HOMELAND SECURITY

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Global Security Asia

http://www.globalsecasia.com

Nov 08. The Global Security Asia Series addresses the fundamental issues of global terrorism. It is an international platform for Governments and Commercial Organisations to meet and share experiences and to also discuss the use of state-of the art technologies and equipment to combat terrorism. The Series will continue as a 3-day Event showcasing the latest technological solutions in Homeland Security covering areas of Security Screening, Biometrics, Land, Air and Sea Security, Internet and Computer Security, Intelligence and Training Methods, CBRN Threats, Surveillance and Security Risk Management. The Event will once again attract international experts and speakers from Governments, academia, research and industry drawn from Security and Intelligence Agencies and Security Consultants/Professionals to share experiences, knowledge and expertise in tackling the asymmetric problems facing us today.

29 Oct 08. Iran will need an additional 20 An-140 turboprop aircraft to ensure effective patrols of its national borders, Iran’s aircraft industry official said on Wednesday. The Iranian HESA company has so far produced five An-140 passenger planes at a facility in Esfahan under license (as IRAN-140) and eight other aircraft are being assembled by Iranian specialists trained in Russia and Ukraine. “The presidential administration has demanded that we produce 20 additional An-140 planes for the border guard service. Overall we will need up to 100 An-140 aircraft in various modifications over the next 8-9 years,” the head of HESA, Mohammad Ali-Zade, said at the 4th Iran Air Show 2008 on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. The An-140 is a short-range turboprop airliner, developed by Russia’s Antonov design bureau as a replacement for the An-24 series aircraft. It can carry up to 52 passengers or can be used as a patrol or military transport aircraft. (Source: Seawaves Publishing Inc.)

Nov 08. Detica, the business and technology consultancy, today proposes a fresh approach to tackling the digital piracy epidemic that threatens to destroy the entertainment industry. Detica insists that stronger collaboration between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and the entertainment industry is the only way to make it easier for consumers to download music and films legally whilst providing ‘fair trade’ for artists. Andy Frost, Director of Media at Detica, says: “We now face a watershed in the entertainment industry. A new generation of technology-savvy consumers increasingly wants access to music, movies, TV shows and games, from PCs, PDAs and smartphones 24 hours a day. They will choose the best service offering available to them to download this content, regardless of whether it is legal or not.” This approach is supported by a report completed recently by Yankee Group — ‘An “everybody wins” strategy for digital content’ — that reveals how the threat from digital piracy could lead to the ultimate collapse of the entertainment industry. Research shows that approximately 51% of consumers use illegal digital file sharing as a primary means of obtaining music. This figure presents a major revenue challenge to music labels and film and TV production companies who hold the copyright — and also threatens the system that rewards artists for their creative talents. According to Frost: “Broadband companies and record labels have failed to respond to the needs of consumers and have continued to pursue misguided and unenforceable policies such as threatening disconnection from the Internet. In the face of a mounting piracy crisis, the industry must consider a fresh approach.” Frost continues: “In the last six months we have witnessed the music industry waking up to the opportunity of licensing digital content, whether through ad-funded ‘freemium’ streamed services or subscription-based download models. However, the challenge with all of these models