ITV

Tag: Colin Powell

  • MTV’s eyes are on Tony Blair Friday

    MTV’s eyes are on Tony Blair Friday

    MUMBAI: The G8 Summit which will deal with the challenges of Africa and climate change kicks off on 6 July in Scotland

    As a prelude to the event MTV will organise an exclusive forum All Eyes On Tony Blair. The UK Prime Minister will chair the G8 Summit.

    The forum is part of Tony Blairs outreach to young people in advance of the G8 Summit. It will air globally across MTVs international channels from Friday 1 July.

    Bob Geldof, the leading force behind Saturdays Live8 concerts, will also participate in the programme alongside the studio audience. Meanwhile artists including Destinys Child and Kanye West will pose questions via videotape.

    All Eyes On Tony Blair will take the form of a one hour live question and answer session. It will give young people from the UK and around the world an opportunity to ask the UK Prime Minister searching and provocative questions on Africa and climate change.

    Hosted by Trevor Nelson who is one of the UKs most respected youth presenters All Eyes On Tony Blair will also include questions from young Africans filmed by MTV base, MTVs recently launched pan-African channel and MTV Networks flagship 100th channel around the world. All Eyes On Tony Blair will be recorded tomorrow 30 June.

    MTV Networks vice chairman Bill Roedy said, MTV has a long history of giving audiences a direct dialogue with some of the worlds most influential leaders. Young people in particular have the power to help change the world, and its critical that they have the opportunity to express their opinions on important issues that affect their future.

    The 40-strong audience of young people wil represent 24 different countries from all corners of the globe including India, UK, US, France, Sweden, Russia, China, Korea, Canada, Uganda and South Africa. The participants were selected via MTV Internationals partnerships with Unicef, the Department of Education and Skills and Virgin Unite (Virgins independent charitable organisation). In addition, MTVs global audiences have had input into the key themes of the upcoming forum via a web survey, hosted across MTVs network of fully localised international websites, which asks for their views on issues such as the G8 Summit, Live8, poverty, Africa and climate change.

    MTV states that it has a long history of giving young people a platform to express their views on pro social issues, and regularly offers its audiences opportunities for direct dialogue with world leaders. In 2003 Blair took part in An MTV Forum With Tony Blair: Is War The Answer?. During a debate with young people from across the globe, he revealed he would be prepared to wage war on Iraq without a second resolution authorising military action.

    In the aftermath of the events of 9/11 in 2001, MTV US had hosted a global discussion with US Secretary of State Colin Powell giving young people from around the world the opportunity to ask questions on the war on terrorism, and other issues affecting them.

    In addition, MTVs pro-social activities include MTV Internationals Staying Alive campaign which aims at increasing awareness and prevention of HIV/Aids. Staying Alives next project is Transit.

    This is a two- hour television film that uses fiction to deliver HIV/Aids prevention messages to young people. MTV UK also offers school children the opportunity to express their opinions and ideas creatively via the Boom! Music Video Academy, a government-endorsed project that enables students to create music videos as part of the national curriculum.

  • CNN boosts Africa coverage

    CNN boosts Africa coverage

    MUMBAI: To bolster network coverage of Africa, CNN recently made two key appointments. Lagos, Nigeria, bureau chief Jeff Koinange assumes the newly-created role of Africa correspondent, and Alphonso Van Marsh, currently based in Istanbul, will transfer to Johannesburg as a video correspondent.

    Koinange will lead CNN’s coverage of Africa, working bureaus in Johannesburg and Lagos as well as with the network’s partners across the continent. Van Marsh will develop and deliver compelling reports inside South Africa.

    CNN Intl senior VP news gathering Tony Maddox said, “These two appointments underscore CNN’s on-going commitment to fully cover and report from the African continent. Jeff brings unrivaled knowledge to this role, who together with Alphonso, brings a heightened commitment, experience and enthusiasm to the job of reporting Africa to CNN’s global audiences.”

    Koinange joined CNN in 2001 to report on news events throughout Africa and the Middle East. During his tenure, he has covered post-war insurgency, reconstruction and historic elections in Iraq and strife in Darfur, Sudan, which brought visits from then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2004.

    Van Marsh joined CNN in 1997 as a freelance correspondent and producer and currently serves as a video correspondent, one of the network’s reporters who shoot, write and edit their own material using the network’s unique laptop-based newsgathering system. In December 2003, Van Marsh shot exclusive footage of US troops celebrating upon their return from the capture of Saddam Hussein.

  • Turner calls Murdoch a ‘warmonger’

    Turner calls Murdoch a ‘warmonger’

    MUMBAI: The gloves are off. Literally. The irrepressible founder of CNN Ted Turner has called his pet hate of long standing Rupert Murdoch a warmonger for Fox News Channel’s reportage during the US-led invasion of Iraq. And unlike on another occasion when he challenged Murdoch to a boxing match-up in the ring, this time round Turner kept his jousting strictly verbal.

    “He’s a warmonger,” a Reuters report quoted Turner as saying in an evening speech on Thursday to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco of Murdoch, whose News Corp. Ltd. owns Fox News. “He (Murdoch) promoted it,” Turner was quoted as saying.

    Turner also criticised the concentration of ownership of the vast majority of US television networks, radio and TV stations and newspapers in a few corporations. “There’s really five companies that control 90 per cent of what we read, see and hear. It’s not healthy,” Turner said.

    A point that is especially relevant in the context of the Bush administration’s exhortations yesterday urging the Federal Communications Commission (which US secretary of state Colin Powell’s son Michael heads) to finish revising media rules governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations by the agency’s self-imposed June 2 deadline, saying the update was due.

    Critics have warned that mergers resulting from looser rules could leave a few huge companies in control of what people watch, hear and read.

    Turner’s barbs came on the same day as a roasting given by BBC director-general Greg Dyke to the US media over its “unquestioning” coverage of the Iraq conflict.

    Dyke reserved his severest criticism for US radio giant Clear Channel, which went to the extent of organising pro-war rallies in the US as American and British troops were advancing on Baghdad.

    Among the television networks, Dyke directed most of his ire at Fox over its pro-Bush stance.

    Dyke made his comments in a speech delivered at Goldsmiths College in London yesterday.

    Whatever may be Turner’s and Dyke’s views on the matter, it is hardly likely to change the Fox strategy, which has clearly delivered on the ratings front. Fox is the No. 1 news network in the US.

  • BBC World Service plays ‘Diplomatic Jigsaw’ as 9/11 anniversary draws near

    BBC World Service plays ‘Diplomatic Jigsaw’ as 9/11 anniversary draws near

    MUMBAI: With the anniversary of the most significant news event of last year nearly upon us, BBC World Service will launch a four-part series exploring international relations in the wake of 9/11.

     

    An official release informs that from 6 September The Diplomatic Jigsaw presented by Edward Stourton will have contributions from those closely involved. US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage speaks about his meeting in Moscow, Minister of International Co-operation at the Palestinian Authority Nabil Sha’ath describes his reaction to 9/11.

     

    In addition, one can listen to Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf talk abour his telephone call with Colin Powell. The Diplomatic Jigsaw charts the behind-the-scenes negotiations that radically altered international relations, creating unlikely alliances and unexpected diplomatic concessions.

     

    The series revisits 11 September and its aftermath, and as the developments that unfolded are chronicled, the jigsaw of relations and events fall into place. It deals with issues such as what went on during the negotiations to bring such countries as Russia, Syria, Pakistan and China on side and how America went about building the coalition. It also examines the role part Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair played in the coalition.

     

    The four programmes are –

    Friends and Enemies – This is the story of how the world recovered from shock and Americans preparing for action. Insiders tell of the ultimatum the US delivered to Pakistan and President Musharraf describes his reaction. George Robertson reveals what went on at NATO headquarters. Kofi Annan talks about the reaction at the UN.

     

    Gathering Force – Washington and London joined forces as the coalition is built. The doubts and fears of the Muslim world are addressed while attention focuses on the Middle East. British envoy Charles Powell describes his mission to Syria. Insiders tell of the deals done to open up the air bases bordering Afghanistan.

     

    Into Action – The bombing begins. The coalition’s propaganda machine is put to the test against riots in Pakistan and concerns in the Middle East. China and America discover common ground while Pakistan begins to see the benefits of taking a stand against the Taliban. However the fall of Kabul, when it finally comes, takes many people unawares.

     

    The Problems of Success – This examines how the fall-out of 9/11 created new challenges. At the UN, nations work together to fight terrorism, but when American attention turned to Iraq most of the world recoiled. The Middle East was allowed to fester – then turned so violent that America had to re-engage. America’s relationship with Russia flourished, but in Asia the latest members of the nuclear club squared up for a fight.

     

    See earlier story

    BBC gears up for 9/11; to air special ‘Attack on the Wires’

  • MTV Asia declares 1 August as ‘Asian Youth Day’

    MTV Asia declares 1 August as ‘Asian Youth Day’

    MUMBAI: It may primarily be a music channel but MTV is getting serious about its social image as well.

    On Thursday, MTV declared 1 August as Asian Youth Day, an initiative between the channel, UNICEF and Levis that evolved from the Speak Your Mind campaign. The campaign, held recently, drew more than 22,000 entries from the region and encouraged youth to voice their concerns on issues affecting society and how they could improve the state of the world.

     

    On the heels of the presentation of the Asian Youth Charter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York, the plaque journeyed with the agenda of the youth to Singapore where 16 year old Natalya Ann Twohill presented the Charter to President SR Nathan. Thailand’s representative Ingrid Tharasook also presented the charter to a government official, according to an official release. After interactions with Colin Powell and the recently held Forum on HIV with former US president Bill Clinton participating, this is MTV’s latest initiative to involve youth with the day’s pressing issues.

    In India, Jinen Thakkar spoke in Bangalore yesterday to media representatives about his experiences in New York. “We came here to the UN in New York and spoke our minds. But now it is time for action. The first step has been taken with this campaign in New York with meeting Kofi Annan and Nelson Mandela. We should now be ambassadors for the UN in our own countries.

    ” Programming on MTV Asia took on a new facet on Thursday as the camera turned on youths on the streets. Young people spotted by MTV’s camera crew introduced music videos that reflect the youth day theme. Viewers got to watch Speak Your Mind documentaries featuring Ronan Keating in Thailand, Wang Lee Hom and Manisha Koirala in Nepal and Regine Valesquez in the Philippines. These reality-based documentaries focus on issues raised by youths – HIV/Aids; child prostitution; education and poverty. The New York special featuring the 12 Speak Your Mind winners presenting the Asian Youth Charter to United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan was also aired during the day.

  • MTV to host global forum with Colin Powell

    MTV to host global forum with Colin Powell

    MTV Networks International has announced that next month US secretary of state Colin Powell will participate in an international global forum through the channel. The 60-minute forum will have young people from America, India, the Middle East, Italy, UK/Ireland, Brazil and Russia grilling Powell on the war on terrorism. 

    The forum will be available globally to 164 territories with MTV channels reaching 374.7 million households, an official release states. Studio audiences will gather at respective MTV locations around the world, where local MTV news correspondents and VJs will facilitate a Q&A via satellite with Powell. Viewers can also send their questions online. MTV US will serve as host location for Powell in Washington DC where MTV news anchors John Norris and Gideon Yago will moderate.

    Speaking on the reason for the initiative Colin Powell made the following remarks: “Young people have long been one of my top priorities, and never more so than now. The world’s youth are not only our future but also our greatest hope for solving long-term problems and for building vitally needed understanding between peoples and cultures. I look forward to speaking one-on-one with young people from across the world in this unique forum to discuss world affairs.”

    President, MTV Group and chairman, Interactive Music, MTV: Music Television Judy McGrath said: “From our post-September 11 programming, our forum with New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to our Choose or Lose and Rock the Votework, giving a voice to young people and access to world leaders is something that we are very passionate about. We look forward to a lively and open exchange about the issues that young people around the world are facing at this time in history.”

  • Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV: In the spotlight for all the right reasons

    Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV: In the spotlight for all the right reasons

    There is one television network that all major news networks are sourcing for any worthwhile footage on the world’s most wanted man – Osama Bin Laden. Need actual footage from inside the heart of the Taliban’s Afghanistan’s and it is Al-Jazeera that is providing it. It is the first 24-hour satellite news network in the Arab world. It is also the first Arab news outlet that offers uncensored information and free interpretation of political events.

     

    Qatar may be one of the smallest states in the world, with a population of only 690,000, but its state-funded Al-Jazeera satellite television network is certainly big on the news front.

     

    Consider what it has had to contend with over the last few months: In April, Libya abruptly withdraw its ambassador after Al-Jazeera broadcast an interview with a Libyan opposition figure. Shortly thereafter, the Iraqi government lodged a complaint with Qatari officials when Al-Jazeera reported the enormous expenses of Saddam Hussein’s lavish April 28 birthday celebration. On May 2, Tunisia’s ambassador complained to Qatar’s foreign ministry about a programme on Al-Jazeera that accused his government of human rights violations.

     

    A week later, the Iranian daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami, a conservative newspaper aligned with Ayatollah Khamenei, accused the station of “attributing false news to the esteemed leader of the revolution” after it reported that Khamenei favoured the annulment of Iran’s February parliamentary elections.

     

    Post-11 September, it is the Bush administration that has been seeing red. It is pressuring Qatar to restrain Al-Jazeera saying it is unbalanced and encourages anti-American sentiment in the Middle East.

     

    The issue was raised by Secretary of State Colin Powell on 3 October at a meeting in Washington with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

     

    By far the most popular satellite news channel in the Middle East, it is programmes such as “The Opposite Direction” and “The Other Opinion,” modeled on CNN’s Crossfire, featuring debates on controversial issues, pitting Islamist militants against secular liberals, supporters of the peace process with Israel against its opponents, etc., that have earned it such enormous cachet with its viewers. The station frequently interviews political dissidents of every imaginable persuasion.

    The first interview that Bin Laden gave after the 1998 bomb attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people, and which he has been implicated of masterminding, was to Al-Jazeera in June 1999. During Israel’s elections last year, the station sent its star correspondent, Muhammad Kreishan, to interview representatives of all major political parties, including an David Bar-Illan, an adviser to former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

     

    Since it was started in 1996 by Sheik Hamad, Al-Jazeera has revolutionized the media scene in the Arab world with its vibrant and lively debates. Although Al-Jazeera, which means “the Peninsula” in Arabic, receives a $30-million annual subsidy, the Qatari government does not exercise direct control over the channel’s policies. The station is also supported by advertising and subscriptions.

     

    Technical Specifications:
    Satellite : Arabsat IIA
    Ku Band at 26 East
    Downlink Polarisation : Horizontal
    Frequency : 12521 MHz

    Satellite : Eutelsat II F3
    Ku Band at 16 East
    Downlink Polarisation : Horizontal
    Frequency : 11808 MHz