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Daily Podcast – July 21, 2015

Daily Podcast – July 21, 2015

21st July 2015

By: Sane Dhlamini
Creamer Media Senior Contributing Editor and Researcher

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July 21, 2015.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

'Brics' bank launches in Shanghai, to work with Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank.

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US President Barack Obama endorses Nigerian leader's agenda for defeating Boko Haram.

And, a  private group lays charges against President Jacob Zuma and Justice Minister Michael Masutha.

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Officials from the world's largest emerging nations launched the New Development Bank (or NDB) on Tuesday.

This is the second of two new policy banks heavily backed by Beijing that are being pitched as alternatives to existing institutions such as the World Bank.

Also known as the Brics bank, it followed soon after the establishment of the China-led Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank (or AIIB).  It will fund infrastructure and development projects in Brics countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The ceremony on Tuesday concluded a lengthy wait since the NDB was first proposed in 2012 but disagreements over the bank's funding, management and headquarters had slowed its launch.

NDB President Kundapur Vaman Kamath said its objectives were not to challenge the existing system as it was but to improve and complement the system in its own way.  

 

US President Barack Obama offered strong support for Nigeria's new president, Muhammadu Buhari.

He said Buhari had a "clear agenda" for defeating the militant Islamist group Boko Haram and was working to root out corruption.

Obama said the two leaders would discuss ways to cooperate against the group, which has wreaked havoc in parts of the West African country.

Boko Haram has carried out multiple attacks in northern Nigeria, most notably the April 2014 kidnapping of 276 Nigerian school girls who are still missing.

Meanwhile, the specific tactics Buhari would use against the group are still unknown.

White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said the US could offer intelligence to help the Nigerian efforts as well as support for communities hurt by the group.

 

Charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice have been laid against President Jacob Zuma and Justice Minister Michael Masutha over the R17-million payout to former National Director of Public Prosecutions (or NDPP) Mxolisi Nxasana.

Accountability Now director Paul Hoffman said the civil complaint was laid at Ocean View police station in Cape Town on Monday.

The charges are in terms of Section 9 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

Accountability Now is a registered nonprofit organization that works to keep political leaders accountable for their actions.

Hoffman explained that the Constitution says the NDPP must act independently and without fear or favour. There must also not be any interference in the functioning of the NDPP, he said.

In May a commission of inquiry into Nxasana's fitness to hold office was called off at the last minute by Zuma's office and it was later reported that Nxasana had received a R17-million settlement to leave.

No reason was given for Nxasana's departure, who has since been replaced by advocate Shaun Abrahams.

 

Also making headlines:

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa faces a gruelling week.

Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said prisoners might be employed to clean and help maintain toilets in Gauteng schools.

At least two people were killed in overnight violence before Burundi’s election.

And, Hollywood Actor George Clooney seeks to expose the funding of African conflicts .

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@PolityZA]

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.

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