According to reports from Burundi’s national radio, several people, including 12 school going children and a teacher, were killed and some seriously injured, when lighting struck two provinces on Wednesday, 16 February. The affected provinces include the central region province of Karuzi, where most of the fatal cases were reported, and Bubanza province in the western region. October last year, AFP reported that: "Three people were killed by lightning... as heavy rains pounded the hills of Murambi and Kiganda (southern Burundi), where at least 37 homes were destroyed". A few days earlier, in the same month of October, a lightning incident caused the death of an Anglican priest and three of his church members during mass in southern Burundi. - Friday 18 February 2011 - 14:03

Uganda MP Bahati accused of calling for a “gay death penalty” says he has been misrepresented and is only trying to criminalize child abusers. David Bahati says the new offence of “aggravated homosexuality” is a penalty against “defilement” of under-18s. He claims there has been distortion in the media and that the death penalty is aimed solely at homosexuals “who defile a kid less than 18 years old,” notes BBC. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 12:41

According to VOA, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has announced the country’s first post-war presidential election will likely be delayed for another three years. The leader, who had previously said the vote would take place in 2009, says he wants his MPLA party to complete the mandate it won in last year’s parliamentary elections. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 12:38

A Nigerian court has issued an arrest warrant for a senior member of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration charged with abuse of office and criminal conspiracy, reports Angola Press. Authorities have planned to ask Interpol for help in tracking down Nasir El-Rugai, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under Obasanjo from 2003-2007, after he failed to show up to any of his court hearings in the past seven months. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 12:32

British admiral in charge of the European Union fleet watching out for Somali pirates wants to extend its patrol area, the Press Association has revealed. Rear Admiral Peter Hudson said his flotilla’s range needed to increase because pirates were launching attacks up to 1,000 miles off the coast, nearer India tha Africa. The EU Naval Force currently deploys up to seven warships, covering a sea area said to be 10 times the size of Germany. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 12:05

According to Al Jazeera, Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF party has met for its first party congress since the formation of a unity government with its rival, the Movement for Democratic Change. Thousands of Zanu PF members are expected to attend the two-day event in Harare. Deligates are hoping to revitalize the party in the wake of last year’s post-election standoff that pushed it into a power-sharing deal with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), lef by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 11:49

More than 3.8 million Kenyans are currently facing hunger as drought in the Eastern African country persists, writes All Africa. As a result, the team coordinating the emergency intervention program launched in August, the Crisis Response Centre, has recommended in a report that more funds should be raised. The report says areas at high risk of becoming a humanitarian emergency include the greater Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir and most parts of Rana River districts. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 11:44

France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was, allegedly, involved in a plot to kill the leader of Guinea’s ruling junta, the country’s military rulers say, according to BBC. Junta spokesman Idrissa Cherif declared that Mr. Kouchner had “activated some networks” in order to “change the situation” in the West African country. France’s government said the claims were “completely groundless.” - Friday 11 December 2009 - 11:44

Somali pirates Thursday freed the Greek cargo ship “Ariana” for a ransom of 2.5 million dollars, bringing a seven-month captivity of 24 Ukranian crewmen to an end, La Croix reported. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 01:00

According to TV5, the Guinean junta and the coalition of political parties and civil societies have been invited to meet on Sunday in Ouagadougou to talk about the present situation in their country, indicated the Burkina Faso President and mediator of the Guinean crisis, Blaise Compaoré. - Friday 11 December 2009 - 00:41