What makes a hotel 2010 compliant?
South Africa is under the world microscope and the pressure within the borders to perform is reaching new heights. Will they, or won't they? That is the anxiously asked question on everybody's lips. It is clear to each and every South African and SA business that the benefits of a fortnight of international football tournaments goes beyond the two weeks and strategies have to be set in place to sustain the efforts that are going into enhancing infrastructures of transport, tourism and security.

Display Mania International launches new division, new products and a brand new website - Display Mania
Display Mania, which manufactures portable display products, snap frames and pull-up banners, has recently launched Promo and Print Mania which will specialise in promotional material.

"Triomf" selected for 2009 FESPACO competition
Director and scriptwriter, Michael Raeburn's "Triomf" has been selected for the FESPACO 2009 - the Pan-African Film and TV Festival official competition. FESPACO, one of Africa's largest film festival established in 1969, showcases African cinema and television.

AFRICA

Wolda '08 annual on sale
The inaugural 2008 printed edition of Wolda, the Worldwide Logo Design Annual, is now available for purchase online. The book features 192 logos selected from a total of nearly 1100 entries from 43 countries.

Swazi authorities threaten new publications with closure
At least two publications which recently came into the Swazi media scene have been threatened with closure for failure to register with government.

AFRICA

Attacks on the Press 2008 report released
NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 10 February 2009 released the annual global press freedom survey, Attacks on the Press 2008. The entire book is available online, in both English and French, on the CPJ website.

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwean journalists placed on EU sanctions list
Seven journalists and senior managers with the state media have been added to the European Union's (EU) targeted sanctions lists for whipping up a government orchestrated terror campaign before and during the June 2008 presidential runoff.

AFRICA

Mobile world reaches four billion connections
LONDON: The GSMA announced today, 11 February that the mobile world has reached its four billionth connection, according to Wireless Intelligence, the GSMA's market intelligence unit. This milestone underscores the continued growth of the mobile industry and puts the global market on the path to reach six billion connections by 2013.

Zim government cuts mobile airtime VAT
[Sam Hungwe] Local newspapers have been flooded with letters from agitated telecommunication users complaining over unfair charges by the country's three mobile networks. The Zimbabwe government has now cut punitive tax on mobile airtime, admitting this had affected “talk time” by mobile phone users.

Shoprite's move into Africa pays dividends
The expansion of Africa's largest retailer, Shoprite, into the continent is paying off as it said yesterday it expected earnings to improve at least 35% in the six months to December.

SA calls for lifting of Zim sanctions ahead of unity government
[Michael Appel] CAPE TOWN: The South African government has joined African Union (AU) calls to the international community for economic sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted.

Djibouti: Global food crisis adding to shortages
Drought, high food prices and a weak response from donors have left a large proportion of Djibouti's population without enough to eat, despite some level of economic growth, the UN resident co-ordinator said.

GTV Uganda licence withdrawn
[Walter Wafula] After succumbing to the current global financial crisis GTV Uganda has now had its licence withdrawn by the country's Broadcasting Council. GTV Uganda can now no longer operate in the country.

MACRA offers four TV licences
The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has issued an offer of four private television stations, signifying a possibility of additional TV media houses apart from Malawi Television and Catholic church-owned regional, Luntha TV.