AFRICA

MBC moves towards rebranding

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] State owned broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has taken a step towards rebranding, by calling on companies and individuals to develop a new logo, a new motto and a theme song as part of its corporate identity. Read more >>

AFRICA

APO becomes sole pan-African press release wire

From 1 January 2013, the African Press Organisation (APO) becomes the sole pan-African press release wire, as it terminates its partnership with PR Newswire. Read more >>

AFRICA

Penguin Books releases new book, Business in Africa: Corporate Insights

High-growth, high-return Africa, with much improved trading conditions, is the most sought after frontier destination for global investment today. In the latest compilation by Dianna Games, Penguin Books South Africa has released Business in Africa: Corporate Insights, which takes the reader to the coal face of doing business on the continent. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwean editors arrested for story about local businessman

The editor of the privately-owned Daily News, Stanley Gama and his deputy Chris Goko, were arrested and detained at the Harare Central Police station on 8 October 2012, over a story alleging that the disappearance of a local businessman's family was a hoax. The journalists spent four hours at the police station. Read more >>

NIGERIA

MTN tackles identity theft

[Henry Ifeanyi] In an effort to eradicate identity theft in the telecommunications sector, MTN Nigeria has introduced a 16 digit security number solution that would make it impossible for hackers and scammers to clone or control subscriber's identity, with intent to commit fraud using a mobile phone line. Read more >>

AFRICA

Mobile subscriptions in region to increase rapidly

[Thabiso Mochiko] Mobile and fixed telephony subscribers in sub-Sahara Africa are expected to reach 266.1 million by 2017, while internet subscribers will hit 77.5 million‚ according to research released on Tuesday, 9 October 2012, by Frost & Sullivan. Read more >>

KENYA

Mobile users choose internet browsing over making calls

According to the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), Kenyans are using their mobile phones for internet browsing rather than making calls. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Mobile transformation in Nigeria

[Yaron Assabi] In August 2012, Nigeria's Federal Government announced that it planned to invest $15-million in the country's ICT sector to assist growth and generate more jobs. This kind of investment shows that Africa and indeed Nigeria specifically, are poised for expansion and prosperity in the ICT sectors. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Airtel Nigeria wins award for Best HR Practice

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) in Nigeria has awarded Airtel Nigeria with the Best Human Resources Practices Award within the telecommunications sector. Read more >>

AFRICA

Of Tweets and Hate Language

[Knowledge Mushohwe] Twitter has taken the world of social networking by storm and tweeting has clearly become the most widely used and preferred communication medium by leading entertainment and sports personalities. The big distinction between it and Facebook is, whereas the latter mostly involves social interaction among people tied together by friendship and family values, Twitter has dominant individuals followed by both their peers and members of the public. Read more >>

AFRICA

SABMiller taking Chibuku beer to rest of Africa

[Billy Tawanda Karombo] SABMiller has taken its traditional African beer brand‚ Chibuku - which is manufactured using either maize or sorghum - into ten other continental countries‚ a move the company says is motivated by its "affordability" and "product innovation" strategies. Read more >>

SUDAN

Prominent Sudan author says books seized

KHARTOUM: A prominent Sudanese author on Thursday, 11 October 2012, accused state security agents of seizing his books from an international book fair in Khartoum. Read more >>

GERMANY

World's biggest book fair homes in on children's literature

FRANKFURT: The world's biggest book fair which opened with the spotlight on children's literature, traditionally an "under-recognised" sector but now seen as a driving force in publishing. Read more >>

TAIWAN

Taiwan minister quits after Facebook girlfriend post

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Taiwan's government spokesman has resigned, a cabinet official said today, days after he revealed on his Facebook page that he is dating a former student 27 years his junior. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Operators will lose US$54bn by 2016 due to smartphone messaging apps

LONDON, UK: Ovum, one of the Datamonitor group of companies, forecasts that by 2016 operators will have lost US$54bn in SMS revenues due to the increasing popularity of social messaging* services on smartphones, more than double the US$23bn they are expected to have lost by the end of 2012. The global technology analysts believe that collaboration with handset manufacturers is imperative if operators are to remain relevant and competitive in the messaging industry. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Cabinet concerned over global macro-economic outlook

PRETORIA: Cabinet has noted with concern the unfortunate international macro-economic outlook, which has not left South Africa unscathed. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Cabinet concerned about SAA developments

PRETORIA: Cabinet has noted with concern the developments that have unfolded at South African Airways (SAA). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SA desperate for black industrialists - Zuma

[Chris Bathembu] Government should help create South Africa's own black industrialists, President Jacob Zuma said in Johannesburg. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Impressive EX joins Infiniti line-up

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The top end of the compact SUV market is no longer the almost exclusive playing field of the three German badges because an impressive newcomer by the name of Infiniti is setting its sights on a slice of that lucrative market segment. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Pumba in paradise

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Just a hop, skip and jump away from Grahamstown towards Port Elizabeth is Pumba Private Game Reserve. Read more >>