AFRICA

Loeries expand into Africa with new category

A new category for the 2012 Loeries, 'Rest of Africa and the Middle East', will be officially launched on Thursday 19 April 2012 at 6pm at the Sierra Lounge, 2nd Floor, Yaya Centre, Argwings Khodek Road in Nairobi, Kenya. Read more >>

KENYA

Superbrands East Africa unveils new council

[Walter Wafula] Superbrands East Africa has appointed a 12-member council covering the period 2012-2014 to oversee the selection of the regions leading brands and culminating in a gala dinner where the top brands are recognised and awarded. Read more >>

AFRICA

DISCOP AFRICA 2012 now open for registration

The 7th edition of DISCOP AFRICA, the pan-African industry gathering focused on the production and distribution of multi-screen television content, is now open for registration. The event takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa from 31 October - 2 November 2012. Read more >>

MALAWI

Information minister, MBC boss fired

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Information and Civic Education Minister, Patricia Kaliati and state owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) CEO, Bright Malopa have been fired. Read more >>

MALAWI

MISA-Malawi mourns Mutharika

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) says it is mourning the passing of late president Bingu wa Mutharika, who was announced dead on 6 April 2012. Read more >>

KENYA

2012 Citi Journalistic Excellence Award winners announced

[Carole Kimutai] The winners of the 2012 Citi Journalistic Excellence Award have been named. Business writers George Omondi and Moses Michira, both from the Business Daily were announced winners for the 2012 Citi Journalistic Excellence Award at a ceremony held at The Fairmont, Norfolk on 4 April 2012. Read more >>

AFRICA

Driving the evolution of mobile broadband in Africa

[Karri Kuoppamaki] As consumer and business demand continues to drive the evolution of mobile broadband in Africa, operators are faced with the challenge of not only increasing network speed and capacity, but also improving coverage, customer service levels and network quality to attract and retain this rapidly growing user base. Read more >>

MALAWI

BNL launches The Business Times

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) has launched a fifth title after the first issue of an exclusively business newspaper called The Business Times hit the streets last week. Read more >>

AFRICA

IQ4News launches new features

IQ4News, the reference online journal with a focus on investigative and incisive analysis of African issues, launched three years ago by Dr Yemisi Akinbobola, the founder and editor-in-chief, has introduced an interactive platform as well as a mobile version. Read more >>

FRANCE

euronews launches EXPRESS

LYON, FRANCE: Connection breakdowns, unstable networks, bulky images... euronews offers the solution to these reception problems with its new app for the iPhone - claimed to be the lightest news app on the market. Get the top stories in real time without worrying about connection difficulties. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Cannes Lions, Haymarket in new venture

LONDON, UK: Lions Festivals, organisers of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and Haymarket Media have announced an agreement in principle to extend their joint venture. The partnership currently runs Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity and the Asian Marketing Effectiveness Festival (AMEs), and will now also include the Digital Media Awards for Asia. Read more >>

SWITZERLAND

Festival of Media: Showcase Theatre returns

MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND: The organisers have announced the return of the Showcase Theatre in which various partners will take to the stage to present thought-provoking sessions as part of the overall conference. Read more >>

FRANCE

TV content shines as deals abound at MIPTV

CANNES, FRANCE: New platforms and expanding global markets drive new blockbuster TV content deals at MIPTV, from formats and scripted series, international co-productions to factual and experimental media. Read more >>

FRANCE

Cannes Lions: Cyber, Radio and Promo & Activation juries

CANNES, FRANCE: The line-up for three more of the 2012 Cannes Lions juries has been announced by the International Festival of Creativity: Cyber, Radio and Promo & Activation. South Africa is represented by Rob McLennan, of Net#work BBDO; he will head the Radio jury, and Livio Tronchin, of Derrick, is on the Promo & Activation jury. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SKA, Telkom leave Northern Cape on hold

Rural dwellers caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, writes Sarah Wild. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Government spent R4.1m to oppose Wal-Mart merger

[Paul Vecchiatto] Government's review application against the R16.5bn Wal-Mart/Massmart merger cost it R4.1m, says Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Broadside for Patel's 'competition meddling'

[Amanda Visser] In a rare public outburst, David Lewis, former chairman of the Competition Tribunal, severely criticised the government, especially Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, for using the competition authorities to leverage concessions out of international investors. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

DA's complaints against info bill 'absurd'

[Paul Vecchiatto] African National Congress Chief Whip Moloto Mothapo has labelled the Democratic Alliance's (DA) complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over adverts in support of the Protection of State Information Bill "absurd and ridiculous". Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Molewa cracks whip on unregistered rhino horn stockpiles

Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has urged private landowners who are in possession of rhino horn stockpiles to register them. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

MTN faces human rights probe

THE SA Human Rights Commission has received a request from the DA to investigate MTN for alleged human rights violations in Iran. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

The sexiest Mini ever made

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] For the first time in its long history the iconic Mini has chopped off its roof, thrown away its back seats, acquired a fold-down cloth top and adopted the name of Roadster - a metamorphosis which has turned a cute and trendy city car into a fully-fledged little sports car. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

New intake of students at the Singita School of Cooking

Nine young men and women from surrounding rural communities comprise the fifth intake at the Singita School of Cooking (SSC) in the Kruger National Park, who will shortly commence training as aspirant chefs. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Lonrho and easyGroup to open first easyHotel in Africa

Lonrho and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou's easyHotel Group will open their first hotel in Johannesburg later this year. Created from the conversion of the former Stuttafords department store building, the 120-bedroom budget hotel on three floors is expected to receive guests in November 2012. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Air Transport Market Analysis - Market 2012

These are the key points from full report that was released this week and which looks at air transport markets in February. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Titanic rules, now and for ever

[Daniel Dercksen] James Cameron has done it again! The force behind Terminator, Titanic and Avatar, writer-director and producer James Cameron has achieved an impossible dream: perfecting the art of 3D conversion in bringing Titanic to the big screen in all its glory - and unlike anything you have ever seen before. Read more >>