BUAA-SAT Amateur Radio Satellite

BUAA-SAT is a university micro-satellite project developed by the students of Beihang University (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It carries an amateur radio 435/145 MHz FM voice transponder.

The satellite has a mass of 30kg, dimensions of 30cm*30cm*50cm and aims to go into a 600-800 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) from Taiyuan in late 2014. The primary missions are:

- To study the application of COTS components used in the onboard electronic system
- To demonstrate the coilable mast deployment mechanism
- To carry out imaging using three CMOS cameras

Moreover, it provides a 27dBm U/V FM voice transponder for the use of radio hams world-wide as well as a 20dBm CW beacon and a 27dBm AX.25 beacon also in the 145 MHz band.

BUAA-SAT website http://sat.buaa.edu.cn/

BUAA-SAT Group in Google English http://tinyurl.com/BUAA-SAT-Group

(Source : AMSAT-UK)

ABU partners with WorldDMB and RRI on Indonesian DAB+ trial

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of Indonesia (KOMINFO), Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), WorldDMB and the ABU are holding a DAB+ Technology Showcase in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The DAB+ technology workshop and transmission demonstration will comprise of a two day technology workshop followed by a  two day transmission trial and field measurement exercise in and around the city of Jakarta, Indonesia from 24- 27 September. 

The workshop will provide  participants with up-to-date information on all aspects of planning and digital radio implementation of  DAB+, its transmission technology and will demonstrate its enhanced features and efficiencies compared to analogue FM broadcast.

DAB+ has emerged as the digital radio standard of choice in Europe and Asia Pacific and has been adopted in over 40 countries including Australia, Hong Kong France, Germany the 

United Kingdom, Italy and many more.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Deutsche Welle and the United Nations to step up cooperation

Deutsche Welle has signed an agreement with the United Nations expanding their cooperation. It is the latest development in a partnership set up five years ago. 

DW Director General Erik Bettermann and UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal signed a broadcast agreement on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York, aimed at boosting cooperation in the field of media.

Launsky-Tieffenthal said that “we at the UN are glad that we can build upon our long-term cooperation with Deutsche Welle, which is based on trust. This agreement lets us further expand and deepen that cooperation.”

Speaking for Deutsche Welle, Bettermann stressed that “the promotion of human rights, participation and democratization is a central aspect of our multimedia programming in 30 languages, just as it is for the UN. Cooperation between DW and the UN is particularly important for us because of this shared sense of purpose. We will be glad to continue working together in the future as well.”

The agreement enables DW to supplement its television programming with materials from UN-produced documentaries. DW welcomes this as a way of enriching its internationally-focused television series like World Stories with new perspectives and high-quality reporting from around the world.

Available in English, Spanish and Arabic, World Stories draws on content from DW's premium partners and presents highly captivating stories around the globe.

DW's globalization magazine Global 3000, broadcast in German, English, Spanish and Arabic, is a prime example of this cooperation: Deutsche Welle has been able to include selected UN materials in the program, and, in turn, the UN's television station, UNTV, has broadcast Global 3000 since the partnership was set up in 2007.

Beyond television, bilateral cooperation has grown in many other fields in the past five years including media partnership for UN events, media workshops ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit, involving UN experts in DW’s annual conference Global Media Forum, and integrating UN-relevant topics into DW’s multimedia projects such as Education for All, Voices from Today – Ideas for Tomorrow, or the educational program Learning by Ear for Africa.

Moreover, DW Akademie has opened its media training programs to UN staff. In cooperation with UNESCO, it conducted a series of training projects at universities in Morocco, Kenya and South Africa, and on behalf of the UNDP, DW Akademie provides media training to parliamentarians from Moldova. This year it is also planning radio workshops for UN reporters based in Darfur.

(Source : Deutsche Welle Press Release)

DW launches “Futurando” in Brazil

Deutsche Welle (DW) is producing a new science and technology show in Portuguese for viewers in Brazil. Futurando premiered on Rede Minas on September 15 and will be shown weekly. 

DW has created a new show in Portuguese which was premiered for Rede Minas viewers in Brazil on September 15. Futurando will provide a weekly look at the latest sci-tech and environment news.

DW reporters will investigate the latest ideas and bold experiments designed to make the world a better place. Topics range from space research to medical innovations along with ways to create sustainable cities in the face of climate change.

Futurando brings you the faces behind these projects, whether they have already been implemented or are still just ideas. You'll get to meet internationally renowned researchers while DW reporters explore their work and explain how it can impact our daily lives.

The program pays special attention to Brazilian researchers and dives into the issues stirring debate in Brazil.

“We have been looking to expand our presence in Brazil by working with local partners and developing even more high-quality multimedia content – and Futurando is a great next step,” says Rodrigo Rimon Abdelmalack, Head of the Brazilian Department at Deutsche Welle. “With Rede Minas, we have also found a partner that reflects our standards of quality and journalistic excellence.”  

Viewers who don’t have Rede Minas will still be able to tune in. Episodes will be available on demand at dw.de/futurando, along with articles that go into the week's topics in greater depth.

The launch of DW’s first ever TV magazine for Brazil coincides with the 50^th anniversary of its Brazilian Department. After decades of radio broadcasting to Brazil, DW has been focusing on online content for Brazilian users since 2000. The multimedia website www.dw.de/brazil provides up-to-date news and features background information on international topics from a German and European perspective, as well as internationally relevant Brazilian subjects and bilateral themes.

In addition to journalistic content, the website also provides many services, including the successful German language courses and information on studying in Germany.

(Source : Deutsche Welle Press Release)

Radio Netherlands Worldwide appoints New editor-in-chief

The Board of Supervisors of Radio Netherlands Worldwide has appointed William Valkenburg as Editor-in-Chief as of 1 January 2013.  Mr Valkenburg will set out the new course for the organisation with the recently appointed director general Robert Zaal.

RNW will focus on free speech in countries where press freedom is limited and William Valkenburg will take responsibility for journalism within the organisation. 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board Bernard Bot is pleased with the appointment of Mr Valkenburg, he said  “The organisation is now ready for a new future. His extensive experience of journalism and journalistic innovation, new media and change processes makes William is the right man at the right time.” 

Mr Valkenburg said “The new organisation faces the challenge of reaching young people in the most difficult countries and giving them a taste of new media freedom. The opportunities are greater than ever before. I am looking forward to seeking original and creative ways to fulfil this brief with our experienced journalists and producers.” 

As of 2013, Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s main focus will be on Africa and the Arab World, as well as countries like China, Cuba and Venezuela.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Radio Romania Int.'l Contest : “Romania’s Salt Mine Spas”

Dear friends of RRI, you are invited to participate in a new prize-winning contest entitled “Romania’s Salt Mine Spas”, dedicated to one of the country’s main mineral resources, salt, which has both economic and health importance, given the therapeutic qualities of salty air. With 2.35 million tonnes extracted in 2011, Romania is one of the biggest salt producers in the world, while mining is one of the oldest occupations on this territory. 

Salt deposits are found in places whose name often contains the word “ocna”, which in Romanian means “salt mine”, or “slanic”, which means “salt” in Old Church Slavonic. Such examples are Ocna Sibiului, Ocnele Mari, Ocna Mures, Targu Ocna, Ocna Dej, Slanic Prahova, Slanic Moldova, etc. Salt mines can also be found in Praid, Turda and Cacica. Salt is extracted by SALROM, the National Salt Company. Experts say Romania has salt reserves to last it a thousand years. 

Salt mine spas are an increasingly popular tourist attraction. The curative properties of salty air have led to the development of speleotherapy and climatotherapy, the treatment of conditions underground, in caves and salt mines. This form of treatment consists mainly in the inhalation of the air in salt mines and is used to cure respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and allergies. Not to mention that the former salt mines have excellent acoustics, which makes them ideal venues for concerts. 

All you need to do in order to win a prize is to listen to RRI’s broadcasts, visit our website, as well as our Facebook, Twitter and Flickr profiles, and provide correct answers to our questions in writing. The contest closes on 28th February 2013 mailing date. 

 

The Grand Prize is a 10 day trip for two, with full board accommodation for 9 nights, between 15th and 24th May 2013, in four different areas in Romania that are famous for their salt mines: Slanic Prahova (in Prahova County), Targu Ocna (in Bacau County), Praid (in Harghita County) and Turda (in Cluj County). 

The sponsors of our competition are SC Salina Turda Durgau SA and Pensiunea Elena and Motel Anda in Targu Ocna. Our contest partners are the Bacau County Council, the Prahova County Council, the Ploiesti City Hall, the Turda City Hall, the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association, the Metropolitan Bishopric of Cluj, Alba, Crisana and Maramures, The National Salt Company SA, including its branches in Targu Ocna, Slanic Prahova and Praid, as well as the Ploiesti, Bacau and Turda branches of the Union of Fine Artists, the Harghita County Cultural Centre, the Turda Municipal House of Culture, the Tudor Jarda Arts and the Crafts School in Cluj-Napoca. 

As usual, winners are responsible for transport to and from Romania and, if necessary, the entry visa. For the runners up we have prizes and special distinctions provided by our partners consisting in objects related to the exploitation of salt and the four above-mentioned areas. 

The questions:

1. For how long can Romania cover its salt consumption from domestic reserves?

2. Name at least three salt mine spas in Romania.

3. What is the name of the treatment using the curative properties of salty air?

4. What salt mine spas will be visited by the winners of the Grand Prize? 

Please let us know what motivated you to take part in the contest and your alternative sources of information, if applicable, aside from our broadcasts, website and Facebook profile. As always, our mailing address is: Radio Romania International, Str. G-ral Berthelot nr. 60-64, sector 1, Bucharest, PO Box 111, cod 010165, fax 00.40.21.319.05.62, e-mail: engl@rri.ro. We expect your answers by 28th February, post date. The winners will be announced after 15th March 2013, allowing them to prepare their journey to Romania. Good luck! 

(Source : Radio Romania International)

Radio Slovakia International Listeners' Competition: Slovak Traditional Music-1st round

In traditional societies singing was a natural part of special festive occasions – and everyday life. These situations conditioned the characteristics of folk singing and in this context a number of song genres appeared. They are diverse with clear-cut forms & styles - all linked to different occasions. At the same time they reflect the thoughts and feelings of the people of traditional societies. They will be the focus of Radio Slovakia International’s new competition, which has 5 rounds, with each round being broadcast in the first weekend of the month. After each round, we will ask you a question. We will then draw a winner from those who sent in the correct answers to each round. The lucky person will receive books, traditionally crafted products, or a CD.

At the end of the competition we will draw the winner of the main prize, which is a week stay for two people at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Bratislava.

Listen carefully to the first round featuring hay-harvesting songs (at the bottom of the page) and answer  the following  question:

On what occasions are the hay-harvesting folk songs  called “travnice” performed?

Please send your answers by October 2^nd to:

englishsection@slovakradio.sk

or by regular post:

English Section
Radio Slovakia International
Mytna 1, POBOX 55 81755
Bratislava, Slovakia

Good luck!

Traditional music_round 1.mp3 

(Source : Radio Slovakia International)

Radio Sweden quiz (German Service) : Alcohol - always a controversial issue

With gifts from the radio-Sweden-box surprise

 

This time it's proof drinks:

 

The Swedish government has made new decisions to always contentious issue of alcohol sales.

What?

 

a) Sweden repurchases a world absolutely leading vodka brand. As part of the deregulation trademark and production of the drink in 2008 had been sold for almost six billion euros to a French company. The Government is of the opinion that the character of the wheat schnapps is inextricably linked with the established image and Sweden brings the brand back into the country.

 

b The farmers and tourism industry long awaited sale of wine in farm shops) is finally a reality! From January 2013, interested parties can taste wine not only the producer, she may also buy by the bottle there. The only caveat: Swedish wine may not be taken by private citizens abroad - even in EU countries.

 

c) The State's chain of liquor stores, Systembolaget may deliver the ordered goods to their customers to your door. The new rule applies from autumn tentatively in six regions of the country. After an evaluation of the test phase, the areas expanded or adjusted deliveries.

 

Your response should be sent to:

radioschweden@sverigesradio.se

Deadline is Monday, the 24th September 2012. In our pod broadcast on the same day, you will learn who won.

(Source : Radio Sweden German Service, Translated by Google Translation)

Original Text in German Language

Radio Schweden Quiz: Alkohol - stets strittiges Thema

 Mit Geschenken aus der Radio-Schweden-Überraschungskiste

Diesmal geht es um prozentige Getränke:

Die schwedische Regierung hat neue Entscheidungen zum stets strittigen Thema Alkoholverkauf getroffen.

Welche?

a) Schweden kauft eine weltweit absolut führende Wodkamarke zurück. Im Rahmen der Deregulierung waren Warenzeichen und Herstellung des Getränks im Jahr 2008 für nahezu sechs Milliarden Euro an einen französischen Konzern veräußert worden. Die Regierung ist der Ansicht, dass der Charakter des Weizenschnapses untrennbar mit dem etablierten Schwedenimage verbunden ist und holt die Marke ins Land zurück.

b) Der von Landwirten und Fremdenverkehrsbranche lange gewünschte Verkauf von Wein in Bauernläden wird endlich Wirklichkeit! Ab Januar 2013 können Interessenten Wein nicht nur beim Erzeuger verkosten, sie dürfen ihn dort auch flaschenweise kaufen. Die einzige Einschränkung: Schwedischer Wein darf nicht von Privatleuten ins Ausland mitgenommen werden – auch nicht in EU-Länder.

c) Die staatliche Kette der Alkoholläden, Systembolaget, darf ihren Kunden die bestellte Ware bis an die Haustür liefern. Die neue Regelung gilt ab Herbst versuchsweise in sechs Gebieten des Landes. Nach einer Auswertung der Testphase werden die Bereiche ausgeweitet oder die Lieferungen eingestellt.

Ihre Antwort schicken Sie bitte an:

radioschweden@sverigesradio.se

Einsendeschluss ist Montag, der 24. September 2012. In unserer Pod-Sendung am selben Tag erfahren Sie, wer gewonnen hat.

(Radio Sweden, German Service)

BBC must deliver world-class creativity, says new Director-General

BBC Director-General George Entwistle today said he would put outstanding, world class creativity at the heart of the BBC.

Unveiling his plans to staff a day after taking over as Director-General, he asked everyone in the BBC to challenge themselves to deliver more creative and distinctive output for licence fee payers.

And he announced a series of management changes to turn the BBC into “a more creative organisation, led and managed in a radically simplified way”.

“I intend to change the way we’re led to put the emphasis where it belongs – on creative people doing creative things; on our audiences and the exceptional quality of work they deserve,” he told staff across the BBC.

Speaking from the studio in New Broadcasting House where Newsnight and the Andrew Marr Show recently began broadcasting, the new Director-General said he was privileged to have been asked to lead the finest broadcasting organisation in the world.

Citing the London 2012 Olympics as an example of how good the BBC can be when everyone pulls together to deliver outstanding coverage, he asked staff to use this as a template for all their work.

But he challenged the BBC to meet the audience’s ever-increasing expectations. 

“Though our best is often brilliant – in some of our output, we do settle for less than we should. So I believe we owe our audiences a determined effort to raise the creative quality of what we do.”

Speaking to staff in the studio and on the BBC’s internal video channel, he said: “I want to make a promise – to listen to you and to work tirelessly on fixing the things that get in the way of high creative quality, making the BBC a place where you really can do your best, and deliver the best of British creativity to our audiences.” 

Announcing plans to reduce the management board from 25 to just 12, Entwistle also announced the closure of the Operations division. 

“With immediate effect, I’m reorganising the BBC to group all the operational and finance functions in one business division under the Chief Financial Officer.”

Entwistle said his focus on creativity could not be in isolation of the BBC’s financial challenges, but savings could not just be imposed from the centre. Instead, front-line content makers also needed to be responsible for cost savings – incentivised by allowing them to reinvest some of the savings in better funded output.

(Source : BBC Press Office)

George Entwistle: speech to BBC staff

George Entwistle's speech to BBC staff from Broadcasting House, London on 18 September 2012.

Good morning everybody.

I am privileged to have been asked to lead the finest broadcasting organisation in the world – following a period of extraordinary success into a period of extraordinary change. 

I do this with a sense of honour, responsibility and great excitement.

My good fortune is to inherit from Mark Thompson an organisation in robust health – one that in this amazing year has reminded us on many occasions what it’s capable of achieving. 

Mark was a remarkable Director-General. He walked into a BBC on its knees, but he picked us up and has given us eight years of farsighted and totally committed leadership. 

He goes to the New York Times with my personal gratitude for the many occasions he’s helped and guided me; and with all our best wishes for the next chapter in an outstanding career.

Now, as you know, I was an “internal” candidate for DG – and that’s a matter of some pride to me. It means I know this place pretty well. I know what works brilliantly – what we need to build on. And I know what holds us back – the things we need to stop.

Almost twenty-three years ago to the day, I sat in the old reception of this wonderful building in my new suit, about to start as a Broadcast Journalism trainee. I had to pinch myself to believe I had the right even to walk through the door...

My first proper attachment was in this building too. I worked on The World Tonight, where I cut quarter inch tape with razor blades, drank whisky implausibly early in the afternoon and did journalism that genuinely mattered for the first time in my life.

Since then I’ve spent years as a producer – in News, Current Affairs and Television. I’ve tried to ask awkward questions on Panorama, with On the Record, and as the Editor of Newsnight. I was a pioneer of Out of London: leading the Culture Show from bases in both Glasgow and White City. 

I’ve been a commissioner, moving Panorama back to primetime. And as a Controller and Director, I’ve brought parts of the BBC together to make more sense of our Science, Arts and Music output across all our platforms.

Full Speech

(Source : BBC Media Centre)