The BBC visited the facility and saw more than 30 bodies being carried out on stretchers.
Dozens killed after Afghanistan rehab centre struck
Exclusive | Milind Soman says unique roles matter more than screen time
Milind Soman is gearing up for an exciting new project as he joins Vijay Sethupathi in the upcoming series Kaattaan. In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, Soman opened up about the role, his experience working in South Indian productions and the kind of characters that continue to motivate him as an actor.
On returning to South Cinema
Soman will be seen playing a character named Sivettan in the series. Speaking about returning to Tamil projects, the actor said he has been part of the South Indian film industry before but Kaataan marks a new experience for him in the streaming space.
“Well, I have done South Indian films before, Tamil films, Telugu films. It’s my first series. And I did my first Tamil film, I think, maybe 17 years ago. And it was great fun. And I did a few more. But then they were offering me a similar role in all these films. So eventually I said, I don’t want to do this same kind of role anymore.”
He explained that he is always drawn to characters that offer something different from what he has done earlier, regardless of how big the role may be.
“If something may be positive, then I can do it. So I don’t mind the length of the role or the importance of the role. It just has to be something different from what I did before. So it can be the gardener, the cook, the uncle, grandfather, whatever it is.”
Soman shared that after turning down repetitive roles, it took several years before more varied opportunities began coming his way.
“So eventually, I mean, 10 years later, I started getting roles like that. And this one also came to me. So that was one reason to say yes to it, because number one, it’s a Tamil production. And it’s a positive role. The role is interesting. The character is interesting. And the people were great. That’s all that I look at.”
On working with Vijay Sethupathi
The actor also spoke warmly about working with Vijay Sethupathi and recalled how comfortable the atmosphere on set was.
“Nothing really funny, but he’s just a really sweet person. You know, he introduced me to his family and we chatted. And I discovered he was an accountant. And it was nice. He made everything very comfortable. So every scene that we did together, there was no stress, you know, bad stress in doing those scenes. It was great fun. Very relaxed. The way I like it.”
Reflecting on his long career, Soman said filmmakers often approach him with preconceived ideas about who he is as a person. “Usually people come to me looking at me over the last 35 years. They don’t come to me looking at, ‘Oh, you did that role and we want something like that.’ Because that’s not something that I like either.”
“If they say you did that role and we want something like this, immediately I say no. So it has to be something like, ‘This is something that you’ve never done.’ That interests me.”
He also finds it fascinating to hear how directors perceive him after watching his journey in the industry. “I know who I am. But I want to know what is their impression of me. It’s interesting to see the way they see me and then try to turn it around some way.”
Gold price prediction today: Will gold prices continue to be under pressure on March 17, 2026? Check outlook
‘Mallu in the team’: Varun Chakaravarthy invokes viral Sanju Samson meme | Cricket News
Varun Chakravarthy and Sanju Samson. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Naman Awards ceremony, held to celebrate India’s cricketing heroes, turned into a viral moment after Varun Chakravarthy made a light-hearted yet striking remark involving Sanju Samson.The meme remark came during the red carpet when Varun Chakravarthy and Sanju Samson arrived for the ceremony when asked about the world cup campaign from Varun and Sanju Samson, Varun’s meme remark on Samson grabs the attention of the people on social media.Varun Chakravarthy said: ‘There is meme going on social media, if there is a Mallu in the World Cup team, we never lose the World Cup’.Varun Chakravarthy’s remark on Sanju Samson came from the original things that Malayalam players have won us the world cup even before the T20 world cup 2026 by Samson. The Meme flooded on Social Media with people assuming where it came from.
Who Were The Malayali players who won the world cup previsouly
Malayali cricketers have played a remarkable “lucky charm” role in India’s major cricket World Cup victories, with at least one Kerala-born player in every winning squad since 1983.Sunil Valson (1983):- Part of Kapil Dev’s 1983 World Cup winning campaign, though did not play any matchesS. Sreesanth (2007 T20, 2011 ODI):- S. Sreesanth was the key bowler in India’s both World Cup victories, including taking the winning catch in 2007. Sanju Samson (2024 & 2026 T20):- Sanju was part of the T20 World Cup 2024 though he did not played any matches, In 2026 he became the Player of the tournament in India’s 3rd T20I title victory
The remark quickly went viral on social media, especially in the backdrop of India’s dominant triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where Samson played a pivotal role.
Sanju Samson’s dream World Cup campaign
Samson was one of the standout performers of the tournament and was eventually named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional contributions. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 321 runs in just five innings, averaging over 80 with a staggering strike rate close to 200, making him one of the most destructive batters in the competition.His performances in crucial matches defined India’s title-winning run:97 not out vs West Indies (Super 8) – a match-winning knock under pressure89 vs England (Semi-final) – a dominant innings in a knockout clash89 vs New Zealand (Final) – a blazing start that set up India’s title win
Varun Chakravarthy’s World Cup campaign
Varun Chakravarthy had a mixed yet impactful campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, playing a key role in India’s title-winning run. The mystery spinner emerged as one of the leading wicket-takers of the tournament, finishing with 14 wickets, showcasing his ability to break crucial partnerships in the middle overs. His standout performance came against the Netherlands, where he delivered a brilliant spell to seal a win for India.
Dune Part Three: Timothee Chalamet`s intense first look out
Movie buffs who were waiting for an update on Dune: Part Three have finally got a fresh look at the film.
After actor Timothee Chalamet shared the first look poster from the movie, the official Instagram page of the Dune franchise unveiled several more posters from the upcoming film on Monday.
One of the posters shows Chalamet as Paul Atreides. The close-up image focuses on his eyes as he wears a Fremen stillsuit. His look in the new film appears slightly different, with wrinkles around his eyes and red scars on his face.
The newly released images also show other actors who will appear in the film. For the first time, Robert Pattinson can be seen as the villain Scytale. The pictures also include Zendaya as Chani, Jason Momoa as Hayt, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Florence Pugh as Irulan, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides and Isaach De Bankole as Farok.
Check out new posters
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, this comes just days before the trailer of the film is expected to release later this week. Reports suggest that the trailer may appear along with the film Project Hail Mary. The film is once again directed by Denis Villeneuve.
The movie will also bring back several actors from the previous instalments, including Zendaya, Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Pugh and Taylor-Joy. Momoa also returns to the series after not appearing in the second film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the earlier two Dune films were a major success at the box office, earning around USD 1.1 billion worldwide. Dune: Part Three is set to release in theatres on December 18, 2026.
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
Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao meet Maharashtra CM to discuss water scarcity
Bollywood star Aamir Khan on Monday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding his NGO Paani Foundation. The discussion was related to the initiatives and activities being carried out by the Paani Foundation, which works towards water conservation and addressing water scarcity in rural areas.
Filmmaker Kiran Rao was also part of the meeting. Speaking about the discussion, Rao said, “It`s for Paani Foundation… We are working very closely with the government, and the work has been going very well… We are working across Maharashtra. The meeting was very positive and productive…”
Devendra Fadnavis chaired the meeting regarding Paani Foundation`s `Pan-Maharashtra Farmer Cup` in Mumbai today. He highlighted the importance of water conservation amid predictions of the El Nino phenomenon this year, which may result in the state receiving only around 80 per cent of its normal rainfall.
🔸 CM Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting regarding Paani Foundation`s `Pan-Maharashtra Farmer Cup`.
Founders of Paani Foundation, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, CEO Satyajit Bhatkal and senior GoM officials were present.🔸 मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली पाणी… pic.twitter.com/zOR2xuTRgi
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) March 16, 2026
“Towards the Vision of Water-Secure Maharashtra Chaired a meeting regarding Paani Foundation`s `Pan-Maharashtra Farmer Cup` in Mumbai today. Various climate research institutions have indicated that the El Nino phenomenon may be experienced this year. Thus, water conservation planning should be undertaken assuming that the state may receive around 80 per cent of its normal rainfall.
Based on the experience of Paani Foundation`s previous work, expressed confidence that farmers and villagers will once again become more water-literate through the initiatives of the foundation this year,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis X handle post reads.
“Recognizing the importance of water, the foundation has been carrying out impactful work in this sector. Directed concerned departments to extend full support to the foundation and keep the necessary supporting mechanisms ready. Instructed that the Soil and Water Conservation Department should also be integrated with the water conservation work being carried out by the foundation across the state. The Paani Foundation has made a significant contribution to the field of water conservation in Maharashtra.
The partnership between the Government of Maharashtra and the foundation will further strengthen the vision of a water-secure Maharashtra,” the post added. Senior government officials were also present at the meeting.
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
Neymar dropped from the Brazil squad before the FIFA World Cup 2026
-1773720387976_d.png?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "Neymar dropped from the Brazil squad before the FIFA World Cup 2026")
-1773720387976_d.png "Neymar dropped from the Brazil squad before the FIFA World Cup 2026")
Neymar has been left out of Brazil`s friendlies in the United States this month. The 34-year-old former captain has struggled to be fit since his ACL injury in October 2023. Brazil are set to face France in Boston on March 26 and Croatia in Orlando four days later.
Speaking about his squad selection, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said that he only selects players who are 100% fit to play. The Brazilian team has been hit with various injuries just months before the World Cup in America.
“This is a squad that takes into account players who are 100% fit. We had important injuries to players like Eder Militao, Bruno Guimaraes, Estevao, and Rodrygo.” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday.
Neymar himself has suffered a lot of injuries throughout his career. The Brazilian star is currently playing in Santos in the Brazilian league, in the hope of playing in what could be his last World Cup.
After the squad was announced, Neymar told the media at an event in Sao Paulo he was “upset and sad” for not being in Brazil`s squad for the two friendlies.
“I’m upset, sad, about not being called up. But the focus remains day after day, training after training, game after game. We’re going to achieve our goal. There’s still one final call-up left, and the dream lives on. That’s it, we’re in this together,” Neymar said.
The World Cup squad will be announced on May 18. The team`s last warmup will be on May 31 against Panama in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil will start the tournament as one of the favourites to win the competition, having last won the FIFA World Cup back in 2002.
The Brazilian squad for the friendlies:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Fenerbahce)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Danilo (Flamengo), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
(With AP Input)
Dhurandhar 2 gets 24-hour shows due to huge demand; Ranveer Singh film pushes DDLJ out of regular spot at Maratha Mandir
With under 48 hours left for the release of Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the advance booking of tickets is in full flow. The film is breaking records with the pace of its advance booking collections worldwide and is already the biggest premiere in Indian cinema history, selling over a million tickets. With such high demand, theatres are now scrambling to add newer shows, stretching the screenings to late night and post-midnight, making Dhurandhar 2 the latest Indian film to get round-the-clock shows in many parts of India.
Dhurandhar 2 gets 24-hour shows
At the time of writing, Dhurandhar 2 has sold close to 15 lakh tickets across India in advance booking, half of which have come for the paid preview shows on Wednesday. The film’s near-4-hour runtime has made it tough for exhibitors to keep more than 4 shows per screen during regular runtime. Sources told Hindustan Times that major theatre chains are keeping a 4-hour, 40-minute window for each show, factoring in trailers, the interval, and the turnaround time between shows. With the demand surging, many theatres are now adding post-midnight shows for Dhurandhar 2, a rarity in Indian cinema.
In Mumbai and Thane, theatres like PVR Chakala and Movie Max Sion have shows over the weekend starting as early as 1.50 AM and continuing till 11.30 PM across different screens. The Movie Max in Thane and Connplex Cinemas in Ahmedabad also have post-midnight shows for Dhurandhar 2, starting Thursday itself. While replicating this model is not possible in all cities due to logistical and safety concerns, reports say that many theatres in Western and South India will follow suit over the next 24 hours and open up late-night shows for the film.
DDLJ pushed to new slot at Maratha Mandir
One of the most telling examples of Dhurandhar 2’s popularity is how Mumbai’s iconic Maratha Mandir is accommodating it. The theatre has been screening Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge for 30 years straight. The film is screened at 11.30 AM every day and still draws a good crowd today. But to accommodate Dhurandhar 2’s runtime, DDLJ has been pushed to an early morning slot at the theatre.
Dhurandhar 2 advance booking
The advance booking for Dhurandhar 2 is breaking records by the hour. For the paid previews, the film has sold almost 8 lakh tickets, grossing ₹35 crore, well above the previous India record of ₹25 crore set by Pawan Kalyan’s OG last year. The film has also earned ₹21 crore gross for day 1 advance bookings. Overseas, the Ranveer Singh-starrer has become the first Indian film to earn $5 million from pre-sales in North America. Its overall advance booking collections globally exceed ₹125 crore.
All about Dhurandhar 2
Apart from Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar 2 also brings back R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. Akshaye Khanna, who played the antagonist Rehman Dakait in part 1, is expected to appear in a cameo. The spy thriller is slated to release on March 19. The first Dhurandhar earned ₹1300 crore worldwide and is still playing in theatres over three months after its December release. Trade insiders are betting that the sequel may just cross ₹2000 crore worldwide and dethrone Dangal from the top spot it has occupied for almost a decade.
Anand says Praggnanandhaa may have slowed down but he is peaking mentally
Legendary chess player Viswanathan Anand has said that young Indian grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa “may have slowed down a bit” in the lead-up to the FIDE Candidates tournament but will be mentally tuned for the challenge. Eight leading players in the Open category will vie for top honours when the Candidates tournament begins in Cyprus on March 28, with the winner earning the right to challenge reigning world champion D. Gukesh for the world title later this year.
Anand, who is also the vice-president of FIDE, indicated that Praggnanandhaa — the only Indian in the men`s section — will face stiff competition from the likes of Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, adding that predicting the eventual winner would be difficult. Asked who his personal favourite was, Anand said that several players intrigued him.
“He`s (Praggnanandhaa) experienced, but at the same time he looks very motivated. He has slowed down a little bit in the last few months, but maybe mentally he is already peaking and getting ready for the Candidates,” Anand said on FIDE`s YouTube channel. He felt that one among the likes of Caruana, Nakamura and Anish Giri had a strong chance of winning the Candidates and earning the right to challenge Gukesh.
“I think Fabi (Fabiano), Hikaru (Nakamura), Anish (Giri)… you know this is got to be their time, so they will have that feeling going into it that this is a chance to grab… and a lot of wildcards. But I can`t for the life of me get around to predicting someone,” said Anand, the five-time former world champion. Cyprus as the venue has been in the news due to its proximity to the evolving Gulf conflict. Three Indian players are set to compete in the women`s section of the FIDE Women`s Candidates tournament to challenge reigning champion Ju Wenjun for the world crown. Indian stalwart Koneru Humpy is reportedly considering withdrawing from the event due to security concerns arising due to the Gulf conflict.
In the context of the competition, Anand said FIDE always tries to find the best possible venues for its marquee events, adding that Cyprus would provide an amazing backdrop for such a high-level tournament. “FIDE tries to first find a good high-quality venue (and) I think we`ve succeeded in that. Cyprus will be a very good venue and I think the location is going to be amazing and we try to keep the players informed. “It`s just a tournament in the end, once you`re told when to go, where to go you block that in your head… I think everything`s been setted four months in advance and looking forward to it,” said Anand.
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Marine turned anti-war protester says Trump wrong on Israel, Iran | US-Israel war on Iran
“Right is right, wrong is wrong, and Trump’s wrong.” Former Marine Brian McGinnis, whose hand was broken by police and a congressman earlier this month in a protest at the US Capitol, says Donald Trump is “wrong” when it comes to the joint US-Israeli war on Iran.
Published On 17 Mar 2026
