South Africa

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has arrived in Rome, Italy, where he is scheduled to meet that country's Prime Minister Mario Monti for bilateral talks.

Pretoria - Bafana Bafana caretaker coach Steve Komphela released five players, including skipper Steven Pienaar, from the squad to face Gabon in an international friendly at Mbombela stadium, Nelspruit on Friday.

Pretoria - The process of declaring 25 strategic roads in the province as national roads have been completed, says North West Premier Thandi Modise.

Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is hosting a series of workshops with stakeholders on the revised Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Codes of Good Practice.

Carnarvon - The opportunity to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has given South Africa and Africa as a whole a platform to prove to the world that the continent has what it takes to deliver the cutting-edge science project, says SKA Associate Director Professor Justin Jonas.

Pretoria - Preparations for South Africa's hosting of the 5th BRICS Summit in March next year are at an advanced stage, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said on Tuesday.

Pretoria - The International Labour Organisation (ILO), which is currently holding its 101st Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, says up to 75 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35 are facing the crunch of unemployment and under-employment.

Pretoria - Efforts were made to ensure that South Africans, including the youth, were consulted about the National Development Plan, says President Jacob Zuma.

Johannesburg - With less than two weeks to go before this year's matric final exams, learners in Gauteng on Tuesday enjoyed a visit from Education MEC Barbara Creecy, who spread good cheer and words of encouragement for what is undoubtedly a defining moment in thousands of youngsters' lives.

Cape Town - Minister of Transport Ben Martins has called on delegates at an international conference to help bring into force an agreement on the safety of fishing vessels, which 30 years on has yet to be ratified.

Pretoria - A well-functioning national payment system is important to an economy and failure of such a system can have devastating effects on an economy, says Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Daniel Mminele.

Pretoria - The Department of Communications on Tuesday launched a stamp in commemoration of the 11 Field Postal Unit of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Carnarvon - South Africans must get excited about hosting the world's largest telescope - the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), says President Jacob Zuma.

Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has commended and encouraged members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who continue to undergo fitness programmes in order to effectively fight crime.

Johannesburg - In a bid to increase the number of individuals in the technical and engineering fields, as well as to aid in youth employment, Transnet Freight Rail (TRF) says it has to date got a total of 700 high school pupils on board its Cadet Scheme.