Tag: United States

  • Emmy Moments: Not the Pandemmys — but hardly normal, either

    By Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES: OK, it definitely wasn’t the Pandemmys, or the Zoomemmys, or whatever you want to call last year’s virtual Emmy ceremony — with everyone at home, and visitors in hazmat suits showing up to bestow awards.

    This year was different — defiantly so. People were together, and not even in masks (except during commercial breaks.) There were plenty of hugs and kisses — in fact, quipped presenter Seth Rogen, he had just been sneezed in the face by Paul Bettany. (Guests had to present vaccine proof and negative COVID-19 tests.)

    But of course, this wasn’t the PRE-COVID Emmys either. The crowd, in a tent in downtown Los Angeles, was much smaller than in normal years. And many overseas nominees couldn’t come due to travel restrictions — especially the cast and crew of “The Crown,” which accepted its six drama awards from a party in London, as “Schitt’s Creek” had done a year earlier in Canada.

    And in a year where so much was different, there were some familiar problems. Awards were concentrated among a few shows. The hashtag #EmmysSoWhite emerged — a record number of nominees of color yielded only two Black winners, RuPaul for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Michaela Coel for writing “I May Destroy You.” A slew of Black actors were passed over.

    Cedric the Entertainer proved an infectiously joyful and hard-working host, but the comedy bits were spotty at best. It also didn’t help that some overlong speeches dragged down the proceedings, for example from the director of “The Queen’s Gambit,” who was criticized on Twitter for a speech that to some, seemed to feel as long as a chess game.

    Still there were feel-good moments: Debbie Allen. Jean Smart! Kate Winslet. Ted Lasso himself — heck, all Ted’s friends, too. And perhaps best of all, the fiercely original Coel, giving a stunning (and concise!) speech about writing.

    Some key moments of the evening:

    A JEANAISSANCE…

    Yes, the expected Jeanaissance happened, with veteran Smart receiving a standing ovation after winning best actress in a comedy — her fourth Emmy in a long career — for playing a Las Vegas stand-up comic in “Hacks.” She immediately paid tearful tribute to her husband, Richard Gilliland, who died in March: “I would not be here without him, and without his … putting his career on the back burner so I could take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities I have had.” It was a theme — personal loss — that was threaded through a number of speeches.

    AND THE GREAT KATE

    While “Mare of Easttown,” also featuring Smart, lost out to “The Queen’s Gambit” for best limited series, it won three key acting awards, including the Great Kate — Winslet, of course — who captivated audiences with her role as a “a middle-aged, imperfect, flawed mother,” in her words, in which she also nailed a very difficult Philadelphia accent. The show “is this cultural moment, and it brought people together and gave them something to talk about other than a global pandemic,” Winslet noted.

    THE LASSO EFFECT

    It was unquestionably the feel-good show of the year, and “Ted Lasso” — about the unrelentingly upbeat American coach of a British football team — started winning early, with ebullient stage actress Hannah Waddingham accepting the award for best supporting actress in a comedy, closely followed by Brett Goldstein for supporting actor. Then Jason Sudeikis, the titular coach, made it a happy trio, winning best actor. “This show’s about families, this show’s about mentors and teachers, this show’s about teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without those three things in my life,” said Sudeikis. He told castmates and crew: “I’m only as good as you guys make me look.” The Apple TV+ show capped off the night by winning best comedy.

    CAN WE COME?

    “We’re going to party,” said Peter Morgan, creator of “The Crown,” as the royal saga from Netflix won drama writing, directing and all four acting honors. At times it seemed like that party — held in London due to travel restrictions — might be more fun than the long party in Los Angeles. Olivia Colman, who became the second actor to win for playing Queen Elizabeth II on the same show, after Claire Foy, was delighted but tearful as she recalled the death of her father during COVID. “He would have loved all of this,” she said.

    VACCINE HUMOR

    There was not much politics in Emmy speeches, unless you counted Stephen Colbert riffing on the California governor recall attempt with a slightly labored joke about “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” being recalled. “Mrs. Maisel has survived the recall and will remain marvelous,” he concluded. But Cedric the Entertainer delivered some topical humor with a riff on vaccines. Likening the various jabs to stores, he called Pfizer the Neiman Marcus, Moderna the Macy’s, and Johnson & Johnson the TJ Maxx of vaccines. He also offered up a dig at Nicki Minaj for the story about her cousin’s friend in Trinidad.

    DEBBIE ALLEN GETS TO STOP THE CLOCK…

    “Turn that clock off,” Allen said as she launched into her speech accepting the Governors Award. “I’m not paying any attention to it.” She added she was “trembling with gratitude and grace and trying not to cry … it’s taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time.” She urged a younger generation to “Tell your stories … it’s your turn.” The crowd cheered — when you have her career as an actor, dancer, choreographer and activist, you’re allowed to ignore the playoff music.

    BUT NOT EVERYONE IS DEBBIE ALLEN

    Then there was Scott Frank, director of “The Queen’s Gambit.” When he won, he thanked some folks, then more, then more, reading from a prepared speech.. The playoff music swelled, several times, but he continued, saying at one point: “Really?” Frank was called out on Twitter. “This is why directors need editors,” wrote writer-producer Danny Zuker, calling the remarks “The Irishman” of speeches.

    A WRITER, ON WRITING

    Luckily, what followed was probably the night’s highlight — the remarks by Coel, of “I May Destroy You.” She said she had something to tell the writers out there. “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn’t comfortable,” she said. “I dare you.” In a world, she added, where we all feel the need to be visible, equating it with success, “do not be afraid to disappear … See what comes to you in the silence.” Coel dedicated her show, in which she played a survivor of sexual assault, “to every single survivor of sexual assault.”

  • INTERVIEW | Indo-Pacific area is broad space where we can cooperate, says Mexican Ambassador to India

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Mexican Ambassador to India Federico Salas talks on how the pandemic has changed India-Mexico ties, the Indo-US trade deal and on how the two countries can cooperate in different areas.

    How has the pandemic affected India-Mexico ties? What were the challenges that you faced during the pandemic and how do you see India-Mexico relations evolve in the post-pandemic era.

    It has changed relations in a positive way. We (India and Mexico) are some of the hardest hit countries in the world. It made us realise that we need to deal with health issues worldwide from a multilateral perspective, not only for the coronavirus pandemic but also for the future. Secondly, it brought us to acloser dialogue with India in terms of purchase of vaccines. We offered our support and aid during the second wave here. Mexico and India are non-permanent members of the UNSC and this issue has been raised to ensure work is done globally.

    The pandemic has brought us closer as we have a common challenge to face and we are trying to overcome it. Mexico has been looking with different eyes at the pharmaceutical sector of India and the potential it has not only with respect to Covid but other issues. We are working to acquire medicines from different labs in India for the Mexican health sector. There is a future there as well.

    You had recently said that you could share your good and bad experiences with India on the trade deal with the US. Have you officially shared your experiences? What, in your opinion, is delaying the deal?

    Mexico has negotiated a major trade deal with USA and Canada, the NAFTA in 1994 which was updated in June last year. We have had an extensive experience of negotiating with the US one of the most ambitious and state-of-the-art FTAs of the world. It was a complex negotiation. Mexico has always been open to share experiences and good practices in the negotiations.

    The agreements are very complex. Even the first NAFTA took at least five years of intense negotiation and requires strong commitments by the negotiating parties. We had a hurdle when the finalisation took place in the final days of the term of George HW Bush. His successor had some issues with the agreement. It almost fell through. We then devised side agreements. We left the FTA intact and negotiated two side agreements on environment and labour. I have no details in this case (India-US trade deal) but these things take time and I am not surprised. Many sectors in different countries are protective and defensive of what might happen while negotiating with an economic super power like the US. However, that is not necessarily the case as Mexico has proved it.

    Are there any plans of Mexico joining the Quad or any bloc with regard to the Indo-Pacific as you have stated that both India and Mexico believe in a rules-based international order?

    No formal discussions on Quad have taken place but there have been discussions of academic nature and also on the concept of the Indo-Pacific. The concept is fluid and is still in the making. As we understand it, the Indo-Pacific extends from east coast of Africa to west coast of America. It is abroad space where we can cooperate and it will happen in the future in a more complete fashion. We discuss issues like trade facilitation and investments. Our security interests in the South China Sea are limited but we certainly support the principle of free navigation and peaceful spaces as even though we do not have a physical presence, we have a commercial presence. Hence, we feel these spaces should be kept open and free.

    Recently, environmentalist Jaydev Payeng signed an agreement with a Mexican NGO where the two parties agreed to take up plantation drives in 8 lakh hectares of land in Mexico. How do you see this collaboration given that climate change is a serious issue? Also, how are India and Mexico planning to cooperate on the issue of climate change?

    Payeng went to Mexico last year to participate in an event where a foundation in Mexico decided to start working with him for plantation drive because of his experience. This is a private thing but we are very happy that this cooperation is taking place. We are working with India at the multilateral level. We have a mechanism in place through which we have been working with India and Germany to deal with pollution issues. The same measures used to reduce pollution in Mexico City may be effective in cities like Delhi and other cities. This is bilateral cooperation on this issue.

    Any update on the dispute between the Khadi Village and Industries Commission and a Mexican firm on the registration of the Khadi brand and logo?

    I do not have details of the particular case you mentioned but I can say that one of the good things that has happened in the relationship between Mexico and India is that the relationship has become more intense. There are some frictions and some disputes may arise. Fortunately, we have mechanisms to deal with this. We are negotiating with India, an agreement with regard to the protection of promotion of investments. It should be finalised by the end of this year. 

    With India assuming the presidency of the UNSC and Mexico also being a non-permanent member of the council, what sort of cooperation can we expect?

    We are committed to India’s priorities and we will come up with our priorities for our presidency in November. We are supportive of India’s priorities like maritime security and fighting terror. We are working together at the council on many issues.

  • US FDA rejects emergency authorisation for Covaxin, ‘recommends’ to take full approval route

    By PTI
    HYDERABD: In a setback to Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, the US Food and Drug Administration has “recommended” Ocugen Inc, the US partner of the Indian vaccine maker, to go for Biologics Licence Application (BLA) route with additional data, nixinghopes of Emergency Use Authorisation.

    Ocugen in a statement on Thursday announced that as recommended by theFDA,it will pursue submission of a biologics licence application (BLA) for Covaxin.

    BLA,isa “full approval” mechanism by the FDA for drugs and vaccines.

    “The company will no longer pursue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Covaxin. The FDA provided feedback to Ocugen regarding the Master File. The company had previously submitted and recommended that Ocugen pursue a BLA submission instead of an EUA application for its vaccine candidate and requested additional information and data,” Ocugen said.

    The development may delay the Covaxin launch in the US, Ocugen said.

    Ocugen is in discussions with the FDA to understand the additional information required to support a BLA submission.

    The company anticipates that data from an additional clinical trial will be required to support the submission.

    “Although we were close to finalising our EUA application for submission, we received a recommendation from the FDA to pursue a BLA path. While this will extend our timelines, we are committed to bringing Covaxin to the US,” Dr.

    Shankar Musunuri, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Ocugen said.

    “This differentiated vaccine is a critical tool to include in our national arsenal given its potential to address the SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the delta variant, and given the unknowns about what will be needed to protect US population in the long term,” he added.

    Ocugen recently announced that it secured exclusive rights to commercialise Covaxin in Canada and has initiated discussions with Health Canada for regulatory approval.

    The company will pursue expedited authorisation for the vaccine under the Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19 in Canada.

  • Man arrested on weapon charge outside US VP Kamala Harris’ official residence

    By PTI
    WASHINGTON: A 31-year-old man has been arrested outside US Vice President Kamala Harris’ official residence in Washington, D.C. on weapons and ammunition charges, according to media reports.

    The arrest comes as the district is in a state of heightened security following the January 6 insurrection attempt at the US Capitol.

    Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, do not currently live at the Naval Observatory, as the official residence of the US Vice President is undergoing renovation.

    The couple is living at Blair House, near the White House.

    The Texas man was detained by US Secret Service on Wednesday following an intelligence bulletin, a spokesperson for Washington’s Metropolitan Police was quoted as saying by CNN.

    Police said the officers arrested and charged Paul Murray, of San Antonio, and that a rifle and ammunition were recovered from his vehicle, it said.

    A police report shows officers allege Murray was in possession of an “AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, 113 rounds of unregistered ammunition, and five 30 round magazines.”

    According to police, he’s been charged with several counts: carrying a dangerous weapon, carrying a rifle or shotgun outside of a business, possession of unregistered ammunition and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

    The US Secret Service told CNN in a statement that Uniformed Division officers detained the man before Metropolitan Police arrived on the scene.

    A Secret Service official said none of the agency’s protectees were at the residence at the time of the incident.

    Violent pro-Trump supporters, fuelled by the belief that President Biden and Harris had stolen the election from Donald Trump, stormed the Capitol on January 6, threatening lawmakers and law enforcement officers.

    Five people, including a police officer, were killed in the violence.

    Since the violent incidents, security and intelligence officials have often warned about the dangers of homegrown extremism in America.

  • Hollywood actor​ Dwayne Johnson is still considering a presidential run

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Hollywood actor and former pro-wrestler Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has said that he is still considering running for president of the United States.

    According to Fox News, the ‘Fast and Furious ‘ star said, “I would consider a presidential run in the future if that’s what the people wanted. Truly I mean that, and I’m not flippant in any way with my answer. That would be up to the people… So I would wait, and I would listen. I would have my finger on the pulse, my ear to the ground.”

    Johnson has spoken about his interest in politics for a handful of years, noting that he has strongly considered it in the past. During a 2017 appearance on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, the star said that he was “seriously considering” a run for president.

    Despite having years’ worth of projects lined up in Hollywood, the star still hasn’t ruled out one day vying for the Oval Office.

    The former professional wrestler is currently out promoting his new series, ‘Young Rock’, which premieres on February 16th on NBC.

  • COVID-19: Oscars will be broadcast from multiple locations

    By Associated Press
    Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre has been the home of the Oscars since 2001 and the organizers say the upcoming show will keep that tradition, but they will enlist a supporting cast of venues.

    An academy spokesperson said Wednesday that the ceremony will broadcast live from multiple locations on April 25. The announcement comes as many cities that are important film hubs, including Los Angeles, New York and London, remain under strict coronavirus restrictions.

    Specific plans have yet to be unveiled for the show, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is “determined to present an Oscars like none other, while prioritizing the public health and safety of all those who will participate,” the spokesperson said.

    The Golden Globes, which has also been scarce on specific details, is planning its own bicoastal broadcast for Feb. 28.

    The Oscars were pushed back two months because of the pandemic. Director Steven Soderbergh, “Erin Brokovich” producer Stacey Sher and awards show veteran Jesse Collins are producing the telecast. It’s unclear whether or not they will have a host.

    Last year’s show had the smallest audience ever of 23.6 million viewers, down 20% from the year prior.