International
MJ estate bars members of his extended family to enter home of his kin
MUMBAI: Taking in to account the ongoing family feud, the estate of Michael Jackson has barred some members of the extended family from the home shared by the crooner‘s three children and mother Katherine.
The estate has drawn up a list of approved guests, requested by an attorney for the son of Tito Jackson (TJ), who was appointed temporary guardian of the children last week, it is understood. Jackson‘s children Prince, Paris and Blanket live with their grandmother Katherine in a gated community in suburban Calabasas.
Last week, while Katherine was away resting in Arizona, Michael‘s siblings Randy, Janet and Jermaine apparently burst into the home demanding that the children come with them. Soon after the police was called after which the two male adults became violent, police sources said.
“Given the circumstances of the last two weeks, and in order to protect the children and Mrs Jackson, the Executors believe that it would not be appropriate to allow the following individuals to enter the residence or its grounds,” said an e-mail sent by estate lawyer Howard Weitzman to the lawyer for TJ.
Randy, Janet, Jermaine and Rebbie along with their children and anyone involved in the recent events that led to Katherine‘s separation from Michael‘s children have been barred from entering their home.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
