Summary:
Jacob Zuma's Future
SUMMARY: South Africa reached something of a watershed moment this week - at least in the political career of the man who could be South Africa's next President, Jacob Zuma.
Earlier this week the President of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma sought to have 16 serious charges against him dismissed.
But the judge Chris Nicholson says he will make his ruling in September on whether Mr Zuma's corruption trial will go ahead.
Mr Zuma claims he is the victim of a political conspiracy and his many supporters have threatened unrest if he is jailed for corruption.
Dividend risk
SUMMARY: The forecasts for profit downgrades are coming thick and fast, and with the reporting season about to get underway, the speculation about bad numbers will is reaching a crescendo.
For the big banks it´s believed both Westpac and the Commonwealth will report okay results, but the NAB and ANZ will report profit downgrades due to their exposure to the US credit market.
Of course the great appeal for many investors in holding bank stocks, is that they all pay a very healthy franked, or tax free, dividend - and right now that dividend is in some instances pushing 10 percent.
But it´s not just the banks that pay dividends, Telstra is also a famous dividend stock and there are many others.
But does the current global crisis point to a reduction in dividends on shares, and if so could we see dividends, the bread and butter of the sharemarket investor, being cut back.
Emissions Trading
SUMMARY: Is the argument about Australia becoming uncompetitive because of an emissions trading scheme correct?
The Political Panel
SUMMARY: Dr Sharman Stone and Dr Geoff Gallop discuss the latest developments in federal politics.
The Olympic Games
SUMMARY: The Opening ceremony is out of the way and it's game on for the Beijing Olympics.
Wherever the games are held the opening and closing ceremonies are always a heady combination of grandeur and tack.
So how did China fare in its efforts to convery the olympic spirit to the rest of the world?
Film with Jason Di Rosso
SUMMARY: Jason di Rosso reviews Stop-Loss. It's American director Kimberly Peirce's new film about the US government's 'back door draft' policy to address troop shortages.
Also, Pineapple Express, a comic buddy movie starring James Franco and Seth Rogen.
