Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Cyprus imposes further restrictions on travelers from UK

cyprus

NICOSIA: Cyprus’ new restrictions on travel from the United Kingdom (UK) came hurriedly into force on Saturday after a rapid spread of Omicron variant infections related to that country, the Health Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said that the measures were due to the rapid increase in cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant … Read more

Tanzania’s Zanzibar seeks to reinforce anti-corruption laws

anti-corruption

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s Zanzibar authorities said on Saturday they are reviewing anti-corruption laws with a view to reinforcing them in the fight against the social vice. Khadija Shamte Mzee, the chairperson of the Zanzibar Law Review Commission (ZLRC), said stakeholders were currently reviewing the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act of 2012 to give it … Read more

12 injured in train derailment in western Zambia

train derail

LUSAKA: At least 12 people were injured when a train they were travelling in derailed in western Zambia, the country’s railway operator said on Saturday. The train which derailed on Friday evening resulted in two wagons capsizing, injuring the 12 people. The accident happened between the towns of Livingstone and Mulobezi. Caristo Chitamfya, Public Relations … Read more

U.S.-listed Chinese firms trade mostly lower

Xi Jinping

NEW YORK — U.S.-listed Chinese companies traded mostly lower on Friday with six of the top 10 stocks by weight in the S&P U.S. Listed China 50 index ending the day on a downbeat note. Shares of NetEase and JD.com slid 5.15 percent and 2.26 percent, respectively, leading the laggards in the top 10 stocks … Read more

Reclusive Laos to re-open to foreign travellers

BANGKOK – Laos has announced plans to partially re-open to foreign travellers in the new year, throwing a lifeline to the tourism industry after borders were sealed for more than 18 months to keep out Covid. Fully vaccinated visitors on pre-booked tours will be able to enter from January 1 and visit the capital Vientiane, … Read more

A girl who just looks like Scarlett Johansson!

Scarlett Johansson

Ekaterina Shumskaya, dubbed as “Russian Scarlett Johansson” on TikTok. She says that she wants her own life and that her likeness to the Black Widow actress “makes her cry.” Despite gaining 10.2 million TikTok followers due to her uncanny resemblance with Johansson, Shumskaya said, “There are people on the internet who confuse me with Scarlett. … Read more

Scarlett Johansson shares details about her ‘insane’ family’s secret

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson, star of Black Widow, has spoken about her family’s “aggressive” secret Santa custom. The 37-year-old actress disclosed a fascinating detail about her family’s Christmas traditions, revealing that her siblings may be quite competitive when it comes to gift-giving. Dishing on her plans for the festive season, the charming actress, while laughing to Extra, … Read more

Top 5 actors in Pakistan you’d love to watch on-screen

Pakistani actors

The Pakistani industry is filled with numerous talented actors and actress who has left their names to remember such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, and so on. Here are the five most handsome and well-paid actors in Pakistan who have gained immense popularity by doing hit dramas and films. Ahmed Ali Akber One … Read more

Rod Stewart admits battery over Florida hotel fight

Rod Stewart

British pop star Rod Stewart and his son pleaded guilty to the battery over an altercation with a Florida security guard, prosecutors said Friday, but neither faces jail time or any fines. The 76-year-old singer of “Maggie May” and numerous other hit songs was accused of punching a hotel guard outside a children’s party at … Read more

Aymen Saleem looks ravishing in all black attire

Aymen Saleem

Aymen Saleem wowed her admirers once again with her stunning new photos in a rich black dress by a well-known clothing brand. She looks stunningly lovely in this flashy festive dress. The Chupke Chupke star has been opted by a popular brand for this radiant fashion look, and she shared pictures of the collaboration on … Read more

Mawra Hocane jokes as she recalls her ‘100 years old’ picture

Mawra Hocane

Actress Mawra Hocane used her Instagram account to showcase a throwback photo of herself with a hilarious comment. “100 years ago, God,” she wrote. “I’m sure I’m 15 here.” “Alhmdulliah for everything,” she added. Mawra is now starring alongside Ahsan Khan and Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz in Hum TV’s Qissa Meherbano Ka. Mawra changed the spelling … Read more

Canada taps maple syrup reserves to meet soaring demand

LAURIERVILLE – Pancake lovers, fear not. Strong demand for maple syrup after a poor Canadian harvest has created supply-side woes, but Quebec province is tapping its strategic reserves to keep the world awash in the sweet, sticky stuff. Experts are warning the shortages could be further compounded by climate change, which is already being blamed … Read more

Hareem Shah looks flattered as her husband gives her a peck in a viral video

Hareem Shah

TikTok star Hareem Shah is back again with set entertaining updates which feature the TikToker and her Bilal Shah. The latest post by Hareem gives us insight into how passionate her relationship is with the man who has recently stolen all the spotlight on Hareem’s social media platforms. Read more. Hareem Shah definitely knows how … Read more

Sana Khan leaves for Umrah with her husband Anas Saiyad

Sana Khan

Former Bollywood actress Sana Khan, who left the industry after getting married to her husband Anas Saiyad recently leaves for Umrah with her husband. the actress posted a picture in which the beautiful couple can be seen wearing complete white which is required to wear before performing the Umrah. Sana married Anas in a small … Read more

Watch: Ayesha Omar dazzles the audience with her killer moves

Ayesha Omar

Actress Ayesha Omar recently performed at a friend’s wedding, where she sang several songs, including Bollywood chartbusters like Munni Badnaam Hui from Dabbang. Other celebs that joined the Bulbulay diva were Azfar Rehman and Ali Rehman Khan. The clips from the Mehendi ceremony have gone viral across social media platforms. Read more. Ayesha Omar and … Read more

Beneath La Palma volcano, scientists collect lava ‘to learn’

volcano

EL PASO, Spain, Dec 18, 2021 (AFP) – As soon as he heard that La Palma’s volcano had erupted, Australian geologist Matt Pankhurst loaded his microscope into his car and raced to catch a ferry to the Spanish island. Like other scientists around the world, he was eager to get a first-hand look at the rare … Read more

Ayesha Shaikh, Chairperson BOL Media Group, Congratulates Qatari Emir and Sheikha Al Mayassa on National Day

Chairperson BOL Media Group Ayesha Shaikh congratulated the Qatari Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, his sister and chairperson of Qatar Museums Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on National Day. “Congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al … Read more

Dow drops as Wall Street ends tumultuous week on sour note

wall street

NEW YORK – Major US stock indices fell on Friday to end a tumultuous week of trading on a downbeat note, as markets searched for optimism amid a slew of concerning news. Chief among traders’ concerns was the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and general fears of renewed business disruptions from the pandemic as cases surge in the … Read more

Chinese mainland reports 89 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

Chinese mainland

BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) — The Chinese mainland on Friday reported 89 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Saturday. Of the new local cases, 77 were reported in Zhejiang, seven in Shaanxi, two in Guangdong and one each in Inner Mongolia, Shanghai and Fujian, the commission … Read more

Lyon bar fans from away matches after Cup tie flare-up

PARIS – Ligue 1 club Lyon have barred their supporters from attending away matches until further notice following the latest incident involving their fans led to the abandonment of Friday’s French Cup match with Paris FC. The club said in a statement on Saturday that “more than ever we must eradicate hooliganism and ban all … Read more

FPCCI proposes amendments to tax laws for companies

FPCCI

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce of Industry (FPCCI) has proposed amendments in the tax laws to enable companies in settling their taxation, a statement said on Saturday. FPCCI president Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo has appreciated the ease of trade initiatives by the government, adding that these initiatives have the potential to create … Read more

India’s COVID-19 tally rises to 34,733,194

India's COVID-19 tally

NEW DELHI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) — India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 34,733,194 on Saturday, as 7,145 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data. Besides, 289 deaths due to the pandemic reported since Friday morning took the total death toll to 477,158. There are … Read more

FPCCI warns of high inflation on planned mini-budget

KARACHI: The expected additional taxes on industrial raw materials in the planned mini-budget and the hike in power and gas tariffs will further increase the cost of production, an official of a business group said. The Businessmen Panel (BMP) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has warned of imposing additional … Read more

World Bank approves $195 million loan to improve power distribution system

World Bank

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank’s board of executive directors has approved $195 million in financing to support Pakistan in improving electricity distribution and implementing energy sector reforms to increase service quality for the consumers. The Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project (EDEIP) will help the distribution companies improve operations to manage the supply more efficiently and increase … Read more

Australian states ease quarantine rules despite increasing COVID-19 infections

quarantine rules

SYDNEY, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) — Australia’s states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, the two major entry ports of the country, further eased quarantine rules for international travelers despite the increasing infections of COVID-19. From Dec. 21, fully vaccinated international travelers and flight crew arriving in Sydney and Melbourne will no longer need a … Read more

Alia Bhatt flaunts her dance moves at friend’s bachelorette party

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt was recently seen at an open-air bachelorette celebration on the outskirts of Mumbai with her best friends, and her school buddy, Meghna Goyal, who uploaded a few videos from the intimate event on Instagram. The Brahmastra actor was spotted in a garden with her close pals, including Anushka Ranjan and Akansha Ranjan, with … Read more

S.Korea reports 7,314 more COVID-19 cases

COVID-19

SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) — South Korea reported 7,314 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Friday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 558,864. The daily caseload was down from 7,434 in the previous day, but it hovered above 7,000 for four straight days. The recent resurgence was attributable … Read more

Watch: Shahid Kapoor bleeds all over his clothes after injuring his lips on set

Shahid Kapoor

The directors of Shahid Kapoor’s sports drama Jersey have shared the actor’s story during the film’s production ahead of its release. While batting on the field without a helmet, the actor sustained a significant injury to his lip and required 25 stitches. Shahid slogs it out on the field to hone his batting technique in … Read more