United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka, Apr 6 (UNB)-A man in Washington of the United States was arrested after allegedly stealing his ex-girlfriend’s pet chicken, an incident that has since gone viral online. According to a video shared by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, the man broke into his former partner's home and ran off with a chicken named Polly, prompting her to call 911. The woman told authorities that the man shouted, "I've got Polly" multiple times before fleeing the scene. Deputies later located him hiding in nearby woods, as shown in their bodycam footage. "Don't hurt my chicken," the man pleaded tearfully while clutching the bird."That's fine. Just hold your chicken. I am not gonna hurt your chicken," an officer responded, instructing him to show his hands and come out of hiding. The man eventually complied and was taken into custody, with the chicken safely placed in a patrol vehicle. Authorities confirmed Polly was returned unharmed to her rightful owner. The Sheriff's Office captioned the video on X (formerly Twitter), "On Patrol. Deputies recover an abducted chicken." The bizarre incident sparked a wave of humorous reactions on social media. "Clearly this guy ran afoul of the law," one user quipped, while another joked, "It didn't even get the chance to cross the road." A third added, "Jeepers... poor guy. Maybe he just wanted to hang with the chicken." The man now faces charges of burglary and violating an order of protection. Source: With input from Indian media

When it comes to innovation and diversity in English-language visual content, Netflix stands as the ultimate binge-watch destination for audiences worldwide. Its May 2025 lineup unveils a vibrant mix of series, movies, animation, documentaries, and TV specials. Each title adds a unique flavor to the streaming platter, with genres spanning comedy, romance, horror, crime, and sports. Let’s dive into the best 10 Netflix English originals premiering in May 2025. 10 Must-Watch English Language Netflix Films and Series for This May . The Four Seasons | Romantic Comedy | May 1, 2025 Adapted from Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same title, this miniseries boasts Tracey Wigfield, Tina Fey, and Lang Fisher as its writers, creators, and executive producers. The executive producing team also includes David Miner, Eric Gurian, and Jeff Richmond. The production credit goes to Alda and Marissa Bregman. This feel-good romantic series trails three suburban couples who reunite for seasonal getaways. Their harmony unravels when one husband, newly single, arrives with a much younger partner, sparking tension. Read more: Panchayat Season 4 to premiere on July 2 The cast comprises Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Colman Domingo, Erika Henningsen, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Will Forte, and Marco Calvani. Forever | Romantic Drama | May 8, 2025 Inspired by Judy Blume’s book of the same name, this drama series thrives with Mara Brock Akil as its showrunner and Regina King as the director. Set against the vibrant backdrop of 2018 Los Angeles, this tender romance follows two rising young athletes. They experience first love while navigating the weight of social expectations and familial demands. Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. assume protagonist characters. The supporting cast includes Wood Harris, Karen Pittman, Xosha Roquemore, Paigion Walker, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ali Gallo, E'myri Crutchfield, and Niles Fitch. Read more: April 2025 K-Drama Lineup: Top 10 Binge-worthy Premieres Blume and King are also executive producers of the series with Erika Harrison, Susie Fitzgerald, Sara White, Anthony Hemingway, and Shana C. Waterman. Nonnas | Comedy | May 9, 2025 Penned by Liz Maccie, this comedic film draws inspiration from the life of Joe Scaravella, the visionary behind Staten Island’s Enoteca Maria. This intimate eatery welcomes grandmothers from around the world as chefs. Production studios Madison Wells and Matador Content acquired the rights to Scaravella’s life story. The plot unfolds with Scaravella’s realisation that his solitary life and unfulfilling job no longer serve him. He opens a restaurant where the warmth and wisdom of grandmother chefs redefine his world. The ensemble cast members are Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Linda Cardellini, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, and Campbell Scott. Read more: Pakistani Dramas Taking Over 2025: 10 Top Picks for Your Watchlist Stephen Chbosky steers the movie with his directing prowess, and Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, and Jack Turner take the reins as producers. Backlash 2025 | Sports | May 10, 2025 WWE’s 20th edition of Backlash is set to deliver high-stakes drama and iconic showdowns as it heads to the Enterprise Centre in St. Louis, Missouri. This milestone event will bring together top superstars from both the Raw and SmackDown divisions. The production is made on heated storylines and rivalries ignited during WrestleMania 41. Adding historic weight to the evening, John Cena will make a much-anticipated return to the Backlash stage—his first appearance at the event since 2009. More poignantly, this outing will mark his final Backlash performance as Cena prepares to retire from professional wrestling at the end of 2025. This will also be the first Backlash to livestream on Netflix, following the platform’s acquisition of WWE Network content earlier this year. Read more: April 2025 Hindi Films Lineup: Top 10 Most Hyped Bollywood Releases Bad Thoughts | Dark Comedy | May 13, 2025 A sequence of sharp, unsettling vignettes unravels with comedic bite, turning everyday absurdities into hilariously twisted tales. Besides screenwriting the comedy series with Jeremy Konner, Tom Segura also serves as its director along with Konner and Rami Hachache. Segura even embodies the lead role with Christina Pazsitzky. The executive producing team includes Craig Gerara, Ryan Hall, Molly Mandel, Matthew Zinman, Segura, and Konner.

Ed Sheeran has released his latest single, Azizam, a vibrant and danceable track influenced by Persian music, marking the first release from his forthcoming eighth studio album, Play. Dropped on Thursday, the song was produced by Ilyah Salmanzadeh, known for his work with artists like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX and Tate McRae. Sheeran shared on Instagram that the idea for the song stemmed from Salmanzadeh’s suggestion to draw inspiration from his Persian heritage. The title, Azizam, translates to “my dear” in Persian. Alongside the single, Sheeran released a “Pink Heart” video, featuring footage shot across the United States during recent promotional events. He hinted at an upcoming “official” music video but has yet to reveal its release date, reports The Hollywood Reporter. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March, the four-time Grammy winner revealed the title of his upcoming album, Play, and shared that it forms part of a 10-album concept he envisioned at the age of 18. Tom Cruise opens CinemaCon speech with moment of silence for Val Kilmer This series includes Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, followed by Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward and Stop, inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s plan to create 10 films before retiring. While an official release date for Play is still under wraps, Sheeran’s last album, Autumn Variations, was released in 2023 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. In the meantime, Sheeran has remained active on his global Mathematics Tour, which began in Dublin in April 2022 and is scheduled to wrap up in Düsseldorf this September.

Panama is setting the stage for a major transformation in its film industry, driven by a new wave of leadership under President José Raúl Mulino. A dynamic, largely female-led team is spearheading efforts to position the country as a prime destination for international productions. At the forefront is Vice Minister of Culture Arianne Benedetti, a filmmaker and former film commissioner who played a key role in shaping Panama’s 2012 film law, according to Variety. “We’re working to enhance all forms of incentives – from infrastructure and labour support to expanded cash-back offers,” Benedetti said. A new incentive aimed at attracting gaming producers is also in development. One of the core proposals is to increase the current 25% cash rebate for international shoots to 30% or even 35%. At the same time, officials are pushing for a boost in funding for the Panamanian Film Fund, which backs local productions. There are also plans to revive MEET, the country’s co-production forum, later this year. Benedetti highlighted Panama’s growing international presence. The country will be a special focus at the 2025 Malaga Film Festival, and its producers will participate in events such as Spain’s Ventana Sur and Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM), where Panama will have a national stand for the first time. ‘Squid Game’ star O Yeong-su sentenced to one year in prison for indecent assault Speaking at the Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama), Benedetti and newly appointed film commissioner Maria Cecilia Arias shared plans to attract a foreign partner to build a film studio in Panama. A feasibility study for the project is expected within the next two months. Last year, the team travelled to London and Los Angeles to meet with potential investors, including a company from Spain. Arias emphasised Panama’s appeal for filmmakers, with its beaches, jungles, and mountains offering versatile backdrops that can double for cities like New York, Miami, or Dubai. The country’s compact geography also makes logistics easier for production crews.

Popular content creator and Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia (2020) listed young cultural personality Raba Khan and popular music director and singer Arafat Mohsin Nidhi revealed on Friday that they had tied the knot. Raba Khan shared the newlyweds' wedding photoshoot on her Instagram on Friday, with the caption: “It all started with a love song… 04.04.2025  ,” marking the day of their marriage. It is learned that the couple’s relationship has been a three-year-old secret love affair, which began while they collaborated on a song. The wedding ceremony of the newlyweds took place on Friday afternoon at a venue in the capital, joined by friends, media colleagues and relatives of Raba and Nidhi. Their simple yet gorgeous and elegant wedding look are being lauded on social media. A versatile music composer, singer and also fiction director and ad filmmaker, Arafat Mohsin Nidhi has recently worked on two of the most hyped films of this Eid-ul-Fitr, ‘Borbaad’ and ‘Daagi’. He also performed in the title track of the latter film, which marked the playback debut for ‘Daagi’ protagonist and popular actor Afran Nisho. Raba Khan is considered as one of the most popular social media influencers in recent times, known for her lifestyle vlog YouTube channel ‘The Jhakanaka Project’. She is also a model, singer, writer and actress. Honoring her influence, Unicef selected Raba Khan in November 2018 as a Youth Ambassador to advocate for children's rights, and she was also listed in the 2020 Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia. Additionally, Raba is also the niece of the country’s esteemed politician and Bangladesh National Party (BNP)'s National Standing Committee member, Nazrul Islam Khan.

South Korean actor O Yeong-su, widely recognized for playing Oh Il-nam (Player 001) in Netflix’s Squid Game, has been sentenced to one year in prison after being convicted of indecent assault. The 80-year-old was initially handed an eight-month prison term with a two-year probation period. However, a more recent court ruling has increased the sentence to one year of imprisonment. The charges stem from incidents in which O Yeong-su was accused of forcibly molesting a woman on two separate occasions — allegations he has consistently denied. During a hearing on Thursday, April 3, prosecutors described O as a seasoned theatre actor with nearly 50 years of experience who had “sexually harassed a junior colleague lacking power within the troupe.” Local media reported that prosecutors claimed the victim had lived in fear both professionally and personally since the events took place. They also criticized O’s response, alleging he caused further harm by stating, “I did it with the heart of a father” instead of offering an apology. Prosecutors highlighted the consistency in the actor’s statements since the allegations first emerged, using this to argue for a one-year sentence aimed at supporting the victim’s healing and discouraging similar offenses. In contrast, O Yeong-su’s legal team denied all charges, arguing the case relied solely on the victim’s testimony, which they said lacked clarity, consistency, and logical detail. They also noted that the actor had only formally responded to the accusations to avoid controversy that could negatively impact Squid Game, which had recently brought him international recognition at the time. Addressing the court, O expressed deep regret over his situation. “It’s humiliating to stand trial at this age,” he said. “If I said or did anything inappropriate, I’ll accept the judgment. But I don’t believe my actions amounted to assault.” He added, “If, during a brief interaction, my careless words or actions caused pain, I’m sorry. In an instant, everything I built in 80 years has crumbled. I feel empty. I just want to return to where I belong.” The accusations date back to 2017, when the actor allegedly hugged and kissed the victim against her will near his home — an incident he has repeatedly denied. The final verdict in the appeal trial is scheduled to be delivered on June 3.

Tom Cruise opened his highly anticipated CinemaCon appearance on Thursday with a moving tribute to his “Top Gun” co-star, Val Kilmer, who died Tuesday in Los Angeles. “He loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us with his performances and his films,” Cruise said to a room full of movie theatre owners. “I really can’t tell you how much I admired his work, how much I thought of him as a human being, and how grateful and honoured I was when he joined ‘Top Gun’ and then came back for ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’” Cruise called for a moment of silence, which stood in stark contrast to the otherwise action-packed presentation of Paramount Pictures’ upcoming movies. “Thank you, Val. I wish you well on your next journey,” he said to the silent room. ‘Batman’ star Val Kilmer dies at 65 Cruise was there to hype “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” the eighth instalment of the franchise set to hit theatres May 23. Given that the 62-year-old is one of the rare stars who is still a near-guarantee for box office success, Cruise is an unsurprising darling of the annual convention and trade show in Las Vegas, where studios hype up cinemas and seek to convince theatre owners they can lure audiences out of the house.

American authors Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among finalists announced Wednesday for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures. Pulitzer Prize winner Strout’s Maine-set mystery novel “Tell Me Everything” and writer'-filmmaker July’s “All Fours,” in which a “semi-famous artist” seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the 30,000 pound ($39,000) prize. It's open to female English-language writers from any country. The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden’s postwar story “The Safekeep” and German-born poet Aria Aber’s novel “Good Girl,” about a teenager exploring her dual German-Afghan heritage. Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji’s intergenerational family saga “The Persians,” and “Fundamentally” by Britain's Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with the Islamic State group. ‘Batman’ star Val Kilmer dies at 65 Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were “classics of the future” that explored “the importance of human connection.” “What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humor, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts,” she said. Previous winners of the fiction prize, founded in 1996, include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver. Last year, award organizers launched a companion Women’s Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in Britain’s newspapers were by women, and male writers dominated established nonfiction writing prizes. Winners of both nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London.

Val Kilmer, the brooding, versatile actor who played fan favourite Iceman in “Top Gun,” donned a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” has died. He was 65. Kilmer died Tuesday night in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said in an email to The Associated Press. The Times was the first to report his death on Tuesday. Val Kilmer died from pneumonia. He had recovered after a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis that required two tracheotomies. “I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed,” he says toward the end of “Val,” the 2021 documentary on his career. “And I am blessed.” Kilmer, the youngest actor ever accepted to the prestigious Juilliard School at the time he attended, experienced the ups and downs of fame more dramatically than most. His break came in 1984’s spy spoof “Top Secret!” followed by the comedy “Real Genius” in 1985. Kilmer would later show his comedy chops again in films including “MacGruber” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.” Ryan Coogler keen to cast Denzel Washington in ‘Black Panther 3’ His movie career hit its zenith in the early 1990s as he made a name for himself as a dashing leading man, starring alongside Kurt Russell and Bill Paxton in 1993’s “Tombstone,” as Elvis’ ghost in “True Romance” and as a bank-robbing demolition expert in Michael Mann’s 1995 film “Heat” with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. “While working with Val on ‘Heat’ I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character," director Michael Mann said in a statement Tuesday night. Actor Josh Brolin, a friend of Kilmer, was among others paying tribute. “You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,” Brolin wrote on Instagram. “There’s not a lot left of those.” Kilmer — who took part in the Method branch of Suzuki arts training — threw himself into parts. When he played Doc Holliday in “Tombstone,” he filled his bed with ice for the final scene to mimic the feeling of dying from tuberculosis. To play Morrison, he wore leather pants all the time, asked castmates and crew to only refer to him as Jim Morrison and blasted The Doors for a year. That intensity also gave Kilmer a reputation that he was difficult to work with, something he grudgingly agreed with later in life, but always defending himself by emphasizing art over commerce. “In an unflinching attempt to empower directors, actors and other collaborators to honor the truth and essence of each project, an attempt to breathe Suzukian life into a myriad of Hollywood moments, I had been deemed difficult and alienated the head of every major studio,” he wrote in his memoir, “I’m Your Huckleberry.” One of his more iconic roles — hotshot pilot Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise — almost didn’t happen. Kilmer was courted by director Tony Scott for “Top Gun” but initially balked. “I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the film. The story didn’t interest me,” he wrote in his memoir. He agreed after being promised that his role would improve from the initial script. He would reprise the role in the film’s 2022 sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.” One career nadir was playing Batman in Joel Schumacher’s goofy, garish “Batman Forever” with Nicole Kidman and opposite Chris O’Donnell‘s Robin — before George Clooney took up the mantle for 1997’s “Batman & Robin” and after Michael Keaton played the Dark Knight in 1989’s “Batman” and 1992’s “Batman Returns.”

The 2025 box office has been hit with a deficit. Can the James Gunn-dubbed “summer of ‘Superman’” save it? Warner Bros. showed off a diverse and starry slate of its upcoming films on Tuesday — but the night was carried on the shoulders of Clark Kent. “I really do believe in this movie. And I do believe that there is a lack of human kindness, or at least a degradation of human kindness,” Gunn said. "This is a movie that celebrates kindness and human love.” At the annual CinemaCon convention and trade show in Las Vegas, Gunn — the director and writer of the first film in the new iteration of the connected DC Universe — also brought out its stars, who gushed over their experience making the film. “It’s a great honor to play a role that exists so clearly in the public consciousness, to the point where everyone I think, even if you haven’t seen a film or read a comic, you sort of know what the Superman symbol means and you know what it stands for,” said David Corenswet, adding that he hopes to “illuminate something new about the character, or even just bring the beloved character to a new audience.” Corenswet was joined onstage by Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult, who plays Lex Luther. “James makes a family out of every set,” Brosnahan said. “The set is full of people who want to be there, who love making these movies. And it’s such a joy to come to work every day. As many of you have probably heard from other people, it’s not always like that.” The Beatles biopics cast revealed: Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson Gunn was announced to direct the film in 2023 shortly after he and Peter Safran became co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios. “We appreciate and share your passion for this art form,” Safran told a room full of theater owners. “It’s the fulcrum of our ambitious DC Studios slate and it’s what inspired James to shoot all over the world and push filmmaking technology to its limits, to propel moviegoers out of their homes into your theaters.” The film will be released theatrically in July amid a summer of superhero titles, including “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “Thunderbolts(asterisk).” In addition to “Superman,” Warner Bros. teased some of its April releases on the convention’s main stage, like Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie,” but they also looked further down the road for 2025. In a nod to cinephiles, the studio kicked off its presentation by bringing out the stars of Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” including Leonardo DiCaprio and Regina Hall. The film is set to hit theaters in September. “I’ve been wanting to work with Paul for over, gosh, almost 20 years now. He’s one of the most unique talents of our time,” DiCaprio said. “With this film, he’s tapped into something politically and culturally that is brewing beneath our psyche. But at the same time, it’s an incredibly epic movie and has such scope and scale.” Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer also treated the audience to an extended sneak peak of “F1,” Brad Pitt’s Formula One racing drama premiering in June. Salman Khan Greets Fans on Eid from Behind Bulletproof Glass Amid Security Concerns In addition to Hollywood studios and stars boasting their theatrical menus which they believe will lure audiences to cinemas, the annual convention is also a time to discuss current industry debates, like how long movies should stay in theaters and the extent to which studios should get into production with streaming companies.