Thursday, May 27, 2010

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Brad Dubbelman.

Making headlines:

Corruption and nepotism are affecting service delivery in South Africa, Amnesty International said on Thursday in its annual report on global human rights.
"Persistent poverty, rising levels of unemployment, and violent crime, together with the crisis in the public health sector, pose significant challenges for the new government," the report read.
"Political developments" also affect the "independence and integrity of the administration of justice". The report singled out: the withdrawal of corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma, the acquittal of Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe by the Judicial Service Commission and the appointment of Menzi Simelane as National Prosecuting Authority head. The trial of African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema in the Equality Court, for remarks he made regarding women who claimed to be raped, was also noted for its negative implications on the rights of women, while police actions and criminal justice also came under scrutiny.

The United Nations (UN) has revised upwards its forecast for world economic growth this year, but says that recovery from the global crisis is still slowed by joblessness, debt and sluggish credit flows.
A midyear update to an annual report issued last December said that while growth prospects for some developing countries are encouraging, economic activity is lacklustre in developed economies and below potential elsewhere in the developing world.
The report by the UN economic division spotlighted strong advances in East and South Asia, especially powerhouses China and India, but only a slight improvement in the euro zone. It predicted world growth for 2010 at 3%, a rise of 0,6% from its last estimate. "Unprecedented government support worldwide" in the form of stimulus packages has caused global financial markets to progressively stabilise, it said.

South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said that although economic indicators show that the economy is on a recovery path after last year's recession, there are uncertain times ahead.
South Africa's economic growth for the first quarter of 2010 came in higher than expected at 4,6%, but the National Treasury and the central bank have said that fiscal woes in Europe, a key trading partner, could undermine future expansion.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Gordhan said that there is no guarantee that revenues will come in as expected, or that the economy will sustain its current growth indicators.

Also making headlines:

South Africa signs a nuclear energy deal with Algeria.
A United Nations (UN) report shows that fake UN documents aided in the export of gold from conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.
African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema urges a moratorium on the issuing of mining licences to prevent private companies from "looting" mines before they are nationalised.
And, economists say that the economic boost to South African growth from the FIFA World Cup will likely be modest.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.