United News of Bangladesh

South Korean actor Oh Young-soo, best known for his role in the global hit series Squid Game, has been cleared of assault charges after a local court found insufficient evidence to uphold his earlier conviction. The ruling, announced Tuesday, overturned a previous verdict and concluded that prosecutors failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. According to the court, the evidence and testimonies presented during the trial lacked consistency and corroboration, falling short of the standard required for a criminal conviction. As a result, the earlier guilty verdict for indecent assault was dismissed. Throughout the proceedings, the veteran actor maintained his innocence, with his lawyers arguing that the allegations were not supported by credible or conclusive proof. The court agreed, emphasizing that the prosecution had not provided enough evidence to justify a conviction under South Korean law. While the court did not release specific details of the evidence reviewed, it reaffirmed the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” The verdict marks the end of Oh Young-soo’s lengthy legal battle, offering relief to the 80-year-old actor, who gained international fame for his award-winning performance in Squid Game.   Source: NDTV

Veteran actor Dharmendra, 89, was discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Wednesday and will continue his treatment at home, hospital officials confirmed. The actor had been admitted to the hospital on October 31 after complaining of breathlessness. Early Wednesday morning, an ambulance was seen leaving the hospital for his residence. Dr. Prof Pratit Samdani, who was treating Dharmendra, told NDTV, “Dharmendraji has been discharged from the hospital around 7:30 a.m. His treatment will continue at home as the family has decided to provide home care.” Dharmendra’s family also issued a statement confirming his discharge and requested privacy. “Mr. Dharmendra has been discharged and will continue his recovery at home. We kindly request the media and public to refrain from speculation and respect his and the family’s privacy. We appreciate everyone’s love, prayers, and good wishes for his continued recovery, health, and long life,” the statement read. The development came after several media portals on Tuesday erroneously reported the actor’s death. Dharmendra’s daughter, Esha Deol, dismissed the false reports, saying, “My father is stable and recovering. We request everyone to give our family privacy. Thank you for the prayers for papa’s speedy recovery.” Dharmendra’s second wife, Hema Malini, also condemned the misinformation, calling it “extremely disrespectful and irresponsible,” and urged the media to respect the family’s need for privacy. Sunny Deol’s team added that the senior actor is responding to treatment and the family is “hoping for a miracle.” Sources close to the family said Dharmendra had been on ventilator support since November 10 and was reportedly in critical condition. Several film stars, including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, and Aamir Khan with his partner Gauri Spratt, visited him at the hospital in recent days. Dharmendra, one of Bollywood’s most celebrated matinee idols, is known for classics such as Sholay, Dharam Veer, Chupke Chupke, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, and Dream Girl. He was last seen in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, and will next appear in Ikkis, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda, scheduled for release on December 25.   With inputs from NDTV 

Author David Szalay, who holds Canadian, Hungarian, and British citizenship, has won the 2025 Booker Prize for fiction for his novel Flesh — an understated, powerful portrayal of one man’s journey from humble beginnings in Hungary to immense wealth in Britain. The 51-year-old writer triumphed over five other finalists, including frontrunners Andrew Miller of the U.K. and India’s Kiran Desai. The prestigious literary award comes with a £50,000 ($66,000) prize and typically leads to a surge in book sales and global recognition. Chosen from 153 entries, Flesh was the unanimous selection of the Booker judging panel, which included Irish novelist Roddy Doyle and actor Sarah Jessica Parker. Doyle described the book as “a story about living — and the strangeness of living.” Written in a minimalist style, Flesh follows István, a quiet, working-class man, through his youth in Hungary, immigration struggles in Britain, and eventual rise to London’s elite circles. Szalay said he began the novel after scrapping a different project he had spent four years on, wanting instead to create “something partly Hungarian, partly English,” centered on “life as a physical experience.” At the awards ceremony in London’s Old Billingsgate, Szalay thanked the judges for honoring what he called a “risky” book. Laughing, he recalled once asking his editor whether a novel titled Flesh could ever win the Booker. “You have your answer,” he said. Doyle, who chaired the judging panel, said the book shines a light on a character type rarely seen in fiction — a working-class man like those he himself once wrote about. “It makes you look again at men you might pass on the street and think you understand,” he said. Born in Montreal to a Hungarian father and Canadian mother, Szalay grew up in the U.K. and now lives in Vienna. He previously made the Booker shortlist in 2016 for All That Man Is, a collection exploring nine different men’s lives. Critics have both praised and challenged Flesh for its restraint — leaving key parts of István’s life, such as his time in prison and service in Iraq, off the page — and for its deliberately opaque protagonist, whose most frequent response is simply “Okay.” Szalay acknowledged this, saying, “He doesn’t explain himself. He isn’t articulate. I wasn’t sure how readers would react to that.” The judges, however, admired the subtlety. “We loved how much was revealed without being stated,” Doyle said. “If those gaps were filled, it would be less of a book.” Since its founding in 1969, the Booker Prize has become one of the most influential literary honors in the world, launching the careers of writers like Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Arundhati Roy, Ian McEwan, and 2024 winner Samantha Harvey for Orbital. Szalay said he hasn’t yet planned how to spend the prize money beyond taking “a nice little holiday” and saving the rest. Harvey, who presented the award, offered one final piece of advice: “Buckle up — and get a good accountant.”

British author Andrew Miller and Indian novelist Kiran Desai are the bookmakers’ favorites to win this year’s prestigious Booker Prize for fiction, with the award ceremony scheduled in London on Monday. Both writers are among six finalists vying for the coveted literary prize, which carries a £50,000 ($66,000) reward and often gives a significant boost to book sales and author recognition. This year’s winner was chosen from 153 submitted novels by a judging panel that includes Irish writer Roddy Doyle and actress Sarah Jessica Parker. Bookmaker William Hill has listed Miller, 64, as the front-runner with 15-8 odds for his novel The Land in Winter, a story of love and secrets between two couples in rural England during the harsh winter of 1962-63. Miller was previously a Booker finalist in 2001 for Oxygen. Desai, 54, follows closely with 2-1 odds for The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, her first novel in nearly two decades. The nearly 700-page book follows two young Indians navigating life in the United States around the turn of the millennium. Desai won the Booker Prize in 2006 for The Inheritance of Loss, and a second win would make her the fifth author to claim the award twice, joining J.M. Coetzee, Peter Carey, Margaret Atwood, and Hilary Mantel. Other contenders include Hungarian-British author David Szalay’s Flesh, Susan Choi’s family saga Flashlight, Katie Kitamura’s exploration of acting and identity in Audition, and Ben Markovits’ midlife-crisis road trip novel The Rest of Our Lives. Roddy Doyle, a Booker laureate himself in 1993 for Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, praised all six books for addressing major social themes, including migration and class, in a “brilliantly human” way. Founded in 1969, the Booker Prize has a long history of transforming writers’ careers, with past winners including Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, Arundhati Roy, and Samantha Harvey, who won the 2024 prize for Orbital. Originally limited to authors from the U.K., Ireland, and the Commonwealth, the prize opened to U.S. writers in 2014. This year’s shortlist includes three American authors—Choi, Kitamura, and Markovits—and Desai, who has long resided in New York.   Source: AP

Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards with nine nods for his latest album GNX, organizers announced Friday. His album is part of a strong showing for hip-hop at this year’s Grammys, alongside Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator and Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Pusha T and Malice. Other top nominees include Lady Gaga, producer Jack Antonoff and singer Sabrina Carpenter. The 2026 Grammy Awards will be held on February 1 in Los Angeles. In the album of the year category, nominees include Debí Tirar Más Fotos by Bad Bunny, Swag by Justin Bieber, Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter, Mayhem by Lady Gaga, Mutt by Leon Thomas, and Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator. Lamar’s collaboration “luther” with SZA earned a nomination for record of the year, while Billie Eilish, Rosé, and Bruno Mars were also among the contenders in key categories. The nominations reflect a diverse mix of pop, hip-hop, and Latin music stars, marking another competitive year for the Grammy stage.   Source: NDTV

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has filed a new lawsuit against his ex-wife Angelina Jolie over the sale of their shared French winery, Château Miraval. According to People magazine, Pitt’s legal team recently submitted fresh documents in court, presenting communications between Jolie’s representatives regarding her 2021 sale of her stake in the winery, which the former couple co-owned. The filings included an email from November 2023 in which Jolie’s lawyers responded to Pitt’s claims for $35 million in damages. They argued that Pitt “created his own burdens” by initiating the lawsuit and must now bear the cost of producing documents that may or may not support his damage claims. Jolie’s team also alleged that Pitt was seeking ongoing compensation for harm to Miraval’s business operations and continued to withhold documents explaining the need for a four-year non-disclosure agreement covering alleged personal misconduct. Pitt first sued Jolie in 2022, claiming she violated their agreement by selling her share without his consent. The legal battle has since dragged on, with both sides accusing each other of withholding information. The next court hearing is scheduled for December 17. Pitt and Jolie, who share six children — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox — separated in 2016 after 12 years together. They finalized their divorce in December 2024.   Source: NDTV

The first teaser for Michael, the much-awaited biopic about pop legend Michael Jackson, has finally arrived. Released on Thursday, November 6, the preview offers audiences their first look at Jaafar Jackson portraying his iconic uncle. The film is slated for release in April 2026. Since the teaser’s debut, fans have been asking—who is the actor playing Michael Jackson? Why does he look so much like the King of Pop? And what’s the story behind his famous last name? Here’s everything to know about Jaafar Jackson. Who is Jaafar Jackson? The striking resemblance seen in the teaser is no accident. Jaafar Jackson is the late superstar’s nephew—the 29-year-old son of Michael’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson. Born in July 1996 in Los Angeles to Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, Jaafar didn’t initially plan to follow the family’s musical legacy. As a teen, he pursued golf before realizing his true passion lay in music. He began singing and dancing at 12 and later showcased his talent as a pianist. In 2019, he released his debut single, Got Me Singing. He also appeared in the reality series The Jacksons: Next Generation and has performed covers of classic artists such as Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. Music Runs in the Family Jaafar hails from one of music’s most celebrated families. His father Jermaine and uncles Jackie, Marlon, Tito, Michael, and Randy were members of the legendary R&B group The Jackson 5. His aunts—Janet, La Toya, and Rebbie Jackson—are also renowned musicians. A Close Bond with His Uncle Jaafar shared a close connection with his uncle Michael. “I recall being at Neverland, playing hide and seek, going on rides, watching movies, and just having a great time,” he told the South China Morning Post. Although he wasn’t pursuing music during his uncle’s career peak, he often wonders about the conversations they might have had about the craft. “I would have asked him many questions about the career I have chosen for myself,” he said. Losing his uncle was heartbreaking. “It was very tough. I can’t even put my mind back to how it felt that day,” Jaafar told Get Balanced. What to Expect from Michael The biopic promises to offer a deeply personal look at Michael Jackson’s life—his rise to global fame, his struggles, and the legacy he left behind. Jaafar’s casting was personally endorsed by Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, who said Jaafar “embodies” her son. The film also features Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Larenz Tate as Motown founder Berry Gordy, Miles Teller as Jackson’s attorney, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall), Michael will chronicle the artist’s journey from his beginnings with The Jackson 5 to his reign as one of the most influential entertainers in history. According to the filmmakers, the movie will give audiences “a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before.” Source: Times of India

Hollywood star and UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie has made a surprise visit to Ukraine’s southern frontline city of Kherson, days after Russian drone strikes hit the war-torn region, Ukrainian media reported Thursday. This marks Jolie’s second visit to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. During her trip, she visited children’s hospitals and maternity wards, where she was seen wearing a bulletproof vest with Ukrainian insignia and interacting with young patients. Local media reported that Jolie arrived in Kherson wearing full protective gear, including a helmet, amid continuing Russian bombardment. Her visit drew wide attention both locally and internationally. According to reports circulating online, Jolie’s bodyguard was briefly drafted into the Ukrainian army during the trip, prompting her to contact authorities for his release before continuing her humanitarian mission. Kherson lies across the Dnipro River from Russian-occupied territory and remains a frequent target of airstrikes and shelling. Jolie, who served as a UN special envoy for refugees from 2012 to 2022, first visited Ukraine shortly after the invasion to meet displaced families in the western city of Lviv. On the work front, the Oscar-winning actress was last seen in Couture, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is currently filming Anxious People.   Source: NDTV

Celebrated filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has revealed that she turned to YouTube content creation after her decade-long break from directing films — partly because of family expenses and partly for fun. Farah, who last directed Happy New Year in 2014, launched her YouTube channel in April 2024, starting with casual cooking vlogs featuring her and her longtime cook, Dilip. The series quickly went viral, earning her nearly 3 million subscribers on YouTube and 4.5 million followers on Instagram. Speaking on the latest episode of Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, the 60-year-old filmmaker explained how she embraced YouTube when film projects weren’t materializing. “Even when my movie was not happening, I said, ‘chal (come on), let me do YouTube,’ because I could see where things were going. Also, I have three kids who go to university next year — and that’s bloody expensive,” she said, referring to her 17-year-old triplets Czar, Anya, and Diva, whom she shares with filmmaker-husband Shirish Kunder. Salman Khan faces legal notice over “misleading” pan masala ads Known for directing blockbusters like Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om and Tees Maar Khan, Farah said she finds joy and purpose in continuing to work. “Your life can’t revolve around another person. Happiness has to come from within and from your work. Work gives me a lot of pleasure,” she said, adding that she hopes to work well into her 80s. The new episode of Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, featuring actor Ananya Panday alongside Farah Khan, premieres Thursday midnight on Prime Video. Source: NDTV

On November 4, 1979, 66 Americans were taken hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis. Forty-six years later, their daring escape remains one of the most remarkable rescue operations in history. Six Americans avoided capture with the help of CIA officer Tony Mendez. He created a plan, known as the “Canadian Caper,” that disguised the diplomats as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a science-fiction movie named Argo. After hiding in Canadian officials’ homes, the six diplomats followed Mendez’s plan to leave Iran safely in January 1980. The operation involved careful planning, fake documents, and a convincing cover story developed with Hollywood experts. The story inspired the 2012 Hollywood film Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, who played Mendez. The film also featured actors portraying the six Americans, Canadian Ambassador Kenneth Taylor, and the CIA and Hollywood team who helped make the escape successful. The rescue combined intelligence, courage, and creativity, showing how art and real-life espionage intersected to save lives during a critical moment in history.   Source: NDTV