World

Pretoria - South Africa and the United States have signed a new partnership framework that will guide US funding of HIV and Aids projects in the country.

United Nations - The UN Security Council is expected to approve a resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), having secured the consent of the government of Cyprus.

Pretoria - Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, will meet with United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington today.

Christchurch, New Zealand - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Tuesday that at least 65 people were killed in the earthquake that measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, in South Island's city of Christchurch earlier in the day.

Ankara - Turkey is to send two more ships to evacuate Turkish nationals stranded in Libya, which has seen a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters demanding the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Cape Town - South African businesses must take advantages of opportunities in Southern Sudan as soon as possible, with the state set to gain independence on 11 July, said Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has expressed his condolences at the news of the earthquake that has caused loss of human life and substantial damage to properties and infrastructure in Christchurch.

Cape Town - South African economists and researchers may see Brazil as the economy South Africa should look to emulate and learn from, but a report released by Brazil's National Confederation of Industry (CNI) reveals that South Africa is actually more competitive than the South American nation.

Pretoria - The Department of Defence and Military Veterans has moved to clarify media reports regarding the sale of arms by South African arms manufacturers to Libya, calling them misleading.

Washington- The United States described the Cancun Agreements on fighting global warming as a " balanced and significant step forward" and pledged to work on with "our friends and partners" to keep the world focused on this urgent challenge and continue building on this progress.