MALAWI

MACRA rebrands, unveils new plan

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has rebranded and launched its new logo. The logo depicts its new approach to ensuring that there is universal access to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[Tech4Africa] Power failures, low bandwidth? Try cloud computing

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] In sub-Saharan Africa, a literally dark area where only 53% of urban dwellers and 8% of rural communities, respectively, have access to electricity, and where Internet connectivity and data are still a luxury, cloud computing might be just the best solution for emerging businesses, according to two speakers at the 2011 Tech4Africa conference. Read more >>

AFRICA

SMART goals keep you focused

[John Boe] It's been said that people who don't have written goals end up working for people who do. The human mind is in many ways very similar to the software in your computer, in that it requires detailed programming to make it work. Just as your computer is worthless without its programming software, so is your brain without written goals. Read more >>

MALAWI

RBM seeks public sensitisation on currency

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has sought assistance from established firms or advertising agencies to provide currency public sensitisation service throughout the country on its behalf after the country has been badly hit by fake currency circulation. Read more >>

AFRICA

Trans Union expands into Africa

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Trans Union, a global credit and information management organisation, has acquired majority shareholding in CRB Holdings Limited, signifying its bold expansion steps into Africa. Read more >>

MOZAMBIQUE

Boost for Mozambique's economy as Engen seals deal

Engen, the petroleum powerhouse, has strengthened and renewed its commitment to the Mozambican economy with the closure of an agreement to acquire Chevron's interests in the country. Read more >>

AFRICA

Africa - the next growth frontier

Africa, regarded as the next growth frontier and in every economic sector, investors and corporations are looking to establish a presence on the continent. One of the main challenges these investors and corporations face is the lack of a point of contact with individual businesses providing products and services and specific opportunities on the continent, since no centralised information database exists listing the products, services and opportunities already available. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Turner Broadcasting System sees growth in African pay-TV market

[Herman Manson: @marklives] While Turner Broadcasting System doesn't have a physical presence in Africa, instead relying on partners to promote its business interests here, the continent is an increasingly important market for the company. So says Alan Musa, VP and GM, Pan Middle East and Africa (MEA) for Turner. Read more >>

KENYA

Kenya: Bank sponsors business reality show

[Carole Kimutai] CfC Stanbic Bank will sponsor a television reality show, CfC Stanbic Bank Magnate, which seeks to find and nurture Kenya's future entrepreneurs. The business reality show, which started yesterday, Thursday 27th October 2011, will air on national television broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and Kiss TV. Read more >>

AFRICA

Malawi faults Zambia on TV licence

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The Malawian government has faulted Zambian president Michael Sata for granting the former president of Malawi a television broadcasting licence. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

ICOM agencies invest in tech, find other ways to grow business

ROLLINSVILLE, US: Despite the volatility of economies around the world, ICOM agencies (www.icomagencies.com) continue to find ways to meet the challenges of a fast-changing world and are optimistic about the advertising and marketing communications business as they were in the last periodic survey in May. Read more >>

CANADA

A new kind of viral marketing

TORONTO, CANADA: Films have used billboards to advertise since the early days of cinema, and it's fair to say that little has changed in the century or so that film studios have used posters to entice the public to the box office. Until now... Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Electric cars, are they a realistic alternative?

The much talked about electric vehicle (EV) strategy has started opening the doors to further debate around costs and potential infrastructure problems. Many also feel that the slow take-off rate in other areas of the world is another major concern, especially when choosing to go green seems to be such an obvious move. Read more >>

THAILAND

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport open

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Bangkok is served by two airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main gateway to Thailand with 120 international and domestic airlines, remains open. It is operating normally and handling around 76 flights per hour including all scheduled international arrivals and departures. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Visa cardholders increase travel spend in SA by 23% in 2010

Taking advantage of a significant tourism opportunity surrounding the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa saw a 23% increase in spending by international travellers using their Visa cards in 2010 according to the Tourism Outlook: South Africa report released by Visa Inc this week. According to the report, international Visa cardholders increased tourism spending from US$1.8 billion* in 2009 to US$2.2 billion in 2010. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Vini Vidi Vino

[Ilse van den Berg] We came, we saw and we had a glass of wine on the weekend of 14 to 16 October, 2011, which marked the open-air festival Wine on the River's fifth year on the banks of the Breede River at the Goudmyn Farm, between Robertson and Bonnievale. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Il Divo world tour to open in SA

The classical crossover group Il Divo will embark on a world tour, taking in six continents, in 2012, but will kick the tour off with performances in Cape Town, Joburg and Sun City. Songs from their new album, "Wicked Game", will be featured. Read more >>