Latest news with #Kiana
Hans India
13-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Rebuilding hope with purpose
Representing the beautiful and modern Buddhist country of Japan at the 72nd Miss World competition, Kiana Tomita stands out not just for her grace and elegance, but for her deep commitment to academic excellence, humanitarian service, and global awareness. Currently in Hyderabad, Telangana — the proud host of the pageant from May 7 to 31 — Kiana is making a mark far beyond the stage. A Ph.D. student in Japan, Kiana is researching natural disasters, a subject close to her heart and deeply rooted in her homeland's history. 'Being from Japan, a country that experiences many earthquakes, I've seen the devastating effects of natural disasters firsthand,' she said during her visit. 'My research focuses on how we can prepare and build resilience, not just for ourselves, but globally.' Her academic journey reflects her passion for leadership and service. Kiana holds two master's degrees in women's leadership — one from the University of Cambridge and another from the University of Edinburgh. These prestigious institutions shaped her vision of combining scholarly insight with real-world impact. 'I wanted to explore how women can become stronger leaders, especially in crisis situations,' she shared. 'Combining this with my current research, I aim to shed light on the struggles of women and children affected by natural disasters.' Her Beauty with a Purpose project, titled 'Rise Together,' brings this vision to life. It is a nationwide initiative in Japan focused on disaster relief, education, and community rebuilding. As part of the project, Kiana has immersed herself in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. She visited the affected nuclear power plant, interviewed survivors, and documented their stories to better understand the lasting trauma and recovery needs. But Kiana's efforts are not limited to the past. She is currently leading a national campaign to aid recovery in both Fukushima and in regions impacted by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Acting as an ambassador for the rebuilding process, she has helped organize large-scale reconstruction events to bring hope and resources to some of the hardest-hit communities. 'Rise Together is about more than rebuilding structures — it's about restoring dignity, creating awareness, and building resilient communities,' she said. A strong advocate for education, Kiana also leads disaster-preparedness workshops in schools across Japan. Her goal is to equip students with practical knowledge and proactive skills, fostering a culture of preparedness. 'It is important to educate children, our future, about the impact of natural disasters and how to respond to them. This builds stronger, safer communities,' she emphasized. When reflecting on global challenges like climate change and inequality, Kiana speaks with clarity and conviction. 'The crisis of climate change is not just about the regions directly affected,' she explained. 'It is about learning from one another and supporting each other, regardless of where we are. Sharing knowledge and experience is crucial in facing these challenges.' She also emphasized the importance of women's empowerment worldwide. 'Women around the world still face many barriers—lack of representation, limited access to education. But confidence and visibility are powerful tools,' she noted. 'Social media, for example, gives us a platform to amplify our voices and reach a global audience.' For Kiana, arriving in India has been a long-awaited moment. 'I had planned to visit India last year, but I missed my flight due to visa issues. So finally, being here in Telangana is very exciting for me,' she smiled. To aspiring Miss World contestants, Kiana offered heartfelt encouragement. 'I absolutely encourage beautiful and strong women from all over the world to participate. It's not just about outer beauty—it's about sharing our stories, celebrating our cultures, and promoting the values we believe in.' With poise, intellect, and purpose, Kiana Tomita is redefining what it means to wear the crown. As Miss World Japan 2025, she is not only representing her country with pride but inspiring a global audience to rise together, rebuild with compassion, and lead with purpose.
Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
HarperCollins is delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of 'Stars Will Guide You Home' By Stuti Changle
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], May 6: Bestselling Author Stuti Changle Returns who Inspired a Generation to Follow their Dreams returns with a Love Story for the Digital Age. This is not just a love story. It's a journey back home--to yourself. A tender reminder that even in chaos, love finds a way, and so do we. ABOUT THE BOOK Would you take a second chance at love if an app matches you up? Kiana and Nirvaan were inseparable--until family expectations tore them apart. A decade later, despite having successful careers, their hearts are empty. Then, AILENA, a cutting-edge AI-powered dating app, matches them with a near-perfect compatibility--without revealing their true identities. As their virtual bond deepens, past wounds resurface but love makes its way through their hearts until AILENA deems them incompatible and cuts their connection forever. What will they do: Trust the app or follow their hearts? Can their love survive the test of time and reality? Set in India and the US, this is a story of love reimagined in the digital age. In a world where we are constantly connected yet feel lonely, Stars Will Guide You Home is a love story for everyone--the ones who overthink, the ones who let go too soon and the ones still hoping for a sign. Stuti Changle, author, says, "I wrote Stars Will Guide You Home while grappling with the aching question of what 'home' truly means. Guided by something greater, like starlight lighting the way, I poured that journey into this story. It's not just a love story; it's a story about loneliness, heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery. Kiana and Nirvaan mirror the thoughts, feelings and desires of so many of us--searching for meaning, emotional safety, and real connection in a disconnected world. This book speaks to the heart of our generation: long-distance love, dating app fatigue, and the vulnerability of modern relationships. I'm deeply grateful to the HarperCollins India team for believing in this story. To see my fifth book take flight feels surreal and incredibly special--and I am very excited and looking forward to readers experiencing the story I've carried in my heart for so long." Rashmi Menon, Executive Editor - HarperCollins India, adds, "Some stories leave you thinking; others leave you feeling understood. Stars Will Guide You Home does both. It's a heartfelt, modern romance about the courage it takes to follow love--and find yourself--through life's uncertainties in a world increasingly shaped by AI. With unforgettable characters and poignant twists, Stuti Changle deftly explores the tender spaces between technology and emotion, love and loss, ambition and belonging, and offers readers a journey that's as emotional as it is relevant. She brings warmth and heart to every page, and writes with honesty, tenderness and insight. We are delighted to bring this powerful, resonant story to our readers." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stuti Changle is a national bestselling author whose words have inspired an entire generation of readers to chase their dreams. Leaving behind a corporate career, she set out on a journey to share life-changing stories with the world, one book at a time. Over 150,000 copies of her books have found their way into the hands of readers', touching more than 600,000 lives and making her a voice of hope, adventure and self-discovery. She is the author of You Only Live Once, On the Open Road, Where the Sun Never Sets, Make a Move Boxset and Lost & Found. Logo:
India.com
04-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- India.com
7 Perfect Baby Names Pairs For Twins
Anaika Sohal May 03, 2025 It's a modern and stylish name for babies that is rooted in Indian Tradition,Aarav means peaceful & Arya means noble. Vihaan means dawn whereas vanya means gracious or forests. This name is straightly taken from mythology and a perfect boy-girl twin duo. This name is straightly taken from mythology and a perfect boy-girl twin duo. The name Advik means unique and Anvika means powerful and graceful. Neel means blue or sapphire and Naina means eyes, a beautiful, sweet name. This baby boy's name for bright or shining boy and Aradhya means worshipped. The name Kabir means great or powerful and Kiana means divine or elements of nature. Read Next Story
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- News.com.au
Belgium's green light for red light workers
A police station in the historic sailors' quarter of the Belgian port of Antwerp is surrounded by sex workers' neon-lit red-light windows. The station in the Villa Tinto complex is a symbol of the push to make sex work safer in Belgium, which boasts some of Europe's most liberal laws -- although there are still widespread abuses and exploitation. Since December, Belgium's sex workers can access legal protections and labour rights, such as paid leave, like any other profession. They welcome the changes. "I'm not a victim, I chose to work here and I like what I'm doing," said Kiana, 32, as she allowed AFP behind her window to see her workspace: a double bed bathed in a dim red light, with various types of chains and other sado-masochistic accessories. Kiana, who did not wish to give her last name, left her native Romania at the age of 18 and first worked in Germany before arriving in Belgium. She rents one of the 51 display windows in Villa Tinto where she works five days a week. "My mother knows what I'm doing. For the other members of my family I work in nails and tattoos," she said. For "Mel", a sex worker and star on TikTok where she answers questions about her work, the law has allowed her to come out of the shadows. "I was just tired of lying about what I do for a living, and pretending to be a hairdresser or a masseuse," she said. Belgium decided in 2022 to reform its laws on sex work, including relaxing rules on advertising prostitution for individuals over 18. "We, as sex workers, were seen by the state as a real job, and the views of people also changed" thanks to the law, the Antwerp resident known as Meliciousss said. - Moving 'away from shame' - Today, the law says an adult can advertise their own "sexual services" if they do so in a designated location, for example behind a window. Third parties, such as bankers, website designers or property owners, are also no longer at risk of prosecution for involvement in the sex work industry. But pimping is still illegal, as is child prostitution. Described as "historic" by Belgium's Human Rights League, the law puts Belgium in a camp of countries who want to regularise sex work, like Germany and The Netherlands, against those don't including France and Sweden. "Even if the stigma still exists, in a way we have moved away from shame," said Marianne Chargois, a sex worker and activist at Utsopi, an association defending sex workers' rights. There are believed to be between 9,000 and 26,000 sex workers in Belgium, according to Utsopi, with women making up 90 percent. There are no official figures. Despite the reforms, several organisations including those combating human trafficking warn of the largely "invisible" aspect of prostitution and the fact that most women carry out the activity under financial duress. Many are forced to engage in prostitution because of addiction or traffickers, the groups warn. The dangers persist. Police in March dismantled a criminal network suspected of sexually exploiting some 30 Chinese women. Seven Chinese suspects were arrested. - 'Free and independent' - Many women are sent to Belgium without a residence permit to work in secret and are victims of blackmail, according to Charles-Eric Clesse, a Belgian legal expert. "For prostitutes of African origin, in more than 90 percent of cases it is human trafficking," he told AFP. The public debate has been reignited since the law entered into force in December allowing sex workers to sign employment contracts with an "approved" employer. It offers more labour rights, like health insurance, than the more popular self-employed status. But the reforms have not yet yielded much change. The labour ministry has only received three applications for employment contracts, a spokesperson said. These are being reviewed by courts, which must verify the employers' resumes and any criminal records. In the pro-abolition camp, the Isala association called for the law to be repealed, accusing it of encouraging pimping. It said the law would give brothel owners greater powers to force women into dangerous situations. The law has been challenged and will be debated by the Constitutional Court. The owner of Villa Tinto rules out any employment contracts. "The sex workers who work here, they're very free and independent. They work when they want. They choose their own clients. They take holiday when they want," Karin Vander Elst said. "If we're going to give them a contract, it's very difficult to maintain that or to keep everybody happy." mad/jca/raz/giv
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Belgium's green light for red light workers
A police station in the historic sailors' quarter of the Belgian port of Antwerp is surrounded by sex workers' neon-lit red-light windows. The station in the Villa Tinto complex is a symbol of the push to make sex work safer in Belgium, which boasts some of Europe's most liberal laws -- although there are still widespread abuses and exploitation. Since December, Belgium's sex workers can access legal protections and labour rights, such as paid leave, like any other profession. They welcome the changes. "I'm not a victim, I chose to work here and I like what I'm doing," said Kiana, 32, as she allowed AFP behind her window to see her workspace: a double bed bathed in a dim red light, with various types of chains and other sado-masochistic accessories. Kiana, who did not wish to give her last name, left her native Romania at the age of 18 and first worked in Germany before arriving in Belgium. She rents one of the 51 display windows in Villa Tinto where she works five days a week. "My mother knows what I'm doing. For the other members of my family I work in nails and tattoos," she said. For "Mel", a sex worker and star on TikTok where she answers questions about her work, the law has allowed her to come out of the shadows. "I was just tired of lying about what I do for a living, and pretending to be a hairdresser or a masseuse," she said. Belgium decided in 2022 to reform its laws on sex work, including relaxing rules on advertising prostitution for individuals over 18. "We, as sex workers, were seen by the state as a real job, and the views of people also changed" thanks to the law, the Antwerp resident known as Meliciousss said. - Moving 'away from shame' - Today, the law says an adult can advertise their own "sexual services" if they do so in a designated location, for example behind a window. Third parties, such as bankers, website designers or property owners, are also no longer at risk of prosecution for involvement in the sex work industry. But pimping is still illegal, as is child prostitution. Described as "historic" by Belgium's Human Rights League, the law puts Belgium in a camp of countries who want to regularise sex work, like Germany and The Netherlands, against those don't including France and Sweden. "Even if the stigma still exists, in a way we have moved away from shame," said Marianne Chargois, a sex worker and activist at Utsopi, an association defending sex workers' rights. There are believed to be between 9,000 and 26,000 sex workers in Belgium, according to Utsopi, with women making up 90 percent. There are no official figures. Despite the reforms, several organisations including those combating human trafficking warn of the largely "invisible" aspect of prostitution and the fact that most women carry out the activity under financial duress. Many are forced to engage in prostitution because of addiction or traffickers, the groups warn. The dangers persist. Police in March dismantled a criminal network suspected of sexually exploiting some 30 Chinese women. Seven Chinese suspects were arrested. - 'Free and independent' - Many women are sent to Belgium without a residence permit to work in secret and are victims of blackmail, according to Charles-Eric Clesse, a Belgian legal expert. "For prostitutes of African origin, in more than 90 percent of cases it is human trafficking," he told AFP. The public debate has been reignited since the law entered into force in December allowing sex workers to sign employment contracts with an "approved" employer. It offers more labour rights, like health insurance, than the more popular self-employed status. But the reforms have not yet yielded much change. The labour ministry has only received three applications for employment contracts, a spokesperson said. These are being reviewed by courts, which must verify the employers' resumes and any criminal records. In the pro-abolition camp, the Isala association called for the law to be repealed, accusing it of encouraging pimping. It said the law would give brothel owners greater powers to force women into dangerous situations. The law has been challenged and will be debated by the Constitutional Court. The owner of Villa Tinto rules out any employment contracts. "The sex workers who work here, they're very free and independent. They work when they want. They choose their own clients. They take holiday when they want," Karin Vander Elst said. "If we're going to give them a contract, it's very difficult to maintain that or to keep everybody happy." mad/jca/raz/giv
