By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production came to about the unusual summer in India. Its movie-obsessed millions have had to do without trips to the beloved cinema ever since theatres closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But there’s been some relief for families cooped up indoors as streaming platforms stepped up to fill the void.

A slew of films have already skipped theatrical releases to slash losses and, instead, hit the small screen. More and more A-list actors are now willing to embrace roles on originals by Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar. And the pandemic, to the growing frustration of cinema owners, has hastened a process that was already underway – the shrinking gap between the small and big screen in India.

The result: Bollywood, according to film journalist Aseem Chhabra, “has had to scramble, adjust and, in some cases, compromise.”

In June, the first film to release online was Gulabo Sitabo, a quirky satire steered by one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Amitabh Bachchan. Then came Shakuntala Devi, a much-anticipated biopic on an Indian math wizard; Gunjan Saxena, a film inspired by India’s first female pilot; and Sadak 2, a highly awaited sequel to a 1991 thriller.

For these cinema-bound movies, streaming platforms weren’t just the only option – they were the obvious choice.

Known for subversive and edgy content that film censor boards would balk at, streaming platforms had already built a strong belt of young and urban viewers, many of whom question Bollywood’s musical spectacles or tired tropes.

“Many learned that streaming isn’t just the future – it’s also the present,” Monika Shergill, Vice-President of Netflix India content, said.

Source__BBC

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production disclose to you the surge in Corona Virus which have a million people in and around the Spanish capital on Monday under new “stay-at-home” orders to contain it’s escalation, as the US death toll neared 200,000.

But unlike other nations that are tightening curbs to battle outbreaks, India pressed ahead with its measures to kickstart its battered economy, reopening the Taj Mahal and some schools on Monday — despite having the second-highest caseload in the world.

The restrictions in Madrid will last for two weeks starting Monday, affecting people living mainly in densely populated, low-income neighbourhoods who will be allowed only to travel for essential reasons such as work, medical care or taking children to school.

On Sunday, people took to the streets in some of the affected districts in protest against the new measures.

They sported placards reading “No to a class-based lockdown” or “They’re destroying our district and now they’re locking us up”.

“We think that they are laughing at us a little bit,” said nurse Bethania Perez, as hundreds protested against the measure.

“We will still be able to go to work, and go into other areas that are not under lockdown, where we might be able to raise the infections and also still be vulnerable to infections in our own area.”

Authorities in Spain — among the worst-hit nations in the world — have insisted the step is necessary because virus cases in those districts were much higher than the national average.

Authorities in Spain — among the worst-hit nations in the world — have insisted the step is necessary because virus cases in those districts were much higher than the national average.

Global coronavirus infections are rapidly approaching 31 million, with more than 958,000 deaths.

Sources___Reuters, Channels TV

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production unveil to you the demise of Michael Lonsdale, the British-French actor with a far-ranging film and theatre career but most widely recognised as the villain opposite James Bond in “Moonraker”, died on Monday aged 89, his agent told AFP.

Lonsdale, who was bilingual, chalked up more than 200 roles over a six-decade career, equally at ease in experimental arthouse productions as in big-budget crowd-pleasers.

With his silky yet imposing voice and a distinctive goatee, Lonsdale often served up memorable performances that stuck with viewers even when only in minor roles.

His agent, Olivier Loiseau, said he had died at his home in Paris, the city where he was born on May 24, 1931, to an English military officer and a French mother.

Arguably the highlight of his career came when he played a Trappist monk in “Of Gods and Men” in 2010.

Based on true events, the film tells the story of seven French monks who were murdered after being kidnapped from their monastery in Algeria in 1996 during the country’s civil war.

For the role Lonsdale won his first and only Cesar award — France’s version of the Oscars — for best supporting actor in 2011.

Yet for millions of people he was the sadistic industrialist Hugo Drax in the 1979 Bond film “Moonraker” starring Roger Moore, with a plan to destroy Earth’s population with nerve gas while he escaped into space.

Source___BBC

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production make known to you the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) congratulations to Governor Godwin Obaseki on his re-election as the governor of Edo State.

The chairman of the APC national caretaker committee, Mai Mala Buni said in a statement that the peaceful conduct of the election and its outcome represents a victory for Nigeria’s democracy.

According to Channels TV, he said the party and the president remain committed to free and fair elections to strengthen the foundation of the country’s political and moral authority.

He commended INEC, security agencies, and all political parties that contested the election for the successful conduct of the election.

He also commended the party’s flagbearer Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for his tenacity and leadership while appreciating the efforts of the immediate past national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and other members for demonstrating unwavering support for the party and its candidate in the election.

Governor Buni added that it is time to unite to move the country’s democracy forward and put an end to the era when the electoral contest becomes warfare.

Source___Channels TV

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production make known you the eviction of Tricky T from the Big Brother Naija lockdown season.

After weeks of being nominated and saved, his run in the BBN house finally came to an end on Sunday night.

Tricky T winning the hearts of many with his personality which many described as easy-going, humble and sometimes comedic, has returned home.

Channels TV speaking with Ebuka, he said he was grateful for his journey so far and is looking forward to more “hustle”. He also said he would pursue a career in filmmaking and also build on his music career.

With just about a few days to the show’s finale, the suspense over who would make it to the finals and who would win the season has reached fever pitch.

The winner will go home with the grand prize of N85 million.

Source___Channels TV

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production unveil the victory of Mr Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in defeating Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to win a second term as governor of Edo State.

Governor Obaseki was returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling the highest number of votes in the keenly-contested poll.

INEC Returning Officer for the poll, Professor Akpofure Rem-Rukeh, declared the governor as the winner on Sunday at the office of the electoral umpire in Benin City, which doubled as the final collation centre.

“That Godwin Obaseki of PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law in meeting the 25 per cent in two-third of the local government areas in the state and having a margin of lead higher than the cancelled votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Professor Rem-Rukeh who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Petroleum Resources, stated.

The governor secured 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than his closest rival Ize-Iyamu, who got 223, 619 votes.

A total of 14 political parties fielded candidates to jostle for the office of the governor in the state.

Source___Channels TV

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production unveil the action ongoing in University of Toronto’s law school, which allegedly blocks hiring of scholar due to her work on Israel’s human rights abuses.

According to our source, students and teachers at the University of Toronto have already called for the reinstatement of an international scholar’s job offer after it was allegedly rescinded by management over her work on Israel’s human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Aljazeera said, the university’s law school has been accused of blocking the hiring of Valentina Azarova as director of the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) following pressure by a sitting federal judge, who is also a major donor to the faculty, according to emails seen by the Toronto Star newspaper.

In an email sent to law school Dean Edward Iacobucci on September 12, also seen by Canadian daily The Globe and Mail, two former directors of the IHRP programme said the school made an offer to Azarova that she accepted in August.

However, when a judge in the Tax Court of Canada, whose name has not been disclosed, expressed concerns about Azarova, Iacobucci rescinded the offer, media reports said on Thursday.

The decision led to a series of resignations at the university, including law professor Audrey Macklin, who chaired the hiring committee that unanimously found Azarova to be the best candidate for the position. On Thursday, a second member of the committee, Vincent Wong, resigned.

The IHRP programme’s three-member advisory board – Vincent Chiao, Trudo Lemmens and Anna Su – have also resigned.

Source___Aljazeera

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production make known to you the Biden’s blast on Trump after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump says he will name a nominee this week as Senators plan pre-election vote.

Aljazeera said, US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has urged Senate Republicans not to vote on any candidate nominated to the Supreme Court as the November election approaches, calling the plan by his rival, incumbent President Donald Trump, an “exercise in raw political power”.

Biden was speaking on Sunday, the day that a second Senate Republican voiced objections to Trump’s plan to vote quickly on a replacement to liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday. Such an appointment by the president, if approved by the Senate, would cement a 6-3 conservative majority that could influence American law and life for decades.

“Voters of this country should be heard … they’re the ones who this Constitution envisions should decide who has the power to make this appointment,” Biden said in Philadelphia. “To jam this nomination through the Senate is just an exercise of raw political power.”

“I appeal to those few Senate Republicans, the handful who really will decide what happens,” Biden added. “Please follow your conscience. Don’t vote to confirm anyone nominated under the circumstances President Trump and Senator [Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell have created. Don’t go there.”

Trump on Saturday promised to nominate a woman and said he will make his nomination this week, naming federal appeals judges Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa as possible candidates to fill the vacancy created by the death of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday.

Source___Aljazeera

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production disclose to you of how UK is at a “critical point” in the coronavirus pandemic and “heading in the wrong direction”, according to Reuters.

Prof Chris Whitty believes the country is facing a “very challenging winter period” and will hold a televised briefing at 11:00 BST.

It comes after the prime minister spent the weekend considering whether to introduce further measures in England.

On Sunday, a further 3,899 daily cases and 18 deaths were reported in the UK.

The prime minister is understood to be considering a two-week mini lockdown in England – being referred to as a “circuit breaker” – in an effort to stem widespread growth of the virus.

He held a meeting at Downing Street on Sunday, along with Prof Whitty, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, to discuss possible measures.

Asked about reports of disagreements among cabinet ministers about whether or not to impose a second lockdown, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Breakfast: “A conversation, a debate, is quite proper and that is exactly what you’d expect.

“Everyone recognises there is a tension between… the virus and the measures we need to take, and the economy and ensuring people’s livelihoods are protected.”

He added it was “very clear when you follow the data” that the UK is “at this tipping point where we may need to go further”.

Source___Reuters

Afrinity Production unveils to you facts about Sheikh Omar Yaffa whose known to be Cihu yaffa, a 23 year old Gambian born musician and song writer studying at the British English College in Dakar.

Yaffa went to Kotu Primary school, Charles fowlis and then graduated from SOS in 2013.

After graduating from high school in 2013, he went to Quantum Net Institute for 8 months, he then moved to the British Business college in Dakar for 3 years. He pause his schooling to verge in to his music career in 2017.

His debut song in 2017 which was a cover song, is an amazing start for an upcoming artist like him. With his forward-thinking production and amazing voice—there’s an undeniable allure to his personality.

Encapsulating the diverse experience of a Gambian upbringing and its dynamic music scene, he always add something distinctive to any song he is working on. After his 2017 introduction, Cihu Yaffa returned few months later with “Cihu Yaffa”—a feel-good song about himself with a more refined, bittersweet sound.

Not long ago, Yaffa produced an amazing cover to Davido’ s song “Risky” though been inspired by arrays of act, Cihu Yaffa is still preparing to face the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 in such an unpredictable time. Whatever happens, with Cihu Yaffa’s contagious charm and versatile creative approach is worth our attention.

Yaffa is also into interpreneurship and owns a tailoring shop at Sinchu Alagie. No name is been given to the tailoring shop at the moment but he is hoping to give it one soon. This is not surprising as he been raised by entrepreneurs, both parents are into business.

Cihu also makes deals with companies which includes car deals and sometimes earn every weekend through shows. Though there has been some hard time with shows due to the Corona Virus pandemic, he surely hope things will change for the better.

By Amie T. Camara