South Africa

Cape Town - A healthy ocean is vital to a prosperous world as it helps absorb excess carbon dioxide as well as provides jobs and food to people.

Pretoria - Preparations for the final voter registration weekend are at an advanced stage in terms of logistics, says the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

uMlalazi - Fifty youth volunteers have signed up to help the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements and Public Works build houses for the elderly.

Gaza - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the war-shattered Gaza Strip on Tuesday to demonstrate solidarity with the population and assure them of the full support of the UN and the international community.

Pretoria - A win against Poland at the refurbished Orlando Stadium at the weekend has given Bafana Bafana the "extra oomph" to surprise Iraq when the two teams battle it out at the opening of the FIFA Confederations Cup on Sunday.

Matatiele - Minister for Provincial and Local Government, Sicelo Shiceka, is meeting community leaders on Wednesday to conduct a consultative process with a view to resolving the demarcation of Matatiele, bordering KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Whether Africa will escape the global financial crunch unharmed will be the big question on African leaders' minds as they begin arriving in Cape Town for the 19th World Economic Forum (WEF), writes Neo Semono.

Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to a joint sitting of Parliament on 6 February, according to Cabinet.

Mthatha - The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs has launched an investigation over the alleged polluted water in Eastern Cape following the death of eight people who are believed to have eaten meals prepared with the water.

Rustenburg - North West Department for Public Works, Roads and Transport has handed over four FIFA Protocol routes to the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Monday.

Pretoria -The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) has urged South Africans to be more conscious about reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Pretoria - A unique software system, termed ROSA which stands for Registration of South Africans Abroad, has been developed to help government track South Africans traveling abroad in case of emergencies.

Johannesburg - Voters will have another two days to register to vote in the general elections taking place later this year, with registration stations opening on the weekend of 7 and 8 February

Parliament - President Jacob Zuma will later today respond to the Parliamentary debate on the State of the Nation Address which he tabled before the National Assembly last week.

Pretoria - Learners at the Boschkop Primary School in Pretoria will now have the opportunity to learn how to use computers efficiently, thanks to an initiative by the students of the University of Pretoria.