The United States has agreed to assist in settling the conflict in Sudan at the request of Saudi Arabia. Sudan’s army chief has confirmed his readiness to cooperate with both the US and Saudi Arabia, signaling a possible breakthrough in ongoing peace efforts.

US to Assist Sudan Peace Efforts at Saudi Arabia’s Request

In a bizarre study, scientists have observed that pythons may eventually prove helpful in curing heart diseases like cardiac fibrosis.

Scientists have observed that after devouring its prey, the heart of the python grows 25 per cent in the first 24 hours and eventually the cardiac tissue softens and the organ doubles its pulse.

In this process, many specialised genes come into action and boost the metabolism of the snake. Two weeks after the food has been digested, all the systems go back to normal and the heart remains slightly larger and stronger.&nbsp;

According to CU Boulder researchers, this process can lead to the creation of novel treatments for someone suffering from human heart conditions like cardiac fibrosis, in which heart tissue gets stiffened.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/snake-alert-huge-python-swallows-woman-partner-finds-her-legs-in-reptiles-mouth-737450">Snake alert! Huge python swallows woman, partner finds her legs in reptile’s mouth</a>

"Pythons can go months or even a year in the wild without eating and then consume something greater than their own body mass, yet nothing bad happens to them," said senior author Leslie Leinwand.

Leinwand is the chief scientific officer of the BioFrontiers Institute and professor of molecular, cellular and&nbsp;developmental biology&nbsp;at CU Boulder.

"We believe they possess mechanisms that protect their hearts from things that would be harmful to humans. This study goes a long way toward mapping out what those are," Leinwand said.

<h2>Here's how reptiles will help cure human heart</h2>

Leinwand began studying the pythons around two decades ago and her lab is among the few who are looking into non-venomous reptiles to find ways in which human health can be improved.

"Most people who use animal models to study disease and health typically focus on rats and mice, but there is a lot to learn from animals like pythons that have evolved ways to survive in extreme environments," Leinwand said.

In humans, there are two kinds of heart growth, said Leinwand. There are healthy hearts which have chronic endurance and unhealthy ones which have the disease.

Watch:&nbsp;Rising sea temperatures put the lives of animals in Galapagos Islands endangered

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rising-sea-temperatures-put-the-lives-of-animals-in-galapagos-islands-endangered-745654/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Pythons, similar to elite athletes, are good at healthy heart growth.

In the study carried out, the pythons were fasted for 28 days and then given a meal of 25% of their&nbsp;body weight after which they were compared to the snakes who had not been fed.

It was observed that the hearts of the well-fed snakes grew and the specialised bundles of cardiac muscle known as myofibrils, which help the heart expand and contract, had turned radically soft and contracted with around 50 per cent greater force.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a bizarre study, scientists have observed that pythons may eventually prove helpful in curing heart diseases like cardiac fibrosis. Scientists have observed that after devouring its prey, the heart of the python grows 25 per cent in the first 24 hours and eventually the cardiac tissue softens and the organ doubles its pulse.

In a bizarre study, scientists have observed that pythons may eventually prove helpful in curing heart diseases like cardiac fibrosis. Scientists have observed that after devouring its prey, the heart of the python grows 25 per cent in the first 24 hours and eventually the cardiac tissue softens and the organ doubles its pulse. In this process, many specialised genes come into action and boost the metabolism of the snake. Two weeks after the food has been digested, all the systems go back to normal and the heart remains slightly larger and stronger. According to CU Boulder researchers, this process can lead to the creation of novel treatments for someone suffering from human heart conditions like cardiac fibrosis, in which heart tissue gets stiffened. Also Read: Snake alert! Huge python swallows woman, partner finds her legs in reptile’s mouth "Pythons can go months or even a year in the wild without eating and then consume something greater than their own body mass, yet nothing bad happens to them," said senior author Leslie Leinwand. Leinwand is the chief scientific officer of the BioFrontiers Institute and professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CU Boulder. "We believe they possess mechanisms that protect their hearts from things that would be harmful to humans. This study goes a long way toward mapping out what those are," Leinwand said. Here's how reptiles will help cure human heart Leinwand began studying the pythons around two decades ago and her lab is among the few who are looking into non-venomous reptiles to find ways in which human health can be improved. "Most people who use animal models to study disease and health typically focus on rats and mice, but there is a lot to learn from animals like pythons that have evolved ways to survive in extreme environments," Leinwand said. In humans, there are two kinds of heart growth, said Leinwand. There are healthy hearts which have chronic endurance and unhealthy ones which have the disease. Watch: Rising sea temperatures put the lives of animals in Galapagos Islands endangered Pythons, similar to elite athletes, are good at healthy heart growth. In the study carried out, the pythons were fasted for 28 days and then given a meal of 25% of their body weight after which they were compared to the snakes who had not been fed. It was observed that the hearts of the well-fed snakes grew and the specialised bundles of cardiac muscle known as myofibrils, which help the heart expand and contract, had turned radically soft and contracted with around 50 per cent greater force. (With inputs from agencies)

Pythons may help in curing heart diseases, hints study

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in the United Arab Emirates. With this visit, he is seeking to bolden economic relations with the Emirates nation. Watch to know more.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives in UAE on two-day visit

The wife of pro-democracy figure Kyaw Min Yu, sentenced to be executed on the orders of Myanmar's ruling generals, says that if her husband dies he will take with him the beliefs he has carried throughout a life spent fighting dictatorship.

Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Jimmy, and former lawmaker and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw are set to be the first people since 1988 to be executed judicially in Myanmar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-calls-foreign-outrage-over-activists-death-sentence-reckless-and-interfering-485928">Myanmar calls foreign outrage over activists death sentence 'reckless and interfering'</a>

They were sentenced to death in January for treason and terrorism in a closed-doors trial, accused of helping militias to fight the army that seized power last year and unleashed a bloody crackdown on its opponents.

The military has not said when they would be hanged, but speculation is rife in Myanmar that the executions are imminent.

The planned executions have been strongly condemned abroad and two U.N. experts have called them a "vile attempt at instilling fear" among the people.

Kyaw Min Yu's wife, Nilar Thein, said her husband, a political prisoner for 18 years under Myanmar's last military dictatorship, was being made an example of for refusing to cooperate with his captors.

"He would never trade his political beliefs with anything. He will continue to stand by his beliefs," Nilar Thein, who is in hiding, told Reuters by phone.

"Ko Jimmy will continue to live in our hearts."

Watch |&nbsp;First judicial execution in decades: Myanmar to execute four people

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/first-judicial-execution-in-decades-myanmar-to-execute-four-people-484934/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Kyaw Min Yu, 53, and Phyo Zeya Thaw, a 41-year-old ally of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, lost their appeal earlier this month.

It is not clear how they pleaded in their trial, nor the extent of their alleged involvement in the resistance movement, which is fighting what it calls a "people's defensive war" against the junta.

Asked if Kyaw Min Yu was involved, his wife said she would not acknowledge the military's portrayal of him, but said the whole country was involved in a revolt, against the generals' "terrorist acts".

'Systematic Attack'

Several foreign governments, including the United States and France, and rights groups have fiercely criticised the planned executions.

"The world must not lose sight of the fact that these death sentences are being meted out in the context of the military murdering civilians nearly every day in its widespread and systematic attack on the people of Myanmar," said Tom Andrews, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and Morris Tidball-Binz, U.N. Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial summary or arbitrary executions.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said it has documented 114 people sentenced to death in Myanmar since the February 2021 coup, in what it called secretive tribunals with "lightning convictions" aimed to chill dissent.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), appealed in a letter this month to junta leader Min Aung Hlaing not to carry out the executions, relaying deep concern among Myanmar's neighbours.

The junta has signalled it will not back down and has called Western criticism "reckless and interfering".&nbsp;

On Thursday, its spokesperson said the sentence was appropriate.

"Required actions are needed to be done in the required moments," Zaw Min Tun told a news conference.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/myanmar-junta-to-carry-out-countrys-first-judicial-executions-in-more-than-three-decades-484817">Myanmar junta to carry out country’s first judicial executions in more than three decades</a>

Phyo Zeya Thaw's wife said the two men were targeted because of their status among a youth movement that held months of anti-coup demonstrations last year. She said the decision to resume executions would be a test of international support for the opposition, and appealed for foreign intervention.

"The junta is trying to kill the revolution," Thazin Nyunt Aung told Reuters by phone from an undisclosed location.

"We have been fighting this revolution with the mindset that we have nothing but ourselves. Now, we have started to question whether we have the world with us or not," she said.

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The wife of pro-democracy figure Kyaw Min Yu, sentenced to be executed on the orders of Myanmar's ruling generals, says that if her husband dies he will take with him the beliefs he has carried throughout a life spent fighting dictatorship.

The wife of pro-democracy figure Kyaw Min Yu, sentenced to be executed on the orders of Myanmar's ruling generals, says that if her husband dies he will take with him the beliefs he has carried throughout a life spent fighting dictatorship. Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Jimmy, and former lawmaker and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw are set to be the first people since 1988 to be executed judicially in Myanmar. Also read | Myanmar calls foreign outrage over activists death sentence 'reckless and interfering' They were sentenced to death in January for treason and terrorism in a closed-doors trial, accused of helping militias to fight the army that seized power last year and unleashed a bloody crackdown on its opponents. The military has not said when they would be hanged, but speculation is rife in Myanmar that the executions are imminent. The planned executions have been strongly condemned abroad and two U.N. experts have called them a "vile attempt at instilling fear" among the people. Kyaw Min Yu's wife, Nilar Thein, said her husband, a political prisoner for 18 years under Myanmar's last military dictatorship, was being made an example of for refusing to cooperate with his captors. "He would never trade his political beliefs with anything. He will continue to stand by his beliefs," Nilar Thein, who is in hiding, told Reuters by phone. "Ko Jimmy will continue to live in our hearts." Watch | First judicial execution in decades: Myanmar to execute four people Kyaw Min Yu, 53, and Phyo Zeya Thaw, a 41-year-old ally of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, lost their appeal earlier this month. It is not clear how they pleaded in their trial, nor the extent of their alleged involvement in the resistance movement, which is fighting what it calls a "people's defensive war" against the junta. Asked if Kyaw Min Yu was involved, his wife said she would not acknowledge the military's portrayal of him, but said the whole country was involved in a revolt, against the generals' "terrorist acts". 'Systematic Attack' Several foreign governments, including the United States and France, and rights groups have fiercely criticised the planned executions. "The world must not lose sight of the fact that these death sentences are being meted out in the context of the military murdering civilians nearly every day in its widespread and systematic attack on the people of Myanmar," said Tom Andrews, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and Morris Tidball-Binz, U.N. Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial summary or arbitrary executions. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said it has documented 114 people sentenced to death in Myanmar since the February 2021 coup, in what it called secretive tribunals with "lightning convictions" aimed to chill dissent. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), appealed in a letter this month to junta leader Min Aung Hlaing not to carry out the executions, relaying deep concern among Myanmar's neighbours. The junta has signalled it will not back down and has called Western criticism "reckless and interfering". On Thursday, its spokesperson said the sentence was appropriate. "Required actions are needed to be done in the required moments," Zaw Min Tun told a news conference. Also read | Myanmar junta to carry out country’s first judicial executions in more than three decades Phyo Zeya Thaw's wife said the two men were targeted because of their status among a youth movement that held months of anti-coup demonstrations last year. She said the decision to resume executions would be a test of international support for the opposition, and appealed for foreign intervention. "The junta is trying to kill the revolution," Thazin Nyunt Aung told Reuters by phone from an undisclosed location. "We have been fighting this revolution with the mindset that we have nothing but ourselves. Now, we have started to question whether we have the world with us or not," she said. 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.

Pleas for help as Myanmar awaits high-profile executions

Spanish club Real Madrid will donate one million euros ($1.10 million) to help those displaced in Ukraine following Russia`s invasion, the LaLiga leaders said on Wednesday.

Real said the funds would be donated to the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other organisations working on the ground in Ukraine.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atletico-madrid-win-at-old-trafford-to-knock-out-cristiano-ronaldo-starrer-manchester-united-462773">Atletico Madrid win at Old Trafford to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Manchester United</a>

The UNHCR said approximately 2.97 million refugees have so far fled Ukraine, roughly 7% of the country's population, since Russia's invasion began on Feb. 24.

Spanish club Real Madrid will donate one million euros ($1.10 million) to help those displaced in Ukraine following Russia`s invasion, the LaLiga leaders said on Wednesday.

Spanish club Real Madrid will donate one million euros ($1.10 million) to help those displaced in Ukraine following Russia`s invasion, the LaLiga leaders said on Wednesday. Real said the funds would be donated to the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other organisations working on the ground in Ukraine. ALSO READ: Atletico Madrid win at Old Trafford to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Manchester United The UNHCR said approximately 2.97 million refugees have so far fled Ukraine, roughly 7% of the country's population, since Russia's invasion began on Feb. 24.

Real Madrid to donate one million euros to help displaced in Ukraine amid Russia's invasion

If a child plays action video games for as little as two hours per week, it is highly likely to improve his or her reading ability, found a study carried out by a team of researchers in Italy and Switzerland. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The study, which was published in ‘Nature Human Behaviour’ journal on Monday, segregated 150 Italian schoolchildren in the age group of eight to 12 into two groups. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-fish-oils-rancid-in-us-is-yours-fresh-445685" hreflang="en">Several fish oils ‘rancid’ in US. Is yours fresh?</a>

One group was told to play an action video game the researchers had created and the other group was asked to play a video game, which was designed to teach children how to code. &nbsp;

The researchers ensured that the children played the games for around two hours per week. At school, they were supervised for a period of six weeks. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/look-up-to-witness-magnificent-wolf-moon-in-us-check-out-the-timing-445636" hreflang="en">‘Look up’ to witness magnificent ‘Wolf Moon’ in US. Check out the timing</a>

It was found that the children, who had played the action game, showed great improvement in the reading speed, reading accuracy and attention to detail. The children, who played the coding game, did not show the same. &nbsp;

Angela Pasqualotto, first author of the study and a PhD student at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Trento in Italy, said, “We found a seven-fold improvement in attentional control in the children, who played the action video game compared to the other control group.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

If a child plays action video games for as little as two hours per week, it is highly likely to improve his or her reading ability, found a study carried out by a team of researchers in Italy and Switzerland.

If a child plays action video games for as little as two hours per week, it is highly likely to improve his or her reading ability, found a study carried out by a team of researchers in Italy and Switzerland. The study, which was published in ‘Nature Human Behaviour’ journal on Monday, segregated 150 Italian schoolchildren in the age group of eight to 12 into two groups. Also Read: Several fish oils ‘rancid’ in US. Is yours fresh? One group was told to play an action video game the researchers had created and the other group was asked to play a video game, which was designed to teach children how to code. The researchers ensured that the children played the games for around two hours per week. At school, they were supervised for a period of six weeks. Also Read: ‘Look up’ to witness magnificent ‘Wolf Moon’ in US. Check out the timing It was found that the children, who had played the action game, showed great improvement in the reading speed, reading accuracy and attention to detail. The children, who played the coding game, did not show the same. Angela Pasqualotto, first author of the study and a PhD student at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Trento in Italy, said, “We found a seven-fold improvement in attentional control in the children, who played the action video game compared to the other control group.” (With inputs from agencies)

Playing action video games can help improve reading ability in children, finds study

During a prolonged lockdown in Malaysia,&nbsp;the #benderaputih (white flag) campaign has gained momentum on social media. It seeks to&nbsp;encourage people to help others in distress.

A 73-year-old Malaysian woman Hadijah Neamat, recently hung a scrap of white cloth outside her window to get help as she was&nbsp;struggling to cope during the coronavirus-induced&nbsp;lockdown.

Seeing the flag,&nbsp;a neighbour came by to offer her food and other items&nbsp;shortly. 
 
Hadijah, who lives in a densely populated district of Petaling Jaya in Selangor state near the capital, Kuala Lumpur, said,&nbsp;she was surprised by the act of generosity on her doorstep.

Hadijah's husband, Mohd Rusni Kahman, 59, has a disability and has not been able to work since losing his job last year. 
 
Malaysia has reported more than 785,000 cases of COVID-19, the third-highest tally in Southeast Asia, and has been in lockdown since June 1. 
 
The pandemic has put a particular strain on low-income families, with reports of many forced to ration food. 
 
In response to the white flag campaign, neighbours, businesses, politicians and even celebrities have stepped in to donate. 
 
"It takes a lot of courage (to display the white flag)... Because it's actually telling everyone that you... can't manage," lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah told Reuters. 
 
"But I think I take it positively - it's something that this country actually needs because we can't cover everybody. So it's good that... you indicate that you need help and we'll come to you," she said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

During a prolonged lockdown in Malaysia, the #benderaputih (white flag) campaign has gained momentum on social media. It seeks to encourage people to help others in distress.

During a prolonged lockdown in Malaysia, the #benderaputih (white flag) campaign has gained momentum on social media. It seeks to encourage people to help others in distress. A 73-year-old Malaysian woman Hadijah Neamat, recently hung a scrap of white cloth outside her window to get help as she was struggling to cope during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Seeing the flag, a neighbour came by to offer her food and other items shortly. Hadijah, who lives in a densely populated district of Petaling Jaya in Selangor state near the capital, Kuala Lumpur, said, she was surprised by the act of generosity on her doorstep. Hadijah's husband, Mohd Rusni Kahman, 59, has a disability and has not been able to work since losing his job last year. Malaysia has reported more than 785,000 cases of COVID-19, the third-highest tally in Southeast Asia, and has been in lockdown since June 1. The pandemic has put a particular strain on low-income families, with reports of many forced to ration food. In response to the white flag campaign, neighbours, businesses, politicians and even celebrities have stepped in to donate. "It takes a lot of courage (to display the white flag)... Because it's actually telling everyone that you... can't manage," lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah told Reuters. "But I think I take it positively - it's something that this country actually needs because we can't cover everybody. So it's good that... you indicate that you need help and we'll come to you," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Malaysians turn to white flags to seek help as lockdown torments

The United Nations launched an appeal on Tuesday for $29.2 million to help some 15,000 people displaced when the La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent erupted earlier this month.&nbsp;

"We are in a dire situation frankly ... We're not out of the woods," St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told reporters, adding that scientists had warned eruptions could last another six months. &nbsp;

The volcano erupted on April 9 after decades of inactivity, spewing dark clouds of ash some 10 km (6 miles) into the air and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. The volcano has continued to rumble and vent ash.&nbsp;

Didier Trebucq, the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, visited the affected areas two days ago with Gonsalves and described the scene as "apocalyptic." He said the UN appeal was to scale up assistance for six months.&nbsp;

St Vincent and the Grenadines, which has a population of just over 100,000, has not experienced volcanic activity since 1979, when an eruption resulted in about $100 million in damages. An eruption by La Soufriere in 1902 killed more than 1,000 people. The name means 'sulfur outlet' in French.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United Nations launched an appeal on Tuesday for $29.2 million to help some 15,000 people displaced when the La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent erupted earlier this month.

The United Nations launched an appeal on Tuesday for $29.2 million to help some 15,000 people displaced when the La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent erupted earlier this month. "We are in a dire situation frankly ... We're not out of the woods," St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told reporters, adding that scientists had warned eruptions could last another six months. The volcano erupted on April 9 after decades of inactivity, spewing dark clouds of ash some 10 km (6 miles) into the air and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. The volcano has continued to rumble and vent ash. Didier Trebucq, the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, visited the affected areas two days ago with Gonsalves and described the scene as "apocalyptic." He said the UN appeal was to scale up assistance for six months. St Vincent and the Grenadines, which has a population of just over 100,000, has not experienced volcanic activity since 1979, when an eruption resulted in about $100 million in damages. An eruption by La Soufriere in 1902 killed more than 1,000 people. The name means 'sulfur outlet' in French. (With inputs from agencies)

UN asks for $29.2 million to help after Caribbean volcano eruption 

NATO and the West must act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, saying further sanctions against Moscow and more military help to Kyiv could help. &nbsp;

"At the operational level, we need measures which will deter Russia and which will contain its aggressive intentions. This could be ... a new round of sanctions which would raise the price of Russian aggression," Kuleba told a news conference at NATO alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.&nbsp;

"This could be direct support aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities. Because we do know that Russia spares no effort to prevent third countries from cooperating with Ukraine in the defence sector. Russia is working hard to undermine our defence capabilities."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the Western alliance, and not Moscow, would decide whether Ukraine joins in the future.&nbsp;

"It is for the 30 NATO allies to decide when Ukraine is ready for membership. No one else has any right to try to meddle or to interfere in that process," Stoltenberg told a news conference alongside Kyiv's top diplomat.&nbsp;

"Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbours can do," Stoltenberg said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

NATO and the West must act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, saying further sanctions against Moscow and more military help to Kyiv could help.

NATO and the West must act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, saying further sanctions against Moscow and more military help to Kyiv could help. "At the operational level, we need measures which will deter Russia and which will contain its aggressive intentions. This could be ... a new round of sanctions which would raise the price of Russian aggression," Kuleba told a news conference at NATO alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. "This could be direct support aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities. Because we do know that Russia spares no effort to prevent third countries from cooperating with Ukraine in the defence sector. Russia is working hard to undermine our defence capabilities." Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the Western alliance, and not Moscow, would decide whether Ukraine joins in the future. "It is for the 30 NATO allies to decide when Ukraine is ready for membership. No one else has any right to try to meddle or to interfere in that process," Stoltenberg told a news conference alongside Kyiv's top diplomat. "Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbours can do," Stoltenberg said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine minister calls for military help, more sanctions on Russia 

India has sent another Indian Navy ship INS MAGAR as part of its operation "Sahayata 2019" to help the people of Mozambique who are reeling under the impact of cyclone IDAI, the category 4 cyclone to hit southern Africa on 15th March.

The ship contains medicines, dry provisions, ready-to-eat meals, daily essentials &amp; clothing items and would cater to approximately 1000 persons for 7 days. The essential items include 500 kg of epidemic-related medicines &amp; 400 tonnes of rice.

In the aftermath of the cyclone, New Delhi had sent 3 Indian naval ships to the country — INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi and INS Shardul which are currently undertaking Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief operations in coordination with local authorities &amp; Indian High Commission.&nbsp;

The 3 Indian Navy ships so far have been able to rescue 192 people &amp; provide medical assistance to 1381 persons in medical camps.

Meanwhile, Indian helicopters are helping in the evacuation of people by facilitating aerial survey and are also dropping of food &amp; water packets in areas inaccessible to reach on foot.

The Indian Navy was the first responder in the evolving humanitarian crises in the aftermath of Cyclone IDAI. Assistance is also being sent to neighbouring Zimbabwe and Malawi which were hit by the cyclone.

India has sent another Indian Navy ship INS MAGAR as part of its operation "Sahayata 2019" to help the people of Mozambique who are reeling under the impact of cyclone IDAI, the category 4 cyclone to hit southern Africa on 15th March.

India has sent another Indian Navy ship INS MAGAR as part of its operation "Sahayata 2019" to help the people of Mozambique who are reeling under the impact of cyclone IDAI, the category 4 cyclone to hit southern Africa on 15th March. The ship contains medicines, dry provisions, ready-to-eat meals, daily essentials & clothing items and would cater to approximately 1000 persons for 7 days. The essential items include 500 kg of epidemic-related medicines & 400 tonnes of rice. In the aftermath of the cyclone, New Delhi had sent 3 Indian naval ships to the country — INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi and INS Shardul which are currently undertaking Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief operations in coordination with local authorities & Indian High Commission. The 3 Indian Navy ships so far have been able to rescue 192 people & provide medical assistance to 1381 persons in medical camps. Meanwhile, Indian helicopters are helping in the evacuation of people by facilitating aerial survey and are also dropping of food & water packets in areas inaccessible to reach on foot. The Indian Navy was the first responder in the evolving humanitarian crises in the aftermath of Cyclone IDAI. Assistance is also being sent to neighbouring Zimbabwe and Malawi which were hit by the cyclone.

India ups its aid for cyclone-ravaged Mozambique

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the Yulia Skripal poisoning said it has sent a request to Britain to provide Moscow with legal assistance.

Moscow is seeking "the British colleagues to perform a number of procedural actions aiming at establishing the circumstances of the crime, as well as provide copies of the materials of the criminal investigation".

Russia is asking London to provide it "with the results of the inspection of the place where Yulia Skripal was found unconsciousness as well as with the results of her medical examination".

Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve toxin that had been left on the front door of their home in England, British counter-terrorism police said&nbsp;on Wednesday.

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the Yulia Skripal poisoning

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the Yulia Skripal poisoning said it has sent a request to Britain to provide Moscow with legal assistance. Moscow is seeking "the British colleagues to perform a number of procedural actions aiming at establishing the circumstances of the crime, as well as provide copies of the materials of the criminal investigation". Russia is asking London to provide it "with the results of the inspection of the place where Yulia Skripal was found unconsciousness as well as with the results of her medical examination". Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve toxin that had been left on the front door of their home in England, British counter-terrorism police said on Wednesday.

Russia sends request to Britain, wants to help in investigation into Yulia Skripal poisoning

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state will give assistance of Rs five crore each to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-flood-toll-reaches-253-126-crore-affected-19260">flood-hit Bihar</a> and Assam. 
&quot;A large number of people are affected by floods in Bihar and Assam. Jharkhand is with the people of these two states at this hour. Jharkhand will give assistance of Rs five crore to each of the two states,? an official release said quoting Das. 
The people of Jharkhand are with the people of Bihar and Assam, he said. 
Jharkhand had been part of Bihar part and the people of Jharkhand are in that state. People from Jharkhand have also gone to Assam for employment, he said. 
Das said that it is the duty of everyone to help during distress and the basic mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s Team India is also this. At this hour of distress all the people and states should help the affected states.

Jharkhand will give assistance of Rs five crore to each of the two states

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state will give assistance of Rs five crore each to flood-hit Bihar and Assam. "A large number of people are affected by floods in Bihar and Assam. Jharkhand is with the people of these two states at this hour. Jharkhand will give assistance of Rs five crore to each of the two states,? an official release said quoting Das. The people of Jharkhand are with the people of Bihar and Assam, he said. Jharkhand had been part of Bihar part and the people of Jharkhand are in that state. People from Jharkhand have also gone to Assam for employment, he said. Das said that it is the duty of everyone to help during distress and the basic mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s Team India is also this. At this hour of distress all the people and states should help the affected states.

Jharkhand's CM Raghubar Das to help flood-hit states, Assam and Bihar

It&#39;s tough work being available in a hyper-connected world like ours. Communication has moved beyond inter-personal conversations with friends, family and acquaintances on social media to larger groups whose members may live in your city, or who share the same interests or situations as you do. In fact, Whatsapp groups and Facebook communities seem to have become part and parcel of our lives in a way that seemed unimaginable at the start of the millennium.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Conversations on these platforms have blurred the lines between personal communication and public disclosure. For some being part of these dialogues seems invasive and a compromise on privacy. For others, the anonymity is empowering. One group of people in the latter category appears to be Indian housewives. &nbsp; 
 
Whatsapp groups created by and for stay-at-home mothers and homemakers are common in urban centres like New Delhi. In reality, these women may live a few doors apart from each other but their association remains virtual. This metaphorical separation has created a safe space for a number of them, a platform where they can share hopes, fears and, sometimes, deep, dark secrets that have been dying for an outlet free of judgment. &nbsp; 
 
To be able to speak from behind the screen of virtual anonymity seems to make it easier to ask questions about fidelity, sexuality, love and depression. The responses cover a broad spectrum, from empathy to disdain and much more in between. In fact, the answers to certain questions and the discussions that follow some confessions are often more compelling than what got the conversation started in the first place. &nbsp; 
 
A query on losing weight post-pregnancy can throw up comments advocating confidence in the contours of a mother&#39;s body and scathing reviews of the negative body-images portrayed by the media. It can also prompt comments observations on how weight-loss is essential to keeping the romance alive in matrimony. &nbsp; 
 
All in all, as innocuous as these communities may seem, they demand a certain fortitude from their participants; either as observers offering advice or as the ones asking for it. The absence of a &quot;real&quot; relationship with these women is empowering in that it can reaffirm some of your beliefs and calm some of your concerns. But, you need to be open to receiving unwanted criticism and judgment from those you don&#39;t know; advice that can be as difficult to digest as it would have been coming from someone you really do know.&nbsp;

New communication help housewives share deeply personal things in ways unthinkable just years ago, but it can be tough too

It's tough work being available in a hyper-connected world like ours. Communication has moved beyond inter-personal conversations with friends, family and acquaintances on social media to larger groups whose members may live in your city, or who share the same interests or situations as you do. In fact, Whatsapp groups and Facebook communities seem to have become part and parcel of our lives in a way that seemed unimaginable at the start of the millennium. Conversations on these platforms have blurred the lines between personal communication and public disclosure. For some being part of these dialogues seems invasive and a compromise on privacy. For others, the anonymity is empowering. One group of people in the latter category appears to be Indian housewives. Whatsapp groups created by and for stay-at-home mothers and homemakers are common in urban centres like New Delhi. In reality, these women may live a few doors apart from each other but their association remains virtual. This metaphorical separation has created a safe space for a number of them, a platform where they can share hopes, fears and, sometimes, deep, dark secrets that have been dying for an outlet free of judgment. To be able to speak from behind the screen of virtual anonymity seems to make it easier to ask questions about fidelity, sexuality, love and depression. The responses cover a broad spectrum, from empathy to disdain and much more in between. In fact, the answers to certain questions and the discussions that follow some confessions are often more compelling than what got the conversation started in the first place. A query on losing weight post-pregnancy can throw up comments advocating confidence in the contours of a mother's body and scathing reviews of the negative body-images portrayed by the media. It can also prompt comments observations on how weight-loss is essential to keeping the romance alive in matrimony. All in all, as innocuous as these communities may seem, they demand a certain fortitude from their participants; either as observers offering advice or as the ones asking for it. The absence of a "real" relationship with these women is empowering in that it can reaffirm some of your beliefs and calm some of your concerns. But, you need to be open to receiving unwanted criticism and judgment from those you don't know; advice that can be as difficult to digest as it would have been coming from someone you really do know.

Modern technology has enabled badly-needed intimacy between perfect strangers

&ldquo;When the earth is sick and polluted, human health is impossible.... To heal ourselves we must heal our planet, and to heal our planet we must heal ourselves&rdquo; --Bobby Mcleod, Aboriginal poet and activist,&nbsp; 
 
These words provide us with a poignant reminder about what needs to be done to save our planet. Fast-paced consumerism and insatiable materialism have come to define our species and in the process set our planet on the path to destruction. Our rapacious greed has put a question mark on the future of the only known planet in the universe that can sustain life. 
 
The time could not be more ripe to launch aggressive self-correction measures. Unfortunately, our leaders are still in a game of establishing onus on the basis of traditional responsibility, rather than coming together to take strong and decisive measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions. While the political economy of climate change goals has led to some sort of a stalemate in the international arena, there are solutions which can be adopted by cities to rein in rising air pollution levels without much dependence from political leaders. These solutions can be implemented by business models that inherently support environmental goals.&nbsp; 
 
For example, one of the biggest sources of pollution is automobiles. While moving to cleaner and more efficient fuel-operated vehicles is the most ideal option for curtailing city pollution levels, in emerging economies considerable time is needed before complementary infrastructure can be created to support this move. Thus, there is a dire need to think of short-term solutions that can address the challenge of rising car ownership and pollution levels in the city. 
 
Recently, the role of transporting people from point A to point B in a city has been assumed by technology aggregators. A complex innovation displayed in the simplest form is solving the inefficiencies that have haunted the urban transportation sector for centuries. But do these players solve other challenges through their technology? In particular, aren&rsquo;t the aggregators simply adding more cars on the road and adding to traffic snarls and city pollution levels? The answer is no!&nbsp; 
 
The sophistication of technology has allowed them to build products that marry innovation with traditional concepts aimed at reducing congestion and pollution. One such product is &ldquo;carpooling&rdquo; or &ldquo;ridesharing&rdquo; as these aggregators are calling it today. Simply put, the idea is aimed at efficient utilisation of existing assets while directly impacting a city&rsquo;s space availability and carbon emissions generated by vehicles. The concept is old but the advancement in technology has navigated the challenges the idea encountered in a non-digital space such as optimising conflicting schedules, making sharing a ride comfortable, et cetera. However, amid all the talk about decongestion of cities and cheaper transport options that have been generated by these options, a quiet revolution has the potential of making significant value additions to our climate change goals. 
 
Ridesharing promotes more people in fewer cars and results in the reduction of emissions, because the number of kilometres driven across a city and fuel burned are reduced significantly. Further, as more people embrace this means of transportation, a wonderful and complementary relationship is created between public transport and these services, which disincentivises car ownership substantially. At a time when cities like Delhi have a vehicular density of 80 vehicles per kilometre and 27 lakh personal vehicles with 1,463 new vehicles added to the city every day, one is compelled to think of scenarios which can reverse this trend. 
 
A &ldquo;stick&rdquo; approach would entail levy of congestion charges and other related taxes, but a more innovative solution comes in the form of people using their existing personal vehicles to offer rides to other people travelling to the same destination or nearby. The experiment has already generated positive impact from both a decongestion and environmental perspective. 
 
For example, Uber&rsquo;s study of ridesharing in LA revealed that in eight months it managed to reduce 1,400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. In San Francisco, the monthly reduction totalled 120 metric tonnes. As this model is scaled, it will further benefit the environment not only because of reduced emissions but also because of the opening up of urban space which would otherwise be earmarked for public parking or extension of road lengths. The free space could be used for environmental goals, such as the creation of public parks.&nbsp; 
 
It is estimated that every carpool helps remove four cars from the road, which is as good as planting 4,000 trees. Imagine the impact we can have on Delhi&rsquo;s abysmal air pollution levels if we turned on the private ridesharing switch on each of its its 27 lakh personal vehicle. 
 
This is essentially the way forward for ensuring sustainable development &ndash; building profitable business models led by technology-driven solutions that also benefit collective environmental goals. Such ideas require public and government support. An enabling regulatory landscape would help environmentally-conscious companies to scale their business and effect momentous transformation in the way we have traditionally operated. 
 
To this end, while we continue to bicker over the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC) and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), there is a real opportunity for local government, citizenry and businesses to come together and bring about incremental changes to reduce emissions.

As climate change worsens cleaner transportation is essential, but waiting for politicians to act is taking forever...

“When the earth is sick and polluted, human health is impossible.... To heal ourselves we must heal our planet, and to heal our planet we must heal ourselves” --Bobby Mcleod, Aboriginal poet and activist, These words provide us with a poignant reminder about what needs to be done to save our planet. Fast-paced consumerism and insatiable materialism have come to define our species and in the process set our planet on the path to destruction. Our rapacious greed has put a question mark on the future of the only known planet in the universe that can sustain life. The time could not be more ripe to launch aggressive self-correction measures. Unfortunately, our leaders are still in a game of establishing onus on the basis of traditional responsibility, rather than coming together to take strong and decisive measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions. While the political economy of climate change goals has led to some sort of a stalemate in the international arena, there are solutions which can be adopted by cities to rein in rising air pollution levels without much dependence from political leaders. These solutions can be implemented by business models that inherently support environmental goals. For example, one of the biggest sources of pollution is automobiles. While moving to cleaner and more efficient fuel-operated vehicles is the most ideal option for curtailing city pollution levels, in emerging economies considerable time is needed before complementary infrastructure can be created to support this move. Thus, there is a dire need to think of short-term solutions that can address the challenge of rising car ownership and pollution levels in the city. Recently, the role of transporting people from point A to point B in a city has been assumed by technology aggregators. A complex innovation displayed in the simplest form is solving the inefficiencies that have haunted the urban transportation sector for centuries. But do these players solve other challenges through their technology? In particular, aren’t the aggregators simply adding more cars on the road and adding to traffic snarls and city pollution levels? The answer is no! The sophistication of technology has allowed them to build products that marry innovation with traditional concepts aimed at reducing congestion and pollution. One such product is “carpooling” or “ridesharing” as these aggregators are calling it today. Simply put, the idea is aimed at efficient utilisation of existing assets while directly impacting a city’s space availability and carbon emissions generated by vehicles. The concept is old but the advancement in technology has navigated the challenges the idea encountered in a non-digital space such as optimising conflicting schedules, making sharing a ride comfortable, et cetera. However, amid all the talk about decongestion of cities and cheaper transport options that have been generated by these options, a quiet revolution has the potential of making significant value additions to our climate change goals. Ridesharing promotes more people in fewer cars and results in the reduction of emissions, because the number of kilometres driven across a city and fuel burned are reduced significantly. Further, as more people embrace this means of transportation, a wonderful and complementary relationship is created between public transport and these services, which disincentivises car ownership substantially. At a time when cities like Delhi have a vehicular density of 80 vehicles per kilometre and 27 lakh personal vehicles with 1,463 new vehicles added to the city every day, one is compelled to think of scenarios which can reverse this trend. A “stick” approach would entail levy of congestion charges and other related taxes, but a more innovative solution comes in the form of people using their existing personal vehicles to offer rides to other people travelling to the same destination or nearby. The experiment has already generated positive impact from both a decongestion and environmental perspective. For example, Uber’s study of ridesharing in LA revealed that in eight months it managed to reduce 1,400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. In San Francisco, the monthly reduction totalled 120 metric tonnes. As this model is scaled, it will further benefit the environment not only because of reduced emissions but also because of the opening up of urban space which would otherwise be earmarked for public parking or extension of road lengths. The free space could be used for environmental goals, such as the creation of public parks. It is estimated that every carpool helps remove four cars from the road, which is as good as planting 4,000 trees. Imagine the impact we can have on Delhi’s abysmal air pollution levels if we turned on the private ridesharing switch on each of its its 27 lakh personal vehicle. This is essentially the way forward for ensuring sustainable development – building profitable business models led by technology-driven solutions that also benefit collective environmental goals. Such ideas require public and government support. An enabling regulatory landscape would help environmentally-conscious companies to scale their business and effect momentous transformation in the way we have traditionally operated. To this end, while we continue to bicker over the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC) and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), there is a real opportunity for local government, citizenry and businesses to come together and bring about incremental changes to reduce emissions.

Technology and business must combine to help commuters navigate congested cities

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, speaking in front of clucking chickens in a New York City skyscraper, announced plans on Wednesday to donate 100,000 chicks to poor nations in an effort to end extreme poverty. 
 
The chicks will go to rural areas in two dozen developing countries from Burkina Faso to Bolivia, where the Heifer International charity manages breeding operations and distribution, according to the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation. 
 
Raising and selling chickens can lift families out of poverty, and a farmer breeding 250 chickens a year could make $1,250, said the Gates Foundation, which is partnering with the Heifer International charity. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s no investment that has a return percentage anything like being able to breed chickens,&quot; said Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. 
 
He urged the public to donate through Heifer International. 
 
&quot;The numbers today in terms of Americans who give to Heifer or things like that is actually quite small, so we&#39;d like to see that scaled up,&quot; Gates said. 
 
Referring to the proverb that teaching a man to fish will feed him for a lifetime, he said,&quot;The parable could have been stated in terms of giving somebody a chicken and showing them how to raise chickens.&quot; 
 
Gates said he aimed to boost household chicken ownership in places such as West Africa, where it is now 5 per cent, to 30 per cent. 
 
Gates made his announcement on the 68th floor of a new building at the World Trade Center, a site not typically used for showcasing chickens, he said. 
 
&quot;We snuck them in,&quot; he quipped. 
 
According to the United Nations, an estimated 800 million people live in extreme poverty, with those in fragile and conflict-torn states suffering the most.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will donate 100,000 chicks to poor nations in their bid to end extreme poverty

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, speaking in front of clucking chickens in a New York City skyscraper, announced plans on Wednesday to donate 100,000 chicks to poor nations in an effort to end extreme poverty. The chicks will go to rural areas in two dozen developing countries from Burkina Faso to Bolivia, where the Heifer International charity manages breeding operations and distribution, according to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Raising and selling chickens can lift families out of poverty, and a farmer breeding 250 chickens a year could make $1,250, said the Gates Foundation, which is partnering with the Heifer International charity. "There's no investment that has a return percentage anything like being able to breed chickens," said Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. He urged the public to donate through Heifer International. "The numbers today in terms of Americans who give to Heifer or things like that is actually quite small, so we'd like to see that scaled up," Gates said. Referring to the proverb that teaching a man to fish will feed him for a lifetime, he said,"The parable could have been stated in terms of giving somebody a chicken and showing them how to raise chickens." Gates said he aimed to boost household chicken ownership in places such as West Africa, where it is now 5 per cent, to 30 per cent. Gates made his announcement on the 68th floor of a new building at the World Trade Center, a site not typically used for showcasing chickens, he said. "We snuck them in," he quipped. According to the United Nations, an estimated 800 million people live in extreme poverty, with those in fragile and conflict-torn states suffering the most.

Donating chicks is the Bill Gates way of fighting poverty

Like any other refugee, Kasim Isse Dhuhulow came to India looking for a better life. He&#39;d lost his parents in the civil war that broke out in Somalia after the overthrow of the military regime of President Siad Barre in 1991, his sister was separated from him &ndash; he doesn&#39;t know where she is any longer but he says he would like to go back to look for her &ndash; and his grandfather thought he would be better educated in India.&nbsp; 
 
He didn&#39;t find that better life, mostly because of the racism people of African origin face in India.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;We are dubbed as kaalus (blacks, a derogatory term in India) and gorillas,&rdquo; says Kassim.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;Racial discrimination is very prevalent, especially when it comes to African refugees. People from Africa complain about racial abuse from their neighbours, their employers, and their fellow students,&rdquo; says Mazher Hussain, executive director of the Hyderabad-based Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), an NGO that works towards building a &ldquo;harmonious and just society &nbsp;through sensitisation of all sections of people&rdquo;.&nbsp; 
 
Abdul Hussain, 28 (he asked that we not use his real name) says he was attacked in Delhi when he was nineteen. A group of young boys approached him and a friend, asking for drugs. When they said they didn&#39;t have any, the boys began to beat them. Ever since then Abdul says he has been hesitant to speak with strangers. And that he now lives in the south Indian city of Chennai where he feels safer than he did in Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
The Somalis &ndash; alongwith the Rohingyas of Myanmar &ndash; are generally thought of as the worst off of the refugees in India. This is because of the &nbsp;protracted conflict back home, the resultant malnutrition, and the near complete absence of medical care.&nbsp; 
 
Most of them &ndash; the United Nations High Commission for Refugees says there are 600 Somali refugees in India &ndash; live in the southern city of Hyderabad. With the large Muslim population there, they say they feel more at home and that at least the racism isn&#39;t as bad as in places like Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
Memories of home, obviously, are strong. &nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;I dream of dying in Somalia, buried in a Muslim graveyard that echoes with prayers in Somali, my language, but I fear that I&rsquo;ll have to die here in India. Alone,&rdquo; says Kassim.&nbsp; 
 
He seems older than his 36 years &ndash; his hair is greying, his face wrinkled &ndash; and when he speaks, a surprisingly strong south Indian accent emanates.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;I was very young when I came to India (he came in 2003). I have started to forget my mother tongue but I know basic Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam&rdquo;, he says, naming three of the four major south Indian languages.&nbsp; 
 
Kassim writes a blog on the lives of Somalis in India and he calls himself Mr Blackgold. &ldquo;Black people are like gold.&rdquo; For a living, he translates for African patients admitted to Indian hospitals.&nbsp; 
 
According to Mazher, most Somalis in India are single men in the 20 to 30 age group; they come to the country on student visas and then stay on as refugees.&nbsp; 
 
He says the younger Somalis are well educated &ndash; a lot of them come to study engineering and computer science &ndash; and that they come to India thinking they will find good jobs here. But because nobody will employ them &ndash; you would be hard pressed to find an African man employed in an Indian office even today &ndash; they finally have to make do with odd jobs like the translating Kassim does.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;It took months to get a refugee card from the UNHCR and years to get into an educational institution. I however managed to sail through but the insensitivity here traumatised me. People here are not aware of our situation,&rdquo; says Kassim. 
 
&ldquo;It is easy for the Bangladeshis and Afghans to find work but people hesitate to employ us just because we look different,&rdquo; says Abdul. He adds, &ldquo;Access to education is very limited. Most struggle due to financial constraints. Their (the Somalis) English is not good and in India to get a job in any organisation you should be proficient in English. The lack of a work permit deprives them of jobs in formal organisations.&rdquo; &nbsp; 
 
 
 
No Refugee Policy in India 
 
India is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, nor to its 1967 protocol. This is surprising for it hosts a significant number of refugees and therefore the country, or at least the refugees who find themselves in it, are in desperate need of a refugee policy.&nbsp; 
 
Also, should India wish to be a global player it will have to take on global responsibilities. &nbsp;Estimates suggest for example that there are currently only 40 refugees from Syria in India.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;Laws like the Foreigners Act (which govern refugees in India in the absence of a refugee policy) continue to impose unreasonable restrictions on the rights of refugees to freedom of movement and association. The ad hoc nature of refugee policy in India and the absence of a robust domestic legal framework has led to uncertainty and arbitrariness in the treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees,&rdquo; says Shailesh Rai, senior law and policy adviser at Amnesty International India. &nbsp; 
 
But policy or no policy, India will have to put a lot more work into being a more hospitable place for the Somalis. And that might not be something that Kasim would like to wait around for. He says that with things improving in Somalia since 2012 when a new internationally-backed government was installed, he would like to go back.&nbsp; 
 
As for Abdul, he is now trying to get to the United States &ndash; and dreaming of a new, new life in a foreign land.

Because of the protracted conflict back home, the resultant malnutrition, and the near complete absence of medical care, displaced people from the African country are generally regarded as the ones most in need of help

Like any other refugee, Kasim Isse Dhuhulow came to India looking for a better life. He'd lost his parents in the civil war that broke out in Somalia after the overthrow of the military regime of President Siad Barre in 1991, his sister was separated from him – he doesn't know where she is any longer but he says he would like to go back to look for her – and his grandfather thought he would be better educated in India. He didn't find that better life, mostly because of the racism people of African origin face in India. “We are dubbed as kaalus (blacks, a derogatory term in India) and gorillas,” says Kassim. “Racial discrimination is very prevalent, especially when it comes to African refugees. People from Africa complain about racial abuse from their neighbours, their employers, and their fellow students,” says Mazher Hussain, executive director of the Hyderabad-based Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), an NGO that works towards building a “harmonious and just society through sensitisation of all sections of people”. Abdul Hussain, 28 (he asked that we not use his real name) says he was attacked in Delhi when he was nineteen. A group of young boys approached him and a friend, asking for drugs. When they said they didn't have any, the boys began to beat them. Ever since then Abdul says he has been hesitant to speak with strangers. And that he now lives in the south Indian city of Chennai where he feels safer than he did in Delhi. The Somalis – alongwith the Rohingyas of Myanmar – are generally thought of as the worst off of the refugees in India. This is because of the protracted conflict back home, the resultant malnutrition, and the near complete absence of medical care. Most of them – the United Nations High Commission for Refugees says there are 600 Somali refugees in India – live in the southern city of Hyderabad. With the large Muslim population there, they say they feel more at home and that at least the racism isn't as bad as in places like Delhi. Memories of home, obviously, are strong. “I dream of dying in Somalia, buried in a Muslim graveyard that echoes with prayers in Somali, my language, but I fear that I’ll have to die here in India. Alone,” says Kassim. He seems older than his 36 years – his hair is greying, his face wrinkled – and when he speaks, a surprisingly strong south Indian accent emanates. “I was very young when I came to India (he came in 2003). I have started to forget my mother tongue but I know basic Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam”, he says, naming three of the four major south Indian languages. Kassim writes a blog on the lives of Somalis in India and he calls himself Mr Blackgold. “Black people are like gold.” For a living, he translates for African patients admitted to Indian hospitals. According to Mazher, most Somalis in India are single men in the 20 to 30 age group; they come to the country on student visas and then stay on as refugees. He says the younger Somalis are well educated – a lot of them come to study engineering and computer science – and that they come to India thinking they will find good jobs here. But because nobody will employ them – you would be hard pressed to find an African man employed in an Indian office even today – they finally have to make do with odd jobs like the translating Kassim does. “It took months to get a refugee card from the UNHCR and years to get into an educational institution. I however managed to sail through but the insensitivity here traumatised me. People here are not aware of our situation,” says Kassim. “It is easy for the Bangladeshis and Afghans to find work but people hesitate to employ us just because we look different,” says Abdul. He adds, “Access to education is very limited. Most struggle due to financial constraints. Their (the Somalis) English is not good and in India to get a job in any organisation you should be proficient in English. The lack of a work permit deprives them of jobs in formal organisations.” No Refugee Policy in India India is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, nor to its 1967 protocol. This is surprising for it hosts a significant number of refugees and therefore the country, or at least the refugees who find themselves in it, are in desperate need of a refugee policy. Also, should India wish to be a global player it will have to take on global responsibilities. Estimates suggest for example that there are currently only 40 refugees from Syria in India. “Laws like the Foreigners Act (which govern refugees in India in the absence of a refugee policy) continue to impose unreasonable restrictions on the rights of refugees to freedom of movement and association. The ad hoc nature of refugee policy in India and the absence of a robust domestic legal framework has led to uncertainty and arbitrariness in the treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees,” says Shailesh Rai, senior law and policy adviser at Amnesty International India. But policy or no policy, India will have to put a lot more work into being a more hospitable place for the Somalis. And that might not be something that Kasim would like to wait around for. He says that with things improving in Somalia since 2012 when a new internationally-backed government was installed, he would like to go back. As for Abdul, he is now trying to get to the United States – and dreaming of a new, new life in a foreign land.

Somali refugees in India: The worst of the worst off

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