Monday, November 16, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Brad Dubbelman.
Making headlines:
The debate in the ruling tripartite alliance over the National Planning Commission (NPC) has been settled, said African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Gwede Mantashe yesterday.
Speaking at a briefing after a three-day alliance summit of the ANC, the South African Communist Party (SACP), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African National Civics Organisation, Mantashe said that the need for an NPC located in the Presidency had been agreed upon. "That debate is settled now," he said, flanked by Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini and SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande.
An alliance discussion document recently addressed issues raised by Cosatu but the union federation wanted the NPC to be headed by President Jacob Zuma. The ANC reiterated its support for Trevor Manuel as chair of the commission after its recent national executive committee meeting and Cosatu has accepted this.

US President Barack Obama and other world leaders yesterday supported a delay in a legally binding climate pact until 2010 or even later, but European negotiators said that the move does not imply weaker action.
Some argued that legal technicalities might otherwise distract the talks in Copenhagen and it is better to focus on the core issue of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Danish Prime Minister and host of next month's Copenhagen climate talks Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that negotiators should focus on what is possible and not be distracted by what is not possible, given the time factor and the situation of individual countries. Speaking at an Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore, Rasmussen said that the Copenhagen Agreement should mandate continued legal negotiations and set a deadline for their conclusion.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change head Yvo de Boer said that the Copenhagen conference can and must deliver clarity on emission reductions and the finance to kick-start action.

African States must integrate immediately or some will not survive, said Mo Ibrahim, who funds the world's biggest prize in recognition of African leadership, on Saturday.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day event promoting good governance in Africa, the Sudanese businessperson said that some African countries are just not viable. Intra-African trade represents from 4% to 5% of Africa's international trade. This is unacceptable and unviable, Ibrahim said.
The $5-million Ibrahim Foundation Prize, previously awarded to outgoing Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Festus Mogae of Botswana for good governance, was not awarded this year.

Also making headlines:
The African National Congress and its allies are to review the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank.
South Sudan's leading political party wants more time to register voters ahead of the country's 2010 election.
And, the official opposition Democratic Alliance party pushes on with its challenge against the National Prosecuting Authority for dropping corruption charges against Jacob Zuma in April.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.