The first look of the much-awaited prequel to 'The Lion King', 'Mufasa: The Lion King', has been released. The film delves into the origins of the iconic Disney character, Mufasa. The live-action film 'Mufasa: The Lion King' by Barry Jenkins has revealed its first look. The prequel to the 2019 blockbuster hit, 'The Lion King', shared the first glimpse of Mufasa on a rock on Thursday, over two years since the title poster was released. The film aims to explore the backstory of Mufasa and his relationship with his brother, Scar. Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. are the voices of Mufasa and Scar, respectively. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jeremy Irons will also provide supporting roles to unidentified characters. Billy Eichner will voice Timon, the meerkat, and John Kani will lend his voice for Rafiki, the baboon. Seth Rogen will voice Pumbaa, the warthog. The film is a notable addition to the 'The Lion King' franchise, which is one of the most iconic and well-received animated movies, grossing over $960 million. The film arrives five years after the 2019 live-action remake, which, despite mixed reviews, grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Attendees at D23 Expo 2022 got a sneak peek of the film, showcasing Mufasa's early life as an orphaned cub in a harsh desert before his journey to Pride Rock. 'Mufasa: The Lion King' marks Jenkins' third directorial venture after 'Moonlight' and 'If Beale Street Could Talk' and is set to release on December 20.   Source: India Today

Thaksin Shinawatra was serving a one-year jail term or corruption-related offenses. He was released early on parole and had been serving his sentence from a police hospital. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole. He was seen leaving a hospital, where he had been detained for six months, early on Sunday. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Thaksin had been scheduled to be released on parole on Sunday.   Why was Thaksin Shinawatra detained? Former Prime Minister and Pheu Thai party founder Thaksin was ousted in a coup 17 years ago, driving him into self-imposed exile. He was in office from 2001 to 2006. He returned to Thailand for the first time in 15 years in August, only to be quickly arrested and taken to the Supreme Court, which sentenced him to eight years on charges of graft and abuse of power. His eight-year sentence was commuted to a year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Thaksin was transferred to hospital hours after his imprisonment as he suffered from high blood pressure and chest pain. The Pheu Thai party leads Thailand's coalition government, which was formed after elections in May 2023 after the party struck an alliance with pro-military factions, leading to opponents to speculate that Thaksin's release was secured as part of a deal. The current leader of the party is Thaksin's youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The government has denied having made a deal to ensure the former prime minister's release, with Srettha insisting that "[Thaksin] has already served his jail time."   Why was Thaksin released early? Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong confirmed approval of Thaksin's release on parole last week. He cited the possibility of early release for those who have serious illnesses, are disabled or are over 70. Thaksin's lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri, confirmed that the former premier had completed parole proceedings and had been released from detention. "He has left the police hospital," Chartmontri told the Reuters news agency. Thaksin is 74 years old and had been confined to a police hospital in the Thai capital. The former prime minister arrived home early on Sunday. Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn, said in a social media post: "Thaksin has arrived home, hope he will have good health." A banner with the words "Welcome home" and "We've been waiting for this day for so long" was seen hanging at the front gate of his western Bangkok residence.

Rinchen Tsultrim, a Tibetan monk from Ngaba in Eastern Tibet’s Amdo region who was sentenced to four years and six months in prison in 2020, following an incommunicado detention for over a year and seven months has recently been released from Sichuan’s Mianyang Prison, according to multiple sources. Rinchen Tsultrim, along with two other monks from Ngaba County’s Kordo area in Eastern Tibet’s Amdo region, was apprehended on August 1, 2019.     Although the two fellow monks were released shortly after their initial detention, Rinchen Tsultrim’s family received an official communication almost eight months later, on March 26, 2020. The letter, however, provided minimal details, merely labelling Rinchen Tsultrim as “a traitor” without elaborating on the charges. Following the communication, Rinchen Tsultrim was subsequently sentenced to four years and six months in prison by the Aba Intermediate People’s Court on November 27, 2020. His sentence was based on allegations of “inciting separatism,” with the court pointing to Rinchen Tsultrim’s social media posts addressing religious and political issues in Tibet.    In 2019, Rinchen Tsultrim faced another instance of detention, this time for engaging in communication with an exiled Tibetan during the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima’s birthday. Prior to this incident, he had been detained twice in 2018 by Chinese authorities for communicating with exiled Tibetans through micro-messaging apps, following an examination of his personal phone. Subsequently, Tsultrim was prohibited from using any micro-messaging apps. Additionally, his website, which hosted a diverse collection of compositions, was forcibly shut down.    Rinchen Tsultrim was subjected to persecution for the act of sending numerous Buddhist texts from locations outside Tibet to individuals within Tibet through postal services. Chinese authorities also utilised Tsultrim’s profile picture on WeChat, featuring his sister attending an educational workshop in India, to label her as being involved in political activities in exile.    Moreover, at the time of Rinchen Tsultrim’s imprisonment, his family was exposed to significant danger and endured constant pressure from Chinese authorities. Rinchen Tsultrim became a monk at a young age, joining the esteemed Nangshe monastery associated with the Bon religion. Hailing from a modest farming family in the Ngaba region, Rinchen Tsultrim’s parents, Tashi Dhondup and Tsomo have five other children. Source: Phayul

‘Alo Amar Alo’ is titled by Writer and director Shuvashis Sinha’s directorial venture.  IT was released on the YouTube channel titled ‘Bongo Dramas’ marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The 40-minute film revolves around two women named Alo and Rupa. While Rupa fell into depression due to family reasons, meets Alo, who is a physically challenged person, on social media.  The two women become friends. ‘The film is based on the real-life story of my student Aporna Bandhana who became disabled after suffering an injury in an accident. She played the character of Alo in the film. We want to raise disability awareness in society through the film,’ said Shuvashis Sinha.

A book titled “The Immense Cost of the Naga Struggle from British Rule to Statehood,” was released in Wokha on April 3 at the residence of late P.E. Ezung. Dr. Jan Ezung Nienu, daughter of late P.E. Ezung revised the original book “NKOLO NCHUNG,” (Ancient Today) with the help of her siblings. The book was launched by E.T. Ezung, former speaker along with the family members and friends. The programme was chaired by Dr. Nsanthung Ezung, director Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services who paid heartfelt tribute to his late father along with E.T. Ezung, Abeni T.C.K and Dr. Jan Ezung Nienu. Late P.E Ezung served as Agriculture Officer who resigned from service and joined active politics along with A.Z. Phizo and other Naga leaders. Ezung played a vital role who strived for peace and statehood of Nagaland. He was also one of the signatories to the 16 Point Agreement, and served as an Interim Body Member (IBM) from 1961 to 1963. Source: nagalandpost.com

Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams has been released from jail.  He was released from Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj today, April 04 at 6:22 PM. Senior jail super of the prison Subhash Kumar Ghosh confirmed the matter. He said, "After receiving the bail order, he has been released after completing all the procedures." Shamsuzzaman Shams got bail this afternoon in the case filed at Ramna Police Station of the capital under the Digital Security Act. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Noor granted the bail order. According to court sources, Shams will remain on bail till the police submits the case report.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) said that she has released Taka 1000 crore to construct 50,000 more houses for the homeless and landless people. “Marking the Mujib Borsho, today, I released Taka 1,000 crore for constructing 50,000 more houses for the homeless and landless people. We are constructing one lakh more homes for them,” she said. The Prime Minister was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and 55 ward councilors, including 14 councilors in reserved seats at Osmani Memorial Auditorium , joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital. She asked the public representatives to find out the homeless and landless people in their localities as the government is committed to give homes to every homeless and landless people within the Mujib Borsho which has been extended till December 16 this year. “Our target in the Mujib Borsho is that none will remain homeless and landless in Bangladesh,” she said. Extending heartiest greetings to the newly elected mayor and councilors of Chattogram City Corporation, she called upon the public representatives to make their all out efforts in serving the people and building the nation. She also asked all public representatives including lawmakers, upazila chairmen, municipality mayors and councilors, union parishad chairmen and members to take measures to motivate the people of their localities about taking the Covid-19 vaccine. “I urge all the public representatives to make sure that the people of your localities can receive vaccines in due time. Motivate them in receiving the vaccine,” she said. The Prime Minister asked the public representatives to make sure that the advancement of the country continues in future and to oversee the measures taken by her government for ensuring the overall socio-economic development of the country so that those could be completed in the quickest possible time. Source: BSS AH

Seven people including DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur were detained while protesting the incident of filing a rape case against six including Nur infront of Mathsya Bhaban in the capital. But moments after the detention they were released. Mahbub Alam, joint commissioner of metropolitan Detective Branch informed the matter to Rtv news. He said, after quizzing they were released including Nur. Earlier Ramna division Deputy Commissioner Sajjadur Rahman said, they were detained to take control over the law and order situation. VP Nur and his supporters created anarchy at the Mathsya Bhaban area. They attacked the vehicles on road. Police tried to take control over the situation. At that time they attacked the on duty police members. For this reason Nur and other six were detained by the Detective Branch. AH    

China has freed 10 Indian soldiers following a deadly clash between the two sides on Monday, according to Indian media reports. The Hindu newspaper, quoting military sources, said those released included a lieutenant-colonel and three majors. The Indian government has not confirmed the news, nor confirmed that any of its troops were missing. The fight in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead and raised tensions between the two powers. China did not acknowledge any casualties among its forces, while at least 76 Indian soldiers were injured. Both sides accused the other of an incursion. The border between the two nations in the region is poorly demarcated and can shift with topographical changes. According to Shiv Aroor, a senior editor at India Today, the release of the Indian troops formed a key point of negotiations between the two sides on Wednesday. The news comes after an image emerged on Thursday of the crude weapons reportedly used in the fight. Read The Full News In Bangla The photograph, which appears to show iron rods studded with nails, was passed to the BBC by a senior Indian military official on the India-China border, who said the weapons had been used by the Chinese. Defence analyst Ajai Shukla, who first tweeted the image, described the use of such weapons as "barbarism". The absence of firearms in the clash dates back to a 1996 agreement between the two sides that guns and explosives be prohibited along the disputed stretch of the border, to deter escalation. The image was widely shared on Twitter in India, prompting outrage from many social media users. Neither Chinese or Indian officials have commented on it. Media reports said troops clashed on ridges at a height of nearly 4,300m (14,000 ft) on steep terrain, with some soldiers falling into the fast-flowing Galwan river in sub-zero temperatures. First deaths in four decades The two sides have brawled along the disputed border in recent weeks, but Monday's clash was the first to lead to fatalities in at least 45 years. Unconfirmed reports in Indian media said at least 40 Chinese soldiers died, but China is yet to issue any information about casualties. Indian officials said all of their soldiers involved in the clash have been accounted for, following reports some were missing. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said India had crossed the border twice, "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides", the AFP news agency reported. China on Wednesday claimed "sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region" - a claim rebutted by India as "exaggerated and untenable". Members of the public in both nations have since staged protests over the clashes in the disputed Himalayan border area, while officials have spoken cautiously and moved towards a diplomatic resolution. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the foreign ministers of both countries had phone conversation on Wednesday on the developments and "agreed that the overall situation should be handled in a responsible manner". "Making exaggerated and untenable claims is contrary to this understanding," Mr Srivastava was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India news agency. An Indian government statement after Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's conversation with China's Wang Yi said Chinese forces tried to erect a structure on the Indian side of the de facto border, the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The statement accused the Chinese of a "premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties" and urged China to "take corrective steps". Meanwhile, a Chinese statement quoted Mr Wang as saying: "China again expresses strong protest to India and demands the Indian side launches a thorough investigation... and stop all provocative actions to ensure the same things do not happen again." Source: BBC AH

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was released on Wednesday from jail for six months suspending her sentences following an executive order over 25 months after she had been convicted and sent to jail in graft cases. The government passed the executive order for her release upon two conditions -- receiving treatment staying at her Gulshan residence and not leaving the country. The BNP chief, who has been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) since April 1 last year, came of the hospital around 4:13pm as her release order reached the jail authorities on completion of all necessary procedures. However, she started for her Gulshan residence around 4:20pm after being caught in huge crowd from her party leaders and activists. Meanwhile, ‘Firoza’, the luxury home of Khaleda at Road No 79 in Dhaka’s Gulshan area which turned into an abandoned house since she went to jail, was prepared for her comfortable stay there. As the government announced on Tuesday that the BNP chief will be released from jail for six months, the house was cleaned and refurbished to welcome her. Khaleda Zia’s family recently submitted an application to the government seeking an executive order to have the BNP chief released for her treatment in London. Her brother Shamim Eskandar, sister Selima Islam, and her (Selima’s) husband Dr Rafiqul Islam met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and made an appeal for her release through the executive order. Under the circumstances, the former prime minister’s sentences have been suspended as per section 401 (1) of Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC), said Law Minister Annisul Huq on Tuesday. Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda’s personal doctors will provide her treatment at her residence. “We’re contacting her personal doctors and taking steps to ensure her treatment at her residence.” He also said it depends on Khaleda’s decision that whether she will receive treatment at her residence or any hospital. Khaleda has been in jail since she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated. Source: UNB AH