Transcript

Hello, and welcome to “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, and today is September 10, 2024. We’re diving into some of the latest headlines and stories that have captured attention around the globe.

First up, we’ve received the sad news that James Earl Jones, the voice behind the iconic Darth Vader character and celebrated actor, has passed away at the age of ninety-three. Born in Mississippi in 1931, Jones overcame a significant speech impediment to establish a formidable acting career spanning Broadway, television, and film. His roles have been diverse, including memorable performances in “Field of Dreams,” “The Sandlot,” and “Coming to America.” He achieved an EGOT, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony throughout his career. In a recent move, he licensed his voice to the AI startup Respeecher, which will allow his voice to be used in future projects, including Disney Plus’ “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

Switching gears to technology, the iPhone 16 series has been unveiled, introducing several enhancements such as a new Camera Control button, improved battery life, and preliminary AI features. These models are equipped with Apple’s latest A18 processors, designed to support upcoming Apple Intelligence AI tools. Although the full capabilities of these AI tools are not available yet, the hardware upgrades, including the enhanced battery life and camera control, are ready at launch.

In a significant legal update from South Africa, Kenneth Nkosana Makate, the innovator behind the “Please Call Me” service, has marked a “massive victory” as the Constitutional Court denied Vodafone’s attempt to join Vodacom’s legal battle against him as an amicus curiae. Makate’s dispute with Vodacom has been ongoing, with compensation figures still under negotiation, potentially ranging significantly.

On a lighter note, music fans will be thrilled to hear that Sting has announced tour dates in Cape Town as part of his STING 3.0 Tour. This tour follows the success of his My Songs tour last year, and he is set to perform at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, on March 25 next year.

From the world of astronomy, South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery—a mysterious radio-emitting ring named Kýklos, classified among the Odd Radio Circles (ORCs). This discovery is part of a larger effort that underscores Africa’s growing role in space research, with the Square Kilometer Array project set to enhance space observation capabilities across the continent.

In the realm of digital audiobooks, Amazon’s Audible is set to begin a new initiative where a select group of US-based audiobook narrators will train artificial intelligence on their voices. This move aims to expand the availability of audiobooks while integrating traditional narrators into the evolving landscape of audiobook production.

Lastly, in sports news, Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has been ranked as the new world number one in breaking, despite a controversial performance at the recent Paris Olympics where she finished second to last. Her rise in the rankings was propelled by her victory at the WDSF Oceania Championship.

That wraps up our news for today. Thank you for tuning into “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, and we’ll catch up on more stories next time. Have a great day!

Keywords - moment, daily, news