Tuesday January 10, 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg I’m Jessica Hannah
Making headlines:

Eskom has warned of a "very high" risk of rolling blackouts around the country, but is doing everything it can to avert it.
Spokesperson Hilary Joffe says Eskom is working very closely with its large customers to see if they can reduce their load; however, the risk is very high. She adds that the state-owned entity is doing its utmost to avoid it. Power outages are a possibility because of planned maintenance, an increase in unplanned maintenance and an ever-increasing demand for power. Joffe says demand for power has increased as people return to work, forcing Eskom to use emergency power reserves.

Nigerian unions begin a second day of nationwide strikes today to protest against the removal of fuel subsidies, as President Goodluck Jonathan and workers remain in deadlock after three people were killed in the first day of demonstrations. Nigeria's fuel regulator announced on January 1 that subsidies on imports of motor fuel would end immediately, more than doubling the price of petrol to about 150 naira a litre and sparking protests across the country. Police shot dead at least two protesters and wounded more than two dozen on Monday after firing live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters in the commercial hub of Lagos and the largest northern city of Kano.

The Islamist group set to win Egypt's Parliamentary election says the ruling military council must stick to its timetable for ceding power but indicates it would not immediately seek to replace a government appointed by the generals. The Muslim Brotherhood statement appeared to reinforce a view that the group will avoid confrontation with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for what remains of a transitional period set to end on June 30, after a new president is elected. The Brotherhood estimates its Freedom and Justice Party has won 41% of the seats decided so far in the election for the lower house of Parliament which got under way in November and is now in its final stage.

Also making headlines:
Ghanian President John Atta Mills says he is confident of winning a second four-year term this year though he concedes it has been a painful decision to cut fuel subsidies, a move that has sparked violent protests in nearby Nigeria.
And, Guinea Bissau President Malam Bacai Sanha died on Monday in a Paris hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.