United News of Bangladesh

A Florida woman accused of opening fire at pop star Rihanna’s Los Angeles home has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and several other charges. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, entered her plea through her lawyer on Wednesday at a Los Angeles County court. She is accused of trying to kill Rihanna after allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle at the singer’s Beverly Crest mansion on 8 March. No one was hurt in the incident. According to court documents, Ortiz allegedly targeted not only Rihanna but also rapper A$AP Rocky, their three young children and others present at the home and a nearby property. Ortiz remains in custody with bail set at $1.875 million. She is scheduled to appear again for a preliminary hearing on 8 April. Prosecutors said she fired around 20 rounds from an AR-style weapon, putting multiple lives at risk. They also claimed she had a wig with her, suggesting the attack may have been planned. A judge has barred her from working as a speech pathologist in California. She faces several additional charges, including 10 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited property. Each assault charge relates to a different alleged victim. The complaint names victims including Rihanna and A$AP Rocky—whose real names are Robyn Fenty and Rakim Mayers—their children, Rihanna’s mother Monica Fenty, and others. Investigators said Ortiz allegedly drove up to the house, fired multiple shots, and then fled. Her vehicle was later found about 12 kilometres away at a shopping centre in Sherman Oaks, where she was arrested. If convicted, Ortiz could face life in prison. Her lawyer and representatives for Rihanna have not yet commented on the case. Source:BBC

Ranveer Singh’s latest film ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ continued its strong run at the box office, collecting over Rs 575 crore in India within six days of release. The film earned Rs 56.55 crore on Tuesday, taking its total domestic collection to Rs 575.67 crore (net), according to trade tracker Sacnilk. The gross collection in India stood at around Rs 687.43 crore. Internationally, the film has already crossed Rs 231.57 crore, pushing its worldwide gross collection close to Rs 919 crore. The Hindi version contributed the largest share on Tuesday with Rs 52 crore, while the Telugu version added Rs 3.10 crore, continuing strong regional support. The film opened with Rs 102.55 crore on March 19, followed by Rs 80.72 crore on March 20 and Rs 113 crore on March 21. On March 22, it earned Rs 114.85 crore across 21,633 shows in India. Collections dipped to Rs 65 crore on the first Monday after release. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said the film is also performing well overseas despite restrictions in Gulf countries. It has been released on about 3,000 screens abroad  one of the widest overseas releases for a Hindi film. Earlier, paid previews on March 18 earned Rs 43 crore from 12,735 shows despite some cancellations. Director Aditya Dhar apologised for technical issues affecting certain regional shows, saying the team was working to ensure smooth screenings. Source: NDTV

Shares of Hybe, the agency behind global K-pop sensation BTS, tumbled sharply after the boyband’s highly anticipated comeback concert drew far fewer fans than expected. The free event, held Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, featured all seven BTS members – Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – performing together for the first time since their 2022 hiatus for mandatory military service. Around 104,000 fans attended, less than half of the 250,000 originally anticipated. Hybe’s shares, which had climbed in recent months ahead of BTS’s world tour and the release of their new album ‘Arirang’, fell 15.5% on Monday following the turnout. The concert, marking the start of BTS’s 82-date world tour, was live-streamed on Netflix to over 190 countries, including South Korea. Analysts suggest the online broadcast, along with strict crowd management measures, may have contributed to the lower in-person attendance. Netflix is expected to release viewership data later this week. Meanwhile, Big Hit Music, Hybe’s music label, announced that ‘Arirang’ sold 3.98 million copies on its first day. At the historic Gwanghwamun Square, BTS performed tracks from the new album as well as hits like ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’. BTS remains Hybe’s main revenue driver, and the extended hiatus had previously weighed on the company’s profits. With K-pop’s global popularity surging, the band now faces competition from fellow groups like Blackpink, Seventeen, and Stray Kids, as well as fictional competitors such as Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, which is reportedly planning a world tour next year to promote a sequel of its hit film. With inputs from BBC

A new Netflix documentary offers an intimate look at the global K-pop phenomenon BTS as the group reunites following nearly four years away from full-band activities. Titled BTS: The Return, the film follows all seven members — RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and J-Hope — as they prepare for their comeback album ARIRANG, released Friday. Directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by HYBE, the documentary premieres on Netflix on March 27. The film highlights the group’s reunion after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service, which requires able-bodied men to serve between 18 and 21 months. It opens with the members reconnecting via a livestream before transitioning into footage of their time in the military and eventual return to music. Shortly after completing their service, BTS travelled to Los Angeles in mid-2025 to begin work on ARIRANG, their first full-length album in nearly four years. Living together during production, the group faced tight deadlines and creative pressure. Member Jin joined the sessions immediately after finishing a solo tour, missing some early recordings. The band also addressed industry challenges, including the so-called “seven-year curse,” where many K-pop groups disband or lose members over time. The documentary shows BTS experimenting with new sounds while reflecting on their identity as artists. “We’re trying to find what makes us BTS,” RM says in the film, as the group explores different musical directions. Work in Los Angeles brought collaborations with global producers, while later sessions in South Korea helped shape the album’s final sound. The album draws inspiration from “Arirang,” a traditional Korean folk song, emphasising cultural identity and authenticity. Members expressed concern about meeting fan expectations after a long hiatus, pushing themselves to deliver a strong comeback. Despite moments of rest, the film shows the group constantly discussing music, refining ideas and planning future projects. The documentary also captures debates over the album’s lead single “Swim,” with some members initially uncertain about its tone before ultimately embracing a more mature sound.  

K-pop supergroup BTS made a highly anticipated return on Saturday with a large-scale free comeback concert in Seoul, marking their first group performance in four years. The event, held at Gwanghwamun Square, drew tens of thousands of fans, prompting authorities to impose strict security measures, including closing major roads and deploying a heavy police presence. The concert was also streamed exclusively on Netflix. Opening the show, group leader RM greeted fans and kicked off the performance, sparking loud cheers from the crowd. All seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook—recently completed their mandatory military service and reunited for the comeback. The concert followed the release of their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, which reportedly sold nearly 4 million copies within its first day. The performance also marked the beginning of an extensive global tour across the United States, Europe and Asia. Fans from around the world gathered in large numbers, with thousands securing designated viewing spots while others watched from nearby screens. The atmosphere was energetic, with fans singing along and waving light sticks throughout the show. Authorities enforced tight crowd control measures, shutting down nearby transport services and restricting access to surrounding areas to ensure safety during the high-profile event. The comeback comes at a time when global interest in K-pop continues to rise, and analysts say the group’s return could have a major impact on the international music scene.  

US actor Nicholas Brendon, best known for his role in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54, his family confirmed. In a statement shared on social media, his family said he passed away in his sleep from natural causes. Brendon gained widespread recognition for portraying Xander Harris, a central character in the series that aired from 1997 to 2003. Tributes poured in following his death, including from co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who honoured him with a message referencing the show. Throughout his career, Brendon also appeared in several television series, including Criminal Minds, Private Practice and Kitchen Confidential, as well as films such as Psycho Beach Party and Big Gay Love. He had been open about his personal struggles, including health issues and addiction, and had advocated for awareness around stuttering. His family said he had been undergoing treatment and remained hopeful about the future prior to his death.   With inputs from BBC

ABC has abruptly cancelled the upcoming season of The Bachelorette starring reality personality Taylor Frankie Paul just three days before its planned premiere, after a 2023 video surfaced showing her allegedly assaulting her former partner while her young daughter looked on in distress. The scrapped 22nd season had already been filmed, making the late cancellation an unprecedented move for the long-running reality franchise. ABC’s parent company, Disney, said the decision followed the emergence of the video, though it also coincides with an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and Dakota Mortensen, the father of her youngest child. In a statement, Disney Entertainment Television said the network would not move forward with the season at this time and would instead focus on supporting the family. Paul’s representative said she had suffered years of mental and physical abuse but had remained silent out of fear. The footage, released by TMZ, appears to show Mortensen trying to shield himself while recording as Paul punches, kicks and throws chairs at him, while a child cries and calls out for her mother. The incident matches details of Paul’s 2023 arrest. She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, with other counts dismissed.

Nexus Television has arranged a six-day special programme to mark Eid-ul-Fitr, featuring performances by popular artists in a music show titled ‘Ganer Opare’ Hosted by Dr. Jakia Sultana and produced by M Hasan, the show will bring together noted singers and musicians each day of Eid. On Eid day, Dithi Anwar, Rokeya Ashab and Lispa Laila will perform and take part in conversations.

The Karnataka State Commission for Women has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take strict action over alleged obscene and derogatory lyrics used in films, particularly in a song from the movie ‘KD: The Devil’. In a letter to the CBFC’s regional director, the Commission expressed concern about the song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’, saying it portrays women in a disrespectful manner. The move came after receiving multiple public complaints. The Commission said such lyrics violate film certification rules and could negatively affect women’s safety and social well-being. It stressed that any content that demeans or presents women in an obscene way should not be approved for public release. It urged the CBFC to carefully review such scenes and lyrics and ensure they are removed or modified before granting certification. It also called for action against those responsible for including such content. In a separate letter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the Commission raised similar concerns and asked for steps to regulate the use of offensive language in films. It warned that such content could encourage harassment, especially among young people. Meanwhile, actor Kangana Ranaut criticised the song, calling it a “new low” and urging stricter control over vulgar content in Bollywood. The issue has also reached legal authorities, as a lawyer filed a complaint seeking action against the song, alleging it contains highly vulgar and sexually suggestive content that may harm public decency. Source: NDTV

A US federal judge on Tuesday directed the Trump administration to reinstate operations of Voice of America, which had been largely shut down a year ago, clearing the way for hundreds of employees on administrative leave to resume work. US District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth instructed the U.S. Agency for Global Media to submit a plan within a week to bring VOA back on air. The broadcaster has been running with minimal staff since President Donald Trump issued an executive order to close it. Earlier, Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake, Trump’s pick to head the agency, lacked the legal authority for her actions involving VOA. In Tuesday’s decision, he criticised the measures taken in response to Trump’s directive, which sidelined 1,042 of the organisation’s 1,147 employees, saying no sound justification had been provided. There was no immediate response from the agency. Lake had earlier opposed the court’s March 7 ruling and indicated plans to appeal. Meanwhile, Trump has nominated Sarah Rogers, currently undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, to lead USAGM, subject to Senate approval. Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s White House bureau chief and one of the plaintiffs, welcomed the ruling, expressing hope of rebuilding the organisation and restoring trust among its global audience. Founded during World War II, VOA has long provided news to countries with limited press freedom. Before the shutdown order, it broadcast in 49 languages, reaching an estimated 362 million people worldwide.