SOUTHERN AFRICA

Swaziland security forces target journalists

NEW YORK: Authorities in the kingdom of Swaziland should allow the news media to report freely on anti-government protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said yesterday, 12 April 2011, after security forces harassed at least 10 local and international journalists covering a mass demonstration demanding political and economic reform after more than two decades of rule by King Mswati III. Read more >>

NORTH AFRICA

More journalists held in Libya; blogger jailed in Egypt

NEW YORK: Continuing a weeks-long pattern of seizing journalists covering the Libyan conflict, the government of Muammar Qaddafi is detaining two more television journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday, 11 April 2011. And in Egypt, in a serious setback for press freedom under the transitional government, a court has sentenced a blogger to a three-year prison term for "insulting the military." Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

Ethiopia should allow German broadcasts - CPJ

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on authorities in Ethiopia to ensure that broadcasts of the German state-funded station Deutsche Welle, which had been jammed, be allowed to air freely. Local journalists confirmed a report by the Berlin-based international broadcaster that its programs were inaudible in Ethiopia last week until Friday. Read more >>

KENYA

Legacy of 2010 shines in Kenya

[Nosimilo Ramela] Young boys from Mathare township in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi are enjoying the benefits of the country's first solar-powered floodlit stadium where they can play football after dark. Read more >>

AFRICA

Intelsat New Dawn launch rescheduled

LUXEMBOURG: Intelsat SA, on Monday, 11 April 2011, announced that the launch of Intelsat New Dawn has been rescheduled to Friday, 22 April at 5.37pm (EDT). The satellite, loaded on an Ariane 5 rocket, will be launched from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Read more >>

KENYA

Kenya: Airtel cries foul over mobile number portability service

[Carole Kimutai] Barely two weeks after the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) launched the mobile number portability (MNP) service, one of the mobile players is crying foul. Airtel Kenya MD Rene Meza has raised a red flag saying several anti-competition tactics were being used to block customers seeking to move to its network. Read more >>

SOUTHERN AFRICA

MTN denies shutdown for Swazi protests

[Loyiso Langeni] Cellphone operator MTN on Monday, 11 April 2011, denied allegations that its subsidiary in neighbouring Swaziland had shut down its services ahead of a three-day mass protest that started yesterday. Read more >>

AFRICA

InterMedia appoints Africa MD

WASHINGTON, NAIROBI: InterMedia, a global research-based consultancy, recently announced the appointment of Vivien Marles as MD of the company's Africa branch, which is set to open in Nairobi, Kenya on 9 May 2011. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SABMiller invests $15m more in Southern Sudan ops

Global brewing group SABMiller announced on Monday, 11 April 2011, that its subsidiary company, Southern Sudan Beverages (SSBL), was to invest an additional US$15 million in its operations in Southern Sudan to increase production capacity and build on the strong performance of its local brand portfolio. Read more >>

UGANDA

Uganda's honey queen talks Bee Natural

Head of Bee Natural Uganda, Maria Odido, recently gained international recognition when she was awarded the 2010 Project Incubator Award for her innovative and sustainable project. Having set herself some important goals, Odido has had to experience success and then failure before firmly establishing herself as Uganda's honey queen. Read more >>

CHINA

Ten digital insights for marketers

BEIJING, CHINA: The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and Firefly Millward Brown have identified 10 insights that advertisers need to take into account when using digital media to communicate. Read more >>

CHINA

China's marketing challenges

BEIJING, CHINA / NEW YORK, US: The meteoric rise in the spending power of the Chinese consumer presents unique challenges for marketers, according to a new study released by Forbes Insights and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Polo GTI does everything right

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Some might call it impressive, others will say it is excellent, fast, dynamic, and exciting but I think the best way to describe Volkswagen's new Polo GTI is by simply saying it is a super-sexy little sizzler. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Entries invited: Travel and Tourism Film & Video Awards

Southern Africa's Travel and Tourism Film & Video Awards is in full preparation mode. The organisers are calling for entries from southern African film and video makers as well as from travel and tourism product owners. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Local heroes

[National Geographic Traveller] Check in to one of these luxurious boutique hotels and you'll never want to check out. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[So Queer] Coconut Man

[Siphosethu Stuurman] South Africa is a country that is obsessed with race and I suppose if one considers our past then, in some way, this fixation is understandable. But the manner that race matters have been, and continue to be, played out in this country's politics is rather concerning and does not do our "rainbow nation" any justice. However, what got me really thinking about race is a series of unrelated events, starting with the fact that my work colleagues jokingly call me a "coconut". Read more >>