STF NA MÍDIA

The UN also agreed unanimously
last night to unfreeze
billions of pounds worth of
Libyan assets held overseas,
releasing them for use by the
new government.
Britain and France had been
pressing for a new security
council resolution, and the
votes were warmly welcomed
by the foreign secretary,
William Hague.
"Both these votes make clear
the international community
s determination to support
the new Libyan authorities,
and the Libyan people, as
they make progress in reestablishing
stability and
embrace a free future," he
said.
"The provisions for unfreezing
assets, leading to the
progressive release of around
£12bn from the UK, will help
Libya in building a more
prosperous and stable future."
The fighting came a day after
the flag-flying visit to Tripoli
by Nicolas Sarkozy and David
Cameron. They were
followed on Friday
JUSTIÇA NO EXTERIOR •
THE GUARDIAN (LO) • BUSINESS • 16/9/2011
Indian actor Nikita Thukral s film ban over alleged affair lifted
Female star had been banned for three years by producers after allegations she had had
an affair with married co-star
Maseeh Rahman
When a rising star of Indian
cinema is rumoured to have
had an affair with her married
co-star, who is himself
then arrested and accused of
beating his wife, most people
might have expected it would
be the man who faced public
criticism.
But in the all-male world of
cinema production it was
Nikita Thukral, 30, who
found her career stalled in its
tracks.
Last week the actor was banned
for three years by the
Kannada Film Producers
Association for her alleged
relationship, which she denies,
with Darshan, regarded as
one of cinema s most bankable
idols.
In a business where PR professionals
publicise real or
imaginary affairs between
co-stars to promote the next
blockbuster, the puritanical
zeal displayed by the producers
over Thukral s alleged
liaison with Darshan – who
uses only one name – definitely
read like a bad script.
But what was particularly
galling to many was the fact
that the ban came shortly
after Darshan was charged
with beating his wife, Vijaylakshmi.
The producers
seemed to be asking a woman
to pay for a man s misdemeanours.
Kannada cinema is part of
the thriving south Indian film
industry, which also makes
films in Tamil, Telugu and
Malayalam languages.
As women s rights activists
protested, TV anchor Sagarika
Ghose asked in her Face
the Nation programme: "Is a
woman always targeted in an
extramarital affair?" The ban
on Thukral, she asserted, was
"a violation of the right to
livelihood, the right to gender
justice, and even a violation
of human rights".
Assailed from all sides –
even Kannada film celebrities
expressed surprise and
displeasure – the producers
finally backed down and withdrew
the ban on Thursday.
"We admit now that the ban
was foolish," said a contrite
Muniratna Naidu of the producers
association in Bangalore.
"We ve wronged an
actress who is good and kindhearted."
Thukral, a Punjabi from
Mumbai who has found success
in south Indian cinema,
said she was "very happy and
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