Asian Lite News Archive

Category: -Top News

  • THE TROUBLE WITH TELESPEAK

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    DAILY DOSE BY Bikram Vohra They came from London to this terrific job in the Gulf and the first day he went to work and his wife called his office and was told by the operator that he wasn’t in his cabin. “Not in his cabin,” she said, ” Not in his cabin, but that’s…

  • India asks UNSC to enforce counter terrorism resolutions

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    India’s UN Ambassador Asoke Kumar Mukerji has asked the UN Security Council (UNSC) to enforce without exception its resolutions on countering terrorism in order to stave off “an ever-widening spiral of violence and destruction”. “The Council must seriously and transparently take measures available to it under the Charter to require member states of implement its…

  • A GOOD NEWS! Exercise is bad for your health…

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    Nury Vittachi in his column Funny Side analyses the other side of exercise  Your narrator met an old friend while practising for a triathlon the other day. That is, he was practising for a triathlon: I’d just taken a taxi to the shop for a second box of donuts. NOT that that means this writer…

  • Obama wishes all Happy Diwali

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      President Barack Obama has in video message wished a Happy Diwali and “Saal Mubarak” to all those who celebrate the festival of lights saying it was a reminder that light will ultimately prevail. Obama, who in 2009 became the first US president to celebrate Diwali at the White House, recalled the “wonderful time” he…

  • NRI appointed to key US security division

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    Indian-American Anita M. Singh has been appointed to a key post in the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD) as part of a restructuring to counter state-sponsored economic espionage and proliferation, including through cyberspace. The strategic changes are designed to put additional focus on the protection of national assets from such threats and to empower…

  • Billion plus celebrate Diwali

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    Dressed up in traditional fineries, residents of the national capital celebrated Diwali by decorating the forecourts of their houses with colourful rangolis, visiting temples, and exchanging sweets and gifts with friends and families. Temples around the city were decked up and were thronged by devotees throughout the day while many visited their near and dear…

  • Golden Temple in festive mood

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      The holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as Golden Temple, was lighted up in festive spirit in this Sikh holy city in Punjab. Fireworks display and millions of lights around the whole complex saw thousands of devotees turning up for the occasion. The day is celebrated in the Sikh religion as ‘Bandi…

  • Sena ready to back BJP-led coalition

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    The Shiv Sena may support a Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Maharashtra, a top Sena leader said here . “The election results indicate that no single party can form the government. However, both (Shiv Sena, BJP) can come together for the purpose. This is the people’s mandate,” Shiv Sena parliamentarian and emissary Anil Desai told…

  • Music therapy reduces depression in children

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    Music therapy reduces depression in children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems, a study found. In the largest ever study of its kind, the researchers from the Queen’s University, Belfast, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust found that children who received music therapy had significantly improved self-esteem and significantly reduced depression…

  • Modi condemns Canada terror attack

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     Prime Minister Narendra Modi  condemned the terror attack on the Canadian parliament and pledged to strengthen cooperation with Ottawa to combat terrorism. “I strongly condemn the attacks on the Canadian military personnel in Quebec and Ottawa and the shooting in the Canadian parliament in Ottawa,” Modi said in a statement released by the external affairs…

  • Aquatic life improves in Ganga

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    The Ganga cleanliness drive is helping improve the river’s aquatic life. Researchers who studied the condition of the river before and after the latest mass cleanliness drive say there have been visible positive results. The study covered Har Ki Pauri, one of the most popular and crowded ghats of the largest river basin in the…

  • Modi marks Diwali in Siachen

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to the icy heights of Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir wrapped in thick woollens where he lauded the armed forces and promised a national memorial for Indian soldiers. The Siachen halt marked the start of a visit on Diwali day to the state where he later met victims of the…

  • Desi Help for ‘Year of the Bus

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    Deven Bhurke, a freelance graphic designer and artist based in Hampshire, has contributed to a major street art project in London to celebrate “Year of the Bus.” The event is to mark 60 years since the first appearance of the iconic Route Master besides the 75 years since the launch of the RT-type bus and 100 years since…

  • Ajay and Sonakshi’s upcoming film ‘Action Jackson’

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    Filmmaker Prabhu Deva, actors Ajay Devgan, Yami Gautam, Manasvi Mamgai and Kunaal Roy Kapur during the trailer launch of film Action Jackson in Mumbai. The much-awaited trailer of Prabhu Deva’s next Action Jackson was finally released yesterday at a multiplex in suburban Mumbai. Ajay Devgn, Yami Gautam, newbie Manasvi Mamgai, Kunaal Roy Kapur and the…

  • Kiran short-listed for top award

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    British-Asian professional Kiran Singh,  Croxley, Watford has been short-listed for the Design & Creative category at the inaugural Asian Professional Awards. Over 4,000 nominations and votes were received this year paying tribute to inspirational individuals from the Asian community that contribute in every conceivable sector of national life. Kiran Singh, a Mumpreneur, born and brought up in Norway,…

  • Toronto Fashion Week Spring 2015

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    Models present creations from Klaxon Howl spring 2015 collection during the World MasterCard Toronto Fashion Week Spring 2015 at David Pecaut Square in Toronto, Canada.

  • India offers help to Hindu Sindhis

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    Hindu Sindhis from Pakistan to get elusive Indian citizenship…reports Mohit Dubey They are Hindu Sindhis who migrated from Pakistan long after partition. Some of them have been around for more than half a century but Indian citizenship has been a distant dream. Now, it is within grasp as the union home ministry has begun tabulating data on…

  • Labour Conveys Diwali Greetings

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    The opposition Labour Party hosted a Diwali reception with Labour Leader Ed Miliband MP at the Conrad Hotel in St James’s Park, London.   There were over 300 people in attendance from various community groups and temples, to celebrate the festival with Mr Miliband. Other senior Labour Party politicians in attendance included Harriet Harman MP,…

  • Cameron Hosts Diwali Reception

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    Diwali celebrations at Number Ten with Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian Diaspora Champion Priti Patel MP   Prominent figures from the Indian community in Britain celebrated Diwali with Prime Minister David Cameron and his UK-India Diaspora Champion Priti Patel at Ten Downing Street . The reception was held in advance of Diwali and celebrated…

  • MY DIWALI DELIGHT

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    Happy Diwali to all readers of Asian Lite ….BIKRAM VOHRA I have received 23 I-cards or E-cards on the net with diyas in them and you’ll be surprised how quickly the novelty of exulting over the same flickering electronic flame wears off. After you have ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over the first two or three and…

  • Dame Asha Bags DN Award

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    Leading educationalist Dame Asha Khemka receives special award from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg Principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College Group, Dame Asha Khemka, has received a special award from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in recognition of her contribution to furthering UK-India relations. Dame Asha was presented with the inaugural Dadabhai Naoroji…

  • Inspirational lives of Nobel laureates

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    Shilpa Raina looks into the inspirational lives of Nobel laureates   A bicycle and a book on mathematics belonging to economist Amartya Sen, a notepad of Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa and a wooden bear that was on the desk of Finnish politician Martti Ahtisaari – these and other personal collectibles of various Nobel laureates…

  • India ready for nuclear no-first-use

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      Reiterating its traditional policy of not using nuclear weapons first and not targeting non-nuclear weapons nations, India has offered to enter into agreements incorporating the two principles while ruling out joining the non-proliferation treaty. “As a responsible nuclear power India has a policy of credible minimum deterrence based on a No First Use posture…

  • Canada terror drama continues

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    Soldier killed in shootout near Canadian parliament, gunman shot dead In an attack that police believe involved more than one gunman in the Canadian capital city, a soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was killed and a security guard in the nearby parliament buildings left wounded Wednesday. “Condolences to family of the soldier…

  • ALL I WANT TO DO TO IS RELAX!

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    DAILY DOSE By Bikram Vohra However, in recent years, I noticed a marked craving for relaxation. It’s almost a fetish. Visualise the hurried executive at work. He looks at his watch, “I’m off”, he says, leaping up. “I have 90 minutes relaxation period now”. “Come on”, he exhorts body, “ree-lax, hurry up”. “I’ve got to…

  • E-business modernising Indian rail travel

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    By Rohit Vaid   Gazing at the far-away tracks searching for signs of train arrivals might bring in nostalgic memories as a host of e-companies are providing everything from tracking minute-by-minute locomotive locations to details of taxi availability or the best deals at hotels to make rail journey in India a more pleasant and less taxing…

  • IAEA confirms Iran’s commitment to n-deal

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    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released a new report confirming Iran’s commitment to an interim nuclear deal it signed with the six world powers last year. The monthly update report by the IAEA indicated that the Iran is continuing to meet its commitments under the interim accord that came into effect in January,…

  • Pistorius given 5-year imprisonment

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    South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was  sentenced by a Pretoria court to five years in jail for the culpable homicide death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius was sentenced at the Pretoria High Court by Judge Thokozile Masipa, the Independent Online reported. On Sep 12, Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide for the Valentine’s Day…

  • BCCI to move court against WICB

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      The Indian cricket board Tuesday decided to initiate legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and cancel all bilateral series against the Caribbean side whose players withdrew mid-way from an ongoing India tour last week. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took the decision at its working committee meet…

  • India closely monitoring ISIS activities: NSA

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      National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in his very first public interaction, said the government is “closely monitoring” the activities of the Al Qaeda and jihadist Islamic State group and if it finds the relationship between the two evolving to harm India then the government would take a “very, very serious view” of it. In…

  • BJP pondering options in Maharashtra

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      The Bharatiya Janata Party appears in no hurry to form the next government in Maharashtra and the process may be initiated only early next week after the Diwali festival is over, party sources said here Tuesday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who as and party observer was expected to arrive in Mumbai along with senior…

  • Manohar lal Khattar is Haryana CM

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    Haryana is all set for a BJP rule for the first time, with Chief Minister-designate Manohar Lal Khattar scheduled to be sworn in Sunday. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki Tuesday invited Khattar, who earlier in the day was elected leader of the Haryana BJP Legislative Party, to form the new government in the state. The…

  • World News In Pictures

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  • Israeli settlers occupy homes in east Jerusalem

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    A large number of Israeli settlers took over two buildings in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan in east Jerusalem overnight , Israel Radio reported. The buildings, which contain nine apartments, were allegedly seized by members of Ateret Cohanim, a far-right Jewish organisation dedicated to moving as many Jews as possible to the Palestinian neighbourhoods of…

  • WHO declares Nigeria officially Ebola-free

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    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Monday officially declared Nigeria Ebola-free , after no new cases were confirmed in the past 42 days, even as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) appealed to the donor community to provide grants to countries affected by the deadly virus. WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Rui Dama Gaz, made the announcement…

  • Coal blocks to be re-auctioned

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    The union cabinet  recommended for presidential assent to an ordinance that would allow re-auction of 214 coal blocks. This was done to resolve issues arising out of the Supreme Court cancelling allocations of those coal blocks last month. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said: “The cabinet has recommended promulgation of an ordinance to the president in…

  • Phone scheme financed Mumbai attack: NYT

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      Phone hackers in the US are bilking unsuspecting customers of billions of dollars every year through a scheme that was used to finance the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, according to the New York Times. In 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police in the Philippines arrested four men who used the scheme to…

  • Bale doubtful at Anfield

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    Real Madrid footballer Gareth Bale is doubtful for Champions League away match against Liverpool FC at Anfield as he is struggling to shake off a muscle injury picked up on international duty with Wales. A problem with his gluteus muscle will be tested Tuesday to see if Bale will be able to make the trip…

  • Lankan presidential poll in January

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      The Sri Lankan government confirmed that the presidential elections will take place in January next year but the date is yet to be decided. “The presidential election will be held in January. The date cannot be said right now. I know the date but since it is yet to be confirmed I cannot say…

  • THE LAMENT OF THE LONELY BACHELOR

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    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra Have you noticed how newlyweds suddenly having discovered true marital bliss (where was she hiding all this time) now believe it is their mission in life to get all their bachelor friends stampede down the same bridal path? the won’t leave them alone. It becomes a mission like you have…

  • Royal baby due in April 2015

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     The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, are expecting their second child in April next year, Kensington Palace said . The pregnancy had already been announced but the due date had not been released, BBC reported. In a statement, the palace said the duchess continued to suffer from extreme morning sickness…

  • Life term for Dhaula Kuan gang rapists

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    A Delhi court awarded life imprisonment to five men who have been found guilty in the 2010 Dhaula Kuan abduction and gang rape of a call centre executive. They were found guilty of abducting and gang raping a 30-year-old call centre executive in Delhi. On Oct 14, the court convicted them in the case. The…

  • Plight of Palestine refugees

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    Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, looks into the plight of Palestinian Refugees During the donor conference held in Cairo a few days ago, the US, EU, and other countries pledged $2.7 billion for reconstruction in Gaza. It is undoubtedly necessary to make such a humanitarian effort…

  • 16th Mumbai Film Fest

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    A bouquet of 20 short films made by a bunch of young filmmakers focusing on various aspects of the city was screened here as part of the ongoing Mumbai Film Festival’s Dimensions Mumbai section. The members of jury say they are looking for originality, emotional connectivity and creativity in the stories while judging them. The…

  • Joy Mitra’s creation @ WLIFW – Summer-Spring 2015

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    Models showcase creations of fashion designer Joy Mitra at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Summer-Spring, 2015 in New Delhi.  

  • Miss Asia Pageant North America 2014

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    Winner Bella Ma(C), runner-up Joanne Liang(L) and second runner-up Sasha Xia pose for photos during the award ceremony of the 2014 Miss Asia Pageant North America Final in Toronto, Canada. The 24-year-old contestant Bella Ma from the Brock University of Canada was crowned the 2014 Miss Asia Pageanton North America Final.

  • Deepika was always a star: SRK

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      Shah Rukh Khan, the producer and hero of Deepika Padukone’s debut film “Om Shanti Om”, says she has paved the way for her own success and that she always had it in her to be a “star”. SRK and Deepika worked under Farah Khan’s direction for “Om Shanti Om”, and the team has joined…

  • Second Clooney wedding party in Buckinghamshire

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    It seems that actor George Clooney’s wedding festivities are not over yet. The actor is reportedly throwing another party in Buckinghamshire to celebrate his wedding to British human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin. According to a report in The Sun newspaper, they are organising a bash at the Danesfield House in Buckinghamshire Oct 24, reports contactmusic.com.…

  • US airdrop arms in Kobane

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      US military has airdropped weapons, ammunition and medical supplies to Kurdish fighters in the Syrian city of Kobane to heighten up defence against the Islamic State (IS) militants. “The aircraft delivered items that were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq and intended to enable continued resistance against IS’ attempts to overtake Kobane,” the Pentagon…

  • President warms the Artic

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    By Ranjana Narayan   With the resource-rich Arctic region becoming the focus of heightened attention, President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the two Nordic countries of Norway and Finland last week was a crucial step by India to assert its “willingness to have a strong presence in the Arctic Council and to work closely with” the eight…