Latest news with #Nika
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Feels like heaven': Iranians return to Tehran, uncertain of future
Tehran, Iran – The highways leading into Tehran are busy again, filled with cars carrying families, suitcases, and the cautious hope that home might finally be safe. After 12 days of war that killed more than 600 Iranians and displaced hundreds of thousands from the capital, a ceasefire announced on Monday has begun drawing residents back to a city still scarred by Israeli air strikes. For many returning to Tehran, the relief of sleeping in their own beds is tempered by the constant fear that the bombing could resume at any moment. 'Coming back home after all these days, even from a place where you had physical safety, feels like heaven,' said Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer who spent nearly two weeks sheltering with her husband at their relatives' home in Zanjan, some 286 kilometres (177 miles) northwest of the capital. 'But I don't know if the ceasefire will last or not,' she said. The conflict that upended millions of lives began at dawn on June 13, when Israeli warplanes launched what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. What followed was an unprecedented exchange of fire between the two regional powers that brought direct warfare to the heart of Tehran for the first time in decades. As Israeli attacks on residential areas intensified and warnings from American and Israeli officials to evacuate Tehran grew louder, many residents, fearing for their lives, were forced to flee the capital for the relative safety of other cities and villages. For many of Tehran's inhabitants, abandoning their lives was a soul-crushing decision. 'I had an incredibly busy life before the war,' said Saba, a 26-year-old university student. 'I lived in Tehran, had a full-time job, was studying, and since I lived alone, I managed all my household chores. When the war started, for a few days, I couldn't believe this routine was coming to a halt. I still went to work, went out for shopping or to a cafe. But at some point, you couldn't deny reality anymore. Life was stopping.' By the fifth day, the war forced her to leave. 'First, my university exams were postponed, then my workplace told us to work remotely, and one by one, all my friends left Tehran. I felt a terrible loneliness,' she recalled. 'I kept myself busy during the day, but at night, when the sounds of bombing and air defences began, I couldn't fool myself any longer.' Unable to secure a car, her father drove from her hometown of Quchan, a city near Mashhad in northeastern Iran, to bring her to the family's house, where she stayed until the to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 610 people were killed and 1,481 wounded during the conflict, with more than 90 percent of the casualties being civilians. 'Initially, I had decided to stay in Tehran and keep the company running,' said Kamran, a businessman and CEO of a private firm in the capital, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. 'There was bombing and the sound of air defence, but life was manageable during the day. The nights, however, were truly unbearable,' said the father of two. Many fled the city in the very first days of the war. At that time, two major obstacles plagued their departure: long queues at petrol stations made it difficult to secure enough fuel for the journey, and the main exit routes from the city were choked with heavy traffic from the sheer volume of cars trying to get out. Now, since the ceasefire was declared, many who had abandoned Tehran have begun to make their way back. 'After 11 days of living in a place where there was no sign of war, but wasn't home – no privacy, no peace of mind – coming back to my own house felt like heaven,' explained Nika. 'After years of being accustomed to the silence of my own home, enduring life with 11 other people in an environment that was never quiet was incredibly difficult,' she said. She returned to her two-bedroom flat in Tehran as soon as the ceasefire was declared. 'I don't know if the ceasefire will last or not,' Nika admitted. 'But even if it doesn't, I don't think I want to leave my home again.'Not everyone was lucky enough to return to an intact home. Keyvan Saket, a renowned Iranian musician, had learned of his home being hit by an Israeli missile while sheltering with his family in a nearby town. Yet, his neighbour's call delivering the grim news did not keep him from rushing back after the ceasefire was declared. According to Saket, one of the bombs fired at his residence failed to detonate, a stroke of fortune that spared further destruction. But it barred him and his family from entering their home due to safety concerns. 'Once the issue was resolved and we were allowed inside, we faced an unsettling scene,' he said. 'The doors and windows were shattered, the building's facade was obliterated, and household appliances like the washing machine and refrigerator were severely damaged. The attack was so intense that even the iron doors of the building were mangled.' Saket's voice carried a deep sorrow as he reflected on the toll of the conflict. 'With every fibre of my being, I despise war and those who ignite it,' he said, lamenting the loss of a home he cherished. 'War is the ugliest of human creations.' Since the ceasefire took effect, both sides have accused each other of violations, and fear of renewed violence has been high. Iran has reported continued Israeli attacks for several hours after the agreement, while Israel claims to have intercepted Iranian missiles post-ceasefire. In the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire announcement, strikes continued on both sides, with Israeli forces hitting targets in Tehran, including the notorious Evin Prison, and Iranian missiles striking areas in Israel. Hamed, a political science student, believes the situation is precarious. 'This feels like a recurring nightmare to me,' he said. He had returned from the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, where he was displaced to, on the day the ceasefire was announced, but was worried he might have to abandon his home and life all over again. 'I really don't want to have to pack my things and leave my home without knowing when, or if, I can come back.' Despite this underlying anxiety, the streets of Tehran are visibly busier than before the ceasefire. As companies end their remote work policies and recall employees, there is evidence of a cautious, determined return to life in the capital. Infrastructure damage across Tehran was significant, with attacks striking multiple provinces, including Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, Kermanshah, and the capital itself. The Israeli military claimed to have struck more than 100 targets across Iran during the 12-day conflict. In the early mornings, the hum of traffic weaves through Tehran's wide boulevards once more. 'Seeing others return to the city alongside me, watching cafes and restaurants reopen, and feeling life flow back into the streets – it truly lifts my heart,' said Saba, her eyes bright with cautious optimism. Yet, as the city stirs back to life, the shadow of an uncertain ceasefire looms, a quiet reminder that this fragile revival could be tested at any moment. This piece was published in collaboration with Egab.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
‘Feels like heaven': Iranians return to Tehran, uncertain of future
Tehran, Iran – The highways leading into Tehran are busy again, filled with cars carrying families, suitcases, and the cautious hope that home might finally be safe. After 12 days of war that killed more than 600 Iranians and displaced hundreds of thousands from the capital, a ceasefire announced on Monday has begun drawing residents back to a city still scarred by Israeli air strikes. For many returning to Tehran, the relief of sleeping in their own beds is tempered by the constant fear that the bombing could resume at any moment. 'Coming back home after all these days, even from a place where you had physical safety, feels like heaven,' said Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer who spent nearly two weeks sheltering with her husband at their relatives' home in Zanjan, some 286 kilometres (177 miles) northwest of the capital. 'But I don't know if the ceasefire will last or not,' she said. The conflict that upended millions of lives began at dawn on June 13, when Israeli warplanes launched what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. What followed was an unprecedented exchange of fire between the two regional powers that brought direct warfare to the heart of Tehran for the first time in decades. As Israeli attacks on residential areas intensified and warnings from American and Israeli officials to evacuate Tehran grew louder, many residents, fearing for their lives, were forced to flee the capital for the relative safety of other cities and villages. For many of Tehran's inhabitants, abandoning their lives was a soul-crushing decision. 'I had an incredibly busy life before the war,' said Saba, a 26-year-old university student. 'I lived in Tehran, had a full-time job, was studying, and since I lived alone, I managed all my household chores. When the war started, for a few days, I couldn't believe this routine was coming to a halt. I still went to work, went out for shopping or to a cafe. But at some point, you couldn't deny reality anymore. Life was stopping.' By the fifth day, the war forced her to leave. 'First, my university exams were postponed, then my workplace told us to work remotely, and one by one, all my friends left Tehran. I felt a terrible loneliness,' she recalled. 'I kept myself busy during the day, but at night, when the sounds of bombing and air defences began, I couldn't fool myself any longer.' Unable to secure a car, her father drove from her hometown of Quchan, a city near Mashhad in northeastern Iran, to bring her to the family's house, where she stayed until the ceasefire. 'The nights were unbearable' According to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 610 people were killed and 1,481 wounded during the conflict, with more than 90 percent of the casualties being civilians. 'Initially, I had decided to stay in Tehran and keep the company running,' said Kamran, a businessman and CEO of a private firm in the capital, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. 'There was bombing and the sound of air defence, but life was manageable during the day. The nights, however, were truly unbearable,' said the father of two. Many fled the city in the very first days of the war. At that time, two major obstacles plagued their departure: long queues at petrol stations made it difficult to secure enough fuel for the journey, and the main exit routes from the city were choked with heavy traffic from the sheer volume of cars trying to get out. Now, since the ceasefire was declared, many who had abandoned Tehran have begun to make their way back. 'After 11 days of living in a place where there was no sign of war, but wasn't home – no privacy, no peace of mind – coming back to my own house felt like heaven,' explained Nika. 'After years of being accustomed to the silence of my own home, enduring life with 11 other people in an environment that was never quiet was incredibly difficult,' she said. She returned to her two-bedroom flat in Tehran as soon as the ceasefire was declared. 'I don't know if the ceasefire will last or not,' Nika admitted. 'But even if it doesn't, I don't think I want to leave my home again.' Uncertain future Not everyone was lucky enough to return to an intact home. Keyvan Saket, a renowned Iranian musician, had learned of his home being hit by an Israeli missile while sheltering with his family in a nearby town. Yet, his neighbour's call delivering the grim news did not keep him from rushing back after the ceasefire was declared. According to Saket, one of the bombs fired at his residence failed to detonate, a stroke of fortune that spared further destruction. But it barred him and his family from entering their home due to safety concerns. 'Once the issue was resolved and we were allowed inside, we faced an unsettling scene,' he said. 'The doors and windows were shattered, the building's facade was obliterated, and household appliances like the washing machine and refrigerator were severely damaged. The attack was so intense that even the iron doors of the building were mangled.' Saket's voice carried a deep sorrow as he reflected on the toll of the conflict. 'With every fibre of my being, I despise war and those who ignite it,' he said, lamenting the loss of a home he cherished. 'War is the ugliest of human creations.' Since the ceasefire took effect, both sides have accused each other of violations, and fear of renewed violence has been high. Iran has reported continued Israeli attacks for several hours after the agreement, while Israel claims to have intercepted Iranian missiles post-ceasefire. In the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire announcement, strikes continued on both sides, with Israeli forces hitting targets in Tehran, including the notorious Evin Prison, and Iranian missiles striking areas in Israel. Hamed, a political science student, believes the situation is precarious. 'This feels like a recurring nightmare to me,' he said. He had returned from the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, where he was displaced to, on the day the ceasefire was announced, but was worried he might have to abandon his home and life all over again. 'I really don't want to have to pack my things and leave my home without knowing when, or if, I can come back.' Despite this underlying anxiety, the streets of Tehran are visibly busier than before the ceasefire. As companies end their remote work policies and recall employees, there is evidence of a cautious, determined return to life in the capital. Infrastructure damage across Tehran was significant, with attacks striking multiple provinces, including Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, Kermanshah, and the capital itself. The Israeli military claimed to have struck more than 100 targets across Iran during the 12-day conflict. In the early mornings, the hum of traffic weaves through Tehran's wide boulevards once more. 'Seeing others return to the city alongside me, watching cafes and restaurants reopen, and feeling life flow back into the streets – it truly lifts my heart,' said Saba, her eyes bright with cautious optimism. Yet, as the city stirs back to life, the shadow of an uncertain ceasefire looms, a quiet reminder that this fragile revival could be tested at any moment. This piece was published in collaboration with Egab.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I moved to a town where EVERYONE talks to the dead. Anyone can learn how to contact their loved ones
On New Year's Day, 2018, Tiffany Hopkins left her home in Brooklyn and drove 12 hours through a winter storm to the tiny New York hamlet of Lily Dale. Beside her was Nika, her red, chicken-hunting Husky - rescued from doggy death row - and, packed into a U-Haul truck, all her earthly belongings.
Time Out
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
International Sushi Day: Nika Club Omakase and its 100% gluten-free proposal
It is the quintessential ancient Japanese dish and has millions of fans worldwide. Sixteen years ago, an American expert on the subject decided to set a day on the calendar to celebrate it, and thus the current date was recorded: today, June 18th, International Sushi Day is celebrated. Argentines are devoted to meat, yes, but we love sushi, which has ceased to be an exotic food to become a dish consumed frequently, and in some cases weekly. There are many options in the city, but some places, due to their quality, technique, and flavor combinations, have earned a reference spot, as happened with Nika Club Omakase, in Palermo Hollywood. The place opened a year and a half ago, with a 100% gluten-free proposal and a kitchen led by chefs Belén Higa and Mako Moriyama, who reinterpret the essence of Japanese omakase with technique, flavor, and a contemporary outlook. What is omakase? For those who recently jumped on the latest gastronomic trend of omakase, it's worth refreshing a fact: Mako Moriyama, originally from Neuquén but with Japanese parents, was one of the sushimen who, back in 2009, was part of the Club M Omakase team—a small dining room that operated just meters from the current Nika, at a time when no one was familiar with this now-trendy term, which in Japanese means 'I leave it in your hands.' You might also be interested in: The Asian spots you have to try, according to the Time Out Guide Now, nearly a year and a half after its opening, Nika's team has grown and the proposal has been well received in the neighborhood. In line with a sustainable philosophy, local products have been added to the Japanese technique and tradition. With a calm voice and serene gaze, Mako tells Time Out he entered the gastronomic world over 20 years ago and that his first job was as a dishwasher. Over the years, and with full studies at the Argentine Gastronomic Institute (IAG), Mako climbed the ranks and gained renown. 'At Nika, besides being gluten-free, we have a kitchen low in sodium, fats, and sugar. Both in the dishes and at the sushi bar, we always try to avoid industrial products as much as possible,' says the chef, who today serves as head of the lunch sushi bar. "We are gluten-free, with a kitchen low in sodium, fats, and sugar" Among many other things, at Nika they make their own soy sauce because all the ones available in the market, explains Mako, contain wheat. 'Almost everything is made in our kitchen. With some products, artisanal gluten-free preparation is more complicated, so we turn to industry, like with gelling agents for pastries. But this is the minimum indispensable. We also try to minimize waste in all work processes,' emphasizes the sushiman. A zero-waste omakase As part of a zero-waste philosophy, nothing is discarded at Nika. Everything is used and reused. One example of this concept is reflected in the diner's experience, as the meal usually begins with something very oriental: gohan [typical Japanese rice] with furikake, a homemade seasoning prepared with dehydrated and ground ingredients, which can have many variants. 'We serve furikake at the start because in Japanese cuisine it works as an appetizer, something that makes you salivate to start getting hungry,' explains the chef, son of Japanese parents and born in Neuquén. 'Right now, for example, the kitchen team is preparing a furikake with fish bones. A demi-glace sauce is made, the fish—after drying—is ground and served as an umami factor in the furikake. Also, citrus peels or leftover bits of vegetables are reused for the vegetarian furikake. It's part of the philosophy.' Along the same lines of sustainability and love for traditional cuisine, Mako proudly talks about Nika's fermentation library, which, although not visible to everyone in the dining room, curious diners can ask permission to visit the kitchen and admire it. 'Seasonal products and natural ferments are key in our menu,' says Mako. 'This allows us to prepare unique dishes. There are ferments that are over a year old, and Juan Panizza, who knows the most about this, takes care of all of it.' "Seasonal products and natural ferments are key in our menu" What are ferments? In Panizza's words, 'ferments are a key tool in our gluten-free kitchen because they help transform flavors, add umami, and improve digestion.' They use misos made from legumes and rice, naturally fermented wheat-free soy sauces, and fermented broths better known as garum. 'Fermentation is an ancient technique that turns proteins into liquids full of flavors. In these fermentations, we use koji, a fungus that activates enzymes and enhances flavor,' Panizza explains. 'This way, we achieve live, complex, and unique preparations. Additionally, we ferment plums, chili peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, and peaches, which combined with a percentage of salt develop acidity and depth naturally. Thanks to this kind of fermentation, we have a variety of raw materials throughout different seasons.' Nika Club Omakase: one room, two proposals To enter Nika, you climb a staircase leading to the first floor, and newcomers are surprised by a room where everything adds warmth—from the furniture, the tableware, to the light filtering through large windows overlooking the street. At Nika, depending on the client's preference, one can choose the à la carte menu or the omakase experience. For those who surrender to the will of the itamae, their place is at the sushi bar, and the experience is unique because diners have the chance to have a one-on-one with the sushiman, watch the sushi being prepared, and ask questions. 'Feeding someone I don't know and having the customer leave happy is one of the greatest satisfactions this profession gives me,' Mako confesses. 'Also, with sushi now well established in Argentines' palates, there are more opportunities to experiment and for people to dare to try other Japanese dishes. Now that Nika has a large kitchen, we are working hard.' "Feeding someone I don't know and having the customer leave happy is one of the greatest satisfactions this profession gives me" At Nika, they celebrate International Sushi Day with a special menu 'It's a proposal where we combine the best Nikkei sushi pieces, which people love, with some more traditional ones, mainly consumed in Japan,' Mako says. 'That's why we added a futomaki, which is a nori seaweed roll on the outside and vegetables inside, something quite common in Japan and served often at family gatherings, end-of-year parties. But it's a piece you don't often see here. The name futomaki refers to the size of the piece, because 'futo' means large, and 'maki' roll.' There will also be miso soup to enjoy, 100% gluten-free, and traditional dishes like tamagoyaki. 'Basically, it's an egg omelet. It's made on a special square pan and rolled on itself with a special technique,' Mako explains. 'Tamagoyaki is so common in Japan it's even served in kids' lunchboxes for picnics. It provides much-needed protein.' A club for exclusive and pampered customers Finally, as an upgrade Nika offers its clients the chance to become members of the Omakase Club, an exclusive members-only room with a distinctive touch and many benefits. So far, 17 clients, or 'clubers,' are part of this membership, attending special events and always being considered for unique and exclusive experiences. Clubers are pampered, invited to try the latest kitchen creations, and the room is prepared and arranged for them if they want to celebrate their birthday.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
One Piece: These devil fruits are even more powerful than haki
What might surprise you is that some Devil Fruits in One Piece are so OP, they even defeat the power of Haki itself. Here's why powers like Luffy's Nika fruit and others are OP greater than Haki. One Piece , the smash hit anime and manga series from creator Eiichiro Oda, is lauded all over the world for its zany powers, spectacular fights, and vast world ripe for adventure. In this world, most of our protagonists (and antagonists) acquire superhuman abilities through ingesting mystical fruits known as Devil Fruits, each of which can bestow abilities ranging from the fiery and fearsome to the absurdly humorous and everything in between. Over the years, an alternative power system known as Haki rose to prominence, particularly amongst the elite of the New World. Haki Haki, another kind of spiritual energy, lets characters do everything from sense unseen enemies to harden their bodies and overpower opponents with the force of their will. Today, it is regarded as the ultimate measure of might for pirate kings and warlords. Some Devil Fruits are just ridiculously overpowered to the point they can nullify the absolute top tiers of Haki, yes, the advanced ones, yes, even Conqueror's Haki. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Edema incomodando? Use isso antes de dormir e sinta a diferença. A arte do herbalismo Undo We're diving into the strongest Devil Fruits that you'll find in One Piece, taking Haki's inherent power out of the equation. Luffy's nika fruit – The most overpowered devil fruit in One Piece The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika gives Luffy god-like powers Years went by, making the fans believe that the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, consumed the Gomu Gomu no Mi, a rubber-inspired Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. One of the greatest surprises in the Wano arc is that Luffy's power does not stem from the Gomu Gomu no Mi but from the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, which is a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit that grants him the power of the "Sun God" Nika. Thanks to this magical fruit, Luffy has the ability to bend reality to cartoonish extremes. He can bounce projectiles back, swell to gigantic proportions, dash through the air, and even manipulate the very ground around him. His Gear 5 form makes him nearly impossible to kill. Even the most Haki-happy of users haven't shown abilities this chaotic or uncontrollable. With this power, Luffy was able to conquer Kaido, the man who claimed Haki was the strongest power there is. That goes a long way to indicate just how absolutely bonkers the Nika Fruit actually is. The quake-quake Fruit – The power to destroy the world Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi proves raw power can beat any Haki The Gura Gura no Mi, or Quake-Quake Fruit, which had formerly been wielded by Whitebeard, the world's strongest man. This Paramecia-type Devil Fruit is capable of generating colossal shockwaves that can devastate entire islands, part seas, and even tear the sky apart. In fact, during the Marineford War, this fruit was so feared that even the Navy Admirals and Sengoku felt that Whitebeard could destroy the entire world. Long after his passing, the fruit's strength continued to keep society safe until it fell into the wrong hands of the notorious Blackbeard who stole it and wreaked havoc instantly. Haki might let you defend against damage or psychically overpower your foes, but the sheer cataclysmic destructive power of the Gura Gura no Mi can bypass any defense. It's the max power physically possible. Kaido's dragon fruit – One of the strongest zoan fruits ever The Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu gave Kaido massive strength and flight Kaido, the Wano arc's main villain and the last major antagonist in this series' run, possessed one of the most varied and, arguably, overwhelmingly powerful Devil Fruits in the series, the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu — a Mythical Zoan-type fruit which turned him into a massive dragon. This devil fruit allowed Kaido a wealth of powers, including but not limited to flight, fire breath, massive claws and even the ability to raise an entire island from the depths with flame clouds. He could even shift from dragon to human form in the middle of a fight, making him elusive and lethal. In the world of One Piece, even Kaido himself thought that Haki trumped Devil Fruits. Even with Advanced Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki, Luffy still wasn't able to take him down until he unlocked the true powers of his own fruit. That's just how strong Kaido's Devil Fruit was. Could devil fruits be the real key to conquering the new world? Haki is extremely strong, but these Devil Fruits are something else entirely. In the world of One Piece, almost every single elite powerhouse uses Haki and a Devil Fruit. Some fruits are so unbalanced, they allow users to overpower even the toughest Haki users. Be it warping reality like Luffy, shaking the earth like Whitebeard, or becoming an incomprehensible force of nature like Kaido, these powers show that despite Haki's countering capabilities, Devil Fruits still have the upper hand in some situations. As much as Conqueror's Haki is the most feared power, the right Devil Fruit used correctly can win any fight. Where to watch One Piece With over 1000 episodes available to stream now, with new episodes released weekly, Crunchyroll is the place to watch One Piece! Whether you're a legacy fan or have just recently joined the series, there's no better time than now to dive into this revolutionary anime classic. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
