In Brief – November 2016
The late King of Pop Michael Jackson tops the Forbes list of highest-paid deceased celebrities. His after-life fortune includes the sealing of a $750 million deal for his share of the Beatles’ music rights to Sony earlier this year taking his income to $825 million. His estate benefits his mother Katherine and three children.
Charles Schulz, the ‘Peanuts’ cartoonist who died of colon cancer 16 years ago, is second on the list with $48 million and golf legend Arnold Palmer’s estate earning $40 million is listed third.
The MPavilion 2016, designed by Mumbai-based architect Bijoy Jain, at Queen Victoria Garden in Melbourne, is an inspiration from a Durga puja pandal he had seen at Malda, West Bengal. The 16.8 sq m pavilion, constructed with seven km of bamboo, 50 tonnes of stone and 26 km of rope, brought Indian and Australian building designs together. The bamboo poles, roof and panels were made in India, while the bluestone floor was from Victoria. The MPavilion is a commissioned project where architects design temporary landmark for a four-month-long programme of workshops and performances, after which it will be permanently placed elsewhere in Melbourne for public use.
The Transtadia arena in Ahmedabad where the Kabaddi World Cup kicked off on October 7 is India’s first ever convertible stadium. A section of the stadium can be converted into an indoor arena within six minutes at the touch of a button to host around 14 sports, except cricket, and fashion shows and cultural events. Facilities include a helipad, multi-cuisine restaurants, luxurious suites, business centres and sports academy.
Passport applicants in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh have to attach a certificate from the municipal officer in urban areas or gram panchayat in the rural belt that their home is equipped with a usable toilet, to get the NoC from the police. The directive is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The State development department has set a target of constructing 55 lakh toilets by 2018 and to make the State open defecation free by the end of 2019. In Khargone district, students in a government school have been instructed to respond to the daily roll call by saying, “Toilet hai.”
New York-based James Charles (17) will be the face of the cosmetic brand CoverGirl’s new mascara, and he will star in the brand’s ad campaigns. It is a personal victory for Charles, especially since his family found it difficult to understand his love for makeup as a concept separate from his gender identity. His appointment is also a huge win for gender inclusivity, as male models are largely ignored by major cosmetic companies.
