Wednesday, April 8, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Brindaveni Naidoo.
Making headlines:
Former prosecutions boss Bulelani Ngcuka has denied being part of any conspiracy to frustrate the political ambition of African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma to become President of South Africa.
Acting national director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe announced on Monday that charges of fraud and corruption against Zuma were being dropped on the grounds of collusion between former Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy and Ngcuka.
The conspiracy was apparently aimed at securing their preferred candidate as South African President.
Ngcuka has expressed dismay and disappointment at Mpshe's assertions.

In international news, World Trade Organisation director-general, Pascal Lamy, indicates that the Doha round of world trade talks could be concluded within eight months of preliminary agreements on industrial tariffs and agriculture subsidies.
The Doha round of trade talks was launched in 2001 with an emphasis on development and opening markets in agriculture, manufacturing and services. Lamy put the discussions on ice last December, citing a lack of political will, among major powers, to bridge their differences.
The deal is estimated to be worth $150-billion for the world economy and could be even more important now that the world is facing its worst economic crisis in decades.
Lamy has said the so-called "modalities" of a deal to open world trade, which would be the precursor to a full agreement, could be reached before the end of the year.
He added that global trade faces risks from protectionism.

In South African news, the Institute for Security Studies has found that race is one of the most powerful factors driving voters in an election.
Senior researcher at the ISS, Collette Schulz-Herzenberg, explains that voters' choices are heavily shaped by social factors. The party's image and attributes are also important.
"Voter perception of the inclusiveness of a party are important... positive evaluations attract voters [to a party] and negative evaluations repel voters," she said.
According to her research, Schulz-Herzenberg says that the level of partisanship is higher among black South Africans than other race groups.
Professor Adam Habib, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Johannesburg, agreed that race has an indirect influence on a party's support.

Also making headlines:
The US pledges $80-million in food aid for Africa.
Sudan's President vows to bring Darfur war criminals to justice.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi calls Barack Obama a "flicker of hope in the middle of the imperialist darkness".
And, South Africa's Chief Justice Pius Langa says that the Constitutional Court judges' statement on the alleged interference of judge president John Hlophe, was in the public interest.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.