South Africa

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.

Pretoria - The South African government has given its backing to the referendum that will be held in South Sudan on Sunday.

Cape Town - As the Mother City prepares for the much anticipated opening of Parliament and State of the Nation Address by President Jacob Zuma, members of the public have been warned of the parking restrictions and road closures around the Parliamentary precinct.

Pretoria - Inspections have revealed that Supreme Poultry, the company at the centre of the frozen chicken controversy, is abusing brine injections in its chickens.

Pretoria - More than 5 000 youths have been accepted to the South African National Defence Force's (SANDF) Military Skills Development System (MSDS) and start their six months of training this weekend.

Ladysmith - KwaZulu-Natal municipalities have been urged by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to compile reports on the extent of damage caused by the recent floods to speed up the process of reconstruction.

Pretoria - Heavy rains and flooding in parts of KwaZulu-Natal have claimed the lives of at least five people, while many more have been forced to leave their homes.

Thohoyandou - Limpopo's Vhembe District Municipality has set aside R3.5 million for school leavers whose parents are unemployed and cannot afford to send them to tertiary institutions this year.