Top news items in major S. African news outlets

The following are news items in South Africa's major news outlets on Thursday:

-- As Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders meet over the fall armyworm and other pests, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said the aim of the gathering is to assess the damage and discuss emergency plans.

Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe were among the first countries to report the presence of the insect that eats away at staple crops such as maize, potatoes and sorghum. (Eyewitness News)

-- The African National Congress (ANC) said Wednesday that the manipulation of currency is a scandal and that banks found guilty by the competition tribunal must be criminally charged for sabotage.

The governing party was reacting to news that 17 local and international banks had an agreement to collude on prices for bids. Three local banks, Absa, Investec and Standard Bank are reportedly involved. (South African Broadcasting Corporation)

-- South Africa needs to provide better tax incentives to specific sectors of its economy to ignite growth and create jobs, said World Bank Program Leader Sebastien Dessus on Wednesday.

Presenting the World Bank's report on South Africa's economic outlook to Parliament in Cape Town, Dessus said research showed the trade, agricultural, manufacturing and construction industries respond positively to tax incentives by increasing employment. (Fin24) Endit