SOUTHERN AFRICA

New investors to create over 2000 jobs in Malawi
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi is set to create more than 2000 jobs after receiving investment pledges from 28 new local and international investors worth US$21.7 million which are to be secured in the first three months of this year.

The real threat to Google
[Ben Kunz] Google's biggest threat may not be Microsoft or Yahoo. No, one of the most formidable challenges facing Google is likely sitting in your pocket or purse. It's your cell phone and it will put added pressure on Google and other Internet companies to revamp the way they handle online marketing.

GHANA

Ghana launches smartcard payments system
President John Kufuor has launched a landmark payment and settlement system designed to transform and extend the coverage of financial services and transactions in Ghana. The "National Switch and Smartcard Payments System," dubbed "E-Zwich," is an initiative of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and provides a common platform to link the payments of all the financial and non-financial banking institutions.

AU to discuss economic, political integration
[Bathandwa Mbola] The Executive Council of Foreign Ministers of the African Union (AU) are to meet on Tuesday, 6 May 2008, in Arusha, Tanzania, to make appropriate recommendations regarding the political and economic integration of the continent.

SA, Senegal to solidify relations
[Bathandwa Mbola] South Africa is to host Senegal for the inaugural launch of the South Africa - Senegal Joint Commission for Bilateral Commission (JCBC) aimed at strengthening the country's ties with the emerging giant in the West African region.

AFRICA

Free press, access to info vital for development - UN
New York - Top United Nations officials have stressed the role of a secure and independent media, and access to information in empowering individuals and advancing development. This marked annual World Press Freedom Day which was celebrated over the weekend.

AFRICA

APO releases member list
The latest member list for the International Advisory Board of the African Press Organisation (APO) was released on 28 April 2008.

The social side of fund-raising online
[Wailin Wong] Online social networks used to be just gathering places for friends and long-lost acquaintances. Then the marketers arrived, followed by politicians and job recruiters - all looking to tap into a growing mass of young people who are spending much of their time on the Web.

SOUTH AFRICA

Channel-hopping consumers more loyal to content than TV channels
According to results from Accenture's Global Broadcast Consumer Survey, consumers are growing increasingly disenchanted with their overall television experience, but are remaining loyal to their favourite programs.

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Clashes over Malawian maize trade ban
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawian government has received a backlash over its recent decision to ban trade on maize, as traders demand the repeal of the decision in the face of calls from the World Bank (WB) to lift bans on food exports.

Nigeria plans rice imports
Nigeria's government has announced it will import 500,000 tonnes of rice up to a value of US$600 million to curtail the effect of the global rise in food prices on Nigeria.

ZIMBABWE

Exchange rates tumble after RBZ currency floatation
Exchange rates on the black market tumbled Thursday and Friday after Wednesday's announcement by the central bank that it was to float the Zimbabwe dollar.

WEST AFRICA

Lifting of import taxes fails to reduce food prices in Cameroon
Almost two months after the Cameroonian government lifted import taxes on rice, flour and fish in response to riots caused in part by high food prices, consumers are still paying the same, and in some cases more.


Beefing up for a revolution
African farmers, particularly those in southern Africa, can benefit from the global boom in the demand for meat says new research that suggests several options for ensuring that the "livestock revolution" does not pass them by.

UGANDA

Telecom sponsors Ugandan football club
Uganda Telecom has announced its official sponsorship of Sports Club Villa for the 2008/9 Super League Season.

Free-to-air movie channel launches in Middle East
Fox Movies, a new free-to-air English movie channel, will go live in the Middle East on 1 May 2008. The initiative is brought to the region through a partnership between Rotana Media Services and Fox International Channels. The channel will launch with the hit Blade Runner - The Final Cut (directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford) - a version of the film previously unaired in the region. Fox Movies will bring a new experience to the area, says Ward Platt, President, Fox International Channels, Asia. The network plans to engage audiences through localised interstitials that highlight viewers in their everyday lives, airing their opinions of Hollywood on TV, between movies. Viewers will also have access to the Fox Movie website which hosts forums, competitions, programme listings and other movie information.