United News of Bangladesh

A group of yoga enthusiasts gathered in a Rio de Janeiro favela for the first session of a free training program designed to certify local residents as yoga instructors. Leading the event was Krishna Das, the acclaimed American singer known for performing Hindu devotional music (kirtan). Participants joined together in chanting, singing, clapping, and dancing during a spiritual session led by Das. “It felt like I had stepped into another world,” said Luciene Costa Gonzaga de Andrade, a 54-year-old hairdresser from Rocinha, Brazil’s largest favela. “The mantras lift the spirit and turn sorrow into happiness. It was magical.” De Andrade, one of 20 Rocinha residents enrolled in the training, began practicing yoga to ease chronic lower back pain that once forced her to use a cane. She now hopes to transition from her work at a salon to teaching yoga full-time. “This kind of training would usually be unaffordable for someone like me,” she said. “Maybe one day I’ll leave the salon behind and focus on teaching.” The initiative is a 14-month program by the Yoganaya International School and wellness company Mude. It aims to train 180 yoga instructors from Rio and São Paulo’s low-income neighborhoods. Graduates will receive paid internships within their communities. Participants are provided with uniforms, yoga mats, sound equipment, stipends, and job support. Renata Mozzini, founder of Yoganaya, said the program was created to break the “elitist bubble” around yoga. “Many people here assume yoga isn’t for them — that it’s for the wealthy or those with perfect lives. But yoga is for everyone,” she said, highlighting existing local yoga efforts like the community-led “Yoga na Lage” (Yoga on the Rooftop) in Rocinha. Organizers invited Krishna Das to join the kickoff after hearing he was touring South America. The event, held in a scenic open-air space overlooking Rio’s iconic landmarks like the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and Christ the Redeemer, drew around 150 attendees. “It was such a rich and beautiful evening,” Das told the Associated Press. “It’s a joy to sing with them, to inspire them, and to support their journey despite the challenges they face.” Among those inspired was Daniela Moraes, a 47-year-old beach vendor from Rocinha who is also training to be a yoga teacher. A longtime fan of Krishna Das on YouTube, she was moved to hear him live — especially in her own neighborhood. “Seeing him here in the favela makes it even more meaningful,” she said. “This kind of experience shouldn’t be exclusive.”  

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has opened up about his relationship with girlfriend Gauri Spratt, revealing that while the couple may not have formally tied the knot, he already feels emotionally committed to her. Speaking to Screen, the 60-year-old actor said, “Gauri and I are really serious about each other, and we are in a committed space. We are partners. We are together. Marriage is something… in my heart, I’m already married to her. So, whether we formalise it or not is something I will decide as we go along.” Aamir introduced Gauri Spratt to the public on his 60th birthday earlier this year. Gauri, who owns a salon in Mumbai, is also associated with Aamir Khan Productions. Since going public with their relationship, the couple has made several appearances together, including at the premiere of Sitaare Zameen Par, where they arrived hand-in-hand. War 2 Plot Leaks Spark Buzz Around Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr Reflecting on how they met, Aamir earlier told podcaster Raj Shamani that their relationship began unexpectedly. “Gauri and I met by mistake and we connected. We became friends, and love happened. I used to think I didn’t need a partner because I have my mother, kids, and siblings – so many close relationships.” On the work front, Aamir was last seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, which hit theatres on June 20, 2025. The film is considered a spiritual sequel to his acclaimed 2007 release Taare Zameen Par. Source: NDTV

Acclaimed filmmaker Redoan Rony and popular actor Afran Nisho are set to collaborate for the first time in Redoan Rony's upcoming feature film 'Domm', inspired by true events and slated for release during Eid-ul-Fitr next year.   Both Rony and Nisho confirmed their involvement in the project which they described as a performance-driven, large-canvas film with strong emotional depth.   Written and directed by Rony—who earned a National Film Award for 'Chorabali', his debut feature—'Domm' narrates a story about the “power of a common man.”   “This is a story I’ve been waiting to tell for a long time,” Rony said about the film, adding: “The film is about a regular man rising against the odds. It’s not just about me, this story will inspire audiences too.”   Afran Nisho, who has gained widespread popularity through his recent performances in his debut film 'Surongo' and this year's superhit Eid film 'Daagi', called 'Domm' a “survival and inspirational story” unlike anything he has seen before in Bangladeshi cinema.   “There’s an intensity in the narrative, to which I was drawn immediately. It’s a big challenge for any actor, and that makes it even more exciting,” said Nisho, adding: “This film might be even bigger in scale than my last two.”   Though both Rony and Nisho have worked extensively in the media industry for years, 'Domm' marks their first collaboration and their debut film together.   Kolkata 20th Tele Cine Awards: Afzal Hossain, Chanchal Chowdhury, Bappa Mazumder honoured   Interestingly, when the project was initially announced in December 2023, it was revealed that celebrated actor Chanchal Chowdhury would be the main lead of the cast. Addressing questions about Chowdhury’s involvement now, Rony clarified that both actors will star in the film together: “Having both Nisho and Chanchal onboard is a dream comes true scenario for 'Domm'.”   Speaking about the film, Chanchal Chowdhury noted, “Redoan Rony returning to direction is itself a reason to celebrate. The story of 'Domm' is remarkable—one I haven’t come across before."    "It’s a challenging project, and I believe audiences will be surprised,” Chanchal Chowdhury mentioned.    As anticipation builds, fans have taken to social media with questions about the lead female actor and shooting locations. Rony responded, “We’re in the final stages of casting and location scouting. I’m grateful for the overwhelming interest and hope to begin filming very soon.”   The film is being jointly produced by SVF Alpha-i Entertainment Limited and Chorki. Shahriar Shakil, Managing Director of SVF Alpha-i, expressed high hopes for the project.   “After 'Surongo', 'Toofan', 'Daagi', and 'Taandob', the audience now expects powerful storytelling and performance. With 'Domm', we are committed to delivering just that,” Shakil said.   'Domm' will be Redoan Rony’s third film. Apart from 'Chorabali', he is known for creating numerous hit TV dramas like 'Housefull', 'FNF', 'Behind the Scene', and 'Pata Jhorar Din'.   He currently serves as the CEO of Chorki, one of the country's leading and successful OTT platforms.

Matt Cameron, the longtime drummer for rock band Pearl Jam, announced Monday he is leaving the group after nearly three decades. In a heartfelt social media post, the 62-year-old musician wrote, “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter.” Cameron did not provide a reason for his departure. Pearl Jam released a statement calling Cameron a “singular and true powerhouse” who had propelled the band’s live shows and studio recordings for nearly three decades. “It was a deeply important chapter for our group and we wish him well always,” the band said. No replacement was named. Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998, initially as a touring drummer after Jack Irons left the band. He brought much-needed stability behind the drum kit after several lineup changes. His first studio album with the band was Binaural in 2000. BTS’ ‘Dynamite’ ranks 34th on Apple Music’s decade list Before joining Pearl Jam, Cameron rose to fame with Soundgarden, playing through the height of Seattle’s grunge explosion. He briefly juggled duties with both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam from 2010 to 2017. Cameron recently completed a yearlong tour with Pearl Jam in support of their 12th studio album, Dark Matter. Born in San Diego and later moving to Seattle, Cameron has been a prominent figure in rock for more than three decades. Source: Agency 

Eminent Bangladeshi lalon and folk singer Farida Parveen is currently undergoing treatment with the full support of her family and is not facing any financial constraints in this regard, her son Imam Zafar Numanee clarified recently. In a Facebook post on Monday, journalist-lyricist and cultural figure Tanvir Tareq mentioned that Imam Zafar Numanee, son of renowned singer Farida Parveen, has dismissed recent speculations about his mother facing difficulties in affording her medical treatment, calling the claims misleading. “Alhamdulillah, all of us siblings are well-established and we are fully capable of bearing our mother's treatment expenses. Even if we didn't contribute, my mother has sufficient savings to cover her treatment,” he mentioned. He further added that the entire family including himself his siblings, their spouses, and others, have been personally attending to the ailing singer round-the-clock. “She has been unwell for quite some time, particularly since 2019, when she began suffering from kidney complications. She has been receiving treatment for years, but her condition worsened recently after starting dialysis,” he noted. According to Imam Zafar, several individuals, including cultural ministry officials and other well-wishers, reached out to the family inquiring whether any financial assistance was needed for Farida Parveen's treatment. However, the artist firmly declined such help. “My mother made it clear that she does not want to receive any such financial assistance,” he stated. Rare folk treasures at risk in Kurigram’s Bhawaiya Museum In light of this, Imam Zafar Numanee urged everyone to refrain from spreading misinformation and instead keep Farida Parveen in their prayers. “Please pray for her speedy recovery so that she can return to her musical pursuits,” he said. Farida Parveen is widely acclaimed for her contributions to Bengali folk music, especially her renditions of Lalon's songs. In 1968, her musical career started with performing Nazrul Sangeet for Rajshahi Radio.  She eventually studied Lalon music under the tutelage of her spiritual guru Moksed Ali Shah after becoming well-known in the early 1970s for her patriotic songs.  In acknowledgment of her contributions to music, Farida Parveen received the Ekushey Padak in 1987.

Four Korean songs, including hits by BTS and BLACKPINK's Rose, have been included in Apple Music’s list of the 500 most-streamed songs of the past decade. Apple Music released the “10 Years of Apple Music: Top Songs” playlist on Sunday (U.S. time) to mark the 10th anniversary of the streaming service. BTS’ global hit single “Dynamite,” released in 2020, ranked 34th on the list — the highest placement for any K-pop track. “Dynamite” was also the only K-pop song to appear in the top 100 of the list. The next highest-ranked K-pop entry was BTS’ 2021 single “Butter,” which placed 252nd. Both songs achieved worldwide popularity, reaching the top five on Apple Music’s “Today’s Top 100: Global” chart upon release. Netflix’s fictional K-pop group Saja Boys break BTS record Another Korean track, “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong, ranked 351st. The viral children’s song gained global fame with its catchy, repetitive lyrics, “Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”BLACKPINK’s Rose also made the list at 459th, thanks to her collaboration single “APT.” with pop star Bruno Mars. The track dominated Apple Music’s “Today’s Top 100: Global” chart for over 60 consecutive days.   Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” secured the overall top spot on the list, followed by The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” at No. 2 and Drake’s “God’s Plan” at No. 3. Drake had the most entries on the list with 27 songs, followed by Taylor Swift with 14 and Ed Sheeran with 11. Source: Yonhap

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, widely popular in Tamil Nadu for his successful stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is all set to make his acting debut in a Tamil film. Raina, often fondly called "Chinna Thala" by CSK fans, will be seen on the big screen receiving full mass-hero treatment, complete with dramatic low-angle shots and cheerleaders welcoming him into the frame. The upcoming film is being produced under the Dream Knight Stories (DKS) banner. Ranbir Kapoor-Yash Starrer Ramayana: India's most expensive film franchise Suresh Raina's massy film entry Dream Knight Stories (DKS) announced Suresh Raina’s acting debut through a video shared on their official Instagram handle. In the video, Raina — fondly known as 'Chinna Thala' among Chennai Super Kings fans — is seen walking into a cricket stadium as a massive crowd cheers for him. The film, which is yet to be titled, is expected to revolve around the sport of cricket. It will be directed by Logan and produced by D Saravana Kumar under the DKS banner. While releasing the video, the makers captioned it, “Welcoming Chinna Thala @sureshraina3 on board for #DKSProductionNo1!” #With inputs from Hindustan Times

In a significant legal setback for Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned a two-decade-old trial court verdict, ordering a retrial in the high-profile Bhopal royal property dispute worth an estimated Rs 15,000 crore. The case revolves around the inheritance claims to the vast estate of the late Nawab of Bhopal, Mohammad Hamidullah Khan, whose descendants — including Saif Ali Khan, his sister, and veteran actress Sharmila Tagore — have been seeking partition and possession of the ancestral properties since 1999. A single bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi ruled that the 2000 judgment by the Bhopal District Court, which dismissed the family’s civil suits, was based on an outdated legal precedent set by the Allahabad High Court — a ruling that the Supreme Court overturned in 2020, reports NDTV. Netflix’s fictional K-pop group Saja Boys break BTS record The disputed properties, spread across various categories, have been at the centre of one of India’s longest-running royal inheritance battles. The plaintiffs argue that under Muslim Personal Law, the Nawab’s private assets should have been distributed among his heirs following his death in 1960, rather than passing entirely to his daughter Begum Sajida Sultan. However, the Indian government had recognised Sajida Sultan as the sole successor, citing the 1949 Bhopal Merger Agreement and constitutional provisions. The defence maintained that under the terms of the merger and the tradition of primogeniture, the Nawab’s private properties automatically passed to the appointed heir to the Gaddi (throne), negating division among other family members. Finding flaws in the trial court's heavy reliance on the now-invalidated Allahabad ruling, the High Court invoked its authority under Order 14 Rule 23A of the Civil Procedure Code to remand the matter for a fresh hearing. Noting the case’s prolonged pendency, the High Court directed the lower court to fast-track the retrial and strive to conclude it within a year. The verdict marks the beginning of renewed legal proceedings in one of India’s most iconic princely family disputes, where questions of tradition, succession, and property rights remain fiercely contested.

Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters is not only slaying demons on screen but also breaking music records, with its fictional K-Pop group Saja Boys surpassing a milestone previously held by global superstars BTS. The group’s track Your Idol has climbed to No. 2 on the US Spotify chart, making it the highest-charting song by a K-Pop boy band in US Spotify history. The achievement surpasses BTS’ hit Dynamite, which peaked at No. 3 in 2020 — an extraordinary feat considering Saja Boys exist only within the animated world of the film. The buzz around Saja Boys began after the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard charts and has continued to climb. Fans have praised the group’s catchy music and eye-catching visuals. Even BTS leader RM was spotted singing the group’s upbeat track Soda Pop during a livestream, seen by many as a sign of approval from the K-Pop icons themselves. BTS comes back but K-pop has changed In the film’s storyline, the Saja Boys are secretly demons whose meteoric rise in fame drains the magical powers protecting Earth — a twist that reflects their rapid popularity in the real world. Meanwhile, fictional rivals HUNTR/X, who play the protectors in the movie, are also gaining attention. Their song Golden has achieved strong streaming numbers. The voices behind Saja Boys include actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Joel Kim Booster, Alan Lee, and SungWon Cho, while their songs are performed by a lineup of real-life vocalists: Andrew Choi, Samuil Lee, Kevin Woo, Neckwav, and Danny Chung. K-Pop Demon Hunters has become one of Netflix’s biggest animated hits of the year. With growing Grammy and Oscar buzz surrounding the film’s music and animation, speculation is rising among fans about possible sequels, spinoffs, or even a live-action adaptation. While nothing has been confirmed, the success of this K-Pop-meets-demon-hunting concept suggests Netflix may continue expanding the franchise. Source: News18

Setting a remarkable example of environmental transformation, a group of dedicated volunteers from home and beyond have turned a neglected and polluted lakeside area in the capital’s upscale Banani-Gulshan locality into a green, vibrant public park, offering a refreshing model of community-led urban renewal. Despite being perceived as a posh and relatively pollution-free part of Dhaka, the lakes and its adjacent areas in Gulshan and Banani were long plagued by waste, abandonment, and criminal activity. That changed when a visionary community initiative titled ‘55Kodomtola: Greening Gulshan and Banani Lakeside’ began to reclaim and beautify the space. On Friday morning, the recently inaugurated 'Banani Society 55k Adda Park' was buzzing with activity. From 7am, volunteers of all ages and professions were seen painting benches, fences, and walls to beautify the park. Among them was Mahmud Rahman, a renowned photographer and storyteller, and the initiator of the 55Kodomtola project. “As a resident in this Gulshan-Banani lakeside 55 number road, I started cleaning this lakeside area and planting trees in January 2022. Over time, the work has expanded to cover nearly 4 kilometers, with our volunteer count now standing at 160,” Mahmud told UNB. “Then I asked myself—why shouldn’t this lakeside become a park? Why should it remain a dump site?” Mahmud, who specializes in visual anthropology, said their recent effort to build the park was followed by a beautification drive led by volunteers like Julien Deur, Head of the Economic Department at the French Embassy in Bangladesh.