Entertainment 86

Colombo (News 1st);  The Ministry of Irrigation says the construction of agrarian tanks bordering the Sinharaja Rainforest is merely a proposal from the Gin Nilawala Diversion Project.

In a press statement issued via the Department of Government Information late on Monday (22) night, the Ministry of Irrigation said, however, the government will act responsibly towards addressing the drinking water crisis as well as protecting rainforests which are home to national water resources.

The press statement released as a clarification to Minister Chamal Rajapaksa’s recent comments on building agrarian tanks inside the Singaraja Rainforest notes that the government is committed to addressing the people’s requirements whilst respecting the agreements with UNESCO, Global Environment Bodies, and Global Environment Conventions.

It adds the government is primarily responsible for the protection of the Sinharaja Rainforest noting that the Gin – Nilwala – Kalu River Basin Project was first proposed back in 1936 to address the drinking water crisis in Matara, Hambantota and Moneragala and from 1968 to 2019 every single government carried out feasibility studies for the project to move forward.

According to the final feasibility study, project experts had proposed for the construction of 02 agrarian tanks, namely the Madugete Wewa close to the southern bank of the Gin River (located near the Madugete Village bordering the Sinharaja Rainforest) and the Ampanagala Wewa close to the Niwala River (located near the Ampanagala Villager).

The Ministry of Irrigation said the proposals were made by the experts giving priority to the bio-diversity and flora protection in the said areas.

It added that successive governments took various measures for the implementation of the project and in 2014 a 06 plan was drawn.

Minister Chamal Rajapaksa has noted that in 2019 it was observed that the Madugete Village identified in the project bordered the Sinharaja Rainforest, therefore, it was decided to seek recommendations from local environmentalists and UNESCO that declared the rainforest as a world heritage site.

According to the statement, the Ministers recent comments were on the issues faced by the people and the issues faced by the government in protecting water sources located in rainforests.

The Ministry of Irrigation adds it will not act against the recommendations of UNESCO and local bodies, adding the Department and Ministry of Irrigation have well understood the need to protecting the 11,187-hectare rainforest.

It added that for decades tanks were constructed inside national reserves with the

Department of Wildlife Conservation to solve the drinking water issues of wild animals.

Singer Billie Eilish, seen here attending the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd Oscars on February 9, 2020, is no longer sporting her green hair.

Popular Indian playback-singer Sonu Nigam admitted that it is a “tough task” to decide how much he would, or should reveal about his life in his upcoming tell-all autobiography. While talking to Mid-Day, the veteran singer shared that he will tell the story of his “tedious, scandalous, emotional and spiritual life” in his upcoming memoir, which is slated to be published later this year. Publishers Bloomsbury India has announced that autobiography will share undisclosed details, anecdotes and insights into his life.

Sonu Nigam’s autobiography details

As his conversation with the publication moved ahead, the 47-year-old singer remembered a quote of Irish playwriter George Bernard Shaw, which he read in his English book in the 9th standard, that read, “All autobiographies are lies”. Nigan shared that “strangely” he agreed with the reasoning behind it elaborated in that lesson. Sonu further added that it will be exciting, considering that he will actually get to revisit the lanes and bylanes of ever-so-personal, undisclosed details of his life, and grin furtively at some of the most unfathomable experiences he was fated to go through.

The National Award winner also asserted that his guts and courage will sail him through. On the other hand, Rajiv Beri, managing director, Bloomsbury India, said they are delighted to be publishing Nigam’s autobiography. While praising the singer, Beri added that he has enthralled millions over with his incredible singing and has captured their hearts as a person of high values, integrity and purity of purpose. Meanwhile, Praveen Tiwari, publisher, Bloomsbury India, added that it will be a privilege to be a part of the journey to publishing his memoir, which will be a timeless gift for all his fans.

Interestingly, Sonu Nigam’s repertoire includes songs in various languages, such as Bengali, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi. The versatile singer made his singing debut in 1992 with the song O Aasman Wale from the film Aaja Meri Jaan. Songs titled Achcha Sila Diya Tune Mere Pyar Ka, Ye Dil Deewana, Kal Ho Na Ho, Saathiya, and Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, among many others, are considered as his best works.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Comic-Con will remain virtual for the July event, but organizers are planning for a smaller-scale gathering later this year.

Comic-Con announced Monday that the annual confab will return to virtual for a second-straight year between July 23-25. The in-person experience was canceled again due to coronavirus-related cautions around large gatherings.

Organizers said postponements and other challenges caused by the pandemic left them with “limited financial resources.” As a result, the virtual convention in July was reduced from four to three days.

However, organizers said they are planning a smaller in-person November event in San Diego. The details have not yet been released.

Comic-Con attracts more than 135,000 people — often elaborately costumed — to the Gaslamp District every year for the comic book convention.

It is not uncommon for thousands of people to gather in a single room for a panel discussion, and the exhibit hall is usually jam-packed with people perusing merchandise.

Last year, Comic-Con organizers postponed its smaller Anaheim, California-based event WonderCon, which had been set to take place in mid-April. A version of the event took place online instead.

Comic-Con organizers were slow to make any official decisions regarding their largest event, a huge money-maker for the restaurants and hotels of San Diego, and an important promotional stop for Hollywood television and films. The event is estimated to generate over $147 million for the local economy each year.

As Rubina Dilaik emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss 14 on Sunday night, she was coming off a roller-coaster journey in the last four and a half months. The popular television star has had a roller coaster journey on the show. While she never managed to win the hearts of her co-contestants, her loyal audience stayed true to her. The reality show also has given Rubina and husband Abhinav Shukla a second chance to work on their marriage. The couple had announced on the show that they were facing trouble in their marriage and have also contemplated divorce. The TV actor defeated Rahul Vaidya to take home the coveted trophy.

Post her big win, Rubina, in an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, spoke about her Bigg Boss 14 journey, what led to her victory and Salman Khan’s harsh words for her during the Weekend Ka Vaar.

Excerpts from the conversation..

More than four months in the house, and you have this trophy in your hand. How does it feel?

It’s been a long journey of 143 days, and it was worth every effort, struggle and failure that I faced in the house.

In an initial episode, you mentioned how you wanted all the rules to be explained to you in a way one does for a four-year-old kid. When did you realise you could actually win?

Honestly, there was always a desire to win but this game is all about destiny. Hence, I left it it to destiny but continued to create my journey. I really had no clue about the game but the learning spirit has always been ingrained in me. I wanted to live with that feeling, and continue to grow. I wasn’t worried about losing or winning, I wanted to live and love my journey.

You’ve fought battles with most contestants in the house. Which one affected you on a personal note?

The one with Jasmin Bhasin and Rakhi Sawant. I have always been selective about people who enter my life. I am a person who gives every ounce to the ones I embrace. And when you do that, and your love and respect are not reciprocated, it shatters the confidence and faith in the relationship. These two people, events and incidences really hit me hard. However, I started my journey on the show with a clean slate, and I am exiting with a clean one again. Hence, I have no grudges.

You spoke about issues in your marriage on national television, and even sought help when pushed mentally. Was it difficult to open up about your vulnerability?

It was very tough because there is always a fear of rejection and being criticised and judged. The dejection part is something that always holds you back from not accepting your flaws and mistakes. The most beautiful learning in my Bigg Boss journey has been to embrace all shortcomings with grace. When you are able to do that, your weakness becomes your strength. And if you overcome this, put it out on TV and able to inspire even one life, I think it’s worth dealing with all challenges.

So what was the most challenging experience for you in the show?

There were a lot many but one in particular was the time when I could not explain my situation to my husband Abhinav Shukla. Bringing your intimate relationship into the public arena and yet not being able to express yourself freely can really suffocate you. It was very tough for me, as I wanted him to understand but could not say it in words.

Video games have come a long way from using a simple joystick to guide Pac-Man on his mission to find food and avoid ghosts. This is illustrated by a 2007 Southwest Airlines commercial in which two friends are playing a baseball video game on a Nintendo Wii–like console. The batting friend tells the other to throw his pitch—and he does, excitedly firing his controller into the middle of the plasma television, which then falls off the wall. Both friends stare in shock at the shattered flat screen as the narrator asks, “Want to get away?”

Such a scene is unlikely to have taken place in the early days of video games when Atari reigned supreme and the action of playing solely centered on hand-eye coordination. The learning curve was relatively nonexistent; players maneuvered a joystick to shoot lines of aliens in the sky, or they turned the wheel on a paddle to play a virtual game of table tennis.

But as video games became increasingly popular, they also became increasingly complex. Consoles upgraded and evolved on a regular basis, and the games kept up. Players called each other with loopholes and tips on how to get Mario and Luigi onto the next level, and now they exchange their tricks on gaming blogs. Games like The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy created alternate worlds and intricate story lines, providing multiple-hour epic adventures.

Long criticized for taking kids out of the backyard and into a sedentary spot in front of the television, many video games have circled back to their simpler origins and, in doing so, have made players more active. Casual gamers who could quickly figure out how to put together puzzle pieces in Tetris can now just as easily figure out how to “swing” a tennis racket with a Wiimote. Video games are no longer a convenient scapegoat for America’s obesity problems; Wii Fit offers everything from yoga to boxing, and Dance Dance Revolution estimates calories burned while players dance.

The logistics of video games continue to change, and as they do, gaming has begun to intersect with every other part of culture. Players can learn how to “perform” their favorite songs with Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Product placement akin to what is seen in movies and on television is equally prevalent in video games such as the popular Forza Motorsport or FIFA series. As the Internet allows for players across the world to participate simultaneously, video games have the potential to one day look like competitive reality shows.Michael Dolan, “The Video Game Revolution: The Future of Video Gaming,” PBS, http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/future.html. Arguably, video games even hold a place in the art world, with the increasing complexity of animation and story lines.Jona Tres Kap, “The Video Game Revolution: But is it Art?” PBS, http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/art.html.

And now, with endless possibilities for the future, video games are attracting new and different demographics. Avid players who grew up with video games may be the first ones to purchase 3-D televisions for the 3-D games of the future.M. H. Williams, “Study Shows Casual and Core Gamers Are Ready for 3-D Gaming,” Industry Gamers, June 15, 2010, http://www.industrygamers.com/news/study-shows-casual-and-core-gamers-are-ready-for-3d-gaming/. But casual players, perhaps of an older demographic, will be drawn to the simplicity of a game like Wii Bowling. Video games have become more accessible than ever. Social media websites like Facebook offer free video game applications, and smartphone users can download apps for as little as a dollar, literally putting video games in one’s back pocket. Who needs a cumbersome Scrabble board when it’s available on a touch screen anytime, anywhere?

Video games have become ubiquitous in modern culture. Understanding them as a medium allows a fuller understanding of their implications in the realms of entertainment, information, and communication. Studying their history reveals new perspectives on the ways video games have affected mainstream culture.