Stepping into the 21st century![](https://biz-file.com/b/0911/33863.jpg?1) If any of you thought that Somaliland is little more than warlords and pirates, the news is that the embattled country has made a step into this century - they have just introduced their first debit card. OK, they're a bit behind the rest of us, but at least it shows that there could be a functioning economy lurking in the background, and if they can shed their very dubious image of being an essentially lawless society, then outsiders - and that could include potential investors - might just be persuaded to take a closer look at our dilemma on the Horn of Africa. Meanwhile, back in Tunisia, it seems that journalists might be fair game. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has condemned the beating of a Tunisian journalist, allegedly by police, and the arrest of another. When are Africa's authorities going to get it through their collective heads that this sort of thing does absolutely nothing for the continent's image? Freedom of the media and the freedom to do your job without being belted around the ear are part and parcel of a society that will tend to attract investments. Too many countries in Africa unfortunately seem to target members of the media too frequently - and by too frequently we mean one beating is one too many. That news gets around, and people outside of the continent do not look on it kindly. Rod Baker, guest columnist
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[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Africa is not the same as it was 10 years ago. Despite the shadow of armed conflict, military coups, electoral fraud, racism, dictatorship, xenophobia and human rights violations that still linger over the ‘dark continent', many observers believe that a couple of positive developments that have taken place here have created a platform for investment and optimism. Read more >> [Issa Sikiti da Silva] The inaugural Intra-Africa Business Symposium, which kicked off Wednesday, 28 October 2009 in Sandton, Johannesburg, will constitute a vital platform for African decision-makers, media practitioners and business leaders to share their views and suggest solutions to enhance intra-Africa business and move the continent forward. Read more >> 2010 FIFA World Cup
[Nthambeleni Gabara] PRETORIA: The revamped Wonderboom National Airport in Pretoria is expected to be used extensively during the 2010 FIFA World Cup to transport fans and FIFA delegates to and from the host city. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39182.jpg) On 4 December 2009, FIFA will host a media event in which the 11 bidders for the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cup will be able to present their bids to the international media at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in South Africa. The accreditation procedure will be conducted via the FIFA Media Channel. Read more >>Advertising
SOUTH AFRICA YoungGuns deadline extendedDue to technical difficulties with entries, the deadline for YoungGuns for both the digital and advertising award entries is extended to Friday 6 November 2009. The student deadline of 6 November remains as is. After recently taking on the Emirates South Africa account, MediaVest has just been awarded the media strategy, planning and buying requirements for Emirates Mauritius and Seychelles. Read more >>Design
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/39411.jpg) Absolut Vodka, in continuation of its 30 years of artistic collaboration and support, has awarded the first of its yearly art prize of €15 000 to Keren Cytter, born 1977 in Israel, who now lives in Berlin and whose work has brought a lot of critical acclaim when shown at galleries and museums around Europe. Read more >>Digital
LOS ANGELES: Technology stars, pundits, and entrepreneurs joined the Internet's father on Thursday, 29 October 2009, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his culture-changing child. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/39407.jpg) SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Tuesday, 27 October 2009, made it more tempting for people to try its nascent Voice service that lets users merge home, office and mobile phones into a single number. Read more >>[Peter Veldman] JOHANNESBURG: The Internet continues to grow at a radical pace, in spite of the global recession, but a sad reality is that the African country domain names are not growing into a strong force because of a lack of government support that has resulted in a sort of 'Internet colonialism' being practised. Read more >> The South African Government, through the Department of Communications, will host an Extraordinary Session of African Union (AU) Ministers of Communications and Information Technologies (CIT) on 2 - 5 November 2009. The ministerial conference is in preparation for the AU Heads of State and Government Summit to take place in 2010. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39320.jpg) WASHINGTON, DC: Africa Rural Connect (ARC), a new online community hosted by The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), announced on Tuesday, 27 October 2009, the third-round winners of its online contest to select the best ideas submitted on how to help solve rural Africa's greatest challenges in agricultural development. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39191.jpg) Since Monday, 26 October 2009, the Google Earth Outreach Program is now available in Africa. Local NGOs and other public benefit organisations are now able to utilise Google Earth Pro software grants amongst other opportunities. Read more >>Education and Training
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39176.jpg) The UCT Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) received the Best Business School in Africa award at the Eduniversal 2nd World Convention of the Best Business Schools, held at Old Mutual Park in Cape Town, South Africa on Monday, 26 October 2009. Read more >>Eventing
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39322.jpg) The third annual Hospitality Investment Conference Africa (HICA) is due to take place from 4 - 6 November 2009 at the Sandton Sun hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa. The event is modeled on various other international hospitality investment conferences. Read more >>Magazines
Global media auditor, BPA Worldwide has announced that Africa Telecoms is to become its first audited title published by an African media owner. Published by 3i Publishing in Cape Town, South Africa, Africa Telecoms will launch in November 2009. Read more >>Media
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/39400.jpg) The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) on Friday, 30 October 2009, condemned the beating of a Tunisian journalist, allegedly by police, and the arrest of another, and called on the Tunisian authorities to abandon their campaign of intimidation against the independent press. Read more >>Mobile
JOHANNESBURG: HTC Corporation, a global smartphone designer, recently unveiled a global advertising campaign that is based on HTC's new 'quietly brilliant' brand positioning. As HTC's first global advertising campaign, the YOU campaign is being rolled out across 20 countries in the coming weeks and features the tagline, 'You don't need to get a phone. You need a phone that gets you.' Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/39423.jpg) Frost & Sullivan ICT industry analyst Spiwe Chireka said on Wednesday, 28 October 2009, said there was no need for MTN to be concerned after the mobile operator reported a drop in local subscriber numbers. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi government has suspended the decision by the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA), which awarded two licences to two companies when it had only advertised for one. Read more >> JOHANNESBURG: Two African telecommunications and information technology service providers, Q-Venture Holdings and Eaton Telecom Infrastructure, have merged to create a pan-African telecommunications infrastructure company. Read more >>Newspapers
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39315.jpg) Les Hinton of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which plans to begin charging readers of online versions of its newspapers in the coming months, has joined the programme for the upcoming World Newspaper Congress, to be held in Hyderabad, India, from 1 - 3 December 2009. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39255.jpg) The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has released two in-depth reports on digital media opportunities for income and audience growth. World Digital Media Trends, and Winning Mobile Strategies, from WAN-IFRA¹s Shaping the Future of the Newspaper project, are companion volumes that provide publishers with new insights into the growth and value of digital platforms. Read more >>Online Media
WEST AFRICA Motherboard.TV documents chalkboard bloggerMotherboard.TV, an online video network and community, recently travelled to Monrovia, Liberia to produce a five-minute documentary on Alfred Sirleaf, Liberia's blackboard blogger. Starting in 2000, Sirleaf's chalkboard blog has been going strong; readers line up in droves to read his updates which he collects from around the city. The documentary, titled "The Analog Blogger," is hosted by Myles Estey. Motherboard.TV streams 100% original video content with written stories by a cast of editors worldwide. View the video.LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: The African Press Organisation (APO), an African-related news online community which owns a media database of 25 000 contacts, announced a strategic partnership with news distributor PR Newswire on Monday, 26 October 2009. Read more >>Radio
[Gregory Gondwe] The arrest and sentencing of 21-year-old Gabriel Kondesi, who had been operating an illegal radio station made from locally sourced old radio parts for the last three years, opened up debate on whether the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) was justified. Read more >> Recruitment
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39180.jpg) BEIRUT, LEBANON: Jomea.com, a free search engine for job opportunities in the Middle East and Africa, was officially launched on Monday, 26 October 2009. Job-seekers can access vacancies from job boards, recruiting sites, company career pages and classifieds in the MEA region. Read more >>Retail
A debit card service was launched for the first time ever in Somaliland last week. The region broke away from Somalia in 1991, when the country's government collapsed, and has been relatively stable ever since. Read more >>[Chris Bathembu] PRETORIA: President Jacob Zuma says growth can only happen through effective partnerships and greater cooperation among African countries. Read more >> [Walter Wafula] Barclays Bank has flagged off a group of 15 Uganda businesspeople to the Canton III Fair in China to strengthen trade ties with their Chinese counterparts. The trade fair will take place between 31 October and 4 November 2009. Read more >> ![](https://biz-file.com/c/0910/39189.jpg) LUSAKA: First National Bank announced yesterday, 27 October 2009, the launch of its Zambia operation. The operation was officially opened by the president of Zambia, President Rupiah Banda. The company's banking license was issued on 25 November 2008. Read more >>TV
[Gregory Gondwe] Multichoice Malawi has assured subscribers in some parts of the country who were apprehensive that it could dump them the way the pan-African pay-TV satellite service GTV did last year. Read more >> "Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." - Auguste Rodin "The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his state of mind." - William James "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren G. Bennis Print - Print any item in this newsletter. Email - Email any item in this newsletter. Comment - Comment on any item in this newsletter. | | Advertisement:![](https://biz-file.com/b/0909/31743.gif)
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