United News of Bangladesh

American rock climber Alex Honnold on Sunday successfully ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or protective equipment, thrilling a crowd at street level. The 37-year-old reached the top of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after starting, waving his arms in celebration. Honnold, famed for his ropeless climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, scaled one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped footholds and clambered over ornamental structures with his bare hands. The most challenging part was the 64 floors in the middle section, known as the “bamboo boxes,” featuring steep overhangs. Honnold paused briefly on balconies between sections to rest. The climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, drawing excitement and concern over the extreme risk of the endeavor. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the attempt was delayed by a day due to rain. While Honnold is not the first to scale the iconic building, he is the first to do so free solo. French climber Alain Robert previously ascended Taipei 101 on Christmas Day 2004, but with ropes. The stunt highlights both Honnold’s remarkable skill and the growing fascination with extreme urban climbing on live media platforms.

The glitter surrounding Wicked: For Good, the sequel to the hit Broadway adaptation, faded sharply after the film failed to secure a single Oscar nomination, despite its predecessor earning 10 nods a year earlier. The absence stunned awards watchers, particularly as the sequel had entered the season as a strong contender. Lead actors Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both received Golden Globe nominations, while the film was shortlisted in several technical categories and tipped for recognition in best original song and supporting actress. Industry analysts say the disappointment reflects a broader cooling of enthusiasm. Critics were notably less impressed this time, with the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score dropping significantly from the first instalment. Several high-profile reviews labelled the sequel overlong and lacking the spark that made the original a cultural moment. Observers also point to franchise fatigue. Splitting the musical into two films initially seemed bold, but the second half of the story, expanded to feature-length scale, struggled to maintain momentum. Box office figures echoed that decline, with the sequel earning substantially less than the first film worldwide. Marketing dynamics also shifted. While the original benefitted from a vibrant, viral promotional campaign driven by the chemistry between its stars, the sequel’s publicity push was comparatively subdued, offering little novelty to rekindle the earlier excitement. The Academy’s choices this year underlined that change in mood, favouring original, standalone films over sequels. For many in Hollywood, the Oscars shutout signalled that the magic which once surrounded Wicked had finally worn off.   With inputs from BBC

The release date announcement of Shah Rukh Khan–starrer King has created a buzz online, with fans and film personalities reacting with excitement. The film is set to hit theatres on December 24, 2026. Director Siddharth Anand unveiled a teaser video announcing the release date, showing Shah Rukh Khan in a powerful new look. In the clip, the actor urges viewers to be ready for an intense year-end release. Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan shared the video on his Instagram Stories, writing a brief reaction that quickly caught fans’ attention. Filmmaker Karan Johar also shared the teaser and praised the announcement, saying it took the internet by storm. Earlier, on Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday last year, Siddharth Anand had revealed the film’s title, marking their second collaboration after Pathaan. The title reveal was presented as a special tribute to the actor’s long career. The teaser hints at a high-energy action film, featuring Shah Rukh Khan in a striking avatar that fans have not seen before. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, King also stars Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. The film is expected to be a major action release of 2026.   With inputs from NDTV

Ryan Coogler’s vampire musical “Sinners” led the 98th Academy Awards with 16 nominations, including best director and screenplay. Michael B. Jordan received his first best actor nod for playing dual roles in the film, now streaming on HBO Max and Prime Video. Paul Thomas Anderson’s ensemble drama “One Battle After Another” earned 13 nominations, with acting nods for Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Teyana Taylor. It’s available on HBO Max and for rent on Apple TV and Prime Video. Other top nominees include: “Sentimental Value” (9 nominations) – Apple TV, “Marty Supreme” (9) – In theaters, “Frankenstein” (9) – Netflix, “Hamnet” (8) – In theaters, “Bugonia” (4) – Peacock, “Train Dreams” (4) – Netflix, “F1” (4) – Apple TV & Prime Video, “The Secret Agent” (4) – In theaters. Notable two-nomination films streaming include “Sirāt”, “It Was Just an Accident” (Apple TV, Prime Video), “Blue Moon” (Prime Video, Apple TV), and “KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix). Single-nomination titles include “If I had Legs I’d Kick You”, “Weapons” (HBO Max/Prime Video), and “Song Sung Blue” (Apple TV/Prime Video). These films span genres from musical, thriller, historical drama, and animation to international and socially conscious cinema.

The war drama received largely positive reviews and earned ₹30 crore in India on its opening day, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The film registered an overall occupancy of 32.1%, with night shows seeing the highest attendance. Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows nationwide, including 1,015 in Mumbai and 1,524 across the Delhi-NCR region, trade sources reported. Its opening performance surpassed that of Dhurandhar, which debuted on December 5 with a ₹28 crore first-day haul from 6,146 shows. Dhurandhar went on to record steady growth over its opening weekend due to strong word of mouth, and Border 2 is expected to follow a similar trajectory after viewers praised it as an “epic war drama.” The film marks the biggest opening of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh’s careers. For Sunny Deol, however, Gadar 2 remains his most successful release, having grossed ₹686 crore worldwide. Among Varun Dhawan’s films, Dilwale (2015) continues to be his highest global grosser with ₹388 crore. Border 2 also represents his first box office success since Bhediya (2023). For Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, this is his first theatrical hit. Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles. Read More: Dhurandhar crosses ₹870 crore in India on Day 43; Ranveer Singh starrer continues box office domination Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed, with its daily earnings falling below ₹1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days following Border 2’s release.

The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards have been announced, ending hopes for India’s official entry Homebound, which failed to make the final list in the Best International Feature Film category. Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, had reached the shortlist stage and drew attention internationally. The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. In the overall race, Sinners emerged as the top nominee with 16 nods, while One Battle After Another also featured among major contenders across categories, according to the report. The Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 15. Comedian Conan O’Brien is set to host the event. The report also noted that Wagner Moura became the first Brazilian actor to earn a Best Actor nomination, while Timothee Chalamet set a record as the youngest male actor to receive three acting nominations.   With inputs from NDTV

Actor Suniel Shetty has said he does not believe nepotism exists in Bollywood and argued that family support is a normal part of life. Speaking on a podcast, Shetty said people may call his son Ahan a “nepo kid”, but every father wants his child to do well. He added that being privileged can bring opportunities, but success depends on how a person uses them. Shetty also praised Ahan’s co-stars in Border 2, including Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Dhawan. He said Varun often talks more about Ahan’s role than his own, and called it a sign that the common idea of “spoiled star kids” is not always true. He said Varun has been speaking highly about Ahan in many places. Border 2, featuring Ahan Shetty, was released in cinemas on Friday. On the release day, Suniel Shetty shared an emotional note for his son on Instagram. He said the Border film franchise is not just about war or glory, but about discipline, sacrifice, courage and the value of peace. Suniel Shetty acted in the original Border, released in 1997.   With inputs from NDTV

HBO’s banking drama Industry has returned for its fourth season with a darker tone and a star-studded cast. The show follows young bankers navigating London’s high-finance world. Season four features new actors including Max Minghella and Charlie Heaton. Critics say the series has become more intense, exploring toxic workplace culture, mental health crises, and shocking events. The storyline now shows former victims becoming perpetrators, with central characters Harper Stern and Yasmin facing extreme challenges in their careers and personal lives. Experts note the series depicts the corrupting influence of power and ambition in high finance. Industry first aired in 2020 with little attention but has grown popular over four seasons, gaining high ratings and a prime Sunday night slot on HBO. The series is praised for blending finance, politics, media, and social power struggles into a gripping drama. Season four is available weekly on HBO and HBO Max in the US and on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK.   With inputs from BBC

British singer Harry Styles has released a new single, Aperture, and announced a 50-show world tour for 2026. The first single from his upcoming fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, Aperture marks Styles’ return after nearly four years. He described the track as the “perfect little bow” to complete the album. The album is set for release on March 6. Styles will perform across seven cities, including six shows at London’s Wembley Stadium and 30 shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The tour will also visit Amsterdam, São Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne, and Sydney between May and December. For his London shows, Styles will be joined by Shania Twain. Other special guests across the tour include Jamie XX, Jorja Smith, and Robyn. Ticket sales are scheduled later this month. Styles said spending the past years attending live shows and being in audiences inspired the music on his new album. He told BBC Radio 1 that seeing bands like LCD Soundsystem live reminded him why live music is special. The singer first rose to fame as a member of One Direction before launching his solo career in 2017. His previous album, Harry’s House, won a Grammy and a Brit Award in 2022.   With inputs from BBC

Brazilians celebrated the nomination of “The Secret Agent” film to four Oscar categories on Thursday, which many said confirmed the rise of Brazilian cinema and its universal appeal. “The Secret Agent” — nominated for best picture, best actor, best international film and achievement in casting — now shares Brazil's record for nominations, alongside the famed 2002 film “City of God” set in a favela in Rio de Janeiro. “The Secret Agent” follows a widowed father — played by Wagner Moura — who becomes a target of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s simply because he stands up to a business owner with ties to the regime. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho said that more than one million spectators have seen the film, in a video posted on social media Thursday following the nominations. Last year, Brazilian feature film “I’m Still Here” was also a box office success, drawing millions of moviegoers. It was nominated in three categories and won best international feature, giving Brazil its first Oscar. The back-to-back successes are leading many to say that Brazil is living a particularly fruitful moment for its cinema — including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who said that the local industry is currently “experiencing one of the best moments in its history.” The nominations are “recognition of our culture and of Brazil’s ability to tell stories that move the world,” he said on social media. “I’m Still Here” is also set during the dictatorship, and observers say both films have contributed to nationwide discussion about the dark period in Brazil's history from 1964 to 1985, when people were tortured and disappeared. Reaction to political turmoil Lúcia Espírito Santo, a 78-year-old retired lawyer, said that she herself had to watch her words when she was studying law at university for fear of disappearing. “What we see in the film happened a lot. People would disappear and you didn’t know why. Friends of mine from college disappeared because they spoke out, they advocated for freedom and democracy,” she said, exiting the cinema after seeing the film. Sabrina Guimarães, a 20-year-old student at a Rio de Janeiro university, who went to see the film Thursday, said learning about the country’s history is essential. “Even though we learn this stuff at school, we don’t spend much time on it and it’s not very specific. Feeling like you’re there in the person’s shoes, knowing what was happening at the time is very interesting,” she said. “It’s good to understand what happened in the past so we don’t repeat these things in the future.” Director Mendonça Filho said the film is a reaction to Brazil's past decade of political turmoil, including the far-right administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who last year was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for attempting a coup. But the film also dialogues with the political climate in other places around the world, he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. “The film is very Brazilian, but it’s also universal, so it can be used to discuss issues in the United States, in Europe or in Brazil,” Mendonça Filho said. “The theme of power being used to crush people and social classes is a theme that’s current, not just historical.” ‘Intense emotion’ Casting director Gabriel Domingues, who was nominated in the new category of “achievement in casting,” said the outpouring of support for the film reflects broader enthusiasm for Brazilian cinema. “Brazilian cinema is really in a moment of intense emotion, beyond just excitement. People get very moved, with this participation in international events and awards and everything,” Domingues told The Associated Press, comparing it to Brazil's atmosphere around soccer. Ana Paula Sousa, an expert in cinema and teacher at the ESPM University in Sao Paulo, said that the achievements of “I’m Still Here” and “The Secret Agent” are changing Brazilians’ relation to the film industry in a country were movie attendance is historically low. “People are talking about Brazilian cinema and thinking it’s cool to talk about it. (…) That's something we didn’t see before, and it’s really great,” she said. Sousa said she hopes the successes will spark more consistent movie attendance among Brazilians. Espírito Santo, the elderly moviegoer in Rio, said that she was incredibly proud of Brazilian cinema following the Oscar nominations. “We’re showing up, stepping onto the red carpet abroad,” she said. “Brazil is starting to look like a producer of films, of well-told stories.”