South Africa

Mbombela - Despite a three-week teachers' strike and disruptions caused by the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mpumalanga's matric pass rate increased by nearly 9 percent last year.

Pretoria - Education stakeholders across the country have welcomed the Class of 2010's pass rate of 67.8 percent.

Pretoria - The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in Gauteng has applauded the province for being the top performing province in the 2010 matric results.

Mbombela - Provincial Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe, has condemned the murder of Johan Ndlovu, chief whip of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mbombela.

Pretoria - The Independent Electoral Cimmission has announced that it will hold another voter registration weekend on 5 and 6 March.

Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs has vowed to adjudicate the applications of the more than 275 000 Zimbabwean nationals who applied to regularise their stay in South Africa, as soon as possible.

Pretoria - The Tshwane University of Technology has joined the rest of the country in wishing learners who have passed their 2010 matric exams success in their different career paths and studies this year.

Johannesburg - Alexander Gerhard Johannes is Gauteng's top learner. The shy pupil from Pretoria Boys High bagged nine distinctions and had a total point score of 1 720.

Pretoria - Trade conditions in January 2011 have lost momentum, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said on Wednesday.

Durban - Jacques Kallis was named man-of-the-match in the third test against India and also scooped the man-of -the -series award at Sahara Park, Newlands, on Thursday.

Cape Town - Parliament is abuzz with activity this afternoon, with makeshift broadcast studios being erected and sniffer dogs being led into entering vehicles to ensure security ahead of the opening on Thursday.

Washington - Two packages detonated on Thursday at two government buildings in the US state of Maryland, but caused no serious injuries, according to state authorities.

Brisbane - As many as 600 homes in Queensland, Australia, remain under water as a result of flooding -- the biggest single event the area has had to face in its history.

Pretoria - South Africa's business and labour sectors are looking forward to President Jacob Zuma's third State of the Nation Address, tomorrow evening, hoping job creation will be placed on top of government's agenda.

Pretoria - Despite a relatively slow first voter registration weekend, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is confident it will achieve its target of registering 1.5 million new voters ahead of the municipal elections.