The Food and Agriculture Organisation will next week hold a conference to address food security in Nairobi. This comes only a week after another FAO Summit in Rome Italy on the global soaring food prices. The Kenyan Agriculture Minister William Ruto who is from Rome Summit, said the current food crisis was exacerbated by population adding that developed countries should help expand agriculture and food production. Meanwhile leaders from 25 African states covering the northern half of the continent will discuss the food crisis in Community of Sahel- Saharan states will meet from 12- 15 of June in Benin commercial capital for the organisations 10^th Summit.

International Day of the African Child (16 June 2003)

In Soweto, South Africa, thousands of black school children took to the streets in 1976, in a march more than half a mile long, to protest the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot dead; and in the two weeks of protest that followed, more than a hundred people were killed and more than a thousand were injured.  To honour the memory of those killed and the courage of all those who marched, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on 16 June every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity. The Day also draws attention to the lives of African children today. This year's theme is the need to ensure all children are registered at birth.

Clinical trials in Africa receive funding boost

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) announced recently that it will inject over €80 million (around US$124 million) into African medical research. Half of this sum has already been approved and will go towards malaria research and the development of tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. The remainder, expected later this year, has been earmarked for HIV and TB treatment and for the provision of vaccines and microbicides. The combined sum will be the largest approved by the EDCTP since it was established in 2003, and should reinforce the European Union's partnership with Sub-Saharan Africa. The EDCTP links 14 member states of the European Union, as well as Norway and Switzerland, to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, largely by providing resources for joint clinical trials, capacity building and networking activities. Charles Mgone, executive director of EDCTP said.

Moroccan Stock Market to invite World’s Top Banks

Morocco’s fast- growing stock market is planning to invite the world’s biggest investment banks to apply for membership this year, heralding a shake- up of a close-knit financial community dominated by local players, Reuters have reported. The benchmark MASI index climbed 33 percent in 2007 and 71 percent in 2006, sparking growing interest among foreign investors. This year it has gained 14 percent, defying turbulence on world markets caused by US subprime crisis. Morocco’s economy remains dominated by agriculture and its industrial base is much smaller than its competitors- Turkey and Egypt. It is inculcating stock market culture to help integrate the bourse with foreign markets.

South Africa: Zuma Endorses Mbeki

Jacob Zuma the African National Congress (ANC) President has endorsed South African President Thabo Mbeki to run full term as a sign of no rivalry between them. In a letter addressed to a City Press newspaper, the two leaders showed their unity amid calls from among the ANC's leftist allies for Mbeki to step down, saying he is unable to govern effectively or provide the leadership required. The high-profile unity attempt faces a hard sell among senior ANC members. They said it would amount to an "empty declaration" unless backed up by "practical and genuine" steps to address underlying divisions in the ruling party. Conflicting views come among the ANC members on the move others terming it ‘an elite deal’ and others welcoming it.