliament had to vote on the president within 14 days, giving the ANC a deadline to reach a coalition agreement. The final negotiations for a coalition agreement were held over the course of Thursday and Friday, according to party officials, after the ANC had been trying for two weeks to reach one.

Since the African National Congress (ANC) won the first all-race election in 1994 and put an end to over fifty years of racial segregation, South Africa has not experienced such a high degree of political unpredictability. Since then, starting with Mandela, every leader in South Africa has come from the ANC.

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The new unity administration also had similarities to the 1994 act of reconciliation when the African National Congress (ANC) held the majority and Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black president, invited political rivals to join a unity government. In his early political career, Ramaphosa had been instrumental in such negotiations.

The ANC’s hand was forced this time.

Leader of the PA McKenzie remarked, “The ANC has been very magnanimous in that they have accepted defeat and said, ‘let’s talk.”

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Michigan splash pad attack: A couple was shot seven times in total while defending their two small daughters.

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During the Michigan splash pad incident, a Rochester couple who were defending their young girls were shot seven times in all. Michael William Nash, 42, shot and wounded nine people at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills before taking his own life.

After being shot seven times in all, Micayla and Eric Coughlin sustained injuries while attempting to shield their two-year-old and seven-month-old girls. The attack happened close to their house on Saturday, June 15, at approximately five o’clock in the evening.

According to a GoFundMe page created for the couple, they were attacked brutally as they brought their kids to the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad to “enjoy a day with beautiful weather.” After grabbing a child to shield themselves, they were shot and hurt.

The page says, “They walked to the splash pad shortly after getting ice cream, and they weren’t even there for a minute when Micayla and Eric heard gunfire.” “They each grabbed a child to protect them, trying to save their own children.”

Right now, the woman and husband are receiving treatment in a hospital. Noel Wakula, a friend of Micayla’s, organised the campaign, which has asked for donations to support the family with their medical expenses.

The page says, “Their children were protected and able to go home that evening because of their heroic actions.” “After this unimaginable tragedy, Micayla and Eric have a long and unknown recovery ahead of them.”

Three other members of the same family—a 39-year-old lady, an eight-year-old child, and a four-year-old son—were also killed in the catastrophe. A 78-year-old guy who was shot in the abdomen was the oldest casualty.

It is said that Nash had mental health problems. Although his motivation is being looked into, the Detroit Free Press claims he was unrelated to the victims.

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Netizens express embarrassment at confused Joe Biden being escorted off stage by Barack Obama at an event in Los Angeles.

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In a widely shared video, Joe Biden appeared to freeze up on stage at a Los Angeles fundraiser, and former president Barack Obama was seen helping him off. The altercation happened following Biden and Obama’s 45-minute appearance at the Peacock Theatre for a late-night chat with Jimmy Kimmel.

The men can be seen in the footage standing for applause at the star-studded event. Biden seemed to fix his gaze on the audience for ten seconds or more before Obama walked him off the stage and grabbed his wrist. The New York Post reports that the Biden campaign was able to raise almost $30 million at the event. At the occasion were famous people including Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney.

“There is no way that this is the head of the free world.”
“No offence… But I’ll never understand why old folks, and I mean rich old men and women just can’t leave politics alone and simply go on about their lives and enjoy EVERY bit of it until the last day,” wrote one of the many comments on the above video that British broadcaster Piers Morgan shared on social media. Too wealthy to be making themselves look bad on national television like this. One person remarked, “Clearly President Obama seems to have stepped in and taken command,” while another said, “They’re simply going to carry on pretending that it’s not happening and continue promoting Biden as “Sharp, dynamic, and full of vigour.”

“Why does Obama appear to be dragging out Biden as some elderly statesman to smile and wave at the crowd? One user said, “This cannot possibly be the leader of the free world,” and another commented, “It’s hard not to feel sorry for Biden.” The elderly boy has to be taken care of and removed from the spotlight by someone. A user said, “It’s so embarrassing that they have allowed this to continue.”

Some people, meanwhile, expressed sympathy for Biden’s poor performance. Would you send him shopping with a list to the nearby stores and expect him to return home if he were your father? It is inhumane. One commenter said, “They are embarrassing him by letting this continue. “I’m sure mainstream media will cry about “camera angles” and “framing” again,” another person commented. Elder abuse is something that must be acknowledged.

In fact, one user went so far as to say he thought the incident was being exaggerated and that Biden had not actually frozen up. “I was present there. In the front row, I witnessed three young people yelling at President Biden. @President Biden did not clam up when trying to listen. Seemingly prepared to reply, Now incorrect news is spreading. Sharing my perspective,” the user wrote.

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Saudi Arabia: As the temperature approaches 48 degrees, 14 Jordanian Hajj pilgrims have died.

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Because of the intense heat and prolonged heatwave that pervaded Saudi Arabia during the Hajj, at least 14 Jordanian pilgrims have perished and 17 more are missing. During the Hajj pilgrimage, fourteen Jordanian pilgrims perished and seventeen more went missing, according to the foreign ministry of Jordan. According to the statement, its citizens died “after suffering a stroke due to the extreme heat wave.”

The Jordanian foreign ministry stated in a statement that it was working with the Saudi authorities to arrange for the burial or transfer of the remains of the deceased in accordance with the family’s requests.

Five Iranian pilgrims’ deaths were also confirmed by the Iranian Red Crescent, however the cause of their deaths was not disclosed, according to news agency AFP. Regarding the deaths, Saudi authorities haven’t yet made an official comment.

In the holy town, the temperature has surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and is expected to hit 47 degrees on Monday.

As part of their efforts to reduce heat, the Saudi authorities have established numerous climate-controlled rooms. Along with giving out water, they counsel pilgrims on sun protection techniques. Additionally, the Saudi health ministry sent a warning advising pilgrims to avoid the warmest parts of the day outside and to stay hydrated.

One of the world’s biggest mass gatherings is the Hajj. Saudi officials claim that around 1.8 million pilgrims are participating this year. Over the last 30 years, hundreds of deaths have occurred at the festival due to stampedes, tent fires, heat, and other causes.

At least 240 persons, many of whom were from Indonesia, lost their lives during the Hajj pilgrimage in 2018. The death toll was reported by several nations, although the causes of death were not given. Heat stroke affected more than 2,000 pilgrims on the journey.

Hajj for this year would conclude on Wednesday.

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