Author: Imran Malik

Women from Syria’s Alawite minority report kidnappings and sexual violence after the regime’s fall, with activists alleging dozens missing and victims accusing authorities of failing to properly investigate the abuses. WEBDESK – Source: BBC News Arabic Women belonging to Syria’s Alawite minority say they have been kidnapped, assaulted, and threatened in the months following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s government, according to testimonies gathered by the BBC. Several survivors described being abducted by armed men, held in secret locations, and subjected to violence, while families accuse authorities of failing to properly investigate the cases. Pattern of disappearances Rights…

More than 80 Hollywood actors and filmmakers, including Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton, have criticized the Berlin Film Festival for remaining silent on Gaza, signing an open letter demanding the event condemn the violence and protect artists’ freedom of expression, according to Variety. WEBDESK – Source: Variety A group of leading international actors and filmmakers has publicly criticized the Berlin International Film Festival, accusing the event of remaining silent on the war in Gaza and suppressing artists who try to address the issue. According to Variety, 81 current and former Berlinale participants have signed an open letter addressed to festival…

Kim Kardashian may have a new rival in fashion as Sydney Sweeney’s fast-selling lingerie brand Syrn shakes the celebrity apparel market, raising questions about a fresh competition with Skims. WEBDESK – Act Global Media Reality TV entrepreneur and beauty mogul Kim Kardashian is reportedly keeping a close eye on rising Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney after the actress’s new lingerie label, Syrn, gained rapid popularity in the fashion market. According to media reports, Kardashian, whose shapewear company, Skims, dominates the celebrity-driven apparel space, has grown increasingly wary of Sweeney expanding into sectors she helped popularize, including lingerie, cosmetics, and skincare. Rapid success fuels industry buzz…

A powerful avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada has left up to 10 skiers missing and six stranded as rescuers battle blizzard conditions and extreme avalanche danger to reach the remote backcountry site near Lake Tahoe. WEBDESK – Act Global Media Up to 10 skiers were reported missing and at least six others stranded after an avalanche swept across a backcountry slope in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, as rescuers struggled to reach the site amid a powerful winter storm, authorities said Tuesday. The avalanche struck the Castle Peak area near Truckee, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe, around 11:30 a.m.…

The US and Iran have begun indirect nuclear talks in Geneva as military forces mobilize in the region, raising fears that diplomacy could either revive a deal or slide toward conflict. WEBDESK – Act Global Media The United States and Iran launched indirect negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday to revive efforts to resolve their decades-long nuclear dispute, even as both sides signaled readiness for escalation and regional tensions intensified. The talks, mediated by Oman, bring together U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Diplomats say expectations of a breakthrough remain low, with fundamental disagreements…

The U.S. trio dubbed the “Blade Angels” is transforming women’s figure skating at the Milan Games, blending athletic power, bold personalities, and individuality while challenging the sport’s traditional ice-princess image. WEBDESK – Act Global Media The new faces of American women’s figure skating are rewriting decades of tradition, and they’re doing it on their own terms. At the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, the trio of Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito has embraced the nickname “Blade Angels,” presenting a bold, modern identity far removed from the delicate “ice princess” stereotype that once defined the sport. Power, personality and individuality Amber…

Turkey has hinted it may reconsider its stance on nuclear weapons if a regional arms race begins, with officials warning that shifting alliances and security doubts could reshape Ankara’s long-standing policy. WEBDESK – Act Global Media Turkey’s foreign minister has sparked fresh debate across the Middle East and Europe after suggesting Ankara could reconsider its long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons if the regional balance of power changes. In an interview with CNN Turk on February 9, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that a nuclear arms race in the region could eventually force Turkey to review its position, though he stopped…

Cryptocurrency is increasingly being used by global human trafficking networks, with payments tied to the crime jumping 85% in 2025, according to a new report. Investigators say organized groups are using messaging apps and stablecoins to recruit victims, run scam compounds and sell illicit services across continents — turning crypto into a fast-growing tool for exploitation. WEBDESK – Act Global Media Cryptocurrency is rapidly becoming a key financial tool for human trafficking syndicates worldwide, with blockchain data revealing a sharp rise in illicit payments and increasingly organized criminal operations, according to a new report by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. The…

Maya Hawke and musician Christian Lee Hutson tie the knot in a Valentine’s Day ceremony in New York, with parents Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke and “Stranger Things” co-stars among guests. WEBDESK – Act Global Media Actor-musician Maya Hawke married singer-songwriter Christian Lee Hutson on Valentine’s Day in an intimate but star-studded ceremony in New York City. The wedding took place at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, where Hawke’s father, Ethan Hawke, walked her down the aisle, while her mother, Uma Thurman, attended wearing a light blue floral outfit. Several of Hawke’s co-stars from the TV show Stranger Things…

Barack Obama breaks the silence after a deleted Trump social media video depicted him as a monkey, warning that political discourse has lost shame and respect in the US. WEBDESK – Act Global Media Former US president Barack Obama has spoken publicly for the first time after a controversial social media post shared by Donald Trump depicted him and former first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys, calling the moment evidence of a collapse in political decency. The AI-generated video, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account during a late night stream of election conspiracy content, sparked bipartisan criticism before being deleted.…