Rural

Music by Prudence', an inspiring documentary about a group of handicapped Zimbabwean musicians, scooped the best prize for a short documentary at the 2010 Academy Awards held in Los Angeles, on Sunday night.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Wednesday, okayed a request by former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Farouk Aliyu, to void the January 27 resolution passed by the Economic Council of the Federation, ECF, giving President Umaru Yar'Adua a clean bill of health.

Almost half a million people have petitioned Parliament to drop debate on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Religious leaders and HIV/Aids activists handed a copy of the petition with signatures, collected mainly through the Internet from all over the world, including Uganda, to Speaker Edward Ssekandi on Monday.

Zanu PF is planning lavish birthday celebrations for President Robert Mugabe despite revelations last week that over two million Zimbabweans need urgent food aid. Mugabe, the country's only ruler since Independence in 1980, turns 86 today.

Officials of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen have Saturday said that the World Food Program (WFP) will not operate in the areas under the control of their administration in Somalia until it takes commandments ordered earlier.

Millions of Egyptian children continue to live in poverty, despite recent gains made for young people, particularly on the legislative front, a study commissioned by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has found.

President Mwai Kibaki on Saturday asked government officials mentioned adversely in the Subsidized Maize Scheme Audit Report and the Free Primary Education Programme to step down to allow for independent investigations.

The National Assembly has passed a resolution empowering Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to step in the saddle as Acting President, pending the return of ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Yar'Adua has been receiving treatment at King Faisal Specialist and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, since November 24, last year.

Free primary and secondary education has lifted Uganda's ranking on the UN Human Development Index (HDI). The spike in the number of students, since the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education programmes was introduced, has contributed greatly to the country's improved global standing.

Two Christian political parties have urged South African President Jacob Zuma to resign for fathering a child out-of-wedlock, saying he is undermining government efforts to fight HIV and AIDSs.

The US has suspended millions of shillings earmarked for the Kenya education sector.

US ambassador Michael Ranneberger on Tuesday said the money-Sh525 million - set to be disbursed to the Education Ministry this year will stay suspended "until there is a credible, independent audit and full accountability."

The human catastrophe arising from the eruption of sectarian crisis in Jos, Plateau State, two weeks ago has left at least 40,000 displaced.

Also, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Lar, have condemned in strong terms the destruction of lives and property, saying it is unacceptable.

Mogadishu residents have welcomed plans by the interim government to step up the integration of an earlier, ousted, regime's security forces into its own army.

She cannot swim, but Marie-Claite Hector is not afraid of the ocean. The 53-year-old pushes her small boat with all her strength towards the blue lagoon, starts the engine, and sets out to sea.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the Federation Executive Council (FEC) 14 days to prove medically that President Umaru Yar'Adua was fit to perform his duties.

The two highest policy bodies existing at the centre are the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Council of States (NCS).