South Africa

Ekurhuleni - President Jacob Zuma has officially launched the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) which aims to advance the economic development of young people.

Ekurhuleni - President Jacob Zuma has called upon the youth of South Africa to participate in processes that contribute towards making South Africa a better country.

Jerusalem - Israel on Wednesday exhibited signs that it has put at least one of its feet on a path leading to the end of its contentious military operation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Rustenburg - It's do or die for the national team tonight as all eyes will be on them to see if they can guarantee their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that a second person has died of meningococcal meningitis in the province.

Nelspruit - The 5 000 matric pupils in Mpumalanga who did not receive their matric results in December, will know their fate by Friday.

Pietermaritzburg - The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is making efforts to ensure that the provincial matric results are available by the end of the month.

Northern Cape - A warning has been sent to all farmers in the Northern Cape's locusts infested areas to be on the alert for repeated infestations in large parts of the province during this weekend.

Pretoria - People living with disabilities have been encouraged to make use of the opportunity available to them to access FIFA Confederations Cup tickets at lower prices.

Bhisho - Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Gugile Nkwinti, on Monday handed over 13 tractors in Mthatha, to service the OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo and Ukhahlamba regions.

Johannesburg - Education Minister Naledi Pandor and the nine provincial MECs of Education will on Monday hold a special Council of Education Ministers (CEM) meeting to discuss the technical report of the 2008 National Senior Certificate results.

Parliament - The Department of Public Works has committed to refining its focus, aligning its key competencies and upgrading its capabilities.

Pretoria - The disciplinary action against the man accused of molesting young girls in Beaufort West is at an advanced stage within the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

Nairobi - Kenya is to host an international conference to promote peace in the country to help bolster its battered image after the violence sparked by the post-election crisis early last year.

Parliament - An amount of R1.2 billion has been allocated for the Department of Public Works' Capital Works Programme, says Minister Geoff Doidge.