This is the BBC.

Hello.

Today, Christmas is coming and that usually means a break from politics,

but not in South Africa where the ruling party has a battle on its hands. In Rome the talk is of corruption,

the mafia and the Christmas market that may never open. We're on the football terraces of

Hong Kong, not for the game though, but looking for signs of political

dissent aimed at mainland China.

And an art exhibition in Hungary challenges conventional memories of communist rule.

This weekend Jacob Zuma should find out who will replace him as leader of the ANC.

The race to succeed him led by his ex-wife a former cabinet minister and the

deputy president is too close to call but the winner is likely to become

president of South Africa in 2019. The African National Congress has ruled

the country since the end of apartheid. President Zuma's two terms in power will be remembered

for many things, among them his charm, his

polygamy, six wives, one divorce, allegations of corruption and the way his rule

has divided the country. Andrew Harding looks back on his tenure

and examines the state of the ANC. South Africa does almost nothing by half measures.

The hail here is the size of walnuts. The bars seem to serve

wine by the pint. The future is always war or paradise and the scandals, well they're world class.

Right now it's the start of the long summer holidays here and Johannesburg is emptying out. The rich fly off to their villas, some

grumbling that they're not really going anywhere special, just a few weeks at the beach.

The poor squeeze on board minibuses, clutching Christmas bonuses and hurdle home on crowded roads to

...