Tokyo Sky Tree: An enriching experience

It’s difficult not to be wowed when you are in Japan, especially if you get an opportunity to witness the Tokyo’s biggest work in progress – the Tokyo Sky

Tree. A marvel of Japanese technology and engineering, the Tokyo Sky Tree was envisaged by a consortium of six of Japan’s biggest broadcasting stations. They

wanted a new terrestrial broadcasting tower, but since construction began in 2008, the Sky Tree has come to mean a lot more to the citizens of Tokyo. It is,

when fully constructed, going to be the highest radio tower in the world. You stand in front of the iron and steel structure and you feel humbled. It stands

in front of you, a 350 meter tall behemoth, with hundreds of men and machines working on it night and day. My guide tells me that when it is completed in

December 2011, the Tokyo Sky Tree will be the tallest structure of its kind in the world – scaling an incredible 634 meters!

The building has a triangular shape at the base and as you go higher, it becomes round. An engineer working on the project tells me that this was necessary

to avoid the fierce gale that blows in Tokyo. Even as we, an excited group of foreigners from DigiCon 2010, were being escorted to the tower, it started

raining heavily.

At the apex of the structure will sit the antenna, which will be used for digital, terrestrial broadcasting throughout Tokyo. Believe it or not, the whole

idea of reaching this height with the structure was necessitated because the Tokyo Tower, the existing terrestrial tower, at 332.5 metres, proved too short

to broadcast signals throughout the city! After Sky Tree was commissioned, in a plot of land between the Sumida River and Imperial Palace, the common

Japanese were called upon to suggest a name for the proposed mega-structure. My guide tells me that a final list of six names was put to vote from almost

eleven thousand entries. The moniker, Tokyo Sky Tree, was polled the favourite.

If you stand atop the already constructed first observatory, at 350 metres, you can look down at the fireworks in the night sky. When completed, in spring

2012, a shopping area and office building will be added at the base of the tower, making it the nerve centre of business and cultural interaction in this

part of Tokyo. One can get to the first observatory using an elevator, but beyond that one will have only one way up – through the glass-walled walkway. No

doubt, you will have a great view of Tokyo from there.

My guide insists that I visit Tokyo again in the spring of 2012, when the Tokyo Sky Tree will be thrown open to the public, along with a brand new café at

the first observatory at 350 metre. “Come back…” he says. Now every time I think of Japanese Manga; in the backdrop will be the Tokyo Sky Tree.

Eiffel Tower evacuated after bomb threat

PARIS: The Eiffel Tower and the surrounding Champ de Mars park were evacuated on Tuesday for the second time in two weeks after a bomb alert, a spokeswoman for the Paris landmark said.

“The police asked us to evacuate, saying they had received a warning,” the spokeswoman said.

About 2,000 people were usually in the area at that time of day, she said.

A police spokeswoman said the fire service had received a call from a public telephone saying there was a suspect package at the tower.

The police cordoned off an area about 200 metres from the tower.

The bomb alert was the fourth in as many weeks. French security officials said last week the country was on heightened alert after receiving a tip-off of a planned suicide attack on the Paris metro.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said on Sept. 20 France faced a real terrorism threat as

Eiffel Tower evacuated after bomb threat

PARIS: The Eiffel Tower and the surrounding Champ de Mars park were evacuated on Tuesday for the second time in two weeks after a bomb alert, a spokeswoman for the Paris landmark said.

“The police asked us to evacuate, saying they had received a warning,” the spokeswoman said.

About 2,000 people were usually in the area at that time of day, she said.

A police spokeswoman said the fire service had received a call from a public telephone saying there was a suspect package at the tower.

The police cordoned off an area about 200 metres from the tower.

The bomb alert was the fourth in as many weeks. French security officials said last week the country was on heightened alert after receiving a tip-off of a planned suicide attack on the Paris metro.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said on Sept. 20 France faced a real terrorism threat as

Malaysia Tower Scaled By French Spiderman

KUALA LUMPUR: A French climber dubbed “Spiderman” for his ropeless ascents of some of the world’s highest skyscrapers scaled a Malaysian tower he had tried to ascend twice before, and was then arrested.

Alain Robert, 47, used the cover of pre-dawn darkness to avoid detection from security guards at the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, and reached the top floor in around an hour and 45 minutes.

“I did try twice to climb, and climbing to the top is one of my dreams. It’s a bit like a love story, not only about climbing the tallest building to make it official but about completing something unfinished,” Robert told foreign news agency ahead of the climb.

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Malaysia Tower Scaled By French Spiderman was first posted on September 1, 2009 at 5:08 pm.
©2009 “Pakistan News“.

Clash In Malakand 5 Militant Killed

SWAT: Five militants were killed during a clash between security forces and militants in Malakand.
According to sources, five militants were killed during a clash in Thana area of Malakand Agency on Friday morning. Large arms and explosive cache was also recovered from their possession. The militants were reportedly foreigners whose bodies have been placed in the local hospital for identification.

Meanwhile, Swat media center announced curfew relaxation till 11:00 pm in Mingora, Fizzaghat, Charbagh, Kanju and Kabal whereas curfew will be eased till 6:00 pm in Matta, Khawazakhela, Darashkhela, Madeen and Peochar.

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Clash In Malakand 5 Militant Killed was first posted on August 28, 2009 at 11:16 am.
©2009 “Pakistan News“.

Electricity Tower Blown Up In Barkhan, Blochistan

QUETTA: The electricity tower, located in Rakhni area of Barkhan district in Balochistan, has been blown up with explosives here early on Friday night, which has resulted in power outage in the Barkhan and Rakhni areas, officials said.

According to sources, unknown miscreants blew up electricity tower number 23 with explosives which left tower collapsed during the incident.

Also, explosion has cut electricity supply to Barkhan and Kohilo areas however; police have arrived on the spot and, having cordoned off the entire area, have kicked off investigations into the incident, sources added.

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Electricity Tower Blown Up In Barkhan, Blochistan was first posted on August 28, 2009 at 11:30 am.
©2009 “Pakistan News“.

Eight Khasadars’ Funeral Prayers Offered

PESHAWAR: Funeral prayers of eight officials of Khasadar Force, who got killed in a suicide blast on Thursday evening, have been offered early today.

At least 22 personnel of Khasadar Force were killed and several others injured in a deadly suicide attack at Torkham of Tehsil Landi Kotal in Khyber Agency on Thursday evening, political agent Captain Tariq Hayat Khan (retd) said.

The suicide bomber entered in the office of political Tehsildar Torkham where the Khasadars were gathered in a barrack for Iftari and detonated himself just before Iftari, he told reporters.

The Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has strongly condemned the attack and termed it cowardice act of terrorism. He directed the doctors to provide every possible help and treatment to the patients.

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Eight Khasadars’ Funeral Prayers Offered was first posted on August 28, 2009 at 11:23 am.
©2009 “Pakistan News“.