Shooting of Mammootty-Jithin K Jose film begins; Here’s what we know

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

There are a lot of rumours on social media about Mammootty and director Jithin K Jose’s upcoming movie. The film’s production has reportedly started in Nagercoil today (September 25). Based on the prior hits, film enthusiasts are anticipating a significant degree of success from Mammootty Kampany’s upcoming project in terms of both plot and casting. We should have more details about the movie and the casting in the coming days.Mammootty Kampany, the Malayalam superstar’s production firm, is funding the film, with Kannur Squad-fame Roby Varghese Raj serving as the cinematographer and Sushin Shyam as the music director. 
Mammootty to play the villain in Jithin K Jose’s directorial?Based on the latest information, Mammootty is expected to play a villain once more in the upcoming Jithin K Jose film. According to the most recent rumours, the renowned actor will be acting in the untitled movie as the antagonist rather than the protagonist. However, Jithin, the filmmaker, has personally written the script for the movie in which Vinayakan will play the lead role. Unverified rumours also claim that both actors would be playing police officers in the movie. Fans of the Malayalam megastar have higher anticipation for the film due to reports that he will portray the foe.Speculations over Mammootty-Jithin K Jose filmMeanwhile, there are speculations that Tovino Thomas might be involved in a significant way in this film, which was initially supposed to star Prithviraj Sukumaran. Additionally, there are rumours that Joju George was first in queue to play Vinayakan. The megastar is rumoured to only be shooting for the film by the second week of October 2024. However, once the project gets underway, the makers intend to hold a puja ceremony to formally launch the eagerly anticipated project. The remaining actors for the untitled movie have not yet been decided upon by the team. By the first half of 2025, the film is anticipated to be released in big screens.

The Wings of Tatev cable car has been nominated for World Travel Awards 2024 for the third time

Travel

 25 September, 2024. The Wings of Tatev cable car, located in the Syunik region (Armenia), has once again been nominated for the prestigious international tourism award, World Travel Awards 2024, in the category of “World’s Leading Cable Car Ride 2024”. The project previously won in this category twice in 2021 and 2023. Now it is competing with cable cars from Bolivia, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, and South Africa. 
Wings of Tatev is the world’s longest passenger cable car. It entered the Guinness Book of Records not only because of its length – 5,752 meters – but also as the world’s only engineering structure of this scale built in just 10 months. The ropeway project was realized by the Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr/Garaventa, a leader in the field of ropeway construction. 

This year, the Wings of Tatev cable car will celebrate its 14th year of operation. Since its opening in 2010, it has been used by more than 1,300,000 people. Thanks to it, every fifth tourist in Armenia visits Tatev. 
Mariia Butenko, Director of Wings of Tatev, urges people to vote, emphasizing the impact winning would have: “Securing this prestigious award once again will not only bring global recognition to Wings of Tatev but also further elevate Armenia as a top-tier tourism destination. It will help us continue contributing to the growth of the local community, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the development of Armenia’s tourism industry. I encourage everyone to vote and be part of this journey towards another achievement for Armenia.”
To vote for the Wings of Tatev, follow these steps:

Visit the official award website by following the link.
Register with your email.
Confirm the received email.
Click on the “Start Voting” button.
Choose the “World” section.
Select line 63: “World’s Leading Cable Car Ride 2024”.
Vote for “Wings of Tatev, Armenia”.

The voting deadline is October 20, 2024.
The Wings of Tatev project is part of “Tatev Revival program”, initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend. The cable car is a non-profit project, and all its proceeds are directed towards the restoration of the Tatev Monastery and community development. The cable car is managed by Impulse Business Management.

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‘Freedom to Read ’Em’: Anne Arundel Libraries declare themselves a book sanctuary

Arts & Culture, Books

The Anne Arundel County Public Library system will announce Wednesday that it has become the first in Maryland to be designated a book sanctuary.CEO Skip Auld is expected to talk about the designation, which declares the system one that protects banned and endangered books, at the Annapolis Mall branch.Book Sanctuaries, established in Chicago in 2022, have a mission to collect and protect these books, ensure public access to them, host discussions and events and educate the community about the history of book bans and censorship.“Anne Arundel County Public Library is dedicated to protecting the rights of all who use our library’s resources and will defend their freedom to read,” Auld said in a statement. “In becoming a Book Sanctuary, we reaffirm the library’s role as a defender of intellectual freedom, a place where every individual has the right to explore ideas without fear of censorship or judgment. This declaration is a powerful statement of our values and redoubles our efforts to educate people on the dangers of censorship to a democracy.”The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors.

Harris to unveil new manufacturing plans in ‘pragmatic’ pitch to business community

Business News

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to announce new proposals focused on boosting U.S. manufacturing in a speech at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, according to a senior campaign official.
The proposals are part of a broader effort to frame Harris as a partner, not an antagonist, to the business community as Donald Trump works to define her as “Democrats’ Radical Left Candidate.”
With 41 days until the November election, the Harris campaign sees the Pittsburgh address as an opportunity to erode Trump’s edge on the economy, which it believes is slipping.

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S., September 20, 2024. 
Jim Vondruska | Reuters

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to announce new campaign proposals focused on boosting U.S. manufacturing in a Wednesday speech at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, according to a senior campaign official.
The proposals are part of a broader effort to frame Harris as a partner, not an antagonist, to the business community, said the official, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about a speech that is not yet public.

Harris’ address will outline a “pragmatic” economic philosophy rooted in capitalism, innovation and an understanding of government’s limitations, rather than one “bound by ideology,” the official said.
The vice president will attempt to present her openness to the private sector as a means of growing the middle class, which has so far been the focal point of her nascent economic platform.
The speech will serve as a direct counterpoint to attacks from Harris’ Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, who has been working to define the former senator from California as the “Democrats’ radical left candidate” and a threat to the U.S. economy.
“If Kamala Harris gets four more years, she will deindustrialize the United States and destroy our country,” Trump said at an event in Savannah, Ga. on Tuesday, where he also rolled out new manufacturing proposals.
During his Georgia speech, Trump said if he were elected to a second term, he would introduce an expanded tax credit for research and development expenses, appoint a specialized “manufacturing ambassador” and impose hardline tariffs on imports, which he said would incentivize domestic production.

In her rebuttal on Wednesday, Harris also plans to highlight her middle class upbringing and her political resume, the campaign official said.
She will point to her two terms as California Attorney General, during which she collaborated with companies to manage privacy concerns about early mobile apps. Harris will also draw on her work as vice president to deliver more capital to community banks and small businesses.

Read more CNBC politics coverage

For most of her eight week-old presidential campaign, Harris’ economic pitch has dovetailed neatly with President Joe Biden’s agenda.
Harris has focused on lowering the costs of food, housing and childcare, in part by accusing corporate America of “price gouging,” or manipulating and inflating consumer prices to far exceed producers’ costs, resulting in soaring profit margins that are untethered from productivity.
In August, Harris went so far as to propose a federal ban on so-called price gouging in the food and grocery sectors.
But that idea was panned by economists from across the political spectrum, who argued that little evidence exists to suggest that corporate price fixing is a primary driver of high prices.
Over the past several weeks, Harris has softened her rhetoric toward corporate America.
Last Wednesday, for example, in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Harris condemned price gouging, but quickly clarified that only a handful of corporations actually engage in it.
“Some corporations, and it’s very few of them that do this, but they jack up prices to make it more difficult for desperate people to just get by,” Harris said.
Wednesday’s speech could be the latest step in Harris’ tone shift, with less of Biden’s corporate scolding, and more of his industrial policy goals.
The campaign official noted, however, that Harris will also make clear that she is “unafraid to hold bad actors accountable if she needs to.”
With just 41 days until Election Day and voters in several states already casting early ballots, the Harris campaign sees her Pittsburgh address as an opportunity to continue chipping away at Trump’s longstanding edge with voters when it comes to the economy.
Recent polls suggest Harris’ efforts on this front are already bearing fruit.
The Financial Times-Michigan Ross September poll of 1,002 registered voters found Harris with a slim two-percentage point lead over Trump on the economy.
The poll was taken in the two days following the first Harris-Trump presidential debate on Sept. 10
Harris’ slight two-point advantage was within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, but reflected Harris catching up to her Republican opponent.
Several other high quality polls conducted after the debate show Harris narrowing Trump’s advantage with voters on economic issues by double digits, including ones from AP-NORC, NBC News and Fox News.

Govt. takes Tourism Day festivities to Grand Bassa

Travel

The Government of Liberia announces here that the 2024 World Tourism Day celebration will be held in Grand Bassa County, in the Southeast of the country.

By Kruah Thompson 

Monrovia, Liberia, September 25, 2024—Grand Bassa County is gearing up to host this year’s celebration of World Tourism Day, which will showcase its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. 

The event aims to promote sustainable tourism and highlight the region’s attractions. It will bring together local communities, stakeholders, and visitors for a day of activities and cultural exchange.

World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27, was established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 1980. The day aims to raise awareness about tourism’s social, cultural, political, and economic value and contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Each year, World Tourism Day focuses on a specific theme, highlighting emerging trends and issues in the tourism sector. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of tourism in fostering international cooperation and understanding while encouraging responsible travel.

However, Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Madam Kadiatu Konteh Brohiri, during the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s regular press briefing on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, revealed that the Day will be celebrated in Grand Bassa County, under the global theme, “Tourism and Peace.”

According to her, this theme will capture the essence of how tourism can serve as a bridge for peace, encouraging cross-cultural interactions and economic opportunities that contribute to sustainable development in Liberia.

World Tourism Day 2023 was celebrated in Montserrado County, Liberia.

This year’s celebrations will spotlight Grand Bassa County’s stunning landscapes and cultural richness, including its beaches, eco-lodges, and historical landmarks. According to Deputy Minister Brohiri, these present unique opportunities for sustainable tourism. 

“To ensure that the event is successful, MICAT, in collaboration with local authorities in Grand Bassa, has organized a series of pre-event activities.”

She says these activities include traditional performances highlighting Liberia’s cultural diversity, guided tours of Buchanan’s key attraction points, and providing visitors with a firsthand experience of the region’s tourism potential.

Meanwhile, the Minister says the 2024 World Tourism Day celebrations in Grand Bassa will underscore Liberia’s tourism potential and serve as a testament to how tourism can be a catalyst for peace, development, and economic growth. Editing by Jonathan Browne

The 29 worst mistakes in famous movies, from Harry Potter to The Wizard of Oz

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseMy recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyondEric GarciaWashington Bureau ChiefAmid the praise for Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, one eagle-eyed celebrity viewer spotted a glaring historical inaccuracy in the blockbuster flick.The moment occurs towards the end of the film, when Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Rick Dalton is reported to have arrived back in Hollywood from Europe on a Boeing 747. But it was John Travolta, who is a plane enthusiast and trained pilot, who said that this would have been impossible given the film is set in 1969. “Well, the 747 had its test flight in February 1969, but it went into service in January 1970. They’re nine months off! He would have been on a Boeing 707!” he said. We can forgive Tarantino for that. But it’s hard to believe that some slip-ups – whether it’s Judy Garland without her ruby red shoes in The Wizard of Oz or Julia Roberts eating a croissant that gets swapped for a pancake in Pretty Woman – actually made it through the editing process.According to the website Movie Mistakes, Captain Marvel – starring Brie Larson – features no less than 60 errors over its two-hour duration.Is there a film where somebody hasn’t screwed up?Here, we list 29 mistakes in films that you might not have caught.Batman (1989)Batman 1989: ‘Gentleman Let’s Broaden Our Minds, Lawrence!’The Tim Burton-directed superhero film has multiple mistakes, but a major one happens when Joker and his crew deface paintings at a museum. One of his gang members slaps a painting with his hands that are covered in red paint, but in the next shot, the handprints have disappeared from the artwork.Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (2019)Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in ‘Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood’

ATÜ Duty Free snaps up key Antalya Airport travel retail contract

Travel

TÜRKIYE. ATÜ Duty Free, a subsidiary of the TAV Airports and Unifree Duty Free/Gebr. Heinemann joint venture, has been awarded the upcoming duty-free contract at Antalya Airport.Antalya will become ATÜ Duty Free’s fifth airport operation in Türkiye. The incument retailer is Avolta-owned Dufry.The travel retailer will manage a 12,000sq m shopping footprint, including core duty-free stores, ATÜ’s multi-brand concept Luxury Square, and its local concept brand Old Bazaar.ATÜ Duty Free said it will bring its industry expertise, knowhow and qualified human resources to Antalya Airport, leveraging the experience gleaned from an operational network already spanning 21 airports and a cruise port across seven countries.ATÜ Duty Free CEO Ersan Arcan said: “Thanks to the strong synergy we have established with Antalya Airport and all our partners with strong global experience, we aim to bring the best service to our operation at Antalya Airport by leveraging our industry’s most experienced expert team, our knowledge, and expertise.“We are excited about the prospect of launching a travel retail operation at Antalya Airport that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the airport and the region, a destination that continues to grow each year with its historic sites, beaches, international sports events, conferences, and other activities, attracting both domestic and international tourists.“Antalya Airport is a strategic step for us, and we are eager to offer a world-class shopping experience here. By bringing the world’s leading brands to Antalya, we aim to play a key role in making the airport a hub for international travel retail.”The addition of Antalya Airport to ATÜ Duty Free’s portfolio marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy, the company said.“As ATÜ Duty Free continues to strengthen its presence in Türkiye and beyond, the company remains committed to providing unparalleled shopping experiences and fostering lasting relationships with both customers and brand collaborations,” the company said.“With a focus on operational excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction, ATÜ Duty Free looks forward to contributing to Antalya Airport’s development as a premier global travel hub, reflecting the best of international retail and Turkish hospitality.”  ✈TENDER ALERT The Moodie Davitt Report is the industry’s most popular channel for launching commercial proposals and for publishing the results. If you wish to promote an Expression of Interest, Request for Proposals or full tender process for any sector of airport or other travel-related infrastructure revenues, simply email Martin Moodie at [email protected] have a variety of options that will ensure you reach the widest, most high-quality concessionaire/retailer/operator base in the industry – globally and immediately.The Moodie Davitt Report is the only international business media to cover all airport or other travel-related consumer services, revenue-generating and otherwise. Our reporting includes duty-free and other retail, food & beverage, property, passenger lounges, art and culture, hotels, car parking, medical facilities, the internet, advertising and related revenue streams.Please send relevant material, including images, to Martin Moodie at [email protected] for instant, quality global coverage.