Facebook News Launches in the U.K. – Global Bulletin

The father of rapper Nicki Minaj has been killed in a hit-and-run accident according to reports in the US.

The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. Robert Maraj was walking along a road in Mineola on Long Island at 6:15 p.m.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Warner Bros. announces several local versions of Nippon TV’s “Mute It!”, “Ugly Betty” gets a Ukrainian makeover, Twickenham Film Studios plans a facelift of its own, Australia’s Stan hires Amanda Duthie and beIN Sports gets Ligue 2 soccer in France.Warner Bros. International Television Production has struck a deal with Japan’s Nippon TV to produce multiple local versions of Nippon TV’s studio-based comedy show “Mute it!”.

Bi-fab yards have been bought in a nearly £1million deal.Uncertainty has long hung over the wind turbine manufacturing yards which had aimed to help make Scotland the 'Saudi Arabia of wind'.But today it has been confirmed that Infrastrata, who own the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, have bought the facilities in Methil in Fife and Arnish on the Isle of Lewis in a £850,000 deal.The yards had initially been rescued by the Scottish Government in 2017 but entered administration last

Naman Ramachandran Three-part Discovery Plus original documentary series “Prime Suspect: The Madeleine McCann Case,” examines the new German suspect Christian B for the first time, and his link to one of the world’s most well-known unsolved cases – Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared from her parents’ holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, “The Terror” sets sail on BBC Two and iPlayer, “The Man Standing Next” tops South Korea’s Blue Dragon Awards, Banijay announces two European remakes of “Lego Masters,” Discovery Plus is now available on Samsung Smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV in the U.K.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Transilvania Film Festival sets summer edition; The Story Lab pacts with Japan’s Fuji TV for unscripted formats; Court TV launches on U.K. platform Freeview; and U.K.

Jamie Lang Amazon has launched a recruitment drive to fill 1,000 new full-time apprenticeship positions across the U.K. over the coming year.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, streamer Now TV creates powder artwork for ‘ZeroZeroZero’ series launch; ViacomCBS U.K.

Jamie Lang MENA streamer Starzplay Arabia has secured debt financing of $25 million from Abu Dhabi-based independent investment firm Ruya Partners. The funding will be used to reinforce Starzplay’s geographic and customer reach as well as the acquisition and production of new original content.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Korea’s IU joins the cast of Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker”; Bertelsmann sells Groupe M6; Red Arrow takes series “Blackout”; Shorts festival sets dates; and ITV commissions game show “Moneyball.”Lee Ji-eun, the popular Korean singer-actor better known as IU, has joined the cast of “Broker,” Japanese auteur Kore-eda Hirokazu’s debut Korean-language movie.

NBC News announced that its NBCU Academy and NBC News Studios would launch a fellowship program to award six filmmakers $270,000 in grants each year to create feature length documentaries.

When Punchbowl News, a startup from veterans of Politico, launched earlier this month, it promised politics from a different D.C. vantage point: The Capitol, often overshadowed by national media coverage of chaos in the White House.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV announce new casting for Season 2 of “Alex Rider,” investment is approved for Bottle Yard Studios in the U.K., the BIFAs announce Tom Felton will host this year’s online ceremony, NENT Studios UK sells three formats in Vietnam and Cruchnyroll picks up “Tsukimichi – Moonlit Fantasy” for streaming outside of Asia.Eleventh Hour Films has announced expanded casting for Season 2 of its popular Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV series

When Punchbowl News, a startup from veterans of Politico, launched earlier this month, it promised politics from a different D.C. vantage point: The Capitol, often overshadowed by national media coverage of chaos in the White House.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Alex de la Iglesia is back on set with “El cuarto pasajero,” Laurine Garaude departs Reed Midem, Chinese video app Kuaishou stuns investors in Hong Kong, Tencent finalizes its Universal Music Group share increase, Mopar Studios hire Jessica Pope as creative director and Pluto TV launches six new networks in Latin America.Spanish genre master Álex de la Iglesia, hot off the heels of his hit HBO horror series “30 Coins,” is back on set to shoot road movie

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Miguel judges BBC fashion show; representation plummets across U.K. TV; AMC launches channel in Spain; Synchronicity signs first-look deal with All3Media; WFTN produces Sydney Harbour show; ESPN Plus takes West Indies cricket rights; Patrick Irwin joins Ringside; and U.S.

Jamie Lang One day after announcing new deputy director Clint Dyer, the National Theatre has dropped a first-look image of its upcoming production of “Romeo & Juliet,” produced as a feature film to be broadcast on Sky Arts and PBS this April.Josh O’Connor (“The Crown,” “God’s Own Country”) and Jessie Buckley (“Chernobyl,” “Judy”) will play the young star-crossed lovers, as seen in the image of the couple as they meet on Juliet’s balcony in front of a full moon.Further casting has been announced

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, West One International will distribute climate doc “Earth Emergency,” Cheng Cheng Films gets “A First Farewell” for North America, Discovery U.K.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, DJ Khaled signs on to host the MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021, Foxtel snags “The Drew Barrymore Show” in Australia and “SAS: Who Dares Wins” gets a Swedish adaptation.Grammy-winning producer, DJ and record exec DJ Khaled will host the MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 (MAMA), broadcasting globally for the first time on MTV Feb. 20.