Entertainment
Alliance Française de Dhaka celebrates ‘Fête de la Musique 2023’
French language and cultural institution Alliance Française de Dhaka has celebrated the ‘Fête de la Musique 2023’, globally known as World Music Day with a series of musical performances in its La Galerie on Saturday,
The Fête de la Musique, also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration. Introduced in 1982, the Fête de la Musique is observed on June 21, which is the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.
Read: The 'Beyoncé effect': Singer's tour blamed for inflation surprise in Sweden?
The event was open to any participant be they amateur or professional musicians who wished to perform, and it also featured seasoned Belgian music composer-artist Max Vendervorst, alongside Bangladeshi artists such as Rahul Ananda, Mizanuddin Khan, Rahin Haider and more.
Like every year, Alliance Française de Dhaka is organising several musical concerts, showcasing both solo and group performances.
The next event, a multidisciplinary musical and theatrical performance titled Made in Bangladesh by Rahul Ananda and Max Vandervorst will take place at AFD on June 20 and French International School of Dhaka - EFID (Ecole Française Internationale de Dacca) on June 21.
Read: AI has enabled a 'final' Beatles song, Paul McCartney says
Aiming to integrate through the universal language of melody and rhythm, the Fête de la Musique inspires an overture to a participative lyrical voyage by putting forward thousands of free concerts all over the world.
World Music Day to be celebrated Saturday at AFD
Alliance Française de Dhaka is going to celebrate “Fête de la Musique 2023” which is globally known as 'World Music Day' with a series of musical performances in its La Galerie on Saturday from 4.30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Read: AI has enabled a 'final' Beatles song, Paul McCartney says
The Fête de la Musique is open to any participant—be they amateur or professional musicians— who wish to perform in this joyful event. All the participating musicians are asked to perform for free, and all of the concerts are free to the public.
Read: The 'Beyoncé effect': Singer's tour blamed for inflation surprise in Sweden?
Like every year, Alliance Française de Dhaka is organising several musical concerts — both solo and group performances. Fête de la Musique brings about a great opportunity to immerse and participate in a musical expedition by offering thousands of free concerts all over the world.
The 'Beyoncé effect': Singer's tour blamed for inflation surprise in Sweden?
Think soaring costs were caused by the Ukraine war or supply chain snarls? You must be unaware of the "Beyoncé effect".
The official start of the singer's worldwide tour in Sweden last month caused such a rush for hotel rooms and restaurant meals that it has reflected in the country's economic data, reports BBC.
In May, Sweden reported higher-than-expected inflation of 9.7%.
The surprise was due to rising hotel and restaurant costs, the report said.
According to Michael Grahn, economist at Danske Bank, Beyoncé may have contributed to the increase in hotel costs. He believed she was also a driving force behind the unusually massive increase in recreation and cultural expenses.
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"I wouldn't ... blame Beyoncé for [the] high inflation, but her performance and global demand to see her perform in Sweden apparently added a little to it," he wrote in an email to the BBC.
There is little doubt that the singer's first solo tour in seven years is a significant business event. According to one estimate, the tour may earn over £2 billion by the time it concludes in September.
Airbnb reported that searches for accommodation in locations on the tour increased after the announcement. Many shows sold out in days, and resale prices skyrocketed, the BBC report also said.
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In the United Kingdom, 60,000 people arrived in Cardiff, including fans from Lebanon, the United States, and Australia. Demand for hotel rooms related to her London show was so high that several homeless families being accommodated in a hotel by the local authorities were reportedly kicked out to make space for the fans, it said.
The Stockholm concerts, where Beyoncé performed before an audience of 46,000 over two nights, apparently drew fans from all over the world, particularly the United States, where a strong dollar against the krona made tickets in the Nordic country appear to be a relative bargain.
Visit Stockholm termed the surge in travel to the city the "Beyoncé effect" in an email to the Washington Post last month.
Sweden's inflation rate peaked in December at 12.3%. Official numbers showed that the rate was 9.7% last month, down from 10.5% in April. The financial markets had predicted around 9.4%.
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Grahn told the BBC that it is "very rare" for one celebrity to have such an effect, adding that large football tournaments may have a similar effect. He stated on social media that the anticipated trends will return to normal in June.
AI has enabled a 'final' Beatles song, Paul McCartney says
Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he used artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in the creation of "the final Beatles record."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today show that the technique was used to "extricate" John Lennon's voice from an old tape so he could finish the song, reports BBC.
"We just finished it up and it'll be released this year," he explained.
McCartney did not name the song, although it is most likely “Now And Then,” a 1978 Lennon tune.
It was suggested as a possible “reunion song” for the Beatles in 1995, while they were putting together their career-spanning Anthology series.
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Yoko Ono, John Lennon's widow, had given McCartney the demo a year before. It was one of several songs on a tape titled “For Paul” produced by John Lennon shortly before his death in 1980, said the report.
The tunes, which are lo-fi and embryonic, were mostly recorded onto a boombox while the musician sat at a piano in his New York residence.
Two of those songs, “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” were finished and released in 1995 and 1996, respectively, by producer Jeff Lynne, marking the Beatles' first “new” work in 25 years.
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The band also attempted to record “Now And Then,” an apologetic love song typical of John Lennon's later career, but the session was short-lived.
"It was one day - one afternoon, really - messing with it," Lynne recalled.
"The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we really didn't finish."
Later, McCartney stated that George Harrison refused to work on the song because the sound quality of Lennon's singing was "rubbish."
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"It didn't have a very good title, it needed a bit of reworking, but it had a beautiful verse and it had John singing it," he told Q Magazine.
"[But] George didn't like it. The Beatles being a democracy, we didn't do it."
There were also said to have been technical issues with the original recording, which featured a persistent "buzz" from the electricity circuits in Lennon's apartment.
A bootleg CD containing a fresh version of the demo without the background noise was published in 2009. Fans have theorized that this recording may not have been available in 1995, implying that it was stolen from his residence after his death, along with other personal things.
Sir Paul McCartney has regularly stated his wish to complete the Beatles song in the ensuing years.
First-ever Dhaka Summer Con 2023 to take place July 12-14
Celebrating the increasing craze for pop culture in the country, the first-ever Dhaka Summer Con 2023 will be held for three days on July 12, 13 and 14 at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.
Event management and public relations company MediaQuest Bangladesh is going to organize this festival with segments including cosplay competitions, concerts, comic books, experience zone, kids zone, games, hip-pop, K-pop, food zone and panel discussions.
According to the organisers, Dhaka Summer Con is being organized with the vision of creating a globally inspiring experience and setting a footprint on International platforms in the respective communities.
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The festival will feature cosplayers onstage portraying their favourite comic, superhero, and movie characters and will showcase costume plays through which they will entertain the audience with freestyle performances. Dhaka Summer Con will be a gathering of several popular characters such as Superman, Spider-Man, Pikachu, Naruto and more, the organisers informed.
There will be a dedicated zone for comic lovers which will include a huge collection of comics, especially the vintage classics. The organisers aspire that this will bring nostalgia among comic lovers.
As per the offerings regarding music, concert enthusiasts will get enamoured through the performances of their favourite heavy metal, rock and pop bands and solo artists at the event. There will also be performances by various pop music groups including Hip-hop, K-pop, and J-pop.
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At the three-day Dhaka Summer Con, local and foreign companies will display their products and services in the pavilions. There will also be an ‘Artist Alley’ where various action figures and rare toy collections will be displayed.
The Experience Zone will also be packed with VR experiences, fan ‘meet and greet’ sessions, comic and cosplay merchandising outlets and get-togethers among the pop enthusiasts. There will be a dedicated food court with various kinds of food at the festival throughout its entirety.
Dhaka Summer Con 2023 convener and co-founder of MediaQuest Bangladesh Tariqul Sumon said, "We are going to organize this festival for the first time with various entertaining activities. In addition to meeting favourite superhero performances or favourite cosplay artists, Dhaka Summer Con will become a meeting place for all the popular music bands of the country. In this festival, cosplay performers of three categories - solo, group and kids, will be awarded as winners.
He added, 'There will be a specialized kids zone for children in the festival where children can enjoy and play safely; and through the registration process, parents can leave their children and enjoy other activities at the festival. Moreover, we have kept several surprises that will give our audiences and pop enthusiasts extra amusement, and we hope Dhaka Summer Con 2023 will add a new dimension to this celebration of pop culture in the country.”
Details about Dhaka Summer Con 2023 are available on the official Facebook page of the event at https://www.facebook.com/dhakasummercon.
English Originals Coming to Netflix in July 2023
Netflix, the worldwide popular streaming platform, has an exciting lineup of English language originals set to release in July 2023. The list includes few big-name blockbuster franchises along with new releases. From crime comedies to post-apocalyptic thrillers, viewers can expect a month filled with laughter, suspense, romance, and epic adventures as they dive into these highly anticipated releases.
10 Netflix English Originals Being Released in July 2023
The Out-Laws
The Out-Laws, directed by Tyler Spindel, is an upcoming American crime comedy film set to release on July 7, 2023, exclusively on Netflix. The film, produced by Adam Sandler, Adam DeVine, and Allen Covert, follows the story of a bank manager, Owen (Adam DeVine), whose bank is robbed by a notorious group of criminals known as the Ghost Bandits.
To Owen's surprise, he suspects that the criminals might be his future in-laws. The star-studded cast includes Adam DeVine, Pierce Brosnan, Ellen Barkin, Nina Dobrev, Michael Rooker, and more. With a humorous premise and talented ensemble, The Out-Laws promises an entertaining and comical crime caper.
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Bird Box Barcelona
Bird Box Barcelona, directed by Álex Pastor and David Pastor, is an upcoming film set to release on July 14, 2023, exclusively on Netflix. Serving as a spin-off from the 2018 post-apocalyptic horror film Bird Box, it follows the story of a father (Mario Casas) and his daughter (Naila Schuberth) as they navigate a dystopian future where looking at entities roaming the earth means certain death.
The film features an ensemble cast including Georgina Campbell, Diego Calva, and many more. With Nostromo Pictures producing the project, Bird Box Barcelona promises to deliver a gripping and suspenseful tale in the same universe as its predecessor.
Read more: Playing Odin in Marvel's Thor movies was 'pointless acting', says Anthony Hopkins
Beneath the Surface
Beneath the Surface is an exhilarating documentary directed by Laura McGann, set to release on Netflix on July 19, 2023. The film follows Alessia Zecchini, an Italian champion freediver, as she embarks on a daring quest to set a new world record in freediving. Descending to remarkable depths without scuba gear, Alessia enters what she calls the last quiet place on Earth.
With the constant danger of blackouts upon ascent, she relies on the assistance of safety diver Stephen Keenan, an adventurous Irishman who fell in love with the sport in Dahab, Egypt. As their fates become intertwined, Alessia and Stephen train together to conquer the challenging 85-foot-long tunnel located 184 feet below the Red Sea in Dahab's legendary Blue Hole.
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Supa Team 4
Supa Team 4 is an animated TV series set to release on Netflix on July 20. Created by Malenga Mulendema, the show follows the adventures of four teenage girls in the futuristic African city of Lusaka. When they are recruited by a retired secret agent, they become Supa Team 4, a group of undercover superheroes dedicated to saving the world on a budget.
Directed by Dave Osborne and featuring a talented voice cast including John Macmillan, Pamela Nomvete, and Nancy Sekhokoane, the series combines schoolgirl struggles with thrilling superhero action, offering an exciting and entertaining watch for viewers.
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They Cloned Tyrone
They Cloned Tyrone, directed by Juel Taylor, is a mystery action thriller set to release on July 21. The film follows an unlikely trio, portrayed by John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris, who find themselves embroiled in a series of eerie events that lead them to uncover a nefarious government conspiracy.
With its suspenseful storyline, They Cloned Tyrone takes audiences on a thrilling caper that explores the dark secrets hidden beneath the surface. This film is not a sequel but promises to deliver an engaging and thrilling experience with its talented cast and gripping narrative.
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Bollywood star Kajol says ‘facing one of the toughest trials of my life’, erases all Instagram posts
Bollywood star Kajol has announced that she is taking a break from social media.
The actress has erased all of her earlier Instagram posts, NDTV reported on Friday.
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Without getting into details, Kajol posted on Instagram and Twitter: "Facing one of the toughest trials of my life."
"Taking a break from social media," she captioned it.
While the actress has not said why she deleted all of her previous Instagram photos, netizens on the Internet inundated her post with comments such as "Sending you so much love" and "Please take care." "Hope you're doing well, take your time," said another. "Sending you all my love," another added. "Allow yourself plenty of time. We'll be there."
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Kajol is well recognized for her roles in blockbusters like as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Baazigar, Gupt, Dushman, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and My mention Is Khan, to mention a few.
Kajol was most recently seen in Salaam Venky, a film co-starring Vishal Jethwa and Aamir Khan (in a cameo role). Revathy directed the film, which was released last year. The actress's next appearance will be in Netflix's anthology film Lust Stories 2, said the report.
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In recent years, she has appeared in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, a National Award-winning film co-starring husband Ajay Devgn and actor Saif Ali Khan, it also said.
Kajol also appeared in the Netflix film Tribhanga, her digital debut. Tribhanga, directed by Renuka Sahane and starring Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar, was produced by Ajay Devgn, it added.
Playing Odin in Marvel's Thor movies was 'pointless acting', says Anthony Hopkins
Veteran actor Sir Anthony Hopkins has described his work in Marvel's Thor films as "pointless acting".
The veteran Welsh actor joined the cast of Thor as Odin – father of Thor and one of the principal gods in Norse mythology – in Kenneth Branagh's film version of the Marvel comic in 2011.Later, he also appeared in 2013's Thor: The Dark World and 2017's Thor: Ragnarok.
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"If you're sitting in front of a green screen, it's pointless acting," Sir Anthony, 85, told the New Yorker.
"They put me in armour; they shoved a beard on me," he told the magazine.
"Sit on the throne, shout a bit."
Anthony Hopkins made history in 2021 by becoming the oldest person to win an Academy Award for acting, winning a second Oscar for his role as a man with dementia in The Father, BBC reports.
His performance as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs earned the actor his first Oscar in 1992.
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Meanwhile his Thor co-star Chris Hemsworth told GQ magazine he loved the experience of making Thor movies, but joked he got sick of the character pretty quickly every couple of years, According to BBC.
"I love the fact that I've been able to do something fairly different throughout the process. Thor and 2 were their own thing, Thor 3 and 4 were a very different feel," he said.
He told the magazine that he was interested in returning to Thor and "seeing what they have to offer creatively, if there is something new" for the character. "But I really wanna do some other stuff for a while," the Australian actor said.
Read more: Farhan Akhtar looks to revive DON franchise; Shah Rukh Khan exits
Kolkata 20th Tele Cine Awards: Afzal Hossain, Chanchal Chowdhury, Bappa Mazumder honoured
Several Bangladeshi artists were honoured in multiple categories for enthralling audiences, transcending the borders between the two Bengala at the Kolkata 20th Tele Cine Awards on Sunday (June 4, 2023).
Eminent Bangladeshi thespian-painter Afzal Hossain received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while "Hawa"-famed star Chanchal Chowdhury received the award for best actor. Bidya Sinha Mim received best actress for her stellar performance in "Poran" and Bappy Chowdhury received a special award at the 2023 edition of the award.
Popular singer Bappa Mazumder received best male singer, and Samina Chowdhury was awarded best female singer at the awards, held at the Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata.
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“For such a long time, we have been trying to take Bangla content to a whole new level. Owing to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn't screen our films and dramas here for many years but we are glad that now our audiences are able to enjoy our content," said Chanchal Chowdhury.
“I want to express my gratitude to the jury board and all of the participants and everyone associated with this event. I also want to express my gratitude to all of my listeners and well-wishers. Stay well everyone, and keep supporting our Bengali music," Bappa Mazumder wrote on his official Facebook profile.
At the 19th edition of the Tele Cine Awards in 2022, a number of Bangladeshi artists were honoured namely Momtaz Begom, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Mir Sabbir, Deepanwita Martin, Masud Hasan Ujjal, SI Tutul, Chanchal Chowdhury, Zakia Bari Mamo and Anika Tasnim.
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The Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 was handed over to eminent singer Runa Laila and evergreen Bangladeshi actor Alamgir, while late actor-politician Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque MP received the honour in 2021.
Govt taking action against illegal polythene producers: Environment Minister
The government is taking action against polythene producers as it is harmful to humans, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Monday.
“Mobile courts are being run against production, transportation, marketing and storage of banned polythene bags. From January 2019 to February 2023, a total of 2,198 raids were conducted and 3,617 cases were filed and 169 persons were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and 1,745 metric tons of polythene, grains and raw materials were seized,” he said.
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The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the “World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2023” and “National Tree Planting Campaign and National Tree Fair 2023” at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
“Let us all collect saplings, plant trees in fallen and unused vacant areas around. Build a healthy and beautiful world for us,” he said.
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Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dr Hasan Mahmud attended the event as the chief guest. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar and Md Saber Hossain Chowdhury, President of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, were present as special guests.
The environment fair will be held from June 5-11. The tree fair will run from June 5-26 and from July 1 to 12 as there is an official holiday from 27 to 30 June for the Eid-ul-Azha. The fair will start at 9:00 am and end at 8:00 pm every day.
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