KENYA

APA announces pitch reforms for ad agencies

The professional association that represents advertising agencies in Kenya, the Association of Practitioners in Advertising (APA) has announced reforms to the pitch process that are aimed at improving current market practises. Read more >>

MALI

Independent media one of the first casualties in coup

Mutinous soldiers who seized power last week from Mali's president Amadou Toumani Touré also occupied the headquarters of the state radio and TV broadcaster and interrupted other TV and radio shows, say Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Human Rights Watch. Some citizens turned to Twitter to get their news updates, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Read more >>

COTE D'IVOIRE

Police detains boss of pro-Gbagbo media group

Ousmane Sy Savané, director general of Cylcone, a pro-Gbagbo publishing company, was reportedly picked up by police personnel drawn from the Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DST) in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Cote d'Ivoire, on March 27, 2012. Read more >>

RWANDA

Airtel launches mobile services in Rwanda

Bharti Airtel today announced the launch of its operation in Rwanda, expanding its footprint on the continent to 17 countries. Read more >>

AFRICA

Siemens wins 'Best of European Business Award'

Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company, Siemens was awarded the "Best of European Business" award on the criteria of a successful and sustainable corporate strategy in Africa. Strategy consultants Roland Berger presented the award. Read more >>

UGANDA

Mobile money transfer service launches in Uganda

The Western Union Company and MTN Group yesterday, 29 March 2012, announced the launch of a mobile money transfer service in Uganda, allowing MTN customers to send and receive money across borders using just their mobile phones for the first time. Read more >>

AFRICA

African governments get behind Africa's domain name

Government ministers attending the recent Innovation Africa Digital (IAD) Summit in Ethiopia, this week pledged their support for the ZA Central Registry's (ZACR) bid to become the dotAfrica Registry Operator. The ZACR is a non-profit company based in South Africa, and is the administrator of the popular CO.ZA domain name space. Read more >>

AFRICA

Africa embraces consumer convergence

According to the recent KPMG Consumers & Convergence Report, South African consumers and businesses are comparing favourably to the rest of the world when it comes to adopting new technologies and using social media. Read more >>

AFRICA

Credit-scoring technology in Africa

Behavioural economists like to say that human beings are poor at assessing risk; underestimate likely dangers and overestimate unlikely ones. Assessing risk is mathematical and using the right data helps make better decisions. But for humans, risk and emotion are inseparable. Credit-rating agencies use only data when assessing risk within financial marketplaces and they carry much influence over financial instruments by deciding how to grade debt, Read more >>

TURKEY

MTN sued for US$4bn over Iran contract

Turkish cellphone operator Turkcell has filed a US$4.2bn (R32.45bn) lawsuit in a US court against MTN over alleged corruption in a deal in Iran, the companies said yesterday. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

M&M Global Awards: Call for entries

LONDON, UK: The M&M Global Awards returns for the 23rd year, recognising and rewarding the most innovative and effective pan-regional advertising campaigns. Get your entry in now. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

BRICs leaders commit to forming development bank

Recognising the pressing need for enhancing the flow of development finance, leaders of the five-nation BRICs bloc have directed their finance ministers to work towards forming a Development Bank that would cater for the needs of developing countries. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Motorists warned ahead of Easter break

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has once again called on road users to exercise extra caution on the country's roads, as traffic volumes are expected to increase from today ahead of the Easter holidays. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Zuma invites BRICs countries to invest in SA

President Jacob Zuma has invited BRICs countries at the bloc's summit in New Delhi to explore the investment opportunities that exist in South Africa's infrastructure development projects. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

WCape building world's largest mesh network

[Paul Vecchiatto] Within the next two years, as part of a pilot project, the Western Cape government aims to create the largest mesh network in the world that will connect all households in Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain and Saldanha Bay, including the industrial development zone located there, says Western Cape MEC for economic development and tourism Alan Winde. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Western Cape tolls shelved: Cronin

The government has shelved plans to toll Western Cape highways, it was reported on Wednesday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Initiative launched to position SA tourism as service excellence driven industry

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa has launched the National Tourism Service Excellence Requirements (SANS 1197) in Johannesburg. The requirements are aimed at improving and maintaining service levels at all service touch points in the tourism value chain. They are also aimed at guiding the sector to achieve the National Tourism Sector Strategy's objective of positioning South Africa as one of the top 20 global tourism destinations. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Tourism conference: Looking to take Cape Town from good to great

The 7th Annual Cape Town and Western Cape Destination Conference got underway on Tuesday 27 March at The Pavilion Conference Centre, V&A Waterfront. This year's Conference was focused on the opportunities that cultural tourism presents and particularly how Cape Town and the Western Cape can utilise this element of tourism to elevate its global profile. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Touching theatre in Blood Brothers

[Daphne Cooper] If you are looking for escapist theatre, do not go to see Brothers in Blood. If you are looking for unchallenging theatre, do not go to see Brothers in Blood. If you are looking for happy endings, do not go to see Brothers in Blood. If you are looking to avoid issues of religion and culture, do not go to see Brothers in Blood. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Exhilarating eye candy in Wrath Of The Titans

[Daniel Dercksen] Sometimes film-goers just want to have fun. This is when filmmakers wittingly respond and take out all their toys, showing off their skill and awesomeness with visual extravaganzas like Wrath Of The Titans. Read more >>