Cambodia Accused of Using Civilian Cover to Resume Rocket Attacks on Thailand

  Mary Egida Rivera, the actress who won the hearts of Marvel fans with her memorable appearance as Ned Leeds’ grandmother in Spider-Man: No Way Home, has passed away at the age of 82. Her family confirmed that Rivera died peacefully on April 15, 2026, in Honolulu, Hawaii, after suffering a stroke. The news became public this week after a family member shared the details with TMZ.  Although Rivera had only a brief role in the 2021 blockbuster, her performance left a lasting impression on audiences around the world. She portrayed the loving grandmother, or “Lola,” of Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon. One of the film’s funniest scenes featured Rivera speaking Tagalog while asking Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man to clean the cobwebs from her ceiling, creating a heartfelt moment that quickly became a fan favorite.  According to her family, Rivera suffered a stroke that left her in a coma. Doctors reportedly warned that even if she regained consciousness, her chances of meaningful recovery were extremely low. After careful consideration, her loved ones made the difficult decision to remove her from life support. She later passed away peacefully and was cremated in Honolulu.  Born on June 2, 1943, in Iloilo, Philippines, Rivera later settled in Hawaii, where she built a life centered on family, education and community service. Before making her Hollywood debut, she worked as a teacher, radio broadcaster and church missionary. Her family said she was incredibly proud to represent the Filipino community in one of Marvel’s biggest films and cherished the opportunity to share the screen with stars including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire.  Tributes have continued to pour in from fans and colleagues following the announcement of her passing. Jacob Batalon honored his on-screen grandmother with a heartfelt social media message, writing, “Rest in paradise Lola.” Many fans also praised Rivera for bringing Filipino culture and the Tagalog language to a global audience through her unforgettable scene in the film.  Rivera is survived by her husband, Alejandro Rivera, four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. While her acting career was brief, her warmth, authenticity and pride in her heritage made her performance truly unforgettable. Her role in Spider-Man: No Way Home remains a touching reminder that even a small part can leave a lasting legacy in the hearts of millions. 

Evan Rachel Wood has finally addressed her absence from Practical Magic 2, sharing her honest feelings about not returning for the highly anticipated sequel to the 1998 cult classic. While promoting her latest project, The Shards, the actress spoke with Entertainment Tonight and admitted she is disappointed that she won’t be reuniting with the cast that helped shape one of her earliest film experiences.  Wood portrayed Kylie Owens, the eldest daughter of Sandra Bullock’s character Sally Owens, in the original Practical Magic. The upcoming sequel, inspired by Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic, sees Joey King taking over the role of Kylie, while Maisie Williams has been cast as Antonia Owens, originally played by Alexandra Artrip.  Reflecting on the decision, Wood said she understood why the filmmakers may have chosen a different direction. She explained that after reading The Book of Magic, she felt the novel could have allowed her character to return. However, she acknowledged that the movie appears to be taking a different creative approach, making her involvement less likely.  Despite understanding the creative changes, the actress admitted the experience has been emotional. She said what hurts the most is missing the opportunity to reunite with the original cast and revisit the iconic house where much of the film was shot. According to Wood, those shared childhood memories are impossible to recreate and would have been meaningful not only for the actors but also for longtime fans of the beloved fantasy film.  This is not the first time Wood has spoken about the sequel. In 2025, she revealed on social media that she had offered to return “even for one scene or one line,” but was informed that the roles were being recast. She emphasized that the decision was entirely out of her hands and said she would have happily returned if given the opportunity.  Even so, Wood made it clear that she holds no ill will toward the production. She wished Joey King the very best in taking over the role and expressed hope that the new cast enjoys the same magical experience she had while filming the original movie nearly three decades ago.  Practical Magic 2 will reunite original stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman alongside returning cast members Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. The sequel is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 11, 2026, bringing the magical Owens family back to the big screen for a new generation of fans.  Evan Rachel Wood has finally addressed her absence from Practical Magic 2, sharing her honest feelings about not returning for the highly anticipated sequel to the 1998 cult classic. While promoting her latest project, The Shards, the actress spoke with Entertainment Tonight and admitted she is disappointed that she won’t be reuniting with the cast that helped shape one of her earliest film experiences.  Wood portrayed Kylie Owens, the eldest daughter of Sandra Bullock’s character Sally Owens, in the original Practical Magic. The upcoming sequel, inspired by Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic, sees Joey King taking over the role of Kylie, while Maisie Williams has been cast as Antonia Owens, originally played by Alexandra Artrip.  Reflecting on the decision, Wood said she understood why the filmmakers may have chosen a different direction. She explained that after reading The Book of Magic, she felt the novel could have allowed her character to return. However, she acknowledged that the movie appears to be taking a different creative approach, making her involvement less likely.  Despite understanding the creative changes, the actress admitted the experience has been emotional. She said what hurts the most is missing the opportunity to reunite with the original cast and revisit the iconic house where much of the film was shot. According to Wood, those shared childhood memories are impossible to recreate and would have been meaningful not only for the actors but also for longtime fans of the beloved fantasy film.  This is not the first time Wood has spoken about the sequel. In 2025, she revealed on social media that she had offered to return “even for one scene or one line,” but was informed that the roles were being recast. She emphasized that the decision was entirely out of her hands and said she would have happily returned if given the opportunity.  Even so, Wood made it clear that she holds no ill will toward the production. She wished Joey King the very best in taking over the role and expressed hope that the new cast enjoys the same magical experience she had while filming the original movie nearly three decades ago.  Practical Magic 2 will reunite original stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman alongside returning cast members Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. The sequel is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 11, 2026, bringing the magical Owens family back to the big screen for a new generation of fans. 

Whoopi Goldberg has revealed an unexpected secret behind some of the biggest roles of her career. The acclaimed actress recently explained that several of her most memorable movies came after other actors had turned the projects down. Speaking on the podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, Goldberg, 70, reflected on how she landed the lead role in the 1992 comedy Sister Act. The actress revealed that the movie was originally written with Bette Midler in mind. “They wrote that for Bette Midler,” Goldberg explained, according to reports from PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly. Midler ultimately passed on the project, opening the door for Goldberg to take on the role that would become one of her career-defining performances. (People.com⁠) How Goldberg found major opportunities Goldberg explained that she eventually developed a strategy for finding roles that other actors had rejected. She asked her agents to send her scripts that had already been turned down by other performers. That approach proved surprisingly successful. In addition to Sister Act, Goldberg landed roles in movies that had initially been developed with other stars in mind. Burglar, for example, had originally been intended for Bruce Willis, while Jumpin’ Jack Flash was initially associated with Shelley Long. (People.com⁠) Goldberg suggested that her experiences were partly connected to the limited opportunities available to Black actresses at the time. Rather than allowing those barriers to stop her, she looked for projects that had been passed over and found ways to make them her own. Sister Act became a career highlight Goldberg eventually transformed Sister Act into a showcase for her comedy and musical talents. She played Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer who enters witness protection and is hidden in a convent. The film became a major success following its 1992 release, with Goldberg’s performance becoming closely associated with the movie. She returned for the 1993 sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. (D23⁠) Midler has previously discussed why she rejected the role. She explained that she was concerned her audience would not want to see her wearing a nun’s habit. The decision ultimately gave Goldberg the opportunity to create an iconic character of her own. (People.com⁠) Goldberg’s Hollywood lesson Looking back, Goldberg’s career offers an unusual lesson about opportunities. Some of her most recognizable performances came from projects that initially seemed destined for someone else. Her story also highlights how persistence can create unexpected breakthroughs. Instead of waiting for Hollywood to offer her the obvious choices, Goldberg searched for opportunities others had overlooked. Decades later, Sister Act remains one of her signature films, proving that sometimes the role that was written for someone else can become the performance audiences remember forever.