Hollywood
Hollywood star Meryl Streep leading campaign for best documentary Oscar for “India’s Daughter”
New Delhi, 17 October: The controversial BBC documentary film on the December 2012 Nirbhaya rape case.
“India’s Daughter” by Leslee Udwin which was banned in early March by the government, is opening at various theatres in the United States next week.
Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, who introduced the documentary at its US theatrical release in New York City, said “I’m on the campaign now to get Udwin nominated for best documentary.”
The film is largely based on an extensive interview in jail with one of the attackers who blamed the victim, a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist, for being out in the evening with a male friend.
In a statement, the government warned that certain excerpts “appear to encourage and incite violence against women.”
Promoter Christine Merser said screenings are also scheduled in some other countries.
Despite the uproar in India, “India’s Daughter” by Leslee Udwin was re-telecast on BBC4 to mark International Women’s Day.
Although BBC News is available in the country, the British pubcaster aired the documentary – for the second time in five days – on BBC4 which is not available to Indian viewers.
The documentary was also screened in countries across the globe — including Switzerland, Norway and Canada — to mark International Women’s Day and is being screened in the United States today. The film also continues to be available to Indian viewers on the internet.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
