South Africa's new unity government under President Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in on Wednesday, the first of its kind in the country after 30 years of rule by the ANC. Ahead of the 32 ministers -- from six parties -- making up the cabinet, Paul Mashatile, who has been re-appointed deputy president, was the first to take the oath during the televised ceremony in Cape Town. On Sunday, Ramaphosa, 71, unveiled his highly anticipated coalition government, which includes the leader of the former main opposition party and sees the number of ministries rise from 30 to 32. There are also 43 deputy ministers. His African National Congress (ANC), which has governed since the advent of democracy in 1994, sought to form a government of national unity after losing its outright parliamentary majority in May 29 elections. The historied party, which won just over 40 percent in the poll, keeps 20 cabinet positions, including foreign affairs, finance, defence, justice and police. Its largest coalition partner and long-time critic, the Democratic Alliance (DA), won 21.8 percent and will head six ministries, including agriculture, public works and communication. DA leader John Steenhuisen, 48, was appointed agriculture minister. Along with his party, he has criticised the ANC for failing to tackle high violent crime rates, a lacklustre economy and a crippling energy crisis. The Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, anti-immigration Patriotic Alliance, right-wing Afrikaans party Freedom-Front Plus and other smaller parties will hold six cabinet positions between them. Fourteen ministers are women and there are 18 women serving as deputy ministers. The new government heralds a pragmatic shift to the centre right, bringing hope for better governance but also cohesion fears. US President Joe Biden called Ramaphosa on Tuesday «to congratulate him on his recent election and the successful formation of the government of national unity», according to the presidency. Ramaphosa has been under fire from opposition and business leaders over the number of ministers, with fears that the government will become immobilised and a waste of taxpayers' money. Each minister earns over 2.5 million rand ($135,000) a year, while deputy ministers are paid more than 2.2 million rand ($119,000), according to the government gazette. Perks include elaborate state security, travel allowances and ministerial homes in Cape Town, the seat of parliament, and the administrative capital, Pretoria. The opposition leftist Economic Freedom Fighters voiced concern «that this cabinet has been increased and bloated, signalling more pressure on taxpayers». © Agence France-Presse
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire rages out of control in northern California, with a swathe of the United States in the grip of a «record-breaking and dangerous» heatwave that was complicating firefighting efforts. More than 3,500 acres (1,400 hectares) of grass and woodland have been consumed since Tuesday when a blaze erupted just outside Oroville. The town, near the state capital of Sacramento, is just 23 miles (38 kilometers) from Paradise, a community that was razed in 2018 by the deadliest fire in California history, which claimed the lives of 85 people. Garrett Sjolund, fire chief of Butte County, said the area was under a so-called «red flag warning.» «The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than we've experienced the last two summers,» he told reporters. «The fuels are very dense. Brush is dry, and as you can see, any wind will move a fire out very quickly.» Over 25,000 people in the area were under orders to evacuate on Wednesday, local NBC affiliate KCRA reported. - Fireworks - Climate scientists say the western US is undergoing a decades-long aridification as weather patterns change, at least in part because of human-caused global warming. California suffered around 20 years of drought, but the last two years were relatively mild, with near-record amounts of rain that filled reservoirs and sparked furious growth in forests and grasslands. However, 2024 is shaping up to be a hot and dry year, and that flora is rapidly drying out, creating plenty of fuel for the wildfires that are a normal part of the ecosystem's natural cycle. The conditions have left officials warning of potentially devastating blazes waiting to happen, especially if people are careless or negligent with fireworks over the upcoming July 4th Independence Day holiday. «We've had four fires within the last couple of weeks. This is a bad fire season,» said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. «The last thing we need is somebody who's purchased fireworks from a local fire stand going out and doing something stupid. Don't be an idiot.» On Wednesday, around 1,400 firefighters were attacking the flames on the ground with heavy machinery and by air with planes and helicopters, dumping red fire suppressant. Sjolund said that equipment and personnel were arriving from other jurisdictions to reinforce operations. A handful of people, including some firefighters, have reportedly been injured, though none of them seriously. AFP journalists have seen buildings and vehicles destroyed in the fire. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, a move intended to free up resources and help the battle against the blaze. «We are using every available tool to tackle this fire and will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to support impacted communities,» he said. «As we head into some of the most challenging months of wildfire season, the state is better prepared than ever to protect at-risk communities with new tools, technology and resources.» - 'Record-breaking' - The National Weather Service (NWS) said the area was expected to see punishingly high temperatures over the coming days, with the mercury touching 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) in some spots. The oppressive heat is part of a system that is set to affect almost half of the country's population, including over the July 4 holiday weekend. «Record-breaking and dangerous heat is forecast to make this Fourth of July week a scorcher across much of the West and from the southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic,» the NWS said Wednesday. «Nearly 150 million residents are currently under heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories throughout 21 states as of this afternoon.» Forecasters said the heat would roll in off the West Coast and take hold of central California before spreading further as the week progresses, including into Oregon and Washington to the north. «Dozens of record highs are possible, expressing the rarity of this early-July heatwave,» the NWS said. Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common as our planet warms, largely due to humanity's unchecked burning of fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution. © Agence France-Presse
Despite Sir Keir's careful refusal to make big commitments, ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he will have to get 'more radical'.
Follow MailOnline's live election coverage as the Tories are expected to be slashed from the 365 secured less than five years ago to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history.
The Eurosceptic firebrand who leads the Reform UK party has beat his Conservative challenger for the Essex seat of Clacton Read Full Article at RT.com
La cérémonie d'ouverture du Heiva, c'est ce jeudi 4 juillet à la place Toata. Après l'inauguration du village artisanal vers 16h30 puis le Rahiri à 18h, les concours de danse et de chant qui vont durer jusqu'à au 20 juillet débutent ce soir. Mais avant, l'heure était aux préparatifs du Heiva.
The Eurosceptic firebrand who leads the Reform UK party has beat his Conservative challenger for the Essex seat of Clacton Read Full Article at RT.com
Lawmen assigned to the St Catherine South Police Division apprehended and formally charged 39-year-old Glenford Smith of Caribbean Estate, St Catherine following an incident on Friday, June 7, during which Smith attempted to bribe the police....
LONDON (AP) — Britain's Labour Party is headed for a landslide victory in a parliamentary election on Thursday, an exit poll suggested, as voters punished the governing Conservatives after 14 years of economic and political upheaval. The...
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Mining is reporting significant damage to several facilities and agricultural projects following the passage of Hurricane Beryl over Jamaica on Wednesday. “Despite the challenges posed by the...
Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, has summoned the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Company, Flow and Digicel to give an update on the restoration of critical utilities. The minister has asked each entity to...
The St Andrew South Police are probing the circumstances that led to the shooting death of two men in two separate incidents on Fifth Street, Greenwich Town, Kingston 13, today. In the first incident, about 10:35 a.m., an unidentified man was shot...
John Swinney's scandal-ravaged nationalists are expected to be left with just 10 seats, a fall of 80 per cent from the high of 48 the party achieved in 2019.
Senior Conservatives immediately demanded Rishi Sunak quits after the extraordinary figures emerged on the close of polls.
Throughout his life Gavin Plumb has had a problem with women. The youngest of three brothers, the 37-year-old 'mummy's boy' from Harlow, Essex, started life in a council house.
Despite Sir Keir's careful refusal to make big commitments, ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he will have to get 'more radical'.
Follow MailOnline's live election coverage as the Tories are expected to be slashed from the 365 secured less than five years ago to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history.
The US is a major world power and its internal affairs inevitably affect global issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Read Full Article at RT.com
President Joe Biden has made several public appearances in an apparent attempt to reassure supporters about his mental capacity Read Full Article at RT.com
À trois jours du scrutin dans l'Hexagone, cinq invités, issus des principales forces politiques françaises, se sont succédé sur le plateau de l'émission «L'évènement» sur France 2. ll s'agit de Jordan Bardella (RN), Gabriel Attal (Ensemble), David Lisnard (LR), Raphaël Glucksmann (Place Publique) et Clémence Guetté (LFI). Cinq entretiens successifs.
Ils sont souvent oubliés, et pourtant, ils représentent un poids électoral conséquent : les personnes âgées portent un regard toujours attentif sur la politique, même s'ils estiment que cela ne les concerne plus. Dans cette catégorie de la population, on compte également de nombreux abstentionnistes.
An 85-year-old driver who seemingly attempted to run down three teens in a shocking caught-on-camera incident in Abbotsford, B.C., could be charged with assault with a weapon, according to authorities.
Hourly minimum wages increased in several Canadian provinces this spring with more on the horizon, which economists say will likely impact workers and businesses differently.
In the wake of the legal challenge to Bill 21 on the secular nature of the State, Quebec Attorney General Simon Jolin-Barrette has asked Supreme Court Justice Mahmud Jamal to recuse himself, fearing that he «does not have the impartiality required to hear this case.»
A Yishun resident was surprised when he recently discovered that his neighbours were rearing chickens. The man surnamed Chen, who lives in Block 429A in Orchid Spring @ Yishun, told Lianhe Zaobao that he heard chickens crowing while he was at home on June 18. He did not find any chickens when he went downstairs to investigate. The next day, the 41-year-old technician discovered the source of the noise — a makeshift chicken coop in the nearby community garden, which is on the roof of a multi-story car park. Photos taken by Chen show that the coop, made up of several wooden boards, is placed inside a fenced area. It houses at least five Silkie chickens. A signboard attached to the fence reads «Uncle and auntie's chicken farm, everyone is welcomed to come and visit». It also includes instructions for visitors to help replenish the animals' water and feed, as well as reminders to keep their hands clean and avoid touching items in the chicken coop. Two regular chickens can also be seen inside a storage container beside the coop.
Live updates from the 2024 campaign trail, with the latest news on presidential candidates, polls, primaries and more.
Follow MailOnline's live election coverage as the Tories are expected to be slashed from the 365 secured less than five years ago to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history.
