South Africa

Port Elizabeth - The newly-built Nelson Mandela Stadium won the hearts of Eastern Cape residents during an open day at the weekend.

The man who put meaning back into the words "Yes we can!" has been inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, but after facing insurmountable odds to be elected president, more challenges await Barack Obama, writes Michael Appel.

Cape Town - South Africa must ease the gap between the rich and the poor, says President Jacob Zuma.

Cape Town - The South African Police Services should get a new national commissioner soon, according to President Jacob Zuma.

Mafikeng - Auditions for the annual festival which sends anti-crime messages to the youth in a bid to combat crime in the North West province, will kick off on Thursday.

Pretoria - A range of plans are in place on the part of all government departments and agencies responsible for managing operations at South Africa’s borders, says the South African Government’s Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee (BCOCC).

Nelspruit - All pending matric results in Mpumalanga will be released on Monday, according to the Mpumalanga Education Department.

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.