Panaji, Nov 20: Showcasing diverse traditions, the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) opened with a Kashmir tableau soon after the hosts, Goa, paraded through the streets here in Panaji on the banks of the Mandovi River on Thursday.

The Kashmir tableau showcased the cultural traditions of Kashmir, with men wearing the traditional Kashmiri cap and Kameez Shalwar, and women dressed in Pherans (long cloaks) featuring Tilla embroidery work, playing the Roaf, and singing traditional Kashmiri songs.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Loganathan Murugan, said that IFFI continues to evolve with every edition, and this year’s cultural carnival showcases the diverse traditions of states.

He said that 124 new film creators from all over the country and abroad had got an opportunity to showcase their talent to the world through their content production and storytelling.

A total of 270 films from 81 countries will be screened during IFFI 2025, with Japan being the country of focus this year.

IFFI 2025 celebrates the theme ‘Convergence of Creativity and Technology’, and this year, for the first time, IFFI includes an AI Hackathon, encouraging filmmakers to use AI for content development and filmmaking.

Inaugurating the celebrations, the Governor of Goa, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, said, “IFFI’s stature is growing globally with the festival becoming a meaningful platform for creative exchange, new collaborations, and the celebration of cinematic excellence.”

Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, in his address, said that IFFI has made Goa the creative capital of India.

On the occasion, legendary Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna was honoured for his 50 glorious years in Cinema.

Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju, highlighted the unique features of this year’s edition, including numerous international and global premieres.

This year’s IFFI also has another new addition – the largest-ever WAVES Film Bazaar, positioning IFFI at the forefront of creativity, technology, and industry innovation.

During the inauguration of the WAVES Film Bazaar, Director IFFI and a famous Bollywood filmmaker known for his films ‘Mr India’ and ‘Bandit Queen’ said that he was expecting 1,00,000 people to visit Goa during IFFI 2025.

“Last year, we had 50,000 visitors during the festival,” he said.

Veteran Bollywood actor, on the occasion, celebrated the selection of his three films – Tanvi the Great, The Bengal Files, and the Canadian film Calorie in the festival.

During the formal inaugural ceremony’s parade, marching alongside states and union territories were grand cinematic tableaus from India’s leading production houses like the Zee Studios and Ultra Media that paid centenary homage to Guru Dutt, the Bollywood legend known for his skills as an actor, director, choreographer, writer, and producer.

Over a hundred artists from 16 states and union territories participated in the inaugural parade, besides hundreds of artists from host Goa.

Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik and an assembly of filmmakers, creators, global industry leaders and cinephiles also attended the event.

Started in 1952, IFFI continues to be South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema.

Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), and the State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse over the years.

The festival also witnesses restored classics, while filmmakers also come up with their bold experiments.

Attending the festival is particularly rewarding for those interested in pursuing filmmaking as a career.

It provides an opportunity for first-timers to share space with legendary maestros.

IFFI provides international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, providing an opportunity for ideas, deals, and collaborations to take flight.

Being staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop, IFFI 2025 will conclude on November 28.

IFFI 2025 also coincides with 50 years of the National Film Development Corporation of India.

New Delhi, Nov 20: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa urged G20 foreign ministers to uphold multilateralism and international law as essential tools for tackling global challenges. His remarks come amid concerns over the United States’ continued absence from the G20 discussions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has chosen to boycott the meeting, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also announced that he will not attend the upcoming G20 finance ministers’ gathering, reports international media.

The United States is instead being represented only by the deputy chief of mission from its embassy in South Africa.

The meeting in Johannesburg has drawn senior representatives from major global powers, including India, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom. South Africa, the first African country to chair the G20, is seeking to highlight the priorities of developing nations in negotiations with wealthier economies. The G20 comprises 19 countries along with the African Union and European Union. Together, they represent more than 80 per cent of the global economy and about two-thirds of the world’s population. South Africa will hold the G20 presidency until November 2025, after which it is expected to pass the leadership to the United States.

New Delhi, Nov 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here, a meeting held against the backdrop of the financial constraints faced by the Union Territory, officials said.

The official X handle of Abdullah’s office said the two leaders held discussion on key developmental priorities in J&K.

“The meeting focused on strengthening infrastructure, boosting investment and ensuring continued financial support for welfare-driven initiatives in J&K,” the CM’s office said.

Officials, however, said that the primary focus was on securing central assistance to address the severe fiscal challenges facing the UT.

According to the officials, the finances of the UT have been severely impacted by various factors which included a substantial decline in its share of Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue.

The other factors were substantial reduction in the number of tourists following the Pahalgam terror attack that significantly hit a key revenue stream, and extensive damage caused by recent floods in both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, necessitating expenditure on relief and reconstruction efforts.

The officials said that the UT administration is actively seeking urgent central assistance to bridge the revenue deficit and overcome the difficulties created by these economic and natural setbacks.

New Delhi, Nov 20: Gold prices declined by Rs 600 to Rs 1,26,700 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday due to weak global trends and a firm US dollar, according to marketmen.

The precious metal of 99.5 per cent purity decreased by Rs 600 to Rs 1,26,100 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes).

Silver prices slumped by Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,58,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes).

“Gold prices declined on Thursday, impacted by a stronger US dollar and diminished safe-haven demand following reports of renewed US efforts to end the war in Ukraine,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst – Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.

Gandhi noted that market sentiment further deteriorated after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced it would not publish the October jobs report, leaving the Fed without crucial labour data ahead of its final meeting of the year.

“This development increased the possibility for the Fed to maintain the status quo in the December meeting, a perspective reinforced by the minutes from the October meeting, which indicated that many officials support keeping interest rates steady through 2025,” he said.

In the international markets, spot gold slipped by USD 16.48, or 0.40 per cent, to USD 4,061.53 per ounce.

“Spot gold is trading with a loss at USD 4,060 level amid mild US Dollar strength,” Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities, Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, rose by 0.03 per cent, at 100.26.

Spot silver was trading 1.22 per cent lower at USD 50.73 per ounce in the overseas trade.

“Gold and silver prices are consolidating, and market players are keeping their attention on impending economic data in search of additional hints regarding the direction of US interest rates,” Renisha Chainani, Head – Research at Augmont, said.

The minutes from the October 28–29 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting revealed that a divided Fed lowered interest rates last month despite warnings from officials that lower borrowing costs could jeopardise the effort to control inflation.

“On the macro front, traders are now awaiting the release of the US Nonfarm Payrolls report for September due later in the day, which could provide insights on the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy outlook,” Gandhi said.