SWAZILAND

More self-censorship at 'Times'

The Times of Swaziland, the kingdom's only independent daily newspaper, has for the second day running [since 9 May 2012], censored itself in its reporting of King Mswati III. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

MEA winners of Microsoft Advertising Story Awards

Microsoft announced yesterday, 10 May 2012, the Middle East and Africa winners of its new creative storytelling contest, Microsoft Advertising Story Awards. Ogilvy South Africa's Michelle McKenna, Taryn Scher and Philippa Heal won the brand category and Tal Schweiger, copywriter and Nir Hersztadt, art director, from McCann Erikson Digital Israel seized the not-for-profit category. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Game partners with philanthropist, donates 2700 mosquito nets

As explorer and philanthropist Kingsley Holgate's team departed from Game's Ballito store on Friday 3 May 2012, they took with them the group's donation of 2700 mosquito nets to distribute to the highest malaria risk group - pregnant mothers and young children. Read more >>

AFRICA

West Africa Cable System officially launched

West Africa Cable System (WACS), the fibre optic cable set to meet demand for fast, efficient broadband in Africa, which links Southern and Western Africa to Europe, commercially launched today in Cape Town, South Africa. Read more >>

AFRICA

Wasace super cable: more details emerge

[Duncan McLeod: @mcleodd] The company behind the planned 40Tbit/s Wasace cable [David Ross Group] says the African leg of the submarine system will be ready for service in early 2014. And it's coming to SA. Read more >>

AFRICA

New York Forum Africa comes to Africa

Founded by Richard Attias & Associates, the New York Forum Africa provides a platform for intelligent discussions focused on active participation and solutions around key regional economic issues and will take place on 8-10 June 2012 in Libreville, Gabon. Read more >>

AFRICA

Google launches African News Innovation Challenge

With the assistance of generous sponsors, Google has announced the launch of a new US$1 million African News Innovation Challenge (ANIC) to help African journalism flourish in the digital age. Read more >>

ETHIOPIA

Journalist could face death penalty at Friday verdict

A verdict in the trial of Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega and other activists accused of inciting terrorism is expected on Friday, 11 May 2012, report PEN American Center and other IFEX members, whom Nega has worked with. If convicted, Nega could face the death penalty. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Airtel strengthens network with Green Data Centre

After pioneering the green site technology in Nigeria, an initiative that prevents network outages associated with inconsistent power supply, Airtel Nigeria has taken a step to improve services as well as enhance network and billing services to its customers as it commissioned a new state of the art data centre in Lagos. Read more >>

KENYA

Uhuru sues the Star over Hague photograph

The deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta is suing the Star for linking him to a man who allegedly plotted to assassinate former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga. In a suit filed in Nairobi, Uhuru alleges that the Star published a story on 24 April 2012 linking him to city businessman Joseph Thuo Njoroge, who was roughed up by Njenga's youths when he visited the former Mungiki leader's Hope International Church at Thome estate on 22 April. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

PR perspective from bloggers

While the PR industry is engaging with bloggers and using them as an addition to or even replacement for traditional media, bloggers, like the media, have preferred communication norms and rules. Read more >>

EGYPT

IBS appointed to distribute Haier products

Haier Group Corporation, the global home appliances brand, has appointed International Business Systems (IBS) as it's authorised distributor in Egypt, it was annonced yesterday, 9 May 2012. The new partnership enables Haier to offer its extensive home appliance and consumer electronics products to the Egyptian market. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Sales rehab: how to make targets and rest easy

[Geoff Garrett] It's no secret that, when times are lean, that sales managers begin to bald prematurely, wake up in the dark of night in a cold sweat, and quaff one consecutive coffee after another while chain-smoking like a legionnaire. The reason for their accelerated ageing is that they don't know what to do to remedy the situation. But that needn't be the case. Read more >>

LIBYA

Libya Awalan TV joins CNN's global network

CNN International today announced that Libya Awalan TV, which translates as "Libya First", is to join its global network of affiliates. The partnership is reportedly the first with a private network in Libya and adds to CNN's global presence, as well as its strength in North Africa. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Google, Facebook front and centre in 'social search'

LONDON, UK: Findings from a survey undertaken by leading independent digital marketing agency, Greenlight, indicate that Google+ might be more successful than most have initially speculated and that Facebook could potentially capture close to a quarter of the search market globally were it to launch a search engine of its own tomorrow. This market share would make Facebook the second most used search engine in every major market except for China, Japan, and Russia, where it would occupy an uncontested third place. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

April UK consumer confidence unchanged

LONDON, UK: Nick Moon, managing director of Social Research in GfK, comments: "The figures this month will not offer the government any relief in light of the news that the economy has slipped back into recession. Read more >>

INDIA

Duracell powered rickshaws campaign on the move

MUMBAI, DELHI, INDIA: Duracell 'powered' branded rickshaws in key Indian cities to show the power of their batteries. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

comScore: US$44.3bn in Q1 2012 US retail e-commerce spending

RESTON, US: comScore, Inc has released its Q1 2012 US retail e-commerce sales estimates, showing that online retail spending reached US$44.3bn for the quarter, up 17% versus year ago. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Chaos follows Alli's exit

While Sanral CEO Nazir Alli seems to have bowed under pressure from the Gauteng e-tolling crisis, his political leaders seem to shy away from all responsibility in the resultant chaos. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Additional funding to help expand Vuk'uzenzele newspaper

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has been allocated an additional R19.5m to increase the print run of its Vuk'uzenzele newspaper, which has published over 50 million copies in all the country's official languages, including Braille, the Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Collins Chabane says. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Sanral needs support: Transport Dept

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) board needs space and support after the resignation of its CEO Nazir Alli, the transport department said on Thursday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Transport minister passes the buck

[Mark Smyth] Transport is one of the hottest topics at the moment. From Dial Direct regrettably having to end its much needed pothole repair operation, to the fact that taxpayers look set to foot the bill for Gauteng MECs speeding fines and of course the fiasco of the e-toll saga, transport is one of the biggest topics of discussion. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Lack of a merchant fleet costing SA billions

While its BRICS partners strive to expand their already considerable merchant fleets, South Africa does not have a single own-flagged commercial vessel on its shipping register, MPs heard on Tuesday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Koos Smit appointed as acting CEO of SANRAL

The Board of the South African National Road Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Koos Smit as Acting Chief Executive of the agency. This follows the resignation yesterday of the agency's CEO, Nazir Alli. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Promoting Johannesburg at Indaba 2012

During the annual Tourism Indaba in Durban, the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC) looks forward to networking with international leisure travel industry and business associates, media and stakeholders at their exhibition stand, as well as a networking breakfast to be held at the Hilton Hotel on 14 May 2012. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[10 Things I Love About]...The Garden Route

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Kurland Hotel's Peter Behr has made the Garden Route journey to his Plettenberg Bay Hotel more times than he can remember. Brian Berkman asked him for his 10 Things I Love About... The Garden Route. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Safa determined to make Afcon a success

[Nthambeleni Gabara] JOHANNESBURG: South African Football Association (Safa) President Kirsten Nematandani says all stops will be pulled to ensure South Africa's successful hosting of the 2013 African Cup of Nations. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

The ultimate one-man band

[Eugene Yiga] There were a lot of surprises at this year's Net Prophet. Who knew that an iPad cover (not an iPad, just the cover) would be auctioned for over R20 000? Who knew that a particularly inquisitive member of the audience, quickly dubbed "Question Guy", would become a Twitter trend unto himself? And who knew that Jeremy Loops and his folksy tunes would cause the crowd to erupt into such thunderous applause? I caught up with Jeremy a little later to find out more. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Young designers to wow at Soweto Fashion Week

[Zenoyise John] Soweto will turn into a rich fashion lode when young designers wow visitors the Soweto Fashion Week this month. The event, taking place from May 24 to 26 at the Soweto Hotel, Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto, will feature a "surprise" opening ceremony of more than 15 designers on all three days. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Significant Shame

[Daniel Dercksen] In an age of self-medication, self-mutilation, self-help gurus and self-satisfaction, Shame is not a simple film to watch, but a stimulating and significant eye-opener; in it lays dormant forbidden fears, sinful desires and shocking secrets that mask our true identity and reveal a darker side of our humanity that ultimately shines a light on true happiness. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Life versus death in Janneman

[Daniel Dercksen] With Janneman, Hennie van Greunen not only brings three exceptional women into our lives, but also an extraordinary play that is definitely a highlight on the theatre calendar and is on at the Artscape Arena until 20 May. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Local giants and international acts to headline at Joy of Jazz

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival, which will be held in Newtown, Johannesburg, from 23 to 25 August, 2012, will have local giants and international stars as headline acts, the organisers have announced. Read more >>