May 22, 2012

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Reggie Sikhakhane.

Making headlines:

South Africa's municipal workers kicked off annual wage negotiations with a demand for increases nearly three times the inflation rate.
They also warned of a repeat of strikes that have crippled public services in recent years.
The South African Municipal Workers' Union is demanding an annual increase of 15% for its members, compared with inflation of 6% and against a government offer of 4%.

The United Nations says reluctance to raise ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions due to economic constraints is threatening progress towards limiting global warming.
The UN made these remarks during the ongoing climate change talks in Germany.
The talks are partly focused on ways of raising the level of ambition on cuts.

Government has announced that 19 companies have been selected as preferred bidders during the second bidding window for the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme.
A total of 79 bids were submitted by the deadline, representing more than 3 200 MW of potential capacity.

Also making headlines:

A study shows that low-quality and fake anti-malarial drugs flooding into markets in Asia and Africa are threatening the fight against the disease.

And, Mali's caretaker president Dioncounda Traore was beaten up and hospitalised after hundreds of protesters stormed his palace on Monday to demand his resignation.

That’s a round-up of news making headlines today.