2nd February 2014

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Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 30

The Morung Express “

www.morungexpress.com

Nitish Kumar meets pol parties to shape a ‘credible’ third political front [ PAGE 8]

By Sandemo Ngullie

MOUNT SINABUNG, FEBRUARY 1 (INDONESIA): A volcano in western Indonesia has unleashed fresh clouds of searing gas, killing at least 11 people and injuring three others.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says several eruptions of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province on Saturday sent lava and pyroclastic flows down the southern slopes up to 4.5 kilometers away.

He says the volcano is still spitting clouds of gas and lava as high as 2,000 meters, and the number of dead could rise as the rescue efforts are hampered by darkness.

NEw DElHI, FEBRUARY 1 (IANS): Angry over the death of an Arunachal Pradesh teen, students from the northeast held a protest in the capital and also met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who Saturday assured “exemplary punishment” for the culprits who brutally thrashed the student.

Students from the northeast held a protest at the Lajpat Nagar market in south Delhi where Nido Tania, 19, was mercilessly beaten up by two shopkeepers Wednesday afternoon following a quarrel over his appearance and clothing. He died in a hospital Thursday.

Kejriwal assured the group of students that he will meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and demand action against any police official found guilty in the magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi government. Kejriwal’s assurance came even as the students called off their protest after the Delhi Police assured them of speedy investigations.

“Have assured northeast students that on the basis of the magisterial report, strict action will be taken against the culprits,” Kejriwal said after meeting a students’ delegation at his Delhi residence where he shifted Saturday. “I request citizens of India to be

KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Naga Hoho today urged the NSCN (IM) to “come out openly and admit their blunder particularly to the Sumi people for the crime committed by its cadres” with respect to the Mukalimi incident.

The Naga Hoho publicity wing said that this press communiqué was made following a meeting of its executive committee at Hotel Japfu, where it deliberated on issues that needed “immediate attention in the interest of the common people.” The Hoho also appealed to the Sumi Hoho to “review

their stand against the NSCN (IM), considering the ongoing peace process, by exhibiting political maturity in the interest of Naga people.”

“The stand-off between the NSCN (IM) and the Sumi public has surfaced following the licentious act meted out by the NSCN (IM) cadres on 21st December, 2013 thereby deeply hurting the sentiment of the Naga people in general and the Sumi community in particular,” the Hoho stated. It termed “apt” the demand of the Sumi Hoho for “handing over of those culprits to the Administration” because,

Indonesia volcano kills at least 11

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard to marry in Bahamas

Consultation on Holistic Child Development concludes [ PAGE 2]

Prez Obama’s executive actions: The power of taking small steps

[ PAGE 11]

[ PAGE 9]

–Nelson Mandela

Kohli inches closer to top spot in ICC ODI rankings [ PAGE 12]

Rio for urgent measures to secure NE people in Delhi

more tolerant. Our government is set to deal with this issue and make an example out of it,” he added.

The police Saturday said Tania’s body was handed over to his guardian.

Students from Arunachal Pradesh had threatened that they would hold an indefinite protest. “The Delhi Police have accepted our de-

mands and assured that investigation will be speeded up, so we have called off our protest,” said J.T. Tagam, former president of Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union.

Nido Tania was the son of Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator Nido Pavitra.

“It is a shocking incident and it is not the first time. It is not just about

people from the northeast, people from outside always face discrimination here,” said a protestor. Another protestor said they “want Delhi chief minister (Arvind Kejriwal) to deliver justice to us”. A group of people from the northeastern states also met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Harsh Vardhan. “I hope

prime minister (Manmohan Singh), home minister (Sushilkumar Shinde) and chief minister (Kejriwal) will rise to the occasion,” the BJP leader said.

Activists and people from the northeast termed it a “racial attack” while the region’s parliamentarians said they would take up the matter with the prime minister.

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (NNN): Convenor of North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) and Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, has apprised Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, to take up urgent measures in the national capital so that the people from the North East region can have a secured environment.

Terming the attack on Nido Tania a “racist attack,” an urgent letter has been dispatched from Kohima today to Delhi urging the Government of India to take this up as a serious national problem. According to Rio, if this is not addressed it will be impossible to create a sense of belonging in the minds of the people from the North East, and it will be difficult to overcome the alienation that is felt by the people.

“Such reality has negatively impacted the unity and integrity of the country for decades, and continues to create hurdles in the nation building process.

The NERPF condemns the murder and demands im-

it felt, “every citizen has to abide by the law of the land.”

In this regard, the Naga Hoho and other civil societies had requested the NSCN (IM) to hand over the culprits as per the demand of the Sumi Hoho in order to pave the way for peaceful negotiation. “Unfortunately, the NSCN (IM) failed to comply as desired by the people for which the designated camp at Mukalimi was under siege and the cadres were flushed out eventually. This resulted in the killing and injuring of innocent Sumi volunteers and NSCN (IM) cadres,” noted the statement.

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 1 (MExN): The Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) held an emergency meeting today after the Business Association of Nagas (BAN) received complaints from its members of getting “arbitrary, exorbitant and unjustified taxation” demand from the NSCN (IM).

The ACAUT has expressed pain over this. The ACAUT alleged in a press release today that around 10 shops in Ertiga Complex, NL Road, Dimapur, were issued “Information

Slip” asking the proprietors to pay Rs. 60,000/- each, by the NSCN (IM), “completely ignoring the fact that Naga people have resolved not to pay tax as per the 31st Oct Public Resolution.”

“To make matters even worse, Nagaland for Christ is sealed on the back of the ‘information slip’,” revealed the press release.

While saluting the concerned proprietors for coming out “openly against the menace of unabated taxation,” the ACAUT stated that it will stand by the decision of the shopkeep-

ers of Ertiga Complex not to pay any tax. “If untoward incident happens to the latter on account of their decision, the NSCN (IM) shall be held solely responsible,” asserted the Committee.

The BAN has also supported this move by requesting, in a separate press release, its members “not to pay any kind of taxes unless the popular demand of one government one tax is achieved.”

The ACAUT expressed deep gratitude to the GB Union Dimapur and DUCCCF (representing

Dimapur colony chairpersons) for reiterating their stand on not paying taxes though they face daily harassment. The ACAUT has, thus, decided that “Any harassment/ill treatment meted to the GBs/Chairmen or on any bonafide members of the ACAUT on the issue of Unabated taxation shall be construed as a challenge to every ACAUT member.”

For the purpose of tackling “unabated taxation” levied by Naga political groups, and illegal collections by government agen-

Indian police stop a North East student as he shouts slogans during a protest in New Delhi on February 1. The beating and subsequent death in New Delhi of 20-year-old Nido Tania, from Arunachal Pradesh has sparked a furious outcry against racism and criticism of police in the Indian capital. (AP Photo)

naga Hoho on Mukalimi incident

Displaced Rengmas yearn for home yet apprehensive Morung Express News Dimapur | February 1

The thought of returning home is just as challenging, as was leaving home, for the displaced Rengmas of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. Dislodged from the comfort of home, despair and apprehension hangs in the air, as the 1300-plus residents struggle to cope with life in the confined environment of relief camps. Yearning to return home, but insecure, their predicament could at best be summed up by the proverb ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’.

Threat to life is not the only concern confronting the men and women once they return home.

Feeding the children, the old and the frail is just as much problematic and no less daunting. With a new academic year starting, admitting children to school is yet another immediate concern for the adults.

Problems do not end here. The structures acting as relief camps are educational establishments, well past the dateline for resumption of classes after the winter break. The annual HSLC and HSSLC final exams are round the corner, set to begin by the second week of

A child curiously looks at the camera as another tends to a bitter bean (yongchak) that is being roasted over a fire for an afternoon snack at one of the relief camps in Santipur. (Morung Photo)

February. Two of the relief camps are exam centres.

“Our biggest concern now is our children (and school admission),” commented a despondent young father sheltered in one of the four relief camps at Santipur.

The camps have near about 300 school-going children. Keeping the home fire burning also pricks his thoughts. “We escaped emptyhanded, will be compelled to return empty-handed... Even if we go back, we have nothing to eat,” said

mediate and exemplary justice from the Government of India,” Rio demanded.

He also urged both the Central Government and the Delhi Government to take up the investigation of this case with utmost sincerity, and assured “all co-operation to your government in implementing effective steps that are aimed at protecting and re-assuring the people of the north eastern region in the national capital region of Delhi.”

A 17-point resolution from the NERPF, earlier submitted to the Prime Minister, had demanded the Government of India to take up stringent measures to protect students, especially girl students and working women from the region who are being subjected to physical attacks, indecent behaviour and insults in various cities of the country. “Unfortunately, it appears that the Government of India is yet to take any firm step for the protection of the people from the North East,” the NERPF convenor lamented.

cies, a Public Grievances Cell of the ACAUT has been set up. All taxation related complaints can now be registered through the phone number +91 8974761098.

The public has also been requested to bring every kind of “demand slips/extortion notice” to the knowledge of the ACAUT in the next 20 days and deposit these at either the Naga Council office or the office of the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union. Such slips, informed the ACAUT, can also be posted at ACAUT NAGALAND, Facebook.

ACAUT & BAN to stand by Oct 31 resolution on tax

caught between a rock and a hard place

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Sunday, February 2, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4

north east students demand Justice

reflections

I am removing him because I suspect he is corrupt.

”

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination

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the father of two. An unaccounted number of the displaced had to flee, leaving their paddy mid-harvest. The crops, which were not burned, either became food for wild animals or are going bad, left exposed to the elements.

For Binale, a mother of six, a bleak year ahead awaits her. Coupled with the task of sending five children to school, her family will have an empty barn this year. Paddy was their only source of income.

“The paddy we got last season is

now gone,” said the woman from Lolashangyu, who looked well beyond her age. Her husband, she said, returned to the village the day before in the hope of salvaging whatever could be of use. Despite, “I want this to be over with and return home,” Binale said.

Government aid in the form of Rs. 20,000 in cash and roofing material was announced for every family whose houses were ‘fully damaged’, while Rs. 20,000 was the package for ‘partially damaged’ houses. For the ones whose houses were not destroyed, no rehabilitation package has been announced yet. A majority of the displaced depend on paddy for their livelihood.

Scores of households, like Binale’s and the young father of two, have lost a year’s worth of sustenance.

The Government of Assam has so far identified 101 families, whose houses were either razed or partially burned. The administrative head of Bokajan sub-division said on January 31 that it will be a week before the rehabilitation package is doled out. The SDO further said that camps will be set up at Phentsero (Phancherop) and Jongpha to act as temporary shelters during the rebuilding period. As regards the resumption of schools, the SDO said that officials have been deployed to identify buildings, where the displaced will be relocated, allowing the schools to reopen.

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Dimapur

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The Morung Express C M

Consultation on Holistic Child Development concludes

DiMapur, February 1 (Mexn): The three-day consultation on Holistic Child Development, which began from January 29, concluded successfully on January 31 at Eastern Theological College, Jorhat.

The consultation jointly organised by ILEMA-ETC and NEITA was held with an aim to create awareness among the churches about the need to strive for Holistic Development of children.

There were all together 80 participants, including general secretaries, executive secretaries of various convention and association, principals and faculty members from theological colleges of north-east region and master of theology scholars of Eastern Theological College, Jorhat.

Based on the theme, Rev. Dr. Vezopa, Executive Secretary, Chakhesang Baptist Church Council and Rev. Dr. Akheto Sema, Principal, Eastern Theological College led the Bible Study. Scholars presented six scholarly and well-researched paper readings wherein Holistic Child Development from

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different perspectives was brought out.

The first paper was presented by Dr. Razouselie Lasetso, Professor of New Testament on “Children in the Ministry of Jesus and its significance for Developing Concerns on Holistic Child Development.” This was followed by another paper on “Social and Ethical Reading of Children Concerns” presented by Dr. Shimreingam L. Shimray, Professor of Social Analysis and Ethics. The third paper reading based on the topic “Nurturing Families for God: An Ecclesial Perspective” was presented by Vimeno Lasetso, Lecturer in the department of History of Christianity. The fourth paper was presented by Dr. Limatula Longkumer, Professor of Christian Education on “The Need of Paradigm shift in Christian Education for Holistic Child Development” followed by a paper on “Incorporating Children’s Concerns in the Formulation of Christian Theology” by Dr. Lovely Awomi James, Lecturer in the department of Chris-

tian Theology. The sixth and the last paper was presented by Dr. Sashikaba Kechutzar, Associate Professor of Religions on the topic, “Children in Selected World Religious Tradition.”

An important feature of the consultation was the panel discussion on the topic: “Children Ministry in the Church Today: Challenges and Constrains.”

Eight resource persons shared about their long years of experience in the church ministry as well as the challenges and concerns for the educational ministry of their respective churches.

The resource persons included Rev. Rozarim, Secretary, Tangkhul Baptist Church Association; Dr. Botoholi, Secretary, Education and Communication, NBCC; Rev. Dr. Vezopa, Executive Secretary, Chakhesang Baptist Church Council; Rev. Dr. Simte, Executive Secretary, Simte Baptist Church Association; Raychawdhuri, General Secretary, Assam Baptist Convention; Vishiho, Secretary, Christian Education, WSBK; Zubeni,

Sunday School Superintendent, Kohima Lotha Baptist Church and Rev. H. Gideon, Executive Secretary, Poumai Naga Baptist Association.

In his concluding remark, the Dean of ILEMA, Dr. Razouselie Lasetso said that the consultation was a time of learning from the resource persons as well as from the interaction among the participants in the course of deliberation on various topics. This would help the core committee in revising the curriculum for MA on Holistic Child Development Course which is being offered by Eastern Theological College from the academic year 20132014. He acknowledged and expressed gratitude to all the participants for their inputs during the consultation which he said, will help in developing a course that is more contextual and relevant to the Children ministry in the North East Indian Churches. Dr. L. Imsutoshi Jamir in a press release said that the consultation ended with a benediction pronounced by Professor Ezamo Murry.

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An aerial view of Phek district headquarters. Nagaland state government has branded Phek district as 'The land of tradition.' Phek is a land rich in culture and festivals. Phek is a district in the South-eastern part of Nagaland, bounded by Myanmar in the East, Zunheboto and Tuensang districts in the North, Manipur state in the South and Kohima district in the West. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)

Farmers sensitized on breeding of superior pig germplasm

Mokokchung, February 1 (Mexn): ICAR is promoting breeding of superior pig germplasm with the aim of transforming the state from a pig importer to self-sustainable in pork production. To sensitize the farmers about the importance of scientific intervention in pig breeding for income generation a seminar was organized jointly by ICAR RC NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani and Nagaland Pig Farmers Association under Tribal Sub Plan A woman collects water from a supply source while her child looks on in the middle of the Component on January 31 at Metsupen Hotel, Mokokroad at Peren Town.

chung.

Fifty-two participants from different villages of Mokokchung district of Nagaland participated in the seminar. Rev. Supong Aier, President NPFA delivered the welcome address. It was followed by day-long deliberation on different aspects of scientific pig breeding, health care and hygienic meat production, and package of practices on maize cultivation for mitigating the feed requirements of pigs were delivered by a team of experts comprise of Dr. M.K. Patra, Scientist (Animal Repro-

duction); Dr. Rakesh Kumar Scientist (Agronomy) and Dr. H. Moaakum, SMS (Animal Science).

Dr. Bidyut C. Deka, Joint Director, ICAR Nagaland centre appreciated the efforts taken up by Nagaland Pig Farmers Association for promoting pig breeding at farmers’ field and assured that the ICAR Nagaland Centre will extend full support for implementing such livelihood improvement program in future. The seminar was concluded with the vote of thanks delivered by Aolepden, member NPFA.

kohiMa, February 1 (Mexn): The inaugural programme of traffic driving school and launching of bicycles for traffic control and police station will take place from February 3 to 5, 2014 at SP office, Kohima.

Starting from 11:00 AM onwards, the inaugural address and distribution of bicycles will be done by Kohima ADC Asangla Imti.

SDPO Shouka Kakheto will chair the function while Kohima SP Rothihu Tetseo will make introduction.

Deputy SP (T) Melite Kapfo will highlight the concept note while Lovikali DTO, Kohima, will deliver keynote address.

baggage/items of passenger or tourist, smoking, chewing of pan and tobacco, throwing or disposal of water while on the journey, personal hygiene of drivers and etiquettes of drivers. SDPO Kohima will highlight Cr. P.C, IPC, evidence act, consequence of other laws (NLTP, NSA, NDPS etc), for the driver and vehicle when used for the commission of crime or involved in a criminal case as a victim, minor acts/local laws and administrative orders.

Day 3 (February 5) will touch on all traffic signboard, all hand sign language used by drivers, all

hand sign used by traffic personnel, vehicle accident investigation, traffic police duty after the accident report, do’s and don’t for driver after vehicle accident, insurance claim, case study of traffic regulations and major accidents, vehicle mechanical check and safety, duty of the driver in vehicle maintenance, life of type and engine, engine no. and chassis no, tyre rotation theory, easy running defects repairs.

Such topics will be shared by traffic instructors and MTO. Practical session will take place at 1:00 PM, follow by closing function at 2:00 PM.

Traffic driving school inaugural in Kohima

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On day one (February 3), Melite will highlight Motor Vehicle Act- driving license, registration, insurance, permit, countersigned, fitness certificate, pollution certificate, re-registration, over loading, road obstruction, HSRP, tinted glass, number plate, VIP red light, RTA, power of police on duty, helmet, drunken driving, seat belt and causes of accident locally. Further, motor vehicle inspector and Dr. John RMO will talk on bureaucratic paper process for driving license, permit, regulation, fitness, pollution, registration, tax payment, rules of road act

and medical basic first aid during vehicle accident respectively.

On day 2 (February 4), PWD officials will enlighten road construction and

and during journey, medical reasons for certain drivers not to drive (Color blindness, chronic heart patient, chronic nerve complication, chronic dia-

Launching of bicycles for traffic control and police station from February 3

cost of building roads, life of the metalled road, optimum care for the metalled road, penal provisions of the National Highway Act. Dr. John, RMO will talk on health precautions before

betics, epilepsy etc, drunken driving, STDs. Resource person from tourism department will brief cleanliness of vehicle, seating capacity, vehicle hire meaning, forgotten

A MILLION REASONS TO ENJOY THE

MEx File

Anti-Leprosy Day observed in Mkg Mokokchung, February 1 (Mexn): Mokokchung observed Anti-Leprosy Day on January 30 at IDSP hall, Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital here.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Kibang, Deputy CMO said leprosy may be infectious, but it is curable if detected and treated earlier. Leprosy as a disease has been scientifically and medically proven curable with Multi Drug Therapy. Therefore, reducing the burden of leprosy is possible by detecting cases at an early stage of the infection and administering prompt treatment, he added. He also urged the gatherers to show affection to the infected people. At the outset of the function, cash incentives were presented to two Leprosy infected persons, namely Meyikala and Vijay Prasad. Meyikala also shared testimony.. Officers from the health department, nursing students and leprosy staffs attended the programme. Maongrenla chaired the programme and C. Peter pronounced vote of thanks.

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KNO general session

DiMapur, February 1 (Mexn): Kyong Nchumchio Okho (KNO) has convened its general session on February 14, 2:00 pm at the resident of KNO Vice President Yanbemo Humtsoe at Lotha Colony here. The session shall comprise of yearly review reports and annual plan. Therefore, all the members of KNO have been requested to attend the meeting with various agendas / projects to be deliberated. Meanwhile, the Executive councils and the assigned individuals concerned have been requested to bring their reports and related information for review and deliberation. The members have also been notified that screening and validation of its members will be re-scrutinized to authenticate its membership. Therefore, all the members have been asked to attend positively, failing which disciplinary action shall be initiated against those members, KNO cautioned in a press release.

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NSWON 11th General Assembly

DiMapur, February 1 (Mexn): The National Socialist Women’s Organisation of Nagalim (NSWON) is conducting 11th general assembly on February 6 from 9:00 am at Council Headquarters, Hebron. All the NSWON members have been requested to attend the session positively. NSWON Secretary Pamshanphi stated in a press release that the date of arrival is February 5 and departure February 7. For further information contact: 9615284468, 9615477788, and 9856368364.

Longrapenlichen Guest House at Dibuia inaugurated

END OF SEASON MLA & Advisor NBDA and Chairman DPDB Mokokchung Dr. Longrineken during the inauguration of Longrapenlichen Guest House at Dibuia Village, Mokokchung on January 31.

STORES ASSOCIATED:

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GRAVITY Kohima ¤ GRAVITY Mokokchung ¤ GRAVITY Dimapur NIKE Kohima ¤ NIKE Dimapur ¤ FILA Kohima ¤ FILA Dimapur BENETTON Kohima ¤ BENETTON Dimapur ¤ HUB Kohima REEBOK Circular Road Dimapur ¤ Quality Care Kohima ¤ Samsonite & American Tourister Kohima ¤ ADIDAS Kohima ¤ ADIDAS Mokokchung ¤ ADIDAS Wokha

Mokokchung, February 1 (Mexn): MLA, NBDA and Chairman DPDB Mokokchung, Dr. Longrineken inaugurated the Longrapenlichen Guest House at Dibuia Village as the Chief Guest on January 31.

Addressing the gathering as the chief guest said that Longrapenlichen Guest House is not only for Dibuia but will be benefited for Changkikong also and asked them to maintain properly and beautify it.

Dr. Longri also said that we could connect ourselves to

Kaziranga Reserve Forest Department where tourist can come easily to our place and urged the Dibuia Villagers to be united to bring peace and development. The chief guest also mentioned that he wants Tzurong Valley and Melak Valley to be reserve forest, with all kinds of animals.

Arenla Imchen chaired the function, Atsung, Pastor Dibuia Baptist Church pronounced the invocation, C. Yanger Village Council Chairman delivered the welcome address. M. Bendangnukshi Lkr, Convener,

shared a brief history of Longrapenlilichen Guest House and Imnawapang, Naga Orpheus 2012 and Temsutula presented special songs. Renbomo Ezung, EAC Mangkolemba, Angangla, President Dibuiatsur Telongjem Mokokchung, Talimeren, Land Owner and Amenla, Tourism Officer, Mokokchung delivered short speeches, Dibuia Student Union presented cultural dance Moa Lkr proposed vote of thanks and Pastor Dibuia Compound Baptist Church pronounced the benediction.

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Regional

The Morung express

Sunday

2 February 2014

Dimapur

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North East comes out against ‘racial attacks’ Guwahati, February 1 (iaNS): From downright shock to a seething anger, people from the country's northeast, and especially its youth, reacted strongly at the death Thursday of a 19-year-old Arunachal Pradesh student who was allegedly severely assaulted by shopkeepers in a busy south Delhi market.

Calling it as yet another incident of blatant racism against northeastern students, people of the region spoke out against widescale discrimination meted out to hapless youngsters going to the national capital every year looking for better opportunities for education and career.

"There were such large scale protests against discrimination of South African students in Delhi after the Somnath Bharti (of Aam Aadmi Party) incident in south Delhi. Without undermining their case, why are there no voices outside the northeast community condemning incidents of racism against people of India's northeast?"

"Day after day, and year after year, when helpless students of the northeast are meted out worse behaviour by residents of the city, no one speaks out.

Nido Tania's death was a case of downright discrimination and racism, but who, other than us from the northeast, are going to speak out against it?" asks an agitated Saurav Barman, a second year graduation

Meghalaya's first Padmashree awardee dead

ShilloNG, February 1 (Pti): Meghalaya’s oldest voter and first Padmashree awardee from the state, Silverine Swer, passed away at the age of 103 at her residence in the city today after a brief illness, family sources said. Kong Sil, as she is affectionately called, passed away around 10:40 AM at her "step phyrnai" home at Riatsamthiah, a few hundred metres above the Umkhrah River.

A veteran who saw four wars - the two World Wars, and the Indo-China war and the Bangladesh liberation war involving India - Kong Sil was born on November 12, 1910, a few years after the 1897 earthquake rocked Shillong. She did her schooling from Welsh Mission Girls School and then attended Scottish Church College in then Calcutta.

She completed her degree in 1932 before serving at different government and non-government organisations in various capacities.

Kong Sil joined as the assistant controller of rationing in 1944 during the World War II under the Assam government, and continued to serve till 1949.

She was awarded Kaisar-iHind medal by the government for her efficiency and integrity while handling the rationing system and for her service to the Guides movement in Assam in 1946.

If our momos can be accepted, why not us?

Shradha Chettri IANS | February 1

Students from northeastern states of India shout slogans as they march during a protest in New Delhi, India on Saturday, February 1. The beating and subsequent death in New Delhi of a university student, 20-year-old Nido Tania, from India's remote northeast has sparked a furious outcry against racism and criticism of police in the Indian capital. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

student in Guwahati.

Agrees another student in Tinsukia, another town of Assam. "Tania was harassed for his hairstyle, for the way he looked and that resulted in a tiff. This incident stinks of racism.

And even if the argument resulted in the breaking of a shop window, does it justify the merciless beating of a young boy with rods by six-eight men? What kind of barbaric society is this?" asks Arupjyoti Gohain.

Tania, who was severely assaulted Wednesday, died of his injuries while being treated in a hospital Thursday. Police said they are questioning shopkeepers of the Lajpat Nagar-1 area where the attack on him took place.

Speaking out against the incident, Suhas Chakma

of the Asian Centre for Human Rights said, "There have been increasing racial attacks on the people from the northeast India in Delhi.

In addition to the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Delhi Police must invoke the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the murderers, as well as the Delhi Police personnel who failed to protect Nido Tania, a Scheduled Tribe boy, from being beaten to death."

In recent years, Delhi has also earned a dubious tag of being a city that often sees sexual harassment of women, and almost every northeastern girl in the city complains of being teased because of their looks and being referred by the derogatory term, 'chinky'.

Babita Singha of Manipur, whose 18-year-old daughter is deciding on colleges outside her home state for her graduation, said that Delhi is strictly out of the list of choices. "How can any parent send their child to a place that is notorious for being racist to people of the northeast? My neighbour's daughter is studying in Delhi and she often complains of being harassed on the road, being called 'chinky', even harassed by her landlord.

It's a shame that the capital of the country is so hostile to its own people," Singha said.

It's a similar reaction by a number of other students from the region preparing to explore colleges in the metros for their graduation. "I will either go to Bangalore or Pune, but not

Delhi. All these incidents have put such a negative impact on my mind," said James Jyrwa, a student in Meghalaya's Shillong.

Already sore with the capital's attitude, Thursday's unfortunate death of a young student has further darkened the mood of the people, especially its youngsters, towards Delhi.

"People say why do people of the northeast feel alienated...with such discrimination, who wouldn't?

We youngsters go looking for better opportunity to the capital of the country, not to do any harm. Let's see who speaks up against Tania's death this time, or if we will yet again be left to scream for ourselves," read a post by Animikha from Assam on a social networking site.

Meghalaya varsity asked not to admit students in Delhi

New Delhi, February 1 (iaNS): The Delhi High Court has prohibited Mahatma Gandhi University, Meghalaya, from admitting any student to a fashion institute in Delhi for any of its courses.

Justice Manmohan Thursday directed the university not to admit students in degree, diploma and certificate courses in fashion institute Fashionista on a plea of a student, Mohammad Sajid, who alleged the institute was running illegally and playing with the careers of innocent students.

The plea said the university was established by an act of the legislature of Meghalaya as state private university and was empowered to award degrees as

Court order after plea alleging university could award degrees 'through its main campus only in regular mode' specified by the UGC (University Grants Commission) "through its main campus only in regular mode".

There is no provision to have campus of university beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the state, the plea said, adding the institute is running with the active connivance of the university, in gross violation of law.

The court also directed the UGC to appraise the court about the action it has taken against the university for violating the UGC norms.

"....Mahatma Gandhi University, Meghalaya, is prohibited from admitting any student in Delhi for any course, be it degree or diploma or certificate till further orders," Justice Manmohan said while posting the matter for Aug 26.

The plea also sought direction to blacklist Fashionista, declare it illegal and take penal action against those managing it as the institute got illegal affiliation.

It was alleged in the plea the institute claimed it had technical collaboration with the Meghala-

ya university, and was running various degree and diploma courses without approval or affiliation either from the UGC or Distance Education Council (DEC) or the Delhi government.

The institute does not have any legal sanctity or validity to run the courses, contended Sitab Ali Chaudhary, counsel appearing for Sajid.

Sajid said he applied for admission to a diploma course in interior design for the academic session 2012-14 and deposited the fees of over Rs.1 lakh.

However, when he started attending classes, he came to know the claims of the institute in the advertisement as well as in the prospectus were false, baseless and wrong.

This is an edited version of the original article carried by IANS

VILLAGE COUNCIL LONGSA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Longsa Village Council congratulates Shri.

Alemtemshi Jamir IAS (Rtd), who successfully and honorably served the Nagaland Government in different capacities for 37 years and retired as Chief Secretary on January 31, 2014. The Council deeply acknowledges Shri. Alemtemshi for bringing good name to the village and at the same time expresses heartfelt gratitude and praise to our Almighty God for granting wisdom and guiding our leader thus far.

The Council also acknowledges the Nagaland Government for giving the privilege to our leader after identifying his capabilities. Besides, the Council also expresses our deep gratitude to the host of bureaucrats and officers who have worked together with our leader for the development and welfare of the Naga society. May Almighty God bless our society ever more and may He continue to bless and guide our leader Shri. Alemtemshi Jamir in all his future endeavors.

Sd. R. Lanu Chairman

Sd. Opanglemba Secretary

Protest rally against land acquisition held in Chandel Ruwngthung Hrangbung Chandel | February 1

Thousands of Anal people today have registered protest against the proposal for setting up of a model township at Haolenphai village by acquiring 3000 acres of land that the village Authority of Thangbung Mino village have reiterated to be the legal and right ownership of the land during a mass protest rally which was jointly organized by Anal Naga Tangpi (ANTA), Anal Lenruwl Tangpi (ALT), Anallon Chiefs’ Association (ALCA) and Anal Sinnu Ruwl (ASR) today at Japhou Bazar in Chandel district. The protestors submitted a memeorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel, Th Chitaranjan Singh, with a charter of demands.

The rally flagged off from Mini In-

door stadium where a public meeting was also held during which ANTA President Wng Kohring Victor, ALT President Ps Monihring, ASR President St Ruth, NWUC President Lh Bliss and Former General Secretary BD Betha Anal spoke in the meeting. Protestors held placards as they proceeded towards DC, Chandel, via Japhou Bazar, some of which read, ‘We Demand Withdrawal Of DC Letter To ADC Moreh’, ‘We Demand Public Hearing For New Township at Thangbung Mino (Hoalenphai), ‘Summon Mr N Wangchou Moyon & Mr Laban’, ‘Go Away DC Chandel’, ‘Don’t Take Our Land’ and ‘Govt. to protect Public Land, Now Turns Enemy’.

The memorandum stated the demands for immediate withdrawal of the Chandel DC’s letter (No. DC (CDL)

4/g/-ALLOT/2013) written to ADC Moreh for acquiring 3000 acres of land at Thangbung Mino. The memorandum also pressured DC to summon N Wangchou Moyon who is the former Chief of Penaching and R Laban Chief of Mangkang for producing proxy sale deed which was signed without the consent and knowledge of Thangbung Mino on November 27, 2010. The memorandum also demanded a public hearing. The memorandum was signed

by ANTA President, Wng Kohring Victor, and, ALT President, Ps Monihring.

Earlier, the protestor shouted slogans at the DC complex in Anal and Manipuri before handing out the memorandum. The DC after receiving the memorandum assured the protestor of taking necessary actions.

To the den of the one-horned rhinos

KaziraNGa, February 1 (iaNS): Unlike a tiger reserve where the sighting of India's national animal is often a matter of chance, a visit to this national park in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of this northeastern state is certain to offer more than a glimpse of the onehorned rhinoceros, dwelling in its natural habitat.

Despite the elephant grass being at its tallest around this time of the year, one could spot as many as 34 of these odd-toed ungulates during the course of two jeep safaris and an elephant ride - some as near as a couple of metres away.

The best time for sighting, though, is March when the forest officials burn the grass to facilitate fresh growth, and the small watering holes dry up, forcing the animals to go to the larger reservoirs to quench

Four years in the national capital, apart from all other things I have developed immunity against the word "chinky". I have ignored it while walking past people, thinking they were naïve to call me "chinky" to my face. But now, with Nido Tania, the 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh, being beaten to death in the capital, a thought nags me-was I right in ignoring the name-calling or should I have given it back to them?

According to the dictionary, "chinky" is an English ethnic word describing a person of Chinese ethnicity, but for people here it has become a word to describe girls from the northeast with amusing connotations like "chilli chicken" and "chowmein". Not just boys much younger than you but seemingly well educated, well dressed men pass these remarks. Once, on my way back home from the office, a man probably my dad's age came close and said "Chinky is so sexy". Left startled, I could barely react.

My eyes welled (due to anger) but I could only walk away helplessly.

Feeling helpless like I was, a friend from Arunachal Pradesh narrated an incident from a busy market place. It was immediately after Nido Tania's news, that she was teased and young boys called her "Chinese".

Is it our fault that our ancestors belonged to a certain race?

People in the heartland should know we also hold the same citizenship. Having different facial features (from people in the heartland), speaking in a different way and our region being disconnected due to lack of com-

munication, has saddled us with a label that we find hard to live down.

Is it our fault that our region is neglected?

This apathy is not restricted to streets or public places but even on the professional front. Many have had to lose out even after having competitive talent and capability. We do not have good educational facilities in our region and there are not enough good jobs because of which we are forced to travel far away from home.

The hurdle doesn't end there. It is difficult to find a place to live in. There are instances of prospective tenants being told bluntly that if you are from the northeast you can't rent a place. House brokers ask your place of origin first - as if we are from outside India - even before they want to know our names.

We are also told that we do not mingle and interact with people and stay confined to ourselves. How can one be friends when the people on the other side are judgemental about you? We do not want to feel insecure so it is better to stay happy among ourselves. Once in a while one can tolerate or be indifferent or deaf to street insults and ignorant racial barbs, but not when it becomes a regular feature.

These are only a few recalled instances, but in some way or the other this is a part of my everyday life and of many others like me who hail from the northeast - comprising no less than eight states of India. I do not know whether things will ever change. But I am left with a lingering thought: when the cuisine from our place, the tasty and succulent momo, has been accepted so widely why not the people who introduced it?

their thirst. Big cats still remain elusive!

A World Heritage Site declared by Unesco, Kaziranga boasts a third of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses, even as it is also home to Asiatic Water Buffalos, Swamp Deer, elephants, gaur, sambar, wild boar and hog deer.

Park officials claim the park is also home to 86 tigers in its area of 430 sq km as per Census taken in 2000, making it a reserve with one of the largest densities of this big cat. But only a lucky few claim to have spotted one, including residents and regulars.

This apart the park also houses nine species of primates including the Assamese Macaque, Lutings, Golden Langur and the only ape found in India, the Hoolock Gibbon. It also has quite an array of birds, both

resident and migratory.

As per an official notice board on the outskirts of the park, Kaziranga has 1,552 Great One-horned Rhinoceroses, 1,432 Asiatic Water Buffalos, 468 Eastern Swamp Deer, 1,048 Asiatic Elephants and 478 species of bird species.

Located to the south of the mighty Brahmaputra river, the park itself is divided into four ranges - Burapahar, Baguri, Central, and Eastern - which are headquartered at Ghorakati, Baguri, Kohora, and Agoratoli, respectively.

Among them the Kohora range is rich in birdlife, the Agartoli range promises glimpses of elephants and turtles, the Baguri Range has a fair concentration of the Great Indian OneHorned Rhinoceroses and the Burapahar Range offers good sightings of the apes.

Once one has settled in one of the numerous hotels, lodges and resorts, both the jeep safari and an elephant ride are must-dos.

While a jeep safari covers a lot of distance, a ride on the pachyderm takes you to the interiors for a closer view of rhinos and other fauna.

CHANGE OF NAME

Regd.No: 486/10

SWORN AFFIDAVIT

Date: 24/11/10

By this deed, I, the undersigned Neikedule Molu, previously called as Neikedule Therie a self-employed by profession and residing at Dimapur,Nagaland do hereby solemnly declare: 1. That for and on behalf of myself and my husband and children and remitter issue wholly renounce/relinquish and abundant the use of my former name/surname of Neikedule Therie and in place thereof I do hereby assume from this day the name/surname Neikedule Molu, so that I and my husband and children and remitter issue may hereafter be called, known and distinguished not by former name/surname but assumed name/surname of Neikedule Molu.

2. That for the purpose of evidencing which may determine, declare that I shall at all times hereafter in all records, deeds and writing and in all proceedings, dealing and transactions, private as well as official and upon all occasion whatsoever use and sign the name of Neikedule Molu as my name/surname in place and in substitution of my former name/surname.

3. That expressly authorised and request all person, relatives and friends in particular at all times hereafter to designate and address me, my husband/children and remitter issue by such assumed name/surname of Neikedule Molu accordingly.

4. In witness hereof I have hereunto subscribed my former and adopted name/surname of Neikedule Molu and affix my signature and seal if any on this 23rd day of November 2010.

Signed, sealed and delivered by the above Name: Neikedule Molu Formerly: Neikedule Therie

Judicial Magistrate Dimapur: Nagaland

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

INSTITUTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WOMEN INDUSTRIAL TRAINING INSTITUTE DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

NO. WITI-D/IMC/ADM/03/2013-14/206-215

Date: Dimapur the 30th Feb., 2014.

ADMISSION NOTICE

Applications in prescribed Performa are invited from interested female candidates for undergoing training at Women Industrial Training Institute, Kushiabil, Dimapur for the session commencing March 2014 on the following terms and condition: SL. NAME OF COURSE NO 1. BROAD BASED BASIC TRAINING(BBBT) ON APPAREL SECTOR (FASHION TECHNOLOGY)

DURATION OF COURSE 1 YEAR

ELIGIBILITY CLASS X PASSED.

SITTING CAPACITY 96 NOS.

1. Candidates must be between the age of 14 to 40 years as on 1st March' 2014.

2. Candidates must possess minimum educational qualification of HSLC pass.

3. Admission shall be through entrance/oral test.

4. Selected candidates shall be eligible for stipend as per government norms.

Important dates: 1. Last date of submission of Application forms : 20.02.2014.

2. Date of Interview : 25.02.2014.

3. Declaration of Result : 28.02.2014.

4. Session Starts : 12.03.2014.

Application forms and prospectus are available on payment of Rs.50.00 at (a).

Office of the Principal, Women ITI, Kushiabil, Dimapur. (b.) WINDOW MEDIA (The Northeast Window), Naharbari Jn., East Dimapur, Nagaland.

Sd/- (Er. Imchen Ao) Principal & Member Secretary, Govt. Women Industrial Training Institute, Dimapur, Nagaland

C M Y K

The Morung Express 4 businEss Satya Nadella outran better-known public discoursE candidates for Microsoft CEO Women status in Naga society Sunday

Dimapur

2 February 2014

New york/Seattle, February 1 (reuterS): The race to determine the next head of Microsoft Corp looks to have ended where it began, with the software giant poised to take the route of least risk and tap rising internal star Satya Nadella for the job.

After a bruising, fivemonth selection process, the list of contenders was cut to six serious candidates, with the chief executive job nearly going to Ford Motor Co CEO Alan Mulally, an outsider favored by investors lobbying for radical change.

If Nadella wins the day, as expected, it will be for his innovative work on Microsoft's growing server and tools business, which provides online computing and storage for companies, said a source briefed on the search process.

Nadella is in discussions with the board, and is likely to ask that Micro-

soft co-founder Bill Gates drop his chairman role and help Nadella more closely on technology, two sources said.

It is not clear why Nadella might want a role change for Gates. The presence of Gates and current CEO Steve Ballmer on the board has deterred some external candidates who feared they would meet resistance if they want to make fundamental changes, sources have told Reuters over the past few

Guwahati, February 1 (MexN): With an investment of Rs 3,000 crore, Shristi Housing Development Ltd is developing North East India’s first private sector-integrated township in Guwahati.

Shristinagar Guwahati is spread over an area of 250 acres at Kharguli Hills extension, along the Brahmaputra. The project envisions residential villas, multi-storied apartments, educational institutions, hospital, retail and commercial zones and a club house having a total built up of more than 12 million sq ft when fully constructed.

Nestled in the hills, Shristinagar hopes to offer to its residents the uniqueness of water front views, uplifting hilly breeze, landscaped greens and unparalleled access to sunshine.

The decks for the project were cleared after the

ministry of environment and forests granted clearance in August 2009 and the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) approved the township plan in June 2010. Infrastructure work has already commenced at the site and project will be developed in phases.

When fully operational, Shristinagar will house over 6,000 families and will be self-sustainable. A green expanse, it is located just 7 km from the Guwahati CBD and promises all the amenities that usually accompany a truly world-class lifestyle.

The township will also have state-of-the-art healthcare with best medical facilities at its hospital and educational facilities at par with the very best in the world. Multiplexes, designer boutiques and supermarkets will jostle for space inside the township.

Satya Nadella

platforms for companies It remains unclear whether the 46-year old Indian-born executive will meet some investors' desire for more radical moves at the software maker, after Ballmer announced in August that he planned to retire.

"From the technical side, Mr. Nadella is a good choice," said Rick Sherlund, an analyst at Nomura who publicly lobbied for an outside candidate who would shake up Microsoft and maximize returns to shareholders.

"We do not want to see a continuation of the existing direction for the business, so it will be important that

months.

Nadella is praised for his role in overseeing growth in the company's cloud computing and Bing search engine business, and as a technologist with a talent for marketing.

Critics say he failed to halt Google Inc'sdominance in the search engine business.

They say Microsoft's entry into the cloud-computing arena was late and clunky, allowing Amazon.com Inc to set the standard in pro- New york, February viding online computing 1 (iaNS): Remember how philanthropist Warren Buffett has termed derivatives as 'time bombs' - both for the parties that deal in them and the economic system.

The overuse of derivaThe Shristinagar proj- tives - which were designed ect aims at transforming to help companies hedge and establishing Guwaha- against risk - was widely ti’s identity as one of the blamed for triggering the premier business, resi- 2008 economic meltdown dential, entertainment but researchers have found and lifestyle hub in north- that hedging can actually ineast. It will also feature a crease firm value.

Hayong Yun from Michideluxe resort, a luxury hotel and fine dining with a gan State University and Franwide range of cuisines to cisco Perez-Gonzalez from Stanford University show choose from. that electric and gas utilities In an interaction, Sunil that used derivatives to hedge Jha, Managing Director of against unpredictable weathShristi Housing Develop- er experienced a 'positive and ment Ltd., spoke of the ben- significant effect' on the value efits that the Look East Pol- of their firms. icy can bring to the region.

“Many people have a per“We believe that the Look ception that derivatives are East Policy would position evil, that they helped destroy Guwahati at the forefront of the economy. Our research growth and development.” provides the first fundaGuwahati, he said, enjoys mental evidence that hedgcertain unique advantages ing with derivatives can imdue to its geographic loca- prove company value,” said tion and is the hub of trade Yun, an assistant professor of finance. According to Yun, and commerce. “Equipping he is not advocating that deGuwahati with a township rivatives be completely dematching global standards regulated. is just a step forward in this At the same time, the direction,” he added. research suggests that de-

Mr. Nadella be free to make changes," said Sherlund.

It was just such a desire that made Mulally a front runner until a few weeks ago, when it became clear that the Ford CEO and Microsoft's search committee did not see eye to eye.

"If (Mulally) had played his cards differently, it could have turned out differently," sources said of the Ford CEO, pointing to his failure to present a detailed plan to the board.

The move weakened support for him among Microsoft's directors, they said.

Mulally took himself out of the running once it became clear that Microsoft had cooled, the sources said.

Derivatives not that evil, can improve firm's value

NE first private township in Guwahati

rivatives - when used wisely - have an upside and should not be discounted as a potential instrument for company growth, he said in a pioneering study published in the Journal of Finance.

The researchers examined the value of publicly-traded electric and gas utilities in the US both before and after a weather derivatives market opened in the late 1990s.

The market allowed the utilities to sell weather futures to investors. Before the market opened, utility companies that were susceptible to unpredictable weather - such as those in the Midwest - were valued 3 percent to 4 percent lower, on average, than utilities where the weather was more stable, such as in southern California and Texas.

After the weather derivative market opened, that difference disappeared. Investors no longer cared the utility was located in an unstable-weather locale. The use of derivatives leveled the playing field, and utilities in the Midwest and other areas with unstable weather had equal value to those in stable-weather areas - as well as increased leverage and investments, explained the study.

C

rimes against womenencompasses a wide range of human rights violations, including sexual abuse of children, rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, abduction, trafficking of women and girls and several harmful traditional practices.

Statistics from National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) Crime in India 2012 report reveals that Nagaland had the lowest rate of crime against women in the region - 1.9 per cent. The NCRB registered only 38 cases of crime against women in 2011 in Nagaland.

But there no room for complacency because the data itself may be misleading since not all crimes are reported and registered due to one or the other reason. Hence, one must not assume that the state is safe for women because every now and then shocking stories of rape, sexual assault, child molestation, abduction, etc. is taking place rampantly. It is a shame that Nagaland is declared as Christian state nevertheless, society has been contaminated with all sorts of social evils and accused outside forces which influences our society such as media, TV, internet, etc.

Across the world today crimes against women such as rape, sexual assault child molestation, abductions, etc. has become a serious issue and is hotly debated everywhere, in public institutions, NGOs, organizations, groups, etc. to curb this menace. Hence, it is a major concern for every civilized individual to contribute something on their parts to eradicate such evils to secure the future of women in our society. Your children and loved ones are no more safe in our society today.

In this article, I am presenting you my view points on 1. How gender discrimination in society promotes

social evils and 2. Why crimes against women continued to persist in our society despite the existence of several laws and authority to safeguard them.

From the perspective of Naga society the root cause of violence and crimes against women are directly or indirectly related to our cultural practice. We follows patriarchal family system where male is the dominant head of the family. Even within a family itself, Gender disparity is systematically practiced and is strongly legalized by traditions. It is expected that female must serve male in lowly manner, and must not rebel against his command. Women have no rights absolutely in all walks of life, be it in decision making, in voicing opinion or inheriting property. The peoples’ attitudes and mindsets have been deeply rooted by customs.

It is not unreasonable that women are always treated unequally in the context of Naga society. Through this discriminatory practice, female status has been reduced into a mere commodity like having little essentialities or no values at all. In this way, women have become so vulnerable to all kinds of social evils.

Even today upholding our medieval culture, we are not bothered whether we are violating Human Rights or violating the principles of equality as mandated by the constitution of the country. Here emerge the paradox of Art 371 A, often used by supporters of orthodox customs to justify gender discrimination claiming that Nagaland is governed by Art 371 A. Article 371A, which says: (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 involv-

ing 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; It is the statement ‘According to Naga customary law” which came as a stumbling block for achieving gender equality in our society. One cannot fully understand the rationality behind this customary legality, since it varies greatly even among the Naga tribes. Moreover, this law is so flexible that very often the verdict comes out in favour of witty persons.

Hence, we need to introspect our customs and cultural practices even more deeply. Our customary practice has a huge impact on the people’s life and the resultant consequences are even more bitter and inhumane. The laws of the land, its customs and traditions need modification if not wholesome change, wherever necessary and streamline our customary laws with other nations who adopt equality of right.

Article 371A- promotes discrimination between males and females and is inconsistent with Fundamental rights of the Indian constitution. It also violates the principles of Human Rights given by the United Nation.

The State Legislature must set up a committee, consisting of eminent jurists such as Judges of High Court and Supreme Court (retired/unretired) who have experiences in legal affairs to review the amend ability of Art 371, using any type of doctrine given in the constitution. Only through legislative measures- by empowering women and giving them more rights, a women respectable society where both gender respect each other right will ultimately bring a harmonious society.

Khrukroku Vero Kohima

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.

_

LEISURE

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.”

SUDOKU Game Number # 2779

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 2790

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

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 Chumukedima Fire Brigade Nikos Hospital and Research Centre Nagaland Multispecialty Health & Research Centre

Answer Number # 2778

KOHIMA

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

232224; Emergency229529, 229474 227930, 231081 228846 228254 231864, 224117, 227337 228400 232106 227607 232181 242555/ 242533 224041, 248011 230695/9402435652 131/228404 229366 282777 232032, 231031 248302, 09856006026

STD CODE: 0370

Northeast Shuttles

100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

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ALIZE CIERRA DEVIN DYLAN

MAKAYLA MRS NEUMANN MRS OLSEN MS DANES

HARUN

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1. Refute 6. A lightly-hit baseball 10. Diplomacy 14. Without company 15. Again 16. Chills and fever 17. Twangy, as a voice 18. Unusual 19. Baseball great, ____ Ruth 20. Protection 22. Mortgage 23. Sleigh 24. Chic 26. Anagram of “Meat” 30. Half of a pair 31. Aye 32. Keen 33. Probabilities 35. Orchard pest 39. Long-necked animal 41. Take up the cause 43. Run away to wed 44. Lease 46. Leer at 47. T 49. Hog’s home 50. Require 51. Dependable 54. Scrabble piece

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Ans to CrossWord 2789

DIMAPUR: 03862-232201/101 (O) 9436601225 (OC) CHUMUKEDIMA: 03862-282777/101 (O) WOKHA: 03860-242215 (O) 9402643782 MOKOKCHUNG: 0369-2226225/101 (O) 9856872011 (OC) PHEK: 03865-223838/101 (O) 9436012949 (OC)

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LOCAL Delhi Public School celebrates annual Sports Day The Morung Express

Morung Express News

chief guest highlighted the importance of sports and quipped “we should promote sports.” He urged the parents gathered and the teachers to take children

away from ‘wasteful pasttimes’ like television, computer games, and, internet.

The chief guest announced the sports meet closed and further lowered the school

flag and handed it over to the school principal.

Students of the school had been divided into 4 houses – namely, Tizu, Dikhu, Zungki, and, Milak – the names being sourced from the major rivers of the state. Milak House was crowned overall champion at the end of the sports meet, while Tizu, Dikhu, and, Zungki, followed with second, third, and, fourth, respectively. Earlier, Tizu House won the March Past competition. Prizes were also awarded to the best male and female athlete.

Sashi Pathak was awarded the best girl athlete, while Lamyanba Oinam and Kethoneitso Sekhose were jointly awarded best boy athletes.

WoKha, February 1 (Dipr): The first Lothastu GBs general conference cum seminar was held on January 29 at Town Hall Wokha, with Deputy Commissioner, Wokha Vyasan R (IAS) as the chief guest.

Addressing the GBs during the gathering, the Chief Guest said that by virtue of being appointed by the government, the GBs should remember their role and responsibilities and urged them to discharge their duties with outmost sincerity.

As an agent of the government, the GBs should also take up the responsibility

of monitoring funds provided by the government so that development works are properly implemented, he reminded.

He also urged them to uphold the tradition, customs and practices of the forefathers to meet the challenges of the people.

Pointing out that the government is providing red blankets as a sign of respect, the DC appealed to the gathering of GBs not to misuse it, but to honour the gesture shown to them.

Earlier, the chief guest also unfurled the GBs flag.

Chairman, Kyong Hoho,

Yansathung Jami and Vice President, Nagaland GBs Federation also delivered short speeches. During the conference, the oldest GB among the Lotha (Kyong) community Ritsamo Shitiri (90 Years) was felicitated.

He was appointed as GB in the year 1957. Highlights of the function included presentation of Folk song by Akuk Village GBs and modern Lotha song by Lumka and Yant. The opening function was chaired by B Longshi Odyuo, while vote of thanks was delivered by Vice President Nagaland GBs federation P.N.Tungoe.

Dimapur | February 1

Delhi Public School, Dimapur, today celebrated its Annual Sports Day 2014, with Geoffrey Yaden, Editor, Nagaland Post, as the Chief Guest.

The nearly 4-hour long programme saw a host of events like athletics, tugof-war, and, March Past.

Besides this, the students also displayed action songs, a drill, yoga, and dances.

Some of the dances included Punjabi folk dance, the Mizo traditional Bamboo dance, and the traditional dance of the tea tribes of Assam – the Jhumur dance.

The program began with a welcome address from the Principal of the school, B K Nanda. The

Pro Vice-Chairman of DPS, Dr Aotoshi, Chief Guest, Geoffrey Yaden, and, Principal DPS, B K Nanda, with the overall champions, Milak House, and teachers-in-charge of the house

Principal in his address called the chief guest a selfmade man, and asked students to take inspiration from Yaden. Further, highlighting the importance of

sports, Nanda said Sports was considered an extracurricular activity earlier, but now CBSE has included it as one of the courses.

Yaden in his speech as

Mascot Club of United Colony raised funds from the colony residents and provided labour for the current repair works in the colony amounting to about Rs. 50,000.

The Club was formed to undertake social works within the Colony as the authorities concerned have not developed or maintained basic infrastructure. The club was founded by Viloto P.

Lotha GBs urged to discharge duties in sincerety

Rengma orgs condemn ‘act of desecration’ Graves of victims found vandalised on February 1 Dimapur, February 1 (mexN): The Rengma Students Union Dimapur (RSUD) and the Rengma Youth Organisation Dimapur (RYOD) has condemned the act of vandalism at the graves of late Tegile Nyenthang Rengma and late Helole Sebii Rengma, who fell victim to the violence in the Rengma Hills in December, 2013. The remains of the two women were buried at Lahorijan. On February 1, the graves were found vandalised.

Terming it as deliberate and a “vicious”

act of “desecration”, the two organisations said that the episode has hurt the sentiment of the Rengma community. “The very fact that the bodies could not be given a decent burial at their ancestral village due to the tense situation in the Rengma Hills was a painful episode; therefore the vandalism around the graves has deeply hurt the Rengma community for which the students and the youth organisations shall not be held responsible for any untoward incidents in future,” stated a joint statement from the two organisations.

The statement further urged the Assam Police and the administration to arrest the culprits at the earliest.

person of the programme. Seen here are officials and participants of the programme.

taining wall is going on within the town under Urban Development department, sponsored by the Government of India.

Interacting with the contractor during the inspection, Thongwang urged him for quality construction under the scheme. He also directed

the contractor to cover the entire existing road within the town by widening the blacktopping from corner to corner without leaving any space for encroachment of roads. He also assured the contractor of providing machineries and manpower if required to ensure quality

conducted from January 22 to 28 at Block Level- Chozuba Block, Phek Block, Pfutsero Block and Meluri Block respectively.

The resource person Dr. Ritu Thurr, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Phek gave a PowerPoint presentation on Job responsibilities for health committees and stakeholders at health unit for health care facilities.

LoNgLeNg, February 1 (mexN): 31 Assam Rifles apprehended an FGN cadre from Tamlu Village, Longleng district on January 23. The cadre, according to a press release issued

by Assam Rifles, has been identified as SS Lt Yongnyu Phom, who had been involved in extortion and tax collection. The cadre was in possession of arms and ammunition, extortion notes, vehicle tax receipts and letter pads of FGN when apprehended. He was handed over to Police Station, Longleng for further investigation, the note added.

tables, book shelves and table lamps. A press release informed that 18 Assam Rifles also organised a free medical camp at Christian Servanthood Ministry Orphanage. 21 students and staff of the orphanage home were provided medito the Home on Republic Day. IRCSN team was led by its Chairperson Abeni TCK. cal aid during the camp.

Furniture donated to orphanage 18 Assam Rifles distributed furniture to Christian Servanthood Ministry Orphanage in Peren under Assam Rifles Military Civic Action Programme on January 28. The orphanage was provided with beds, tables, chairs, computer

Free medical camp held A free medical camp was organized by 37 Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 6 Sector Assam Rifles on January 28 at Thekrezenoma village of Dimapur district under Op Sadbhavana programme. Medical aid was provided to 246 villagers by a medical team of Assam Rifles and free medicines were distributed to the locals. A friendly volley ball match was also played between the village team of Thekrezenoma and 37 Assam Rifles alongside the conduct of medical camp, informed Assam Rifles in a press release.

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MEx FILE DLSU appeals for interrupted power supply Dimapur, February 1 (mexN): Dimapur Lotha Students’ Union has appealed to the Electrical Department to provide “uninterrupted” electricity supply as the final examinations of HSLC, HSSLC and colleges are approaching. A press release appended by DLSU Education & Statistical Secretary Wilson Odyuo further wished all the students the very best in their upcoming exams.

NSCN/GPRN recovers vehicle

Dimapur, February 1 (mexN): NSCN/GPRN staff of Medziphema area arrested three persons involved in car lifting on January 31. A press release issued by Kuthonuzo Khusoh, Secretary to central administrative officer (CAO), UT-I, NSCN/GPRN informed that a Maruti Esteem bearing registration number DL 6CE 9993, engine number – MA3EBE41S00245780 and chassis number 611800 BX was recovered from the accused. They had stolen the car from Dimapur on the evening of January 30, 2014. The accused has been identified as Mezhu-o Chikha (18), Mugagha Assumi (16), and Ekonthung Khuvung (19). The rightful owner has been requested to claim the same within five days by producing original documents of the said vehicle from the office of the Care Taker, UT-I.

PTC informs to renew trade license

pFutsero, February 1 (mexN): Pfutsero Town Council (PTC) has notified all the business establishments/shops/agencies under its jurisdiction a final call to renew their trade licenses for the year 2014 positively. The date has been fixed on February 5, Wednesday.

Pfutsero Town Council Administrator Vikishe Sema in a press release informed those who have not renewed their trade licenses to renew it on the cited date. Defaulters shall be penalized as deemed fit and no excuses shall be entertained, he cautioned.

PVSU held annual general session

Kohima, February 1 (mexN): The Pungro Village Students’ Union (PVSU) held its 43rd annual general session from December 27 to 29 last under the theme “ Engendering brighter tomorrow” with L. Chuba Yim, PA to parliamentary secretary economic & statistics, excise, LM & CP as the chief guest. The three-day session was marked by inter clubs competition in various disciplines like sports, culture, quiz, essay, painting and spelling bee. Meanwhile, in a separate release, the Union congratulated T. Akiuba from its unit elected to the prestigious post of president of Yimchungrü Akheakrü Arihako, the apex student body of Yimchungrü community.

This was stated in a release issued by PVSU vice president Akamba K and education and statistical secretary Joseph Yim.

Kohima, February 1 (mexN): The Northern Angami Gazetted Officers’ Krotho (NAGOK) will hold its first general conference cum foundation day on February 6, 3:00 PM at Hotel Vivor, Kohima. Parliamentary secretary for law & justice, land revenue, labour & employment Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire will grace the conference as the chief guest. Vilie-o Rutsa, president NAPO, Neingunyü Sekhose, president APO and Kekhrielhoutuo Nakhro, president AGOK will also exhort the gathering. The function will be chaired by NAGOK president K. Neibou Sekhose while welcome address will be delivered by NAGOK general secretary Dr. Neilasa SopInstitute of Co-operative Management (ICM), Imphal in collaboration with ATMA, Peren fü. Special song will be presented by Dr. Viketoulie Pidistrict conducted a farmers’ awareness programme for farmers of Peren district at enyü. The conference will conclude with vote of thanks Town Hall, Jalukie on January 22 last. Joy Chandra of ICM Imphal was the resource by NAGOK vice president Thepfusalie Guozi.

pheK, February 1 (mexN): District Health Society Phek conducted capacity building training on communitization for health committees and stakeholders such as village health chairman, health centre managing committee, village council chairman and pastors.

The CMO Phek in a press release stated that it was

AR apprehends FGN cadre

Dimapur

2 February 2014

NAGOK Ist general conference

Health committees in MLA Thongwang inspects roads in Mon Phek attend training moN, February 1 (Dipr): MLA & Chairman NKVIB & DPDB, Mon N. Thongwang Konyak, representative of 46 A/C, Mon town inspected renovation of roads in Mon town on February 1. Repairing of roads, construction of drainage, culvert and re-

Sunday

roads in the town.

The MLA also appealed to the people of Mon to extend cooperation and support to the contractor and at the same time appealed to the leaders of the town to assist the contractor in whatever way they can for early completion of the project.

E-roll amendment for Dimapur & Ghaspani published

Dimapur, February 1 (mexN): It has been informed that the list of amendments of draft electoral roll for Dimapur-I, Dimapur II, Dimapur III, Ghaspani I, and Ghaspani II assembly constituencies has been prepared with reference to January 1, 2014 as qualifying date and in accordance with the registration of Electors Rules, 1960. A copy of the said e-roll together with the list of amendments has been published and will be available for inspection at the office of Electoral Registration Officer, Dimapur.

Blood donation camp held

Kohima, February 1 (mexN): A blood donation camp was conducted during the Combined Annual Training Camp of No1 Nagaland Air Squadron (Flying) NCC at the premises of Home Guard Training Center, Toluvi on January 31, 2014. The blood donation Camp was conducted in association with ‘The Model Blood Bank, District Hospital, Dimapur’, a global association to promote young blood donors in Nagaland. According to a press release issued by PRO (Defence) Kohima, Lt Col E Musavi, volunteers from NCC, college students, staffs of NCC, etc participated by donating blood. Blood donors were provided with donor badge, donor card and donor certificate of appreciation. The blood donation camp was conducted under the guidance of Dr T Temsu and his team, the release added. A total number of 400 cadets are taking part in the Combined Annual Training Camp under the supervision of Camp Commandant Indian Red Cross Society, Nagaland (IRCSN) State Branch with inmates of Old Age Home, Kohima during their visit Squadron Leader C Kishor.

VHC communitization training held in Kiphire

Kiphire, February 1 (Dipr): Training on communitization for VHC of Kiphire district was held on January 30 at Hopongkyu Memorial Hall. The resource persons were Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Punsokiu; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Khriesi and District Programme Manager (NRHM), Kukehieto Tase. Altogether there were 45 participants. Dr. Khriesi gave a brief introduction on the purpose of the training and stressed

on the importance of community participation, fund utilization and monthly reporting. Dr. Punsokiu spoke on the roles and responsibilities of communitization and on the main functions of Health Committees and the role of the health department towards the community.

He also called upon the VHCs to enforce discipline and remove absenteeism and that leave should be applied through proper channel. Kukehieto ex-

plained the importance of Monthly reporting and asked the VHCs to cross check the reports with the concerned Health workers before submitting it to the CMO office. He added that timely and genuine reporting was important to maintain stability and check progress of the health units. The participants also shared their success stories and their grievances were also put across during the discussion hour.

Public SPace FGN Notifies

As per the circular received from the Ministry of Kilo (Home) Affairs, Federal Government of Nagaland, it is notified that the Kilo Kilonser Inno. Zaleo Sapuh had on 31st January, 2014 appointed Mhathung Ovung to be the Interim Region Organizer for six (6) months to execute the Regional and SubRegional establishments in Lotha Region. To assist

him in the activities, Inno.

Arhomo Lotha and Lieut.

Amos Kikon have also been appointed as Interim Secretary and Commander, Naga Army of the said Region respectively.

In this connection, earlier Regional assignments given to different individuals are now deemed ended and defunct. The leaders and general Lotha public are therefore informed to

cooperate these authorised persons in the task of carrying out their duties and functions in Lotha Region.

Joining hands in these responsibilities is sharing the Naga National yoke by each and every individual would be exemplary and honored by the Federal Government of Nagaland.

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.

G. Zhimomi Joint Secy.

Ministry of Rali Wali NNC/FGN

Sunday 2 February 2014

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www.morungexpress.com

EXPRESS

Review

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Global warming: It’s even worse than we thought Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate. There is great debate among many people, and sometimes in the news, on whether global warming is real (some call it a hoax). But climate scientists looking at the data and facts agree the planet is warming. While many view the effects of global warming to be more substantial and more rapidly occurring than others do, the scientific consensus on climatic changes related to global warming is that the average temperature of the Earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C over the past 100 years. The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other human activities, are believed to be the primary sources of the global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate carrying out global warming research have recently predicted that average global temperatures could increase between 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the year 2100. Changes resulting from global warming may include rising sea levels due to the melting of the polar ice caps, as well as an increase in occurrence and severity of storms and other severe weather events.

8 ways global warming is Who's to Blame for Climate Change? already changing the world

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lliott Negin is the director of news and commentary at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). This article is adapted from a piece that appeared on the Huffington Post. Negin contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

The Climate Accountability Institute's new study documenting that just 90 companies are responsible for two-thirds of manmade carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution triggered some pushback in the blogosphere.

Blame the likes of BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell for global warming ?

Not fair!

"It's just a cop-out to blame the producers of products that we have demanded, and benefited from, for more than a century," University of California, Berkeley economist Severin Borenstein wrote in a December 16 blog. "We haven't been misled or forced into buying those carbon-rich goods."

Andrew Revkin, a former New York Times environmental reporter who still writes for the paper's Dot Earth blog, reacted much the same way. "I have no problems with such analysis...," he wrote on November 21. "But the spin is pretty absurd. It's kind of like saying that the hundreds of thousands of firearm murders in the history of the United States are the fault of Smith & Wesson and its ilk."

Both Borenstein and Revkin concede that fossil fuel companies do have some responsibility, especially given the industry's track record contesting regulations and spreading climate disinformation . That said, Borenstein, Revkin and others point their fingers at consumers. The oil and coal companies may produce the stuff, but we're the ones who burn it every time we step on the gas or flick on the lights.

I get it. I'm old enough to remember that famous Walt Kelly 1970 Earth Day poster depicting his cartoon character Pogo looking at a garbage-strewn landscape and saying, "We have met the enemy, and he is us." Yes, we're all part of the problem. But it's no cop-out to call out the biggest offenders, especially when they're standing in the way of viable solutions.

The fossil fuel industry's disinformation campaign In their haste to carp about spin, the critics were all too quick to gloss over the debilitating role fossil fuel companies have played over the last 15 years to quash U.S. efforts to reduce carbon emissions. During that time, the coal, oil and gas conglomerate Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, and other companies lavished tens of millions of dollars on a network of think tanks, advocacy groups and academic centers to sow doubt about climate science and attack renewable energy. They also

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plied federal candidates with more than $300 million in campaign contributions and spent more than $105 million on lobbying, according to Federal Election Commission data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

In keeping with their outsized roles, Koch Industries and ExxonMobil spent more on campaign contributions and lobbying than any other fossil fuel company this year. How does that translate into policy? As I pointed out in a December 9 blog, 34 of the 52 signatories on a recent "Dear Colleague" letter organized by Rep. Mike Pompeo (RKansas) calling for killing a key wind industry tax break received Koch contributions during the last two or three campaign cycles. Thirteen of them

also cashed checks from ExxonMobil. And, except for two congressmen who didn't take any energy industry money, the signatories received sizable contributions from a number of other corporations that compete with wind, including coal barons Arch Coal and Alpha Natural Resources; and oil and gas giants Chesapeake Energy, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Valero Energy.

As for Revkin's analogy, the fossil fuel industry is more like Big Tobacco than the gun lobby.

Indeed, during the 1990s, many of the same think tanks that later would disparage climate science on behalf of Koch Industries, ExxonMobil and other fossil fuel interests received millions of dollars from tobacco companies to block efforts to address secondhand smoke, regulate tobacco as

long with its anxiety-inducing effects, climate change also offers an interesting opportunity to consider fascinating, interconnected processes on Earth. The smallest to the largest components of the planet – from bacteria to volcanoes – all somehow feel the effects of a changing climate. Here are six of the most unexpected ways climate change impacts Earth.

Desert bacteria dies Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher

a drug, and curb cigarette advertising and sales to minors. Their playbook for protecting each of the two industries' profits — as the UCS explains in this slide show — is essentially the same: stave off meaningful regulation by sowing doubt about the threat posed by their product.

Members of the news media, meanwhile, have played a significant role as an enabler. Besides the usual suspects Fox News Channel and Wall Street Journal, leading news organizations without an obvious ideological ax to grind — including the New York Times, USA Today and the Washington Post — routinely fail to identify these think tanks as proxies for fossil fuel interests and all too often fail to rebut their specious claims. By giving these think tanks a platform to spread disinformation, mainstream news organizations have helped undermine efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Consumers can make a difference, but there must be federal action Borenstein is correct that Americans haven't been "misled or forced" into buying gasoline to fuel their cars, coal-fired electricity to power their lights or natural gas to heat their stoves. But fossil fuel companies, as well as the automakers, have fought tooth and nail to block cleaner alternatives, so for a long time, Americans — who are still responsible for more carbon emissions per person than anywhere else in the world — didn't have much choice.

Fortunately there are now more low-carbon lifestyle options that would go a long way to reduce carbon emissions. According to a 2012 UCS book, "Cooler Smarter: Practical Steps for LowCarbon Living," Americans could shrink their carbon footprint 20 percent over a 12-month period by, among other things, trading in their gas-guzzlers for more efficient cars, upgrading their home appliances, switching to energy efficient light bulbs, and eating less meat. If every American met this achievable goal, it would be the equivalent of shutting down 200 coal-fired power plants.

There is only so much individuals can do, however. There must be a national effort. States have stepped into the breach to establish standards requiring electric utilities to ramp up their use of renewable energy and organize regional capand-trade compacts to cut utility carbon emissions. But gridlock in the U.S. Congress, largely due to the fossil fuel industry's undue influence, has stymied federal efforts — besides the Obama administration's laudable initiatives to curb tailpipe emissions and place stricter controls on new power plants. So it's long past time to shine a light on the culprits holding up progress, and the Climate Accountability Institute study does just that.

Negin's most recent op-ed was "The Koch Brothers Are Still Trying to Break Wind." This article was adapted from "Who's to Blame for Climate Change?," which first appeared on the Huffington Post.

Moving the military northward As the Arctic ice opens up, the world turns its attention to the resources below. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 30 percent of the world's undiscovered natural gas and 13 percent of its undiscovered oil are under this region. As a result, military action in the Arctic is heating up, with the United States, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Canada holding talks about regional security and border issues. Several nations, including the U.S., are also drilling troops in the far north, preparing for increased border patrol and disaster response efforts in a busier Arctic.

High-country changes Decreased winter snowfall on mountaintops is allowing elk in northern Arizona to forage at higher elevations all winter, contributing to a decline in seasonal plants.

Elk have ravaged trees such as maples and aspens, which in turn has led to a decline in songbirds that rely on these trees for habitat.

Laura Poppick

Climate change will increase precipitation in some regions of the world, resulting in stronger-flowing rivers. Stronger river currents stir up more silt and debris, which all eventually flows into the ocean and makes the ocean more opaque. Regions along the coast of Norway have already experienced increasingly darker and murkier ocean water with increased precipitation and snow melt in recent decades. Some researchers have speculated that the murkiness is responsible for changes in regional ecosystems, including a spike in jellyfish populations.

Volcanic eruptions explode Credit: U.S. Geological Survey Hawaii Volcano Observatory As glacial meltwater floods into oceans and the global sea level rises with climate change, the distribution of weight on the Earth's crust will shift from land to sea. This Allergies worsen shift in weight distribu- Credit: dreamstime.com

Changed high season at national parks When's the busiest time to see the Grand Canyon? The answer has changed over the decades as spring has started earlier. Peak national park attendance has shifted forward more than four days, on average, since 1979. Today, the highest number of visitors now swarm the Grand Canyon on June 24, compared with July 4 in 1979.

45 percent mortality rate, compared with 18 percent for cubs that had to swim shorter distances.

More mobile species Species are straying from their native habitats at an unprecedented rate: 11 miles (17.6 km) toward the poles per decade. Areas where temperature is increasing the most show the most straying by native organisms. The Cetti's warAltered Thoreau's bler, for example, has moved north stomping grounds The writer Henry David Thore- over the last two decades by more au once lovingly documented na- than 90 miles (150 km).

Source: Live science tion could cause volcanoes to erupt more often, some studies suggest. Evidence of this phenomenon has been detected in the rock record, with remnants of more abundant volcanic eruptions correlating with periods of glacial melt at several points in Earth history. Humans in the 21st century probably won't experience this shift, however, since this effect seems to lag by up to about 2,500 years.

ture in and around Concord, Mass.

Reading those diaries today has shown researchers just how much spring has changed in the last century or so. Compared to the late 1800s, the first flowering dates for 43 of the most common plant species in the area have moved forward an average of 10 days. Other plants have simply disappeared, including 15 species of orchids.

Changing genetics Even fruit flies are feeling the heat. According to a 2006 study, fruit fly genetic patterns normally seen at hot latitudes are showing up more frequently at higher latitudes. According to the research, the gene patterns of Drosophila subobscura, a common fruit fly, are changing so that populations look about one degree closer in latitude to the equator than they actually are. In other words, genotypes are shifting so that a fly in the NorthAltering breeding seasons As temperatures shift, penguins ern Hemisphere has a genome that are shifting their breeding seasons, looks more like a fly 75 to 100 miles too. A March 2012 study found that (120 to 161 kilometers) south. gentoo penguins are adapting more Hurting polar bears quickly to warmer weather, because Polar bear cubs are struggling to they aren't as dependent on sea ice swim increasingly long distances in for breeding as other species. It's search of stable sea ice, according to not just penguins that seem to be re- a 2011 study. The rapid loss of sea ice sponding to climate change. Animal in the Arctic is forcing bears to someshelters in the U.S. have reported in- times swim up to more than 12 days creasing numbers of stray cats and at a time, the research found. Cubs of kittens attributed to a longer breed- adult bears that had to swim more ing season for the felines. than 30 miles (48 kilometers) had a

6 unexpected effects of climate change

Oceans darken Credit: Robert Reinlund

Desert soil may appear desolate and void of life, but it actually teems with bacteria. Bacterial colonies can grow so thick that they form sturdy layers called biocrusts that stabilize soil against erosion. A study of these biocrusts across deserts in the United States showed that different types of desert bacteria thrive in different temperature regimes. Some prefer the sweltering heat of Arizona and New Mexico, while others fare better in the cooler climate of southern Oregon and Utah. As temperatures become more erratic with climate change, desert bacteria may struggle to adapt, leaving desert soil more prone to erosion.

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arming world: Over the last 100 years, global temperatures have warmed by about 1.33 degrees Fahrenheit (0.74 degrees Celsius) on average.

The change may seem minor, but it's happening very quickly — more than half of it since 1979, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Though it can still be difficult to tease out how much climate change plays in any given weather event, changes are occurring. In the spirit of Earth day, here's a look at our marvelous blue marble and the ways people and other living things are responding to global warming.

percent of the land on Earth currently supports the big-headed ant. But as temperatures shift in the coming decades, the habitat range of these cold-blooded animals will likely shrink substantially. Some climate models suggest that the ant's range will decrease by one-fifth by the year 2080. How native insects will respond to these changes, however, remains unclear.

As climate change causes springtime to spring out earlier in the year, sneeze-inducing pollen will Sunlight floods polar seafloor ride the airwaves that much earlier in the year as Credit: Graeme Clark, The University of New South Wales well. This will increase the overall pollen load each year, and could make people's allergies worse. Some temperature and precipitation models have shown that pollen levels could more than double by the year 2040.

Ant invasions slow Credit: Bertelsmeier et. al./Biological Invasions

Pheidole megacephala, also known as the bigheaded ant, is one of the top 100 most invasive species on Earth. Hoards of these insects thrive in South America, Australia and Africa, and their voracious populations spread rapidly. As invasive animals, they steal habitat and resources from native species, disrupting regional ecosystems and jeopardizing biodiversity. They have even been known to hunt bird hatchlings. Researchers have estimated that 18.5

As sea ice melts, more sunlight will bathe shallow coastal regions around the poles. Seafloor communities of worms, sponges, and other invertebrates accustomed to existing in darkness will begin to experience longer periods of sunlight each summer. Recent research has shown that this shift could significantly alter these communities, by allowing seaweeds and other marine plant-life to smother invertebrates.

This transition from invertebrate-dominated communities to algae-dominated communities has already been observed in pockets of both the Arctic and Antarctic coastlines, and could significantly decrease biodiversity in these regions.

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.

FAITH LEAF

SunDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS 2 February 2014

www.morungexpress.com

The Happiness of God

T

he reason why many young people hesitate to give their lives to God is because they think that the fun in life will also go away along with it. They think that God is boring.

That’s probably because the Christians they encounter are usually serious and boring. As they say, don’t judge a book by its cover, our theology should never be formed by observing Christians around us.

There is a documentary film about Christians in America with the title “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers.”

I think this is a valid concern. We need to be saved from contrived traditions or institutionalism within the church, which could grieve or stifle the Holy Spirit’s joy and freedom deposited within us.

Somebody said, what you think and believe about God matters more than anything else in your life. Yes it matters, because it changes and controls they way in which we view and treat life, whether it is of our own or of others.

Most of you would have heard the story of a blind man and a deaf man who went to a dance event. The blind man rated the music excellent, but said the dancing was below standard, while the deaf man rated the dancing excellent but said the music was pathetic. They could not resolve their differences because both of them had a partial and incomplete knowledge—one could not see and the other could not hear. What I attempt to do in this small article is just to reveal one of the many facets of God, which is hardly talked about. I don’t claim to be a theologian by any means, and so I don’t intent to invoke any form of argument. But it doesn’t take a theologian to discover that our God is a Happy God (with capital ‘H’) and not a bullying, big brother, a joy killer, or irrelevant and boring like most Christians (including me) portray him to be. In fact this is the last thing a theologian can come to terms with. To my knowledge, hardly anyone has written about the happiness of God. I hope I will not be labelled a heretic.

The first question, then, is this: How do I know God is a Happy God? Firstly, God is happy in Himself. He is a relational being in Himself. There is complete unity, understanding and harmony among the three persons of the Trinity-the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

He didn’t create us to fulfil His search for happiness and amuse Himself. In fact we brought Him nothing but trouble. He longs for us, not in the sense that He is

Kedo Peseyie

incomplete without us, but because He knows that we are lost and heading straight to Hell without Him. And His love wouldn’t allow that. The Trinity epitomises perfect unity, understanding, peace and harmony, and that’s where true happiness is found. Our search for happiness must lead us to the Trinity.

Secondly, if you are an artist, you will know the joy and satisfaction of having created a masterpiece. I treasure the joy that comes from finished articles and seeing them in print [although readers may take a different view]. Take for instance the creation story in Genesis.

Imagine the sheer excitement and joy in Heaven when God was creating this world. Imagine the Angels dancing and cheering at the sight of a glorious waterfall with colourful birds flying above, and flowers springing up all over. Imagine the joy of creating something with your image upon it. God created humans in His own image. And He said it was good. Then suddenly there was a dead silence. This image-bearer of God had rebelled and turned against Him. If it were a rabbit that rebelled, history would have been much simpler. But it was this precious image-bearer. Then begins the unhappy tale of humankind, but the happiness of God remains intact separated from us by our sin and rebellion.

I refuse to believe that a gloomy and nonchalant God would create such a beautiful and lively world. Look around you—nature still stands as a witness to this divine happiness; the birds still sing of it; the flowers and clouds reflect it every morning. I suspect that they know and experience Divine happiness much more than we do. Think of what humans separated from God are missing. Oh, how I wish it were the rabbit.

Thirdly, though we are marred by sin, God in His mercy still allows us to be His image-bearers. And though this world is chaotic, it is never boring. Somebody once said, ‘God must have had a very good sense of humour to have created the likes of us’. Yes indeed. Take for example people around you. For some, just our presence is enough to make people roll in laughter (Not that we are just jokers or funny, but we bring so much joy to people. And yes, some people do look funny). Great saints who have lived in close intimacy with God have confessed that they have even enjoyed jokes with God. And finally, I end with one of my favorite quotes.

Many people (including Phillip Yancey and Ravi Zacharias) consider G.K. Chesterton’s book Orthodoxy to be one of the greatest Christian books ever written. Chesterton closes his book with the following lines, which talks about Jesus: ‘I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His mirth’.

56th Grammy Winner Mandisa did not attend Even in the age of Wiki, ceremony to protect her Christian faith Jesus is the biggest hit Carlton Cook

M

andisa's Overcomer has won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album on the 56th Grammy Awards.

However, this Christian artist did not attend the ceremony.

On her recent Facebook post, Mandisa explained the reason of her absence honestly, saying "I have been struggling with being in the world, not of it lately. I have fallen prey to the alluring pull of flesh, pride, and selfish desires quite a bit recently." She added, "I knew that submerging myself into an environment that celebrates those things was risky for me at this time. I am taking steps to renew my mind to become the Heavenly Father-centered, completely satisfied with Jesus, and Holy Spirit-led woman I felt I was a few months ago, but I'm feeling a bit like an infant learning to

N

walk again on shaky legs."

Mandisa quoted the verses from 1 John 2:1516a to describe her spiritual direction as a Christian celebrity: "Don't fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer.

atalie Grant, the Christian contemporary music star who has been nominated twice for Grammy this year, attended the 56th Grammy Awards ceremony but walked out earlier, after the performance of Katy Perry.

Natalie arrived at the Grammy with excitement, but soon after the 'Black Horse' performance done by Katy Perry and Juicy J, she tweeted about her early leave, saying "We left the Grammy's early. I've many thoughts, most of which are probably better left inside my head. But I'll say this: I've never been more honored to sing about Jesus and for Jesus. And I've never been more sure of the path I've chosen."

Those who love its corrupt ways don't have the Father's love living within them. All the things the world can offer to you-the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority-do

7

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES, MESSAGES, POEMS & SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

not come from the Father..." 1 John 2:15-16a This is Mandisa's first Grammy reward. The song 'Overcomer' has inspired many, even Mandisa herself. In an interview with HOPE, Mandisa said that her music "isn't just for entertainment", but "meant to inspire".

This singer also kept her humble spirit even if her album hit top of Good Morning America. She expressed her surprise in her Facebook post, saying that she considered being nominated with famous Christian singers such as Israel Houghton and Chris Tomlin was already a big honour, and she thought Chris Tomlin would be the winner instead of her.

She said: "I lay this trophy at the feet of my Jesus in humility, honor and gratitude for all He has done in, to, and through me."

In the 56th Grammy Ceremony, 33 gay and straight couples get married.

Source: Crossmap.Christianpost

Aime Keeley Daily Mail

W

hat do Jesus, Napoleon and the prophet Muhammad all have in common?

They are the top three most significant historical figures, according to new analysis of online encyclopedia Wikipedia’s three million pages.

Computer scientists Steven Skiena and Charles B Ward have studied the Wiki pages of more than 800,000 people to come up with a list of the world’s most important figures. Using a ‘ranking algorithm’, the pair looked at the length of a person’s Wikipedia page, how many times it was read and the number of links from the pages of other major figures.

Jesus came out at n u m b e r o n e , wh i l e French Emperor was ranked at number two and the Islamic proph-

et, Muhammad, was at number three. The rankings are also compared against public opinion polls, Hall of Fame voting records, sports statistics, and the prices of paintings and autographs.

Other figures who ranked among the top ten include William Shakespeare, Adolf Hitler and Aristotle.

The list appears in a new book called ‘Who’s Bigger: Where Historical Figures Really Rank’ and also includes separate rankings for artists and literary figures. The top pre-20th century artist is Leonardo da Vinci, with Michelangelo at number two and Raphael at number three. Vincent van Gogh topped the list for the modern-era artists with Picasso second and Monet third. The highest ranked literary figure is Shakespeare, followed by Charles Dickens and then Mark Twain.

Steps to use your time wisely

I

Billy Graham

t's trite but still true: We all have exactly the same number of minutes in a day. The question is, how will we use them?

Most people today are either too busy - or not busy enough. Either our schedules are so hectic we can't get everything done, or else we are bored and restless, constantly looking for something to amuse us. We are the most frantic generation in history and also the most entertained. The Bible, however, tells us that both extremes are wrong.

We can't always choose how to use our time, of course; sometimes our circumstances control us. My heart always goes out to the single mothers who write me, struggling every day just to survive. Disability, illness, unemployment, or retirement may keep us from doing what we once did and make us feel useless and only "killing time." But even if circumstances control our time, we can still control our attitude - with God's help. He can also help us gain more control over our time and begin to use it in new ways.

How can we use our time wisely? Let me suggest four steps I have found helpful.

First, see each day as a gift from God. Instead of seeing each day as a burden, see it instead as another opportunity God has given you to serve Him. Time isn't inexhaustible, nor can we assume we'll always have more; someday our time on earth will end. The psalmist said, "My times are in your hands" (Psalm 31:15). The first thing we should do when we awake is thank God for the gift of another day.

Second, commit your time to God. God gave it to you for a reason: not to be wasted or mishandled, but to be used for His glory. We are accountable to Him for the way we use our time, and once a minute passes, it can never be reclaimed. The Bible says, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

How can we put this into action? It may mean asking God to help us schedule our time more wisely and efficiently. It may mean rethinking how we spend our time, and then adjusting it to reflect God's priorities. We may also need to examine why we're so busy (or so bored).

Is what we are doing really necessary - or are we simply trying to impress others? We can't do everything, and we need to say "no," if some activity isn't God's will.

Third, set aside time for God and for others. No Christian would say, "I'm too busy for God," but how often have you gone through a whole day without even thinking about Him (let alone praying or reading the Bible)? How often have you ignored someone who needed your encouragement or help?

Why is this? One reason is because we relegate God to our spare time - but end up never having any spare time! In other words, we mentally list everything we have to do and put God at the bottom of the list. But the opposite should be the case. Jesus said, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33, emphasis added).

Finally, take time for your own needs. We all need rest and recreation; God made us this way. Some people feel guilty if they take a vacation or even a few hours off, but they shouldn't. In the midst of an incredibly busy schedule, Jesus told His disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31). If Jesus required times of rest, don't we also? Someone who is chronically exhausted from lack of sleep or improper eating is much more susceptible to Satan's attacks.

Excerpt from The Journey: How to Live by Faith in an Uncertain World by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson, 2006)

My God Remembers

Natalie Grant leaves the 56th Grammy earlier considering the performances against her Christian faith

The tweets have caused media frenzy.

Many assumed that Natalie considered Katy Perry & Juicy J's performance as 'Satanic', but the Christian artist responded with her Facebook message, saying that she never pointed at particular performance. She said, "I never pointed out any one particular performance, I only said I had many thoughts about the entire show, which were best left inside my head and that is where they will stay. So those who say I condemned one performance but then condoned others clearly did not read the post."

More than one Christian artists have negative comments about the 56th Grammy show. Another Christian

singer who is actually the winner of Best Contemporary Christian Music Album this year, Mandisa, did not attend the whole ceremony for she thought it would distract her from the purity of her Christian faith.

Katy Perry, who involved in the 'Black Horse' performance in the 56th Grammy, used to be a Christian. However, she openly recanted her Christian faith recently, saying that the 'God' she believed was not the Biblical God but the spiritual being such as aliens.

This time, even the secular entertainment media E! Online commented that Perry's performance resembled 'actual witchcraft'. While the Christian music website Breathecast wrote that performance was 'filled with satanic imagery and witchcraft'.

Not only Perry's demonic show, the overall tone of Grammy this year was secular and occult. Beyonce and Jay-Z's performance of a risque duet provoked fury from parents who complained the spectacle was "too explicit". Moreover, if Natalie Grant stayed a bit longer, she could also have been offended by the 33 gay couples' wedding which took place during a performance by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Nevertheless, Grant still showed her gratitude to NARAS and Grammy

to honour the work of Christian artists by putting Gospel / Contemporary Christian Music in its category.

She said, "I'm so grateful that NARAS and The Grammys continue to recognize the contribution that gospel and Christian music make to the world.

And I'm so thrilled for those who won in my categories. And I can say that with all sincerity."

With a lot of argue, judge and hurl insult happening in Grant's life since her controversial tweets, this Christian artist showed greater conviction about her faith. She quoted the verses in Philippians 2:12 "I've judged no one. I hate no one. And I believe that every person has been created in the image of God. I will never stand on a street corner and wave a sign, I won't use my platform to engage in political arguments that will only divide and not unite. I will continue to pray that my life will be my message. I do have my own personal convictions that I live by, and I will continue to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord" and in Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus for it is the power of God who brings salvation to ALL who believe" as her Christian faith declaration in the secular environment.

Source: Crossmap.Christianpost

They say that it is over and time to give up But my God, the author of my fate says, “I have...plans to give you hope and a future.”

Time and people may break me down But my God, the sustainer of every being says, “I made you bold and stout-hearted.”

Some things steal my joy of loving and waiting But my God, who Himself is Love say, “Love always protects, trust, hope, preserve.

Love never fails.”

Not every day has a happy ending, But my God, who “Remembered Noah” says, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

In God alone my strength and hope is renewed.

I will not let the wave of life pave way for doubts.

Day and night on bended knees and soaked in tears, I have plead.

My God “remembers”...

Therefore, I tell to myself, “I am a child of God, more precious than a gem, and as sharp as an arrow... and so no, I will not give up.”

T. ajung Longchar

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

Sunday 2 February 2014

Nitish Kumar meets pol parties to shape a ‘credible’ third political front

anyhow strengthen the UPA in the post-poll scenario. Also this kind of alliance will have least impact on electoral politics at state level,” said Sushil Modi, Bihar BJP leader.

Nitish camp looks at it differently though. “There is no dearth of credible political leaders outside the Congress and the BJP. And we are not looking at an absolute unity, but maximum unity.

The Narendra Modi phenomenon will not go beyond the Hindi heartland and will remain negligible across India,” said Pawan Verma, advisor to Nitish Kumar and a former bureaucrat.

On why Nitish has stoked the third front matter just when the election is about to be announced and especially immediately after losing out to Lalu in allying with Congress, Tyagi said, “Nitish Kumar had been at it for a long time now. We have had over dozen meeting with Mulayam Singh and Deve Gowda.

These meetings happened before Cong-RJD alliance. tutional provisions we gave special status to Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Bellary and Bidar districts in Hyderabad-Karnataka region,” she said.

The UPA Chairperson earlier inaugurated the ESIC Medical College and buildings of ESIC Hospital, Dental College, and Nursing College constructed at a cost of Rs 893 crore.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Ministers Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from Gulbarga district, Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes, Rehman Khan and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, besides KPCC President G Parameshwara were present at the rally.

AAP adds names of Sonia and Modi to list of ‘corrupt leaders’ neW DeLhi, February 1 (Pti): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said it added Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s names in the list of “corrupt leaders” against whom it has decided to field candidates in the Lok Sabha elections as they were leading a party of tainted politicians and protecting them.

“After taking feedback from volunteers and party workers the name of Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi was added to the list.

Names of Sonia Gandhi and Modi were added to the list as they led and protected corrupt politicians and corrupt politics. We want to put an end to this type of politics,” senior party leader and political affairs committee (PAC) member Gopal Rai told reporters here.

Rai said Modi’s name

was also included in the list as he also represented “politics of hatred”. Party leader Yogendra Yadav said it was media’s prerogative to decide in which category should Modi be in. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal read out a list of “corrupt leaders” before the National Council meeting held on Friday that included politicians across political parties, including some UPA ministers.

Kejriwal had said that the party will field candidates against politicians who were corrupt, with criminal record and those who represented dynastic politics. “This time we will contest the Lok Sabha elections with a single agenda of stopping corrupt, criminal politicians and also against those who represented dynastic politics entering the Parliament. The party’s motto will be to defeat them,” Rai said.

DehraDun, February 1 (agenCies): Congress leader Harish Rawat was on Saturday sworn in as the new Uttarakhand chief minister, succeeding Vijay Bahuguna, who was asked by the party to step down in a bid to boost its prospects ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Rawat’s name was approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was authorised to name the Congress legislature party (CLP) leader after a oneline resolution was passed at its meeting, party leader Janardhan Dwivedi said.

In the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly, the Congress has 33 members and has the support of seven-member PDF including three BSP, one UKD and three independent MLAs. The BJP has 30 MLAs. The PDF, which has four ministers in the outgoing Bahuguna ministry, has pressed for additional ministerial berths in the new government.

“Soniaji gave her ap-

proval for Rawat’s name,” Dwivedi said to loud cheers from supporters of Rawat after the five-hour-long CLP meeting. Rawat pipped two other frontrunners for the top post — senior party leader Indira Hridayesh and member of Bahuguna’s cabinet Pritam Singh.

Soon after being named the CLP leader, Rawat thanked all senior party leaders including Sonia Gandhi and those from the state including Indira Hridayesh, Vijay Bahuguna, Yashpal Arya and Pritam Singh for supporting him.

He said his priority would be to pull the state out of the fallout of the catastrophic flashfloods of June last year. Bahuguna, who resigned on Friday, has long been criticised by many for his alleged failure to carry out rescue and relief operations after the rain deluge.

Besides Dwivedi, senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad attended the CLP meet as central observers.

New Delhi, February 1 (DNA): Dumped by the Congress ahead of LoK Sabha elections, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is convening a meeting of over a dozen political parties here on February 5 to shape a ‘credible’ third political al-

ternative ahead of Lok Sabha polls. The parties who have so far given consent for the meeting include the AIADMK, the Asom Gana Parishad, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, the Samajwadi Party, the JD(S), and four Left Parties. Sources in

the JD(U) told dna that Biju Janata Dal leader and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also agreed to participate.

Elaborating on the proposed alliance, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said the idea was to bring together

all erstwhile Janata Dal factions, who earned political limelight on the anti-Congress plank in 1988.

“Congress has failed to face the challenges posed by the communal forces in the country. The parties coming together will essentially form pre-poll political understanding which may transform into a political front after the polls. We are sure the alliance will turn even bigger after the elections,” he said. The understanding includes attending and bolstering each others political campaign rather entering into any seat sharing arrangements.

Sources said on the condition of anonymity that senior JD (U) leaders have met Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also to build bridges for a post-poll alliance. Addressing a rally in Kolkata on Thursday Mamata had said Congress is not an alternative to BJP and BJP is not an alterna-

guLbarga, February 1 (Pti): Attacking BJP and its PM candidate Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday accused them of indulging in divisive politics by “sowing seeds of poison” (zeher ki kheti) and instigating violence.

“This is an area which was the ‘karmabhoomi’ of Sufi saints and a symbol of composite culture of the country. I firmly believe that you will not allow those who sow the seeds of poison, who don’t believe in secular credentials and who play the politics of instigating violence to succeed,” the UPA Chairperson said in her address at a public rally here in northern

Karnataka.

BJP and other opposition parties, she alleged, have only one motive and that is to hanker after the chair. “It is necessary for the people to be cautious about the opposition parties’ plans to gain power by any means.”

BJP reacted sharply to Gandhi’s remarks, with party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy saying that Congress will meet in 2014 the same fate as the drubbing it got in 2007 in Gujarat after her ‘maut ka saudagar’ (merchent of death) remarks against Narendra Modi.In an apparent reference to Modi, Gandhi said “those who are busy beating their own drums con-

tinuously, I want to ask you whether they will do good to the nation. No, not at all.

Their only aim is to capture power and to achieve it they will resort to all sorts of conspiracies. You have to wary of these people and understand their intentions.”

Gandhi claimed Congress did not crave for power, but was concerned about the country and its people. “We are also concerned about the removal of poverty and bringing self-respect to the poor.

We are concerned about fostering brotherhood and maintaining peace in society. Therefore, we are in a position to speed up development.”

She said Congress was

engaged in fighting corruption and therefore the party brought into force the Right to Information Act and Lok Pal Act. But, she claimed, opposition parties including BJP gave only empty promises and levelled false allegations. mTurning to Karnataka, she said because of the ‘corrupt’ previous BJP rule in the state, central schemes like MGNREGA did not reach the people.

However, the present Congress government has been successful in implementing these schemes, she said.

Gandhi said there was no need for Congress to talk about corruption of opposition parties, as people had experienced it, espe-

cially during the BJP rule.

Gandhi said the BJP-led NDA government had rejected the state’s demand to give special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka region, but the UPA had fulfilled the long cherished demand by conferring special status through an amendment to the Constitution.

The special status for the region, covering the districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and Bellary is expected to ensure speedy development of these backward areas.

“Congress is concerned about the bright future of the people of HyderabadKarnataka. You remember Rahulji (Gandhi) had promised and as per consti-

power tariff hikes and that the party would hold protest marches all over the city.

“Kejriwal-led AAP had promised that after forming the government, they will reduce power price.

Instead power tariff has increased by six to eight percent,” said Goel.

“We demand immediate roll back of the hike in recent power tariff and uninterrupted power supply across the city,” he added.

BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) increased its tariff by eight percent, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) by six percent

and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) by seven percent after the go ahead from the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The National Thermal Power Corporation has threatened to stop power supply to BSES Yamuna if

the Reliance Infra-backed company does not pay its dues. The company said this would lead to 10-hour daily power cuts.

BYPL told the Delhi government that it was unable to clear the dues of power generation companies due to a precarious cash flow

R.K. Singh and former Intelligence Bureau secretary Ajit Doval. Top ranked officers from the defence forces, including retired Naval Admiral Arun Prakash were also present at event.

While Prakash delivered the keynote address, Kumar outlined the challenges of “Development and Security of Bharatiya Islands and Coastline”, a theme for the two day seminar.

“Goa would love to have an academy which would study this (security) as a subject. Necessary infrastructure will be provided. FINS can approach the government with a proposal,” Parrikar said.

Claiming that patriotism was often “displayed through extremely incorrect sentiments”, Parrikar said that some of his basic understanding on issues related to security came from being an RSS functionary in his younger days.

“I am a Swayamsaevak since childhood. I learnt there that if your job was providing security, then you are not controlled by any other obligation, even at the time of prayer. Because (for an opponent) that is your weakest time,” Parrikar said “The issue of national security is a matter of mindset,” he said.

India aviation safety downgrade unrelated to diplomatic row: US

Nitish Kumar

tive to Congress. “A federal front should be formed,” she said. The talks are also on with the YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy, who held a closed door meeting for almost two hours with Nitish in December. Reddy has told leaders he would open cards only after watching moves of political parties when a bill on Telengana is tabled in parliament.

Feelers are likely to be sent to Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati to keep her in good humour for a post-poll tie-up. She has refused to enter into any pre-poll alliance.

Asked about challenges ahead to cobble up this third front, Tyagi said, “If they want to be a part of a secular alliance in their state, they will never ally with the BJP.” This essentially seems the pivot of the alliance Nitish is trying to build up.

However, the BJP feels this alliance will not last long and would end up strengthening Congress.

“Their ultimate game is to

The Morung Express

BJP sowing seeds of poison in its hunger for power: Sonia

neW DeLhi, February 1 (ians): Criticising the Delhi government for its failure to check the power tariff hike, the BJP Saturday protested in the national capital and demanded an immediate roll-back. Staging a protest at Bhajanpura, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi unit chief Vijay Goel said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has failed to check

BJP demands roll-back of power tariff hike

RSS-backed NGO may run security academy in Goa CaLangute (goa), Feb ruary 1 (ians): An RSS-backed NGO largely comprising retired defence officers and bureaucrats could run Goa’s first security studies institute.

Speaking at a seminar here, 15 km from Panaji, organised by Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he would allow the NGO to operate a defence studies academy which the state government was in the process of setting up.

“Sometimes you wonder whether we seriously understand our security problem. Shortly, I am announcing the setting up of an academy which FINS can operate,” Parrikar said.

“The state government will set it up. It can be a college of security or school or whatever word you want to use,” he said.

The organisation which is linked to the Rashtriya Swawyamsevak Sangh (RSS) would also be given the status of a “registered official NGO for the state of Goa”, he said.

The two-day seminar was attended by RSS’ national executive member Indresh Kumar and two Goa-based RSS functionaries Subhash Velingkar and Jayant Lele.

Also present were top retired bureaucrats like former home secretary

Indian Muslims shower flower petals on volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force, taking out a march past the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, India on February 1. The showering of petals by Muslims was a gesture to ensure communal harmony. (AP Photo)

Washington, February 1 (ians): Asserting that the US downgrade of India’s aviation regulator had “absolutely nothing” to do with the Khobragade affair, Washington says it was committed to help India get its status back as soon as possible.

“This absolutely had nothing to do with the ongoing case of Dr. Khobragade,” State Department spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters Friday when asked if the US action would hurt efforts to restore ties with India after their worst diplomatic spat over the Dec 12 arrest of an Indian diplomat.

The diplomatic row

was sparked by the arrest and strip search of Devyani Khobragade, 39, India’s then deputy consul general in New York. She was asked to return home Jan 10 after India declined to waive her diplomatic immunity to enable her prosecution charges of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper even as she was indicted by a grand jury in New York.

“Again, this was a regulatory decision,” she said referring to the US Federal Aviation Authority’s (FAA) downgrade of the safety ranking of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) from category-I to category-II rating. “I don’t know how much leeway

we have in those,” Harf said when asked if it was not possible to try and defer the FAA decision amid efforts to repair frayed relations over the arrest of Devyani Khobragade.

“But it’s my understanding that this was all made inside a regulatory framework that has very specific criteria countries have to meet under ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards that we’re all party to,” she said. “These aren’t our standards,” Harf said commenting on India’s expression of disappointment over the FAA decision.

“They’re the ICAO standards everyone has to live under, and we’re commit-

Cong leader Harish Rawat sworn in as Uttarakhand CM

situation.

Goel said the government must resolve the issue with the power discoms in such a way that auditing must go on and people must not suffer from power related problems. Condemning the six-eight percent power tariff hike, Kejriwal Friday said the power companies should have waited for the audit reports of the firms.

KoLKata, February 1 (ians): In its endeavour to ensure rehabilitation of the tribal woman who was gang raped allegedly at the behest of a kangaroo court in West Bengal’s Birbhum, the state government will provide her a job and a house along with police protection, a minister said Saturday.

The woman, who was violated by over a dozen men Jan 20 in Subalpur village in Birbhum, for “having an affair with a man outside her community”, is currently lodged in short stay home at an undisclosed location after her release from a local hospital a day earlier.

Women and Child Welfare Minister Shashi Panja who has been in constantly touch with the victim said a house under the Indira Awas Yojana will be provid-

Bengal gang rape: Victim to get house, job

ted to working with India to help them get back to a Category I rating,” she said. On the broader question of relationship Harf said: “we’re all committed to moving on to working together on all of the issues we work on all the time.” “A number of folks obviously have talked to our Indian counterparts over the last few weeks, and I think we’re all committed right now to moving the relationship forward and really focusing on working together,” she said.

The spokesperson made three points relating to the FAA decision. “First is that both the US and India are fully committed to restoring India to a Category I rating as

soon as possible,” Harf said, noting “there is currently an FAA team in India, in part to discuss how to go about doing just that”. “The second, that this decision was made within a regulatory framework,” she said. “Third, the United States and India remain fully committed to cooperation in civil aviation.”

Harf said the process of consultations and discussions with India over the issue “began many months ago. The assessment was conducted in New Delhi in September. The assessment team returned to India on Dec 11 for follow-up discussion”. “Our understanding is that while India has indeed made significant progress,

ed beside a job under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

“The state government is committed to ensure a speedy rehabilitation, accordingly she will be provided a house. Since she is not educated, we have decided to employ her under the MGNREGA,” Panja told media persons here.

While the victim’s family had fled the village after the incident, the woman too expressed apprehensions about returning there.

Thirteen people, including the village headman who ordered the brutality, are behind bars.

A team of the West Bengal Commission for Women led by Chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee is slated to meet the victim at the shelter home during the day.

a determination was made that it was not enough to meet the ICAO standards, hence the step that we saw today,” she said. “But again, we’re committed to working with India to get them to take the necessary steps to get back to a Category I rating,” Harf said.

Asked if India was given a deadline to fix the issues, she said: “I don’t know if there was a specific deadline, but I think that the FAA team and the folks made absolutely clear what the Indians needed to do to maintain their Category I rating. “They were not able to do so. We’re working with them right now to get them back on track.”

International

The Morung Express

Sunday 2 February 2014

Dimapur

9

Prez Obama’s executive actiOns: the POwer Of taking small stePs President Barack Obama signs a memorandum directing the federal government not to discriminate against those long-term unemployed workers in its own hiring practices in the East Room of the White House, as Vice President Joe Biden stands right on January 31, in Washington.

(AP Photo)

WASHINGTON, FebruAry 1 (reuTerS): President Barack Obama’s sixth year in office is starting out as a testament to the power of taking small steps.

Frustrated by congressional gridlock, he has turned to the “pen and the phone” to provoke a “year of action” with a flurry of executive orders, directives, meetings and reviews to get his presidency back on track after the difficulties he encountered last year.

None of the steps he is taking are going to change the world and indeed, they may be best-remembered

collectively as a declaration of Obama’s own relevance, an attempt to go over the heads of his Republican opponents in Congress and grab the attention of the people.

It is a strategy that Democratic President Bill Clinton used in his 1996 re-election campaign.

Humbled by Republicans in 1994 congressional elections, Clinton helped resurrect his presidency with similarly small steps like ordering the Education Department to issue school uniform guidelines to school districts.

SydNey, FebruAry 1 (IANS): Here comes an exciting new laser that can detect very low concentrations of gases - paving the way for accurately analysing breath for disease diagnosis and remote sensing of critical greenhouse gases.

The physicists at University of Adelaide in south Australia have developed a new type of laser that produces 25 times more light emission than other lasers operating at a similar wavelength. “This laser has significantly more power and is much more efficient than other lasers operating in mid-infrared frequency range,” said Ori Henderson-Sapir, a researcher at the university’s institute for photonics and advanced sensing.

“Using a novel approach, we’ve been able to overcome the significant technical hurdles that have prevented fibre lasers from producing sufficient power in the mid-infrared,” he added. The new laser operates in the mid-infrared frequency range - the same wavelength band where many important hydrocarbon gases absorb light. The researchers reported light emission at 3.6 microns the deepest mid-infrared emission from a fibre laser

operating at room temperature.

“Probing this region of the electromagnetic spectrum with the high power means we will be able to detect these gases with a high degree of sensitivity,” said project leader David Ottaway. It should enable the possibility of analysing trace gases in exhaled breath in the doctors’ surgery.

For example, acetone can be detected in the breath when someone has diabetes. Other potential applications include detection in the atmosphere of methane and ethane which are important gases in global warming. The new laser uses an optical fibre which is easier to work with, less bulky and more portable, and much more cost effective to produce than other types of laser.

The main limitation to date with laser detection of these gases has been the lack of suitable light sources that can produce enough energy in this part of the spectrum, explained Ottaway. It has incredible potential for scanning for a range of gases with a high level of sensitivity, with great promise as a very useful diagnostic and sensing tool, said the study published in the journal Optics Letters.

GeNeVA, FebruAry 1 (AP): A tumultuous week of peace talks aimed at stemming Syria’s bloodbath ended Friday with no progress to show and a lingering standoff over President Bashar Assad’s future.

Assad’s delegation refused to commit to return to Geneva for the next round of talks in 10 days as the U.N. mediator had proposed and the opposition chief accused the Syrian government of posturing to gain time.

U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi struggled to find positive words as the first face-to-face talks between the warring sides concluded. Uncertainty over his proposed Feb. 10 date for a second round of peace talks and mutual accusations between the delegates over the talks’ lack of progress underscored the tremendous challenges of finding a way out of Syria’s deadly impasse.

More than 130,000 people have been killed since March 2011 in a conflict that has destabilized neighboring countries and forced millions of people from their homes. Activists said Friday that 1,900 people including at least 430 civilians were killed in Syria during the peace talks alone.

The rebellion against Assad’s rule has been sapped by deadly infighting among moderates, Islamic groups and al-Qaida-inspired militants competing for control of territory, weapons and influence.

Much of the world appears to have lost faith in the rebels, largely because of the growing influence of Islamic extremists who reject the leadership of the Westernbacked opposition.

Fears that the civil war is reaching a point where it can no longer be contained has forced the U.S. and Russia to cooperate to try and end the

New laser that can detect disease in your breath!

In Obama’s case, he announced in his State of the Union address last Tuesday that he would sign an executive order raising the minimum wage for federal contract workers. But White House officials acknowledged it would apply only to a couple hundred thousand workers, a tiny fraction of the country’s workforce.

There was an order for the Treasury Department to create a retirement savings program for the middle class, and he told Vice President Joe Biden to review federal job training pro-

grams. And using the bully pulpit, Obama met with prominent corporate CEOs to persuade them to take steps to hire the long-term unemployed, whose jobless benefits have expired.

SHEDDING THE ‘SENSE OF STAGNATION’ William Galston, a domestic policy adviser for President Clinton and now a Brookings Institution scholar, said none of Obama’s steps have the impact of, for example, Harry Truman’s dramatic use of an executive order to ban segregation in the

U.S. armed forces in 1948.

What Obama’s actions are intended to do, he said, is to “dispel the bad memory of the failed first year of his second term when he seemed to be stalled and stalemated at every turn and replace that sense of stagnation with a sense of forward movement.”

“Clinton’s orders were more of a political strategy than a substitute for government strategy. I think at the end of the day the same can be said of what Obama’s doing,” said Galston. It is no coincidence that Obama has embarked on this strategy with the aid of special adviser John Podesta, who was a champion of executive orders when he worked in the Clinton White House.

“I think he’s warmed up to it,” Podesta said of Obama in an interview with NPR on Tuesday. “And I think you’ll see that across a wide range of topics, including retirement security, moving forward on his climate change and energy transformation agenda.” White House officials say Obama is not giving up on pushing broad legislation through Congress and in fact they see signs of movement on a long-stalled immigration reform law, which would be a legacy-building achievement of his second term.

By ordering the minimum wage raised to $10.10

an hour for federal contract workers, Obama hopes to trigger a broader debate about the need to raise the minimum wage for millions of working Americans, a proposal that Republicans oppose for fear of damaging small-business hiring.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama’s meeting with chief executive officers on Friday on hiring the longterm unemployed is not an attempt to circumvent Congress, but rather is the use of a power that lawmakers simply do not have.

“There exist executive actions that actually serve to complement legislative action. You can’t force, through legislation, business leaders to make a commitment to re-evaluate their hiring practices,” he said. Obama, a former senator, has for the most part deferred to Congress and sought legislative approval of his priorities.

Last November at an event in San Francisco, he rejected hecklers who urged him to use the power of executive orders to end the deportation of illegal immigrants. “If, in fact, I could solve all these problems without passing them through Congress, then I would do so, but we’re also a nation of laws, that’s part of our tradition,” he said.

This year, with control of Congress at stake in November elections, he is ad-

tra and civilians who know the election will do little to solve the nation’s crisis but insist the right to vote should not be taken away.

“How did we get to this point?” asked Chanida Pakdeebanchasak, a 28-year-old Bangkok resident who was determined to cast her ballot Sunday no matter what happens. “Since when does going to vote mean you don’t love the country?” The protesters, a minority that cannot win power at the polls, are demanding the government be replaced by an unelected council that would implement political and electoral reforms to combat deep-seated problems of corruption and money politics. Yingluck has refused to step down, arguing she is open to reform and such a council would be unconstitutional.

The crisis — which has killed 10 people and wounded nearly 600 since November — has almost completely overshadowed campaigning. Instead of stump speeches and electrified rallies for candidates hoping to take office, Thailand’s muted capital has been gripped by a palpable sense of dread and uncertainty over whether demonstrators will physically block voters from getting inside polling centers.

demand for a new governing body to eventually transfer power from Assad.

“We already have a government. When we see there is a real partner with which we can forge a future for the country, they are welcome to join this government,” he said.

The U.S. official said a second round, should it take place, was unlikely “to produce gigantic breakthroughs either.” The weeklong negotiations had been strained over the opposition’s demand for and the government’s resistance to a transfer of power in Syria.

They also failed to achieve any concrete results, especially on possible humanitarian aid convoys to besieged parts of Homs.

Al-Jarba said the talks would not be open ended, adding that the second round would determine whether there was sufficient ground to continue.

justing his strategy.

Chris Lehane, who was a senior aide to Vice President Al Gore, said the steps Obama is taking are important to satisfying voters who gave the president a second term in 2012. “It gives you a capacity to impose your will, both from a policy perspective on the direction of the country but also from a political perspective, by putting the opposition squarely on the defensive,” he said. The orders Obama announced in his big speech did not appear to be of the type that could face legal challenges, despite complaints from some conservatives suggesting he is breaking the law.

‘SMALL’ IS RELATIVE Obama’s use of executive orders has been relatively tame compared with his immediate predecessors. He signed 147 in his first term, compared with George W. Bush’s 173, Bill Clinton’s 200 and Ronald Reagan’s 213. But such record-keeping can miss the point. Presidents use power in a variety of ways beyond simply executive orders.

John Woolley, co-director of the American Presidency Project, which collects and analyzes presidential documents, said one of Obama’s most significant executive actions, to allow young people who are in the country illegally

to avoid deportation, was announced in an order from then-Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in 2012.

“In that case, there was no document that went from the White House to Janet Napolitano that directed her to take that action,” Woolley said. While Obama’s recent moves may look small, his administration has used executive power in large ways. Last July, Republicans were outraged when the Treasury Department ruled it would delay for a year enforcement of an Affordable Care Act provision requiring businesses with more than 50 employees to provide health coverage to their workers.

Lanhee Chen, a Hoover Institution expert who was chief economic adviser to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012, said that since the employer mandate was part of Obama’s signature healthcare law, “a lot of constitutional scholars would argue” that his action violated the law itself.

Romney had vowed to roll back the Obamacare law if he had won the White House. How would he have done it if he had opposition from Democrats in Congress? “We’d have to be pretty forceful in terms of executive action on Obamacare,” Chen said.

Violence grips Thai capital on eve of vote Biker buried astride

bANGKOK, FebruAry 1 (AP): Gunfire rang out at a major intersection in Thailand’s capital on Saturday as clashes between protesters and government supporters erupted on the eve of tense nationwide elections. At least seven people were wound-

ed, including an American photojournalist. The confrontation began after a group of pro-government supporters marched to a district office in northern Bangkok containing ballot boxes that had been surrounded by protesters who have been trying to derail

the vote.

The two sides clashed first with rocks and firecrackers, then with pistols and assault rifles. One group of men carrying huge sticks smashed the windshields of a car carrying protesters that sped away.

People caught up in the mayhem took refuge inside a nearby shopping mall and ducked on a pedestrian bridge. Some crouched behind vehicles.

According to the city’s emergency services, at least six Thais were wounded, including a reporter for the local Daily News newspaper.

An American photojournalist, James Nachtwey, was shot in the leg, according to Associated Press staff on the scene. The violence came one day ahead of a highly unusual ballot that has little to do with the traditional contests between rival candidates vying for office. Instead, the vote is shaping up as a battle of wills between protesters and the government — and those caught in between who insist on their civil rights.

On the one side are demonstrators who say they want to suspend the country’s fragile democracy to institute anti-corruption reforms, and on the other, forces supporting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawa-

conflict. Opposition chief Ahmad al-Jarba said Assad was pressed by his Russian backers to take part in the talks but could not engage toward finding a real solution because “he knows that would be his end.” Al-Jarba said the opposition will never accept having Assad whose family has ruled Syria since 1970 stay in power.

“For us, this family is finished from the memory of the Syrians, all that is left is blood, fire and terrorism,” he said. “We will not accept for this man or anyone from his family to rule the country again.”

Al-Jarba spoke to The Associated Press before leaving for Munich, Germany, where he was to meet with the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers and ahead of a trip to Moscow. He said he was pinning his hopes on a positive role by the Russians, who have long been a key ally of Assad.

Al-Jarba’s coalition had been under equally intense pressure from the U.S. to attend. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks are sensitive, said al-Jarba’s meeting with the Russians was a potentially positive development. “Russia is obviously a country of great importance in the Syrian issue,” the official said.

Earlier, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem denied the government had succumbed to Russian pressure by agreeing to attend the talks. “We are here to find a political solution.

We were unable to achieve that,” he said.

Brahimi tried to put a good face on the talks Friday, telling reporters at the end of the eighth consecutive day of negotiations that despite a lack of tangible results, he found 10 areas of possible “common ground.” “Progress is very

slow indeed, but the sides have engaged in an acceptable manner. This is a modest beginning on which we can build,” Brahimi told reporters at the U.N.’s European headquarters in the Palais des Nations.

“The gaps between the sides remain wide; there is no use pretending otherwise. Nevertheless, during our discussions, I observed a little bit of common ground perhaps more than the two sides realize or recognize,” he said. “Things have gone so far down that they are not going to get out of the ditch overnight.”

Brahimi said the opposition has committed to joining a second round of talks in Geneva on Feb. 10. Al-Moallem, however, said before the government decides to return to Geneva, Assad will hear a report on what took place during the past week in Switzerland. The minister also dismissed the opposition’s

An anti-government protester holds a pistol after his caravan of trucks was attacked during a clash with a pro-government group in Bangkok, Thailand on February 1. Gunfire rang out at a major intersection in Thailand's capital on Saturday as clashes between protesters and government supporters erupted on the eve of tense nationwide elections. At least seven people are reported wounded, including an American photojournalist. (AP Photo)

Syria peace talks adjourn with no progress

Harley-Davidson

The family of Billy Standley, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, carried out his wish to be buried on his 1967 Harley Davidson motorcycle on January 31, burying him in a large Plexiglas casket at Fairview Cemetery in Crawford County, Ohio. Standley's family said he'd been talking about being buried on his Harley for years. His sons, Pete and Roy, fashioned the casket out of Plexiglas, reinforcing the bottom with wood and steel rods to handle the extra weight. Five embalmers worked to prepare Standley's body with a metal back brace and straps to ensure he'll never lose his seat. (AP Photo)

MeCHANICSburG, FebruAry 1 (AGeNCIeS): A motorcycleloving man’s family has fulfilled his dying wish - to be buried astride his beloved Harley-Davidson encased in a see-through casket.

But it wasn’t easy. The project required an extralarge cemetery plot to accommodate a Plexiglas casket for Billy Standley and his hulking custompainted 1967 Electra Glide cruiser. Five embalmers worked to prepare his body with a metal back brace and straps to ensure he’ll never lose his seat.

Standley’s family said he’d been talking about it for years and liked to take people to the garage to show off the unusual casket his two sons had built for him. He told people he didn’t just want to ride off to heaven, he wanted the world to see him do it in the big see-through box. “He was a quirky man,” daughter Dorothy Brown said.

“But when it comes to us kids, he loved us, he raised us well and, of course, we wanted to help him.”

The Dayton Daily News reported that Standley, of Mechanicsburg, west of Columbus, died of lung cancer on Sunday at

age 82. He was buried on Friday. Newspaper photos of the prepared casket showed Standley with his eyes closed astride the big bike. He was dressed in black leathers, a white helmet and glasses, his gloved hands grasping the handlebars.

Standley told his family his motorcycle helped him retain his sense of adventure after he settled down to raise four children, which was quite a compromise for the man who made his start at 13 as ranch hand and rodeo rider. He started the project himself, buying three extra burial plots next to his wife, Lorna. His sons, Pete and Roy, fashioned the casket out of Plexiglas, reinforcing the bottom with wood and steel rods to handle the extra weight.

Enlisting the help of Vernon Funeral Homes, Standley ensured his funeral would be held outside, so all his biker friends could watch his final ride. His family agreed the processional to the cemetery might be considered a little bizarre, even shocking. “He’d done right by us all these years, and at least we could see he goes out the way he wanted to,” Pete Standley said.

10

Dimapur

SPORTS

Sunday 2 February 2014

Bobcats hand Lakers 6th straight loss

Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson, right front, puts up a shot as Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, of Spain, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 31 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)

LOS aNGELES, FEbRuaRY 1 (aP): Al Jefferson tied a career high with 40 points, 16 of them in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 18 rebounds to help the Charlotte Bobcats send the floundering Los Angeles Lakers to their sixth straight defeat with a 110-100 victory Friday night.

Jefferson set a franchise record with his 11th straight game of 20 or more points, eclipsing the previous mark set by Jason Richardson in 2007-08. It was the 13th game this season in which an opposing player scored at least 30 against the Lakers, something that happened in 18 games last season — and there are still 35 games remaining.

Gerald Henderson added 20 points for the Bobcats. Starting point guard Kemba Walker missed his sixth straight game since a sprained left ankle ended his career-opening consecutive game streak of 190.

Ramon Sessions, who has started every game at the

point during Walker's absence, had 13 assists and nine points.

Sessions, along with starting power forward Josh McRoberts and reserve guard Jannero Pargo — all former Lakers — combined for 26 points and the Bobcats snapped a string of five straight defeats against Los Angeles. Charlotte shot 52.3 percent from the field, improving to 5-0 when shooting at least 50 percent. The victory was the Bobcats' ninth on the road, four more than all of last season.

Still missing Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar and Xavier Henry because of injuries, the Lakers lost for the 18th time in 21 games and remain only a half-game ahead of last-place Sacramento in the Western Conference standings just four seasons after winning their 16th NBA title. Pau Gasol had 24 points for Los Angeles and Nick Young added 21 off the bench. The snakebitten Lakers have given up

100 or more points in 14 consecutive games, matching the club's longest such streak since a 17-game stretch in 1986-87.

Trailing by as many as 20 points after a pair of free throws by Jefferson with 4:21 left in the third quarter, the Lakers sliced the margin to 86-73 on a four-point play by Ryan Kelly, who was fouled by Cody Zeller on a shot from the right sideline.

Los Angeles got it down to 86-78 on a layup by Robert Sacre with 11:01 to play, but that was as close as the Lakers got. Jefferson scored the Bobcats' first eight points of the final quarter to help keep the Lakers at bay. Jefferson, who signed a three-year, $41 million contract with the Bobcats in July, powered them to a 62-49 halftime lead with 18 points and eight rebounds. Charlotte shot 58 percent in the half, and never trailed after Jefferson's finger roll gave the Bobcats a 26-25 lead with 1:37 left in the first quarter.

The Morung Express

Thunder strikes down Nets

NEW YORK, FEbRuaRY 1 (aP): Finally, somebody stopped Kevin Durant: his coach. Not that Durant cared. The only streak he cares about is still intact. Durant's 30-point run ended at 12 games when he scored 26 in just 30 minutes, but the Oklahoma City Thunder won their 10th in a row with a 12095 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

"That's the most important streak," Durant said.

Serge Ibaka made all 12 shots and added 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who were so good that Durant sat the entire fourth quarter, the only way to slow him down right now.

Durant came out for good with 1:15 left in the third. Coach Scott Brooks didn't bother asking the NBA's leading scorer if he wanted to keep playing to extend the streak, saying he knew what the answer would be. "If he cared about the streak, he should've never missed the two shots.

That's on him. Can't blame it on me," Brooks said. Durant finished 10 of 12 from the field, though his scoring average during his sensational January dropped from 36.6 to 35.9. He had been streaking toward Tracy McGrady, who had the last longer streak when he scored 30 in 14 in a row in 2003.

"The streak was good while it lasted, but that's the least of my concerns," Durant said. "It's easy for me to try to force it to keep the streak alive, but we needed this win because they beat us last time."

Reggie Jackson and Thabo Sefolosha scored 14 for the Thunder, on their longest winning streak

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant dunks in front of Brooklyn Nets' Shaun Livingston, center, and Andray Blatche during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, in New York. The Thunder defeated the Nets 120-95. (AP Photo)

since a 12-game run early in the 2012-13 season.

They dominated the final three quarters in their 11295 victory at Miami and picked up right where they left off in this one before a sellout crowd of 17,732 that included former President Bill Clinton.

They call this a landslide in his field. Oklahoma City shot 63.6 percent (49 of 77), highest in the league this season, and outrebounded Brooklyn 41-17. The Nets' rebound total was the lowest in NBA

history.

Shaun Livingston scored 16 points while drawing the impossible assignment of defending Durant for the Nets, who dropped their final two games to finish 10-3 in January. "I mean, man, he's shooting the ball, it's tough," Livingston said. "It's one of those where you've got to tip your hat to him."

Oklahoma City closed the first quarter with the final 13 points, eight from Ibaka and the rest from Durant, for a 30-16 lead. An 11-0

spurt in the second - with just two points from Durant and Ibaka - extended it to 4524, and one more surge late in the period put it away. The Nets started the month by holding Durant to 24 points while rallying from 16 down in a 95-93 victory at Oklahoma City, but Brooklyn was never in this game.

"I said it before the game. Everybody is talking about Durant scoring 30 points, but it's the rest of the guys that are playing at a high level," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "If you look at Iba-

ka, he's 12 for 12. So again, it goes back to what I said before the game, it's just not all Durant. He has guys on his team that have stepped up and been playing at a high level." Durant had a jumper and 3-pointer around Jackson's three-point play to extend it to 28, and Durant made a turnaround jumper and another 3-pointer on consecutive possessions late in the half for a 61-30 cushion. Ibaka capped his perfect half with a follow dunk and Oklahoma City led 63-35 at the break.

Mourinho says Chelsea 'not title candidates' District Games for Disabled to start on Feb 4

Chelsea to take on Man City on Monday LONDON, FEbRuaRY 1 (aFP): Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed his side's chances of winning the Premier League this season no matter what the outcome of their trip to leaders Manchester City on Monday.

Chelsea will head to the Etihad Stadium three points adrift of City, who replaced Arsenal at the summit after crushing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. A victory against Manuel Pellegrini's side will see Chelsea draw level on points with them, but Mourinho believes his team are not yet ready to be installed as genuine title contenders.

"We are not favourites

Chelsea's players including captain John Terry, No 26, surround referee Referee Neil Swarbrick during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 29. (AP Photo)

DimaPuR, FEbRuaRY 1 (mExN): Special Olympics - Bharat, Nagaland (SON) is organizing District Games for Disabled 2014, a qualifying level to take part in the upcoming State Games. Phek District SON Area Director, Arenla, in a press release informed that the Games will begin on February 4 with Phek town local ground as the venue. The contact person for the district is Kunusahu Vero, Youth Director, and his contact number is 09089147748. The Games then head to Kiphire on February 6 with Public Ground as the venue.

The local contact person for Kiphire is

Xavier Sangtam. His phone number is 09612606176. The Games will then finally head to Zunheboto, where District Sports Council Ground will act as the venue on February 8. The local contact person for Zunheboto is Kivigho, Assistant Director, DSO I/C. His phone number is 08729931972.

The release informed the participants of Zunheboto and Phek to arrange their own drinking water. For Kiphire, the release informed, drinking water would be sponsored by Kiphire Social Welfare Department.

The Director further requested every handicap person(s) with dis-

ability (PwDs), above 8 years of age, to reach their respective venues by 7 am with 2 passport size photos and photo copy of Disability Certificate (if available). She also requested family members, SSA / IED teachers, medical staff, NGO workers, church members, sports persons and well wishers to come along to support the differently-abled persons. Registration is free and every participant will be given T-shirts besides certificates and medals from Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India. For clarifications, the release requested to contact the local contact persons.

Somdev, Bopanna-Myneni seal Davis Cup tie for India

iNDORE, FEbRuaRY 1 (aFP): Hosts India fought off a spirited challenge from Taiwan to grab an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania group one tie in Indore on Saturday. Somdev Devvarman wrapped up the marathon second singles against Chen Ti of Taiwan

that had been stopped due to bad light on Friday with the scores level at 7-7 in the fifth set. Devvarman held his service game and then broke Chen in the next to win 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3), 1-6, 6-2, 9-7 after an attritional battle that lasted more than four hours.

The 103rd-ranked In-

dian, who was expected to ease past the number 284 Chen, had wasted four match points in the decider on Friday evening, but played aggressive tennis when it mattered to win.

"Five-setters are never easy, so it was nice to get out of this one," Devvarman said. "I attacked and went

will say we are candidates to win the Premier League.

This season, I won't say that. It's not what we feel or what we're working for.

"If we win or if we lose (at City), I don't think we're candidates. If we win, obviously, we're the same points as City. If we lose, the distance is six. "It doesn't mat-

ter. It is not what concerns me. What concerns me is my team playing well and trying to get the best possible results, feel the improvements.

"And next pre-season, you will hear me say something completely different. I don't give up. I'll try to win the next match, against whoever. We will try to win."

old V8s. The new units are more expensive, and in a bid to be greener and more road car relevant the emphasis is on fuel economy with drivers limited to 100kg of fuel compared to around 150kg previously. They also sound very different. Ecclestone said Vettel, with whom he has a warm relationship, was no fan of the new era either. "I know Sebastian is disappointed too because he's a racer. He likes to race," said the 83-year-old, who felt the new engine was better suited to endurance or the world touring car championship.

"I am upset because last year's championship, apart from the obvious that Sebastian ran away with things, was still a very good championship. This year I'm quite sure if we'd have left things as they were would have been an even better one."

Vettel won 13 grands prix last season, including a record nine in a row at the end as he wrapped up the title with three races to spare, but the most dominant team of recent years faces a real challenge now.

"We had an engine that was perfect, everybody liked the sound, it was reliable, didn't cause anybody trouble and was much, much more cheap than what they currently have to use," said Ecclestone. "People loved the excitement of the noise we'd got before. And now I think that's all disappeared so I'm disappointed."

Red Bull principal Christian Horner said before the start of testing that the new power units could be so unreliable that half the field may fail to finish in the Australian season-opener in March. Ecclestone said he would wait and see, with the Mercedes and Ferrari-powered teams putting in a more consistent amount of mileage. "I'm hoping it's going to be like a wet race so we're not going to know who's going to win. That's the only thing that's good," he said of Melbourne. "I think the cars will be unreliable. So you won't be able to go to a race and say 'My God, this guy's going to win easily', because you don't know. And even if somebody is leading a race you can't guarantee they are going to continue."

Infiniti Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany exits his garage to drive his new RB10 Formula One car at the Circuito de Jerez on Tuesday, Jan. 28 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. (AP Photo)

Ecclestone upset by F1 engine trouble

LONDON, FEbRuaRY 1 (REutERS): Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed the sport's new V6 turbo era as "completely unnecessary nonsense" after Renault engine woes sidelined champions Red Bull in preseason testing.

Quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel's team completed just 14 laps in the first three days in Jerez after recurring problems.

Other Renault-powered teams have also struggled to do much mileage.

The 26-year-old German left southern Spain on Wednesday with just 11 laps under his belt, having spent much of his time watching engineers working on the car. "I am disappointed. I hate saying 'I told you so', but I'm disappointed because I did say I told you so and this is what's happened," Ecclestone told Reuters of a situation dubbed farcical by some.

Ecclestone has long been an opponent of the new and highly complex 1.6 litre power units, with energy recovery systems, which have replaced the

after his serve today which paid off in the end."

India's new doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and debutant Saketh Myneni were stretched by the Taiwanese pair of Lee Hsin-Han and Peng HsienYin before winning 6-0, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) later on Saturday.

to win any competition," he said, before vowing that Chelsea will pose a greater threat next term. "The speech will change completely next pre-season, and not just the speech.

Normally the speech is adapted to the feelings, knowledge and experience.

"Next pre-season, day one, I

Renault have work cut out after Red Bull woes

Alan Baldwin

Source: Reuters

Renault recognised they faced a "litany of issues" with their new Formula One engine on Friday after problems forced champions Red Bull to end the first pre-season test early and with barely any laps completed.

The dominant team of the last four years packed

up and headed for home as Renault voiced their determination to make amends for failure at the next track outing in Bahrain in two weeks' time. The problems affected all three Renaultpowered teams testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain and Renault Sport F1's deputy managing director Rob White said they had a large job list to tackle.

"We have not run enough laps, and when we have they have not been run at an acceptable performance level," he said in a statement after a test that saw Mercedes and Ferrari-powered rivals lapping with far fewer problems.

Formula One has a new 'power unit' - a 1.6 litre V6 turbo with complex energy recovery systems - this sea-

son, replacing the tried and tested 2.4-litre V8 engines.

"We are very frustrated to face this litany of issues that we should have ironed out on the dyno (test bed) and which have deprived us of a precious learning opportunity," added White.

The Briton said that, despite appearances, useful progress had been made, no big new fundamental prob-

lems had emerged and that Renault had the necessary tools and determination to succeed. "The step we must take to reach an acceptable level of in-car performance is bigger than we would have liked. It is unacceptable that we have not been able to mitigate the problems sufficiently to allow our partners to run at any length," White explained.

Entertainment

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was a very poor kid’ VJ Andy L

eonardo DiCaprio reveals he grew up in a violent Los Angeles neighbourhood Before he became one of the most well respected actors in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio was just a poor kid living in the mean streets of Los Angeles. The 39-year-old recently revealed in a candid interview that he was surrounded by drugs and prostitution before he

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard to marry in Bahamas C M Y K

star also claimed he has never done drugs after seeing the ravages of addiction right outside his doorstep as a child.

The actor told the Los Angeles Times that he grew up ‘very poor’ in a run-down neighbourhood of Los Angeles. He explained that there was ‘a major prostitution ring on my street corner’ and that his youth was overrun by ‘crime and violence everyw h e re ’.

Adding: ‘It really wa s l ike Taxi Driver in a lot

turned to acting as an escape. The Wo l f O f Wall Street

of ways…I grew up very poor and I got to see the other side of the spectrum.’

He also revealed that an alleyway near his childhood home was notorious for both crack cocaine and heroin abuse. The early exposure to addiction, the actor claims, scared him off drugs for life.

‘Never done [drugs],’ he told the publication. ‘That’s because I saw this stuff literally every day when I was three or four years old.

‘So Hollywood was a walk in the park for me …

I’d go to parties and it was there, and yeah, there’s that temptation.’ But it was Hollywood acting that DiCaprio credits for setting him on the straight and narrow path. After being bullied in public school, the handsome star says he asked his mother to put him in acting classes.

‘That was the motivational thing that happened to me in my life,’ he explained.

‘I was 15, and I said to my mom, “I want to be an actor. Please take me to auditions.”

Because I had to get out of the public school system.’

DiCaprio can currently be seen in The Wolf Of Wall Street, which has garnered him a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

to play fashion designer in daily soap

Andy, who became a household name after participating in reVJ ality TV show `Bigg Boss`, is all set to be part of a daily soap- `Bani - Ishq Da Kalma`. Andy will be seen as a fashion designer responsible for Bani`s makeover in the show on an entertainment channel. “He will be doing a cameo appearance. His part will be seen on Monday,” sources told reporters. `Bani-Ishq Da Kalma` will witness some interesting twists and turns as Parmeet Singh (Gaurav Chaudhary) tries to kill his wife Bani (Shefali Sharma) and luckily she survives. Now, Bani will get a makeover and hence Andy`s character comes into place.

Gwyneth had bee sting treatment G

wyneth Paltrow says the ‘’craziest’’ beauty treatment she ever had was apitherapy - bee stings. The 42-yearold actress is always the first to try the latest skincare trends, but believes apitherapy which uses the insect’s venom for medicinal purposes - was perhaps one step too far.

She told Marie Claire magazine: ‘’The craziest treatment I’ve ever tried is when I was stung by a live bee. It’s called apitherapy and it’s apparently been used since Egyptian times to promote healing.

For a more relaxing treat, I love Ila Bath Salts at the end of the day.’’

Gwyneth - who is married to Cold-

Lana Del Ray Secretl y Engaged

Lana

Del Ray has managed to accomplish nearly the impossible. The 27 year-old has kept a huge aspect of her private life secret from the press. Lana and her boyfriend Barrie-James O’Neill have been secretly engaged since last summer according to Us Weekly.

The ‘Blue Jeans’ singer was asked by her beau, who plays guitar in Scottish band Kassidy, for her hand in marriage last June (2013). The pair began dating three years ago in 2011. They first sparked engagement rumors in July 2013 when they were snapped by paparazzi looking at properties in Los Angeles with Lana wearing a diamond ring on her left hand. O’Neill has also featured in one of Del Ray’s music videos, when debuting ‘Summer Wine’ video, her real-life love interest also

Multiple sources have revealed that Lana Del Ray and boyfriend of three years Barrie-James O’Neill have been engaged since the summer of last year.

plays the role of her on-screen love interest.

Del Ray’s songs are generally themed with losing love, and great loss, but in an interview with Complex magazine from 2012, the New Yorker admits her track ‘Off to the Races’ from the ‘Born to Die’ album celebrates finding love.

When I found somebody who I fell in love with, it made me feel different than I felt the rest of the day.

It was electrifying. That’s what inspired the ‘Off to the Races’ melodies, she admitted.

That’s one of the times when you’re feeling electrified by someone else and they make you happy to be alive.

Meanwhile,

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play frontman Chris Martin - has experimented with non-invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox in the past, but she is weary about go to the extreme.

The ‘Sliding Doors’ actress said: ‘’You have to be very careful with Botox. I did it on my forehead and I looked awful. I also worry about what’s going into my bloodstream. I’m 41, so I don’t want to look 25. I think it’s nice to see a life lived in someone’s face. ‘’I would probably do a bit of filler again, but at the moment I see a facialist in LA called Sonya Dekar, who is amazing, so I use all her products and go to her for collagenboosting laser treatments.’’

Lana’s song ‘Summertime Sadness’ was honored at the 2014 Grammys with ‘Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical’, though award is presented to Cedric Gervais as he remixed the track.

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‘Robin’s jealous of Miley’ Thicke ‘believes Cyrus hijacked’ their controversial MTV VMA performance

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irates of the Caribbean’ star Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are said to be planning to get married in an intimate ceremony at his private island in the Bahamas. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor owns a private island where he filmed scenes for the swashbuckling blockbuster, and it is said while some of his rock star friends will be in attendance, it won’t be a ‘’big, glitzy’’ party.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, an insider said: ‘’They’re having a small intimate ceremony barefoot on the beach in Little Hall’s Pond Cay. ‘’Afterwards they’ll have a barbecue where some of Johnny’s musician pals are

going to perform, followed by limbo dancing. ‘’Neither Johnny nor Amber want a big, glitzy Hollywood bash. They are both very private.’’

Johnny new fiancée was recently spotted showing off her large diamond engagement ring for the first time as she saw him perform at a private charity event in Anaheim, California.

It seems money is no object for the star, who reportedly spent almost $100,000 on the accessory.

Celebrity jewellery expert Zaven Ghanimian told EOnline.com: ‘’This looks like a 5-carat ring. If we assume it’s a white oval diamond in the five carat range, the price would be between $78,000 to $100,000.’’

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hey gave an unforgettable performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards back in August - with their raunchy moves causing quite the controversy. And even almost half a year later, Robin Thicke

is reportedly still fuming about Miley Cyrus’ antics, claiming she went ‘too far’ by groping him with her infamous foam finger, reports Us Weekly.

‘Robin is jealous Miley’s career took off after

that,’ another source added about the Blurred Lines singer. ‘He thinks she hijacked the performance.’

At the time, Robin, 36, was criticized for being ‘old enough to know better.’ But he played it off as if the We Can’t Stop singer, 21, was to blame for their promiscuous performance, saying ‘that’s on her’ when discussing her risque moves during a previous interview with Oprah Winfrey.

‘Miley thinks Robin threw her under the bus,’ an insid-

er said about the Wrecking Ball pop star.

While another denies any tension between the two, an onlooker at Clive Davis’ pre-grammy party last Saturday noted: ‘They were just a few tables apart and never spoke.’ Yet, Robin who is married to Paula Patton - had no qualms about the VMA performance when he spoke with Vanity Fair in November. ‘They told me [beforehand] that Miley’s going to take her clothes off and dance around and she

might bend over,’ the fatherof-one revealed.

He went on to say that his goal was to entertain the audience, surprise them and get people talking. In the fact, the singer admitted then that the performance put him on the map. ‘Everybody knows who I am now because I let Miley Cyrus twerk in front of me on the MTV awards,’ he said. ‘I spent my whole career playing it safe, being a gentleman, never doing anything controversial.’

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EPL: Sunderland, West Ham United bolster survival bids League Cup finalists Sunderland enjoyed a 3-0 success at bitter rivals Newcastle United, while West Ham weathered the dismissal of striker Andy Carroll to overcome Swansea City 2-0 at Upton Park.

Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, right, walks by a course as she was visiting the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament to watch her fiance Rory McIlroy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, February 1. (AP Photo)

Cristiano Ronaldo better than Messi, claims Pele

Rio De JaneiRo, FebRuaRy 1 player in Europe, but in the last two years, and this year, he had a prob(ianS): Football legend Pele lem: he got injured, he was has said Cristiano Ronaldo is out this year and played now a better player than few games," Pele said Lionel Messi. Pele, who in an interview with a played in three World leading sports channel.

Cup-winning teams "Ronaldo has come for Brazil between through for the past 1958 and 1970, said two or three years and Ronaldo`s past two is the best in Europe. I seasons had seen him think at the moment no eclipse the Barcelona doubt Ronaldo is the best." striker, Xinhua reported.

Ronaldo earlier this month "I think, no doubt, two years won his second FIFA Ballon D`Or ago the player that was in very, award award, ending Messi`s four-year very good condition was Messi."

"In five years he became the best stranglehold on the trophy.

Wenger eyes swift Arsenal return to summit

LonDon, FebRuaRy 1 (aFP): Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his side to apply pressure on their Premier League title rivals by reclaiming top spot with victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Gunners lost their place at the summit of the table to Manchester City following their mid-week 2-2 draw at Southampton. While Arsenal dropped points at St Mary`s last Tuesday, City were rampant in a 5-1 mauling of Tottenham Hotspur 24 hours later.

But Wenger hopes his men can get back to winning ways immediately at the Emirates Stadium against Tony Pulis`s resurgent outfit. That will restore a two-point advantage for the Gunners over nearest rivals City, who host third-place Chelsea on Monday.

"That`s our target," Wenger said.

"Can you win the next game if you give absolutely everything? Yes, so let`s do

it. "It is a great opportunity for us to win our game and respond to our draw at Southampton. "At the moment they (City) are on fire. But I believe we have just to focus on our own run because if you look at the schedule, if we are consistent we have a good chance to do it.

"You cannot speculate on any weakness in Man City in the coming months.

So let`s focus on us, and our strengths, in the coming months. "It is the way we can do, if we keep the consistency and manage to win the big games -- one of them will be Man City at home (on March 29).

"Of course that will be very important. Of course they had an impressive win, and a great quality game as well at Tottenham. "But if you analyse it well, this game could have turned as well. All the turning points went in their favour. If they had not gone ahead, you are not sure they would have won the game."

Dubai, FebRuaRy 1 (PTi): Virat Kohli's individual brilliance during India's disastrous show in the lost ODI series against New Zealand has helped the young batsman inch closer to the top spot in the latest ICC rankings issued on Saturday. India were drubbed 0-4 in the series which concluded on Friday but Kohli, placed second in the rankings right now, stood out by contributing 291 runs in the five-match affair.

That performance fetched him 11 ratings points in the ICC list, taking his overall tally to 870, just two points behind number-one ranked AB de Villiers.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the next best-placed Indian batsman at sixth in the list, followed by Shikhar Dhawan, who slipped a rung to 11th after an indifferent outing against New Zealand. In the bowling charts, Ravindra Jadeja is the highest-placed Indian at ninth spot, which is a loss of three positions. Meanwhile, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson have made impressive gains in the rankings for batsmen.

Taylor, named Player of the Match in the final ODI at Wellington on Friday,

jumped six places to return to the top 10, and now sits in 10th place. Taylor was the second highest run-getter in the series with 343 runs from five matches. Williamson ended as the highest run-getter in the series with 361 runs, and risen 20 places to a best-ever ranking of 11th with 688 ratings points, only 25 ratings points behind Taylor. Williamson shares the 11th position with Dhawan.

The latest rankings update also takes into account Australia's 4-1 series win over England. As a result, Australia batsman George Bailey is now up a place to a third, just 14 ratings points behind Kohli and 16 behind de Villiers. Meanwhile, England batsman Eoin Morgan has jumped four places to 13th even as New Zealand's Martin Guptill returned to the top 20, moving up five places to 19th.

Outside the top 20, the batsmen to move up include Ian Bell in 23rd (up by three), Glenn Maxwell in 32nd (up by nine), Corey Anderson in 34th (up by 51), David Warner in 40th (up by 17), James Faulkner in 50th (up by 15), Jesse Ryder in 52nd (up by three), Shaun Marsh in 64th (up by 17), and Ravindra Jadeja (up by eight) and Aaron Finch (up by 35) in joint 65th.

LonDon, FebRuaRy 1 (aFP): Sunderland and West Ham United both climbed away from the Premier League relegation zone after recording potentially important victories on Saturday.

League Cup finalists Sunderland enjoyed a 3-0 success at bitter rivals Newcastle United, while West Ham weathered the dismissal of striker Andy Carroll to overcome Swansea City 2-0 at Upton Park.

Carroll created both of West Ham's first-half goals, knocking the ball down for Kevin Nolan to break the deadlock in the 26th minute and then teeing up the same player to head in a second in first-half injury time.

The former Liverpool striker was then sent off in the 58th minute after catching Swansea centre-back Chico Flores with a flailing arm, but West Ham held on for a win that took them out of the bottom three. Sunderland leapt up to 12th place in the table after prevailing in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park. Fabio Borini's penalty gave Sunderland the lead in the 19th minute and Adam Johnson tapped in his seventh goal in seven games four minutes later before Jack Colback sealed victory with a late strike.

With top-four sides Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool not in action, attention later on Saturday will focus on the teams seeking to break into the Champions League places from below. Fifth-

West Ham United's Andy Carroll, left, is shown a red card for his challenge on Swansea City's Chico Flores, on the ground, during their English Premier League soccer match at Upton Park, London, Saturday, Feb. 1. (AP Photo)

place Tottenham Hotspur and sixth-place Everton will both have eyes on the teams above them as they bid to bounce back from mid-week drubbings.

Thrashed 5-1 by City on Wednesday, Spurs can draw level on points with Liverpool if they win at Hull City, while Everton will look to move on from their 4-0

draw with Boris Gelfand of Israel in the other games of this six-player round-robin tournament.

With three rounds in Classical and five rounds in rapid chess still remaining, Carlsen, Aronian and Nakamura share the lead on three points under the special scoring system that gives two points for a win in Classical and one in the rapid format.

With two draws in two games, Caruana is in fourth spot on two points while Gelfand now has one point.

Anand is yet to open his account. Nakamura opted for the Berlin defense as black, a choice of Carlsen in the last world championship match against Anand last

year, and got a complicated middle game that favoured Anand.

However, just while it looked Anand was pressing, Nakamura spotted a tactical resource with a piece sacrifice that was hard to meet over the board. Not playing the best defense that he is known for, Anand succumbed to the pressure on the king side as Nakamura launched his attack and Anand's two pieces against rook did not prove sufficient. The game lasted 36 moves.

Carlsen went for the English opening against Aronian who chose the reverse Sicilian structure with black pieces. The game did not involve many fireworks as Aronian kept pace with Carlsen throughout and matched him move for move.

A few pieces changed hands in the middle game and the players reached a queen and knights endgame in quick time. Carlsen gave up his knight to force a draw through perpetual checks.

Caruana was pushed to the wall by Gelfand.

It was a Dutch defense game where the Israeli played white and won a pawn in the endgame. Caruana had to find some difficult defense but in the end succeeded in keeping his position together. The draw was agreed to in 56 moves.

Anand suffers shock defeat in Zurich Chess Challenge

Kohli inches closer to top spot in ICC ODI rankings

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ZuRiCH, FebRuaRy 1 (PTi): Former world champion Viswanathan Anand struggled with his form for the second consecutive day on Saturday as he suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura of United States in the second round of Zurich Chess Challenge.

Having lost to Levon Aronian of Armenia in the first round, this turned out to be a double blow for Anand who now finds himself at the last spot in the highest category event.

World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway played out a draw with Aronian while Fabiano Caruana of Italy hung on to get his

Merseyside derby mauling when they host Aston Villa.

Defending champions Manchester United, meanwhile, could provisionally move to within 10 points

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of leaders City if they win at Stoke City. The league's bottom two clubs are also in action, with Fulham hosting Southampton and Cardiff City tackling Norwich City.

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