Heath - Zimbabwe's cricketers marked Heath Streak's 35th birthday with a little party here on Wednesday night with the legendary bowler challenging his troops to give him a perfect present with a victory over Kenyain their last World Cup Group A tie against Kenyain Kolkata on Sunday. Streak, who is now the team's bowling coach, turned 35 on Wednesday, the latest member of the team to celebrate his birthday during this World Cup tour after skipper Elton Chigumbura marked his 25th birthday in Sri Lanka on Monday. The Zimbabwe cricketers were hosted by Streak's Indian manager, at a private function in the Bhadra neighbourhood of Mumbai, and as drinks flowed on a special day for the former national team captain, he said the best present would be a win over Kenya.

Justice-Kenya - ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo yesterday sought authority to appeal the Pre-Trial judges' decision to exclude police killings in Kisumu and Kibera from the charge sheets against three of his suspects. Ocampo also seeks to appeal against the judges' reclassification of forced circumcision of Luo men in Naivasha from the original "other forms of sexual violence" category to "other inhumane acts". In his application to the ICC Trial Chamber, Ocampo claims the finding by the Pre-Trial judges that Civil Service boss Francis Muthaura and former police boss Hussein Ali cannot be held to account over police role in Kibera, Kisumu, Naivasha and Nakuru killings was very dangerous to his case."The consequences of the decision reach far beyond this case alone, because it threatens to protect an entire category of persons from criminal charges - state officers who contribute state machinery to an attack against the civilian population in furtherance of a nonâ-state organisational policy," he says.

Society-Namibia - It has been 21 years since we became an independent nation. It was on March 21 1990 when we made our debut on the world political map as an independent and sovereign state in international relations parlance and this should be the time to celebrate our hard-won independence. So let's all join in the celebrations as one people knowing that we are now masters of our own destiny - we can either make or break. And as we celebrate we should also remember the heroic deeds of those who went before us to get rid of colonialism. But as we celebrate our 21st birthday of nationhood we should also take time to reflect, take stock and ask ourselves the hard questions of where we have gone wrong as a nation.

Politics-Tanzania - Since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in Tanzania in 1992 numerous political parties have been formed and received permanent registration much as few of them could be labeled 'serious parties.' Many of the parties would always show up when an election time approaches and disappear in the political limelight thereafter. "Multi-party democracy in this country is in crisis, you can't measure the level of democracy in a country basing on a number of parties," charged a political scientist at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Mr Bashiru Ally. Adding: "You judge a political party by what it does to the people and its commitment to the people we have wasted almost two decades on multi-party democracy with parties that are as good as dead."

Road construction-Tanzania - Travelling by bus from Nzega to Tabora, a distance of 116 kilometres, could be a nightmare for the uninitiated. But for local commuters using the service regularly, the ordeal has become 'ordinary.' This highway is rough and worse enough when it rains, transport becomes almost impossible. I encountered a sad experience, when travelling to Tabora recently. A middle-aged woman, Felista Nzige, who was travelling in the same bus with us, lost her child in the bus. She was taking the child to Kitete Regional Hospital for further treatment after doctors at the Nzega District Hospital referred her there. Inside the bus, the child was actually in intense pain. The mother, Felista, was desperate and eventually started crying for help from fellow passengers.

Lagos, Nigeria - Members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, comprising international organisations involved in forests, have called on countries to pay more attention to forest protection and management for the provision of clean water. 'Forests are part of the natural infrastructure of any country and are essential to the water cycle,' said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department. 'They reduce the effects of floods, prevent soil erosion, regulate the water table and assure a high quality water supply for people, industry and agriculture,' an FAO statement obtained by PANA here Friday quoted him as saying, prior to the UN World Water Day which will be celebrated this year on 22 March.

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire - Heavy shooting at the Abobo market in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, left between 25 and 30 dead Thursday, according to a statement issued by the UN Operation in Cote d 'Ivoire (UNOCI). The statement said the shooting, which also left between 40 and 60 wounded, was believed to have come from the camp of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to relinquish power despite pressure from the international community which recognizes Alassane Ouattara as winner of November's presidential election. The UN mission has expressed outrage at such atrocities against innocent civilians.

Lagos, Nigeria - Stakeholders have criticised the version of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill passed by Nigeria's upper legislative chamber, the Senate, Wednesday, saying the bill has been watered down. The umbrella Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have in particular condemned the aspect of the bill that makes it mandatory for journalists to disclose their sources of information. 'The issue of journalists disclosing their sources is uncalled for, it should not arise and it is an issue that puts the national security at risk.

Cairo, Egypt - Hundreds of Syrian workers in Egypt Thursday protested in front of Damascus' embassy in Cairo, alongside Egyptian citizens, calling on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, who inherited power from his father a few years back, to step down with his regime. The demonstrators chanted 'Bashar we don't want you' and 'leave, leave like Mubarak and Ben Ali,' in reference to the successful revolutions that toppled the corrupt regimes of the former Egyptian and Tunisian Presidents. Scuffles broke out at the demonstrations, where Syrian embassy workers pelted the gathering with stones and kidnapped an Egyptian citizen before he was released by Army troops.

Cape Town, South Africa - South Africa may walk over Libya in the first match of the qualifiers for the football event of the 2012 London Olympics. The two countries have been slated to meet in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, 27 May. But Shakes Mashaba, coach of South Africa's Olympic team, said the match against Libya was in the balance. Meanwhile, the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Thursday confirmed that it would host the African Youth Championship instead of Libya.

Harare, Zimbabwe - A banned newspaper, the Daily News, was relaunched Friday in Zimbabwe after being re-registered by the authorities seven years after it was forcibly closed down. The privately-owned daily paper, which was sharply critical of President Robert Mugabe's government, was shut down for failing to register with a state media commission. But the Daily News and its sympathizers alleged it was banned because of its critical reporting on the government, and sympathies for the opposition. It becomes the fourth daily newspaper in the country - two privately-owned and two owned by the government.

New York, United States - The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Margot Wallstrom, on Thursday called on Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to investigate allegations of sexual violence and take practical steps to prevent them. The Pan African News Agency (PANA) reports that Wallstrom made the call following reports of women being raped during recent expulsions from Angola to the DRC. ``I urge both governments to do their utmost to stop sexual violence and to protect their populations, particularly women and children,” she said in a statement.

Balaclava, Mauritius - Foreign direct investments in Mauritius in 2010 exceeded about US$ 407 million (12 billion rupees), the Mauritian Minister of Finance, Pravind Jugnauth, said Thursday during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Board of Investment (BOI). Jugnauth said the BOI had contributed enormously in the last decade to diversifying the Mauritian economy and improving the business climate. 'Mauritius is now ranked 20th out of 183 countries by the Doing Business. This success must act as a catalyst for BOI in the pursuit of its mission with renewed vigor and in accordance with the vision and the government economic agenda,' he said.

Kinshasa, DR Congo - About 150 women have commenced an exhibition of products dedicated to women at the International Fair of Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, PANA reported from here Thursday. The fair, running from 15-20 March, is the third of its kind organized by women in Kinshasa as part of activities dedicated to the 2011 Year of Women in the DRC. Products on exhibition included agricultural, livestock and weaving products.

Bujumbura, Burundi - Some 4,742 Burundian refugees, including 3,609 from the DR Congo, were repatriated from exile in 2010 with material and logistical assistance from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to the latest monthly newsletter of the UNHCR office in Bujumbura. The newsletter, received by PANA here, said the total amount of contributions received by UNHCR to carry out repatriation and reintegration operations was US$23 million. Most Burundian refugees were until recently living in neighbouring Tanzania, where they have fled during the two major civil wars in Burundi in 1972 and 1993.

Security-Nigeria - Nigeria and Israel have agreed to collaborate to stem the tide of terrorism financing and achieve lasting impacts in the fight against the global scourge. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farida Waziri, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday when she received Israeli Minister of Public Security, Itshak Aharonovick, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Moshe Ram, and other top Israeli government officials in her office. Waziri said recent passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill by the National Assembly has climaxed the readiness of the Federal Government to fight terrorism without looking back, in line with international standards and agreements.

April Polls-Niger - As the controversy generated by the March 3 bomb blast in Suleja, Niger State rages, the man who organised the rally and who narrowly escaped death on that day, Dahiru Kuta, has expressed worry at the spate of violence heralding the polls. The general elections kick off on April 2. Kuta spoke at an interaction with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday to debunk allegations that he fingered Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Muhammadu Buhari, in the bombing.

Tanzania - The Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) is looking into a possibility of expanding its beer market to all East African Community (EAC) member states and beyond. The company's Sales and Distribution Director, Mr Nicholas Brooks, said in Dar es Salaam early this week that the plan has been on the drawing board for sometime now. "We have been looking on how we can sell and market our products at the Great Lakes Region but also overseas. It's something we are looking at and it may start this year if all goes well", he said. He said that the company is also intending to launch a new product to cater for low income consumers. In the past, TBL had been exporting its beer brands to Kenya, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where it recorded a good sales performance.

Health-Nigeria - Cross Rive State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has assured the people of Obudu in the Northern Senatorial District of the state that his administration would soon establish and commission a general hospital in the town. Also to be provided for the people of Obudu is a scheme that would end water scarcity in the area. Imoke stated this at the Obudu Township Stadium on Thursday when he led the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign to the northern senatorial district. He said the state government would immediately commence the construction of the remaining road in Obudu that has not been worked on and laced with asphalt.

Economy-Zambia - Northern Coffee Corporation (NCC) will engage more than 10,000 local people during the peak season, Northern Province Permanent Secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe has said. Mr Simfukwe said the company which had been resuscitated was one of the biggest economic boost not only in the province but the country at large. He said the company had three estates namely, Kateshi in Kasama, Ngoli in Mungwi and Isanya in Mbala districts covering in excess of 1,460 hectares. "The company will create jobs for local people in the factory, production and transportation sections for onward exportation,"Mr Simfukwe said. He said the coffee company would not just be growing coffee but that, it would also be processing the crop for export and local sales.