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Today in History: Actor Paul Walker dies in Porsche crash at age 40
Today is Thursday, Nov. 30, the 334th day of 2023. There are 31 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Nov. 30, 2013, actor Paul Walker star of the “Fast & Furious” movie series, died with his friend, Roger W. Rodas, who was at the wheel of a Porsche sports car that crashed and burned north of Los Angeles. Walker was 40.
On this date:
In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.
In 1803, Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which had sold it to the United States.
In 1874, British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England.
In 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.
In 1982, the motion picture “Gandhi,” starring Ben Kingsley as the Indian nationalist leader, had its world premiere in New Delhi.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers.
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In 2000, Al Gore’s lawyers battled for his political survival in the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts; meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee moved to award the presidency to George W. Bush in case the courts did not by appointing their own slate of electors.
In 2004, “Jeopardy!” fans saw Ken Jennings end his 74-game winning streak as he lost to real estate agent Nancy Zerg.
In 2010, the Obama administration announced that all 197 airlines that flew to the U.S. had begun collecting names, genders and birth dates of passengers so the government could check them against terror watch lists before they boarded flights.
In 2011, an Arizona jury sentenced convicted “Baseline Killer” Mark Goudeau (goo-DOH’) to death for killing nine people in the Phoenix area. (He remains on death row.)
In 2012, Israel approved the construction of 3,000 homes in Jewish settlements on occupied lands, drawing swift condemnation from the Palestinians a day after their successful bid for recognition by the United Nations.
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In 2017, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on veteran Democratic congressman John Conyers to resign in the face of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. (Conyers resigned five days later.)
In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush, a World War II hero who rose through the political ranks to the nation’s highest office, died at his Houston home at the age of 94; his wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, had died in April.
In 2020, two battleground states, Wisconsin and Arizona, certified their presidential election tallies in favor of Joe Biden, even as President Donald Trump’s legal team continued to dispute the results.
In 2021, Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore, opened fire at a Michigan high school, killing four students and wounding seven other people.
In 2022, House Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress as long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team stepped aside.
Today’s Birthdays: Country singer-recording executive Jimmy Bowen is 86. Movie director Ridley Scott is 86. Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward is 83. Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 80. Rock musician Roger Glover (Deep Purple) is 78. Playwright David Mamet (MA’-meht) is 76. Actor Mandy Patinkin is 71. Musician Shuggie Otis is 70. Country singer Jeannie Kendall is 69. Singer Billy Idol is 68. Historian Michael Beschloss is 68. Rock musician John Ashton (The Psychedelic Furs) is 66. Comedian Colin Mochrie is 66. Former football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 61. Rapper Jalil (Whodini) is 60. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 58. Rock musician Mike Stone is 54. Music producer Steve Aoki is 46. Singer Clay Aiken is 45. Actor Billy Lush is 42. Actor Elisha Cuthbert is 41. Actor Kaley Cuoco (KWOH’-koh) is 38. Model Chrissy Teigen is 38. Actor Christel Khalil is 36. Actor Rebecca Rittenhouse is 35. Actor Adelaide Clemens is 34. World chess champion Magnus Carlsen is 33. Actor Tyla Harris is 23.
Parambrata Chattopadhyay ties the knot with Piya Chakraborty
Popular Indian-Bengali actor-filmmaker Parambrata Chattopadhyay, often referred to as one of the most eligible bachelors in West Bengal and the Pan-Indian television and film industry, finally tied the knot on Monday.
The West Bengal superstar married Piya Chakraborty, the former wife of popular Indian-Bengali singer-songwriter and music director Anupam Roy.
Parambrata shared the news on Monday across his social media profiles with a heartfelt caption, tagging his newlywed lifepartner. The couple has since been showered with love, wishes and blessings online.
Also read: Bidya Sinha Mim ties knot
Born in 1980 in a culturally diverse family in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Parambrata rose to fame as the fictitious detectives "Topshe" and "Feluda" under the direction of renowned director Satyajit Ray's son Sandip Ray.
He is the nephew of the eminent Indian-Bengali writer and activist Mahasweta Devi and the grandnephew of legendary Indian-Bengali filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak.
Debuted in Bollywood with the 2012 Hindi film "Kahaani" alongside Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Parambrata Chattopadhyay debuted in Bangladeshi films with Fakhrul Arefeen Khan’s directorial debut film "Bhubon Majhi" (2017). He has also been a part of the ensemble cast of the renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s much-anticipated film "Saturday Afternoon" (Shonibar Bikel).
Also read: Tasnia Farin ties the knot with teenage sweetheart
"Hemanter Pakhi" (2003), "Bhalo Theko" (2003), "Baishe Srabon" (2011), "Hemlock Society" (2012), "Chotushkone" (2014), "Kadambari" (2017), "Anukul" (2017), "Pari" (2018), "Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi" (2019), "Dwitiyo Purush" (2020), "Bulbbul" (2020), and "Doctor Bakshi" (2023) are some of his famous works till date.
He made his directorial debut with the 2011 feature film "Jiyo Kaka" (2011) starring Rituparna Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh. His second directorial venture was "Hawa Bodol" (2013), and under the direction of the Oscar-winning American film- and television-director, film-producer and screenwriter Jeffrey D Brown’s 2014 film "Sold“, Parambrata debuted in Hollywood.
Pia Chakraborty got married to Anupam Roy in December 2015. They got divorced in 2021.
Also read: Popular singer Imran Mahmudul ties the knot
Zonta Clubs of Bangladesh observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the globally recognized service organization Zonta International began its annual “16 Days of Activism” campaign against gender-based violence on Saturday. All six Zonta Clubs in Bangladesh observed the day.
The campaign will include a number of events and activities aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls in society and advancing women’s rights – beginning on November 25 and running through December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Read: Zonta Clubs of Bangladesh commemorate UN day
Members of all Zonta clubs in Dhaka gathered and held a rally on Saturday at Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in Gulshan to advocate for women’s rights, eliminating child marriage, and raising awareness for gender-equal climate action.
Wearing the thematic orange t-shirts with the Zonta logo and carrying banners and placards in English and Bangla, Zonta Club members held a procession in the park and shared their viewpoints and agenda.
It was followed by a discussion programme held at the Gulshan Ladies Community Club which was addressed by Nilufer Zafarullah, Chair of the Zonta District 25 Area 2 Advocacy Committee; Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain, District 25 Governor-Elect; Farahnaz Qaiyum, Area Director of D-25, Area-2; Zaheda Samdani, Vice Area Director of D-25, Area-2; and Dilruba Ahmed, District 25 Rules and Resolutions Committee Chair.
Talking about the initiatives, Nilufer Zafarullah said, “Zonta District 25 is made up of four neighboring countries: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Area 2 of this unit is made up of Bangladesh and Nepal, and the same activities are being held in Nepal.”
Describing the mission, vision and activities of the club, District 25 Governor-Elect Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain said, “As of now, Zonta International is globally operating with more than one thousand club units which build a supportive community of more than 0.2 million like-minded professional women around the world. In Bangladesh, we have five clubs in Dhaka and one in Chattogram.”
Read: First Area meeting of Zonta International District-25 held in Chattogram
Pori Moni’s grandfather no more
Dhallywood star Pori Moni’s maternal grandfather Shamsul Haque Gazi died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka early Friday.
He breathed his last around 2:11 am at the Intensive Care Unit of Evercare Hospital in the capital, Producer Chayanika Chowdhury confirmed in a Facebook post today.
Chayanika wrote: “After giving bath to him (Nanubhai) at Gulshan Azad Mosque at 4am, Pori Moni is on her way to village home Shingkhali in Ikri union of Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur. He will be laid to rest there next to Pori Moni's grandmother.”
"Shamsul Haque Gazi was a well-educated and big-hearted person. He had a capacity of spreading unequivocal love and humanism throughout his life and we will never forget him. Everyone will pray for Pori and her grandfather,” Chayanika also wrote.
Since losing her parents when she was young, Pori Moni grew up at her grandfather’s place.
Later, the actress lived with her grandfather in Dhaka.
To Gaza from Dhaka’: Concert at Hatirjheel Amphitheater on Friday
Uniting voices against the ongoing brutal attacks in Gaza by Israel, several Bangladeshi artists will perform in a charity concert titled ‘To Gaza from Dhaka’ on Friday in the capital’s Hatirjheel Amphitheater.
The concert is being organized by the platform Artists Against Genocide, known for its recent projects such as the 73 graffiti works by cartoonist Morshed Mishu and team in different parts of Dhaka. The concert will feature performances by a number of leading and popular Bangladeshi musicians.
The line-up includes Maqsood O' dHAKA, Ark, AvoidRafa, Nemesis, Indalo, Meghdol, Shohojia, Karnival, Highway, Hatirpool Sessions, Firoze Jong, Moruvumi, Moonflower, Masha Islam, rapper Shafayat, Aseer Arman, Rezaul Karim Leemon, Black Zang, Muiz Mahfuz, Avishek Bhattacharjee and Ahmed Hasan Sunny. Eminent music director Prince Mahmud and lyricist Latiful Islam Shibli will be featured as special guests at the event alongside the musicians.
Acclaimed musician and actor Ahmed Hasan Sunny, one of the organizers of this charity concert, told UNB that the event is a fundraiser for Gaza, aimed at demanding a ceasefire while offering much-needed assistance to Palestinian civilians dealing with continued struggles due to the current conflict.
Read: Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert as fans complain about high temperatures and lack of water
“For years, the innocent civilians in Palestine have been suffering from oppression and now the ongoing genocide in Gaza must be protested from every corner of the world. This concert is a symbolic open letter to Gaza, through which, we — the Bangladeshi artists — hope to send a message of empathy to the civilians in Gaza, informing them that they are not alone in this battle,” Sunny told UNB.
Mentioning that the artists are not taking any money for this charity concert, Sunny informed UNB that all proceeds from ticket sales and donations will go to Gaza through NGOs who are actively working in Gaza such as Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, or the Red Crescent. Due to currency and transaction difficulties, the exact NGO is not yet fixed but will be finalized as soon as possible.
“As you can understand, the biggest roadblock is to send the proceeds to the people in dire need, as funds transfer is being blocked by the oppressors. We contacted the Palestinian ambassador in Dhaka who expressed gratitude for this event and shared the Palestinian flag with us, and we invited him to join us in this concert,” Sunny said.
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The event already created buzz on social media platforms, and many celebrities including Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, Chanchal Chowdhury, and others including the performing musicians are sharing the event with engaging captions, lauding the initiative. “A big shout out to the friends behind the ‘To Gaza From Dhaka’ concert! Artists are essentially political animals!,” Farooki wrote in his Facebook post.
Intending to offer a great musical experience to the audiences, Sunny said that the platform is taking the utmost preparation possible. “We are immensely grateful to our esteemed artists who are performing in this concert and also the celebrities and music lovers who are expressing solidarity, such as the comedy club Stand Up Dhaka which cancelled its upcoming event on November 24 for this event,” Sunny stated.
The event features three levels of tickets with three separate price points: BDT 500, 1000, and 1500. Furthermore, anybody can donate as well as purchase available tickets from the website https://getsetrock.com/, which also displays a live count of the total acquired donation.
Concertgoers can enter the venue from 2:30 pm onwards while the concert will start at 3:30 pm. Additional information is available on the Facebook pages of the event and the organizers.
Coldplay concert in Malaysia can be stopped by organizers if the band misbehaves, government says
Organizers of Wednesday's Coldplay concert in Malaysia can stop the show if the British rock band misbehaves, a minister said as the government rejected Muslim conservatives' calls to cancel the show.
Led by the country's opposition bloc, Muslim conservatives have protested the concert over Coldplay’s support for the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, they also pushed for the concert to be halted in solidarity with Palestinians killed in the Israel-Hamas war.
Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he doesn't foresee any problem with Coldplay's first concert in Malaysia later in the night. Security has been beefed up for the show that is expected to draw some 75,000 people at a stadium outside Kuala Lumpur.
Read: Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert as fans complain about high temperatures and lack of water
“Yes, it's one of the things we have discussed with the organizer,” Fahmi said when asked if a 'kill switch" to cut off power supply will be used.
“The prime minister has also said the band, you know, is very supportive of Palestine. So, we are upbeat about the concert today,” he added.
Malaysia introduced the kill switch measure recently after a controversy sparked by British band The 1975 in Kuala Lumpur in July. The band's lead singer slammed the country’s anti-gay laws and kissed a male bandmate during their performance, sparking a backlash among Muslims and prompted the government to cut short a three-day music festival.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has justified allowing the Coldplay concert, telling Parliament on Tuesday that “Coldplay is actually among the bands that support Palestine." He noted that the previous administration, before he took power in November 2022, had approved the concert. Anwar said pro-Palestinian groups also approached his office in support of the Coldplay concert.
The opposition Islamic party PAS slammed Anwar's stance. While Coldplay supports the Palestinian cause, it also encourages hedonism, said its information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
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“This is not about whether they purely support the Palestinian cause or not but the issue of hedonism culture that they bring to our community,” he said Tuesday in Parliament. PAS, which has expanded its influence following strong Muslim support in the 2022 elections, often protests concerts by international artists that it said were incompatible with Muslim values.
Officials from concert organizer Live Nation Malaysia couldn't be immediately reached for comment. It issued a statement to concert-goers a few days ago, reminding them to be “mindful of local cultures and sensitivities” and refrain from displaying props or items that may cause discomfort to others.
Police have warned the public to refrain from any sort of provocation and inciting unrest at the concert, which is part of Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour.
Coldplay also met with resistance from Muslims when they performed in Indonesia earlier this month. Protesters held rallies right up to the day of its concert, slamming the band as an LGBTQ+ “propagandist” whose stance damages “faith and morals.”
Coldplay is renowned for interlacing its values with its shows, such as the band’s push for environmental sustainability. Lead singer Chris Martin has been known to wear rainbow colors and wave gay pride flags during performances.
Latest Release: Love, Laughter, and South Indian Charm
In a bid to bring joy to audiences, Bongo, the OTT platform, has recently released the Bengali dubbed version of the much-loved South Indian film 'Hello Guru Prema Kosame.'
This heartwarming romantic comedy, originally released in Telugu in 2018, has garnered immense praise since its launch, said a media release on Tuesday.
The film follows the story of Sanju, a young man from a village who, after successfully completing his engineering degree, moves to the city to pursue a job and make his middle-class parents proud.
Finding accommodation at Vishwanath's house, he gradually falls in love with Anupama, Vishwanath's daughter, despite initial reservations.
However, a twist in the tale reveals that Anupama is already engaged to another man, with their wedding just a month away.
The narrative explores the complexities of love, friendship, and life's unexpected turns. Viewers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as they witness Sanju's journey and his challenges in navigating his feelings for Anupama.
The film, featuring popular South Indian actors such as Ram Pothineni, Anupama Parameswaran, Pranita Subhash, and Prakash Raj, has received a warm welcome from the Bengali audience.
Bongo's senior marketing specialist, Hira Shil, expressed, "This new movie has been well received by our Bongo audience. This movie is doing very well compared to other movies. Even the little clips on Facebook are getting great responses!"
Bongo, committed to providing wholesome entertainment to the people of Bangladesh, said it takes pride in presenting 'Hello Guru Prema Kosame' to its audience.
The movie's success further exemplifies Bongo's dedication to bringing diverse and engaging content to its viewers.
Audiences can now enjoy this captivating romantic-comedy on the Bongo platform, indulging in the delightful performances of the cast and the charming storyline that has captivated hearts across South India.
12th JS Election: Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2
Ensuring her wish to participate in the forthcoming National Election, Dhallywood’s popular actress Mahiya Mahi has collected the nomination form to contest for the Chapainawabganj-2 constituency from Awami League.
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Mahi, who was born and brought up in the area under the constituency, confirmed the development on her official Facebook account.
“Alhamdulillah. By the grace of Allah, today (Saturday) I collected the party nomination papers of Bangladesh Awami League for Chapainawabganj-2 seat,” Mahi wrote on Saturday night.
The actress uploaded a photo of herself holding the nomination form with her husband Rakib Sarkar, mother Dilara Yasmin, and father Abu Bakar Khokon on her official Facebook page, also stating that she would submit the nomination form on November 20 at 3 pm.
Speaking to journalists earlier, Mahi talked about her desire to enter the parliament with a mission to work for the people of the aforementioned constituency.
DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi gets bail
“I am a native of this district and constituency by birth, and people have wanted me to get a nomination ever since I stepped up into politics. I will seek the nomination for the people of Chapainawabganj-2 constituency," Mahi, the Joint General Secretary of the Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote (Bangabandhu Cultural Alliance), said as a guest speaker at the Nawabganj Government Women's College's student assembly on Wednesday.
Speaking to the journalists, she added, “There are significant scopes for meaningful projects in the parliamentary constituency of Chapainawabganj-2. I have some significant, women-specific plans as well - and I shall continue to fight for the advancement of our district and the women's society, whether I get the nomination or not.”
“Being a public representative allows one to have an impact, and in my opinion, everything is possible if one is determined enough. I recognize that, from this vantage point, I could make significant contributions to the welfare of the local populace if I get nominated,” Mahi told the journalists at the event.
Earlier this year, Mahi bought the nomination form of the ruling party to participate in the by-election from the Chapainawabganj-2 constituency. However, she failed to get the nomination.
Actress Mahiya Mahi arrested from Dhaka Airport after landing from Saudi Arabia
Numerous popular celebrities, including Ferdous, Shakeel Khan, Jyotika Jyoti, Tareen Jahan, and Rokeya Prachi, have also expressed interest in taking part in the forthcoming National Election on January 7 next year.
Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert as fans complain about high temperatures and lack of water
A 23-year-old Taylor Swift fan died at the singer's Eras Tour concert in Rio de Janeiro Friday night, according to a statement from the show's organizers in Brazil. Both Swifties and politicians reacted to the news with outrage.
While a cause of death for Ana Clara Benevides Machado has not been announced, fans complained they were not allowed to take water into Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium despite soaring temperatures.
A group launched an online petition Saturday morning calling for a “Benevides Law” to “make water in events mandatory.”
The petition garnered more than 150,000 signatures in just a few hours. Federal authorities announced that free water would be made available at all future concerts.
In a handwritten note shared on her social media, Swift said she had a “shattered heart."
“There’s very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young,” the singer wrote of the young woman.
The show's organizer, Time4Fun, said on Instagram that paramedics attended to Benevides after she reported feeling unwell. She was taken to a first-aid center and then to a hospital, where she died an hour later, the statement from the Brazilian live entertainment company said.
Concert-goers said they were not allowed to bring water bottles into the stadium even though Rio and most of Brazil have had record-breaking temperatures this week amid a dangerous and lasting heat wave. The daytime high in Rio on Friday was 39.1 degrees Celsius (102.4 degrees Fahrenheit), but it felt much hotter.
Elizabeth Morin, 26, who recently moved to Rio from Los Angeles, described “sauna-like” conditions inside the stadium.
“It was extremely hot. My hair got so wet from sweat as soon as I came in,” she said. “There was a point at which I had to check my breathing to make sure I wasn’t going to pass out.”
Morin said she drank plenty of water but saw “a good amount of people looking distressed” and others “yelling for water.” She said she was able to get water from the sidelines of the area she was standing in, but that water was a lot harder to access from other parts of the stadium, “especially if you were concerned about losing your specific position.”
During the show, Swift paused her performance and asked from the stage for water to be brought to a group of people who had successfully caught the singer's attention, according to Morin.
“They were holding up their phones saying ‘We need water,’” she recalled.
Justice Minister Flávio Dino said on X that the ministry would implement “emergency rules" in response to the situation. He later announced that "water bottles for personal use, in suitable material, will be allowed" at concerts and other events and that show producers must provide free and easily accessible drinking water.
Before the show, Benevides posted a video of herself on Instgram wearing a Taylor Swift T-shirt and waiting in line to enter the stadium while seeking shade under an umbrella. Like her, thousands of fans waited hours in the sun before being allowed inside.
She told her followers while fanning her face that she’d arrived at 11 a.m. — the show began around 7:30 p.m. — and was “still in the mess.”
Benevides' friend, Daniele Menin, who attended the concert with her, told online news site G1 that her friend passed out at the beginning of the concert, as Swift performed her second song, “Cruel Summer.”
“We always said that when (Taylor Swift) came to Brazil we would find a way to go. The ticket was very expensive, but we still found a way”, Menin told G1.
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said on X the “loss of a young woman’s life ... is unacceptable.”
While authorities are investigating the circumstances of the death, Paes wrote, the municipality will demand Saturday that the show’s production company provide new water distribution points, more brigades and ambulances, and advance entrance to the show by one hour.
Swift has two more shows scheduled in Rio, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
“I'm not going to be able to speak about this from stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it,” she wrote. “I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken heart goes out to her family and friends.”
Author Sarah Bernstein wins Canadian fiction prize for her novel 'Study of Obedience'
Author Sarah Bernstein won the Scotiabank Giller Prize on Monday for her novel “Study for Obedience.”
The Montreal-born, Scotland-based author accepted the $100,000 award remotely from Scotland, where she had a baby just 10 days ago.
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Her novel is about a young woman moving to the remote north where after her arrival, a series of inexplicable events occur.
The 100,000 Canadian dollar ($72,000 U.S.) Giller prize honors the best in Canadian fiction. Past winners have included Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler and Alice Munro.
Just as Bernstein’s name was called at the gala, a protester interrupted the live telecast with anti-Israel war slogans, forcing organizers to repeat the announcement.
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The celebrations were also interrupted early in the broadcast when several anti-Israel protesters jumped onstage.
The Giller was created in 1994 by late businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller.