South Africa

Johannesburg - City-owned buildings will go dark for one hour on Friday, 27 March in support of Earth Hour, the climate change initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Johannesburg - Deputy Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula says Government is happy with the general security at Confederations Cup matches.

Washington - Washington is rolling into high gear with less than a week left before Barack Obama is sworn in as the United States' first-ever African-American President.

Pretoria - The voters' roll is now officially closed for the 18 May local government elections.

Johannesburg - Despite the current global economic meltdown, the Gautrain project has created and sustained 63 000 jobs.

Pretoria - Test results have confirmed that the Tubatse River in Limpopo is not contaminated with cholera but officials have urged residents living near the river to continue to boil water before drinking and other use as a precautionary measure.

Although South African motorists can for the moment enjoy the sudden travellers euphoria after the price of unleaded 93 octane dropped by R1.36 in January, fuel increases in 2009 are likely on the horizon some economists believe, writes Michael Appel.

Vosloorus - Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya has appealed to social workers not to leave the country in search of better paying jobs abroad, saying skilled social workers were in short supply locally.

Parliament - The Independent Panel Assessment of Parliament Report has recommended that Parliament reopen the debate on the Strategic Defence Procurement Package.

Johannesburg - Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordaan, has urged the international media to stop sensationalising the issue of theft and security during the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Parliament - Parliament's ad hoc committee, tasked with reviewing President Kgalema Motlanthe's decision to dismiss former National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Vusi Pikoli, got underway this week.

Johannesburg - As part of its ambitious broadband project, the City of Johannesburg plans to set up techno hubs where people can access the internet and boost their technology skills.

Johannesburg - Every year, more than 500 000 women worldwide die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth complications, a UN report revealed on Thursday.

Pretoria - Two of Gauteng's most popular radio personalities were taken hostage on Tuesday in a police and defence force simulation of security threats to the Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Taung - The North West Department of Education has appealed to parents and members of the Greater Taung Local Municipality to send their children back to school, following the recent protests which disrupted the re-opening of school.