The launch of the project at the Ream Naval Base, which Cambodian officials said will use aid from China to renovate the port, comes amid Western concerns…reports Asian Lite News
Aiming to establish control and authority over global politics, China’s upcoming naval base in Cambodia could be the latest example of establishing and fulfilling Beijing’s hegemonic interests in Southeast Asia.
Both China and Cambodia took the first steps on a Beijing-funded upgrade of the Ream Naval Base in the southern part of the country.
The launch of the project at the Ream Naval Base, which Cambodian officials said will use aid from China to renovate the port, comes amid Western concerns that Beijing is seeking a military outpost at the Gulf of Thailand facility, CNN reported.
Jakarta Post reported that the key factors behind China’s choice of Cambodia are the political background of good relations with the non-democratic Hun Sen regime in Cambodia, as well as suitable economic background for Chinese investment and businesses.
The historical background also favours China as the country has border issues with Vietnam- Beijing’s rival in the South China Sea conflict, the Jakarta Post added.
With this, the relations between Cambodia and the United States has also contributed to Chinese concentration to its influence. A recent example of the affected ties of Cambodia-US relations is is the cancellation of the “Angkor Sentinel” joint military exercise in January 2017 by Cambodia, followed by the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in late 2017.
Cambodia-Vietnam relations were also affected due to Chinese intervention, as per The Jakarta Post.
China is Cambodia’s largest source of imports, accounting for 31 per cent of total imports in 2020. On the other hand, the US is Cambodia’s largest export source, accounting for 25.2 per cent of all exports in the same year, as per The Jakarta Post.
Cambodia’s deterioration in relations with the US, and further economic sanctions, and export restrictions by Washington will cause the Cambodian economy to crumble, which in turn further strengthens the control of Chinese investing parties over the resources of Cambodia and under the pretext of securing the Chinese investment more and more bases will come up in Cambodia to further fuel the tensions in the South China Sea and crush the sovereignty of ASEAN countries, the report added. (ANI)
Since some kinds of jobs, like those in agriculture, are seasonal in nature, unemployment rate comparisons are best made for the same quarter across years…reports Asian Lite News
India’s urban unemployment rate improved remarkably in the April-June quarter, revealed the National Statistical Office.
It dipped to 7.6 per cent during the April-June quarter from 12.6 per cent during the corresponding quarter a year ago. It is a clear indication that the country’s economy is coming out the grip of Covid-induced slowdown.
India’s urban unemployment rate improved across genders and age groups to its best-ever level in the quarter ending June 2022.
India’s headline urban unemployment rate was 7.6 per cent in the quarter ending June, compared to 8.2 per cent in the quarter ending March, 12.7 per cent in the June quarter of 2021-22, and 8.9 per cent in the June quarter of 2019-20.
Joblessness was high in April-June 2021 mainly due to the staggering impact of Covid-related restrictions in the country.
The 15th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) showed that the unemployment rate among females (aged 15 years and above) in urban areas declined to 9.5 per cent in April-June, 2022 from 14.3 per cent a year ago. It was 10.1 per cent in January-March, 2022.
Among males, the unemployment rate in urban areas dipped to 7.1 per cent in April-June 2022 compared to 12.2 per cent a year ago. It was 7.7 per cent in January-March 2022.
Since some kinds of jobs, like those in agriculture, are seasonal in nature, unemployment rate comparisons are best made for the same quarter across years.
However, the remarkable improvement in this rate can be seen from the fact that it is the lowest rate since the quarter ending June 2018, the first quarter for which the quarterly bulletins have data, revealed media reports.
That the improvement in unemployment rate was not lopsided can be seen from the fact that it improved across groups. The quarterly bulletin gives a breakup of unemployment rate by gender and by three age groups: all ages, 15-29 years, and 15 years and above.
Unemployment rates for all these groups was the best in the quarter ending June, media reports said.
Similarly, at 37.2 per cent, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) – or the share of population working or seeking work – in the first quarter of the current financial year was the highest for this quarter for any year since 2018-19 and 10 basis points (100th of a percentage point) higher than in the first quarter of last year.
While LFPR was not at its best level in the quarterly bulletin’s history like the unemployment rate, it is enough for it to be best for the June quarter because of the seasonality factor.
The broad industry-wise breakup of workers further showed that employment prospects also improved. The share of workers in agriculture, secondary sector (which includes sectors like manufacturing and mining), and tertiary sector (comprises services) was 5.7 per cent, 34 per cent and 60.3 per cent, respectively.
The share in agriculture is an improvement over the June quarters of FY 2021-22 and FY 2020-21, both affected by lockdowns, but not over FY 2019-20, when only 4.9 per cent were in agriculture.
The share in tertiary sector was similarly a higher 62 per cent in FY 2019-20, a clear sign that though people are seeking and finding jobs with the pandemic under control, they may not be earning as much as they did before the pandemic. These signs will be confirmed or rejected when the unit-level data becomes available, the report stated.
Labour force refers to the part of the population which supplies or offers to supply labour for pursuing economic activities for the production of goods and services and, therefore, includes both employed and unemployed persons.
The NSO launched PLFS in April 2017. On the basis of PLFS, a quarterly bulletin is brought out giving estimates of labour force indicators namely unemployment rate, worker population ratio (WPR), labour force participation rate (LFPR), distribution of workers by broad status in employment and industry of work in Current Weekly Status.
Wooden cutlery is much more environmentally friendly than you might realize. We are all aware of how long-lasting and sustainable wooden products are…reports N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
Consider all the single-use plastic you employ in your kitchen. A majority of it is disposed of in landfills, which affect the environment by releasing methane into the atmosphere. Fortunately, many of these items are simple to swap out. There are numerous things that can be substituted, repurposed, or ethically recycled, ranging from eco-friendly cleaning supplies to biodegradable garbage bags.
Priyanka Kheruka, the Brand Head-Borosil Ltd shares with a few of her favorite zero-waste kitchen products that won’t wind up in a landfill when it’s time to replace them with new ones if you want to reduce the number of single-use items in your kitchen.
CLOTH/PAPER BAGS
Do you see how the grocery store has those long rolls of thin plastic bags in the produce section? You don’t need them. It makes sense to always carry a reusable cloth or paper bag when purchasing fresh produce to avoid stocking your kitchen with plastic bags and dramatically reduce the amount of plastic trash. Moreover, cloth and paper bags are also breathable, which is a plus for your produce.
REPLACE HARSH CHEMICALS WITH SUSTAINABLE CLEANING PRODUCTS
While it can seem like using harsh chemicals to keep your kitchen clean and prevent contaminations and infections is the greatest option, their eco-friendly alternatives are superior for a variety of clear reasons! The environmentally friendly cleaners work just as well using ingredients you can easily find in your kitchens, such as lemon, vinegar, and baking soda.
BIODEGRADABLE TRASH BAGS
We are all now aware of the severe effects that single-use plastic bags have on the environment. However, even though single-use plastic trash bags have a similar environmental impact, we don’t generally bring them up in the discourse and even though changing from plastic to compostable or biodegradable garbage bags may seem difficult, doing so can reduce waste and the overall demand for plastic products. They are also non-toxic and break down over time when in contact with sunlight and soil.
SWAP PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR GLASS CONTAINERS
Switching out your plastic containers for glass ones is one of the best zero-waste kitchen storage solutions. In choosing glass jars over alternatives made of single-use plastic, you also get the extra benefits of making an investment and using the product for many years. Moreover, glass containers guarantee that the food items preserve their flavor and taste because they have zero chemical reactions or germ absorption.
REUSABLE METAL STRAWS
Most single-use straws are too light to be picked up by a mechanical recycling sorter, which results in them being discarded as waste and increases the likelihood that they will wind up in the ocean. One of the simplest swaps one can make is moving to metal, reusable straws. Additionally, they produce no waste and are very portable. These stainless-steel straws are rust-proof, non-toxic, and of the highest quality. Since there is no need to buy single-use straws, metal straws are also less expensive.
TRY WOODEN CUTLERY
Wooden cutlery is much more environmentally friendly than you might realize. We are all aware of how long-lasting and sustainable wooden products are. As a result, they demonstrate value for the economy, human health, and society as well as the environment. There is disposable and biodegradable wooden cutlery available. Therefore, using wooden cutlery can benefit both the environment and society.
Every day, several fresh products and materials are introduced to the market. It’s never too late to begin your path to sustainability from your kitchen and contribute to the improvement of our environment.
Sugar Cosmetics began as a direct-to-consumer brand in 2015, but quickly expanded into the offline market in 2017. Today, the brand generates annual sales of more than INR 550+ crores and has a physical presence with 45,000+ retail touch points in 550+ cities…reports Asian Lite News
Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh invest in SUGAR Cosmetics, a leading omnichannel beauty company among Gen Z and Millennial consumers. This collaboration expected to solidify Sugar’s fan favourite status and open up new channels for customer acquisition, particularly among Gen Z and millennial audiences in India.
Excited about this new partnership, Ranveer Singh added, “Defying the conventional has been embedded in my DNA and I take pride in partnering with a brand that believes in empowering women. I have admired Sugar’s ability to build a tremendous fan-following over the years and I’m excited to be a part of this journey and help the brand achieve its mission of providing Indian women access to premium & quality makeup products specially formulated for them.”
Commenting on the announcement, Vineeta Singh, Cofounder and CEO, Sugar Cosmetics said, “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ranveer to the family. The brand is the makeup of choice for bold, independent women who refuse to be stereotyped into roles and if someone shares the same DNA as ours, it is Ranveer! His personality of being bold, quirky, and vibrant makes the partnership a natural fit.”
“We are delighted to have Ranveer on board as we look forward to reinforcing our brand connect with consumers. He is undoubtedly one of the most popular youth icons in the country and his unstoppable and clutter-breaking personality fits very well with the brand ethos of Sugar. This will help supercharge our growth trajectory as we continue scaling the brand aggressively to build it into a large and much-loved makeup & beauty brand” said Kaushik Mukherjee its Cofounder & COO.
Sugar Cosmetics began as a direct-to-consumer brand in 2015, but quickly expanded into the offline market in 2017. Today, the brand generates annual sales of more than INR 550+ crores and has a physical presence with 45,000+ retail touch points in 550+ cities.
Ranveer’s investment comes on the heels of a $50 million Series D fundraise led by L Catterton’s Asia fund, the world’s largest consumer-focused private equity firm. Multiple private equity funds expressed strong interest in the expanded round, with existing investors A91 Partners, Elevation Capital, and India Quotient continuing to participate.
Industry tracker Naganathan too tweeted that ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ had emerged as the first Rs 30 crore share movie for Dhanush in Tamil Nadu…reports Asian Lite News
If sources in the industry are to be believed, director Mithran R Jawahar’s recently released film, ‘Thiruchitrambalam’, featuring Dhanush in the lead, has entered the coveted club of films that have grossed a whopping Rs 100 crores or more worldwide.
On Tuesday, industry tracker Rajasekar tweeted, “Dhanush K Raja enters into the coveted 100 crore worldwide gross club, his first Tamil film to reach this milestone. This is just the beginning. PS: it’s not easy to score a 100-crore gross with a feel-good film made on a reasonable budget! Fantastic!”
Industry tracker Naganathan too tweeted that ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ had emerged as the first Rs 30 crore share movie for Dhanush in Tamil Nadu.
He said that the film had emerged a blockbuster.
Another industry tracker Ramesh Bala tweeted that ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ had grossed $453,918 till Sunday (Sep 4) at the US box office and that the film had during the same period grossed A$236,334 at the Australian box office.
Meanwhile, Dhanush silently dropped a hint about the plot of his upcoming film, ‘Naane Varuven’, which has been directed by his elder brother Selvaraghavan.
In Tamil, Dhanush tweeted, “Orey oru oorukkulae rendu raaja irundaaram. Oru raja nallavaram, oru raja kettavaram” (In one kingdom, there were two kings. One was a good king and the other was a bad king). The actor also disclosed that the first single from the film would release on Wednesday.
The expected meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit would be the first face-to-face between the two leaders…reports Asian Lite News
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet on the sidelines of a summit in Uzbekistan next week, CNN reported citing Russian media.
The expected meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit would be the first face-to-face between the two leaders.
Notably, it would also be the first overseas trip for Xi since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, a top Chinese leader Li Zhanshu became the highest ranking official to leave China when he arrived in Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum.
Russia and China have emerged as closer partners in recent years as both face tensions with the West. The latest telephonic exchange between the Chinese President and the Russian President on June 15 highlights the growing ties between the two countries in the wake up of the Ukraine conflict.
By calling up Putin and assuring him of further development of economic, military, and defense ties between the two countries at a time when the Russian presence in Ukraine is not showing any sign of ending, Xi has not only totally ignored the Western warnings but he has also put to rest speculations that the image of China moving too close to Russia has been causing concern in Beijing.
The SCO summit will be held from September 15 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The organization is compromised of China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as per CNN. (ANI)
Meanwhile, Rashmika will also be seen in ‘Mission Majnu’ alongside Sidharth Malhotra and in director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s next ‘Animal’ opposite Ranbir Kapoor…reports Asian Lite News
Makers of the upcoming family entertainer film ‘GoodBye’ unveiled the official trailer on Tuesday.
Taking to Instagram, Rashmika Mandanna dropped the trailer of the film, which she captioned, “A part of our #Goodbye baby is now yours… This one is special for so many reasons but for now, I hope you and your family like this..” Helmed by Vikas Bahl, the film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Neena Gupta, Pavail Gulati, Elli AvrRam, Sunil Grover, and Sahil Mehta in prominent roles.
The story of ‘GoodBye’ revolves around self-discovery, the importance of family and the celebration of life in every circumstance beautifully depicted by the Bhalla family. It is a heartwarming story of every Indian family ever that takes the gloomiest period to make sunshine and promises to be closer though a loved one has gone far away.
The film portrays the mayhem of every family dealing with the ups and downs that life throws but it also gently reminds the significance of being there for each other, through it all.
Produced by Ekta Kapoor, the film is all set to hit the theatres on October 7, 2022.
Meanwhile, Rashmika will also be seen in ‘Mission Majnu’ alongside Sidharth Malhotra and in director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s next ‘Animal’ opposite Ranbir Kapoor.
Amitabh, on the other hand, will be next seen in director Sooraj Barjatya’s next family entertainer film ‘Uunchai’ along with Anupam Kher, Parineeti Chopra and Boman Irani, which is all set to hit the theatres on November 11, 2022. (ANI)
Sharjah has identified seven sectors that could power higher levels of foreign investments into the emirate, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Sharjah has identified seven high-potential sectors that are today charting the post-pandemic growth of the emirate, boosting its competitiveness as a knowledge-based economy.
A new report by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), offers key insights into the factors driving high investor confidence in the emirate’s diversified economy and its continued appeal as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) has been hailed by high-level officials in both the public and private sectors of the emirate.
Invest in Sharjah’s “FDI Future Trends and Sector Potential” report, published in collaboration with numerous government departments and private sector entities in the emirate and in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Middle East, outlines the robust business-friendly policies in the emirate, its future-ready infrastructure and high innovation levels as being pivotal to the emirate’s ability to overcome sudden shifts in the financial and economic landscape as witnessed during the pandemic.
The seven vibrant sectors, which include Health & Wellbeing, Mobility & Logistics, Culture & Tourism, Agri-Food Technology, GreenTech, Human Capital & Innovation, and Advanced Manufacturing, have already positioned Sharjah as an attractive FDI destination, according to the report.
Commenting on Sharjah’s strong economic position that is raising the emirate’s global profile and reinforcing its status as a prominent financial and business hub in the region, Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman, Department of Government Relations, said, “Sharjah’s agility and quick responsiveness in implementing innovative strategies to accelerate growth during the pandemic have yielded sustainable results in the form of innovative workflows, development of advanced management tools, adoption of a remote work culture, and led to the scaling up of essential human resources skills, especially for staff of communication and IT departments.”
Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department, said, “Sharjah is working to stimulate various economic sectors, especially the new sectors in the knowledge-based and digital economy, where various sectors are witnessing a large influx of investments.”
He pointed out that the country in general and Sharjah, in particular, are characterised by a stable investment, economic, and political environment that can continue economic growth despite the recessions in the global economy through different periods, with many any factors contribute to this, including the strategic location where it constitutes a promising economic environment, government spending and distinctive free zones that contribute to stimulating foreign direct investment.
Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, commented, “The sustained growth across the emirate during the pandemic facilitated our strong efforts in delivering and keeping pace with Sharjah’s transformation into a unique tourist, cultural and family destination.”
Citing the growing importance of tech-driven services across sectors, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), said, “Sharjah aims to enhance the scope of vocational training, with a clear-cut focus on smart industries. We are also keen on merging technology with education by utilising the potential of various emerging technologies to bring mixed reality applications to learning.”
Outlining potential opportunities to support Sharjah’s clean energy vision, Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, Bee’ah, said, “Innovations in waste management are supporting the emirate’s drive towards a zero-waste and carbon-neutral future and are being implemented through recycling, material recovery using artificial intelligence, and innovative waste-to-energy solutions where a low carbon development pathway is attained by transforming non-recyclable waste into energy.”
Commenting on Sharjah’s thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem that is fuelling the aspirations of changemakers in high-impact sectors, Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), said, “One of our core beliefs at Sheraa is that entrepreneurs are a force for lasting impact and positive change, and this was reinforced during the pandemic. We witnessed start-ups reimagine the world and develop solutions that fuelled the nation’s post-COVID recovery. Start-ups are the backbone of a diversified and resilient economy, and Sharjah is the home of innovative founders creating the jobs of the future.”
Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for the Communication and Business Sector, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), outlined upcoming plans to enhance the scope and reach of the commercial events and activities organised by the entity through a clear-cut marketing strategy. He said, “This strategy aims to open effective communication channels between shopping centres and all stakeholders, including consumers, and will turn the spotlight on the distinctive advantages that make Sharjah one of the most prominent tourist and commercial destinations, regionally and globally.”
Spotlighting innovations in the transport and logistics sector that have positioned Sharjah as an international trade hub, Charles Menkhorst, CEO, Gulftainer, said, “What Sharjah needs now is a smaller high-quality, innovative gateway port for industry-specific cargo capabilities like e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and temperature-controlled goods that are coming into Sharjah and the northern region.”
Today world is talking about sustainability, responsible consumption, circularity, and ethics, but our craft sector has been practicing this for thousands of years…reports Asian Lite News
Chapter Four of India Craft Week (ICW) by Craft Village, a citywide celebration of the greatest craftsmanship, returns from 20 to 23 October 2022 at Okhla NSIC Ground, New Delhi, connecting art, design, and culture. The show will feature organizations, brands, institutions, designers, craftspeople, artisans, craftpreneurs, and makers from India and around the world. Live demos, seminars, cross-talks, installations, galleries, and film screenings are all part of the ICW experience.
This year’s topic is one of life’s most essential components, water. Additionally, it is thought that each craft developed and flourished in areas with access to or near water features, such as lakes or “Dariya.” Few people are aware of the unspoken link that Craft and Water have had ever since civilizations first emerged. This year’s theme emphasizes the value of water as a resource for surviving and existing. A commitment to protect undersea life by conserving water and not polluting it. The underwater realm is significant because of its mystique, surprises, vibrant hues, and natural forms. The largest source of inspiration has been marine life, which is also a powerful metaphor for a world that is beginning to respect the sustainable culture, the “slow life,” and organic goods.
More than 100 craftsmen, producers, craft companies, museums, organizations, and figureheads will attend the show, which is billed as India’s official craft week and the world’s second-largest craft week after London Craft Week.
“Craft has an intrinsic value to make the product conversational. The craft industry struggled greatly during the pandemic, and the artisans went through severe suffering. After the epidemic, India Craft Week was the only physical event last year, which gave artisans what they needed after a long break income, recognition, and orders. The India Craft Week, with a focus on “Good Stories Untold,” aims to bring stories from the craft sector and artisans who need to know and understand it rightly. It is intended to elevate the face of crafts which is still considered low-key.
Today world is talking about sustainability, responsible consumption, circularity, and ethics, but our craft sector has been practicing this for thousands of years. They are innovative, multifunctional, culturally related, sustainable, and have a timeless appeal. India Craft Week aims to connect modern customers, industry, and patrons with craftsmen, in a sense past with the present and future generations” says ItiTyagi, Founder of India Craft Week.
Through its curated experiences, Craft Village’s offspring ICW envision formulating a harmonious ecosystem of craft and the people who make it, connecting them with national and global opportunities. The idea was well received by designers, craft activists, and the social arms of the industry.
India Craft Week creates an ecosystem for weavers and artisanal communities. We too at AadyamHandwoven, a corporate social initiative of the Aditya Birla Group, work actively with weaver communities across India to create a self-sustaining ecosystem for the finest artisans by enabling infrastructure & nourishing their craft and thus impacting their quality of life. We engage with them to create evolved sensibilities for new markets & help them connect with contemporary consumers, and for which a like-minded platform such as ICW is an ideal collaborator at many levels” adds Manish Saksena, Lead, AadyamHandwoven.
This year India Craft Week will host its 5th and 6th edition International Craft Awards together to recognize and celebrate exceptional accomplishments worldwide, reiterating the message presented by the Craft Village team. With participation from more than8-nations, the winners of the Craft Awards would be announced at the event.
Currently a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York, where he has worked since 2007, Subramanian served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court of the United States…reports Asian Lite News
Indian-American attorney Arun Subramanian has been nominated to be US District Judge for the Southern District of New York, media reported.
A communication in this regard was sent to the Senate by the White House and if confirmed by the Senate, Subramanian would be the first South Asian judge to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, news agency PTI reported.
Currently a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York, where he has worked since 2007, Subramanian served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court of the United States from 2006 to 2007 and Judge Gerard E. Lynch on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2005 to 2006.
He also worked as a law clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2004 to 2005.
Subramanian received his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2004 and his B.A. from Case Western Reserve University in 2001.
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) congratulated Subramanian on his nomination, it was reported.
