India tops the chart in showing attractive women in its movies and as much as 35% of these female characters are shown with some nudity, finds a first-ever UN sponsored global study of female characters in popular films across the world. The study, commissioned by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, with support from UN Women and The Rockefeller Foundation, reveals deep-seated discrimination, pervasive stereotyping, sexualisation of women and their underrepresentation in powerful roles by the international film industry. Indian films, the study finds, have a significantly higher prevalence of sexualisation of female characters and the movies score low in depicting women in significant speaking roles and as engineers and scientists. While women represent nearly half of the world's population, less than one third of all speaking characters in films are female and UK-US collaborations and Indian films are at the bottom of the pack. Both, the American/British hybrid films (23.6 per cent) and Indian films (24.9 per cent) show female characters in less than one-quarter of all speaking roles. Even the frontrunners (UK, Brazil and South Korea) feature female characters in 35.9-38 per cent of all speaking roles on screen. Sexualisation of female characters in movies is a standard practice across the global film industry and women are twice as likely as men to be shown in sexually revealing clothing, partially or fully naked, thin, and five times as likely to be referenced as attractive. Indian films are third behind German and Australian movies in showing females in "sexy attire" and at 25.2% India tops the chart in showing attractive females in its movies. About 35% of female characters in Indian movies are shown with some nudity, the study finds. The prevalence of female directors, writers and producers in the Indian films was also not at a very high number. India had 9.1% female directors, slightly above the global average of 7%, while its percentage of female writers was 12.1%, significantly lower than the 19.7% global average. Female producers in India were only 15.2%, way below the 22.7% global average. This data of gender prevalence behind the camera translated into a gender ratio of 6.2 males to every one female in the film industry in India. Source: Hindustan Times
35% of female characters in Indian movies shown with nudity: UN report
PM Modi accepts Xi Jinping invitation to visit China ‘at early date’
India and China decided, in a significant joint statement issued Friday, that early settlement of the boundary question would be pursued as a “strategic objective”, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to visit China “at an early date”. The two sides also decided to “strengthen political communication” and “deepen strategic trust”, while agreeing that “peace and tranquillity on the India-China border areas” is an “important guarantor for the development and continued growth of bilateral relations”. The India-China joint statement comes in the wake of regular Chinese transgressions and incursions into Indian territory, particularly in Ladakh, the latest being the incursions in Chumar and Demchok areas of Ladakh. Apart from agreeing to continue holding joint Army exercises, the two sides also agreed to hold joint Air Force and Navy exercises at “a proper time”. They also decided to hold the first round of a maritime cooperation dialogue within this year. The joint statement was issued at the culmination of President Xi’s three-day visit to India on Friday afternoon. Source: The Asian Age
Narendra sets India for a breakthrough deal in uranium with Australia
India and Australia have agreed upon a framework agreement for the supply of uranium, which is expected to be signed during the visit of Prime Minister Tony Abbott to New Delhi in September.
This was reported by the Indian newspaper “The Economic Times”. Volumes of India's imports of natural uranium and cost of the transaction are not being revealed. India is not a participant of the Non-Proliferation Treaty on Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Because of this, Australia had several times blocked the signing of an almost concluded agreement on export of raw uranium to India. A new attempt was made to finally come out of the situation for the signing of the contract in early 2013. The ongoing negotiations since then, apparently, allowed to overcome differences. The breakthrough is expected in September, during the visit of Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott to India and in course of his talks with Narendra Modi. However, the deal is still under question, considers Anton Khlopkov, director of the Center for Energy and Security Studies and editor in chief of the magazine “Nuclear club”: “This, of course, will be a breakthrough for India, but nevertheless the main contribution for preparation of the document was made under the previous government. But even among experts there is no clear-cut understanding - whether the document is consistent with Australia's international obligations. Namely, not to supply nuclear materials to countries that are not parties to the NPT. These include India”. What is the likelihood this time, of a negative impact of discussions and conclusions of the expert community and of the negative views of a number of Australian politicians to the impending Indo-Australian deal? Anton Khlopkov refrained from predictions, however, drew attention to its commercial component: “I understand that in Australia, a political decision has been taken to develop relations with India in the nuclear field, to begin with, for the supply of uranium. Australia is one of the largest exporters of raw uranium. It is obvious that the current situation in the uranium market, namely - a fairly low demand for uranium and low prices - will certainly encourage the government and the uranium business in Australia to find new markets. And India is a large market. Therefore, this economic motivation of the future agreement, of course, cannot be ruled out”. The future agreement prohibits India to use Australian uranium for military purposes. However, earlier, the countries-participants of the Nuclear Suppliers imposed restrictions on India's cooperation in the nuclear field because of these very violations of the ban. In 2008, the Nuclear Suppliers Group weakened its trade regime with India. Are there any new pitfalls in this area? Anton Khlopkov is of the following opinion: “I do not think that in the present situation India needs Australian uranium to make nuclear weapons. But India had obligations to the Canada-US agreements signed in the 60’s not to use ensuing technologies and materials for the production of nuclear weapons. Despite this, India accepted a research reactor from Canada and heavy water from the United States to produce plutonium. It was subsequently used for the production of nuclear weapons. So, of course, it is important of what is written in the future agreement, and India, in this sense, cannot boast of a most positive record, notes the Russian expert”. The Future agreement on uranium between India and Australia is as transparent as it could be and does not violate the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. It is within the framework of these rules that India is working with Russia, Kazakhstan, Argentina and several other countries for the procurement and enrichment of natural uranium for its nuclear energy needs. Source: Article
