International

US President Barack Obama, presenting America's highest civilian honour to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, said the Nobel Peace Laureate exemplified "that sense of generosity, that spirit of unity, that essence of humanity that South Africans know simply as ubuntu."

‘Place branding’ – the branding of a nation, town or even a continent – is an area of branding that has undergone huge growth in the past five years. In the case of Africa, branding its nations is currently a popular topic.

Seven Ghanaians arrived in South Africa earlier this month to begin learning how to design, build, operate and maintain an African telescope network that will support the scientific and technical activities of the Square Kilometre Array.

Brazilian star Pele, perhaps the greatest footballer ever, believes that South Africa's footballing style is similar to that of world champions Brazil, and that the solution to the country's football woes may be found close to home.

South African Michelle Matthews, publishing manager of women's imprint Oshun Books, has been named by the British Council as a finalist for the 2006 International Young Publisher of the Year Award.

The Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race has been granted International Cycling Union (UCI) race status for 2014, making it only the second South African stage race to be awarded the prestigious classification.

British wastewater treatment company Bluewater Bio has entered the South African market through an agreement with local firm Headstream Water Holdings - and the two are eyeing sub-Saharan expansion within the next 12 to 18 months.

Marriott International, the largest publicly traded hotel chain in the US, has signed agreements to acquire the three brands and management company of South Africa's Protea Hospitality Holdings, in a R2.02-billion ($186-million) transaction that will make Marriott Africa's biggest hotel company.

South Africa's Square Kilometre Array project has struck an agreement with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory of the United States that is set to foster high-level science collaboration between the two countries.

The South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town will soon be host to the International Astronomical Union's Office for Astronomy Development, which will play a key role in taking astronomy to the developing world.