South Africa

Bloemfontein - With only 28 days to go before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks-off, the Free State province is putting in place final touches to its security plans.

Cape Town - FIFA President Sepp Blatter, musician Hugh Masekela and Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos are among 36 South Africans and foreigners that will receive national orders from President Jacob Zuma.

Cape Town - South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday offered his condolences to the families of the victims on the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus crash in Libya in which more than 100 people died.

Pretoria - North West Premier Thandi Modise says strategies for the prevention of sexual offences against women and girl children need to be reviewed to curb the escalating incidents of rape.

Pretoria - Transport Minister, S'bu Ndebele, says government has invested more than R19 billion rand on public transport infrastructure for the World Cup to ensure that the tournament leaves a rich legacy for the country and continent.

Pretoria - South Africa's population has increased by about 530 000 people to 49.99 million, according to Statistics South Africa's Mid-Year Population Estimates.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is expected to give an indication of whether government is winning the fight against HIV when he tables the first mid-term review of the HIV and AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP) next week

Pretoria - Parties in the Transnet pay dispute are to meet with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), said trade union South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) on Thursday.

Durban- Bafana Bafana is set to lock horns with North Korea in an international friendly on Thursday in Frankfurt, Germany.

Pretoria - Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ) have hailed Cabinet's decision to have law graduates complete compulsory community legal service

Pretoria - The City of Tshwane will join the rest of the country today in celebrating the 2010 Fifa World Cup 50-days countdown.

Pretoria - Informal traders in the City of Johannesburg stand to benefit from the increased visitor traffic throughout the city during the World Cups, says Executive Director for the City's 2010 office, Sibongile Mazibuko.

Pretoria - Cabinet has welcomed the study on a vaginal gel which has been found to reduce the risk of HIV infections in women, calling it "groundbreaking news".

Kimberley - The small township of Galeshewe is abuzz with activity this morning as the country marks the 50 days countdown to the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup.

Nelspruit - The Mbombela Local Municipality in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, has announced its FIFA World Cup transport plan to accommodate the influx of visitors and ease potential traffic congestion.