SOUTH AFRICA

PRETORIA - The Judicial Service Commission dismisses Cape Judge President John Hlophe's application for the recusal of five commissioners from handling the Constitutional Court's complaint against him. The commission says that Hlophe applied on July 5, 2008 for the recusal of JSC members Judge Craig Howie, advocate George Bizos, advocate Milton Seligson, advocate Kgomotso Moroka, and attorney Julian von Klemperer. In his recusal application, Hlophe said that according to press reports, these commissioners had "adopted a stand averse to him" during the Oasis matter, a case in which Hlophe was accused of receiving money from the Oasis group without the Justice Minister 's permission, and so could not apply an open mind.

CAPE TOWN - Cabinet mandates the National Treasury to investigate the possible imposition of a tax on carbon-dioxide emissions as part of South Africa's voluntary commitment to climate-change mitigation. Speaking at a briefing in Cape Town held to outline South Africa's newly adopted strategic direction and framework for climate policy, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk says that Treasury will examine the most appropriate fiscal measures to support government's long-term mitigation scenario. These could include taxes as well as incentives to help place South Africa's economy on a low-carbon growth and development path.

PRETORIA - President Thabo Mbeki hosts Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during an historic first state visit to South Africa, aimed at cementing ties between the two countries. Topics under discussion at the meetings included the status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations, peace keeping, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction and development on the continent, as well as the Middle East peace process and developments in Lebanon.

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's highest court rejects ruling ANC party leader Jacob Zuma's attempt to stop seized evidence being used against him in a corruption trial. Zuma's battle against the charges is likely to decide whether the African National Congress leader takes over from President Thabo Mbeki next year, a leadership change that concerns investors comfortable with Mbeki's pro-business tilt.

AFRICA & WORLD

CANBERRA - Almost seven years after Australia sent commandos onto a freighter at sea to block illegal immigrants, the government says it is abandoning a controversial policy of jailing asylum seekers. Immigration Minister Chris Evans, whose centre-left Labor government last year swept aside conservative rivals in power for a decade, says detention in often-remote immigration jails will now be used only as a last resort. "Desperate people are not deterred by the threat of harsh detention. They are often fleeing much worse circumstances," Evans confirmed in a speech at the Australian National University. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in February kept an election promise by axing detention of asylum seekers on small Pacific island nations.

NEW YORK - The United Nations General Assembly unanimously confirms South African judge Navanethem Pillay as the world body's new human rights chief. Pillay, who will succeed outspoken Canadian Louise Arbour, is a judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The post of high commissioner is one of the highest-profile and most controversial UN jobs. She takes office on September 1, 2008.

GENEVA - Marathon talks on a new wave of trade liberalisation collapse after nine days of intense but ultimately fruitless negotiations. New Zealand's trade minister, Phil Goff, holds out hope for Doha talks continuing at a later date. "I hope ... that what we've achieved this week can be used at least to build on as a foundation for the future.” However failure of the talks to find a broad agreement on the Doha trade round, could delay any global agreement on trade liberalisation for several more years, experts say. The negotiations for a global deal trade began in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States, in the hope of boosting the world economy and helping poor countries.

ABUJA - A Nigerian tribunal overturns the election of the governor of the south western state of Ondo, bringing to 11 the number of state leaders ousted by courts since flawed nationwide polls more than a year ago. The governors of Nigeria's 36 states wield considerable power in sub-Saharan Africa's top oil producer, in some cases running budgets larger than neighbouring countries. The tribunal in Ondo annulled the April 14, 2007 election of Governor Olusegun Agagu of the ruling People's Democratic Party and named his opponent Olusegun Mimiko the winner.