EGYPT

Government obstruction, intimidation continues in Cairo

NEW YORK: Egyptian authorities are obstructing international news coverage of the country's political crisis by withholding press credentials and, in one instance, invading the home of a foreign journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday, 9 February 2011. Read more >>

COTE D'IVOIRE

Ivory Coast using media regulation to censor critics

NEW YORK: Incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has moved to silence critical media under the guise of media regulation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said yesterday, 10 February 2011, following a week in which Gbagbo's administration tightened control over the official print media regulatory agency and ordered United Nations-sponsored radio network ONUCI FM off the air. Read more >>

EGYPT

Human rights commissioner demands investigation of attacks in Egypt

BERLIN: Markus Löning, the federal government commissioner for Human Rights Policy at the Federal Foreign Office, responded to the Human Rights Watch report that at least 297 people have been killed during the unrest in Egypt since 28 January 2011, by issuing a statement earlier this week calling for an investigation. Read more >>

AFRICA

Eight ways to build up your email database fast

[Georgia Christian] At some point along the line, you might have bought an email list, or at least been tempted to buy one. This is bad idea for two reasons. Firstly, they are undoubtedly filled with inactive, non-existent email addresses and spam traps and secondly, it's borderline illegal, so forget that idea. Read more >>

KENYA

Young & Rubicam wins Essar Telecom Kenya account

[Carole Kimutai] Essar Telecom Kenya has signed a deal with Young & Rubicam Brands that consolidates all marketing communications activity behind the YU brand. The partnership allows the advertising agency to provide the YU brand with integrated marketing communication solutions through advertising, media buying, direct and digital marketing, as well as public relations. Read more >>

WEST AFRICA

Global Voice helps bridge digital divide in Guinea

CONARKY: In partnership with the Guinean Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ARPT), the Global Voice Group has commited to fund, build and equip five cyber centres in Guinea by the end of the first quarter of 2011. Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

EAC hosts inaugural East Africa Media Awards

ARUSHA: The East African Community in partnership with the East African Business Council has announced a call for entries for the inaugural East Africa Media Awards. Winners will be announced at the fourth EAC-EABC Media Summit, scheduled to take place from 14-15 March 2011 at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Read more >>

AFRICA

Starcom Mediavest appointed GSK Africa account

The Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has been appointed as the media agency partner on the GSK Africa account. With immediate effect, SMG is responsible for the media buying and strategy for GSK Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola and Botswana.

AFRICA

Innovative African mobile company wins prestigious UN award

The South African based research and development arm of the international telecommunications group, Telfree, has been awarded the Outstanding Regional Achievement Award for Excellence in Mobile Content at the United Nations World Summit Award (WSA) for its Telfree MzansiSMS product. Read more >>

ANGOLA

Lewis Hamilton, Johnnie Walker promote responsible drinking

click to enlarge

McLaren Mercedes F1 team driver Lewis Hamilton, and sponsor Johnnie Walker, are together promoting responsible drinking in Angola. The awareness campaign has been built on an outdoor advertising campaign with Continental Outdoor on strategically placed wall wraps, building wraps and gantries. The copy states: "Lewis Hamilton. Only one world champion. Keep walking."

AFRICA

2011 AiM Film Festival calls for entries

Africa in Motion (AiM) is calling for African filmmakers to submit documentaries and fiction films of 52 minutes or longer relating to this year's festival theme; Children and youth for consideration. The festival will take place between 27 October and 6 November 2011 at Edinburgh's Filmhouse Cinema and other venues across the city. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

2011 Design Challenge - the glamour shot

CLEVELAND, US: TABPI, the international business-to-business media organisation, has announced its fourth TABPI Design Challenge contest, open to all b2b art directors and designers. The challenge is meant to reward graphic creativity in the b2b industry, as well as serve as an educational exercise for other artists. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Great stories start in Cannes

LONDON, UK: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has launched its 2011 marketing campaign 'Great Stories Start in Cannes'. The campaign has been born out of the countless different experiences that have happened over the many years to everybody during the annual event. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Number Three rockets to Number One

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Only a few months after being launched in South Africa and Germany the new BMW X3 has won the title of "Off-Roader of the Year" in Germany. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Hassle-free sales environment revs vehicle purchases

CHICAGO, US: Black or silver? Sedan or coupe? Compact or hatchback? Consumers have much to consider when they're on the hunt for a new car. But, according to Mintel research, it's a hassle-free sales environment that really gets shoppers' motors running, as 27% of consumers who have bought a new vehicle in the past three years say they were influenced by the stress-free sales floor. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

London faces sharp spike in luxury hotel supply

LONDON, UK: According to analysis by PwC, there could be a 27% increase in luxury rooms in London by 2012 with around 2400 rooms in 18 hotels reported under construction or planned in London. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Etihad, Air New Zealand sign codeshare agreement

Etihad Airways is continuing to build its presence in Australasia with the signing of an extensive codeshare agreement with Air New Zealand. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Don't touch me on my creek

[Ruth Cooper] We had a fairly rocky start to our UTC adventure; a ticket was left at home and this fact only realised on arrival. Thank god for Blackberries and helpful colleagues willing to head back to the office on a Friday evening! Luckily, this was the only snag in an otherwise lovely fest so, with entrance secured, my party companions and I camped up (also very rocky), hydrated with vodka and ventured forth into one of my all-time fav music festivals: Up the Creek, you beaut. Read more >>