Taylor Swift's latest release, the Eras Tour Book, became the top-selling book last week and had the most successful debut of 2024, thanks to a single retailer. Data from Circana shows the book sold 814,000 copies over the Thanksgiving weekend. Despite tracking around 85% of the print market, Circana’s figures for the Eras book are highly accurate since it was sold exclusively through Target, launching on Black Friday. Drake claims Universal inflated Kendrick Lamar diss track's popularity The book's $39.99 price tag and reports of typos and other errors didn’t hinder its success. Both Target and Swift’s representatives were unavailable for comment as of Wednesday. By Circana's metrics, which exclude audio and e-book formats, Eras Tour Book ranks just behind Barack Obama’s 2020 memoir, A Promised Land, which sold slightly over 816,000 copies during its launch across multiple platforms. Swift has a history of unconventional releases. For her 2023 Eras Tour concert film, she bypassed traditional Hollywood studios to partner directly with AMC Theatres and Cinemark Theatres, making the movie the highest-grossing concert film ever with over $200 million in revenue. Two Hollywood films, “Wicked” and “Red One”, set to premiere in Bangladesh The Eras Tour Book adds to Swift's influence in publishing, following a wide range of Swift-inspired works, including biographies, romance novels, fashion guides, and even a cocktail recipe book titled Shake It Up. Among 2024's notable titles is Wendy Loggia's Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography, modeled after classic Little Golden Books like The Three Bears. 

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is set to establish a "Conservatory Cell" to promote cultural practices, train new talent, and support indigenous communities. Dr. Syed Jamil Ahmed, Director General of Shilpakala Academy, said this at a press conference on Wednesday. He said that the academy envisions a large facility outside Dhaka, equipped with housing and training spaces. The center will serve as a hub for cultural groups to practice, train the next generation, and perform. He expressed optimism about creating performance conservatories across districts to develop skilled performers nationwide, making this initiative a cornerstone of the academy’s long-term plans. Dr. Jamil emphasized the importance of supporting indigenous communities, advocating for the use of the term "indigenous" instead of "small ethnic groups." He said, “We want to stand by these communities and share in their celebrations, especially for those who cannot afford to organize festivals themselves. By doing so, we aim to make December, the month of victory, truly meaningful.” The academy also aims to integrate research with performance. Dr. Jamil explained, “Research is no longer about sitting in solitude with books but involves discovering new ideas through practical performance. Researchers will collaborate with local communities and colleagues, conducting field-based studies to uncover new cultural dimensions.” He called on media outlets to counter misinformation spread by some foreign sources and support the academy's initiatives, which include month-long programs to celebrate December as the month of victory.

Marking the 69th founding anniversary of Bangla Academy, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said that Bangla Academy is entitled to work independently with the government’s support, as the government have nominated the academy to work on the language, literature and culture of the people of Bangladesh “Although Bangla Academy is primarily recognized to the general public for its dictionaries and the Ekushey Book Fair, it has been producing significant works for the development and preservation of Bengali language, literature, and culture, for the last seven decades,” Adviser Farooki said at the 69th founding anniversary ceremony in the academy on Tuesday. Known as the official regulatory body regarding the Bengali language in the country, Bangla Academy was founded on December 3, 1955, based on the suggestions proposed by eminent linguist, philologist, educationist, and writer Dr Muhammad Shahidullah and other like-minded intellectuals. Commemorating the founding anniversary, the academy organized a special seminar at its Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium on Tuesday afternoon, chaired by Bangla Academy president Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq. Farooki joined the event as the Chief Guest, while Bangla Academy Director General Dr Mohammad Azam delivered the welcome speech. Former Bangla Academy Director General Mansur Musa presented the keynote speech titled 'Bangla Gobeshonaloy Sonkranto Bichitro Durbhabona'. The event began with screening a documentary on the July-August student-led mass reprising, followed by a minute of silence in remembrance of the late Professor Harunur Rashid, the former president and director general of the Bangla Academy and a distinguished scholar. Addressing the recent circumstances, Farooki said, "Our main objective is to rebuild the damaged bridges in the sphere of national thoughts rather than being one-sided in the intellectual and cultural fields, so that all citizens can find the language of their rights.” “The Bangla Academy plays an important role in this regard,” Farooki said, adding, “The academy may be financially dependent on the government, but the government is not a mirage. We have nominated Bangla Academy to work on Bangladesh's language, literature, and culture using the hard-earned money of the Bangladeshi people, and we will cooperate with the academy with our best offerings.”. Mentioning that the Bangla Academy is at the center of interest and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh, DG Prof Mohammad Azam said, “At various times due to state and party pressure, the academy may have faced opposition to conduct its work independently, but in the changed reality after the recent mass uprising, we hope that the academy will be able to independently fulfill its national responsibilities - and we are committed to this.” The Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haq and the keynote speaker, former Director General Mansur Musa shared their experiences, observations and insightful thoughts regarding the academy’s past, present and future. The founding anniversary began with hoisting the national flag and Bangla Academy flag atop the academy premises. Bangla Academy officials placed floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning, paying tribute to the 1952 language movement martyrs, and the visionary of Bangla Academy Dr Muhammad Shahidullah.

Vice President Kamala Harris and breakout pop star Chappell Roan were among the year's most talked-about people. Their names were also among the most mispronounced. On Wednesday, the language-learning company Babbel and closed-captioning company The Captioning Group released a list of the words that news anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with the most in 2024. The list also provides a retrospective of the year’s most discussed topics and people, from pop culture to politics. “It’s a nice way to kind of look back into the year and see everything that has happened,” said Esteban Touma, a linguistic and cultural expert at Babbel. Roan — whose hits include “Good Luck, Babe!” — shot to fame this year and is nominated for six Grammy awards. According to the list, her name is pronounced CHAP-uhl ROHN, not SHA-pel ROW-an. During Harris' unsuccessful run for president this year, her great-nieces took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention to clear up how to say her first name, pronounced COM-a-la. Also making the list was U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose last name still leaves people tongue-tied. During his 2020 presidential run, his campaign made posters and T-shirts with the pronunciation “Boot-Edge-Edge” to help. Other words on the list include: — Dutch Kooikerhondje, pronounced COY-ker-HUND-che, is a breed of dog that made it's way into the lexicon this year. This is largely because Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has a Kooikerhondje called Decoy who won the hearts of fans while delivering a ceremonial first pitch. — The name of the actress Zendaya, who starred in “Challengers,” is often mispronounced as zen-DIE-uh, but it should be zen-DAY-a. — Online fast-fashion giant Shein is SHE-in, not SHEEN. — Newly discovered exoplanet Speculoos-3b is pronounced SPEK-yuh-lohss three bee. — Phryge, the mascot of the Paris Olympics, is pronounced FREE-je. It was a nod to the Phrygian cap, an emblematic accessory of the French revolutionaries. — Semaglutide, the drug in weight-loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, is pronounced sem-ah-GLOO-tide, not SEE-mah-gloo-tide. — The last name of Irish actor Barry Keoghan, who starred in “Saltburn,” is pronounced key-OH-gin. Nancy Niedzielski, chair of the linguistics department at Rice University in Houston, points out that most of the words on the list are not English, so it’s not surprising that they would be mispronounced in the U.S. The key to pronouncing them correctly, she said, would probably just be hearing them spoken, she said. “There aren’t really tricks short of knowing how orthology works in that language,” she said. Several of the words on the U.S. list, including Keoghan, Phryge and Shein, also made the list for the U.K., which Babbel compiled with the help of the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters, an organization for subtitling professionals. Other words on the U.K. list include flygskam, a Swedish term pronounced FLEEG-skam, popularized by climate activist Greta Thunberg, which translates as “flight shame,” and the Chagos Islands, pronounced CHAY-goss, which made the list after the British government this year returned sovereignty of the long-contested Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius. Touma, a native Spanish speaker, said if you can't pronounce a word, it's important to just keep trying. “One of the problems we have is our mouths are not trained to do these sounds that come from different languages,” he said. Touma admitted even he struggles with some words, including Harris' first name. Even though he knows the correct pronunciation, he said, it's hard to get it correct in the moment when he's in a conversation. As Roan's music gained popularity over the year, it was interesting cultural moment to watch as people learned to pronounce her first and last name, he said. “The way we create understanding with each other is just trying to do these things,” Touma said.

Aliya Fakhri, sister of Bollywood actor Nargis Fakhri, has been charged with murder in the United States over a fire that claimed the lives of two individuals, including her former boyfriend, Edward Jacobs. The incident occurred in Queens, New York City, on November 23. Prosecutors allege that Fakhri, 43, set fire to a detached garage on Jacobs’ property after he refused her attempts to rekindle their relationship. “12th Fail” actor Vikrant Massey shocks fans with retirement announcement The blaze killed Jacobs, 35, and his friend Anastasia Ettienne, 33. Fakhri has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, and arson. She remains in custody at Rikers Island and faces a court appearance on 9 December. Details According to the Queens District Attorney’s office, Fakhri arrived at Jacobs’ home at approximately 6:20 a.m. on the day of the fire. Witnesses reportedly heard her shouting, "You’re all going to die today," before the fire erupted. The fire spread rapidly, trapping Jacobs and Ettienne inside the building. Prosecutors stated that Ettienne tried to save Jacobs, who was asleep at the time, but both succumbed to smoke inhalation and severe burns. Officials have described the fire as a deliberate act of arson. “This defendant maliciously ended the lives of two people by setting a fire that trapped a man and woman in a raging inferno,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement. 'Moana 2' sails to a record $221 million opening as Hollywood celebrates a moviegoing feast Family Statements Jacobs’ mother, Janet, revealed that her son had ended his relationship with Fakhri over a year ago and had been trying to distance himself from her persistent advances. "He’s been trying to tell her to leave him alone for the past year, but she wasn’t accepting the rejection," she told the New York Post. Conversely, Fakhri’s mother expressed disbelief at the charges against her daughter. "I don’t think she would be killing someone," she told the New York Daily News. "She was a person who was caring for everybody." Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets engaged to Hailee Steinfeld Potential Consequences If convicted of the most serious charges, Fakhri could face life imprisonment. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for December. This case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of Aliya Fakhri, whose sister Nargis Fakhri is a prominent figure in the Indian film industry. The actress has yet to comment publicly on the matter. Source: Wirers

Renowned Indian actor Vikrant Massey, whose widely-acclaimed blockbuster “12th Fail” catapulted him to mass popularity, has left fans in disbelief with his announcement to retire from acting at just 37. The actor, celebrated for his nuanced performances in “Sector 36” and “Sabarmati Express”, shared the news via Instagram, hinting at a farewell in 2025, reports NDTV. Massey’s role in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's “12th Fail” earned him widespread acclaim and resonated with audiences across the country, establishing him as a household name. His portrayal of resilience and determination struck a chord with the masses, further underscored by his recognition as "Actor of The Year" at NDTV's Indian of the Year awards. The film's success solidified Massey’s place among the most versatile and relatable actors in Indian cinema. Reflecting on his journey, Massey expressed gratitude in his emotional post, writing, "The last few years and beyond have been phenomenal. I thank each and every one of you for your indelible support. But as I move forward, I realize it's time to recalibrate and go back home. As a Husband, Father & a Son. And also as an Actor." In a poignant note to fans, he added, "So coming 2025, we would meet each other for one last time. Until time deems right. Last 2 movies and many a years of memories. Thank you again. For everything and everything in between," concluding with "forever indebted." The announcement has ignited an outpouring of emotions on social media. Fans expressed shock and sadness, with one commenting, "I hope it's not true," while another urged him to "fill your cup then be back.". Vikrant Massey began his journey with the TV show “Dhoom Machao Dhoom” and rose to prominence with “Balika Vadhu” in 2009. His critically acclaimed performance in Konkona Sen Sharma's “A Death in the Gunj” showcased his versatility, paving the way for a series of memorable roles in “Chhapaak”, “Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi”, “Haseen Dillruba”, and “Gaslight”. His work in popular web series like “Broken But Beautiful”, “Criminal Justice”, and “Mirzapur” further cemented his reputation. Vikrant Massey is currently working on two upcoming projects, “Yaar Jigri” and “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan”, which will mark the culmination of his acting career. As fans brace for his final performances, his contributions to Indian cinema, especially his unforgettable portrayal in “12th Fail”, ensure that his legacy will endure long after his retirement.  

The Thanksgiving weekend brought an early holiday celebration to the box office, led by the record-breaking success of Moana 2. According to studio estimates, the Disney sequel earned $221 million in ticket sales domestically over five days, surpassing previous Thanksgiving records set by Frozen 2 in 2019. Combined with an international haul of $165.3 million, the film's global earnings reached $386 million, marking the second-largest opening of the year. Originally conceived as a Disney+ series, Moana 2 shifted to theaters under Disney CEO Bob Iger, with Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprising their roles. Joining the box office surge, Universal Pictures' Wicked garnered $117.5 million over the same period, pushing its global total to $359.2 million in two weeks. The Broadway adaptation now holds the title of the highest-grossing musical film, overtaking Grease unadjusted for inflation. Meanwhile, Ridley Scott's Gladiator II brought in $44 million in its second weekend, contributing to a $320 million global total despite its hefty production budget. 'Wicked', 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts Altogether, the weekend's combined ticket sales reached $420 million, shattering Thanksgiving records and signaling a potential rebound for the movie industry, which had been struggling post-pandemic. Industry leaders attributed this success to the simultaneous release of major blockbusters, with National Association of Theatre Owners CEO Michael O’Leary highlighting the benefits of competition in driving audience engagement. Disney’s decision to release Moana 2 in theaters follows a string of underperforming animated releases. Analysts predict it could become Disney’s third billion-dollar movie in 2024, alongside Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Though critical reception has been mixed, audiences responded positively, giving it an “A-” CinemaScore. South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2024: Must-watch Lineup With upcoming releases like Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on the horizon, the holiday season is expected to sustain the momentum. Final domestic earnings for the weekend will be confirmed Monday. Estimated U.S. and Canadian box office rankings from Friday to Sunday are as follows: Moana 2 - $135 millionWicked - $80 millionGladiator II - $30.7 millionRed One - $12.9 millionThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever - $3.3 millionBonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin - $2.4 millionVenom: The Last Dance - $2.2 millionHeretic - $956,797The Wild Robot - $670,000A Real Pain - $665,000

Tapan Chowdhury, Bangladesh's one of the most popular singers for songs such as "Tumi Amar Prothom Shokal," "Pathorer Prithibi," "E Kemon Porichoy" and more, has recently suffered a heart attack. The artist, now a permanent resident in Canada, is out of danger and has returned to his home from hospital, according to singer Dinat Jahan Munni. Sharing the news with a photograph along with Tapan Chowdhury and his family, Munni wrote on her social media from New York, United States on Sunday: “Revered artist Tapan Chowdhury suffered a heart attack four days ago and underwent a successful surgery yesterday. He returned to his home from the hospital today. To everyone, I request that please pray from the heart that he recovers.” Chhayanaut to publish all content across various social platforms She also clarified that the photo was taken on the 25th of November, as he arrived in New York on the 24th for an event and shortly before leaving Munni’s house with his wife the next day. Tapan Chowdhury began his career with Souls in late 1973 and stayed 20 years with the band. Being Souls' lead vocalist for the band's first five albums, he was one of its main performers. Later, he started to perform as a solo artist and performed in more than 300 movies as a playback vocalist. Notable among his other popular songs are: “Tumi Amar Prothom Shokal', “Akasher Sob Tara,” “Mon Shudhu Mon Chhuyechhe” and others.  

Chhayanaut, the country’s esteemed cultural institution, has built a collection of thousands of songs for more than six decades now. The traditional cultural institution has been playing a special role in shaping society by using art and culture. Now a new dimension is being added to the institution's work. To connect with more people, Chhayanaut is now focusing on utilising the power of social media. As part of this plan, the content will be mainly created from audio of Chhayanaut's songs and recent videos. In the meantime, Chhayanaut started broadcasting all its programs live on Facebook a few months ago; and from now on, the live programs will also be broadcast simultaneously through all the planned new mediums. Regular new content will be released every day at 9 am, and the initial event is called 'Jagoroni'. From the first day of December, the month of victory, Chhayanaut will release one content on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube channels simultaneously every morning. Chhayanaut unveiled the detailed plans in a press conference at Ramesh Chandra Datta Memorial Auditorium in Dhanmondi’s Chhayanaut building on Saturday afternoon, which was joined by its Executive President Dr Sarwar Ali, Joint Secretary Partha Tanveer Naved, Joint Secretary Jayanta Roy and faculty and other staff members. The inaugural content on Sunday is scheduled to be the national anthem, voiced by thousands of artists, recorded in Rayerbazar Martyrs Memorial recently. Thousands of people participated in the recording of this performance with the support of Chhayanaut's like-minded organizations and institutions including Nalanda, Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad, Kanthasheelan and Bratchari. Chhayanaut will publish the content of patriotic songs through social media throughout December. Later, in January and February, the content featuring various programs including recitals with songs will be released. After that, various content based on topics related to culture will be released, including Chhayanaut’s content on music lessons. The press conference began with Chhanayanaut students performing ‘Bijoy Keton Urchhe Oi', followed by 'Himalaya to Sundarban', a song which was adopted from a poem penned by Sukanta Bhattacharya. After the song, Dr Sarwar Ali said, “Chayanaut has upheld the Bengali ethnicity forever through culture, now a new dimension is being added to that. Apart from performing in auditoriums or open spaces, Chhayanaut performances will now be disseminated through social media, thereby reaching more people.” “In the era of globalization, we will use the Internet to protect national culture and bring our content to more audiences. This will pave the way for building a society of harmony by stopping intolerance and division," Dr Sarwar Ali said, also revealing that this year's traditional Victory Day program of Chhayanaut will be held at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi instead of Dhaka University Sports Ground. In a written statement, Laisa Ahmad Lisa said, “Chhayanaut was established in 1961 with the vision of encouraging Bengalis to develop independently in their culture and national characteristics. This institution is working on different branches of culture and culture-integrated general education, and all the activities of Chhayanaut are being conducted to build a humane society through the proper expansion and development of harmony, patience and practice.” “In this six-decades-long journey, Chhayanaut has built a collection of thousands of songs. The content that will be published across its social platforms will mainly be created from the audio of all those songs and the recent videos,” Lisa informed the media at the press conference.

Josh Allen’s latest kneel-down had nothing to do with football. The Buffalo Bills quarterback and actor Hailee Steinfeld posted a photo to their Instagram followers on Friday — 20.3 million for Steinfeld and a mere 1.3 million for Allen — of Allen on one knee proposing marriage. The picture was taken on a grassy ridge overlooking water, with the couple surrounded by candles and framed by a large arch covered in flowers. The NFL reposted the picture on X to congratulate the pair on their engagement, with a message ending with a ring and heart emoji. The setting was likely somewhere on the California coastline, where Allen lives in the offseason. And the proposal likely occurred sometime last week, when the Bills had a bye. Allen didn’t reveal the engagement during his weekly news conference on Wednesday as the AFC East-leading Bills (9-2) prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. But he did smile widely when asked how he enjoyed his bye week. “Fantastic. It was great. Got some sun. Hung out with family. It was fantastic,” he said. Allen and Steinfeld were first linked in the spring of 2023, when they were photographed dining together in New York City. Months later, Allen acknowledged the two were dating, but asked The Associated Press not to mention Steinfeld by name in a bid to maintain a semblance of privacy. Steinfeld has since begun attending Bills home games, and the couple hosted a Halloween party this fall. The 27-year-old Steinfeld is from Los Angeles and began her acting career at age 10. She earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers’ 2010 remake of “True Grit.” She also received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the 2016 high school dramedy “The Edge of Seventeen.” Her other credits include “Bumblebee,” “Dickinson” and Marvel's “Hawkeye,” along with voice roles in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and its sequel. Germany's Merkel recalls Putin's 'power games' and contrasting US presidents in her memoirs Steinfeld branched out into pop music after performing in 2015's “Pitch Perfect 2.” She has released numerous singles and two EPs, including “Half Written Story” in 2020. The 28-year-old Allen has become one of the NFL's best quarterbacks and set many of Buffalo’s single-season and career passing and scoring records since being selected in the first round of the 2018 draft out of Wyoming.