Tuesday July 05, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Jessica Hannah

Making headlines:

Rising labour costs will push over 80-million Chinese jobs in light manufacturing abroad over the next three to five years, with African nations well placed to lure many of them their way, the World Bank said. Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank VP for Africa, also hailed recent local efforts to bolster the continent's farming sector after decades of neglect, but warned that the region remained overly exposed to food and fuel price shocks.
China's economic success and hunger for resources have helped boost African growth, but Ezekwesili cited a World Bank estimate that rising Chinese wages would lead to manufacturing firms going elsewhere, taking with them 83-million to 85-million jobs.

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo used tear gas to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters protesting outside the electoral commission against alleged irregularities in voter registration. The clashes, confirmed by demonstrators and the police, were the first signs of tension in the capital Kinshasa as the vast Central African country geared up for its second post-war poll. President Joseph Kabila is favourite to be re-elected in the November vote, but he is becoming increasingly unpopular because of his failure to tackle corruption and bring peace to the east.

Nato's chief defended the alliance's Libya operation during a visit to Russia, which has accused the Western coalition conducting air strikes of overstepping its UN mandate to protect civilians. Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke during a break from a meeting of the Nato-Russia Council in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also met South African President Jacob Zuma to discuss Libya. International leaders are puzzling over how to end the war in Libya, where despite three months of bombing, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has resisted calls to give up power in the face of a rebel offensive aimed at ending his 41-year rule.

Also making headlines:
Leaders of north and south Sudan agreed to continue talks on a series of disputes after the south's impending secession, officials said – a move that will disappoint Western countries hoping for a quick deal.
Egypt's Prime Minister signalled his country's parliamentary elections will be held in late September, during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.
And, the Black Management Forum has withdrawn from Business Unity South Africa it said on Monday.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.