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CAPE TOWN, Jan 28 (Reuters) – South African actors protested outside parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday along with other members of the local film and television industry who say funding losses are threatening movie-making in the country. Holding placards and wearing shirts that say "Save SA film & TV" and "Save our industry", about 300-400 people attended the demonstration, with another one planned in Pretoria on Thursday.  South Africa has one of Africa's most established film and television industries and has long attracted foreign productions. "We're here today because government has largely ignored the film and television sector," said Unathi Malunga, an entertainment lawyer and former CEO of the South African Screen Federation.  "That has led to a loss of jobs, that has led to business going to other countries, and we are losing out on work as South Africans," she told Reuters.  At the core of the complaints is a rebate system called the South African Film and Television Production Incentive, run by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, which aims to support the local film industry by helping to cover production expenditure for projects that meet certain criteria. A coalition of industry groups said in a memorandum delivered to parliament on Wednesday that meetings to approve projects for rebates had halted, bringing the industry to a standstill, and demanded they resume. They also demanded an investigation into allegations of "mismanagement, maladministration, and governance failures" within the incentive programme, which they did not elaborate on. A DTIC spokesperson declined to comment but said the department would respond directly to the coalition within their stated time frame of 10 days. Industry members held a protest about the same issue last year, but said their concerns were not addressed. "We're not getting funding," said Melanie Du Bois, who has acted in South African soap operas and in the popular Showmax drama series "Spinners". "We want the government to be aware and be held accountable, so that the film industry can once again grow to what it's been and what it should be." (Reporting by Esa Alexander; Writing by Nellie Peyton;Editing by Alison Williams)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

CAPE TOWN, Jan 28 (Reuters) – South African actors protested outside parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday along with other members of the local film and television industry who say funding losses are threatening movie-making in the country. Holding placards and wearing shirts that say "Save SA film & TV" and "Save our industry", about 300-400 people attended the demonstration, with another one planned in Pretoria on Thursday.  South Africa has one of Africa's most established film and television industries and has long attracted foreign productions. "We're here today because government has largely ignored the film and television sector," said Unathi Malunga, an entertainment lawyer and former CEO of the South African Screen Federation.  "That has led to a loss of jobs, that has led to business going to other countries, and we are losing out on work as South Africans," she told Reuters.  At the core of the complaints is a rebate system called the South African Film and Television Production Incentive, run by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, which aims to support the local film industry by helping to cover production expenditure for projects that meet certain criteria. A coalition of industry groups said in a memorandum delivered to parliament on Wednesday that meetings to approve projects for rebates had halted, bringing the industry to a standstill, and demanded they resume. They also demanded an investigation into allegations of "mismanagement, maladministration, and governance failures" within the incentive programme, which they did not elaborate on. A DTIC spokesperson declined to comment but said the department would respond directly to the coalition within their stated time frame of 10 days. Industry members held a protest about the same issue last year, but said their concerns were not addressed. "We're not getting funding," said Melanie Du Bois, who has acted in South African soap operas and in the popular Showmax drama series "Spinners". "We want the government to be aware and be held accountable, so that the film industry can once again grow to what it's been and what it should be." (Reporting by Esa Alexander; Writing by Nellie Peyton;Editing by Alison Williams)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. singer Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Wednesday for a brief hearing ahead of his trial later this year on charges of attacking a music producer in a London nightclub. Brown last year denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, and also a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, over what prosecutors say was an "unprovoked attack" with a bottle in 2023. The 36-year-old attended London's Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday and spoke only to confirm his name. Brown entered the dock and shook hands with his co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who has also denied the charges against him. Around a dozen supporters sat in the public gallery behind them and waved as he left the dock. The pair's trial is due to begin in October. They were both granted bail ahead of a further preliminary hearing in April. Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as "Loyal", "Run It" and "Under the Influence", was granted bail in May after paying 5 million pounds ($6.89 million) in order to begin his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, which ended in October. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England last year after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident. ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. singer Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Wednesday for a brief hearing ahead of his trial later this year on charges of attacking a music producer in a London nightclub. Brown last year denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, and also a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, over what prosecutors say was an "unprovoked attack" with a bottle in 2023. The 36-year-old attended London's Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday and spoke only to confirm his name. Brown entered the dock and shook hands with his co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who has also denied the charges against him. Around a dozen supporters sat in the public gallery behind them and waved as he left the dock. The pair's trial is due to begin in October. They were both granted bail ahead of a further preliminary hearing in April. Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as "Loyal", "Run It" and "Under the Influence", was granted bail in May after paying 5 million pounds ($6.89 million) in order to begin his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, which ended in October. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England last year after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident. ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. singer Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Wednesday for a brief hearing ahead of his trial later this year on charges of attacking a music producer in a London nightclub. Brown last year denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, and also a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, over what prosecutors say was an "unprovoked attack" with a bottle in 2023. The 36-year-old attended London's Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday and spoke only to confirm his name. Brown entered the dock and shook hands with his co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who has also denied the charges against him. Around a dozen supporters sat in the public gallery behind them and waved as he left the dock. The pair's trial is due to begin in October. They were both granted bail ahead of a further preliminary hearing in April. Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as "Loyal", "Run It" and "Under the Influence", was granted bail in May after paying 5 million pounds ($6.89 million) in order to begin his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, which ended in October. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England last year after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident. ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. singer Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Wednesday for a brief hearing ahead of his trial later this year on charges of attacking a music producer in a London nightclub. Brown last year denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, and also a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, over what prosecutors say was an "unprovoked attack" with a bottle in 2023. The 36-year-old attended London's Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday and spoke only to confirm his name. Brown entered the dock and shook hands with his co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who has also denied the charges against him. Around a dozen supporters sat in the public gallery behind them and waved as he left the dock. The pair's trial is due to begin in October. They were both granted bail ahead of a further preliminary hearing in April. Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as "Loyal", "Run It" and "Under the Influence", was granted bail in May after paying 5 million pounds ($6.89 million) in order to begin his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, which ended in October. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England last year after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident. ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. singer Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Wednesday for a brief hearing ahead of his trial later this year on charges of attacking a music producer in a London nightclub. Brown last year denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, and also a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, over what prosecutors say was an "unprovoked attack" with a bottle in 2023. The 36-year-old attended London's Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday and spoke only to confirm his name. Brown entered the dock and shook hands with his co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who has also denied the charges against him. Around a dozen supporters sat in the public gallery behind them and waved as he left the dock. The pair's trial is due to begin in October. They were both granted bail ahead of a further preliminary hearing in April. Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as "Loyal", "Run It" and "Under the Influence", was granted bail in May after paying 5 million pounds ($6.89 million) in order to begin his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, which ended in October. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England last year after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident. ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – American composer Philip Glass withdrew the world premiere of his symphony "Lincoln" from the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, saying the work's values conflict with those of the performing arts venue that was taken over by President Donald Trump. Glass is the latest musical luminary to withdraw from the Kennedy Center since Trump named himself chairman and filled its board with his allies last year. The Washington National Opera said this month it planned to leave its home of 50 years. "After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass, who turns 89 on January 31, wrote in a statement posted on X.  "Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony," he wrote. The symphony had been scheduled to be performed in June. TRUMP-APPOINTED BOARD APPROVED NAME CHANGE In December, the institution's board voted to rename it as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Center for short. Since then, many groups and artists have withdrawn from scheduled performances, citing the Republican leader's takeover. Democrats, noting that the center's name was established by Congress, have said Trump's rebranding has no force of law. John F. Kennedy's family denounced the renaming move as undermining the slain president's legacy. Proponents of the name change said Trump had strengthened the institution through fundraising and a focus on renovation. Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the center, did not mention Glass but characterized his decision as political. "We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision," she said in a statement. Glass' Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" was commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center, the Washington Post reported.  Its premiere, already delayed, was due to be the centerpiece of the center's "250 Years of Us" program to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the newspaper said. Jean Davidson, executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, said, "We have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Joe Bavier and Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)