Monday August 01, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Brad Dubbelman

Making headlines:

South African police said they were investigating a trust fund run by influential politician Julius Malema, who heads the ANC Youth League, which is at the centre of corruption allegations. Malema has denied any wrongdoing and says the fund is a charity that supports different causes.
Hawks spokesperson Macintosh Polela said police were collecting information to see if further investigation was required but declined to say what avenues they were pursuing. The Sunday Times newspaper reported the police had approached banks and cellphone companies for Malema's records.

Rebel forces fought gunmen loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in eastern Libya in the latest incident to undermine the insurgents' grip on territory they hold. The clashes renewed opposition fears that Gaddafi's agents had infiltrated the area, days after the mysterious killing of the rebel military commander. The assassination of General Abdel Fattah Younes, apparently by gunmen on his own side, has hurt the opposition just as it was winning broader international recognition and making gains against Gaddafi's forces in the Western Mountains and elsewhere.

Economic, political and social challenges across the globe have exacerbated concerns about reaching a conclusive agreement at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conference of the parties, or COP 17, in Durban, later this year. Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa acknowledged the difficult global conditions and said African heads of State and government adopted a view that COP 17 would be a step towards a fair global regime on climate, rather than the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement. She stressed that it was not indicative of African governments shying away from a resolution. South Africa believes that COP 17 should establish a mechanism to address a solution to the Kyoto Protocol's coming to an end next year.

Also making headlines:
Striking South African coal and gold miners will meet the Chamber of Mines in separate talks today in a bid to end stoppages.
The South African government has formally launched the long-delayed process to procure new renewable energy generation capacity.
And, Egyptian political groups said they would suspend demonstrations during Ramadan, which starts today.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.