Barack Obama yesterday picked up the prized endorsement of retired General Colin Powell, gaining a significant boost to his credentials as a potential commander-in-chief on the same day that his campaign announced it had raised more than $150 million last month.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/10/20/powells_backing_new_funds_lift_obama/

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The record industry lost a landmark battle last spring, when a court said that merely printing "not for resale" on an unsolicited promo CD does not prevent you from reselling it -- and certainly does not prevent me from buying it. The judgement establishes that "first sale" -- the legal doctrine that says that once you buy something, it's yours -- is still alive and well.

Source: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/10/17/selling-used-cds-is.html

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Botswana's former President Festus Mogae has won a $5m (£2.8m) prize to encourage good governance in Africa.

He stepped down in April after serving two terms in office.

Botswana is one of Africa's most stable countries - it has never had a coup and has had regular multi-party elections since independence in 1966.

Announcing the prize, ex-UN Secretary General Kofi Annnan also commended Mr Mogae for his action to tackle the Aids pandemic which has ravaged the country.

The Ibrahim Prize - the most valuable individual annual prize in the world - was set up by Sudan-born telecoms entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim.

As well as the $5m prize, Mr Mogae, 69, gets $200,000 a year for the rest of his life.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7679391.stm