30 November 2007
	Another Week

ROH MOO-HYUN, South Korea's president, announces in Seoul on November 27 that he will not veto an official investigation into the slush fund used by Samsung for bribes and campaign donations to him and other 2002 presidential candidates. AT HOME SA Reserve Bank figures show the leading business cycle indicator of six to 12-month trends slowed to 0,5% in August and September, its lowest since 2003, signalling a slight economic slowdown. Eskom says the cost of its expansion plans will double to R300bn over five years. It requests tariff hikes of 18,7% in 2008, but the National Electricity Regulator says it may approve 14,3% only. Mbeki and Blatter Fifa chief Sepp Blatter and Mbeki preside at the draw in Durban for the 2010 soccer World Cup. Business Unity SA says the anti pollution National Environmental Management: Waste Bill will have a significant economic impact, and fears it will not work as it is too high-handed. Government extends the clothing and textile export incentive programme - the duty credit certificate scheme - until the end of March 2009, and is due to review the programme. De Beers, the world's biggest diamond producer, sells its historic Cullinan mine to Petra Diamonds Cullinan Consortium for R1bn in cash. Johncom starts trading under a new name, Avusa, and intends to list its media and entertainment assets separately by April 2008. ABROAD The European Central Bank will inject funds into the money markets to stave off liquidity shortage fears. The US Fed, also, promises measures to ensure liquidity and keep the borrowing rate at or near its 4,5% target. Debt-struck UK bank Northern Rock names a Richard Branson-led consortium as preferred rescue bidder. Australia's Labor party leader Kevin Rudd wins a decisive election victory over incumbent Liberal leader John Howard. New prime minister Rudd pledges to sign the Kyoto protocol and pull troops out of Iraq. EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson says China must make consumer trust a priority if it wants to maintain export growth rates. In Beijing French president Nicolas Sarkozy calls on China to address EU concerns over its exchange rate and trade policies. Commonwealth leaders at their Uganda summit adopt a climate change action plan and decide to remain engaged with suspended Pakistan, but don't discuss Zimbabwe. Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif returns home again, after seven years' exile, vowing to help rid the country of dictatorship. Syria is to attend US-sponsored Middle East peace talks in Annapolis, US, but Hamas and Iran won't be there. Mozambique finally takes control of Cahora Bassa, sub-Saharan Africa's biggest dam, from Portugal, 30 years after independence. SPORT The Springboks beat Wales 34-12 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. SA beat New Zealand (248/6) by two wickets at Kingsmead in the first of three one-day games. India (276 and 203/4) beat Pakistan (231 and 247) by six wickets in the first test at Delhi. Scotland wins its first golf World Cup title, beating the US at the third play-off hole at the Mission Hills club in Shenzhen, China.