South Africa

Pretoria - Climate change is expected to be the focus of this year's National Environment Month which is celebrated in June.

Parliament - The economic downturn will affect the pace at which South Africa is able to address its social and economic challenges, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

Mafikeng - Students studying at the Mafikeng Campus of the University of the North West have pledged their support for the national soccer team during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Parliament - President Jacob Zuma has called on all South Africans to join the world in celebrating Mandela Day on 18 July.

Nelspruit - The Mpumalanga Department of Health and Social Development is to offer bursaries to study medicine in Cuba.

Cape Town - Government has set a target of having 80 percent of HIV-positive people in the country on antiretroviral treatment by 2011.

Pretoria - The price of all grades of petrol will increase by 17 cents per litre at midnight on Wednesday, the Department of Minerals and Energy has announced.

Parliament - South Africans should be active citizens and help in building a common national identity and patriotism, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

Pretoria - The Tshwane Community Safety Department on Monday confirmed that it is ready to host the Confederations Cup matches at Loftus.

Parliament -Transport Minister, Sbusiso Ndebele, is to resume talks with the taxi industry next Thursday regarding the operations of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT).

New York - In the largest industrial bankruptcy ever seen in US history, General Motors (GM) Corp., the top US automaker and once the world's largest corporation, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

Pretoria - The Spanish National Football Team, commonly referred to as La Roja, has been announced on Monday ahead of the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Parliament - President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africans to do more to fight crime.

Parliament - Preparations are on track for South Africa to deliver a world class 2010 FIFA World Cup, says President Jacob Zuma.

Johannesburg - The capability of Johannesburg to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be tested to the hilt for the first time in June when two major international sporting events kick off.