MetropolitanRepublic Uganda wins Google account

MetropolitanRepublic Uganda last week announced that they have won the PR and media relations for search engine Google, starting in Uganda with the potential to handle Rwanda and South Sudan operations once these are up and running. 11 Jun 2012 12:05

Loeries Ubuntu Award still open for entries

The deadline for work to be entered into the Loeries Ubuntu Award is 15 June 2012. This category recognises the positive influence of brands on the social and physical environment and rewards collective creative effort that has gone into promoting the long-term sustainability of environment and the upliftment of communities throughout Africa and the Middle East. 11 Jun 2012 11:52

APO launches new website

The African Press Organisation (APO), a press release wire in Africa, and global media relations related to Africa, on Friday, 8 June 2012, unveiled its new website, www.apo-opa.org. 11 Jun 2012 11:30

Top businesses honoured at African Business Awards

Africa's top business figures gathered together last week at the fifth annual African Business Awards in London. The event for celebrating excellence and achievement in African business took place at the Grosvenor House with approximately 300 guests. 11 Jun 2012 11:13

Renaissance Capital restructures research teams

Renaissance Capital, the emerging markets investment bank, has merged its South African and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) research teams and appointed Gerhard Engelbrecht and Nothando Ndebele as co-heads, in addition to continuing to expand coverage of key sectors. 7 Jun 2012 14:02

Kenya's media to question opinion polls

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] A few weeks ago, Nation Media Group (NMG), a media house in Kenya sent a notice to its journalists asking them to treat, with skepticism, opinion polls trumpeting the rising or falling fortunes of Kenyan political leaders. "We take the view that, not knowing the sponsors of and how the polling was conducted, we risk our reputation if we play up the "findings" of these pollsters," read the notice. 7 Jun 2012 12:58

Kenya's retail sector seeks development policy

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] For the fifth year running, the National Economic Survey has identified the retail and wholesale trade sectors as key growth drivers of Kenya's economy. In 2011, the wholesale and retail trade sector showed a growth of 7.3%, beating the manufacturing, building and construction, agriculture, transport and communication sectors. 6 Jun 2012 12:03

VIMN Africa announces pay-tv deal for BET

Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) has announced that the general entertainment network BET is set to expand its African TV footprint following the signing of a new distribution deal that will see BET distributed on the My TV pay-TV platform. 5 Jun 2012 15:41

E-commerce in Africa: Not quite ready for take-off

Lack of bandwidth is not the only factor hampering the development of e-commerce and online business in Africa, says Peter Harvey, founder and managing director of PayGate, an online payments solution provider. Harvey adds that the continent also needs a much more sophisticated financial infrastructure. 5 Jun 2012 13:00

Sudan blocks distribution of largest daily

KHARTOUM: Sudan's state security agency on Monday [4 June 2012] blocked distribution of the country's largest-circulation newspaper, which has criticised talks between Sudan and South Sudan, the newspaper's boss said. 5 Jun 2012 12:22

AVU and iHub Research partner for mobile learning research

African Virtual University (AVU) and the iHub Research yesterday, 4 June 2012, signed an agreement to strengthen research on mobile learning in Africa. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr. Bakary Diallo, rector of AVU and Jessica Colaco, research lead and manager at the iHub Research. 5 Jun 2012 12:04

DISCOP Africa announces intl initiative

Basic Lead, organisers of the annual DISCOP Africa which focuses on the film and television content market, has announced that they will subsidize the attendance of up to 100 international content buyers at the event. Acquisitions executives who are interested in the increasing range of quality content and formats created in Africa will be targeted. 4 Jun 2012 12:28

Groups welcome journalist's release, call for compensation

The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) and Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) welcome the acquittal of Mega FM journalist, Patrick Otim and 14 others, by the High Court of Uganda of charges of treason and concealment of treason. 4 Jun 2012 11:31