The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival is set to begin on December 4 in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district, Saudi Arabia. The festival will open with Rowan Athale’s film 'Giant', inspired by the life of British-Yemeni boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, starring Amir El-Masry and Pierce Brosnan. This year’s event features 111 films, including 16 in the main competition—half from the Middle East and half international. Oscar-winning director Sean Baker will chair the jury. The lineup includes Saudi Arabia’s Oscar entry 'Hijra', Cherien Dabis’s 'All That’s Left of You', and other acclaimed titles from Tunisia, Spain, and Switzerland. Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai is among the confirmed celebrity attendees. The Red Sea Film Foundation, now led by CEO Faisal Baltyuor, aims to attract 40,000 visitors this year, up from 30,000 in 2024. The festival will also feature outdoor screenings, family programs, and a youth filmmaking initiative called 'Voices of Tomorrow'.

A 112-year-old Fabergé masterpiece known as the ‘Winter Egg’ has sold for a record £22.9 million (approximately 3.7 billion Bangladeshi taka) at Christie’s in London. Crafted in 1913 by Russian artist Peter Carl Fabergé for Tsar Nicholas II as a gift to his mother, the intricately designed egg is carved from rock crystal and adorned with about 4,500 diamonds, platinum snowflake motifs, and a miniature flower basket made of white quartz inside. The buyer chose to remain anonymous. This sale surpassed the previous record set in 2007 for any Fabergé artwork. Christie’s expert Margo Oganesian said the result reaffirms the timeless significance of Fabergé’s craftsmanship. The ‘Imperial Winter Egg’ is one of only 50 imperial eggs created for the Romanov family between 1885 and 1917, of which only seven remain in private collections today.

The recently concluded 'Natun Kuri' competition, Bangladesh’s iconic children’s talent platform, returned after two decades under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Bangladesh Television (BTV). About 39,000 participants from 64 districts competed across 12 categories, including acting, singing, recitation, and dance. The contest aimed to foster inclusivity, drawing participants from diverse religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Priyoshi Chakraborty from Tangail and Shubhamita Talukdar from Sunamganj emerged as champions in the ‘Ka’ and ‘Kha’ divisions respectively. A total of 63 child performers received 73 awards, with girls significantly outnumbering boys among winners. The event highlighted the strong influence of educational and culturally active families in nurturing talent. BTV announced that top contestants would be enlisted as official performers and featured in a new show titled 'Shishu Prohor'. The competition’s revival has reinvigorated Bangladesh’s cultural scene, inspiring young talents and engaging audiences both on television and digital platforms.

Chinese online retailers are facing a new wave of refund fraud as some customers use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create fake images showing damaged or defective products. According to the South China Morning Post, buyers first photograph genuine items and then edit them with AI to appear spoiled, broken, or rusted before requesting refunds. Sellers of fruits, electric toothbrushes, clothing, and ceramics have reported such incidents, with AI-detection tools confirming manipulated images in some cases. The scams have raised ethical and legal concerns, especially during the Double Eleven shopping festival. In response, major e-commerce platforms like Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall have removed the 'refund only' option and introduced a buyer credit scoring system based on purchase and refund behavior. Additionally, China has mandated that all AI-generated content must include visible and invisible watermarks from September 1 to curb misinformation and fraud.

Selim Haider, a celebrated Bangladeshi guitarist and one of the founding members of the iconic band Feedback, passed away on Thursday night, November 27, at a private hospital in Dhaka. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer and other health complications. The news of his death was confirmed by musician Bappa Mazumder. His funeral prayer is scheduled to be held on Friday after Jumma prayers at Hatirpool Pukur Par Jame Mosque. Before forming Feedback, Haider played in the band 'Sannyasi' with late singer Sheikh Ishtiaq and later performed with 'Feedback', 'Maqsood O Dhaka', 'Ullas', and 'Selim Haider & Friends'. He also collaborated with renowned artists like Runa Laila and contributed guitar work to numerous film songs. Known for his introverted nature and musical versatility, Haider mastered lead, bass, rhythm, and keyboard instruments, leaving a lasting legacy in Bangladesh’s modern music scene.

Netflix faced a major technical disruption shortly after releasing the first volume of the final season of 'Stranger Things 5', directed by the Duffer Brothers. The platform went down within minutes of the global premiere as millions of fans attempted to stream the episode simultaneously. The unexpected surge in traffic overwhelmed Netflix’s servers, leaving viewers unable to access the show. Fans quickly took to social media to share their frustration, reporting error messages when trying to play the episode. The company has acknowledged the issue and is working to restore full service. The release of 'Stranger Things 5' marks the beginning of the end for one of Netflix’s most popular and culturally influential series, set in the nostalgic 1980s and known for its blend of science fiction, horror, and coming-of-age drama.

Indian singer Anuv Jain’s much-anticipated concert in Dhaka, scheduled for December 12, has been postponed due to security concerns. The event, organized by Hypnation and set to take place at Courtside, Madani Avenue, was called off after organizers cited their inability to ensure a safe environment for audiences, sponsors, and partners. In a Facebook post, Hypnation stated that the concert would be rescheduled once the situation stabilizes and full safety can be guaranteed. The organizers also mentioned that details regarding ticket refunds will be announced soon. This postponement follows similar cancellations of international concerts in Dhaka, including the ‘Legends Live in Dhaka’ show featuring Bangladeshi rock icon James and Pakistani singer Ali Azmat, which was canceled in November due to permission issues. Several other international performances, including those by Pakistani artists Jal, Kaavish, and Atif Aslam, are also planned in the coming weeks, though their status remains uncertain.

Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Ruqsu) General Secretary Md Salahuddin Ammar has filed a case against Artcell vocalist Lincoln Artcell and manager Khademul Wahab Maher, accusing them of breach of trust and fraud. The complaint, lodged on Wednesday at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, alleges that despite signing a contract on July 19 to perform at the 'July-36 Freedom Festival' on August 15, the band failed to appear. According to the agreement, Tk 5.25 lakh of a total Tk 5.75 lakh payment was made in advance. However, just five hours before the event, the artists announced on Facebook that they would not attend. The plaintiff claims that their absence caused financial losses amounting to Tk 16 lakh for students and organizers. The court recorded the plaintiff’s statement and ordered Tejgaon police to investigate and submit a report. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Kaiyum Hossain Noyon, confirmed the development.

Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has become a trending topic on social media following the release of new photos taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. The images, part of her ‘Women’ project, show Obama looking notably slimmer, prompting widespread speculation online. Many users on platforms like Instagram and X have baselessly suggested that she may be using the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic. However, no evidence supports these claims. The discussion has largely shifted away from her project’s message about empowerment and healthy living to focus on her appearance. In a previous 2022 interview with People magazine, Obama discussed natural weight changes during menopause, a context many commenters overlooked. The 61-year-old shared the photos with a caption emphasizing the power of photography to inspire and convey meaning beyond the moment captured.

Bangladeshi Baul singer Hasina Sarkar has made explosive allegations against male Baul artists, claiming that some of them demand sexual favors from female performers in exchange for being invited to musical programs. Her comments came amid nationwide outrage over fellow Baul artist Abul Sarkar, who was recently arrested for making derogatory remarks about Islam and Allah during a performance in Ghior, Manikganj. Hasina stated that when she sought performance opportunities, male Bauls implied she must comply with their inappropriate demands. She rejected such propositions, saying she would not compromise her dignity for stage appearances. The remarks have sparked widespread discussion about exploitation and moral decline within parts of the Baul community, a folk tradition known for its spiritual and philosophical roots. Authorities have not yet commented on Hasina Sarkar’s claims.

Google has taken a major step in artificial intelligence by integrating its newly launched Gemini 3 model directly into its search service. Announced by Alphabet in San Francisco on November 22, this marks the first time a new Gemini version has been activated on the same day as its release. CEO Sundar Pichai described Gemini 3 as Google’s most advanced and intelligent model to date, offering users immediate benefits. The company claims Gemini 3 leads international AI benchmarks and outperforms several major tech rivals. Alongside the model, Google introduced the Gemini Agent, capable of handling complex tasks such as drafting job applications, organizing emails, planning trips, and analyzing personal data for decision-making. The Gemini app now displays responses in a more interactive, visually rich format. Analysts suggest this move brings Google closer to its vision of a universal AI assistant and signals a shift in AI competition toward real-world revenue generation, particularly through Google’s expanding cloud and search services.

Oscar-winning Indian composer A R Rahman has spoken candidly for the first time about the personal toll of fame following his divorce from wife Saira Banu after 29 years of marriage. In a recent interview, Rahman reflected on how celebrity status has deeply affected his private life, saying that while fame brought him global recognition, it also took away his freedom and peace. Living in Chennai, he explained, has been both a blessing and a burden—his fans’ love often leaves him with little personal space. Rahman described how public attention follows him everywhere, from airports to weddings, making it difficult to enjoy simple moments. Despite these challenges, he emphasized his attachment to his homeland, saying he never considered moving abroad. Rahman also contrasted the respect for privacy he experiences overseas with the constant public scrutiny in India, acknowledging that fame has come at a heavy personal cost.

Pakistani pop sensation Atif Aslam is set to return to Dhaka for a live concert on December 13, 2025. The singer confirmed the news himself through a social media post, sharing a photo from one of his previous performances. The event, titled 'Atif Aslam at Main Stage Show', is being organized by Main Stage, the same company bringing him to Bangladesh. The concert will take place at Bashundhara Field, with gates opening at 1 p.m. and the show running from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Ticket sales are expected to begin soon, available in two categories: General and Front VIP. Atif Aslam last performed in Dhaka on November 29, 2024, at the 'Magical Night 2.0' concert, which drew a large audience and featured many of his popular songs. Fans are eagerly anticipating his upcoming performance, marking another major musical event in the city’s entertainment calendar.

OpenAI and Target have announced an expanded partnership aimed at integrating advanced AI capabilities across Target’s retail operations and customer experiences. The collaboration introduces a new Target app within ChatGPT, allowing users to receive personalized shopping recommendations, build multi-item baskets, and complete purchases through Drive Up, Order Pickup, or shipping. Target will continue using OpenAI’s APIs and ChatGPT Enterprise to enhance employee productivity and streamline operations, with 18,000 employees already utilizing the technology. The retailer’s AI tools—such as Agent Assist, Store Companion, and Gift Finder—are designed to improve customer support, optimize supply chain forecasting, and deliver more personalized digital interactions. This initiative aligns with Target’s broader strategy to embed AI throughout its business, improving both guest satisfaction and team efficiency. OpenAI CEO Fidji Simo highlighted Target as a model for enterprise-scale AI transformation, emphasizing the partnership’s role in shaping the future of intelligent retail experiences.

The European Commission has proposed significant changes to the EU’s flagship data protection and artificial intelligence frameworks, aiming to reduce regulatory burdens and stimulate economic growth. The revisions would simplify the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by easing data-sharing restrictions and reducing cookie pop-ups, while also delaying enforcement of key provisions in the AI Act governing high-risk systems. The proposal allows AI firms to use personal data for model training under certain GDPR safeguards and introduces lighter documentation requirements for smaller companies. Brussels argues the reforms will foster innovation without compromising fundamental rights, but critics accuse the EU of bowing to Big Tech and undermining privacy protections. The plan, part of a broader “Digital Omnibus” package, will now go before the European Parliament and member states for approval, a process expected to face intense political and civil society scrutiny.