SOMALIA

Journos detained, barred from traveling

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) have expressed deep concern over perpetual attacks against journalists by Somaliland police, who continue to arrest and detain reporters. Some journalists have also been barred from traveling around Somaliland to cover stories. Read more >>

AFRICA

Chillibush Communications, Phoenix Group launch Chillibush Africa

Through-the-line communications agency Chillibush Communications has partnered with The Phoenix Group to create Chillibush Africa (Pty) Ltd. The new company will build on the existing experience and expertise of the agencies to offer strategic, media and creative and PR services throughout Africa. Read more >>

AFRICA

Twitter launches brand pages, but is it too little too late?

[Vincent Hofmann] 25% of Twitter's current user base post their tweets using Twitter's web interface. 75% of Twitter's users make use of applications to interact with brands, friends and foe. So is Twitter's recent introduction of Twitter Brand Pages a waste of time? Not if Twitter has anything to do with it. Read more >>

AFRICA

Turner Broadcasting appoints entertainment content chief: EMEA

Domingo Corral has been appointed by Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited to head up general entertainment content for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Read more >>

TUNISIA

Journalists protest over top jobs

Several hundred Tunisian journalists demonstrated in Tunis on Monday, 9 January 2011, to protest at the appointment of media bosses by the government, which they regard as a return to bad practices of the past. Read more >>

AFRICA

How mobile marketing failed in 2011

[Vanessa Clark] Mobile marketing failures in 2011 were arguably less about campaigns going horribly wrong, and more about missed opportunity, too little integration of mobile into overall marketing tactics, and the need to be much more strategic about using mobile marketing. Read more >>

NIGERIA

TruSpot: Africa gets its own Spotify

Ikenna "Ike" Ouizo is the founder and CEO of TruSpot, a service he describes as the "Spotify for Africa". Truspot, which offers Africa-specific content, is run out of Texas, but will move to its conceptual birthplace, Nigeria, later this month. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SABMiller makes changes in its African ops

SABMiller is to combine the operational management of the Castel and SABMiller businesses in Nigeria and Angola, with the Nigerian businesses being managed in future by SABMiller, and the Angolan businesses being managed by Castel. Read more >>

AFRICA

CBeebies brings children's tales to the small screen

CBeebies fans from around the world will be treated to classic children's stories in a series of short films commissioned for the preschool network. BBC Worldwide has concluded deals with publishers Barefoot Books and Ladybird Books which will see eight tales read by the CBeebies presenters in Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and Poland. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

NYF International Advertising Awards: 2012 Executive Jury appointments, next round

NEW YORK, US: New York Festivals International Advertising Awards has announced the next round of appointments to the 2012 Executive Jury. This is the second year that the Executive Jury, an elite "dream team" of prominent worldwide creative officers, will convene in New York 28April through 1 May, to select the World's Best Advertising. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Deloitte acquires Übermind; establishes lead in the mobile revolution

NEW YORK, US: Expanding its leading-edge business, systems integration and enterprise technology capabilities, Deloitte today announced the acquisition of Übermind, Inc, an innovative mobile agency. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Read more >>

FRANCE

Cannes Lions: Tham Khai Meng 2012 Film and Press Jury president

CANNES, FRANCE: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced that Tham Khai Meng, worldwide chief creative officer of Ogilvy & Mather, will head up both the Film and Press Juries at the 59th festival, taking place in Cannes, France, 17-23 June 2012. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Police target bogus institutions

Police will arrest anyone found running bogus educational institutions, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has warned. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Gordhan meets Limpopo Premier

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has met with Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the section 100 intervention in the province. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Ndebele sets the record straight: It's not his car

The silver BMW 5-series reported by the City Press to have run up a heap of traffic fines does not belong to Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, his office said in a statement yesterday, 10 January 2012. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Eskom warns of rolling power cuts

South Africans have been urged to use electricity sparingly and switch of all non-essential appliances as Eskom warns of possible electricity load-shedding that could last until March. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Zuma: Unemployment, poverty, inequality need attention

As the ANC celebrates its 100 years of existence, President Jacob Zuma says the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality has been identified as needing attention. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Gauteng pays R300m more to health suppliers

The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development paid almost R300 million to health contractors and suppliers in December. This is in addition to the R600 million that had been paid to vendors earlier in that month, reports the Gauteng Provincial Government. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Bulk exports up but coal disappoints

South Africa's bulk exports rose by 6,6% in 2011 to a record 141,5-million tons according to the Transnet National Ports Authority. Business Live says the figures were still slightly lower than the 9,0% increase recorded in 2010. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

December new vehicle sales up

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] New vehicle sales in South Africa improved by about 15.9% to an estimated 571 425 units in 2011 - an improvement of about 78 518 over the previous year. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Le Touessrok wins major awards

Le Touessrok, the flagship of Sun Resorts, recently won two accolades celebrating its quality and its golf course, respectively delivered by The Leading Hotels of The World and Diners Club Magazine. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Victoria Falls bungee incident - follow up

Go to Victoria Falls has received the following update from Victoria Falls Bungee, in response to the bridge incident on 31 December 2011. This follows the official statement released on 2 January 2012. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Protea Hotel Witbank to be upgraded

A refurbishment of the Protea Hotel Witbank started on 3 January 2012, which will see all the public areas and 74 standard rooms given a multi-million rand facelift. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

RAMfest line-up announced

The line-up for RAMfest, which will be held between 2 and 11 March, 2012, in PE, Bloemfontein, Durban, Joburg and Cape Town, has been announced. Artists will vary from city to city. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Jack Parow 's "Eksie Ou", track by track

[Ruth Cooper] Packed with colabs from the likes of David Kramer, Pierre Greeff, Francois van Coke and PH Fat, one wouldn't be wrong in expecting Jack Parow's second album to have a fairly diverse sound. However, as diverse as the 12 tracks on this album are, each one is still unquestionably and uber recognisably Jack moeder fokken Parow. Read more >>