South Africa

Pretoria - Government says it has taken note of the nation's concerns regarding the looming petrol price increase, which comes into effect at midnight.

Pretoria - New vehicle sales in March have increased by 4.8% year-on-year to 56 110 units, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) announced on Tuesday.

Pretoria - The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry' s Business Confidence Index (BCI) for March declined by 3.8 index points to 95.7 after rising by 2.4 points in February 2012, the body said.

Washington - The World Bank on Tuesday said it would conduct interviews with the three candidates for the bank presidency this month as previously planned.

Pretoria - The three men convicted of killing Ekurhuleni councillor Godfrey Mbethe were sentenced to life imprisonment by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Pretoria - A total of R2.5 billion is to be allocated towards the refurbishment and construction of new campuses of Further Education and Training (FET) colleges over the next three years, President Jacob Zuma announced on Wednesday

Mbombela - People travelling on the N4 highway between Pretoria and Maputo this Easter weekend have been warned to avoid peak traffic times if possible.

Pretoria - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Wednesday launched a study programme that will see South Africa reduce the turnaround time for toxicology results as well as increase the number of forensic toxicologists.

Athens - A total of 22 parties will contest the general elections in Greece on 17 June.

Skukuza - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has urged private landowners who are in possession of rhino horn stockpiles to register them.

Pretoria - Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor is disappointed at the delay in the announcement of who has won the bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope - the world's largest radio telescope.

Johannesburg - It's all systems go for the Grade 12 matric examinations with the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, declaring that it is ready to quality assure the final examinations for 2012.

Johannesburg - A unique private energy company, unveiled in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, is expected to produce a massive 16 GW of energy generation capacity projects in Southern Africa by 2025, its founders said.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Wednesday for a working visit.

Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has urged motorists to be vigilant when travelling to their Easter weekend destinations.