Ibrahim Ali Khan, the rising star of Bollywood, has opened up about the inevitable comparisons to his father, veteran actor Saif Ali Khan, and his journey to establish his own identity in the film industry. Despite being just a few films into his career, Ibrahim has already faced the weight of expectations, given his lineage as the son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, and the grandson of legendary actress Sharmila Tagore. In a candid interview, Ibrahim revealed that he views these comparisons as a compliment rather than a burden. ‘For years, I’ve been told I look just like my father. When you’re constantly fed something like that, it becomes a standard for you. You want to be more and more like him,’ he shared. Ibrahim expressed deep admiration for his father’s resilience, noting how Saif overcame early skepticism to become one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors. ‘There were a lot of people who doubted him in the beginning. He took quite a few films to find his feet,’ he added. Ibrahim made his acting debut earlier this year with *Nadaaniyan*, a Netflix release that, despite its star-studded cast, received lukewarm reviews. His second film, *Sarzameen*, also failed to make a significant impact. Undeterred, Ibrahim is now gearing up for *Diler*, a sports drama directed by Kunal Deshmukh, which is slated for release in 2026. The film, co-starring Sreeleela, tells the story of a marathon runner and marks Ibrahim’s next step in his quest to prove his mettle in Bollywood.
作者： admin
-
Fed cuts US interest rates again despite ‘flying blind’
The US Federal Reserve has proceeded with another interest rate cut, reducing its key lending rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 3.75% to 4%. This decision, announced on Wednesday, comes as concerns over a slowing labour market overshadow fears of inflation. Economists noted that the ongoing US government shutdown, now nearing its one-month mark, has left central bankers ‘flying blind’ due to delays in official job market data. The Fed last cut rates in September, marking the first reduction since December 2022, in response to sluggish hiring trends. Chairman Jerome Powell highlighted ‘downside risks’ to unemployment as a key factor. Despite the shutdown, the Labor Department released September inflation data last week, showing a 3% year-over-year increase, slightly below expectations. This reinforced the likelihood of further rate cuts. Earlier this year, fears of tariff-driven inflation dominated discussions as President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on major trading partners. While inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, the milder-than-expected September reading allowed policymakers to prioritize labour market concerns. Bank of America economists noted that ‘policymakers are slightly more focused on downside risks to the employment mandate.’ The latest cut brings the key lending rate to its lowest level in three years. Wall Street anticipates another quarter-point reduction at the Fed’s December meeting, with investors pricing in an over 80% chance. However, JP Morgan’s chief US economist, Michael Feroli, cautioned that upcoming jobs reports could ‘significantly change perceptions of the labour market.’ Meanwhile, President Trump has criticized Powell for not cutting rates faster and hinted at replacing him before his term ends in May 2024.
-
France enshrines need for consent into rape law in wake of Gisèle Pelicot case
In a landmark move, the French parliament has ratified a significant amendment to its sexual assault and rape laws, placing consent at the core of the legal definition. Previously, rape in France was defined as sexual penetration involving violence, coercion, threat, or surprise. The revised law now explicitly states that any sexual act performed without consent constitutes rape. This change follows years of cross-party debate, which gained momentum after the high-profile trial of Gisèle Pelicot, a woman who was drugged and raped by multiple men at the behest of her husband. The case highlighted critical loopholes in the existing law, particularly the defense argument that perpetrators could not be guilty of rape if they were unaware the victim could not consent. The new legislation clarifies that consent must be ‘free, informed, specific, prior, and revocable,’ and cannot be inferred from silence or lack of reaction. The amendment, drafted by MPs Marie-Charlotte Garin of the Greens and Véronique Riotton of the centrist party, has been hailed as a ‘historic victory’ and a major advancement in combating sexual violence. Critics had raised concerns that the law could complicate sexual relations or place undue burden on victims to prove lack of consent. However, France’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, endorsed the amendment in March, emphasizing its alignment with the fundamental principle of personal and sexual freedom. The bill, initially adopted by the National Assembly in April, faced delays due to political turmoil but was definitively approved by the Senate with overwhelming support. Amnesty International France praised the move as a historic step forward, aligning France with other European nations like Sweden, Germany, and Spain, which already have consent-based rape laws.
-
Two suspects partially admit involvement in Louvre heist, prosecutor says
In a startling development in the Louvre Museum theft case, two suspects have partially admitted their involvement in the audacious heist that saw €88 million worth of French crown jewels stolen. The men, both in their thirties and with prior criminal records, were apprehended following an extensive investigation that utilized DNA evidence. One suspect was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Algeria, while the other was found to have no immediate plans to leave France, contrary to earlier media reports. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that the stolen jewels, including the Parure Marie-Amélie diadème, remain unrecovered, and the possibility of a larger gang involvement beyond the four individuals captured on CCTV is still under investigation. The thieves, who used power tools to break into the museum’s Apollon gallery, managed to escape on scooters before switching to cars. Notably, a crown belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, was dropped during the escape, and its damage is currently being assessed. Beccuau expressed hope that the stolen artifacts would eventually be returned to the Louvre and the nation. In response to the incident, the Louvre has heightened its security measures and relocated some of its most valuable items to the Bank of France’s highly secure vault, located 26 meters below ground in central Paris.
-
Heathrow, NatWest and Minecraft sites down amid global Microsoft outage
A widespread Microsoft outage has caused significant disruptions to numerous websites and services globally, including Heathrow Airport, NatWest Bank, and Minecraft. The issue, which began on Wednesday, affected Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook and Teams, as well as the Azure cloud computing platform. Microsoft attributed the outage to DNS issues, similar to the root cause of last week’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage. Azure reported a ‘degradation of some services’ at 1600 GMT, with its network infrastructure marked as ‘critical’ in every region worldwide. Other impacted entities include UK supermarket Asda, mobile operator O2, US coffee chain Starbucks, and retailer Kroger. The Scottish Parliament also suspended business due to technical issues with its online voting system, believed to be linked to the Microsoft outage. Microsoft is working to reroute affected traffic and restore services using a recent backup, though no timeline for resolution has been provided. Experts warn that the concentration of cloud services in a few major providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google increases the risk of widespread disruptions. Dr. Saqib Kakvi of Royal Holloway University noted that such outages can cripple hundreds, if not thousands, of applications and systems, highlighting the risks of resource consolidation in the tech industry.
-
Budapest boxing club says board member, family among 11 killed in Kenya plane crash
A devastating plane crash in Kenya has claimed the lives of 11 individuals, including a prominent Hungarian boxing club leader and his family. The incident occurred on Tuesday when a Cessna Caravan aircraft, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, crashed in a hilly, forested area of Kwale County shortly after takeoff from Diani. Among the victims were eight Hungarians, two Germans, and the Kenyan pilot. Gyula Süllős, a long-time supporter and president of the Vasas SC boxing program, was identified as one of the deceased. The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, confirmed that two families, including children, were among the victims. Kenya’s aviation department secretary, Terry Mbaika, stated that some bodies remain unrecovered due to challenging terrain and heavy rains. The investigation, expected to take 30 days, aims to ensure transparency. This tragedy highlights concerns about Kenya’s aviation safety, as recent audits indicate its accident investigation performance falls below global standards.
-
From hiding motherhood to running top company: How these women CEOs broke glass ceiling
In a compelling panel discussion at the ‘We the Women’ conference organized by Khaleej Times, several trailblazing female leaders from the UAE shared their journeys of overcoming societal barriers and achieving remarkable success. Among them was Kimberley Pierce, CEO of King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, who recounted her early struggles of balancing motherhood and education. Fearing discrimination, Pierce concealed her status as a mother during her postgraduate nursing program, even bringing her two-year-old daughter to her nursing home. With the support of her classmates, she managed childcare while excelling academically, ultimately ranking first in her final exams. Her story highlighted the need to challenge stereotypes about women with children pursuing ambitious careers. The event, moderated by Emmy-nominated journalist Barkha Dutt, also featured Shamsa Al-Falasi, a seasoned banker who rose to become Citi Country Officer and Booking Head in the UAE. Al-Falasi emphasized the importance of setting clear career goals and persistently striving for the next milestone. Isobel Abulhoul, CEO of the Emirates Literature Festival for over 15 years, shared her mission to combat stereotypes about Arab and Emirati women through storytelling. The festival, she explained, brings together diverse voices to foster understanding and humanity. The panel also explored the role of men in supporting gender equality. Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafer, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, recalled her father’s encouragement, which enabled her to pursue her studies. She also highlighted Abdulla Al Ghurair’s pioneering efforts in promoting girls’ education in the UAE. These stories collectively underscored the resilience, determination, and collaborative efforts required to shatter the glass ceiling and pave the way for future generations.
-
Israeli who fought in Gaza barred from entering Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has denied entry to an Israeli reservist after French authorities issued a criminal alert against him, according to Israeli media reports. The unnamed individual, who served in conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, was detained at Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport for several hours before being informed of the entry ban. Czech officials cited a Schengen-wide warning issued by France, which prohibits his entry into all European Union countries. The man and his wife were approached by armed police at passport control, who explained that the ban stemmed from French accusations of his involvement in ‘serious crimes.’ The reservist speculated that the alert might be linked to his military service or identity theft, though he claimed never to have visited France. Despite efforts to seek assistance from the Israeli embassy in Paris, the couple was compelled to return to Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry clarified that the refusal was unrelated to his military service. This incident follows a pattern of travel restrictions faced by Israeli military personnel globally. In December 2024, two Israeli soldiers were barred from entering Australia after being required to complete a detailed 13-page form, while in January, an Israeli soldier accused of war crimes fled Brazil amid an investigation. Additionally, New Zealand introduced a policy mandating Israeli visa applicants to disclose military service details. Amid growing scrutiny, the Israeli army has reportedly implemented measures to conceal soldiers’ identities to avoid arrest warrants and investigations related to alleged war crimes in Gaza.
-
At least 20 dead in Haiti as Hurricane Melissa hits
Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction across Haiti, with at least 20 fatalities reported, including 10 children, according to officials. The catastrophic flooding and landslides triggered by the hurricane have caused widespread devastation, particularly in Petit-Goave, where a river overflowed, claiming 25 lives. Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème described the situation as overwhelming, with many residents still trapped under collapsed buildings. Along Haiti’s southern coast, numerous homes have been swept away, leaving communities in ruins. Pascal Bimenyimana from the World Relief NGO reported that 3,000 people are currently sheltering in the south, with survivors clearing debris by hand. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) had earlier warned of the potential for catastrophic damage, citing Haiti’s underdeveloped infrastructure as a significant vulnerability. The hurricane has also severely impacted Jamaica and Cuba, with Jamaica experiencing 185mph winds that left most of the island without power. While no deaths have been confirmed in Jamaica, Montego Bay’s mayor Richard Vernon expressed grave concerns about the safety of residents. Hurricane Melissa is now moving northeast towards the Bahamas and Bermuda, raising fears of further destruction.
-
China ramps up control of non-CO2 greenhouse gases
China is accelerating its efforts to control emissions of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, as part of its 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Xia Yingxian, director of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s department of climate change, highlighted that this marks the first time China’s NDCs explicitly include non-CO2 gases in its total emission control framework. Recent years have seen steady progress in reducing these emissions through targeted policies. In late 2023, the ministry issued an action plan for methane emission control, leading to advancements in energy, agriculture, and waste treatment sectors. Improvements include better utilization of coal mine gas, progress in livestock manure recycling, and enhanced control of methane emissions from rice paddies. China has also shared its methane control achievements at global platforms like the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the 2024 Global Methane Forum. Additionally, an action plan for nitrous oxide emissions in the industrial sector was released in August, aiming to guide future control efforts and accelerate the transition to greener industries. The ministry is leveraging the voluntary greenhouse gas emissions trading market to encourage companies to reduce non-CO2 emissions, with six methodologies related to these gases set to be issued by the end of 2025. Xia emphasized that China will further strengthen the implementation of these plans and expand cross-sector cooperation to contribute to global climate action.