RUSSIA

Exclusive interview: Assange seeking asylum in Ecuador; mother speaks out

MOSCOW, RUSSIA / LONDON, UK: Christine Assange, mother of the WikiLeaks whistleblower, gave an exclusive interview to RT, in which she spoke about Julian Assange's legal struggles, potential political persecution by the United States, the Australian government's treatment of Assange and the risks Assange might face if he is granted political asylum by Ecuador [video]. Read more >>

AFRICA

The role of email marketing in the multi-channel evolution: Part 1

[Wikus Engelbrecht] Email is still the most cost-effective marketing tool, enabling you to reach people who have actually given you permission to communicate with them and who are therefore more likely to pay attention to your message and respond to your calls-to-action. Read more >>

KENYA

Kenya's advertising association admits two new members

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] Media Edge Interactive and BluePrint Marketing have been admitted into the Advertising Practitioners Association (APA), Kenya's advertising industry association. Media Edge Interactive is the advertising arm at Media Edge Group, a Kenyan owned integrated marketing communications house while BluePrint Marketing is a Kenyan subsidiary of Ogilvy. Read more >>

KENYA

HKLM Nairobi opens its doors

Strategic brand and communication design consultancy, the HKLM Group, has taken a step towards cementing its position as sub-Saharan Africa's leading brand consultancy with the opening of its new Nairobi office recently. Read more >>

MALAWI

Malawi creates a digital migration communication strategy

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] With 31 December 2013, the day Malawi is expected to switch to digital broadcasting, fast approaching, Malawi has put in place a Digital Migration Communication Strategy expected to provide a framework for communication of the Digital Broadcasting Migration Project. Read more >>

AFRICA

AFAI calls for Cultural Leadership Training applications

The African Arts Institute (AFAI), a non-profit entity based in South Africa that supports the creative sector across the continent, calls for applicants from English-speaking African countries to participate in the 2012 Cultural Leadership Training Programme. Read more >>

AFRICA

Clean Power Africa to focus on opportunities in hydro, solar industries

The Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2012, will focus on new opportunities in the clean energy sectors such as retrofitting hydropower to current dams and helping the mining industry to use excess water to provide onsite power. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Abisola Owolawi joins Forbes Africa team

Africa Business News (ABN360), home of CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa, has announced that business journalist, Abisola Owolawi, has joined the Forbes Africa team in Lagos. Read more >>

LIBERIA

Cellcom provides free unlimited internet to PUL

Cellcom GSM has joined the Press Union of Liberia in seeking to enhance the effectiveness of Liberian journalists. The company, on 19 June 2012, provided free unlimited internet to the offices of the Press Union of Liberia to enable fast, and reliable interconnectivity to its members. Read more >>

MALAWI

Bharti Airtel strengthens Malawi investments

Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and joint MD, Bharti Airtel, yesterday paid a courtesy call to the president of Malawi, Joyce Banda, to update her on the telecommunication company's investments in Malawi. Read more >>

BURUNDI

Burundi reporter sentenced to life imprisonment

Burundian appeals court must reverse the ruling against a journalist sentenced to life in prison on vague terrorism charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said yesterday, 20 June 2012. Read more >>

RUSSIA

Doing business in Russia 2012

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Doing Business in Russia 2012 is the second report in a series analysing four areas of business regulation across 30 Russian cities - starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, and registering property. Read more >>

CHINA

China beer consumption hits the 50 billion litre mark for first time in 2011

BEIJING, CHINA: It's the largest beer market in the world and it seems that when it comes to its importance for manufacturers, there will be no half measures. Latest research from Mintel reveals that China's beer market grew by 29% in volume terms in the five years to 2011, to reach an all time high total volume of 50 billion litres for the first time in 2011. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Small business gets an official day

NEW YORK, US: In 2010, American Express created Small Business Saturday, a new shopping day right after Black Friday, to help small businesses get what they needed most: more customers. Read more >>

GERMANY

GfK: Germans are worrying less

NUREMBURG, GERMANY: Alongside France, Germany remains the top nation of worriers in Europe, but the worry lines are considerably less deep this year. This is the finding of the current "Challenges of Europe" study carried out by the GfK Verein, which each year asks European citizens about issues that require urgent resolution in their countries. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Rio+20: AfDB and WWF rally leaders to invest in Africa's natural capital

The African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.afdb.org) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have released a joint report on the state of environment in Africa, and are calling world leaders to invest in Africa's natural capital. The report is intended to catalyze decision-makers to invest in Africa's sustainable development and is being presented at Rio+20, at an event organised by the AfDB and WWF and hosted by the Senegalese government. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Depression, attempted suicide among police worrying

The number of police officers suffering from depression and those attempting suicide is worrying, says Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Govt pleased over SA couple's release

Government has expressed satisfaction following the release on Thursday of a South African couple held captive by Somali pirates since October 2010. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Motlanthe meets OUTA on GFIP

Government and the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) will continue consultations on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) with a view to finding a solution, the parties said in a joint statement on Thursday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

New tax law looms

The promulgation of the Tax Administration Bill is set to have serious and significant ramifications for taxpayers‚ an expert said on Wednesday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Treasury developing paper on retirement costs

National Treasury said on Tuesday it was developing an important paper on costs in the retirement industry for release in October as the layered system of charges and its cumulative impact remained a major concern. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Telkom share price up on delisting claims

[Thabiso Mochiko] Telkom's share price rose on Tuesday on news that the government may buy the shares in the fixed-line telecommunications provider that it does not already own and delist the company. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

At last - a Toyota with some excitement

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] One of the most eagerly awaited cars and probably the most exciting Toyota to arrive in South Africa for a long time, the new Toyota 86, will go on sale locally early in July - and the good news is that the entry level model will cost a fraction less than R300 000. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Dubai listed as one of the top 10 global tourism destinations

For year's residents of and visitors to the UAE city of Dubai knew that it was a force with which to be reckoned as a tourist destination. Not only does it boast world class tourist attractions, magnificent accommodation and a variety of activities, but also Dubai is a city that is centrally located and provides the perfect stopover for travel from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Far East. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Ambre... island living at its tropical best

Ambre hotel is located at Palmar, on the east coast of Mauritius. The resort is one hour away from the airport; one hour from Port Louis, the capital city and 20 minutes from Ile aux Cerfs. The resort boasts a 700m white natural sandy beach running along a sheltered bay. The adjacent tropical lagoon is a haven for fish and marine life, with many bathing and diving areas. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Culture weekend

[Daniel Dercksen] Have you ever thought of writing a play and sharing your thoughts and creative talent with the world? If you're in Cape Town there's a free introduction session on The Drama of Writing a Play at the Pansa studio in Woodstock. Who knows, your play might headline one of the many festivals in South Africa and be seen on stage at a theatre near you. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Mad Buddies - yes, another Schuster movie!

[Duan Wanty] If you are a fan, you will love it. If you aren't, you will just simply go on with life and ignore that this film was ever made. Mad Buddies presents slapstick comedy, larger-than-life characters and a straightforward plot, specifically designed for the people who love a good ol' Schuster movie. Read more >>