United News of Bangladesh

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, chronicles a messy breakup, contrasting the romance celebrated in her earlier work Short n’ Sweet. Known for blending pop with R&B and country influences, Carpenter has never hidden her sensuality. The album’s original cover, showing her in a submissive pose with a suited man, drew mixed reactions online, with some calling it misogynistic and others seeing it as satirical. The album opens with Manchild, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in June, portraying the immature men Carpenter often encounters. Subsequent tracks like Tears and My Man on Willpower explore disappointment in relationships, leading to the breakup-themed songs Nobody’s Son and We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night. While expressing heartbreak, Carpenter maintains her signature sensual edge, with tracks like When Did You Get Hot? and House Tour highlighting post-breakup confidence and fun. With a mix of catchy choruses, playful lyrics, and emotional depth, Man’s Best Friend offers a varied, provocative, and engaging take on love, loss, and moving on.

Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi are set to attend the Venice Film Festival on Saturday for the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, marking the start of what is expected to be a major awards season campaign for the film. Isaac stars as Victor Frankenstein, while Elordi takes on the role of the monster in del Toro’s long-anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. “It’s the movie that I’ve been in training for 30 years to do,” del Toro recently told The Associated Press. Some disruption is possible around the premiere, as an anti-war march is scheduled that evening near the festival, aiming to draw attention to the crisis in Gaza. Del Toro last attended Venice in 2017 with The Shape of Water, which won the festival’s top prize and later went on to claim the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director in 2018. Netflix, which has yet to secure a Best Picture Oscar, is betting heavily on Frankenstein. Del Toro’s previous project, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, earned the streaming giant its first Oscar for Best Animated Film. Like The Shape of Water, Frankenstein is considered a strong contender for Venice’s top awards, competing against films including Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia, Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, and Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab. The winners, chosen by an Alexander Payne-led jury, will be announced on Sept. 6. Netflix plans to release Frankenstein in theaters on Oct. 17, followed by streaming on Nov. 7.

Julia Roberts and director Luca Guadagnino faced questions about feminism and #MeToo at a Venice Film Festival news conference on Friday for their film After the Hunt. The movie, set in academia, follows a philosophy professor (Roberts) whose colleague is accused of misconduct by her mentee (Ayo Edebiri). The screenplay by Nora Garrett avoids easy answers, sparking debate about its stance on feminist issues. Roberts said the film does not pit women against each other, adding it aims to provoke discussion and reflection. Guadagnino described it as exploring “clash of truths” rather than promoting any manifesto. After the Hunt screened for press Thursday and premieres publicly Friday. Roberts emphasized the film encourages conversation, capturing characters in complex, self-deceptive moments. The film, releasing in North America on Oct. 10, uses a Windsor-style font for its opening credits, a nod to Woody Allen’s 1985–1991 films, which Guadagnino said reflects on the responsibilities of working with an artist one admires. Not in the main competition, the film won’t compete for awards on Sept. 6. Roberts and Guadagnino are familiar faces at Venice, with past films and premieres, though this is Roberts’ first visit. The 82nd Venice Film Festival continues with major upcoming premieres including Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, and Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were seen in public together for the first time since announcing their engagement earlier this week, attending the Nebraska-Cincinnati game at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. Kelce, who played football for the Bearcats, spent time on the field during warm-ups wearing a red-and-white striped sweater before heading to a suite to watch the game. Swift joined him and several others shortly before kickoff. The couple revealed their engagement in a five-photo Instagram post on Tuesday after dating for about two years. The engagement ring is an old mine brilliant-cut diamond from Kindred Lubeck, confirmed by Swift’s publicist Tree Paine. The Chiefs did not make Kelce available to reporters this week. The Chiefs are preparing for their season opener against the Chargers next Friday night in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, one of Kelce’s closest friends, was also at the game. Mahomes reportedly enjoyed seeing another No. 15 in action—Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola—who has drawn comparisons to the three-time Super Bowl MVP because of their similar looks and jersey number. Kelce’s older brother, Jason Kelce, retired Eagles center and TV personality, co-host of the “New Heights” podcast with Travis, was also present. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook attended as well. Fans of the Huskers were also at the stadium. Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt’s son, Dawson, plays linebacker for Nebraska, and defensive line coach Terry Bradden, who helped Kansas City reach five Super Bowls, was among the spectators.

Julia Roberts is making her Venice Film Festival debut with the psychosexual drama After the Hunt, which premieres Friday evening. Set in the world of higher education, the film stars Roberts as a respected professor whose mentee, played by The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri, accuses her friend and colleague (Andrew Garfield) of misconduct. Venice Film Festival kicks off with premieres starring George Clooney and Emma Stone Directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, the film also features Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny. Amazon MGM Studios will release it in North American theaters on Oct. 10. Though strong enough for the main lineup, After the Hunt is screening out of competition at Venice at the studio’s request. The 82nd festival continues with major premieres, including Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite. Source: Agency 

Rapper Cardi B testified Wednesday that she did not touch a security guard who accused her of scratching her face and spitting during an argument outside an obstetrician’s office in 2018, when Cardi was pregnant with her first child. “I didn’t touch her,” Cardi said on the second day of her testimony in Los Angeles County court. She admitted being angry because she was pregnant, but insisted the argument, while heated and chest-to-chest at times, never became physical. Cardi said she had been in Los Angeles for promotional work during the NBA All-Star Game and kept her pregnancy private. She claimed the security guard, Emani Ellis, followed her and appeared to be filming her, prompting the confrontation. The rapper, now 32, said she feared Ellis would reveal her pregnancy and explained that at the time she was still adjusting to fame after her first major hit, “Bodak Yellow,” and worried about public reaction.

George Clooney and Emma Stone star in two films premiering at the Venice Film Festival Thursday. Clooney plays a famous actor on a soul-searching journey in Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” while Stone appears as the CEO of a pharmaceutical company in Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia.” Both films are competing for the Golden Lion prize, which often leads to Oscar nominations. Lanthimos, who previously won the top prize for “Poor Things,” adapted “Bugonia” from a South Korean film about two conspiracy-minded men, one played by Jesse Plemons, who believe Stone’s character is an alien and kidnap her. “Jay Kelly” focuses on a man reflecting on his life and choices. The ensemble cast includes Adam Sandler, Greta Gerwig, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup and Riley Keough. Like “White Noise,” Baumbach’s earlier film, “Jay Kelly” is produced by Netflix, which returns to Venice this year with three major films, including Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite.” The 82nd Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday on the Lido and will run through Sept. 6.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his family in Mumbai, taking part in the traditional aarti at his sister Arpita Khan’s residence. On Wednesday night, the actor shared a video of the celebrations on Instagram without a caption. In the clip, Salman’s mother Salma Khan is seen performing the aarti, followed by his father Salim Khan. Salman, dressed in a black shirt and beige trousers, then performed the ritual. With devotional music playing in the background, other family members including Arbaaz Khan, Alvira Khan, Atul Agnihotri, and Alizeh Agnihotri also joined in. Arpita Khan and Aayush Sharma performed the aarti with their children Ayat and Ahil. Close family friends Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza also attended the puja with their two sons. The video ended with a close-up of the Ganapati idol. On the work front, Salman was last seen in AR Murugadoss’ Sikandar. He is set to portray an Indian Army soldier in Battle of Galwan, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. Salman Khan Opens Up About Love on Bigg Boss 19 Premiere Meanwhile, he continues to host the reality show Bigg Boss 19, which streams on Jio Hotstar at 9 pm and airs on Colors TV at 10:30 pm. Speaking about the show, Salman said: “I have been a part of Bigg Boss for a very long time now and as we all know, Bigg Boss reinvents the game every year. This time, it is gharwalo ki sarkar. And when too many people start pulling the strings, it’s bound to get messy. That’s when the cracks show, and the house turns into a warzone. After all these years, I can honestly say I’m just as kicked as you are to see how it all plays out.” Source: NDTV

Katy Perry testified Tuesday that she is seeking “justice” in a long-running legal battle over a $15 million California mansion. Perry, giving remote testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom, avoided saying directly whether she stood to gain financially if she won the case but admitted, “I stand to lose money if it doesn’t work in my favor.” The pop star and former American Idol judge, along with then-partner Orlando Bloom, purchased the Montecito property in 2020. The seller, 85-year-old Carl Westcott, later claimed he was not mentally fit to make the deal and sued to void it. Perry’s side, represented by her business manager Bernie Gudvi, won the first trial in 2023. Gudvi then countersued for lost rental income and millions in maintenance costs, leading to the current retrial. During questioning, Perry described herself as Bloom’s “partner and adviser” in remodeling the home. She also emphasized that although the couple split in July, they remain “family for life” as parents to their daughter, who turned five on Tuesday. Perry’s lawyer repeatedly objected to questions from Westcott’s attorney, including those about Bloom and Westcott’s mental health, which the judge ruled irrelevant. Asked if she had enough cash to buy the property outright, Perry replied, “I could have, but I wanted to do a mortgage instead.” She also acknowledged previously saying she planned to live in the home, though renters like actor Chris Pratt’s family later used the property. At one point, a light moment arose when Perry clarified to the judge that she had said she was “pregnant” at the time of dealings with Westcott — not “private.” The trial, being heard without a jury, is expected to continue for two more days. It is not Perry’s first property dispute; she previously won a high-profile battle with an order of nuns over a Los Angeles convent.

A German court on Tuesday convicted a 16-year-old boy of supporting a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Austria last year. The Syrian national, identified only as Mohammad A. in accordance with German privacy regulations, was found guilty of preparing a serious act of violence and aiding a terrorist act abroad. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended. Judges said that when he was 14, the defendant endorsed the ideology of the Islamic State group and communicated via social media with a young man in Austria who planned an attack on a Swift concert in Vienna. The court found that Mohammad A. sent bomb-making instructions to his acquaintance and facilitated contact with an IS member. Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna scheduled for Aug. 7, 2024, were canceled after authorities uncovered the plot, leading to three arrests in Austria. According to the court, the defendant made a “comprehensive confession” during his trial, which was held behind closed doors due to his age. The verdict is subject to appeal.