Barack Obama on Monday night granted an Arabic-language television channel his first formal interview as president – an unprecedented gesture that appeared aimed at offering the Muslim world a sharp contrast with his predecessor, George W. Bush. - Tuesday 27 January 2009

The lack of progress towards peace in Zimbabwe, Western Sahara and the Eritrean-Djiboutian border row, currently ranked among the fourth category of Africa’s trouble spots, has drawn the attention of the African Union. - Tuesday 27 January 2009

The arrest of rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, coupled with a Rwandan-backed operation to disarm Hutu militia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, might eventually help to restore peace to the region but also poses great risks for civilians, according to analysts. - Tuesday 27 January 2009

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s, the ex-wife to Neslon Mandela’s criminal record could bar her from running for Parliament in the upcoming elections. - Tuesday 27 January 2009

South African police yesterday opened fire on a group of MDC-T supporters who attempted to break into Union Buildings, venue of the Sadc Extraordinary Summit. - Tuesday 27 January 2009

The trial of Thomas Lubanga, former leader of the armed group UPC (Union of Congolese Patriots) in Ituri, north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, opened Monday in the Hague. Thomas Lubanga is accused of kidnapping, training and using child soldiers in combats between September 2002 and August 2003. - Monday 26 January 2009

In his opinion editorial titled "Downsizing Government in Ghana", Mr. Cudjoe purports that since Ghana and South Korea’s GDP per capita were at par in 1957 juxtaposing the two economies by virtue of their past parallel economies is a sound argument. - Monday 26 January 2009

The breakaway party was formed in response to ANC moves to oust Thabo Mbeki as president last September and back ANC leader Jacob Zuma’s candidacy. Following a court judgment earlier this month, Mr Zuma is facing corruption charges. - Monday 26 January 2009

It has been a sad weekend for Nigerian football said the Nigeria Football Federation head, Mohamed Sanusi. The sadness is as a result of Nigerian Players dying in road accidents due to bad road networks in the country. - Monday 26 January 2009

Bona Mugabe, the daughter of Zimbabwean detector Robert Mugabe reportedly studying in Hong Kong under a different name. She is said to began her studies the University of Hong Kong, reports say. - Monday 26 January 2009