MALAWI

MISA-Malawi chairperson receives threats

Anthony Kasunda, the chairperson of the Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi), is said to be receiving threats from unknown people over the chapter's stance on the Malawi government's repeated attacks on the media. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

2012 Loeries entries open with category changes

A separate category for entries from outside of South Africa has been introduced to the Loeries, which has issued its 34th call to enter today, Thursday, 15 March 2012. In order to better promote the work being produced throughout the region, "Rest of Africa and the Middle East" will be judged separately to allow improved representation of all regions and offer greater exposure to each region's creative output. Read more >>

AFRICA

Rural broadband: why it's so hard to do

[Duncan McLeod: @mcleodd] The lack of fibre-optic transmission networks outside SA's main urban centres could prove a huge stumbling block to rolling out next-generation long-term evolution (LTE) networks in rural areas and add significant costs for operators wanting to meet roll-out obligations for these networks. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

WEF honours Brian Herlihy

Brian Herlihy, executive director at SEACOM, has been named as one of the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) 192 Young Global Leaders for 2012. The annual honour recognises up to 200 outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Montgomery West Africa launches PROPAK West Africa

Montgomery West Africa have announced the launch of PROPAK West Africa, an event focusing on the emerging West African packaging industry, which is set to take place from 4-6 September 2012 at the EKO Hotel and Conference Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. Read more >>

AFRICA

Afri-Tech hosts Technology & Digital Summit

The Afri-Tech Group, will be hosting the 2012 Afri-Tech Technology & Digital Marketing Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from the 14-16 May 2012. The summit will gather speakers, exhibitors and delegates from 18 African countries with additional international speakers and aims to inject the uptake of technology in Africa. Read more >>

AFRICA

M-Net's MD makes Young Global Leaders 2012 list

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Biola Alabi, the managing director of M-Net Africa, has been honoured as one of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders (YGL) for 2012. The annual honour recognises outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

EU set to fund parallel media structures

[Tendai Mugabe] The European Union says it is prepared to fund parallel media supervisory structures if it believes the Zimbabwe Media Commission's mandate is compromised. Read more >>

UGANDA

Orange Uganda signs partnership with Eaton Towers

Orange Uganda, a subsidiary of France Telecom-Orange that provides mobile and multimedia telecommunications services in Uganda, have announced that it has entered into an agreement with Eaton Towers for the sale and management of its passive network infrastructure and assets. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Two worlds...one message

[Johanna McDowell] PR practitioners frequently counsel clients to 'stay on message' despite tactical distractions and fast-changing market conditions. It's good advice - so good, we should take it ourselves. Read more >>

AFRICA

FX's Only in Africa win at SAFTA's

FX, which airs the Only in Africa documentary strand, was awarded multiple awards at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS), recently held in Johannesburg, South Africa, after steering off stiff competition on the night. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

WFA announces new-look leadership team

NEW YORK, US: The World Federation of Advertisers has strengthened its governing body with the appointment of seven new members to its executive committee. Read more >>

FRANCE

Discover the MIPTV 2012 Preview

PARIS, FRANCE: MIPTV 2012 Preview is now online and brings you interviews, product news, feature and more. So take a look. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Latest news on iPad availability

CUPERTINO, US: Apple has announced the new iPad, the third generation mobile device, will arrive at Apple's retail stores and the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) on Friday, 16 March in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK; along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Read more >>

FRANCE

Master class for International Animation Film Festival

ANNECY, FRANCE: The Media Faculty, Gulli and CITIA, backed by the SPFA (Animation Film Producers Association), have worked together to design a master class From Feature Films to Animated Series: Writing for the Whole Family to run during the International Animation Film Festival. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Coming soon: Corporate Sustainability in Africa 2012

As a rapidly rising global population and growing prosperity put increasingly unsustainable pressures on resources, the Corporate Sustainability in Africa 2012 conference in Johannesburg in May will aim to find answers to questions as to how we will meet the challenges facing us. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Police unions doubt top brass

The South African Policing Union tells Parliament that ordinary police officials have no confidence that serious consideration is given to senior appointments. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Saldanha exports slump in February: TNPA

[Helmo Preuss] SA's bulk export volumes dropped by 21.2% in February from January as mostly iron ore exports out of Saldanha slumped by 48.6% month on month (m/m) to 2,571,174 tons, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) data showed on Tuesday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Scopa orders department to fill vacancies

Bhisho's finance watchdog has ordered the department of rural development and agrarian reform to move with speed in filling nearly 2000 vacant posts. The vacancies have crippled the department's operations during the past financial year. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Govt launches PSM magazine

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Obed Bapela last night urged government communicators to use all platforms available to them to ensure government's message reached every citizen in the country. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Dept investigating attempted prison escape

The Department of Correctional Services is conducting an investigation into the circumstances that led to an attempted prison escape by three awaiting trial inmates at the C-Max Prison in Pretoria on Wednesday morning. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Elantra is SA Car of the Year

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The classy Korean sedan, the Hyundai Elantra, has won the prestigious title of South African Car of the Year. The winner was announced last night at a gala banquet attended by the who's who of the local motoring industry. The Kia Picanto 1.2 EX scored the second most points and the VW Jetta 1.4 TSI got the third most votes. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[10 Things I Love About]... Unearthing new destinations

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Mention the name Lew Rood to anyone in the know in tourism and hospitality and they will coo adoringly. I have not yet met another who has such a warmly affectionate following. As he reinvents himself as a specialist hospitality consultant, after retiring from Singita where his marketing and sales skills catapulted the brand to market leader in bespoke safari, I thought it fitting that he should kick off a new BizTravel feature: 10 Things I Love About... Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

RAM on

[Dylan Klichowicz] The notion of a one-day outdoor party was a new one for me, but one with very obvious positives. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem sleeping in a tent or roughing it, but it makes a nice change to wake up in your own bed, have a proper shower, some breakfast and just generally be more comfortable during your morning processes. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

KONGOS release video for Escape

[Sindy Peters] The music video for Escape, the third single off KONGOS sophomore album, Lunatic, premiered last night on DStv's MK. Shot mostly in South Africa, a couple wakes up to destruction on the tellie and hit the road to "escape". Naturally, they're headed for Cape Town... Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Stereo Zen releases UnFunky video

[Sindy Peters] Directed by Hugh Dudley, Cape Town funk-rock band Stereo Zen recently released a music video for the track UnFunky. The title is fairly misleading as the song is anything but "unfunky" - which, I suppose, ties into the concept of the video pretty tightly. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Fast paced thrills in Contraband

[Daniel Dercksen] There's nothing more satisfying that watching a well-made and thoroughly engrossing crime thriller. With all the CSIs, NCISs, Law and Orders and a plethora of other crime series on the home-entertainment front - and a spate of blood-soaked action-thrillers on the big screen, it is stimulating to reboot and discover a fresh and clear-cut film. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Gugulethu Tenors give goosebumps

[Andra le Roux-Kemp] Did you know that when you get goosebumps, it is due to a decrease in body temperature? And that a decrease in body temperature is generally associated with a longer life expectancy? I am no doctor, but if this is true then attending the sensational, sold-out performance of the Gugulethu Tenors at The Fugard Theatre added quite a few years to my lifespan. Read more >>