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Time of India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee's short film screened at the House of Commons
Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee with others at the House of Commons for the screening of his short film HOME Interdisciplinary artiste Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee was recently invited to the House of Commons in the British Parliament for the screening of his short film HOME. The film is inspired by a poem by poet Arundhathi Subramaniam. The event drew a select, eclectic audience and was followed by an engaging discussion exploring the layered themes of the film and the global positioning of Bengali cinema. The session was chaired by MP Rupa Huq, who steered the dialogue alongside Jonathan Kennedy, Programme Lead of the Venice Biennale; Koushik Chatterjee, President of Bengal Heritage Foundation; and Suranjan Som. The screening prompted a rich exchange with attendees delving into the political undertones of the film and its relevance to diaspora narratives and cultural displacement. MP Rupa Huq moderating the screening Among the audience was Rohit K Dasgupta, assistant professor at The London School of Economics and Political Science, who highlighted the shifting content dynamics in Bengali cinema and the challenges of segment mapping within the industry. 'House of Commons is not only a prestigious venue but also the melting pot of British politics. I am glad my film has evoked some very important premises that relate to the diaspora and their expressions. It's not a gender war anymore but the battle of identity,' said Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, reflecting on the reception of his film. Following this milestone, Chatterjee is set to continue his UK tour with a series of performances and cultural engagements across the country.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
British Labour Party's ‘Starmtroopers' mount rebellion against their leader
Keir Starmer's landslide win in the British general election last July delivered to the House of Commons what was supposed to be a hand-picked army of loyalists moulded in his image, a cadre that earned the moniker 'Starmtroopers'. As the prime minister's first anniversary in power approaches next week, the troops have mutinied, and some now have him and his chancellor in their sights. Backbench Labour Members of Parliament on June 26 forced the government into a humiliating U-turn on its flagship welfare reform policy, cancelling some £3 billion of planned disability benefit cuts which had enraged the left-leaning party's ranks. Downing Street had little choice but surrender: Without concessions, Mr Starmer faced the prospect of a parliamentary defeat on July 1 that would have been extraordinary for a government with a 165-seat majority, calling his premiership into question. The move follows U-turns on his previous opposition to a national inquiry into child sexual abuse gangs and on a controversial decision to remove cold weather payments from pensioners. He has also signalled willingness to raise benefits for families with children, a Labour demand he has previously resisted. One left-wing Member of Parliament joked on June 27 that 'Keir always caves' could become the British equivalent of the US meme that President Donald Trump 'always chickens out'. The series of damaging climbdowns have left Mr Starmer's political authority weakened, his judgment under scrutiny and the positions of those around him in jeopardy. They also reflect increasing pressure on Labour from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which YouGov projected this week would win the most seats in the Commons if an election were held today – despite only winning five last year. 'Labour thought they had a few years to make difficult decisions and then maybe reduce taxes closer to the end of parliament, but Reform's success has made that tricky for them,' Steven Fielding, emeritus professor of politics at the University of Nottingham, said in an interview. 'Reform can now attack them from left and right. Labour clearly thought they had the political space to do this but it was a miscalculation and they clearly haven't,' he said, referring to the benefit cuts. Speaking to broadcasters on June 27, Mr Starmer said the adjustments were 'the right thing to do,' giving the package of welfare cuts 'the right balance'. The policy changes will have fiscal implications for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, however, while also placing her in political peril. Her first problem is the extra £4.5 billion she will need to find to fill the gap left by the reversals on disability benefits and winter fuel. Moreover, the U-turns suggest she is unable to get serious spending cuts past Labour MPs, leaving tax rises at the autumn budget increasingly inevitable and further hurting the chancellor's bet on economic growth coming to the rescue, according to Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Electoral pledges not to raise income tax, value added tax and national insurance for workers, coupled with the unpopular £26 billion increase in payroll taxes paid by employers that she rolled out at the last budget further tie her hands on what she is able to do next. For the first time, Ms Reeves' position is in serious danger, according to Labour MPs and government aides who spoke on condition of anonymity discussing internal party matters. The chancellor has sunk a lot of her personal political capital into making spending cuts to maintain fiscal stability, only to have them blocked by Labour MPs. A poll for the LabourList website found 40 per cent of Labour members want Ms Reeves ousted. Several MPs told Bloomberg that Mr Starmer should replace her with someone willing to change the government's self-imposed fiscal rules that limit borrowing. Many on the left of the party want a new chancellor to impose a one-time wealth tax. 'The issue of how the government designs a credible autumn budget will be in the news most weeks from now until it happens,' said Mr Sam Hill at Lloyds Bank. 'The unpalatability of measures needed to meet the fiscal rules pressurizes the government into questioning its commitment to the rules in the current format.' MPs are also targeting Mr Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. Several said the premier's most senior aide was responsible for pushing the government to the right on crime and immigration, as well as – alongside Ms Reeves – putting too much focus on fiscal prudence over the more traditional Labour priority of public services. One MP said Mr Starmer should replace Mr McSweeney and Ms Reeves, or at least strip away some of their decision-making powers. Another said both had seen their authority eroded by the U-turns, and that they believed Mr Starmer now aimed to take a left-wing direction more palatable to the party. The bad blood between Mr Starmer's top team and the wider party flows both ways. Backbench criticisms of the premier include that he is often out of the country focusing on foreign affairs, a charge to which even some Starmer supporters are sympathetic. MPs complain he rarely meets them to hear their concerns, does not seem to have an idea of what he wants to achieve domestically, and is not governing enough like a Labour premier. Allies of the premier expressed frustration that so many MPs are behaving like their Conservative predecessors by badmouthing the government to the media. There was particular anger at an anonymous Labour MP who suggested to the Times newspaper that Downing Street needed 'regime change'. One Starmer supporter warned that those agitating for Ms Reeves and Mr McSweeney to be fired, are effectively threatening to bring down the prime minister. Another attributed some of the complaints to ego, saying some backbenchers had decided to cause problems for the government because with such a large intake, career progression to the ministerial ranks was unlikely. But senior Labour backbencher Meg Hillier suggested the root of the disgruntlement was the government's failure to commmunicate with the rank-and-file. 'There's huge talent, experience and knowledge in parliament and I think it's important it's better listened to,' Ms Hillier, who chairs the Treasury Select Committee and had helped spearhead this week's rebellion, told BBC radio on June 27. 'That message has landed.' In an interview with the Observer newspaper on June 27, an unusually emotional Starmer conceded he had made a number of major mistakes since taking office. He accepted he had 'squeezed the hope out' of the country with his gloomy rhetoric about the problems he inherited on taking office, said he had 'deep regret' over a speech he gave on immigration that was criticised as populist, and said he had made 'wrong' decisions on Downing Street appointments. The interview divided his own team: Some felt it showed honesty and a more human side, others worried it projected weakness. Mr Starmer will hope his U-turns are seen by the public as refreshing and proof that he is a politician who knows when he has made a mistake. The risk is that they – and the ranks of Starmtroopers seated behind him – just see him as weak. BLOOMERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Toronto Sun
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT FAILURE: Taking guns from law-abiding citizens an emotional decision
A rifle owner checks the sight of his rifle at a hunting camp property in rural Ontario west of Ottawa on Wednesday Sept. 15, 2010. The House of Commons is set to vote on the long-gun registry next week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick WATCH: Sun political columnist Lorne Gunter doesn't trust any government that doesn't trust law-abiding Canadians to own guns if they want to. What do YOU think? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or send us a Letter to the Editor for possible publication to . Letters must be 250 words or less and signed. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Music Crime Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Raptors
Hamilton Spectator
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada's national anthem is 45 years old today
OTTAWA - While the country will celebrate it's birthday next week, O Canada got a head start on Friday, celebrating its 45th year as the official national anthem. While it was often used as the de facto national anthem for years, O Canada was officially adopted through the National Anthem Act on June 27, 1980. A few days later, on Canada Day, the Act was proclaimed by Gov. Gen. Edward Schreyer at a public ceremony on Parliament Hill in front of thousands of Canadians, making O Canada an official national symbol. The song actually has existed for more than a century, though its lyrics have changed several times over the decades. Commissioned to mark Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in Québec on June 24, 1880, O Canada's music was composed by Calixa Lavallée and its French lyrics were written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier. While many different English versions of the song emerged as it grew in popularity across the country, the most well-known English lyrics were written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and judge. The Government of Canada website says the lyrics of the official French version have remained unchanged since 1880. Weir's English lyrics underwent several modifications over the decades on their way to becoming the official English version. Previous versions of the song included closing lines like 'Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall' and 'Bless our dear land this day and evermore.' Some lines were changed more than once. In 1913 the original line 'True patriot love thou dost in us command' became 'True patriot love in all thy sons command.' In 2018 that line changed again to 'in all of us command.' The Canadian Encyclopedia says discussions about discriminatory aspects of the anthem, including the gender-exclusive use of the word 'sons,' began in the 1950s. Former Liberal member of Parliament Mauril Bélanger, who pushed to drop 'sons' from the lyrics for years while battling ALS, introduced a private member's bill in 2016 to change the line. It was approved in the House of Commons as Bill C-210 a month later by a vote of 225 to 74. It wasn't until 2018 — after several debates in the Senate and after Bélanger had passed away — that the change became official when the bill became law. The new gender-neutral lyric received mixed reviews and Conservative senators abstained from the final vote in 2018. While the original manuscript of 'O Canada' no longer exists, there are two copies of the first edition. One is held in the archives of the Séminaire de Québec and the other is at the Université de Montréal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's national anthem is 45 years old today
OTTAWA – While the country will celebrate it's birthday next week, O Canada got a head start on Friday, celebrating its 45th year as the official national anthem. While it was often used as the de facto national anthem for years, O Canada was officially adopted through the National Anthem Act on June 27, 1980. A few days later, on Canada Day, the Act was proclaimed by Gov. Gen. Edward Schreyer at a public ceremony on Parliament Hill in front of thousands of Canadians, making O Canada an official national symbol. The song actually has existed for more than a century, though its lyrics have changed several times over the decades. Commissioned to mark Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in Québec on June 24, 1880, O Canada's music was composed by Calixa Lavallée and its French lyrics were written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier. While many different English versions of the song emerged as it grew in popularity across the country, the most well-known English lyrics were written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and judge. The Government of Canada website says the lyrics of the official French version have remained unchanged since 1880. Weir's English lyrics underwent several modifications over the decades on their way to becoming the official English version. Previous versions of the song included closing lines like 'Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall' and 'Bless our dear land this day and evermore.' Some lines were changed more than once. In 1913 the original line 'True patriot love thou dost in us command' became 'True patriot love in all thy sons command.' In 2018 that line changed again to 'in all of us command.' The Canadian Encyclopedia says discussions about discriminatory aspects of the anthem, including the gender-exclusive use of the word 'sons,' began in the 1950s. Former Liberal member of Parliament Mauril Bélanger, who pushed to drop 'sons' from the lyrics for years while battling ALS, introduced a private member's bill in 2016 to change the line. It was approved in the House of Commons as Bill C-210 a month later by a vote of 225 to 74. It wasn't until 2018 — after several debates in the Senate and after Bélanger had passed away — that the change became official when the bill became law. The new gender-neutral lyric received mixed reviews and Conservative senators abstained from the final vote in 2018. While the original manuscript of 'O Canada' no longer exists, there are two copies of the first edition. One is held in the archives of the Séminaire de Québec and the other is at the Université de Montréal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
