United News of Bangladesh

Rapper Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill, was arrested Thursday and briefly hospitalized for a suspected overdose after Los Angeles police said he charged at officers responding to a report of a naked man on a busy boulevard. Police found Lil Nas X on Ventura Boulevard in the Studio City area shortly before 6 a.m., said Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Officer Charles Miller. After he rushed toward officers, they took him into custody but first transported him to a hospital due to concerns over a possible drug overdose. He was released from the hospital after a few hours and then booked on suspicion of misdemeanor obstruction, being held at Valley Jail in Van Nuys. Video obtained by TMZ reportedly showed the 26-year-old rapper wearing only underwear and boots on the street. Requests for comment from his representatives were not immediately returned. Lil Nas X sets new Billboard record for most weeks at No.1 Lil Nas X, from Atlanta, rose to fame with his 2018 hit “Old Town Road,” which blended country and hip-hop and spent a record 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Known for his genre-defying music and distinctive style, his first full-length studio album, 2021’s Montero, reached No. 2 on the Billboard album chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.   Source: Agency

WWE icon The Undertaker and former boxing world champion Mike Tyson may enter Salman Khan’s reality show Bigg Boss 19, according to media reports. The development has already heightened the excitement among fans of both Salman and WWE. The latest season of Bigg Boss is set to premiere on August 24, with speculation growing over the celebrity contestants. Reports on a WWE league server in Discord suggest The Undertaker is being considered as a wildcard entry, likely around November. Mike Tyson may also join the show, in what is being described as one of the “biggest collaborations of 2025.” The Undertaker, whose real name is Mark Calaway, debuted in WWE in 1990 and became one of the most celebrated wrestlers in history. Famous for his “Deadman” persona, he retired in 2020 after a three-decade career that featured seven world titles and an extraordinary 25-2 record at WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Salman Khan’s hosting fee for this season is reported to be between Rs 120-150 crores, with the actor earning Rs 8-10 crores per weekend for 15 weeks. Sources, however, indicated that the overall budget of Bigg Boss 19 is smaller compared to earlier seasons. Bigg Boss 19: Wife of Pahalgam terror attack victim may join Salman Khan’s reality show This season’s confirmed contestants include Gaurav Khanna, Ashnoor Kaur, Awez Darbar, Nagma Mirajkar, Baseer Ali, Abhishek Bajaj, Hunar Hale, Shafaq Naaz, Siwet Tomar, Khank Waghnani, Payal Dhare, and Zeeshan Quadri. Bigg Boss 19 will stream on Jio Hotstar from August 24 before premiering on Colors TV. Source: NDTV

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi adopted a daughter, the first child for the married couple, this summer, they announced Thursday. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy,” the couple wrote in a social media statement. No further details were released. Brown, 21, and Bongiovi, 23, were married in a private ceremony in May 2024. Representatives for Brown and Bongiovi did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment. Brown gained recognition for her starring role as Eleven in the Duffer brothers' sci-fi series “Stranger Things.” The fifth and final season will air this November and December, a culmination of nine years of the show's production. The British actor has pursued other acting and business ventures in that time, including the Netflix original “Enola Holmes” films and a “Godzilla” film. She even released a romance book in 2023. Bongiovi is the son of Jon Bon Jovi, founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi. Bongiovi debuted his own acting career as the star in “Rockbottom,” which released last year. Brown stressed the importance of family during the 2024 premiere of her Netflix film “Damsel,” where Bongiovi and his parents were in attendance. “I'm just so lucky that they're here tonight and it just means so much to me,” Brown told The Associated Press then. “Family is everything and just to have my second family here means everything.” The couple lives in Georgia. She recently told the AP she enjoys living on a farm, largely disconnected from social media, while promoting her 2025 Netflix film “The Electric State.”

The much-anticipated Coke Studio Bangla is set to return with its third season Saturday promising another round of musical fusions, vibrant performances and surprises. The digital-first platform, launched by The Coca-Cola Company, has already released three chart-topping tracks this season, the latest being a reimagined version of the Warfaze classic 'Obak Bhalobasha'. Audiences can look forward to six more songs in the coming months, featuring both celebrated and emerging artists who aim to push creative boundaries even further. “We are truly delighted to reconnect with our listeners once again,” said Ju-Un Naher, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bangladesh.  “From the beginning, Coke Studio Bangla has been committed to showcasing Bangladesh’s rich culture and musical heritage in the most beautiful and creative way. The remaining part of the season will bring several outstanding moments and surprises that we are eagerly waiting to share,” she said. Coke Studio Bangla curator Shayan Chowdhury Arnob echoed the same enthusiasm, saying, “This season has brought together immensely talented artists who have created something truly special. I am very hopeful that the emotions and joy we experienced during the creation of each song will also be felt by our listeners.” ‘Obak Bhalobasha’: legendary Warfaze track gets the Coke Studio Bangla treatment Fans can enjoy the performances on Spotify and the official Coke Studio Bangla YouTube channel (youtube.com/@CokeStudioBangla), where Bangladeshi music is once again expected to resonate beyond borders.

Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to swiftly reject Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request to overturn a jury verdict or order a new trial following his conviction on two prostitution-related charges. Court filings submitted late Wednesday allege that Combs orchestrated complex sexual events for two ex-girlfriends from 2008 through last year, involving the hiring of male sex workers who were sometimes required to travel across state lines. In July, a jury cleared the Bad Boy Records founder of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, which could have carried a mandatory 15-year sentence up to life, but convicted him on two lesser Mann Act charges, which prohibit interstate travel for prostitution. Each Mann Act charge carries a potential 10-year sentence. Combs has been denied bail and is expected to serve multiple years in prison. He has been held in a federal jail in Brooklyn since his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel. Sentencing is set for Oct. 3. Prosecutors dismissed Combs’ lawyers’ claims that the Mann Act is vague and violates due process and First Amendment rights. “Evidence of the defendant’s guilt on the Mann Act counts was overwhelming,” they wrote, citing multiday, drug-fueled sexual events called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights” that Combs organized, often filming the encounters to coerce the women into continued participation. The filings said Combs “masterminded every aspect” of these encounters, paying escorts to travel and directing the sexual activity for his own gratification while sometimes joining in. To feel loved, Diddy’s ex claims she took part in ‘Cuckold’ sex marathons Testimony included R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs from 2008 to 2018, describing weekly sexual meetups with male escorts that left her too exhausted to focus on her music. Another woman, identified as “Jane,” said she participated in similar multiday events while dating Combs from 2021 to last September. Both said Combs threatened to release videos of the encounters to control their behavior. Prosecutors noted that Combs exerted substantial control over Ventura and Jane’s lives, from career and appearance to financial support, including paying Jane’s $10,000 rent while threatening to withdraw it if she did not comply. Combs’ lawyers argued in their filing that the Mann Act convictions were unwarranted, claiming no commercial motive or coercion existed and that all participants were consenting adults. They maintained that Combs “at most, paid to engage in voyeurism as part of a ‘swingers’ lifestyle,” which, they said, does not legally constitute prostitution.   Source: Agency

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria’s public broadcaster ORF announced Wednesday. The contest follows Austrian singer JJ’s victory with “Wasted Love” at this year’s competition in Basel. Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle will host the event in May 2026. ORF said Vienna was chosen for its strong infrastructure, logistical capacity, and economic appeal, beating Innsbruck’s bid. This will mark Vienna’s third time hosting Eurovision, after 1967 and 2015. Mayor Michael Ludwig welcomed the selection and said the city will spend about €22.6 million ($26.3 million) on Eurovision, including free public events. Mass grave of Roman-era fighters uncovered in Vienna The semi-finals are scheduled for May 12 and 14, with the grand finale on May 16, 2026. JJ, whose winning song combined operatic and techno elements, is Austria’s third Eurovision winner, following Conchita Wurst (2014) and Udo Jürgens (1966). Last year’s contest drew 160 million viewers worldwide.   Source: Agency

Singer, actor and reality TV star Tamar Braxton said Tuesday that she “almost died” in a weekend accident that she doesn't remember. “I was found in a pool of blood from my friend with a face injury,” Braxton wrote in an Instagram post. “I fractured my nose, lost some teeth and mobility." She added, “I don't even know what happened to me.” Braxton, 48, earlier in the day had posted “Thank you God for waking me up today,” in an Instagram story. She said she was getting calls after and was struggling to talk so she shared what had happened to her. The post also said “the way I look at life now is totally different. As my health is on the mend my mental journey begins… pray for me for real.” An email to Braxton's manager seeking more details was not immediately answered. Braxton was part of a singing group with her sisters, including Toni Braxton, who went on to a major solo career. They and other family members appeared on the reality series “Braxton Family Values” starting in 2011, and Tamar Braxton has since appeared in spin-offs and other reality shows. As an actor, her recent credits include the TV series “Kingdom Business.” And she has spent much of the year on a solo singing tour.

Renowned production house Laser Vision has issued a public apology after actress Jannatul Sumaiya Heme expressed outrage over the use of her photo in what she described as an “objectionable and fabricated” social media post. The controversy began after Laser Vision uploaded short clips of a drama on its YouTube channel and later shared related promotional materials on Facebook. Among these was a photo card featuring Heme’s image with what she alleged were “distasteful, made-up jokes” written over it, published without her consent. Taking to Facebook on Sunday night, Heme voiced her anger, writing: “If you want views or dollars, make good dramas. Why do you post vulgar, fabricated jokes using actresses’ photos without permission? Please do not use my pictures in this way. I have never delivered such dialogues in any drama. Your posts are misleading people. As an artist, this is insulting for me. Please refrain from doing such things in the future.” Actress Heme to feature in her first web film ‘The Holy Gun’ Her post quickly drew attention, with actor Niloy Alamgir sharing it to further highlight the issue. Following the backlash, Laser Vision deleted the photo and posted an apology on its official Facebook page, tagging both Heme and Niloy.  The statement of the production house read: “At Laser Vision, we always remain careful about maintaining clean and tasteful content, and we regard all artists and cultural workers with respect. Dear actress Heme, we are deeply ashamed and sorry if our unintended mistake has hurt you. Such an error will never be repeated in the future.”

Bangladesh Photographic Society (BPS), in association with over 60 like-minded organisations from across the country, celebrated World Photography Day on Tuesday with an array of colourful programmes. This year, the celebration was held under the theme “Let's Learn to Read Visual Language.” The main programme began in the morning at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. The opening segment featured a performance titled “Tumi Ki Keboli Chhobi” by Dhaka Art and Dance Centre, followed by a musical performance from Lalon Jatra. Bangladesh Performance Art Group’s Sujon then presented a performance titled “Prem to Frame.” A brief discussion session started at 9:30 am joined by BPS General Secretary Zakirul Majed Konok, President M Yusuf Tushar, noted photographers Dr Shahidul Alam, Bulbul Ahmed, Nafiz Ahmed Nadvi (Head of BPS Standing Committee), Akkas Mahmud and Kamal Ahmed. The speakers highlighted the significance of the day and strongly urged for the introduction of a Photography Department at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The inaugural ceremony was conducted by noted theatre personality Shankar Shawjal and eminent photographer Imtiaz Alam Beg. Following the discussions, a colourful procession was brought out from Shaheed Minar which paraded around Dhaka University’s TSC area. As part of the day’s programmes, works of 12 late eminent Bangladeshi photographers were exhibited at Shaheed Minar. They included Manzoor Alam Beg, Golam Kasem Daddy, Naibuddin Ahmed, Nawajesh Ahmed, Sayeeda Khanam, Rashid Talukder, Bijon Sarkar, Amanul Huq, Anwar Hossain, Mohammad Alam, Debabrata Chowdhury, and Golam Mostafa. More than 60 organisations including Begart Institute of Photography, Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Rajshahi Photographic Society, Faridpur Photographic Society, Association of Bangladesh Photographers (ABP), Legendary Moment Photography Society, Dhaka Photographers’ Club, Sylhet Photographic Society, Narayanganj Photographic Club, Counter Foto, Pabna Photographers Forum, Khulna Photographic Society, Comilla Photographic Society, Bogura Photography Club, Bhola Photography Club, Jainta Photographic Society, Bangladesh Performance Art Group, Environmental Photographic Society (EPS), Young Photographers’ Panel of Bangladesh, Bright Art Studio joined BPS in celebrating the day. University-based photographic groups that participated in the celebration included Dhaka University Photographic Society, Jahangirnagar University Photographic Society, Rajshahi University Photographic Club, East West University Photography Club, North South University Art and Photography Club, Metropolitan University Photographic Society, Gono University Photographic Society, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Photographic Society, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) Photography Society, Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) Photography Club, and MIST Photographic Society.  

Actor Saswata Chatterjee, who plays a key role in The Bengal Files, has distanced himself from controversy over alleged historical distortions in the film. In a recent interview, Chatterjee said, “I am just an actor. I liked the character and played it. I am not a historian to judge whether history is being distorted. People who feel Bengal is being belittled can take legal action. There is no point in just making noise.” He added that during filming, the movie was titled Delhi Files, and he only learned about the title change after shooting was completed. “I will not understand why it happened until I watch the film,” he said. Shah Rukh Khan confirms cameo in son Aryan’s directorial debut ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood’** Chatterjee described his character as a rare villainous role, adding, “Nowadays, you only get to know your track, your character. I found it amazing.” The film’s trailer launch on August 16 faced disruption in Kolkata, reportedly due to political pressure, but later took place at a private hotel. The Bengal Files, featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and others, is scheduled for release on September 5, 2025. Source: NDTV