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India will support Palestine cause, engage with Israel: Pranab Mukherjee

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India Palestine Israel

Amman: India will continue to extend unwavering support for separate statehood for Palestine while also engaging with Israel to forge an independent and long-standing bilateral relationship, President Pranab Mukherjee said here on Sunday.

The president also lauded Jordan’s humanitarian support in sheltering 1.4 million Syrians, called for a concerted global action for a peaceful resolution of conflict in the troubled country, while also pushing its own case in forging a UN treaty on countering terrorism.

These were the gist of the visiting president’s messages during his meetings with the Jordanian leadership on the second day of his visit here, and at a speech he delivered at the University of Jordan, which conferred a doctorate on him in political science.

“India supports a negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders,” the president said at the university.

“Our bilateral relations with Israel are independent of our relations with Palestine,” he said.

“India has played a proactive role in garnering support for this cause in all multilateral fora. We have called upon both sides to exercise restraint and work towards a comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue.”

Jordan is the only country in the Arab world, besides Egypt, which has a peace agreement with Israel.

The president also quoted Mahatma Gandhi, as drawn from a book written by Queen Noor: “‘Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English and France to the French’.”

The Jordanian side was equally candid and said it saw Israel resorting to “state terrorism” against the people of Palestine, as clashes between the two sides continued unabated. This was also the text of a resolution that was passed by the Jordanian Parliament on Saturday, accusing Israelis of “sapping the rights” of Palestinians.

President Mukherjee, who earlier in the day opened a street, named after Mahatma Gandhi here, continued his engagements with the Jordanian leadership, during which he also took up the issue of ending conflict in Syria, while supporting Amman’s endeavours.

Jordan has a population of 6.5 million and another 1.5 million — or 25 percent — have taken shelter in the country.

The Indian side said it strongly endorsed the June 2012 resolution of the Action Group for Syria that met at the UN office in Switzerland — called the Geneva-I Communique — that not only wanted an end to further military conflict, but also rapid steps for a credible political agreement, involving the people.

About the increasing Russian involvement in Syria, Anil Wadhwa, secretary, east in India’s foreign ministry said there was major distinction and Moscow was primarily seeking to curtail the advancement of the extremist group Islamic State in Syria.

Since September 30, Russia has been carrying out airstrikes against certain positions of Islamic State which has been criticised by the US as being directed at anti-government rebels.

The talks between the Jordanian and Indian sides also veered around terrorism — of which the South Asian country has been a victim.

India pushed for a total compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolution number 1,353 of 2011 and the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy adopted in 2006, as also for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, that has been pending for over a decade.

President Mukherjee himself pushed for this convention strongly and said it will serve to put a curb against state-sponsored terrorism in the most effective manner, by getting countries to take steps that will not only suppress such acts, but also punish its perpetrators, abettors, financiers, facilitators and collaborators.

During his engagements here, the Indian side and the Jordanian sides signed a number of pacts, ranging from cooperation in maritime transport to information technology, besides some 10 in the field of education between the Jawaharlal University, Jamia Millia Islamiyya, University of Delhi and IIT-Kharagpur, with their Jordanian counterparts.

(IANS)

Nasheman.in interviews Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

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aishwarya rai jazbaa

5 years is a long time for a most beautiful & extremely talented actress like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to remain in oblivion. To miss the glamour oriented glory is not a small thing but once again when I met her recently on the eve of the release of her comeback film ‘Jazbaa’ released this Friday, she sounded as cheerful as ever. As if she was never away from B – Town arena.

Welcome Back to B – Town. Now tell us did you really, really missed the Bollywood Fraternity in the interim phase?

Honestly & frankly speaking no, I did not miss them at all. Moreover you can say that Bollywood is omnipresent in my house in the form of my Paa (Amitabh Bachchan), my Maa (Jaya Bachchan), my darling hubby (Abhishek Bachachan) & not to forget my adorable daughter (Aradhya Bachchan) as being born in a total film family ambience she can also be counted as one of the future member of the Bollywoodian film fraternity as who knows one day she might opt for the same filmy profession like the whole Bachchan clan.

So unlike the other Hindi film actresses even the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan could not resist the temptation of making a grand comeback to the celluloid silver screen with ‘Jazbaa’. How come?

Oh! Come on. Your sarcastic comment is totally uncalled for. But you are forgetting one basic thing that “Once an actress, always an actress”. Besides haven’t you heard that all actors have this thinking that they would like to keep on wearing their acting shoes till the last breath of their life.

So what took you so long to restart your cinematic journey with ‘Jazbaa’?

You can say that I was enjoying my blissful married life. I think I could not get enough love that my maa, my paa & my hubby were showering on me. And then my darling daughter Aradhya was born and I got busy in taking care of her and showering all my love on her.

Maybe it was the lack of proper offer that delayed your comeback in the Bollywoodian arena. Am I right?

No you are totally wrong on that score. As you see during my family oriented marital break I did not think about Bollywood at all. And when I was just about to think on these lines, director Sanjay Gupta along with Nitin Keni of Essel Vision offered me this beautiful script of ‘Jazbaa’ with a tailor made role for me namely that of lawyer Anuradha Verma, a defence counsellor who only takes up the cases of hardcore criminals to defend them in the court of law. And her success ratio in this regard is 100%. Until…….and therein lies the catch.

Do you think it was a mistake to take up such a matured & deglam role as your comeback venture?

No I don’t think so. In fact the character of Defence Counsellor Anuradha Verma comes with a bonus of many colourful shades attached to it. No I don’t think it is a deglam role, it’s not that I am walking around in the movie sans make up. Yes I do agree that it is a very powerful & overtly matured role of a scarred single mother of a 10 year old daughter who is kidnapped one fine day. And then Anuradha becomes like an angry tigress venting out her anger against all concerned. The film ‘Jazbaa’ also raises a pertinent question on the teenage rape issue, besides throwing light on varied other issue’s like the broken homes & the broken nay a constantly disintegrating relationships.

How was the experience of working in ‘Jazbaa’?

It was an out of the world albeit a thrilling experience while working for this crime thriller ‘Jazba’. I was very excited while working for ‘Jazbaa’. In fact I would like to add that working for ‘Jazbaa’ was also like a fun oriented crazy experience, besides I also got a chance to do some of the most daring stunts & action sequences without the help of using a duplicate. The film ‘Jazbaa’ was not only close to my heart but to everyone connected with it. The subject of ‘Jazbaa’ was so powerful that we all related to it. I think even the fans will relate to it. In ‘Jazbaa’ I pass through a certain incident in my life, which I had to deal with both on a personal as well as on a professional level. Initially, I had no plans to do ‘Jazbaa’, but certain reasons, the extreme liking of the script was one of them, compelled me to do it. And I am most happy that finally I ended up doing ‘Jazbaa’.

You made a comeback on the celluloid silver screen after a gap of 5 years. Did you feel any specific pressure?

No, none whatsoever. In fact not at all. You see, since childhood I have always believed in multitasking. Even when I grew up I never felt any pressure both on the home & on the career front too. I can manage everything on my own and of course with the cooperation of all my near & dear ones. That apart I am very thankfully indebted to all my fans & well wishers that they have not forgotten me, gave me the warmest welcome back and still like me a lot.

And what was your families reaction towards your comeback to the celluloid silver screen that too after 5 long years?

Oh! Needless to say that they are all happy for me and feel very proud of me in the moment of my comeback glory.

What preparation did you make for the role of a defence counsellor in ‘Jazbaa’?

I think for that all the credit should go to Sanjay Gupta, the director of ‘Jazbaa’, who has a good knowledge of law and he has taken great care to depict the finer & intrinsic points of a lawyer in lieu with all their nuances. My role of a defence counsellor has been depicted by him from the point of view of today’s generation.

What is your opinion about your co – star Irrfan Khan?

Well! Irrfan Khan no doubt was an integral part of ‘Jazbaa’. Even during the shooting of ‘Jazbaa’ he had extended his fullest cooperation. On the sets of ‘Jazbaa’ I found him to be a thorough professional, which by now, I think has become his 2nd attitudinal nature.

Your opinion about Sanjay Gupta, the director of your comeback film ‘Jazbaa’?

Oh! What can I say about him. He is a par excellence director. He is too good & knows his craft too well. That apart he is a chilled out guy on the sets. What more can I say. I really, loved working with him for ‘Jazbaa’. I will cherish this experience for a long time to come.

You still look trim & fit. Have you tucked up any secret up your sleeve in this regard?

No. No secret formula. It’s just that I am extremely thankful & extremely grateful to God – The Almighty that he has always helped me to maintain my figure. I only wish that I had done some workout before the shoot. Anyways my present look matches perfectly with that of the look of the charater of Anuradha Verma.

The film industry has changed a lot since you were away. So what difference did you notice since your comeback?

In my absence too I had noticed a rapid growth in the film industry. Even the commercial cinema has been progressing beyond imagination. A lot of difference can be noted in the vision & thinking of today’s generation. As far as technology is concerned we have moved far, far ahead of its time. Besides there has been a lot of change in the marketing strategies too.

Has motherhood brought any change in you?

A lot! Which I may not be able to describe in detail but suffice it to say that I am totally enjoying every bit of it. Being a mother has enriched my experiences a lot. Every day I am learning something new from my sweetest daughter Aradhya.

As a parting shot tell us if you are ready to spring any more surprises on your fans & well wishers?

Oh! Nothing of the sort. Let them first enjoy ‘Jazbaa’ to their heart’s content. Right now the whole Bachchan family is enjoying the golden moments of life and I most happy getting back to my normal life once again.

6 more authors return Sahitya Akademi awards

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Noted Kashmiri writer and poet Ghulam Nabi Khayal. Photo: Facebook

Noted Kashmiri writer and poet Ghulam Nabi Khayal. Photo: Facebook

New Delhi: Six more authors including Kashmiri writer Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Kannada writer-translator Srinath D N and Rajesh Joshi have decided to return their Sahitya Akademi awards under the spiralling protest by litterateurs against “communal” atmosphere and “rising intolerance” following rationalist M M Kalburgi’s killing.

Hindi writers Mangalesh Dabral and Rajesh Joshi along with Srinath today said they will return their prestigious Sahitya Akademi awards while Waryam Sandhu and G N Ranganatha Rao intimated the Akademi of their decision. Khayal also joined the bandwagon of authors, saying the minorities in the country today feel “unsafe and threatened”.

“In the place of the pen, there are now bullets being fired. Author Kalburgi was murdered and both the Centre and the state should quickly act against the offenders so that such an incident is not repeated in the future,” Srinath said.

Srinath had won the 2009 Sahitya Akademi for translating short stories in Hindi written by Bheesham Sahani into Kannada.

In their joint statement protesting the “silence” of the Akademi over the Kalburgi murder, writers Dabral and Joshi said, “For the past one year or so basic values of democracy freeedom of expression, freedom to live our lives according to our wishes are under attack by the forces of Hindutva, which is not acceptable.

“The Sahitya Akademi remains silent about the Kalburgi murder so many dangers our democracy is facing, the very fabric of democracy is under threat.”

They said the Akademi should have opposed the killing of Kalburgi openly. “It was the duty of the Akademi to condemn the atmosphere in the country,” he said.

When contacted Akademi officials said they were yet to recieve intimations of the writers returning the awards.

“Apart from writers Uday Prakash, GN Devy, Aman Sethi, Waryam Sandhu and translator G N Ranganatha Rao, we have not got any intimations about the writers returning their awards,” an official said.

Joshi told PTI over phone from Mumbai, “Manglesh Dabral and I made the decision last night and have written to the Akademi chair our decision to return the award.”

Joshi said they had sent a joint statement to the Akademi President Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari and will soon be returning their prize money too.

“We thought that it is high time that we returned the award. The climate in the country is such that writers are being killed, the freedom of expression is under threat…,” Joshi said.

“Besides, the way country’s atmosphere is being communalised is not good for the tradition of tolerance for which the nation is known and also for its democracy,” he said.

The writer, poet and playwright who recieved the Akademi award in 2002 for his ‘Do Panktiyon Ke Beech’ (Between Two Lines) said it was unprecedented to have so many writers return their awards.

“Right now the Akademi’s executive council has to deliberate on the issue to come up with a provision on what to do with the award money,” Joshi said.

Six authors, including Gujarat-based writer Ganesh Devy, announced they were returning their awards, joining ranks with authors Uday Prakash, Nayantara Sahgal, Ashok Vajpayei who had earlier given up the honour to protest against the Kalburgi killing and Dadri lynching incident wher a man was kileld by a mob over rumour of beef eating

At least 16 authors have announced their decision to return their Sahitya Akademi awards.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas today returned the Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Academy Award as a mark of protest against the Dadri lynching incident.

“I was to return the award on Saturday. However, officials of the Academy informed me that the office was closed that day. Therefore, I returned the award today,” Abbas told PTI, after returning the award at the Academy office in south Mumbai.

“After the Dadri lynching, the Urdu writing community has been quite unhappy. Therefore, I decided to return the award. There are some other Urdu writers who also want to join the protest. It is high time we stood up to the injustice surrounding us,” he said.

Abbas had in 2011 won the award for his third novel ‘Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Aankh Micholi’ (Hide and Seek in the Shadow of God).

Earlier, noted writers Nayantara Sahgal and poet Ashok Vajpeyi had returned their literary honours to protest what they termed as an “assault on right to freedom of both life and expression”.

A 50-year-old man was on September 28 lynched by a mob in Dadri’s Bishada village near Delhi over rumours of eating beef, triggering a nationwide outrage.

 

Syria: 300 anti-Assad fighters killed in 24 hours

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Russia killed militants in 60 separate attacks in 24 hours. Image used for illustrative purposes. (Al Bawaba/File)

Russia killed militants in 60 separate attacks in 24 hours. Image used for illustrative purposes. (Al Bawaba/File)

by Andolu Ajansi

Russian airstrikes killed 300 suspected militants in 60 separate attacks in northern Syria within the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed Friday.

According to state-owned Russia Today, Russia’s Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Igor Makushev addressed a briefing in Moscow during which he revealed that Russian air forces carried out 67 sorties that also killed two suspected senior Daesh field commanders.

“A precision hit destroyed the headquarters of Liwa al-Haqq, an Islamist group, which has been fighting the government of Bashar Assad since 2012. Russia said that a radio intercept confirmed the deaths of 200 fighters, and two commanders, who Makushev said belonged to Islamic State [Daesh],” Russia Today said.

Another 100 suspected militants were killed in an airstrike near Aleppo, it added.

The targets were mainly hit in Syrian provinces of Raqqa, Latakia, Hama, Idlib and Aleppo.

Russia began its air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30.

Nobel Peace Prize for Tunisian democracy group

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National Dialogue Quartet made “decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia”, jury says.

Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet

by Al Jazeera

The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet – a democracy group – has been awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee has announced.

The group of four organisations established “an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war,” the Committee said on Friday, referring to the period following Tunisia’s 2011 revolution.

The National Dialogue Quartet is made up of four key organisations in Tunisian civil society: the Tunisian General Labour Union; the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts; the Tunisian Human Rights League; and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.

The jury cited the group for “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011”.

“The Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 is awarded to this Quartet, not to the four individual organisations as such,” the committee said.

The laureates will receive their prizes at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize creator Alfred Nobel, a Swedish philanthropist and scientist.

Reaction

A Tunisian union leader who played a key role in democracy-building that won the Nobel Peace Prize says he was “overwhelmed” by the gesture.

Houcine Abassi, secretary general of the UGTT union, told the AP news agency on Friday: “It’s a prize that crowns more than two years of efforts deployed by the quartet when the country was in danger on all fronts.”

“I am happy,” he said, adding that the quartet members were not expecting the prize.

He described how the UGTT, a human rights group, a trade group and a lawyers group joined together to try to “bring the country out of crisis.”

Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from Tunisia, said: “[It’s] very symbolic for many Tunisians who see this as really a symbol of hope for the country which is going through another crisis.”

Tunisia’s young and still shaky democracy suffered two attacks this year that killed 60 people and devastated the tourism industry.

“More than anything, the prize is intended as an encouragement to the Tunisian people, who despite major challenges have laid the groundwork for a national fraternity which the committee hopes will serve as an example to be followed by other countries,” the committee said.

The committee said the prize was also intended as an encouragement to other countries to follow in Tunisia’s footsteps.

“The Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes that this year’s prize will contribute towards safeguarding democracy in Tunisia and be an inspiration to all those who seek to promote peace and democracy in the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of the world,” it said.

Tunisian Tourism Minister:

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

The United Nations:

Deadly explosions hit Ankara peace rally

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Twin blasts in the centre of the Turkish capital kill at least 30, injure more than 120, interior ministry says.

An online video showed the moment one of the blasts at the peace rally in Ankara [Via @dokuz8haber]

An online video showed the moment one of the blasts at the peace rally in Ankara [Via @dokuz8haber]

by Al Jazeera

Two explosions have rocked a road junction in the centre of the Turkish capital Ankara, killing at least 30 people and injuring dozens of others, the interior ministry said.

The blasts took place several minutes apart, with the first going off at around 10:00am (0700 GMT), local media reported.

A video on social media showed the moment of one explosion: young people were dancing and waving banners as a massive fireball erupts.

The explosions occurred near a train station where people were gathering for a peace march to protest against the conflict between the state and Kurdish fighters in southeast Turkey.

Video footage on social media showed several bodies lying on the ground, as survivors tried to attend to the wounded.

Emergency crews were at the scene, responding to the injuries, with ambulances rushing off to several local hospitals. There were reports of shortages of blood and calls for donations.

‘Barbaric attack’

“We heard one huge blast and then one smaller explosion and then there was a a great movement and panic. Then we saw corpses around the station,” said Ahmet Onen, 52.

“A demonstration that was to promote peace has turned into a massacre, I don’t understand this,” he said, in floods of tears.

Demonstrators angered by the attack on their fellow activists shouted “police murderers!” at the scene of the blasts but were then dispersed as the security forces intervened.

The rally was organised by several leftist groups, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

“We are faced with a huge massacre. A barbaric attack has been committed,” said the HDP’s leader Selahattin Demirtas.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly denounced the attack.

“I strongly condemn this heinous attack on our unity and our country’s peace,” Erdogan said in a statement posted on the presidency’s website.

“No matter what its origin, aim or name, we are against any form of terrorist act or terrorist organisation. We are obliged to be against it together,” Erdogan said.

The attack came with Turkey on edge ahead of November 1 polls and a wave of unrest over the past few months.

An attack in the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc on July 20 targeting pro-HDP activists and blamed on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters killed 32 people and wounded a hundred others.

The armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) accused Ankara of collaborating with ISIL and resumed attacks on the Turkish security forces after observing a two-year ceasefire.

Over 140 members of the security forces have since been killed while Ankara claims to have killed over 1,700 Kurdish fighters in weeks of bombardments of PKK targets in southeast Turkey and northern Iraq.

PPK ceasefire

Hours after the blasts in Ankara, the PKK called for a unilateral ceasefire in its fight against the Turkish state “unless they or the Kurdish people are attacked”, according to a statement carried by Kurdish news agencies.

The statement was released by the Group of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK) and did not reference Saturday’s attack in Ankara.

The move was widely expected as analysts said the PKK hoped it would boost the HDP’s score in the upcoming election.

The HDP performed strongly in the last vote on June 7, winning 80 seats to deprive President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of an outright majority for the first time since it came to power in 2002.

The AKP then failed to form a coalition in months of talks, prompting Erdogan – who had been hoping for a large majority to push through reforms to boost his powers – to call another election on November 1.

Initial reports on Saturday’s blasts spoke of a single explosion but Turkish media said later there had been two separate blasts in short sequence.

The authorities were exploring the possibility that the blasts could have been caused by a suicide bomber, the official Anatolia news agency said.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had been briefed over the blast by Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, Anatolia said.

“We are investigating the explosion and will share our findings with the public as soon as possible,” a Turkish official said, without giving further details.

Cow slaughter rumours trigger tension in UP village, 21 arrested

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Mainpuri: Police in action after villagers vandalised properties and resorted to arson in Mainpuri district on Friday over rumours of cow slaughter in the area. Photo: PTI

Mainpuri: Police in action after villagers vandalised properties and resorted to arson in Mainpuri district on Friday over rumours of cow slaughter in the area. Photo: PTI

Mainpuri: After Dadri, tension now prevails in this district where rumours of cow slaughter triggered violence with protesters targeting police vehicles and setting afire shops, leaving seven policemen injured.

Twenty-one people have been arrested for yesterday’s violence even as the circle officer has been suspended for alleged laxity.

The violence started after some persons spread rumours of cow slaughter in Karhal area with an intention to trigger communal tension in the town, an official spokesman said today.

However, the post-mortem report found that the cow had died due to an ailment, he said.

As soon as the rumour spread yesterday, people in Nagaria village set police jeeps on fire and damaged several other vehicles and shops as they were agitated over rumours of cow slaughter in the village, police said.

It was alleged that a cow, which was grazing in a field near the village, was taken away for slaughter and its skin was being removed in a house when some villagers barged in, the police said.

District Magistrate Chandrapal Singh said, “A rumour was spread here that a cow has been slaughtered. But when we did a post-mortem of the cow yesterday, it came to the fore that the cow had been dead for sometime. The people who usually remove bodies of animals had taken away the cow and were removing its skin. That is how the rumour started about the cow being slaughtered.”

Following this, some people came onto the streets and agitated. Police reached the spot and arrested those removing the skin of the dead cow, the District Magistrate said.

“Those who were taking out the skin were arrested as well as those who incited the violence on the streets. Twenty-one people, including two who were removing skin of the dead cow, have been arrested,” he said.

Singh said that an FIR has been lodged against 29 named persons and 250 unidentified people for violence.

“When the accused had already been taken away, the angry mob targeted police vehicles, throwing the policemen into a canal and setting their vehicles on fire. The mob also set one shop on fire as well as destroyed vegetables being sold in an open market here,” the District Magistrate said.

“A lot of policemen were injured including two station officers and five constables,” he said.

Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav said attempts were being made to vitiate the atmosphere in Karhal.

“Attempts are being made in Karhal (Mainpuri) to vitiate the communal atmosphere. We are ensuring arrest of those involved in the incident,” he had said.

Yadav also said that SP was fighting communal forces for a long time and would continue doing so.

The violence in Mainpuri comes close on the heels of the Dadri lynching incident in which a man was killed over rumours of alleged beef consumption.

(PTI)

Foriegn Films Round Up

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BBC Kids, Jamillah & Aladdin

IMIRA SHOWCASES ‘JAMILLAH & ALLADIN’

In a flurry of deals prior to Mipcom, top Spanish youth show producer & distributor Imira Entertainment has announced the sale of ‘The Hero Of Color City’ to AMC Network for its Europe, Middle & African channels. AMC has also taken pre -school series ‘Cleo’ for Poland & Benelux. Also, Imira has sold comedic vignette ‘Larva’ to Nicklodeon, for Central & Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Netherlands & Greece. For its part, Kidoodle.TV kids’ subscription video – on. – demand service has taken rights for ‘Cleo’, ‘The Happets’, ‘Vitaminix’ in US & Canada. All the series are included on Imira plentiful slate for 2015’s Mipcom TV mart, whose flagship is live – action / toon hybrid ‘Jamillah & Aladdin’. A co -production between Live Kids Action, BBC / Ceebies, Kindle Entertainment, MediaBiz & India’s Toonz Media Group, “Jamillah” is a 52 11 – minute TV skein aimed at children aged 6 – 10.

MAKINGPROD TEAM ON ‘SALAZAR’

Madrid based Plano a Plano, Spain’s highest rating indie TV production house, is teaming with French prodco MakingProd, part of the Makever group, to develop ‘Salazar’, an epic thriller. Based on true events, the historical limited series turns on a real life, though totally forgotten hero: Inquisitor Alonso De Salazar, called the Witches’ Advocate. Plano a Plano’s 1st move into international co – production is an early milestone for the Madrid based producer, headed by the creative tandem of Cesar Benitez, an experienced, highly respected producer of hit comedy features, such as 1995 ‘Boca A Boca’, starring a young hunky Javier Bardem, pioneering teen soap “Al salir De clase and long running cop series ‘El Comisario’ and seasoned writer & producer Aitor Gabilondo, a scribe on “El comisario” and now creator & writer of Plano a Plano’s door opening hit ‘El Principe’.

FRANK TEAMS WITH BETA

Munich based sales & production house Beta Film is upping the ante in the high end TV stakes, with several new projects announced recently at TV market Mipcom in Cannes, including a fantasy series from one of the showrunners of ‘Game Of Thrones’ and a drama depicting Hitler’s life from World War I to the start of World War II. Beta chief Jan Mojto said that the number of high end TV series it was producing or co – producing, most of which will be budgeted at around Euros 2 million ($2.24 million) an hour or higher, would rise from 30 hours a year this year, to 36 hours next year and 48 hours in 2017. Beta is working with ‘Game Of Thrones’ showrunner Frank Doelger on an action & adventure fantasy series, budgeted at up to Euros 3 million ($3.36 million) an hour, titled ‘The Perished Land’.

‘FACK JU GOEHTE 2’ EARNS $48.4M IN 19 DAYS

German high school comedy ‘Fack Ju Goehte 2’, the follow up to $70 million box – office hit, has generated a theatrical gross on home turf of Euros 43.2 million ($48.4 million) in 19 days. The movie, which was released on 10 Sept, 2015 by Constantin Film, follows a renegade teacher and his delinquent class on a school trip to Thailand. It has clocked up 5.3 million admissions in Germany and a further 460,000 in Austria & Switzerland. The movie is written & directed by Bora Dagtekin, who helmed the most successful German movie of 2012, ‘Turkish For Beginners’ and is produced by Lena Schoemann & Dagtekin for Constantin. Elyas M’Barek plays the errant teacher Zeki Mueller & Karoline Herfurth is his colleague Lisi Schnabelstedt, while the students include Jella Haase as Chantal, Gizem Emre as Zeynep & Max Von Der Groeben as Danger.

AXEL BUYS BUSINESS INSIDER

Axel Springer, one of Europe’s largest digital publishing & media conglomerates, announced a deal to acquire US based news & events company Business Insider for about $343 million. The addition of Business Insider’s 76 million unique monthly visitors will increase Axel Springer’s worldwide digital audience by two – thirds, the company said, to approximately 200 million users. The move comes after Axel Springer failed in its effort to acquire UK based Financial Times, snapped up by Japan’s Nikkei Inc. in Jul, 2015 and merger talks with ProSiebenSat.1 ended without a deal. The deal values Business Insider at $442 million. Axel Springer already holds a 9% stake in BI; following the deal announced recently, it will hold a stake of approximately 97%.

FILM INDUSTRY SHOWS INTERNATIONAL AMBITIONS

The 23rd Raindance Festival’s pioneering Focus on Mexico Co-Production Forum gave a London producer audience the chance to discover the energy & ambitions of one of, challenges aside, the world’s flourishing national industries. Many of those ambitions, if the 8 projects presented by Mexican directors & producers, are anything to go on, now run through US. 5 titles are in some way Mexican – US crossovers. Though all made by Mexican filmmakers, 2 are set totally in US, one off its shore, another couple straddle Los Angeles & Latin America. 2 Raindance project directors, Grau & Ezban, have been signed up by Paradigm Talent Agency.

AVANTI PICTURES RAISES THE ANTE

Jack Zagha’s ‘A Useless Puddle’, a psychological drama selected for Raindance’s Focus on Mexico Co – Production Forum, marks Mexican Prodco Avanti Pictures’ most ambitious feature project to date. A film adaption of Spanish writer David Desola’s play ‘La Charca Inutil’, “Puddle,” which is set in the United States, following Oscar, a high school teacher who loses his job after a crazy incident with a student. Then, his old time mentor offers him a job as a private teacher to a young kid and his single mother. After accepting, Oscar learns that the boy died accidentally 3 years earlier in an infamous town massacre and his mother has created a prior – shooting world to avoid confronting her unbearable reality.

“MORPHABLEL” TAKES FORM

Mexican Jonathan Ostos presented his debut feature project ‘The Morphable Man’ at “Focus on Mexico”, the Raindance Fest’s Co -production Forum spotlighting 8 Mexican projects which unspooled recently in London. Minimart is organized in partnership with Mexico’s Guadalajara Internal Film Fest and backed by Mexico’s Imcine Film Institute. English language “Morphable” weighs in as a romcom with fantastic elements and a late adventure coming – of ager set against the background of Austin’s music scene. It turns on young Mexican Aido, a music magazine copy editor. Until now, he has managed to control his very bizarre condition that makes him transform into random objects, from bubbles to barbed wire. But he’s about to loose his gripnear entirely due to a deeper transformation, when he falls in love with a mysterious singer.

LOCAL COMPETITION HEATS UP

In a globalized international TV business, which will converge in Cannes for the Mipcom trade fair 5th to 8th Oct, 2015, there are no limits to the ambition of even the world’s smaller countries. And those ambitions can often run through alliances with and sales to US. Few examples are more eye catching than Chile, despite its relatively small size, a TV production force thanks to the export of its small -screen fiction formats in partnership with Telemundo. Chile is far from North America, Europe & Asia and with some 2.5 million households with free – to -air TV access, it ranks well below other Latin American TV territories such as Brazil (43 million FTA homes), Mexico (16 million), Colombia (7.5 million) and Argentina (5 million). However, the Chile TV market boasts one of the most cultured & educated of all Latin American societies and fierce internal competition from free – to – air TV players like pubcaster TVN.

SPT TO PRODUCE ‘ROSEANNE’ ADAPTATION

Sony Pictures Television has secured a pilot order for a Russian adaptation of ‘Roseanne’ from Russia’s leading independent media company CTC Media. Retitled ‘Katya’,the Russian redo is the 1st adaptation based on the multiple Emmy winning sitcom starring Roseanne Barr that ran in US for 9 seasons on ABC. The show was a big hit in US for ABC from 1988 – 1997. It was produced by the Carsey – Werner Co. “Our adaptation of ‘Roseanne’ will resonate with Russian audiences because it is based in truth,” enthused Jeff Lerner, executive vice president, scripted programming, international production for SPT. “The series will show a real working class family getting through each day, laughing at the trials & tribulations life sends their way and making the audience smile along with them,” he added.

NETFLIX SETS EXACT DATES & PRICING

Netflix has set exact dates & pricing for its upcoming launches in Spain, Portugal & Italy. The streaming subscription video service will bow in Spain on 20th Oct, 2015; Portugal will segue a day later on 21st Oct, 2015; followed by Italy on 22nd Oct, 2015. After a free one month trial, pricing across all 3 Southern European markets will be the same, Euros 7.99 ($8.90) per month for standard definition, basic single connection. 2 simultaneous connections in HD format will cost Euros 9.99, and a premium plan of 4 simultaneous connections in Ultra HD will cost Euros 11.99. Netflix will be available on Smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers and various video game consoles & set top boxes connected to the Internet, in addition to Apple TV & Google Chromecast. In Spain, Netflix will also be streaming via telecom service operated Vodafone TV. In Italy it will be available through both Telecom Italia & Vodafone.

AWESOMENESS TV PACTS WITH ENDEMOL SHINE

Teen focused digital media company Awesomeness TV is coming to at least 5 overseas markets under a multiyear deal with Endemol Shine Group. Per the pact, Endemol Shine’s Endemol Beyond digital unit will launch local language, owned & operated Awesomeness TV channels in key markets outside US, including UK, France, Germany, Spain & Brazil. Programming will encompass ATV’s popular digital video formats as well as Awesomeness TV franchises such as docu -reality series ‘Cheerleaders’, following the California All Stars coed cheerleading squad from Ventura & ‘IMO’, an interview based show for girls. In another foray outside the States, Awesomeness TV this summer inked a deal with DHX Media to license, develop & produce original shows for DHX’s Family Channel in Canada.

APPLE EXTENDS ITS REACH

Apple has expanded its reach in China, launching Apple Music, iTunes movies & iBooks in the lucrative market. China’s Apple Music, which already includes millions of songs, features music from local artists, including Eason Chan, Li Ronghao, JJ Lin & G.E.M., as well as a wide range of international musicians, such as Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran. “Customers in China love the App Store and have made it our largest market in the world for app downloads,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software & Services, in a statement recently. “One of the top requests has been more great content and we’re thrilled to bring music, movies & books to China, curated by a local team of experts.” Apple Music will cost 10 yuan ($1.57) a month after the same 3 month free trial available in US. iTunes movies range from 5 yuan ($0.79) for HD rentals to 18 yuan ($2.83) for HD purchases. Paid iBooks start from 0.5 yuan ($0.08), although free iBooks are available as well.

KESHET FORGES PARTNERSHIP

Keshet International, the global distribution & production arm of Israeli media powerhouse Keshet, has forged a partnership with Huace Group / Croton Media, one of China’s largest production companies, on a 2 pronged deal which will see Keshet Studios optioning Huace Group / Croton Media’s ‘Dating Hunter’ for US market, marking the 1st ever Chinese format to be potentially re – versioned for American TV audiences. Huace Group / Croton Media is also developing local versions of Keshet’s award winning scripted properties ‘Traffic Light’ & ‘Loaded’ for Chinese audiences. The Keshet International projects are in pre -production in China with broadcasters yet to be attached, as is customary in the Chinese market.

‘THE VOICE’ TRAVELS A LOT

In the run up to Mipcom, Talpa’s hit talent competition format ‘The Voice’ has been picked up in 60 territories including Iceland and various African countries. ‘The Voice’ will next launch in Ecuador, Azerbaijan & South Africa. Recent deals have catapulted ‘The Voice’ to close to 65 productions worldwide. Underscoring the format’s strength amid a competitive market, ‘The Voice’ in US recently won its 2nd Emmy, meanwhile ‘The Voice’ in Holland punched high ratings which surpassed those of the past 2 seasons. Launched in Netherlands in 2010, ‘The Voice’ now airs in over 180 territories, attracting more than 500 million viewers. ‘The Voice’ is also a social media phenomenon. It has over 55 million Facebook fans and more than 10 million Twitter followers. ‘The Voice’ & ‘The Voice Kids’ nearly garners 8 billion YouTube views and over 12 million subscribers.

TELEMUNDO & HBO LATIN AMERICA UNVEIL SALES DEAL

Signaling one of the macro Latino deals at this year’s Mipcom trade fair, Telemundo Internacional & HBO Latin America Originals have inked an exclusive distribution deal giving Telemundo world sales rights outside the Americas, North, Central, South, on HBO Latin America productions. Deal involves the 2nd biggest Spanish language distributor in the world and HBO Latin America, a company on the cutting edge of upscale Spanish language TV production. It kicks in Jan, 2016 with period psychological drama ‘El Hipnotizador’, starring Leonardo Sbaraglio in the title role and HBO Latin America’s 1st ever bilingual Spanish – Portuguese series.
Also on early next year’s slate of HBO Latin American Originals from Brazilian film / TV giant Conspiraçao, ‘Magnifica 70’, about a state censor involved with a sex film actress, directed by Claudio Torres, who scored a huge hit with ‘The Invisible Woman’; now heading towards its 3rd season, ‘El negocio’, another Brazilian series, from Mixer Producciones, about 3 women who decide to apply modern marketing methods to the oldest profession in the world; quirky psychoanalyst dramedy ‘Psi’, also from Brazil.

CBI raids Vijay Mallya’s residence in Rs 900 cr loan default case

by

Vijay Mallya

New Delhi: CBI today carried out searches at residential and official premises of liquor baron Vijay Mallya and his now-defunct company Kingfisher Airlines in five places in connection with alleged default of over Rs 900 crore loan from IDBI Bank.

CBI sources said searches were carried out at the offices and residence of Mallya in Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore and other places. They said a case was registered by the agency against Mallya, Director of defunct Kingfisher Airlines; the company; A Raghunathan, Chief Financial Officer of the Airlines; and unknown officials of IDBI Bank.

It is alleged that the loan was sanctioned in violation of norms regarding credit limits. No immediate reaction was available from the company.

The CBI sources said an FIR into the alleged violations was registered recently as part of its wide probe into criminal aspects of loans declared to be non-performing assets by public sector banks.

The sources said there was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium. Mallya would soon be called for examination in connection with the case.

“It was first exposure to the bank. There was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium when already other loans were getting stressed,” a senior CBI official, probing the matter, had earlier said.

The bank will have to explain reasons for extending the loan to the airlines, ignoring its own internal report which has warned against such a move. The debt-laden airlines stopped operations in October 2012.

The CBI sources said the agency has registered a total of 27 inquiries and cases with regards to “bad loans” given by public sector banks to various corporates in 2013.

The consortium of 17 banks had an outstanding of over Rs 7,000 crore on loans from Kingfisher with State Bank of India having the highest exposure of Rs 1,600 crore.

The then CBI Director Ranjit Sinha had said bulk of non-performing assets were connected to 30 defaulter accounts.

(PTI)

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