Tom Felton plays a member of a Satanic Club in the new action horror They Will Kill You, directed by Kirill Sokolov. The film, which also stars Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, and Patricia Arquette, was released in theatres on March 27. Tom talked about his character, describing him as someone who does not quite meet the ‘requirements’ to become James Bondbut thinks he is.
Tom Felton at the premiere of They Will Kill You during the SXSW Conference and Festival.
(Photo by Nicola Gell / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)
What Tom said about his character
In a statement, the actor talked about his part in the film and said, “Well, Kevin, he’s a fragile warrior, I think. I put him as a ’90s banker who was highly successful. Two years in a row he was the highest selling banker back in London in the square mile. But he got offered a chance to go to New York to extend his career where he got a bit greedy. I think Kevin’s a bit greedy. He thinks of himself as a James Bond, but doesn’t quite meet up with the requirements. So my story for him is that from being at the top of the world of his field, he was brought very quickly to the bottom, and that’s where Kevin was introduced to the Virgil, the building and establishment that he has lived in since then, in an attempt to reclaim his power. But in a nutshell, for Kevin, he’s James Bond who just didn’t quite make the grade for the MI5, in my mind.”
Star Plus has officially ended all rumors regarding their popular show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2 going off air and being replaced by another show. Over the past few days, there have been rumors circulating that the show is going to be shut down and replaced by another show titled Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badallte Hain.
Channel issues a statement
Star Plus has issued an official statement, clarifying that all such rumors are completely baseless and that there is no truth to the news that the show is going to be shut down and replaced.
Sharing the official announcement, they wrote, “We have noticed some media reports that are circulating stating that Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2 is shutting down and getting replaced with Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badallte Hain. We would like to state that these reports are baseless; we are not shutting down Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2, and there is no end date for the show as yet.”
This statement certainly comes as a major relief for the fans, as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is one of the most iconic television shows. Its compelling storyline and memorable characters have earned it immense popularity among audiences. With this clarification, the viewers can be assured that the show will continue to entertain, thereby putting all the rumors to rest!
Smriti Irani breaks silence on the ongoing rumours
Earlier, Smriti Irani also broke silence on rumours of being a part of the spin off Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badallte Hain where the story was set to focus on Rohit Suchanti and Tanisha Mehta as Angad and Vrinda. Smriti shared, “You may want to verify PR content with the entities that hold IP rights. I am not involved with any other show apart from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu thi. No spinoff program has been legally authorised for my participation, which would allow the use of my image and/or personality. Please verify to ensure that viewers are not misled.”
In the meantime, the primary plot of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 is Tulsi`s return to Shanti Niketan for her kids. The show still has Kamalika Guha Thakurta, Ketaki Dave, Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Sumeet Sachdev, Ritu Chaudhary, Jiten Lalwani, Shakti Anand, Prachi Kowli, and Sandeep Baswana.
Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani shared a warm and memorable moment with Rohit Sharma ahead of the franchise’s IPL opener, leaving the veteran batter smiling after praising his remarkable fitness transformation.
In a video posted by the franchise before their clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, Nita Ambani was visibly surprised by Rohit’s leaner look. “My God, Rohit, I didn’t recognise you! You look like a young boy,” she said with a smile, as the former MI captain responded with a shy grin.
The interaction came during her visit to the Mumbai Indians camp, where she also spent time with players and support staff. One of the lighter moments saw her introducing Kieron Pollard as “Polly Kaka” to a family member, a gesture that quickly won over fans online.
Rohit’s transformation is no accident. After stepping away from Test cricket in 2025, the 38-year-old has put significant focus on his fitness, with a clear goal in mind, the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Still chasing that elusive title after India’s heartbreak in the 2023 final in Ahmedabad, Rohit appears determined to give himself the best possible chance for one final shot. His recent ODI numbers underline that intent. He scored 650 runs in 14 matches last year at an average of 50, while also delivering a match-winning knock in the Champions Trophy final.
On his return against Australia, Rohit looked sharper than ever, scoring 202 runs in three matches, including an unbeaten 121 in Sydney, to claim the Player of the Series award.
While his international performances have remained strong, Rohit’s IPL returns have dipped in recent years, a trend he will be keen to reverse this season.
With 7,046 runs in 272 matches, he remains one of the league’s all-time greats. However, consistency has been an issue. His last 450-plus season came back in 2016, and he has crossed the 400-run mark only three times in the past nine editions.
Last season, Rohit managed 418 runs at a strike rate close to 150, showing flashes of his old self but lacking sustained impact.
With a renewed physique and a clear target ahead, Mumbai Indians will hope that a fitter, sharper Rohit Sharma can rediscover his best and perhaps script one final great chapter, both in the IPL and on the road to 2027.
Prime Video unveiled the delightful, heartwarming trailer of its upcoming series Maa Ka Sum. Directed by Nicholas Kharkongor and produced by Babita Ashiwal under Eunoia Films, the trailer offers a glimpse into a quirky, feel-good world where a math prodigy sets out to solve love in theory through equations—only to discover that emotions don’t always follow logic.
Maa Ka Sum trailer
The trailer introduces Agastya, a 19-year-old math prodigy, declaring, “Maths ho ya pyaar… ek hi equation hain,” as he sets “Project Mom” into motion — a mission to find the perfect partner for his single mother, Vinita. What follows is a quirky, fast-paced ride where logic meets emotion, and carefully planned equations begin to unravel. The arrival of enigmatic new math professor Ira further fuels Agastya’s mission, as the two join forces to build an algorithm for the perfect match. But as emotions begin to disrupt his perfectly calculated world, Agastya’s formula encounters variables no equation can solve. Will his carefully crafted equation lead him to the answer to love — or come undone?
Written by Ravinder Randhawa and Sumrit Shahi, it stars Mona Singh, Mihir Ahuja, Angira Dhar, and Ranveer Brar in lead roles.
Director Nicholas Kharkongor shared, “Maa Ka Sum does not really fit into a neat box. It is not a typical relationship drama, nor is it a purely coming-of-age story. It is about relationships—seen through the eyes of a 19-year-old who believes any problem in life can be solved with logic and data. Using mathematics in a slightly unusual manner allowed us to explore these emotions in a fresh way. None of it would have come alive without the intensity Mihir brings to his character, or Mona’s effortless grace and charm. Working with a team that truly believed in this story made the journey deeply fulfilling. I am excited for viewers to experience this heartwarming, fresh take on love and family.”
Mona Singh talks about Maa Ka Sum
Mona Singh, who plays Agastya’s mother Vinita in the series, said, “Vinita is unlike anyone I have played before, and that is largely because of how refreshingly different this story is. At its heart is a single mother-son relationship that is built on an easy friendship, deep trust, and a rather unusual lens on love, which is what drew me in instantly. I love that Vinita allows herself to be vulnerable, to rediscover love, and to trust her son’s unconventional way of looking at life. The series strikes a beautiful balance between humour and emotion, while telling a story that feels warm, honest, and deeply relatable in its own distinct way. I think a lot of people will see their own relationships in it.”
Mihir Ahuja, who plays the lead character Agastya, said, “What I found most endearing about Agastya is that beneath all his confidence and brilliance, he is simply a son who deeply loves his mother and wants to see her happy. He shares a rare friendship with her — there is honesty, comfort, and a warmth in their bond that feels very special. In his own unusual way, he takes it upon himself to care for her and becomes determined to help her find love, convinced that math can solve even matters of the heart. I just hope audiences enjoy Agastya and his journey as much as I did portraying him.”
The series is set to premiere on Prime Video in Hindi with subtitles in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, worldwide on April 3.
Iran’s Red Crescent is searching for survivors “trapped under the rubble” after US-Israeli strikes on the capital, Tehran, and a deadly assault on the city of Qom.
Air raids targeted three residential houses in Qom on Friday, killing six people, according to local media. Qom’s deputy governor told the Fars News Agency that the number of injured remained unknown.
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Explosions were reported in Tehran after the Israeli military launched attacks it described as targeting the Iranian leadership’s infrastructure in the “heart” of the capital.
“We’ve heard the sound of air defence systems, usually triggered by drone attacks or threats, since yesterday evening,” Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi said, reporting from Tehran. “Overnight, we heard massive blasts.”
A residential complex in Urmia was targeted overnight in what was reported to be a direct missile attack.
Hamed Saffari, the director-general of crisis management for the West Azerbaijan province, told the IRNA news agency that “four residential buildings were completely destroyed” and confirmed that the strike “left a number of citizens killed and injured”.
At least 1,937 people have been killed during the war and almost 25,000 injured, Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian told Al Jazeera on Thursday. He said 240 women and 212 children were among the war dead.
Raids were also reported in Karaj and Isfahan’s industrial complex.
“We are far from any point of de-escalation,” Al Jazeera’s Asadi said.
The Norwegian Refugee Council warned on Friday that Iranians are “exhausted and traumatised”.
Jan Egeland, head of the organisation, said that millions of Iranians have fled in search of safety.
“Others stay in fear that displacement will be even more dangerous as nowhere seems to be safe,” he added. “Across the Middle East, 2,700 people have been killed by US, Israeli and Iranian attacks, more than half of whom are in Iran. Civilians are paying the highest price for this war. It must end.
“My NRC colleagues in Iran are working under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions to scale up our relief for families displaced by the war,” Egeland said.
“Each night they lie awake, listening to the explosions and fearing for their lives, and each morning they return to work, doing all they can to support families in dire need.”
Uncertainty over the future of negotiations
The latest attacks come amid uncertainty over ceasefire negotiations.
Iran laid out its conditions on Thursday, including an end to “aggressive acts of assassination” that have decapitated Iran’s leadership, “compensation and war reparations”, measures to ensure “war does not recur”, and an end to hostilities from “all resistance groups that took part in this battle throughout the region”.
It also asserted its “natural and legal right” over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that Tehran continues to in effect block, leading to fuel shortages worldwide.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled a closed consultation on Iran at 10am New York time (14:00 GMT) on Friday. The US, which currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency, scheduled the meeting.
(Al Jazeera)
Meanwhile, the backlash from the war continues to be felt in Gulf states.
Kuwait’s National Guard said two drones were shot down as part of ongoing efforts to protect vital sites.
The United Arab Emirates Sharjah Media Office posted on its Instagram page that air defence systems were responding to a missile threat.
Amid its war on Iran, Israel also continues to push on with its ground invasion into Lebanon.
The military on Friday issued a warning to residents of the village of Sajd, in southern Lebanon, ordering them to leave immediately as Israeli forces would “act against it forcefully”.
“That could potentially be costly to the Israeli army without achieving certain goals, which are ending or disarming Hezbollah,” Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said, reporting from the occupied West Bank.
“That’s something even Israeli defence officials have said won’t be achieved through a ground invasion alone, but through an agreement with the Lebanese government, and that does not seem to be going anywhere at the moment.”
Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women`s events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump`s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games. “Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee said, to be determined by a mandatory gene test once in an athlete`s career.
It is unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level. No woman who transitioned from being born male competed at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, though weightlifter Laurel Hubbard did at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without winning a medal. The eligibility policy that will apply from the LA Olympics in July 2028 “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” the IOC said. “It is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programs,” said the IOC, whose Olympic Charter states that access to play sport is a human right.
After an executive board meeting, the International Olympic Committee published a 10-page policy document which also restricts female athletes such as two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya with medical conditions known as differences in sex development, or DSD. The IOC and its president, Kirsty Coventry, have wanted a clear policy instead of continuing to advise sports` governing bodies who previously have drafted their own rules.
“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, said in a statement. “So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.” She set up a review of “protecting the female category” as one of her first big decisions last June as the first woman to lead the Olympic body in its 132-year history.
Female eligibility was a strong theme in a seven-candidate IOC election last year – held after a furor around women`s boxing in Paris – when Coventry`s main rivals pledged a stronger policy to leading on the issue. Before the 2024 Paris Olympics, three top-tier sports – track and field, swimming and cycling – excluded transgender women who had been through male puberty. Semenya, who was assigned female at birth in South Africa and has high natural testosterone levels, won a European Court of Human Rights judgment in her years-long legal challenge to track and field`s rules which did not overturn them.
The IOC document details its research that being born male gives physical advantages that a working group of experts believes are retained. “Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: In utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood,” the document said. It added this gives males “individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance.”
The IOC said its expert group agreed the current gene test is “the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available.” It screened for “the SRY gene, a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes/testicles.” Still, the mandatory gender screening – already conducted by the governing bodies of track and field, skiing and boxing – is likely to be criticized by human rights experts and activist groups.
One of the two women`s boxing gold medalists at the center of the gender controversy in Paris, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, has passed her gene test and can return to competition, the World Boxing governing body said last week. In the U.S., President Trump signed the executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women`s Sports” in February last year, and pledged to deny visas to some athletes attempting to compete at the L.A Olympics. The order also threatened to “rescind all funds” from organizations that allowed transgender athletes to take part in women`s sports. Within months the U.S. Olympic body updated its guidance to national sports bodies citing an obligation to comply with the White House.
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ActorGwyneth Paltrow is set to headline the film adaptation of Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, marking another big project in her ongoing return to acting.
The project, based on Belle Burden`s critically acclaimed memoir, has been acquired by Netflix following a highly competitive six-way bidding war, according to People magazine.
Paltrow will not only star in the film but also serve as its executive producer.
The memoir, which debuted at the top of The New York Times bestseller list and has remained in the top 10 for nine consecutive weeks, explores the emotional fallout of a long-term marriage unravelling.
The story centres on Burden`s personal journey as she confronts the sudden collapse of her 20-year marriage during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the official logline obtained by People, Burden`s seemingly stable domestic life, spent with her family at Martha`s Vineyard, takes an abrupt turn when her husband unexpectedly announces his decision to leave. The narrative then traces her attempt to make sense of the transformation in her partner, while also reflecting on her own upbringing and ingrained beliefs about relationships and resilience.
The adaptation will be produced by Stacey Sher, with Heidi Schreck attached to pen the screenplay.
The film aims to capture the introspective tone of the memoir, which has been widely praised for its emotional depth and candid exploration of betrayal, identity and self-discovery.
Paltrow was previously seen in Marty Supreme, where she portrayed a 1950s movie star.
As per People magazine, in a recent interview, Paltrow reflected on her time away from acting, describing a period of reassessment after experiencing burnout earlier in her career. She noted that stepping back allowed her to “reconsider the kind of roles” she wanted to pursue, ultimately shaping her return to the screen “under more deliberate circumstances”.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Actor and Jaya Bachchan addressed the controversial Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill during a Rajya Sabha debate on Wednesday. She strongly opposed the Bill, which has been tabled by the ruling party, and called for appropriate representation of the transgender community in Parliament.
Jaya Bachchan on Transgender Amendment Bill
The Bill, recently introduced by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, has drawn criticism for allegedly narrowing the definition of transgender identity and proposing additional procedural requirements for legal recognition.
Activists and legal experts argue that the proposed legislation marks a departure from the landmark National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (NALSA) verdict, in which the Supreme Court upheld the right to self-identify one’s gender without mandatory medical intervention.
During her speech, Jaya Bachchan highlighted the cultural and mythological significance of transgender persons in India. She said, “This community, which we are discussing, has been immensely blessed by Ramji. He had said that on every special occasion, the presence of transgender persons would make the event auspicious.”
Emphasising traditional practices, she added, “As per our customs, they visit homes during special occasions such as childbirth to offer blessings, which are considered auspicious.”
Bachchan also strongly advocated for representation of the community in Parliament. She said, “We need representation of this community in both Houses. Make one among them a nominated member. Listen to their difficulties, pain, and struggles before bringing such a Bill to the House.”
More about the bill
On Wednesday, a Supreme Court-appointed advisory committee on transgender rights urged Union Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar to withdraw the Bill. The legislation has sparked protests nationwide, with activists and members of the transgender community criticising it for relying on vague and unscientific criteria while criminalising their lived experiences. They have also raised concerns that mandatory medical scrutiny could lead to intrusive monitoring and undermine diverse gender identities.
The amendment proposes significant changes to the existing 2019 Act, most notably removing the right to self-identify one’s gender. This right was recognised by the Supreme Court in the landmark National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (NALSA) verdict, which allowed individuals to declare their gender without medical intervention. The proposed Bill replaces this with a state-regulated certification process, requiring individuals to undergo evaluation by a medical board led by a chief medical officer.
A cricket fan at the Sheffield Shield final in Australia found himself at the centre of an unusual controversy after being denied entry for wearing a “Free Imran Khan” T-shirt — only for authorities to later reverse the decision, calling it a humanitarian issue.The incident took place at Junction Oval in St Kilda on Thursday, where Luke Brown was initially asked to cover his T-shirt before being allowed into the venue. Security staff deemed the message a political statement related to jailed former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, which would violate Cricket Australia’s entry regulations.
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Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan Turned Down Two Serious Offers To Get Released From Jail, Claims Islamabad
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Brown complied by wearing another shirt over it but admitted he was taken aback by the situation. “I was surprised,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald. “I understand the argument they have to deal with other situations, so it just makes it easier for them if they apply a blanket rule. They were very nice.”CA clarifies stanceHowever, Cricket Australia later reviewed the matter and clarified its position, stating that support for Khan would not be treated as political. A spokesperson said, “Given the widespread concern in the cricket community for Imran Khan’s welfare, we believe this is a humanitarian issue and will act accordingly.”The clarification effectively meant that Brown — and others wearing similar messages — would now be permitted entry without restrictions.Wider concern in cricket communityKhan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup triumph in 1992, is currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on corruption charges, with reports of deteriorating health sparking concern globally.Several prominent cricket figures have voiced support, with 14 former international captains — including Steve Waugh, Allan Border and Michael Atherton — signing a petition drafted by Greg Chappell calling for better treatment. Other signatories include Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Belinda Clark and Clive Lloyd.Brown later welcomed CA’s clarification, saying, “It’s easy for individual cricket fans like me to take the right stance… it’s harder for Cricket Australia, so I applaud them for doing so.”
