Panasonic has announced the Middle East launch of the latest DVD recorders from its DIGA series. Four newly introduced models are DMR-EH65, DMR-EH55, DMR-ES35V and DMR-ES15. They all boast easier-than-ever operation, higher image quality in both recording and playback, and improved networking capabilities. Panasonic offers enhancements in each of the 4 DIGA models. All DIGA DVD recorders offer the ease and convenience of super multi-format recording and playback, which allows users to play all of their DVDs, regardless of the recording format. Operating ease is further improved by the popular one-second quick start recording function, and the Panasonic recorder adds a task-based navigation menu that makes it easy to select the desired operation. Auto Drive Select eliminates the need to use the remote control to switch drives, Koji Naka, product manager, Panasonic Marketing Middle East, said.
DHL
DHL, an express and logistics company, has been supporting a group of 1,100 refugees from south Lebanon. DHL Lebanon, DHL Middle East, its parent company Deutsche Post World Network and employees are all contributing and raising funds to provide assistance to this group, many of them being children. They hope to raise $100,000 with help from clients, suppliers and other organizations close to the business. Brendan Cody, DHL Lebanon’s Commercial Manager, said many of the company’s employees were helping with delivering food and medical aid daily to this group, along with providing services to aid agencies including the World Food Program and carrying out their normal delivery jobs. “DHL has been in Lebanon for the past 30 years and we feel it’s our duty to help those in need as much as we can in the current difficult situation,” he said.
CAMRY
A research company with its specialization of the Saudi market has said in a study that the current demand for family and sedan cars was “very high.” The International Auto Strategy Company, which has conducted the study, said the Kingdom’s car market has been increasing annually by 12.7 percent. Banks and financing companies have especially played a major role in doubling the demand for cars. “The sales ratio of Toyota Camry in the Saudi market is the best in the Middle East,” Adnan Al-Khatani, ALJ general marketing manager, said expressing his happiness over Camry topping the sedan car sales over the last five years. The survey shows that 48 percent of the car market represents sedan vehicles. According to him, Camry has remained on top of the sales chart of the sedan class over the last five years and will remain so over the next five years.
SHOWTIME
Showtime, a leading pay-TV network in the Middle East, has signed an agreement with Arabic sports channel Al-Jazeera to add the best in international football action to its developing portfolio of sports channels. From Friday (Sept. 1) Showtime subscribers will have six sports channels to choose from including Al-Jazeera Sports +1 and +2, Showtime’s newly launched sports channels, Sportsnet World and Sportsnet America as well as Extreme Sports and Eurosport News. Teaming up with Al-Jazeera gives the region’s sports fans unrivalled access to many of the world’s greatest sporting events through one service. For example, Showtime subscribers will now be able to view all of the games played in two of the world’s most important Italian and Spanish football leagues. In addition, subscribers will also be able to view the English FA Cup, Portugal’s “Superliga,” The English Carling Cup and the Qatari football league.
AL-SAHRA
Dubai Heritage Vision, an organization established to nurture and promote the rich heritage and culture of the Arabian world, is set to launch its first initiative, Al-Sahra, a desert resort, during the third week of September. The star attraction of the development, “Jumana — Secret of the Desert,” will bring to the stage a one-of-a-kind combination of performance, excitement and technical innovation unprecedented in the Middle East. The show is the brainchild of acclaimed entrepreneur, Anita Mehra Homayoun, alongside major shareholder, the DUTCO Group; Frenchman Pierre Marcout, created the show. Homayoun said: “Jumana is truly unique in terms of its size and use of advanced technology. What we set out to do is to create a unique spectacle of song, theater, dance and state-of-the-art technology, presented against the breath-taking silhouette of a phenomenal desert landscape — 30 minutes from the heart of Dubai.”