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FOREIGN

Ramaphosa succeeds Zuma as South African president

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South African lawmakers formally named wealthy former businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as new president Thursday after scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma resigned under intense pressure from his own party.

Ramaphosa, the only candidate, was approved without a vote by the parliament in Cape Town, chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng told assembled lawmakers, to loud cheers.

Zuma announced his resignation late Wednesday, and aimed barbs at the African National Congress (ANC) party for vowing to oust him via a no-confidence vote in parliament.

In a 30-minute televised address, Zuma said he had “come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect”.

“I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its immediate instruction that I vacate office,” he said.

Zuma, 75, had been embroiled in a divisive power struggle with Ramaphosa, the deputy president.

Ramaphosa won control of the ANC when he was elected as its head in December.

Benchmark South African stocks scored their biggest gains since June 2016 after news that a pro-business reformist would be taking the helm.

The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index rose as much as 2.7 percent, while the rand reached its strongest level since February 2015, gaining 0.5 percent at 11.6570 to the dollar in early trade.

Zuma said in a TV interview earlier Wednesday that he had received “very unfair” treatment from the party he joined in 1959 and in which he had fought for decades against apartheid white-minority rule.

He said he was angered over “the manner in which the decision is being implemented… I don’t agree, as there is no evidence of if I have done anything wrong.”

– ‘We are not celebrating’ –
The party’s national executive committee had ordered Zuma’s recall from office on Tuesday, after a 13-hour meeting at a hotel outside Pretoria, but he at first refused.

ANC officials then said that if Zuma did not resign, the party’s lawmakers in the Cape Town parliament would vote out him on Thursday.

But, after the resignation, party deputy secretary general Jesse Duarte cautioned: “We are not celebrating”.

“We have had to recall a cadre of the movement that has served this organisation for over 60 years, it’s not a small matter.”

Zuma, who had no formal education, was jailed on Robben Island for 10 years alongside Nelson Mandela under apartheid and rose through the ranks of the ANC to take power in 2009.

But his rule was dominated by graft scandals, economic slowdown and falling popularity for the celebrated liberation party.

In a day of high drama, police early Wednesday raided the Johannesburg home of the Gupta business family, which is accused of overseeing a web of corruption in Zuma’s government.

Police said three unidentified people had been arrested in investigations into “Vrede Farm” — allegations that millions of dollars of public money meant for poor dairy farmers were siphoned off by the Guptas.

Local media reported that Zuma had been pushing for a resignation deal that included his legal fees to fight multiple criminal charges — but he denied the allegations in his resignation speech.

One case against him relates to 783 payments he allegedly received linked to an arms deal before he came to power.

Other graft allegations have centred on the three Gupta brothers, who are accused of unfairly obtaining lucrative government contracts and even hand-picking Zuma’s ministerial appointments.

The political standoff in recent weeks plunged South Africa — the continent’s most developed economy — into confusion over who was running the country, with last Thursday’s annual State of the Nation address cancelled at the last-minute.

Ramaphosa will now deliver the address on Friday.

Decline of Mandela’s party
Zuma, a Zulu traditionalist with four wives and a proud singing voice, had been scheduled to stand down next year after serving the maximum two terms.

In local polls in 2016, the ANC recorded its worst electoral result since coming to power in 1994 with Mandela at the helm as white-minority rule fell.

Ramaphosa, 65, must revive the economy and crack down on what he has admitted is rampant government corruption if he is to boost the party’s tarnished reputation before a tricky general election next year.

He is a former trade unionist and Mandela ally who led talks to end apartheid in the early 1990s and then became a hugely wealthy businessman before returning to politics.

Zuma’s hold over the ANC was broken in December when his chosen successor — his former wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma — narrowly lost to Ramaphosa in a vote for the new party leader.

 

FOREIGN

World Number One Jannik Sinner Withdraws From The ATP Rolex Paris Masters 2024

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Jannik Sinner withdraws from Paris Masters 2024 | fab.ng

Tournament organizers announced on Tuesday that world number one Jannik Sinner (23) will not participate in the Paris Masters indoor event due to health issues.

The 23-year-old tennis star, who secured his position as year-end world number one in mid-October, suffers from an “intestinal virus contracted before he arrived in Paris.” French player Arthur Cazaux has moved up from qualifying to take Sinner’s place in the tournament draw.

Cazaux will compete against either fellow Frenchman Corentin Moutet or American Ben Shelton in his second-round match on Tuesday.

Sinner now focuses on the upcoming Masters in Turin, scheduled for November 10-17, which will feature the year’s top eight players. The Italian champion plans to defend his country’s title at the Davis Cup finals the following week in Malaga, Spain.

The tennis star has dominated the 2024 season, claiming his first two Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open and the US Open. His impressive performance includes seven tournament wins since the season began, with three Masters 1000 titles in Miami, Cincinnati, and Shanghai.

Recent developments have cast a shadow over Sinner’s achievements, as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has filed an appeal that could result in his suspension. The doping case emerged several weeks ago and remains unresolved.

Sinner’s relationship with the Paris indoor tournament has proven complicated. Last year, he withdrew from the competition before his second match, establishing a pattern that continues with this year’s withdrawal.

This latest setback interrupts what has otherwise been a remarkable year for the young Italian player, who has firmly established himself among tennis’s elite competitors through his consistent performances and major tournament victories.

Get more sports news here.

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FOREIGN

Award-Winning Actor James Earl Jones, Voice Of Darth Vader, Mufasa, Dies At 93

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James Earl Jones, Voice Of Mufasa, Dies At 93 | fab.ng

Legendary American actor James Earl Jones has passed away at 93. The internet buzzed with the heartbreaking news late Monday, September 9, 2024. Reports indicated that he died that morning, surrounded by family at his home in upstate New York, as confirmed by his representatives to TMZ.

Born on January 17, 1931, Jones captivated audiences for decades with his iconic deep voice and presence. His long career in film, television, and theatre made him one of the most recognizable and respected actors in Hollywood. He gained widespread fame for voicing Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, King Jaffe Joffer in “Coming to America”, and Mufasa in Disney’s “The Lion King”.

James Earl Jones dead - the iconic Darth Vader, Mufasa voice actor was 93 | fab.ng

Jones also made a name for himself on stage, earning a Tony Award for his lead performance in “The Great White Hope”. He continued to shine in theatre with significant roles in plays like “Fences” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. His contributions to television included appearances in series like “Roots” and “The Big Bang Theory”.

James Earl Jones was one of the few performers to achieve the coveted EGOT status. Also, he has won two Emmys, a Grammy, an Honorary Oscar, and three Tony Awards. His theatre career flourished with standout performances in “The Great White Hope” in 1969 and “Fences” in 1987. His voice became a staple in pop culture, even being featured in “The Simpsons” and early episodes of “Sesame Street”.

Jones also took on many iconic Shakespearean roles, including Othello and King Lear. Beyond acting, he served in the United States Army’s 75th Rangers Regiment, adding to his legacy as a dedicated and multi-talented individual.

James Earl Jones leaves behind a towering legacy in both the entertainment world and beyond. May he rest in perfect peace.

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ENTERTAINMENT

John Cena Speaks On Not Wanting Children

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John Cena speaks on not wanting children | fab.ng

American actor and professional wrestler John Cena has recently addressed his decision to remain child-free. During a recent interview on the Club Shay Shay show, he shared his thoughts. These thoughts are on why he – at the age of 47 – and his wife have chosen not to have children.

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