JOHANNESBURG – Actress Charlize Theron has pledged her support in the campaign against AIDS during a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma. Theron, an ambassador for the United Nations program on AIDS, met Zuma in Pretoria on Monday to discuss the fight against AIDS in South Africa and across the continent.

The South Africa-born actress says the world has the ability to usher in "an AIDS-free generation." She says that the goal can become a reality with strong leadership like that displayed by Zuma.

According to UNAIDS, South Africa has reduced the number of new HIV infections by 12 percent in the last two years. Last year, more than 8 million HIV tests were done. However, South Africa wants citizens to get tested at least once a year.

Lady Antebellum returns to Target Center

Harmonizing country music trio Lady Antebellum announced Monday that it is returning to the Twin Cities. With seven Grammys to its credit, the trio's "Take Me Downtown" tour is scheduled to play at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis on Dec. 5. Tickets go on sale Sept. 20. Prices have yet to be announced. When the trio played the same venue in March 2012, tickets ranged from $27.50 to $52.50. Last year's tour took Lady Antebellum to 11 countries and was seen by more than 1 million fans. Lady Antebellum has had seven No. 1 hits on the country radio charts and earned five platinum singles including its recent "Downtown."

Talk of the Stacks lineup set

The next season of Talk of the Stacks will see writers in conversation with one another, and with editors, and also writers alone, reading from their work. Novelist Amy Tan and poet Nikki Giovanni headline a series that also includes Minnesota writer/singer/songwriter/rapper Dessa and two winners of the Milkweed Fiction Prize, Larry Watson and Jon Pineda. Here's the lineup:

Sept. 12: Larry Watson ("Let Him Go") and Jon Pineda ("Apology"), in conversation with Milkweed Editions publisher Daniel Slager.

Amy Tan

Oct. 25: Dessa, in conversation with Rain Taxi Review editor Eric Lorberer. They'll be discussing her new, as-yet-untitled chapbook of poetry.

Nov. 13: Amy Tan, discussing "The Valley of Amazement," her first new novel in nearly 10 years.

Dec. 12: Nikki Giovanni, reading from "Chasing ­Utopia: A Hybrid," her upcoming collection of poetry.

Talk of the Stacks is a free reading series of the Friends of the Hennepin County Library. All events will be held in Pohlad Hall of the Central Library on the Nicollet Mall.

Staff and wire reports