AFRICA

Dubai Lynx 2009 juries announced
The members of the four juries of the Dubai Lynx Awards have been announced. Judging will take place in Dubai, where 29 creatives and media experts from 14 countries will convene to discuss and award the best creative advertising from the MENA region. Winners will be revealed at the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony and Dinner on 17 March 2009.

ICTs discussed at high level NEPAD meeting
[Bathandwa Mbola] ADDIS ABABA: The New partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) has challenged more African nations to get involved in the project to develop internet connections linking African countries to one another and to the rest of the world by 2015.

Gateway steps in during NITEL strike
LONDON/LAGOS: Gateway Communications is offering its customers, cut off by the ongoing NITEL strike, an alternative connectivity solution. Using satellite connectivity, IPJetDirect will allow its corporate customers and Nigerian operators to connect their mobile or fixed network to the internet.

AFRICA

Business journalism training in Africa
JOHANNESBURG: The Investment Climate Facility (ICF) for Africa and the Thomson Reuters Foundation announced a new partnership that will offer a training programme for business journalism in Africa. The programme aims to raise the standards of business, financial and investment journalism on the continent in an attempt to ensure greater trust in the region's media reporting.

Young African Leaders recognised in Tanzania
The president of Zanzibar, Abeid Amani Karume has launched an initiative to recognise the achievements of young African leaders known as the Young African Leaders Awards. President Karume launched the African awards on behalf of chairman of the African Union, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Mobility - a security conundrum?
Mobility is no longer a luxury but an entrenched part of everyday living. However, with the proliferation of wireless and mobile technologies and devices have come the resultant security challenges which in turn have lead to some corporates making the call to opt for 'safer' fixed-line infrastructures opposed to exposing their information to a mobile world.

IABC Quills 2009 judging panel announced
Entries to the IABC 2009 Quills close tomorrow, Tuesday, 3 February 2009. Shortly thereafter, the first tier judging in the African region will take place, and winners will be announced at a gala event on 27 March 2009. The judging panel includes experienced communicators across South Africa.

AFRICA

African Union Summit opens in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA: African leaders on Sunday, 1 February 2009 gathered for the 12th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit dedicated to developing transport and energy systems on the continent.

AU to be transformed into new African Union Authority
[Bathandwa Mbola] ADDIS ABABA: African leaders agreed on Sunday, 1 Febraury in the Ethiopian capital to transform the African Union (AU) Commission into the African Union Authority (AUA). This will be done as a compromise step toward eventually forming a continent-wide government.

AFRICA

GTV succumbs to global financial crisis
LONDON: Gateway Broadcast Services announced late last week that its board of directors has unanimously approved a plan to liquidate the company. According to a statment released, the current financial and global crisis has severely interrupted the company's ability to secure further funding for the continued operation of the business.