22th July 2013

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 198

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India ignored warnings in free meal programme

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Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others

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Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your answer to 9862574165 Do you agree that the Nagaland State budget 201314 is empty and directionless?

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Excise seize 1.05 lakh bottles of IMFL in 12 months Our Correspondent Kohima |July 21

1.05 lakh bottles of IMFL have been seized by the excise department in the past 12 months in Nagaland. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his budget speech last week stated that total revenue generated through excise, including fine amounts, realized from prohibition violators amounts to about Rs. 4 crores in the past 12 months. The police and civil organizations are also actively involved in checking and controlling sale and distribution of IMFL within Nagaland State. The police had seized 53,790 bottles of IMFL worth Rs. 1.14 crore during the current year alone, Rio said, adding that the corresponding figure for the last year was 70,591 bottles worth Rs. 1.16 crore.

Assembly session to conclude today

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Kohima, July 21 (mExN): A weeklong 2nd session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) is scheduled to conclude here on July 22.

Among other business, further discussion on the budget for the year 20132014 will take place on Monday. Other provisional programme of business for July 22 include: questions, laying of reports and other papers, if any, introduction, consideration and passing of the Nagaland Appropriation (No.5) Bill, 2013, unfinished business, if any and adjournment of the session sine-die.

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454.49 lakh workdays generated through MGnreGs in nagaland: rio

By Sandemo Ngullie

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In nagaland everything is spurious,adulterated,even the people selling them are fake Indians.

Monday, July 22, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4

IAS in Nagaland has an authorized strength of 91

Selena Gomez starstruck

by Bradley Cooper

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A cart puller is seen delivering fermented rice from a brewery to one of the hundreds of rice beer joints in Dimapur. nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act was enacted by the Government of nagaland at the initiation of nBCC in 1989. The Prohibition Act in nagaland has failed dismally and, as anywhere else in the world, bred corruption while incurring heavy loss to the State’s exchequer. (Photo by Imojen I Jamir)

For the period 2012-13, altogether 3.836 lakh job cards have been issued, and a total of 454.49 lakh workdays have been generated through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) till date, benefitting village population in every corner of the state. This was claimed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his budget speech at the assembly session here last week.

He also pointed out

that state and central funds have contributed towards building 10, 187 houses in 1143 villages under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) programme.

Five districts have been identified under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), where some of the significant developments, include construction of 1955 rural houses, construction of 35 guest houses, construction of 209 toilets and soiling, metalling and black topping of more than 330 kilometres of roads, said Rio. He also stated that

some commendable achievements through grant-in-aid to VDBs have been purchase of community buses, construction of multi-purpose buildings, and allocation for income generation in 1143 recognized villages.

The newly launched programme, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has been successfully launched in blocks covering Longleng, Kohima and Phek districts. It will be expanded to cover more blocks in the coming year, Rio said. “It is through such effective implemen-

tation of programmes that the RD department is fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the rural population.”

He said that the RD department envisions creating a sustainable livelihood for the population by uplifting their economy and discouraging the rural sections from migrating to the urban areas. He added that successful implementation of several major development programmes through active participation of the village community was steadily changing the face of the rural populace.

nagaland itcs make some progress ACAUT gives proof of govt Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

Minister for Industries and Commerce, S. Pangnyu Phom, on Friday told the assembly that the Department of Industries is implementing only the infrastructure development pertaining to the con-

struction of administrative buildings, guest house, marketing sheds etc. for International Trade Centres (ITCs) in Avangkhu, Pangsha and Longwa.

Replying to MLA Imtikumzuk’s question, the Minister said that most of these infrastructures have been completed except for provi-

sion of water supply and sanitation and electrification at Avangkhu and Longwa.

The minister also stated that the road construction is being undertaken by the Department of Roads and Bridges.

Status of these roads as informed by the department concerned reads:

UK asks PM if he was ‘consulted’ about controversial visa fee

loNDoN, July 21 (pTi): A highpowered British parliamentary committee has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking if he was consulted over a controversial plan to introduce a hefty 3,000 pounds cash bond for ‘high-risk’ visitors from India.

Under the pilot scheme announced by British home secretary Theresa May last month, citizens of India, along with that of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana and Sri Lanka could be asked to pay a 3,000 pounds cash bond in a bid to prevent them overstaying their visa.

The House of Commons’ Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC), a group of cross-party MPs chaired by BritishIndian Labour MP Keith Vaz, has been looking into the proposed visa and immigration system which will be enforced from November this year.

“I would be most grateful if you could clarify if your government has been consulted by the UK government

on the bonds pilot. As part of the committee’s remit we have an ongoing inquiry into the work of UK visas and immigration,” wrote Mr Vaz, who has previously categorised the scheme as “unfair and discriminatory”.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has raised India’s concerns over the issue with his British counterparts while on a visit to the UK soon after the policy was announced.

Since then, the UK government has stressed that the scheme will affect only a handful of high-risk individuals and will be fully re-assessed at the end of the pilot in 2014.

Responding to a similar letter from HASC, Nigeria accused the UK of racial discrimination.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Britain said his country is “not favourably disposed to the proposal as it will affect a good number of Nigerians visiting the UK, even in spite of assurances to the contrary.”

Avangkhu (Puphungri to Avangkhu ITC) road: Earthwork 90% completed, Pangsha (Chendang Saddle to Pangsha ITC) road: phase-II—31 km earthwork just started, phaseI—31 km retained but not sanctioned, and Longwa (Mon to Longwa ITC) road is maintained by BRO.

Survey of DimapurZubza rail link complete Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

Survey of the Dimapur-Zubza rail link that will connect to state capital Kohima has been completed, according to a transport department source. Re-survey of the revised route from Dhansiripar (Assam) to Chumukedima (Nagaland) will be undertaken from May 2013, informed the source.

The Transport Department is the nodal agency to co-ordinate and liaise with the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, pertaining to railway matters.

A rail link through the foot hills of the state from Dimapur to Tizit via Tuli has been approved by the Government of India during 20122013.

The Ministry of Railways had made a token sanction of Rs. 100 lakh to the Department to start off the survey process, the source said.

dept levying ‘illegal tax’

“Bonafide govt depts and armed revolutionary groups collecting illegal taxes: no moral qualms” Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): The Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has once again asked government departments to “stop collecting illegal tax”.

In a press release, ACAUT’s media cell has claimed to be “in possession of a challan clearly issued by DTO Dimapur levying illegal tax on a Deopani laden truck” (Picture).

The said truck, as per the ACAUT, was intercepted near St. John Higher Secondary School, Dillai gate

by MVE/MVI personnel under DTO Dimapur.

“On further query, the truck driver revealed that Rs. 1500/- per month is levied on all Deopani sand trucks entering Dimapur,” said ACAUT, further reiterating that this is a regular practice. Any government department, including

DTO, the press note said, indulging in such unfair practices is liable for prosecution under relevant acts.

“The concerned department is urged to set its house in order instead of issuing rejoinders like the last time when it took umbrage at ACAUT for implicating MVE/MVIs collecting assorted taxes at New Field Check gate. DTO offices at these check gate should be removed im-

mediately,” demanded the ACAUT. Further, the Committee that is heading the campaign against “illegal taxation” maintained that “the lure of easy money has reached such a climax that both bonafide government departments and armed revolutionary groups are collecting illegal taxes side by side with no moral qualms. This mockery is a sight to behold.”

Transport dept exceeds 55% revenue target during 2012-13 Studies of Kohima metro cable car for public transport completed Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

The state’s Transport Department has always been able to better the revenue target set for it and has substantially increased it every year.

This was stated in the annual administrative report of the Transport Department 2012-13 tabled

by Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, P. Pawang Konyak, at the assembly session last Thursday.

While the revenue target for the year 201213 was set up to be Rs. 3296.00 lakh, the achievement for the year stands at Rs. 5130.96 lakh, exceeding the target by 55%.

At present, the department operates on 114 routes with a route length of 12, 455 km and 178 scheduled

services covering 25,781 km daily. These include inter-state service connecting Imphal (Manipur) from Dimapur and Kohima.

The report stated that the department has established network services connecting all the 11 district headquarters including the most interior areas in the state where road connectivity exist providing basic passenger transportation facility especially to all the rural areas.

14 news buses were procured during 2011-12 and 20 new buses are being procured during 2012-13.

The department has also introduced two new services in 2012-13 for Longleng-Auching (38 km) and Tuensang- Pangsha (91 km).

The department endeavours to maintain af-

REVENUE GROWTH IN LAST 5 YEARS Year 2007-08: 2008-09: 2009-10 : 2010-11 : 2011-12 : 2012-13 :

nagaland State Transport buses queue up before leaving for their destination. The nagaland State Transport Department recorded a 55% rise in revenue in 2012-13. (Morung Photo)

fordable fare structure taking into consideration the national price index.

However, the department is sometimes constrained to absorb the burden of the frequent price escalation on HSD and other operation materials like spare parts, tyres etc. by periodic fare hike. The present fare structure stands: Express75.52 paise per km, Semi Deluxe- 94.11 paise per km, Super Deluxe-109.40 paise per km, Mini Bus109.42 paise per km and

weighted average- 75.99 paise per km.

The report also stated that the department received the “Best Performing State Transport in the North Eastern States for 2010-11” award from the Association of State Road Transport Undertaking (ASRTU) under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India in January 2013.

The department liaises and coordinates civil aviation matters too wherein air-

strip survey for potential operation of small aircrafts in the state has been taken up.

Besides, state helicopter service is operated on weekly programme/chart connecting all the major district headquarters and on chartered sorties for lifting of casualty and patients from remote and rural areas falling under identified/permissible coordinates. Besides, VVIPs & officials requisitioned duties are carried out to cater to their needs of emer-

Target Actual 933.00 lakh 1525.00 lakh 1685.00 lakh 2814.00 lakh 3059.80 lakh 3296.00 lakh

gency requirements On Inland Waterways Transport, M/S Rites Ltd under India Waterways Authority of India has identified three rivers as having potentialities for inland water transport in the state: Tizu River from tri-confluence near Longmatra to Avangkhu of approximately 42 kms on the IndoMyanmar border international waterway.

Dhansiri River from Samjiram to Numuligarh via Dimapur of approximately 110 kms for interstate waterways (Nagaland-Assam). Dikhu River from Yangnyu (Nagaland) to Naginimora (Nagaland) of about 52 km provided it

Achieved Taget 1459.00 lakh 1653.77 lakh 2014.38 lakh 3126.74 lakh 4111.39 lakh 5130.96 lakh

is connected to Brahmaputra river in Assam via Sibsagar for inter-state waterways (Nagaland-Assam).

The report also stated that feasibility studies of Kohima Metro Cable Car for public transport undertaken by M/S Leading Edge Adventures &Airparks Pvt Ltd, New Delhi has been completed. The project is intended to ease traffic congestion and bring about improvement of public transport in the state capital Kohima.

The project was conceptualized and initiated by the transport department and is being transferred to the urban development department for execution.

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The Morung Express LocaL Rock Reign IAS in Nagaland has an 2.13 kicks off authorized strength of 91

Monday 22 July 2013

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Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) in Nagaland has an authorized strength of 91.

At present, out of 91 cadre, 64 are directly recruited and the remaining 27 are promotional posts.

As of March 1, 2013, there are 43 officers in position out of which 11 are on deputation/duty leave to central/state governments/public sector undertakings, according to the annual administrative report 2012-13 of personnel & administrative reforms department tabled Stone workers from Pfutsero, Phek are seen constructing a monument at the graveside of Imkongmeren, former NNC Vice President at Longkhum village on July 19. The monument which is being built by the Naga Hoho at the former Naga National in the assembly session leader’s graveyard is expected to be completed within the next few months. The stones for constructing the memorial have last Thursday by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who been brought from Pfutsero and the workers are also from Phek district. (Morung Photo)

NSCN/GPRN Awareness workshop on UT-1 informs ‘Disability Issues’ held

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DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): Care taker of U.T-I, NSCN/GPRN, Lt Col (Rtd) Kilonser Neipfupe Ape Venuh (CAO) has once again informed the public to be aware of the “illegal activities been carried out in Dimapur town and its adjoining areas under U.T-I.” In a press note issued by Venuh, he stated that issuing of duplicate (fake) land patta/certificate would be checked strictly. He also added that there would be strict checking of state government vehicles used in illegal activities.

The note added that selling of drugs, tobacco (gutkha, talab, tez etc) would be strictly checked. While cautioning that any individual or government official receiving bribe with promise of giving employment into government services would be thoroughly checked, the note also said that releasing of bills without executing the work properly shall not be tolerated. It was also informed that “any individual carrying arms in civic dress shall be strictly checked and arrested immediately.”

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DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): The Regional Workshop on “Creating Awareness on Disability Issues for North East Region” was held from July 19 to 20, 2013 at IEE (Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Lalmati, Guwahati.

A press note issued by Imchawati Kichu. Managing Director Care and Support Society, Mokokchung stated that the workshop was attended by a host of dignitaries from all over North East Region. Respective state Commissioners for disabilities and NGOs attended the program. The note also mentioned that

resource persons for the workshop were P. K Pincha, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Maj. Gen. Ian Cardozo, Chairman, RCI, K.V.S Rao, Director,(DDA) to Government Of India, MSJ&E, Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson, National Trust, T.D.Dhariyal, Dy. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, etc. Resource persons from Nagaland were Dr. Atha Vizol, Commissioner, Disabilities, Government of Nagaland, Daniel Thong Seb, Imchawati Kichu, Managing Director, Care and Support Society, Mokokchung and Lipok, Naga Blind Association, Dimapur.

tobu SDpDB meet conducted

TobU, JULY 21 (DIPR): Monthly Sub-Divisional Planning & Development Board (SDPDB) meeting of Tobu for the month of July was held on July 19, 2013 at the ADC’s conference hall. The meeting was chaired by the Vice Chairman SDPDB and ADC Tobu Akupthangsing. Secretary SDPDB Thungchanbemo, EAC Mopong reviewed the last month meeting’s minutes. Distribution of LADF works that were already sanctioned was read out to the members.

Some of the agenda discussed and forwarded to the higher authority in the meeting were district demand for Tobu, immediate posting of Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster of Government High School Tobu, opening of SBI at Tobu and posting of night chowkidar at ADC office Tobu.

is also in-charge of this department.

During 2012, four IAS officers were allotted Nagaland Cadre. These officers are on probation and undergoing training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorrie, the report said.

Four IAS officers retired from service during the period under report which included; Lalthara, Daniel Longchar, Zhaleo Rio and Meilemla Pongener.

During the period under report, Norman Putsure, IAS, Secretary expired in harness, the report added. The report also stated that the Nagaland Civil service (NCS) has an authorized strength of 340

WSBAK organizes competition for children

DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): In an attempt to hone children’s talent under its association, the Christian Education Department of Western Sumi Baptist Churches Association (WSBAK) organized a one-day competitive programme under the theme “Creativity for Jesus” at WSBAK mission centre, Akuvuto, Thahekhu village on July 20. A press note stated that about 110 participants from 30 churches under the association took part in Bible spell-bee, craft making, art & painting and essay writing competitions.

Giving a start to the event, Y. Vishiho Shohe, Secretary, Christian Education Department, WSBAK gave an outline of organiz- Children taking part in the competition organized by the Christian Education Department of ing the programme. Suhu- Western Sumi Baptist Churches Association on Saturday. to Swu, Associate Pastor, Purana Bazaar Sumi Baptist Church, exhorted the Art and Painting Bible Spell-Bee gathering of children and 1st - Kainatoli (Suhoi Baptist Church) 1st - Akihito Kits (Ekranipathar Baptist church) encouraged them to make 2nd - Niuto (Chekiye Village Baptist Church) 2nd - Lina Swu (Diphupar Baptist Church) best use of their talent. Jes3rd - Inaka Muru (Phukato Baptist Church) 3rd Kintoli (Khushia Bill Baptist Church) se K. Yeptho, child evangelist, WSBAK conducted the Essay Writing Craft programme while Yevukhu 1st - Alohito V. Achumi (Thilixu Baptist Church) 1st - Atili Aye (Thahekhu Baptist Church) Chophy, Chairman, CED, 2nd - Sulivi (Chekiye Village Baptist Church) 2nd - Tomugha Awomi (Padumpukhri Baptist Church) WSBAK proposed the vote 3rd - Mekua (Chekiye Village Baptist Church) 3rd - Khevini (Ikishe Baptist Church) of thanks.

ReSultS of the vARIouS competItIoNS

SmIle tRAIN to provide free surgery at Kohima

KohIMA, JULY 21 (MExN): Smile Train Shija Cleft Project – Mission Nagaland, 15th phase cum advanced cosmetic surgery camp is scheduled to be held from July 28 to 28 at Oking Hospital & Research Clinic (P) Ltd, Kohima as a joint initiative between Shija Hospitals, Imphal and Oking Hospital, Kohima.

A press note informed that till date, 139 cleft patients from Nagaland have availed free corrective surgical treatment under this project. Dr. Kh. Palin, MCh (Plastic surgery), Smile Train Partner Surgeon cum Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Shija Hospitals, Imphal will be available at Oking Hospital on the aforementioned dates.

Smile Train Shija Cleft Project Absence of drainage system along the busy road of D Block Kohima has led to overflow of sewage and rain is an endeavor towards rendering “new smile, new hope and new water on the road. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)

GSU organizes felicitation cum fresher meet in Dmp

DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): The Annual Felicitation cum Fresher’s Meet 2013 was organized by the Garo Students' Union, Nagaland Zone at the Dubagaon Village, Dimapur on July 20.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest, Dr. C.P. Alexander, Pro Vice Chancellor of ICFAI University Nagaland while congratulating the meritorious students of the Garo community, also exhorted them to become social assets instead of liabilities. He encouraged the students by highlighting a BBC report which revealed that the students from the North- Eastern states especially Nagaland excel in the field of education when compared to states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, which

have far more number of schools and colleges. The Chief Guest also challenged the students to be job creators and not job seekers in the future. He also stressed upon the intricate bond of thought, culture and character which when developed on positive lines will make one reliable, resourceful and reasonable.

Earlier in the day, the Guest of Honor, Dr. Clement Momin of Referral Hospital, Dimapur invited the students who passed out their HSSLC Examination to enroll themselves in various medical courses at the CIHSR. Citing an example from a popular song, Dr. Momin urged the student’s community to bloom and contribute to the society positively.

out of which 214 officers are in position. At present 12 NCS officers are under training at ATI, Kohima.

The Nagaland Secretariat Service (NSS) has an authorized strength of 637 which consists of secretariat assistant (GradeIII, Non-Gazetted) upto the level of Secretary. At present 514 officials are in position.

Besides these, the state has been utilizing the services of other central services at the higher level, the report said adding that during the report, six ex-cadre officers were absorbed permanently in the state services. There are 11 ex-cadre officers from various central services.

The special guest on the occasion was R. Sopu Angami, a retired NCS officer and recipient of the prestigious Ashok Chakra. Speaking on the occassion, Angami expressed his desire for the Garo community to come out of their conservatism and to broaden their outlook in perspective of modernity and development.

Citing the example of the Angami Nagas, he urged upon the Garos to maintain their distinct cultural identity and traditional values in a healthy manner.

The programme which began with the arrival of the Chief Guest at 3:30pm showcased young Garo talents and a cultural dance which made the whole function colorful and lively. Several Garo students

life” by rendering free of cost corrective surgery for cleft lip and cleft palate.

A cleft is a separation or gap in the body structure. Two major types of oral – facial clefts are cleft lip (involving the lip) and cleft palate (involving the roof of the mouth or the soft posterior tissue inside the mouth). The note informed that most people affected with this condition cannot eat, drink or speak properly. “Due to shame, they cannot even attend school or hold a job and lead a painful life in isolation,” it added.

For further information, kindly contact Oking Hospital & Research Clinic (P) Ltd., Kohima, at (03870) 2243339, 2241003, 2243341 or at 9436000494, 9774039490, 9402489750, 9856276396, 98566343037, 9089801821, 03702292280, 9863188043.

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DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): Rock Reign 2.13 which is organized by Cosmos Entertainment Inc in collaboration with Music Task Force Series hosted its first concert of competition round in succession where Infuse and Godsend bands put on their in the show at Cosmos Hall, Mokokchung on Friday. The show provided tribute to bands like Metallica, Dope, Godsmack, Alterbridge, Dream Theatre and some local original tracks.The Purpose, Pledge and Trivet also played two numbers each as guest bands covering songs from Pantera and Fight along with their originals. The next show of Rock Reign is scheduled to be held on August 15 at the Cosmos Entertainment Hall, where the band Abyss and Trivet will showcase their talents on the stage.

CBC pre youth brigade from August 16

DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): The Youth Department of Chizami Baptist Church (CBC) is scheduled to organize a Pre-Youth Brigade under the theme ‘Victorious Life in Christ’ at GM Government High School, at Chizami from August 16 to 18. A press note from the General Secretary of the General Secretary of the Youth Department of Chizami Baptist Church, Weyieko Naro informed that the main speakers for the event will be Rev Mese Rhakho Church Advisor, CBC; Dr Kewe Lohe, Vice Principal for Baptist College, Kohima and Rukuzo Ruho, Lecturer of BTC, T Chikri, Pfutsero. All CBC youth members have been have been requested to participate in the programme without fail. For further information one can contact +919436415556/ 8730937545 or at cye. chizami@gmail.com

206 butterfly species inside Nagaland zoological park Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

An inventory survey on butterflies within Nagaland Zoological Park was conducted during the year and 206 species have been recorded inside the park belonging to five genera which includes Swifts (53 species), Swallowtails (15 species, White & Yellows (21 species), Blues (49 species) and Brush-footed butterflies (68 species).

This was stated in the annual administrative report 2012-13 of the department forests, ecology, environment & wildlife tabled in the assembly session here last week by Minister for Forest, Y. Patton. The report said that among the species recorded is a rare species Crenulate Oakblue (Apporasa atkinsoni).

A dance troupe performing at the Annual Felicitation cum Fresher’s Meet 2013 which was organized by the Garo Students'

Union, Nagaland Zone at the Dubagaon Village, Dimapur on July 20. who passed out from vari- in Dimapur.

A word of acknowledgeous schools and colleges in In the programme, the ment was pronounced by and around Dimapur were invocation prayer was de- Cliff Sangma, Additional felicitated in the function, livered by Rev Pele Marak Secretary of GSUNZ and the which was also organized while Biplab K. Sangma benediction pronounced to welcome the freshers President, GSUNZ deliv- by Hardstone Sangma, among the Garo students ered the welcome address. Pastor Ekarini pathar. The

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Programme was chaired

by Sharmila Momin, General Secretary of Dubagaon Unit. This was informed in a press note from the President of the GSU, Nagaland Zone, Biplab K Sangma.

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Regional

The Morung express

Monday

22 July 2013

Dimapur

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Union Minister visits Manipur, inspects NH-37 imPhal, July 21 (nnn): Union Minister for State for Youth Affairs and Sports (independent charge) and Minister of State for Defence, Jitendra Singh today visited Manipur. Along with Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh, deputy chief minister Gaikhangam and state Works minister Kh Ratan the two ministers inspected the National Highway 37 by a chopper.

Due to the tight schedule of the Union Minister two programmes of the Union Minister in Imphal were cancelled. It was planned at Congress Bhavan here for an interaction between the youth Congress and the Union Minister. It was also planned that Jitendra Singh visited Khuman Lampak stadium.

The Union Minister arrived Imphal Airport around

10:30 am and after taking rest he along with the chief minister and others landed at Nungba in Tamenglong district around 1:30 pm. The Union Minister travelled by road from Nungba to Barak to get a first hand account of the condition of the road. Jitendra Singh was apprised of the grant of sanction by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways about the road sector. Jitendra Singh along with O. Ibobi Singh, also inspected the Barak Bridge and directed officials of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to sanction the work of Barak and Makru Bridges on priority. He was accompanied by senior officials of Border Roads Organisation.

At around 4:30 pm the team returned to Imphal and the Union Minister left Union Minister for State for Youth Affairs and Sports (independent charge) and Minister of State for Defence, Jitendra the state capital by a flight Singh along with Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh, deputy chief minister Gaikhangam at Imphal Airport on Sunat around 5:10. day, July 21. (NNN Photo)

Zeliangrong bodies urge Union Minister on AFSPA, Naga talks imPhal, July 21 (nnn): Zeliangrong frontal organisations have urged Union Minister of State for Sports and Youths Affairs who is also the Union Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur and also to expedite the Naga peace process.

Submitting a joint memorandum to the Union minister at Nungba in Tamenglong district this afternoon, Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur (ZBM), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), Zeliangrong Peoples Co-ordination Committee, Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur (ZSUM) and Zeliangrong Baudi, Women Wing have urged Jitendra Singh to repeal the AFSPA from Manipur at the earliest and also to expedite the Naga peace talks. The memorandum further urged Jitendra Singh to start the next round of tripartite talks involving the UNC, Delhi and Manipur government on the 'alternative arrangement' soon.

Other points mentioned in the memorandum are to hand over the Tamenglong-Khongsang road to BRTF. The Zeliangrong frontal bodies also urged the Union minister to hand over the 91.5 km long Tamenglong-Tousem-Haflong road to the BRTF. The memorandum then urged the Union minister to construct pucca bridges over Irang, Barak and Makru rivers. The Zeliangrong frontal organisations insisted that exploitation of natural resources should be prevented.

Assam bans Gutkha, Pan masala, sets sights on cigarettes next

Guwahati, July 21 (Pti): After the passage of the anti-tobacco bill in the Assembly, the Assam government is now planning to bring in a new legislation to curb manufacturing and selling of all forms of smoking products in the state.

“Our first aim is to implement the anti-tobacco bill for all forms of smokeless products. After this, our next mission is to ban smoking tobacco… One day we will ban smoked tobacco also,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

He, however, did not give a timeframe on introduction of the

bill to ban smoking tobacco saying the government at first wants to be successful in implementing the ‘Assam Health (Prohibition of Manufacturing, Trade, Advertisement, Storage, Distribution, Sale and Consumption of Zarda, Gutkha, Panmasala etc. Containing Tobacco and/or Nicotin) Act, 2013'.

“I do not know when it will happen, but I want to begin the banning of smoking tobacco in the country from Assam,” Sarma said.

Last week, the anti-tobacco bill was passed in the Assam Assembly unanimously with some amendments. “The existing act in

the country prohibiting smoking at public places leaves the onus on the consumer. However, in our bill, we have shifted the focus and now the onus is on the manufacturer,” Sarma said.

He said when this bill comes into force, there will be pressure on all other states.

“The Assam government is very serious about this bill. That is why we have brought one amendment to include nicotine along with tobacco and have changed the name of the bill accordingly,” Sarma said.

The bill provides for preven-

tion of manufacturing and usage of tobacco products in non-smoking form. The punishment for violators include an imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine to the tune of Rs 5 lakh.

The punishment will be given to those who will be found engaged in manufacturing, advertising, storing, and trading, distributing and selling of ‘zarda, gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine. The bill also suggests slapping a fine of Rs 1,000 on the consumer for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for the second and any subsequent offences.

“If any person after having been previously convicted of an offence under this Act, subsequently commits and is convicted for the same offence, he shall be liable to twice the punishment, which might have been imposed on a first conviction, subject to punishment being maximum provided for the same offence,” the bill said.

The bill, however, clarified that “tobacco” will include all the products, which are smokeless and chewing, and includes leaves and other vegetative parts of Nicotiana-Tabacum.

WANTED For a Higher Sec. School in Kohima 1. Teacher –

M.A. (Education/Psychology) B.A. (Pol.Science/History) 2. Chowkidar – Male (Single)

Contact-9612303031 between 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

10 minor girls 'bought' from Assam rescued Manipur village JAC

BanGalore, July 21 (enS): Ten girls, all aged between 10 and 17 years, who were employed in a circus which has put up a show near the Kengeri bus stop, were rescued on Saturday in a joint raid by the Anti-human Trafficking Unit and Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO. The girls, who hail from different villages in Satgaon district of Assam, were reportedly bought from their parents for `10,000 each.

A few others had run away from home, lured by Beeda Singh, a middleman, who had promised them jobs in Bangalore. “After they were brought here, the girls were employed as gymnastic performers with Prabhat Circus, which is managed by Basavaraju (54), who hails from Tumkur, and Jayashree (45) from Bihar who is a former circus employ-

ee and now a trainer here,” said Vani Kantli of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

She said that at the time of the raid, the girls were practicing for a gymnastic performance and seemed extremely overworked.

“The girls were being made to do gymnastics in the circus shows. There are three shows each day and each lasts two hours and fifteen minutes. It is nothing short of cruelty against these children,” she said. “They were in very poor hygiene and the tent was in bad shape. There were no bathrooms and toilets for these girls to use.

The children said they had to perform even when they were unwell,” she added.

Among the 10 was a 17-year-old who has been employed in the circus for nearly eight years, a 10-year old and another 11-yearold girl who were brought

in roughly two months ago, said members of the team.

“They all belong to very poor families in Assam.” She said that employing the kids here is also a direct violation of the Supreme Court judgment of 2011 which has banned the employment of children in Indian circuses.

The circus owners were not paying any monthly or daily wages for their work and they were being housed here and only given food, Vani said. “They were brought here after being promised a salary of `3,000 per month, but nothing was paid to them.

Withholding payment as well as buying them for money are illegal,” she said.

“They were being kept like bonded labourers.”Kengeri police have registered cases against Basavaraju and Jayashree under Sections 370 and 374 of IPC, Sections

23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

“The circus owner, Saibaba, is absconding along with his wife Uma. The rescued girls were sent for medical tests to ascertain their age and to decide on the further course of action,” police said.

The girls are now under the care of the Balakiya Manidra run by the Child Welfare Committee. “Their parents have been contacted and arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families,” Vani said.

Bodies condemn July 14 incident tamenGlonG, July 21 (mexn): Reacting to an incidentthathappenedonJuly14, 2013, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), Nungba Zone, and Zeliangrong Students’ Union (ZSU), Khoupum Area strongly condemned the 8th Gorkha Regiment alleged acts ofinhumanandatrocitiesperpetrated upon Nailin Malangmei. The victim is aged 54 years, and said to be a resident of Satudai village, Khoupum valley. A press note issued by Duangam Dangmei, Convenor, ZSUKA, Khamba Kamei Information and Publicity Secretary ZYF Nungba Zone, Joel Riamei Area Secretary, ZSUKA stated that the PIB (Defence Wing) issuing press statement repeatedly which appeared on local dailies of

July 19 and 20, 2013 denying the incident has exposed the desperate attempt to cover up their 'excessive acts and misdeed and to mislead the general public'.

The two organizations also said that the army committing inhuman and excessive acts upon innocent civilian in the said incident will be proved as and when required as there are enough evidences to substantiate it. Also, the innocent villagers who are peace loving people will stand before any lawful authority as witnesses regarding the incident. It also stated that the PIB (Defence Wing) should not rely without authenticating on wrong feed back or report of 8th Gorkha Regiment in the said incident as the victim has

PRESS RELEASE This is for information to all the Concerned Teachers(s) under the Establishment of SDEO Niuland who have been appointed after 01-01-2010 and comes under the Preview of National Pension System (NPS) Scheme and those incumbent(s) who have applied the form for Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) are hereby directed to submit 1(one) copy of passport (3.5cm X 2.5cm) size and your Saving Account Cheque leaflet (one) (Strike as Cancelled) to the undersigned office on or before 31st July 2013 for onward submission.

Take note that the PRAN form shall be forwarded on first come first basis.

For further information/query kindly contact:V. SAMUEL HOLO, D/Asst.

Phone No. 9436213537

suffered ear drum damage by hard blow on his head apart from swelling and has blue and black marks on his body due to the thrashing and beating received. It also stated that the matter will be taken up in any appropriate authority or forum in the pursuit to defence and against the human rights violation till justice is achieved.

declares 48-hour strike

imPhal, July 21 (aGenCieS): Notwithstanding the official denial of any involvement in the death of a 12 year-old Muslim boy, Mohammad Neiumuddin on July 18, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed by the people of Sora village in Thoubal district, Manipur has declared a 48-hour general strike in Manipur from 6:00 pm on Sunday.

The JAC said that the government has not taken up any action against the

Special Awareness Camp

Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, Development Commissioner (Handlooms) through the Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland, is organizing Special Awareness cum Registration Camp for issue of Weavers Credit Card and Health Insurance Camp through ICICI Lombard, covering Kohima and Dimapur districts.

Following tentative camps are as follows: Sl. No

Particulars

Venue

1

Kohima

Directorate of Industries & Commerce campus

2

Dimapur

Urban Haat, Dimapur

Date & Time 24th of July 2013 at 10.00 A.M. 8th of August 2013 at 10.00 A.M.

All the genuine weavers both from Kohima and Dimapur districts are informed to attend the Awareness Camp for registration of Weavers Credit Card and Health Insurance Scheme. They are also informed to bring the identity proof such as Weavers Identity Card, Ration Card, Aadhar (Bio-Metric) Card and Electricity Bill for proof of residential address.

Sd/(Er. Thekruneituo Kire) Director of Industries & Commerce Nagaland, Kohima

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND ELECTION DEPARTMENT NO.ELE/PER-9/2011(Pt.II)

Dated Kohima, the 20th July, 2013

CORRIGENDUM TO TENDER NOTICE In continuation to this Office Tender Notice of even number dated 3rd July, 2013, the following specifications are added in the said Tender as directed by the Election Commission of India.

1. Card Type: 100% PVC 2. Specification for Card size: (i) Card size 8.6 cm vertical and 5.4 cm horizontal (ii) Thickness 0.8 cm 3. Specification for Security printing: Front (i) Spiral micro letters line (EPIC) in art screen. (ii) Three colour guilloche design. (iii) The National Emblem with guilloche design for invisible printing which can be seen by ultra violet light (iv) The National Emblem printed on the upper left hand corner and Election Commission of India logo printed on the upper right hand corner in colour.

Back (i) Relief tint of "Election Commission of India" in English and Hindi The other terms and conditions contained in the earlier tender issued vide No.ELE/PS-9/2011 (Pt.11) dated 3rd July, 2013 remains the same. However, the time is extended upto 1:00 PM of 12th August, 2013 and tenders will be opened on the same day.

(SENTIYANGER IMCHEN ) IAS, CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, NAGALAND : KOHIMA.

policemen who are charged with opening fire at a civilian vehicle on the fateful night causing the boy’s death and injuring eight others. Other forms of agitations will be launched till the policemen concerned are booked, said a JAC statement.

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The Morung Express

Food security works will hike fiscal deficit: FICCI

NEW DELHI, JuLy 21 (IANS): Implementing the food security bill will bring additional fiscal pressure and push up the fiscal deficit to five per cent of GDP in the current financial year, said industry chamber FICCI here on Sunday. “It will impose an additional pressure on the fiscal situation and would make fiscal sustainability plan of the country difficult to achieve. As a result, the expected fiscal deficit to GDP ratio is 5% for 2013-14, which is slightly above the budgeted 4.8%,” said the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Economic Outlook Survey.

The survey respondents felt that allocating food through the public distribution system is plagued with inefficiencies and ensuring efficiency in the delivery system is required. Earlier this month, the government promulgated an ordinance to implement the Food Security Bill, giving over two-thirds of the population the right to 5 kg of foodgrain each month at the subsidised rates of one to three rupees per kg. Government spending on the programme is estimated at Rs 1,25,000 crore annually for supplying about 62 million tonnes of rice, wheat and coarse

cereals to 67% of the population.

The economists participating in the survey expect the country’s GDP to grow by around 6% during the current fiscal. “Some grave concerns remain and these would have to be handled promptly to get economy back on growth trajectory,” the report said. It further said decline in industrial output, widening current account deficit and a depreciating rupee may dampen the growth prospects the country if adequate supportive action is not taken. The survey also said GDP will grow by 5% during the first quarter of the fiscal.

FICCI said the depreciating rupee will impact the widening current account deficit (CAD) that results when total imports of goods, services and transfers is greater than the exports. For the first quarter of the current financial year, CAD to GDP ratio is projected at 5% and it may temper in the second half of the fiscal. “Financing CAD will be the real challengethisyearasgloballiquiditywill beunder pressure,” it said. The CAD hit a record high of 4.8% in the 2012-13 fiscal. Thesurvey further asked the Reserve Bank of India to cut key policy rates to boost the economic growth.

public discoursE

Woman as fullfledged PASTOR in Nagaland!

A press photographer takes pictures of a baby car, decorated with the French flag colors, made by a French toy company and brought outside St. Mary’s hospital as a publicity stunt, in London. the company said that they had produced toys and allowed people to vote online for the ones that could be offered as presents to the royal baby.Media are preparing for royal-mania as Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge plans to give birth to the new third-in-line to the throne in mid-July, at the Lindo Wing. Cameras from all over the world are set to be jostling outside for an exclusive first glimpse of Britain’s Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s first child. (AP Photo)

Chinese software major opens Huawei Club in B’lore Yamaha recalls 56,000

BANGALOrE, JuLy 21 (IANS): Leading Chinese ICT solutions provider Huawei Technologies has unveiled a club in this city to engage its users and techies to build better user experiences. “As a unique platform, Huawei Club will provide a channel for the company to listen to consumers, showcase latest products and services, offer online content and facilitate direct interaction with our research and development engineers,” Huawei Technologies India chief operating officer Wison Wang said in a statement Sunday.

The club, first of its kind outside China, is a maiden initiative by any smartphone maker to conduct regular events for its members across colleges in cities and tech fairs. The first club

was launched last year in China and became popular with five million people joining as members. Unlike other clubs in the city, the tech club will promote its new user interface (Emotion UI) embedded in Huawei smartphones as an Android based man-machine interaction system for smart terminals.

“At the club, our smartphone and tablet owners can enjoy vivid display, have fun customising their device, customise home screens with applications for switching between themes,” Wilson said. As a global consumer-centric initiative to connect user communities the world over, the club will drive new features and meet new experience requirements by collaborating with end users. “Members can also benefit from the club by ex-

birThday grEETings

periencing our latest range of smartphones, tablets, interact with geeks, developers, user interface experts and product managers,” Wilson said.

The club will also serve as a platform for members to provide feedback on innovative ideas and enhance the product experience. Huawei deployed its range of products and services in about 140 countries in 2012, serving more than one-third of the world’s population. “We believe everyone can be the centre of information and the world would be a better place if access and information barriers were knocked down,” Wilson said. In India, Huawei devices have been offering a range of products to around 25 million Indian households and enterprises.

units of ‘Ray’ scooter in India

NEW DELHI, JuLy 21 (TNN): India Yamaha Motor (IYM) said it is recalling 56,082 units of its scooter ‘Ray’ to fix a problem with the vehicle’s handlebar those in worst cases may impact the steering operation. “The company has taken this voluntary step after it detected insufficient strength in the handlebar of some scooters due to inadequate welding. There is a chance in extreme cases that this might impact the steering operation,” IYM said.

The company said the fault in Ray was identified during one of the field studies. “During the extensive study of the product, the company found that the handlebar fitted in few Ray scooters were affected by this potential issue. Having identified all such vehicles with this issue, Yamaha has therefore, decided to voluntarily replace the handlebar in all such scooters. The replacement will be free of charge.” The company plans to begin the voluntarily recall exercise through the ‘Ray Refresh campaign’ that will be run at the company’s dealership network across the country. The campaign is subject to Ray scooters only and the newly-launched ‘Ray Z’ variant is not affected by the problem, the company added.

World’s first trip to Moon’s south pole planned for 2016

Dear President Jenpu RongWASHINGTON, JuLy 21 (PTI): mei, Youngs’ Club The world’s first mission to the south On this day you came to this pole of the moon to install a permanent earth for a purpose and You did telescope on the lunar surface, to aid it, serving to the society with professional and amateur researchers, dedication and commitment, has been announced. The private enterwe are glad that we are family prise mission, announced by the Interthrough Youngs’ Club, we are national Lunar Observatory Association glad that we met you and work- and Moon Express, will be both scientific ing together for the society. to- and commercial, and plans to deliver the day is a special day and without International Lunar Observatory (ILO) wishing you a day is incom- aboard a Moon Express robotic lander. plete, Happy Birthday HandMoon Express will also utilise the some’ God Bless You with more wisdom & Knowledge and mission to explore the moon’s south May you continue your best service for the society. pole for mineral resources and water.

With lots of Love Lunar probes have provided compelfrom the family members of Youngs’ Club ling evidence of mineral and volatile

deposits in the Moon’s southern polar region where energy and resources may be abundant, Phys.org reported.

The ILO, with its 2-meter dish antenna, will be the world’s first instrument to conduct international astrophysical observations and communications from the lunar surface, providing scientific research, commercial broadcasting and enabling Galaxy 21st Century education and “citizen science” on the Moon.

The announcement was made during a NASA Lunar Science Institute conference at Nasa Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. “The ILO will demonstrate the value of the Moon

for scientific study of the galaxy, moon, earth, sun and stars,” said Steve Durst, founder and director of the ILOA and Space Age Publishing Company.

“We are a global consortium of scientists, educators, entrepreneurs and visionaries who seek to establish a scientific presence on the Moon followed by human exploration and eventual settlement.” Space Age Publishing Company, ILOA’s commercial affiliate, intends to broadcast its Space Calendar weekly and Lunar Enterprise Daily via the ILO. Moon Express will send a series of robotic missions to the Moon in support of science, commerce and exploration starting in 2015.

The Nagas extended metaphor or a hierarchical structure that Father is the head of the family dominates almost every walk of the fiber of the system-be it politics, commerce, workplace councils or religion. But biblically, this matter of system is unlikely to apply here, rather we need to see from biblical pastoral ministerial point of view. For example a nation’s Prime Ministerial or President post is for both male and female so also pastoral ministerial in the church.

Women as a Pastor – Do we forbid woman to be a Pastor because of 1 Timothy 2:11-12 ? “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”

What is this passage of scripture saying? We must remember that it is just as sinful to bind more as what God has revealed in the inspired word, as it is to tolerate less than what is commanded.

In line with this thought, does this statement forbid a woman from all teaching?

Does this context forbid women to ask or answer questions in a public adult Bible class or Church General annual meeting?

We must be careful not to be more lenient that God intended nor should we be too strict.

One error is as wrong as the other. Very sadly, some have taken extreme positions concerning this verse, which do not harmonize with other verses in the New Testament.

The core Issue to considerWho were the first to see the risen Jesus, and are the first to be entrusted with the news that he has been raised from the dead? They were Women!

1. This is of incalculable significance. Mary Magdalene and the other women are the apostles to the apostles.

2. And we should not be surprised that Paul calls a woman named Junia an apostle in Romans 16.7.

3. If an apostle is a witness to the resurrection, there were women who deserved that title before any of the men.

4. Pastor, Evangelist, teacher etc are not POST for male to be filled in or be appointed but ministerial gifts to any member of the body of Christ.

5. Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This passage addressed to both gender (men and women).

Therefore, what more clarification do we need for a woman to exercise Pastoral Gift?

We need to radically change our traditional pictures both of what men and women are and how they relate to one another within the church and indeed of what the Bible say on this subject.

Rev. Dr. L. Tsanso

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

DiMAPuR Civil Hospital:

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box co ntains the digits 1 through 9.”

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StD CODE: 03862

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital: Shamrock Hospital Zion Hospital: Police Control Room Police Traffic Control East Police Station West Police Station CIHSR (Referral Hospital) Dimapur hospital Apollo Hospital Info Centre: Railway: Indian Airlines Northeast Shuttles Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

KOhiMA

Police Control Room: North Police Station: South Police Station: Fire Brigade: Naga Hospital: Oking Hospital: Bethel Nursing Home:

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 233044, 228846 228254 231864, 230889 228400 232106 227607, 228400 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 285117, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 22232 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

StD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

R

VocAbulAry

ABATE

PATRON

COWER

PERSIST

CREST

DEVISE

DIN

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PRUDENT

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GROUNDLESS

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ACROSS 1. Muscle spasm 6. how old we are 10. temporary living quarters 14. Challenger 15. Snare 16. hodgepodge 17. Alpha’s opposite 18. Attraction 19. Connecting point 20. Spoilable 22. Outlay 23. “___ the season to be jolly” 24. Float 26. not on target 30. handrail post 32. Fragrant oil 33. Brazen 37. Average 38. Late 39. Church alcove 40. unclearness 42. Drive 43. After ninth 44. Charisma 45. Sudden burst 47. Knight’s title 48. Flippant 49. Stationery

56. 53 in Roman numerals 57. Arab chieftain 58. American symbol 59. Annul 60. On the left or right 61. Seaweed 62. Observed 63. goulash 64. unsuccessful person

DOWN 1. Prune 2. Frost 3. Affirm 4. Wise men 5. Spackle 6. Collection of maps 7. Food 8. nobleman 9. A racetrack 10. Make peace 11. Detached 12. Center 13. he writes in verse 21. Concealed 25. Record (abbrev.)

26. Mother 27. Bit of gossip 28. Knife 29. the state of being clean 30. not south 31. Countercurrent

33. Entice 34. not closed 35. utilized 36. Arid 38. unmelodious 41. Obtain 42. Dreamlike 44. Perish 45. A river through Paris 46. A group of lions 47. Scatter 48. Add 50. Send forth 51. It ebbs and flows 52. Angel’s headwear 53. Hens make them 54. Wings 55. Caribou

Ans to CrossWord 2605

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LOCAL

The Morung Express

Monday 22 July 2013

TR Zeliang elaborates state legal framework on oil & natural gas Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21

NAgAlAND MINISTER FOR geology & Mining T.R. Zeliang on Saturday said that in consonance with the provisions in the state legal framework on oil and natural gas in Nagaland, the government invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from various companies for pre-production, production and post- production operations in the eleven zones in the state through advertisement on December 20, 2012.

In his statement at the assembly session on Saturday in reply to half an hour discussion with regard to oil exploration in Nagaland, the Minister said as required under the state legal framework, the President, Naga Hoho and the President, ENPO have been requested to forward No Objec-

tion Certificates obtained after consultation with land owners in five zones namely, Dimapur, Mokokchung, Mon, Peren and Wokha, in respect of which EOIs were received from companies.

The government will later deal with the other six zones for which no company has applied for, he said.

“When we were in the midst of implementing the state legal framework duly formulated within the framework of article 371-A (I) (a) of the Constitution of India, we received a request letter dated 13th June 2013 from the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural gas to which another letter dated 30th May, 2013 of the Union Ministry of Home was enclosed, seeking the withdrawal of the State legal Framework. Both the letters, without assigning detailed reasons or adducing any

rationale, called the State legal Framework as unconstitutional and invalid. These letters have come to us despite Parliament of India, which enacted article 371-A for us, was informed on the 10th March 2011 that our resolution dated 26th July, 2010 was Constitutionally valid and we had the right to evolve our own state legal framework,” the Minister said.

The Minister said that since the state legal framework, mainly, the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural gas Regulations 2012 and the Rules, 2012 were enacted by Nagaland legislative Assembly and the government after consultation with the Apex Hohos and Tribal Hohos, it was considered most appropriate to consult them again on the letters from the Union government.

Accordingly, he said, a public meeting of Apex and other tribal

Farmers trained on propagation techniques of important fruit crops

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): Three days intensive farmers training on “Propagation techniques of important fruit crops” was jointly organized by Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), DAC, goI, Medziphema and ATMA, Mokokchung at CIH, Medziphema from July 16 to 18, 2013.

A press note issued to the media stated that the training was held with an objective to produce superior quality diseasesfree planting material which is the basic requirement for establishment of fruit orchard and also to ensure higher yields.

The resource persons Dr.Pauline, Assistant Professor Department of Horticulture, SASRD: NU, Medzipheme, Naseema Rahman, SMS (Horti), KVK, Sonitpur, Assam and A K Singh, Technical consultant, CIH, Medziphema imparted training on various aspects like basic principles of propagation techniques in fruit crops, propagation techniques in Mango, litchi, Cashew, guava, Citrus, Passion fruit and Peach, practical hands on demonstration on Budding, grafting, cutting and air lay-

Hohos, political parties, MPs and other civil societies was held on the July 12, 2013 to feel their pulse.

At the public meeting, after a thorough discussion, a resolution was passed unanimously upholding the state legal framework and rejecting the requests contained in the Union government’s letters. Zeliang added, “We have consulted the Hohos and civil societies first, because, while evolving the legal framework also, we consulted them first and later brought the framework to the House for enactment. The same order is being followed in this case also. This is to ensure that the views of Hohos and civil societies are made available to the House before the House took a decision. It would not have been wise to consult the Hohos after the House has taken a decision or expressed its views.”

Stating that government has enacted the state legal framework after carefully weighing various considerations, the Minister said, “We must not step back in the absence of concrete evidence that we had done the wrong. No path is free from problems. But problems cannot dampen our efforts for realizing the scheme and goal of Article 371-A.” Our government is confident of going ahead with the legal framework while we are prepared for talks on Track Two, he said.

“Disputes can be settled in forums available to us. But any request of rescission of our resolution or our legal framework in regard to oil and natural gas is ruled out,” Zeliang stated.

Further, the Minister made an appeal to the House to uphold the state legal framework on oil and natural gas.

ering were conducted at CIH farm nursery unit.

The note also mentioned that State Horticulture Nursery, green Park, Dimapur was visited, done where the participants were appraised on various propagation activities of the nursery.

The Valedictory programme was graced by Dr. N K Mohan, Chief Consultant of CIH on July 18, 2013 where he exhorted the participants to utilize the skills they have learnt from the training in the field condition. Certificates were distributed along with reading materials to the participants. Feedback from the participants was also delivered.

The note further mentioned that ATMA, Mokokchung also requested the Director, CIH to conduct similar training, such as crop specific trainings, in collaboration with them in the near future. Altogether, 27 participants including farmers from Mokokchung, Di- Seen here is the District Agricultural Officer for Dimapur demonstrating line transmapur and ATMA officials attended the planting in a paddy filed at Jharnapani, Dimapur, under the National Food Security Mission Rice-2013. training programme.

ATMA hold orientation prog for extension functionaries Discussion on Rengmas

mokokchuNg, July 21 (Dipr): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) held a sensitization cum orientation programme for its extension functionaries on July 19, 2013 at District Agriculture Office Mokokchung, where members from six blocks in the district attended.

Deputy Commissioner and Chairman, governing Board, ATMA Mokokchung, Murohu Chotso exhorting the gathering said that ATMA Mokokchung

has been awarded the best ATMA in the State for many times, “which shows that the productivity and economy of Mokokchung District has improved.” Murohu while lauding the officers and the members of ATMA Mokokchung for their dedication and tireless efforts urged the team to be more active and sincere in successfully implementing the ATMA schemes and make the best example to other districts in the State.

Block activities such

as physical achievement, demonstrations, field day, research extension farmers linkage, farm school, training and exposure trip was presented by Dy. Project Director ATMA Mokokchung, Rongsennungla Imchen.

District Veterinary Officer and AMC Member ATMA Mokokchung, Dr. Merennungba chaired the programme, welcome address was delivered by Asst. Agronomist & Coordinator, ATMA Mokokchung I. lipokmeren, key-

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): World Population Stabilization Fortnight activities were launched in Kohima District on July 11 with the theme “Small Family, Happy Family.”

A press note informed that the endeavor has been successfully carried out and that the activities would be going till July 24.

The office of the Chief Medical Officer, Kohima stated that the observation of the population stabilization fortnight, a family planning camp is

held at the District Hospital, Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres. In order to create awareness, IEC banners and posters are displayed at every health unit and that that publicity is carried out through public announcements in the district headquarter.

Intensive awareness in respective blocks are being carried out

by Medical officers, Block Program Managers, IEC Personnels and ASHA Co-ordinators in respect of conduct-

Diphu, July 21 (mExN): Rengma Naga Peoples’ Council and the Rengma Naga Students’ Union, Karbi Anglong, Assam, on behalf of the Rengma Community have thanked the DAN government for inducting Er. levi Rengma, the lone MlA representing the Rengma Tribe as a Deputy Speaker of the NlA. They have also extended heartfelt congratulations to levi Rengma, while wishing him a bright and prosperous future. Meanwhile, appreciating the move to discuss about the Rengma Nagas of Assam in the “prestigious” August house of NlA, they have acknowledged “the relentless help offered to us by various organisations and individuals from Nagaland in different forms since the displacement of Rengma Nagas in Assam.” The presidents of both the organization further “look forward to such bonding in the near future.”

ing Focus group Discussion and IPC session on Family Planning.

Use of condoms and oral contraceptive pills are being explained to the participants especially the ASHA’s. It was further informed that so far, 24 cases of sterilization and 41 IUCDs have been performed. IEC posters and leaflets in local dialect are also being distributed to all the health units for further activities which are scheduled to continue till July 24.

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Tesophenyu Kohima district organized daylong oncampus training for practicing farmers in the Conference hall, KVK Tesophenyu on July 18, 2013. A press note issued

by Programme Coordinator, KVK, Tesophenyu Kohima district stated that around 30 farmers from Sewanyu, Ziphenyu, and Tesophenyu villages attended the training. In the first session, Subject Matter Specialist (Veterinary & Animal Husbandry) Dr. Temjennungsang spoke on the topics “Rabbit farming” and “Backyard farming of broiler poultry”. In the second session, Subject Matter Specialist (Agriculture Extension) longmayanger Pongen and Training Assistant (Home Science) Keviyeno Zhasha highlighted on the topics “System of “Rice intensification (SRI)” and “Preparation low cost nutritious food”, respectively.

Kids taught crafts, songs, dances & leadership at VBS

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): Vacation Bible School of Sumi Baptist Church, Padum Pukhuri village was held from July 1921 under the theme ‘Akehu kiviu Jisu’ (John 10). More than 360 children participated in the three days motivational and educating programme.

According to lily H. Yeptho, supervisor, Christian Education Department, SBC Padum Pukhuri, the children were divided into different groups according to age. They were taught how to make various crafts using ice cream sticks and other non-hazardous materials. Children also learnt songs and dances and other leadership aspects of life. games and sports and other forms of competitions were other highlights

Children at the culmination of VBS Sumi Baptist Church, Padum Pukhuri, July 21.

of the activities through which children were provided opportunity to exhibit their talents.

Delivering a message, lily quoted scriptures from the book of Proverbs and conveyed to the children that “fear of the lord

is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.” She also urged upon the parents to bring up their children in true spirit of Christian ways of life.

Viyeto Chishi, pastor, SCB Padum Pukhuri pronounced prayer of blessing

for the children. Khuheto Achumi, deacon board chairman gave a remark on the successful conduct of the Bible School. He assured that the church would continue to strive to impart better education of Christ to children.

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MEx FILE ZBN office bearers’ election Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): Office of the Election Commission, Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland (ZBN) informs all the Zeliangrong villages in Nagaland that the election of office bearers for the tenure 2013-2016 for Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland will be held on July 26, 2013 at Baudi Hall, Jalukie Town, Peren. Therefore, all the recognized and unrecognized village authorities of Zeliangrong villages have been requested to obtain necessary detailed information from Election Commission members at Baudi Hall, Jalukie Town from July 22, 2013 onwards during office hour from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For further details contact T. Mirhu, Chairman, Election Commissioner at 9436264435. Further, the election process will be carried out as followed: Filling of Nomination – July 22– 24; Withdrawal & Scrutiny – July 25; Election – July 26.

NFTA meeting

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): The Nagaland Fisheries Technical Association (NFTA) has convened its 19th general body meeting on July 26, 2013 at the Directorate of Fisheries’ conference hall at 10:30 am. Therefore, NFTA president Ketusielie Angami has informed all to attend the meeting positively.

NUDA invited its in-laws

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): The Naghutomi Union Dimapur Area (NUDA) has invited all “Naghutomi and Amalimi in-laws” living in and around Dimapur area to its Silver Jubilee celebration at Town Hall Dimapur on July 27, 2:00 pm. A press release issued by NUDA general secretary Kughalu K Chishi has further informed Naghutomi under NUDA to gather at the Town Hall on July 26, 9:00 am for social work.

Dmp auto drivers informed

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): Office of the Dimapur District Autorickshaw Drivers Union (DDADU) has informed all its members to obtain and renew their respective ID Cards on or before July 31 during office hours. This has been informed by newly elected DDADU president K Hokaito Zhimomi.

One arrested at Peducha

Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): Police personnel at Peducha check gate on July 19 arrested one person during routine checking. The accused identified as Md Azimuddin (29), resident of Imphal was arrested after the police found 8000 capsules of NitrosunR10 and 7380 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon in his possession, while he was on his way to Imphal from Dimapur. A press note from the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Kohima and PRO to the SP, Melite Kapfo informed that a case has been registered at Sechu (Zubza) Police station for investigation vide Sechu (Z) PS C/No. 007/13 U/S 13(i) (b) Drugs & Cosmetic Act R/W 22 (b) NDPS Act.

of Assam at NLA lauded

note address was said by Joint Director (Agri) and Project Director ATMA Mokokchung N. Tekatoshi while vote of thanks was proposed by Block Technology Manager (BTM) ATMA Mokokchung Toshimenla.

Topics on extension reforms and concept of ATMA and organizational set-up and role and responsibilities of extension functionaries and cafeteria of activities were discussed during the technical session.

Population Stabilization Fortnight launched in Kma

Dimapur

Campus training for farmers

Students of Class A of Government Middle School (GMS), DC colony, Peren exhibit Zeliang traditional attire during the school’s Cultural Day on July 19, 2013. The Cultural Day was held under the theme “Routing to Cultural Insignia”. GMS DC Colony has 451 students at present and it is one of the best GMSs in Peren district, academically as well as infrastructural. (Photo by Mireuyi Herie)

Public SPace Appeal to CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) & Directorate of Technical Education Govt of Nagaland

Sub: Regarding JEE (MAIN) 2013 and ing. As such, it is disheartening for a thereafter seat allocation done by student like me who opted for Civil CSAB. Engineering as my 1st priority. It is to mention here that the govt. has been Dear Sir, allocating up to 50% of the seats unhave qualified at the recently con- der ‘Home State’ as per AIR (All India cluded JEE (Main) 2013 and have Ranking) and categories ranking acbeen allotted my 6th and last option, cordingly in almost all the branches i.e 'Electrical and Electronics Engi- offered in each Institution. likewise, neering' at NIT (National Institute most of us are deprived from our of Technology-Nagaland) under the preferred branch under the ‘Home category ‘ST Home State’. Needless State Category’ allocation due to nonto say, my priority choice as filled in availability of desired branches in the the option was Civil engineering at state (NIT-Nagaland) at present. various NITs which offer the course To be more precise, NIT Meghaof Civil Engg. laya, Silchar (Assam) and Tripura But Sir, you are aware that NIT Na- etc offer a Civil engineering course, galand and most of the newly estab- whereas NIT Nagaland does not. So lished NIT setups in Northeast India as to compensate and maintain the do not have all the major branches balance, some seats of Civil Engineerexcept Computer Engineering and ing should be allocated at other NITs Electrical & Electronics Engineer- under the category ‘Home State’. It

I

shall be more systematic and genuine, if your good office could offer/ reallocate branches to other nearest NITs to serve the former non-offering branches under the ‘Home State Category’ allocation in various branches of Engineering to balance the deficient and backlog from one state to another and vice versa.

I hope in this manner all the states of India will have its share.

In this regard, I earnestly request the Department of Technical Education, Nagaland to initiate and forward the matter to the CSAB to reallocate the non-offering branches in the state.

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully Areni C Humtsoe JEE(Main) Roll No. 85400675

The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper.

Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

6

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express MonDAy 22 July 2013 vol. vIII IssuE 199

Along Longkumer Consulting Editor

Discuss Naga Issue

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s per the business schedule drawn up for the current Budget session, today is going to be the last day after which the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) will be adjourned by the Speaker. While many issues of public importance have been raised and discussed on the floor of the house, perhaps it will be good if some time can be taken up for discussing the Naga political issue. Considerable time has been spent on discussing Article 371 (A), especially the section related to land and its resources vis-a-vis oil exploration in Nagaland. If we go by the public statement of all political parties, the resolution of the Naga issue tops the list of agendas as far as importance go. However for whatever reasons, our political parties and people’s representatives have not found the time or inclination to discuss threadbare on this vital issue. While it is true that the State government is only a facilitator and not a party to the talks, yet it does not mean that we cannot discuss this issue in the Assembly. Beyond the usual mention of the theme and the high sounding political rhetoric, it is perhaps high time that the platform of the NLA is used to share ideas and suggestion on how best to solve the Indo-Naga problem.

The National Socialist Council of Nagalim, which is in talks with the Government of India seems to be somewhat apprehensive of disclosing the contents of its discussion with Delhi perhaps knowing the sentiments of people, including the other factions, who may react adversely to any kind of climb-down. In fact a few years ago, a very senior politician made an interesting point regarding how underground (UG) leaders feel insecure to take any political decision for fear of their own cadres. According to his advice, the Naga public should therefore, shoulder the burden of the UGs. We may not know the kind of solution in offing, but it is becoming obvious that the GoI may not accede to all the points raised by the NSCN/ GPRN including on granting full-fledged sovereignty and territorial integration of Naga inhabited areas. Honourable members of the NLA can weigh in with their own thoughts and give suggestions on some alternative course available. What should be the nature and type of solution? Should it be an interim or permanent arrangement? Should it be within or outside the Indian Union? Should it be within or outside the Indian constitution? If integration is not feasible at the moment, then what?

We need to shed our inhibition and openly discuss how best to bring about a solution. As mentioned, while the NLA or for that matter the State government is not a party to the talks, it is time to shoulder responsibility in a way that allows the negotiating parties to act with confidence and without delay on what is possible at this juncture. Even if only a day remains for the conclusion of the budget session, there is always the possibility of sitting late through the night or perhaps convening a special session to address this vital question. If we are at all serious about an early solution, then it is time for the elected representatives of the people to facilitate this process and they can do so through the august gathering of the NLA by giving their valuable insights on this matter of solution. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as the Leader of the House should take this initiative by seeking permission of the Speaker to spend some time on the Naga issue even though the schedule may be tight. By raising this issue, it will not only strengthen the peace process but also give a people’s perspective on how best come to an early resolution. This is a most appropriate and democratic way of contributing to the peace process.

(Feedback can be send to consultingeditormex@gmail.com)

lEfT wiNg |

Mohammed Shafeeq Source: IANS

Will Telangana state finally be a reality?

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ill a separate Telangana state finally be a reality? If the party leaders from Telangana are to be believed, the central leadership has made up its mind to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. They say it is only a matter of time before the party announces its much-awaited decision.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Digvijaya Singh has already gone on record that the consultation process on the Telangana issue had been completed and that the party would soon take a final decision. The highest decision-making body of the ruling party, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), is expected to meet by month-end to take a final call on the over six-decadesold contentious issue that has triggered political uncertainty since 2009. The Congress core committee had last week discussed the issue after Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, his deputy Damodar Rajanarasimha and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana made their presentations. The chief minister and the state party chief, who come from the Rayalaseema and Andhra regions respectively, made a strong case for keeping the state united, while Rajanarasimha called for an early decision on separate statehood for Telangana.

Since then, Digvijaya Singh has held a series of meetings with various leaders from the state. The meetings, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi's discussions with assembly speaker N. Manohar during the last two days, have given credence to the buzz that the party has made up its mind on Telangana and will be initiating the process by moving a resolution in the state assembly. With the chief minister, the state Congress chief and other leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra) stressing the need to address the issue of Hyderabad, the leadership is believed to be engaged in a final round of consultations.

Several leaders, who are not against the state's bifurcation, want the centre to address the concerns of people of Seemandhra settled in Hyderabad and the entrepreneurs from the two regions. The state Congress chief has sought union territory status for Hyderabad for 25 years. As the Telangana leaders have rejected the idea, the Congress' central leadership is understood to be actively considering a proposal to make Hyderabad a joint capital of the two states for 5 to 10 years. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and other parties fighting for a separate state are not against the proposal. A proposal to merge two of the four districts of Rayalaseema with Telangana is also believed to be under the centre's consideration.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a key political force in Hyderabad, has backed the idea of merging Kurnool and Anantapur districts with Telangana. The Telangana region, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad, has 17 Lok Sabha seats. The merger of two Rayalaseema districts will take this figure to 21. The other state, likely to be made up of nine coastal Andhra districts and two Rayalaseema districts, will also have an equal number of Lok Sabha constituencies.

Realising that any further delay in taking a decision will affect its prospects in next year's Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has put the issue on the fast-track. There is also a feeling in the party that the opposition from Seemandhra leaders to a separate Telangana is not as strong as it was after the Dec 9 , 2009, statement of then union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the process for the separate state would be initiated.

The announcement had evoked strong protests in Seemandhra, with public representatives resigning en masse. This forced the centre to put the process on hold, citing the need for a consensus.

Political analysts say the political uncertainty for over three years due to protests in Telangana has made the Congress' central leadership take a call. By claiming credit for carving out a separate state, the Congress hopes to gain in the region. The Seemandhra leaders also seem have to softened their stand on Telangana. A majority of them have taken the stand that they will abide by any decision of the leadership. A section of the leaders, including some state ministers, are however strongly opposing the state's division.

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Alexandra Harney

Japan's Silver Democracy The Costs of Letting the Elderly Rule Politics

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he results of this weekend’s upper house election in Japan’s Diet will hinge on voters' assessment of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic stimulus plan, his proposals to revise the constitution, and his relations with neighboring countries. In other words, yet another election will pass with hardly a mention of the single-most important factor for the country’s prospects: demographics.

No country is aging faster than Japan. Between 1985 and today, the percentage of the Japanese population over 65 rose from a tenth to nearly a quarter. By 2060, that figure will rise to nearly 40 percent. And by that point, Japan’s population will have shrunk from around 128 million to less than 100 million people.

Although this transformation has only just begun, it is already weighing heavily on Japan’s national finances. It is widely known that the country’s public debt levels are expected to hit 240 percent of GDP next year -- higher than in Greece. But it is less well understood that a portion of Japan’s debt comes from funding the national pension program. Indeed, total spending on social benefits, including health care, pensions, and nursing for the elderly, now exceeds spending in all other categories combined, including education, defense, and Japan’s beloved bridge and tunnel building programs. Much of those expenses are directly related to the rising costs of caring for the elderly. Japan's total expenditures on those 65 and older tripled in the two decades before 2004 and have only continued to increase since then. Spending on families and the young, by comparison, has not increased nearly as much.

In Japan, these vital issues are subjected to very little public discussion. Particularly ahead of elections, politicians avoid addressing subjects that are sensitive for the elderly, such as the over-generosity of the pension system, the excesses and inefficiencies in the health-care system, and the economic difficulties facing young people, which dampen already low fertility rates. The reason: voter demographics.

Over the last three decades, as Japan’s population has aged, the percentage of Japanese voters over 60 has more than doubled, to 44 percent. By comparison, as of November 2012, only 21 percent of registered U.S. voters were over 65. Meanwhile, the share of Japanese voters in their twenties has fallen, from 20 percent in 1980 to 13 percent today.

In other words, Japan has two problems: It is rapidly aging, and its old folks will not let politicians do anything about it. The longer Japan waits to confront its aging society, the higher the cost to the economy.

The country must start thinking less about elderly voters and more about young families, or its economic prospects will remain assuredly grim.

An elderly woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Tokyo, Japan. (File Photo)

This weekend's election marks the first time the government has allowed parties to campaign online. Parties have embraced social media, distributing iPads to politicians, posting on Facebook pages, creating videos for YouTube, even Tweeting.

Old School Older voters’ outsized influence in elections naturally gives them a larger voice in policymaking. And Japan’s elderly, predictably, are interested in protecting their own benefits. In a 2009 survey conducted

by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, two-thirds of respondents over the age of 70 identified nursing services and medical care for the elderly are the most important elements of social security, compared with only a third of people in their twenties. According to the same poll, support for familyfriendly policies (those that would support families and encourage Japanese to pair off) falls off dramatically when Japanese enter their forties.

The result is that elderly-friendly policies get top priority, seemingly regardless of their cost to Japan’s long-term economic health. For example, Japan passed a comprehensive law on policies for an aging society in 1995; a law setting out policies for coping with low fertility was not passed until 2003. The first white paper on the elderly was published in 1989; the first white paper on the issue of low fertility was not published until 1994. At the same time, it has been hard to scale back elderly-friendly benefits. In 2009, Japanese policymakers made what was meant to be a temporary cut from 20 percent to ten percent in the copayments that older citizens pay for health care. (Japanese under 70, except preschool children and the unemployed, pay 30 percent of the costs of their care.) Despite the poor state of Japan's finances and promises to restore the copayment to a higher level, the government has yet to do so, in part because of pressure from the elderly.

Low copayments for seniors encourage frequent use of the system, a recipe for rising health-care costs. Japanese seniors visit a doctor between two and four times as often as the elderly in the United States, Germany, and Sweden. Japanese stay in hospitals far longer than people in any other country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Hospitals are, goes a common joke in Japan, where old people go to socialize. As a result, nearly half (48 percent) of Japan’s health-care spending goes to people over 65.

Politicians have also been loath to tackle the public pension system. Japan has one of the most generous pension systems in the developed world. Benefits begin at 65, two years earlier than in Germany and the United States. And given Japan’s long life expectancy (79 years for men), the Japanese pension system pays out longer. The irony is that because Japan’s elderly worked and saved through Japan's economic boom years, between the 1970s and early 1990s, many elderly Japanese are wealthier than those of working age, who reached adulthood just as the economic bubble burst.

The inequity of the system might not even be its biggest problem; the system is running out of money.

The portion of the population paying into the pension system is falling, in part because the workforce is shrinking, but also because the number of people opting not to pay into the system has increased.

Since 2009, Japan's pension fund has been paying out more in benefits than it receives in contributions. It has made up the difference with government bonds, adding to an already substantial debt burden.

The government currently assumes that the pension fund can last a century. But that estimate is based on outdated assumptions about interest rates and wages. A 2004 actuarial evaluation of the pension plan was based on a long-term investment return of 3.2 percent and continual wage increases of 2.1 percent; a 2009 assessment assumed a 4.1 percent return on long-term investment and a 2.5 percent wage increase. According to studies released

by Japan's National Institute for Research Advancement, which uses actual interest rates and alternative wage trends, the government’s pension assets will dry up sometime between 2032 and 2038.

Working It Japan’s elderly do not need to throw their weight around through interest groups like the AARP, as senior citizens do in the United States. The structure of the political system does the work for them.

For one, the overrepresentation of rural areas in the legislature gives older people greater influence. The disparity is a legacy of the decades-long rule of the Liberal Democratic Party, which depended heavily on the farm vote, and a failure to keep up with the country's demographic change.

Over the last few decades, most of Japan’s youth in the hinterlands has fled for the cities in search of jobs, leaving the countryside -- and all its votes -ever grayer. Although there have been reforms to the system, the exodus of young people from rural areas has outpaced these changes.

Take Kochi Prefecture, one of Japan’s most rapidly aging areas. Today, its population stands at roughly 760,000, 29 percent of which is over 65. Kochi sends three members to the lower house. Compare this to the much younger Chiba (where 22 percent of the population is over 65), a bustling prefecture with more than six million people and 13 representatives in the lower house. Although it has far fewer members in the Diet in real terms, Kochi is still overrepresented: A vote cast in the third electoral district of young, populous Chiba Prefecture is worth just 0.41 votes in Kochi's third voting district.

Reforms of the electoral system have also increased politicians’ incentives to court the elderly.

Until 1994, when new electoral reforms were introduced, Japanese parties would run four or five candidates in each district. The party needed only 20 to 30 percent of the total vote to win the whole district.

Each party’s candidates thus appealed to different geographic areas, interest groups, and industries.

Now, parties run only one candidate, and that candidate needs a majority to win. So the elderly became a crucial demographic. By appealing to them, candidates can attract support from a cross section of industries and regions. Further, Japanese, like Americans, tend to vote more as they age, so they are a more reliable constituency.

Even the way Japanese politicians canvas for votes favors the elderly. The koenkai, local groups that mobilize support for particular candidates through personal networks, may be less influential than they used to be, but their members still organize meetings and press their friends and business contacts to vote for their preferred candidates. And they are dominated by the elderly.

Participation in koenkai is highest among people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies, according to Japanese government surveys. A politician’s koenkai members tend to age further as the politician does, and they tend to reach out to other voters in their own age bracket.

Compounding all this are the strict laws that have prevented the use of the Internet for electioneering, thereby limiting politicians' appeal to younger voters. Until recently, Japanese politicians were barred from using social media and even up- Young And Restless To shore up its political and economic health, dating their Web sites during campaign season.

Japan must find a way to get young people more involved in the political process. In polls, young Japanese say that there are no politicians whose policies reflect their own concerns, and so their vote would not matter. Japan's political parties must, therefore, aggressively recruit younger politicians. They should also seek to raise the percentage of young people on government advisory committees, which play a crucial role in Japanese policymaking. Japan should also consider appointing a minister of youth affairs and establishing fellowships in the Prime Minister’s Office modeled on the White House Fellows program. These would help bring young people into the political process earlier and ensure that they have a seat at the table when decisions were made.

More fundamentally, Japan should lower its voting age from 20 (the highest in the OECD) to 18, which would widen the voter base by millions. In fact, Japan passed a referendum that paved the way for a lower voting age in 2007, but the idea remains controversial among some political parties. In addition, introducing more civics into school curriculum from middle school onward would help prepare Japanese youth for greater political involvement.

Second, Japan must start reviewing its pension and medical systems, given their impact on the country's long-term financial health. In the end, the country will likely have to cut health-care spending and pensions, and it might consider introducing a family doctor system similar to the United Kingdom’s to prevent the overuse of medical benefits. Regularly scheduled independent audits of the pension system, in particular, would at least reveal just how unsustainable the current system is, taking into account the country's rapid aging population, and help start the conversation.

Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has already promised to review the medical, nursing care, and pension systems. The challenge will be turning those words into policy. Toward that end, the government has announced plans to increase the consumption tax and put some of the extra revenue toward social welfare programs. But even that tax hike, which will contribute only modestly to the hole in Japan's pension reserves, is subject to economic considerations and could yet be delayed if Abe feels the economy is not strong enough to take it.

If Japan wants to encourage young people to get married and start families, it should start by tackling the country's overly rigid labor market, where promotions and raises are dependent on age, where it is very difficult to fire even unproductive employees, and where young people are increasingly offered lower-wage "contract" jobs -- even as older staff, mostly men, hold onto their jobs for life. The marriage rate for young men with "contract" jobs is half that of men with staff jobs. In a country where only two percent of children are born out of wedlock, reform of the employment system is an important family-friendly policy.

Finally, Japan needs to reform its electoral system, redrawing electoral districts in line with the current populations to create a fairer distribution of voting power. Courts have declared the results of the 2009 and 2012 elections unconstitutional because of the imbalance in representation, and one of these cases has made its way to the Japanese Supreme Court, which should put pressure on politicians to reform.

For more than four decades of previous electoral system reforms, politicians have insisted on adjusting the system themselves -- an obvious conflict of interest. Responsibility for electoral reform should be moved to an independent external commission.

Of course, electoral reform will not change the underlying reality: Even with redistricting, Japan's population structure means that the proportion of elderly voters will still be high. But the gaps in representation between districts and regions would not be as large.

Japanese politicians' preference for the elderly over the young is one of the reasons the country has been so slow to change over the last two decades, despite economic stagnation. Fear of losing the elderly vote has shortened the time horizons of Japanese politicians, to the detriment of young families. A frank debate about preparing for this demographic tremor is long overdue.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The Morung Express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender.

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

7

Monday

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

22 July 2013

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

The Morung Express

POLL RESULTS

Is ArtIcle 371-A cApAble of sAfeguArdIng the rIghts And AspIrAtIons of the nAgA people?

Some of those who voted bad behavior is losing support of the people. it can change anytime. (b) SC Jamir himself we have woken up from our slumber and its YES had this to say: They forget that the fish cannot survive without sometimes says ’16 Point Agreement’ other never too late to stand up and fight for our • Yes, to a large extent but then would India altime he says ’16 Point Memorandum’ (c) if at rights and duties. And unless and until we water. low the Nagas to fully exercise Article 371(A) as • When Nagas cause is Sovereignty, Article 371 all it is an agreement show to the world the paknow and understand these, we will always agreed? of Indian Constitution is blinding the eyes of the per on which both the parties signed. continue to take things for granted. Article • At least through this some of our rights are pro• Article 371 (A) is a legal document and therepeople.

371A does not safeguard the rights and astected. Nagas are the only ones that own land, • Till today what has Article 371 (A) done for the fore is not capable of safeguarding the rights piration of the Naga people as it clearly says: whereas in other places it is the government. Nagas other than create confusion among the of the Nagas. Firstly, it is good to point out 'Special provision with respect to the State So there are some positive things that have people. Is the GOI not trying to take back the that the 16 Point Agreement is not a politiof Nagaland'. come out from 371(A). It may not be everycal agreement and • No, in principle it is so but in reality this is not rights under 371(A) thing that we wanted and needed, but at least by clipping off the therefore 371 (A) so. for instance, why Indian government is not it is a first step. Nagas should not step here, wings of the State cannot be construed bother about the extraction of coal in Nagaland we must continue to pursue till we achieve government. The to be a bi-lateral pobut when it comes to oil exploration they are litical agreement beeverything. 371(A) can be a step towards our recent decision of aware about it. this indian government is playtween India and Narights and aspiration. the home minising unhealthy politics with nagas through the gas. Also since it is ages, thus Nagas need to unify and assert for • Yes, yet we have to be knowledgeable to use it try should make all legally constructed, our rights. fully.

Nagas realize that 371 (A) can be inter- • Article 371 (A) was never intended to safeguard • Yes ... and so many state in India would love 371(A) is meaningpreted and misinterto get such special right for themselves if posless when GOI has the rights of the Naga people. Instead it has been preted according to introduced to diminish the Naga peoples political sible, only stupid people would want to have it no respect for Naga the Indian governremoved. And it wasnt given to us as Christmas people. rights. It is unfortunate that many educated Nament's convenience. gas think that this Article is capable of protecting present during Christmas... try to remember that. • Article 371-A applies The present controonly to Nagaland. the Naga rights. versy between the • No, The Sixteen Point Agreement was a sell out Some of those who voted So it does not safeCenter and State of the Naga rights. Firstly, it is not even a negotino had this to say: guard the right and g o v e r n m e n t o v e r ated agreement and the people who signed the • No. Why? Because, if Article 371 (A) is caaspiration of all the land and resources Sixteen Points were not even the real represenpable of guarding the rights and aspirations Naga people. shows the weakness tatives of the Nagas. The Sixteen Point was to of the Naga people, why GOI is forcing and • Agreed that Nagas of Article 371 (A) actually weaken the NNC and to create chaos imposing all kinds of undemocratic Acts and have failed to fully since it is left to legal and divisions. It was to destroy Naga unity and laws without the consent and knowledge of exercise the freeultimately it succeeded because it was the beinterpretations. the Naga people through state government in dom enshrine in ginning of division and factionalism.

• Nagas from Nagathe name of safeguarding the unity and conArticle 371-A.On land in general, and stitution of India. Under Article 371 A state the other hand Inour leaders (Poli- Some of those who voted government could pass two draconian laws, dia knowingly has ticians & Bureau- OTHERS had this to say: that is: Nagaland Security Act and Nagaland imposed all the crats) in particular, • Can atleast expect some feasible outcome. Of Police Act, two anti peoples rights Act, they unthinkable dracourse, some disadvantages are there esp from for about five deare: Nagaland Land Requisitioned and Acquiconian Acts like cades, have failed women’s standpoint. sitioned Act and Nagaland Municipal Act. In DAA,AFSPA etc. in miserably to voice • The essence of constitutional provisions for the the name of development. So Article 371 A Nagaland which is out our rights and people depends on how effectively and sensibly cannot safeguard the rights and aspirations a total betrayal and duties enshrined in the state machinery adopts and implements its of the Naga people, if the GOI continue to insult to the agreeArticle 371A of the spirit. The choice is for the people of Nagaland twist and interpret both constitution of India ment found in Article Indian Constitution. • Its the foolishness of our lawmakers who did not and international law on their own sweet will. 371(a).The recent We don't need to be exercise their rights under Article 371-A for last This is the complete mockery of democracy statement of Minisa rocket scientist to 50 years. and laws. try of Oil against the read and understand • if we are to talk about Naga aspiration viz a viz • When the 16 Point Agreement has intentionally Nagaland state oil the aforesaid Article, Art 371 A, it is irrelevant . However if we are to left out more than half of the Nagas who are livexploration put the talk about protection of rights of people of Nagaword by word, sening outside Nagaland State, how can one expect Article 371(a) into tence by sentence. land, it definitely safe guards.

Article 371 (A) to safeguard the aspirations and question that whethAs long as GOI was • This article is like a thin and sparse layer of oil in right of the Nagas. From all logical point of view, er it is still honoured 'kind and generous' a big sea. It hardly makes us breathe. is it not destroying the Nagas? or is it just a political with it's financial • Being a woman i feel there is some amount of • This article was incorporated to legitimize India's agreement made in approach towards disadvantage. Those laws related to our cusrule over the Naga people. The special provipapers which had YES no OTHERS the State, we were tomary laws & tradition till it is accepted by the sions contained in this article is not really special become a mockery? 'comfortable' in our state legislature surely it would curb some of our because the intention of the Government of India • No, because of nonown lazy comfort zones, and least bothwas not to solve the Naga imbroglio, but to divide democracy. legal rights the Nagas, which they have succeeded to a very • Article 371(A) does not satisfy the Naga people's ered about the welfare of the people and the • The Constitution can be amended anytime to rights and aspirations. It is not possible for this State. After almost five decades of attaining suit the interest of the Country. A few greedy large extent.

Statehood, we are still debating as to what persons who have already started counting the • Not at all. It only provides social and cultural article to satisfy the Naga desire for freedom berights, but other than that it does not address the cause this article is only trying to suffocate and this Article is all about? At this rate, we will golden goose and building castle in the air are fully mature only after five more decades, the ones braying ARTICLE 371 (A). We should limit the Nagas within the Constitutional provipolitical rights of the Nagas. This is also the reaand that will be a century by then! Neverthenot undermine the powers of the Centre. Enson why the Naga armed struggle continues till sions of India. today. But alas, the Naga UG's because of their • No, because (a) Indian constitution is flexible, less, the silver lining on the horizon is that, ergy comes under the preview of the Centre.

66%

24%

10%

A

t last the headhunters are starting to show signs of waking up. The current topic of raging discussion is on Article 371 (A) with an undivided attention on Petroleum & Natural Gas. Although the issue has gained momentum only from a limited consideration of salvaging materialistic equation in terms of revenue for the State Government and the land owners, it still is a good beginning. The liberty for the State Government to handle P&NG issue free of the GOI’s interference is an important yardstick that needs to be laid down without doubt, but I would still conclude that we are addressing a comparatively lesser issue. To my mind, the most important basic issue that must be established for all times to come is the ultimate fundamental definition of Naga identity within the structure of the Indian Constitution. Are we equals?! The answer would be a reverberating NO. Article 371 (A) therefore gains significance beyond P&NG. I have said so during the consultation meeting on the 12th July 2013 convened by the State Government at the Capital Complex. The time constraint then was overbearing for anyone to elaborate on any issue. Perhaps the people should now be given a fairer opportunity to see the ground reality picture in its entirety as to why our identity must first be defined without any ambiguity for an honorable and lasting relationship with India. Once this is done all else will fall in place. If not we will have to keep fighting a pitched battle for every issue every step of our way into the future.

What deserves a dispassionate understanding is that, no matter what we say publically against the despicable ills of tribalism, the Nagas still practice tribalism in quiet seclusion. The age old customs and traditions still continue as a diabolical fixture in our lives and tribalism will take its own time to truly walk away from among us if at all it does. Lessons must be learnt from our own bigoted attitudes in our own backyard. In a similar way, the Caste system within the Indian Community is something they cannot wish it away. The Indian intellectuals at the helm of affairs may politically condemn Caste system to score brownie points in the eyes of the international community but their centuries old ironclad customs and traditions at the very grassroots has a very sever application even as we speak. As all politicians hypocritically do, they downplay Caste system for public consumption but carry out very serious Caste politics as a vote bank to the extent that the Supreme Court had to intervene recently with a verdict to put a stop to caste based political

ARTICLE 371 (A)/ THE DIGNITY OF EXISTANCE Khekiye K. Sema, IAS (Rtd) Forest Colony, Kohima campaigns. Now consider the Naga status vis-à-vis the Indian Caste structure. In as far as they are concerned, we conform to the lowest caste hierarchy … the Adivasis/ Harijans/ the untouchables, the scheduled caste/ the scheduled Tribe. That’s who we are to them. Even today, should your shadow fall on the property of an upper caste orthodox Indian Brahmin he would discard such material(s) and do pujas and penance to regain the favour of their million gods led by Ganesh their god of wealth.

The formative years as a college student in St. Stephen’s Collage, Delhi gave one an eye opening experience that even as good friends the upper caste Indian students would hesitate to invite you to their homes. Why unnecessarily invite penance? Very often we hear stories of the rural Indian Harijans getting thrashed up black and blue by the Upper Caste for having drawn water from their exclusive well.

That is their reality. That will be our reality when the die is cast for good. Article 371 (A) must therefore be taken as seriously as serious implies… the bed rock of our fundamental right to equality and opportunity in order to exist together with human dignity. Without this, the union is meaningless.

Now take a look at Article 371 (A), the special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland in its entirety: 1. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution; (a) No Act of Parliament in respect of, i) Religious or social practices of the Nagas, ii) Naga customary law and procedure, iii) Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, iv) Ownership and transfer of land and its resources, Shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.

There is nothing ambiguous about these Constitutional provisions. That is the reason why I had said on 12th July 2013 consultative meeting, that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, GOI, should be told in no uncertain terms that the head hunter can now read, write and understand Eng-

lish perfectly well. They seem to be the ones who are in need to brush up their English not to be able to understand such simple basics. Since the inception of Statehood the State Legislative Assembly has not taken one single step to implement and exert its authority in any field as has been vested in it. Every excess committed by the Indian Government and the Indian Army has been taken lying down. Take the instance of draconian Acts and Laws which have been passed by the GOI since the 50s and the 60s giving unbridled authority to the Indian Army to take a Naga life just on mere suspicion, without question, without a right… and still not be liable for their inhuman actions. Are we animals!? Are we worth nothing!? Just take a look at all the Acts passed by the GOI relegating the Nagas life to a level even below that of an animal… no right, no dignity no honour!!!... The Assam Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous Districts) Act 1953; The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Regulations 1958; The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Ordinance in May 1958; The Nagaland Security Regulation 1962 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967; The list of beastly Acts and Laws go on and on that defines the Nagas as NOTHING, unworthy of human respect. Yet our great Leaders do not see this. All that catches their eyes and mind is M-O-N-E-Y. One is not against the present issue being focused on P&NG which also go towards fulfilling our inherent right as perceived by the Article 371 (A) of the Constitution but the priority is being questioned. No matter how much money the State Government may salvage from P&NG if the freedom to life is curtailed because of the draconian Law application, what is the use of that damn money?

From the stand point of the GOI, since they were wrestling with insurgency problems, it may have been considered as a warranted initiative then.

The circumstances have changed now. Cease Fire Agreement has been signed between GOI and the

Leaders of the various Factions of the NNM. The GOI has acknowledged the Unique History of the Nagas. The GOI has come to the conclusion and accepted the fact that the Naga issue is a political issue that needs to be resolved politically not militarily. Having come thus far, where is the necessity to sustain such draconian Laws? The moot point here is that such Acts passed by the GOI is in violation to our basic human rights and is contrary to our customary law and practices which the Article 371 (A) (ii) & (iii) protects. Our customary law and practices have a wide range of applicability especially when it comes to individual freedom and honour.

We may be unable to redress all the sacrilegious acts conducted by the Army in raping Naga women and killing the Nagas within the Church premises prior to Statehood but there is no excuse for us to allow them the same privilege and latitude to carry on in the same vein through the kind of inhuman laws passed by the Parliament. It violates our religious and social practices. It is not applicable to Nagaland anymore under the prevalent circumstances and the State Legislative Assembly which postures to represent us should say so in no uncertain terms by repealing AFSPA and make it inapplicable in Nagaland. We should enact Laws that outlaw such inhumanity which is detested even by the international community. I had also mentioned during the 12th July consultative meeting that it would be wise to understand our adversary sensitively. When the Naga integration issue was boiling, the GOI took serious cognizance of the mass movement in Assam and Manipur and staunchly determined against integration move by the Nagas.

They understand a mass movement when they see one and it shakes their resolve even if it against an already agreed principle. The consultative meeting had brought out important considerations of demanding a reversion to the previous status of the State of Nagaland under the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and State funding through the Consolidated Fund as was the case, considering the fact that all those decisions were unilaterally taken by the GOI. Club all these issues together, declare a solidarity day where the whole of Nagaland can endorse this point of view and let the GOI clearly understand the serious intent of the Nagas for a change. Only then will they pay a more concentrated attention to the issues being raised.

The Government of Nagaland should take stock of Article 371 (A) on a broader plane instead of narrowing it down through the prism of P&NG alone. Let us first restore our identity and dignity of existence.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

8

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Monday 22 July 2013

The Morung Express

India ignored warnings in free meal programme

NEW DElhi, July 21 (REutERs): The village school in Bihar where 23 children died by poisoning last week had been providing lunch under the government-sponsored Mid-Day Meal Scheme without checks or monitoring by local officials to see if the food was stored carefully or cooked properly. Although it is the first such disaster in the project that feeds about 120 million children every day across India, a Reuters review of audit reports and research papers shows officials have long ignored warnings of the lack of oversight and accountability in the programme.

“You only come and do checks when you get complaints or when there are serious cases,” said Rudranarayan Ram, the local education administrator for the village of Gandaman in Bihar, where the children died. “This was the first time.” The poisoning, which police suspect was caused by storing cooking oil in a used pesticide container, killed the children so quickly that some died in their parents’ arms while being taken to hospital. Ram, who was tasked with monitoring the programme, said the headmistress of the school, who has fled, bought the food and the oil in which it was cooked. He just doesn’t know from where nor how the items were stored.

Although fatal contamination is extremely rare in the midday meal scheme, auditors in several states have described unhygienic conditions in which the food under the programme is prepared and served, and the poor quality of food itself. Two audit reports by the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have said the food in the scheme was often laced with stones and worms. Another survey by the Indian Institute of Management noted children in Gujarat were made to wash up after their meals by “rubbing the playground soil on the plates and then giving a quick rinse”. “If the government checks, they will find that the children who have been eating midday meals are under great physical threat,” said Ajay Kumar Jha, professor at A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, who led a team to monitor the programme in Bihar in April. The midday meal scheme of giving school pupils a free lunch is the largest such programme in the world. It has been widely lauded as one of the most successful welfare measures in India, home to a quarter of the world’s hungry, because it also boosts school enrolments and helps children to continue studies.

For millions of poor families, the lunch is the only full meal their children eat in a day. That encourages them to send them to school, and not keep them home to help with chores. For this reason, despite being poorly managed, the scheme draws a lot of support from non-governmental organisations, rights activists and the United Nations. “We need it. It’s one of India’s most well-thought of programs,”

Policy Research Institute in New Delhi, told Reuters in an email. “The right to food cannot be achieved (through any policy or legal instrument) unless the governance of programmes and their monitoring at grass roots is strengthened.” In Bihar, a 2008 audit report showed that 563.75 metric tonnes of rice rotted in schools during a three-year period due to poor storage. No “extra nutrients” such as vegetables or fruit were provided although expenditure of 598.7 million rupees (now about $10 million) was incurred by the government. Only 10 percent of the kitchens that were supposed to be constructed were complete as of March 2008, although funds were provided. “There was complete absence of the internal controls, regular monitoring and evaluation of the Scheme as per the guidelines,” the 2008 report said.

NO LIGHTS OR FANS

P.K. Shahi, the education minister in Bihar, said there were no warnings from the central government about the programme. “There were general advisories for better hygiene. That’s all,” he told Reuters. “In Bihar, the midday meal scheme covers 16-18 million children in 73,000 schools and it’s run by teachers and school management commit-

tees. I can understand the issues about hygiene given the scale of operation, the number of people involved, and given the fact that the individuals who run the programme are not experts in food. “But you have to understand that (this) is a pure case of poisoning.” Government guidelines for the programme are strict, including requirements for every school to display delivery details for grains received from central stores and list other ingredients purchased.

Kitchens should have lockable storage to check pilferage and ingredients should be stored in proper containers, say the hygiene and safety rules. There should be regular inspections at the local and state level, according to the rules which are laid out by the Human Resources Development Ministry. Experts say the problem is not lack of rules but poor implementation and a lack of accountability.

“Accountability and monitoring is weak to non-existent,” Suneetha Kadiyala, research fellow at the International Food

Part of the problem is poor infrastructure. Thousands of schools in India do not even have their own buildings, and are run from community centres with no storage facilities. Many schools are no bigger than a single room. The school where the children were poisoned is a tiny building with only one classroom for 50-60 pupils. The room has no lights nor fans and only a black painted rectangle on the wall for a blackboard. The kitchen was a pile of bricks and charcoal in a corner outside the classroom and parents said the ingredients for lunch had to be brought in every day as there was no storage.

“These deaths could had been prevented with strict adherence to protocols for preparing the mid day meal,” said the United Nations Children’s Fund, after the Bihar tragedy. Many states have faced criticism over the quality of food in the scheme and the way it is provided. In Andhra Pradesh, a recent pilot audit found underweight sacks of rice. In Madhya Pradesh, a report in 2010 found half the schools did not serve meals regularly and cooks brought utensils from home. In West Bengal, a 2010 report by Pratichi Trust, a research body founded by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, called for more investments to improve the food quality.

Hygiene problems are exacerbated by a lack of fresh water and basic sanitation in some rural areas. “We struggle to get basic clean water,” said Mridul Salgame, who runs the non-profit Foundation of Food Research and Enterprise for Safety and Hygiene (FRESH). “In remote areas of Bihar and Rajashtan, they have to filter out muddy water and drink it.” Salgame wants action and emphasises the victims of these failings are children. “The time has come to take it up on a war footing,” she said.

the Congress General Secretary blamed the “communal politics of BJP for the chain reaction” on the issue of terror.

“This (2002 riots) was the reason behind the creation of Indian Mujahideen. If they foresake their communal politics, outfits like IM will cease to exist,” Ahmed said.

BJP said it was well know that Pakistan has been aiding and abetting terror outfits that are active in India.

“There is this competition among the various Congress spokespersons and leaders to deliberately communalise the country’s political scenario, because they have no answer to stinking corruption, malgovernance, price rice, unemployment, the general sense of suffering the people of India are having,” Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravishankar Prasad said.

He said terror outfits were active in the country before

the 2002 riots also. “Why are they playing with national security. Is it not a fact that IM has links with Pakistan-based terrorist outfits.... Is it not a fact that much before 2002, there was SIMI with designs to usher in terrorist attacks in India. These are all too well known. Please dont’s play with national security. “This competitive politics for vote bank to deliberately stoke communalism is reprehensible,” he said.

Prasad said there is peace in Gujarat for the last 10 years and Muslims were becoming prosperous in the state.

“The growth rate of Muslims in Gujarat is the best in the country. We all know. Yet they are playing this kind of communal politics. It’s only their desperation because they have no answers whatsoever for all the wrongs they have done in India for which Indian are seeking answers.

They have no answer.” BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu was

also dismissive of the charge and asked Ahmed to stop arguing in favour of terrorists. “What is this stupid argument....It has become a habit with some people. These organisations are there since the beginning.

“Pakistan is aiding, abetting , funding and training terrorists. Don’t argue for IM and other such (terror) outfits. Some people say because of Bombay riots, some people say because of Gujarat (they have emerged),” Naidu said. Ahmed, however, alleged that RSS and BJP were the main sources of communalism in the country. “So, the communal politics of BJP has led to a chain reaction. They should give up such politics,” he said. “The main source of communalism in the country is RSS and BJP, he alleged and added, “Those who want to stop communal politics should build pressure on BJP and RSS”.

NEW DElhi, July 21 (Pti): Riding on horses and ponies, around 50 Chinese soldiers intruded into the Indian territory of Chumar in Ladakh on July 16 staking their claim over the area. The Chinese troops started their incursion in the Chumar area on the evening of July 16 and they remained in the Indian area till the morning of July 17, sources said. Army sources confirmed the incursion saying that Indian troops had intercepted the PLA patrol in the Chumar area and after the usual banner drill between the two sides, the PLA patrol went back into their territory.

Sources said the intruding Chinese soldiers asked the Indian soldiers to vacate the area claiming that they were standing in Chinese territory. The incursion by Chinese land forces comes soon after its two helicopters violated Indian air space on July 11 in the Chumar sector. In the same area, PLA troops had intruded and taken away an

Indian surveillance camera on June 17. The latest incursion took place on the day when India gave approval to the creation of a 50,000-strong mountain strike corps along the border with China.

The frequency of such incidents increased around the time defence minister AK Antony went to China earlier this month and the two countries discussed measures to enhance peace and tranquillity along the line of actual control between them. Chumar, located 300km from Leh, has always been an area of discomfort for the Chinese troops as this is the only area along the China-India border where they do not have any direct access to the LAC. India and China have been working towards signing a border pact to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC where a number of incursion incidents have been observed in recent months.

hyDERabaD, July 21 (iaNs): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s convoy Sunday came under attack allegedly from supporters of the Secunderabad MP here. No one was injured. The incident took place outside a hotel when Congress MP Anjan Kumar Yadav was not allowed to sit in the visiting chief minister’s car. Window panes of a car in Akhilesh Yadav’s convoy were damaged in the attack outside a star hotel. No one was injured.

Police later said they identified four people involved in stone pelting and booked them. However, no arrests have been made yet. The incident took place when Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s security guards prevented Anjan Kumar from sitting in his car. Angry over this, the MP’s supporters pelted stones at the convoy as it left Park Hyatt hotel in Jubliee Hills. Akhilesh Yadav was on a two-day visit to the city to attend national executive of All India Yadav Mahasabha. Earlier, the visiting chief minister called on union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi at the latter’s residence.

He also called on Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu Saturday.

Datia, MaDhya PRaDEsh, July 21 (Pti): Four months after a Swiss tourist was robbed and gangraped, a fast-track court in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh today awarded life imprisonment to all the six convicts in the sensational case. Pronouncing the judgement, Additional District Judge Jitendra Sharma also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the convicts. While five convicts Baba, Bhutha, Rampro, Gaza alias Brajesh and Vishnu Kanjar were handed down life term for rape, the sixth accused Nitin (Rishi) Kanjar was given life imprisonment on the charge of dacoity, said DIG (Chambal Range) DK Arya.

All the convicts are residents of Kanjar Tola settlement in Jharia village, located about 2 kms from the spot where the victim was raped. The sentence was prescribed

under section 376 (rape), 395 (punishment for dacoity) of the IPC, sections 12 and 14 of the Anti-Dacoity Act and under Arms Act. The 39-year-old Swiss woman, on a cycling trip along with her companion, was gangraped at a forest area near Sewda road in Datia district on March 15 where they had camped for the night while proceeding to Agra. Datia police had filed a chargesheet on 26 March without conducting any test identification parade (TIP) of the accused and the trial started on 30 March.

The DIG said that recording statement of the victim was the major challenge for the prosecution as she had gone back to Switzerland after filing the complaint. He said that DGP Nandan Dube and IG (Chambal Range) S M Afzal spoke to the Switzerland’s Ambassador and con-

An Indian cook distributes free school lunches to children at a government run school in Patna, India on July 17. On Tuesday, at least 21 children died and more than two dozen others were sick after eating a free school lunch that was tainted with insecticide, in Gandamal village in Masrakh block, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Patna. (AP Photo)

said Bharathi Ghanashyam, spokeswoman of Akshaya Patra, an NGO that provides school lunches. Still, audit reports have highlighted the continuing failings of the programme, more than a decade after feeding children a cooked meal in schools was mandated by a Supreme Court order. The problems include grain kept in decrepit condition in central warehouses, and then often stored and cooked in poorly-equipped schools by staff with little or no training.

NO WARNING

Cong says Guj riots led to IM’s emergence; BJP fumes

NEW DElhi, July 21 (Pti): Congress on Sunday blamed Gujarat riots for creation of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, a remark slammed as “reprehensible” by BJP which accused it of playing the communal card for vote bank politics. “Indian Mujahideen (IM) was formed after the Gujarat riots, says NIA in its charge sheet. Even now BJP and RSS will not desist from their communal politics?,” Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said on microblogging site Twitter.

Hitting back, BJP said the remarks were “stupid” and “reprehensible” as the Pakistan links of such outfits were well known and alleged that it was a “desperate” Congress which was actually trying to communalise the political scenario and playing with national security as it had “no answers for all the wrongs” it had done. When contacted,

Riding on horses, Chinese troops violate LAC again No more advertisements of get rick quickly schemes

NEW DElhi, July 21 (Pti): Faced with a mushrooming ponzi menace across the country, the government is considering a possible ban on promotion of money-collection schemes promising unrealistic returns. Emphasising on the need to prevent dissemination of false information to the public by the operators of illegal deposit-taking schemes, Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot has said that the advertisements for such products need to be banned, just as promotion of alcohol, cigarettes and many other products are prohibited by law.

“If someone is telling that they will double the money in five months or so, it must be being publicised somewhere. That is how people come to know of it.

We also need to check these schemes at that level (of promotion),” Pilot said. Advertisements that promise unrealistic returns must raise eyebrows and such promotions should be filtered out, he added. The government would soon come out with a comprehensive set of guidelines for tackling these illegal money-pooling activities and take steps to prevent dissemination of false information to the public, Pilot told PTI in an interview.

Various ministries, including Corporate Affairs and Finance, departments and regulators are working on ways to curb the menace like the recent Saradha chit fund fiasco in West Bengal that duped many people with false promises. In May, the government had set up an Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) -- that includes members from Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministries, banking regulator RBI and capital market watchdog Sebi -- to suggest measures to tackle ponzi menace. “The IMG has met many times and very shortly the government will come up with a list of suggestions (to tackle) all these sort of illegal operations of companies such as under the garb of X and doing Y activity and raising funds illegally, disseminating false information,” Pilot said.

Asked whether these guidelines would include a ban on advertisements for ponzi schemes, Pilot said: “I would certainly suggest that in the guidelines.” On ways to curb illegal collective investment schemes, the Minister already had discussions with Sebi chief U K Sinha and the capital markets regulator is already taking a number of actions against fraudulent entities. Sebi was recently given additional powers to regulate all kinds of money collection schemes involving Rs 100 crore or more.

“It does not matter, who is regulating is not important, what must be regulated and people should be protected that is important. We must take on responsibility and not say it is yours not mine... Ultimately, we should all work together,” Pilot said.

UP CM’s convoy attacked

6 sentenced to life in Swiss woman’s gangrape

sRiNagaR, July 21 (Pti): Curfew was on Sunday lifted from all parts of Kashmir but normal life in the Valley remained affected due to the strike call given by hardline Hurriyat Conference to protest against the firing incident in Ramban district that left four persons dead. Authorities lifted curfew from all parts of the Valley on Sunday morning in view of the improvement in the law and order situation since Saturday, official sources said. They said police and other security agencies are keeping a close vigil on the situation across Kashmir.

Curfew was imposed

vinced the authorities to ensure the victim’s presence in the court. Later, her statements were recorded via video-conferencing by a special commission headed by the metropolitan magistrate of Patiala House Court, Akash Jain on 25 May. The Commission recorded her statement in the Swiss Embassy while the accused were present at Datia collectorate.

The DIG informed that the Madhya Pradesh government had sanctioned Rs 8.5 lakh towards travel cost of the victim. The incident had come just three months after the December 16 brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old para medical student in the national capital, which had sparked national outrage.

Curfew lifted in Kashmir Valley

on Friday in all areas of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal and Bandipora districts and Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Bijbehara and

Sopore towns. It remained in force on Saturday also.

Restrictions under section 144 CrPC, which does not permit assembly of four or

more persons, remained in force in rest of the Valley during the past two days.

More than 100 persons, mostly security force per-

sonnel, were injured in the clashes between protestors and law enforcing agencies — on Friday and Saturday — in the wake of Ramban

OIC Condemns Kashmir Killings

sRiNagaR, July 21 (FPK): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has condemned the killings of Muslim protestors by the Border Security Force in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. In a mailed statement from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the OIC said “The Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ehsanoglu has expressed his deep concern and condemnation of the recent wave of violence against the people of Kashmir by the Indian forces which reportedly caused the death and injury of a number of Kashmiri people.” According to the statement, the Secretary General has appealed to the Indian authorities to show restraint, avoid excessive use of force, and respect the people’s will and rights in order to help improve the security situation in Kashmir and the wider region.

firing incident. Although curfew has been lifted, normal life remained affected due to the strike called by Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the Ramban killings.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed while public transport remained off roads due to the strike.

Handcarts of roadside vendors and few private vehicles dotted the otherwise deserted roads of the summer capital of the state.

There were no reports of any untoward incident so far from anywhere in the Valley, police said.

INTERNATIONAL

The Morung Express

PM Abe’s bloc wins big in upper house vote, priorities in focus Japan’s presence through diplomacy with strong negotiating power, not though military power by spending money to rearm.”

Such a shift, along with moves to strengthen Japan’s defense posture, would further fray ties with China and South Korea, where bitter memories of Japan’s past militarism run deep. Tokyo is already engaged in tense territorial rows with Beijing and Seoul over tiny, uninhabited islands. “I have the impression that Prime Minister Abe wants to revise the constitution, though I don’t think it will be easy,” said apparel firm employee Etsuko Yamada, 35, who voted for the opposition Japanese Communist Party.

“I want him to show

YASUKUNI SHRINE TEST Abe has declined to say whether as premier he will visit Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, where Japanese leaders convicted by an Allied tribunal as war criminals are also honored.

A visit on the August 15 anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War Two would spark outrage in the region.

A Reuters poll showed Japanese firms generally wanted the LDP to win the election but they worry a landslide victory would allow Abe to prioritize nationalist policies over the economy, as critics say he did during his troubled 2006-2007 term.

Final results will be known late on Sunday or early on Monday. Media exit polls showed the LDP and New Komeito would win more than 70 of the 121 seats up for grabs in the 242-seat upper house.

With the coalition’s uncontested 59 seats, that hands it a hefty majority, solidifying Abe’s grip on power and raising the chances of a long-term Japanese leader for the first time since the reformist Koizumi’s rare five-year term ended in 2006. No election for either house of parliament need be held until 2016. The exit polls showed, however, that the LDP fell short of winning an upper house majority in its own right for the first time since 1989, although it could put in a better performance than in 2001, when the party was led by the popular Koizumi, broadcaster NHK said.

The LDP and two smaller parties that back Abe’s drive to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution to legitimize the military looked to fall short of the two-thirds majority needed to take revisions of the charter to a public referendum, the exit polls showed. Those parties have two-thirds of the lower house seats.

“Justice for Trayvon” protests in at least 100 other cities across America, including Atlanta, Chicago,

Los Angeles and Miami. Mr Sharpton told supporters on Saturday morning that he wanted to see the scrapping of “stand your ground” self-defence laws, such as that in force in Florida.

“We are trying to change laws so that this never, ever happens again,” he said.

The teenager’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, told the crowd: “Today it was my son. Tomorrow it might be yours.” Rapper Jay Z and his wife, the singer Beyonce, appeared on stage at the New York rally. In Miami, Trayvon Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, was among those who gathered to the words of the civil rights song We Shall Overcome.

An elderly woman casts her vote in Japan’s upper house parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tokyo, Sunday, July 21, 2013. Japanese voters went to the polls Sunday in an upper house of parliament election expected to give Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition a strong mandate as he pushes ahead with economic reforms and his conservative political agenda. (AP Photo)

TOKYO, JULY 21 (REUTERS): The victory gives the hawkish leader a stronger mandate for his “Abenomics” recipe to revive the economy and spells his personal political redemption after he led his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a humiliating defeat in a 2007 upper house election.

The ensuing parliamentary deadlock allowed the opposition to block legislation and led to Abe’s resignation two months later.

That “twisted parliament” has hampered policies for most of the six years since and led to a string of revolving-door leaders.

“People wanted politics that can make decisions and an administration with a stable grounding, which led to today’s result,” LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura told public broadcaster NHK. “’Abenomics’ is proceeding smoothly and people want us to ensure the benefits reach them too.

That feeling was strong.”

Abe, 58, who returned to power after a big win in December’s lower house poll for his LDP and coalition partner New Komeito, has said he will remain focused on fixing the economy with his “Abenomics” mix of hyper-easy mone-

tary policy, fiscal spending and structural reforms.

But some worry that Abe’s resolve for economic reform could weaken in the face of a resurgent LDP. A landslide victory could bolster opposition to regulatory reform from LDP lawmakers with close ties to industries that would suffer from change. Critics also worry Abe will shift focus to the conservative agenda that has long been central to his ideology, and concentrate on revising the post-war pacifist constitution and recasting Tokyo’s wartime history with a less apologetic tone.

Trayvon Martin: Protests across US at Zimmerman verdict

NEw YORK, JULY 21 (BBC): Protests have taken place in more than 100 US cities, a week after George Zimmerman was cleared of murdering unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.

Demonstrators demanded federal charges to be brought against Mr Zimmerman, 29, over the February 2012 incident.

A Florida jury agreed that the neighbourhood watch volunteer killed the 17-year-old in self-defence.

The protests against the court’s decision were led by the National Action Network, headed by civil rights activist the Reverend Al Sharpton. “We are not coming out with vio-

lence, we are coming to de- man named Trayvon Marnounce violence. The vio- tin,” Mr Sharpton told at a lence that was perpetrated rally in New York.

Thousands gathered for on an unarmed, innocent

Monday 22 July 2013

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9

Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes off New Zealand coast CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, JULY 21 (AP) : The New Zealand capital Wellington was rattled by a strong magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Sunday that broke water mains, smashed windows and downed power lines. Wellington Police Inspector Marty Parker said there had been minor structural damage that had left parts of the city without power.

There have been no reports of injury and no tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck under the Cook Strait 57 kilometers (35 miles) south-

west of Wellington. It was 10 kilometers (6 miles) underground.

The quake could be felt hundreds of kilometers away in the center of New Zealand's North Island. Parker said the quake struck near nightfall. A more complete picture of the damage would emerge in the morning, he said. New Zealand is part of the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire" that receives regular seismic activity. A severe earthquake in the city of Christchurch in 2011 killed 185 people and destroyed much of the city's downtown.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, JULY 21 (AP): Two U.S. fighter jets have dropped four unarmed bombs in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park when a training exercise went wrong.

The two AV-8B Harrier jets launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard each jettisoned an inert bomb and an unarmed explosive bomb in the World Heritage-listed marine park off the coast of Queensland state on Tuesday, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement on Saturday.

The four bombs were dropped in more than 50 meters (164 feet) of water away from coral to minimize possible damage to the reef, the statement said. None exploded.

The jets from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had intended to drop the ordnances on the Townshend Island bombing range but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards.

The pilots conducted the emergency

jettison because they were low on fuel and could not land with their bomb load, the navy said.

The emergency happened on the second day of the biennial joint training exercise Talisman Saber, which brings together 28,000 U.S. and Australian military personnel over three week.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were working with Australian authorities to investigate the incident, the navy said. A 7th Fleet spokesman could not be immediately contacted for further comment on Sunday.

Graeme Dunstan, who is among the environmentalists and anti-war activists demonstrating against the joint exercise, said the mishap proved that the U.S. military could not be trusted to protect the environment.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest network of coral structures rich in marine life that stretches more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) along the Australian northeast coast.

CAIRO, JULY 21 (AP): A bus carrying Egyptian soldiers crashed into a truck on a highway near the Mediterranean coast early Sunday, killing 16, a security official said. The accident took place on the highway between Cairo and the port city of Alexandria as the soldiers were heading home from their military base in northwestern Egypt for a vacation to join their families during the holy month of Ramadan, the official said. The official said the dead included 15 soldiers and

a driver, while another 40 people were injured. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. Road accidents are common in Egypt due to badly maintained roads and poor enforcement of traffic laws. According to a 2012 World Health Organization report, road accidents kill about 12,000 people each year in a population of about 90 million.

BEIJING, JULY 21 (AP): Flooding in China this year has left at least 337 people dead and 213 missing, due mainly to unusually wet summer weather, the government said Sunday. Floods this year have struck across 30 provinces and municipalities and affected more than 47 million people, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. The headquarters said landslides have accounted for 202, or about 60 percent, of the confirmed deaths. China saw an average of 165.4 millimeters (6.51 inches) of rain between June 1 and July 15. That was 5 percent more than

usual and the most during that period in five years. Central China has been hardest hit, receiving 40.1 percent more rain than usual during that six-week period.

China's worst floods in recent history were in 1998, when 4,150 people died, most along the Yangtze River, China's mightiest. The Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, was intended to control renewed flooding along the river. But water levels in the massive reservoir behind the dam stood at more than 149 meters (489 feet) on Sunday, 4 meters (13 feet) above the flood warning mark.

JINAN, JULY 21 (XINhUA): The family of a man who detonated an explosive device at a Beijing airport said they did not know of the bomber's plans beforehand, according to a statement from the police department of Heze City, the bomber's hometown.

Ji Zhongxing, 34, set off a homemade explosive device outside the Terminal 3 arrivals hall of the Beijing Capital International Airport on Saturday evening. Ji sustained injuries to his arm and is currently receiving treatment.

The explosion caused no other injuries.

Ji's father said he saw his son at home on Friday night but could not find him the next morning. The father called Ji, who did not tell his father his whereabouts.

Ji once worked in the southern province of Guangdong. For ten years, he has been petitioning about alleged unjust treatment that resulted in his paralysis, according to a police investigation. The police cordon at the arrivals hall has been removed, and normal order has been restored at the airport.

US drops bombs on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Bus carrying Egypt soldiers hits truck, 16 killed

China says flooding has killed 337 this year

Family unaware of Beijing airport bomber’s plot

Hopes for peace talks in Israel and Palestinian territories

JERUSALEm, JULY 21 (CNN): Could Israel be considering a momentous concession that would change the course of 46 years of history with the Palestinians? Tel Aviv has denied it.

But a news report, a show of goodwill and diplomatic murmurs by the United States and its Arab partners are stoking hopes that a glacial budge in its position could lead Israelis and Palestinians to talk seriously about peace again.

Reuters news agency quoted an Israeli official last week who said Israel agreed to a plan for peace talks based on pre-1967 borders and land swaps.

It is something the United Nations demanded in a resolution in 1967 and has been the gold standard of yearnings for Middle East peace ever since.

It requires Israel to withdraw from occupied territories completely and the Palestinians to recognize the existence of an Israeli state.

Israel denies report Tel Aviv’s public relations appa-

ratus immediately denied the report.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Mark Regev told CNN on Saturday he could not imagine who in the government would say something like that.

But on the same day, Israel announced it would unilaterally release a number of Palestinian prisoners in a gesture of goodwill, given the prospects for new talks.

“As the negotiations proceed, Israel agrees to free, as a goodwill gesture, a limited number of prisoners during the period of the negotiations,” said Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs. It is not yet clear how many prisoners will be released and who they will be.

Whatever the magic ingredient is that could be drawing Israel and the Palestinians to the negotiating table, all parties involved are holding their tongues about it. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wants people to stop guessing what it is. “Any speculation or reports you may read in the

media ... are conjecture ... because the people who know the facts are not talking about them,” he said.

He said he will say something when the time is right -- side-by-side with the proper leaders. Those will likely be Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry praised their “courageous leadership,” saying they had chosen to make difficult decisions. It “establishes a basis for resuming direct final status negotiations between” Palestinians and Israel, Kerry said Friday from Jordan. And they could happen fast. The two sides will join him in Washington “for initial talks within the next week or so” if things keep working out, Kerry said.

Palestinian officials surprised Developments have come so rapidly that they have caught Palestinian leaders around Abbas off guard, said a senior Palestinian official who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the situation.

The officials are asking for guar-

antees and have lots of questions.

For some, hope is mixed with pessimism built up through decades of futile negotiations and bloody relations between Israelis and Palestinians. Talks “are bound to fail sooner than later” if there is no commitment to clear terms, such as a freeze on Israeli settlements in occupied territory, said Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian legislator and head of a political party.

Israeli reaction On Sunday, Netanyahu spoke as though peace talks were definite.

“These will not be easy negotiations,” he said as he opened a Cabinet meeting. “We will enter into them with integrity, sincerity and the hope that this process will be conducted responsibly.”

Israel’s defense minister said Saturday that his government wants to waste no time getting started with the peace talks.

“We are getting to the negotiations with clean hands and great de-

sire to get to an arrangement that will end the conflict,” Moshe Ya’alon said.

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni lauded the prospect of peace in a statement. “Four years of political stagnation are coming to an end.”

Understanding 1967 To understand the excitement over the rumored concessions -- if they are indeed a possibility -- one needs to go back to the dawn of the Six-Day War. On the morning of June 5, 1967, Israeli bombers made a pre-emptive strike on Egyptian air bases. Egypt had set up a sea blockade against Israel the day before, according to the U.S. Office of the Historian.

Military skirmishes and bellicose gestures between Israel and with many of its Arab neighbors had reached a crescendo. Syria threatened to push Israel into the sea. Egypt allied with the Syrians.

Israel captured lands from each of Egypt and Syria and occupied them.

The United Nations demanded in

Security Council Resolution 242 that Israeli troops withdraw and give the lands back. The resolution required all states involved to recognize each other’s existence.

At first, Israel held on to the lands.

And Arab states refused to recognize Israel as a state.

Over time, things changed. Cairo and Tel Aviv made peace in a deal brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Camp David, and Israel handed the largest captured chunk, the Sinai Peninsula, back to Egypt.

Jordan and Israel mended relations.

Israel withdrew from Gaza, dozing its former settlements on its way out. But it has hung on to the West Bank, and the Palestinians -- now with U.N. recognition and closer to statehood -- have refused to recognized Israel as a state.

After decades of waiting, could those things be closer to changing?

That’s been the United Nations’ plan since 1967.

10

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SPORTS

Monday 22 July 2013

The Morung Express

Brumbies beat Cheetahs to reach Super Rugby semis

A Team of 20 (twenty), which includes 16 fighters (14 male and 2 female), of All Nagaland Amateur Muaythai Association (ANAMA) is leaving for Tamil Naidu to participate in the 14th IFMA-MFI National Muaythai Championship to be held at Villupuranm, Tamil Naidu.

Formula car connects Nico Rosberg with Coimbatore

CoImBAtoRE, JULY 21 (IANS): Few would think of any connection between Formula One driver Nico Rosberg and this bustling business hub of Tamil Nadu, the second largest city after the state capital Chennai. Yes, indeed there was a buzz that a vehicle racing here in the JK Tyre Racing Championships was driven by the German driver to win the Formula BMW German title 11 years ago before his Formula One debut in 2003.

Delhi driver Karminder Singh was at the wheel of car No.38 in the Formula BMW class in Round 1 of the Championships which concluded here Sunday. As it turns out, Rosberg had driven the very same car no.38 for his 2002 victory.

Interestingly, Sebastian Vettel won the event the following year.

"The car number has changed many times, so has the colour and engine but the chassis remains the same. The serial number of the car is the same: 029," Antonio Arturo Ferrari, CEO of EuroInternational, told IANS at the Kari Motor Speedway. His team has built all 12 cars for the inaugural season of the Formula BMW India.

There are more interesting stories about Rosberg's car of his junior days.

Antonio, who has spent more than three decades working in a host of series across the world, bought the car from Stefano Coletti's father in 2004. Stefano is leading the 2013 GP2 season with three victories.

"It is the most special car out of the 266 BMW cars made. The chassis has remained intact," said Antonio, who worked as an

Akhil Khushlani dominates opening Formula BMW round

CoImBAtoRE, JULY 21 (IANS): Akhil Khushlani put in a dominant display sweeping the Formula BMW class in the opening round of the JK Tyre Racing Championships here Sunday. The 23-year-old from Hyderabad was untouchable throughout the weekend, winning race one at the Kari Motor Speedway Saturday and a double Sunday. Khushlani’s two year experience of driving Formula BMW cars in Asia made the difference. He won Sunday’s race by 14.2 seconds ahead of Chitesh Mandody of Kohlapur and Bangalore-based Akhil Rabindra.

His victory margin was 4.2 seconds in the afternoon while Vishnu Prasad of Chennai and Bangalore's Arjun Maini fought for the remaining podium places.

Fifteen-year-old Maini, who kept Prasad at bay to

finish second Saturday, was overtaken by the Chennai driver on the opening lap.

The two pushed each other for all the 15 laps before Vishnu crossed the line in second place.

"I could have overtaken Vishnu towards the end but wanted to play safe for points. It was a close fight all the way," said Maini, who has raced only thrice in single seaters. Sarosh Hataria won his second race of the weekend in the Formula 4 category, ahead of Prasad and Ameya Bafna. Prasad is competing in two classes.

However, Bangalore driver Ajay Kini was banned for one round after he deliberately crashed into Saran Vikram in the Formula 4 race. Mumbai’s Rahil Noorani won the race one of the Volkawagen Polo R Cup, beating South African Jeffrey Kruger. Kruger got his revenge in the afternoon.

aerodynamics engineer with Ferrari in the 1981-82 F1 season.

He is another Italian who seems to be upfront, never shy of giving opinions. Asked about Rosberg's F1 career, Antonio says: "He is a good driver who will win races but not the championship. You have to be an Alonso (Fernando) or Lewis Hamilton to do that. You got to have that something extra."

Formula BMW, considered an entry level single seater series in Europe, has finally come to India. Antonio is happy about the development.

"These kids would still need to go to Europe for better career prospects.

But after getting used to these cars, they are likely to adjust faster," he said picking 15-year-old Arjun Maini for special mention.

South Africa's Cheetahs player Ryno Benjamin dives to score a try as ACT Brumbies player Jesse Mogg tackles him during their Super Rugby finals qualifier in Canberra, Australia, Sunday, July 21. (AP Photo)

CANBERRA, JULY21 (AP): The ACT Brumbies hung on to beat the Cheetahs 15-13 in a tight Super Rugby quarterfinal on Sunday as Riaan Smit's attempted conversion of Ryno's Benjamin's last-minute try, which would have taken the match to extra time, glanced off the goalposts. Benjamin took the field as a late replacement and caught a pass from scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius outside the last defender to score a try that gave the Cheetahs hope of prolonging their best-ever season.

Smit, who had kicked only one of his three previous shots at goal, lined up the conversion from the left-hand touchline

and into the teeth of a bitter wind. His powerful kick arced towards the posts but, at the last second, drifted away and just brushed the left-hand post.

In a match in which goalkicks were decisive, Wallabies inside center Christian Leali'ifano shrugged off two early misses to nail four penalties for the Brumbies who will face the Pretoriabased Bulls in next weekend's semifinals.

Leali'ifano missed two of his first three shots at goal, then landed three in succession as the Brumbies relied on penalties to beat the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, who were appearing in a playoff match for the first time. Scrum-

Stage winner and best young rider Nairo Alexander Quintana of Colombia celebrates taking the best climber's dotted jersey as well on the podium of the 20th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 125 kilometers (78.1 miles) with start in in Annecy and finish in AnnecySemnoz, France, Saturday July 20. (AP Photo)

Thompson, Summerhays lead at Sanderson Farms

mADISoN, JULY 21 (AP): Nicholas Thompson sank eight birdies in a nearly flawless round on Saturday to move into a share of the lead with Daniel Summerhays going into the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Thompson bogeyed his first hole in the third round, but was mistake-free after that to shoot a 65 and reach 17 under overall. If he takes the title Sunday, he and sister Lexi would be only the third brother-sister combo to both win on the LPGA and PGA Tours. Summerhays waited out a rain delay of over an hour before making a 19-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole at Annandale Golf Club, finishing with a 3-under 69. He also led last week going into the final round of the John Deere Classic before finishing fourth.

Chad Campbell, CamDaniel Summerhays watches his tee shot on the fifth hole dur- eron Beckman, Woody Ausing the third round of the Sanderson Farms Championship tin and Kyle Reifers are two strokes back. Summerhays golf tournament on July 20 in Madison, Miss. (AP Photo)

came into the third round with a four-stroke lead, but he allowed the field to catch up on a course that is giving up plenty of birdies thanks to calm conditions, soft fairways and forgiving greens.

"It was just a scrappy round," Summerhays said.

"The shots I did hit good, I was just missing on the putts. They were those putts where your eyes get big and then you're disappointed.

But that's golf."

It was a long day for both Summerhays and Thompson, who had to play 28 and 27 holes respectively to finish their second rounds due to weather delays on Thursday and Friday. Both will be going for their first PGA Tour wins on Sunday.

Thompson is playing his first full season on the PGA Tour since 2010. He's 105th on the PGA money list and has one top-10 finish at the Humana Challenge in January. His sister Lexi is in contention at this weekend's Marathon Classic on the

LPGA Tour, sitting in a share of third place, three strokes behind the leaders, going into the final round.

"Hopefully it'll be a great day for the Thompson family," Thompson said.

Summerhays fell out of contention last weekend after closing with a bogey in the final round. He hopes that experience will help Sunday. "The more you're in that situation, you know how to deal with it when it comes," he said. "Because (the nerves) will come. No matter what tournament you're playing, if you're playing to win, you're going to be nervous."

The 49-year-old Austin led for much of the third round, but had two bogeys on his final six holes — including the 18th — for a 67.

Campbell shot a 65 to jump back into contention.

He won at Annandale in 2007 — his last victory on the PGA Tour.

Beckman shot 65, and Reifers had a 67.

half Nic White also kicked a long-range penalty for the Brumbies, who won the most-recent of their two Super Rugby titles in 2004.

The Christchurchbased Crusaders will now play the Hamilton-based Chiefs, the defending champion, in an all-New Zealand semifinal after their 38-9 win over the Queensland Reds on Saturday.

Sunday's match at Canberra didn't come close to matching the high standard set by the seven-time champion Crusaders in their four tries to nil win over the Reds the day before. The Cheetahs looked stage-struck for the first 15 minutes of the match but came alive when center

Johann Sadie scored their first try in the 16th minute, giving them a 5-3 lead.

The lead changed hands three times before White's long-distance penalty in the 47th minute put the Brumbies ahead 9-8.

They then extended that lead to 15-8 with penalties to Leali'ifano in the 58th and 66th minutes.

The Cheetahs refused to let the match get away from them and attacked relentlessly through the last five minutes, remaining competitive though the tide of penalties from New Zealand referee Glen Jackson ran strongly against them.

They had the chance of several kicks at goal in the last five minutes but reject-

ed that option as they sought the converted try that would take the match to extra time.

With time up on the clock at Canberra Stadium, Pretorius engineered the try to Benjamin that gave Smit the chance to tie the scores. His dying-seconds kick missed by inches and the Cheetahs' longest season, their first that extended to the playoffs, ended in muted disappointment. Brumbies captain Ben Mowen watched in trepidation as Smit's last kick rose towards the posts.

"You always worry when a South African guy's having a kick at goal because they're usually dead on the money," Mowen said. "But, fortunately for us, it went our way there.

KoLKAtA, JULY 20 (IANS): India's first World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev Saturday termed M.S. Dhoni the country's best cricket captain, and said the recent Champions Trophy triumph showed the next generation of players have "arrived".

"I don't have to say that he is the best... everybody knows that... statistics, records speak for him. He has done a wonderful job. If you are asking me a question on this, you have a doubt, but I don't," Kapil told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Kapil, who led India to the World Cup title in 1983, refused to take a question on Virat Kohli's performance as stand-inskipper in the West Indies tri-nation tourney. "As long as Dhoni is there, we should not be talking about others.

We have to respect Dhoni as captain," he said.

He said during the recent ICC Champions Trophy in England, he saw the youngsters from close range. "They did not have Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir or Virender Sehwag. There were no experienced players. Despite the absence of big names, we did not miss them. The next genera-

tion has arrived. They have played so well," he said.

Kapil Dev was speaking on the sidelines of the annual awards ceremony of the Cricket Association of Bengal. Asked whether the Champions Trophy team should be retained for national duty during the 2015 World Cup, Kapil said: "I don't know how many of them will fit into the team.

But I know we have enough young boys to go to the World Cup and win it."

Lavishing praise on Ravindra Jadeja, the former dashing all-rounder said the youngster has made a difference after he came to the side. "He is a champion all-rounder. He has made a difference after he

came in. He has raised the standards where fielding is concerned. Hats off to him!

Great to have someone like him." Kapil, however, said he did not feel that Indian coach Duncan Fletcher had done "extremely well".

"When India was not doing well, I was not harsh.

I didn't say he did a horrible job when he lost to England and Australia. Now also I won't say he has done extremely well." Kapil said sidelined senior pro Virender Sehwag should take up the challenge and try to make a comeback. "Every cricketer should feel they can make a comeback. If not, then they are not fighters. They should take up the challenge," he said.

SAo PAULo, JULY 21 (IANS): Neymar says he hopes to make history alongside his new Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.

The 21-year-old striker, who signed for the Catalan club in June for 57 million euros, has previously said he merely hopes to help the four-time Ballon d'Or winner "get even better". But speaking to the press here, Neymar revealed loftier expectations and struck fear into the hearts of La Liga and European rivals, reports Xinhua.

"I hope it will be a partnership to make history.

We have everything for that to happen and it's an hon-

our, a dream come true, to play alongside the best in the world and that is what persuaded me choose Barcelona," the Brazil star said.

Neymar will begin training with his new teammates July 25 after being given extra time off follow-

ing Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph. He admitted to have mixed emotions about leaving Brazil.

"I had a great story with Santos but now I have a new club, a new life and everything is focused on Barcelona." he added.

MS Dhoni is the best: Kapil Dev

'I want to make history with Messi'

Entertainment

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Henry Cavill poses with original Superman book at Comic-Con

Monday 22 July,2013

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Eminem teams up with Love The Way You Lie writer Skylar Grey

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minem and Skylar Grey have collaborated E once again. The singer-songwriter contributed to the writing of Eminem and Ri-

hanna’s chart-topping hit ‘Love The Way You Lie’, and now Eminem is the executive producer on her album ‘Don’t Look Down’, alongside Alex da Kid. Skylar told 92.3now radio station: ‘’Working with Em was one of the most amazing things in my entire life to ever happen and that will probably will ever happen. He has been so great at giving me feedback and I really trust his opinion.’’

However, ‘The Real Slim Shady’ singer wasn’t the first person to work with Skylar since by the time she was 14, the singer had made three folk albums - with her mum.

Skylar told antimusic.com she learnt a lot from working with her mother, saying: ‘’I got a lot of experience from doing that with my mom because I had to learn a lot as a young kid. How to be on when I felt like crap. How the show always must go on, no matter how bad things are. How to be professional. ‘’ However, she admitted that she went solo because it’s ‘’not cool to sing with Mom anymore.’’

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e’s the man of the moment thanks to his blockbuster hit in the latest Superman movie Man Of Steel. And Henry Cavill was sporting a super grin on Saturday as he continued to ride the wave of success at San Diego’s annual Comic-Con. The British actor was just one of the A-list guests attending the convention as he mingled with a number of movie stars throughout the day.

But while there was plenty of star power on show, he seemed more happy to become acquainted with an original comic book during his appearance. Henry, 30, grinned widely as he posed with the Action Comics Issue #”1 at the Superman 75

Party. And he dressed for the occasion in an electric blue shirt seemingly mimicking the colours of his Superman costume.

Although his handsome looks of course drew attention, it was what was said by his Superman director Zack Snyder that will be remembered most from the day. Warner Bros. have now revealed plans for a Superman/Batman movie. The follow up to Man of Steel starring Henry is being written by Snyder and will feature an as-yet-uncast Batman. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, Zack said: ‘I’m

so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can’t wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. ‘Let’s face it, it’s beyond

but beyond that, he’s a fan first and he utterly gets this genre. ‘We could not think of anyone better suited to the task of bringing these iconic Super Heroes to the screen in his own way.’ Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marke t i n g a n d International Distribution, Warner Bros.

Pictures added: ‘We are thrilled to be back in business with Zack and his team on this next movie. The success of Man of Steel is a wonderful testament to the love and support that both fans and new audiences, worldwide, have for these characters. ‘We are very excited to

‘it’s revealed next Man Of Steel movie will include Batman’ mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world.’

Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production said: ‘Zack Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker,

see what Zack has in store for all of us.’

The movie is set to begin production in 2014 with a 2015 release date. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder will serve as producers while Christopher Nolan, who directed the most recent Batman trilogy, and Emma Thomas are set to executive produce, along with Benjamin Mel-ker and Michael E. Uslan. Emma said: ‘Whilst our Dark Knight trilogy is complete, we have every confidence that Zack’s fresh interpretation will take the character in a new and exciting direction.

His vision for Superman opened the door to a whole new universe and we can’t wait to see what Zack does with these characters.’

Selena Gomez starstruck

by Bradley Cooper S

elena Gomez was starstruck by Bradley Cooper’s eyes.

The 20-year-old singer - who previously dated pop sensation Justin Bieber - admitted she tried to speak to the ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ actor but was overcome with shyness when he looked at her. She said: ‘’The last time I was starstruck was when I met Bradley Cooper and I don’t even remember what I said, that’s how embarrassed I was. I wanted to say he was a great actor but he blinded me with his eyes.’’

Selena also revealed she is happier than ever since becoming a big sister on June 13, when her sister Gracie Elliot was born. She told People magazine: ‘’I’m a relatively new big sister but it’s the best thing ever. My bliss is coming home and seeing her after I have been working.’’ Following her sister’s birth, the ‘Spring Breakers’ star took to Twitter to announce the name of her sibling. She wrote: ‘’Momma, Brian, and me are all so grateful for all your well wishes. My lil sissy Gracie Elliot Teefey was born on June 12th. Luv you all XO. (sic)’’

Taylor Swift takes time out from her Red Ozzy Osbourne warns fans off Tour to hang with children’s hospital patients drugs after Cory Monteith’s death O

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he’s currently on tour across the country promoting her latest album Red. But when she’s not singing on stage to thousands of fans, Taylor Swift can be found indulging in her favourite things -- including devoting her time to charity. The 23-year-old was travelling through her native state of Pennsylvania on Saturday and chose to share her afternoon with patients at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Ryan Seacrest shared a couple of snaps of the star visiting the hospital, which is partnered with his charity the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. ‘Wanted

2 share these pics w/ u guys... @TaylorSwift spent some time with the kids at #seacreststudios today at Children’s Hospital Philadelphia...never were smiles bigger. Thnk u T,’ the American Idol host wrote on his Instagram.

The studio, which is set up in the hospital’s main lobby, offers a radio station and multimedia centre for young patients to hone their media skills and sees frequent celebrity visits, including Joe Jonas and Julianne Hough. Taylor looked humbled by her charitable stop, dressed down in a girlish red and white frock, her lips painted a bright cherry tone to

match. The 23-year-old pleasantly smiled as she stopped to chat with her fans, embracing them and signing autographs along the way. The Grammy award winner is currently touring the United States on her Red Tour, making two stops in the City of Brotherly Love on Friday and Saturday night.

The turn to charity is a favourite project for the singer, as she was named the most charitable celebrity in 2012 by the website DoSomething. org. She also donated $4 million to the Country Hall of Fame to fund a new 7,500 square foot wing of the museum which will be named

the Taylor Swift Education Center. ‘I learned all about country music through what I saw on TV and the research that I did,’ Swift explained of her gift. ‘I didn’t really know that there was a museum you could go to, to see all these different outfits from all these legends. I didn’t know that you could go to a place and see it all in person. So it’s gonna be amazing for kids to get to have a place where they can go and learn what they possibly can.’ sShe was also recognised for being the youngest recipient of the Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for her work.

zzy Osbourne has warned youngsters friends who I used to do it with. They’re to shun drugs after Cory Monall dead ... I’m living on borrowed time. teith’s death. The Black Sabbath ‘’Don’t think that if Ozzy Osbourne rocker has battled his own addiccan stay alive through it, that you tions for years, and admitted the can. It doesn’t work like that.’’ The fact he had survived ‘Changes’ singer explained he shouldn’t mean used to think people asdrugs and alcosume they hol boosted his can live the creativity but same way. realised it was The ‘Glee’ star ‘’a load of c**p’’. died of a heroin and alHe said: ‘’I used to cohol overdose and was think that I couldn’t write found in his hotel room eight songs or perform without a days ago - and Ozzy is keen drug or a drink inside me and young people don’t make the that’s just a load of c**p. ‘’You same mistakes. don’t need alcohol and you don’t He told the Sunday need drugs to make music and People newspaper: ‘’I went have fun. ‘’In recent months I through all that and I surhad another go at it and it nearvived. But I haven’t got that many ly destroyed me again.’’

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Rose Walker Alex Lorezen and Erick DeLuna show off their Booker, Elizabeth and the Handyman costumes in a skit at the Comic-Con International Masquerade on July 20 in San Diego. (AP Photo)

27 `deadliest age in rock music`

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my Winehouse, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain all died when they were just 27-yearsold. Even Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers, can be said to have died at the same age if the date of his disappearance can be taken as the time of his presumed suicide. Twenty-seven, observed the Washington Post, was `rock `n` roll`s most dangerous number. `

Are you a writer, photographer, illustrator, or just have an opinion?

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Howard Sounes, whose book Amy, 27 looks at the supposed phenomenon, said that the 27 Club is a media construct based on a coincidence. Rolling Stone magazine observed the trend first in July 1971, when it reported the death of Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, saying that he had died at the same age of 27, as three rock casualties of the previous two years: Jones, Hendrix and Joplin.

The Morung Express monthly supplement ‘Opinion’ will be published on the third Saturday of every month. In the Opinion, you are the storyteller. Please share your story by responding to the theme of this month’s issue: “Suggestions for Naga Reconciliation and Unity” Contributions can be in the form of photography, illustrations, photos of artwork, essays, first-person accounts, poetry, reported articles, and any other form of expression that can be printed.

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Kristen Carr shows off her self designed Rosa Farrell from Final Fantasy IV costume in a skit at the Comic-Con International Masquerade on July 20 in San Diego. (AP Photo)

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Serena racks up 51st win to take Swedish title baSTaD (SweDeN), July 21 (aFP): World number one Serena Williams racked up her 51st win of the year on Sunday when she cruised past home player Johanna Larsson in the Swedish Open final. Williams showed little mercy as she swept to a 6-4, 6-1 victory to take the 53rd WTA title of her career. Larsson, 24, ranked 76th in the world, had no answer to the Williams arsenal and her third WTA final went the way of the previous two, ending in defeat. French Open winner Williams, 31, was contesting her 69th final and is unbeaten on clay this season, having also won in Rome, Madrid and Charleston. Previously, the most WTA main draw match wins Williams had at this stage of the year was 38, back in 2003.

A cyclist performs a stunt with other riders during a group ride in support of Tour de France leader Christopher Froome of Britain, who was born in Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, July 21. Froome has two hands firmly on the Tour de France trophy. Only an accident or other freak mishap Sunday on the largely ceremonial final ride to the ChampsElysees could stop Froome from winning the 100th Tour. (AP Photo)

Serena Williams poses with the trophy after winning her 53rd WTA title by beating Johanna Larsson, not shown, by 6-4, 6-1 in the final of the Swedish Open on Sunday, July 21 in Bastad, Sweden. (AP Photo)

China's Zhang Yanquan and Cao Yuan perform during the men's synchronized 10-meter platform preliminary at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 21. (AP Photo)

Kohli leads Indian cricket team on Zimbabwe tour

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MuMbai, July 21 (iaNS): A 15-member Indian cricket squad, led by Virat Kholi, left here on a Zimbabwe tour Sunday morning. The team will play five One-Day Internatioanals against Zimbabwe over the 11-day tour, starting July 24.

Regular Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rested by the national selectors to give him some respite from international cricket.

The selectors have also rested frontline seamers - Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The young Indian team will see two new faces - Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parvez Rasool and fast bowler Mohit Sharma. India on their previous tour of Zimbabwe failed to even reach the final of a TriSeries tournament, also involving Sri Lanka. The then Indian team led

by Suresh Raina also had Virat Kholi, Ravindra Jadeja, Vinay Kumar and Rohit Sharma. They are included in the current squad as well.

India did pull off the two-match Twenty-20 series 2-0 win against the hosts after the tri-series.

India Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parvez Rasool, Mohammed Shami, Vinay Kumar, Jaidev Unadkat and Mohit Sharma.

Schedule: Jul 24: 1st ODI- Harare; Jul 26: 2nd ODI- Harare; Jul 28: 3rd ODIHarare; Jul 31: 4th ODI Bulawayo; Aug 3: 5th ODI Bulawayo.

Mexico, Panama advance to Gold Cup semis

aTlaNTa, July 21 (aP): Mexico and Panama set up a semifinal rematch in the CONCACAF Gold Cup after each won their quarterfinal matches on Saturday. Panama beat 10-man Cuba 6-1, while Mexico escaped with a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Panama is unbeaten thus far in the tournament, with three wins, including a 2-1 victory over Mexico in group play, and a draw. Mexico, a six-time Gold Cup champion, is going for its third straight title, but has not played well at all this year, putting coach Jose Manuel De La Torre's job at risk.

The United States faces El Salvador and Honduras takes on Costa Rica in the other quarterfinal matches on Sunday.

Mexico's Raul Jimenez beat diving goalkeeper Jan Williams with a shot into the left corner of the net in the 84th minute to lead his side to victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Mexico dominated the match, but Williams foiled several Mexican scoring opportunities, deflecting two shots in a one-minute span in the second half, to keep the Trinidadians in the contest. De La Torre chafed when asked after the match if he thought his side got a weak victory.

"You don't like it? We saw a different game," De La Torre said. "That's what I can tell you. Every time we win, we have to enjoy it. A win is a win, but that is enough. We always have to fix things but we also did a lot of great things tonight."

Mexico has won just one of six World Cup qualifiers this year, scoring only three goals and drawing with the likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama. Mexico also failed to reach the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, dropping its first two matches to Italy and Brazil. De La Torre believed his team showed composure on Saturday to persistently pressure Williams

Mexico goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco, right, catches the ball over Trinidad and Tobago's Radanfah Abu Bakr during the second half in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament, Saturday, July 20, 2013, in Atlanta. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo)

in hopes he would make a mistake.

"The team did not become desperate," he said. "They were under our strategy and our plan in order to win. It was very good on our end that we (took care of) the sides, the middle and the center."

Cuba took a 1-0 lead against Panama on Jose Ciprian's goal in the 21st minute, but Gabriel Torres' penalty four minutes later leveled the score, and his second goal gave Panama the lead for good in the 38th minute. Torres has five goals in four Gold Cup games. Cuba played a man down and gave up four goals in the last 32 minutes after Ariel Martinez was given a red card for a hard

foul against Blas Perez.

Perez scored twice, and Carlos Rodriguez and Jairo Jimenez also netted for Panama. Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes said he was upset by his team's lapse in concentration early in the game.

"It came in a moment when Panama was dominating the game, and we were looking to attack," Valdes said. "It's very difficult when you get scored upon because it gets very complicated.

We had to continue to pursue the attack." Panama, which has never won the Gold Cup, hasn't allowed more than one goal in eight straight matches in the tournament.

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