United News of Bangladesh

Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner has spoken about the emotional pain she went through after her separation from actor Ben Affleck, saying losing a true partnership and friendship was very hard for her. In an interview with Marie Claire, Garner said the most difficult part was the breakup of their family. She said the loss of trust, companionship and friendship was what hurt the most. Garner and Affleck got married in 2005 and separated in 2015. Their divorce was finalised in 2018. The couple now co-parent their three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel. Garner said she has reached a stage where they can raise their children together with peace and understanding. She said time helps people heal, forgive and move forward, and it also helps rebuild friendship in a new way. Garner also stressed the importance of close personal relationships in building emotional strength. She said spending time with loved ones gives her the resilience to face life’s challenges. On media gossip, Garner said she avoids reading stories about herself and her family as it does not help her or her children.   With inputs from NDTV

Netflix has announced its full slate of series and films for 2026, promising a packed year for viewers with the return of several popular shows and the launch of new titles. The streaming giant shared updates on its most awaited projects, including new seasons of Emily in Paris, Bridgerton and One Piece, along with the much-anticipated Peaky Blinders film. Season six of Emily in Paris will continue the story of Emily, a young marketing executive from Chicago, as she navigates life, work and love in Paris. Bridgerton season four will premiere on January 29, with part two arriving on February 26. The new season will focus on Benedict Bridgerton and his romantic journey after meeting a mysterious woman at a masquerade ball. Fans will also see the return of One Piece in March with its second season. The story follows Luffy and the Straw Hats as they sail into the dangerous and magical Grand Line in search of the world’s greatest treasure. Avatar: The Last Airbender season two will show Aang, Katara and Sokka seeking the help of the Earth King to fight Fire Lord Ozai. Netflix will also release Enola Holmes season three, which takes the young detective to Malta for a new and dangerous case. The British crime drama film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will stream from March 20. It follows Tommy Shelby as he returns from exile to face his toughest challenge yet. Netflix said the 2026 lineup aims to offer action, drama, adventure and romance for viewers around the world.   With inputs from NDTV

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas will be one of the presenters at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, scheduled for Sunday, January 11, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The organisers released the full list of presenters on the official Golden Globes X account. Alongside Priyanka Chopra, the lineup features Hollywood stars Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Orlando Bloom, Pamela Anderson, Macaulay Culkin, Melissa McCarthy, Snoop Dogg, and Queen Latifah, among others. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ from 8 pm to 11 pm ET. On the nominations front, One Battle After Another leads with nine nods, followed by Sentimental Value with eight, Sinners with seven, and Hamnet with six. In television, The White Lotus tops the list with six nominations. Priyanka Chopra is also starring in SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi, set for release during Sankranti 2027, and will appear in The Bluff, releasing on Prime Video in February.   With inputs from NDTV

Hollywood stars Dwayne Johnson, George Clooney and Julia Roberts have missed out on the longlist for this year’s Bafta Film Awards. The longlist, often seen as an early indicator of Oscar success, was announced on Thursday. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, leads the list with 16 mentions. The final nominations for each category, including six actors per category, will be announced on January 27. Clooney, Johnson and Roberts are all nominated for Golden Globes this weekend for their films Jay Kelly, The Smashing Machine and After the Hunt, respectively. Despite missing the Bafta longlist, Johnson’s performance in The Smashing Machine received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Clooney’s role in Jay Kelly has been widely praised, while Roberts is in the running for a Golden Globe for her role in After the Hunt. Several other films and actors have also made the Bafta longlist. Hamnet and Sinners received 14 mentions each, while Marty Supreme appeared 13 times. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are among the actors on the list. Some films and actors were excluded entirely. Daniel Day-Lewis’s comeback film Anemone and Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere did not make the longlist. The longlist also highlights British cinema. Films such as I Swear, The Ballad of Wallis Island, and Kate Winslet’s directorial debut Goodbye June received multiple mentions.   With inputs from BBC

Actor-rapper Will Smith is facing a lawsuit filed by violinist Brian King Joseph, who performed with him during the 2025 Based on a True Story tour. The suit accuses Smith and Treyball Studios Management of sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. According to court documents reviewed by Variety, Brian King Joseph was first hired by Smith in November 2024 to perform at a San Diego show. He later joined Smith’s 2025 tour and contributed to his upcoming album. The lawsuit alleges that Smith made comments implying a personal bond, saying, “You and I have such a special connection, that I don't have with anyone else.” The case focuses on an incident during the first leg of the tour in March 2025 in Las Vegas. Brian claims his hotel room key went missing for several hours, and when he returned, he found signs someone had entered his room without permission. Items left behind included wipes, a bottle of HIV medication with another name, and a handwritten note stating, “Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F.” Brian interpreted the note as a warning that someone intended to return to engage in sexual acts. Brian immediately informed hotel security and Smith’s representatives and reported the matter to a non-emergency police line. However, he says a member of Smith’s management later accused him of lying and told him his services were no longer needed. The lawsuit claims the termination caused Brian severe emotional stress, including PTSD, and financial losses. He is seeking damages for sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination, with compensation to be decided by a jury. So far, Will Smith has not publicly responded to the allegations.   With inpus from NDTV

K-pop superstars BTS have officially announced their long-awaited comeback, confirming they will return on March 20, 2026. The date was revealed in a social media post by their agency, BigHit Music, marking the group’s first full release after almost four years away from group activities. The hiatus followed the completion of South Korea’s mandatory military service by all seven members — RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope. “March 20th comeback confirmed,” BigHit Music posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Suga was the final member to complete his service, finishing his duties as a social service worker — an alternative form of enlistment he reportedly chose because of a shoulder injury — in June 2025. The remaining six members served in the South Korean army. The group staggered their enlistments, allowing members time to pursue solo music and projects while BTS activities were paused. Last summer, BTS hinted at a global tour and announced plans for a new album scheduled for release in spring 2026, saying work on the project would begin in July 2025. Because it is a group album, they explained, the music will incorporate the individual perspectives and ideas of all seven members, adding that they are approaching the project with the same passion they had at the start of their career. The upcoming album will be BTS’s first since their 2022 anthology Proof. Their most recent studio album was Be, released in 2020, along with the 2021 Japanese compilation BTS, the Best.  

American singer Beyoncé has officially become a billionaire, Forbes announced, making her the fifth musician to reach a 10-figure fortune. Beyoncé joins an exclusive group of musicians with immense wealth, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, and her husband Jay-Z, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $2.5 billion. Earlier this month, Forbes valued Beyoncé’s fortune at $800 million and predicted she would cross the billionaire mark after years of successful music, tours, and business ventures. Her 2023 Renaissance World Tour alone grossed nearly $600 million, making her one of the world’s top pop icons. Beyoncé also produced a concert film from the tour, distributed through AMC theaters, earning her nearly half of the film’s $44 million global box office revenue. Her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, celebrated the black roots of country music and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year — her first Grammy win in that category. The accompanying tour, featuring Jay-Z, their children, and former Destiny’s Child members, generated over $400 million in ticket sales and $50 million from merchandise. Despite some slow ticket sales leading to price cuts, the tour set records at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Paris’ Stade de France, with ticket prices ranging from £71 to £950. Additional earnings came from a Netflix halftime show for the NFL and Levi’s commercials. Forbes’ announcement confirms Beyoncé’s position among the world’s wealthiest musicians, marking a major milestone in her career.   With inputs from BBC

A wide range of Britons, from internationally known actors Idris Elba and Cynthia Erivo to a 102-year-old judo teacher, have been included in King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours list, which annually recognizes individuals for their service and contributions to public life in the United Kingdom. Idris Elba, famed for his roles in The Wire and as a U.S. president in A House of Dynamite, was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his work supporting young people. Alongside his wife Sabrina, Elba founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which focuses on tackling knife crime, improving education, and addressing poverty. Elba said he accepted the honor on behalf of the young people the charity supports, emphasizing the need for long-term, practical efforts to help steer youth away from violence. Celebrated ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who captured Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, were also among the top recipients. Torvill was made a dame, while Dean received a knighthood. Actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, known for her role in Wicked, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to music and drama. John Hearn, popularly known as “Judo Jack,” received a British Empire Medal after being recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest judo instructor. Other notable honorees include author and comedian Richard Osman, creator of The Thursday Murder Club series, who was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE); former marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe, also awarded an OBE; and 101-year-old D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh, who received a British Empire Medal for his educational work on Holocaust remembrance and his wartime service. Britain’s honors system dates back to medieval times, when monarchs rewarded loyalty and service with land, wealth, and titles. Today, it has evolved into a structured system of ceremonial awards granted by the monarch on the advice of the government. Modern honors recognize achievements across a broad range of fields, including public service, academia, the arts, and sports. While high-profile figures often feature on the list, many recipients are everyday community contributors such as librarians, charity volunteers, and civil servants. A total of 1,150 people were recognized in this year’s New Year’s Honours. The highest distinctions are knighthoods and damehoods, which allow recipients to use the titles “Sir” or “Dame.” Below these are the ranks of the Order of the British Empire—Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE)—with recipients entitled to use post-nominal letters. Honours are announced twice annually, at New Year and on the monarch’s birthday, and are formally presented by the king or another senior royal at ceremonies held throughout the year.

Suniel Shetty recently revealed that he turned down a ₹40 crore endorsement deal for a tobacco brand, saying he did not want to compromise his values or set a negative example for his children, Ahan and Athiya. The actor, whose career spans more than three decades, said his personal principles have always guided his choices, both professionally and personally. Speaking to Peeping Moon, Suniel said he made a firm decision long ago never to promote tobacco products, regardless of the financial incentive. He recalled being offered ₹40 crore for a tobacco advertisement but refusing the proposal outright, explaining that money alone could not sway him. Although he acknowledged that he could have used the money at the time, he said endorsing something he does not believe in was never an option. He added that he would not do anything that might reflect poorly on his children, and as a result, such offers no longer come his way. Suniel also spoke about a difficult period following the illness and death of his father, Veerappa Shetty, in 2017. He said his father had been unwell since 2014, and caring for him took an emotional toll that led him to step away from acting entirely. After a break of six to seven years, Suniel returned to films, though the comeback was challenging. He said that on the morning his father passed away, he received an offer to host a health show, which he viewed as a sign to resume work. He later took on a few South Indian film projects but admitted feeling uncertain after such a long gap, as the industry had changed and many faces were new. Reflecting on the post-pandemic period, Suniel said he experienced a personal transformation. He began focusing on fitness, learning and self-improvement, which boosted his confidence and helped him realize that he no longer needed external validation. The actor also expressed gratitude to his fans and the media for continuing to support and remember him during the years he was away from the spotlight.  source : NDTV

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan marked his 60th birthday on Friday with a grand midnight celebration at his Panvel farmhouse, attended by celebrities from the film, sports and public life. Videos and photos from the celebration quickly went viral on social media, showing the actor cutting his birthday cake in the garden surrounded by close friends and guests. Actor Sanjay Dutt shared a picture with Salman Khan from the event and wished him health and success. Politician Beena Kak also posted several photos from the party, offering a glimpse of the guest list that included actors Sanjay Dutt, Aditya Roy Kapur and Maniesh Paul, along with singer Mika Singh. In her post, she described the gathering as a warm and joyful celebration among loved ones. Salman Khan’s longtime bodyguard Shera shared a heartfelt photo with the actor from the venue, while actress Jannat Zubair posted a smiling picture with the birthday star, extending her wishes on Instagram. Another widely shared photograph featured Salman Khan with former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, who attended the celebration in a casual yet stylish look. Several other celebrities were also present at the bash, including Karisma Kapoor, Genelia Deshmukh, Rakul Preet Singh, Huma Qureshi, Sangeeta Bijlani, Pragya Jaiswal, Zeeshan Siddiqui and Rahul Kanwal.   With inputs from BBC