Day of backfires for presidents far and wide

[Click here for the web version of this email]( [Daily Maverick] Thursday, 21 June 2018 “Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” Mary Oliver Story of the Day [Ramaphosa’s legal strategy may backfire]( By Qaanitah Hunter Fresh from his honeymoon phase as president, Cyril Ramaphosa is facing the heat generated by the high office he occupies. He has come under attack this week for his decision to continue funding former president Jacob Zuma’s legal bills in his criminal case despite a court application. While You Were Sleeping [Trump pulls immigration 180]( After doubling up on his immigration policy of separating families and criminalising the parents, President Trump did a prompt about-face and signed an executive order instructing that this practice cease. Widespread criticism from the left, the right, the centre and the politically indifferent may have been a major motivating factor this time around. [Nobody expects the Spanish imprecision]( Despite foot-stamping, card-defying antics, Spain managed to clinch victory over Iran despite themselves rather than due to any significant effort on their part. Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Egypt will all be on their way home from the World Cup, right after suffering the indignity of playing one more group game. In Group B, though, Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the [Golden Boot race.]( Iran has an outside chance of progressing, all they have to do is beat the team with the leading goalscorer. [Instagram suprasses 1 billion mark]( On Wednesday Instagram announced that it had reached over a billion active users. The fourth Facebook app to do so, Instagram now appeared to be nipping at YouTube's heels. This was cemented in when Instagram's chief Kevin Systrom revealed plans to launch IGTV, a long-form video application that would directly threaten YouTube's hold on the market. Never before has there been so many broadcasting options for inane funny cat videos and their inane funny cat-owners. [Australians get icy with Antarctic solstice]( Winter solstice in Antarctica should by all rights be an unremarkable affair. Not so for Australians based at the Casey research station. They opted to mark midwinter's day by jumping into the bloody freezing ocean. No doubt fueled by a prodigious amount of alcohol, 21 of the 26 Aussies based in Antarctica took the plunge. Woe and shame were likely heaped upon the other five. Picture of the Day By EPA-EFE/BARBARA WALTON A small 460gm pademelon or small wallaby named Tre, in a pouch and cared for by a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator in Kayena, Tasmania, Australia. In Numbers F-15 The aircraft type that shot down a satellite. Facts of the Day Today is World Hydrography Day. Chart an ocean floor near you! Sailors who had anchor tattoos had traditionally crossed the Atlantic. Now it signifies a hipster's first bespoke flat white. 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