EAST AFRICA

Ethiopian journalist illegally detained since Sunday

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Ethiopian authorities yesterday, 21 June 2011, to immediately release journalist Woubshet Taye who has been held since Sunday. Read more >>

KENYA

In Kenya, hospital staff said to have attacked journalist

NEW YORK: Four employees of the Wajir District Hospital attacked journalist Abdi Hassan Hussein at the hospital on Saturday, 18 June 2011, the reporter told the Committee to Protect Journalists. Hassan, a reporter for the Wajir Community Radio Station in the far north-eastern corner of the country, said he visited the hospital with three colleagues to investigate complaints from patients. Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

Nigerian investor to speak at Kenyan film conference

[Carole Kimutai] The upcoming Broadcast and Film Africa Conference in Nairobi will feature a speaker from Cinemart, the Nigerian cinema chain, which is to open 25 cinemas in Kenya over the next year, with the first 12 screens opening in September 2011. Read more >>

MOZAMBIQUE

SEACOM partners Mozambique's TDM

SEACOM has signed a master services agreement with Telecomunicações de Moçambique (TDM), a telecommunications service provider in Mozambique. The agreement will provide SEACOM and its customers access to a fibre optic network in Mozambique as well as a diverse route into Zimbabwe and additional border presence into Malawi and South Africa. Read more >>

UGANDA

ACME moves to strengthen reporting numbers in Uganda

[Walter Wafula] News with statistics in Uganda is expected to become more meaningful to its recipients following a move by the African Centre for Media Excellence to sharpen the skills of local journalists. Read more >>

AFRICA

FNB sees mobile banking growth in Africa

JOHANNESBURG: FNB has announced that it is seeing a rapid uptake of cellphone banking in Africa. The bank has recorded year-on-year growth of 376% in Zambia, 277% in Botswana; 204% in Namibia and 473% in Swaziland. Read more >>

AFRICA

A24 Media launches interactive social forum

A24 Media recently launched its "Africa: What's your story" project which seeks to highlight the common problems that the people of Africa share. The platform aims to promote transparency and hold individuals and organisations accountable for their actions. Read more >>

AFRICA

2011 African Film Festival of Tarifa winners announced

TARIFA: The eighth African Film Festival of Tarifa (FCAT) awarded eight new African movies with awards. The festival jury selected winners from more than 140 movies from 23 African countries. Read more >>

AFRICA

Project launched to boost quality rice production in Africa

COTONOU: A project to enhance the quality and marketability of locally-produced rice through improved harvest and postharvest technologies in eight pilot countries of West and East Africa has just been launched by the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice). Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

Nando's sponsors Holgate's expedition to South Sudan

Nando's founder Robert Brozin is helping launch "A Journey To Juba", the most recent expedition by adventurer, Kingsley Holgate, in his quest to distribute mosquito nets in every country in Africa. As the sponsor of the expedition, Brozin and other Nando's representatives were part of a gathering at Lesedi Cultural Village to wish Holgate well as he heads for the Republic of South Sudan. Read more >>

THE NETHERLANDS

Branded music

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: Music has become the standard channel for brands to communicate with teens. There are hundreds of examples of brands pairing with recording artists or live events in an attempt to engage with the youth market. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Do you know an agency innovator?

NEW YORK, US: An innovator thinks about advertising in new ways, is an advocate of breakthrough communications, a champion of international brand-building and best practices, and is clearly a leader for these times and the future. Is there an agency executive you know who meets the criteria? Do you qualify? Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Far from the madding crowd - at Mont Rochelle

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] From the gatehouse to Mont Rochelle Hotel, a winding road takes you through the vineyards and fields for horses. As you climb the mountain you can feel the troubles of the "real world" slowly slip away, as if tugged on by the relaxation forces of gravity. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Two Minute Puzzle "Speaka my Langwage"

[Ruth Cooper] Yay, a new band to write about. Fresh newbies Two Minute Puzzle launched their EP with the help of some heavy-hitter friends, including Machineri, Inge Beckman and Jeremy Loops at Maremoto in Long Street last Saturday, 18 June. Including a mix of folksy rock, sometimes silly lyrics, plucky guitar and pretty harmonies, their EP is splash of some much needed freshness in today's SA music scene. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Sinn's Winter Specials

[Justin Williams] Sinn's Restaurant in Wembley Square, Gardens, has launched it's Winter Specials menu. Being suckers for fine dining at a reasonable price (especially when Sinn's is involved), my partner and I set off on a stormy Thursday night to experience it. Read more >>