South Africa

Parliament - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan presented the Appropriation Bill to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Wednesday.

Bhisho - Hundreds of people living in rural parts of the Eastern Cape have been given information on housing programmes available by the Department of Human Settlements through a pilot project.

Mbombela - Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Norman Mokoena has called for harsher action against rhino poachers.

Cape Town - South Africans have until the end of this month to nominate members to serve on the new South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC) board.

Nelspruit - Fifteen more schools in Mpumalanga are to benefit from an initiative enabling children from different schools to be taught maths and science at the same time.

Italy - Leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) major industrialised countries agreed on Wednesday to limit global warming to within two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, but lowered their target of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Johannesburg - Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, and the 2010 Local Organising Committee are to meet with unions representing striking construction workers this morning.

Italy - The global financial crisis has brought severe damage to the less-developed countries and Africa is the biggest victim, says President Jacob Zuma.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development will today honour social workers in commemoration of World Social Work Day at Silver Star Casino, Mogale City.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development will today honour social workers in commemoration of World Social Work Day at Silver Star Casino, Mogale City.

Mthatha - The Eastern Cape Department of Transport and Safety has launched a Village Committee to help fight crime in the deep rural areas of the province.

Johannesburg - New York will take world centre-stage on 18 July, Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday, when the city hosts the inaugural "Mandela Day".

Pretoria - Boxing should be turned into a leading sport code in South Africa by 2017, the Sports Department said on Wednesday.

Johannesburg - Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is hopeful that a solution to the wage dispute which has halted construction work at 2010 FIFA World Cup stadia will be found soon.

Kimberley - Public Protector, Lawrence Mushwana has encouraged South Africans to use Chapter 9 state institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to protect their human rights.