United News of Bangladesh

Every year on the final Thursday of the Cannes Film Festival, celebrities, business tycoons and socialites leave the famous Croisette and travel to the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes for the annual amfAR Gala, one of the festival’s most glamorous charity events. The gala raises funds for AIDS research. This year’s event is hosted by Geena Davis, with performances expected from Robbie Williams, Lizzo and Zara Larsson. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million (841 million euros) for AIDS-related programmes and funded more than 3,800 research grants worldwide. The Associated Press has been covering the event for more than 10 years and will livestream arrivals from the gala on Thursday from 1600 GMT on YouTube and APNews.com. Getting to the exclusive venue is no easy task. Guests need special car passes to approach the hotel, while taxis and limousines slowly move through narrow French coastal roads before reaching the famous gates. Visitors are repeatedly reminded not to leave their cars and walk the final stretch to the venue. After entering, guests receive wristbands and assigned table numbers before joining another line for the red carpet, where celebrities and invited guests pose together for photographers. Others quietly skip the spotlight and enter from the back. Beyond the red carpet, guests move to the hotel’s scenic lawn overlooking the sea, with yachts visible offshore as the sun sets. Bars serve Champagne, cocktails and wine, while waiters offer snacks and DJs play soft music. Celebrity encounters are common throughout the evening. Last year, Spike Lee and Adrien Brody were seen chatting over Champagne. Inside the gala, artworks are displayed before being auctioned later in the evening to raise money for charity. At around 8 pm, organisers begin calling guests into the dinner tent, though many continue socialising and taking photos before finally heading inside. Last year, Jeff Bezos drew attention as he moved between tables greeting guests. Dinner continues late into the night alongside the charity auction. This year’s auction items include a walk-on role in season six of the hit TV show Emily in Paris, a seven-day Arctic adventure with explorer Inge Solheim, and artworks by Tracey Emin and Andy Warhol. One of last year’s most expensive items was a Dodge Charger driven by Vin Diesel in the movie Fast X, which sold for 475,000 euros. Music performances are another major attraction during the dinner. Last year, Ciara opened the event, while Adam Lambert performed alongside Duran Duran, encouraging guests to sing along to popular songs including Notorious and A View to a Kill. Fashion also plays a major role at the gala. Last year, a James Bond-inspired fashion collection curated by Carine Roitfeld raised 450,000 euros for the charity. After dinner, the auction and live performances, guests head to the hotel’s poolside after-party, where celebrations continue until early morning.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu stumbles in its transition to the big screen, delivering a disjointed and uneven expansion of the popular Disney+ series that fails to match the scale and ambition of earlier Star Wars films, according to a review. The film, directed by Jon Favreau, brings the bounty hunter Mandalorian from television to cinemas as part of a summer tentpole release. However, the story is described as overlong and cluttered, leaning heavily on computer-generated visuals and action sequences that feel repetitive rather than expansive. Pedro Pascal returns as the masked warrior, portrayed as a relentless fighter moving from one mission to another. The review notes that the character’s personal depth is largely absent, while the tone shifts mid-film to give more focus to Grogu, the small Force-sensitive companion whose presence remains the emotional center of the franchise. Sigourney Weaver appears as a New Republic colonel who criticizes the Mandalorian’s violent methods, a sentiment echoed by the film’s own uneven handling of action and tone. The plot follows a straightforward bounty mission involving a former Imperial commander and a detour tied to Jabba the Hutt’s criminal family, introducing a new character voiced by Jeremy Allen White. The narrative is filled with chase scenes, space battles, and creature-filled set pieces, but the review suggests these elements feel formulaic and overly familiar to genre audiences. The film also includes unexpected cameos and voice roles, including one by Martin Scorsese, but the reviewer argues that such additions do little to elevate the overall experience. Musically, the score by Ludwig Göransson is described as inconsistent, while the visual design is said to rely too heavily on digital effects that weaken the tactile charm associated with earlier Star Wars storytelling. Ultimately, the review concludes that the film lacks narrative stakes, as it avoids galaxy-shaping conflicts and instead focuses on a smaller, less compelling mission. While fans may still enjoy familiar Star Wars imagery and characters, the overall execution is described as underwhelming, leaving the galaxy feeling less magical than before.

The New York Times has filed a second lawsuit against the United States Department of Defense in five months, challenging a policy that requires journalists to be accompanied by escorts while inside the Pentagon. The newspaper argues that the rule violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of the press. “The policy is an unconstitutional attempt by the Pentagon to block independent reporting on military affairs,” Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said. He said the American public has the right to know how the government and military are operating using taxpayers’ money. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell rejected the claim, saying in a post on X that the lawsuit was an attempt to gain easier access to classified information. The case marks the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between the media and President Donald Trump’s second administration. The Times first sued the Pentagon in December after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced new rules for journalists seeking access to the building. In March, US District Judge Paul L. Friedman struck down those restrictions, ruling that they violated the rights of Times reporter Julian E. Barnes and the newspaper. After the ruling, the Pentagon introduced an interim policy requiring reporters to be escorted at all times while inside the building. In April, Judge Friedman said the new policy also violated his earlier order. However, the escort rule remained in place after an appeals court temporarily suspended part of the judge’s decision while the government challenges it. The new lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Washington, directly challenges the escort requirement on constitutional grounds. The Times said the rule is part of a broader effort to limit access for journalists who are unwilling to report only what Pentagon officials approve. The newspaper called the policy “clearly unconstitutional.” In its earlier lawsuit, the Times and several other news organizations refused to accept the Pentagon’s new terms for obtaining press credentials and left their workspaces inside the building. They continue to cover the US military from outside the Pentagon, while journalists approved under the new rules now occupy the press offices. Parnell said the escort policy is lawful and narrowly designed to protect national security information from unauthorized disclosure.

Ella Langley was the biggest winner at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, taking home four major awards, while Cody Johnson won the night’s top prize, entertainer of the year. Langley started the evening by winning song of the year for her hit “Choosin’ Texas.” She later picked up single of the year for the same song, music event of the year with Riley Green for their duet “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and female artist of the year. Accepting her awards, Langley thanked her fans and said she was overwhelmed by the support she has received, especially from women in the industry. Johnson, meanwhile, won both male artist of the year and entertainer of the year. In his acceptance speech, he said music allows him to express emotion and dedicated his top award to Luke Combs. The 61st annual ACM Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, after being held in Texas for the previous three years. Shania Twain hosted the show for the first time. She opened with her iconic hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and praised the growing influence of women in country music. The ceremony featured performances by some of country music’s biggest stars, including Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton and Kane Brown. The Red Clay Strays won group of the year, while Brooks & Dunn were named duo of the year. Parker McCollum won album of the year for his self-titled 2025 release, beating strong competition from Morgan Wallen and others. Before the main ceremony, Langley was also named artist-songwriter of the year. Jessie Jo Dillon won songwriter of the year for the third consecutive year.

The third namaz-e-janaza of content creator and actress Kaarina Kaisar was held at the Central Shaheed Minar on Sunday night, with a large number of colleagues, supporters and admirers gathering to pay their last respects. The namaz-e-janaza took place around 10:30pm and was attended by leaders and activists of various political parties and organisations, including National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam, Dhaka city Jamaat Secretary General Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.    

The first namaz-e-janaza of popular content creator Kaarina Kaisar was held after Maghrib prayers at around 7:00 pm on Sunday at Banani DOHS Jame Mosque. Earlier, her body arrived in Dhaka from Chennai, India, at around 5:00 pm. The second namaz-e-janaza will be held at 8:30 pm at Banani Darbar Sharif Mosque, followed by the third at 10:00 pm at the Central Shaheed Minar, said Kaarina’s father and former national football team captain Kaisar Hamid after the first janaza. After attending the first janaza, NCP Convener Nahid Islam urged people across the country and July movement activists to attend Kaarina’s namaz-e-janaza at the Shaheed Minar. He said Kaarina had been a fellow activist during the July uprising. “We deeply mourn her death and pray for her departed soul,” he said. The fourth funeral prayer will be held on Monday after Fajr prayers at 7:00 am in Gazaria Upazila of Munshiganj. She will then be buried at the family graveyard. Kaarina passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment in Chennai due to liver-related complications. She was 32.

The body of popular content creator Kaarina Kaisar who died in Chennai, India, due to liver-related complications will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon. Later, she will be laid to rest in Munshiganj on Monday. “Karina’s body will return to the country around 5:00 pm on Sunday. Many thanks to US-Bangla Airlines for waiving the cargo fee. I would also like to thank Deputy Secretary Hafizur Rahman Sajal, a well-wisher of our family, for his wholehearted support,” Kaarina’s father and former national football team captain Kaisar Hamid wrote on Facebook early Sunday. Her first namaz-e-janaza will be held after Maghrib prayers at 7:00 pm at Banani DOHS Jame Mosque. The second prayer will take place at 8:30 pm at Banani Darbar Sharif Mosque, followed by the third at 10:00 pm at the Central Shaheed Minar, he added. The fourth funeral prayer will be held on Monday after Fajr prayers at 7:00 am in Munshiganj's Abdullapur. She will then be buried at the family graveyard. Earlier, Kaarina passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment in Chennai due to liver-related complications. She was 31.    

Music label Tips has issued a clarification asserting that its upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan, is an original work with no similarity to any other film. In a “public notice” shared on Saturday via Tips’ Instagram account, the company said there had been ongoing discussions in the trade and among the public regarding the film’s originality. Tips, along with producer Ramesh Taurani, director David Dhawan, and the cast and crew, clarified that the film is based on an original story and screenplay. “We have poured our hearts into making this film and sincerely look forward to welcoming audiences to cinemas on 5th June for a fun-filled family experience,” the statement added. The notice came two days after Tips Music Limited responded to what it described as “malicious and misconceived” allegations made by Puja Entertainment, owned by filmmaker Vashu Bhagnani, in an ongoing legal dispute over music and intellectual property rights. Puja Entertainment had approached a court in Bihar, alleging that its films, songs and other copyrighted materials were being used without permission by Tips. In its response, Tips said it had become aware of the legal case filed before the Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Katihar. While noting that it was yet to receive formal copies of the court order, Tips maintained that it is the lawful owner of the disputed music rights, backed by valid agreements. The company further said it has been using these rights lawfully for nearly three decades. Tips also rejected the allegations, calling them “malicious, misconceived and intended to tarnish” its reputation and goodwill, and said it would take all necessary legal steps to defend its ownership rights.#From NDTV

Popular young content creator Kaarina Kaisar was taken to Chennai by an air ambulance on Monday night for advanced treatment after being placed on life support due to serious liver complications. In a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon, her father, former national footballer Kaisar Hamid, wrote: “Last night, my daughter Kaarina Kaisar was taken abroad by jet air ambulance for advanced treatment.” He said Kaarina was accompanied by her mother, Lopa Kaisar, while her two brothers, Mustafa S. Hamid and Sadat Hamid, travelled as liver donors. Kaisar Hamid requested everyone to pray for his daughter. Kaarina suffered liver failure on Friday (May 8) and was later placed on life support. Family sources said she had been unwell for several days. After being admitted to hospital, doctors reportedly found an infection and confirmed that she had contracted Hepatitis A.

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has arrived at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, turning heads with a sleek monochrome outfit. For her arrival, Bhatt opted for a tailored blazer featuring puffed shoulders and a cinched waist, paired with matching slim-fit trousers. She completed the look with accessories from Gucci. The actress, who made a notable debut at the festival in 2025, is expected to walk the red carpet again this year. She will also attend the opening ceremony on May 12 as India’s global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris. Bhatt was earlier seen departing from Mumbai in the early hours of Monday, heading to the French Riviera for the prestigious event. Source: NDTV