South Africa

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will undertake a visit to Thailand this weekend to attend the UN Climate Change Conference.

Pretoria - The petrol price will rise by 93 cents next week, said the Energy Department on Friday.

East London - Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba says that South Africans need to meet government halfway to ensure that the country does not run out of electricity.

Pretoria - Royalty collection agencies and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) should be encouraged to effect payments of royalties to musicians retrospectively from 2006 when the Copyright Act and the Performers Protection Act came into legal force, said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) on Friday.

Rustenburg - Young people have the power to change the future, North West MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Tebogo Modise said on Sunday at the official opening of one of the National Youth Camps being held across the country.

Pretoria - The Marikana Commission of Inquiry will reconvene at Rustenburg Civic Centre today at 9am.

Pretoria - The Presidency on Sunday announced that President Jacob Zuma has withdrawn his claim for damages against Avusa Media, publishers of The Sunday Times and editorial cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, aka "Zapiro".

Pretoria - Cabinet has approved the submission of the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration to Parliament for ratification.

Pretoria - South Africa is to host the first International Conference of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, which will be held in Cape Town from 1 - 7 December 2012.

Pretoria - Cabinet has welcomed the key elements of the package agreed upon with the NEDLAC constituencies to respond to the economic challenges facing the country.

Pretoria - Cabinet has joined the nation in wishing the Class of 2012 well in their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

Pretoria - Cabinet has condemned the alleged politically motivated killings in KwaZulu-Natal and has called on all South Africans to demonstrate political tolerance and act responsibly.

Pretoria - A 22-year-old is expected to appear in the Bolobedu Magistrate's Court in Polokwane on Monday following his arrest over the weekend for alleged child rape.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has paid tribute to the contribution made by struggle stalwarts Oliver Reginald and Adelaide Tambo.

Pretoria - The United Nations High Level Taskforce on women, girls, gender equality and HIV for Eastern and Southern Africa has called for accelerated effort in protecting the rights and wellbeing of young girls.