Digicon6 special: Inter BEE kick starts on promising note

Tokyo: With the support of Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NAB-J), the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) has hosted the Inter BEE 2010 – an audio-video and communications broadcasting equipment exhibition at Makuhari Messe from November 17 to 19, 2010.

Currently in its 46th edition, Inter Bee has achieved remarkable success, in its role as a promoter of broadcasting technology. This year, in addition to traditional broadcasting, Inter BEE displayed a comprehensive selection of exhibits that provided an overview of a wide range of technological fields such as communications, IT, audio and lighting.

Here are the key highlights of the event:

The Tutorial Session: Targeting young people in the industry and students, instructors actively working in the video and audio domains help to nurture competent technicians in the workplace by imparting knowledge about equipment and system use, and contents creation techniques.

The Technical Report Conference on Commercial Broadcasting: An annual event that has been in place since the inauguration of Inter BEE. Front-line experts in the field of commercial TV discuss the constantly changing state of and problems facing commercial TV. This provides a valuable opportunity to learn about the course and direction of future broadcasting.

IPTV, Mobile TV, Crossmedia Zone: Here, people gather under one roof to see the latest IPTV services, and create a place to check-up on post-digitization mobile TV business. In addition to this, adopting a theme of digital signage, digital cinema and 3D images, a pavilion exhibition is kept where one can experience the possibilities and technological advancements of new media.

On the sidelines of Inter BEE, TBS Digicon6 also hosted an ‘Asia Contents Forum’ where the winners of respective countries showcased their work and key notes were delivered from the prominent film makers and directors of Asian countries.

Shah Rukh’s Don 2 gets bill waiver from German government

After the immensely successful remake of the blockbuster Don, Shah Rukh’s all set to star again in the sequel which is being shot in Berlin. The German government is to provide an astounding rebate of 3 million euros to the producers. Our sources reveal that this is the first time that such a heavy concession is being offered to any film shot in the country.

The action sequences and stunts are already being filmed in the commercial districts of the city. The production schedule is to last for over two months in and around various locations in Berlin. The source also reveals that the German government has announced on their website that they will co-operation and support to the filming of the movie. A local film promotion company named Medienboard has provided local support with 550,000 euros in the form of funds. This is the first time an India film has received such a big investment from a local media company.

Tourism in Berlin is expected to get a boost with Don 2; a source adds that after Shah Rukh attended the Berlinale Film Festival last year for his film My Name Is Khan, the decision was made to shoot Don 2 in the German Capital.

Producer Ritesh Sidhwani said they had to finish filming first and depending on them getting through the minimum points required to meet the country’s culture test, a certain portion of the budget spent in Germany will be given as subsidy. He however, refused to speculate on the rebate being offered.

Blasts in Basra leave over 100 casualties

BASRA: Three explosions on Saturday ripped through a popular market in Iraq”s southern city of Basra, leaving at least 16 people dead and near 116 others wounded, local police source told media.

The first blast was caused by a car bomb in the market, then a generator and it”s tank were also blew up, said the source, adding the blast reason of the generator and it”s tank was not immediately known.

The explosions occurred in the commercial area, huge smoke can be seen in Basra city which locates 550 km south of Baghdad. Many people can”t leave the blast site because of the heavy smoke, the source added.

Violence and some high-profile attacks are still common in Iraqi cities as part of recent deterioration in security which shaped a setback to the efforts of the Iraqi government to restore normalcy in the country about five months after violence-torn Iraq held parliamentary elections on March 7.

Zardari under attack over Europe trip

LONDON: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was in Britain Wednesday amid a row over terrorism, and rising criticism over his failure to return home in the aftermath of the worst floods in living memory.

Zardari, who arrived in Britain Tuesday, will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron Friday and explain “face to face” Islamabad”s anger over Cameron”s claim last week that Pakistan promoted the “export of terror”.

But Zardari is now under growing pressure to go back to Pakistan and lead the country”s response to devastating floods in northwest and central Pakistan which have killed up to 1,500 people affected over three million.

Pakistan is holding an emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday in a bid to speed up relief work following the devastating floods which washed away villages and ruined farmland in one of its poorest and volatile regions.

Imran Khan, the country”s former cricket captain turned opposition politician, said Zardari should be in Pakistan following the disaster.

“Any talks can be postponed — surely the priority should be your own people,” he told ITV television. “And then to go on this lavish tour — this money could be used on the victims.

“Remember Pakistan is bankrupt right now so the government doesn”t have enough money, so he should be mobilising people to help these victims of the floods.”

Zardari”s visit to Europe — which started in France, where he met President Nicolas Sarkozy and visited his family”s rural stately home — is not due to end after a rally in Britain Saturday when he will reportedly launch the political career of his son, who has been studying at Oxford University.

The trip was labelled a “joy ride” by one flood survivor, and a number of British lawmakers of Pakistani origin have pulled out of a planned lunch with Zardari Thursday.

“For him to spend tens of thousands of pounds on the launch of his son”s political career at a time when his country needs him shows that he”s out of touch and his advisors are ill-informed,” one of them, Lord Nazir Ahmed of the main opposition Labour Party, said.

“Quite frankly, staying in five-star hotels with his huge entourage, tens of big cars that have been hired just to give him this protocol in London, it”s quite outrageous.”

There was also an angry reception late Tuesday for Zardari when he arrived at his hotel in central London, where protesters accused him of wasting money on the visit that would be better spent helping those affected by the floods.

Officials have sought to defend the cost of Zardari”s trip, issuing a statement insisting he was staying in the “cheapest five-star hotel in London” and was avoiding the royal suite in favour of a “relatively cheaper” one.

Zardari is still expected to meet members of Cameron”s government Thursday, thought to include Home Secretary Theresa May, Education Secretary Michael Gove and Minister Without Portfolio Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Britain”s first female Muslim cabinet minister.

Cameron has insisted he stands by his highly controversial comments on Pakistan”s attitude to violent extremism. He also said Pakistan must not “look both ways” in handling it during a visit to India last week.

Zardari hit back in an interview with French daily Le Monde Tuesday, warning that coalition forces were “losing the war against the Taliban” in Afghanistan and adding: “The war against terrorism must unite us and not oppose us”.

Cameron later rejected the idea that international forces in Afghanistan were “losing the battle of hearts and minds” in a BBC radio interview Tuesday.

He also said that Britain”s relationship with Afghanistan could “survive speaking frankly about problems”

Pak Army to contribute one-day salary to PM relief fund

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Wednesday expressed deep sorrow and regret over the colossal loss of life and property during the ongoing floods.

According to a press released issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS stated that the Army is making all out efforts for rescue and relief of the affected people.

“Army is working at full pace and capacity to extend maximum help to the people,” he stated. COAS also announced the donation of one day salary of all ranks of Pakistan Army in Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, established for the flood affectees.

“Furthermore, in the line with their tradition, soldiers of Pakistan Army feel proud in sharing their bread with the affected countrymen and have distributed over 520 tons of rations thus far,” COAS added.

COAS reiterated that the Army will also contribute meaningfully toward rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

Blast reported in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A powerful explosion has been heard in Peshawar area of Saddar, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The sounds of gunshots rang up in the area following the blast.
There is no report as to the nature and magnitude of the blast; however, the reports received said the blast was so powerful that it was heard far and wide.

According to eyewitness, soon after a blast, a black car was seen engulfed by a fire.

The law-enforcers soon arrived on spot.

The blast site is being said to the commercial area surrounded by government office.

30 killed, 80 wounded in Iraq twin car bombs: medic

KUT: Two near-simultaneous car bombs in the southern Iraqi city of Kut on Tuesday killed 30 people and wounded 80, a medical official said, giving a new toll.

The blasts struck the commercial centre of Kut, 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad and capital of Wasit province, at around 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), a police sergeant said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Tuesday”s attack comes a day after President Barack Obama pledged that the United States will end its combat mission in Iraq as scheduled on August 31 despite a recent flare-up in violence.

Figures released by Iraqi officials on Saturday showed that more people died as a result of violence in July than in any previous month since May 2008. The US military has disputed those figures, however.

US and Iraqi officials have warned of the dangers of an upsurge in violence if negotiations on forming a new government drag on, less than a month before a major US troop pullout, giving insurgent groups an opportunity to further destabilise the country.

Nearly five months since the March 7 general election which gave no single bloc an overall parliamentary majority, the two lists which won the most seats are still bickering over who should be the next prime minister.

Oil hovers around 79 dollars in Asia

SINGAPORE: Oil prices dipped in Asian trade after an overnight surge as investors await European banking stress test results for indications of the global economic outlook, analysts said.

New York”s main contract, light sweet crude for September delivery, was down 28 cents at 79.02 dollars a barrel, while London”s Brent North Sea crude for September dropped 38 cents to 77.44 dollars.

Five dead in Mingora blast

MINGORA: A suicide bomber blew himself up in an apparent attack at a security convoy, killing at least five people including two women and injuring 45 others, including women and children bomber hit a security convoy in Mingora, Geo News reported Thursday.

The blast occurred at central bus stand, which is usually a crowded place. The bus stand was teeming with people at the time blast, causing huge number of people to be victims of the blast.

Casualties are feared to rise.

At the time of blast, a security cavalcade was around passing by.

The blast was so powerful that at least eight vehicles and nearby 50 shops were also damaged in the blast.

Law enforcers cordoned off the area soon after the blast, as the relief activities are in progress.

The 45 injured have been transported to Saidu Sharif General Hospital, where paramedics confirmed five casualties.

Soon, after the blast, the commercial areas of the city were closed down and unannounced curfew has been clamped in the city.

It should be mentioned here that a tip-off regarding the entry of suicide bombers was received some days ago, resulting in stepped up security arrangements in the city.

Pak, Argentina to improve bilateral trade

ISLAMABAD: The relationship between Pakistan and Argentina are moving in the right direction and with the passage of time it will get further improve, with the hope that bilateral trade volume would increase in different fields and sectorsSheikh Humayun Sayeed, Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Trade and Investment said these remarks, while paying a courtesy call yesterday to Eduardo Bustamante, Deputy Head of Mission, Economic and Commercial Section, Embassy of Argentina here in the Capital.

Continued here:
Pak, Argentina to improve bilateral trade

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