Trade Arabia XML Feed

Britain unveils plans for Olympics culture showcase

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:54 GMT

The final line-up for the London 2012 festival was announced on Thursday, with around 12,000 events happening across Britain in a major cultural celebration organised to coincide with the summer Olympic Games.

Music, dance, theatre, cinema, art and architecture are on the agenda during the June 21 to September 9 event, which spans the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The 12-week arts festival is the climax of the four-year Cultural Olympiad, designed to showcase Britain's prominent place in the arts in the buildup to the Games.

Among the big names taking part will be British singer Damon Albarn, Australian actress Cate Blanchett, dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and US hip-hop star Jay-Z.

About 25,000 artists from all 204 participating Olympic nations will take part.

"The London 2012 Festival will be the largest cultural celebration in our lifetime," said Ruth Mackenzie, director both of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival.

"With new work from the best musicians, comics, artists, film makers and more, there will be arts events taking place in unusual places all over the UK that will showcase the best in international culture when the eyes of the world are on us this summer," she told the official launch.

Organisers added that there would be 10 million free tickets available and a full brochure explaining what was happening and where would be distributed around the country and available on the website www.london2012.com/festival.

The arts extravaganza launches on Midsummer's Night, June 21, with a host of events including an open-air concert set against the backdrop of Stirling Castle in Scotland featuring conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.

Another highlight is expected to be Radio 1's Hackney Weekend starring Jay-Z, Rihanna, Florence + The Machine, will.i.am, Jessie J, Jack White, David Guetta and Tinie Tempah.

Stonehenge will be transformed in a free, fiery vision created by French outfit Compagnie Carabosse, while Jeremy Deller's full size "bouncy castle" version of the famous English landmark will tour the country.

Constanza Macras' dance theatre group will perform in the forests of North Wales with ancient Mabinogion myths interpreted through the prism of modern Cardiff nightlife, and Elizabeth Streb's daredevil troupe will be performing extreme action scenes on some of London's best-known buildings.

Also included in the festival is a major celebration of William Shakespeare, including the performance of all of his plays in different languages at London's Globe theatre.

A string quartet will take to the skies and perform in helicopters and cathedrals will play host to aerial acrobats.

"People will not like everything but there will be something that everyone does like," Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said.

The Cultural Olympiad began in 2008, but attracted criticism for being unfocused while some of the projects were derided as pretentious and costly.

A poll in the Guardian newspaper showed that nearly three quarters of respondents did not fully understand the concept of the Cultural Olympiad.

Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson had an application for a one million pound project, exploring the benefits of taking a deep breath, turned down, while a tall column of mist due to be lit up above the River Mersey has faced delays due to aircraft safety concerns.

Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall and Mackenzie were brought in to turn the showcase around. - Reuters

$217m contracts signed at DEAL show

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:53 GMT

Contracts worth Dh800 million ($217.8 million) were signed at the DEAL 2012, an event dedicated to the amusement industry, said International Expo Consults (IEC), the event organiser.

The event was held in Dubai from April 17-19.

These contracts were for equipment, rides and other innovative products and also projects that would be carried out during the course of the year, said IEC, a division of Falak Holding.

DEAL is Middle East’s annual focal point for all stakeholders in the amusement and related industries looking for a successful entry or greater growth in the region’s markets. The show had over 200 firms from across 30 countries and over 6,000 trade visitors exploring the show.

DEAL 2012 witnessed a large gathering of key players and visitors in the amusement industry from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, US, Mediterranean and Asian countries. This year has been the ‘Year of innovations’ for the amusement and entertainment industry. 4D, 5D, 6D and 7D cinemas, the latest family entertainment centre equipments, video games, redemption games, kiddie rides, prize machines and many other innovative offerings were unveiled during the show, the statement said.

“The industry is on a growth path and we are confident that the region will soon witness state-of-the-art amusement and entertainment experience as a result of the innovative products that were showcased at DEAL. We are also delighted to see that our exhibitors have signed multi-million dollar contracts during the show and we are sure that this will keep them busy till the next show,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman, IEC. – TradeArabia News Service

Unesco to nominate new Goodwill Ambassador

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:53 GMT

Unesco director-general Irina Bokova will nominate philanthropist, educator and entrepreneur, Sunny Varkey, as a Goodwill Ambassador for Education Partnerships today (April 26).

A special ceremony will be held to mark the occasion at the organisation’s Paris headquarters, a statement from Unesco said.

Founder and chairman of Gems Education, an international education provider, Varkey will be recognised for “his contribution to forging innovative public-private partnerships to ensure that underprivileged children across the world receive a good quality education”.

Varkey is the son of Indian expatriates who moved to Dubai in 1959. His ambitions were shaped by the personal commitments of his parents, who founded their first school in 1968.

He took over the management of the school in 1980 and transformed the family-run institution into a multinational company. Today, Gems Education educates more than 100,000 students who represent more than 150 nationalities.

By uniting parents, educators and governments under the cause of equal opportunity to schooling, he not only influenced teaching methods, but also helped to provide greater access to education, especially in Africa.

An on-going collaboration between Unesco and Gems Education is training more than 10,000 school principals in Kenya, Ghana and India, while yet another programme is helping to improve Stem (science, technology, engineer and maths) education in Lesotho and Kenya.

Gems Education operates in the public and private sectors through a not-for-profit group, the Varkey Gems Foundation.

Founded in 2010 and chaired by former US President Bill Clinton, it promises to help 100 underprivileged children for every student enrolled at a Gems school. – TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain expos a major success

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:53 GMT

As the curtains came down on the gulfBID and gulfInteriors exhibitions in Bahrain yesterday exhibitors were branding them as the best editions of the events to date.

Participants were already signing up for next year's event at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre which is organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).

'We have had tremendous feedback from exhibitors this year and we reckon a record amount of business has been done at the two shows,' said HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman.

'This is a clear sign that business in Bahrain is back on its feet and businesses are already looking to pick up on the leads they made here and signing up for both events next year,' he added.

Bahrain Prism Glass Factory said it had signed two deals during the event worth $4 million and was looking to build further business on the back of contacts they had made at the show.

The company, which manufactures high-end architectural glass, currently sells across the GCC and south-east Asia but is now looking to expand further in the African market.

'This has been a marvellous experience for us in terms of both business done and contacts made,' said general manager T Mani.

'We are a young company but we are growing fast from our manufacturing base here in Bahrain.

'We are looking for growth both locally and internationally and events like this are key to developing business.

'This has been a first-class opportunity for us to help achieve this,' he added.

Bahrain Artistic Frames centre were another first-time exhibitor looking to come back next year.

'This has been very good for our business and we have met a lot of potential customers during the show,' said owner Aliasger Shafiq.

'The visitors to this show are serious people who are looking to do business and for us it has been a success,' he added.

The show received strong support from Tamkeen which provides 80 per cent of the exhibitor costs for Bahraini companies.

'We support companies looking to expand their business both at local and international trade fairs as this is very positive for businesses and the economy,' said Private Sector Support officer Mona Hatem Sultan.

'We first got involved with gulfBID back in 2009 where we supported six local companies who wished to take part.

'That was a success for them and since then we have been building our efforts for businesses who want to take part and this year we are behind about 100 companies taking part in this event,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Sky News Arabia set for May 6 launch

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:53 GMT

Sky News Arabia, the 24-hour Arabic language multi-platform breaking news service, will be launched on May 6 and broadcast to the region across multiple platforms, said a top official.

The channel aims to provide a new horizon for news reporting with independent breaking news across the Arab world and will be available on Transponder 15 on Arabsat Badr 4, Transponder 14 on Nilesat 201, on du IPTV and e-Life platforms plus in high definition on the OSN pay-TV platform.

Nart Bouran, the head of Sky News Arabia discussed the launch at a press event in Kuwait at the Marriot Courtyard Hotel.

Commenting on the launch, Bouran said: 'Over the last two years we have seen Sky News Arabia move from being just an idea to a full-fledged multi-platform news channel. Our goal throughout has been to create an impartial and independent breaking news channel.'

'For viewers in Kuwait and across the region Sky News Arabia will offer fast live, impartial news across multiple platforms. It has been a huge collaborative team effort resulting in the most technically advanced news operation in the region,' stated Bouran.

'We have nearly 400 of the best journalists, reporters, presenters, producers and broadcast technicians working together to create an unparalleled news channel,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain sets up region’s first heritage centre

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:52 GMT

Bahrain has become the first country in the Middle East to open a regional world heritage centre which aims to help protect and showcase cultural and natural heritage in the Arab world.

The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), located next to the Bahrain National Museum, was opened by Culture Minister Shaikha Main bint Mohammed Al Khalifa yesterday (April 28).

"The Culture Ministry has always been committed to heritage conservation and protection," she said during a ceremony.

"The opening of the ARC-WH in Manama reinforces our position, as well as enables us to further support the region in presenting its diverse heritage resources."

The first meeting of the centre's governing board also took place yesterday with chairwoman Shaikha Mai leading a review of its plans for its first year of operation.

Upcoming activities include the development of an Arabic language website dedicated to world heritage with a focus on the Arab region and providing assistance to the 19 Arab countries, as classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), with properties on the World Heritage List.

Other projects include the translation into Arabic of important publications about world heritage and strengthening the network of world heritage experts in the Maghreb region, as well as organising a regional workshop and annual regional meetings.

Plans for ARC-WH were first established by the General Conference of Unesco at its 35th session in 2009.

Its establishment is part of celebrations marking Manama being named this year's Arab Culture Capital and the land allocated for the centre and financial support was provided by the government.

A year-long cultural programme is being carried out by the Culture Ministry, which seeks to invite Arabs to discover the culture, heritage and identity of different parts of the Arab world.

Each month follows a different theme, with art, architecture, design and heritage already celebrated and museums, poetry, literature, Arab cinema, Arabic singing, the environment, theatre and the 'homeland' are in the pipeline. – TradeArabia News Service

Push to open art space for Bahrain’s public

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:52 GMT

Armed with a spray can and multi-coloured marker pens, a selection of Bahrain's top artists have got to work on a public wall, in a bid to encourage authorities to create an open art space for the public.

A two-day workshop was hosted by top US spray artist Caleb Alimboyoguen, who was on a week-long visit to Bahrain organised by the Culture Ministry and the US Embassy.

Selected artists of all ages and nationalities donned protective clothing and face masks as they took part in the event, which was held by the Arts Centre, next to Bahrain National Museum, with Mr Alimboyoguen on hand for any expert advice or assistance.

They created different images of peace, nature, portraits - some using stencils while others experimented with spraying free hand.

Twenty-five-year-old painter Mariam Al Umran joined the workshop in hope of learning new painting techniques.

"I have always painted with a brush, but this time I have tried for the first time painting on a wall using sprays and it's really fun," she said. "It needs more control which makes you learn more techniques than regular painting. What I love about this experience is that you get to exhibit your work once you are done and everybody gets to see it because it is on the wall. Unlike the canvas which you have to wait until there is kind of an art event or exhibition to show it to the public."

Al Umran was joined by 33-year-old professional artist Sayed Hassan Al Saari who has exhibited his work regionally and internationally.

"I have always done wall paintings but this time it is different because I am using sprays and it is more challenging," said the artist who was inspired by local heritage. "I think this workshop was a great chance for both amateurs who get introduced to a new world of painting and professionals who can be a source of experience and inspiration to others."

Wax and spray paint artist Aziz Al Kooheji enjoyed the experience so much that he used the time to take over two areas of the wall with his paintings.

"This was the first time that I have used spray paint on a wall and I really liked this activity and the people involved," said the artist, who has been approached by a school to give spray art classes to students.

"The art form is low-cost, fast and uses strong colours and I think people like this type of art in Bahrain, as you can paint so many different subjects as seen here."

Al Kooheji also has plans to develop a public space open to all artists in Bahrain.

"I think this should be encouraged more and there should be a place where spray artists can all meet together - I have a plan to bring international artists together to create a painting about peace on a large wall in spray paint," he said. – TradeArabia News Service

Dubai to host top media show

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:51 GMT

The Domus Group, a leading international exhibition specialist, has announced plans to host the 7th edition of the Media and Marketing show (MMS) from December 4 to 6 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The exhibition will be organized in a key partnership with Dubai Media City as an official patron and Forbes Middle East will make its mark in the MMS 2012 as the regional business media partner; in addition to Al Shuala Media as an outdoor partner and Media Me, from Jordan, as media partners.

Over 55 leading media contributors across the Middle East will be showcasing the latest innovations in print and broadcast media at the show. They will also highlight the intensive impact of digital media on the Arab audience, especially after the latest uprisings in the Arab region, said a statement from Domus.

Top firms from Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, and U.A.E will take part in the exhibition along with participating in the discussion panels, conferences and workshops to be launched in the three day event. The show will also witness exhibitors and visitors from the United Kingdom and the US.

During the show, media leaders and decision makers are expected to discuss issues related to implementing latest smart technologies for a better reach.

Their agenda will also include suggesting the different strategies for enhancing the interaction with aware readers and viewers for guaranteeing credible and trustworthy news.

Saudi print media will be presented in the MMS 2012 by the participation of Okaz and Al Riyadh newspapers, top leading Arabic newspapers. The exhibition will be joined too by the finest Bahraini newspapers, Al Ayam and Al Watan.

Commenting on Dubai Media City's partnership with MMS 2012, Mohammad Abdullah, the managing director, Tecom Investments' media cluster, said: "We are pleased to strengthen our valuable partnership with the MMS. Our continuous support to the event reflects our belief that the exhibition significantly contributes to the media and marketing sector not only in the UAE, but the Arab region at large."

The MMS, he stated, has come to be regarded as a strategic industry platform for networking, building new business opportunities, and exchanging experiences between key players in the media and marketing sector.

"Given the prolific growth forecasted for the media sector, we are keenly looking forward to the dynamics generated at the event," he noted.

Khuloud Al Omian, the editor in chief at Forbes Middle East said: "The show is considered to be an important event in the region, as it is a yearly gathering that provides an excellent platform for specialists to interact and exchange experiences."

The show contributes to the growth of this important sector, by supporting regional companies and Arab economies in general, he added.

Several media outlets within UAE and semi-governmental authorities showed real interest in the MMS Show.

Fujairah Media Authority (FCMA) has confirmed its participation for the first time and is looking forward to seeking more exposure and networking with other media professionals.-TradeArabia News Service

Facebook, Sophos deal to spot malicious posts

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:31 GMT

Facebook and Sophos, a major IT security and data protection company, have announced a partnership aimed at helping protect users from links that lead to malware or malicious sites.

Facebook will use the website reputation service provided by SophosLabs, Sophos’s global network of research centers, along with their own security measures, to help assess whether a largely distributed link is malicious.

When Facebook users click a link, Facbeook consults its database of malicious URLs to check the status of the link. Starting today, SophosLabs will be feeding malicious URL intelligence into this database.

Facebook will inform Facebook users if the link they clicked on is malicious, and users will be sent to a page that offers the choice to continue at their own risk, return to the previous screen, or obtain more information on why the link was flagged as suspicious.

Mac users will also be given the option to download the free Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition from the Sophos Facebook Page as part of the Facebook AV Marketplace.

“We are pleased to begin partnering with Sophos to better protect our users both on and off of Facebook,” said Joe Sullivan, chief of security, Facebook.

“We believe incorporating Sophos's industry-leading computer security intelligence, and expertise, will help us provide even more security to those using Facebook.'

SophosLabs is a global network of highly skilled and thoroughly trained analysts renowned for protecting businesses from known and emerging threats, rapidly and immediately.

SophosLabs’s expertise covers every area of network security—viruses, spyware, adware, intrusion, spam and malicious web pages. Innovative technologies such as Behavioral Genotype Protection and rapid signature updates are combined to stop new and unknown malware.

“For many hundreds of millions of people, Facebook has become the default forum for sharing and consuming opinions, news and personal content. Because content is typically posted by a trusted source – a friend – many users incorrectly assume links are safe. Scammers often take advantage of the trust relationship to fool users into clicking malicious links,” said Mark Harris, vice president, SophosLabs.

“Our partnership with Facebook will educate users to make more informed decisions regarding what they click on and will help reduce the spread of malicious links.” – TradeArabia News Service

Friedman to lead IHT Dubai forum

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:16:10 GMT

The International Herald Tribune (IHT), a premier international source of news, opinion and commentary, will kick off its 125th anniversary with the ‘IHT Global Conversation’ to be held in Dubai on May 2.

Thomas Friedman, foreign affairs correspondent of The New York Times, will deliver the keynote address on the topic ‘Middle East’s Role on the Silk Road.’

The address will be followed by a panel discussion where Friedman will be joined by Tarik Yousef, chief executive officer of Silatech, Qatar; Nader Mousavizadeh, chief executive officer of Oxford Analytica; and Masood Ahmed, director of the Middle East and Central Asia, in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Serge Schmemann, editor of the IHT editorial page, will moderate the session.

The ‘IHT Global Conversation’ is a series of panels to be held in key cities worldwide to debate issues that challenge the world’s future development and prosperity. The Dubai discussion will highlight the epochal changes in the patterns of global trade and capital flow, the role that China plays in shaping the global economic dynamics, and how the Middle East can draw on the enormous trade opportunities by serving as a key destination on the ‘New Silk Road.’

Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, publisher of the IHT, said: “For over a century, the International Herald Tribune has played a vital role in driving intellectual dialogue and stimulating discussion that makes a difference to the global community. With the political, social, and economical landscape fast-evolving, it is fitting to mark our 125th year by launching a platform to encourage industry leaders to put forward their opinions on how the global community can address these sweeping changes and set an agenda for the future. Dubai is today a central hub for business and trade, and serves as a perfect destination to commence this important discussion.”

The ‘IHT Global Conversation’ will progress on to Hong Kong on June 15, where it will address the topic ‘Can Asia Manage an Asian Century,’ and Paris, on October 4, to discuss ‘Restoring European Competitiveness on the World Stage.’

The IHT Global Conversation events are open to the public and further details, including ticketing information, can be found at www.ihtglobalconversation.com. The panels will be livestreamed on the IHT Latitude blog and the IHT Rendezvous community site.

Viewers are invited to submit questions for the panel and share their views on Twitter with the hashtag #IHT125. – TradeArabia News Service

Ikoo traffic figures confirmed by ABC

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:16:09 GMT

Ikoo, an integrated digital marketing solution provider in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the results of its ABC audit as part its commitment to transparency.

ABC, the Audit Bureau of Circulations, is a widely trusted industry body for media measurement.

The audit confirms ikoo’s advertised reach and traffic numbers. As per the audit results, ikoo’s web traffic stood at 23,380,743 unique visitors for November 2011, while page impressions, or the total number of pages with ads on them, were at 362,913,121 the same month, said a statement.

Likewise, according to Effective Measure - an independent tool that measures the size of the viewers for certain websites – ikoo has the highest amount of viewers among other networks in the Mena region, it said.

Ikoo combines more than 120 websites of leading publishers in the fields of sports, women, news, business, automotive, and more. The ikoo network attracts almost 40 million monthly unique visitors and serves more than 1.4 billion monthly impressions, it said.

“Ikoo attracts 25 percent of the total browsers in Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, by attracting 52 percent of the female browsers, ikoo boasts the highest number of users visiting its lifestyle related sites. Similarly, 1 out of 3 visitors interested in travel, and 1 out of 4 users interested in business and finance, visit at least one of ikoo’s sites, making it the most visited network in the region,” the statement said.

“ikoo is committed not just to offering the best portfolio of audience reach, brand engagement, user response and performance tools to advertisers and publishers via its network, but also to complete transparency. The verification of our traffic numbers by a trusted third party allows our customers, advertisers and business partners to have complete trust in our products and services,” said Isam Bayazidi, CEO, ikoo.

The ABC audit is conducted at random twice yearly in order to offer a representative snapshot of monthly operations and reach. Traffic numbers are confirmed and updated accordingly for specific months, he said. - TradeArabia News Service

Qatari student wins nomination at film fest

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:35 GMT

Two films produced by students of the Northwestern University in Qatar were nominated in the “Promising Films” category at the 8th Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival, which concluded in Doha yesterday.

Last summer, NU-Q seniors Zainab Sultan, Amit Chowdhury and Nazneen Zahan created a short documentary on female domestic workers in Qatar.

The students had travelled to Sri Lanka to report on the workers’ journey to the country with the highest per capita income in the world.

“Behind the Walls” shows the workers’ range of experiences, with some women coming to the Middle East for what they consider a dream job that changes their families’ lives drastically, and others reporting a more harrowing ordeal.

“It was a bit of a grueling process to make this film and secure a travel grant to report in Sri Lanka,” said Sultan at the “Promising Films” screening on Thursday.

“Although Northwestern professors were guiding us through the process, we were given the freedom and responsibility of professional journalists to create the documentary- securing the grant, creating a budget that would be approved, finding a fixer,” she added.

On the nomination, Richard J. Roth, the senior associate dean for Northwestern's Journalism program, said, “Once again, our students have distinguished themselves and honored Northwestern with their extraordinary reporting, storytelling and videography.”

“I have no doubt that the trio, like many of our students, will have exciting and celebrated careers in journalism that will be recognized throughout Qatar and the world beyond,” Roth added.

The NU-Q media school will be graduating its first class of students in Qatar on May 9.

Sultan was also nominated for another of her documentaries, “Salma’s World,” in the same category. Her second film documents the dreams and aspirations of a young Palestinian girl who has never been to her homeland.

On what drove her to start making films, Sultan remarked, 'I want to make a contribution to society by giving a voice to the voiceless. Instead of reading other people’s opinions on a culture they may not be familiar with, I as a Muslim woman wanted to be able to speak for myself and for other women like me.'

This is not the first time Sultan has received recognition for her films. Her documentaries have also been nominated for the CNN iReport Awards, at the 6th and 7th Al Jazeera Documentary festivals, and at the Zayed University Middle East Film Festival in the UAE.

She also received an Honorable Mention at the Women’s Voices Now Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.

In addition to covering domestic workers and expat identity struggles in the Gulf, Sultan’s films have dealt with a range of local and regional topics including labor trafficking in the Middle East, the Gulf tradition of pearl diving, and breast cancer in Qatar.

After graduation this May, Sultan said she would like to continue working on bringing unheard stories to the screen in Doha, as part of the country’s growing media industry.

In the more distant future, Sultan hopes to return to NU-Q as a professor. “This place has given me so much and I would love to give back by becoming a professor at NU-Q and helping teach a new generation of filmmakers,” she added.-TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain's key expo projects on track

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:35 GMT

The Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA) is confident of achieving its targeted overall performance for this year, thanks to the increasing number of exhibitions and conferences booked for 2012 and 2013, said a top official.

Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro made these remarks as he chaired the Beca's board meeting at the ministry.

The minister and the board acknowledged the continued support of kingdom's leadership and government to the exhibition industry in Bahrain and in strengthening its role and contribution to the national economy.

They stated the positive economic impact of the exhibition sector and major international events as reflected by the high occupancy rates of hotels in Bahrain particularly during the Formula One event.

The board was briefed on the latest developments on the financial and operational performance of the authority during 2011 and the first half of 2012 as well as BECA's plans and programmes.

The board noted the development plans to achieve progress in the construction of Phase 1 of the Expo City Project in Sakhir Area adjacent to the Bahrain International Circuit.

The authority's financial performance as of end of December, 2011 was reviewed during the meeting and the board was pleased with the financial results notwithstanding the effects on the exhibition industry of the global economic crisis and recent events in Bahrain.

In 2011, BECA, through cost control strategies adopted by the management, attained a reduction in operating expenditures by 12.6 per cent compared with 2010.

With the increasing number of exhibitions and conferences booked for 2012 and 2013 and the continued strategic measures to further maximise revenues and minimise costs, the board is confident that the authority will achieve targeted overall performance for this year.

The authority also revealed noticeable growth in the forecasted results in operations for 2012 compared with last year's performance including the total number of exhibitions and conferences by 100 per cent, total exhibitors by 34 per cent, gross space of booked events by 19 per cent and total days of booked event by 12 per cent.

BECA also cited the various improvement and development projects undergoing implementation including renovation of VIP majlises and the centre's main entrance and upgrade of communications and IT systems and CCTV systems.

All major events held during the first half of 2012 were highly successful.

Other international and specialised business-to-business expos and conferences lined up for the second quarter up to end of 2012 include the second Expo Sciences Asia, Times Realty India, the authority-owned and organised Health and Wellness Expo and Food and Hospitality Expo, Awakening Your Inner Power and Potential, GulfBID and GulfINTERIORS, which begins today, Traditional Festival, Bahrain Education and Training Exhibition Before Employment, Middle East Refining and Petrochemicals Conference and Exhibition, CFA Examination, Summer Festival, National Examination Unit, Edutex Summer 2012, Al Abayas Exhibition, Al Ayam Book Fair, Jewellery Arabia, Career Expo and Indian Property Exhibition.

The authority's management has projected that more events will be booked for holding conventions, exhibitions and other events in the coming period.-TradeArabia News Service

Adobe rolls out new Creative Suite

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:34 GMT

Adobe Systems Incorporated has launched its new Creative Suite 6 product line seen as as the ultimate toolkit for the design, web and video professionals.

Announcing the launch, Adobe said these powerful releases of 14 CS6 applications and four creative suites – Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design & Web Premium, Design Standard, Production Premium; and Master Collection – drive home the company’s continued innovation across creative markets.

A brand new application, Adobe Muse - a radical new tool that enables designers to create and publish HTML5 web sites without writing code - was also announced at the virtual global launch event held today.

“Designers get a ton of innovation with CS6 with milestone release across all our flagship products,” said Abdallah Saqqa, the general manager Mena at Adobe.

“With CS6 we’re also introducing new products, new mobile workflows and advanced publishing capabilities that show we are laser-focused on ensuring design, web and video pros in the Middle East have everything they need for the delivery of high-impact content and apps,” he stated.

The Middle East edition of CS6 features new UIs (User Interface), fonts, diacritical positioning and justification alternates that are all set specifically for the region's users. In the new UI, added icons and features retain consistency across Mena products so that users can easily find their favourite features.

Adobe said in the edition it has introduced two new fonts for Arabic (Myriad Arabic and Adobe Naskh) besides improving the existing basic font - Adobe Arabic - and also offers an automatic Kashida insertion with greater control over the length and the style of the character.

This includes justification of Arabic text, known as ‘Tatweel’. Furthermore, improved diacritical positioning tool provides enhanced control over the position of Tashkeel on Arabic text, while justification alternatives give the option to apply stylistic typographic effects to text.

CS6 also brings several bug fixes, improved text support for right-to-left languages, improved dictionaries and spell checkers for Arabic text. The Master Collection is now also available in a hybrid Middle East version for the first time.

Commenting on the launch, Joe Karkour, the business development manager, Adobe Systems, Mena, said, 'Adobe’s promise is to change the world through digital experiences. This release builds on our reputation as a software innovator by empowering Middle Eastern creatives with the unprecedented ability to bring their vision to life and manage how and where it is delivered to the end audience – whether on smartphones, tablets, the desktop or through traditional media.'

“Adobe is the world’s leading provider of HTML tools, enabling designers to work efficiently and effectively, creating across devices and platforms such as iOS, Android, Windows Mobile or Symbian,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Google to launch online storage service

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:34 GMT

Google is preparing to roll out a service to let consumers store photos and other content online, a source familiar with the matter said, pushing into a market now dominated by the likes of Dropbox and Box.

The service, to be called Google Drive, could be announced today (April 24) and would be offered with both free and premium for-pay versions, the source said.

Google's 'cloud storage' offering will incorporate search capabilities and allow users to store pictures, notes and other documents on the Internet and access them from any Web-connected device.

Consumers will get 5 Gigabytes of storage for free with Google Drive, while various versions with incrementally more storage capacity, topping out at about 100 Gibabytes, will be available for monthly fees, the source said.

It was not immediately clear how much Google will charge for the premium versions.

A Google spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumor or speculation.

The move turns up the competitive heat with high-profile Web startups such as Dropbox, Box and Evernote, as well as with Microsoft Corp and its SkyDrive service.

Some of those services, such as Box, have offered an increasing array of business-oriented features such as online collaboration capabilities.

Google is increasingly developing services to let consumers store their personal information, from digital music to photos, on remote Internet servers and access the data any time with any device, such as smartphones, tablets and desktop computers.

The world's No.1 Web search engine with roughly $38 billion in 2011 revenue, Google generates 96 per cent of its revenue from advertising, such as the small ads that appear alongside its search results.

Google Drive will work with sophisticated image search technology to let consumers sift through a wide variety of document types, which could include the likes of Adobe PDF files and photographs, the source said.

Some details of Google Drive have appeared in various online blogs in recent months, including The Next Web, which first reported that the service could be rolled out this week. – Reuters

Primedia holds its annual sales summit

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:34 GMT

Bahrain-based Primedia International, which publishes market leading directories, held its annual sales conference for its GCC offices recently in Manama.

The meeting marked the publication of the 33rd annual edition of the Gulf Directory, and the 22nd annual edition of the leading Banks in Bahrain directory.

Staff from the sales departments at this leading media solutions company came together from Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait operations as well as the Bahrain office for a three-day intensive conference to share knowledge, explore new ideas, train and plan for the next 12 months.

Primedia publications include Bahrain Yellow Pages, Qatar Yellow Pages, The Gulf Directory, Banks in Bahrain and Arab Banking & Finance. – TradeArabia News Service

LG launches 3D content service

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:33 GMT

LG Electronics has announced the worldwide opening of 3D World, a premium content service that will be available to LG’s Cinema 3D Smart TV users in nearly 70 countries.

With DNA from LG’s original 3D Zone Smart TV app launched last year, 3D World gives LG customers access to an expansive selection of high quality 3D content via a “card” on the Home Dashboard, said a statement.

3D World allows customers the ability to search through high quality 3D content across numerous content categories such as entertainment, sports, documentary, kids, and lifestyle. Once the content is selected, LG’s Cinema 3D Smart TV brings it to life in beautifully rendered 3D images. The action scenes in sports become more dynamic and exciting, documentaries more realistic, educational videos in the kids’ category more captivating, it said.

“Whether it’s cooking, travel, fashion or any other interest, there’s something for everyone. In addition to the content, LG plans to pursue further collaborations with global 3D content providers in order to bring the most sought after 3D content to LG customers,” the statement said.

“3D World is a critical part of LG’s long-term strategy which includes controlling more of the 3D ecosystem that Cinema 3D owners experience,” said DY Kim, president of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “With the global roll-out of 3D World, LG is demonstrating its commitment to providing diverse, high quality 3D content.”

3D World will be offered in app-format for Cinema 3D Smart TVs that were produced in 2011, while 2012 models will use the streamlined card system on the Home Dashboard, the statement added. – TradeArabia News Service

Umniah inks Rotana partnership deal

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:33 GMT

Jordan telecoms operator Umniah said it has partnered with Rotana, the leading producer and distributor of Arabic music, to offer its subscribers a unique listener experience through a number of value added services.

Under the agreement, Umniah will enhance its value added services to include a wider range of ringtones and video clips, among others, and will enrich the content it offers to its subscribers, particularly youth.

Umniah will also be the official sponsor of Rotana Café in Jabal Amman, allowing the Company to interact with visitors and keep them abreast with its latest products and updates. In addition, Umniah will participate in all upcoming Rotana functions in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed by Salem Al Hendi, the president of Rotana Audio & Visual Group, and Ihab Hinnawi, CEO of Umniah, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman on Tuesday in the presence of Firas Khashman, vice president of Rotana Audio & Visual Group and top officials of both companies.

As per the agreement, Umniah aims to enrich Arabic mobile content and offer its subscribers a unique listener experience through a number of value added services, said Hinnawi.

"Our partnership with Rotana emphasizes our sense of belonging to technology, youth and music. It comes in line with our interest in enhancing Arabic mobile content as we prepare to launch our high-speed Internet services," he stated.

"Rotana is a renowned Arabic music production and distribution powerhouse, and boasts an expansive music archive. We are proud to be Rotana’s exclusive partner in Jordan and are confident that its long-standing experience will exponentially support Umniah in offering subscribers high-quality services with competitive features,” Hinnawi added.

Commending Umniah on its significant role in advancing Jordan’s telecom sector, El Hendi said his company was interested in forming sustainable strategic partnerships with leading Jordanian companies.

He also lauded the company for the outstanding services it delivers to the local market and expressed hopes that the partnership with Umniah will significantly enrich Arabic content and provide subscribers with exceptional services.-TradeArabia News Service

Call to monitor advertising in Bahrain

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:50:32 GMT

Bahrain’s parliament has demanded stricter monitoring of ads in the media and on billboards, claiming that advertising in the country is getting “too sexy”.

They claim the National Advertisements Committee has not been meeting regularly and are seeking a review of current policies.

"Most adverts use females who, unfortunately, are semi-naked for attraction - despite most of the products they showcase having nothing to do with women," said MP Ali Al Zayed yesterday.

"The ineffective National (Advertisements) Committee has to start issuing warnings and if advertisers or those allowed to use space don't comply, then they have to be referred to the Public Prosecution for action." – TradeArabia News Service

Omani products expo launched

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:55:24 GMT

A three-day exhibition showcasing Omani products was launched today (April 23) in Sohar as part of a series of exhibitions of Omani Products' Campaign 2012 entitled "Omani".

Organised by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), the opening ceremony will be presided over by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saleh Al Ma'awali, Wali of Saham.

A significant number of companies representing various economic, production and service sectors from inside and outside the industrial estates pertaining to PEIE, are expected to participate in the exhibition.

This exhibition is the second in this year's road show held in the various governorates in the Sultanate. The Omani Products Expo seeks to spread awareness on the quality of Omani products and their local and international competitive capabilities.

The exhibition also attempts to encourage consumers, both individuals and organisations, to purchase local products and services, and to emphasise the importance of buying Omani products and its direct contribution in boosting the national economy.

PEIE’s road show will continue throughout the year with the sole aim of informing consumers about the quality of local products. – TradeArabia News Service

World media ‘failed to show Bahrain reality’

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:25:02 GMT

A top F1 journalist has hit back at the international media for misrepresenting the reality of the situation on the ground in Bahrain.

Referring to a report by a "supposedly respectable international news agency", which claimed dozens of armoured vehicles had been deployed on the roads leading to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), Joe Saward said the article was simply untrue.

"It is a small reflection on the kind of reporting that is going on concerning the Grand Prix, but it should be noted nonetheless," he said on his blog (joesaward.wordpress.com/). "As I have written in reply to a number of comments. It is eye-opening to see what is being reported because it bears no resemblance to what we are seeing.”

"Admittedly, we are not going to hotspots, but we feel that the coverage is completely unrepresentative of the situation. One can see that the media is not giving the regime the benefit of the doubt, which is not surprising given what happened last year.

"They have a huge job to do to rebuild confidence in anything they say, but at the same time it means there is no counter-balance to the activists one sees being interviewed on the TV.

"No one is going out and interviewing the hundreds of thousands of people who are going about their daily business and to whom nothing is happening."

Saward said the best analogy he could think of was that a TV crew would always film where the water was deepest in a flood.

"It is the same here. No-one is denying that there is trouble, but this is not a war zone and it is shameful that this is the message being sent out to the world," he said. "It makes me wonder how I will read the news about other countries in the future..."

Saward writes primarily about motor sport and concentrates specifically on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and has reportedly attended every race since 1988. – TradeArabia News Service

Walt Disney film studio head quits

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:08:36 GMT

Rich Ross resigned under pressure as chairman of Walt Disney Company's movie studio after a less than three-year run that included the release of 'John Carter,' one of the biggest flops in recent Hollywood history.

Ross, named to the job in October 2009, was never able to duplicate the success he enjoyed as president of the Disney Channel, where he was credited with creating monster franchises that included 'High School Musical' and 'Hannah Montana.'

'I no longer believe that the Chairman role is the right professional fit for me,' Ross told his staff in an email.

Disney will not immediately name a new head for its studio, a source familiar with the matter said.

In a statement, Disney CEO Bob Iger said: 'For more than a decade, Rich Ross' creative instincts, business acumen and personal integrity have driven results in key businesses for Disney. ... I appreciate his countless contributions throughout his entire career at Disney and expect he will have tremendous success in whatever he chooses to do next.'

Ross kept a low profile at the Disney Channel and never adapted to Hollywood glad handing, according to a source with knowledge of his style. At the April 11 premiere for Disney's big budget film 'The Avengers,' the studio chief stood off to the side while the movie's stars chatted up other executives.

Ross lost the confidence of Disney's big name producers, including Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced its 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies, said one person with knowledge of the relationship.

Last summer, Ross shut down production of Bruckheimer's big budget film 'The Lone Ranger' over budget issues and cut its $250 million budget to $215 million.

The studio executive took the heat for letting the 'John Carter' budget rise to $250 million from $200 million, said one person with knowledge of Disney thinking, and for its lackluster marketing effort. Ross killed another big budget film, a remake of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,' but let 'John Carter' production begin.

Disney said in March it expected the film to lose about $200 million and to saddle its studio with $80 million to $120 million in operating losses.

The swiftness of Ross' resignation leaves Disney without an obvious successor for the job.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Ross' lieutenant, Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman, are long shots to replace Ross. Disney will likely look for a candidate outside its house.

Ross 'was a superstar at the Disney Channel, and the results at the studio have not been exceptional,' said Evercore Partners analyst Alan Gould. Still, he said Ross' exit was a surprise given his earlier success in Disney's cable business.

Ross joined Disney Channel in 1996 as a programming and production executive and was promoted to president of the cable channel in 2004.

His success at the Disney Channel made him a rising star in the company and eventually led to his being hand-picked by Iger to replace long-time chairman Dick Cook, whom Iger forced out, as head of its film division.

Ross had few big hits during his tenure. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' was a global smash, but part of an established franchise. He also made waves when he picked a Hollywood outsider, M.T. Carney, to run film marketing for Disney. She left the studio earlier this year just as 'John Carter' was completed.

Ironically, Ross could have his biggest hit when 'The Avengers' is released in the United States on May 4.

The film, featuring action stars from Disney's Marvel subsidiary, is expected to be one of the year's biggest hits. Opening weekend sales may reach $155 million in the United States and Canada, according to Boxoffice.com.

For investors, the departure of Ross should have little impact, analyst Gould said. Disney's results are driven by its much-larger theme-park and cable network businesses.

Disney shares gained 27 cents, or 0.6 percent, to close at $42.35 on the New York Stock Exchange.-Reuters

New Kazakh bride becomes millionaire

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:08:36 GMT

A newly-married bride from Kazakhistan, Botagoz Alzhanova, won Dh1 million ($27,224) grand prize in the monthly Kunooz savings account draw conducted by Dubai Bank this April.

Dubai bank said Alzhanova, a 36 year-old Kazakh national who has been living in the UAE for the past seven years, was informed of the good news just a week after her wedding day.

Alzhanova, who works at a Hamriyah Free Zone-based company in Sharjah, said she first became aware of Kunooz when her company opened a corporate account at Dubai Bank.

“I met the bank’s management when we were opening our corporate account. During the meeting, we were also given some information on the Kunooz Account. My colleagues and I found the concept appealing, so a number of us decided to open Kunooz accounts,” said the excited bride.

Winning the Kunooz monthly draw so soon after her wedding, Alzhanova plans to use her winnings to pay for a dream honeymoon.

“This is a very special time in my life. First I got married and then a few days later I found out that I had won a million dirhams. I have always wanted to visit Australia and now I can start planning a dream holiday there with my husband,” she remarked.

In addition to investing her winnings in the future of her new family, Alzhanova plans to donate part of the money to support children with chronic diseases in Kazakhstan.

Commenting on the win, Waleed Saeed Al Awadi, the head of Branches and Royal Banking, deputy chief marketing officer, Dubai Bank, said: “Every month, the Kunooz grand prize brings enormous good fortune to one lucky UAE resident and their loved ones. We are delighted this blessing will be able to help Alzhanova and her husband to realise many of their ambitions as they start out on their married life together.”

Under the Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion, each multiple of Dh1,000 deposited in the Kunooz Account qualifies the customer for multiple entries into the draw for daily cash prizes of Dh30,000.

For every multiple of Dh5,000 deposited, account holders become entitled for entry into the monthly grand prize draw of Dh1 million. The programme also offers participants the possibility to win more than once.-TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain set for giant trade expos

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:08:36 GMT

A vast and diverse range of building, construction and interiors products and services will dazzle the crowds at the high-profile twin trade exhibitions in Bahrain this week.

The 2012 editions of gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS are expected to attract thousands of trade visitors as well as consumers while generating significant business for their exhibitors over the course of the three-day events.

The twin shows, which enjoy the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, will be held simultaneously from Tuesday to Thursday at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

'The construction show's many highlights will include construction equipment, trucks, wheel loaders, cutting-edge scaffolding and waterproofing, concrete blocks, fine marble, glass and flooring to name just a few,' said Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) conference director Ahmed Suleiman.

An affiliate of Bahrain's Al Hilal Group, HCE is the organiser of the two trade shows, which are in their sixth and second editions respectively.

'The interiors show promises to be even more colourful this year with trendy furniture, Italian lighting, paints and coatings, wood, playground equipment and even aquariums on show,' Suleiman said.

In addition to a formidable Bahraini presence, companies from Turkey, Singapore, Europe, India and even the US will add international stature to these events.

Together, gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS will boast close to 140 exhibitors.

Bahrain's Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali (AMA) Group is one of the biggest exhibitors at the show, with a floor space of 240 sq m.

A leading business conglomerate with an annual turnover well in excess of BD100 million ($265 million), AMA will showcase German-made MAN trucks, wheel loaders, skid steer loaders and other construction equipment.

AMA's activities comprise building construction, civil engineering, civil works for industrial infrastructure, piling and excavation works and marine works. The group's expertise and footprint are stamped on several iconic projects in the kingdom. AMA will also use the show to announce a key partnership deal.

Another major exhibitor with 268 sq m of exhibition space is the Grnata Group, which has launched a new waterproofing product called Al Chimica. The group is using the event to introduce new products from renowned global companies on the local and regional markets.

Grnata Group was established in 1982 and Grnata Real Estate was later set up to capitalise on Bahrain's real estate boom. Headquartered in Seef, the group has eight divisions and has seen rapid growth as it strives to meet the requirements of the property market.

Also part of Grnata Group is Grnata Towers Contracting, one of Bahrain's leading construction companies, which is located in Jidhafs. In addition to its traditional role as main contractor, the company is also engaged in property management and development in various parts of the kingdom.

A first-time exhibitor at gulfINTERIORS and one of Bahrain's trendiest furniture firms, Trends Haus represents more than 20 German and international interior brands.

Catering primarily to the project market, Trends Haus offers a comprehensive range of mid-to up-market German furniture at the most competitive prices, ideal for the hospitality, commercial, residential and airport sectors.

The interiors show also has Bahrain-based lighting firm Al Bait, which will be showcasing the superior products and services of Italy's iGuzzini, a top-end European lighting specialist, among others.

Al Bait represents some of the biggest European and US names, and has been lighting up some of Bahrain's most recognisable landmarks, including most recently the Arcapita bank headquarters.

Its other landmark projects include The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain, the Bahrain International Circuit and the Royal Golf Club.

Bahrain's EM Dekor, another interiors exhibitor, is a full-service interior design firm offering comprehensive interior detailing and space planning.

The company caters to both residential as well as commercial clients while also undertaking turnkey projects. Its expertise includes residential interior designing, retail and commercial interior designing, hospitality interior designing and turnkey projects.

Other major exhibitors include Saudi Arabia's Manar Al Omran, a leading establishment for scaffolding and formwork; Bahrain-based Al Kobaisi Block Factory, one of the major manufacturers of concrete blocks; dwp, a multi-award winning integrated global interior design and architectural consultancy, Mohammad Bin Jasim Al Zayani Trading, whose portfolio includes modern office furniture manufactured in Italy; and the American Hardwood Export Council, the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry.

Manar Al Omran said it was the first company to introduce new scaffolding systems in Saudi Arabia. Established in 1969, the company has also played an important role in the kingdom's development.

Al Kobaisi Block Factory, which started its operations in 1990, is well known for its concrete blocks and innovative processes.

According to Al Kobaisi, the company was 'the first in the kingdom' to introduce Uniplast pallets for the production of blocks from Wasa Pallet of Germany.

The dwp boasts a prestigious portfolio in Bahrain including the Capital Club in Bahrain Financial Harbour, the refurbishment of the Regency Inter-Continental, the Amwaj Gateway, Zain's headquarters, Marriott Serviced Apartments, Credimax offices and Raffles City in Bahrain Bay.

The Bahrain office also serves as the regional hub for the Gulf and a strategic gateway to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Africa.

gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS are supported by Tamkeen, Bahrain's Industry and Commerce Ministry, the German Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, British Expertise and the Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority.

Both exhibitions are open to visitors from 10am to 8pm on all three days.-TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain LMFAO show cancelled, fans unhappy

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:08:35 GMT

A Bahrain concert by global music sensation LMFAO set to be held today has been cancelled, after the group’s lead DJ injured himself during performance in Thailand a few days ago, sources told our sister newspaper, Gulf Daily News.

“They were to fly to the US to perform at the American Idol programme and then arrive in Bahrain just in time for the concert tonight,” said sources.

“However, they have now not performed at that programme as well.”

LMFAO were due to play a free concert for Formula One spectators at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) after today’s race.

BIC chief executive officer Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa confirmed track officials had received an e-mail from the group saying they would not be able to make it to Bahrain.

“We are naturally sad this unfortunate incident has taken place, but we will nevertheless continue to have our entertainment activities all evening for the fans,” he said.

The BIC later said in a statement it had been informed that DJ Air, one of the main protagonists in the group, had broken his fibula and dislocated his ankle and was flying back to the US to have surgery.

“This means that, unfortunately, LMFAO will not be able to perform in the planned concert,” it said.

“The BIC would like to take this opportunity to wish DJ Air a speedy recovery.”

There was no mention of the incident yesterday on LMFAO’s official website.

The duo were also scheduled to perform in Las Vegas, US, tomorrow and in Brazil on Thursday.

Music fans expressed their disappointment after the show was cancelled at the last minute.

“This is really unfortunate,” said school student Sangeet Narula. “I had been so excited at the prospect of having them in Bahrain and had even managed a day off school.”

“I hope they come again at a later date,” he said.

A British student from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, who travelled to Bahrain especially for the concert, said it was one of the main factors in him coming here.

“I am told they have had an unfortunate accident so it’s just bad luck,” said the student, who asked to be identified only by his first name Clarence.

“I had some job convincing my parents I wanted to be in Bahrain for the concert,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service