Latest news with #Etemad
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Iran silent as dissident director wins Cannes' top prize
(From left) Indian filmmaker and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Payal Kapadia, French-Moroccan writer and journalist and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Leila Slimani, Mexican filmmaker and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Carlos Reygadas, French actress and president of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Juliette Binoche, Italian actress and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Alba Rohrwacher, South korean filmmaker and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Hong Sang-Soo, Congolese filmmaker and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Dieudo Hamadi, US actor and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Jeremy Strong and US actress and member of the jury of the 78th cannes film festival Halle Berry arrive for the Closing Ceremony at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes.--AFP photos Iranian authorities offered no reaction on Sunday after dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize for his political drama. Panahi, 64, was awarded the Palme d'Or on Saturday night for 'It Was Just an Accident' - a film in which five Iranians confront a man they believe tortured them in prison. A story inspired by his own time in detention, it had led critics' polls throughout the week at Cannes. The win has so far been met with silence from Iran's government and ignored by the state broadcaster, which instead focused on a state-aligned 'Resistance' film festival. The conservative Fars news agency suggested the jury's choice was politically motivated, saying it was 'not uninfluenced by the political issues surrounding Jafar Panahi inside Iran'. Reformist newspapers Etemad, Shargh and Ham Mihan reported the win on their websites but did not feature it on their front pages, possibly due to the timing of the announcement. US actor John C. Reilly sings on stage. Belgian co-Producer Luc Dardenne and Belgian co-Producer Jean-Pierre Dardenne celebrate on stage next to US actor John C. Reilly after winning the Best Screenplay prize for the film "Jeunes Meres" (The Young Mother's Home). Iranian director and screenwriter and producer Jafar Panahi (right) and his team celebrate on stage after winning the Palme d'Or for the film Un "Un simple accident" (A Simple Accident). Iranian director and screenwriter and producer Jafar Panahi poses on stage after winning the Palme d'Or for the film "Un simple accident" (A Simple Accident). Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom (left) poses with Director Adnan Al Rajeev during a photocall after winning the Short Film Prize for the film "I'm Glad You're Dead Now". British director Akinola Davies Jr poses on a photocall after receiving a special mention of the Camera d'Or prize for the film "My Father's Shadow", next to Italian director and screenwriter and president of the camera d'or jury Alice Rohrwacher and Iraqi director Hasan Hadi winner of the Camera d'Or prize for the film "The President's Cake". French-Spanish film director Oliver Laxe poses during a photocall after winning ex-aequo the Jury Prize for the film "Sirat". Chinese director and screenwriter Bi Gan poses for a photocall after receiving a Special Prize for the film "Kuang ye shi dai" (Resurrection). Brazilian Director Kleber Mendonca Filho poses with his partner French film producer Emilie Lesclaux during a photocall after winning the Best Director prize for the film "O Agente Secreto" (The Secret Agent) and with the Best Actor Prize on behalf of Brazilian actor Wagner Moura. Norwegian director and screenwriter Joachim Trier (center) poses with (from left) US actress Elle Fanning, Norwegian actress Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard during a photocall after winning the Grand Prix for the film "Affeksjonsverdi" (Sentimental Value). French actress Nadia Melliti poses during a photocall with her trophy after she won the Best Actress Prize for her part in the film "La Petite derniere" ("The Little Sister", alternatively called "The Last One"). Panahi, who has been banned from filmmaking since 2010 and jailed multiple times, addressed the Cannes audience with a call for national unity. He confirmed plans to return to Iran immediately. Asked on Saturday night if he feared arrest, he said: 'Not at all. Tomorrow we are leaving.' This marks only the second time an Iranian director has won the Palme d'Or, after the late Abbas Kiarostami received the honour for 'Taste of Cherry' in 1997. Both directors faced bans throughout their careers. — AFP
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Iran silent as dissident director wins top prize
Iranian authorities offered no reaction yesterday after dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize for his political drama. Panahi, 64, was awarded the Palme d'Or on Saturday night for 'It Was Just an Accident' -- a film in which five Iranians confront a man they believe tortured them in prison. A story inspired by his own time in detention, it had led critics' polls throughout the week at Cannes. The win has so far been met with silence from Iran's government and ignored by the state broadcaster, which instead focused on a state-aligned 'Resistance' film festival. The conservative Fars news agency suggested the jury's choice was politically motivated, saying it was 'not uninfluenced by the political issues surrounding Jafar Panahi inside Iran'. Reformist newspapers Etemad, Shargh and Ham Mihan reported the win on their websites but did not feature it on their front pages, possibly due to the timing of the announcement. Panahi, who has been banned from filmmaking since 2010 and jailed multiple times, addressed the Cannes audience with a call for national unity. He confirmed plans to return to Iran immediately. Asked on Saturday night if he feared arrest, he said: 'Not at all. Tomorrow we are leaving.' This marks only the second time an Iranian director has won the Palme d'Or, after the late Abbas Kiarostami received the honour for 'Taste of Cherry' in 1997. Both directors faced bans throughout their careers.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Autoliv joins Formula E as official mobility safety partner
In a significant move, Autoliv, a global leader in automotive safety , has announced that it will become the new official mobility safety partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The partnership, revealed on Tuesday, aims to promote the use of safety equipment and spotlight technological advancements that benefit both racers and everyday drivers by showcasing Autoliv 's market-leading products and innovations. Autoliv logo on the safety cars The collaboration, set to begin in April 2025, will include a series of branding activations. These will feature the Autoliv logo on the safety and medical cars, along with localised activations at various race venues. In its first year, the partnership will center around three key focus areas: Increasing the usage and understanding of safety equipment: Leveraging Formula E's global platform and fan base, Autoliv seeks to encourage consistent seatbelt use, promote vehicles with advanced safety systems, and inspire safe driving behavior in all traffic conditions. Inspiring current and future talent: Autoliv aims to cultivate a global safety mindset, engaging audiences of all ages who share a passion for automotive innovation and encouraging careers in the field of automotive safety. Electric vehicle safety : Autoliv will continue to explore and develop advanced safety technologies tailored specifically for electric vehicles in the years ahead. "We are proud to partner with Formula E and showcase our expertise in automotive and electrical safety," said Gabriella Etemad, Senior Vice President Communications of Autoliv. "This partnership represents a significant milestone in our journey to show how we empower safety within the automotive industry," Etemad said. 'This collaboration is a testament to our dedication to making vehicles safer for everyone, and we are enthusiastic about the opportunities this partnership can bring for advancing global automotive safety standards,' she added. Tiziana Di Gioia, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula E, said, 'As we have some of the fastest and most advanced race cars in global motorsport going wheel to wheel on our circuits, safety is our number one priority. This focus and attention to detail aligns perfectly with Autoliv's own ethos and business strategy. Collectively, we won't just promote vehicle safety to our current fan and consumer bases but look how we can continually develop and deploy cutting edge systems in both the motorsport and automotive industries.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tehran urges caution as nuclear talks with US move to Oman next week
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned against premature conclusions and unrealistic expectations as talks with the United States on Iran's nuclear programme were set to continue in Muscat next week. "There are no grounds either for optimism or for pessimism," he said following the second round of talks in Rome with US President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Tehran was taking a step-by-step approach to the talks, Araghchi said, according to the website of the Iranian daily Etemad. Expectations should remain realistic, and results would emerge only in subsequent rounds, he said. Following the meetings in Rome, the two sides agreed to continue technical negotiations on Wednesday and a third political round next weekend, both in the Omani capital. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi will continue to mediate. Observers believe that the technical negotiations will focus primarily on uranium enrichment, one of the most controversial issues. Tehran has indicated it is prepared to return to the agreed upper limit, but only if economic sanctions are lifted in return. Unfreezing its large foreign balances estimated at more than $100 billion, is a key demand. It is also demanding guarantees that a future agreement will be durable and rejects a Libyan style complete renunciation of nuclear technology. In an interview with Italy's La Repubblica newspaper published on Sunday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi expressed optimism on the talks. Both sides were "prepared to discuss concrete aspects with each other," Grossi said. Grossi said he was satisfied with progress to date. "The talks really could have collapsed in this second round. Then everything would have come to a halt," he said. "The risk was there. Instead the spirit of Rome showed it is possible to make progress," the IAEA head said without providing details. The US and Iranian delegations broke up after four hours on Saturday without making recognizable progress towards resolving the years-long stalemate over Iran's nuclear capabilities. Israel, the US and many Western countries accuse Tehran of working towards a nuclear arsenal, while Iran denies this. Trump has threatened military consequences on several occasions. Israel is the only nuclear power in the region. The 2015 deal which Tehran struck with the US, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, provided for the easing of economic sanctions on Iran as long as it restricted enrichment to 3.67%. Iran has now enriched uranium to 60%. The deal was also to be subject to a stringent inspection regime. In 2018, during his first term, Trump announced the US was withdrawing from the deal and reimposed sanctions. Iran subsequently announced it had resumed enrichment. Trump is now demanding a new agreement.
MTV Lebanon
18-02-2025
- Business
- MTV Lebanon
Iran mulls moving capital to 'lost paradise' on southern coast
Though the idea of moving the capital has cropped up on various occasions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the proposals were repeatedly shelved as unrealistic due to the massive financial and logistical hurdles. But reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has recently revived the idea, citing Tehran's growing challenges. These include traffic snarls, water shortages, resource mismanagement, extreme air pollution, as well as subsidence -- the gradual sinking of land mass due to either natural processes or human activity. In January, government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said the authorities were studying the possible relocation. "The Makran region is being seriously considered," she said, without specifying a timeline. Makran is a largely undeveloped coastal area on the Gulf of Oman, stretching across Iran's southern, impoverished Sistan-Baluchistan province and part of neighbouring Hormozgan province. It has repeatedly been touted as a frontrunner for the move. "The 'lost paradise' of Makran must be transformed into the future economic hub of Iran and the region," said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a Sunday speech. In September, Pezeshkian said "we have no choice but to move the economic and political centre of the country to the south and near the sea". Tehran's problems had "only worsened with the continuation of existing policies". The revival of relocation plans has reignited a debate over their necessity, with many highlighting Tehran's historic and strategic significance. Lawmaker Ali Khazaei said that whatever future city is chosen, it must take into consideration Iran's "rich culture". Tehran, designated the capital by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar in 1786, has served as Iran's political, administrative and cultural hub for over two centuries. Tehran province is currently home to around 18 million people, as well as a floating population of about two million people who commute there during the daytime, according to governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian. The landlocked city sits on a sloping plateau at the foot of the snow-capped Alborz mountain range, blending modern high-rises with historic palaces, bustling bazaars and leafy parks. Makran is meanwhile known for its fishing villages, sandy beaches and ancient history dating back to the time of Alexander the Great. Still, many oppose the possible relocation. "This would be a completely wrong move because Tehran really represents Iran," said 28-year-old engineer Kamyar Babaei, a resident of the capital. "This city is a symbol of the historic Qajar dynasty... a symbol of modernity, and of urban life," he added. Similarly, urban planning professor Ali Khaksar Rafsanjani noted Tehran's "strategic location". The city "is safe and appropriate in emergency and war situations", he told the reformist Etemad newspaper, adding that Makran is on the other hand "very vulnerable" as it sits on the Gulf of Oman. Former Tehran mayor Pirouz Hanachi says the capital's problems "can be solved" and only required "investment" and taking measures to develop the city. There was no official estimate for the budget required to tackle Tehran's urban challenges. But in April 2024, then-interior minister Ahmad Vahidi said relocating the capital could require a budget of "around $100 billion", according to Tehran municipality news website Hamshahri. The local ISNA news agency weighed the pros and cons of moving to Makran, saying the region holds "the potential of becoming an important commercial and economic hub". But it also noted that the relocation would add to Iran's already heavy financial burdens, in part the result of decades of international sanctions. Etemad also listed among the advantages of moving to Makran "regional development, access to open water, and reduced vulnerability to earthquakes," as opposed to Tehran which is prone to seismic activity. But it pointed to the heavy costs and disruption of lives, noting that the move would pose massive logistical challenges. Another outlet, Khabar Online, also pointed to the Makran region's vulnerability to climate change. "Climate changes and a lack of water resources in the Makran region, combined with rising temperatures and declining rainfall, have created very fragile environmental conditions that limit the potential of extensive development," it reported, quoting ecologist Hossein Moradi. For Banafsheh Keynoush, a fellow at the International Institute for Iranian Studies, the choice of Makran could reflect broader strategic ambitions. "By selecting Makran as possibly the next capital, Iran aims to compete with seaports like Dubai and Gwadar" in neighbouring Pakistan, she said in a post on X. She added that it would provide a boost to the nearby coastal city of Chabahar "despite sanctions" and, crucially, "reassert [Iran's] role in the Persian Gulf waterway".
