South Africa

Pretoria - It's going to be a busy week for President Jacob Zuma as he prepares for the State of the Nation Address (SONA), due to be presented in Parliament on Thursday, 9 February at 7pm.

Port Elizabeth - A number of activities have been lined up around South Africa to mark World Aids Day, with President Jacob Zuma expected to unveil the country's new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV and Aids 2012 - 2016.

Pretoria - Cote d'Ivoire's former President Laurent Gbagbo faces four counts of crimes against humanity including murder, rape and persecution, the International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Wednesday.

London - British Queen Elizabeth II has sent her gratitude to the public and highlighted "togetherness" in a message released early on Monday for the Diamond Jubilee.

Durban - The South African National Biodiversity Institute has been accredited as a National Implementing Entity (NIE) for the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund.

Pretoria - To mark World Aids Day, the South African Medical Association (SAMA) has partnered with the Department of Public Service and Administration to get government's half a million public servants voluntarily tested for HIV.

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has called on young people leaving school and those in institutions of higher learning to get tested for HIV.

The interventions implemented by the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development has yielded positive results, with the province recording a decline in infant and maternal mortality.

Pretoria - The results of Egypt's first-stage vote of the People's Assembly will be announced today, the High Judicial Elections Commission said.

Malalane - Pupils from a rural primary school in Mpumalanga this week received an early Christmas.

Pretoria - Growing access to HIV and Aids treatment and prevention services resulted in a 15 percent decline in new infections over the past decade and a 22 percent drop in Aids-related deaths in the past five years, the United Nations reported.

Pretoria - Growing access to HIV and Aids treatment and prevention services resulted in a 15 percent decline in new infections over the past decade and a 22 percent drop in Aids-related deaths in the past five years, the United Nations reported.

President Jacob Zuma remains positive that the new regulations under the Preferential Procurement Act, which come into effect in December, will help government meet its job creation targets.

Pretoria - As the world commemorates World Aids Day, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) wants to see an end to stigmatisation and stereotyping around the disease.

Pretoria - Africa's overall trade flows and boosting intra-Africa trade will feature high on the agenda of the 7th Ordinary Conference of Ministers of Trade, which kicks off in Accra, Ghana, today.