United News of Bangladesh

The 2025 Grammy Awards are recognizing some of the most talented performers and biggest hits in music. Beyoncé enters as the leading nominee for her acclaimed album, “Cowboy Carter.” The show began at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific and can be streamed via CBS and Paramount+. Chappell Roan wins best new artist Grammy Award Shakira, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx are performers. Will Smith, Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe are presenting a tribute to the late, legendary producer Quincy Jones. Comedian Trevor Noah is hosting the show for the fifth consecutive time.

Chappell Roan nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for best new artist Sunday, capping a remarkably explosive rise to fame for an artist dropped by her last record label. Roan, who is openly queer and taps into drag culture, was the sassy toast of the pop world in 2024 with tracks that include “Good Luck, Babe!” “Red Wine Supernova” and “Hot To Go!” from her 2023 album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” In her speech, she called for record labels to give a livable wage and health care, especially for developing artists. “It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized,” Roan said. She ended with a line that got plenty of cheers: “Labels, we got you but do you got us?” Roan is also up for three other Grammys — album of the year, song of the year and record of the year. She lost both best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album to Carpenter. For the best new artist crown, Roan beat out Carpenter, Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims. Roan began her music career in 2015 when she signed with Atlantic Records, releasing several singles including “Pink Pony Club.” In 2020, the label dropped her. She moved back to her hometown to work as a barista before releasing her debut full-length album. Roan first hit the mainstream as the opener for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts Tour and drew a record-breaking crowd at Lollapalooza. She also won best new artist at the 2024 MTV VMAs, beating Shaboozey, Gracie Abrams, Tyla and Teddy Swims. “I think that a lot of the songs are from daydreams, and a lot of that daydreaming happened from Missouri, from this repressed state of not having a queer community growing up and feeling really weird,” she told the AP in 2023. She joins past best new artist winners like The Beatles, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Culture Club, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Adele, Dua Lipa and Chance the Rapper.

Renowned folk singer Farida Parveen has been admitted to the ICU of Universal Medical College Hospital in the capital with several health complications.  According to her family, Farida Parveen has been suffering from kidney-related issues for a long time and was  recently diagnosed with fluid accumulation in her lungs and a mild pneumonia infection.   "Since her admission, Alhamdulillah, her condition has significantly improved. She is currently under observation at  the ICU," says her son Imam Zafar Numanee.   "We are staying with her. Please pray for her recovery and InshaAllah we hope to take her home very soon," he added. The family members of the eminent singer also requested everyone, including the media, to refrain from spreading rumors or misinformation about her health.   Legendary singer Sabina Yasmin in HDU 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, she received the Ekushey Padak in 1987. She was also conferred with the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer in 1993, while the Japanese government awarded her the ''Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize'' in 2008.  Sabina Yasmin collapses on stage amid returning performance

Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, is making a grand return to the entertainment industry. With plans to re-enter television through her upcoming cookery show, she is reportedly investing heavily in her appearance. According to InTouch Weekly, Meghan has spent a significant amount upgrading her wardrobe as she prepares to step back into the public eye. A source revealed that she has always had a taste for luxury fashion but is now adapting to the extravagant standards of Montecito’s elite. “The social circle she’s in consists of ultra-wealthy individuals who regularly wear jewellery worth hundreds of thousands, sometimes even millions, on a daily basis,” the source added. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2020, Meghan and Harry have settled into a $14.65 million mansion in one of the city's most upscale areas. To blend in with the high society, Meghan is reportedly focused on maintaining an impeccable image. Breakout Sundance films and key takeaways from this year's festival “She believes looking the part is essential, which is why she has hired an A-list stylist to ensure she embodies quiet luxury at all times. Creating an aspirational brand requires effort and significant investment, but for Meghan, it is necessary,” the source claimed. Before marrying Harry in 2018, Meghan gained fame through her role in Suits. After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, she and Harry produced Harry & Meghan, a Netflix documentary released in 2022. Now, Meghan is gearing up for her next venture—With Love, Meghan, a lifestyle series under her Netflix deal. The show, which blends practical advice with candid conversations, was announced last month. She also returned to Instagram to promote it. With Love, Meghan is expected to premiere later this year. Source: with inputs from wires

CBS says it will turn over an unedited transcript of its October interview with Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission, part of President Donald Trump's ongoing fight with the network over how it handled a story about his opponent. Trump sued CBS for $10 million over the “60 Minutes” interview, claiming it was deceptively edited to make Harris look good. Published reports said that CBS' parent company, Paramount, has been talking to Trump's lawyers about a settlement. The network said Friday that it was compelled by Brendan Carr, Trump's appointee as FCC chairman, to turn over the transcripts and camera feeds of the interview for a parallel investigation by the commission. “60 Minutes” has resisted releasing transcripts for this and all of its interviews, to avoid second-guessing of its editing process. Khaby Lame joins UNICEF as goodwill ambassador The case, particularly a potential settlement, is being closely watched by advocates for press freedom and by journalists within CBS, whose lawyers called Trump's lawsuit “completely without merit” and promised to vigorously fight it after it was filed. The Harris interview initially drew attention because CBS News showed Harris giving completely different responses to a question posed by correspondent Bill Whitaker in clips that were aired on “Face the Nation” on Oct. 6 and the next night on “60 Minutes.” The network said each clip came from a lengthy response by Harris to Whitaker's question, but they were edited to fit time constraints on both broadcasts. In his lawsuit, filed in Texas on Nov. 1, Trump charged it was deceptive editing designed to benefit Harris and constituted “partisan and unlawful acts of voter interference.” Trump, who turned down a request to be interviewed by “60 Minutes” during the campaign, has continued his fight despite winning the election less than a week after the lawsuit was filed. The network has not commented on talks about a potential settlement, reported by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Paramount executives are seeking Trump administration approval of a sale of the company to another entertainment firm, Skydance. ABC News in December settled a defamation lawsuit by Trump over statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump's presidential library rather than engage in a public fight. Meta has reportedly paid $25 million to settle Trump's lawsuit against the company over its decision to suspend his social media accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.

Khaby Lame, the Senegal-born world’s most popular TikTok personality who never says a word in videos watched by millions of followers, addressed the youth in his native country on Friday when he was appointed as UNICEF goodwill ambassador. The 24-year-old influencer, who has over 162 million followers, rose to fame with charming videos of his reactions to everyday life in which he never says a word. His following surged during the pandemic, when he was fired from his factory job and used the extra time on his hands to make and upload more videos. Being a UNICEF ambassador will allow him to “see all the world and its problems,” Lame said, adding that he hoped he could contribute to solving some of them. “It’s a true honor to be appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and be part of an organization that puts children’s rights front and center every day,” Lame said in a statement. “From my own experience as a child fearing poverty, struggling to find my passion at school, and losing my job during the COVID-19 pandemic, to finding my place and calling in the world, I know that all children can thrive when they are given a chance and opportunity.” UNICEF appoints 16-year-old Gargee as new youth advocate in Bangladesh  Senegal is a major source of irregular migration to Europe. Over 60% of Senegalese people are under 25, and 90% work in informal jobs. They have watched for years as money made from natural resources has gone overseas, and many say they have no other choice but to embark on treacherous journeys in rickety fishing boats across the Atlantic. “I tell them to dream big,” Lame said when asked about his message to Senegal's youth. “Try and do your best to accomplish your dreams, even though there are people telling you that you cannot reach them.” Lame moved to Italy from his native Senegal when he was an infant with his working class parents, but was only granted Italian citizenship when he was 20. “I’ve been in Italy for 20 years since I was only 2 years old,” Lame told The Associated Press in Dakar. Looking sharp in a beige suit and a matching tie, he added: “My blood is from Senegal, but I feel Senegalese and Italian at the same time.” Lame's appointment to UNICEF came at the end of a four-day visit to Senegal where he met children and young people who are driving positive change in their communities.

Chris Martin-led British band Coldplay made history last week when it performed its biggest show yet at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on January 26. However, his next stop is the Grammy Awards ceremony this Sunday on February 2. Chris Martin to perform at Grammys On Wednesday, the official X handle of Recording Academy, the organiser of Grammy Awards, shared a picture of Chris and stated in the caption, “Chris Martin of @coldplay will join our roster of performers at this year's #GRAMMYs (gramophone emoji).” Other performers at this year's ceremony include Academy Award-nominated Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, John Legend, and Stevie Wonder among others. In light of the catastrophic wildfires that have swept through Los Angeles, the Recording Academy announced that this year's Grammys will take on a significant new role. The telecast will raise funds to aid Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts and honour the bravery of the first responders who have risked their lives in combating the flames. Lady Gaga announces March release for new album 'Mayhem' The Recording Academy had initially considered postponing the event or airing it as a fundraiser, but ultimately decided to proceed with the show as a platform for both celebration and giving back to the community. The show will still take place with Beyonce leading the nominations with 10 nods. Other artists who have received multiple nominations include Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, and Chappell Roan. Coldplay's India tour Chris Martin and his girlfriend and actor Dakota came to India on January 16 for the Coldplay's musical tour. Chris, along with the members of Coldplay, had concerts lined up in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Their last show of the Indian leg of Music of the Spheres tour was conducted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Republic Day. The historic show, attended by 1.3 lakh spectators, was live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar. Source: with inputs from Hindustan Times

Incarcerated men in the Alabama prison system risked their safety to feed shocking footage of their horrifying living conditions to a pair of documentary filmmakers. The result is “The Alabama Solution,” which premiered this week at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. Filmmakers Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman became interested in Alabama prisons in 2019. Jarecki, the filmmaker behind “The Jinx” and “Capturing the Friedmans,” and Kaufman first gained access to the restricted grounds through a visit with a chaplain during a revival meeting held in the prison yards. There men pulled them aside and whispered shocking stories about the reality of life inside: forced labor, drugs, violence, intimidation, retaliation and the undisclosed truths behind many prisoner deaths. The Associated Press has written extensively about the problems in the state’s prison system, including high rates of violence, low staffing, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build a new supersized prison. This process eventually led them to incarcerated activists Melvin Ray and Robert Earl Council (also known as “Kinetik Justice”) who had for years been trying to expose the horrifying conditions and deep- seated corruption across the system. They helped feed dispatches to the filmmakers with contraband cellphones. “We’re deeply concerned for their safety, and we have been since the first time we met them,” said Kaufman. “They’ve been doing this work for decades and as you see in the film, they’ve been retaliated against in very extreme ways. But there are lawyers who are ready to do wellness checks and visit them and respond to any sort of retaliation that may come.” On Tuesday at the first showing of the film, she had Council on the phone listening in. They put the microphone up to the cellphone so that Council could speak. “We thank you all for listening, for being interested,” Council said. “On behalf of the brothers of Alabama, I thank you all.” Several family members of their incarcerated subjects were also in the audience, including Sandy Ray, the mother of Steven Davis, who died in 2019 at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility, his face beaten beyond recognition. Prison officials said Davis was killed in self-defense because he didn’t put down his weapons. The prisoners tell a vastly different story. Akshay Kumar reveals most dangerous stunt of career Alelur “Alex” Duran, who spent 12 years in prison in New York, also helped produce the film. Jarecki said they wouldn't have taken on the subject without the expertise of someone who had been incarcerated. “What you’re seeing in this film is going on all over the nation,” Duran said. Also embedded in the story is Alabama’s long history of contracting prisoners to do work at private companies from Burger King to Best Western, an issue that the AP investigated for over two years. The cheap, reliable labor force has generated more than $250 million for the state since 2000 — money garnished from prisoners’ paychecks, the AP wrote in December. Parole numbers have also plummeted in recent years. “We want to show viewers the truth about a system that has been cloaked in secrecy,” Jarecki said. “We hope the film sparks an effort to allow access for journalists and others so the public can have transparency into how incarcerated citizens are treated and how our tax dollars are being spent. We hope to inspire Alabama’s leadership to acknowledge the crisis and to overhaul its prison system and its use of forced labor.” The film will have a theatrical release before it debuts on HBO sometime this year, but the specific dates and details are still being worked out. And while it is in its early days, the impact, Jarecki said, has already been seen, including in a class action labor lawsuit.

Stakeholders of Bangladesh's film industry have called for the establishment of a separate Ministry of Film Affairs to address the challenges and reforms necessary for the development of the sector at the National Film Conference 2025, held at Dhaka University's Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on Wednesday. Organized by the Bangladesh Film Students Association (BFSA) under the slogan "Reform film, change the country," the event brought together around 500 participants, including film students, teachers, filmmakers, actors, journalists, and several other stakeholders from across the industry. BFSA President Sadman Shihir emphasized the urgency of the demand, calling on the interim government to establish the ministry within three months. Stakeholders collectively agreed on the formation of the proposed ministry to address bureaucratic complications and ensure better coordination among relevant authorities. 'Bangladeshi and Swedish Baba' Photo Exhibition launched in Chattogram Speakers highlighted the limitations of managing film-related activities under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and called for structural reforms, including the creation of a Film Reform Commission to oversee proposed changes and action plans. More than 18 key demands raised at the conference included reform of the Bangladesh Film Certification Act, restructuring of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), implementation of digital distribution, e-ticketing, and box office systems, establishment of a National Film Centre, investment in film education and training, revitalization of Gazipur Film City, opening up the import-export of films, formation of an Anti-Piracy Cell, and increased government investment in the industry. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, who joined as a special guest, echoed the need for a separate ministry, calling on stakeholders to develop a comprehensive reform blueprint through workshops. “The Ministry of Culture is failing to prioritize films. A separate ministry could address these challenges effectively,” he said, urging stakeholders to amplify their demands towards the concerned authorities at the interim government to ensure action. Bangla Academy entitled to work independently: Farooki

Veteran Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, fondly known as 'Khiladi Kumar' for his penchant for action-packed roles, has reflected on one of the most perilous stunts of his career. The feat, performed for the 1998 film Angaaray, saw him leaping from the seventh floor of one building to the fourth floor of another, separated by a narrow road below. Recalling the nerve-wracking moment during an interview with The Quint while promoting his latest film Sky Force, Akshay shared an amusing yet alarming anecdote involving the film’s director, Mahesh Bhatt. February 2025 South Indian Movie Releases: Top 12 Must-Watch Films “There was a stunt in Angaaray where I jumped from a seven-floor building. In between, there was a road, but only one lane, and there was another building on the other side. So, I had to jump from the seventh to the fourth floor,” Akshay explained. What made the incident even more unforgettable was Mahesh Bhatt’s reaction. The veteran filmmaker, fearing for Akshay’s life, decided to flee the scene before the actor could execute the daring leap. “During that, my director ran away,” Akshay revealed with a chuckle, recalling the palpable tension surrounding the stunt. Akshay Kumar, who has built a reputation for performing his own stunts throughout his illustrious career, has often credited his dedication to pushing boundaries for his success. His thrilling performances have earned him admiration from fans and colleagues alike. Film actress Nipun banned for life from Shilpi Samity While Akshay successfully executed the stunt in Angaaray, the anecdote highlights the risks he has taken to bring authenticity to his roles. His latest venture, Sky Force, further showcases his commitment to delivering high-octane performances. For Akshay, the journey of performing dangerous stunts continues to be a testament to his love for cinema, even if it occasionally leaves his directors in a state of panic. Source: Indian media