Britons To Watch Footage Of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation In 3-D
Shannon McGregor – AHN Special Categories Editor London, England (BANG) – A three-dimentional film of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth being crowned is to be broadcast on TV. The footage – which was lost in an archive for over 55 years – has been described as the “closest thing to time travel” royal fans will ever experience. The queen is expected to be among millions of TV viewers to put on special 3-D glasses to watch the film next week. It was originally shot for a newsreel in 1953 and includes the coronation procession as well as clips of the monarch traveling by royal barge and joking on London’s Tower Pier. It cost about ÂŁ3,000 to make by two innovative young British cameramen Bob Angell and Arthur Wooster. It was never screened at the time as the popularity of TV overtook the public’s interest in 3-D films. Arthur, now 80, who went on to work as a cameraman on nine ‘James Bond’ movies, said: “‘We were heartbroken that it was shelved at the time but at least we got paid. It’s just taken a while, rather a long while in actual fact, to see the light of day. “It was quite a feat to pull off at the time.” It was only dug out of the archives in 2006 when he told his filmmaker son David about the footage. David then went to the vaults of the British Film Institute where he discovered the Royal Review film, calling it “absolutely stunning”. He said of the film made by his father and 87-year-old Bob Angell: “It is like a little time capsule. You really feel part of the era.” The footage will be shown on Channel 4’s ‘The Queen in 3D’ on Monday (16.11.09) and Tuesday (17.11.09). David Glover, Channel 4 commissioning editor, said: “It is decades ahead of their time. It is the nearest thing to time travel that I will ever experience. “It is one of the film finds of the century.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Work Begins On Riyadh Metro
The Media Line Staff Work on a light rail network has begun in the Saudi Arabian capital in an effort to reduce congestion and air pollution. The Arriyadh Development Authority, the body responsible for the development of Riyadh, initiated the construction of a light rail system to include 36 stations along a 16-mile North-South track. There are plans to add a second 9-mile East-West track with 13 stations following its completion. “You can’t tell for now but I think it will be useful, the city is really crowded,” Saudi Blogger Ahmed Al-Omran Aka Saudi Jeans, told The Media Line. “6.5 million people live here and there is practically no public transportation system so it should be useful. Even if only a small part of the population start to use it, it will be good to release the streets from all the congestion,” Al-Omran said, himself a resident of Riyadh. According to Arriyadh, some 87% of the city’s population use cars as their primary mode of transport. The trains are expected to carry 1500 passengers an hour, but that number is expected to increase to 8000 once the system if fully functioning. “There has been a huge revival of the fortunes of railways around the world,” David Briginshaw, Editor-in-Chief of International Rail Journal, told The Media Line regarding the current surge in metro construction. “Transport Ministers, Governments and transport planners have realized the real benefits of investing in rail transport, in terms of its ability to solve traffic congestion problems and its very good environmental credentials,” he said. “Any city that knows its worth know that they have to have a rail system and that they can’t go on building more roads.” Tenders for Riyadh’s light rail system were issued in 2003, but construction was delayed and comes just months after Dubai inaugurated its own system on September 9 under much fanfare. The Dubai Metro took 49 months to build at a cost of $7 billion. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirate, announced that it will also construct its own metro as part of a massive $1 trillion infrastructure plan. In October, plans for a regional network to connect all six countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council – Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, was presented. The initial estimated cost of $14 billion has since been raised to $25 billion, due to changing technical specifications, an issue at the heart of negotiations among regional heads. The regional network is scheduled to be completed by 2017. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
British Companies To Explore Business Opportunity In Bangladesh
Siddique Islam – AHN Correspondent Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) – A British business delegation arrives in Dhaka on Saturday for four days aiming to explore business prospects in Bangladesh. The visit has been organized by the United Kingdom (UK) Trade and Investment (UKTI) in cooperation with the British-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (BBCC) for the exploration of business opportunities on offer here and for further strengthening the trade and investment relations between the UK and Bangladesh. During the tour, the members of the BBCC team comprising UK entrepreneurs and investors will meet officials at the British High Commission as well as discuss commercial issues of mutual interest with ministers and business leaders of Bangladesh, a British High Commission press statement said in the capital, Dhaka on Thursday. “The team will also hold several meetings and conference to further illustrate the opportunities they bring along with them,” the statement added. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Saudi Women Launch International Campaign Against Guardianship
The Media Line Staff A group of Saudi women have launched an international campaign against the kingdom’s male guardianship law, on the anniversary of a prominent protest, in which dozens of Saudi women publicly drove their cars through the country’s capital. The campaign calls on supporters all over the world to tie a black ribbon around their wrist signifying a call for Saudi women to be given equal rights to men and an end to the male guardianship system, in which Saudi women are represented by men in all public and official spheres of life. “We are calling on everybody, both Saudi and non-Saudi, to show their support of Saudi women,” Wajiha Al-Huwaidar, the leader of the campaign, told The Media Line. “It’s not just about the right to drive, it’s everything,” she said. “We want to have our lives back, which the male guardianship system took from us. So we are calling for everyone to wear this black ribbon and spread the word.” A statement by campaign organizers called for women to be given “rights to marry, divorce, inherit, gain custody of children, travel, work, study, drive cars and live on an equal footing with man.” “We, Saudi women activists, appeal to all those who support Saudi women’s rights, inside and outside the Kingdom, to participate in the campaign by wearing a black ribbon on their wrists as a symbolic and peaceful gesture of their advocacy to Saudi women’s rights,” the statement read. Under the motto “we will not untie our ribbon until Saudi women enjoy their rights as adult citizens”, the “Black Ribbon Campaign” was launched Friday to mark the anniversary of a famous event on November 6, 1990, in which 47 Saudi women publicly drove cars through the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in a protest calling for Saudi women to be given the right to drive. The women were subsequently detained by Saudi police, had their passports confiscated, and some were fired from their jobs. Al-Huwaidar said she expected to receive significant support for the campaign throughout the weekend. “I am expecting many people to wear it, especially people outside Saudi Arabia,” she said. “Teenagers wear the black ribbon anyway as a fashion. Now they have a reason, so that when someone asks, they will say ‘We are supporting Saudi women.’” “I am hoping to get famous people to wear it and a group of us will be walking around throughout the day recruiting women,” Al-Huwaidar added. “I’m trying of course to avoid the religious police because they are always around, but we are just asking for our rights.” Saudi Arabia has seen growing social tension as the younger generation demands a liberalization of the hold the kingdom’s strict religious establishment has over the country’s laws. Earlier this week, Saudi’s grand mufti said that wearing Western-style graduation gowns was forbidden. “Wearing graduation gowns is haram (forbidden by Islamic law) because apparently it is part of the infidels’ rituals and customs that no God-fearing Muslim should ever imitate or even consider getting near them,” wrote Ahmed Al-Omran, an influential Saudi blogger. “The Grand Mufti, of course, does not use the cars invented and manufactured by the aforementioned infidels. He also does not appear on TV or use a mobile phone, because these, too, are invented and made by those nasty infidels.” “It’s strange for someone of his status to talk about something as minor as this,” Al-Huwaidar said. “This man is blind and whatever they tell him – he says it.” “We had a fatwa like this in the 1980’s, which was the height of the religious movement,” she said. “Back then we had a new fatwa with something new forbidden every day.” “But while some private schools in Riyadh might still be using this gown, it’s very uncommon and never happens in government universities,” Al-Huwaidar said. “The men wear a bishet at graduation and the women wear the abayah.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Queen Elizabeth Tours Olympic Stadium Ahead Of 2012 London Games
Shannon McGregor – AHN Special Categories Editor London, England (BANG) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II visited some of the sites of the 2012 Olympics in London Tuesday. The royal inspected the main Olympic Stadium and walked a section of the 100-meter track at the Olympic Park in east London. It was her second visit to the site since the British capital was named host of the Olympics in 2012 four years ago. The queen also got a sneak preview of the royal box in the 80,000-capacity stadium before planting the first of 4,000 trees planned for the park. Athlete Sebastian Coe – who has won the Olympic 1,500-metres twice, and heads the London’s organising committee – accompanied the impressed royal. He said: “We are thrilled to welcome Her Majesty back to show the progress we’ve made. “The skyline in this part of London is being changed forever and the Olympic Park will become a home to world class sport in 2012 and home to a new community afterwards.” The royal favorite is expected to open the 2012 London Games when she will be celebrating her 60th anniversary as queen – but has reportedly rejected government plans to turn the two events into a joint celebration. The 83-year-old monarch wants a more low-key bash for her Diamond Jubilee, without public money spent on it during the recession. A source told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper: “There have been some early-stage meetings at the Palace about what the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will comprise and at the moment the plans are being kept separate from the Olympics. “The Queen believes Britain may well still be feeling the effects of the recession and therefore she wants something modest and reserved rather than any flashy displays of wealth. She does not want to saddle the taxpayers with huge costs. “Besides, the Olympics are just a one-off event. The Monarch and her reign are ongoing.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
India To Introduce Digital ‘E-token’ Visa System For Bangladesh Passport Holders
Siddique Islam – AHN Correspondent Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) – The Indian high commission in Dhaka will introduce a digital ‘e-token’ system to further ease the visa application submission process by Bangladeshi citizens. Bangladeshi passport holders applying for visas at India Visa Application Centres (IVAC) at Gulshan and Motijheel of Dhaka will get the benefit from Nov. 15, an Indian High Commission press statement said in the capital, Dhaka on Wednesday. The passport holders wishing to apply for visas to travel to India must visit web site www.ivacbd.com and log on to ‘E-Token system’. This service will be available from Nov. 11. “It may be noted that all Bangladesh Passport holders wishing to submit their Indian visa application forms at IVAC Gulshan and IVAC Motijheel will be required to carry valid ‘E-token’ from Nov. 15,” the statement added. Visa applications of Members of Parliament and Judiciary; Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/ Managing Director of established companies and members of their families; and persons above 70 years of age can be submitted through authorized representative carrying valid ‘E-token’. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Telemedicine Services Launched In Bangladesh
Siddique Islam – AHN Correspondent Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) – Telemedicine Reference Centre Limited (TRCL) in collaboration with Entra Health Systems of the U.S. has launched a mobile phone-based health (mHealth) service for diabetic patients under the brand name ‘Amcare.’ Information Minister of Bangladesh Abul Kalam Azad launched the service in the capital, Dhaka on Tuesday. National Prof Dr MR Khan, also chairman of TRCL, Prof AK Azad Khan, president of Bangladesh Diabetic Association, Richard C Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems, and Jon Danilowicz, acting deputy chief of mission, US embassy, also spoke. People residing in Dhaka, Chittgong and Sylhet cities will come under the service coverage initially at a monthly charge ranging from US$8.68 (BDT 600) to $18.08 (BDT 1,250), the service providers said, adding that the service would be extended across the country in phases. The first of its kind in Asia, mHealth includes routine home test of blood glucose level with a bluetooth glucometer connected to a mobile phone. After the use of glucometer, the result of blood glucose test will be transferred via mobile phone to the Amcare Diabetes Call Center. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Australian Energy Workers Road Testing Hybrid Vehicles To Be Used As Power Source
Ayinde O. Chase – AHN Editor Victoria, Australia (AHN) – Energy workers from Australian energy distributor SP AusNet are currently engaging in a road trial of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). If successful the vehicles could be as commonplace in Australian garages as lawnmowers and even help supplement regional power usage. Over the next three months, staff from Victorian energy distributor SP AusNet will use the PHEVs for their daily drive to work and for leisure as part of CSIRO and SP AusNet trial. Engineers have modified the vehicles to carry a 30Ah NiMH battery which is capable of holding a 6kw charge, and a battery charger, to allow the cars to plug into and charge with electricity from the grid or from on-site renewable energy sources. Officials say the trial is being conducted to collect extensive information on how the existing PHEV technology could be used for a new application: using the car as a large mobile battery which can be integrated and used in the home. The vehicles have been fitted with instruments which will monitor the travel patterns of different users, and the residual battery power left in the car at the end of the day, which could be available for other uses. Engineers have said that the parked car could store energy as a source for the house, running appliances or storing off-peak or surplus electricity generated from on-site renewable generators, such as solar panels. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Quebec Promises Assistance To Nortel Pensioners
AHN Staff Quebec City, Quebec (AHN) – Regulator Regie des rentes du Quebec said Monday it would help protect the pension assets of former Nortel Network employees in the province by taking over the management of what is left of the pension assets. The announcement comes after the provincial government approved a legislation in January granting funding assistance to pension plans registered in Quebec. The move would affect 3,750 Nortel pensioners from Quebec. Nortel Retirees spokesperson Ken Lyons requested for inclusion of their former employer in the coverage of the pension fund management even if Nortel is not bankrupt, but restructured under creditor protection. Nortel has successfully auctioned off its wireless network unit to Ericsson Telefonica, its enterprise business to Avaya Communications and its optical networking enterprise to Ciena Corporation. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
