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Mumbai, Jan 2 () Ajay Piramal-backed Piramal Fund Management's 'Indiareit Fund V' has exited its investment in Bengaluru-based developer Skylark Mansions for an undisclosed amount.
Piramal's Indiareit Fund V had invested Rs 36 crore in Skylark Mansion in 2014 for a luxury residential project in Bengaluru, which has now been taken over by Shankaranarayana Constructions (SNC) to develop a premium commercial project.
The transaction, facilitated by property consultant JLL, included sale of a prime commercial land parcel on Richmond Road in Bengaluru's central business district to SNC.
"This deal marks Piramal's exit in the project. SNC has now taken over the project and plans to invest over Rs 100 crore to develop a world class office space on the land," JLL India Managing Director, Bengaluru Rahul Arora told .
The deal is expected to yield an IRR (internal rate of return) of 18-19 per cent for Piramal, he added.
The development comes within five months of Piramal Fund Management seeking an extension from investors for exiting its investment made through this fund.
Indiareit Fund V, which was launched in 2013 with a primary tenure of six years (extendable by up to two additional one-year periods), had made 10 investments and has already exited completely from four of them and partial exit from one project.
Since the six-year tenure of the fund ended in July last year, Piramal had sought an extension of one year from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020 for exiting from its residual investments.
While seeking the extension, Piramal had noted that it had recommended Skylark to develop a commercial project with the existing FSI (floor space index), instead of a residential project, to ensure faster cash flow realisation.
Since Skylark was facing group-level liquidity issues, it was unable to raise construction finance for the commercial project.
"Considering the delays in project approvals, continued uncertainty in TDR (transferable development rights) regulations, group level cash flow stress and residual tenure of the Fund, we are now exploring to sell the project land," Piramal Fund Management had said in its note.
Arora further said that the central business district (CBD) of Bengaluru continues to be highly vibrant in terms of commercial potential.
"Commercial space absorption in the CBD as well as the broader Bengaluru market has scaled new records in the recent past. There has been a rise in investor interest in acquiring prime commercial land parcels and this development is significant," he added. PSK BAL
BAL

Piramal-backed Indiareit Fund exits from Skylark's B'luru project

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An Australian police officer threatened to shoot a fellow officer over "Top Gun: Maverick" spoilers.</li><li>The officer's lawyer told a Sydney court his client made a horrible mistake, ABC reported.</li></ul>An Australian police officer has regrets after he was convicted on Thursday by a Sydney court for threatening to shoot a fellow officer if he spoiled the 2022 hit movie <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/top-gun-maverick-director-convinced-tom-cruise-make-movie-2022-5">"Top Gun: Maverick"</a> for him.Constable Dominic Francis Gaynor was working behind the counter of a police station in Sydney in May when his colleague, Probationary Constable Morgan Royston, told him he'd just seen the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/tom-cruise-top-gun-maverick-shows-real-personality-2022-12">Tom Cruise flick</a> and said, "I'll spoil it for you," Australian outlet ABC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-09/nsw-cop-pointed-gun-top-gun-spoilers/103086628">reported</a>, citing court documents.According to the news outlet, court papers say Gaynor laughed and told Royston not to spoil the movie before he threatened to shoot him and pointed his gun at him for a total of five seconds.The police officer pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm with disregard for the complainant's safety, according to ABC.Gaynor's lawyer said in court on Thursday that his client was sorry and that he made a horrible mistake."This is a case where the skylarking and tomfoolery in an employment context has gone awry," Gaynor's attorney, Chris Micali, told the court, adding, "This is going to cost him dearly," the news outlet reported.Gaynor was convicted in the matter and handed a two-year good behavior bond, according to ABC.

An Australian cop is sorry for his 'tomfoolery' after threatening to shoot his colleague over 'Top Gun: Maverick' spoilers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"Makeba" by Jain is surging in popularity thanks to a TikTok trend featuring Bill Hader. </li><li>The catchy song behind the meme honors Miriam Makeba, a South African artist and activist. </li></ul>Good luck scrolling TikTok without hearing the viral chants of "ooohe!" from "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Q_lhgGANc">Makeba</a>." The 2015 song by the French artist Jain is <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nicollefigueroaa/video/7241386429488712966">making its rounds on the app</a> thanks to a meme of Bill Hader dancing and has morphed into, you guessed it, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@manuugenovese/video/7243420927113841947">a new dance trend</a>. The meme uses a cut-for-time "Saturday Night Live" sketch from 2015 that has also since gone viral in which Hader plays a human-esque doll named Alan who provides "casual entertainment," like dancing, to its owners.TikTokers have <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@destinysiren/video/7247377079958785285?amp%3Bt=1688569765910&amp;q=makeba%20dance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paired Hader's dance moves</a> with "Makeba." There are currently 1 million TikTok videos that have used "Makeba" as a sound, according to the app. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerleadersmaxi/video/7239274796951833882?amp%3Bt=1688569765910&amp;q=makeba%20dance">Videos</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kimberly.loaiza/video/7248787755843521798">featuring the</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jelikam/video/7236749138719821057">short dance</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@imz1official/video/7237867153775398150">viral song</a> — which have amassed millions of views each — first started <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cherrytwins_kl/video/7235542345557544198">popping up in May</a> with the trend officially <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@its.michhh/video/7244588572471217413">taking hold in June</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lupovlove/video/7250944303160216875?q=makeba%20july%20&amp;t=1688571265298">continuing into early July</a>. But "Makeba," the revived dance hit fueling the craze, honors a real person: famed South African activist Miriam Makeba. <h2>Who was Miriam Makeba? </h2>Makeba, also widely known as "Mama Africa," was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist during the height of apartheid in her country. She started her singing career in the 1950s and mainly performed jazz and Afropop with a group called the Manhattan Brothers and eventually an all-female group, the Skylarks. By the end of the decade, she had made an appearance in the anti-apartheid film "Come Back, Africa," which earned her national attention and led to her performing internationally. Makeba then moved to New York City in 1959 to pursue her music career where she began working with Harry Belafonte. In 1960, Makeba learned that her mother had died shortly after the Sharpville Massacre in South Africa and tried to return for the funeral, only to learn her South African passport had been revoked.It was the start of 30 years of exile for the South African artist. Makeba started to explore more explicitly political themes in her music, and became an outspoken activist against apartheid in her home country. During her successful career, Makeba took home a Grammy award.With the end of apartheid, Makeba was finally able to return to South Africa in 1990 for a six-day stay. In 1992, she performed concerts in Johannesburg. In 2008, Makeba had a heart attack while performing her hit song, "Pata Pata," and later died in the hospital when doctors were unable to revive her. <h2>What does "Makeba" mean? </h2><div type="image" title="Jain performs at Solidays Festival on June 27, 2015 in Paris, France." height="2795" width="3726" msid="101524583" hostid="261" sizebytes="364692"></div>"Makeba" was a song on Jain's first album, Zanaka, released in 2015. Its lyrics clearly reference the political activist for which it is named. The notable chorus, "Oohe/Makeba Makeba/ma qué bella," references Makeba's beauty, featuring the Italian phrase meaning "how beautiful." "Nobody can beat the Mama Africa/You follow the beat that she's going to give ya," Jain sings.The line "Only her smile can all make it go/The sufferation of a thousand more," clearly calls out the apartheid in South Africa taking place while Makeba was rising to fame.In a <a href="https://www.thefader.com/2015/11/04/jain-makeba-interview">2015 interview with Fader</a>, Jain said she listened to a lot of African music when she was young, including Makeba's hits.When asked about Makeba herself, Jain praised the star: "I really admire her, because she was a strong woman and she was an incredible performer… When I watch videos of her shows, she had this thing — this aura — around her, full of determination and joy. And she had this groove."

How Miriam Makeba, a South African singer who fought apartheid, inspired a viral TikTok meme and dance

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355882" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="israel">Israel</keyword>'s <keyword id="1457178" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Iron-Dome">Iron Dome</keyword> repelled thousands of rockets and even <keyword id="94769" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="drones">drones</keyword> during recent fighting.</li><li>The air-defense system also accidentally shot down an Israeli military drone.</li><li>The Israel Defense Forces told Israeli media the friendly-fire incident is under investigation.</li></ul>Israel's Iron Dome accidentally shot down an Israeli military drone during recent fighting with Hamas in the <keyword id="39746" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gaza">Gaza</keyword> Strip, the Israel Defense Forces told local media."As part of the round of fighting in Gaza and as part of the defense of the country's skies, an IDF Skylark drone was hit by Iron Dome," <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-iron-dome-shot-down-an-israeli-drone-during-gaza-war-by-mistake-1.9841599">an IDF spokesperson told Haaretz</a>, adding that the incident is under investigation.Skylark drones are small unmanned aerial vehicles built by Elbit Systems, an Israel-based <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> defense firm, and used by the IDF Artillery Corps' "Sky Rider" unit for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-iron-dome-shot-down-an-israeli-drone-during-gaza-war-by-mistake-1.9841599">Haaretz reported</a> that the IDF is "worried" about the friendly-fire incident because it calls into question whether the IDF is able "to conduct a long period of fighting without harming its own forces." It is unclear to what extent this is a concern.During a recent 11-day conflict involving an intense exchange of fire between the IDF and Palestinian militants in Gaza, Israel's Iron Dome faced thousands of rockets, as well as enemy drones, the latter being a first for the system.<div type="image" title="iron dome israel gaza palestine rockets" height="1333" width="2000" msid="82959223" hostid="261"></div>Israel's Iron Dome is a short-range air-defense system designed to intercept rockets, artillery, and mortars. The system has been in use since 2011 and is in place to reduce casualties from rocket attacks against Israeli cities.The system was designed and developed by the Israeli defense companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with US support. It is a part of a larger tiered defense system that includes other critical assets like the Arrow and Patriot batteries.The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced in March the completion of upgrades to Iron Dome that would allow it to defend against a much more varied collection of aerial threats that Israel might battle in future conflicts.During the upgrade process, the defense system was tested against a variety of threats that include rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-strip-middle-east-08ab5cba58221eb84848f13f8195bc76">the Associated Press previously reported</a>. Iron Dome had not yet engaged a drone in combat though.<div type="image" title="A rocket launched from Gaza city controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement, is intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defence system, on May 11, 2021" height="683" width="1024" msid="82959226" hostid="261"></div>The recent fighting began on May 10 as Hamas began launching Qassem rockets at Israeli cities after a period of heightened tensions and local clashes. During the conflict, the IDF repeatedly praised Iron Dome for its effectiveness.The system is said to have intercepted 90% of incoming rockets, significantly reducing Israeli losses. Thirteen people, including two children, died in Israel from rockets that made it through. Palestinian deaths, as Israel retaliated with airstrikes, were much higher.The Times of Israel, <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-drone-was-intercepted-by-iron-dome-during-gaza-fighting-idf/">which also reported the accidental downing of an Israeli drone</a>, said that the Israeli military conducted around 1,500 airstrikes in Gaza during the conflict. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 243 Palestinians were killed, including several dozen children, with roughly 2,000 wounded. The deceased included both combatants and civilians.The horrific conflict, some of the worst fighting in years, concluded last Friday with a ceasefire agreement.

The Israeli military says Iron Dome shot down one of its own drones during intense fighting

New Delhi, Delhi, Apr 6 () At a time when the world is struggling to get ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients, 200 such equipment are lying at Chennai port but they are 'second-hand' or 'used' ones and come under the 'hazardous' category. Import of such used equipment is prohibited under hazardous waste management rules of the Ministry of Environment and Forest. A Chennai-based company Skylark Office Machines imported these ventilators in November 2018 from a US-based firm, according to sources. The customs authorities confiscated the consignment and imposed penalty on the goods. But, the importer approached the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) which set aside the orders of the customs authorities and allowed the company to re-export the goods back to the US, they said. Things took turn as the central government banned exports of all kinds of ventilators during the last week of March amid the coronavirus outbreak. After this decision, it was impossible for the company to re-export the consignment. The firm sent a communication to the Chennai office of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) seeking clearance of the consignment as a "special case" to enable use of those ventilators at government medical institution, Tamil Nadu, for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak. "We appeal to you that the policy condition may be relaxed to cover clearance of these goods already imported by us as a very special case to enable us to supply to Government of Tamil Nadu through Tamilnadu Medical Services Corporation Ltd (a fully-owned Tamil Nadu government company) for use in the government medical institution in Tamil Nadu for tackling COVID-19 patients," according to the communication of the company, dated March 31, 2020, accessed by . On this, Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation in a communication date March 31 to Chennai DGFT sought clearance of the consignment of used ventilators imported by Skylark Office Machines. The Corporation appealed that the policy condition may be relaxed to cover clearance of these goods so that it can be used to treat COVID-19 patients. DGFT headquarters at the national capital has finally given the approval on April 4 after getting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The Directorate has also written to the chief secretary and health secretary of Tamil Nadu to check the specifications, standards, quality and safety of these used/old ventilators before using that in hospitals to treat the patients. Skylark Office Machine owner Rohit Jhunjhunwala did not responded to the repeated calls and even to messages sent to him to get his comments on the matter. Some of the major suppliers in the country have stated that they have acute shortage of ventilators in view of the increasing demand worldwide amid the coronavirus outbreak. According to some reports, there is an over 30,000 ventilators in India with every state having a varying number. Health experts have said only few of the total affected patients require critical care as they go on respiratory failure and need to put on ventilators while rest recover with supportive treatment. According to Mumbai-based doctor Sachin Ramteke, few specific cases need ventilators and not all patients. About the number of these equipment, he said that normally, a 100-bed hospital would keep ventilators for 10-20 beds in ICU, but now as the number of patients are increasing, hospitals are facing shortage of these equipment. RR HRS

COVID-19 outbreak: Amid equipment shortage, a curious case of imported used ventilators

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6354335" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) on July 5 has amended rules for overdue fixed deposits (FD) wherein if a depositor does not claim the proceeds after maturity, the bank will charge the lower interest rates applicable from savings rate or contracted interest.</li><li>RBI classifies a deposit as unclaimed when the depositor doesn’t make any transaction in the account for 10 years or more. </li><li>Reportedly, unclaimed deposits with banks have been growing every year. </li></ul>It commonly happens that people do not share basic financial information with their close ones or family members. At times, because of an unfortunate event of a death, the family members are unaware of the financial details of the deceased person. Besides, some of us fail to keep track of multiple bank accounts and fixed deposits (FD) in different banks as we move cities and jobs. Such proceeds, which are not claimed by the depositor, are kept in Depositors Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF), formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2014. Deposits from all banks which are inoperative for at least 10 years are transferred into this large pool of unclaimed money. Currently, there is a large amount of money lying unclaimed in such accounts. As of now, more than Rs 82,000 crore of investor wealth is lying unclaimed in forgotten and lost investments, as per <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/invest/rs-82000-cr-lying-in-unclaimed-bank-a/cs-life-insurance-mutual-funds-pf-how-to-get-your-money-back/articleshow/84089095.cms?from=mdr">ET Wealth estimates</a>. Do interest rates continue on the unclaimed proceeds? Yes, these unclaimed funds will continue to earn interest rates specified by the RBI, and not the rate at which the deposit was made, which are called contracted rates. The RBI has now tweaked rules for interest rates on unclaimed fixed deposits (FD), wherein if depositors forget to claim the proceeds after maturity, the amount left unclaimed will attract interest rate applicable to savings account or contracted rate whichever is lower. Earlier, the interest rates on unclaimed amounts attracted the rate of interest as applicable to savings deposits. This does not make a major difference as interest rates on savings accounts have been decreasing, which means it will always be lower than the contracted rate. RBI classifies a deposit as unclaimed when a depositor doesn’t make any transaction in the account for 10 years or more. The amendment comes when unclaimed deposits with banks have been reportedly growing every year. What should you do to avoid missing such a maturity date? Note down the maturity date of your <keyword id="6568461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="fds">FDs</keyword> and share these details with your family. Do not forget to mention nominee details. If your home address happens to change, update your banks about the same. It is convenient to collect all proceeds if you have a savings account with all banks you have FDs with. However, if not, remember to opt for an auto renewal option so that your FD is renewed for more years with the prevailing FD rate. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/aamir-khan-backed-furniture-rental-startup-furlenco-raises-1000-crore/articleshow/84132797.cms">Furlenco raised $140 million in a Series D funding round led by Zinnia Global Fund (businessinsider.in)</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/zomato-investor-info-edge-has-invested-in-a-drone-startup-skylark/articleshow/84144201.cms">Zomato investor Info Edge has invested in a drone startup Skylark (businessinsider.in)</a>

What happens if you forget to claim your fixed deposit proceeds after maturity? Explained

<a href="https://www.zbarchicago.com/media/">Z Bar</a>Two of the top 10 bars in the US are located inside Peninsula hotels, according to Forbes Travel Guide.<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/forbes-travel-guide/#b0aa9504700b">Forbes</a> releases worldwide critic-curated travel recommendations every year, from best <a href="https://www.forbestravelguide.com/award-winners">destinations</a> to <a href="https://www.forbestravelguide.com/award-winners">restaurants</a> and even hotel bars.</li><li>This year, of the 44 hotel bars Forbes Travel Guide included in its <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2019/10/15/forbes-travel-guide-worlds-best-hotel-bars/#7c66629060b6">worldwide roundup,</a> only 10 were in the United States.</li><li>Those 10 bars were all located inside <a href="http://businessinsider.com/category/luxury-hotels">luxury hotels</a> and most were noted for having a classic, cozy feel.</li><li><a href="http://businessinsider.com">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul>Many hotels boast receiving <a href="https://www.forbestravelguide.com/">stars from Forbes</a>. <a href="https://www.seaisland.com/">Sea Island</a>, a private luxury resort on the coast of Georgia, even has the designation featured front and center <a href="https://www.seaisland.com/">on its homepage</a>: "The only resort in the world to achieve four Forbes Five-Stars 11 years in a row."Sea Island is regularly celebrated by Forbes for its hotel and spa, but this year it was celebrated for something else - its bar.Forbes Travel Guide released a list of 44 noteworthy hotel bars worldwide - and Sea Island's bar, <a href="https://www.seaisland.com/dining/oak-room/">The Oak Room</a>, was one of only 10 picks located in the United States.Winners are decided by Forbes Travel Guide critics who stayed at <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2019/10/15/forbes-travel-guide-worlds-best-hotel-bars/#2802220860b6">over 1,000 hotels anonymously</a>, the publication notes. The properties are evaluated based on 900 different criteria delineated by an entire <a href="https://www.forbestravelguide.com/standards-advisory-committee">standards advisory committee</a> of hospitality and luxury industry leaders.As far as hotel bars were concerned, the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2019/10/15/forbes-travel-guide-worlds-best-hotel-bars/#2802220860b6">specific, extremely granular criteria</a> for ranking (beyond facilities and service) included whether cocktails were served at the right temperature and if the napkins were linen or cotton.Keep reading for a look at the swanky bars that made the cut. The bars are listed in ascending order of price, based on the hotel's nightly starting rate sourced from luxury travel website <a href="https://skylark.com/">Skylark</a> or the hotel's individual website.

The best hotel bars in the US, according to Forbes travel experts

The climactic moment that portrays Kim Jong-un's head gets blown up is clearly the main reason why North Korea is upset with Sony's "The Interview," but the movie is filled with other things that the hermit dictatorship would not like.
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/report-the-us-is-preparing-to-blame-north-korea-for-the-sony-hack-2014-12">North-Korea-linked hackers</a> savaged Sony, forcing the company to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reports-top-movie-theater-chains-just-caved-to-sony-hackers-2014-12">cancel the movie's release</a> by leaking thousands of private documents and threatening to leak more.
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-interview-review-2014-11">We saw it a few weeks ago</a> at a screening with Seth Rogen himself as he drank beer and high-fived the audience. Here are some parts that we enjoyed but North Korea might not [WARNING: SPOILERS]:
<ul>
<li>The opening scene portrays a young Korean girl singing a beautiful and poingnant song that we realize - through subtitles - is so virulent anti-American it's laughable, with lines like: "May they drown in their blood and feces."</li>
<li>The film quickly establishes a plot to assassinate Kim. It happens after&#xa0;Aaron&#xa0;Rapoport (Rogen), the&#xa0;broadcast news producer of fluffly news show "Skylark Tonight," and host Dave Skylark (James Franco) discover that Kim is a huge fan of their show. As soon as they set up an interview with the dictator, they are contacted by the CIA with a request that they take him out.</li>
<li>Randall Park's portrayal of Kim is one of the film's greatest assets. While on the surface he's cold and intimidating, Kim frequently acts ridiculous, such as when he meets Skylark and turns into a shrieking fanboy.&#xa0;Tons of laughs stem from this relationship, as Kim takes Skylark on his own personal tour of his country, complete with fruity drinks, Katy Perry sing-a-longs, adorable puppies, and general, juvenile tomfoolery.</li>
<li>While Skylark starts to think Kim and North Korea aren't half-bad, there's a turning moment late in the film when Rapoport&#xa0;rushes into a North Korean supermarket only to find that it's filled with fake food. The functional society is a sham, and North Koreans are actually starving.&#xa0;</li>
<li>The most offensive and buzzed-about aspect of the film is the assassination itself. The original plan put in place by the CIA was to poison the dictator with a ricin-strip that Skylark was to apply during a handshake with Jong-Un during the interview. But when the moment comes, Skylark no longer has the ricin, and instead he tries&#xa0;to use the television airtime to turn North Korea against Kim by making the dictator appear weak on camera. When Kim realizes what's happening, he pulls out a gun and shoots Skylark on air - but Skylark is wearing a vest and survives.</li>
<li>As Aaron and Skylark make their escape, they steal a North Korean tank as Kim &#xa0;flies above in a helicopter and prepares to kill them both as well as launch nuclear weapons all over the world. The particularly controversial head explosion occurs here, when Aaron and Skylark fire from their tank and effectively blow up the helicopter and Kim Jong. The camera lingers on Kim Jong's exploding face as Katy Perry's "Firework" plays in the background, making the moment even more surreal and over-the-top.&#xa0;</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sony-ceo-was-already-freaking-out-about-the-interview-this-summer-2014-12">Leaked emails</a> revealed that there was some tinkering behind-the-scenes to tone down the sheer violence on display during the Supreme Leader's death, and the version shown to audiences isn't nearly as graphic as it was previously. The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-ceo-of-sony-forced-a-major-change-in-the-interview-2014-12">exact specifications</a> of these changes have also been made public.
Following Sony's cancellation of the release, the US announced their intention to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/report-the-us-is-preparing-to-blame-north-korea-for-the-sony-hack-2014-12">officially blame North Korea</a> for the hack since they now have gathered enough evidence to claim they are "centrally involved." The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-white-house-responds-to-new-sony-hacking-information-2014-12">White House officially responded</a>&#xa0;also,&#xa0;stating that the US plans to continue investigating that the FBI has the lead.

We Saw 'The Interview' Weeks Ago, And It's Clear Why North Korea Hates It

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's Kim Jong-un assassination comedy "The Interview" has been the subject of a lot of controversy. The film was originally scheduled to be released in October, but after North Korea <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/north-korea-regime-confidant-rails-713844">declared the film an "act of war"</a> and threatened a "<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/25/north-korea-merciless-response-us-kim-jong-un-film">resolute and merciless</a>" response if the US government failed to stop the film's release, it was delayed until Christmas Day. 
While changing an American film based on the demands of a dictator may seem ridiculous, Sony agreed to make minor <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-altering-kim-jong-assassination-725092">digital alterations</a>, including covering up "thousands of buttons worn by characters in the film" since they "depict the actual hardware worn by the North Korean military to honor the country's leader."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>After viewing the relentlessly crass and silly finished product, I find it hard to take North Korea's assertions seriously. The film is clearly a comedy far more than it is a statement on foreign policy. While Rogen weaves in plenty of details that don't portray North Korea in very positive light, the movie never feels like an attack on the hermit kingdom.
The opening scene depicting a young Korean girl serenading a gathering of fellow Koreans with sing-songy insults to America sets the bar right away, and the film never takes itself too seriously.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>James Franco plays Dave Skylark, the host of "Skylark Tonight," a tabloid news program that falls more in line with TMZ than CNN. Aaron Rapaport (Rogen) is the show's producer, and after 1,000 episodes of asinine celebrity coverage, he wishes to be taken seriously. When Skylark finds out Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea, is a fan of his program, he sets up an exclusive interview with the dictator in North Korea. When the CIA gets wind of this, they bring Skylark and Rapaport in and ask them to assassinate him.
As all good comedies should, 'The Interview" has heart, and the on-screen chemistry between Franco and Rogen keeps everything afloat. The script features plenty of Rogen's trademark witty, crass humor and, just like in "Pineapple Express," the off-the-cuff banter between the two leads never gets old. Lizzy Caplan is also great (but underused) as the CIA agent who "honeypots" the duo into the assassination. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>"The Interview" is full of pop culture references, Hollywood in-jokes, and hysterically funny cameos. Besides the barrage of unexpected celebrities, one of the film's biggest laughs comes from Franco's rendition of a pop song that rivals his Britney Spears piano number from "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Breakers-James-Franco/dp/B00DU6PJX4">Spring Breakers</a>." While it's not as inherently self-referential as "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-End-James-Franco/dp/B00EP0MY64/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415724328&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=this+is+the+end">This Is The End</a>" since Rogen and Franco aren't playing themselves, there is similar humor at times, as Rogen shows that he isn't afraid to make fun of anyone.
The film is poised to be another surefire hit for Rogen, whose last two starring vehicles ("<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Neighbors-Seth-Rogen/dp/B00NTSYP3S">Neighbors</a>," "This Is The End") were modestly budgeted at <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=townies.htm">$18 million</a> and <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=rogenhilluntitled.htm">$32 million </a>respectively and each managed to gross over <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=sethrogen.htm">$100 million domestically</a>. The reported budget for "The Interview" is <a href="http://collider.com/seth-rogen-james-franco-evan-goldberg-the-interview/">around $30 million</a>, so factoring in Rogen's track record, the film should have no trouble raking in some serious cash when it opens this Christmas. 
Watch the trailer below.

North Korea Won't Like It, But Seth Rogen's 'The Interview' Is Hilarious

Kim Jong-un assassination comedy "The Interview" was controversial <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-the-interview-2014-12">even before it provoked North Korean hackers to launch a vicious cyberattack</a> on Sony Pictures Entertainment.
"The Interview" was originally scheduled to be released in October but was delayed until Christmas Day after North Korea <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/north-korea-regime-confidant-rails-713844">declared the film an "act of war"</a>&#xa0;and threatened a "<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/25/north-korea-merciless-response-us-kim-jong-un-film">resolute and merciless</a>" response if the US government failed to stop its release.
I found it hard to take North Korea's assertions seriously after viewing the relentlessly crass and silly finished product at a screening a few weeks ago. It's clearly a comedy far more than a statement on foreign policy. While co-director and star Seth Rogen weaves in plenty of details that reflect poorly on North Korea, "The Interview" never feels like an attack on the hermit kingdom. 
But as we now know, this didn't stop North Korea from acting out even though Sony Pictures took some steps to appease the dictatorship during the film's production.
While it may seem ridiculous to change an American film based on a dictator's demands, Sony made minor&#xa0;<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-altering-kim-jong-assassination-725092">digital alterations</a>, including covering up "thousands of buttons worn by characters in the film" since they "depict the actual hardware worn by the North Korean military to honor the country's leader." 
Sony also&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-the-interview-2014-12">toned down</a>&#xa0;the explosion of Kim Jong-un's head during the film's climactic assassination.

Despite these concessions,&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/report-the-us-is-preparing-to-blame-north-korea-for-the-sony-hack-2014-12">hackers linked to North Korea</a>&#xa0;savaged Sony. Those hackers effectively forced the company to&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reports-top-movie-theater-chains-just-caved-to-sony-hackers-2014-12">cancel the movie's release</a>&#xa0;by leaking thousands of private documents, threatening to leak more, and threatening the safety of moviegoers at theaters. 
Here's a bit more about the wonderfully goofy movie most people won't get to see.&#xa0;
In the opening scene,&#xa0;a young Korean girl serenades a gathering of fellow Koreans with sing-songy insults to America. This scene sets the bar right away, and the film never takes itself too seriously.
James Franco plays Dave Skylark, the host of "Skylark Tonight," a tabloid news program that falls more in line with TMZ than CNN. Aaron Rapaport (Rogen) is the show's producer, and after 1,000 episodes of asinine celebrity coverage, he wishes to be taken seriously. When Skylark finds out Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea, is a fan of his program, he sets up an exclusive interview with the dictator in North Korea. When the CIA gets wind of this, they bring Skylark and Rapaport in and ask them to assassinate him.
As all good comedies should, 'The Interview" has heart, and the on-screen chemistry between Franco and Rogen keeps everything afloat. The script features plenty of Rogen's trademark witty, crass humor and, just like in "Pineapple Express," the off-the-cuff banter between the two leads never gets old. Lizzy Caplan is also great (but underused) as the CIA agent who "honeypots" the duo into the assassination.&#xa0;
"The Interview" is full of pop culture references, Hollywood in-jokes, and hysterically funny cameos. Besides the barrage of unexpected celebrities, one of the film's biggest laughs comes from Franco's rendition of a pop song that rivals his Britney Spears piano number from "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Breakers-James-Franco/dp/B00DU6PJX4">Spring Breakers</a>." While it's not as inherently self-referential as "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-End-James-Franco/dp/B00EP0MY64/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415724328&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=this+is+the+end">This Is The End</a>" since Rogen and Franco aren't playing themselves, there is similar humor at times, as Rogen shows that he isn't afraid to make fun of anyone.
The film was poised to be another surefire hit for Rogen, whose last two starring vehicles ("<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Neighbors-Seth-Rogen/dp/B00NTSYP3S">Neighbors</a>," "This Is The End") were modestly budgeted at <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=townies.htm">$18 million</a> and <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=rogenhilluntitled.htm">$32 million </a>respectively and each managed to gross over <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=sethrogen.htm">$100 million domestically</a>. The reported budget for "The Interview" is <a href="http://collider.com/seth-rogen-james-franco-evan-goldberg-the-interview/">around $30 million</a>, so factoring in Rogen's track record, the film shouldn't have had any trouble raking in some serious cash when it opened on Christmas Day.
Unfortunately, the movie's unprecedented suppression makes any profit impossible, and Sony will lose around <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sony-the-interview-loss-2014-12">$100 million</a> from the film's non-release alone. The long-term damage is impossible to assess at this point, but Sony certainly has an uphill battle going forward. 
Watch the trailer below.&#xa0;&#xa0;

'The Interview' Is Hilarious And It's A Shame America Won't Get To See It

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Shutterstock/f11photoBusiness is booming in Japan.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Adrian Shepherd is a British productivity consultant who's lived and worked in Japan for the past 24 years.</li><li>Over that time he's had a front row seat to how business has changed over time - and says other countries should learn from it. </li><li>For instance, more and more Japanese people are putting their family first - and it's something companies are still struggling to adapt to.</li></ul>I first stepped off the plane into Japan back in 1994 into Osaka airport, back when Kansai International Airport was still being built. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't speak the language and while I'd lived in other Asian countries before, this was the first one I was entering alone. Who knew that a 6-month study abroad program would forever change my life?After finishing college, I returned to Japan to start my career not knowing where it would take me. All I knew was that I enjoyed teaching English, and Japan was looking for teachers. Now it's 21 years later, and I'm still here. While some things haven't changed, a lot has and I've been witness to it all.Here are seven ways business in Japan has changed over the past 25 years.<h2>Tourism leads the way</h2>One of the biggest changes in recent years has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abenomics-driving-japanese-tourism-2015-3" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.businessinsider.com/abenomics-driving-japanese-tourism-2015-3&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGxog1C46w7E_NBgRsMiYeT6qGb5A">the surge in tourism</a>. Long ago, I remember walking down the arcade in Shinsaibashi in Osaka, and I was the lone blond-haired person in a sea of black. Today, that's no longer the case. Tourism has exploded in recent years with visitors from China, Korea, India, Australia, American and many more dominating the landscape. So much so that restaurants have started offering menus in different languages to cater to their clientele. The numbers say it all; in 2017, Japan welcomed 28.7 million tourists - up from 10.4 million just three years earlier, blasting through the <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/01/19/national/japan-sets-new-inbound-tourism-record-2015-comes-just-short-20-million-target/#.XJHVH_lMSHs" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/01/19/national/japan-sets-new-inbound-tourism-record-2015-comes-just-short-20-million-target/%23.XJHVH_lMSHs&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHyyhRhI43Uun6rK_b0O1vtsD3RkQ">government's target of achieving 20 million foreign visitors by 2020</a>.<h2>The official business language</h2>I've owned a school for 18 years. When I first started it, the student body consisted of 65% female, 35% male. Today, those numbers are reversed. I attribute this to a change in the policies of many companies which want to make their company more international. Today, to become a manager at many of the top firms, a TOEIC score of over 700 is a prerequisite. Honda, Uniqlo, Lawson's, Rakuten, Bridgestone and Nissan are among the companies that made the decision to <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/07/18/editorials/honda-makes-english-official/#.XJHTHPlMSHs" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/07/18/editorials/honda-makes-english-official/%23.XJHTHPlMSHs&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF2L1n84IswtXXKKTbzgMLCWbB2wg">make English their "official language" among management</a>. It's clearer than ever that Japanese companies are making a push to be more international.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Courtesy of Adrian ShepherdAdrian Shepherd.</div></div></div><h2>Smoking</h2>Like in many other countries, smoking was once cool. But in Japan, it was more than that. Business would often be discussed over cigarettes and alcohol. Drink parties are still common, but cigarettes have become pretty much a relic of the past. Some companies have even gone so far as to offer<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/non-smokers-at-japanese-company-get-6-extra-vacation-days-2017-11" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.businessinsider.com/non-smokers-at-japanese-company-get-6-extra-vacation-days-2017-11&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFqv1YXigoJRjrqsSiwJdS1gt4Ieg">holidays as a reward for non-smokers</a>. Just this morning, chain operator Skylark just announced they will <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/20/national/restaurant-chain-operator-skylark-impose-total-smoking-ban-september/#.XJHV0_lMSHs" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/20/national/restaurant-chain-operator-skylark-impose-total-smoking-ban-september/%23.XJHV0_lMSHs&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGrjSIjuc9KxVUOP-e1FE2Jgx4Cxw">impose a smoking ban</a> from September this year. How times have changed.<h2>Limited editions</h2>Japanese people love "limited edition" anything. Over the years, food has been its biggest recipient. It's commonplace to see "seasonally limited" plastered on packaging in Kanji for chocolate, potato chips, and candies. Fans go bonkers for them. <a href="http://mysmall.xsrv.jp/2018/02/25/limited-in-japan-many-flavors-for-haagen-dazs-ice-cream/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://mysmall.xsrv.jp/2018/02/25/limited-in-japan-many-flavors-for-haagen-dazs-ice-cream/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGdS2cRTGIqqWzTHPA6nt5saQL51Q">Haagen-Dazs got into the act</a> a few years ago and has met with great success.<h2>Family first</h2>Someone once told me that the Japanese approach work differently. In the West, family comes first. We love our family so we work. Here it used to be - we work, so we can have a family. That trend has all but disappeared with the current generation. Besides a few holdovers from the old days, today more and more Japanese people are putting their family first and it's something companies are still struggling to adapt to.<h2>Cool biz</h2>This was introduced back in 2005 as a means to reduce electricity consumption by limiting the use of air conditioning. It was quite controversial when it started as companies in Japan had been all about suits. It started out as the summer dress code for government workers, but has since spread to the private sector. Slowly, more and more companies are introducing casual Fridays.<h2>6 p.m.</h2>Recently, Japan passed a law stating that companies would be limited to 100 hours overtime a month. It's scary what to think it was before. It was so bad that some companies were designated as "<a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/black-companies/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/black-companies/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1553264668448000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEKYq6raK3nCfJ59poqQjuXEcQolw">black companies</a>" due to this practice. Thanks to social media, though, things are changing for the better. A client of mine told me he used to come home, on average, at 2 a.m. in the 90s. Today, he often leaves at 6 p.m.. That's quite a change. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/adam-grant-explains-why-introverts-will-make-better-leaders-in-the-future-2019-2">Adam Grant explains why introverts will make better leaders in the future</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

I lived in Japan for 20 years and saw business there change in 7 big ways that we'd be remiss to ignore

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul><li>Necco brands - including Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, and Clark Bars - are in danger of extinction. </li><li>The candies' maker, New England Confectionary Co., plans to close operations in May if it does not find a buyer.&#xa0;</li><li>Fans of the candies are freaking out and stockpiling goods.&#xa0;</li></ul>&#xa0;Necco Wafer diehards are freaking out as fears that the much-maligned candy could disappear forever grow.&#xa0;In mid-March, Necco maker&#xa0;New England Confectionery Co. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2018/03/12/not-sweet-necco-employees-may-face-layoffs/bKsRPaURZ2NMFvCPY1xSQK/story.html">announced</a> that it could close operations in May if it was unable to find a buyer. The closure would mean the end of Necco Wafers, a polarizing candy that has been around since 1847.&#xa0;<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>As news of the potential closure spread, fans of Necco Wafers and other Necco brands such as Sweethearts, Mary Janes, and Clark Bars, freaked out.&#xa0;Necco Wafer sales spiked more than 63% since the announcement, <a href="https://www.candystore.com/blog/candy-news/necco-wafers-panic-buying/">CandyStore.com reported recently.</a>The candy e-commerce website said it had received 253 emails inquiring about the candies, as well as 167 "panicked phone calls" as many attempted to buy the brand in bulk quantities. One woman went as far as offering to swap her Honda Accord for all the Necco Wafers CandyStore.com has available.&#xa0;&#xa0;Other candy outlets are facing similar demand.&#xa0;Jon Prince, president of wholesaler CandyFavorites.com, told <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-candy-fans-the-only-thing-worse-than-necco-wafers-is-no-necco-wafers-1523210168?tesla=y&amp;mod=e2tw">The Wall Street Journal</a> he had fielded hundreds of calls over the weekend as some fans attempted to buy his entire inventory of Necco wafers.&#xa0;"They're shocked and scared," Prince told The Journal. "They're not happy about it."&#xa0;The Journal noted that many people weren't so positive about the candy until they felt it was going to be ripped away."The flavors have been described as 'tropical drywall,' 'plaster surprise,' and 'attic citrus,'" John Clarke wrote in The Journal. "One Twitter commentator calls it a candy that 'only a psychopath would like.'"Still, devoted fans are organizing on social media using the hashtag #SaveNecco.&#xa0;According to The Journal, the campaign was inspired by a sixth-grade class from Oregon, who wrote letters to the mayor of Revere, Massachusetts, home of New England Confectionery Co.'s headquarters.&#xa0;On Tuesday, Necco responded to the explosion of support."Fans, we have received an astounding amount of emails concerning the future of our company," Necco posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/neccobrands/posts/10155400997395318">its Facebook page. </a>"I will do my best to get back to you all. All I can say is that we are unsure of our future but hopeful for a buyer to keep this sweet and nostalgic brand alive for many more decades."<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/next-frontier-in-customer-relations?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_content=mobile_ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_campaign=mobile_ctgr_leadgen_messaging-apps-crm"></a><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-all-you-can-eat-restaurants-make-money-2018-3">How all-you-can-eat restaurants don't go bankrupt</a></h3> <div> </div> </div></hr>

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