Six soldiers were killed in an attack on a Nigerian military base, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region. The attack adds to concerns about the stability of military operations in northern Nigeria.

Nigeria Soldiers Attacked: Six Soldiers Dead In Attack on Nigerian Military Base

Nigerian military forces have been compelled to withdraw from parts of Borno state as tensions rise and militant activity intensifies, marking a significant shift in the region's security situation.

Nigerian Forces forced to retreat from Borno amid escalating conflict

Nigeria celebrates 20 years of honoring African heritage, with communities across the country showcasing their rich traditions and cultural practices. This milestone highlights the importance of preserving and promoting African identity through vibrant cultural festivals and events.

Nigeria Marks 20 Years of Celebrating African Heritage, Communities Highlight Tradition

<p>The long rule of the Assad family in Syria that lasted over half a century came to an end after rebel groups seized the capital Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday (Dec 8).</p>

<p>Assad, who belongs to the minority Alawites community, maintained power over the Sunni-majority Syria for 24 years.</p>

<p>However, the collapse of his rule has forced him to flee the country to Russia, ending his family’s 54-year rule.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-to-hold-emergency-meeting-to-discuss-situation-in-syria-as-assad-flees-country-782534">UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting to discuss situation in Syria as Assad flees country</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Who are the Alawites?</strong></h2>

<p>The ouster of Assad brought sharp focus back to his community Alawites, a minority Shia sect in a Sunni-majority country.<br />
<br />
The Alawites are significantly different from other Islamic sects. Although they make up only about 10-13 per cent of Syria's 23 million population, they have asserted dominance over the nation after its independence from France in 1946.</p>

<p>Amid the rising influence within the country’s politics and military forces, Hafez al-Assad became president after the military coup in 1970. He remained in power until his death in 2000. His son Bashar al-Assad then followed his father’s footsteps, becoming the president in an authoritarian rule until his fall, which marked the end of Alawite dominance in Syria's governance.</p>

<p>While Alawites have roots in Shia Islam, they practice distinct rituals and beliefs from Sunni and mainstream Shia.</p>

<p>The Alawite faith venerates Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.</p>

<p>It has elements of other faiths including Christian, Gnostic, Neoplatonic, and Zoroastrian.</p>

<p>Alawites interpret the five Pillars of Islam symbolically and observe Christian, Islamic, and Alawite holidays.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whats-next-for-syria-following-bashar-al-assads-ouster-782657">What's next for Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster?</a></strong></p>

<p>Their practices and secretive nature of faith have alienated them from the other mainstream Muslim groups, who often label them as infidels.</p>

<p>Their beliefs include reincarnation and a divine Trinity.</p>

<p>The Alawites benefitted under Assad family rule, becoming synonymous with power in the country where they were minorities.</p>

<p>However, not all Alawites were in support of Assad.</p>

<p>Despite their influence, a large section of the community faced economic challenges and did not profit from Assad’s rule.</p>

<p>After the fall of Assad, Alawites are struck with shock and confusion as their future remains uncertain during the shifting political landscape of the country, which has resulted in a loss of their influence.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</em></p>


The long rule of the Assad family in Syria that lasted over half a century came to an end after rebel groups seized the capital Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday (Dec 8).

The long rule of the Assad family in Syria that lasted over half a century came to an end after rebel groups seized the capital Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday (Dec 8). Assad, who belongs to the minority Alawites community, maintained power over the Sunni-majority Syria for 24 years. However, the collapse of his rule has forced him to flee the country to Russia, ending his family’s 54-year rule. Also read | UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting to discuss situation in Syria as Assad flees country Who are the Alawites? The ouster of Assad brought sharp focus back to his community Alawites, a minority Shia sect in a Sunni-majority country. The Alawites are significantly different from other Islamic sects. Although they make up only about 10-13 per cent of Syria's 23 million population, they have asserted dominance over the nation after its independence from France in 1946. Amid the rising influence within the country’s politics and military forces, Hafez al-Assad became president after the military coup in 1970. He remained in power until his death in 2000. His son Bashar al-Assad then followed his father’s footsteps, becoming the president in an authoritarian rule until his fall, which marked the end of Alawite dominance in Syria's governance. While Alawites have roots in Shia Islam, they practice distinct rituals and beliefs from Sunni and mainstream Shia. The Alawite faith venerates Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. It has elements of other faiths including Christian, Gnostic, Neoplatonic, and Zoroastrian. Alawites interpret the five Pillars of Islam symbolically and observe Christian, Islamic, and Alawite holidays. Also read | What's next for Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster? Their practices and secretive nature of faith have alienated them from the other mainstream Muslim groups, who often label them as infidels. Their beliefs include reincarnation and a divine Trinity. The Alawites benefitted under Assad family rule, becoming synonymous with power in the country where they were minorities. However, not all Alawites were in support of Assad. Despite their influence, a large section of the community faced economic challenges and did not profit from Assad’s rule. After the fall of Assad, Alawites are struck with shock and confusion as their future remains uncertain during the shifting political landscape of the country, which has resulted in a loss of their influence. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Who are the Alawites, Assad's community, who dominated Syria despite being a minority?

A pride parade in Johannesburg was an effort by members of the LGBTQ plus Community to raise a voice against discrimination. Watch the glimpses of the parade.

Johannesburg: Hundreds Gather For Colourful Pride March

One year on, the war in Gaza rages little is left of the enclave, which was once home to 2.3 million. In our top story we ask, why global diplomacy has failed Gaza?

Israel-Gaza War: Over 365 Days Of Gaza War

An Israeli airstrike on Thursday hit Rafida School in central Gaza, which was sheltering displaced people, killing at least 28 and injuring 54 others, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The school, located near the Palestine Red Crescent Society headquarters in Deir Al-Balah, became the target of the strike. Gaza's Health Ministry condemned the attack, calling it a "new massacre" and reported that the victims were taken to nearby hospitals. Al Jazeera confirmed the casualties, emphasizing the devastating impact on civilians in the conflict-ridden area.

Israel-Gaza War: Israeli Airstrike Targets Gaza School Sheltering Displaced People

Some 1,200 members of an indigenous community have become the first people in Panama to be displaced by climate change. They received new government-sponsored homes on the mainland.

Climate change displaces community in Panama

In the small town of Fort Morgan, Colorado migrants are building quiet lives far from big cities like New York, Chicago and Denver. Some migrants have described their stay at Fort Morgan as Soul healing. Let's take a look.

Fort Morgan migrant community a home for everyone

In a setback for migrants seeking refuge in the United States, the US Supreme Court has voted to keep Title 42 in place. The Trump-era policy blocked thousands of people from crossing the US-Mexico border. Title 42 gives the US government power automatically expel undocumented migrants seeking entry inside the country.

U.S. Supreme Court rules to keep Title 42 in place

Members of the Rastafarian community proudly wear dreadlocks. The number of Rastafarians in Sudan is however unknown. The whiff of freedom after the fall of Omar Al Bashir enabled many Rastas to thrive. However, it did not last as a post-Bashir transition to civilian rule was upended last year when army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan led a military coup. The community doesn’t want to go back to largely living underground. They have vowed to fight on.

World of Africa: Fighting stereotype in Sudan

<p>Twitter current chief Elon Musk and its co-founder Jack Dorsey engaged in a war of words on Monday over the social media platform’s vision and the “Birdwatch” feature.</p>

<p>The verbal tussle between the two began when Musk earlier argued that Twitter should become the platform that provides accurate information.</p>

<p>"Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That's our mission," Musk tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That’s our mission.</p>
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<p>“Accurate to who?” Dorsey asked.</p>

<p>To which the 51-year-old billionaire replied, “As judged by the people of Twitter via Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch).”</p>

<p>This was when the former Twitter CEO expressed dislike over the name “Community Notes”.</p>

<p>I still think...Birdwatch is a far better name. And 'more informative' a far better goal," Dorsey responded.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I still think…Birdwatch is a far better name<br />
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And “more informative” a far better goal</p>
— jack (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/1589449670337916931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Elon Musk shot back saying, “Birdwatch gives me the creeps”, inviting a sharp retort from Dorsey&nbsp;who said, “Community notes is the most boring Facebook name ever.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Elon Musk to introduce a new feature on Twitter, UN urges CEO to ensure respect of human rights</strong></p>

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<p>Twitter’s "Community Notes program (formerly called Birdwatch) helps tackle misinformation by adding comments to relevant posts if people with a wide range of opinions find them "helpful."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-issues-warning-to-twitter-parody-account-users-531739" hreflang="en">Elon Musk issues warning to Twitter parody account users</a></p>

<p>Musk earlier said that the tool has "incredible potential for improving information accuracy" on Twitter.</p>

<p>Birdwatch notes was launched as a pilot programme in January 2021. It became available to the public in October.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yup-says-elon-musk-when-user-claims-twitter-employees-asked-for-usd-15k-for-blue-tick-531703" hreflang="en">'Yup', says Elon Musk when user claims Twitter employees asked for USD 15k for blue tick</a></p>

<p>According to Twitter, the feature "allows people to identify information in Tweets they believe is misleading and write notes that provide informative context."</p>

<p>"We believe this approach has the potential to respond quickly when misleading information spreads, adding context that people trust and find valuable," Twitter Vice President of Product Keith Coleman wrote in a blog post.</p>

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Twitter current chief Elon Musk and its co-founder Jack Dorsey engaged in a war of words on Monday over the social media platform’s vision and the “Birdwatch” feature.

Twitter current chief Elon Musk and its co-founder Jack Dorsey engaged in a war of words on Monday over the social media platform’s vision and the “Birdwatch” feature. The verbal tussle between the two began when Musk earlier argued that Twitter should become the platform that provides accurate information. "Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That's our mission," Musk tweeted. Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That’s our mission. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022 × “Accurate to who?” Dorsey asked. To which the 51-year-old billionaire replied, “As judged by the people of Twitter via Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch).” This was when the former Twitter CEO expressed dislike over the name “Community Notes”. I still think...Birdwatch is a far better name. And 'more informative' a far better goal," Dorsey responded. I still think…Birdwatch is a far better name And “more informative” a far better goal — jack (@jack) November 7, 2022 × Elon Musk shot back saying, “Birdwatch gives me the creeps”, inviting a sharp retort from Dorsey who said, “Community notes is the most boring Facebook name ever.” Watch | Elon Musk to introduce a new feature on Twitter, UN urges CEO to ensure respect of human rights Twitter’s "Community Notes program (formerly called Birdwatch) helps tackle misinformation by adding comments to relevant posts if people with a wide range of opinions find them "helpful." Also read | Elon Musk issues warning to Twitter parody account users Musk earlier said that the tool has "incredible potential for improving information accuracy" on Twitter. Birdwatch notes was launched as a pilot programme in January 2021. It became available to the public in October. Also read | 'Yup', says Elon Musk when user claims Twitter employees asked for USD 15k for blue tick According to Twitter, the feature "allows people to identify information in Tweets they believe is misleading and write notes that provide informative context." "We believe this approach has the potential to respond quickly when misleading information spreads, adding context that people trust and find valuable," Twitter Vice President of Product Keith Coleman wrote in a blog post. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Twitter boss Elon Musk and co-founder Jack Dorsey spar over new feature

<p>Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News, was detained by Delhi Police on Monday on suspicion of inciting hatred and denigrating religion.</p>

<p>According to Delhi Police, Zubair was charged with violating Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153A (promotion of animosity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).</p>

<p>Police said that a complaint was made against the co-founder due to a tweet made by Zubair via Twitter.</p>

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<p>Pratik Sinha, co-founder of Alt News, commented on his colleague's arrest and wrote on Twitter, "Zubair was called today by special cell, Delhi for investigation in a case for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court."</p>

<p>The Delhi Police, officials said on Tuesday that his "objectionable tweet of 2018 led to a Twitter storm with hate speeches, detrimental to communal harmony".</p>

<p>"In such cases, finding the gadget used to post such tweets and the intention behind posting such a tweet is important. During questioning, he has been evasive on both the fronts. We found out that his phone was formatted. His evasiveness formed the grounds for his arrest," said KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Fusion &amp; Strategic Operations).</p>

<p>According to the police, the case was opened following a Twitter user's accusation that Zubair had offended religious sensitivities.</p>

<p>On Monday, Sinha claimed that Zubair had been detained under portions of the law that required notification from the police before his detention, but that notice had not been given.<br />
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Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News, was detained by Delhi Police on Monday on suspicion of inciting hatred and denigrating religion. According to Delhi Police, Zubair was charged with violating Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153A (promotion of animosity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News, was detained by Delhi Police on Monday on suspicion of inciting hatred and denigrating religion. According to Delhi Police, Zubair was charged with violating Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153A (promotion of animosity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). Police said that a complaint was made against the co-founder due to a tweet made by Zubair via Twitter. "Transmission and publication of such posts has been deliberately done by Mohammed Zubair through electronic media to insult the religious feelings of a particular community with intent to provoke breach of peace," an excerpt from the FIR copy, reads. × Pratik Sinha, co-founder of Alt News, commented on his colleague's arrest and wrote on Twitter, "Zubair was called today by special cell, Delhi for investigation in a case for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court." The Delhi Police, officials said on Tuesday that his "objectionable tweet of 2018 led to a Twitter storm with hate speeches, detrimental to communal harmony". "In such cases, finding the gadget used to post such tweets and the intention behind posting such a tweet is important. During questioning, he has been evasive on both the fronts. We found out that his phone was formatted. His evasiveness formed the grounds for his arrest," said KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations). According to the police, the case was opened following a Twitter user's accusation that Zubair had offended religious sensitivities. On Monday, Sinha claimed that Zubair had been detained under portions of the law that required notification from the police before his detention, but that notice had not been given. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian journalist Mohammed Zubair held for posts 'that insult religious feeling': Police

<p>Realising the true importance of Covid shots, seven gang leaders in New Zealand have joined forces in a four-minute video to urge communities to get vaccinated. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>These leaders represent four of the countries’ most well-known street gangs. The concept seems to have been conjured up by a government minister. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-vaccine-for-children-us-gives-final-nod-to-pfizer-jabs-for-5-11-age-group-426324" hreflang="en">COVID-19 vaccine for children: US gives final nod to Pfizer jabs for 5-11 age group</a></strong></p>

<p>After a discussion with gang leaders, the video was commissioned by the Minister for Maori development, Willie Jackson. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>The leaders had provided footage that was edited by Jackson’s son, Hikurangi, reported the Herald. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Denis O’Reilly, who joined Black Power gang at the age of 19, said, he had “taken a few shots” in his time, including the two shots of Covid vaccine. He has asked his community “to do the same”. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-origins-china-says-us-report-without-credibility-intelligence-services-known-for-fraud-and-deception-426094" hreflang="en">China says US Covid origin report 'without credibility'</a></strong></p>

<p>Harry Tam of Mongrel Mob, said, “This is not all about gangs, this is all about our whānau (family)."</p>

<p>"One thing we need to be clear about is that this is not about the government telling us, it is about the experts telling the government, that is getting us to vaccinate to protect ourselves.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is a “no-brainer”, said fellow member Dennis Makalio. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>


Realising the true importance of Covid shots, seven gang leaders in New Zealand have joined forces in a four-minute video to urge communities to get vaccinated. These leaders represent four of the countries’ most well-known street gangs.

Realising the true importance of Covid shots, seven gang leaders in New Zealand have joined forces in a four-minute video to urge communities to get vaccinated. These leaders represent four of the countries’ most well-known street gangs. The concept seems to have been conjured up by a government minister. Also Read: COVID-19 vaccine for children: US gives final nod to Pfizer jabs for 5-11 age group After a discussion with gang leaders, the video was commissioned by the Minister for Maori development, Willie Jackson. The leaders had provided footage that was edited by Jackson’s son, Hikurangi, reported the Herald. Denis O’Reilly, who joined Black Power gang at the age of 19, said, he had “taken a few shots” in his time, including the two shots of Covid vaccine. He has asked his community “to do the same”. Also Read: China says US Covid origin report 'without credibility' Harry Tam of Mongrel Mob, said, “This is not all about gangs, this is all about our whānau (family)." "One thing we need to be clear about is that this is not about the government telling us, it is about the experts telling the government, that is getting us to vaccinate to protect ourselves.” It is a “no-brainer”, said fellow member Dennis Makalio. (With inputs from agencies)

Street gang leaders unite, urge community to get Covid jab in New Zealand

<p>Community groups in Australia's Covid-hit cities are battling misinformation in multiple languages as they race to vaccinate a way out of "traumatic" lockdowns.</p>

<p>Beneath the minarets of a mosque in west Sydney, 500 people are booked in for vaccine appointments at a pop-up clinic -- part of a burgeoning network of initiatives by minority communities trying to fill a void left by Australia's mostly Anglo-centric officialdom.</p>

<p>For many, it is the longest time they have been out of their homes in weeks.</p>

<p>"They just want to go back to work, they want to go back to life," said Omar Moussawel, one of those getting jabbed to end Sydney's nearly three month lockdown.</p>

<p>When Sydney's outbreak began in late June, a lack of doses made national vaccination efforts tortuously slow.</p>

<p>Myths, fears and outright misinformation -- notably about the AstraZeneca vaccine -- were allowed to spread largely unchallenged.</p>

<p>Khaled Kamalmaz, a health coordinator with the Lebanese Muslim Association, remembers such misinformation spreading rapidly across languages.</p>

<p>"We've had to step in and, you know, try to change the narrative," Kamalmaz said.</p>

<p>The group enlisted sheikhs and religious leaders to get themselves jabbed as an example and to counter damaging misinformation. Communities also partnered with local government authorities increasingly aware of the issue.</p>

<p>Quinn On, a pharmacist serving Sydney's large Chinese and Vietnamese communities, saw a similar problem.</p>

<p>"Word of mouth is very powerful in this area," he told AFP. "There's a big elderly population in this area that is still very reluctant to have the vaccination, especially with the AstraZeneca."</p>

<p>Andre Renzaho from Western Sydney University's Translational Health Research Institute believes "the government still hasn't played enough role to dispel those myths."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/another-successful-rescue-flight-from-afghanistan-saves-32-people-from-talibans-rule-412230"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Another successful rescue flight from Afghanistan saves 32 people from Taliban's rule</strong></a></p>

<p>"I can guarantee the impact of WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok within CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities is far greater than government can imagine," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Turnaround&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The pandemic continues to impact the rich and poor differently, exposing racial, ethnic and cultural divides that may take a long time to bridge.</p>

<p>"It's much more traumatic than last year," said Peter Doukas, chair of the Ethnic Communities Council of New South Wales.</p>

<p>In Melbourne, five million residents are currently in the city's sixth lockdown since the pandemic began.</p>

<p>Many residents in hard-hit areas cannot work from home and have tight-knit family groups that rely on each other for even the most basic of needs.</p>

<p>During the city's worst outbreak in July 2020, Mohamud Omar, 31, was among hundreds of public housing tower residents placed under "hard lockdown".</p>

<p>He spent five days in his apartment with his wife and then one-year-old child, unable to leave his home for any reason.</p>

<p>With no way to get access to culturally appropriate food and supplies for his family, he relied on local community organisations.</p>

<p>"We were treated differently. The government must take responsibility and apologise," he said.</p>

<p>But even as Sydney's outbreak has worsened, spiralling into over a thousand cases a day, there are signs community efforts are working.</p>

<p>Vaccine hesitancy has slowly given way to demand.</p>

<p>New South Wales now leads the country on vaccination rates, and is weeks away from reaching 70 percent of adults being fully vaccinated, allowing lockdown to end.</p>

<p>Areas with large minority populations are among those leading the vaccination charge.</p>

<p>On and his team delivered over 3,000 jabs in under a month.</p>

<p>Moustafa Fahour, the founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia has been making hundreds of calls daily with a small team of volunteers, helping people access everything from government support to homeschooling tips.</p>

<p>"The community is standing up in their own right, and some with the support of government, to really combat and tackle the language gaps."</p>


Community groups in Australia's Covid-hit cities are battling misinformation in multiple languages as they race to vaccinate a way out of "traumatic" lockdowns. Beneath the minarets of a mosque in west Sydney, 500 people are booked in for vaccine appointments at a pop-up clinic -- part of a burgeoning network of initiatives by minority communities trying to fill a void left by Australia's mostly Anglo-centric officialdom.

Community groups in Australia's Covid-hit cities are battling misinformation in multiple languages as they race to vaccinate a way out of "traumatic" lockdowns. Beneath the minarets of a mosque in west Sydney, 500 people are booked in for vaccine appointments at a pop-up clinic -- part of a burgeoning network of initiatives by minority communities trying to fill a void left by Australia's mostly Anglo-centric officialdom. For many, it is the longest time they have been out of their homes in weeks. "They just want to go back to work, they want to go back to life," said Omar Moussawel, one of those getting jabbed to end Sydney's nearly three month lockdown. When Sydney's outbreak began in late June, a lack of doses made national vaccination efforts tortuously slow. Myths, fears and outright misinformation -- notably about the AstraZeneca vaccine -- were allowed to spread largely unchallenged. Khaled Kamalmaz, a health coordinator with the Lebanese Muslim Association, remembers such misinformation spreading rapidly across languages. "We've had to step in and, you know, try to change the narrative," Kamalmaz said. The group enlisted sheikhs and religious leaders to get themselves jabbed as an example and to counter damaging misinformation. Communities also partnered with local government authorities increasingly aware of the issue. Quinn On, a pharmacist serving Sydney's large Chinese and Vietnamese communities, saw a similar problem. "Word of mouth is very powerful in this area," he told AFP. "There's a big elderly population in this area that is still very reluctant to have the vaccination, especially with the AstraZeneca." Andre Renzaho from Western Sydney University's Translational Health Research Institute believes "the government still hasn't played enough role to dispel those myths." Also read | Another successful rescue flight from Afghanistan saves 32 people from Taliban's rule "I can guarantee the impact of WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok within CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities is far greater than government can imagine," he said. Turnaround The pandemic continues to impact the rich and poor differently, exposing racial, ethnic and cultural divides that may take a long time to bridge. "It's much more traumatic than last year," said Peter Doukas, chair of the Ethnic Communities Council of New South Wales. In Melbourne, five million residents are currently in the city's sixth lockdown since the pandemic began. Many residents in hard-hit areas cannot work from home and have tight-knit family groups that rely on each other for even the most basic of needs. During the city's worst outbreak in July 2020, Mohamud Omar, 31, was among hundreds of public housing tower residents placed under "hard lockdown". He spent five days in his apartment with his wife and then one-year-old child, unable to leave his home for any reason. With no way to get access to culturally appropriate food and supplies for his family, he relied on local community organisations. "We were treated differently. The government must take responsibility and apologise," he said. But even as Sydney's outbreak has worsened, spiralling into over a thousand cases a day, there are signs community efforts are working. Vaccine hesitancy has slowly given way to demand. New South Wales now leads the country on vaccination rates, and is weeks away from reaching 70 percent of adults being fully vaccinated, allowing lockdown to end. Areas with large minority populations are among those leading the vaccination charge. On and his team delivered over 3,000 jabs in under a month. Moustafa Fahour, the founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia has been making hundreds of calls daily with a small team of volunteers, helping people access everything from government support to homeschooling tips. "The community is standing up in their own right, and some with the support of government, to really combat and tackle the language gaps."

Community groups set pace in Australia's vaccination race

<p>The first transgender contestant in South Africa's national beauty pageant, 24-year-old Lehlogonolo Machaba hopes she will inspire greater acceptance of the LGBTQI community.</p>

<p>Machaba, a fashion model, is competing for the Miss South Africa title, which opened to transgender contestants in 2019.</p>

<p>"Being the first is a bit overwhelming and I'm also anxious that people do know now that I'm a trans woman," Machaba said.</p>

<p>South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is legal and which enshrines LGBTQI rights in its constitution. People can change their identity in the national birth register.</p>

<p>However, violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex people in South Africa has escalated, with more than 10 people killed in attacks this year, and social stigma and discrimination remains strong.</p>

<p>Machaba said she expected to be stigmatised for putting a spotlight on issues transgender people face, but that the killing of a close friend in a hate crime had given her strength to fight.</p>

<p>"I'm here to fight for my community, not necessarily in a physical manner, but through words," she said.</p>

<p>"It would mean a lot for me as a trans woman to win Miss South Africa but also I believe it would mean a lot for the queer community in South Africa. It would show that South Africa is breaking boundaries," she said.</p>


The first transgender contestant in South Africa's national beauty pageant, 24-year-old Lehlogonolo Machaba hopes she will inspire greater acceptance of the LGBTQI community.

The first transgender contestant in South Africa's national beauty pageant, 24-year-old Lehlogonolo Machaba hopes she will inspire greater acceptance of the LGBTQI community. Machaba, a fashion model, is competing for the Miss South Africa title, which opened to transgender contestants in 2019. "Being the first is a bit overwhelming and I'm also anxious that people do know now that I'm a trans woman," Machaba said. South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is legal and which enshrines LGBTQI rights in its constitution. People can change their identity in the national birth register. However, violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex people in South Africa has escalated, with more than 10 people killed in attacks this year, and social stigma and discrimination remains strong. Machaba said she expected to be stigmatised for putting a spotlight on issues transgender people face, but that the killing of a close friend in a hate crime had given her strength to fight. "I'm here to fight for my community, not necessarily in a physical manner, but through words," she said. "It would mean a lot for me as a trans woman to win Miss South Africa but also I believe it would mean a lot for the queer community in South Africa. It would show that South Africa is breaking boundaries," she said.

‘Fighting for my community’: Meet miss South Africa's first transgender contestant 

George Floyd. The name over and over again. That's what traveling artist Renda Writer envisioned as his tribute to Floyd on a large blank wall.

Traveling muralist pays tribute to George Floyd

Activists put out a call online on Tuesday for local artists to come beautify the boarded up businesses. By Wednesday, several dozen artists were spray-painting murals and slogans in support of anti-police brutality protests, Black Lives Matter, and George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis last month by a white police officer who pinned him down with his knee.

Oakland artists use boarded-up windows for murals to show support

<p>English as a language has been part of many debates in the post-colonial era.</p>

<p>Even though English is often derided as a colonial legacy, it continues to be the language of choice for many Indians.</p>

<p>Many British political leaders from across the pond are pandering to the Indian diaspora during campaigns. For instance, the British election campaigns boasts of songs in Hindi, by echoing the word ''Boris ko jitaana hai'' (We must make Boris win).</p>

<p>This has increasingly become a pattern whereby the Indian diaspora is reshaping political fortunes and emerging as the most sought after group.</p>

<p>The ''Conservative Friends of India'' in London released a Conservative Indian Campaign video to promote British PM Boris Johnson.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video was released after Boris Johnson and his girlfriend's visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple, where he made a keynote address to the British Indian community, just days ahead of the United Kingdom general election.</p>

<p>The duo was flanked by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, a prominent British Indian politician.</p>

<p>At the temple, Johnson performed a puja and hailed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his promise of ''New India''.</p>

<p>Johnson asserted that there was no place for anti-Indian sentiment in the United Kingdom.</p>

<p>If Johnson's strategy involves a temple run, his rival Jeremy Corbyn used Diwali celebrations.</p>

<p>Appeasing the Indian diaspora, the largest in the world, and appealing to Indian sentiments is now a global pattern.</p>

<p>The highest recipient of remittances, the Indian diaspora has political heft in several countries.</p>

<p>Even in the recent Canada elections, all the parties targetted the Indian diaspora.</p>

<p>In the United States, the competition for the 'Indian' advantage is a visible feature.</p>

<p>The Indian government too has actively engaged to leverage the diaspora.</p>

<p>On the one hand, countries are now realising the importance of Indians as political fortunes of parties are swayed by this influential vote bank.</p>

<p>It also gives a hedge to the Indian government, for the role of India in global politics and economics will rise further in this century.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


English as a language has been part of many debates in the post-colonial era. Even though English is often derided as a colonial legacy, it continues to be the language of choice for many Indians.

English as a language has been part of many debates in the post-colonial era. Even though English is often derided as a colonial legacy, it continues to be the language of choice for many Indians. Many British political leaders from across the pond are pandering to the Indian diaspora during campaigns. For instance, the British election campaigns boasts of songs in Hindi, by echoing the word ''Boris ko jitaana hai'' (We must make Boris win). This has increasingly become a pattern whereby the Indian diaspora is reshaping political fortunes and emerging as the most sought after group. The ''Conservative Friends of India'' in London released a Conservative Indian Campaign video to promote British PM Boris Johnson. The video was released after Boris Johnson and his girlfriend's visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple, where he made a keynote address to the British Indian community, just days ahead of the United Kingdom general election. The duo was flanked by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, a prominent British Indian politician. At the temple, Johnson performed a puja and hailed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his promise of ''New India''. Johnson asserted that there was no place for anti-Indian sentiment in the United Kingdom. If Johnson's strategy involves a temple run, his rival Jeremy Corbyn used Diwali celebrations. Appeasing the Indian diaspora, the largest in the world, and appealing to Indian sentiments is now a global pattern. The highest recipient of remittances, the Indian diaspora has political heft in several countries. Even in the recent Canada elections, all the parties targetted the Indian diaspora. In the United States, the competition for the 'Indian' advantage is a visible feature. The Indian government too has actively engaged to leverage the diaspora. On the one hand, countries are now realising the importance of Indians as political fortunes of parties are swayed by this influential vote bank. It also gives a hedge to the Indian government, for the role of India in global politics and economics will rise further in this century.

Boris Johnson visits Hindu temple in bid to pander to British-Indian community

Democratic Republic Of Congo in Africa has detected its third Ebola case in less than a month. Watch the full video to know more. #EbolaOutbreak #DRCongoPatient

Third Ebola case detected in DR Congo

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Solving parenting problems with technology: The<a href="http://www.socialweaver.co"> Social Weaver Story</a></strong></p>

<p>Sumedha Khoche was a marketing professional who was busy building multi-billion dollar brands for P&amp;G, when her life changed forever in 2012. With the arrival of her first child, followed by the second one a few years later, time acquired a whole new meaning. What also changed was&nbsp;how&nbsp;she spent her time.</p>

<p>Spending hours looking through multiple sites to find information became a process that was frustrating and very time-consuming. From basic, everyday things like where to buy a stroller or a birthday cake for her son, to bigger decisions like which paediatrician or pre-school to choose for her daughter, she found that there just wasn&rsquo;t a one-stop solution to getting this information online. &ldquo;When I was trying to organise my daughter&rsquo;s first birthday celebration, the experience was frustrating; I spent days trying to figure out a caterer and couldn&rsquo;t compare any options. The time, effort and cost were just not what my uber-generation is used to!&rdquo; she says.</p>

<p>What she needed, she realised, was a reliable resource that combined information relevant to her with local community knowledge. As she began talking to other parents, starting with her childhood friend Kaivalya Gundu - a tech professional with years of experience in product management and business analysis - she realised that it was not a problem she faced alone; this seemed to be a common problem for many parents in Singapore and it soon emerged that it was a viable business opportunity for South East Asia as well.</p>

<p>As avid travellers, both Khoche and Gundu had always loved the value and simplicity of sites like Tripadvisor, which made travel planning such a breeze. And this was what they needed: a &lsquo;tripadvisor for parents&rsquo;, that could make local parenting decisions as simple and straightforward. When they test-drove the idea of creating such a platform, the response was resoundingly positive. It was an a-ha moment.</p>

<p>Finally, in 2017, along with Kaivalya Gundu, Khoche decided to take the plunge and launch Social Weaver.</p>

<p><strong>What is Social Weaver?</strong></p>

<p>Named after the Social Weaverbird, which builds spectacular community nests, this platform aims at being an online &lsquo;nest&rsquo; of parenting wisdom. It is a one-stop, reliable content-community-commerce platform that allows you to discover and book local services, write in queries and review products or services through any web or mobile device. It has a curated database of 4000 recommended service providers in Singapore, spread across a hundred categories, so the answers to your parenting queries from pregnancy to pre-school and beyond are only a click away.</p>

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<p>&ldquo;Social Weaver as an idea is very relatable. Being the parent of a 6-year-old myself, I could completely relate to the problem that we were trying to solve by building a one-stop solution for all parenting needs,&rdquo; says Gundu, who is the CPO.</p>

<p>The site also aims to be the go-to marketplace for service providers to connect with parents, making their own associated marketing and administration processes much more efficient and effective. &ldquo;Ultimately, our mission is to help parents spend more time with their kids and less time researching online. We want to make the discovery and booking of great services instant and fuss-free, so we simplify the process for both parents and service providers,&rdquo; adds CEO Khoche.</p>

<p>For time-starved and stressed young parents today, having access to relevant information, local community knowledge and the experiences and practical tips for other parents is invaluable. As nuclear families grow, young mums and dads are feeling the pressure of having to tackle parenting without support and wisdom of an older generation. But Social Weaver is here to fill that gap.</p>

<p><strong>Friends in business, making it work</strong></p>

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<p>25 years ago, when two little girls living next door to each other decided to start a business - a lending library for kids - it didn&#39;t quite go as planned. &ldquo;Most of the books didn&rsquo;t come back. But that&rsquo;s because we didn&rsquo;t have defined processes and roles at the time, so we couldn&rsquo;t work it out effectively,&rdquo; laughs Khoche. This time around, however, these two friends have set the ground rules for their business from the start.</p>

<p>That, they say, is very important when working in a team.</p>

<p>While they are both co-founders, each of them is solving her own unique problem, but with the same goal in mind. For Khoche, as CEO, resource allocation and getting the right processes in place is key. She drives the vision for the company, while as CPO, Gundu defines and manages the end-to-end functionality of the product and works directly with the tech team. Both work together to develop the roadmap for the business based on market needs. &ldquo;We are both interested in the best product that we can build, to help parents save time. So we are on the same page and we do this by keeping the lines of communication open. We respect each other&rsquo;s opinions,&rdquo; says Khoche. &nbsp;</p>

<p>But starting a business with a close friend can be a tricky thing. Did either of them any reservations?</p>

<p>Having been involved with the idea right from its inception - by being Khoche&rsquo;s voice of reason through the process of setting up the company and participating in all the initial surveys - quitting her own corporate job to join Social Weaver as a co-founder and CPO was a very natural step for Gundu. &ldquo;It helps that she (Khoche) is very professional and transparent. And the trust was there from the start. She really does her homework and doesn&rsquo;t do anything she is not passionate about, so I know that whatever she does is with the aim of adding value. For me, the standard fears one would normally have when joining a start-up were not there,&rdquo; Gundu says.</p>

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<p>Gundu has always been Khoche&rsquo;s sounding board and because they have known each other for so many years and been through a lot together, they recognise each other&rsquo;s strengths. So the mutual trust that you might not have with a normal business partner was already there.</p>

<p>Although they have their fair share of arguments - which they feel is also healthy - they are both committed to driving Social Weaver in the same direction, working not as two individuals but as one. &ldquo;Kaivalya knows the processes because she has a tech background; she knows both the business side and the tech side. She knows how to spot bugs early, is a fantastic software tester and is very good at customising user cases,&rdquo; says Khoche, &ldquo;and this is core to our business when we are trying to build something scalable. She&rsquo;s very detail orientated, whereas I tend to be more macro in my approach. We have different temperaments, but we are similar in the way we work.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Lessons from corporate life</strong></p>

<p>The life of an entrepreneur has not been without its challenges. But both these women at the helm of Social Weaver feel that the experiences and skills they gained from working for bigger companies have given them a huge advantage in dealing with these situations.</p>

<p>Khoche says that, during her time at P&amp;G and Pepsico, she learnt end-to-end marketing, from making sales calls &amp; helping distributors with their ROI, to understanding consumer insights, brand launches, TV commercials and digital marketing. But more than that, she learnt to put people first. &ldquo;In the last 10 years, I have met thousands of parents across Asia - literally lived their lives and walked in their shoes and it&rsquo;s been such a humbling experience. For one, you stop seeing only numbers on a spreadsheet but see people, their joys and their challenges and get inspired to make their life better in a small yet meaningful way. Even when we designed Social Weaver, the starting point was in-depth research with parents across South-East Asia so we could create something that put their needs first.&rdquo;</p>

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<p>Working in Indian start-ups as well as with financial giants such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America, Gundu, on the other hand, was often challenged by engineers who couldn&#39;t see why she &ndash; without a background in engineering &ndash; was managing them. &ldquo;I learnt to read the code, even though I couldn&rsquo;t write it,&rdquo; she says. She also had to deal with slow decision-making processes and lot of uncertainty, which she now says helps her face start-up issues with ease.</p>

<p>The most critical and lasting lesson they have learnt from corporate life, however, has been the respect for people and the focus on doing the right thing. &ldquo;We are starting Social Weaver on the foundation of these values and will percolate in all aspects of our operations,&rdquo; affirms Khoche. Gundu adds they have also learnt not to be apologetic about what they are doing. &ldquo;We are here because we are trying to achieve something. We wanted to be part of something that was going to bring about a change, so we are very confident in what we are doing and are not fazed by put-downs,&rdquo; she says. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Challenging the future</strong></p>

<p>While there have been issues like technical snags, bugs in the system and delays in timelines &ndash; issues that every start-up faces - the growing team at Social Weaver is enthusiastic about the future. &ldquo;I am lucky to have my childhood friend as a partner with me on this journey. I&rsquo;m proud of the team and what they&rsquo;ve accomplished in such a short span of time. We have also been fortunate to have a great set of angel investors who also bring a lot of experience and knowledge to the table,&rdquo; says Khoche.</p>

<p>So far, the beta learnings have proved to be invaluable; the site has had more than 19,000 page views so far and over 5,000 parents are following them on social media, even before their launch. There are many exciting developments, such as a mobile app, cool new CRM features and chatbots in the pipeline for the future.</p>


Social Weaver is unique because it combines a large data bank with local community knowledge and relevant content to help parents make decisions

Solving parenting problems with technology: The Social Weaver Story Sumedha Khoche was a marketing professional who was busy building multi-billion dollar brands for P&G, when her life changed forever in 2012. With the arrival of her first child, followed by the second one a few years later, time acquired a whole new meaning. What also changed was how she spent her time. Spending hours looking through multiple sites to find information became a process that was frustrating and very time-consuming. From basic, everyday things like where to buy a stroller or a birthday cake for her son, to bigger decisions like which paediatrician or pre-school to choose for her daughter, she found that there just wasn’t a one-stop solution to getting this information online. “When I was trying to organise my daughter’s first birthday celebration, the experience was frustrating; I spent days trying to figure out a caterer and couldn’t compare any options. The time, effort and cost were just not what my uber-generation is used to!” she says. What she needed, she realised, was a reliable resource that combined information relevant to her with local community knowledge. As she began talking to other parents, starting with her childhood friend Kaivalya Gundu - a tech professional with years of experience in product management and business analysis - she realised that it was not a problem she faced alone; this seemed to be a common problem for many parents in Singapore and it soon emerged that it was a viable business opportunity for South East Asia as well. As avid travellers, both Khoche and Gundu had always loved the value and simplicity of sites like Tripadvisor, which made travel planning such a breeze. And this was what they needed: a ‘tripadvisor for parents’, that could make local parenting decisions as simple and straightforward. When they test-drove the idea of creating such a platform, the response was resoundingly positive. It was an a-ha moment. Finally, in 2017, along with Kaivalya Gundu, Khoche decided to take the plunge and launch Social Weaver. What is Social Weaver? Named after the Social Weaverbird, which builds spectacular community nests, this platform aims at being an online ‘nest’ of parenting wisdom. It is a one-stop, reliable content-community-commerce platform that allows you to discover and book local services, write in queries and review products or services through any web or mobile device. It has a curated database of 4000 recommended service providers in Singapore, spread across a hundred categories, so the answers to your parenting queries from pregnancy to pre-school and beyond are only a click away. The site also aims to be the go-to marketplace for service providers to connect with parents, making their own associated marketing and administration processes much more efficient and effective. × “Social Weaver as an idea is very relatable. Being the parent of a 6-year-old myself, I could completely relate to the problem that we were trying to solve by building a one-stop solution for all parenting needs,” says Gundu, who is the CPO. The site also aims to be the go-to marketplace for service providers to connect with parents, making their own associated marketing and administration processes much more efficient and effective. “Ultimately, our mission is to help parents spend more time with their kids and less time researching online. We want to make the discovery and booking of great services instant and fuss-free, so we simplify the process for both parents and service providers,” adds CEO Khoche. For time-starved and stressed young parents today, having access to relevant information, local community knowledge and the experiences and practical tips for other parents is invaluable. As nuclear families grow, young mums and dads are feeling the pressure of having to tackle parenting without support and wisdom of an older generation. But Social Weaver is here to fill that gap. Friends in business, making it work Starting a business with a close friend can be a tricky thing. × 25 years ago, when two little girls living next door to each other decided to start a business - a lending library for kids - it didn't quite go as planned. “Most of the books didn’t come back. But that’s because we didn’t have defined processes and roles at the time, so we couldn’t work it out effectively,” laughs Khoche. This time around, however, these two friends have set the ground rules for their business from the start. That, they say, is very important when working in a team. While they are both co-founders, each of them is solving her own unique problem, but with the same goal in mind. For Khoche, as CEO, resource allocation and getting the right processes in place is key. She drives the vision for the company, while as CPO, Gundu defines and manages the end-to-end functionality of the product and works directly with the tech team. Both work together to develop the roadmap for the business based on market needs. “We are both interested in the best product that we can build, to help parents save time. So we are on the same page and we do this by keeping the lines of communication open. We respect each other’s opinions,” says Khoche. But starting a business with a close friend can be a tricky thing. Did either of them any reservations? Having been involved with the idea right from its inception - by being Khoche’s voice of reason through the process of setting up the company and participating in all the initial surveys - quitting her own corporate job to join Social Weaver as a co-founder and CPO was a very natural step for Gundu. “It helps that she (Khoche) is very professional and transparent. And the trust was there from the start. She really does her homework and doesn’t do anything she is not passionate about, so I know that whatever she does is with the aim of adding value. For me, the standard fears one would normally have when joining a start-up were not there,” Gundu says. The experiences and skills they gained from working for bigger companies have given them a huge advantage in dealing with these situations. × Gundu has always been Khoche’s sounding board and because they have known each other for so many years and been through a lot together, they recognise each other’s strengths. So the mutual trust that you might not have with a normal business partner was already there. Although they have their fair share of arguments - which they feel is also healthy - they are both committed to driving Social Weaver in the same direction, working not as two individuals but as one. “Kaivalya knows the processes because she has a tech background; she knows both the business side and the tech side. She knows how to spot bugs early, is a fantastic software tester and is very good at customising user cases,” says Khoche, “and this is core to our business when we are trying to build something scalable. She’s very detail orientated, whereas I tend to be more macro in my approach. We have different temperaments, but we are similar in the way we work.” Lessons from corporate life The life of an entrepreneur has not been without its challenges. But both these women at the helm of Social Weaver feel that the experiences and skills they gained from working for bigger companies have given them a huge advantage in dealing with these situations. Khoche says that, during her time at P&G and Pepsico, she learnt end-to-end marketing, from making sales calls & helping distributors with their ROI, to understanding consumer insights, brand launches, TV commercials and digital marketing. But more than that, she learnt to put people first. “In the last 10 years, I have met thousands of parents across Asia - literally lived their lives and walked in their shoes and it’s been such a humbling experience. For one, you stop seeing only numbers on a spreadsheet but see people, their joys and their challenges and get inspired to make their life better in a small yet meaningful way. Even when we designed Social Weaver, the starting point was in-depth research with parents across South-East Asia so we could create something that put their needs first.” The most critical and lasting lesson they have learnt from corporate life, however, has been the respect for people and the focus on doing the right thing. × Working in Indian start-ups as well as with financial giants such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America, Gundu, on the other hand, was often challenged by engineers who couldn't see why she – without a background in engineering – was managing them. “I learnt to read the code, even though I couldn’t write it,” she says. She also had to deal with slow decision-making processes and lot of uncertainty, which she now says helps her face start-up issues with ease. The most critical and lasting lesson they have learnt from corporate life, however, has been the respect for people and the focus on doing the right thing. “We are starting Social Weaver on the foundation of these values and will percolate in all aspects of our operations,” affirms Khoche. Gundu adds they have also learnt not to be apologetic about what they are doing. “We are here because we are trying to achieve something. We wanted to be part of something that was going to bring about a change, so we are very confident in what we are doing and are not fazed by put-downs,” she says. Challenging the future While there have been issues like technical snags, bugs in the system and delays in timelines – issues that every start-up faces - the growing team at Social Weaver is enthusiastic about the future. “I am lucky to have my childhood friend as a partner with me on this journey. I’m proud of the team and what they’ve accomplished in such a short span of time. We have also been fortunate to have a great set of angel investors who also bring a lot of experience and knowledge to the table,” says Khoche. So far, the beta learnings have proved to be invaluable; the site has had more than 19,000 page views so far and over 5,000 parents are following them on social media, even before their launch. There are many exciting developments, such as a mobile app, cool new CRM features and chatbots in the pipeline for the future.

How an online platform is making parenting easy

<p>As the Rohingya crisis burns through Rakhine state, it&#39;s interesting to note that in September 2014, the government granted citizenship to 209 Muslims, who included members of the Kaman minority (Muslims saw as native to the country) and the Rohingya. The process of giving them citizenship marked the culmination of a project aimed at determining the identity of a little over one million Rohingya whose claims to nationality had been rejected in the past.&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Each of the green cards bore an identification number, the name of the holder, gender, date of birth, marital status and other details in Burmese and English.</h5>
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<p>Even more interesting, this was done when Myanmar was under Thein Sein, an ex-general who ran a nominally civilian government. In fact, the very next year, &quot;green cards&quot; were issued to Rohingya Muslims in 13 townships in Rakhine state. Immigration officials said the cards were intended to help those who wanted to apply for citizenship. Each of the green cards bore an identification number, the name of the holder, gender, date of birth, marital status and other details in Burmese and English. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>Around 700,000 of these cards were distributed to those who held &quot;white cards&quot;, which were temporary identification cards. The white cards had been issued by the former military junta for the 2010 elections (which saw Thein Sein&#39;s nominally civilian government come to power). &nbsp;An army-backed party won seats in areas where a sizeable number of white card holders were living.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So, despite the past history of violence, there was a sense within the government that Myanmar needed to be fair to the Rohingya (although they still referred to them as Bengali Muslims, meaning they were illegal Bangladeshi immigrants).&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the tensions between the majority Buddhists in Rakhine state and the minority Rohingya are of long-standing, the question is whether the spike in violence against the Rohingya and their massive exodus to Bangladesh can be traced to the new climate of freedom. &nbsp;</p>

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<h5>A former Indian ambassador to Myanmar suspects there could be elements of the military involved in stoking violence against the Rohingya to destabilise the civilian government and smear Aung San Suu Kyi personally.</h5>
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<p>A former Indian ambassador to Myanmar suspects there could be elements of the military involved in stoking violence against the Rohingya to destabilise the civilian government and smear Aung San Suu Kyi personally. There&#39;s no doubt her government has moved slowly to address the status of the Rohingya, who were not allowed to vote in the 2016 election. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>A peace conference in August last year to which all the ethnic groups were invited, saw no Rohingya presence. To her credit, Suu Kyi did set up the Kofi Annan panel to review tensions in Rakhine state and offer recommendations. Word <strong>is</strong> she told them to &quot;be bold&quot;. The panel has made its recommendations, the doubts are about implementation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Is the Rohingya a high priority for the government as it figures out how to keep the military in good humour and tackle multiple insurgencies. A ceasefire agreement signed in October 2015 had only some of the ethnic insurgents on board, the United Wa State Army and the Kachin Independence Army remain on the warpath. Add to that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army which is reported to have joined hands with the two groups already mentioned to attack the army. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Suu Kyi&#39;s intentions may be good but she is a prisoner of the compromises she has to make as a politician if she is to survive.&nbsp;</h5>
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<p>Any move by Suu Kyi to give justice to the Rohingya will also need to take into account the fact that there is little sympathy for that community among the public. Suu Kyi&#39;s intentions may be good but she is a prisoner of the compromises she has to make as a politician if she is to survive.&nbsp;</p>


Suu Kyi is a prisoner of the compromises she has to make as a politician if she is to survive.?

As the Rohingya crisis burns through Rakhine state, it's interesting to note that in September 2014, the government granted citizenship to 209 Muslims, who included members of the Kaman minority (Muslims saw as native to the country) and the Rohingya. The process of giving them citizenship marked the culmination of a project aimed at determining the identity of a little over one million Rohingya whose claims to nationality had been rejected in the past. Each of the green cards bore an identification number, the name of the holder, gender, date of birth, marital status and other details in Burmese and English. × Even more interesting, this was done when Myanmar was under Thein Sein, an ex-general who ran a nominally civilian government. In fact, the very next year, "green cards" were issued to Rohingya Muslims in 13 townships in Rakhine state. Immigration officials said the cards were intended to help those who wanted to apply for citizenship. Each of the green cards bore an identification number, the name of the holder, gender, date of birth, marital status and other details in Burmese and English. Around 700,000 of these cards were distributed to those who held "white cards", which were temporary identification cards. The white cards had been issued by the former military junta for the 2010 elections (which saw Thein Sein's nominally civilian government come to power). An army-backed party won seats in areas where a sizeable number of white card holders were living. So, despite the past history of violence, there was a sense within the government that Myanmar needed to be fair to the Rohingya (although they still referred to them as Bengali Muslims, meaning they were illegal Bangladeshi immigrants). While the tensions between the majority Buddhists in Rakhine state and the minority Rohingya are of long-standing, the question is whether the spike in violence against the Rohingya and their massive exodus to Bangladesh can be traced to the new climate of freedom. A former Indian ambassador to Myanmar suspects there could be elements of the military involved in stoking violence against the Rohingya to destabilise the civilian government and smear Aung San Suu Kyi personally. × A former Indian ambassador to Myanmar suspects there could be elements of the military involved in stoking violence against the Rohingya to destabilise the civilian government and smear Aung San Suu Kyi personally. There's no doubt her government has moved slowly to address the status of the Rohingya, who were not allowed to vote in the 2016 election. A peace conference in August last year to which all the ethnic groups were invited, saw no Rohingya presence. To her credit, Suu Kyi did set up the Kofi Annan panel to review tensions in Rakhine state and offer recommendations. Word is she told them to "be bold". The panel has made its recommendations, the doubts are about implementation. Is the Rohingya a high priority for the government as it figures out how to keep the military in good humour and tackle multiple insurgencies. A ceasefire agreement signed in October 2015 had only some of the ethnic insurgents on board, the United Wa State Army and the Kachin Independence Army remain on the warpath. Add to that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army which is reported to have joined hands with the two groups already mentioned to attack the army. Suu Kyi's intentions may be good but she is a prisoner of the compromises she has to make as a politician if she is to survive. × Any move by Suu Kyi to give justice to the Rohingya will also need to take into account the fact that there is little sympathy for that community among the public. Suu Kyi's intentions may be good but she is a prisoner of the compromises she has to make as a politician if she is to survive.

Why Aung San Suu Kyi is silent on the Rohingyas

<p>The leaders of Muslim and gay rights groups in Chicago, one of America&#39;s biggest cities, on Monday joined forces to slam Donald Trump in the wake of the Orlando massacre, saying now was not a time for divisions.<br />
<br />
On June 12, 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at a gay nightclub in the central Florida city. The shooter Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Muslim American of Afghan descent, was killed in a shootout with police.<br />
<br />
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has since renewed calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and controversially suggested on Sunday that profiling of Muslims was not off the table.<br />
<br />
In Chicago, which has both a large Muslim population and a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, leaders said Trump&#39;s comment were divisive and unproductive.<br />
<br />
&quot;We&#39;re scared, because it starts rhetorically, and then more people accept it if you don&#39;t nip it in the bud,&quot; Ahmed Rehab, the leader of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told AFP.<br />
<br />
&quot;If common sense doesn&#39;t step in right now, people are capable of mass hysteria, and he is fanning those flames,&quot; he said, speaking of Trump.<br />
<br />
Rehab said there was fear in Chicago&#39;s Muslim community, one of the largest in the United States, that they could potentially become targets of hate crimes.<br />
<br />
In the past week, there have been two threats emailed and phoned into area mosques, he said.<br />
<br />
&quot;There is never a time to divide Americans, and of course that is especially true at a time of deep national pain,&quot; James Bennett of Lambda Legal, an LGBT group, told a press conference.<br />
<br />
Rehab told reporters that his group and Lambda Legal planned to meet every two weeks with the goal of making &quot;clear statements on a mutual agenda of equal civil rights of all people regardless of their background.&quot;<br />
<br />
Bennett chimed in: &quot;I would encourage people to watch Chicago&#39;s example.&quot;<br />
<br />
<strong>Sending a message</strong><br />
<br />
Illinois is home to an estimated 400,000 Muslims and 370,000 LGBT people, most of them located in the greater Chicago area, which has a population of about 5.2 million people.<br />
<br />
&quot;We&#39;re trying to send a message that this is not the time to try to pit communities against each other,&quot; said Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, a gay rights group.<br />
<br />
&quot;Any public official or media personality who says such things that would not only suggest divides, but suggest putting in place actual divides, is deeply concerning,&quot; Johnson told AFP.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, Trump said profiling of Muslims, and racial profiling more generally, was &quot;not the worst thing to do.&quot;<br />
<br />
&quot;I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to use common sense. We&#39;re not using common sense,&quot; Trump said.<br />
<br />
African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and other minorities in the United States have complained bitterly for decades about the practice in which police use a person&#39;s race, religion, national origin or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting them of committing a crime.<br />
<br />
&quot;He questions Muslims&#39; assimilation into America. I question his assimilation into our American values,&quot; Rehab said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(AFP)</p>


'There is never a time to divide Americans and that is especially true at a time of deep national pain,' they said

The leaders of Muslim and gay rights groups in Chicago, one of America's biggest cities, on Monday joined forces to slam Donald Trump in the wake of the Orlando massacre, saying now was not a time for divisions. On June 12, 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at a gay nightclub in the central Florida city. The shooter Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Muslim American of Afghan descent, was killed in a shootout with police. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has since renewed calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and controversially suggested on Sunday that profiling of Muslims was not off the table. In Chicago, which has both a large Muslim population and a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, leaders said Trump's comment were divisive and unproductive. "We're scared, because it starts rhetorically, and then more people accept it if you don't nip it in the bud," Ahmed Rehab, the leader of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told AFP. "If common sense doesn't step in right now, people are capable of mass hysteria, and he is fanning those flames," he said, speaking of Trump. Rehab said there was fear in Chicago's Muslim community, one of the largest in the United States, that they could potentially become targets of hate crimes. In the past week, there have been two threats emailed and phoned into area mosques, he said. "There is never a time to divide Americans, and of course that is especially true at a time of deep national pain," James Bennett of Lambda Legal, an LGBT group, told a press conference. Rehab told reporters that his group and Lambda Legal planned to meet every two weeks with the goal of making "clear statements on a mutual agenda of equal civil rights of all people regardless of their background." Bennett chimed in: "I would encourage people to watch Chicago's example." Sending a message Illinois is home to an estimated 400,000 Muslims and 370,000 LGBT people, most of them located in the greater Chicago area, which has a population of about 5.2 million people. "We're trying to send a message that this is not the time to try to pit communities against each other," said Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, a gay rights group. "Any public official or media personality who says such things that would not only suggest divides, but suggest putting in place actual divides, is deeply concerning," Johnson told AFP. On Sunday, Trump said profiling of Muslims, and racial profiling more generally, was "not the worst thing to do." "I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to use common sense. We're not using common sense," Trump said. African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and other minorities in the United States have complained bitterly for decades about the practice in which police use a person's race, religion, national origin or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting them of committing a crime. "He questions Muslims' assimilation into America. I question his assimilation into our American values," Rehab said. (AFP)

In Chicago, Muslim and gay rights leaders take on Trump

Natives of the world have their own way of living, distant from the rest. These are some 7 indigenous tribes from South Asia that are almost near- extinction: &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li><strong>Veddas</strong></li>
</ul>
&lsquo;The Forest People&rsquo; or Veddas are indigenous to Sri Lanka. Their language Vedda, is now extinct and the tribe speaks Sinhala and Tamil. They practise the religion of animism, worshipping the spirit of nature. The area&rsquo;s last cave dwellers worship dead ancestors, called Nae Yaku. The hunt gatherers also have a peculiar deity unique to them named Kande Yakka, spirit of the mountain or rock.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/sri-20160921110620.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Veddas, Sri Lanka<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>
</div>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Jarawa</strong></li>
</ul>
One of the Adivasi indigenous peoples of the Andaman Islands in India, Jarawas are considered to be one of the most isolated natives in the world. Away from prying eyes earlier, they used to stay naked at all times with some adornments in the form of accessories made of palm leaves and sea shells. Currently, they are just 250-400 in number.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/jarawa-20160921110919.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Jarawa, India</p>
</div>
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><strong>Kalash</strong></li>
</ul>
Indo-Aryan indigenous people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, can easily be clubbed under the country&rsquo;s smallest religion. A unique group, the Kalash people are polytheists who lay emphasis on nature and offer sacrifices as a part of their culture. Their mythology and folklore has been compared by researchers to that of ancient Greece but are closer to Indo-Iranian traditions. They also have their own, distinct language.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/kalash-20160921111307.jpeg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Kalash, Pakistan</p>
</div>
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><strong>Naga</strong></li>
</ul>
A collection of several tribes, Nagas are native to north-eastern India and north-western Myanmar. They speak some 89 distinct languages, all part of Tibeto-Burman family. Nagas are expert craftsmen and each tribe has a unique way of constructing their house. Till 1969, Nagas also used to engage in headhunting, preserving the heads of their enemies as trophies.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/naga1-20160921111631.jpeg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Naga, India</p>
</div>
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><strong>Lhop</strong></li>
</ul>
A small tribe of southwest Bhutan, The Lhop or Doya people are said to be the aboriginal inhabitants of the country. They trace their descent matrilineally and marry their cross cousins. Currently 2,500 in number, the tribe speaks Tibeto-Burmese language. Their religion is Tibetan Buddhism mixed with animism and they embalm their deceased who are then placed in a foetal position in a circular adorned coffin, above the ground.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/lhop-20160921112024.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Bhutan<br />
&nbsp;</p>
</div>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Bodo</strong></li>
</ul>
Indigenous to Nepal and north-eastern India, Bodos are a silkworm rearing tribe. All families have their own silkworms and girls learn how to spin silk at a young age. Weaving also forms an integral part of their culture. The Bodos are a strong-knit community and practice a form of forefather worship called Obonglaoree.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/bodo-20160921114552.jpeg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Bodo tribal dance, Nepal</p>
</div>
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><strong>Giraavaru</strong></li>
</ul>
Native to Giraavaru Island in Maldives, the same named tribe were essentially those considered to be of lower caste than the others. Consequently due to isolation, they developed a series of heritable genetic disorders. The tribe is strictly monogamous and prohibits divorce. It is usually seen to be headed by a woman called Foolhuma-Dhaitha. They also wear unique necklaces of tiny blue beads, not seen on any other tribe.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/maldives1-20160921115809.jpeg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Maldives dance</p>
</div>
<br />
Every South Asian country has various indigenous tribes of its own making it rich in cultures and traditions.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)</em>

Isolated from the world, married to their uniqueness and caught in a time warp

Natives of the world have their own way of living, distant from the rest. These are some 7 indigenous tribes from South Asia that are almost near- extinction: Veddas ‘The Forest People’ or Veddas are indigenous to Sri Lanka. Their language Vedda, is now extinct and the tribe speaks Sinhala and Tamil. They practise the religion of animism, worshipping the spirit of nature. The area’s last cave dwellers worship dead ancestors, called Nae Yaku. The hunt gatherers also have a peculiar deity unique to them named Kande Yakka, spirit of the mountain or rock. Veddas, Sri Lanka Jarawa One of the Adivasi indigenous peoples of the Andaman Islands in India, Jarawas are considered to be one of the most isolated natives in the world. Away from prying eyes earlier, they used to stay naked at all times with some adornments in the form of accessories made of palm leaves and sea shells. Currently, they are just 250-400 in number. Jarawa, India Kalash Indo-Aryan indigenous people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, can easily be clubbed under the country’s smallest religion. A unique group, the Kalash people are polytheists who lay emphasis on nature and offer sacrifices as a part of their culture. Their mythology and folklore has been compared by researchers to that of ancient Greece but are closer to Indo-Iranian traditions. They also have their own, distinct language. Kalash, Pakistan Naga A collection of several tribes, Nagas are native to north-eastern India and north-western Myanmar. They speak some 89 distinct languages, all part of Tibeto-Burman family. Nagas are expert craftsmen and each tribe has a unique way of constructing their house. Till 1969, Nagas also used to engage in headhunting, preserving the heads of their enemies as trophies. Naga, India Lhop A small tribe of southwest Bhutan, The Lhop or Doya people are said to be the aboriginal inhabitants of the country. They trace their descent matrilineally and marry their cross cousins. Currently 2,500 in number, the tribe speaks Tibeto-Burmese language. Their religion is Tibetan Buddhism mixed with animism and they embalm their deceased who are then placed in a foetal position in a circular adorned coffin, above the ground. Bhutan Bodo Indigenous to Nepal and north-eastern India, Bodos are a silkworm rearing tribe. All families have their own silkworms and girls learn how to spin silk at a young age. Weaving also forms an integral part of their culture. The Bodos are a strong-knit community and practice a form of forefather worship called Obonglaoree. Bodo tribal dance, Nepal Giraavaru Native to Giraavaru Island in Maldives, the same named tribe were essentially those considered to be of lower caste than the others. Consequently due to isolation, they developed a series of heritable genetic disorders. The tribe is strictly monogamous and prohibits divorce. It is usually seen to be headed by a woman called Foolhuma-Dhaitha. They also wear unique necklaces of tiny blue beads, not seen on any other tribe. Maldives dance Every South Asian country has various indigenous tribes of its own making it rich in cultures and traditions. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

7 unique indigenous tribes of South Asia

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