Latest from Lebanon 24
News24
18 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News24
‘Not guilty': US singer Chris Brown fights UK assault charges in London court
Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to a London nightclub brawl, with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2026. The Grammy-winning singer is accused of causing grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon. Despite strict bail conditions, Brown is continuing his international tour, including performances in London and beyond. American R&B singer Chris Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty in a UK court to a charge stemming from an alleged London nightclub brawl in 2023. Brown, 36, wearing a dark suit and tie as well as glasses, stood in the dock in London as the charge was put to him, replying: 'Not guilty, ma'am.' The singer, who is on £5 million ($6.7 million) bail, waved to people in the public gallery as he left, following his plea to allegedly attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. A five to seven-day-long trial was scheduled to start on 26 October 2026. The singer was held in custody for nearly a week in May after he was arrested in the northwestern city of Manchester. He was later released on bail. Under the terms of his bail, he will forfeit the £5 million guarantee if he fails to return for court proceedings. He was also given the go-ahead to continue his scheduled international tour, which began on 8 June in Amsterdam. CARLOS JASSO / AFP The star, who had a troubled relationship with Barbadian singer Rihanna, is on the UK leg of his tour, with his next date in London on Saturday. Brown is charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to an assault in which the victim was allegedly struck several times with a bottle before being pursued, punched and kicked. The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square in London on 19 February 2023 while Brown was touring in the UK. Grammy winner Police detained him in the early hours of 13 May at a five-star hotel in Manchester after he reportedly flew in by private jet. Other bail terms include surrendering his passport if he is not travelling. He is also required to live at a specific address known to the court and is not permitted to visit the nightclub where the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim, Abraham Diah. He appeared in the dock with co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a US national, with whom he is jointly charged. CARLOS JASSO / AFP Akinlolu also entered a not-guilty plea to the same charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Both men are also jointly charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. They will enter pleas to that charge on 11 July, the court was told. Brown also faces a third charge of having an offensive weapon, a bottle, in public. The Grammy-winning singer is known for mid-2000s hits such as 'Kiss, Kiss.' He rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation has been tarnished by the allegations of abuse. He is also scheduled to perform in France, Portugal and the US later in the year before the tour wraps up in Memphis in mid-October.
News18
19 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
You Can Watch Roshan Mathew's Maharani On This OTT Platform
The Malayalam comedy-drama Maharani is a delightful mix of comedy and entertainment. Malayalam cinema fans have a reason to celebrate as the comedy-drama film Maharani is all set to make its debut on OTT. Starring Shine Tom Chacko and Roshan Mathew, the movie was released in theatres on November 24. The movie is steered by the Mollywood director G Marthandan, known for comedies like Daivathinte Swanatham Cleetus and Paavada. The movie's script is penned by Ratheesh Ravi and is jointly produced by Sujit Balan and NM Badusha under the banner of Badusha Productions. Now after months of its theatrical release, the Malayalam comedy-drama will start streaming on the OTT platform Manorama Max from June 21. Announcing the same, the streaming giant dropped an official poster of the film on their social media. Alongside the post, they wrote, 'Maharani | June 21 | manoramaMAX." Apart from Roshan Mathew and Shine Tom Chacko, Maharani boasts an ensemble cast of other talented actors like Harishree Ashokan, Johnny Antony, Jafar Idukki, Balu Varghese, Sujith Balan, Sruthy Jayan, Kailash, Gokulan, Aswat Lal and Raghunath Paleri in significant roles in the movie. The film has a musical score composed by Govind Vasantha and Gopi Sundar. The cinematography of the movie is done by Lokanathan and the editing work is handled by Noufal Abdullah. The movie promises a delightful mix of comedy and entertainment. Set against the backdrop of an imaginary village in the Alleppey district of Kerala, Maharani revolves around the characters Aji (played by Shine) and Viji (played by Roshan), the two protagonists of the movie. Despite the odds, both of them are faithful and close friends who never fail to encourage each other. While Aji expects to elope with his lover, Viji wishes to find a partner who would help him improve his financial situation. However, when Aji's romantic interest, Rani, goes missing, her family blames the two guys and their group of friends for her disappearance. Watch as Aji and Viji ultimately get rid of their names in this matter while desperately searching for Rani. Shot in the picturesque locales of Cherthala, Alappuzha district in Kerala, Maharani is the first-ever movie in Malayalam cinema that was entirely shot on the Sony Venice 2. It's a cinematic camera with one of the two full-frame photographic sensors that are included with the camera to produce exceptionally good pictures.
News18
19 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Veteran Pakistani Actress Ayesha Khan Found Dead In Karachi Home; Body Found A Week Later
Last Updated: Pakistani actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her Karachi flat after a week. Her decomposed body raised concerns about her health and isolated final days. Renowned Pakistani actress Ayesha Khan, known for her iconic roles in classic television dramas, was found dead in her apartment in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 7, Karachi, on Wednesday. She was 76. According to local media reports, Khan's body was discovered nearly a week after her passing. Neighbours alerted the authorities after noticing a foul smell emanating from the actress's residence. Police officials confirmed that the body was in a decomposed state, indicating she had died several days prior. Khan, who had been living alone for several years, was reportedly dealing with health issues and had largely withdrawn from the public eye. Her remains were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for post-mortem examination to determine the cause and exact time of death. Following medico-legal formalities, her body was transferred to the Edhi Foundation mortuary in Sohrab Goth. An investigation into the circumstances of her death has been launched, with police questioning neighbours and reaching out to possible relatives for further information. As of now, no signs of foul play have been reported. Born on November 22, 1948, Ayesha Khan was a veteran of Pakistani television, celebrated for her performances in shows such as Akhri Chattan, Tipu Sultan: The Tiger Lord, Dehleez, Daraarein, Bol Meri Machli, and Ek Aur Aasman. She also appeared in films including Muskaan, Fatima, and the Indian film Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. Ayesha was the elder sister of the late actress Khalida Riyasat, another stalwart of the Pakistani television industry. While both sisters contributed significantly to the golden era of PTV dramas, Ayesha gradually stepped away from the limelight in her later years. Her passing has prompted an outpouring of grief from the entertainment fraternity. Celebrities and fans alike took to social media to pay tribute to her legacy and express sadness over the circumstances of her lonely demise. The incident has also reignited concerns about the well-being of senior artists, particularly those living alone and forgotten by the industry they once enriched. First Published:
News18
19 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Metro... In Dino's New Song Aur Mohabbat Kitni Karoon Is All About Pure Love
Composed by Pritam and sung in the timeless voice of Arijit Singh, Aur Mohabbat Kitni Karoon perfectly encapsulates the essence of pure love. The fourth song from Metro… In Dino titled Aur Mohabbat Kitni Karoon is out now. Composed by Pritam and sung in the timeless voice of Arijit Singh, the track perfectly encapsulates the essence of pure love. It explores the beauty of romance that is beyond presence and action, the emotions that need no validation and love that does not require any declaration. Written by Sandeep Srivastava, the song has been beautifully picturised on Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher. Soothing and heartfelt, Aur Mohabbat Kitni Karoon is sure to resonate with everyone who has experienced the magic of love and understands that it stays the same even in silence and anger. It's not just a track – it is an emotional ode to warmth, pain and innocence that love brings with itself. Fans are visibly impressed with the beautiful collaboration, with one writing, 'Now this album is Singh." Another added, 'Most awaited Song of the Year." One of the Arijit fans joined in to add, 'This is going to be another soulful gem by Arijit Singh." Before this, the makers of Metro… In Dino released Zamaana Lage which was a reflection on a love lost followed by Dil Ka Kya and Mann Ye Mera. The tracks have struck a chord with the audience's heart, with viewers playing the chartbusters on repeat. Metro… In Dino carries forward the legacy of the interconnected stories in Life In A Metro which was released in 2007. It is set to explore the complexities of modern-day relationships in the fast-paced world. The film is slated for release on July 4. The romantic drama draws its title from the popular song In Dino from the previous film. It is written and directed by Anurag Basu. In his signature storytelling style, the filmmaker has weaved together four different stories of love, heartbreak and human connection in the upcoming flick. Metro… In Dino is produced by T-Series Films and Anurag Basu Productions. The film's dialogue is written by Samrat Chakraborty. The film, shot across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Lucknow, has been generating enough buzz online for its emotionally rich, layered narratives. First Published:
France 24
20 minutes ago
- Politics
- France 24
Netanyahu's other battle: swinging Trump and US behind Iran war
In his daily calls and public statements, Israel's longest-serving prime minister has mixed praise and deference for the US leader, while also arguing that the strikes on Iran benefit Americans. "Do you want these people to have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to you?" he asked during an interview on Fox News last Sunday. "Today, it's Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it's New York," he told ABC News a day later, arguing that Iran was working on longer-range missiles that would be able to reach US shores in the future. His media blitz came after intensive and not always harmonious exchanges between Netanyahu and Trump this year, with the Israeli leader welcomed twice to the White House since the Republican's return to power in January. The New York Times, citing unnamed US administration sources, reported Tuesday that Netanyahu had asked Trump for US-made bunker-busting bombs capable of reaching Iran's underground Iranian nuclear facilities in an April meeting -- but had been refused. Having been elected in opposition to US entanglements overseas and supposed "war-mongers" in the Democratic party, Trump was seen as reluctant to commit Washington to another unpopular war in the Middle East. Much of his right-wing Make America Great Again (MAGA) coalition is staunchly anti-interventionist, including Vice President JD Vance, his head of national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, and influential media figures such as Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson. But speaking Wednesday, the former tycoon stated clearly that he was considering joining the Israeli campaign directly, raising the possibility of the bunker-busting GBU-57 bombs being deployed against Iran's main underground uranium stockpile facility in Fordo. "I may do it, I may not do it," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he had decided on US air strikes. His final decision will come "within the next two weeks", he said Thursday. Influence Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at the London-based Chatham House think-tank, said Netanyahu had been clever in his dealings with Trump, appealing to his "vanity" with charm as well "using his weaknesses". Once he had received an "amber light" in private from the US leader to launch the attacks last Friday, "he knew Trump's personality and knew that Trump might come on board if there was a chance of claiming glory in some way or claiming some sort of credit," he told AFP. Trump has openly praised the success of the Israeli military campaign which has combined targeted assassinations of key military personnel, destruction of Iran's air defences and repeated strikes on nuclear sites. Eliot A. Cohen, a veteran former US State Department advisor and international relations expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, cautioned against overstating Netanyahu's personal influence, however. "I suspect this is much less about Netanyahu's influence than Trump's own view of the Iranian nuclear programme, his memory of the assassination plot against him in 2024 by Iranian agents and the success of the initial Israeli operations," he told AFP. An Iranian man has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to kill Trump before his election last November. Cohen said Netanyahu's lobbying could succeed for several reasons. "They are not asking for anything other than the bombing of Fordo," he said, referring to the deeply buried underground uranium enrichment facility. "Nobody is talking about an invasion or anything like that." "Many if not most Americans understand that a nuclear Iran is particularly dangerous, and that the regime is deeply hostile to the US," he added. Public opinion A poll by the survey group YouGov for The Economist magazine conducted last weekend found half of Americans viewed Iran as an "enemy" and another quarter said it was "unfriendly." But it found that only 16 percent of Americans "think the US military should get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran". It found that majorities of Democrats (65 percent), independents (61 percent) and Republicans (53 percent) opposed military intervention. Speaking on his War Room podcast Wednesday, former Trump strategist Bannon seethed that Netanyahu had "lectured" America and started a war he couldn't end on his own.
