Latest news with #Production
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Cigarettes at an arm's length for students
A small tea shop adjacent to Presidency Girls Higher Secondary School on Spur Tank Road, facing chief education officer's office, sells tobacco products, including cigarettes, blatantly violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003. A TOI investigation in at least a dozen schools across Egmore, Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Adyar, Perumbakkam, Thirumangalam, and Porur revealed COTPA violations by shopkeepers, some of whom sell the products openly and others on the sly. P Geetha, who runs a stationery shop opposite T S T Rajah Girls Matriculation Higher Secondary School, redirects customers seeking cigarettes to another shop she secretly owns. When asked if she was aware that she was breaking the law by selling cigarettes near a school, she said, "I don't sell them to students. Also, the sale of cigarettes only happens during evenings and nights (after school hours)…" Even departmental and stationery shops near schools have cigarettes for sale. Shopkeepers said they do not sell tobacco to students. In some shops, cigarettes and other tobacco products are hidden from public view. Activists argue that the issue is not about selling cigarettes or pan to students. "It is about providing easy access to tobacco products. There has to be awareness among teachers and shopkeepers by the education and health departments. Police must ensure adherence," Cyril Alexander, state convenor, Tamil Nadu's People Forum for Tobacco Control, said. Tobacco is the gateway drug, he said. "Several shops put up advertisements for cigarettes, which is against the law. Yet, we see no action against them," he added. An official from the office of chief education officer confirmed that schools must display "no-smoking zone" banners/messages on their walls or around their premises to alert shops. None of the schools that TOI visited had any such warning. Headmaster in-charge of Presidency Girls Higher Secondary School, A Joseph, said steps were being taken to put up such warning messages on the school's compound wall.
Forbes
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
A Great ‘Reacher' Season 4 Release Date Update, Book Adaptation Confirmation
Reacher We know that the Reacher spin-off Neagley has just finished production, and now we have confirmation that production on Reacher season 4 itself has now started. Plus, we seem to know what book it's adapting. This week, the Amazon Prime Video Reacher Instagram account posted a teaser of a script indicating the start of production. But the nature of the photo itself has seemingly revealed the book that's being adapted. The script sitting on a subway seat in New York's MTA, which would imply that Gone Tomorrow, the 13th Jack Reacher book, is being adapted for season 4, given that it takes place in NYC and has Reacher riding the subway. Two other books, The Hard Way and Tripwire, also take place in NYC, but it's almost certainly Gone Tomorrow. Here's the synopsis for that book: 'New York City. Two in the morning. A subway car heading uptown. Jack Reacher, plus five other passengers. Four are okay. The fifth isn't. And if you think Reacher isn't going to get involved . . . then you don't know Jack.' 'Susan Mark, the fifth passenger, had a big secret, and her plain little life was being watched in Washington, and California, and Afghanistan—by dozens of people with one thing in common: They're all lying to Reacher. A little. A lot. Or just enough to get him killed. A race has begun through the streets of Manhattan, a maze crowded with violent, skilled soldiers on all sides of a shadow war. For Jack Reacher, a man who trusts no one and likes it that way, the finish line comes when you finally get face-to-face and look your worst enemy in the eye.' Reacher As for the release date update, we can do some calculations if production has just started now on Reacher season 4. Here are the release dates for the past seasons: I covered this before, but to recap with some modifications: 'Reacher season 3 started filming in November 2023. Production wrapped in 2024 ahead of its February 2025 release date. So with filming and postproduction, that's 15 months. And 15 months from June 14, the estimated filming start date, that takes us to mid-September 2026 for a release date. That's 19 months between seasons, longer than the gap between seasons 2 and 3.' So, if everything remains the same in terms of production time, that's a year and a half between Reacher season 3 and 4. In the streaming era, that is actually on the low end of gaps between seasons, but far from the one-year spacing we used to get all the time. Still, it's clear Amazon's goal is to crank out as many seasons of Reacher as possible for as long as they can keep Alan Ritchson on board. Expect more filming updates to come, and Neagley is going to be airing during this gap period, though we don't have a release date for that yet. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
1k fine for smoking in public, hookah bars banned in state
1 2 Ranchi: Smoking, consuming or spitting tobacco in public will now be punishable worth Rs 1,000 courtesy a new law to which President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on Wednesday. The Raj Bhavan, in a statement, said Murmu had given her assent to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill of 2021'. The bill was passed by the state assembly in 2021. Aimed at putting tighter curbs in place for sale and usage of tobacco items in the state, the new law will come into effect soon after the state govt notifies it in an official gazette, officials said. Following the amendment, a fine of Rs 1,000 will be imposed for smoking or consuming tobacco or spitting. Earlier, the fine was Rs 200. Besides the penalty, provision for jail term is also included. The amendment also covers hookah bars banning its operation. Hemant Soren govt had introduced and passed the amendment bill in 2021 following a thorough debate in the state assembly. Then Gomia MLA from Ajsu party, Lambodar Mahto, had demanded a fine of Rs 10,000 for offenders during the debate over the bill, which was turned down by the state govt. Ranchi civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said the district health department will begin enforcing new law after receiving directives from state. "Even though the administration and health department has taken steps under COPTA rules, we will begin imposing fresh penalties on violators after formal directives from govt," Kumar said.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Govt hikes tobacco fine to Rs 1,000
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has published a gazette notification increasing the fine for public use of cigarettes and tobacco products from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The government has also raised the minimum legal age for purchasing cigarettes and tobacco products from 18 to 21 years, according to a statement issued by the Health Ministry on Saturday. Additionally, the government has banned the opening or operation of hookah bars across the state. The order has been issued in the name of the Governor by the Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation, G. Sridhar. This decision follows the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on May 23 to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024. The new Act amends the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (Central Act 34 of 2003) as it applies to the state of Karnataka. The amendment specifies that no person shall use tobacco products in any public place. The term 'use' includes both smoking and spitting of tobacco. The sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products is now prohibited: To any person under the age of 21 years; within a 100-meter radius of any educational institution; in loose form or as single sticks. The Act also states that no person shall open or operate a hookah bar, either individually or on behalf of another person, in any location—including eating houses, pubs, bars, or restaurants—regardless of what they are called. According to the new provisions, anyone who violates Section 4A of the Act shall be punishable with: Imprisonment of not less than one year, which may extend up to three years; a fine of not less than Rs 50,000, which may go up to Rs 1 lakh. The Act further allows that in hotels with 30 or more rooms, restaurants with a seating capacity of 30 or more, and at airports, a designated smoking area or space may be provided. Karnataka joins the league of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat states, which have implemented similar amendments to strengthen public health protections against tobacco use.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Karnataka tightens COTPA rules; penalty for violations, legal age for purchasing tobacco products raised
Tightening tobacco control laws, the Karnataka government has notified major amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day observed on May 31. The amendments —through which the maximum fine for violations under tobacco control laws has been increased from ₹200 to ₹1,000 and the legal age for purchasing tobacco products has been raised from 18 to 20 years— were approved by President Droupadi Murmu on May 23. The amended Act — the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2024 — was published in the Karnataka Gazette on May 30. In addition to the existing ban on tobacco consumption in public places, chewing and spitting tobacco has also been prohibited. The other key amendments include a ban on the sale of loose cigarettes or single sticks and strict prohibition on the sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of any educational institution. This was earlier within 100 yards. Hookah bars The State has also imposed a blanket ban on hookah bars, regardless of whether they are located in restaurants, pubs, or cafes. As per the newly added Section 4A, operating a hookah bar will now invite imprisonment of one to three years and fines ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh under Section 21A of the Act. Despite an earlier ban, hookah bars were still found operating illegally in parts of Bengaluru. While designated smoking areas (DSAs) will still be allowed in hotels with over 30 rooms, restaurants with seating for more than 30 and airports, penalties for violations have increased from ₹ 200 to ₹ 1,000 under sections 21, 24, and 28. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said these amendments are part of the State government's larger strategy to safeguard public health, particularly in the younger generation in sensitive areas like schools and colleges. Stringent enforcement Surgical oncologist U.S. Vishal Rao, who is a member of the State government's High-Powered Committee on Tobacco Control, said the amendments are a significant step in the effort towards achieving tobacco control in Karnataka. 'We have known that as per data from the latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for India, there has been a reduction in the number of tobacco users by about 81 lakh. Specifically, the prevalence of tobacco use among adults aged 15 and above has reduced by 7%. The amended Act makes enforcement more stringent, reducing the accessibility of these products to youth who are the main targets of the tobacco companies for initiating addiction,' Dr Rao told The Hindu. Following the amendments, the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda has appealed to all proprietors of hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs and pubs to remove illegal designated smoking areas (DSAs) or rooms which are not compliant with COTPA rules. 'DSAs must be distinctly marked and adequately ventilated as per the COTPA guidelines to ensure non-smokers are not exposed to second-hand smoke. It is imperative to note that providing of food, water, beverages, or any tobacco products within DSAs is strictly prohibited,' stated the appeal dated May 31. EOM/
