Latest news with #CultureMinister
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Presley Chweneyagae: South Africans remember acting 'icon' who died age 40
South Africans are paying tribute to actor Presley Chweneyagae, who has died at the age of a statement announcing his death, his agency described him as a "South African icon" and one of the country's "most gifted and beloved actors".The South African government published a post on X describing him as "a gifted storyteller whose talent lit up our screens and hearts".Chweneyagae, who was born in 1984 in South Africa's North-West Province, got his big international break after starring in the 2005 film Tsotsi, which earned the country its first Oscar for best foreign language film. Tsotsi, a powerful crime film in which Chweneyagae plays the lead role, explores gang life in a South African township. Chweneyagae also starred in the Nelson Mandela biopic Long Walk to Freedom in 2013, as well as acting in various theatre productions. The South African Film and Television Awards described him as a "true legend of South African cinema" and a "powerhouse performer".The Ministry of Sports, Art and Culture released a statement highlighting his role in the popular South African series River and Cobrizzi."The Department of Sports, Art and Culture, mourns the loss of a true trailblazer - a storyteller who held the soul of a nation in his craft," Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said in the statement. More about African film from the BBC: Trailblazing African film-maker and Cannes winner diesIdris Elba: Why I'm planning a move to AfricaTeenage actress takes on child marriage in role mirroring real life Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
LBCI
4 days ago
- Business
- LBCI
Culture Minister at Arab Media Summit: Rebuilding Syria and Gaza benefits Lebanon, and vice versa
At the Arab Media Summit, Culture Minister Ghassan Salame emphasized that Lebanon is no longer the sole focus of reconstruction efforts; instead, the entire Near East is in urgent need of rebuilding. He stressed the importance of cooperation rather than competition among countries seeking foreign aid, highlighting that the recovery of Syria and Gaza directly benefits Lebanon and vice versa.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Culture minister seeks to ‘bury' claims his department will be shut down
A Labour culture minister has sought to 'bury' rumours that his department is facing the axe in Downing Street's civil service efficiency drive. No10 was poised to scrap Lisa Nandy's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in a move that would have put the Culture Secretary out of a job. However, Sir Chris Bryant attempted to dismiss the revelation as a 'daft rumour' and insisted that axing the department would be 'absolute madness'. He told the Commons: 'One of the worst things if we were to get rid of the department is that we'd have to get rid of the select committee as well, and for that matter the whole of the front bench – oh hang on, maybe it's a good idea. 'I'm not going to put this rumour to bed – I'm going to bury it, because in the words of Stephen Sondheim, I'm absolutely certain that in a year's time we will be able to sing as in the musical Follies, I'm Still Here.' Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat culture spokesman, said: 'He says he's burying the rumour about the abolition of DCMS, so why does he think that so many people here think it's going to happen, and why is it being briefed out to the press so often?' Department 'touches lives of nearly everybody' Sir Chris replied: 'Why on Earth is he perpetuating daft rumours? That's the question I want to ask myself. Honestly, the department is not going to be abolished. It would be absolutely madness. 'This department touches the lives of nearly everybody in the country every single day of the week, whether it's through sport, football, rugby, cricket, tennis, or it's through broadcasting or it's through our wonderful creative industries – so many different aspects of what we do touch everybody. 'I cannot see any way in which this department is going to be abolished.' Axing the department would leave Ms Nandy out of work, and a decision would be needed on whether to create space for her elsewhere on the front bench. Currently there are no Cabinet vacancies. It comes amid a power struggle at the top of Cabinet between Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner, revealed by The Telegraph, over tax and migrant access to state help. A secret memo obtained by this newspaper revealed that Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, had signed off a note recommending wealth taxes rather than spending cuts at the Chancellor's second fiscal event. 'Sends out a terrible message' Dame Caroline Dinenage told the Commons on Wednesday: 'Rumours abound that the whole DCMS is for the chop. He must see that this sends out a terrible message to those sectors about how their Government values the power of those industries. 'So I wondered if he'd take the opportunity today to first of all put that rumour to bed, and if he can't, perhaps he'd like to take the chance to put on record that this would be a horrible idea.' She added: 'Whether it's Bollywood, Hollywood or Borehamwood, I'm sure the minister will agree that our British cultural and creative industries are our global economic superpower.' Sir Chris said that Ms Nandy, the Culture Secretary, was doing a 'very important job of building our relationship with Japan'. Ms Nandy announced a new partnership with the country to boost cultural exchanges, with partners including Liverpool Football Club and University College London. The culture department has had various iterations and titles during its three decades of existence. It was created by the Tories in 1992 as the Department of National Heritage and covered the arts, broadcasting, film, sport, architecture and historic sites, royal parks and tourism. Formal advice on closing the Culture Department was drafted for Sir Keir's speech on March 13 when he announced the abolition of NHS England and vowed to tackle government 'bureaucracy'. Ultimately, the announcement was not made then but The Telegraph understands that there remains interest in axing the department. No final decision has been made.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Abolishing culture, media and sport department would be ‘madness'
Culture minister Sir Chris Bryant has sought to 'bury' rumours that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be abolished, saying it would be 'absolute madness'. When pressed on recent reports that DCMS is in the firing line, Sir Chris branded these 'daft rumours', adding: 'Honestly, the department is not going to be abolished.' Lisa Nandy's absence at DCMS questions on Thursday was also pointed out by the chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage. Speaking in the Commons, the Conservative MP for Gosport, said: 'While the Secretary of State is awol today, rumours abound that the whole DCMS is for the chop. He must see that this sends out a terrible message to those sectors about how their Government values the power of those industries. 'So, I wondered if he'd take the opportunity today to, first of all, put that rumour to bed and, if he can't, perhaps he'd like to take the chance to put on record that this would be a horrible idea.' Sir Chris said the Culture Secretary is 'doing a very important job of building our relationship with Japan', as she attends the World Expo Conference in Osaka. He added: 'One of the worst things if we were to get rid of the department is that we'd have to get rid of the select committee as well, and for that matter the whole of the front bench – oh hang on, maybe it's a good idea.' 'I'm not going to put this rumour to bed – I'm going to bury it, because in the words of Stephen Sondheim, I'm absolutely certain that in a year's time we will be able to sing as in the musical Follies, I'm Still Here,' Sir Chris said. Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: 'He says he's burying the rumour about the abolition of DCMS, so why does he think that so many people here think it's going to happen, and why is it being briefed out to the press so often?' Sir Chris replied: 'Why on Earth is he perpetuating daft rumours? That's the question I want to ask myself. Honestly, the department is not going to be abolished. It would be absolutely madness. 'This department touches the lives of nearly everybody in the country every single day of the week, whether it's through sport, football, rugby, cricket, tennis, or it's through broadcasting or it's through our wonderful creative industries – so many different aspects of what we do touch everybody. 'I cannot see any way in which this department is going to be abolished.' Shadow culture minister Stuart Andrew said: 'I know that (Sir Chris) has been on a long audition for the role of Secretary of State for the department, so his comments about the rumours about the abolishing of DCMS are reassuring. 'But can I gently point out that most of these briefings seem to be coming from number 10? So will the minister speak to people in number 10 to give reassurance to all of those sectors that this department will remain for the years ahead?' Culture minister Stephanie Peacock replied: 'I think my colleague has very much dismissed those rumours. Let's not believe everything we read in the papers.' Mr Andrew also raised concerns about the appointment of David Kogan as chair of English football's new independent regulator. He said: 'The nominee for the chair of the football regulator continues to raise serious questions, during the hearing of the select committee, it was revealed the candidate had also donated to both the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister's leadership campaigns, something I don't recall being declared during second reading. 'The Secretary of State has now, rightly, been forced to recuse herself from the process. Given the appointment will likely have a prime ministerial interest, will the Prime Minister be doing the same?' Ms Peacock replied: 'There is no suggestion of wrongdoing and, indeed, David Kogan was approached under his government for the role. We have got full confidence, he was endorsed by the cross-party select committee.' Mr Andrew said Mr Kogan was approached by the Permanent Secretary, not by 'political ministers'. Ms Peacock replied: 'David Kogan was appointed to the board of Channel 4 under the previous Conservative government. He has been welcomed across this House and across the media and footballing world.'
Japan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
In Indonesia, fears grow that new history books may rewrite dark past
The Indonesian government's plan to release new history books has sparked concerns that some of the country's darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favorable light. The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims "to reinvent the Indonesian identity," Culture Minister Fadli Zon said in an interview. Several historians said the commissioning of the books presents an opportunity for historical revisionism at a time when Indonesia's younger generations — largely responsible for Prabowo's resounding election victory last year — have little or no memory of Suharto's 1966-1998 New Order era. Prabowo openly praises Suharto, who was once his father-in-law, and is increasingly turning to the military to carry out his government's vision. Prabowo has also been accused of rights abuses while in the military, including involvement in the kidnapping of student activists during riots in 1998 — allegations he has repeatedly denied and which Fadli said had been debunked. Asvi Warman Adam, a leading historian who used to work at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said he was calling on academics to lobby lawmakers to scrutinize what he said would be "propaganda." "I suspect there is an intention to legitimize the ruling regime ... such as by excluding gross human rights violations in 1998 linked to Prabowo," he said, adding that he expected the government would soon confer the posthumous title of "National Hero" on Suharto. Asked about concerns by some analysts and historians that the books could be used as propaganda, be politicized and omit human rights abuses that have been linked to Prabowo and Suharto, Fadli said: "History will be written correctly." The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new books. Prabowo has previously said that former activists were his supporters. Fadli, who has authored a book that defended Prabowo's actions as a special forces commander during Suharto's 32-year rule, added that neither he nor Prabowo would be involved in the editorial process. The books, which Fadli said were commissioned last year, will chronicle the history of humankind in Indonesia from homo erectus to Dutch colonization to Prabowo's election. They will be authored and edited by about 100 historians, and Fadli says he wants them ready by Aug. 17, Indonesia's Independence Day. Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said he believes the government will use the same playbook as Suharto, who released a six-volume book series in 1975 titled "The National History of Indonesia" that he said glorified the military and was fraught with inaccuracies. "Prabowo's history within this republic is not good, to be frank ... Do they dare to write that?" said Made. Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said so far, there has been no state intervention. The 1998 kidnappings and torture of student activists would be included, he said, although he declined to say whether Prabowo would be mentioned in those accounts. Another key focus for historians will be how the books portray the mass killings of communists and sympathizers in 1965 and 1966, led by military and Islamic leaders. Some historians estimate more than half a million people were killed. No investigation has been conducted into the killings, which were in response to the murder of generals by the communist party in an abortive coup. Suharto rose to power in the aftermath and remained president until 1998, when he stepped down during a popular uprising and economic crisis after allegations of corruption and nepotism. The 1965 events continue to be debated in Indonesia. Fadli said the new books would not take a deeper look into the massacres. Fadli, who was among the student activists who demonstrated against Suharto, now speaks highly of the former ruler, highlighting economic achievements in his early presidency, including slashing poverty and tackling inflation. "My opinion has always been for a long time that Suharto should be considered a national hero," he said.
