Blog - Page 3 of 251

Amitabh Bachchan praises Shah Rukh Khan’s resilience

September 25, 2026 by Entertainment Desk

MUMBAI: Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan has praised Shah Rukh Khan for his ability to face difficult situations and keep moving forward.

The comments came during a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18, while Bachchan was speaking with actor Rajkummar Rao.

Rao recalled his early years in Mumbai and spoke about how Shah Rukh Khan’s journey from Delhi’s middle class to Bollywood inspired him. He said he had admired Shah Rukh Khan’s career, having seen him make his way into the film industry through theater and television.

Rao also recalled that he used to stand outside Shah Rukh Khan’s Mumbai residence, Mannat, as a fan.

Responding to Rao’s remarks, Bachchan spoke about his experience of working with Shah Rukh Khan and highlighted his resilience.

According to Bachchan, Shah Rukh is among those who do not easily accept defeat when faced with difficult circumstances.

Bachchan also praised Shah Rukh’s ability to encourage people around him and help restore their confidence during challenging times.

He said Shah Rukh tends to speak to people facing problems and encourages them, turning the conversation on the show from Rao’s early memories into a discussion about Shah Rukh’s perseverance and influence on fellow actors.

Italy adopts new school rules on face coverings, Italian language

September 25, 2026 by World Desk

ROME: Italy’s government has approved a decree banning the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools and limiting to 30% the proportion of students in a class who do not have adequate Italian-language skills.

The Council of Ministers approved the measures Thursday as part of a broader package aimed at improving integration in schools. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the measures on social media.

The decree prohibits face coverings that prevent identification during curricular and extracurricular school activities and school-family meetings, with exceptions for specific health or security reasons. Violations can result in fines of up to 1,000 euros, according to Italian media reports.

The new rules also seek to limit the concentration of students with insufficient Italian-language skills in individual classes. The government says schools will receive additional resources to help students learn Italian.

Students born in Italy or those who attended kindergarten there can be exempt from the 30% limit, while other exemptions can apply in cases such as family circumstances or a student’s place of residence.

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said insufficient knowledge of Italian can hinder students’ academic progress and integration. The government also plans to provide free Italian-language courses for some parents whose children face integration difficulties.

The measures have drawn criticism from opposition parties and education groups. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein accused the government of targeting children, while teachers’ unions and school principals questioned aspects of the policy and its implementation.

The decree is subject to Italy’s parliamentary process before becoming permanent law.

PTI postpones Islamabad long march to Oct 4

September 25, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has postponed its planned long march toward Islamabad from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced Friday.

Afridi said the PTI’s long march would depart from Peshawar on Oct. 4. The announcement confirmed earlier reports that the party’s political committee had decided to defer the march.

The decision came after a meeting of the PTI political committee, where party leaders discussed preparations for the march and the prevailing political situation.

Earlier, party sources had indicated that a second meeting would be held to consult Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas before a formal announcement was made.

Sources said PTI leaders, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar and Sohail Afridi, had discussed postponing the march to allow more time for preparations.

The sources also cited logistical challenges and a lack of expected financial support for the march among the factors discussed by the party leadership.

80 countries demand reopening of Strait of Hormuz at UN

September 24, 2026 by World Desk

UNITED NATIONS: About 80 countries on Thursday called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and condemned Iran and its Houthi allies over attacks in the region and disruptions to international trade and energy security.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani read out the joint statement at the United Nations, saying Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz continued to threaten international security and freedom of navigation.
The statement was backed by Gulf Arab states and major Western powers, according to Reuters.
The countries also expressed concern over the situation in Yemen and strongly condemned what they described as the Houthis’ decision to resume the conflict, their continued attacks on Saudi Arabia and their operations in the Red Sea.
The statement warned that any further Houthi advance toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would increase risks to international shipping, maritime security and global trade.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global shipping route, particularly for energy supplies, while the Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is also vital to international maritime trade.

What do iPhone, GPT, SIM, QR and other tech abbreviations mean?

September 24, 2026 by Technology Desk

Many technology terms and abbreviations have become part of everyday life, but their original meanings are not always known to the people who use them.

Here are the full forms and origins of some commonly used technology terms.

What does the “i” in iPhone mean?

Even people who do not own an iPhone are familiar with the name, but the meaning of the “i” is less widely known.

Steve Jobs explained the meaning in 1998 when he introduced Apple’s iMac computer.

Jobs said the “i” referred to the internet, while also explaining that the letter represented four other words: individual, instruct, inform and inspire.

What does GPT in ChatGPT stand for?

GPT stands for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer.”

“Generative” refers to the system’s ability to generate content, while “pre-trained” reflects the model’s training on large amounts of data. “Transformer” refers to the neural network architecture used by the technology to process and generate responses.

ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI and has become one of the most widely known applications of generative artificial intelligence.

What does SIM stand for?

SIM stands for “Subscriber Identity Module.”

A SIM card contains information that helps a mobile network identify an individual subscriber and enables the user to connect to the network and make calls.

What do CC and BCC mean?

CC stands for “carbon copy,” a term derived from the use of carbon paper to make duplicate copies of documents.

The practice dates back to the era of typewriters, when carbon paper was placed between sheets of paper to create copies without retyping the same text.

In email, CC allows a copy of a message to be sent to additional recipients.

BCC stands for “blind carbon copy.” Recipients added to the BCC field receive the email without their addresses being visible to other recipients.

What does QR stand for?

QR stands for “Quick Response.”

The QR code system was developed in Japan in 1994 by a team led by Masahiro Hara. The technology was designed to address limitations of traditional bar codes, which could store relatively small amounts of information.

QR codes can store large amounts of numbers and characters and can still be read even when part of the code is damaged.

What does Wi-Fi mean?

Unlike many other technology terms, Wi-Fi is not an abbreviation or acronym with a specific full form.

Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The official spelling is “Wi-Fi.”

What does USB stand for?

USB stands for “Universal Serial Bus.”

USB technology is widely used for charging devices and transferring data. It is now common in mobile phones, computers, electric vehicles and many other electronic devices.

USB-C has become the standard connector used by many newer devices.

Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan dies at 56

September 24, 2026 by Entertainment Desk

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan has died at the age of 56 after battling liver cancer, Indian media reported Thursday.

Khan had been undergoing treatment for liver cancer and was hospitalized at a Mumbai hospital about two weeks ago after his condition deteriorated.

Several Bollywood personalities expressed grief over his death.

Khan was known for his supporting and comic roles in films including “Welcome,” “Aashiqui,” “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke,” “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi,” “Hera Pheri” and “Jodi No. 1.”

He began his acting career in 1980 with the film “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai?” and went on to appear in numerous Hindi films, primarily in supporting and comedic roles.

According to his son, Khan’s health had worsened significantly in recent days. He had been in good health before his hospitalization and was working on the debut film of the son of Salman Khan’s bodyguard, Shera.

Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ premieres in London with Prince William, Kate in attendance

September 24, 2026 by Entertainment Desk

LONDON: Tom Cruise’s new film “Digger” held its London premiere on Thursday, drawing members of the British royal family and several high-profile guests.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended the premiere at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in central London, where they met members of the film’s cast and production team.

Catherine wore a purple gown and a necklace that British media reports linked to a famous amethyst necklace associated with the Queen Mother.

Cruise spoke with Catherine on the black carpet during the event. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and other prominent figures from the film industry also attended.

Former England soccer captain David Beckham attended the premiere with his sons.

In “Digger,” Cruise plays a character he created himself. The film is directed by Iñárritu, while Cruise has said the character is not based on a real person.

“Digger” is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States, Britain and other markets on Oct. 2.

Pakistan receives second LNG cargo from Qatar this month

September 24, 2026 by Business Desk

KARACHI: Pakistan has received its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Qatar this month under a long-term supply agreement.

The LNG carrier Shandong Redwood, which sailed from Qatar, berthed at the Pakistan GasPort Limited (PGPL) terminal on Wednesday morning.

The cargo was procured under a long-term LNG agreement at a price equivalent to 13.37% of the Brent crude oil price.

Pakistan contacted Iran to ensure safe passage of the LNG shipment, while the cargo is expected to provide some relief to the power sector.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for LNG supplies to Pakistan.

Pakistan beat China 3-0 to claim third Asian Games hockey win

September 24, 2026 by Sports Desk

Pakistan hockey team defeated China 3-0 on Thursday to secure their third victory at the Asian Games hockey tournament.

Captain Abu Bakr Sufyan Khan and Hannan Shahid scored for Pakistan, with all three goals coming in the second quarter.

The victory lifted Pakistan to second place in the group with nine points. Malaysia also has nine points but leads the standings on goal difference.

Pakistan had earlier defeated Thailand 9-0 and Uzbekistan 5-1 in the tournament.

Pakistan were without forward Rana Waheed Ashraf, who was suspended for the China match by the tournament organizers and the Asian Hockey Federation.

Ashraf was suspended for one match after his hockey stick struck an Uzbekistan player in the head during Pakistan’s previous match, according to reports. He is considered a key player in Pakistan’s forward line.