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Palestinian baby burned to death in Israeli settler attack

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Two homes set ablaze in Duma village in occupied West Bank, with graffiti left on the walls reading “revenge” in Hebrew.

A man shows a picture of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha who died when his family house was set on fire by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Duma on July 31, 2015. The Palestinian toddler was burned to death and four family members injured in the arson attack on two homes in the occupied West Bank. AFP PHOTO / JAAFAR ASHTIYEH

A man shows a picture of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha who died when his family house was set on fire by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Duma on July 31, 2015. The Palestinian toddler was burned to death and four family members injured in the arson attack on two homes in the occupied West Bank. AFP PHOTO / JAAFAR ASHTIYEH

by Al Jazeera

An 18-month-old Palestinian boy has burned to death after settlers set fire to his family house in Duma village, south of Nablus city, in the occupied West Bank.

The parents of Ali Saad Dawabsheh and his four-year-old brother were also injured in the attack, sources told Al Jazeera on Friday morning.

Up to 75 percent of their bodies suffered burns, according to medics in Nablus’ Rafidia hospital.

The Israel army issued a statement saying that they were trying to locate the suspects in the attack.

“This attack against civilians is nothing short of a barbaric act of terrorism. A comprehensive investigation is under way in order to find the terrorists and bring them to justice,” Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said in the statement.

“The [Israeli army] strongly condemns this deplorable attack and has heightened its efforts in the field to locate those responsible.”

The army told Al Jazeera that additional forces were deployed to West Bank, refusing to specify the number of soldiers.

Palestinian reaction

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said on Friday that he wants the International Criminal Court to probe the attack as one of the first Israeli war crimes against Palestinians. “Every day we wake up to a similar crime. This is a war crime and a tragedy at the same time. Therefore we will not stay still. Absolutely not. As long as the settlement and the occupation are there,” Abbas said. Nabil Abu Rdeineh, a spokesman for Abbas, said earlier on Friday that the Israeli government was fully responsible for the crime as it continued to support illegal Israeli settlement activities and the protection of settlers. He also blamed the international community for silence over crimes against Palestinians. Abu Rdeineh said that verbal condemnation of the crimes was no longer acceptable and that taking practical steps to hold Israeli attackers accountable, as well as the end to the occupation, was needed. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) that is led by Abbas reacted to the attack on Twitter.

Two Palestinian houses were burned at the entrance of the village with graffiti left on the walls, reading in Hebrew “revenge” and “long live Messiah”.

Witnesses told Al Jazeera that they saw at least two settlers running away from the scene.

Lars Faaborg-Andersen, the European Union envoy to Israel also reacted on Twitter.

There are at least three illegal Israeli settlements near Duma village.

According to the UN, at least 120 attacks by Israeli settlers have been documented in the occupied West Bank since the start of 2015.

A recent report by Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organisation, showed that more than 92.6 percent of complaints Palestinians lodge with the Israeli police go without charges being filed.

Ashes 2015: Finn claims five as England sniff victory

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Steven Finn

Birmignham: Comeback man Steven Finn missed a hat-trick but pulverised Australia with a five wicket haul as England were sniffing victory on an action-filled day two of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston here on Thursday.

A win will enable England to regain their lead in the five-match series.

Australia managed to score 168 for 7 in their second innings at the draw of stumps, only 23 runs ahead of England with three full days of play remaining on a fast and bouncy track, where pacers have had a ball so far.

Peter Nevill (37) and Mitchell Starc (7) were in the middle.

Earlier in the day, replying to Australia’s first innings total of 135, England put up 281 on the scoreboard, courtesy half centuries from Joe Root (63) and Moeen Ali (59) and a 87-run eighth wicket stand between Ali and Stuart Broad (31).

After the England essay ended in the 12th over into the post lunch session, Australia needed 145 to stave off an innings defeat.

But they seemed close to ignominy, as 26 year old Middlesex pacer Finn (5 for 45) ripped through the heart of their batting in a deadly opening spell (9-1-39-4), even as opener David Warner (77) fought with grit.

The Australian batting tottered from the start, with opener and first innings resistance man Chris Rogers (6) getting struck on the front foot before the wicket by playing the wrong line against Broad.

Six feet seven inches tall Finn, returning to Test cricket after two years, then took centre-stage by plucking out Steven Smith (8) in his second over, as the Australian willower top edged a short of the length delivery.

Playing his 24th career Test, Finn did more damage in his fourth over, getting rid of skipper Michael Clarke (3), who fell to a fantastic low diving catch taken by Adam Lyth at fourth slip.

The England bowler proceeded to devour Adam Voges (0) off the next ball, to be on a hat-trick but Mitchell Marsh denied him the honours.

However, Marsh (6) did not last long, as Finn rattled the right hander’s stumps. Australia seemed in big trouble at 92 for 5.

James Anderson, who had enviable figures of 6 for 47 in the first innings, then ended Warner’s defiance, but Peter Nevill (37) and Mitchell Johnson (14) added an invaluable 42 runs for the seventh wicket in an exhibition of dour resistance that ensured England would have to bat again.

Johnson had earlier in the day took his 300th Test wicket.

Coming back into action, Finn saw the back of Johnson to complete to claim his seventh wicket of the match and 97th of his Test career.

The arch-rivals are locked 1-1 in the five-match series.

(IANS)

“Indian government has sent a wrong message by hanging an innocent man”: Chhota Shakeel

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chhota-shakeel-yakub memon

New Delhi: Soon after Yakub Memon was hanged for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, Chhota Shakeel, who is also an accused in the case and is known to be a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, reportedly warned of consequences of executing Yakub.

A report carried by Times of India (ToI) claims that Shakeel called up the newspaper’s office and said that Yakub’s hanging was a ‘legal murder’ and that the Indian government had betrayed him by punishing him for his brother Tiger Memon’s act.

Shakeel also reportedly said that by hanging Yakub, all possibilities of him and Dawood Ibrahim returning to India in exchange of promises of leniency have been ruled out. “Dawood bhai would have been meted the same fate if he would have come at that time… it is clear now,” the report quotes Shakeel.

He also alleged that the Indian government had sent a wrong message by hanging an ‘innocent’ man for his brother’s act. “It is a legal murder,” he said, adding, “There will be consequences.”

Shakeel also said that nobody would believe the Indian government or its agencies in future.

Shakeel also claimed that Yakub was in disagreement with his brother Tiger, the main accused, and had decided to follow the law. “Somebody trusted a government but the government breached the trust… Who will come back to get killed?”

He also claimed that Yakub had no links with Dawood Ibrahim. “He (Yakub) was accused of association with Dawood bhai. That’s not true,” Shakeel told ToI.

He also rubbished special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam’s purported statement that Yakub’s hanging was a ‘message’ to terrorists. “You are hanging innocents to convey a message to us,” Shakeel said.

(Agencies)

To shut you up, they call you ‘Anti-National’, ‘Anti-Hindu’: Rahul Gandhi

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Rahul Gandhi

Pune: Rahul Gandhi’s pep-talk to protesting students of the Film and Television Institute of India or FTII today segued into a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP.

“The nature of the discussion is – you agree with us then fine…if not, we will smash you. To shut people up they call you anti-national, anti-Hindu,” he told the students, who have been on strike for nearly two months over the appointment of TV actor Gajendra Singh as their chairman.

In the open session that was televised, the Congress vice president said that the FTII protest was a part of the “real fight,” which was for what the real idea of India is.

“Only the PM decides in the BJP, only one man has power. If the PM wants somebody, the BJP can’t remove them,” Mr Gandhi said.

Also referring to the BJP’s ideological mentor RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he commented on what he called a “fundamental difference in your thinking and the RSS’ thinking.”

Dressed casually in a tee-shirt and jeans, the 44-year-old took questions and also asked many of them.

“This will make a really nice movie – how the entire might of the Indian government was trying to push 250 students aside,” he remarked to a hall-full of film students.

The students have boycotted classes for weeks and refused to return unless the central government cancels the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan, who is seen as close to the ruling BJP. Several alumni and film personalities say Mr Chauhan’s stature fall far short of the qualities needed for the top post.

“This is not just about FTII. It is happening in a lot of higher education and cultural institutions,” one student told Mr Gandhi, who nodded in agreement.

“The real question is how strongly you are willing to fight this issue. I am ready to fight with you,” replied the Congress leader.

The BJP has accused the Congress of trying to whip up politics over the film institute protests. “If students see Gajendra Chauhan as a politician, then is Rahul a filmmaker?” scoffed actor-politician Paresh Rawal.

(Agencies)

Global Movie Newswatch

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Majid Majidi

The movie ‘Muhammad’ To Open in Montreal World Film Festival

The movie ‘Muhammad’, having the music of A R Rehman, will open the Montreal World Film Festival. ‘Muhammad’, the latest film by renowned Iranian director Majid Majidi will open the 39th Montreal World Film Festival with its world premiere. This 171 minute epic on the early years of the prophet of Islam is considered the most expensive film made in Iran, with a budget of over $50 million. The entire production took 5 years. Renowned Indian composer A R Rehman also contributed to the music of the film. MWFF president Serge Losique said, “The Festival is very proud to be able to host the premiere of this important work, a film of very high artistry aimed at a very wide audience. There have been many movies dealing with key figures of the world’s great religions, including Jesus, Moses & Buddha, but this is only the 2nd epic screen treatment of Islam’s founder.” Majidi will be present in Montreal along with principal members of his cast & crew. The Festival, which is the only one in north America to be recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) will take place from 27th Aug, 2015 to 7th Sept, 2015.

Salman Khan To Donate Profits 0f ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’

Salman Khan has taken a decision to donate the profits of ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan to farmers. We have often seen Salman Khan flaunting his well – toned body and kicking some bad men in his films but the actor is equally famous for his generous nature. With ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ already creating records of sorts, Salman Khan has decided to use the profits earned through the film for the benefit of the common man. Considering the many issues that farmers are dealing with today, news is that Salman Khan has wishes to donate the profits that he will earn through ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ to them. Reportedly, BJP Leader Shaina NC who is thrilled with this move announced about this noble deed and also added that Rockline Venkatesh, who co -produced the film along with Salman, may also contribute his share for the donations. The move is being considered to relieve farmers who are in debt and are committing suicide in order to save themselves from the financial crisis. However, there has been no official announcement regarding the same from Salman Khan yet.

Pakistani Journalist Chand Nawab Wants Compensation From Salman Khan

Pakistani journalist Chand Nawab wants compensation from Salman Khan. Though Salman Khan walked away with a lot of praises for his portrayal as Pawan in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, it was Nawazuddin Siddiqui who too received applause for his role as a Pakistani journalist. However, many who watched the film felt that Nawaz’s character was inspired from Pakistani journalist named Chand Nawab. Now, Chand Nawab has revealed his desire to get a compensation for being an inspiration to the role in the film. Also, Chand clarified that he wouldn’t opt for any legal or serious action against the actor and the other makers of the film if they refuse any such compensation. He, also, thanked Salman Khan & Kabir Khan for using him as an inspiration since the film has given him a lot of fame. He added that his character has become so popular that he has been receiving offers to star in Pakistani commercials. In fact Kabir Khan & Salman Khan have even expressed their wish to meet the journalist and Nawab is very excited about the same.

‘Bin Roye’ Is All Set To Release On 7th Aug 2015

Mahira Khan’s ‘Bin Roye’ is all set to release on 7th Aug 2015. After the smashing overseas Box Office success Mahira Khan starrer ‘Bin Roye’ is now all set to release on 7thAug, 2015 in India. The makers of the film, had decided to reschedule the release considering the clash with Salman Khan’s ‘Bajraani Bhaijaan’ and the overwhelming response received by ‘Bahubaali’, however the movie will now be releasing on 7th Aug, 2015 in cinemas. ‘Bin Roye’ is distributed by B4U.

‘Calendar Girls’ Postponed By 50 Days owing to Censor trouble

Believe it or not but director Madhur Bhandarkar’s most ambitious film ‘Calendar Girls’ has been postponed by at least 50 days. Originally slated for 7th Aug, 2015 arrival, the film has now been pushed ahead to 25th Sept, 2015. Even this release date is tentative as the film is yet to close on the exact date. A major reason for this is a fight that Madhur Bhandarkar may have to put in now, courtesy the changes that have been suggested by the Censor Board. Since the filmmaker isn’t willing to take it all lying down, he is planning to approach the revising committee and put forth his case for the suggestions to be rolled back. The film has been passed with an ‘A’ certificate and Madhur is fine with that. However, he is not fine with the ‘mute’ button that Censors have pressed. Madhur’s argument is that since the film is for ‘adults only’ viewing, audiences are expected to be mature enough when these words play. This is the reason why he is planning to take the film to the revising committee. This means that there is no way the film can make it to the 7th Aug, 2015 release deadline that was earlier set for it.

‘Angry Indian Godesses’ India’s 1st Female Buddy Film

‘Angry Indian Godesses’ will be India’s 1st female buddy film in all aspects & respects. In a way it will be like a bachelorette set to destroy all romcoms. So India is all set to get its 1st all out female buddy film named ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’. Helming the project is the internationally acclaimed filmmaker Pan Nalin, who is best known for his award winning documentaries and the Indie film
‘Samsara’. ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’ that marks Nalin’s debut in mainstream Bollywood, boasts of an impressive line up including Sandhya Mridul, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Sarah -Jane Dias, Anushka Manchanda, Amrit Maghera, Rajshri Deshpande, Pavleen Gujral and is being produced by Gaurav Dhingra, who has earlier co -produced ‘Peddlers’ among many other noted films. Jungle Book Entertainment, co – founded by Nalin & Gaurav, with a strong slate of international films, is now entering the mainstream Bollywood space with ‘Angry Indian Godesses.

San Francisco Film festival 2015 officially selects “TARA”

Festival Of Globe (FOG) San Francisco Film Festival 2015 officially selects Indian Hindi feature film “TARA”.

In fact “Tara” gets official selection from “Festival Of Globe (FOG) Sanfrancisco Film Festival 2015. The film festival will be held from 6th to 16th Aug, 2015. “Tara” is produced & directed by Kumar Raj of Kumar Raj Productions & co – produced by Dharm, starring Rekha Rana. The film was released all over India by PVR / Cinemax & Rajesh Thadani. It had run for 50 weeks in one of the biggest & oldest heritage “Imperial cinema”.

It has already received 48 International awards. In fact the actress Rekha Rana has received 12 International awards as “Best Actress”. That apart she has been invited by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg to attend Hollywood film acting workshop in New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, Usa from Jul to Oct 2015.

Tirlok Malik’s ‘On Golden Years’ Had A DC Premiere

A New York Emmy nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik’s New Film ‘On Golden Years’ had a Washington DC Premiere’. Incidentally speaking the Washington DC Premiere of Tirlok Malik’s new film ‘On Golden Years’ was held on 19th Jul, 2015 at DC Cinema by Noor Naghmi who is the one of the lead actors of the film. The premiere was attended by many cast & crew members along with 300 invited guests, which included many media & community leaders. The MC of the evening was Dr. Zulfiquar Kazmi. Indian Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh sent his best wishes for film and the team was represented by Shiv Ratan (Counsellor – Community Affairs). The film portrays the complex emotions, which come at the time of retirement for immigrants. The film stars Ranjit Chaudhary, Jyoti Singh, Reeves Lehman, Sheetal Shah, Noor Naghmi, Tirlok Malik, Shruti Tewari, Farokh Daruwala, Indu Gajwani, Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja, Lovllien Kaur, Sandeep Suri, Iggy Ignatius, Kamlesh Gupta et al. The film On Golden Years is written & directed by Tirlok Malik. The film is produced by Iggy Ignatius who is also the co – director of the film. The film has been shot at the only Indian retirement community Shantiniketan in Florida. Other credits of the film are cinematography by Christo Bakalov B.A.C., music by Peter Lobo, art by Sunita Babber & editing by Tom Knight.

“Gum Gum” 100 Year Old Assamese Song

Another Independent beautiful Assamese hundred year old folk song is “Gum Gum’. In the midst of an undying Bollywood music culture, a large group of independent artistes are trying to cut through the conventional and give independent or indie music it’s due. To secure that space may have been an impossible task a decade ago, but now, thanks to Ampliify Times Music, the scope for making their presence felt has expanded. Keeping the legacy forward of Independent Music check out the next release by the record Label Ampliify Times Music in association with One Digital Entertainment Presents another Independent beautiful Assamese folk song “Gum Gum’ sung wonderfully by Sumithra Narayanan.

Buddhism Documentary Bags An Award

A Buddhism Documentary by Benoy K. Behl bags an award at the recently concluded Madrid International Filmfest
‘Indian Roots Of Tibetan Buddhism’ by filmmaker & conservator Benoy K. Behl has bagged the “Best Documentary Producer” award at the Madrid International Film Festival. The film, produced by the External Publicity Division of the External Affairs Ministry, was in competition against around a 100 films from 50 countries. An eminent art historian & filmmaker who began his career as a photographer, Behl has made 130 documentary films in the past but this is the 1st ever film that he has ever entered in an international film festival. The film has already won awards at the Bioscope Global Film Festival in Delhi where he won the “Best Documentary Award” and another in Noida where the film won the award of “Best Script Writer”. Behl’s films are regularly screened in universities & museums around the world. They have also been screened on Doordarshan’s National & DD Bharati channels.

Movie Review: ‘South Paw’ is an absolutely forgetful fare

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southpaw

Producer: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Peter Riche, Alan Riche, Antoie Fuqua & Jerry Ye
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Star Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel Adams, Naomie Harris, Victor Ortiz, Curtis Jackson, Miguel Gomez, Oona Lawrence, Beau Knapp, Rita Ora & Clare Foley
Genre: Thriller
Verdict: AVERAGE

Antoine Fuqua is known more as an action director as he has mostly directed action films. His most famous action film is The Replacement Killers. And in his last offering South Paw too, he has delved into the same genre of filmmaking.

Plot: It tells the riveting story of Billy “The Great” Hope, reigning Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World (Jake Gyllenhaal). Billy Hope seemingly has it all with an impressive career, a beautiful & loving wife (Rachel McAdams), an adorable daughter (Oona Laurence) and a lavish lifestyle. Tragedy strikes when his lifelong manager & friend (Curtis Jackson) leaves him behind, Hope hits rock bottom and turns to an unlikely saviour at a rundown local gym: Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker), a retired fighter & trainer to the city’s toughest amateur boxers. With his future riding on Tick’s guidance & tenacity, Billy enters the hardest battle of his life as he struggles with redemption to win back the trust of those he loves.

Aces: Some of the boxing scenes and riveting performances mainly by Jake Gyllenhaal & Forest Whitaker.

Minuses: The dull proceedings from “The Start” to “The End”.

Last Word: Watch it only if you have no other choice for the weekend.

Foriegn Films Worldwide Round Up

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Teri Everett

EVERETT TAKING TOP SLOT

Veteran corporate communications executive Teri Everett is replacing Kori Bernards as top spokesperson at Universal Pictures. Bernards announced last week she would be leaving the company after 7 years as senior vice president of communications. Everett will carry the title of executive VP of global communications and report to Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Jeff Shell, who came on board in 2013. Bernards will stay on to help with the transition. Everett will begin the new job on 17th Aug, 2015. She’ll be in charge of all worldwide external & internal communications for the company overseeing media relations, executive & employee communications, as well as all box office reporting. The move comes with Universal dominating the box office. The studio crossed the $5 billion mark in worldwide grosses for 2015 last week and appears likely to break Fox’s record of $5.5 billion, set last year. Everett had worked most recently in Time Inc.’s corporate communications department in New York.

ARTSPLOITATION TAKES ‘GERMAN ANGST’

Paris based Reel Suspects has sold North American rights to non – stock horror triptych ‘German Angst’ to Raymond Murray’s Artsploitation Films. Described by Artsploitation as “mystical and disturbing,” triptych, which sees its North American premiere at Canada’s Fantasia Film Festival on 18th Jul, 2015, will then continue its festival run. A DVD / Blu – ray0& VOD release is scheduled for 1st quarter of 2016. Sale marks continuing title – by -title Artsploitation – Reel Suspects biz, after Raymond Murray’s Artsploitation Films, a indie distributor specializing in unsettling art or genre film fare from around the world, bought Reel Suspects’ French genre auteur hit ‘Horsehead’ and another arthouse genre mix, sci – fi ‘Vanishing Waves’, which was helmed by Lithuania’s Katrina Buozyte, a Golden Melies & Austin Fantastic Fest “Best Picture” winner. Fast consolidating as one of Europe’s leading genre companies, handling edgier titles from Europe & world cinema, Matteo Lovadina’s Reel Suspects’ will unleash 3 titles in all at Canada’s on – the – build Fantasia Fest, which kicked off recently in Montreal.

MUBI SIGNS FIRST

Theatrical Deal with ‘Arabian Nights’ Subscription video – on – demand platform MUBI has signed its 1st theatrical deal. In a pioneering partnership with New Wave Films, MUBI will release Miguel Gomes’ ‘Arabian Nights’ in theaters across UK & Ireland. MUBI will then show the film online. MUBI & New Wave will handle jointly the home entertainment & VOD release for the 3 part film, which played in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes this year. The move is the latest in a small but growing recent trend of SVOD services acquiring the rights to films with an eye to releasing them in theaters as well as online. Netflix will release Cary Fukunaga’s ‘Beasts Of No Nation’ on 16th Oct, 2015 in select US theaters & online. It will release ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend’ theatrically in China, on IMAX & on Netflix globally early next year, and will also release Brad Pitt’s ‘War Machine’ in select theaters & online next year.

NAOISE TO HEAD PINEWOOD’S PRODUCTION

The Pinewood Studios Group has appointed Naoise Barry as head of production at Pinewood Productions Ireland, which services the group’s international clients shooting on location in Ireland. Pinewood is looking into opportunities to set up its own studio in the country. Pinewood Productions Ireland is a full service production company focusing on physical production administration, application & packaging for Ireland’s production incentive, known as Section 481. Services range from pre -production budgeting & location scouting, through facilities rentals & talent & crew sourcing. Barry, who will take up his new position in mid -Aug 2015, is film commissioner for the Irish Film Board, where he has worked for the past 14 years. IFB chief executive, James Hickey, commented that Barry had “played an enormous role in attracting international production to Ireland.” He added that Barry had set up 2 “very important & influential networks,” which were the Film Dublin Partnership & Network of Regional Film Offices.

BBC PICKS PRODUTION CHIEF

UK public broadcaster BBC has appointed long serving executive Peter Salmon as director of its production division, BBC Studios, whose output has included ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (known as ‘Dancing With The Stars” in US), ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Luther’ & ‘Frozen Planet’. Salmon has produced shows like ‘Crimewatch UK’ & ‘Nature’, was executive producer of Oscar winning Wallace & Gromit animation ‘The Wrong Trousers’, co – invented sports charity show ‘Sport Relief’, was controller of flagship channel BBC One, & head of BBC Sport. Recently he served as director of BBC North in Salford, with 3,000 staff and is currently BBC’s director, England. BBC Studios is the new production division being created following the announcement in 2014 that BBC would separate TV production from TV commissioning to “boost creativity & competitiveness” in television production. BBC Studios will initially be created in the public service, but in longer term, BBC will work with BBC Trust to explore whether it should become a wholly owned subsidiary of the corporation and create programming for other broadcasters as well, in return for abolishing the current guarantee that 50% of BBC programs are made by in – house production.

ITV EXTENDS RELATIONSHIP

Commercial broadcaster ITV has secured exclusive rights in UK to seasons 3 & 4 of espionage drama ‘The Americans’. The series, which received 2 Emmy nominations last week, will air on ITV’s pay TV channel ITV Encore, which is dedicated to bigger budget drama. The 1st 2 seasons of ‘The Americans’ aired on ITV in Jun, 2013 & May, 2014. They will be re-transmitted on ITV Encore from this month, with the 3rd season starting later this summer. ‘The Americans’ is a period drama about the complex marriage of 2 KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington, DC, shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected President. The arranged marriage of Philip (Matthew Rhys) & Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), who have 2 children, grows more passionate & genuine by the day. ‘The Americans’, which is co -produced by Fox Television Studios & FX Prods., was created by Joe Weisberg  and is distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution.

3 MOVIES TO COMPETE IN SARJEVO

Laszlo Nemes’ ‘Son Of Saul’ is one of several award winners from the Cannes Film Festival that will compete for the Heart of Sarajevo Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival. The Holocaust drama, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes and has been selected as Hungary’s entry in foreign language film category of the Oscars, is the 1st feature film by Nemes. The Sarajevo festival, which is Southeast Europe’s leading film event, selected several other Cannes winners. These include Croatia’s ‘The High Sun’, an era spanning triptych of love stories from writer – director Dalibor Matanic, which won the jury prize in Un Certain Regard at Cannes. Another Cannes title at Sarajevo is Romania’s ‘The Treasure’ from Corneliu Porumboiu, which received Un Certain Regard’s Talent Award. The humor filled film reflects on the greed & the consumerism pervading contemporary society. Turkey’s ‘Mustang’, which won the Europa Cinema Award for the European film in the Directors’ Fortnight program at Cannes, also competes at Sarajevo.

LEGEND CAPITAL INVESTS IN DEXTER STUDIOS

Legend Capital, one of China’s largest venture capital firms, has invested $10 million in South Korean visual effects shop Dexter Studios. The move follows a similar investment in Dexter announced earlier this year by Dalian Wanda, China’s leading property to entertainment combine. Dexter has rapidly become one of Korea’s top VFX firms supplying the burgeoning needs of the Chinese film & TV industries. It achieved its major break in China when it produced an animated gorilla for the Korean – Chinese co – production film ‘Mr Go’. The deal was concluded recently and announced recently in Korea, sources within Dexter told. Legend Capital is part of the giant Legend Holdings group, which is the majority shareholder in Lenovo, the world’s largest personal computer manufacturer. Legend Capital’s portfolio also includes Hony Capital, an investment pool which is a backer of Robert Simonds ambitious studio STX, and a stake in Shanghai Media Group. STX recently struck a co – financing deal with Huayi Brothers Media, China’s leading private sector film company and the China distributor of ‘Mr Go’.

DUNCAN TO REPLACE MICHEAL

High profile Australian arts administrator Michael Lynch is to be replaced by senior civil servant Duncan Pescod as CEO of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the arts mega project in Hong Kong. Lynch, who was director of Sydney Opera House & CEO of the South Bank in London, held the post for 4 years from 2011. He is now set to return to Australia & retire, though will remain a special advisor to the WKCD Authority for another year. Pescod has 30 years of experience running projects for Hong Kong Government and has been COO of the WKCD for the past 9 months. He will take over as CEO from 13th Aug, 2015. The hugely ambitious WKCD, which is to include a visual arts museum and various performing arts facilities, has been bogged down for more than 10 years, and its ballooning financial cost remains incomplete. The Hong Kong Government thanked Lynch “for his leadership in the past 4 years in taking forward the project. During his tenure, Michael has made significant contributions to the project both in terms of its hardware & software development.” The government acknowledged “some financial challenges” but said that the WKCD Authority will deliver the project in a cost – effective manner and expedite the completion of some planned facilities for public enjoyment.”

ALIBABA EXPANDS FURTHER INTO MUSIC

Chinese e – commerce giant Alibaba has created a music division that could eventually match its ambitions in film & video. The Ali Music Group will be headed by singer – songwriter & TV host Gao Xiaosong as chairman and by Song Ke, a former Warner Music executive, as CEO. The 2 veterans of the Chinese music industry previously worked together to establish Taihe Rye Music. Alibaba described the launch as “a crucial pillar of Alibaba Group’s digital entertainment strategy” that will “help forward our vision of becoming central to the everyday lives of our customers.” Among other things the new unit will take over the running of 2 Alibaba owned music streaming apps, Xiami & Tiantian. It will also lean on Alibaba’s capabilities in the Internet cloud computing & ‘Big Data’. Alibaba has rights agreements with BMG Records, Rock Records & HIM Records to use the labels’ content on its platforms. The deal with BMG, announced in Mar, 2015, brought more than 2.5 million copyrights to Alibaba covering work by artists including Kylie Minogue & the Rolling Stones. Alibaba has numerous assets in digital entertainment which it has either developed in house or acquired. These include Alibaba Pictures, which it acquired last year and retains a separate slock listing in Hong Kong & Singapore, as well as stakes in Youku Tudou, Huayi Brothers Media & Enlight Media. Patrick Liu Chunning, head of the digital entertainment operations, was arrested earlier this month in connection with allegations of corruption. Alibaba has stressed that the alleged incidents happened before Liu joined the company.

BOX OFFICE RECORDS SMASHED

Multiple records tumbled at the Chinese box office where local films grossed some $180 million over the weekend. ‘Monster Hunt’, a live action  animation hybrid took top honors with $79.7 million between Fri & Sun, according to data from Ent Group. And with Thurs’s record opening of $27.7 million, that added up to an astonishing $107 million 4 day gross for Edko Films distributed picture. It enjoyed 168,000 over 3 days and 230,000 over the 4 day session. Direction is by Raman Hui, whose previous credits include ‘Shrek’ movies. Comedy spoof, ‘Pancake Man’, (aka ‘Jianbin Man’) opened Fri and enjoyed 179,000 screenings that allowed it to power to $69m million in 3 days. That total included the $22.4 million record on Fri for the biggest live action opening day by a Chinese movie. It beat the previous benchmark, set only a week before by ‘Tiny Times 4.0’. In 3rd place in the chart was ‘Monkey King: Hero is Back’ which expanded from 51,000 screenings to 198,000 and saw its gross expand by over 300% in its 2nd week. Its week total was $59.7 million, giving it a 10 day score of $75.1 million. That makes it the biggest Chinese made animation of all time. The all – comers record currently belongs to ‘Kung Fu Panda’ on $99.3 million. Youth drama, ‘Forever Young’, last week’s 2nd placed film, took a 67% tumble but still managed $18.1 million for a cumulative of $59.8 million after 10 days.

NETFLIX CHINA LAUNCH BY 2016 IS  UNCERTAIN

Netflix says that its planned move into China, the world’s most populous nation, by 2016 is uncertain. The company is rapidly expanding its international footprint, especially in Asia. It is rolling out service in Southeast Asia and will launch in Japan in the 3rd quarter of this year, having got Australian & New Zealand operations under way in Mar, this year. But China remains a case apart. The company previously suggested that it would like to launch its own operations in China. Later it said that a partnership with a local Chinese company might be more practical and revealed that it had held conversations with Internet TV group Wasu Media, among others. This week, Netflix senior executives expressed mixed views about when getting a China operation off the ground might be possible. “I would say China continues to be sort of its own entity in terms of the challenges and the particular characteristics of the market. We’re taking our time and being deliberate in finding a path and the right model to work,” said David Wells, Netflix’s chief financial officer, on a post – financial results conference call with investment analysts.

BBC EARTH LANDS IN PAY TV MARKET

Marking a further step in BBC’s global expansion plans, BBC Worldwide, the British pubcaster’s commercial subsid, has announced the massive launch of factual pay TV service BBC Earth in Latin America, kicking off 1st Sept, 2015. BBC Earth will be distributed as a linear channel in 17 Latin American countries via regional cable, DTH & IPTV platforms, which reportedly will include Sky, Izzy Telecom & Cablemas in Mexico, Movistar TV in Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela &Net in Brazil. The channel, which will offer adventure series, technology & science programming as well as local shows, will also be available in Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic & Uruguay. BBC Earth’s Latin American move follows previous 2015 releases in Poland, Nordic Countries, Hungary, Romania & Turkey as part of BBC’s global plan to reach international audiences and consolidate the brand’s reputation. “Like in the rest of the world, Latin American viewers are very interested in getting to know the world we are living in,” said Paul Dempsey, president for global markets, BBC Worldwide.

CATE TO DIRECT TV SERIES

Cate Blanchett is to develop & direct an Australian TV series, ‘Stateless’. The series centers on “the tragic & the true story of Cornelia Rau, which made headlines in 2004.” The young German / Australian woman escaped a frightening cult only to be trapped in a bizarre labyrinth of psychiatric & legal systems, landing her in the notorious Baxter Immigration Detention Centre. “The film ‘Stateless’ will be Cate Blanchett’s 1st venture into high end TV,” said Screen Australia, the federal Australian funding agency that announced that it will providing development finance. Matchbox Pictures is the production company. It is unclear if Blanchett intends to also appear as an actress in ‘Stateless’. Blanchett last year announced that she is also planning to direct ‘The Dinner’, a feature film from a script by Oren Moverman.

South Africa stay top as Steyn reaches landmark

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Fast-bowler becomes second South African to take 400 Test wickets as Bangladesh kept in check on opening day.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn (3-30) and part-time offspinner JP Duminy (3-27) led the charge, sharing six wickets [AFP]

Fast bowler Dale Steyn (3-30) and part-time offspinner JP Duminy (3-27) led the charge, sharing six wickets [AFP]

by Al Jazeera

Fast-bowler Dale Steyn became the second South African to take 400 Test wickets as his efforts ensured Bangladesh were kept in check on the opening day of the second Test.

Steyn (3-30) and part-time offspinner JP Duminy (3-27) led the charge, sharing six wickets, as the hosts reached 246-8 at stumps.

Bangladesh made decent progress despite Steyn reaching the 400-wicket milestone, dismissing opener Tamim Iqbal early to leave Bangladesh 12-1. But the Proteas turned the match by claiming five wickets for 92 runs in the last session.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest scorer with 65. Mominul Haque scored 40 while Shakib al Hasan and Mahmudullah contributed 35 each.

Fresh from a rain-hit drawn first Test which was largely dominated by the hosts, Bangladesh was unfazed by the early dismissal of Tamim, their most successful batsman at the moment.

Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque shared 69-run partnership to back the side until Duminy halted the progress with a double strike, dismissing the pair in consecutive two overs.

Mominul was undone by the extra bounce as he attempted a late-cut while Kayes misjudged the length to be hit in front.

Mominul hit six fours in his 87 balls while Kayes sent the ball three times across the boundary rope.

Rahim and Mahmudullah combined for 94 runs to frustrate the South African bowlers. But the last session proved to be decisive for the visitors, whose fast bowlers found the reverse swing in the dry surface to unsettle the Bangladeshi batsmen.

Scorecard:

Bangladesh 246-8  (Rahim 65, Duminy 3-27)

Beyond Outrage: How an American trophy hunter killed the ‘Wild Soul of Africa’

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Cecil the lion’s death stirs more than just anger, raising questions about the economics and ethics of big-game hunting and wildlife conservation

Cecil the lion was 13 years old and known for his dark mane. (Photo: AFP)

Cecil the lion was 13 years old and known for his dark mane. (Photo: AFP)

by Deirdre Fulton, Common Dreams

Reports that a Minnesota dentist paid $50,000 to shoot, stalk, kill, and skin a beloved African lion have led to renewed calls for a ban on the import of lions killed in trophy hunting.

The Telegraph first identified the hunter as Walter James Palmer on Tuesday. Palmer is reported to have killed Cecil—one of the continent’s most famous lions —while on a Bushman Safaris-run trip with professional hunters in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. The park is a “free roam” zone under Zimbabwean law, which means that hunting isn’t allowed in the park and killing Cecil inside of it would have been illegal.

But Palmer and his guides seem to have found a way around this law. They allegedly lured the lion out of the protected zone at night, shot him with a bow and arrow, and then followed him for 40 hours before shooting him in the head with a rifle. At that point, they attempted to remove Cecil’s tracking collar, which was being monitored by an Oxford University research project. Once he was dead, the hunters beheaded and skinned Cecil, the photogenic 13-year-old male who was known for his striking dark mane. His corpse was abandoned in the sun.

Questions remain as to whether Palmer’s killing of Cecil was legal. As Vox explains, the Zimbabwean government says Palmer didn’t have the proper permits in place to hunt Cecil. Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba has confirmed that the two guides have been arrested on poaching charges, and that Palmer is now wanted as well.

Several news outlets are reporting that this incident is not the first time Palmer—whom the Daily Beast referred to as an “animal serial killer”—has been in trouble for his hunting practices.

For his part, Palmer maintains his innocence. “I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper permits,” he said in a statement to the Minnesota Star-Tribune. “To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted. I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt.”

That has done little to quell the international anger directed toward Palmer. The Star-Tribune reports that as the Telegraph’s report and subsequent news coverage spread on the Internet, commenters took to the Facebook page of Palmer’s River Bluff Dental practice “with a vengeance.”

Chelsea Hassler, outreach director with the Twin Cities-based Animal Rights Coalition, said her group and “many outraged citizens” intend to protest outside Palmer’s office on Wednesday afternoon.

Beyond outrage, Cecil’s death stirs questions about the economics and ethics of big-game hunting and wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.

Some argue that hunting brings conservation funding into a country through hunting permits—indeed, in defending Palmer to the Seattle Times on Tuesday, a longtime acquaintance (and fellow game hunter) said: “The trophy hunter really should become a saint amongst hunters” for this reason.

However, a 2013 study from Born Free USA and other animal welfare groups showed that the trophy hunting industry makes a minimal contribution to national incomes.

“The suggestion that trophy hunting plays a significant role in African economic development is misguided,” said economist Rod Campbell, lead author of the study, at the time. “Revenues constitute only a fraction of a percent of GDP and almost none of that ever reaches rural communities.”

Meanwhile, according to Jeffrey Flocken of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, “killing a pride’s dominant male like Cecil can have a ripple effect. Because he no longer can protect his pride from rogue lions, other males, young cubs and females in that now unstable pride are placed in danger—meaning, in all reality, these hunters’ actions may lead to the deaths of many African lions, which are a species threatened with extinction.”

Which is why Born Free USA and other groups are urging concerned citizens to call on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a final rule listing the lion as “Threatened” and thereby stopping all trophy imports.

Born Free Foundation president Will Travers declared on Tuesday: “Cecil’s tragic and meaningless destruction may just be the catalyst we need to take action to end lion trophy hunting and, instead, devote all our energies to conserving a species which, perhaps more than any other, represents the wild soul of Africa.”

White House Rejects Petition to Pardon Snowden

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More than 167,000 people signed letter urging Obama administration to drop its prosecution of NSA whistleblower

A petition calling for clemency for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was denied on Tuesday. (Photo: August Kelm/flickr/cc)

A petition calling for clemency for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was denied on Tuesday. (Photo: August Kelm/flickr/cc)

by Nadia Prupis, Common Dreams

The White House on Tuesday formally rejected a ‘We the People’ petition to pardon Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower who has been living in exile since exposing the U.S. government’s invasive spying operation in 2013.

More than 167,000 people signed the petition urging the government to grant him clemency, stating in their petition that Snowden is “a national hero … [who] should be immediately issued a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs.”

Not only will Snowden not be pardoned, the Obama administration said, he should face criminal charges for his actions.

“Mr. Snowden’s dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it,” Lisa Monaco, adviser to President Barack Obama on homeland security and counter-terrorism, said in a statement on Tuesday. The White House issued its rejection two years after the petition was delivered.

The U.S. filed espionage charges against Snowden after he leaked a cache of NSA documents to journalists, revealing the agency’s vast and invasive collection of Americans’ phone and internet activity and prompting an ongoing global debate over the role of government surveillance and the nature of individual privacy.

The revelations also opened the door for surveillance reform, particularly through the passage of the USA Freedom Act and the sunsetting of Section 215 and other controversial provisions in the USA Patriot Act.

Snowden currently lives in political asylum in Russia and has repeatedly expressed his desire to come home—and his doubts that he would get a fair trial if he did.

In many ways, the response by the White House is not unexpected. Despite pledging to protect whistleblowers during his campaign for office, Obama has cracked down more on those who expose government misdeeds than any previous president.

Monaco said on Tuesday that if Snowden “felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: Challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and—importantly—accept the consequences of his actions. He should come home to the United States, and be judged by a jury of his peers—not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime. Right now, he’s running away from the consequences of his actions.”

But journalist Glenn Greenwald, who along with Laura Poitras and Ewan MacAskill helped publish the NSA files in 2013, has previously noted that Snowden would be barred under the Espionage Act from publicly arguing that his actions were justified. “[A]nyone who has even casually watched the post-9/11 American judicial system knows what an absurdity it is to claim that Snowden would receive a fair trial,” he wrote in June.

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