11 December 2009
	Another Week

AT HOME SA's gross gold and forex reserves rose from US$39,8bn to $40,5bn (1,8%) in November, according to Reserve Bank figures, showing the bank did not increase foreign currency purchases to stem the rand's sharp rise. SA offers to cut its greenhouse gases by 34% by 2020, provided the Copenhagen climate change summit signs an effective international agreement and rich states offer poor ones more funds and technological help. National police commissioner Bheki Cele and deputy police minister Fikile Mbalula launch a festive season anti crime campaign. New vehicle sales (30 019) fell by 12,1% y/y in November from October's -17 % y/y (31 622) - slowest rate of contraction since early last year. Two trains collide near Potchefstroom, killing a pregnant woman and injuring 110 people and, also on Monday, an SA Airlink plane overshoots the runway at George, injuring seven people. Sun International employees belonging to union Saccawu go on strike demanding a 13% increase; the hotel chain has offered 8%. Cosatu backs a lawsuit against multinational companies accused of aiding and abetting apartheid rule. President Jacob Zuma says the ban on perlemoen (abalone) fishing is to end. ABROAD Japan announces a new, US$80,6bn („7 200bn) economic stimulus package. The US Environmental Protection Agency formally rules COČ and five other gases a danger to health. This will allow government to crack down on industrial emissions under the Clean Air Act. Dubai World holds talks with banks on restructuring debts of $26bn as its stock market tumbles further. CONFIDENT. Glenn Stevens, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, addresses the Australian Business Economics Dinner in Sydney on Tuesday. Stevens is the first central banker in the world to raise borrowing costs three times this year, predicting Chinese demand for exports of iron ore will stoke a surge in economic growth in Australia. Namibia is to launch a state mining company this month. Botswana is hit by power shutdowns apparently due to Eskom's failure to deliver. Iranian cops clash with demonstrators who turn official Student Day events into rallies against the disputed June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Al Gore cancels a scheduled December 16 speech in Copenhagen, titled "Climate Conclusion", amid the "climategate" e-mail scandal. SPORT SA are drawn with Mexico, Uruguay and France in group A of the Fifa World Cup, and will kick off against Mexico at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on June 11. Australian Robert Allenby beats defending champion Henrik Stenson in a three-hole playoff to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge - and R8,49m - at Sun City. The Barbarians beat the All Blacks 25-18 at Twickenham, with Bok Bryan Habana scoring a hat-trick of tries. England become the third team to beat SA in a home ODI cricket series after rain washes out the final match in Durban, handing the five-game series to England 2-1. India beat Sri Lanka in Mumbai by an innings and 24 runs in the third and final test to win the series 2-0, and replace SA as top-ranked test side. Golfer Tiger Woods says he regrets "those transgressions" after reports that he had several extramarital affairs. His wife later moves out.