Latest news with #Films
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kabul OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Shervin Alenabi and Jonathan Zaccaï's French-English series
Kabul OTT Release Date: If you're someone who followed the news back in August 2021 when the Taliban took over Kabul after the sudden withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, you'll probably remember the chaos, the fear, and the urgency of those days. Now imagine that drama, panic, and emotional intensity being recreated on screen through a human-focused political thriller. That's exactly what Kabul, the new French-produced, English-language series, is bringing to audiences. And the wait isn't long. Kabul will be streaming from June 20, 2025, exclusively on Lionsgate Play in India, in both English and Hindi. What is Kabul all about? Set against the haunting real-life backdrop of August 15, 2021, when the U.S. government officially pulled out its military presence from Afghanistan, Kabul dives straight into the mess that followed. It's a six-part mini-series that zooms in on the human stories trapped in political decisions, focusing especially on families, diplomats, soldiers, and ground-level agents trying to navigate the fast-collapsing situation. At the heart of the show is the Nazany family, an Afghan household suddenly targeted by the Taliban, trying to escape as the city goes out of control. But the family's plight is only one layer of this multi-threaded narrative. Alongside their story, Kabul reveals European operatives, including a French diplomat, an Italian attaché, and a German soldier, as well as others, scrambling to coordinate rescue and evacuation operations, often in direct conflict with local threats and global politics. Meet the cast and crew of Kabul The project is based on the personal experiences of Fabienne Servan-Schreiber, one of the show's producers, who was actively involved in helping evacuate Afghans during the U.S. withdrawal. Directed by Kasia Adamik and Olga Chajdas, Kabul is written by Olivier Demangel, Thomas Finkielkraut, and Joe Lavy. Fabienne Servan-Schreiber, Charlotte Ortiz, Matthias Weber and Thibault Gast have produced this under 24 25 Films and Cinétévé. Kabul was filmed starting in April 2024, with Greece (near Athens) standing in for war-ravaged Kabul, to safely and realistically bring the setting to life. The cast includes Shervin Alenabi, Jonathan Zaccaï (stars as a French diplomat trying to juggle political orders and moral responsibilities), Eric Dane (best known from Grey's Anatomy and The Last Ship), Thibault Evrard, Vassilis Kukalani, Jeanne Goursaud, Gianmarco Saurino and Valentina Cervi among others. It premiered earlier this year at the Series Mania Festival in Lille, where it received critical praise for its raw portrayal of a sensitive global moment. If geopolitical thrillers like Homeland, Fauda, or The Looming Tower caught your attention in the past, then Kabul is right up your alley, but with a European lens.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 10 June 2025
What: Summer Sonata – A Festival of Opera, Ballet & Concert Films | Opera Christoph Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice Where: CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Road When: June 10 Timing: 6.30pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh (Yellow Line) What: Annual Art Exhibition 2025 A post shared by Artography Studio (@ Where: All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), 1, Rafi Marg When: June 6 to 12 Timing: 11am to 7pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat (Yellow & Violet Lines) What: Khushi & Rishi Live Where: The Piano Man, Eldeco Centre, Block A, Shivalik Colony, Malviya Nagar When: June 10 Timing: 8.30pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Malviya Nagar (Yellow Line) What: Comedy Show Where: Highlane Comedy Club, J-20, Sector 18, Noida When: June 10 Timing: 9pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Noida Sector 18 (Blue Line)
NZ Herald
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Jevon McSkimming resignation: Jill Rogers and Mike Pannett are considered the frontrunners to be appointed as the next deputy police commissioner
The original investigation which led to his suspension just before Christmas is ongoing, although McSkimming expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and to 'resume his duties' according to a statement issued by his lawyers in January. But as part of that criminal investigation, detectives allegedly found pornographic material on his work computer and that led to a second inquiry. Some of that pornographic material is being investigated as potentially 'objectionable' under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act. After being confronted by the alleged existence of the material, McSkimming resigned as Deputy Commissioner just a few weeks ago; although Mitchell was explicit that the 51-year-old jumped before he was pushed. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, McSkimming - who was a final candidate for the top job of Police Commissioner just six months ago - could face criminal charges in court. Lurking in the background is a wider inquiry that could be even more damaging to trust and confidence in the police. The Independent Police Conduct Authority [IPCA] is also investigating whether there has been 'misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officer or employee in the course of responding to the allegations' against McSkimming. Some of the most senior police officers in the country are expected to be interviewed as part of that investigation. Nothing should be assumed until all the facts are known, but the New Zealand Police and the Government are bracing for a potential PR nightmare in the coming months. With that in mind, it makes sense to wait for the dust to settle before settling on McSkimming's potential replacement as Deputy Commissioner. Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Photo / Mark Mitchell There are two obvious candidates: Mike Pannett and Jill Rogers. Both have been seen flanking new Police Commissioner Richard Chambers around Wellington this year, and each have acted in the deputy role on a temporary basis during McSkimming's absence. Pannett has held the rank of Assistant Commissioner since 2016 when he was in charge of the national security programme. During that time, he also had a three-year secondment with the Australian Federal Police to oversee branch offices across 33 countries, with a focus on transnational organised crime. Earlier in his career, Pannett was based in Washington DC as the liaison officer to the United States, Canada and South America before returning to be the Southern District Commander based in Dunedin. Jill Rogers' career has been closer to home, but no less impressive. She joined the police in 1993 and qualified as a detective to spend 17 years investigating serious crimes in Auckland. Rogers moved back into uniform as the area commander of Auckland Central for three years, then the district commander for Counties Manukau from 2017 to 2023. She was then promoted to Assistant Commissioner and put in charge of the Police College, as well as training and development across the entire organisation. Rogers is currently listed on the police website as the 'relieving' Deputy Commissioner and considered to be the frontrunner to permanently fill the vacancy left by McSkimming's sudden departure. There is one other clue that points to her favouritism for the job. In his first interview with the Herald after becoming the Police Commissioner in November, Richard Chambers told an anecdote about why he joined the police. It had always appealed as an exciting career, but in weighing up his options, Chambers had arranged a 'ride-along' in a police car. He was paired on the shift with a young constable called Jill Rogers. 'I saw the way Jill interacted with people from all sorts of backgrounds. She was really inspiring to me, and was a big influence on my decision to join the police,' said Chambers. 'We're really lucky to have her.' Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said Jill Rogers helped inspire him to join the police in the mid 1990s. Photo / Mark Mitchell That's about as good as a CV reference gets in the world of policing. In the meantime, Tania Kura is the only statutory Deputy Commissioner currently left in the police. She and McSkimming were appointed at the same time and her five-year term does not expire until 2028. The statutory role is important within the constitution framework of the police and carries a safeguard of independence from the Police Commissioner. If Chambers was to be incapacitated, for example, Kura would assume office until a new commissioner was appointed. Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. He joined the Herald in 2006 and has won a dozen journalism awards in that time, including twice being named Reporter of the Year. He is also the author of Gangland, Gangster's Paradise and Underworld.
1News
21-05-2025
- 1News
Man jailed for role on website showing computer-generated child abuse
A man who was a facilitator on a website which hosted "unspeakable" computer-generated child sexual abuse images has been jailed. Warning: Some may find details in this story upsetting. Helplines are provided with the article. Donald James Sarratt, 35, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment after being found guilty of possessing objectionable material relating to children and knowingly making and/or copying objectionable material relating to the sexual exploitation of children. A forensic examination of his electronic devices also uncovered child sexual abuse images of real children. He was identified in the wake of Operation Dark Orchid, which began in 2022 following a referral from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Department of Justice Child Exploitation Unit in the US. The website hosted over 85,000 computer generated images - 30,000 of those being realistic images depicting the graphic sexual abuse and torture of children as young as infants. 'In New Zealand, creating, possessing, or distributing material that promotes or tends to promote or support the sexual exploitation of children is punishable under the Films, Videos, Publications and Classifications Act," Detective Sergeant Daniel Wright, who led Operation Dark Orchid for the New Zealand Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) team, said. 'This investigation, involving our law enforcement colleagues from the US, demonstrates our commitment to keeping our communities safe, and that we will use all resources available to us to hold to account those who prey on the vulnerability of children both in New Zealand and abroad." Homeland Security Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard said the "vast number" of images uncovered in the joint investigation was "unacceptable in any part of contemporary society". Many featured "disturbingly realistic computer-generated representations of unspeakable child sexual abuse". "This sentence for the defendant reinforces our dedication to protecting the innocence of our most vulnerable populations from such abhorrent child exploitation," he said. Any child sexual abuse material discovered online can be reported to: New Zealand Police: Call 105 or report online here Department of Internal Affairs Netsafe : Netsafe New Zealand's online safety organisation If there are immediate concerns for the safety of someone, call 111.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Scoop
Police Acknowledge Sentencing Of Donald Sarratt In Child Sexual Abuse Material Case
Press Release – New Zealand Police The operation, dubbed Operation Dark Orchid, commenced in 2022 following a referral from the United States of America, Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Department of Justice Child Exploitation Unit. Police acknowledge the sentence handed down to Donald James Sarratt in the Wellington District Court today, for his role as a facilitator of a website which hosted computer-generated child sexual abuse material. Sarratt, 35, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment after being found guilty of possessing objectionable material relating to children and knowingly making and/or copying objectionable material relating to the sexual exploitation of children. A forensic examination of Sarratt's electronic devices also identified child sexual abuse material images of real children. The operation, dubbed Operation Dark Orchid, commenced in 2022 following a referral from the United States of America, Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Department of Justice Child Exploitation Unit. The investigation centred on a website with over 85,000 computer generated images – 30,000 of those being realistic images depicting the graphic sexual abuse and torture of children as young as infants. Teams of dedicated investigators worked tirelessly to identify those responsible for this offending, resulting in the dismantling of a long-standing website whose users who sought sexual gratification from the abuse of children. Detective Sergeant Daniel Wright led Operation Dark Orchid for the New Zealand Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) team. He says Sarratt's sentencing is a testament to the thorough investigation conducted by New Zealand Police and US law enforcement. 'In New Zealand, creating, possessing, or distributing material that promotes or tends to promote or support the sexual exploitation of children is punishable under the Films, Videos, Publications and Classifications Act. 'This investigation, involving our law enforcement colleagues from the US, demonstrates our commitment to keeping our communities safe, and that we will use all resources available to us to hold to account those who prey on the vulnerability of children both in New Zealand and abroad,' Detective Sergeant Wright says. HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard says: 'HSI works seamlessly with our law enforcement partners across the globe to stop those who produce and distribute child sexual abuse materials. 'The vast number of images uncovered in this joint investigation – many featuring disturbingly realistic computer-generated representations of unspeakable child sexual abuse – is unacceptable in any part of contemporary society. 'This sentence for the defendant reinforces our dedication to protecting the innocence of our most vulnerable populations from such abhorrent child exploitation,' he says. If you, or someone you know, comes across child sexual abuse material online, we urge you to report it: New Zealand Police: Call 105 or report online here 105 Police Non-Emergency Online Reporting | New Zealand Police [1]. If you have immediate concerns for the safety of someone, please call 111.
