South Africa

Boksburg - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi will today sign regulations to reduce the salt content in several foodstuffs, while he will also issue regulations to tighten tobacco use.

Pretoria - The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (Sacci) July trade conditions survey released on Wednesday showed signs of recovery to the economy.

Kinshasa - Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have rejected the unilateral formation of the new government in Madagascar.

Nelspruit - Nearly 500 000 people have applied for Identity Documents across South Africa in the last three months in the run-up to the 2009 General Elections on 22 April.

Based on the National Institute of Communicable Diseases which is the only WHO Reference laboratory in the country, the official death toll of H1N1 Influenza stands at three (3).

Pretoria - The retail trade sales for June decreased by 6.7 percent compared to June last year, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) announced on Wednesday.

Pretoria - South Africans who apply for or renew their passports will from today receive a new passport with more security features.

Johannesburg - Government is to establish a new institute of learning for newly appointed and long-serving judges and magistrates.

Johannesburg - Gauteng Economic Development MEC Firoz Cachalia has defended the province's decision not to proceed to acquire the rights to host Formula 1 events.

Nongoma - Thousands of maidens are busy with final preparations ahead of the KwaZulu-Natal Royal Reed Dance ceremony, which takes place this weekend.

Johannesburg - The "Fly the Flag for Football" campaign was launched in Johannesburg on Wednesday to build public excitement, awareness and support leading up to the two historic soccer events in South Africa.

Pretoria - Traffic officers countrywide are out in full force this Easter weekend to ensure motorists drive safely and follow all road regulations.

Pretoria - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has suspended its strike action against power utility Eskom, according to a statement on Wednesday.

Johannesburg - The South African Broadcasting Corporation says it has acquired the sophisticated infrastructure needed to bring the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the subsequent 2010 FIFA World Cup to billions of fans worldwide.

Cape Town - The Ad Hoc Committee, set up by Parliament to appoint a new Public Protector, has shortlisted eight candidates.