Beauty vs the not so beautiful![](https://biz-file.com/b/0911/34768.jpg?1) South Africa will for the second consecutive year host the 2009 Miss World pageant. Some believe the event is outdated and degrading to women while others see it as an opportunity for women to contribute meaningfully to the world through the charities supported by the Miss World Organisation; it has raised more than £250 million for children's charities in its 58-year run. While most of the contestants' answers revolve around world peace and saving the planet, both wonderful endeavours, the whole cattle-parading of women who are considered 'beautiful' by a panel of 'qualified' judges does seem like an antiquated event in our modern world. Beauty, in any instance, is subjective and perhaps choosing ambassadors to spread goodwill for one's country should be based principally on character and aptitude rather than appearance. Nonetheless, it is great to note that South Africa is very capable of hosting an international event, ahead of the World Cup with 199 days to kick-off. While Miss World cannot compare to the grand scale of the FIFA World Cup, the fact that the Miss World Organisation has entrusted the event to the country for a second year is confirmation of SA's ability as a host nation. Sindy Peters, content manager
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[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The diary of investment prospects in Namibia - the world's fifth largest uranium producer - contains, among others, exploring a land of relative peace where opportunities to make a ‘lot of money' abound in sectors such as mining, fisheries, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, tourism and human resources development. Read more >> ![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40571.jpg) When it comes to new horizons for investment and entrepreneurial opportunities, all roads lead to Africa, according to EMRC - organisers of the Africa Finance & Investment Forum 2009. The event will be held from 13 - 15 December 2009 at the ABN AMRO Bank Headquarters, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Read more >>2010 FIFA World Cup
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40739.jpg) On Thursday, 19 November 2009, South Africans woke to news that all 32 teams for the 2010 FIFA World Cup have now qualified - with Uruguay, the first country to host and win a World Cup, the last to secure their spot, in the early hours of the morning. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40580.jpg) In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, African photo/multimedia journalists are invited to participate in “The Twenty Ten Project,” an international training programme that will take place in the months prior to, and also during, the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40743.jpg) PRETORIA: The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) tasked to oversee government's preparation for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup has expressed satisfaction at the progress made ahead of the tournament. Read more >> [Proffesor Ndawonde] JOHANNESBURG: The Johannesburg Roads Agency says that the roads in and around the city will be of a world class standard ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read more >>Advertising
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40513.jpg) LONDON: Mark Tutssel, chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide, has been appointed Film & Press Jury President for Cannes Lions 2010. As CCO, Tutssel oversees 96 global Leo Burnett offices. The 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival takes place 20 - 26 June 2010 in Cannes, France. Read more >>Digital
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40750.jpg) WASHINGTON: Online auction giant eBay announced on Thursday, 19 November 2009, it had completed its sale of Skype to an investment group that includes the two founders of the Web communications company. Read more >>TOKYO: Sony Corp aims to launch next year a new online service that will allow people to download content such as music and movies to their televisions and other electronic gadgets, a top executive said on Friday, 20 November 2009. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] Microsoft has officially launched Windows 7 in Malawi with country manager for Microsoft East and Southern Africa Louis Otieno touting it as its most well-researched product. Read more >> WASHINGTON: NASA and Microsoft launched an interactive website on Tuesday, 17 November 2009, that allows Web surfers to become Mars explorers. Read more >>A record 750 delegates from the world's leading information and communication technology (ICT) policy makers met in Beirut this week in an effort to address the pressing challenges of a fast-changing technology environment. Read more >>Eventing
[Proffesor Ndawonde] PRETORIA: President Jacob Zuma believes that the Miss World contestants can play a significant role in addressing challenges facing the world. Read more >>[Garry Ackerman] To help meet the goals of improved business outcomes, reduced costs and environmental sustainability, many organisations are turning to new software-based conferencing and collaboration solutions for audio and Web conferencing, as well as continued face-to-face conferencing via video. Read more >> Media
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40745.jpg) WASHINGTON: Naziha Réjiba, editor of the Tunisian online news journal Kalima, said she knows what to expect when she returns home — surveillance, harassment, and threats conducted by one the world's most repressive governments. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40749.gif) HARARE: Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AFRIMAP), Open Society Initiative Southern Africa (OSISA), Open Society Institute Media Programme (OSIMP), in conjunction with MISA-Zimbabwe launched a report based on a survey entitled “Public Broadcasting In Africa Series” on 18 November 2009 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harare. Read more >>LUSAKA: A Zambian journalist was acquitted on Monday, 16 November 2009 of pornography charges after emailing unpublished pictures of a woman giving birth on the sidewalk outside a hospital during a doctors' strike. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40576.jpg) The fourth annual Festival of Media Awards, organised in association with Advertising Age is open for entries. The winners of the 2010 event will be announced at the awards gala dinner on Tuesday, 20 April 2010 in Valencia. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40419.jpg) MOGADISHU: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the upsurge of attacks against journalists and news media organisations in Somalia. Read more >>Mobile
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40658.jpg) Data is expected to be the next revenue generator for MTN Uganda as ARPU (average revenue per user) slows down due to declining consumer spend triggered by the global economic downturn, says Themba Khumalo, MTN Uganda CEO. Read more >>Newspapers
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40511.jpg) Wanja Oberhof, co-founder of niiu, which combines paper format with internet convenience, has joined the programme of the World Editors Forum, held from 1 - 3 December 2009, and will speak in a session regarding new newspaper business models currently being developed. Read more >>[Dumisani Ndlela] The state-controlled Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) has launched its Eight Papers Promotion, asking readers to buy all the week's papers from the group in order to stand a chance to win holiday packages, airline tickets, cell phones with lines, flat screen televisions and shopping vouchers. Read more >> LUSAKA: David Simusamba on 17 November 2009 appeared in court to answer to the charges of contempt of court leveled against him and the Post newspaper. He is being charged with one count of contempt of court contrary to Section 116 of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40681.jpg) The International Association of Sports Newspapers has organised a series of events at the upcoming World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum that will focus on the growth of multimedia in the sports press and the organisational, editorial and financial challenges and opportunities it has heralded. Read more >>Retail
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40747.jpg) ROME: Libya and the FAO plan to work closely together over the next five years to strengthen food security and sustainable development in the country. Read more >>ROME: The assistant secretary-general of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Domingos Caholo, has called for an institutional reform in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to ensure better implementation of its programmes. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] The government's decision to devalue the local currency, the Malawi Kwacha, last week has sparked fears that it might affect interest and inflation rates. Read more >> [Dumisani Ndlela] For Zimbabweans, Christmas has of late never been this merry: over the past decade, they have had to battle a hyperinflationary crisis that made it impossible to budget for festivities, while retailers shunned festive season indulgences for customers. Then there were empty shelves to contend with over the last two years. Read more >> PRETORIA: South Africa is looking forward to working with Nigerian businesses to further open up trade opportunities and allow investment to grow between the two countries, says Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. Read more >>TV
NEWSWATCH: Kenyan satirist, Godfrey "Gado" Mwampembwa, is causing major waves amongst politicians in the East African country with his creation, The XYZ Show, according to Mail & Guardian Online. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0911/40663.jpg) The third series of the African reality show Imagine Afrika (IA) has begun flighting across Africa. Filmed in Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda with production and post-production in South Africa the series looks at the lives of nine characters selected for their compelling and challenging life circumstances. Read more >>Radio
CVC Media Africa invites fellow broadcasters to attend the first annual African Media Summit, taking place in Cape Town from 8 to 12 February 2010. Read more >>PR-Net PR-Net - Cape Town, 24 November "A house of brands is like a family, each needs a role and a relationship to others." - Jeffrey Sinclair "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." - Vincent van Gogh "Don't be afraid to take a big step when one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small steps." - David Lloyd George
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