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Britney Spears' ex ordered to trial on stalking charge
A California judge found Monday that there is enough evidence against a man once briefly married to Britney Spears who showed up uninvited at the pop star's wedding to go to trial on a felony stalking charge.
After a two-hour preliminary hearing, Ventura County Judge David Worley ruled that 40-year-old Jason Allen Alexander should be held to answer on the charge, along with misdemeanor counts of trespassing, vandalism and battery, court records showed.
Not guilty pleas to all the charges were entered by an attorney for Alexander, who did not attend and remains jailed.
Also read: Britney Spears marries Sam Asghari in California
Spears married longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari at her home in Thousand Oaks, California, on June 9, in front of several dozen guests including Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, Paris Hilton and Madonna.
Alexander, a childhood friend of Spears to whom she was married for less than three days in 2004, appeared uninvited at the house before the ceremony, livestreaming his raid on Instagram.
Richard Eubler, a since-fired security guard for Spears, testified at Monday's hearing that Alexander got inside her house and up to the locked door of Spears' bedroom while she was inside, according to multiple media reports.
Also read: Britney Spears’ dad will exit conservatorship, but not yet
Eubler said Alexander had also tried to enter the property in the days before the wedding.
Alexander's attorney, Sandra Bisignani, argued there was no evidence he had any intention of harming Spears.
‘Turongomi’ to join world’s largest dance parades in Korea
Bangladeshi dance team ‘Turongomi Repertory Dance Theatre’ is going to take part at the ‘Daegu Colorful Festival 2022’ in Korea from July 8-11.
Turongomi, under the leadership of dance artist Pooja Sengupta, is the first ever Bangladeshi dance team to receive an invitation for Daegu Colorful Festival, said a press release on Monday.
The festival is one of the largest dance parades in the world, organized by The Government of Korea.
In a formal letter to Pooja Sengupta, Artistic Director of Turongomi, the organisers expressed that Turongomi’s participation will create a greater platform for popularizing Bangladeshi dance and culture in Korea.
The organisers also congratulated Turongomi for popularizing Bangladeshi dance in Asia.
The ten-member delegation of Turongomi will fly to Seoul on July 5 and will present two of their popular productions ‘Panchforon: The Essence of Bangladesh’ and ‘Nondini: The Savior of the World’ conceptualized, designed, choreographed and directed by Pooja Sengupta.
Read: Azmeer Hossain's 'The Beckoning Horizon' goes on at Edge Gallery
Recently Pooja represented Bangladesh at the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) UNESCO Resili-Art Festival in Manila, Philippines in April this year. The participation was organized and sponsored by UNESCO, ITI and Government of Philippines.
Pooja Sengupta received the Noorul Quader Entrepreneur award in 2018 for establishing Turongomi.
Meanwhile, Turongomi is also taking part at the ongoing ‘Padma Bridge Inauguration Week’ programs at home by staging ‘Chiyanobboi -96’ at the Padma bridge celebration stage in Madaripur on Tuesday and at the Sohrawardy Uddyan on Wednesday.
So far, Turongomi has attended the 2014 Bangkok IF Festival, 2017 Vietnam International Dance Festival, The Delhi International Arts Festival DIAF 2017, The Philippine International Dance Xchange 2018-22, The Silk Road Expo: Dunhuang Conference China 2018 by Beijing Dance Academy, The 2018 St Petersburg State University conference on dance education in Russia, Pooja Sengupta’s speech at the grand general assembly of International Dance Council at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France (The first Bangladeshi Artist to deliver speech at the UNESCO), The SDG Resili-Art by UNESCO in Manila 2022.
Turongomi School of dance, a sister concern of Turongomi Repertory Dance Theatre became a member of the International Dance Council of UNESCO along with Pooja Sengupta herself, in 2019.
'A symbol of our self-reliance, courage, perseverance, ability and self-confidence'
Lauding the inauguration of the much-awaited Padma Bridge, several entertainers and celebrated media personalities shared their excitement and joy with the media reporters and on their social media handles.
Popular celebrities including Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan, Jaya Ahsan, Omar Sani, Zayed Khan, Anjana Rahman, Chanchal Chowdhury and many other celebrities from the entertainment sphere expressed their heartfelt words, regarding the newly inaugurated Padma Bridge.
Shakib Khan took to his official Facebook page, to express his delight at the Padma Bridge's opening. “This is indeed a dream come true scenario as the Padma Bridge is now in sight. This bridge will revolutionize the capital's transportation and communication system and economy with the country's south-western region. The completion of the Padma Bridge is a significant accomplishment for Bangladesh. Our Padma bridge, our source of pride."
Jaya Ahsan, one of the most popular actresses in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, wrote a tribute article for Kolkata’s Anandabazar Patrika. In that piece, she wrote: “In the construction process of the bridge, there were many significant obstacles in almost every step. The first was the World Bank's withdrawal from the project. Our Prime Minister said, "We will build this bridge with our own money," which seemed like an impossible thought and she even acknowledged the possible obstacles.”
Read: Padma Bridge connecting Bangladesh’s past with bright future: German envoy
“There were all kinds of rumours and speculations as many did not believe that such a big project can be done with our own money, Sheikh Hasina went ahead almost alone with this unwavering confidence, and she turned the impossible into possible. The Padma Bridge is probably her greatest contribution to the people of Bengal, and this bridge will surely keep her memory alive,” Jaya Ahsan wrote.
Silver screen superstar Omar Sani wrote on his Facebook: “My ancestral home is in Barisal’s Gournadi Union and although I was born into Kaliganj, Jinjira in the Dhaka division, my father-in-law's house is in Satkhira, Khulna. Alhamdulillah, Padma Bridge, is indeed our pride. Our first achievement is our liberation and independence, and our second achievement is Padma Bridge.”
"This thrill is incomparable," stated popular music composer Prince Mahmud. “This cannot be put into words. This sentiment is not an immediate commotion. This resonance will be felt by those who have come from the other side of the Padma. Life has become easier and simpler, and I can now travel home anytime I wish."
Anjana Rahman, another popular actress representing the silver screen, said, “Our Padma Bridge, our pride. The hopes and aspirations of 170 million Bengali-speaking people are fulfilled today. Without the grace of the World Bank, we have funded on our own to build the Padma Bridge. Salute to you, Hon'ble Prime Minister Deshratna Sheikh Hasina - the embodiment of all the hopes and aspirations of the entire Bengali nation, the daughter of democracy.”
Acclaimed actor-singer Chanchal Chowdhury wrote, ”Today (yesterday) is the happiest day of Bangladesh, the day of pride. Long live Sheikh Hasina, for constructing the bridge of joy. "Padma Bridge," is our pride.”
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Popular rockstar, musician, activist, poet, Baul researcher and legendary band Feedback co-founder Maqsoodul Haque lauded the initiative from his Facebook page Mac Haque, writing:
“An unbelievable dream that millions had hoped for - a structure like none other in our history. Joy Bangla.”
The official theme song for the grand opening of Padma Bridge has been composed by renowned singer-music composer Kishore Das. Writing from his official page Kishore, he said: Just before the Padma Bridge's inauguration, the Prime Minister and dignitaries present are playing the song written by Kabir Bakul Bhai, to my tune, performed by legendary singers including Sabina Yasmin, Rafiqul Alam, Kumar Bishwajit, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Momotaz Begum, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Bappa Mazumder, Imran Mahmudul, Nishita Barua and myself. This is indeed an incredible experience for me.”
Besides, many other popular celebrities including Mehazabein Chowdhury, Afran Nisho, Tasnia Farin, Tawsif Mahbub, Zayed Khan and more have shared their excitement over the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.
Azmeer Hossain's 'The Beckoning Horizon' goes on at Edge Gallery
Painter Azmeer Hossain's fifth solo exhibition "The Beckoning Horizon," which began on June 18, is still underway at the Edge Gallery in Dhaka's Gulshan, showcasing an enchanting collection of abstract works.
Hosted by Edge, The Foundation, the exhibition features 62 paintings by the artist.
Eminent Bangladeshi artists Hamiduzzaman Khan, Mohammad Eunus, Biren Shome, Afrozaa Jamil Konka and others were present at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, which is displaying more than 50 pictures painted in watercolour while the rest of the paintings are made using acrylic and mixed media.
StageOne Dhaka showcases 'The Odd Couple' at BSA
Theatre group StageOne Dhaka Tuesday presented "The Odd Couple," their 11th play, at the Experimental Theater Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
Dominic Gomes translated and directed the play in Bangla based on American playwright Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple."
The story of the comedy revolves around two best friends, Felix Unger who is disciplined and organised, and Oscar Madison, a sports journalist who intends to lead a carefree life.
Felix has a tendency of teasing people around him and revealing their flaws. His wife kicks him out of the house due to his behaviour.
Also Read: Ananta Jalil vows to stand beside Sylhet with everything
Oscar enjoys living a free-spirited life. He has many bad habits, including never helping his wife with household chores, living in disarray, and being addicted to gambling. His wife also leaves him due to his lifestyle.
Celebrating their common conjugal miseries, the two friends begin to live together. As the play progresses, the two closest friends' relationship becomes increasingly unstable.
Felix, who is self-disciplined, strives to keep Oscar from being irresponsible. Oscar is irritated by this, and the friends get into a fight. Felix is thrown out of Oscar's house at the end of the play.
Dhaka audiences enjoyed the play and laughed out loud, complementing the masterful acting of the characters played by Bappaditya Chowdhury, Jubayer Jahid, Bindu Sumon Rozario, Amitav Razib, Mahafuz Munna and Ahmed Shawon.
Ananta Jalil vows to stand beside Sylhet with everything
As the flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj is now more severe and millions of people in these areas are fighting to survive the flood, actor Ananta Jalil urged the rich to come forward to help the flood victims.
In a recent Facebook video post, actor-producer Ananta Jalil vowed to help the flood victims.
In his video, he said that "due to the severe condition of floods in Sylhet, I have decided to sacrifice only 1 or 2 cows instead of 10-12 cows this Eid. I will also be donating money generated from my business and earnings from "Din—The Day" which will be released this Eid. I will stand by the flood victims of Sylhet with everything InshaAllah," said the actor.
Ananta Jalil, also the producer, urged the rich to come forward to help the flood victims in Sylhet. He said, "None of us will go to the grave with money."
Read: 4,000 medical teams ready to provide health care in 11 flood-hit districts
Calling on the people to stand by the flood victims as much as possible, Ananta Jalil said, the money that we earn, should be spent to help the people. If we spend money for the welfare of the people, Allah will accept our sacrifice", he added.
"We have to stand by people as much as we can. Even if everyone is able to help a little, it will help them as a whole," said the actor.
Music Alliance Bangladesh cancels 'National Music Festival and Conference' in Sylhet
Music Alliance Bangladesh (Sangeet Oikya Bangladesh) has cancelled its upcoming "National Music Festival and Conference" in Sylhet due to the catastrophic flood in the division.
The month-long festival and conference were scheduled to be held on June 24 at Sylhet Shilpakala Academy.
Shahid Mahmud Jangi, one of the general secretaries of the organisation and president of Geetikabi Sangha Bangladesh, said due to the worst floods in two decades in northeastern Bangladesh, Music Alliance Bangladesh feels the urge to stand by the people by not holding any festival or conference.
Music Alliance Bangladesh lifted the curtain on a nationwide month-long music festival and conference at Zilla Shilpakala Academy, Chattogram Friday.
Read: Alliance Française de Dhaka pays tribute to Tagore-Nazrul
Jennifer Lopez becomes Grameen America’s National Ambassador
Superstar singer Jennifer Lopez, who has built a considerable empire across film, television, beauty, fashion and philanthropy, has linked up with Grameen America to serve as a national ambassador.
The role will see Lopez serving several functions, including helping Grameen America with its mission of empowering 600,000 Latina entrepreneurs across 50 U.S. cities with $14 billion in business capital and six million hours of financial education and training by 2030.
To kick off her role as National Ambassador, Lopez will motivate, promote, and inspire Latina businesswomen, helping them understand the pathway to financial independence and literacy through joining the Grameen America microloan program, , according to Grameen America .
Lopez will mentor the organization's existing Latina business owners, educating them on the importance of credit and asset-building and developing a savings program to promote financial resilience.
Founded in 2008 by Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus, Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization dedicated to helping women who live in poverty build small businesses. The org offers microloans, training and support to transform communities and fight poverty in the United States. To date, Grameen has served more than 150,000 women in 23 U.S. cities, distributed $2.6 billion in loans and helped create and maintain 157,000 jobs.
Also read: With 'Second Act,' Jennifer Lopez makes her own opportunity
In a statement, Lopez said the initiative will “change the fabric of America.”
“Being Latino in this country has always been a matter of pride for me. I am humbled and beyond grateful to partner with Grameen America,” said Lopez. “We’re building pathways to employment and leadership opportunities. There’s so much strength in this community and we’re harnessing that. This partnership will create equality, inclusivity and opportunity for Latina women in business.”
Scenic reading of two contemporary German plays in Bangla held in city
Scenic reading of the two contemporary German plays translated into Bangla have been held at the Bangladesh Mohila Samity in the capital.
While welcoming the audience during her inaugural speech on Sunday evening, Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch, Director, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh highlighted the significance of the project titled “Contemporary German drama in South Asian Languages” to the local theatre scene.
This project aims to familiarize contemporary German plays to the South Asian local theatre scene and audiences alike. This project has been launched by Goethe-Institut Mumbai in 2020, focusing on the selection of plays, as well as identifying qualified German to local language translators at the initial stage.
Afterward, 46 translations were produced out of 20 German plays. Some of these plays were translated by just one person, others by several; altogether they were translated into six languages: Bangla, Hindi, Marathi, Sinhalese, Tamil, and Urdu.
According to the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, contemporary German-language drama is characterized by enormous variety. It has long been and continues to be shaped by both a rich tradition and significant international influences.
Many playscripts written in German are known to audiences in Asia primarily through their English translations. It would of course be far preferable to present these plays to the public in Asian languages – in translations carried out by competent translators working directly from the German.
This would also make it possible for theatre companies who operate in local languages to familiarize themselves with the current German theatre scene, according to the institution.
Read: Dhaka Theatre’s new play opens with metaphoric presentation on ‘virus’
Those reflections are what gave rise to the project: contemporary German-language drama in six South Asian languages – Bangla, Hindi, Marathi, Sinhalese, Tamil, and Urdu. These translations are intended first and foremost to be used within India, but will also be available to other Goethe-Instituts in Dhaka (Bangla), Colombo (Tamil and Sinhalese) and Karachi (Urdu), and in principle to Goethe Centres and additional theatre companies throughout South Asia.
On Sunday evening, Prachyanat staged the scenic reading of the German play titled “DER ZINNSOLDAT UND DIE PAPIERTÄNZERIN” by Roland Schimmelpfennig. Romit Roy translated this play into Bangla.
Directed by Kazi Toufikul Islam Emon, the play featured performances by Diana Meriline, Urmi Saha Ray, Farhad Ahmed Shamim, AKM Itmam, Abdulla Mohammad Sakib, Prajna Tasnuva Rubayyat, Tanji Kun, Yead Khorshid Eashan, Swatee Bhadra, Gopi Devnath, Supti Das Chaity, Nahida Akhter Akhi, Ucchas Talukder, Mohammad Abu Imran, and Audree Ja.
Social organization Bonhishikha staged the scenic reading of the German play titled “ICH LIEB DICH“ (ভালোবাসি) by Kristo Šagor on Monday evening. Parthapratim Chattopadhyay translated this play into Bangla.
Directed by Shararat Islam, the two-person scenic reading was performed by Shararat Islam and Samina Yasmin, narrating different roles.
Followed by around 50 minutes of scenic reading, a panel discussion moderated by Syeda Samara Mortada was held.
Sanjida Anwar Preety, Actor, Prachyanat Theatre Troupe and Samina Luthfa, Associate Professor, Dhaka University and Playwright and Actor, theatre troupe Bottala, were among the panellists.
War isn’t funny but humor helps Ukrainians cope with trauma
Because he’ll shortly be deployed as a soldier on the battlefields of Ukraine, Serhiy Lipko and Anastasia Zukhvala chose to marry first, like a growing number of couples being torn asunder by war with Russia.
Like others, their nuptials were rushed and smaller than they would have been during peacetime, with just a few dozen close friends and family. She wore a simple crown of blue flowers in her hair. And then, because laughter can be medicinal and because Lipko was building a career as a comic before the defense of his country called, they headed to a stand-up comedy club in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
There, with his new wife watching from the wings, he took the stage in olive-green fatigues and soon had the crowd in stitches with close-to-the-bone humor about army and married life. He joked that military training with NATO instructors had been a great opportunity for him to practice his English, and how nervous he’d been about handling expensive military gear, for fear of breaking it.
The war isn’t remotely funny, but Ukrainians are learning to laugh about the awfulness of it all. Not necessarily because they want to, but because they have to — to stay sane in the brutality that has killed tens of thousands of people, is upending Ukraine, millions of lives and the world order as it rages on front lines in the east and south of the country.
Read: Zelenskyy’s unlikely journey, from comedy to wartime leader
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his troops, especially dead and wounded ones, are favorite targets of dark Ukrainian wartime humor. But there are red lines: Ukrainian dead aren’t laughed about and the grimmest battles, among them the brutal siege of Mariupol and the port city’s Azovstal steelworks, are far too raw for jokes. The same is true of atrocities in Bucha and elsewhere.
“Tragedies cannot and will never be the object of humor,” said Zukhvala, who also works as a stand-up comic, as she and Lipko hugged with the tenderness of newlyweds after his show and scooped up armfuls of bouquets, wondering aloud how they’d find space for them at home.
“This is an absolutely crazy time, beyond ordinary experience,” she said. “Our life now is made of paradoxes, and it can even be funny.”
Ukraine’s most famous comedian is Volodymyr Zelenskyy, now the country’s president, elected in 2019. In the TV comedy series “Servant of the People,” the former stand-up comic and actor played a lovable high school teacher who accidentally becomes president — before he later actually became one for real. But Zelenskyy hasn’t had much cause for comedy since the Feb. 24 invasion thrust him into the role of wartime leader. His daily video addresses to the nation are often grim and forceful.