Sanjay Dutt loses last court appeal

Plus: Doha launches kids film fest; Amanda Bynes placed under psychiatric care; Manjula Vijayakumar passes at 59; Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem have second child.

The Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt lost his final appeal to the Indian supreme court and has to serve the remaining three-and-a half years of a five-year jail term in a case linked to the 1993 Mumbai bomShow more

The Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, who is in jail for arms possession, lost his final appeal on Tuesday against a decision by the Indian supreme court to uphold his conviction. Dutt, 53, surrendered in May to serve the remaining three-and-a-half years of a five-year term in a case linked to the 1993 Mumbai bombings after the supreme court reaffirmed his conviction. "The [appeal] petition has been rejected," said a senior court official, adding that the actor had now exhausted the appeal process against his conviction. Dutt had filed a "curative" petition, arguing there were legal errors in the supreme court's March ruling that upheld his conviction. After losing his final appeal, the father of three wept and declared himself "a shattered man". – AFP

Doha launches children’s film festival

A new film festival for children is being launched toward the end of the year in Doha. The Ajyal Film Festival for the Young is a collaboration between the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and Europe's largest film festival for kids, the Giffoni Film Festival. DFI and Giffoni, which is based in Italy, have been running a joint programme since 2010, bringing hundreds of children together to discuss their views on cinema and hone their film-analytical skills. The new festival, set to take place between November 26 and 30, will see the creation of a youth-jury panel, which will decide on Ajyal's prize winners. Abdulaziz Al Khater, the chief of DFI, said in a statement that the Giffoni Film Festival is an "effective partner for DFI in enhancing cinema appreciation among Qatar's youth". – The National staff

Amanda Bynes put under psychiatric care

Amanda Bynes has been taken to a hospital for involuntary psychiatric care after the 27-year-old actress reportedly started a fire in the driveway of a home in a Los Angeles suburb on Monday. The Ventura County fire department confirmed that it responded on Monday night to an incident involving a gas can that was set on fire in a driveway and that Bynes was at the scene, but would not say if she was accused of starting the fire. Under California law, a person may be detained for a mental-health evaluation for up to 72 hours. A message left with Bynes's lawyer was not returned. Bynes, who is on probation in California for driving with a suspended licence, is on trial in the state on a charge of driving under the influence and in New York on charges of drugs possession. – Reuters

Manjula Vijayakumar passes at 59

The south Indian film industry is in shock over the passing of Manjula Vijayakumar. The veteran actress died in Chennai on Tuesday reportedly from a stomach injury. She was 59. Fellow south Indian actors took to Twitter to express their grief and condolences at Vijayakumar's death. Since her debut in 1969's Shanthi Nilayam, Vijayakumar went on to appear in more than 100 films. "Adorable and affectionate. A great mother and friend ... remembering all the laughter," wrote the filmmaker
Aishwarya Dhanush. – IANS

Cruz and Bardem have second child

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem had their second child on Monday – a girl, according to Spanish media reports. Cruz gave birth to a girl "just a few hours" after Kate Middleton welcomed her little boy in London, according to the Spanish celebrity magazine Hola! Cruz, 39, and Bardem, 44, are already parents to two-year-old son Leonardo. The couple married in July 2010 at a ceremony in the Bahamas after keeping their romance quiet for years. – AFP

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