United News of Bangladesh

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

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

  Ryan Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” led all films with 16 nominations to the 98th Academy Awards on Thursday, setting a record for the most in Oscar history. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters showered “Sinners” with more nominations than they had ever bestowed before, breaking the 14-nomination mark set by “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land.” Along with best picture, Coogler was nominated for best director and best screenplay, and double-duty star Michael B. Jordan was rewarded with his first Oscar nomination, for best actor. Paul Thomas Anderson’s father-daughter revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another,” the favorite coming into nominations, trailed in second with 13 of its own. Four of its actors — Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn — were nominated, though newcomer Chase Infiniti was left out in best actress. In those two top nominees, the film academy put its full force behind a pair of visceral and bracingly original American epics that each connected with a fraught national moment. Coogler’s Jim Crow-era film — the rare horror movie to win the academy’s favor — conjures a mythical allegory of Black life. In “One Battle After Another,” a dormant spirit of rebellion is revived in an out-of-control police state. Both are also Warner Bros. titles. In the midst of a contentious sale to Netflix, the 102-year-old studio had one of its best Oscar nominations mornings ever. As the fate of Warner Bros., which Netflix is buying for $72 billion, hangs in the balance amid a challenge from Paramount Skydance, Hollywood is bracing for potentially the largest realignment in the film industry’s history. The 10 films nominated for best picture are “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners” and “Train Dreams.” Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” all scored nine nominations. The nine for “Marty Supreme” included a third best actor nod for 30-year-old Timothée Chalamet, the favorite in the category he narrowly missed winning last year for “A Complete Unknown.” With Jordan and Chalamet, the nominees are Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon” and Wagner Moura for “The Secret Agent.” Nominated for best actress was the category favorite, Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), along with Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”) and two-time winner Emma Stone, who landed her sixth nomination, for “Bugonia.” ‘KPop’ leads a field light on big hits The year’s most-watched movie, with more than half a billion views on Netflix, “KPop Demon Hunters,” scored nominations for both best song (“Golden”) and best animated feature. Sony Pictures developed and produced the film, but, after selling it to Netflix, watched it become a worldwide sensation. Blockbusters otherwise had a difficult morning. Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good” was shut out entirely. While “Avatar: Fire and Ash” notched nominations for costume design and visual effects, it became the first “Avatar” film not nominated for best picture. The biggest box-office hit nominated for Hollywood's top award instead was “F1,” an Apple production that landed four nominations. The streamer partnered with Warner Bros. to distribute the racing drama. This year, the Oscars are introducing a new category for casting. That new honor helped “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” pad their already impressive stats. Along with those two films, the nominees are “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme” and “The Secret Agent.” An international shift continues The academy, which has expanded its overseas membership in recent years, also continued its tilt toward international films. Every category included one international nominee. For the eighth year in the row, a non-English-language film was nominated for best picture. More non-English performances were nominated than ever before. The top nominee of them all was Joachim Trier's Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value.” It cleaned up in the supporting actor categories, with nods for Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter LilIeaas and Elle Fanning. Also nominated for best supporting actress, in addition to Taylor: Amy Madigan for “Weapons” and Wunmi Mosaku for “Sinners.” In supporting actor, the nominees included Jacob Elordi for “Frankenstein” and, in a surprise that likely dislodged Paul Mescal of “Hamnet,” Delroy Lindo for “Sinners.” A competitive best international feature category mirrored the turbulent state of the world. That included the Iranian revenge drama and Palme d'Or winner “It Was Just an Accident,” by the often-imprisoned filmmaker Jafar Panahi. He's spoken passionately against the ongoing crackdown of demonstrators in his home country. France nominated the film. Also nominated: the Tunisian entry “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” about volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society; the Brazilian political thriller “The Secret Agent”; the apocalyptic Spanish road movie “Sirât” and “Sentimental Value.” The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and will be televised live on ABC and Hulu. YouTube's new deal to exclusively air won't take effect until 2029. This year, Conan O’Brien will return as host.

US actor Ashton Kutcher has said Hollywood is not responsible for pushing unrealistic beauty standards. He said society is the main driver behind people’s desire to look perfect. Kutcher, 47, is starring in the science fiction series The Beauty, about a drug that transforms people into their most attractive version. He told media that entertainment reflects society and does not force uniform beauty. He said social media and constant on-camera exposure have increased pressure to appear perfect. Cosmetic enhancements are becoming socially acceptable, he added. The series, adapted from a comic by Ryan Murphy, also features Meghan Trainor and highlights current social issues, including weight-loss drugs and cosmetic procedures. Kutcher said many people pursue these treatments not for health reasons but to fit beauty ideals. Co-star Rebecca Hall said the show questions society’s obsession with beauty. Her character, an FBI agent, investigates the deaths of extremely attractive people and faces her own insecurities. Kutcher and Hall said the series shows the risks of chasing unattainable beauty and the impact of social pressure on mental health.   With inputs from BBC

British actor Stephen Graham faced a brief scare after he was separated from his Golden Globe trophy while rushing to catch a flight just a day after winning the prestigious award. Graham, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Television Film for his role in Adolescence, said his packed travel schedule led to the mix-up. He had to fly from Los Angeles to Madrid the morning after the ceremony to report for filming. Speaking to a UK radio show, Graham said he was rushed through the airport and driven directly to the aircraft, leaving him worried that his luggage would not make it onto the plane. Later, he learned that his suitcase, which contained his clothes and the Golden Globe trophy, had been left behind in Atlanta. The actor clarified that he did not personally misplace the award, but that it was inside the delayed suitcase. Thankfully, the missing bag was located and delivered to him two days later, bringing the stressful episode to a happy end. Graham also won an Emmy last year in the same category for Adolescence, a series about a father whose life is turned upside down after his teenage son commits a serious crime.   With inputs from NDTV

Netflix has revised its $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery into an all-cash transaction, streamlining the deal and providing greater certainty for Warner Bros. shareholders. The streaming giant initially proposed a combined cash-and-stock offer, valuing Warner Bros. shares at $27.75 each, with a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion including debt. Under the amended all-cash structure, the per-share value remains unchanged at $27.75, while Warner Bros. stockholders will also receive additional value through shares of Discovery Global following its separation from Warner Bros. Both companies’ boards have approved the revised all-cash deal, which is expected to simplify the transaction process and accelerate the timeline for a shareholder vote.   With inputs from NDTV

A security vehicle escorting Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was involved in a road accident in Mumbai on Monday evening (January 19, 2026) while the actor and his wife Twinkle Khanna were returning home from the airport. According to preliminary information, a car hit an auto-rickshaw from behind, causing the three-wheeler to overturn and crash into Akshay Kumar’s escort vehicle. The impact led to the security car toppling onto its right side on the road. Read more: Race 4 casting update: Akshaye Khanna not part of new film Police and emergency officials reached the spot shortly after the incident and brought the situation under control. No serious injuries were reported. Videos circulating on social media showed the escort vehicle lying on its side, while the auto-rickshaw appeared badly damaged. Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna were travelling back to their Juhu residence after returning from abroad, where they had marked a personal milestone. The couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Further details about the accident were awaited. Read more: James Cameron shuts down Titanic raft debate, says Jack could not have survived With inputs from NDTV

Music composer AR Rahman said he felt “gaslit” by younger generations who made him doubt the quality of his work. Rahman told The Hollywood Reporter that fans often compared his current music with his 1990s hits, making him question his creativity. He said this affected his confidence, prompting him to compose music for 20–30 films between 2019 and 2025 to prove himself. He added that he collaborated with Oscar winner Hans Zimmer for Ramayan and wants to push his limits without relying on past awards, including his 33 Filmfare wins and two Oscars. Rahman also clarified a recent controversial comment, saying he never intended to hurt anyone’s feelings. He emphasized that his goal is to celebrate culture and connect with people through music. In recent years, Rahman composed for films in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, including Ponniyin Selvan, Atrangi Re, and Malayankunju.   With inputs from NDTV

Thousands of people gathered Saturday at San Francisco’s Civic Center to celebrate the life of Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead who died last week at age 78. Musicians Joan Baez and John Mayer spoke on a makeshift stage in front of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium after four Buddhist monks opened the event with a prayer in Tibetan. Fans carried long-stemmed red roses, placing some at an altar filled with photos and candles. They wrote notes on colored paper, professing their love and thanking him for the journey. Several asked him to say hello to fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia and bass guitarist Phil Lesh, also founding members who preceded him in death. Garcia died in 1995; Lesh died in 2024. “I’m here to celebrate Bob Weir,” said Ruthie Garcia, who is no relation to Jerry, a fan since 1989. “Celebrating him and helping him go home.” Saturday’s celebration brought plenty of fans with long dreadlocks and wearing tie-dye clothing, some using walkers. But there were also young couples, men in their 20s and a father who brought his 6-year-old son in order to pass on to the next generation a love of live music and the tight-knit Deadhead community. The Bay Area native joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.” He was generally considered less shaggy looking than the other band members, although he adopted a long beard like Garcia’s later in life. The Dead played music that pulled in blues, jazz, country, folk and psychedelia in long improvisational jams. Their concerts attracted avid Deadheads who followed them on tours. The band played on decades after Garcia’s death, morphing into Dead & Company with John Mayer. Darla Sagos, who caught an early flight out of Seattle Saturday morning to make the public mourning, said she suspected something was up when there were no new gigs announced after Dead & Company played three nights in San Francisco last summer. It was unusual, as his calendar often showed where he would be playing next. “We were hoping that everything was OK and that we were going to get more music from him,” she said. “But we will continue the music, with all of us and everyone that’s going to be playing it.” Sagos and her husband, Adam Sagos, have a one-year-old grandson who will grow up knowing the music. A statement on Weir’s Instagram account announced his passing Jan. 10. It said he beat cancer, but he succumbed to underlying lung issues. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, who were at Saturday’s event. His death was sudden and unexpected, said daughter Monet Weir, but he had always wished for the music and the legacy of the Dead to outlast him. American music, he believed, could unite, she said. “The show must go on,” Monet Weir said.