United News of Bangladesh

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.  

Since the student-led July-August Uprising, large-scale open-air concerts in Dhaka have been put on hold until Friday night’s much-anticipated concert “Magical Night 2.0” at the Army Stadium featuring Pakistani singer Atif Aslam. While the musical experience was enthralling for fans and admirers of the beloved singer, who was accompanied from his motherland by fellow young and popular Abdul Hannan, Bangladesh's own heartthrob Tahsan, the Kaaktaal band, and Bangladeshi EDM and DJ duo Aperuss, the overall experience of audiences and other stakeholders did not match. The main act of the concert began with the young Bangladeshi band Kaaktaal’s performance, who amped up the gradually increasing crowd with their songs like “Rokto Gorom Matha Thanda” and more. Abdul Hannan took the stage at around 7 pm, greeting the crowd by saying, "I am so overwhelmed with your response. This crowd is my biggest crowd so far." Atif Aslam’s Dhaka concert organizers address ticketing concerns, confirm venue Besides his regular songs such as “Iraaday,” he performed Harry Style's "As it was" and his recent collaboration with popular Pakistani band Kaavish at this year's Coke Studio Pakistan, titled "O Yaara."

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.  

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Vladimir Putin's “power games” over the years, remembers contrasting meetings with Barack Obama and Donald Trump and says she asked herself whether she could have done more to prevent Brexit, in her memoirs published Tuesday. Merkel, 70, appears to have no significant doubts about the major decisions of her 16 years as German leader, whose major challenges included the global financial crisis, Europe’s debt crisis, the 2015-16 influx of refugees and the COVID-19 pandemic. True to form, her book — titled “Freedom” — offers a matter-of-fact account of her early life in communist East Germany and her later career in politics, laced with moments of dry wit. Merkel served alongside four U.S. presidents, four French presidents and five British prime ministers. But it is perhaps her dealings with Russian President Putin that have drawn the most scrutiny since she left office in late 2021. Putin's power games Merkel recalls being kept waiting by Putin at the Group of Eight summit she hosted in 2007 — “if there's one thing I can't stand, it's unpunctuality.” And she recounts a visit to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi that year in which Putin's labrador appeared during a photo opportunity, although Putin knew she was afraid of dogs. Putin appeared to enjoy the situation, she writes, and she didn't bring it up — keeping as she often did to the motto “never explain, never complain.” The previous year, she recounts Putin pointing to wooden houses in Siberia and telling her poor people lived there who “could be easily seduced,” and that similar groups had been encouraged by money from the U.S. government to take part in Ukraine's “Orange Revolution” of 2004 against attempted election fraud. Putin, she says, added: “I will never allow something like that in Russia.” Merkel says she was irritated by Putin's “self-righteousness” in a 2007 speech in Munich in which he turned away from earlier attempts to develop closer ties with the U.S. She said that appearance showed Putin as she knew him, “as someone who was always on guard against being treated badly and ready to give out at any time, including power games with a dog and making other people wait for him.” “One could find this all childish and reprehensible, one could shake one's head over it — but that didn't make Russia disappear from the map,” she writes. As she has before, Merkel defends a much-criticized 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine that she helped broker and her government's decisions to buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia. And she argues it was right to keep up diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow until she left power, Obama and Trump Merkel concluded after first meeting then-Sen. Obama in 2008 that they could work well together. More than eight years later, during his last visit as president in Nov. 2016, she was one of the people with whom she discussed whether to seek a fourth term. Obama, she says, asked questions but held back with an opinion, and that in itself was helpful. He “said that Europe could still use me very well, but I should ultimately follow my feelings,” she writes. There was no such warmth with Trump, who had criticized Merkel and Germany in his 2016 campaign. Merkel says she had to seek an “adequate relationship ... without reacting to all the provocations.” In March 2017, there was an awkward moment when Merkel first visited the Trump White House. Photographers shouted “handshake!” and Merkel quietly asked Trump: “Do you want to have a handshake?” There was no response from Trump, who looked ahead with his hands clasped. Merkel faults her own reaction. “He wanted to create a topic of discussion with his behavior, while I had acted as if I were dealing with an interlocutor behaving normally,” she writes. She adds that Putin apparently “fascinated” Trump and, in the following years, she had the impression that “politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits” beguiled him. Could Brexit have been avoided? Merkel says she tried to help then-Prime Minister David Cameron in the European Union as he faced pressure from British Euroskeptics, but there were limits to what she could do. And, pointing to Cameron's efforts over the years to assuage opponents of the EU, she says the road to Brexit is a textbook example of what can arise from a miscalculation. After Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, an outcome she calls a “humiliation” for its other members, she says the question of whether she should have made more concessions to the U.K. “tortured me.” “I came to the conclusion that, in view of the political developments inside the country at the time, there would have been no acceptable possibility for me to prevent Britain's way out of the European Union from outside,” Merkel says. Giving up power Merkel was the first German chancellor to leave power at a time of her choosing. She announced in 2018 that she wouldn't seek a fifth term, and says she “let go at the right point.” She points to three 2019 incidents in which her body shook during public engagements as proof. Merkel says she had herself checked thoroughly and there were no neurological or other findings. An osteopath told her that her body was letting off the tension it had accumulated over years, she adds. “Freedom” runs to more than 700 pages in its original German edition, published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch. The English edition is being released simultaneously by St. Martin's Press.

The South Korean entertainment industry continues to dominate global screens, captivating audiences with its emotionally rich and trend-setting productions. This December, a fresh wave of K-dramas is set to enthrall fans, featuring a mix of romance, comedy, thrillers, action, and biographical stories. Packed with groundbreaking narratives and unexpected twists, these premieres promise to deliver unforgettable entertainment. Here’s a look at the 10 most anticipated K-dramas that are set to redefine Korean television in December 2024. 10 Most Hyped K-Dramas Premiering This December . Cinderella Game / Revenge Drama / December 2, 2024 Penned by Oh Sang-hee, this thriller series excels with Lee Hyun-Kyung as its director. The lead cast includes Han Groo, Kwon Do-Hyung, Park Ri-Won, and Choi Sang, supported by Na Young-Hee, Kim Hye-Ok, and Choi Jong-Hwan. Read more: South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2024: Must-watch Lineup This revenge drama series delves into the life of a woman unknowingly raised by her sworn enemy. Used as a pawn and posed as a false daughter, she becomes the embodiment of vengeance. As her journey unfolds, she embarks on a transformative path of growth and healing, discovering the profound and liberating essence of true revenge. Cinderella Game boasts production by Jidam Media and Miracle K Story. The Road In-between / Romantic Drama / December 3, 2024 Written by Seok Yeon-Hwa, this poignant romantic series centers on Seo-Hoo, a dedicated member of the Road View filming crew, as he grapples with the heartache aftrer a devastating breakup. Parallelly, Eun-Ha embarks on a deeply personal quest to find her father, whose fleeting image was captured on Road View. Together, their paths intertwine in a narrative of emotional separation, tentative self-discovery, and an unexpected turn down the alley of love. Read more: Top 10 Bollywood Movies to Watch in December 2024 Helmed by Lee Hae-Woo, this series stars Jung Gun-Joo, Won Seo-Hoo, Choi Hee-Jin, Seong Eun-Ha, Chae Ha-Jin, Hwang Se-On, Kang Myung-Joo, and Bae Myung-Jin. Light Shop / Mystery Thriller / December 4, 2024 Screenplay by Kang Full, this mystery TV series serves as an adaptation of Kang’s webtoon of the same title. Produced by Mr. Romance and Moving Pictures Co., the thriller series flourishes with Kim Hee-Won as the director. Light Shop boasts an ensemble cast that includes Park Bo-Young, Ju Ji-Hoon, Kim Seol-Hyun, Uhm Tae-Goo, Lee Jung-Eun, Kim Ki-Hae, Bae Seong-Woo, Kim Min-Ha, Park Hyuk-Kwon, and Shin Eun-Soo. Read more: December 2024 Amazon Prime Originals Streaming Lineup: Binge-worthy Watchlist The narrative weaves an extraordinary tale between the realms of the living and the dead, bridging these worlds through a mysterious light shop. Sorry Not Sorry / Romantic Comedy / December 5, 2024 Song Yi’s life takes a quirky turn when she masquerades as a married woman to blend into her new neighborhood. Beneath the façade lies a chaotic reality where she struggles daily with mounting mortgage payments and a cascade of life’s challenges. With this storyline, this lighthearted comedy series highlights the directing of Min Ji-Young and Oh Rae-Young and screenwriting of Choi Ryong and Jo Yoo-Jin, along with Ji-Young. The romantic series features Jeon So-Min in the lead role, accompanied by Choi Daniel, Gong Min Jung, Jang Hee Ryung, Kim Mu Jun, and Woo Kang Min. Read more: Top 10 Netflix English Originals to Watch in November 2024 To My Lonely Sister / Drama / December 10, 2024 Starring Oh Ye-ju, Park Ho-San, Kim Kang-Min, and Yang Eui-Jin in key roles, the series flourishes with Lee Jin-Ah as the director. Scripted by Lim Bo-Mi, the storyline centers on the inner turmoil of a middle school girl striving to break free from the shadow of her reclusive, withdrawn sister.

Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust officially launched the “Shomotay Tarunno: Youth for Equality” project at a Dhaka hotel on Monday. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) is funding this four-year initiative, which will operate in all eight divisions of Bangladesh until November 2027. The project was launched with the aim of preventing gender-based violence, dismantling harmful gender stereotypes, and empowering youth and youth-led organisations at both national and local levels. Press Institute Bangladesh's (PIB) Director General, Faruk Wasif, attended the event as the Chief Guest, while Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh, presided over the ceremony. During the launch, PIB and Plan International Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to produce materials and train journalists to promote gender-sensitive journalism in the country. South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2024: Must-watch Lineup The Netherlands ambassador to Bangladesh, Andre Carstens; Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, Dr Md Khorshed Alam; and Bangladeshi writer and journalist Palash Mahbub participated as special guests. Nishath Sultana, director of Influencing, Campaign, and Communications at Plan Bangladesh, delivered the welcome speech. Neelima Yasmeen, Deputy Director of Programme at Plan International Bangladesh, conducted a youth session, and JAAGO Foundation Trust’s Chairman, Korvi Rakshand, was also present. PIB DG aruk Wasif highlighted the critical role of district and upazila-level journalists in ensuring credible news. He emphasised the importance of empowering journalists to provide factual reporting and praised the government’s commitment to supporting free and independent journalism. Presiding over the event, Kabita Bose said, “Discrimination against girls starts in the womb and persists throughout their lives. Our work focuses on fostering equality among all genders and diversities in society.” Andre Carstens noted the significant contributions of youth in driving positive change, stating, “By engaging in community service, innovation, leadership, and decision-making, Bangladeshi youth are already making an impact. Shomotay Tarunno will involve youths, Youth-Led Organisations (YLOs), the National Youth Council (NYC), media professionals, local content creators, social media influencers, academicians, and policymakers over the next four years.” Dhaka Retro 2024: A melodious night with good old vibes fascinate music lovers Speakers, including Dr Md Khorshed Alam, Palash Mahbub, and Korvi Rakshand, shared their insights, expressing optimism for the project’s long-term success. Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, National Youth Council, youth-led organisations, media professionals, and students from various universities attended the event. The project plans to engage 13,515 direct participants, including youth, National Youth Council members, local content creators, social media influencers, media professionals, educators, and government officials.

Several stray dogs and a cat were killed Friday night in Mohammadpur’s Japan Garden City,  in the capital which ignited fire amongst netizens on social platforms, including celebrities from the country’s cultural arena. Several local netizens on Friday evening posted on Facebook that some stray dogs and cats were being killed by poisoning in Japan Garden City, requesting everyone's cooperation to save the cats and dogs there. Some videos and pictures related to this went viral in no time and as soon as the news spread, many people rushed to Japan Garden City at night. Soon after it went viral, several celebrities including actress Jaya Ahsan, content creator Salman Muqtadir, actor Khairul Basar, actress Jyotika Jyoti, actor Niloy Alamgir, director Raka Noshin Nower, and others posted on their social profiles, condemning the cruelty and demanding justice. Salman Muqtadir wrote on his verified Facebook page: “What has happened to us. We don’t have any soul. There is no point in calling the animals barbaric because people have become barbaric animals these days.” Expressing his rage towards the killers, he added: “May Almighty’s punishment be bestowed upon you before your death. May every second of your last breath remind you of this. I just hope you remember this when you suffer.” Jaya Ahsan wrote on her official Facebook page: “They (the Japan Garden City Building Committee) have wanted it for almost five years but could not do it because of the protest of local animal lovers and various animal welfare organizations. They made it happen today.” Addressing the murderers, actor Khairul Basar wrote: “Even if dogs ever thought of killing you, I would admit that they are dogs, not people! But as human beings, how did you poison innocent dogs?” Meanwhile, a group of animal lovers including actor Niloy Alamgir along with his wife and activist Tasnuva Tabassum Hridi, rushed to Japan Garden City, voicing their outrage against animal cruelty. The People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, a non-profit organization working for the welfare of animals, has called the incident murder and from the foundation, actress-activist and Bangladesh Film Certification Board member Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed filed a complaint at Adabor police station on Saturday to bring those involved in the incident to justice. In that complaint, Nawshaba, on behalf of the Foundation, mentioned that the cat and ten dogs died of pain due to being poisoned. When residents and animal rights activists contacted the police station, a Sub-Inspector (SI) came to the spot and the bodies of three dogs and a cat were found in his presence; Nawshaba alleged that the remaining bodies of the animals were hidden. According to the netizens and media reports, a group of Japan Garden City residents had been campaigning for the killing of stray dogs using the banner 'JGC Life Safety' for some time, and had been circulating banners and festoons inside the Japan Garden City with messages such as “All stray dogs should be sent to the homes of animal lovers” etc. Meanwhile, the PAW Foundation posted on its Facebook page that the matter has been informed to the Director General of the Directorate of Livestock on behalf of the foundation, and the DG assured to take all legal steps.  

Bangladesh’s  expatriate community is much excited to see Bangladeshi rock legend Nagar Baul James' live performance here on Friday as "Bangladesh Culture" segment of the prestigious "Riyadh Season" began on Wednesday evening (KSA time), showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage and lifestyle of Bangladesh. "I am coming to Riyadh town," James conveyed to his vast fans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ahead of his show at Al-Suwaidi Park. Thousands of Bangladeshis joined the first day of the four-day festival and James' fans say they are waiting for Friday's show. "Obviously, the highlight of the event will be James's much-sought first performance in Riyadh," a Bangladeshi youth, who came to Riyadh four years ago, told UNB.  

The PASCH Department of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh hosted an evening of music and cultural exchange at Aloki in the capital recently, titled ‘Rhythm of Fusion’, featuring an extraordinary collaboration between Taiga Trece, a German-Mexican rapper celebrated for her global musical style, and a talented group of Bangladeshi musicians. Held on Sunday evening, the event captivated a diverse audience with its innovative blend of freestyle rap and traditional Bangladeshi instrumental music. German-Mexican rapper Taiga Trece, known for her powerful lyrics and multicultural soundscapes, mesmerized attendees with her unique ability to merge genres seamlessly. Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark is crowned the 73rd Miss Universe  Prior to the concert, Frank Werner, Director of the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, delivered the welcome speech, warmly greeting Taiga Trece along with all the talented local musicians and the audience. The local musicians - Abir Ibne Masud on guitar, Krishan Lal on tabla and drums, Toisifor Rahman on keyboard, Amit Hasan Rudra on bass, and DJ Rishova, brought a vibrant energy to the stage. Their masterful interplay of traditional and contemporary sounds created an atmosphere that was both dynamic and deeply engaging. Born in Germany and raised in Mexico, Taiga Trece showcased her signature fusion of hip-hop, world music, and electronic beats. Her collaboration with Bangladeshi musicians highlighted the universal language of music and its power to bridge cultural divides. 'Gaane Gaane Shayan':Farzana Wahid Shayan's solo concert at BSA on Nov 22 The event underscored Goethe-Institut Bangladesh's commitment to fostering cultural exchange and artistic innovation. Audience members praised the concert as a mesmerizing experience and a beautiful celebration of global and local talent. As the evening concluded, the resounding applause and enthusiastic feedback from the audience reflected the success of this bold initiative. By uniting German-Mexican rap and Bangladeshi instrumental music, ‘Rhythm of Fusion’ demonstrated how art transcends boundaries, sparking creativity and mutual understanding, according to Goethe-Institut Bangladesh.