United News of Bangladesh

Tom Holland-starrer Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office just six days after its theatrical release, becoming the second-fastest film in history to reach the milestone. Sony Pictures said on Aug 4 that the latest instalment in the Spider-Man franchise had earned about $1.05 billion worldwide in its first six days. The film trails only Avengers: Endgame, which earned around $1.2 billion during its opening weekend in 2019. Strong opening weekendThe film has also set several box-office records. According to Sony, Spider-Man: Brand New Day earned $360 million domestically during its opening weekend, surpassing Avengers: Endgame’s $357.1 million to claim the biggest domestic opening weekend ever. Endgame still holds the record for the biggest global opening weekend, with $1.2 billion. The new Spider-Man film also recorded the biggest Thursday preview, the highest Friday opening and the largest launch in Sony Pictures’ history. Fourth billion-dollar film of 2026Produced by Marvel Studios and Amy Pascal with a reported budget of $225 million, the film is the fourth movie released in 2026 to cross $1 billion worldwide. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Michael and Toy Story 5 have also reached the milestone this year. Meanwhile, The Odyssey has crossed $900 million globally and is closing in on the billion-dollar mark. IMAX changes screening plansFollowing the film’s strong performance, IMAX has adjusted its screening plans and will share screens between Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. The decision comes as the superhero film enters its second weekend, with Sony expecting it to maintain strong business despite competition from new releases including One Night Only, Super Troopers 3 and Ice Cream Man. About the filmSpider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth instalment in Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man series, hit theatres on July 30. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the film stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the Marvel universe as Doctor Doom. The cast also includes Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Jacob Batalon, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo. New additions to the franchise include Sadie Sink, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colón-Zayas and Marvin Jones II.

Priyanka Chopra is set to share the screen with Hollywood star Russell Crowe in Bluefly, an upcoming military science-fiction thriller directed by Nimród Antal, known for Predators. The film centres on a secret mission in the Congo, where a team is sent into dangerous territory to recover a crashed aircraft that is not supposed to exist. The screenplay has been written by David Frigerio, William Eubank and Carlyle Eubank. Production is expected to begin in the coming months on Australia's Gold Coast. Antal described Bluefly as an intense, character-driven thriller built around a bold science-fiction concept. He said the project would combine a grounded and fast-paced story with a strong sense of suspense. Chopra announced the film on Instagram with the caption, “Onto the next.” Her husband, singer Nick Jonas, showed his support in the comments with fire emojis. According to the film's official synopsis, a grieving UN translator is recruited for a covert operation to retrieve a mysterious aircraft that has crashed deep in the Congo. As a Special Operations team travels upriver through territory controlled by militias, the mission takes an unexpected turn. The closer they get to the aircraft, the more they realise they were never supposed to bring it back. The filmmakers have yet to disclose the roles Chopra and Crowe will play. No other cast members have been announced so far. Crowe has several projects in the pipeline, including Netflix's Unabomber, The Weight, Billion Dollar Spy and a reboot of Highlander. Chopra recently appeared alongside Idris Elba and John Cena in The Bluff. She is also set to star in SS Rajamouli's Varanasi and Reset, opposite Orlando Bloom. Source: NDTV

Singer Ariana Grande’s new music video and latest album have once again sparked public discussion about her appearance, raising broader questions about how society talks about celebrities’ bodies and beauty standards. The release of her new album, “Petal,” last week and a new music video have led to renewed comments about Grande’s thin appearance. Some people have expressed concern about her health, while others say such comments amount to body-shaming and invade her privacy. Others argue that celebrities’ influence on young fans makes discussions about their appearance unavoidable. Grande, 33, has faced public scrutiny over her appearance throughout her career. More recently, attention has focused on the visibility of parts of her body, including her sternum and rib cage. Grande has rejected suggestions that she is unhealthy and has repeatedly said that commenting on other people’s bodies is inappropriate. Her representative told People magazine that Grande plans to step back from public life after her current tour because of what was described as “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” Her latest video also addresses the pressure and judgment that often come with fame. In the nearly seven-minute video, Grande portrays the harsh process of being evaluated and judged as a public figure. The discussion has also prompted experts to question whether public comments about celebrities’ bodies are helpful. Johanna Kandel, founder and CEO of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, said people should consider why they are making such comments and what effect those comments may have. Scrutiny of women’s appearances is nothing newPublic figures have long faced intense scrutiny, while women in particular have often been judged by their appearance. Although efforts to promote body acceptance have grown in recent years, changing ideas about beauty, health and thinness continue to fuel debate. The growing use of weight-loss medications, including among celebrities, has added another layer to the discussion. Some experts worry that the increasing visibility of very thin celebrities could affect people who already struggle with body image or eating disorders. Allison Butler, a senior lecturer in communication at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said the debate can become overly divided between criticizing Grande’s appearance and demanding that nobody discuss it at all. Experts generally agree that people should avoid making assumptions about another person’s health based solely on their appearance. Rachel Goldman, a psychologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine, said people should resist speculating about celebrities’ bodies. Public comments about someone’s appearance, whether intended as praise or criticism, can reinforce the idea that a person’s value depends on how they look, she said. At the same time, experts say concerns about eating disorders and unhealthy relationships with food should not simply be ignored. Kandel recalled that when someone first expressed concern about her own eating disorder, the comment was harsh rather than supportive. She said such issues should be discussed with curiosity and compassion instead of criticism. Talking to children about body imageExperts say parents can help children by shifting conversations away from judging bodies and toward understanding the messages society sends about appearance. Goldman said children should be reminded that appearance alone does not indicate whether someone is healthy or doing well. “Young people need to understand that their body is just one part of who they are,” she said, adding that a person’s worth is not determined by body size or shape. Jennifer Hill, a 56-year-old pediatric nurse from Broomall, Pennsylvania, tries to teach that message to her 16-year-old daughter, who is a cheerleader and runner. Hill said her daughter dislikes comments about her body, so she reminds her that everyone is different and that people are born with different bodies. Hill said attitudes have improved since her youth in the 1980s, when people were often more open about making harsh comments about appearance. However, she said social media has created new pressures for young people. Through her work with young people experiencing emotional difficulties or eating disorders, Hill has also seen how sensitive conversations about body image can be. Her advice to parents is to listen rather than make direct or judgmental comments. “Communication is key,” she said, stressing the importance of open conversations in which young people are given space to speak. Grande sets boundariesGrande recently addressed her fans from the stage, saying she knows some people are worried that negative attention is affecting her. She said the situation is more complicated and that setting personal boundaries and taking a break can both be necessary while still allowing her to enjoy her professional and creative work. Her comments were met with loud cheers from fans, many of whom are young women.

Foundations backed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have launched a $200 million initiative to help save 100 of the world's most threatened species. DiCaprio's Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund announced the Phoenix Species Project on Tuesday, describing it as the largest single fund ever created specifically to help recover critically endangered species. The project will support efforts to protect animals including lemurs, salamanders, pangolins, pigs, tortoises and echidnas whose survival is threatened by habitat loss, climate change and other pressures. DiCaprio has for years advocated for a major international effort to protect species at risk of extinction. In 2021, he and Re:wild co-founder and CEO Wes Sechrest met Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who are chair and vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund. The meeting was followed by discussions with governments, environmental organisations and Indigenous communities about ways to protect some of the world's most vulnerable species. Those discussions eventually led to the Phoenix Species Project. Among the species the initiative will support are the golden-crowned sifaka, a lemur found in Madagascar; the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, which lives only in a small canyon in North Carolina; and the Visayan warty pig, found only on islands in the Philippines. Other species include Mexico's Cozumel harvest mouse, the pink land iguana of the Galápagos Islands, the Malayan pangolin of Southeast Asia and Tanzania's pancake tortoise. The project will also help protect the starry night harlequin toad, found only in Colombia's mountains, and Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, an egg-laying mammal native to New Guinea and named after renowned naturalist David Attenborough. The initiative aims to provide long-term funding and support to conservation projects that have achieved progress but often struggle to secure enough resources to continue their work. “We've protected the golden-crowned sifaka for years on a budget that would never match what this species deserves, but letting it go extinct was never an option,” said Tiana Andriamanana, executive director of Association Fanamby, one of the organisations receiving funding. She said the new funding, along with global cooperation and technical support, would create new opportunities to protect the species.

Indian actor Mrunal Thakur has warned people against creating or sharing AI-generated deepfake content using her image, saying any further misuse of her identity will lead to legal action. The actor issued the warning on Instagram on Tuesday, although she did not say what specific incident prompted the notice. “Creating or sharing deepfake content using my likeness is illegal and unacceptable,” she wrote, calling on people to stop such activities immediately. She also warned that any further misuse of her identity would result in legal action. A growing number of Indian actors have recently turned to the courts to protect their image, identity and personality rights from unauthorised use of artificial intelligence. Actors including Akshay Kumar, Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta, Kartik Aaryan and Suniel Shetty have taken legal steps over the misuse of their identities. Rashmika raises concern over AI misuseActor Rashmika Mandanna also previously spoke out against the misuse of AI to create vulgar and harmful images targeting women. In a post on X last December, she warned that the ability to manipulate images and information through AI could make it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from fabrication. She said AI could be a powerful tool for progress, but its misuse to target women and create offensive content reflected a serious moral problem. Rashmika urged people to use AI responsibly and called for strict action against those who misuse the technology. Earlier, a person was arrested for allegedly spreading deepfake content involving Rashmika. Mrunal’s upcoming filmMrunal Thakur is currently associated with the much-anticipated action drama Raaka, directed by Atlee Kumar. The film features a star-studded cast, including Allu Arjun, Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna. The makers are reportedly targeting a December 2027 release, although the date has not yet been officially confirmed. Source: NDTV

The High Court on Sunday granted bail to television actor Niamat Ullah Bhuiya, popularly known as Zaher Alvi, in a case filed over his wife’s death. The HC bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order after hearing a petition. On June 30, a Dhaka court sent Alvi to jail after end of his two-day remand in the case. Earlier on June 18, a Dhaka court sent Zaher Alvi to jail when he surrendered before the court. The court also rejected the bail petition of Alvi. Earlier on February 28,  Afra Ivnath Khan Ikra, wife of television actor Zaher Alvi, reportedly committed suicide in the capital’s Mirpur DOHS. Alvi disclosed it in a post on his verified Facebook page but did not mention any reason behind it. In the post, the actor wrote, “This noon, my wife Ikra committed suicide at our Mirpur DOHS residence. Now, I am in Nepal for a shooting project. Since hearing the news, I have not been in a state to speak. I do not understand why she chose to leave this way without thinking about our child and me.” He further wrote, “I request my well-wishers and journalist brothers to please give me some time. I am trying to return to Dhaka as soon as possible and will speak to everyone after I get back. Until then, during this moment of grief, please allow me and my family some mental peace. For the sake of our child’s future, please do not spread any misleading information. Please pray for my Ikra.” Alvi and Ikra were married in 2010 and they have a son. Ikra’s father filed a case against the actor on charge of provoking her to commit suicide.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day brought in $927m (£687m) of global ticket sales to make it the second-biggest opening weekend ever as it shot past its estimated $225m production budget. The superhero movie - starring real-life husband and wife Tom Holland and Zendaya - is only behind Avengers: Endgame, which took in more than $1.2bn in its opening weekend in 2019. Brand New Day also set a second-best North American record, with box office takings of $335m. The film's strong performance gives a much-needed boost for Marvel Studios ahead of the highly-anticipated December release of Avengers: Doomsday, after a string of Marvel movies under-performed in recent years. Brand New Day, which opened in cinemas last week, picks up a few years after 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home as Peter Parker continues to fight crime in a world that has forgotten he is the masked superhero. The latest instalment of the hugely popular franchise received largely positive reviews, with some calling it Holland's best Spider-Man performance yet. Brand New Day made $572m from more than 73,000 screens outside the US, including $121m from China, distributor Sony Pictures said. That included $49m in UK ticket sales over the weekend. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said the opening of Brand New Day was "truly phenomenal", adding that he was grateful to audiences for "coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen." The film is Marvel's last big-screen outing before Doomsday, the long-awaited culmination of multiple superhero story arcs after Avengers: Endgame. Marvel films released since Endgame have struggled to attract the same broad audiences as they did at their peak. Big budget films like The Marvels and Thunderbolts recouped their production costs but were among the studio's lowest-grossing films. Spider-Man remains one of Marvel's most lucrative franchises, with No Way Home making nearly $2bn in ticket sales. Cinema attendance has slowed since the Covid-19 pandemic, which accelerated the shift to home-streaming options like Netflix. But the big screen has staged something of a comeback this year, with the North American box office takings on track to pass $10bn for the first time since 2019. That was helped by blockbuster hits by including Toy Story 5, Michael, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - which have made more than $1bn each. July releases Brand New Day and The Odyssey - director Christopher Nolan's take on the epic Greek poem - are also on track to top the $1bn mark. Source: BBC

Veteran actor Vincent Pastore, best known for playing Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the acclaimed television series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80. Bob McGowan, who managed Pastore during and after his time on The Sopranos, told The meida that actor Vincent Curatola informed him of the death on Saturday. Pastore was found at his home on New York’s City Island after friends and colleagues had been unable to contact him for several days. McGowan remembered Pastore as a loyal client, generous supporter of charities and someone always willing to help others. Longtime representative Robert Attermann described him as kind, warm and devoted to his fans, noting he never refused requests for photographs or autographs and regularly encouraged aspiring actors. Actor Michael Imperioli paid tribute on Instagram, recalling decades of friendship, work and travel together, and praised Pastore’s deep commitment to his family and friends. Pastore began his acting career in the 1980s and appeared in films including Goodfellas and Awakenings in 1990. He became widely recognized for his 30-episode portrayal of FBI informant “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in The Sopranos. Born in the Bronx and raised in New Rochelle, New York, Pastore served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before attending Pace University. He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.

Zendaya's fashion choices during the promotional tour for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have sparked online speculation that her character, MJ, could face a tragic fate in the new Marvel film. Fans on social media have pointed to the actor's mostly black outfits during the press tour, suggesting they may hint at a major storyline involving MJ. However, there has been no official confirmation from Marvel Studios or the filmmakers. Zendaya and her longtime stylist, Law Roach, are well known for using fashion to reflect themes from the films they promote. During the tour, Zendaya wore a blue-and-red outfit in Rome, colours closely linked to Spider-Man's costume. She also appeared in a grey-blue dress featuring web-inspired details. For most of the remaining promotional events, however, she chose black outfits, a colour often associated with mourning in Western cultures. At an event in China, she wore a black Versace gown with black net detailing, even though white is traditionally considered the colour of mourning in China and several other Asian countries. These fashion choices have led some fans to speculate that MJ may die in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The theory gained further attention after Zendaya said in a recent interview: "As a fan of Peter Parker, I always want him to have a happy ending, but I don't know, guys... it's not looking good." Marvel actors are generally bound by strict non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from revealing plot details before a film's release. Fans have shared various theories online, with some suggesting the outfits were carefully chosen to hint at MJ's storyline. Others believe they are simply part of Zendaya's signature fashion-forward promotional style. For now, the speculation remains unconfirmed. Audiences will learn what happens to MJ when Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in cinemas worldwide.

Ariana Grande is showing a quieter side on her latest album “Petal,” stepping away from the powerful vocal performances that have long defined her music. Her eighth studio album and first full-length release since the end of her “Wicked” run and 2024’s “Eternal Sunshine,” “Petal” features 12 tracks that see the pop star taking a more inward and controlled approach. The change is clear from the lead single “Hate That I Made You Love Me.” With its smooth hook and understated vocals, the song offers an early glimpse of the album’s new direction. It became Grande’s 10th No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Rather than relying on her trademark vocal power, Grande delivers the song in a softer style, allowing the bubbling synths and gentle pop arrangement to take center stage. The track was produced with Ilya Salmanzadeh, who has worked with Grande since 2018’s “Sweetener,” and Swedish hitmaker Max Martin. For an artist famous for effortlessly hitting big notes, the restrained performance feels almost like an experiment. But it works, giving the song an easy, relaxed quality. That sense of effortlessness runs through much of “Petal.” On “Oh Well,” upbeat production contrasts with lyrics that deliver a clear message of moving on from a troubled relationship. “Petal” also offers a range of musical textures, though most of them are cooler and more laid-back than what listeners may expect from Grande. The album occasionally comes close to sounding carefree, but it still maintains the charm associated with her music. The record carries a moody R&B feel, with some of its smoothness reminiscent of SZA. “Freak” feels more like a dream—or perhaps a nightmare—with hazy layers of vocals creating an intimate and slightly mysterious atmosphere. Grande largely avoids the elaborate vocal runs and huge vocal moments that have become her trademark. Instead, she embraces a more controlled style. While the change shows artistic growth, some longtime fans may wonder whether the subtle approach will keep them fully engaged. The album becomes more energetic in its final third. Grande brings back some of her more dynamic style on “Like I Do,” particularly over its heavy bass, while “Never Get Over Me” builds slowly around the line, “The grass is way greener / Since I been beneath ya.” “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” is one of the album’s strongest moments. It captures the excitement of a new crush through dreamy guitars, a driving beat and playful lyrics. Grande’s distinctive way of shaping her words adds to the song’s appeal. The album closes with “Nowhere, Nobody,” which combines a retro-style vocal melody with vocoder effects. In promotional material for “Petal,” Grande described the album as something “full of life and growing through the cracks” of something difficult and challenging. That idea fits the record to some extent. Its 12 songs find moments of happiness beneath atmospheric production and subdued melodies. More importantly, “Petal” shows what happens when one of pop’s most powerful vocalists deliberately chooses to hold back. Rather than trying to prove what her voice can do, Grande seems more interested in exploring what it can say when she turns down the volume.