Central News Hub

Month: September 2022

  • Tehran an exciting learning experience for Manushi

    Tehran an exciting learning experience for Manushi

    She is glad that she got to dabble in very different types of films. “With a historical (Samrat Prithviraj) and now this, I have got to taste two very different genres. More to look forward to,” she said…reports Asian Lite News

    Former Miss World and Bollywood actress Manushi Chhillar, who made her debut with ‘Samrat Prithviraj’, has been signed with John Abraham for ‘Tehran’, a film inspired by true events. The project is proving to be a great learning experience for the actress.

    Talking about her experience on the project so far, Manushi said: “‘Tehran’ has been an exciting learning experience for me. I love how differently I get to showcase myself as an actor.”

    She is living every moment of her journey as a growing actress, adding further: “Since my career in cinema has just begun, every day feels like my first day on set. There is so much to absorb and take mental notes of.”

    She is glad that she got to dabble in very different types of films. “With a historical (Samrat Prithviraj) and now this, I have got to taste two very different genres. More to look forward to,” she said.

    A Maddock Films production in association with Bake My Cake Films, ‘Tehran’ is directed by Arun Gopalan, written by Ritesh Shah and Ashish Prakash Verma, produced by Dinesh Vijan, Shobhna Yadav and Sandeep Leyzell.

    ALSO READ-Manushi joins team ‘Tehran’

  • ‘Ancestral Threads’ : Honouring every single facet of nature

    ‘Ancestral Threads’ : Honouring every single facet of nature

    The company was founded by designer Vaishali S because of her passion for traditional Indian textiles…reports Asian Lite News

    In July 2021, Indian fashion designer Vaishali S made her international debut at the Paris Haute Couture Week. This year, she returns to Milan Fashion Week to debut her collection, “Ancestral Threads”.

    In this collection, Vaishali’s distinctive sense of style highlights pret-a-porter clothing. She uses a variety of fabrics and supplies for the collection, including pricey West Bengali silks and lavish silks from Maheshwar and Karnataka, to create her trademark cording technique.

    Her inspiration acts as the collection’s muse, transcending space and time. In “Ancestral Threads,” she goes into further detail on her ongoing love of nature and its importance in our lives.

    According to the designer, it honours every single facet of nature, from the “hot summer tones” to the “timeless whites and off-whites.” The brand’s dedication to sustainability, with a focus on technological traceability, is evident in every product in the portfolio.

    The company was founded by designer Vaishali S because of her passion for traditional Indian textiles. It has been working since July 2001 to create a common design language for the Indian handloom weave. Brands from all over the world have been looking for Indian artisans for the past 4,000 years, and Vaishali is now giving handloom weavers an international platform.

    Speaking about her collection, Vaishali S. said, “I am happy that with my design I am finally putting back our precious Indian hand weaves to the platform they deserve. Doing this through sustainability and zero waste, enhanced by technology is just giving further voice to our homegrown strengths.”

    She has various honours and recognitions to her name, including Membre Invite at Paris Haute Couture in July 2021. She has already won three times as the Indian Designer of the Year, the Best Trending in NYFW, and the Edida Award.

    The show will take place on September 23, 2022, at 4 PM CET, (7:30 PM IST) at the Palazzo Giureconsulti on Milan’s extremely popular Piazza Mercanti 2. The exhibition will also be live-streamed on Vaishali S Couture’s (@vaishalisstudio) official Instagram account.

    ALSO READ-Sacha Jafri focuses on the process of creation

  • Mindful practices into your everyday routine

    Mindful practices into your everyday routine

    Among many other formal meditation techniques, there are those that emphasise breathing awareness, compassion or kindness, or the use of mantras or other specific words or phrases. Every meditation technique is built on the simple act of becoming aware of the present moment…reports SHEELA KRISHNASWAMY

    The 12th of September is recognised as Mindfulness Day, with the goal of educating people about the benefits and worth of practising mindfulness as well as how to do so. Research has proven that mindfulness training reduces stress. With mindfulness-based therapy, it may be feasible to change the affective and cognitive processes that are at the root of a number of clinical disorders.

    There are many ways to include mindful practises into your everyday routine; here are three:

    Mindful snacking:

    According to studies, mindfulness therapies are being used more frequently to treat obesity in the hopes that these techniques may encourage behavioural change and boost weight loss. You could notice yourself snacking excessively or stress eating on occasion while working or watching online entertainment. When you eat, it’s crucial to be in the present. Put your current activities aside and concentrate on your meal. You might also include nutritious snacks in your diet, such as almonds. A handful of almonds may have satiating qualities that encourage a feeling of fullness, which may prevent hunger between meals.

    It’s crucial to have nutritious snacks on hand, like almonds, during evening snack time or when watching movies, to help you resist the impulse to eat junk food. The secret is to keep your cupboard with a variety of healthy snacks, such as almonds, seasonal fresh fruits, popcorn kernels, makhana, and other healthy foods. Habits are difficult to break, so be patient with yourself.

    Why healthy eating is important.

    Mindful meditation:

    Among many other formal meditation techniques, there are those that emphasise breathing awareness, compassion or kindness, or the use of mantras or other specific words or phrases. Every meditation technique is built on the simple act of becoming aware of the present moment.

    Being aware of what is happening in the present moment is necessary for being able to see what is arising and what is fading. We find that by doing this and by letting thoughts to flow and go without attachment or trying to hold onto them, serenity and stillness arrive. We gradually grow to know our own minds and become aware of the frequent thought patterns we have. As a novice, you can start your meditation practise by sitting on the bed and focusing solely on your breath for 10 minutes each day. You would benefit more from the assistance of a qualified meditation teacher.

    Five Bodyweight exercises for full body strength training and conditioning(IANSLIFE)

    Mindful exercise:

    Yoga has been demonstrated in tests to be more beneficial than non-mindful exercises for reducing the symptoms of anxiety. It has been suggested that yoga might be used as a basic healthcare intervention to help patients cope with anxiety. We all struggle with anxiety and stress on a daily basis. Given the uncertainty of the world around us and the constant change in our surroundings, it may be quite challenging to maintain a calm frame of mind.

    Exercise that combines a mental and physical component is known as mindful exercise. It usually entails light to moderate physical exertion while simultaneously focusing the mind on breathing and meditation. Qigong, yoga, and tai chi are a few common mindful workouts. Exercise with awareness at least three times per week.

    ALSO READ-Goan Bolinhas : Best tea time treat for sweet lovers

  • Feel good books from female authors

    Feel good books from female authors

    Whether you’re looking for a book that makes you feel good or teaches you something new, these 5 authors should definitely be on your list!

    Sally Rooney

    Sally Rooney is famously known for Conversations with Friends, Normal People (also adapted into a show) and Beautiful World, Where Are You? She is an author who builds her characters really well. Each of the books take you through a conversational narrative. Her writing style is very different; however, the prose makes you want to read the entire book in one sitting. She writes about characters who are extremely relatable and have the same struggles millennials go through. Whether it’s dealing with your sexuality, your place in the world or simply balancing your personal and professional life, Rooney seamlessly weaves a storyline between characters.

    Must Read: Beautiful World, Where Are You?

    Colleen Hoover

    Every millennial who reads has definitely heard of Colleen Hoover, if not obsessed over her books, especially the sensational It Ends with Us. Hooven has a penchant for easing you into a romantic story and slowly peeling the character’s layer one by one until you’re consumed by their history. Every novel is a different one with a dark twist to it. Her books are emotional, mysterious and heartbreakingly unputdownable.

    Must Read: It Ends with Us, November 9

    Jhumpa Lahiri

    Jhumpa Larini is surely the name that comes to mind when you think about an author who writes in multiple languages. Lahiri’s work can be found in both the English and Italian languages. Lahiri is one writer who simply just doesn’t write for the reader but for herself too. She believes in immersing herself completely into the language to understand it, adapt it and fall in love with it. She talks about the idea of language and her relationship to it. It’s a very interesting concept she sheds light on, a question she’s been answering for years, “What makes a language your own?” If you’re someone who likes to read translated texts, adapted while keeping the essence of the meaning intact, her books are definitely worth exploring.

    Must Read: Translating Myself and Others

    Michelle Zauner

    Crying in H Mart is Michelle’s debut memoir. She beautifully writes about relationships, grief and identity. A constant battle we all struggle with; she pens it down and makes the story relatable. For someone who is looking for solace in a book, Crying in H Mart is an ideal memoir to read. Using sensory experiences, the book takes you through her journey and makes you feel like you’re a part of it.

    Must Read: Crying in H Mart

    Emily Henry

    An author who is slowly making her way into every reader’s bookshelf, Emily Henry is a contemporary fiction author. Her romance novels are the perfect travel books. They’re heart-felt, romantic and have a depth to them. What sets Emily Henry’s novels apart from other rom-coms is that her characters aren’t just looking for love, they’re always on the lookout for something more but happen to fall in love. And while these characters are on their journeys to be better versions of themselves, love helps them achieve that.

    ALSO READ-Let your kids fly beyond textbooks

  • ‘2.3 lakh Chinese persuaded to return from abroad’

    ‘2.3 lakh Chinese persuaded to return from abroad’

    China has designated nine countries as having serious fraud, telecom fraud and web crimes, and Chinese nationals are no longer allowed to stay in those countries without any good reason…reports Asian Lite News

    A damning report released this month revealed the extent of the Chinese police’s expanding global policing toolkit that claims to counter global telecom and online fraud but instead hunts down political dissidents and corrupt officials using illegal methods that circumvent official international cooperation mechanisms and international laws.

    Faced with a growing issue of fraud and telecommunication fraud by Chinese nationals living abroad, China claims 230,000 suspects of fraud and telecom fraud were successfully “persuaded to return” to China from April 2021 to July 2022, according to a report released by Madrid based group Safeguard Defenders.

    The report reveals how official statements detail the use of depriving suspects’ children of the right to education back in China and other actions against relatives and family members in a full-on “guilt by association” campaign.

    China has designated nine countries as having serious fraud, telecom fraud and web crimes, and Chinese nationals are no longer allowed to stay in those countries without any good reason, the report said.

    According to the Madrid-based group, rapidly emerging evidence points to extensive online campaigns and “Overseas Police Service Stations” being used in these operations on five continents, often using local “Chinese Overseas Home Associations” linked to the CCP’s United These operations eschew official bilateral police and judicial cooperation. It also violates the international rule of law, and may violate the territorial integrity of third countries involved in setting up a parallel policing mechanism using illegal methods, the report said.

    Writing for The Globe and Mail newspaper, columnist Charles Burton said, “Chinese police setting up offices in Canada, then persuading alleged criminals to return to the motherland to face justice – while our own government and security services apparently choose to look the other way – represents a gross violation of Canada’s national sovereignty, international law and the norms of diplomacy.”

    Burton, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, said China is extending the grip of its Orwellian police state into this country, with seemingly no worry about being confronted by our own national security agencies.

    “Beijing describes these global police outposts as administrative centres to help Chinese nationals renew driver’s licences and other domestic banalities back home. But the Safeguard Defenders study found that they also hunt down political dissidents, corrupt officials or rogue Chinese alleged criminals and urge them to return home,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of Canada, Burton said “the more we ignore reports of China’s growing presence in Canada – including its interference in our electoral process, its potential espionage in our universities and research institutes, and so on – the more emboldened and manipulative Chinese agents become.”

    “With no sign that it will be held accountable, China will only increase the size and threat of its operations, because it can,” he argued. (ANI)Front Work.

    ALSO READ: China’s penchant for nuclear modernisation ambitions

  • Tripura, Meghalaya seek to reopen ‘Border Haats’

    Tripura, Meghalaya seek to reopen ‘Border Haats’

    Officials in Shillong said that while the “Border Haat” at Balat in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya was recently reopened, the “Border Haat” at Kalaichar in South West Garo Hills district is yet to re-open…reports Asian Lite News

    The Tripura and Meghalaya governments have urged both India and Bangladesh to reopen the “Border Haats” (markets) to promote the local business and livelihood of the people living on either side of the border.

    The four “Border Haats”, two each in Tripura and Meghalaya, have remained closed since March 2020 after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown, causing “immense loss” to the people living in the bordering villages.

    Officials of the Tripura Industries and Commerce Department said that the district administration officials of the state’s Sepahijala and South Tripura districts have on a number of occasions approached their Bangladesh counterparts to reopen the “Border Haats” as the Covid-19 induced situation has been largely tamed.

    “Bangladesh district officials said that the concerned government ministries in Dhaka were yet to allow them to reopen the markets,” officials told.

    In Meghalaya, the East Khasi Hills and South West Garo Hills district officials also approached their counterparts in Bangladesh to reopen the “Border Haats”.

    Officials in Shillong said that while the “Border Haat” at Balat in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya was recently reopened, the “Border Haat” at Kalaichar in South West Garo Hills district is yet to re-open.

    Jaipur-based think tank CUTS International, which has done several studies on the border trade, had also recommended to the Indian government to resume these border markets maintaining necessary precautions against Covid-19, including social distancing as these markets boost the economy, cement ties between the people of the two countries and also check illegal trade.

    CUTS International Executive Director Bipul Chatterjee said that reopening of the “Border Haat” would help local stakeholders on both sides of the border to regain their livelihood and can act as a significant contributor to the post-Covid recovery of the local economy in these border areas.

    Citing the local haat management committee’s records, Chatterjee told IANS that just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the combined annual trade value of Balat and Kalaichar “Border Haats” was nearly Rs 546 million and that in Kamalasagar (Sepahijala district) and Srinagar (South Tripura district) the trade in “Border Haats” in Tripura was Rs 148 million per year.

    “That’s huge for these local economies and they have significant multiplier effects as that money is usually circulated among the local communities,” he pointed out.

    Over the last decade, 10 “Border Haats” were established or approved along the India-Bangladesh border at Tripura and Meghalaya. Out of them, six are in Meghalaya, and four in Tripura.

    ALSO READ-Big jolt to BJP in Tripura


  • Ishaq Dar becomes Pakistan’s new Finance Minister

    Ishaq Dar becomes Pakistan’s new Finance Minister

    In an interaction with the media before taking the oath, Dar said that Pakistan is facing challenges on the economic front and he will make his best efforts to overcome them…reports Asian Lite News

    Pakistani parliamentarian Ishaq Dar on Wednesday took oath as the 42nd Finance Minister of the country, a day after he was sworn in as a Senator.

    In a ceremony held in the President’s House, President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Dar, reports Xinhua news agency.

    Dar replaced his own party, PML-N, leader Miftah Ismail, who tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif after serving office for five months.

    In an interaction with the media before taking the oath, Dar said that Pakistan is facing challenges on the economic front and he will make his best efforts to overcome them.

    Dar, who had served as Finance Minister thrice before, was nominated by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and the Prime Minister to the post during a meeting on Sunday.

    He arrived in Pakistan on Monday night after being in a self-imposed exile for nearly five years.

    ALSO READ: UN concerned over disease outbreak in flood-hit Pakistan

  • Xi’s public appearance ends coup rumours

    Xi’s public appearance ends coup rumours

    Xi had not been seen in public since returning to Beijing from the summit on September 16…reports Asian Lite News

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first public appearance since returning from a trip to Uzbekistan where he attended the 22nd SCO Summit, quashing unfounded rumoUrs of a “coup” that sparked a frenzy of speculation ahead of a key Communist Party meeting.

    Xi on Tuesday visited an exhibition in Beijing showcasing China’s achievements over his decade in power, CNN reported citing the state broadcaster CCTV.

    On the network’s flagship evening newscast, the President was seen wearing a face mask and viewing displays at the Beijing Exhibition Hall, where photos of himself featured heavily.

    He was accompanied by Premier Li Keqiang and other top leaders, including all members of the party’s supreme Politburo Standing Committee, CNN reported.

    Xi had not been seen in public since returning to Beijing from the summit on September 16.

    The visit was his first foreign trip in nearly 1,000 days since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    His absence gave rise to a swirl of online rumours, which claimed, without evidence, that he had been overthrown in a military coup and placed under house arrest, CNN reported.

    The unsubstantiated rumours were further fueled by claims of mass flight cancellations, a common occurrence under China’s zero-Covid restrictions, and unverified videos of military vehicles on the road.

    The wild speculation, which originated from Chinese dissident networks before being picked up and amplified by Indian media, was so intense that the hashtag “chinacoup” was trending on Twitter over the weekend.

    That the rumour was able to spread so quickly is in no small part due to the highly opaque nature of the Chinese political system, in which important decisions are mostly made behind closed doors.

    The absence of information means that even veteran observers of elite Chinese politics maintain a “never say never” approach, noting that while an occurrence such as a coup remains highly improbable, it’s impossible to know for sure what is really going on.

    On this occasion, most were quick to point to the total lack of credible evidence supporting the supposed ‘coup’, CNN reported.

    Instead, they noted that Xi was likely following his own quarantine rules and remaining in self-isolation after returning from abroad.

    Even as the rest of the world has learned to live with the virus, China is sticking to a stringent zero-Covid policy favoured by Xi.

    The Chinese border is still largely closed, with all international arrivals required to undergo seven days of hotel quarantine, followed by three days of home isolation.

    ALSO READ: China’s penchant for nuclear modernisation ambitions

  • UN Women backs women’s right in Iran

    UN Women backs women’s right in Iran

    “We reiterate our expression of condolences to the family of Mahsa Amini. We remain steadfast in upholding the rights of women and girls in every part of the world,” the UN Women said…reports Asian Lite News

    In recent days Iran has seen deep public unrest, with demonstrations and protests taking place in some 80 cities, triggered by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained by authorities in Tehran on September 13 and died, while in custody, three days later.

    In a statement on Wednesday, the New York-headquartered UN Women said that “it stands with the women of Iran in their rightful demands to protest injustice without reprisal, and to be free to exercise their bodily autonomy, including their choice of dress; and also supports them in seeking accountability, and the upholding of their basic human rights as stipulated in the Charter of the UN”.

    Iran will restrict Internet access in country until calm is restored to streets

    “We call on relevant authorities to support and enable the expression of their full human rights in a safe environment without fear of violence, prosecution, or persecution.

    “We align with the remarks by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the need to ensure the rights to due process and release for all women who have been arbitrarily detained and with the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, in the call for the Iranian authorities to hold an independent, impartial, and prompt investigation into Ms Amini’s death, to make the findings of the investigation public and to hold all perpetrators accountable.

    “We reiterate our expression of condolences to the family of Mahsa Amini. We remain steadfast in upholding the rights of women and girls in every part of the world,” the UN Women added.

    According to the Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norway-based organisation, at least 76 protesters have been killed by Iranian security forces in the 11 days of unrest across the country against Amini’s death.

    The organisation also said that hundreds of people have also been arrested, including 20 journalists.

    The anti-government demonstrations have spread to more than 80 cities and towns across Iran since Amini’s funeral on September 17.

    ALSO READ: Iran summons British envoy amid anti-govt protests

  • Audio leak: Pak agencies still in dark over dark web claims

    Audio leak: Pak agencies still in dark over dark web claims

    Surveillance of key public office holders is done in many countries but here a very heavy amount of audio recording has either been hacked or bugged by some outsider…reports Asian Lite News

    The Pakistan government and relevant agencies still remain clueless about the dark webs claim of the volume of the Prime Minister Office’s audio data, bugged or hacked, it possesses and whether or not the web will release the data on Friday morning.

    The agencies concerned have though taken necessary measures to prevent it in future, there is no confirmation about the level of damage already done, The News reported.

    It is, however, a case of serious lapse of cyber security where the top-most executive office of the country has been spied on.

    Surveillance of key public office holders is done in many countries but here a very heavy amount of audio recording has either been hacked or bugged by some outsider. Intelligence sources insist that the kind of world we live in, 100 per cent cyber security in such matters cannot be ensured.

    However, there is no explanation or clue as yet available how the tapping of the PM House has been done for months despite the fact that the sweeping of the Chief Executive’s office, meeting rooms, etc, is done regularly.

    It is admitted that what has already happened cannot be undone but for future, all corrective measures are being taken.

    It is also said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed by the Intelligence Bureau some 10 days back about the hacking/ bugging, which surfaced a few days ago, The News reported.

    Recently, a social media post read: “In a major cyber attack on the PM Office a 100 hour conversation of PM and cabinet members has been leaked to an international hacker website. The hacker has asked for $345,000 for a detailed record that is about 8 GB, the conversations include political, economic and security related issues.”

    Intelligence sources are though not sure about the credibility of these claims, the concerned dark web on Tuesday said that it will release the data on Friday next.

    “For undisclosed reasons, I will be releasing ALL files this Friday (09/30).” It added no more negotiation and offers (to sell the data) will be accepted.

    Regarding the nature of data, the dark web claimed: “1) Audios include interaction with journalists. 2) Audios include conversations with government officers. 3) Audios include conversations with the premier military personnel. 4) Audios include conversations with the premier military head. 5) Audios include personal and governmental dealings. 6) Audios include interactions between the first family, and extended families. 7) Audios may include conversations of incriminating nature. 8) Audios may include conversations with serving judicial appointees. 9) Audios include engagements with foreign dignitaries. 10) Audios include directions/ orders by personnel involved.

    “Hopefully this release will bring betterment to Pakistan.”

    ALSO READ: Audio leaks put Pakistan’s prestige at stake: Shehbaz