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Subramanian Swamy again makes controversial remarks in RS, Cong protests

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subramanian swamyub

New Delhi: Subramanian Swamy, who triggered huge protests from Congress yesterday over his attempts to drag Sonia Gandhi in the AugustaWestland helicopter row, today again made some controversial remarks in Rajya Sabha which the Chair immediately expunged and warned him of action for unnecessary provocation.

Expunging Swamy’s reference to the Constitution of another country that triggered vociferous protests from Congress members, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien also ordered media not to report the remarks.

Trouble broke out after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) in a Zero Hour mention referred to Swamy being part of the movement in 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Swamy got up to clarify saying he had no objection to minority education institutions but the Constitution prohibits the State from financing them.

He was countered on this by the opposition to which he responded by dragging the name of another country, a reference that led to agitated Congress members rushing into the Well.

Kurien said he was expunging the reference to the Constitution of another country but that did not satisfy the Congress members who continued to shout slogans against Swamy.

The BJP MP, who was sworn in only on Monday, insisted that since his name has been taken by another member, he has a right to reply and again went on to refer to the country, drawing sharp rebuke from the Chair.

“I will take action against you. Subramanian Swamy you are unnecessarily provoking. I will have to take action against you… you are provoking,” Kurien said.

Observing that what Swamy said would not go on record, he said “what has been expunged should not be reported by media.”

Congress members sought action against Swamy with Jairam Ramesh saying he was “needling and provoking” by bringing in reference to another country. “This is deliberate.”
With Congress members continuing to protest, Kurien asked them to return to their seats and said it was a deliberate attempt to subvert the Zero Hour.

Asked by the Chair what the problem was when the remarks have been expunged, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said “the problem is the new gift of BJP. Problem is not on this side.”

He said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. “There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words,” he asked the Chair.

Azad said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. “He does not allow his hair to gray so he can learn and mature.”

(PTI)

Italian chopper firm had allotted Rs 50 cr to ‘manage’ media

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AgustaWestland

New Delhi: BJP today raised the AgustaWestland issue in Lok Sabha, expressing concern over the reported misuse of media by the Italian company which had earmarked Rs 50 crore for the purpose to clinch the VVIP chopper deal.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Meenakshi Lekhi suggested that the middleman Christian Michel had been given the amount to ‘manage’ the media.

Amid strong protests from Congress for allowing raising the issue, Lekhi said it was unfortunate that media which is an organ of healthy democracy has been “misused”.

“It amounts to misuse of the freedom of expression. It is irresponsible as media is part of democratic structure”, she remarked.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, supported by party colleagues, protested to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. “I respect you much. You should not have allowed this.

Please don’t do this”, he was heard remarking.

Amid the protests, the Speaker adjourned the House for the lunch recess.Reports had it Christian Michel, a British businessman and an alleged middleman in the deal, was paid millions of dollars by AgustaWestland.

A large portion of the money paid by AgustaWestland to Michel is “completely disproportionate” to the work he did for the company, the Milan Court of Appeals has held. Interpol issued a red corner notice against Michel on India’s request in December 2015.

The Milan court had noted that Michel was paid over 44 million euros by AgustaWestland for various contracts, which included a deal to supply spare parts for Indian naval helicopters and a post-contract service deal for the VVIP chopper contract.

(PTI)

Israel army kills Palestinian siblings in ‘attack’

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More than six months of violence leaves at least 209 Palestinians and 29 Israelis dead.

Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians during an alleged knife attack at the Qalandia checkpoint [Mohamad Torokman/Reuters]

Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians during an alleged knife attack at the Qalandia checkpoint [Mohamad Torokman/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Israeli forces have shot and killed two Palestinians as they allegedly attempted to stab soldiers at a checkpoint in between occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank.

The troops fatally shot 23-year-old Maram Saleh Hassan Abu Ismail and her younger brother Ibrahim, 16, at the Qalandia military checkpoint between the central West Bank city of Ramallah and East Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said the pair were “armed with knives” and “came toward the border guards” to attack them.

After the incident, Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound grenades during clashes with Palestinian youth.

Since October 1, increased tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel have boiled over into violence.

Throughout that period, Israeli forces and illegal settlers have killed at least 209 Palestinians, including alleged attackers and protesters, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Meanwhile, at least 29 Israelis were killed in shooting and stabbing attacks carried out by Palestinians, says Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs.

‘Extrajudicial killings’

Ramy Abdu, director of the Gaza-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, criticised the Palestinian government’s inaction after six months of escalated violence.

“In many incidents, they [Israeli soldiers] actually committed extrajudicial killings, particularly at checkpoints and military points,” he told Al Jazeera.

“People still believe that the Intifada should be escalated to the next level,” Abdu said. “But they are frustrated with the current situation, the international community and their own government over Israel’s systematic, structural violence.”

More than half a million Jewish Israelis already live in more than 150 Jewish-only settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, while Israeli military forces have erected several dozen checkpoints impeding Palestinians’ ability to move freely.

Several Palestinian political parties, including Hamas and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, have blasted the PA’s security cooperation with Israeli forces throughout the ongoing uprising.

“The only way out of the current national impasse is if the PA showed political will to reconcile with its national partners and not with the Israeli occupation,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement on Tuesday.

IPL: Pune beat Hyderabad to end losing streak

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ipl

Hyderabad: Rising Pune Supergiants ended their four-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a 34-run win via D/L method over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Tuesday.

The foundation of the big win for Pune in the rain-marred contest was set up by medium pacers Ashok Dinda (3/23) and Mitchell Marsh (2/14) as Sunrisers Hyderabad were restricted to 118/8 in 20 overs.

In a match marred by delayed start, half of the Hyderabad team was back in the dug-out by the ninth over with only 32 runs on the board. But a 47-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan (56 not out) and Naman Ojha (18) came to Hyderabad’s rescue as it ensured that the team crossed the 100-run mark.

Dhawan was the only bright spot for Hyderbad as the left-hander scored his second consecutive fifty. With the help of two fours and a six, he made 56 off 53 deliveries.

At the fag end, Bhuvneshawar Kumar’s brisk cameo of eight-ball 21 lifted them to 118/8.

In reply, Steve Smith (46 not out) and Faf du Plessis (30 off 21 deliveries) put Pune in strong position to overhaul the target. Pune lost Ajnikya Rahane (0) early – dismissed by Bhuvneshwar. But South African du Plessis and Australian Smith forged an 80-run stand for the second wicket to put the chase in commanding position.

They were cruising at 94/3 in 11 overs when rain halted play, forcing the umpires to decide the match Duckworth/Lewis method through which Pune were declared triumphant by 34 runs.

This was Pune’s second win – having won the opening match, while Hyderabad suffered a loss after hat-trick of wins and overall, third defeat in six outings.

Earlier, put into bat by Pune captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hyderabad batsmen were undone by reckless batting and poor shot selection. It started with the very first over when in-form David Warner hit a wide ball from right-armer Dinda straight to Ajnikya Rahane at backward point in the first over. The wicket of the Australian left-hander, who had scored four fifties in five games before Tuesday, for a duck gave a big relief to Pune.

Dinda removed Aditya Tare (8) when the right-hander top-edged a wide delivery to Thisara Perera at cover as Hyderabad lost their second wicket at 26 runs in five overs.

Medium pacer Mitchell Marsh reduced Hyderabad to 27/3 in the next over as England left-hander Eoin Morgan’s drive found an edge to wicket-keeper Dhoni.

After a quiet seventh over bowled by Perera, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin gave further joy to Pune camp as he dismissed Deepak Hooda (0), who edged it to Dhoni.

Marsh continued the flow of wickets as he got rid of compatriot all-rounder Moises Henriques (1), who managed to find an edge to a ball outside the leg stump to Dhoni.

At this stage, Hyderabad were reeling at 32/5 in 8.1 overs and were in desperate need of a partnership. Dhawan found support from Ojha as the duo tried to resurrect the innings, with ones and twos.

The gentle medium pace bowling from Rajat Bhatia also allowed them to score occasional boundaries as they stitched a 47-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Dinda broke the stand when he rattled Ojha’s stumps as the right-hander batsman missed the line.

Later, Hyderabad were propped up by Bhuveshwar’s three hits to the fence and one over it to recover a bit from ignominy.

Brief scores: Hyderabad: 118/8 (Shikhar Dhawan not out 56; Ashok Dinda 3/23, Mitchell Marsh 2/14). Pune: 94/3 in 11 overs (Steve Smith 46 not out; bhuvneshawar Kumar 1/17). Pune won by 34 runs via D/L method.

(IANS)

Kerala high court allows muslim girls to wear hijab for pre-medical test

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Kerala

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted permission to Muslim girls to wear hijab, a customary religious dress, for the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT)-2016 but on condition that they should be present at the hall half an hour before the exam for frisking if necessary.

The order was issued by Justice Muhammed Mushtaq while hearing a writ petition by one Amnah Bint Basheer challenging the dress code prescribed for the candidates by CBSE in the bulletin relating to conduct of AIPMT-2016.

The petitioner contended that the instructions contained in the AIPMT-2016 bulletin regarding dress code, as per her religious beliefs and practices, would amount to violation of exercise of religious freedom.

The court issued directions to CBSE to permit Muslim girl students to wear hijab for attending the AIPMT.

Last year, a single Judge of the Kerala High Court had allowed two Muslim girl students to wear hijab while appearing for the CBSE AIPMT-2015.

(Agencies)

DU book describes Bhagat Singh as ‘revolutionary terrorist’

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Bhagat Singh

New Delhi: A book which forms part of Delhi University curriculum calls Bhagat Singh a “revolutionary terrorist”, BJP member Anurag Thakur said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday and demanded a debate on what is being taught in the educational institutions across the country.

‘India’s struggle for independence’, a book authored by noted historian Bipin Chadra and Mridula Mukherjee, have made such references, he said.

Thakur said the book also describes a Congress leader as a “charismatic leader”, which was a “joke” as the party had been reduced to 44 Lok Sabha seats.

This triggered protests from Congress members who objected to the mention of their leader, who was not present in the House. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan later expunged the Congress leader’s name.

In an UPSC examination, Thakur said, a question was asked about “revolutionary terrorism” of Bhagat Singh, a noted freedom fighter who was hanged by the British.

While taking strong exception to this, he hinted at the authors’ link with the UPA, saying Chandra was National Book Trust chairperson between 2004-12. Mukherjee, he alleged, faced vigilance probe.

“There should be a debate on what is taught in this country,” he said, while noting that education plays a key role in building character.

(Agencies)

An Interview With Siddharth Nagar Writer, Producer, Director Of The Small Screen Arena

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Siddharth Nagar

Siddharth Nagar a director par excellence of the small screen arena

Siddharth Nagar, an extremely well – known writer – producer – director in the small screen arena to be specific on DD’s varied channel, is one cool dude guy who takes everything coolly in his stride. With his mere presence on the sets all the activities takes place in a smooth sailing manner as he makes everyone around him, right from the cast to the crew, feel so comfortable & relaxed. Incidentally speaking Siddharth Nagar had begun his filmic career as a drama child artiste for Akashwani, Theater, Doordarshan & films. Then gave up his acting career as a young man to don a producer’s hat with his debut serial namely Dadi Maa at the time of the inaugural of the afternoon session of Doordarshan. Later on he turned a director and directed many hit small screen serials. His latest directorial offering “Shiksha – Ek Majboot Adhaarshila” a daily soap is already on air, on Doordarshan’s Kisan Channel (from Mon to Wed 9.30 pm to 10.00 pm), and earning rave reviews and also garnering good TRP ratings besides being nicknamed as a popular farmer’s show.

How do you feel now on reflecting back on your past achievements down the years?

To be very honest I feel fully contented & totally enriched with all the experiences I gained 1st as a child actor then as a young actor and finally as a writer, producer & director of the small screen arena. But my filmic journey is far from over as I have many more milestones to conquer in the small screen arena. Besides I have this ardent desire to make my debut as a writer, producer & director on the big screen arena too. I think it is high time I take the plunge in this direction too. So in the end I would like to stress on the fact that I have no regrets whatsoever. I have made shows for varied kendras of Doordarshan and in varied languages. I can go on & on and even reams & reams of Papier Du Mache would be insuffice to recount everything.

writer - producer director Siddharth Nagar of Shiksha - Ek Majbut Adharshila 2(2) (1)

You had quite a checkered career as an actor then why did you give up acting all of a sudden?

I had given up my flourishing acting career all of a sudden not because I did not think that I was not a good actor but because I always had more passion for writing & direction. This was the time when Doordarshan had just announced the inauguration of its afternoon transmission. I thought this was the right time to fulfil my passion as a writer & director. But to start off I produced a serial for them named “Dadi Maa” and then, as they say, there was no looking back. Besides producing I also started writing & directing serials & other programmes. My long standing association & my creatively dedicated journey with Doordarshan is still on after so many years. Till this date I have 2000 hours of televised programming to my credit. Now I planning to make inroads in the popular Sattelite Channels circuit too.

Shiksha

How did you build such a good rapport with Doordarshan officials as you have done scores of shows with them?

It was not at all easy to gain their confidence. Needless to say I had to struggle a lot. Of course my long standing association with them as a child artiste and then as a young actor stood in my favour. At first they were a little hesitant to give me a directorial break since I was just 23 years old. But finally I made my way in Doordarshan as a producer with “Dadi Maa”. Now all is well on the Doordarshan front. By now I have done serials, short series & music based programmes for them.

Time to give us a brief insight into your currently on air serial on Doordarshan namely “Shiksha – EK Majbut Adhaarshila”.

Actually speaking my latest offering on air is “Shiksha – EK Majbut Adhaarshila”.
It is on air since 4th April 2016 on DD Kisan Channel, you can call it a daily soap as it is aired every Monday to Wednesday between 9.30 pm to 10.00 pm.

So what is your latest offering “Shiksha – EK Majbut Adhaarshila” all about?

First of all my latest offering “Shiksha – EK Majbut Adhaarshila” has been written & directed by me besides being produced by me under my own home production banner namely Saarthak Chitram. It is a woman oriented daily soap which is mainly targeted to address the wholesome Edutainment needs of the farmers, in a full on entertaining way, through the main protagonist named Shiksha who has already earned the degree of Doctorate in Agriculture Science.

Briefly narrate the plot of “Shiksha – EK Majbut Adhaarshila”.

The plotted scenario of “Shiksha – Ek Mazboot Adhaarila” revolves around the main protagonist named Shiksha, her mother Soma, her father Nandkumar and his dream to make her daughter a Doctorate in Agriculture Science which he could not fulfil due to acute financial crises in his family. But Nandkumar dedicated his life to his land and decided to provide higher education to his children and when his 1st child was born he named her Shiksha. Much to Nandkumar’s happiness Shiksha is brilliant in studies and instead of wanting to become an engineer or a doctor, she expressed her desire to study Agricultural Science and instead of staying in the city she kept her promise to her father to return to her village and improve the overall conditions of not only her own family but the whole village and spread it on to the neighbouring villages too.

What according to you is the USP of “Shiksha – Ek Mazboot Adhaarila”?

First of all the subject of my latest directorial venture “Shiksha – Ek Mazboot Adhaarshila”, is the greatest USP of the serial. It is based on the varied issues of a farmer’s life. Besides it not only provides unlimited entertainment but also simultaneously educates & motivates our farmers to adopt the modern diversified techniques of agriculture along with the existing traditional agricultural practices. Honestly speaking I have to deal with such intriguing subjects and complex with a lot of sugar coating albeit in an entertaining way so that it reaches & is fully enjoyed by the mass audience and all concerned. You know what I mean!

You seem to have a very talented team of the cast & the crew. What say?

Yes you are right. The crew of “Shikha – Ek Majbut Adhaarshila” comprises of written, produced & directed by Siddharth Nagar, co -producer by Harender Singh Verma & Jaya Bhattacharya, creative head is Archana Saikia, production head is Pravin Sorte, cinematography by Mukesh Sharma, lyrics by Abhilash, music by Vivek Bakshi, singer is Pratiksha Vashishth, editing by Arun Pakal & Satish Sharma & art by Mahendra Raut, background score by Bhupesh Sharma. And the starcast includes eminent actors like Rakesh Pandey & Reeta Bhadhuri, Raju Shrestha, Sangeeta Naik, small screen’s well -known star Jaya Bhattacharya and other actors like Dinesh Kaushik, Avinash Sejwani, Shresth Kumar, Mukesh Nathani, Aparna Asaskar, Jugnu, Bhoomi Shukla, Anamika Jaiswal, Pratibha Kapoor, Rajiv Yadav, Yajupratap Singh, Ekta Methai, Arun Khanna, PP Kumar, Puneet Chaturvedi, Ramesh Goel, Priti Shukla et al. And the title role of Shiksha is played by the upcoming small screen talent Sarika Dhillon.

As a parting shot please enlighten us about ur future plans!

Well my future plans are, of course, to make more & more enligtening programmes for Doordarshan’s varied channels. Then as said before I want to enter the big screen arena where I would like to make commercially oriented meaning full films with seasoned actors like Big B & Nana Patekar to name just 2. And of course my next project will be based on journalists and I can’t reveal anything more about this at present.

‘I am not afraid’, says Sonia Gandhi on AgustaWestland deal

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Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today rejected as “baseless” allegations linking her and party leaders to bribes in the AgustaWestland chopper deal and said she is not “afraid” of being “cornered” on the issue.

She asked the government what it has been doing in power for the last two years on the issue and demanded that the ongoing inquiry be completed impartially.

“I am not afraid of anyone cornering me as there is no basis to that. All the accusations they are throwing at us are false,” Gandhi told reporters in Parliament complex as BJP sought to target her onTHE DEAL .

“Where are the proofs. They are lying. They are part of a strategy of character assassination which we have known these people indulge in,” Gandhi said.

Referring to the Modi government, Gandhi asked what has it been doing over the last two years.

“The government is there for the last 2 years. What are they doing? Inquiry is there, why don’t they complete it? Complete it as soon as possible, impartially,” she added.

Gandhi’s political secretary and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel also rubbished the allegations against him and the party as “absolutely baseless.”

“This government, when they are saying all these things outside and inside the Parliament, why can’t they investigate,” Patel said.

“If there is something against me, they should find out and they should hang me,” he said when asked by reporters for his reactions over the allegations.

The comments of Sonia Gandhi and Patel come in the backdrop of BJP move to target the Congress President and other party leaders on the issue of bribes in the AugustaWestland chopper deal during the UPA regime in a bid to corner the main opposition party which has been paralysing Rajya Sabha on the Uttarakhand affair.

BJP today sought an explanation from Congress, while the opposition party hit back, asking why the Modi government had cancelled the process of blacklisting the firm in question.

Attacking Congress, Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar said that what has been revealed in Agusta Westland case is “very important and very serious” and that Congress owes an explanation.

He said that instead of disrupting Parliament, Congress should introspect on what “they have done to the country and explain what is the role of their leaders” in the case.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also targeted Congress, saying that those accused ofPAYING bribes are in jail, but the alleged recipients are blocking the progress of the country.

There should be a discussion on the matter so that facts can come out in the open, he said.

BJP is expected to raise the issue in Parliament. Congress has been paralysing proceedings in Rajya Sabha over the imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand.

Top BJP leaders had met yesterday to chalk out a strategy following reports that an Italian court, which has convicted AgustaWestland chief Giuseppe Orsi, has described how the firm paid bribes to certain Congress leaders to bag the Rs 3,600 crore deal.

Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, however, hit back, saying that if anybody needs to answer questions on the matter it is the Modi government.

He said the UPA governement had included an integrity clause as per which the contract for purchase of helicopters from Agusta Westland was cancelled, the guarantee forfeited and process initiated for recovery ofMONEY .

Surjewala said that the money too was recovered and “not a singleRUPEE loss was caused to the Government of India.”

He said that the UPA government had also ordered a CBI inquiry as well as initiating the process of blacklisting Agusta Westland.

“On the contrary, as the government changed in May 2014, Modiji proceeded to cancel the process of blacklisting Agusta Westland. Why did Modiji not blacklist Agusta Westland?” Surjewala asked.

(Agencies)

Saudi Arabia agrees on plan to cut reliance on oil

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Vision 2030 envisages forming public investment fund, boosting affordable housing and giving expats long-term residence.

Saudi Arabia's economy has suffered over the past 12 months in line with the falling price of oil [EPA]

Saudi Arabia’s economy has suffered over the past 12 months in line with the falling price of oil [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has agreed on a broad-based economic reform plan, known as Vision 2030, revealing how the oil-reliant state plans to diversify its economy over the next 14 years.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the deputy crown prince, said on Monday that the country was building up its public investment fund to become a major player in global markets.

He said Saudi Arabia was restructuring its housing ministry to increase the supply of affordable housing, and creating a “green card” system within five years to give expatriates long-term residence.

Salman al-Ansari, founder and president of the Washington DC-based Saudi American Public Relations Affairs Committee (SAPRAC), told Al Jazeera the green card system gives more rights to expatriates to invest in the country.

“Almost 10 million foreigners send their money back to their country. They can’t invest in this country, so with this green card idea we are giving more rights to expats for investment or to buy houses,” he said.

“That will create a big move for the Saudi economy. It is a visionary kind of move to not only help the Saudi economy and Saudi citizens but also to help the foreigners in the country.”

Saudi Arabia will also sell shares in state oil giant Aramco and set up the world’s largest wealth fund in line with the plan, Mohamed bin Salman said separately in an interview with the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news channel.

“We plan to sell less than 5 percent of Aramco. Aramco’s size is very big. It is estimated at between $2 trillion and $2.5 trillion,” he said.

“We plan to set up a $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund … part of its assets will come from the sale of a small part of Aramco.”

Saudi Arabia’s economy has suffered over the past 12 months in line with the falling price of oil, with a $98bn budget deficit last year and an estimated deficit of $87bn this year. Its reserves decreased from $746bn in 2014 to $616bn today.

“They have announced these kind of changes before. It is going to be very interesting to monitor the implementation of the new rules,” Ahmed al-Ibrahim, an expert in Saudi affairs and security, told Al Jazeera.

“To implement some of these, you need the collaboration of society. For example, if you want to increase the empowerment of women, you need to liberalise your society,” he said.

“In so many more ways, Saudi society needs to contribute to the government for the Vision 2030 to succeed.”

The country has proven oil reserves of 267 billion barrels and potential reserves of up to 900 billion.

Worldwide Films Round Up

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock (2925621n) David Twohy 'Riddick' film premiere, Los Angeles, America - 28 Aug 2013

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock (2925621n)
David Twohy
‘Riddick’ film premiere, Los Angeles, America – 28 Aug 2013

DAVID TWOHY DIRECT ICE MOON RISING

David Twohy, who directed Riddick & scripted The Fugitive, is to write & direct Ice Moon Rising, a major sci – fi movie that is set to be a US & China co -production. The film which could have a budget in the region of $50 million is being produced by Das Films’ Sriram Das and by experienced Greater China producer Steve Chicorel. The pair are also in advanced preparations for another China – US venture Money Plane, with David Hackl to direct. Ice Moon Rising is set in space when a Chinese & an American task force venture to Jupiter’s moon Europa to awaken an astronaut from a cryogenic stasis, some 24 years after he was attacked by alien creatures in Europa’s sub -glacial seas. Awake, he then has to be reunited with his wife & a daughter he has never met. Das, who recently produced November Man & India – set Heartbeats, is currently evaluating finance & casting options in China.

ASIA EXPANDS DOMINATION OF GLOBAL BOX OFFICE

Asia’s domination of the Global Box Office Turnstiles became stronger in 2015, according to the Motion Picture Association of America’s annual survey of the world’s theatrical business. With gross theatrical revenues of $14.1 billion in 2015, the Asia -Pacific region is now the largest single component of the Global Box Office. It far outstrips Europe, the Middle East & North Africa on $9.7 billion. Asia overtook North America for the 1st time in 2013 and has pulled away ever since. In 2015 North American grosses were up 8% at $11.1 billion. That makes Asia 27% bigger than US & Canada. And Asia also accounted for 37% of the $38.3 billion Global Theatrical Box Office that the MPAA reported for 2015. Both Asia & Latin America displayed 13% annual growth in 2015, but the much smaller base for Latin America, means that performance in Asia will still weigh more heavily on the global totals, as will its inevitable, eventual deceleration. Between 2014 & 2015, Latin American Box Office grew from $3.0 billion to $3.4 billion, a gain of $400 million. Box office in Asia grew from $12.4 billion in 2014, an increase of $1.7 billion. That contrasts with the slow pace of theatrical growth in North America (up 15% since the $9.6 billion score recorded by the MPAA in 2008) and the negligible, sideways performance of Europe.

ITV RECOMMISSIONS THE DURRELLS

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has commissioned a 2nd season of its hit family drama The Durrells after airing just 2 episodes of the 1st run. The series, produced by Sid Gentle Films, is ITV’s best – rating new drama of the year and its highest – rating new show since Sept, 2014. The 1st episode launched on ITV with 6.4 million and a 29% share, the channel’s best new drama since Cilla in Sept, 2014. The 1st episode has since consolidated to 8.2 million and a 33% share, making it the most watched ITV drama of this year. The Durrells, Simon Nye’s adaptation of Gerald Durrell’s trilogy of memoirs, tell the story of Louisa Durrell who makes a radical change and uproots her 4 unruly children, Larry, Leslie, Margo & Gerry, from Bournemouth, England to start a new life in Corfu in the 1930’s.
Keeley Hawes will return as matriarch Louisa alongside her fictional brood played by Josh O’Connor (Larry), Callum Woodhouse (Leslie), Daisy Waterstone (Margo) and Milo Parker (Gerry).

GOVERNMENT MULLS MOVE TO FORCE BBC TO SELL UKTV STAKE

The UK Government is all set to force state owned broadcaster BBC to sell its 50% stake in television network UKTV, according to Government sources. UKTV, which comprises 10 channels including Dave, Gold, Alibi & Really, is a joint venture between BBC’s commercial division, BBC Worldwide & US Company Scripps Networks Interactive. UKTV’s most recent financial results showed a 13% rise in revenue to £319 million ($452 million) and operating profits of £79.6 million ($113 million), which is 20% up over 2 years. Last year, Scripps was reported to have offered to buy BBC’s stake for £500 million ($710 million). The revelation, 1st reported in Sunday Times, comes as UK minister of culture John Whittingdale considers proposals for revising the rules governing how BBC operates, known as Royal Charter. He is expected to publish his proposals in a “White Paper” next month.

SKY SIGNS 1ST PAN – EUROPEAN MOVIE DEAL

Pay TV operator Sky has signed its 1st Pan -European movie deal. The exclusive pact with Sony Pictures covers the countries in which Sky operates, which are UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Italy. Sky has already struck Pan – European deals for TV series with HBO & Showtime, but this is its 1st pact with a Hollywood studio for movies. Sky’s movie deals in the past have been made on a country – by – country basis. The Sony Pictures agreement, which covers Sky’s subscription & transactional movie services, allows it to deliver new movies to its 21 million customers more than a year ahead of any other subscription service and only a few months after they have been released in movie theaters. The package comprises all new & future Sony releases, including Ghostbusters, Angry Birds, Money Monster & Inferno & also includes library titles such as Lawrence Of Arabia, Philadelphia & Close Encounters Of The Third Kind & franchises such as Men In Black & The Karate Kid. Following its £6.9 billion ($9.77 billion) acquisition of Sky Deutschland & Sky Italia 2 years ago the Company has been seeking to negotiate deals with content suppliers for all its territories.

VIACOM TO LAUNCH COMEDY CENTRAL

Viacom International Media Networks is launching Comedy Central in Middle East & Africa on the region’s leading pay – TV player OSN, 2 years after 2 companies forged an alliance that marked a significant strategic move for Viacom in an area where it has considerable room for growth. Comedy Central HD will be the 3rd brand for VIMN in the region, complementing the existing presence of MTV & Nickelodeon – Nick Jr. The channel’s offerings will include The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, which Noah will make the trek to launch in Dubai. Comedy Central favourites Tosh.0 & Inside Amy Schumer and a dedicated block of Spike content comprising Lip Sync Battle, as well as Catch A Contractor, the non -scripted series that sees host Adam Carolla on a mission to track down shady contractors and drag them back to the scene of their crimes. Internationally produced shows will include sitcom I Live with Models. All content, including animation, will be subtitled in Arabic. It will launch on 7th May, 2016 across the MENA region where there is a robust growth rate in pay -TV penetration expected to reach 19% of the population by 2019.

ELIE SAAB PARTNERS WITH MBC

Lebanese fashion designer
Elie Saab has partnered with top Arab free – to – air satcaster MBC Group to produce Project Runway Middle East which will air across more than 20 Arabic territories later this year. Saab, long known as the leading haute couturier in the Middle East and more recently as chief of a global fashion empire, will preside the reality show’s jury providing his expertise to aspiring designers from the region where fashion styles of the Western world have been known to clash with local mores. This aspect will be interesting to watch. In 2002 Saab became the 1st designer from the Middle East to dress an Oscar winner, Halle Berry. Other Hollywood stars he has dressed include Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron & Catherine Zeta – Jones.
“My role in the program is an integral part of my constant desire to develop the fashion industry in the Arab world,” Saab said in a statement. Joining him as a judge on the panel will be well – known Tunisian -Italian fashionista, actress & TV host Afef Jnifen. The 3rd judge will be a surprise celebrity guest – star /expert for each episode. Saudi designer Faris Al Shehri, creator of the Maison BO – M label, will mentor the participants as they tackle weekly fashion challenges. The host will be Lebanese – Australian model Jessica Kahawaty. This will be the 2nd Arabic version of the show. The 1st had a two season run on Beirut based Future Television in 2006-2007.

DETECTIVE CONAN: THE DARKEST NIGHTMARE BOW AT #1

New instalments of 2 long running animation series, both distributed by Toho, bowed atop the Japanese box office for the weekend of 16th Apr, 2016 & 17th. Apr, 2016 while Spotlight debuted at #7. Entering at #1 was Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare, the 20th episode in a feature animation series about the cases of a clever teenaged detective trapped in a boy’s body. Released on 348 screens, the film earned a resounding $11 million on 934,000 admissions. This is 38% better than the previous “Conan” film, which went on to finish with $41 million last year. Premiering at #2 was Crayon Shin – Chan: Fast Asleep! Dreaming World Big Assault!, the 26th feature entry in an animated series starring a sexually precocious kindergartener. Released on 334 screens, the film recorded $3.7 million. This was slightly better than the take of the previous “Crayon” film, which ended its run with $21 million. Boosted by its best picture Oscar, Spotlight opened on 109 screens on Fri 15th Apr, 2016 through Longride, and recorded $810,000 in its 1st 3 days of release.

THEY CALL ME JEEG DOMINATES DAVID DI DONATELLO AWARDS

Offbeat superhero movie They Call Me Jeeg, a fresh riff on formulaic Hollywood franchises and on a 1970 Japanese cartoon series, was the big winner at Italy’s 60th David Di Donatello Awards, the country’s top film nods, scooping 7 statuettes including for “Best Debut Director”, “Best Producer”, “Best Actress”, “Best Actor” & “Best Supporting Female” & “Best Suppoeting Male” thespians.

The “Best Picture Prize” went to Paolo Genovese’s high – concept dramedy Perfect Strangers, which is about a dangerous game played with cell phones, is the only Italian film unspooling at the Tribeca Film Festival. Perfect Strangers, which has done boffo biz locally, also took the “Best Screenplay” nod. Matteo Garrone won the “Best Director” nod for the English language horror /fantasy Tale Of Tales, which also won in the “Best Cinematography”, “Best Production Design”, “Best Costume Design”, “Best Makeup” & “Best Hair Categories”. “I’m lucky that Jeeg was not eligible for “Best director”, Garrone quipped as soon as he got on stage.

GIUSEPPE TORNATORE TO SHOOT FOR ALIBABA PICTURES

Italy’s Cinema Paradiso director Giuseppe Tornatore has struck a deal to make a movie with China’s Alibaba Pictures Group, the film making arm of e -commerce giant Alibaba.

The deal was symbolically signed by Tornatore & Zhang Qiang of APG at the end of a forum on co – productions Sun on the 1st full day of the Beijing International Film Festival. Among the witnesses to the signing was Miao Xiaotian, VP of China Film Co – production Corporation. “The deal is an agreement in principal without a project that is yet agreed,” Tornatore told Variety. He said that it will likely happen within the next 2 to 3 years and be a majority Chinese financed picture. It was unclear whether the film will use the bilateral co – production treaty between Italy & China that was signed in 2014. The 1st film that used the treaty was Cristiano Bortone’s Coffee. Tornatore, who has other credits including Malena, A Pure Formality & The Legend of 1900, joins an expanding list of well – known talents who have signed 1st look or outline deals with APG. Others include Wong Kar- Wai & Peter Chan.

ITALIAN FILM INDUSTRY TAKING CANNES FILM INDUSTRY SNUB IN STRIDE

Italy’s film industry is reacting rather nonchalantly to the surprising absence of Italian movies in the Cannes competition for the 1st time in a decade and taking consolation in the expected presence of a robust contingent of young Italo directors set to screen across the fest’s other sections. “One year you have 3 films in competition, the other you don’t have any. It’s normal,” says producer Riccardo Tozzi head of Italian motion picture association Anica. “It doesn’t mean there aren’t good movies; it just means there aren’t any that fit the Cannes competition mold,” he adds. Of course last year Italy had new works by Cannes regulars Nanni Moretti, Paolo Sorrentino & Matteo Garrone vying for the Palme D’Or. This year veteran Italo auteur Marco Bellocchio’s Sweet Dreams didn’t make the cut.

SALSIPUEDES TELLS 3 GENERATIONAL TALE

The screening of Panamanian drama Salsipuedes, the feature debut of Ricardo Aguilar Navarro & Manolito Rodriguez, was one of the high – points of the 5th Panama International Film Festival, with an audience of 1,100 packing out Panama City’s Teatro Balboa. In International Film Festival of Panama’s closing ceremony the pic received the Audience Award for “Best Central American And Caribbean Film”. The film tells the story of Andrés who moved to Washington State aged 10 but returns to his local neighbourhood in Panama City, when aged 20, upon hearing about the death of his grandfather. At the funeral, he reunites with his father who is in prison, but allowed out for the funeral. At the funeral he escapes, and Andrés decides to stay home to protect his father. The pic then jumps back & forth between the past & present, through a series of flashbacks that explore the relationship between grandfather, father & son. Rodriguez says that the original inspiration for the story came from the double album, Maestra Vida, by Panamanian singer Ruben Blades, that tells of a story between grandfather, father & son in a local neighborhood.

THE CHEQUE TO HAVE COUNTRY’S BIGGEST EVER RELEASE

Arturo Montenegro, director of local comedy The Cheque spoke to Variety at the International Film Festival Of Panama about his film, that world premiered in the fest to a packed audience in the Teatro Balboa, and was released on 14 Apr, 2016 on 22 screens, the country’s biggest ever opening screen – count. “It’s a wonderful & unique experience, to be here in International Film Festival Of Panama,” said Montenegro. “Not only because I’m showing my picture, The Cheque, but also because Panama is increasingly positioning itself as a film capital for the Central American market.” The helmer admitted that he was nervous about the world premiere, since he had never screened the pic to a wide audience and wanted to know whether the comedy would click with spectators. But he said he was delighted by the response.

HIDE AND SEEK SHOOTS FOR VILLAGE ROADSHOW ASIA

Principal photography is now underway on Hide And Seek, a Chinese adaptation of the Korean suspense thriller of the same title. The film is the latest addition to the slate of Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, the local production arm of Australian Entertainment Multinational Village Roadshow Group. The original Hide And Seek was a breakout hit that earned $35.6 million in Korea in 2013 for writer – director Huh Jung. It told a tale of 2 families who believe that strangers are living in their homes and set about trying to decipher a series of codes & clues. The new film is directed by Golden Horse winner Liu Jie and stars Wallace Huo Jianhua & Qin Hailu. Regina Wan Qian, who won a “Best Supporting Actress” award for 2014’s Paradise In Service, also stars Ellen Eliasoph of Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, Gigi Qi of New Clues & Lizhi Chen of Spire Media are producers on the film.

ITV MULLS ENTERTAINMENT ONE. BID

UK broadcasting & production giant ITV is mulling a bid for Canadian production & distribution company Entertainment One. ITV has held preliminary talks with eOne about a deal, according to sources cited by Bloomberg, but no decision has been reached on the move. Responding to the speculation, Entertainment One, also known as eOne, said Thurs “no approach has been received” by the company. A spokesman for ITV said: “We do not comment on speculation.” Shares in Entertainment One on the London Stock Exchange, where it is listed, rose 16% at midday local time Thurs to 184.10 p, valuing the company at £777 million ($1.1 billion). Shares in ITV rose 1.33% to 243.40p. Entertainment One has been on the acquisition trail in recent years, buying majority stakes in Mark Gordon Company, the producer of Grey’s Anatomy & Astley Baker Davies, creator of Peppa Pig. This has forced it to take on further debt, which has dented its stock price.

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