Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed unwavering support to media freedom, saying a free press makes a stronger democracy and makes the society more vibrant.

“A free press makes a stronger democracy. Today, on World Press Freedom Day, let us reaffirm our commitment towards steadfastly supporting a free press. It is the multiplicity of ideas and human expression that makes us more vibrant as a society,” Modi tweeted.

“I applaud all those who have been working tirelessly to uphold freedom of the press. It is due to these countless women and men that the spirit of a free press is significantly enhanced.”

Modi also appreciated the role of people on social media towards safeguarding the freedom of press and expression.

The UN General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press.

The amendment allows Netanyahu and Lieberman to declare war in ‘extreme situations’ [Baz Ratner/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

The Israeli parliament has voted in favour of granting Israel’s prime minister the power to declare war, solely with the approval of the defence minister.

The vote on Monday amended a law which previously required the whole cabinet to vote on such a move, transferring that authority to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, his defence chief.

The Knesset approved the amendment 62 to 41, allowing Netanyahu and Lieberman to declare war in “extreme situations”.

The change was introduced by Netanyahu shortly before his theatrical presentation in which he claimed to present proof of Iran having secretly pursued a nuclear programme.

According to the Israeli Haaretz newspaper, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee initially voted against the proposal, but it was later approved by the Knesset during a second and third reading.

Although Netanyahu would currently require approval by Lieberman, it is not uncommon for Israeli prime ministers to be appointed as minister of defence during their time in office.

David Ben-Gurion, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin, Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres all served as ministers of defence during their stint as prime minister.

Rising regional tensions

Netanyahu’s speech on Monday came against a backdrop of sustained efforts by the US and its allies in the Middle East to cancel, or at least renegotiate, the 2015 nuclear pact signed between Iran and the US, France, Russia, Germany, China, the UK and the European Union.

He claimed that Iran, after signing the nuclear deal, intensified its efforts to hide files pertaining to its nuclear programme.

Iranian state TV said called Netanyahu’s accusations propaganda.

Netanyahu has been a leading critic of the nuclear agreement, saying it fails to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capability.

He has also welcomed US President Donald Trump’s pledges to withdraw from the Iran deal if it is not changed.

Trump praised Netanyahu’s presentation as “good”, saying it and other recent events show he has been “100 percent right” about Iran.

Rammat – Gammat To Have Its World Premiere

Drishyam Films’ 1st ever Gujarati language short film titled Rammat – Gammat is all set to make its World Premiere at the prestigious 64th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany.

Drishyam Films’ short film Rammat – Gammat (English title My Best Friend’s Shoes) will make its World Premiere in official competition at the prestigious 64th edition of International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany to be held from 3rd May, 2018 to 8th May, 2018. Written & directed by Ajitpal Singh, the Gujarati language short film is amongst the 37 shorts selected in the Children’s & Youth Film Competition.

Known as the largest & the world’s oldest running short film festival, Oberhausen received a total number of 7311 submissions from 140 countries this year.

Produced by Drishyam Films, Rammat – Gammat is a simple tale of friendship with complex characters. It is a story of 2 small boys in rural Gujarat, a rich boy from upper caste & a poor boy from lower caste whose friendship is stretched to the breaking point when one of them is gifted a pair of golden yellow football studs, which will take him away from his friend and out of the village.

The 18 minutes narrative short film introduces 2 young boys, Shivam Math & Yash Patel in lead roles. 1st ever time actors, both the boys from Gujarat are passionate & excellent football players, representing their cities at state level. The film also features Swati Das (of Hindi Medium & Bombay Talkies fame) in a significant role.

Sharing his joy, Ajitpal Singh says, “We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate with Drishyam Films & Accord Equips on Rammat – Gammat and start our festival journey with the world’s oldest & the most prestigious short film festival Oberhausen, Germany which is credited to discover the works of some of the legendary filmmakers like Wim Wenders, Roman Polanski, Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, Andrea Arnold to name just a few. For me just being at such a place is like going on a pilgrimage.”

The writer & director Ajitpal Singh adds, “Rammat -Gammat is essentially a simple tale of friendship and even though the story unfolds in today’s time in a different context, it is inspired from my own experiences & memories of growing up in Gujarat village during the 1980’s anti – Sikh sentiments in the country and how that alienated me as a child.”

Manish Mundra, the founder & the and promoter of Drishyam Films, stated, “We are happy that Rammat – Gammat is starting its journey at such a prestigious festival as Oberhausen, Germany and hope to bring it to our Indian audiences soon.”

Rammat – Gammat produced by Drishyam Films, Tejash Shah (Accord Equips) & Mauli Singh is shot in Wilson Hill, Gujarat.

Known as the world’s oldest running short film festival and “short film mecca” for the sheer reputation amongst the filmmakers & industry for its bold & high quality short films and a thriving short film market, Oberhausen, Germany is credited to discover the works of some of the legendary filmmakers like Wim Wenders, Roman Polanski, Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, Andrea Arnold to name just a few. Amongst the Indian filmmakers, Ritesh Batra’s short, Café Regular, Cairo (2011) & Amit Dutta’s shortsKeshkambli (2003) & Kramasha (2007) were screened at the prestigious short film festival.

“Short film is a great 1st ever step for a budding filmmaker. That’s how I made my beginnings and Oberhausen, Germany was an important step on my path to become a Director.” Roman Polanski’m Quote.

“I smoked my 1st ever cigarette here. For years, I saw every single film at the Westdeutsche Kurz filmtage, looking forward to those days in Oberhausen, Germany every year. These events were important for me and even for my decision to become a filmmaker.” Wim Wenders Quote.

Ajitpal Singh was an 8 years old boy when his father ran a cinema hall. After studying chemistry, learning theatre & photography, he chose filmmaking as his calling. He was selected for Sundance’s India Screenwriter’s Lab in 2012. He was the youngest member of the Indian delegation at the Munich Film Festival 2009, selected by Goethe Institute. He was also selected for 2007 Berlinale Talent Campus’s New Delhi edition.

Ajitpal Singh, in fact has worked as an Associate Director For Gurgaon in the year 2016 & as a dialogue writer for Once Again in the year 2017. He has also worked as a researcher for 16 German documentary films in India. Currently he is busy writing 2 international co-production projects.

A company born out of love for cinema, Drishyam Films aims to build a platform for unique voices of Indian independent cinema and create a global content with rich Indian heritage. Their international award winning films include Ankhon Dekhi, Masaan, Dhanak, Waiting, Umrika, Rukh, Kadvi Hawa & Newton (which was India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2018).

Drishyam Films had partnered with the Sundance Institute, USA to organize a Screenwriters’ lab for the Indian writers for 2 successive years. They have also set up a VFX studio specializing in post production & visual effects for feature films & commercials.

Mysuru University Professors B P Maheshchandra Guru and Aravinda Malagatti have been suspended from the posts for purportedly campaigning for the Congress while being in government organization. According to the order of the State Election Commission, the college suspended them two on Tuesday.

Maheshchandra was working in the Mass Communication and Journalism department, while Aravinda Malagatti was an professor at Kuvempu Kannada Study Center and present leader of Karnataka Sahitya Academy.

There were assertions that both had campaigned for the Congress and Siddaramaiah amid ‘Janarajakarana’ program as of late held in the city. The Election Commission had composed a letter to the college to act against the professors.

(IANS) PR or “pyaar” — Manurishi Chadha’s mind space keeps oscillating between what’s more gratifying — getting recognition through the charted public relations route or the pure love that he gets for his acting and writing credentials from the audience once in a while walking the streets like any other common man.

“Main toh bina PR ke zinda hun (I’m surviving in the industry without PR)” is how Chadha responded to an interview request by IANS.

It’s a tightrope to walk on. More so at a time when PR managers are trying to decide, drive, curb and control any word that goes out about a film and its talent.

“I came to Mumbai with a wish to do good work, to build an identity and gain popularity. Quite a lot of work is happening, but the popularity is a little less. People say do PR… But the heart and mind are not in sync about what is this PR? How does it happen? To what extent does it happen? How much does it cost?

“I don’t get the right answers, and PR gets left behind… Then suddenly, I come across people who express heartfelt praise. I feel content and forget about PR. This has been going on since ‘Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!”,” Chadha, 47, said.

To many Bollywood buffs, Chadha can be best remembered for his role as the hilarious Bengali from “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!” or Anni from “Phas Gaye Re Obama”. But there’s a lot more to his oeuvre.

He worked in the Delhi theatre circuit before shifting to Mumbai to pursue his Bollywood dreams back in 1999. Initially, he assisted actor-director Rajat Kapoor and waited to get good roles.

In the meantime, he started writing songs for TV shows and even worked as a third dialogue writer. But an introduction to Dibaker Banerjee, who helmed “Oye Lucky…” changed life for Chadha.

Apart from roles in “Mithya”, “Ek Chalis Ki Last Local”, “Mixed Doubles”, “Band Baaja Baaraat”, “Ankhon Dekhi”, “Happy Bhag Jayegi”, “Phas Gaye Re Obama” and the latest “Nanu Ki Jaanu” — which he has also written — Chadha has put his writing talent to use for “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!”, “Aisha”, “Yeh Saali Zindagi”, “Kya Dilli Kya Lahore” and “Tubelight”. His upcoming films include Rishi Kapoor’s “Rajma Chawal” and Govinda’s “Fryday”.

When “Phas Gaye Re Obama” came in 2000, it was after 10 years of working in Mumbai that Chadha found himself featured on a movie poster.

“There are people who say ‘Work will take you where you want to reach’. So I concentrate on work and realise that I am surviving without PR whether it is with good, bad, hit, flop films, at least I am working.

“I work with new directors, and I also write dialogues for filmmakers like Kabir Khan and Leena Yadav.”

Chadha may seem ignorant about PR, but he admits it hurts when filmmakers are made to shell out oodles of money on publicity, and still as a writer and actor, he is not given visibility.

“When you ask, the answer hurts. They respond politely that we sent in your name to publications, channels and online portals, but the media doesn’t want the writer or supporting actor. I quietly assimilate this bitter truth and return to work. My work is my habit, and popularity is a desire… I believe desire must not exceed your habit.

“When I see that actor-writers who are notches better than me also just doing their work, it gives me strength.”

Filmmakers in India keep cribbing about a dearth of good writers. Is that true or is there just a dearth of opportunities for new talent?

“Filmmakers crib when they don’t get good stories. The truth is there are good stories, there’s talent but there’s a lack of platforms where new writers can take their fresh approach and treatment to a script and present it to good filmmakers.

“Secondly, I feel mostly people don’t crib because if a star says ‘yes’ to a script, there’s hardly a need for a story (hahaha). So, it’s tough to decide whether there’s a lack of opportunity for new talent of filmmakers are not ready only to tell new stories. But I know there are truly hungry talented people waiting for one good producer, one good director and good writer to meet each other.”

Speaking to Nasheman correspendance with Vanessa George,
Who runs his very own recovery home all by himself, we had a conversation with him which gave us an insight of what a recovery home is and what society calls “hopeless cases” really need.

Cecil George was an addict himself who had given up hope and in those days used to beg people for 25 paisa to buy toxic substances. In 1991 September 24th his sponsor encouraged him to get into recovery and keep his head on his shoulders, from then there was definitely no turning back. In 2013 a family helped him start a small recovery home as they were happy with his work and because their son was suffering from addiction too. He said he mainly opened a recovery home because he had a bad past and only people who have gone through the sickness would understand, identify and help another suffering addict. He said there are negative as well as positive effects, first thing is you cannot guarantee that anyone would get okay as it depends on the person but we do follow a 12 step program which if followed honestly and vigorously will lead to success and growth, the sky would be the limit. Cecil has given talks in colleges and in places like Bangalore, Hubli, Hassan and a lot of places overseas.
His motive to get through the day is that he remembers where he comes from and how his life changed in recovery, he begged people just to get a high but today he helps people who have no hope for a future at least to have big dreams and a bright future. He would like to tell today’s youth and families that nobody is a hopeless case and this is a killer disease just like cancer and diabetes, unfortunately in India people do not understand it and they think addicts are criminals or bad people, he urges parents to identify the sickness and deal with their children accordingly because nobody is a hopeless case.

Refugees and migrants had been holding a separate demonstration in the main square of Mytileni when they were attacked [Eurokinissi/AP Photo]

by Patrick Strickland, Al Jazeera

Athens, Greece – A mob of far-right protesters have attacked refugees and migrants who had been holding a separate demonstration in the main square of Mytileni, the capital city of Greece’s Lesbos Island.

The attacks, which started at around 8:00pm local time (17:00 GMT) on Sunday, sparked clashes that lasted throughout the night.

The altercations began when a group of some 200 far-right protesters, who had gathered to demonstrate on behalf of two Greek soldiers currently detained in Turkey, broke through a police barrier and threw stones, bottles and flares at the asylum seekers.

“Burn them alive,” some of the attackers yelled, the Greek daily Ekathimerini reported on Monday.

ANA-MPA, a state-run media agency, reported that “far-right militants” targeted women and children, while solidarity activists and refugees attempted to create a human chain to protect the victims.

According to ANA-MPA, and police used tear gas to disperse the assailants, who had turned the town into a “battlefield”.

At least 100 people were detained, and 10 people were hospitalised due to injuries sustained during the violence, local Greek authorities told the Associated Press.

During the early hours of Monday morning, police forcibly transported the refugees and migrants, who had been occupying Sapphous Square since last week, to the overcrowded Moria camp.

“This was a well-organised action, with murderous intent, by specific extreme right, criminal and hooligan elements that have nothing to do with the island or its traditions,” Syriza, the left-wing ruling party, said in a statement.

Lorraine Leete of the Lesbos Legal Centre, a group that supports asylum seekers, said the incident follows several months of increased far-right attacks on the island.

“Since November [2017], the attacks have been increasing,” she told Al Jazeera by telephone, explaining that the local authorities’ campaign to pressure the central government to move asylum seekers to the mainland had emboldened “far-right elements of the local population”.

The office of Lesbos Mayor Spiros Galinos could not be reached for comment.

Violence on the rise
Of the 102 incidents of violence documented by the Racist Recording Network in 2017, at least 34 targeted refugees and migrants. Another seven incidents saw human rights advocates or aid workers who work with asylum seekers targeted.

Speaking to Al Jazeera in March, the Hellenic Police said it documented at least 133 hate crimes motivated by race, national origin or skin colour in 2017. That number is nearly three times more than the number of such crimes recorded in 2016.

Tina Stavrinaki, a spokesperson for the Racist Violence Recording Network, said that “we cannot put all the islands in the same basket because each one has its own conditions and specific situations”.

“Of course, the living conditions for refugees on the island have been very decisive for [the proliferation of] xenophobic rhetoric,” Stavrinaki told Al Jazeera.

“Whenever we had these outbreaks, we see that the xenophobic rhetoric is not adopted by all the locals, and many resisted.”

Refugees and migrants who arrived on Greek islands after the March 2016 deal between Turkey and the European Union are barred from travelling to mainland Greece unless they obtain permission from authorities.

Although a Greek court ruled last week that new arrivals will be allowed to move on to the mainland, those who arrived during that two-year period are still confined to the islands.

President Ram Nath Kovind has congratulated Indian women and men athletes for winning gold medals at the 8th South Asian Judo Championship in Nepal.

In his message Kovind said, “Delighted that Indian women athletes have won all seven gold medals at the 8th South Asian Judo Championship in Nepal. Combined with three gold medals bagged in the men’s section, this leaves us proud.”

Indian women excel and grabbed all 7 gold while men won 3 out of total 7 gold medals in the individual category at 8th South Asian Judo Championship in Lalitpur.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

While the election officials are putting in their best efforts to get maximum people to exercise their franchise in the upcoming polls, a soon-to-be-married couple from Haveri has decided to do their bit to inspire their family, friends to vote by designing their wedding cards to appear like voter ID cards.

The couple – Siddappa Doddachikkannanavar and his fiancee Jyoti are slated to tie the nuptial knot on April 27, just a fortnight ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls scheduled on May 12.

The uniquely designed card, with fonts and styles similar to the voter ID cards was conceptualized by Siddappa, an activist and employee with Indian Railways in Goa who was reportedly keen to promote Kannada after due discussions with a constable friend of his, who suggested that they promote voting in light of the upcoming polls.

The couple is said to have even sought permission from the District Collector before printing their wedding cards.

A look at the card shows that extreme care has been taken to make it appear like a voter ID while giving details of the marriage along with an important reminder that votes are valuable while urging guests not to sell their votes.

The mugshot image of the voter has been replaced with the couple’s image and the voter’s name has been modified to include the couple’s names.The Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) on the card – SJMRG27042018 – is actually a combination of the couple’s initials followed by the date of their wedding.

It may be recalled that last year a man chosen to promote the Swachh Bharat campaign launched by PM Modi by having a logo of the Swachh Bharat on his sister’s wedding invites. The image of the card had gone viral at the time and was even appreciated by Prime Minister Modi