United News of Bangladesh

Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar were among the high-profile guests at Wimbledon on Friday as defending champion Jannik Sinner faced Novak Djokovic in the men's singles semifinal on Centre Court. Several well-known British actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Laurie and Damian Lewis, watched the match from the Royal Box. Fashion designer Tom Ford and Vogue editor Anna Wintour were also among the invited guests. Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest players, retired in 2013 after playing his 200th Test match. Wimbledon described him as "cricket royalty." Former West Indies captain Brian Lara also attended the match from the Royal Box, which is reserved for special guests invited by the All England Club. Liverpool captain and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk was another notable spectator. The Dutch team was eliminated in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup. Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, 88, attended the match but was not seated in the Royal Box. He had been a guest there during last year's tournament. Earlier on Centre Court, Germany's Alexander Zverev secured a place in Sunday's Wimbledon final after defeating British wild card Arthur Fery.  

Paris Haute Couture Week ended on Thursday after four days of dramatic fashion shows that highlighted three major themes — the human body, fantasy and technology — as designers unveiled creations blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. One of the week's biggest highlights was designer Pierpaolo Piccioli's first haute couture collection for Balenciaga, presented on Wednesday before celebrities including Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo and Gigi Hadid. Piccioli's collection featured oversized gowns, hooded feather designs and a dramatic finale with Hadid wearing a creation covered in rooster feathers. He received a standing ovation after appearing on the runway with his entire atelier dressed in white coats. The show marked Balenciaga's biggest haute couture presentation since the fashion house revived its couture line in 2020. Around 30 fashion houses, including five making their couture debut, explored different ways of presenting the human form. Some designs revealed the body, while others hid or reshaped it with dramatic silhouettes and sculptural garments. At Armani Privé, designer Silvana Armani presented a collection titled "Boudoir" that focused on elegance rather than revealing clothing. The show featured embroidered garments, tailored jackets and subtle details that balanced modesty with style. Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett attended the show alongside Rosamund Pike and **Anna Wintour>. At Schiaparelli, designer Daniel Roseberry experimented with body-inspired creations, including sculpted corsets, silicone details and inflatable elements, giving the collection a futuristic appearance. Piccioli at Balenciaga and Dutch designer Iris van Herpen took a different approach by using oversized shapes and delicate handcrafted materials that almost completely concealed the human figure. Fantasy was another major theme throughout the week, with designers presenting collections inspired by fairy tales, classic Hollywood and nature against the backdrop of a summer heat wave and global uncertainty. Elie Saab showcased glamorous evening wear inspired by Truman Capote's famous 1966 Black and White Ball and old Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Zuhair Murad presented richly decorated designs inspired by gardens, flowers and butterflies, while Stéphane Rolland paid tribute to late singer Dalida with an almost entirely white collection. At Chanel, new designer Matthieu Blazy transformed the Grand Palais into a fairy-tale setting with giant beanstalks, pea-pod-shaped heels and golden eggs. At Dior, Jonathan Anderson presented sculptural designs inspired by American artist Lynda Benglis. Technology also played a central role during the week as designers explored new materials while emphasising the value of hand craftsmanship. Schiaparelli used unusual handmade materials including baked fish scales, painted surfaces and hand-shaped silicone. Van Herpen experimented with science by exposing one dress to a particle accelerator before the show. The garment was intended to produce electrical effects on the runway, although the experiment affected the fabric before the presentation. Balenciaga also introduced garments made with laboratory-grown Amsilk silk, which the fashion house says is stronger than steel. Despite the growing use of technology, designers across Paris couture week stressed that traditional handcraft remains at the heart of haute couture, combining innovation with the artistry that defines the world's most exclusive fashion collections.  

Lebanese authorities on Wednesday released singer-turned-militant Fadel Shaker on bail after he spent several months in custody awaiting a retrial on charges including membership in an armed group and money laundering, judicial officials said. Shaker surrendered to Lebanon's military intelligence in October last year after spending 12 years in hiding in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon. He had been convicted in absentia in 2020 and sentenced to 22 years in prison for supporting what authorities described as a terrorist group following deadly clashes between Sunni militants and the Lebanese army near Sidon in 2013. According to four judicial officials, Shaker paid bail of 500 million Lebanese pounds (about $5,500) before being released on Wednesday. Before his release, he was questioned over several allegations, including belonging to an armed group, financing militant groups, money laundering and his alleged involvement in the 2013 Sidon clashes. The officials said the investigation is still ongoing and none of the cases against him has been closed. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the case publicly. After leaving the military facility on the outskirts of Beirut where he had been detained, Shaker moved into a rented apartment, the officials said. Neither Shaker nor his lawyer responded to requests for comment. Under Lebanese law, Shaker's earlier conviction was cancelled after he surrendered, allowing him to face a new trial that began in January. During the court proceedings, Shaker said he had once been close to Sunni cleric Ahmed al-Assir but claimed he had later fallen out with him before the 2013 violence. He also testified that he had received threats from Hezbollah and supporters of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. Shaker repeatedly denied taking part in the fighting near Sidon. In 2017, al-Assir was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in the clashes, which killed 18 Lebanese soldiers after a two-year trial. He remains on death row. However, prosecutors have pointed to a video posted on YouTube during the 2013 fighting that appears to show a bearded Shaker insulting his opponents and mocking the Lebanese military while referring to the deaths of two pro-Hezbollah fighters. The clashes intensified sectarian tensions between Lebanon's Sunni and Shiite communities at a time when the civil war in neighbouring Syria was fuelling divisions. Hezbollah had backed Assad's government, while many Sunni militants supported rebel groups fighting to overthrow him. Before becoming involved in militant circles, Shaker was one of the Arab world's most popular singers, rising to fame with a hit song released in 2002. Many fans were surprised when he later appeared alongside al-Assir at public rallies and announced he was giving up music to focus on religion. Despite remaining a fugitive for years, Shaker continued releasing songs, including one with his son Mohammed last July that became widely popular across the Arab world.

British pop star Harry Styles has earned a Guinness World Record after completing 12 consecutive sold-out concerts at Wembley Stadium, setting a new mark for the longest concert residency by a musician at the iconic venue. The 32-year-old singer surpassed the previous record of 10 Wembley shows, set by Coldplay in 2025. Guinness World Records adjudicator Will Munford praised the achievement, saying Styles' 12-show run highlighted the scale, ambition and cultural impact of his live performances, as well as his strong connection with fans. Styles began the London leg of his Together, Together tour on June 12, with the final performance held on Saturday before an audience of about 80,000. During the closing concert, Styles reflected on his journey with former boy band One Direction and thanked his bandmates for their role in his career. "I wouldn't be on this stage if it wasn't for four friends of mine that were a massive part of this journey," he told the crowd. He thanked Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne, saying their friendship and shared experiences made his success possible. One Direction was formed in 2010 on the television talent show The X Factor and went on an indefinite break in 2016. Former band member Liam Payne died in 2024 at the age of 31. Styles also looked back on his early career, noting that it had been 16 years since he first appeared on The X Factor, which was filmed next to Wembley Stadium. He said returning to Wembley always brought back memories and thanked fans for their continued support. After launching his solo career in 2017, Styles has won six Brit Awards, three Grammy Awards and two Ivor Novello Awards. His fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, was released in January. Before Saturday's concert, Wembley Stadium unveiled a commemorative banner recognizing the record. In a post on X, the stadium wrote: "12 shows. One record. A place in Wembley history." The Wembley residency was initially planned for six concerts but was expanded to 12 because of overwhelming demand. London was the only UK stop on Styles' current tour. Other artists to stage extended runs at Wembley include Taylor Swift, who performed eight concerts at the stadium in 2024. Following the record-breaking achievement, Styles' mother, Anne Twist, shared childhood photos of the singer alongside his sister Gemma, as well as pictures from Saturday's concert. In a social media post, she said she had believed since 1996 that her son would one day perform on stage, though she never imagined he would go on to break records and become the kind of person "the world needs right now." Source: BBC  

Actor Akshay Kumar's production company, Cape of Good Films, has issued a public notice claiming exclusive worldwide rights to Hera Pheri 3 and warning the film industry against any unauthorised use of the movie's intellectual property. The notice cautions distributors, cinema owners, OTT platforms, television channels, advertisers and other industry stakeholders not to sign any agreement with individuals or companies claiming rights to the film without prior written approval from Cape of Good Films. According to the notice, Cape of Good Films LLP holds the sole and exclusive worldwide licence to produce, distribute, market, commercialise and otherwise manage Hera Pheri 3. The company said its rights cover all forms of media, platforms, technologies and formats, both existing and future. The production house also urged everyone in the film industry to recognise it as the only authorised rights holder for the film. It warned that anyone entering into deals with third parties claiming rights to Hera Pheri 3 without its written permission would do so at their own risk. The company added that it reserves the right to take legal action against any unauthorised use or agreement involving the film. The public notice comes as Hera Pheri 3 continues to face several controversies and production setbacks. In recent weeks, director Priyadarshan announced that he had withdrawn from the project, alleging that producer Firoz Nadiadwala had repeatedly insulted him during their interactions. The film was originally expected to reunite the franchise's popular trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, with Priyadarshan returning to direct. The project has, however, faced multiple obstacles. In May 2025, Paresh Rawal announced that he was leaving the film before later rejoining the cast. Despite his return, the movie has continued to face delays and legal disputes over its production and ownership rights. Source: NDTV

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has married his longtime partner Gauri Spratt in a private ceremony at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, after the couple dated for more than two years. According to NDTV, the couple officially registered their marriage by signing the required legal documents during the intimate ceremony. Aamir, 61, publicly confirmed his relationship with Gauri on June 4, saying they had known each other for 25 years before beginning their relationship two years ago. The wedding was attended by close family members, including Aamir's three children and Gauri's son. Aamir was previously married to film producer Reena Dutta, with whom he has two children, Junaid Khan and Ira Khan. He later married filmmaker Kiran Rao in 2005. The couple separated in 2021 but continue to co-parent their son, Azad. Gauri, who keeps a low public profile, also has a six-year-old son. Around 150 guests, including relatives who travelled from abroad, attended the wedding. Originally from Bengaluru, Gauri is the daughter of Rita Spratt, a former salon owner. According to her LinkedIn profile, she studied at Blue Mountain School and completed a fashion course in Styling and Photography at the University of the Arts London in 2004. She currently manages a BBlunt salon in Mumbai, according to the profile.

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced that she and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will stop using Elon Musk's social media platform X, saying it no longer supports healthy public debate. In what appeared to be her final post on X, Nandy said the platform had become harmful to democracy and communities. She said a platform that was originally created to promote free speech and expression now gives greater space to abuse and misinformation than to meaningful discussion. Nandy added that she would continue communicating through Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Her decision was criticized by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who argued that the DCMS should confront misinformation rather than leave the platform. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's office said the government regularly reviews its use of social media but confirmed that Downing Street would continue using X. The spokesperson added that individual ministers and government departments can decide for themselves whether to remain on the platform. DCMS is the second UK government department to leave X after the Attorney General's Office stopped posting on the platform last month. Attorney General Lord Hermer defended that decision, telling lawmakers in June that X frequently became a place for racism and misogyny and that his department could better engage in respectful and detailed public discussions through other channels. He said while some government departments may need to interact with the public on X, the Attorney General's Office did not. Prime Minister Starmer has also been critical of X owner Elon Musk, accusing him of using the platform to increase divisions in the UK following the murder of student Henry Nowak last month. The case sparked violent protests in Southampton after police body-camera footage showed officers handcuffing the 18-year-old as he lay dying. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, had claimed he was acting in response to a racist attack. The release of the footage triggered widespread political debate and drew criticism from Musk over the police's handling of the incident. Earlier this year, several Members of Parliament, including Liberal Democrats Layla Moran and Vikki Slade and Labour MP Darren Paffey, also left X after reports that its Grok artificial intelligence tool had been used to create sexualized images, including images involving children. X has previously said that anyone who uses or prompts Grok to create illegal content will face the same consequences as users who upload such material.

Veteran actor and activist Danny Glover has revealed that he is living with Alzheimer's disease, saying he is still trying to come to terms with the diagnosis. Glover, widely known for playing the calm and dependable police officer in the Lethal Weapon film series, said he was diagnosed with the progressive brain disease three years ago. The four-time Emmy Award nominee, who will turn 80 on July 22, shared the news in separate interviews with NBC's Today show and People magazine. "I'm still not accepting in my mind all parts of it," Glover told People. "There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I'll never forget." Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It gradually affects memory, thinking and daily functioning. More than 6 million people in the United States and millions more worldwide are living with the condition. Throughout his career, Glover has received four Emmy Award nominations and was honoured with an honorary Oscar in 2022. He has also been recognised by the NAACP and Black Entertainment Television, and has earned nominations from the Screen Actors Guild. Beyond acting, Glover has been active in humanitarian work. From 1998 to 2004, he served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, supporting efforts to address poverty, disease and economic development in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Milwaukee paid tribute to legendary Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker on Tuesday with the unveiling of a giant mural in downtown Milwaukee, celebrating the man whose voice became synonymous with the team's baseball history. Fans gathered for the dedication ceremony to honor Uecker, who spent 54 seasons calling Milwaukee Brewers games before his death on Jan. 16, 2025, at the age of 90. Standing before the mural, which stretches 80 feet wide and 100 feet high, former broadcast partner Lane Grindle said Uecker's legacy would continue to inspire both the local community and the baseball world. "We always said Bob was larger than life, and now he literally is," Grindle said. Although Uecker became a nationally recognized figure through movies, television appearances and commercials, he remained devoted to Milwaukee throughout his career. The new artwork shows Uecker wearing one of his signature plaid blazers and includes his autograph along with his famous nickname, "Mr. Baseball." It is displayed on the north side of the Wintrust Financial Center at 731 N. Jackson Street. The mural was created by artist Mauricio Ramirez, who also designed the large downtown mural of former Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2022. Work on the Uecker mural began in mid-May. The dedication ceremony featured Brewers manager Pat Murphy, outfielder Christian Yelich, president of baseball operations Matt Arnold and several members of Uecker's family. Murphy remembered Uecker as someone who genuinely cared about players at every level of the team. "He cared about everyone, whether it was a star like Christian Yelich or a young player just called up from Triple-A," Murphy said. "The clubhouse was like family to him." Yelich said spending time with Uecker off the field was one of the highlights of his career. He recalled Uecker's endless stories about baseball, acting, television appearances, and memorable experiences with celebrities, astronauts and even U.S. presidents. "It was a privilege just to listen to his stories and learn about the incredible life he lived," Yelich said. As part of the celebration, the first 500 attendees of legal drinking age received a complimentary can of Miller Lite from Molson Coors for a toast in Uecker's honor. Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said Uecker turned down opportunities to work nationally and with other Major League Baseball teams because of his deep connection to Milwaukee. "He had chances to leave, but Milwaukee was always his home," Schlesinger said. "Loyalty defined who he was, and he never left us."

Naomi Osaka once again made a bold fashion statement at Wimbledon, arriving for her first-round match in a flowing white kimono inspired by a character from Quentin Tarantino's film ‘Kill Bill’. Despite Wimbledon's famous all-white dress code, Osaka embraced the tradition in her own way by wearing a white embroidered kimono with wide sleeves as she walked onto Court No. 3 for her match against Elsa Jacquemot. The four-time Grand Slam champion then defeated Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the second round. Speaking after the match, Osaka said the outfit reflected her Japanese heritage and was inspired by Lucy Liu's character O-Ren Ishii in ‘Kill Bill’. "My Japanese heritage means a lot to me," Osaka said. "Since Wimbledon requires players to wear white, I thought it would be special to come out in a white kimono." She added that she enjoys drawing inspiration from different sources and often likes to imagine herself as a video game character rather than being herself while competing on court. The crowd welcomed Osaka's entrance with loud cheers, with many fans raising their phones to capture the moment. One supporter shouted, "Come on, queen!" as she walked onto the court. Former top-10 player Alicia Molik, who was commentating for the BBC, said Osaka's arrival had become one of the day's most anticipated moments. Osaka kept the kimono on during the pre-match instructions at the net before removing it and placing it on her chair ahead of the warm-up. She is no stranger to making memorable entrances at Grand Slam tournaments. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, she appeared wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a veil and carrying a white parasol. At the French Open, she entered the court in a black ceremonial skirt and beaded bodice before revealing a gold playing outfit underneath. Off the court, Osaka also attracted attention at this year's Met Gala, where she wore a striking white sculptural gown designed by Robert Wun, complete with red feathers, a matching headpiece and two-tone red gloves. Her Wimbledon outfit drew attention even before she reached the court, as she walked through the tournament grounds. Osaka said she noticed people turning around to get a better look, adding that she found their reactions entertaining. She also revealed that fellow players had been asking practical questions, including whether she owned only one white kimono and what she would do if it got stained. At her post-match press conference, Osaka highlighted another part of her heritage by wearing the red-and-blue football jersey of Haiti after the country's national team qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time since 1974. "I felt really proud of them," she said.