Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Obama Foundation Folks –More than five years ago,

Obama Foundation
Folks –More than five years ago, leaders at the 92nd Street YMCA in New York had a good idea: to establish an annual holiday devoted to supporting causes.
They decided it should fall on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and they called it “Giving Tuesday.”
In the years since, it’s become a movement. The day raises hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts from generous people in nearly 100 countries. Partner organizations all around the world have added their voices to the cause.
And it all started with a good idea in the right place.
How do you turn more good ideas into reality? You increase the likelihood that those ideas land in capable hands. You build an inspired, able network of organizers ready to change the world. That’s exactly what President Obama and Mrs. Obama are trying to do with the Obama Foundation.
We launched this organization earlier this year as an experiment in twenty-first-century citizenship. And today, on Giving Tuesday, we’re asking if you’ll help us build it. When you do, you’ll be supporting leaders already making an impact in their communities, and those folks who want to become more involved but just don’t know where to start.
How are we putting your generous gifts to work? Just take a look at what we’ve done this year.
We hosted Training Days in communities from Chicago to Tempe to Boston, gathering together hundreds of young leaders ready to take the next step in making change in the places where they live. We taught them how to use their own stories to bring people together. Connected them with groups already doing good work in their communities. Coached them in the most effective ways to impact their local communities.
We launched a Fellowship program to provide a diverse set of community-minded rising stars with hands-on training, resources, and leadership development to help push their work forward. Throughout the program, each of our Fellows will pursue their own individualized plan to take their work to the next level. Along the way, they’ll participate in several multi-day gatherings, where they can collaborate with each other and connect with potential partners.
We hosted a two-day Summit in Chicago, bringing together hundreds of passionate and inspiring civic leaders from around the world to share ideas, learn from one another, and explore creative solutions to common problems. It was the kind of event where an education reformer from Appalachia might rub shoulders with a member of European Parliament and discuss how digital technology is reshaping our economy and our world. I believe every single one of us walked away from those two days feeling as fired up as ever to take what we learned and put it to work.
This isn’t work that will be finished in a year, two years, or five years — and that’s why the Obamas believe it’s the most worthwhile work we can be doing right now. It’s the kind of work that shapes a generation and can make permanent change in communities. That’s what we’re investing in for years to come.
Your gift today is an investment in your fellow citizens.
Thank you — and Happy Giving Tuesday. Let’s go make more days like today possible.
With gratitude,
David
David Simas
CEO, Obama Foundation

The 48th International Film Festival of India hosts Canada as the ‘Country of Focus’

48th International Film Festival of India concludes with a gala ceremony at Panaji; actor Amitabh Bachchan conferred with Film Personality of the Year Award; French film 120 Beats per Minute wins the Golden Peacock award Morocco born French Director Robin Campillo’s drama film ‘ 120 BPM’ or ‘120 Beats Per Minute’ has won the coveted Golden Peacock Award at the 48thInternational Film Festival of India (IFFI), which concluded in Goa on November 28,Malayalam Actress Parvathy has won the Best Actor Female Award at the 48th International Film Festival of India for her movie TakeOff directed by MaheshNarayanan. Nksagar

Date: November 27, 2017
By Syed Mahmoud Nawaz*
To promote cultural exchange and to enhance the friendly bond between
India and other nations, it has been a tradition that every year, the International
Film Festival of India features a ‘Country of Focus’ to showcase the cinematic
contributions of that particular nation and to provide a platform for film-makers and
others connected with cinema from both the countries to exchange ideas, to
connect and to look for opportunities for collaborations.
The 48th International Film Festival of India hosted Canada as its ‘Country of
Focus’.
2017 also marks the 150th Anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.
Diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with Indigenous people, environment and
youth are the major themes of the 150th Anniversary of the Canadian Confederation
and it very well reflected in the film package of a variety of genres that Canada had
brought with great warmth and love to the 48th IFFI. The package was curated by
the Toronto International Film Festival in collaboration with Telefilm Canada.
The list of Canadian films included Stephen Dunn’s ‘Closet Monster’ which
tells the story of an imaginative teenager, his struggle through a rough childhood
onto the brink of ‘adulthood’, Pat Mill’s ‘Don’t Talk to Irene’ which portrays how
the central character Irene who is bullied at school for her fatness and who gets
suspended at the school as a result of a cruel prank, utilizes her community service
punishment to prove that you don’t need to be physically ‘perfect’ to be perfectly
awesome, Kim Nguyen’s ‘Eye on Juliet’ which is a love story captured through the
eye of a spider drone, Mina Shum’s ‘Meditation Park’, which gives us an insight
on the experiences of first-generation immigrant women and focuses on the tale of
a women’s journey of liberation which unexpectedly starts when she discovers the
infidelity of her husband.
Johnny Ma’s film ‘Old Stone’ was the opening film of the ‘Country of Focus’
screenings. The psychological thriller takes us on a journey with a local small town
taxi driver in China who bears the brunt of bureaucracy and legal manipulation after
he gets involved in an accident.
Other films were, Robin Aubert’s ‘Ravenous’, which is a horror tale set in a
small remote village in upstate province of Quebec, Carlos and Jason Sanchez’s
‘Allure’ cinematically captures the quest for a worthy companion and the journey
thereafter, and Hugh Gibson’s documentary ‘The Stairs’, which is ‘a nonjudgmental
character study of life on society’s margins’ in director’s own words.
Some of the Co-production films from Canada were also participating in the
festival- The film, ‘Still Night, Still Light’ (Canada, China and Mexico production)
competed in the International Competition. Two films were screened under the
Cinema of the World Category; ‘The Bread Winner’ (Canada, Ireland Luxembourg)
and ‘Union Leader’ (Canada, India). Another film ‘The Solitude’ (Canada, Venezuela,
Italy) was part of the “Biennale College 1017 Venezia” package.
In a recent interview, The High Commissioner of Canada to India, H.E. Nadir
Patel said, “Today, Canada is driving not just the story telling in films, but the
technology that allows those stories to be conveyed to audiences around the world.
We are delighted that in addition to screening some wonderful films during the 48th
IFFI, Telefilm Canada has brought prominent Canadian film personalities, film
makers and Canadian companies who are ready to explore opportunities with their
Indian counterparts”.
Cameron Bailey, Canadian film critic and the artistic director of the Toronto
International Film Festival (TIFF) clearly believes that there is a valid comparison
between the culture and diversity in Canada and India, and the way this
multiculturalism reflects in Cinema of both the nations.
Indo-Canadian film-maker Brinda Muralidhar said, “As an Indian I believe
and appreciate the value and spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The Whole World
is One Family), in the same spirit, my adopted home Canada embraces everyone
from around the world equally without any exception”.
The Consul General of Canada in Mumbai, H.E. Jordan Reeves said during a
press conference in Panjim that the Government of Canada is very committed to
celebrating the diversity of its population. He added, “Diversity is part of the
equation in Canada and we are really serious about that. We really value the
contributions of Indo-Canadians and other Indians coming to Canada to make
films”.
India and Canada too have a standing Audio-Visual Co-Production
Agreement which is enabling Indian and Canadian film producers to utilize a
platform for collaboration on various facets of film making. On the sidelines of the
48th International Film Festival of India, a Canada-India Co-production Film
Workshop was also organized in Panaji by Telefilm Canada and the Consulate
General of Canada, Mumbai. In Canada, the official co-productions are recognized
as ‘100 percent Canadian’ and have access to the same domestic financing as
Canadian productions.
Canadian cinema has always been under the shadow of ‘big brother’
Hollywood, but it has never failed to retain its unique character and appeal, thanks
to the work of celebrated directors like Denys Arcand, David Cronenberg, Atom
Egoyan, Guy Maddin, Xavier Dolan, Patricia Rozema, Sarah Polley and others. It
continues to be a force to reckon with despite a steady ‘brain drain’ which has seen
the likes of James Cameron and Denis Villeneuve make blockbusters in the US.
Canada manages to unearth talented new directors every year because it has a
well-oiled publicly-funded system to spot and promote young filmmakers.
Indian film-critic, Saibal Chatterjee who has been regularly covering TIFF has
some advice to offer, he says, “Canadian cinema has the potential to be
commercially viable in India, beyond the festivals. Similarly, Indian expatriates are
a large community in Canada, especially in Toronto (Ontario) and Vancouver
(British Columbia). The viewership for Indian stories in these cities is considerable.
There is, therefore, room for developing the potential of both Indian and Canadian
cinema with an eye on marketability. English-language Canadian films could be
commercially exploited on the Indian exhibition circuit, which currently is
dominated entirely by Bollywood and Hollywood. This would give audiences here
wider choice. Indian films, too, could look at tapping the Canadian market in a
bigger way. That is the direction that filmmakers in both countries should take in
the years ahead”.
The Lifetime Achievement Award of the 48th International Film Festival of
India also went to one of Canada’s most celebrated Canadian film-maker, Mr. Atom
Egoyan whose 3 films-‘Exotica’, ‘Remember’ and ‘The Sweet Hereafter’- were
screened at the festival. Mr. Egoyan also held a Master Class on ‘Making Drama’
during the festival.
The India-Canada bilateral relationship is developing in many different areas,
and the cultural ties promoted through films between Canada and India is an area
with great potential. Now it is up to the film-makers of both the nations to join
hands together to make a bright cinematic future.
*Syed Mahmoud Nawaz is a senior journalist and film maker
Views expressed are those of the author.
*****

PRESS INVITE ANNUAL PRESS CONFERENCE

BORDER SECURITY FORCE
Block No. 10, CGO Complex,
Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003
Reference No.60/ 2017
28th Nov 2017
PRESS INVITE
ANNUAL PRESS CONFERENCE
Shri K K Sharma, Director General Border Security Force will interact with the press on the occasion of the 52nd BSF Raising Day at 1200 hours on Wednesday, 29th November 2017 at BSF Ashwini Officers’ Mess, Nizamuddin, New Delhi. The Annual Press Conference will be followed by Lunch.
2.         You are cordially invited to attend the interaction session on 29th Nov 2017 (Wednesday) at 1200 Hrs at BSF Ashwini Officers’ Mess, Nizamuddin, New Delhi with request to provide wide media coverage. You are requested to arrive at the venue by 1145 Hrs for said purpose please.
3.         For your conveyance, two BSF vehicles will be placed at the following places at 1030 Hrs (10.30 AM) morning on 29th Nov 2017 (Wednesday).
(i)         ITO, Pioneer Building, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi
(Mobile No. of Mr. Tapas Chakraborty – 7838366408)
(ii)        INS Building, Rafi Marg, New Delhi
(Mobile No. of Mr. Mukhram Meel – 8130684730)
4.         These vehicles will leave for the venue at 1100 Hrs (11.00 AM) from both the places i.e. from Pioneer Building, ITO and INS Building.
5.         Your acknowledgement to the invite by a return mail will be appreciated.
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Border Security Force
Also visit us in http://www.bsf.nic.in

DELHI ROADSHOW Uttar Pradesh Investors’ Summit

8 December 2017 : 1030 hrs onwards
Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road, New Delhi


We are pleased to inform you that Government of Uttar Pradesh is organizing a Uttar Pradesh Investors’ Summit from 21-22 February 2018 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the National Partner for the Uttar Pradesh Investors’ Summit.

Uttar Pradesh has immense potential to be a destination of choice for industry in sectors of operations and future-plans of expansion. The rapidly improving policy environment and business climate in the state also provides significant opportunities to strengthen footprint in the State. The State of Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a radical transformation in terms of economic and social development.

The investor confidence across segments in Uttar Pradesh is on the rise. The investor friendly policy direction of UP Government, complementing the inherent strengths of the state, will definitely go a long way in transforming the state into a preferred investment destination.

Government of Uttar Pradesh has undertaken reformative steps like overhauling of investor handling mechanisms and launching of the new Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy 2017, which is a testimony of the fast changing business scenario in Uttar Pradesh. Various sectoral policies are being planned and are under consideration to attract investments. Several initiatives such as setting up single window clearance system and State Investment Promotion Board has been accomplished.

With the objective of making Uttar Pradesh a Global Investment Hub, the Government of Uttar Pradesh is hosting ‘Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit’ 2017 from 21-22 February 2018 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Given this background, a high-level Government delegation led by the Hon’ble Minister of Industries

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