Wednesday, April 29, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Philippa Levenberg.
Making headlines:
African National Congress treasurer-general Mathews Phosa assured SABC radio yesterday that the ruling party played no part in the decision to end the contract of SABC news head Snuki Zikalala.
The move not to renew Zikalala's contract was a "management decision", said Phosa and did "not need any political interference".
Zikalala has been embroiled in controversy during his term, including reports that he blacklisted political commentators critical of the government then led by Thabo Mbeki, that he leaked confidential SABC information to newspapers, and allegations that he undermined axed SABC CEO Dali Mpofu.

In world news, US-hosted climate talks with the world's biggest greenhouse gas polluters concluded yesterday with signs of progress. However, sizable differences remain as nations work towards a deal to fight global warming.
The meeting is to pave the way for international talks in Copenhagen in December. These talks are intended to forge a follow-up agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which limits climate-warming greenhouse emissions and expires in 2012.
Delegates at the meeting praised the constructive atmosphere and the US's shift on climate policy, while activists and some European officials said that more needs to be done.
US President Barack Obama's goal is to cut US emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by roughly 15% by 2020, back to 1990 levels. The European Union has pledged to cut emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and says that it will pursue a 30% cut if other industrialised nations follow suit.

In regional news, the African Union says that Africa is not benefiting from foreign land deals. The continent is giving vast tracts of farmland to rich nations looking to feed their own people, without ensuring that those on the world's hungriest continent benefit.
Countries in Asia and the Gulf that are mainly reliant on food imports, have been increasingly seeking land in the developing world to grow crops for their own populations. African countries have not, however, been in a reasonable bargaining position.
The AU says that cross border farmland deals could still prove mutually beneficial and boost global food security if African governments learn to negotiate more effectively.

Also making headlines:
The Democratic Alliance has given no indication yet on who will replace Helen Zille as mayor of Cape Town.
The Health Department assures South Africans that there is no need to panic over swine flu.
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry says that it eagerly awaits the new administration's economic policies.
And, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean Bosco Ntaganda, a warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court, participates in a United Nations-backed offensive.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.