January 15th, 2016

C M Y K

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 13 • 12 PAGes • 5

www.morungexpress.com

friDAY • JAnuArY 15 • 2016

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can’t accept your imperfections, that’s their fault POLIO FREE WORLD: Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level 1st Round of IPPI talks rescheduled for ‘near future’ on January 17 PAGE 08

o F

T R u T H

—Dr. David M. Burns

Sania-Martina earn 29th win in a row, enter final

PAGE 02

PAGE 10

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Most politicians suffer from dementia. so we give them daily dose of’ ‘demand-tio.’

The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion

Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Will 2016 be the year of the great Change in Nagaland? Why? Yes

no

others

Public Information All press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to the official email address:

morung@gmail.com

Press releases will be accepted only till 8:00 pm Editor, The Morung Express

Birth by candle light in Manipur health centre

C M Y K

ImphAl, JAnuAry 14 (IAnS): In this age of technology and medical marvels, a remote village in Manipur along the international border with Myanmar that is yet to get electricity connection saw a baby being born in the light of candles and torchlights.

The baby was born on Wednesday evening at a public health centre in the remote border village of Kwatha. This was the first birth in the hospital. However, the birth took place without any electricity, and in the light of candles and torchlights since there is no power connection in the village. Commending the hospital staff for their service, medical officer L. Nandakumar said: “When the expectant mother was admitted for normal delivery, we were apprehensive since there is no power or water in the hospital.

We had to send a peon to buy candles and batteries for the torchlights. We are happy that there was no complication.”

Asked what were the requirements of the hospital, Nandakumar said: “There should be power, running water, besides enough medicines, including life-saving ones.”

State health director Okram Ibomcha said he was happy that doctors and paramedics were pro-active in the remote border village. He said he has been trying to provide all-round medical services to the people of rural and hill areas, and that he has been personally supervising posting of the medical staff to remote areas.

(LEFT) Indonesian police hold rifles while walking behind a car for protection in Jakarta. (RIGHT) A man is seen holding a gun towards the crowd in central Jakarta, Indonesia, in this picture provided to Reuters

by Xinhua News Agency January 14. (REUTERS) Story on page 9

from Defamation to sedition: 2015 Bring village chiefs under RTI, Meghalaya HC rules was ‘hugely eventful’ for free speech Morung Express news various individuals, of which 35 people were Dimapur | January 14 charged with sedition in In 2015, the media the country.

Several of these cases and various individuals who dared to criticise the went up to the Supreme State and its policies had Court over the course of a “hugely eventful” year the year. However, the with regard to their free country’s apex court forspeech. This was stated in tunately weighed in on a recently released report the side of the freedom of from the media watchdog speech of the accused, in most cases. website ‘The Hoot.’

In a case of defamation Media houses in particular were at the reliev- being filed against publicaing end, with the report tions and writers, the report observing that defamation cited how on August 27, a and sedition cases against Rs 250 crore defamation the media in India were at case was filed by Essar Steel an all time high the previ- against Caravan magazine.

The Supreme Court in this ous year.

According to the re- case declined to transfer a port, 48 defamation suits defamation suit against the were filed against the me- magazine to Delhi In the case of the Indian dia and various individuals. In addition, 14 sedition Institute of Planning and charges were filed against Management, the Court

called the institute’s Rs 50 Crore suit against Caravan as bogus, while however letting the case be transferred to Delhi.

The Supreme Court also stepped in to protect journalists from similar actions by the Delhi Government, by staying a circular on defamation. The court went ahead and further stayed several defamation cases against many eminent writers, journalists and media houses.

The Tamil Nadu government in particular took things to a whole new level, filing 11 defamation and 2 sedition cases against a range of magazines and individuals. This prompted the Supreme Court to take note by the end of the year, slamming the Tamil Nadu State Government

for granting sanction for prosecution in these cases.

The torrent of obstacles against free speech was again compounded by several sedition charges (14) filed against several individuals.

The Hoot report cited in particular that on August 27, 2015 the Maharashtra State Government had the audacity to issue circulars to all police stations in the state directing that sedition charges be applied if citizens criticize public officials or politicians.

The Bombay High Court in one of these cases against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi ruled on March 18 that mere criticism is not seditious.

The report termed the number of sedition charg-

es being filed as a “worrying” trend. In 2015, the Law Commission had recommended doing away with the death penalty for all offences except terrorism and sedition. “But sedition became such a frequently imposed charge that the prospect of such a recommendation is worrying,” the report said.

And to top it all off, the country’s elected representatives played their part as well. The political class had a significant role to play between filing defamation cases against the media and also against each other, while some indulging in hate speech.

“The political class contributed its share to the long list of free speech violations in 2015,” the report stated.

ShIllong, JAnuAry 14 (pTI): The Meghalaya High Court on Jan 13 directed the state government to bring suitable and comprehensive legislation to settle all controversies with the office of the traditional village chiefs and also to bring it under the purview of Right to Information (RTI) Act. It appears that there is no uniformity in respect of customary laws, practises and usages and provisions of law enacted by Autonomous District Councils, Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh said in a judgement while disposing of a writ petition.

There should be some common qualifications and eligibility criteria for contesting election to the office of Headman, and also regarding the term of office, the remuneration to be paid and the nature of

duties, the judgement said.

The court has also directed that the office of the Headman also needs to be brought within the purview of Right to Information Act considering that such institution acts as a tool of governance at the grassroot level and is also being assigned an important role in implementing various programmes and schemes of the central and state governments.

Directing the authorities to frame necessary rules in this regard, the judgement also ordered the state government to include the Headman in the definition of a public servant. Moreover, the court directed, the state government should also ensure that no person with anti-national and criminal background is allowed to contest the election.

Virus testing lab-network to Internet connectivity in NE to receive boost come up across India: ICMR

nEw DElhI, JAnuAry 14 (IAnS): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a network of viral diagnostic and research laboratories to build capacity for handling outbreaks, and managing epidemics and natural calamities across the country.

Under the initiative, the ICMR has begun work for five regional, 11 state-level and 35 medical collegelevel laboratories.

“These laboratories will be connected to Asia’s first BSL IV laboratory at the National Institute of Virology in Maharashtra to deal with most dangerous lethal infections like haemorrhagic fevers, agents of bio terrorism and several other issues related to the subject,” Soumya Swaminathan, secretary at the health ministry’s Department of Health Research, and ICMR director general, said at the annual press conference of the research institution.

She said 62 multi-disciplinary research units in different medical colleges have been approved and funds were released to 48 of them to strengthen health infrastructure and create an environment of research.

The ICMR, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest and largest

medical research bodies in the world. The ICMR is funded by the government through the Department of Health Research and the health ministry.

Earlier, the government had allotted 102.69 acres of land at Genome Valley in Hyderabad free of cost to the ICMR for establishment of the National Animal Resource Facility (NARF) for Biomedical Research. It will be the Asia’s first such facility dedicated to the research on animals.

Among several data revealed during the annual press briefing, the ICMR also said studies have stated that rising indoor and outdoor air pollution was emerging as the leading cause for chronic deaths and the only reason that has escalated was because of the lack of awareness among people both in rural and urban areas.

“Over the years, we have witnessed completely different situation... while in 1990, the majority of the death were due to communicable diseases (CD), today in 2016, over 50 percent of the deaths are due to non-communicable diseases (NCD),” said Swaminathan.

According to medical science, poor air quality for pregnant women results in lower birth weight of their child.

Swaminathan said the ICMR has initiated research programmes on hy-

pertension, nutrition and tuberculosis with a goal to improve the health of tribal and other marginalised communities.

“A vector borne diseases science forum has been set up to research on malaria, filariasis and Japanese Encephalitis.

Ambitious public-private partnership for malaria elimination in Jabalpur will be initiated soon,” stated Swaminathan.

The ICMR has also planned to start a new triple dug therapy project with the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to support filariasis elimination.

On the overall health condition of the country, Swaminathan said that though life expectancy of the people has increased over the years, but the quality of life has deteriorated.

On the various technological equipment being prepared by the ICMR to ease the medical system, Swaminathan said the institute has designed a special cooling jacket for people exposed to hot atmosphere and also a medical kit for diagnosis of chlamydial infections prevalent in women.

Among several other medical equipment designed by the ICMR are diagnostic kit for lung fluke diseases, and kits for leptospirisis prevalent in Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and other states.

AgArTAlA, JAnuAry 14 (IAnS): The states in the North East region are set to receive a boost in internet connectivity, with India’s third international internet gateway in Agartala set to be operational in Agartala a month. This was informed by BSNL chief general manager (North-East one circle) KK Saxena said here on Thursday.

Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on July 11 last year laid the foundation stone here for the third international internet gate-

way (IIG) through Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.

“Laying of the optical fibre cable (OFC) link between Akhaura (along Agartala) and Cox’s Bazar has been completed and the final testing is now going on.

This would be the country’s third international internet gateway after Mumbai and Chennai and it would be operational in a month,” Saxena told reporters.

He said: “When the IIG would be operational, there would not only be a sea change in the internet and telecommunication connectivity in northeast

India, but the other parts of the country would also be benefited by getting additional internet bandwidth.”

The official said so far northeastern states have been getting internet connectivity through Mumbai and Chennai international internet gateway but the distance was creating lots of problems, including very weak speed and drop of linkages.

“The internet connectivity from Bangladesh would be unimpeded and have high-speed with large bandwidth besides most reliable.”

Chief Minister Manik

Sarkar had on a number of occasions written letters to Modi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh for alternative telecom routing through Bangladesh for improving feeble telecommunication facilities in the northeast region.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company has laid optical fibre cable of the 30 km distance from Brahmanbaria to Akhaura, which adjoins Agartala, while the BSNL will set up international long distance (ILD) gateway at Agartala along with associated equipment.

Kohima police nab serial burglar

The accused in police custody, along with the large number of items he has been accused of stealing.

DImApur, JAnuAry 14 (mExn): Kohima Police have arrested a serial burglar for stealing an astonishing amount of household goods and construction materials.

Acting on an FIR lodged by the residents of Jakhama

Village, the Kohima Police arrested one person identified as Viphreto. A press note from the PRO, Kohima Police said that the accused was a “habitual offender” and has been charged with house breaking and stealing household goods and

building materials.

A large number of items, ranging from beds to a rice cooker, were recovered by the police from the accused person’s possession after his arrest.

Police listed out the items recovered as : 8 LPG

cylinders, 2 printers, 2 syntax drum (1000 litres and 300 litres), 6 Naga shawls, 4 Mekhelas, 3 wollen blankets, 1 table lamp with charger, 1 rice cooker, 1 pressure cooker, 1 LPG lamp, 6 plates and cups, 1 dinner set, 73 cgi sheets, 11 dunlop cushions, 2 rolls of barbed wires, 1 colour TV, 1 Naga dao, 2 wooden beds, 1 folding table, 2 table cloths and curtains, 2 pillow covers, 1 wooden stool, 1 iron saw and 2 iron levers.

After recovery, the items were returned to the rightful owner, police said. In this connection a regular case vide Khuzama P.S Case No. 001/16 U/S 457/450/380 IPC has been registered against the accused, who has been forwarded to judicial custody.

2

FriDAY 15•01•2016

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

POLIO FREE WORLD:

Bus for capturing biometric launched

1st Round of IPPI on January 17

• Over 2.3 Iakh eligible children • 2,308 Polio Booths • 9,232 Vaccinators • 462 Supervisors • Special focus on migrant population

Kohima, January 14 (mExn): The Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland has made an appeal to all sections of the people, agencies (Government and Non- Government including the security forces and police), organizations, churches and community leaders and especially parents of children below 5 years to come forward and ensure that all eligible children receive the ‘Two Drops of Life’ (Polio Drops) on January 17.

Nagaland, along with other states in India will conduct the 1st Round of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization on Sunday, January 17. The Department of Health & Family Welfare is all geared up to administer Polio drops to over 2.3 Iakh eligible children from 0-5 years throughout the state in

Dimapur district gears up for IPPI 2016

Dimapur, January 14 (mExn): The first round of ‘IPPI’ Polio Sunday will be held on January 17 in Dimapur District. All parents are requested to bring their Children aged 0-5 years to the nearest Polio Booth in their locality for Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) starting from 7 AM to 3 PM. The Department would also appeal to all concerned citizens to mobilize children to avail the Polio Drops.

Chief Medical Officer Dimapur Dr. M.A.Wati in a press release said, “the department acknowledges the constant support and co-operation from your esteemed daily and appeals once again for your full co-operation and support for successful implementation of the programme.”

Meanwhile, a meeting by District Task Force on Immunization for IPPI and WIFS Advisory Committee for National Deworming Day was held at DC’s Conference Hall Dimapur on January 14.Kesonyu Yhome, IAS, Deputy Commissioner 2,308 Polio Booths to be manned by 9,232 vaccinators and 462 supervisors along with vaccines and other logistics. Special focus will be given to migrant population with an aim to prevent importation of Polio cases.

While thanking everyone for their past coopera-

Dimapur and Chairman DTFI welcome all the members.

Dr. Lanuakum, DPO (RCH/UIP) Dimapur gave a detailed presentation on the global scenario on Polio and the plan of action for IPPI 2016 in Dimapur District. During his presentation, DPO, (UIP/RCH) stated that the target population for IPPI 2016 is 53167 children between the ages of 0-5 years. A total of 512 booths will be set up across the District to administer polio vaccine on IPPI Sunday on January 17. He further stated that though polio has not been reported in the country in the recent years, the re-occurrence of polio is still a possibility. The focus would be on mainly migrant population and the slums areas. He also oriented the members on the performance status of Routine Immunization in the District.

DPO, (UIP/RCH) also oriented the members on the upcoming National Deworming Day to be observed all over the country including

tion, Dr. Sukhato A Sema Mission Director, NHM Health & Family Welfare in a press release added, “Lets us together gift our children a ‘Polio Free World’.”

Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) 2016 India has remained free of wild polio cases since January 2011 and India's

our state on February 10, followed by a Mop Up Day on 15th Feb. 2016 to give coverage to those children who were left out on February 10. Anganwadi Centers and Schools both (Government & Privates) will be the implementation sites of National Deworming Day across the country.

Kesonyu Yhome, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman DTFI emphasized the importance of coordination between the Stakeholders for the success of the program.

He further suggested that simple and easy to understand instructions should be given to AWWs and ASHAs for better implementation and reporting of the program.

Dr. Antoly, Dy.CMO Dimapur delivered the vote of thanks. The meeting was attended by Dr. M.A. Wati, CMO, District welfare officer, DPO (ICDS), CDPO’s, JEO, EBRC Coordinators (Education Department), DPRO, and Stakeholders from various Departments in the District.

unprecedented progress against polio has led to certification of south east region including India by WHO in March 2014.

India remains at high risk of importation till the whole world is free of wild polio virus. As per the recommendations of the India Expert Advisory Group

(IEAG) on Polio, NIDs are to be conducted covering all the children in the age group 0-5 years of age using tOPV. For any further information contact nearest Health Centre or the chief Medical Officer/District Programme Officer (RCH & UIP) of the district concerned.

Commissioner of Nagaland, Sentiyanger flags off the National Population Register camps Mobile Bus at the Commissioner’s Office Kohima on January 14. (DIPR Photo)

Kohima, January 14 (Dipr): In order to capture Biometric for the left out population in the State, the National Population Register (NPR) camps Mobile Bus was today flagged off by Commissioner of Nagaland, Sentiyanger at the Commissioner’s Office Kohima where Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Rovilatuo Mor, IAS and officials from the Office of Commissioner and Census Department were also present.

The mobile bus is equipped with all necessary Biometric tools including Back-up Generator, which would be deputed throughout the State to collect the Biometrics.

The bus has been issued with its main motive to capture Biometric for the left-out population in the State of Nagaland.

Assistant Director, M.

LKRSU Biennial Session held

lows: on January 15 at High School Junction, on January 16 at PHQ Junction and on January 18 at Lerie Colony from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. He also added that the following routes would be worked out together with the respective District Administration and would be communicated to all concerned in due course of time.

It is also informed that Permanent Enrolment Centre for capturing Biometric has been set up and functioning in the Office of Deputy Commissioner Kohima as well as in all the Administrative Offices in Tseminyu, Chiephobozou, Sechu, Jakhama and Kezocha. The Deputy Commissioner has therefore informed all the left out population who are yet to get Biometric to avail the opportunity which is been made available at the doorstep.

MEx File Nagaland orphanage Bible camp

ZunhEboto, January 14 (nEpS): Former Minister and NPF MLA G Kaito Aye called upon the students to pay serious attention to their educational careers as education is the ‘key to successful living.’ Gracing the 10th Langki Kilki Range Students’ Union (LKRSU) Biennial Session at Xukhepu Village under Zunheboto district last Saturday, the former Minister stressed on the importance of education in society. Urging the students to understand the values of hard work, Kaito explained that there was no alternative to hard work if one wished to be successful in their life. At the same time, they should also focus on other co-curricular activities to make G Kaito Aye, former Minister and NPF MLA at the 10th Langki Kilki Range Students’ Union Biennial Session them capable of facing any given competition, he added. held at Xukhepu Village.

Kohima, January 14 (mExn): The River of Soul Saving Ministry is organizing a three day long Nagaland Orphanage Bible Camp from January 22 to 24 at Koinonia Prayer Centre under the theme “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” (Psalms 27:10). The speakers of the camp include; Rev. Zotuo Kiewhuo, senior pastor, Koinonia Baptist Church Kohima, Pastor Vezokho Vero, Naga Shisha Hoho Kohima, Pastor Letuolie Pienyii, Christian Revival Church, Pezielietsie Kohima and Pastor Khriesavituo Belho, Christian Revival Church, Keviphe. Praise and worship will be led by Hope Ministry.

The camp chairman will be Razou Angami, camp director Neisapi Ltu and Menuosielie Usou as secretary.

Passport Seva Kendra at Dimapur Dimapur, January 14 (Dipr): Minister of State for External Affairs, Statistics & Programme Implementation I/C Government of India Gen. Dr. VK Singh (retd) will be inaugurating the Passport Seva Kendra in Dimapur on January 15 at 2:00 pm at New DCs office complex, Dimapur. Chief Minister Nagaland TR Zeliang will also be addressing on the occasion.

Tobu SDPDB meeting conducted

mon, January 14 (Dipr): The Tobu SDPDB for the month of January 2016 was held at ADC conference hall Tobu on January 13 under the Vice Chairmanship of SDPDB Tobu, A. Zubenthung Kithan and Secretary, Temsu Chuba Jamir. After review of the last meeting minutes pow-

Peseyie has informed that since the middle of 2011, the Census Department has been collecting the Biometrics of the residents all over the State and so far, two rounds of Biometrics camps have been carried out in each and every town and village. He said that in order to supplement the Permanent Enrolment Centres presently set up in all District Headquarters as well as the Sub-District Headquarters, the Mobile Bus has been issued by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India to make it convenient for the residents of the State to get their Biometric.

He further informed that the Mobile Bus would be stationed in various locations within Kohima Town for capturing Biometric starting from today at Phoolbari and as fol-

erpint presentations were given by Agri Department and RD Department. Main points discussed at the meeting included control of opium use within 55 A/C Tobu and 48 A/C Moka constituency. Some Departments contributed financially to SD- An elderly woman carries firewood along Nagaland Secretariat Road in Kohima Town. State PDB Tobu to purchase sound system Capital Kohima currently faces severe cold wave. (Morung Photo)

PIcTuRESquE PhOLamI vILLagE

Governor extend Sukrunye greetings Kohima, January 14 (Dipr): On the occasion of Sukrunye festival, the Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya has extended greetings to the Chakhesang Community. The Governor said in that message that as the Sukrunye festival signifies sanctification and cleansing oneself and beginning of a new journey, “I hope that the people of Nagaland will start a new journey by forgiving each other, being a blessing to each other and work together in bringing lasting peace and upliftment of the society.” He also adds, “May the celebration of this festival bring peace and progress to the people of Nagaland and strengthen the bond of love and unity among the people.”

TGOU Nagaland National seminar Dimapur, January 14 (mExn): The Global Open University, Nagaland in collaboration with the Archeological Survey of India, New Delhi and Society for Cultural Heritage in North-East India, Guwahati is organizing two days National seminar on Eastern Himalayan Domestic Architecture in North-Eastern region of India on February 5 and 6 at the Conference Hall of The Global Open University, Nagaland. TGOU Nagaland Vice Chancellor Dr H N Dutta has informed in a press release that there will be a photographic exhibition on the theme of the seminar at the premises of the University. Eminent and distinguished scholars who are working in the field from ASI, New Delhi, Shimla (HP) and from all the states of the North-East region of India are participating in the said seminar.

CBCC youth fest from today

The Morung Express presents glimpse of picturesque Pholami village in Phek district. Agro-tourism is potential here. Morung Photo by Chizokho Vero

phEK, January 14 (mExn): The youth department of the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) is all set to hold youth fest 2016 from January 15 to 17 at Chozuba town. The youth fest will be hosted by Chozuba Area Baptist Youth Department.

The three day long youth fest will be marked by camp devotion, self evaluation service, theme song and indigenous competition, inspirational service, camp devotion, covenantal service, youth celebration, committal service, launching of youth year 2016 etc etc. The speakers of the youth fest includes; Rev. Dr. Vezopa Tetseo, executive secretary CBCC, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, general secretary NBCC, Rev.Dr. Razouselie Lasetso, professor ETC Jorhat and Vikuo Rhi, youth secretary NBCC. Greetings will be shared by president Chakhesang Youth Front and Chakhesang Public Organization.

FriDAY 15 •01•2016

NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

3

SC sends Arunachal Assembly In Assam, a debate over banning bulbul fights Assam readies imbroglio to constitution bench New Delhi, JaNuary 14 (iaNS): The Supreme Court on Thursday referred, to the constitution bench, the Arunachal Pradesh assembly imbroglio involving the fate of the Nabam Tuki-led Congress government and the role of Governor J.P.Rajkhowa in the handling of the situation triggered by rebel ruling party lawmakers.

A bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan referred the matter to the constitution bench as senior counsel Harish Salve urged the court that the matter being dealt by it involved important issues of constitutional law and the powers of the governor and as such, be referred to the constitution bench.

As the bench did did so, senior counsel Fali Nariman, appearing for Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia,

allegedly ousted by the rebel Congress lawmakers with the support of Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers, mentioned the matter before the court of Chief Justice T.S.Thakur seeking an early hearing by the constitution bench.

Urging the Chief Justice to constitute a bench for hearing of their plea at an early date, Nariman said the hearing had to be before January 21 as there can't be a gap of more than six months between two assembly sessions.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal also told the court that if the matter was not heard early, then the assembly would be convened and the government may fall.

He said that the Deputy Speaker Tenzing Norbu was against Rebia.

Upon the mentioning, Chief Justice Thakur said that he would take a deci-

Learn from Manipur quake: IIT-R team DehraDuN, JaNuary 14 (tNN): A team of professors from IIT Roorkee, Department of Earthquake Engineering, which went to Manipur to study the impact of the powerful 6.8 magnitude temblor that hit the northeastern state on January 4, has called for preventive measures to be taken in Uttarakhand, claiming that a quake of similar intensity in the state could lead to significant damage due to rampant use of rubble masonry in its hills.

The three-member team of professors including Yogendra Singh, Manish Shrikhande and BK Maheswari was sent to Manipur after the institute was approached

by Manipur's public works department (PWD).

Singh, who along with his team returned after assessing the ground situation in Manipur on January 11, said, "We studied the situation in the quake hit Manipur and will be submitting a detailed report to the Manipur government in a day or two."

Singh told TOI, "If an earthquake of similar intensity hits Uttarakhand, it will relatively have much more serious repercussions. In the north-east many constructions use light weight material and bamboo while in the hills of Uttarakhand, random rubble masonry use is quite rampant, which can lead to exhaustive damage and certain preventive measures need to be taken immediately to minimize loss of life."

sion only after the papers relating to the order passed by the bench of Justice Khehar and Justice Nagappan are placed before him.

Norbu had reversed the decision of Rebia disqualifying 14 Congress MLAs. Rebia was on December 16 ousted as the speaker at an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar and attended by the rebel Congress and BJP lawmakers.

The apex court had on Wednesday asked Governor Rajkhowa not to convene the assembly session till January 18 as it was seized of the matter.

"We are satisfied, that it would be just and appropriate, if proceedings of the assembly are not held from now onwards till January 18, 2016," it said and sought its orders be placed before the governor.

Guwahati, JaNuary 14 (the iNDiaN expreSS): Away from the Supreme Court order restraining the Tamil Nadu government from holding Jallikattu bullfights, a debate is playing out in Assam on fights between members of a smaller species, the bulbul.

Every Makar Sankranti, which coincides with Assam’s harvest festival Bhogali Bihu, bulbul fights are organised in the HayagrivaMadhava temple in Hajo, about 30 km from Guwahati. Last month, ruling in a case between the Assam government and the temple management, Gauhati HC had allowed the tradition to continue. On Tuesday, the court stayed that order, effectively prohibiting bulbul fights.

The stay order evoked strong protests Wednesday, with the doloi (head priest) of the temple sitting on an indefinite fast. “We are not against the court order, but we are hurt because the bulbul fight is part of the religious traditions of our temple. Moreover, we take utmost care of the birds and release them after the fights are over,” said Shiva Prasad Sarma, doloi of the Hayagriva-Madhava temple.

for feasting festival Magh Bihu

While he fasted on the temple premises, other members of the temple committee staged a sit-in.

People of surrounding villages catch bulbul chicks and rear them for a few weeks before they are taken to the temple premises on Makar Sankranti; the owners of the winners get various prizes. The birds do sustain injuries during the fight. Those that lose are let off after trimming the crest so that they do not enter a contest again. There is no betting on the fights.

Moves to ban the tradition began in January last year when the

Landslide kills two in Darjeeling Manipur remembers drivers

killed, missing while on duty

DarJeeliNG, JaNuary 14 (pti): Two persons, including a child, were killed and five others injured in a landslide in Darjeeling hills district of West Bengal.

District Magistrate Anurag Srivastava said the landslide took place at around 5:30 AM as the boulders rolled over NH 10 where expansion work was in progress. The locality Bhotabhir in Darjeeling is close to Sikkim border.

While two bodies were brought out from the debris, five occupants of a passing car, which had boulders heaped on it, were injured, the DM said.

The injured belonged to the family of IOC employee Nima Tamang of Sikkim and were rushed to hospital.

Police forces from both West Bengal and Sikkim were engaged in rescue work in the area along with locals.

Sikkim becomes India's first organic state KolKata, JaNuary 14 (pti): Sikkim has become India's first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation.

"We have achieved fullyorganic status in the end of December. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally announce this at a sustainable agriculture conference in Gangtok on January 18," Sikkim Organic Mission's executive director Dr Anbalagan told PTI. He said around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land was gradually converted to certified organic land by implementing organic practices and principles as per guidelines laid down in National Programme for Organic Production.

It was 12 years ago in 2003 when the Pawan Chamling-led government decided to make Sikkim an organic farming state through a declaration in

the legislative assembly.

Later the entry of chemical inputs for farmland was restricted and their sale banned. Farmers therefore had no option but to go organic. Organic cultivation is free of chemical pesticides and chemical fertilisers as it tries to strike a harmonious balance with a complex series of ecosystems.

In the long term, organic farming leads in subsistence of agriculture, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, agriculture secretary Khorlo Bhutia said.

Sustainable farming will also help in building the soil health resulting in sustainable increased crop production, he said. Besides it will also boost the tourism industry in the tiny landlocked Himalayan state.

Resorts have already been marketing themselves as completely organic where tourists can pluck, cook and relish fresh

Assam government issued an order, based on earlier SC orders.

The temple committee challenged it through a writ petition. On December 22, a single judge bench stopped operation of the government order.

The Animal Welfare Board of India challenged the court order.

On Tuesday evening, Justice Rumi Kumari Phukan, holding a vacation court, invoked the SC’s earlier orders and stayed the high court’s December 22 order. The judge suggested that the matter be later taken up by a division bench.

Guwahati, JaNuary 14 (iaNS): Assam is gearing up to celebrate Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu, the festival of feasts.

Although the Assamese month of Magh will start on Saturday, the festival begins on Uruka, with a grand feast on Thursday night and lighting of the Meji (bonfire made of bamboo and straw) on Friday, which is the Sankranti or the last day of the month of Puh. Bhogali Bihu marks the harvest festival and the celebration continues for more than a week.

Magh Bihu is basically about food. Traditional food items like laru (coconut or sesame laddoos), pitha (rice cakes), and flattened rice with curd are served to guests during the festival.

Markets across the state saw brisk activity since Thursday morning.

organic food from their kitchen gardens.

Bestowed with varied agro-climatic condition, some of the major crops in Sikkim include large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, offseason vegetables, flowers, Sikkim mandarin, kiwi, buck wheat, paddy maize and millets.

As Sikkimese farmers were never dependent heavily on chemicals, the yield per hectare has not been affected by organic farming.

"There was only limited use of chemical fertilisers prior to 2003 and the crop cultivation depended on

low external inputs. Farmers were traditionally familiar in production and use of farm yard manure and compost. In general, there was no set back in productivity," the agriculture secretary, said.

The use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides was only about 8-12 kg per hectare, officials said.

To ensure availability of organic manures and pesticides, the government trained farmers on producing it, they said adding a bio-fertiliser production unit was set up at Majitar.

Organic produce command a premium price in

the market both inside the country and outside as it is becoming a craze among health and environment conscious people.

According to estimates, Sikkim produces around 80,000 million tonnes of farm products.

The total organic production in the country is estimated to be around 1.24 million tonnes while the total area under organic farming is 0.723 million hectares.

A number of other states in India like Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala are now trying to become organic.

FREE COMPUTER TRAINING FOR SC/ST CANDIDATES National Institute of Electronics & IT (NIELIT) Extension Centre Chuchuyimlang, Mokokchung District is one with the best infrastructures and teaching environment in Information Technologyv and our institute caters to the local youths to provide education in the area of Information and Technology.

Courses Duration

NIELIT ‘O’ level (Diploma)

NIELIT ‘A’ level (Advanced Diploma)

1 year

1 ½ Year (1 year for O Level Qualifiers) ‘O’ level Qualified/Govt. recognized 10 + 2 or ITI certificate Eligibility polytechnic engineering diploma or any (one year) after class 10 Graduate.

“NIELIT O Level computer course is a must for every individual. It will empower the individual in the field of computer software & hardware and provides an opportunity for the candidate for employment.”

“The fact that it’s a one-year duration course and eligibility being 10+2 passed, many students having the requisite qualification as well as those who couldn’t make it in their Graduate examination should take this opportunity to prepare themselves by enrolling in O level”.

“For graduates & O Level qualifiers who want to be professionals in the field of IT, they must enroll for NIELIT A Level” Placement: Our students have found employment in leading organization such as Education Department, Health and family welfare, state police, SBI, BSNL and other private companies.

ADMISSION IS GOING ON FOR THE ABOVE COURSES. THERE IS NO ADMISSION FEE, NO MONTHLY FEE & NO EXAM FEE FOR SC/ST Last date of Admission is 28th January 2016. Limited Seats only.

For Admission please contact +919856071050/ +919612809158/ +919612808377

imphal, JaNuary 14 (iaNS): Manipur on Thursday observed the 27th Drivers' Day held in the memory of hundreds of drivers and cleaners who are killed, injured or go missing while on duty.

There was no public transport in the city on Thursday since the drivers abstained from work.

The main function was held at Langjing Achouba by the All Manipur Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union. Events were also held across the state.

The day remembered hundreds of drivers and cleaners, who become easy targets of extortionists, militants, and highway robbers. Many drivers have

been killed or kidnapped in the recent past.

When a cleaner was shot dead in Zubza in Nagaland on January 13, 1990, drivers in Manipur went on strike for nine days demanding justice, and decided to observe Drivers' Day every year on January 14.

On Thursday, floral tributes were paid at the photographs of the dead or missing drivers and cleaners.

A driver named Sekho told IANS that it was very unfortunate that even today, killings, assault and kidnappings of drivers by militants continue.

Other drivers lamented that the central government has turned down the Manipur government's de-

mand for a highway protection force.

When he was defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee said in Imphal that since it was a law and order issue, the Manipur government should use its own forces to provide security to drivers.

CPI leader Sotin Kumar, who is associated with welfare schemes of drivers, meanwhile, demanded that drivers should be paid a salary of Rs.15,000.

He said the government should take up steps for the protection of drivers along the national highways.

"Apart from killings and assault, sometimes loaded trucks are torched and the criminals have never been accounted for," he alleged.

NAGALAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION KOHIMA

NO.NPSC/CON-35/2009

Dated Kohima, the 14th Jan, 2016

NOTIFICATION

In compliance to the Judgment Order of the Hon’ble Guwahati High Court on Case No. WA 370/2014 dt. 28.09.2015 for re-evaluation of GS-I Paper of NCS, NPS, NSS & Allied Services (Main) Examination 2014 relating to the 119 questions, the Commission has annulled the Viva-voce held from 06.01.2015 to 27.01.2015 and assessed the performance of the candidates and as per direction. In pursuance of the Advertisement No. NPSC-1/2014 dated 03.05.2014, Addendum/Corrigendum dated 23.05.2014, the Commission is to hereby declare the written examination results in supercession of the earlier notification of even no. dated 01.12.2014 and the candidates bearing the following roll numbers (in ascending order) have qualified for the Viva-Voce: 7003 7045 7072 7109 7149 7185 7231 7274 7295 7333 7361 7393 7419 7447 7477 7498

7004 7051 7074 7116 7150 7190 7238 7275 7296 7334 7363 7396 7420 7448 7479 7502

7005 7052 7075 7118 7153 7193 7239 7277 7298 7336 7364 7397 7423 7449 7480

7006 7054 7076 7119 7155 7194 7242 7278 7300 7338 7365 7399 7424 7450 7483

7011 7055 7079 7124 7156 7195 7250 7280 7301 7339 7367 7400 7425 7454 7484

7015 7058 7088 7125 7157 7199 7251 7281 7304 7344 7369 7401 7426 7456 7486

7026 7060 7090 7127 7158 7200 7253 7284 7308 7347 7370 7403 7428 7457 7487

7030 7061 7091 7135 7160 7212 7254 7285 7309 7348 7375 7405 7431 7462 7490

7032 7062 7098 7136 7164 7214 7255 7286 7313 7350 7376 7406 7436 7463 7491

7035 7066 7100 7139 7174 7218 7258 7288 7316 7351 7377 7410 7437 7466 7492

7037 7067 7102 7142 7176 7219 7260 7289 7321 7352 7379 7411 7438 7468 7493

7038 7068 7103 7143 7178 7224 7263 7291 7326 7353 7382 7412 7439 7471 7495

7042 7069 7105 7145 7180 7225 7266 7293 7329 7355 7391 7416 7444 7473 7496

7044 7071 7108 7146 7183 7227 7268 7294 7330 7356 7392 7417 7446 7476 7497

Note: i. Viva-voce for all the shortlisted candidates shall commence from 16th February, 2016. ii. Interview call letters shall be issued to the selected candidates from 20th January, 2016 to 10th February, 2016 from the Office of the Commission. iii. All shortlisted candidates for Viva-voce must submit self-certified or attested copies of the following documents from 20th January, 2016 to 10th February, 2016: (a)HSLC/Matriculation Admit Card for proof of age. (b)Mark Sheets and Pass Certificates from HSLC onwards till required qualification. (In the absence of Degree Pass Certificate, candidates can furnish Provisional Certificate of Board/ University/Institute). (c) I.I., SC/ST, BT, Phy. Handicapped (if applicable). (d)No Objection Certificate from Head of Department (for serving Government employees only). (e)They will also be required to exercise their post preference and submit their particulars in prescribed format which will be issued by the Commission. iv. All shortlisted candidates for Viva-Voce shall undergo Medical and Physical Tests. They can access the Commission’s website at www.npsc.co.in for further information. v. 1(one) post of Research Assistant (Class-III Non-Gazetted) under Art & Culture Department (reserved for Angami tribe) has been withdrawn by the Department concerned vide Letter No. AC/ESTT-4/2012 dt. 04.09.2014.

(SARAH R. RITSE) Secretary, Nagaland Public Service Commission Kohima.

4

FriDAY 15•01•2016

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

India’s Aadhaar increased access, reduced corruption: World Bank Washington, January 14 (ians): Citing how India increased access and reduced corruption in public services by providing unique digital identification to one billion people in five years, the World Bank says digital technologies can promote inclusion, efficiency, and innovation.

Indian are using their digital IDs called Aadhaar “to open bank accounts, monitor attendance of civil servants, and identify recipients of government subsidies,” noted the new ‘World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends,’ released here on Thursday.

“In public health services, simple SMS messages have proven effective in reminding people living with HIV to take their lifesaving drugs,” said the 350 plus page report that was two years in the making by a 15 member team led by co-directors, Deepak Mishra and Uwe Deichmann.

However, the report

noted that while the internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies are spreading rapidly throughout the developing world, the anticipated digital dividends of higher growth, more jobs, and better public services have fallen short of expectations.

As many as 60 percent of the world’s population remains excluded from the everexpanding digital economy with the benefits of rapid digital expansion skewed towards the wealthy, skilled, and influential around the world.

In addition, though the number of internet users worldwide has more than tripled since 2005, four billion people still lack access to the internet.

“The digital revolution is transforming the world, aiding information flows, and facilitating the rise of developing nations that are able to take advantage

of these new opportunities,” said Kaushik Basu, World Bank Chief Economist.

To deliver fully on the development

promise of a new digital age, the World Bank suggested two main actions that the report calls analog complements to digital investments.

These are closing the digital divide by making the internet universal, affordable, open, and safe and strengthening regulations that ensure competition among business, adapting workers’ skills to the demands of the new economy, and fostering

accountable institutions.

China has the largest number of internet users, followed by the US, with India, Japan, and Brazil filling out the top five.

The world’s offline population is mainly in India and China, but more than 120 million people are still offline in North America.

With the internet enabling more products to be exported to more markets, often by newer and younger firms, the report noted firms in India, Jamaica, and the Philippines have captured a share of global markets for services ranging from traditional backoffice services to long-distance online tutoring.

The internet’s ability to reduce transaction costs increases opportunities for people who face barriers in finding jobs or productive inputs. This promotes inclusion for women, for persons with

disabilities, and for people in remote areas, the report said.

The Indian state of Kerala, for example, set up the Kudumbashree project to outsource information technology services to cooperatives of women from poor families; 90 percent of the women had not previously worked outside the home.

The internet is also encouraging more crossborder exchanges of goods and services, allowing consumers and firms to bypass national borders.

But cross-border issues-such as barriers to data flows and uncoordinated intellectual property rights regimes-are impairing the growth of internet firms and robbing consumers of gains from increased digital trade.

The small scale imposed by cross-border barriers may also partly explain why e-commerce firms are often losing money in Africa while being profitable in China and India, the report said.

A worker makes parts for scaffolding inside a workshop in an industrial area in Mumbai on January 12. (REUTERS Photo)

Rupee falls to weakest since 2013 crisis MuMBai, January 14 (reuters): The rupee fell on Thursday to its weakest since September 2013, when the country was still in the midst of its worst market turmoil in more than two decades, tracking falls in most Asian currencies against the dollar as oil prices plunged.

The falls prompted the Reserve Bank of India to sell dollars through stateowned banks to curb the rupee’s decline.

The rupee was trading at 67.1350/1425 to the dollar at 9.39 a.m., after earlier weakening to as low as 67.1450, its weakest since Sept. 4, 2013.

That was the weakest since the rupee hit a record low of 68.85 in August 2013 when the country was suffering from its worst market turmoil since the 1991 balance of payment crisis.

The USD/INR pair had closed at 66.8450/66.8550 on Wednesday.

SBI launches wealth Road safety: Government to Google, Indian Rlys to roll out Wi-Fi management, startup bank ask states to audit highways services at stations from January 22 Bengaluru, January 14 (ians): The State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday formally launched its first exclusive startup bank branch SBI InCube and wealth management services SBI Exclusif. “Introducing wealth management has been one of the bank’s top strategic priorities, as we have a number of High Net worth Individuals (HNI),” the bank’s chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said. SBI Exclusif will offer a dedicated relationship manager who will take care of all the banking and investment needs of its clientele.

“We believe that India today is an aspirational nation, there are a lot of people who are moving up the curve and they are too busy today to actually worry about looking after their wealth as well as wealth creation and generation and maintenance, so we hope to be able to do this job for such people,” said Bhattacharya. SBI Exclusif will be served by well experienced relationship managers and investment experts who have undergone extensive training with leading global institutions.

The new wealth management offering from the SBI will provide e-Wealth Center which can deliver relationship management services remotely for extended hours and enable customers to transact and invest on digital channels like internet and mobile. Other SBI Exclusif benefits include a special wellness benefit card, top tier credit and debit cards, tax and legacy planning services and cash pickup/delivery services among others.

neW Delhi, January 14 (agencies): Concerned over increasing accidents, the Roads Ministry will ask state governments to undertake road safety audits of state highways and district roadways.

In the current year, the ministry is targeting 3,000 km to be covered under the audit, said Sanjay Mitra, Secretary, road, transport and highways. “We are concerned about rising number of accidents.

Road safety audit guidelines are being followed in the current NHAI projects.

We are also planning to engage state governments to undertake safety audits of state highways and district roads,” Mitra said, addressing a seminar on “road safety — time for ac-

tion”.

India has the dubious distinction of highest number of accidents in the world. “With 80% of all road deaths worldwide estimated in low-income countries, India leads the world in road accident deaths, with around 1,38,000 people being killed each year. India accounts for 10% of global road accident deaths.

Safer roads and mobility is one of the five pillars of the UN Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020,” said K K Kapila, chairman, International Road Federation (IRF).

As part of the Road Safety week, the International Road Federation (IRF) India Chapter along with the Ministry of Road

_

LEISURE

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

SUDOKU Game Number # 3461

Transport and Highways has jointly organised two seminars on the theme “Road Safety — Time for Action” for today and tomorrow.

“Some of the initiatives for safer mobility to be discussed will include identifying hazardous road locations (black spots) or sections where excessive numbers or severity of crashes occur and take corrective measures accordingly; Use of Intelligent Transport System, new Motor Vehicle Act, Licensing regime and also to promote the development of safe new infrastructure that meets the mobility and access needs through use of independent road safety audit findings in the design and other phases of new road projects.

neW Delhi, January 14 (agencies): Kick-starting the ambitious free Wi-Fi project at 400 ‘A1’ and ‘A’ Indian Railways stations across the country, Railtel Corporation (public sector undertaking of the ministry of railways), in collaboration with internet search giant Google, is set to roll out internet services at Mumbai Central on January 22 this year.

“As many as 100 stations will have WiFi by December 2016, Mumbai Central to go live by January. This is in partnership with RailTel,” Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said at an event last month.

Pichai had first announced the companies’ plan to provide free Wi-FI at Indian railway stations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to California in September last year.

Officials at the ministry of railways state that 100 ‘A1’ stations will be enabled with Wi-Fi by December 2016.

“Railtel in collaboration with Google will roll out Wi-Fi services at 18 stations

by April while the remaining 82 will be commissioned by December 2016,” a senior official at the ministry said. “The

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3473

Answer Number # 3460

work at 300 ‘A’ category stations shall commence in 2017,” he added.

RailTel, the telecom wing of the Indian Railways, had signed an agreement with the subsidiary of Google India ‘Mahataa Information India Private Limited’, to provide Wi-Fi services at 400 stations across the country.

RailTel which has laid out more than 45,000 km of optic fiber network across the country will be the internet service provider for the project while Google will set up a wireless area network across the 400 stations.

Sources in the ministry say that Wi-Fi services can be accessed free of charge for the first 30 minutes, after which commuters will have to pay between Rs 25 and Rs 30 per hour.

Commuters will have access to this service only on platforms and not on the train.

Google has made no direct investments for this project, the proposed investment will come in the form of providing technology, design and equipment required for providing the Wi-Fi services.

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862 232224; Emergency229529, 229474

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital:

227930, 231081 228846

Shamrock Hospital

228254

Zion Hospital:

231864, 224117, 227337

Police Control Room

228400

Police Traffic Control

232106

East Police Station West Police Station

227607 232181

CIHSR (Referral Hospital)

242555/ 242533

Dimapur hospital

224041, 248011

Apollo Hospital Info Centre:

230695/ 9402435652

Railway:

131/228404

Indian Airlines

229366

Nagaland Multispe- 248302, cialty Health & 09856006026 Research Centre

W

O

ReN The DevelOpmeNT Of JuDAiSm AiSSANCe BABYLON EXILE JUDAISM SYNAGOGUES SABBATH JUDAH PERSIANS CHALDEANS JEWS SCRIBES PRIEST JERUSALEM TORAH PARCHMENT SCROLLS HEBREW ISRAELITES GENESIS ISAIAH DANIEL RUTH NAOMI KOSHER

R

S A B B A T H W H O G V G E R

D

U P Y T O R A H C O P P D H G

S

R S I S E N E G R T E S F G V

Y W B E X I M O A N R N C R X

E

C E A T I G S U M E S A K K T

V J B I L V Y R E M I E P F B

A

I U Y L E G N V L H A D N A D

C D L E O J A W A C N L P R P

R

V A O A K L G N S R S A P P Q

E H N R O E O D U A M H N R D

D E R S S A G Z R P F C L I V

C

I B Z I H T U R E D A N I E L

G R I T E A E I J U D A I S M

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

H

S E B I R C S C R O L L S T U

L W K K I S A I A H F Z J H J

STD CODE: 0370 100/2244279 2222222 2222111 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202 08974997923

1. Cravat 6. Exhausts 10. Corrosive 14. Farm buildings 15. Gait faster than a walk 16. Hindu princess 17. Genus of heath 18. Competent 19. Data 20. Freeing 22. Pigeon-___ 23. A promiscuous woman 24. Stick together 26. Shower alternative 30. Consumed food 31. Make a low continuous sound 32. Pearly-shelled mussel 33. Ripped 35. Stop 39. Paddle-wheeler 41. It holds cigarette debris 43. Latin name for our planet 44. Wail 46. Small island 47. Calypso offshoot 49. South southeast 50. C C C C 51. High regard

54. 1/100th of a dollar 56. To fancy (archaic) 57. A type of infantry 63. Type of sword 64. Send forth 65. Suffuse 66. Edges 67. Gown 68. Portion 69. Back talk 70. Anagram of “Seek” 71. Infections of the eye

DOWN

1. Cain’s brother 2. Indian dress 3. Baby’s bed 4. A single time 5. Russian emperors 6. Legal 7. Umpire 8. Game on horseback 9. Unpleasant odor 10. Mathematics 11. Small boat 12. Deduce 13. Thermionic tube 21. Winged 25. Ow! 26. Broke 27. Blind (poker) 28. Layer

29. Huskiness 34. Sickens 36. Backside 37. A period of discounted prices 38. Visual organs 40. Construct 42. All tuckered out 45. Attribute 48. Current amount 51. Decorative jugs 52. Old photo color 53. Abounds 55. Journeys 58. Out of control 59. Leave out 60. Comply with 61. Brownish purple 62. Views Ans to CrossWord 3472

WE4WOMEN HELPLINE 08822911011

Police Station 1:

DIMAPUR: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKEDIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC)

MOKOKCHUNG: 0369-2226225/ 101 (O) 8415830232 (OC) PHEK: 8414853765 (O) 8413822476(OC) ZUNHEBOTO: 03867-280304/ 101 (O) 9436422730 (OC) TUENSANG: 8414853766 (O) 9856163601 (OC)

KIPHIRE: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) PEREN: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LONGLENG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC)

Toll free No. 1098 childline

MOKOKCHUNG:

KOHIMA NORTH: 7085924114 (O)

MON: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC)

CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE

ACROSS

KOHIMA SOUTH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC)

WOKHA: 03860242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (OC)

Chumukedima Fire 282777 Brigade Nikos Hospital and 232032, 231031 Research Centre

KOHIMA

FIRE STATIONS

STD CODE: 0369

2226241

Police Station 2 :

2226214

Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home:

2226216 2226263

Hotel Metsüpen (Tourist Lodge):

2226373/2229343

TAHAMZAM (formerly Senapati) STD CODE: 03871 Police Station: Fire Brigade

CURRENCY NOTES

222246 222491

BUY(Rs)

SELL(Rs)

US Dollars Sterling Pound Hong Kong Dollar Australian Dollar Singapore Dollar Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen

65.67 94.27 8.18 45.40 45.51 45.59 55.42

68.67 98.90 9.12 47.65 47.77 47.84 58.57

Euro

71.63

75.13

Thai Baht Korean Won New Zealand Dollar Chinese Yuan

1.75

1.95

0.0524

0.0584

42.54

44.65

9.63

10.73

FridAY 15•01•2016

NAGALAND

Mitigating the impact of coal mining on water Our Correspondent Kohima | January 14

Water pollution due to mining activities can be mitigated and controlled by carefully separating the water runoff from undisturbed areas from water which contains sediments or salt from mine workings, a recent study by NPCB suggested.

The study released in a form of a booklet entitled “Study of Coal Mining Areas in Nagaland and Its Impact on Environment,” was published recently by Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB).

Clean run-off can be discharged into surrounding water courses, while other water is treated and can be re-used such as for dust suppression and in coal preparation plants, it noted.

The NPCB further study stated that when mine water is pumped to a lagoon, it acts as a sedimentation pond. Thus, the overflowing water from the pond which is fairly clean can be drained out to natural drain or used for dust suppression activities.

Study of coal mining areas in Nagaland and its impact on environment: Part- IV

Excise Squad crackdown continues, 3 more arrested Dimapur, January 14 (mExn): In continuation of what it described as an agenda to make Dimapur “liquor-drugs-free,” the Excise Squad has arrested and booked 3 people under relevant NLPT Act, 1989 on two separate operations. A huge haul of illegal liquor was also seized in the process.

According to a press note from Superintendent of Excise (MS), Katoho Sumi the first arrest was made on January 13 when the Superintendent of Ex-

cise Mobile Squad manning the New Field Check Gate seized 2028 bottles IMFL-Beer from Gorapatti area of Dimapur.

The Squad lead by AIE Lanuyanger apart from seizing the liquor also arrested one Ikato Awomi, a resident of Burma Camp, Dimapur for possession of the illegal items, it added.

Meanwhile, the second arrest was made today by the Superintendent of Excise Mobile Squad Special Surveillance Team lead by

AIER Jungti when it seized 204 bottles of IMFL-Beer during a routine checking.

In this connection, two persons identified as Rakesh Singh and Deependra Singh were booked under NLPT Act and the siezed items were deposited at the Excise ‘Malkana’ for destruction, the Excise Official informed.

It further said that the Team would continue carry out such operation around the vicinity of Dimapur to ‘curb’ liquor and drugs related illegal activities.

Huge consignment of ganja seized, 4 arrested Kohima, January 14 (mExn): The Kohima Police today recovered 114 kilos of ganja and took 4 persons into police custody for possession and smuggling of the contraband.

Police personnel manning the check gate at Khuzama recovered the conProspective buyers/agents are seen inspecting and negotiating a deal near a coal mount kept on the roadside of traband while conducting National Highway 61, near Nagaland Check Gate, Amguri the Border gate of Nagaland & Assam. (Morung Photo) Referring to the ac- passed through settling implemented, NPCB fur- stones corrects the pH (the tive treatment of polluted tanks to remove the sedi- ther advocated. acidity or alkalinity of a sowater, it suggested dosing ment and particulate metIt also recommended lution) of the quarry water the outflow of acidic wa- als. treating the contaminated to near normal,” it stated. ter from metal mines or Passive treatment of water from the mines with Heavy metal such as coal mines, also known as AMD, which aims to devel- lime in slurry form to gets it copper, zinc, lead and iron Acid mine drainage or acid op a self-operating system well mixed with water. are precipitated in the pH and metalliferous drainage that can treat the effluent “Sandstone and lime- range of 7-9 and therefore, (AMD), with lime to neu- without constant human stone are available locally may get simultaneously retralize the acid and then intervention, can also be and therefore use of these moved, it further observed.

regular checking and frisking at the gate, a press note from Kohima Sub – Divisional Police Officer & PRO, Atu Zümvu informed.

The arrested individuals were identified as Thoo (45) of Vafumai (Lai) Village and A Kaisa (40) of Lai Village, both under Mao PO/PS in Senapati District;

and Jarvis (29 ) and Dahü (27) ) of Ajechamai Village, under Tadubi PO/PS, Senapati, Manipur.

A regular case vide Khuzama P.S Case No. 002/16 U/S 20 (b) (II) (A) NDPS Act is registered against them for conducting further investigation, the PRO added.

Aai Sagi celebrated with pomp & gaiety

68th Asetkong Mungdang underway at Longpa village Our Correspondent Longpa (Mokokchung) | January 14

The 68th Asetkong Mungdang (Asetkong Citizens’ Conference) is currently underway at Longpa village, some twenty five kilometers away from Mokokchung town, which is being attended by nearly 300 delegates from the different villages and affiliated units under the Asetkong range of Mokokchung district.

On the first day, the main speaker, Dr Benjongkumba Imchen – Assistant Professor, Government College Dimapur – who spoke on the topic, “The role of the community in the preservation of environment” highlighted on the different problems being faced by the people both in the local, national and global level.

The academician, while highlighting from a Biblical point of view, pointed out that the biodiversity – the land and its resources, the flora and fauna – has been entrusted by God to man to take care of them. However, humans have been exploiting the natural resources, without giving much thought about the future, and therefore, there are different environmental issues facing the human kind today.

Saying that conserva-

Asst Prof. Dr Benjongkumba Imchen of Government College Dimapur, who was the main speaker at the 68th Asetkong Mungdang, speaking on the first day of the Conference at Longpa Community Hall on January 14. (Morung Photo)

tion of biodiversity had been discussed even in the society centuries back (for instance, Ashoka who preached about non-violence etc), Dr Benjongkumba said that the environmental or biodiversity issues are not a new topic today. But, environmental issues has become a burning issue because of the imminent threat of global warming or climate change, the extinction of flora and fauna, the loss of habitat of wildlife, the pollution of land, water and air etc.

In this connection, Dr Benjongkumba questioned what role the people of Asetkong range can play in the conservation of

the biodiversity in the society. Speaking from a global perspective, Dr Benjongkumba said that it is the role of each and every citizen of the world to be aware of the environmental issue and play a part for a cleaner world.

He therefore suggested the gathered Asetkong citizens to adopt sustainable farming and strongly discourage the large scale destruction of forests for cultivation. He also suggested concerted afforestation activities to make the deforested areas lush with trees.

Besides, he also suggested a ban on the use of pesticides in the fields, and to control the use of air-guns and catapults by youngsters in

the villages. Moreover, he also strongly suggested for scientific methods of garbage disposal and also to ban the use of chemicals, batteries, bombs in the rivers and water bodies. If these activities can be adopted, Dr Benjongkumba maintained that Asetkong people would be playing a great role in the conservation of the environment in the society.

The Asektong Students’ Conference (AKTM) president Rongsennukshi Aier, who also spoke at the function, expressed happiness that the Asetkong Mungdang, as a fatherly figure, has always been there for the Asketkong students’ community, and thus far,

has rendered their great support to the AKTM. While exhorting the Asetkong Mungdang, Rongsennukshi pointed out in these modern times, the world is actively looking at ways for youth empowerment; he therefore urged the elders to look for the uplift of the youths and to render their help for the empowerment of the youths in every field.

He also pointed out that the youths understand and honor their parents, and the youths always follow the footsteps of their elders; however, he maintained that the elders should also understand the aspirations and acknowledge the views and opinions of the youths.

Meanwhile, the Longpa Village Council Chairman delivered the welcome address while the pastor of Longpa Baptist church invoked God’s blessings. The council chairman of Longjang village also exhorted the audience.

During the function reposts from the different departments like finance, general secretary and development committee were also presented.

The 68th Asetkong Citizens’ Conference will conclude on Friday, with Dr Imtiwapang Aier, parliamentary secretary for geology and mining as the chief guest.

Dimapur, January 14 (mExn): The Mech Kacharis community of Nagaland celebrated Aai Sagi with pomp and gaiety with thousand of Kacharis, public leaders and social worker from different community taking part in the festival with enthusiastic fervour.

The traditional post harvest festival of Mech Kacharis was celebrated at Purana Bazar ‘B’ village football ground, Dimapur on January 13 with Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) Chairman, Ramesh Hasnu as Chief Guest and Bishnu Bhattacharjee, President of Minority Wing NPF (Central) and Lipok Pongen as Guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Hasnu said people of Nagaland should focus to redefine the culture so that youth are prepared to face challenges as the state strives hard to stabilize itself on many fronts.

Also speaking on the occasion, NPF (Central) Minority Wing, Bhattacharjee stressed on unity and diversity, preserving tradition and culture and said the need of the hour is to unite all and built up a model society with peace.

He also called upon the youth fraternity to get involve in small scale Industries and agriculture to make the society stronger with the oppor-

tunity of self employment.

“There is no alternative to hard work”, he added.

Lipok Pongen extended greetings and best wishes on Aai Sagi to Mech Kachari citizens and appealed to work together with all the communities living in Nagaland, in all round developmental activities.

The highlights of the programme were cultural dance by women folk and special number by Omot Mech and Mahadev Mech, while welcome address was delivered by chairperson of the programme CK Mech, advisor of MKPO and vote of thanks by Pulin Mech, Chairman ASFCC.

KVGOA biennial conference today Kohima, Jan 14 (mExn): The Kohima Village Gazetted Officers Association (KVGOA) will hold its biennial confer-

ence on January 15 at 2.00 PM at Kohima Village Council Hall.

The speakers for the conference will be minis-

ter for environment, forest & climate change Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire and SCERT director Vipralhou Keseiezie.

ZMO (N) condemns alleged murder

Dimapur, January 14 (mExn): The Zeliangrong Mipui Organisation (N) has strongly condemned the murder of widow from Mpai Village allegedly by two juveniles.

The Widow was residing in

Jalukie Town.

A press note issued by its President, Apuena Ihelung and Secretary,Lungsidaile the organisation appealed the concern authority to take serious note of the crime

and award befitting punishment to the culprits.

ZMO (N) further conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayers of eternal rest in peace for the departed soul.

Amur Falcon: The Tiger of the skies

Thousands of falcons were in danger. The Nagaland government and the local communities joined hands to become friends of the Amur Falcon.

Vivek Menon The Hindu

Members of Leo Club of Dimapur celebrated Melvin Jones Birthday (founder of Lions Club) on January 13 along with the children of Maniram Devan Chatravash , Gautam Basti. Leo member also installed Water Tank and served lunch to all the children and planted some trees, a press note from PRO Leo Club Ankit Paharia informed.

Thousands of falcons were in danger. The Nagaland government and the local communities joined hands to become friends of the Amur Falcon.

The falcons came to roost with the setting sun.

One minute, the skies were clear blue, startling against the green-clad mountainsides of River Doyang, in Nagaland. And then, in minutes, a strange hum filled the air. It was as if a million birds were chirping high-pitched at once.

I sat cross-legged on a bamboo and wooden machan, and watched as half a million Amur falcons came in to roost. The skies darkened, the sound of their beating wings filled the air and the trees around the Doyang reservoir sank

with the weight of the visitors. The falcons had been here for nearly three weeks now and would be around only for another week. They would be off again, chasing the migrating dragonflies across the Indian peninsula, and the Indian Ocean, before arriving on the coasts of Eastern Africa.

For close to a month every year, these birds, which breed in the high Altai of the Russian Far East and Mongolia, fly the 20,000-odd kilometres to escape the cold winters. And their longest en route stop is home to a proud and ancient Naga tribe, the Lothas.

Yout h brigade “They say we Nagas eat every thing that moves,” a Naga minister told me when the Wildlife Trust of India first went to Nagaland on hearing about the horren-

Morung File Photo

dous killings of the falcons.

In the winter of 2012, tens of thousands of birds had been caught by Naga tribesmen and eaten. They had upturned their fishing nets and added protein to their rural diets.

“You can agree with them and do nothing about it,” I replied, “or you can agree with them and do something about it. For, nobody expects conservation of wildlife in Nagaland.”

Luckily, the government of Nagaland, the village chieftains of Asha and

Pangti villages and the local youth were galvanised into action. They banned the hunting of these birds. They formed a local Amur Falcon Protection Union and they caught and punished those who broke the law.

The Wildlife Trust of India and a few other NGOs responded by giving the volunteers monetary support, building them watchtowers, and also by giving the village councils money as a compensation for leaving their lands to the falcons for that one month. What was a

blood bath became a conservation miracle and hundreds of thousands of birds were saved from then on.

There were BBC documentaries on the phenomenon, the villagers won awards from state and central governments and the falcons were unharmed that year and also the next.

Meanwhile, the Wildlife Institute of India collared two birds, which were named Asha and Pangti and tracked them as they migrated to Africa, back to Russia, and then cheered as they came back to Nagaland the next year.

There are many reasons to celebrate this. Falcons are supreme predators, the tigers of the skies, and saving nearly a million birds is no small feat. Second, the Amur falcon is a champion migratory bird, linking cultures and nations by

its miraculous flight. Third, the Naga tribe, known to be as fierce as the falcons and not given to conserving animals or birds, have shown the world that they are as graceful conservationists as they are proud tribesmen.

And finally, the falcons were saved by the boys and girls of the villages. It is the Youth Union that patrols the area and protects the birds and this is a great victory for the young naturalists in India.

As I rowed along the Doyang with Merry, the secretary of the Amur Falcon Union and cut free a few birds that had been unintentionally caught in the nets, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. For the falcons were safe in the hands of their once predators and could fly free in the knowledge that they could make Nagaland their stopover in their next, great journey.

FriDAY 15•01•2016

IN FOCUS

6

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express Xi volume issue 13 X issue 185 Thursday 9volume July 2015 By dr. sao Tunyi

C O M M E N T A R Y

Carolyn Coe

Notes from Kabul

thinking beyond a ‘stable government job’ 'Not following the rules is how they have survived:'

T

he other word for a government job is ‘security’ because of which many seek for it. Times are changing; the old pension scheme is gone and it is being said that firing from government job for non-performance may become more common in the future. Some people speculate that government jobs in the future won’t be ‘regular’ anymore and every job will be ‘contractual’. In extreme cases (although not rare in Nagaland), government job means that one can get pay without work. I had a neighbor who I always see throughout the year. After several years, I came to know that he is a colleague in the same department posted in his village. When you travel to the small towns in the sub divisions, you see government offices being locked for most part of the year.

Search for government job plays a huge role in our electoral politics. We vote for candidates so that they can give us government jobs. When elected, the assistants (chamchas) of the elected representatives hunt in the departments for every vacancy, and even where there is no vacancy, somehow the candidates get adjusted with the help of a note from the minister’s writing pad. When government jobs are advertised, before the interviews are conducted candidates are already chosen. Therefore, the best people don’t get selected in several cases. The State is run with many people who are neither suited nor trained for the job.

The craze for government jobs cannot be totally explained by the security and the less workload. It is also because there is less employment opportunity, be it in primary sector (e.g. agriculture), industrial sector or services sector. It is said that economies progress from primary to industrial to services sectors. Although the Indian economy is still largely agriculture based, we have been moving from primary sector to services sector almost bypassing the industrial sector phase. In Nagaland, people move from villages to towns in search of a better life. But there are not much industries, enterprises, or companies for employment besides the government sector.

After leaving behind the paddy fields in the villages, people move to towns in search of government jobs.

But once employed in the government sector, the inside story may not be as bright as it seems. Although there is room for innovations, the job profiles are usually more routine and less exciting. So, job satisfaction quotient may not score very high in the government sector. Due to procedures, file movement and works can be very slow. There is always that element of disappointment from disinterested and insincere colleagues or corrupt bosses which can be demoralizing and de-motivating.

For the adventurous and the free-spirited person, the operational guidelines and monotonous daily routines can become quite boring. For people who are talented in something else but caught in the wrong job, the purpose and meaning of life comes into question. So, although government sector is a crucial force to run our economy, push our society forward, and offer livelihood to many families, there is much more to life and ways to put food on the table than getting a government job.

With the increased interconnectedness of our world, the gate to the job market and means of livelihood has been swung wide open. In primary sector, we can think of producing from the good land that our dear Lord has blessed us with. It can be agriculture like our forefathers but with all the help from our modern world. It can be setting up our own small industrial or business unit, a conglomeration, or collaboration with bigger ones. It can be in the service sector, tapping the local human resources, and thereby not only earning our living but offering a source of livelihood to someone. Broadening our minds to the possibilities beyond a ‘stable government job’ can free us to live out how we were truly meant to live and fulfill our life’s purpose.

Dr. Sao Tunyi works as an Epidemiologist at Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima. Feedback can be sent to saotunni@yahoo.co.in, or visit his blog www.thatchhouse.blogspot.in

lEfT wiNg |

IANS

World’s largest canyon hidden under Antarctic!

I

f you are in awe of the Grand Canyon in the US, brace yourself for this: The world's largest canyon - over 1,000 km long and in places as much as one km deep, - may lie under the Antarctic ice sheet, a team of scientists including Indian researchers has revealed.

The canyon system is made up of a chain of winding and linear features buried under several kilometres of ice in one of the last unexplored regions of the Earth's land surface - Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL) in East Antarctica.

“Our analysis provides the first evidence that a huge canyon and a possible lake are present beneath the ice in Princess Elizabeth Land. It's astonishing to think that such large features could have avoided detection for so long,” said lead researcher Dr Stewart Jamieson from Durham University in Britain in a paper published in the journal Geology.

Very few measurements of the ice thickness have been carried out in this particular area of the Antarctic, which has led to scientists dubbing it one of Antarctica's two “Poles of Ignorance.”

The researchers believe that the landscape beneath the ice sheet has probably been carved out by water and is either so ancient that it was there before the ice sheet grew or it was created by water flowing and eroding beneath the ice.

“This is a region of the Earth that is bigger than the UK and yet we still know little about what lies beneath the ice,” Jamieson added.

In fact, the bed of Antarctica is less well known than the surface of Mars.

“If we can gain better knowledge of the buried landscape, we will be better equipped to understand how the ice sheet responds to changes in climate,” he noted.

Faint traces of the canyons were observed using satellite imagery. The canyons may be connected to a previously undiscovered sub-glacial lake as the ice surface above the lake shares characteristics with those of large sub-glacial lakes previously identified.

The data suggests the area of the lake could cover up to 1250 km - more than 80 times as big as Lake Windermere in the English Lake District.

“Discovering a gigantic new chasm that dwarfs the Grand Canyon is a tantalising prospect,” said study co-author Professor Martin Siegert from the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, UK. “Our international collaboration of US, UK, Indian, Australian and Chinese scientists are pushing back the frontiers of discovery on Antarctica like nowhere else on earth,” he added.

An airborne survey taking targeted radio-echo sounding measurements over the whole buried landscape is now underway with the aim of unambiguously confirming the existence and size of the canyon and lake system, with results due later in 2016.

a powerful meditation on life in the Afghan capital

D

escending from their homes built on the mountainside, the women sit together in Kabul’s Karte Sakhi cemetery—not to mourn but to wait for the duvet distribution to begin in the midst of the Afghan winter. When I approach them, each woman extends a hand in greeting. Some have the small stamped pieces of paper they need to receive two duvets, but most of them don’t.

One of the women tells me about the pains in her chest and her legs. She talks about the war. I listen to all the manifestations of her suffering. I understand only a handful of words, but as she clasps my hand I know that she wants my help in receiving a pair of duvets too.

I tell her I don’t make any decisions here. It is the elder representative of the neighborhood who determines who receives the quilted bed covers. Standing with the women, I say “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” All other words fail me.

Someone calls me over to the truck as the distribution will soon begin.

In the Afghan gesture of greeting and leave-taking, I place my right hand over my heart and say goodbye.

A balloon seller approaches and a boy wheels a cart of apples nearby.

Where a crowd is gathering there’s a potential sale, but no one buys, so the sellers observe the scene as I do. Colorful duvets, like clouds enveloping the bearers, seem to float by. I take a photo of a pair of girls. They become my shadow, following me and requesting more pictures.

The truck piled high with duvets is

parked in a narrow gated car park. Perhaps two times as many people arrive as have the paperwork to get them. The crowd presses towards the open gate, hoping. I observe Abdulhai at work, one of the founding members of the Afghan Peace Volunteers. He’s just finished 12th grade at school and has a gift for crowd control.

Instead of pushing the crowd back with outward facing palms, he smiles and snaps his fingers so the children laugh. He speaks kindly and softly.

Both children and adults stop trying to edge forward, at least while he’s there.

Their shoulders visibly relax. Some return his smile.

“It isn’t that they want to be there,” Abdulhai says to me a few nights later about those who show up without the tickets they need for the duvets. People are desperate. Understanding without judgment seems to be the key to his gentle effectiveness.

Safeh Zakira is one of 60 women who work in sewing the duvets for this winter’s project. Before starting with the Afghan Peace Volunteers she would sometimes break the shells of almonds, using the shells as fuel. I wonder how much heat such shells can generate, and then learn that her family also heats with coal. She lifts her hands. They are covered in coal dust.

She says she wants to continue sewing.

Her husband is a day laborer, laying mud on the walls of buildings. Most days he can’t find work, and when he does his average pay is 300 Afghanis a day. But in the winter he earns only 200. So many people are seeking work that employers take advantage of the

situation. Officially, Afghanistan has a 40 per cent unemployment rate, but the unofficial estimate is more than 80 per cent.

Safeh’s family lives in a rented home that costs 2,500 Afghanis a month. They also pay another 500-1,000 Afghanis a month for water. I think about her coalcovered hands, and how much water it costs to keep them clean.

Along with the finished duvets, she arrived on the day of my visit with a bag of remainder material—the cover fabric, polyester stuffing and thread were all issued about a week earlier. I remark on this act of returning the extra stuffing. Honesty is important, she says.

She learned about the duvet project from her neighbor, who told her where it was located. A team of Afghan Peace Volunteers visited her home to survey her situation, and gave her employment.

Another woman standing nearby explains that she was hoping to sew too, but when she got here she learned that the project is already full. Ali, a student volunteer, took her name so that the volunteers can help her in some other way. She’ll also receive a duvet.

I worry about the investment in taxi fares since she traveled here for an hour or more. But fortunately the fare is measured by the trip, not by the number of passengers, so she didn’t lose money. Safeh is given money for transportation as well as for sewing, and the women traveled together.

She tells me that she hopes there will always be work for her, not just with this winter’s duvet project. What people need, she says, is work, so that they can provide for their families.

Aaron Hughes, of Iraq Veterans against the War, leads a pair of art workshops at the Borderfree Community Center of Nonviolence in Kabul.

The workshops have two rules. First, if you get paint on your fingers, you can’t touch your clothes.

Second, there is no mixing of colors, so a potato dipped into red paint shouldn’t be dipped in green or orange later.

Rule two is blissfully ignored. “Not following the rules is how they have survived,” says Hakim, Borderfree’s international relations coordinator.

Twenty-some child laborers have joined the afternoon workshop. One boy shows me the design he has printed from potatoes cut into the shape of a leaf and a star. The boy names his flower design in English and asks me how it is.

“Maqbool,” I answer, “Beautiful.”

Later he approaches me, holding a relief print in each hand, eager for more praise.

Listen for the “chuh-chuh-chuh,” Aaron says, imitating the sound of the roller when it is sucking up blue paint.

He directs Imam, another boy at the street kids’ school, to make sure the roller catches the corners of the linoleum. Imam’s eyes brighten as he lifts the paper to reveal his self portrait.

In less than an hour, the children have gone through one hundred sheets of paper, which they’ve spread out on the grass to dry. A few girls and boys walk between the designs, leaning over to pick some up for a closer look before turning their gaze to others.

It’s as if they are smelling flowers.

Refugees, warmongers and bloodshed targeted in first global aid summit Tom esslemont

Thomson Reuters Foundation

A

id groups struggling to cope with millions uprooted by conflict are hoping the first international summit on humanitarian responses will compel governments to do more to protect civilians, but its chief has warned there will be no quick fix.

The World Humanitarian Summit, to be held in Istanbul in May, intends to push governments, U.N. agencies, humanitarian charities and the private sector to agree on proposals to alleviate global crises more effectively.

Conference organisers have also called for more sustained funding to help meet a record-high U.N. aid appeal for $20.1 billion, amid rising climate-related disasters and the refugee crisis stemming from conflict in the Middle East.

A key demand from aid workers, as diplomacy fails to halt fighting in Syria and Yemen, is for the summit's 5,000 delegates to find ways to ensure warring parties abide by humanitarian laws that protect civilians and allow aid to reach them.

"The summit is a point of departure in getting those in the aid community to work differently, to improve the way we deliver assistance," summit head Antoine Gerard told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview.

But unlike other global summits, such as last year's Paris climate confer-

ence, the conclusions of the humanitarian discussions will be non-binding.

That has sparked concern from campaign groups who say governments are violating humanitarian law by failing to protect civilians caught in the firing line.

Aid and rights charity Oxfam helped draw up proposals for the summit and said it was an opportunity for world leaders to dedicate themselves to a new global effort to shield civilians from the horrors of war.

"Too many governments and other armed groups woefully fail to respect the international hu ma n i t a r i a n law designed to protect civilians," said Ed Cairns, senior policy adviser at Oxfam GB. "The summit's greatest legacy would be a genuine commitment to change this abject failure," he said.

the blame on any country in particular.

"If the summit points the finger at certain U.N. member states we will not have the power to draw attention to the importance of these laws and the need to abide by them," said Gerard.

Rights groups have been alarmed at the impact of a Saudi-led coalition's military campaign in Yemen, which the U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights said appeared to be responsible for a "disproportionate amount" of attacks on civilian areas.

In Syria, where an estimated 250,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011, Syrian government and Russian forces and the U.S.-led coalition have caused civilian casualties in their air strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based organisation.

Gerard said the mass displacement caused by wars such as the Syrian conflict would be felt strongly at the summit because it is taking place in Turkey, which shelters more than two million refugees who have fled across the border from Syria.

"Many U.N. member states realise the major flow of displaced people from Syria is unprecedented and that host countries need greater support," said Gerard, who is French.

The United Nations official said he

wRiTE-wiNg

CIVILIAN DEATHS Gerard, who has spent more than 13 years at the U.N.'s humanitarian aid coordination body OCHA, said it was deplorable that "flagrant violations" of humanitarian law, such as failing to distinguish between combatants and civilians, were becoming more commonplace. He said the summit was a chance for states to demonstrate their commitment at the highest level to the rules of war. But he said it was not the time to lay

had witnessed the limits of the humanitarian system from his time working for Medecins sans Frontieres across the Middle East, and, memorably, as a U.N. official at the height of the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region in 2003.

"It's more than ten years since I went to Darfur, but I see there has been no change for people living in the refugee camps there," said Gerard.

"The point of the summit is to question how we can do better, to increase support to the refugees."

Some of those involved in shaping the summit's agenda fear it will be dominated by the United Nations despite their calls for wider participation from NGOs and aid recipients.

"The current approach will not address the fact that aid is still implemented by an elite club of organisations and governments, with too little involvement of its target communities, said Nick van Praag, director of Ground Truth Solutions, which analyses the impact of charitable aid.

Gerard said this concern was being addressed.

"The summit is a call to action for all those involved in humanitarian practice, with a key demand to place people at the centre," the conference chief said.

He said the agenda of the conference will become clearer when the U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, publishes a statement on the summit in early February.

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

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

FriDAY 15•01•2016

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

7

Climate Insurgency after Paris

'The governments of the world may rule the world but they don’t own the world' Jeremy Brecher CommonDreams

as a proving ground for a Fossil Freeze campaign.

n December of 2015 – the earth’s hottest year since recordkeeping began -- 195 nations met in Paris to forge an agreement to combat global warming. The governments of the world acknowledged their individual and collective duty to protect the earth’s climate -- and then willfully refused to perform that duty. What did they agree to, and how should the people they govern respond?

The 195 nations meeting in Paris unanimously agreed to the goal of keeping global warming “well below 2 degrees Celsius” and to pursue efforts “to limit the increase in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

Despite that goal, the Paris agreement also permits the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause global warming to continue rising.

Under the Paris agreement, governments put forward any targets they want – known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) – with “no legal requirement dictating how, or how much, countries should cut emissions.” These voluntary commitments don’t come into effect until 2020 and generally end in 2025-2030.

Today there are 400 parts per million (ppm) of carbon in the atmosphere, far above the 350 ppm climate scientists regard as the safe upper limit. Even in the unlikely event that all nations fulfill their INDC pledges, carbon in the atmosphere is predicted to increase to 670 ppm by the end of this century. The global temperature will rise an estimated 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.[3] For comparison, a 1-degree Celsius increase has been enough to cause all the effects of climate change we have seen so far, from Arctic melting to desertification.

In short, the agreement authorizes the continued and even increased destruction of the earth’s climate.

US negotiators were adamant that the agreement must not include any binding restrictions on emissions. Secretary of State John Kerry told fellow negotiators that he “wished that we could include specific dates and figures for emissions cuts and financial aid” to developing countries, but “this could trigger a review by the US Senate that could scuttle the entire agreement.”[4] When US lawyers discovered a phrase declaring that wealthier countries “shall” set economywide targets for cutting their GHG pollution, Kerry said, “We cannot do this and we will not do this. And either it changes or President Obama and the United States will not be able to support this agreement.” “Shall” was changed to “should” without so much as a vote.

The breathtaking gap between the Paris agreement’s aspiration to hold global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and the agreement’s actual commitments is indicated by an analysis by Climate Interactive and MIT Sloan. The current US pledge to drop GHG emissions 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, along with the pledges of other countries, will lead to a global temperature increase of 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. To reduce warming to 1.8 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) will require the US to increase its INDC from 26 percent below 2005 levels to 45 percent by 2030, and for other countries to make comparable reductions.

Toward a global climate insurgency The Paris climate agreement doesn’t prevent one molecule of GHG from being put in the atmosphere, but it may provide additional justification for civil disobedience actions like Break Free from Fossil Fuels and a Fossil Freeze.

In Paris, the governments of the world made a promise to the people of the world – and immediately betrayed it. On the one hand, all these governments, including the US, agreed that “climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet” and that “deep reductions in global emissions will be required.” On the other hand, they emphasized “the significant gap” between the “aggregate effect of Parties’ mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020” and “aggregate emission pathways consistent with holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C.” Stripped of the jargon, this says they recognize that their current policies are aggravating that “irreversible threat” and acknowledge the inadequacy of their efforts to halt it.

The call to Break Free from Fossil Fuels asks us to imagine “tens of thousands of people around the world rising up” to take back control of their own destiny; “sitting down” to “block the business of government and industry that threaten our future;” conducting “peaceful defense of our right to clean energy;” making sure that “the promises are kept.” That is surely what it will take to reverse climate change.

Such a “rising up” amounts to a global nonviolent insurgency – a withdrawal of consent from those who claim the right to rule manifested in a selective refusal to accept and obey their authority.[20] When citizens interfere with a pipeline, power plant, or other fossil fuel infrastructure project to demand a transition to a clean energy future they are committing no crime, but responding to an extreme emergency and to corporations that are criminally negligent and criminally complicit in perpetrating that irreversible threat. They are showing that the fossil fuel industry “will no longer benefit from the consent of the people.”

They are giving the same message to the governments that are aiding and abetting the fossil fuel industry. After all, it is the very governments that approved the Paris Agreement that are permitting and even encouraging the continued and expanded burning of fossil fuels. Every new fossil fuel infrastructure project in the world is authorized by permits issued by one government or another. Two-thirds of the GHG emissions in the US are emitted pursuant to government-issued permits.[21] And it is governments that send police to arrest, try, and sometimes brutalize those who are trying to protect the planet and enforce the law.

The governments of the world may rule the world but they don’t own the world – that is the common property of humanity. The Paris Summit was in effect a conspiracy of the world’s governments to rob the world’s people and their posterity of their common inheritance. Those governments acknowledged the devastation they are causing, but refused to be accountable to each other for correcting it. So now they need to be made accountable to the world’s real owners.

I

Under the Paris agreement countries will monitor their emissions and reconvene every five years starting in 2023 to report on the results and perhaps ratchet up their INDCs. This has been characterized as creating a “name-and-shame” system of global peer pressure, “in hopes that countries will not want to be seen as international laggards.”

On the last day of the Paris summit, a panel of leading scientists evaluated what would be necessary to achieve its targets.

Prof. Hans Schellnhuber of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said that to reach the 2-degree target the world would have to get CO2 out of its system by 2070. To reach the 1.5-degree target it would have to eliminate CO2 emissions by 2050. Johan Rockstrom of the Stockholm Resilience Center said that for any chance of reaching 1.5 degrees, the richest nations need to reach zero fossil fuel use by 2030.

Fossil Freeze?

Meanwhile, fossil fuel projects are multiplying – and many are meeting effective resistance both through both legal means and through civil disobedience. Last year, after a seven-year struggle, President Obama turned down a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. Collateral struggles have terminated other Canadian tar sands projects worth $17 billion. Scotland, Wales, France, Tasmania, as well as such states as New York have banned natural gas fracking. On the West Coast, four of the six proposed giant coal ports have been cancelled, and the future of the other two hang in the balance. In southern India, a six-year campaign has stopped a huge coal plant.

In an article last spring, Bill McKibben acknowledged that “fighting one pipeline at a time, the industry will eventually prevail.” But he argued that conditions are ripening for a “fossil freeze” – a halt to all new fossil fuel development. The fossil fuel industry itself is in crisis, finding that its new projects have become unprofitable all over the world – a crisis aggravated by the spread of the view that fossil fuel energy is on the way out and by the divest/invest movement,

which announced in Paris that 500 institutions with assets of $3.4 trillion have agreed to some form of fossil fuel divestment. Over the last six years solar panels have become 75 percent cheaper and the cost of installation is predicted to fall 40 percent in the next two years. Denmark now gets 40 percent of its electricity from wind power; Bangladesh plans to run entirely on solar energy by 2020. The climate protection movement combined with the new economics of energy are “reshaping the consensus view about how fast a clean energy future could come.

State and local policy is increasingly rejecting new fossil fuel infrastructure based on the greater economy of grid modernization, distributed energy, energy efficiency, and the falling cost of renewables. In many localities advocates for those policy changes could be tacit or explicit allies of a fossil freeze campaign.

Of course, there is a common-sense objection to proposals to “leave fossil fuels in the ground”: Won't billions of people soon freeze to death in the dark? But a focus on shifting new investment from fossil fuels to clean energy provides a common-sense answer: Why should we spend one more penny for costly, outmoded, environment-destroying fossil fuel infrastructure when new clean energy technology is not only climatefriendly but cheaper?

Another concern is that a fossil freeze will threaten the jobs of those workers who produce and use fossil fuel and the construction workers who build fossil fuel infrastructure. A fossil freeze campaign will need a jobs program that includes both a just transition for workers who will be affected by the freeze and a way to take advantage of the transition to fossil-free energy to create millions of jobs for all kinds of workers – especially those who have long been the victims of discrimination and exclusion from good jobs.

Late last year the Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS) and 350.org issued a report “The Clean Energy Future: Protecting the climate, creating jobs, and saving money.”

It shows that the US can reduce GHG emissions 80 percent by 2050 – while adding half-

a-million jobs per year and actually saving money compared to business-as-usual fossil fuel energy. Most of the added jobs will be in manufacturing and construction.

The plan does not depend on any new technical breakthroughs to realize these gains, only a continuation of current trends in energy efficiency and renewable energy costs. It is based on the conversion of all gasoline-powered light vehicles and most space heating and water heating to 100 percent renewable electricity. It includes an orderly phasing out of coal and nuclear energy and a gradual reduction in the burning of natural gas.

In addition to such national plans, campaigns against local fossil fuel infrastructure need to propose specific alternatives for the pipelines, plants, and other facilities they are trying to block or close. These need to address both consumers’ need for energy and workers’ need for jobs. An example: When last year a campaign initiated by Baltimore high school students blocked a large incinerator project, the students organized a celebratory Concert for Fair Development highlighting proposals for a solar farm on the site, zero-waste reuse and recycling industries, and local agricultural initiatives.

Breaking free Near the close of the Paris climate talks, 350.org, Greenpeace, and other organizations announced escalated actions worldwide in May 2016. Building on the burgeoning on-the-ground resistance to new fossil fuel infrastructure, “Break Free From Fossil Fuels” aims to “accelerate a global energy transformation” away from fossil fuels.

Actions in more than a dozen countries from the US to Turkey and from South Africa to Australia will “shut down the world’s most dangerous fossil fuel projects and support the most ambitious climate solutions.”

Such civil disobedience will “reflect the scale and urgency of this crisis in a way that governments can no longer ignore.” And it will show the fossil fuel industry that it will “no longer benefit from the consent of the people.”

Break Free from Fossil Fuels could serve

2016 Potential Landmark Year for Women Leaders in UN Thalif Deen

T

Inter Press Service

he United Nations is hoping 2016 will be a landmark year for gender empowerment – not only for the world body but also for the United States.

“The empowerment of women is real,” says UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson of Sweden. “It is a remarkable moment where key candidates for the next President of the United States (POTUS) and for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (SGUN) are women.”

But will this be a political reality or a floating fantasy?

Asked about history-in-the-making, UN Assistant Secretary-General Lakshmi Puri, told IPS: “Yes, it will be historic and game changing –if and when that happens, because it would be the first time ever since the founding of the UN and the USA.” First and foremost, she said, imagine the symbolism of the POTUS and the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful country, largest democracy and economy of the world and a consistent advocate and global leader on gender equality and women’s rights and women’s empowerment, being a woman?

“Similarly imagine the symbolism of the United Nations — the World Government, peacemaker and peace builder, standardsetter and upholder of human rights, including that of women and girls, and of sustainable development and climate action, leader in humanitarian action — being a woman,” said Puri, who is also deputy executive director of UN Women.

She said it would be a signal not only to the

US government and the people but also to the patriarchal political systems in the world that have to deal with a Woman POTUS. Also imagine, she noted, what electricity will be generated by a woman SGUN in the UN system – in the Secretariat, and among member states and civil society. And their agendas and representation.

She also said that two world women leaders could go beyond symbolism for the gender equality agenda– which is huge in itself— and change the realities for women and girls around the world.

With the current race for nominations for the upcoming US presidential elections in November, there are two women candidates among half a dozen men: former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat; and Carly Fiorina, a Republican and former chief executive officer of Hewlett Packard.

As the campaign continues at a feverish pace, there is widespread speculation that Clinton will emerge as the Democratic candidate for the presidency at the Democratic convention on July 25.

At the United Nations, there is an intense campaign for a woman to be elected Secretary-General – which will be a historic first in the 70-year-old Organisation which has been routinely headed by men since its founding.

The list of declared and undeclared candidates include: Michelle Bachelet, current president of Chile and former executive director of UN Women; Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, director-general of the Paris-based UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and current Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP); and Kristalina Georgieva

of Bulgaria, a vice president of the European Commission.

The two Bulgarians are likely to be in the forefront, because under a system of geographical rotation, the post of secretary-general should now go to an Eastern European.

The others singled out as potential candidates include President Ellen Johnson of Liberia; Christine Legard of France and head of the International Monetary Fund; and Alicia Barcena Ibarra of Mexico, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

But the final winner may well be out of the current list of candidates.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who finishes his term end December, has repeatedly said it’s high time for the secretarygeneral to be a woman. The new SG will take office January 2017.

Yasmeen Hassan, Global Executive Director of the New York-based Equality Now, told IPS 2016 could well be a landmark year for the political participation of women.

“We could realistically see a woman leader of the UN because of the many qualified women around the world who could fill the position of Secretary-General, and a more transparent selection process that we and our partners have been advocating for.”

She said a woman at the helm of the UN could contribute greatly to achieving global peace and security, and transform attitudes, behaviors and social norms for how women and girls are valued and treated around the world.

“This would further help to break down glass ceilings for women, while girls will also be able to see that there are no limits to what position they can aspire. A female US presi-

dent is also a strong possibility and one that would send a very important message too,” Hassan declared.

Shannon Kowalski, Director of Advocacy and Policy at International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), told IPS 2016 could be historic for women and girls—but only if countries follow through on the commitments made in the 2030 Agenda and in the Beijing Platform for Action—the agreement forged two decades ago to fulfill women’s rights.

“We still have a long way to go,” she cautioned.

Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, International Coordinator at the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, a programme partner of the International Civil society Action Network, was more skeptical.

“It’s time to separate the facts from false claims,” she told IPS. UN SG Ban Ki-moon says he has appointed an unprecedented number of women leaders in the United Nations (source: SG’s foreword to the Global Study on UNSCR 1325).

However, in an article circulated in December 2015, Karin Landgren, a visiting fellow at the Center on International Cooperation, reports that last year’s selections for the senior most level of UN staff have skewed nearly 92 per cent male, she pointed out.

Between 1 January and 10 December 2015, 22 men and only two women were appointed as UN undersecretaries-general.

Moreover, Landgren’s article pointed out that in 2015, six women undersecretaries-general were replaced by men, further undercutting the goal of building female leadership within the UN. “With such claims from current leadership, which is predominantly male leader-

ship, I will stick to the old adage ‘to see is to believe’.”

It’s also sad to think that having a woman president is still a novelty in the US. The absolute necessity of women’s leadership and participation in decision-making is already an establish fact and not a novelty act—-in many countries, she argued.

UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2122 emphasizes women’s leadership and participation in decision-making as well as the protection of women’s human rights as critical elements of international peace and security.

“I would stress that these are at the core of any civilized society and functioning democracies. They are requisites for sustainable development; and they are a requirement in successful humanitarian operations,” said Cabrera-Balleza.

Women’s leadership and participation in decision-making will not only contribute to good governance. It will redefine governance and power.

She said the campaign for a woman UN Secretary-General is a commendable effort.

“To have a woman SG in the UN should have happened decades ago not after 70 years! However, I would underscore that it should be the RIGHT woman!,” she declared.

She said the right woman is someone who would challenge the conventional definition of power and authority.

“And it is someone who is not beholden to big campaign contributors, political parties or permanent members of the Security Council. It is someone who is deeply connected to civil society and is beholden only to the people, the 99 % whom she is supposed to serve.”

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

FridAY 15•01•2016

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

India-Pak secretary-level talks rescheduled NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14 (IaNs): The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan, who were to hold talks in Islamabad on Friday, mutually agreed on Thursday to reschedule the talks to a date in the “very near future” as New Delhi welcomed Islamabad's statement on the investigations into the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase.

“Foreign secretary (S. Jaishankar) spoke to his Pakistani counterpart (Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry) today.

They agreed to reschedule their talks in the very near future,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said at a media briefing here.

India and Pakistan on December 9 decided to start a comprehensive bilateral dialogue after a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Pakistan prime minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaz Aziz in Islamabad.

This came about after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a seemingly impromptu meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the Paris climate summit on November 30 which was followed by a meeting between the national security advisors of the two countries in Bangkok on December 6.

With Modi later making a surprise stopover in Lahore on his way back to New Delhi from Kabul on Christmas day for Sharif's birthday and his grand daughter's wedding, there was a new thaw

India will help Pak probe Pathankot attack

An Indian army soldier climbs up stairs to take his position on the rooftop of a residential house outside the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot in Punjab on January 3. (REUTERS Photo)

in relations between the two south Asian neighbours and talks between the two foreign secretaries were tentatively scheduled for January 15 as part of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue.

But a cross-border terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2 -- believed to be carried out by the Bahawalpur-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) -- that killed 13 people, including seven Indian security personnel, sparked speculations about the possibility of the talks.

Sharif called Modi from Sri Lanka on January 5 and

the latter sought “firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to” the Pathankot attack.

On his part, the Pakistani prime minister promised to take “prompt and decisive” action against the perpetrators of the attack.

Swarup on Thursday said India welcomed “the statement issued by the government of Pakistan yesterday (Wednesday) on the investigations into the Pathankot terrorist attack”.

“The statement conveys that considerable progress has been made in the inves-

NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14 (IaNs): India on Thursday said it will extend all help to a special team Pakistan proposes to send to Pathankot to investigate the terror attack on the IAF base. External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup also said that India viewed the crackdown on the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist group in Pakistan as an "important and positive first step". "We have noted that the Pakistan government is considering to send a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the Pathankot terror attack," he told the media. "We look forward to the visit of the SIT. Our investigative agencies will extend all cooperation to bring the perpetrators of the

tigations being carried out against terrorist elements linked to the Pathankot incident,” he said.

“We note the apprehension of Jaish-e-Mohammad members. The action taken against Jaish-e-Mohammad is an important and positive first step.”

Later, answering a question, Swarup said the Indian government was not aware whether JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar has been arrested.

When asked why the foreign secretary-level talks were rescheduled if India welcomed the action taken by

attack to justice."

India says that the six terrorists who attacked the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, killing seven security personnel, were Pakistanis and allied to the JeM. The spokesman welcomed Pakistan's announcement on Wednesday that JeM activists had been arrested and its offices sealed. India blames the group for the Pathankot incident. The crackdown on the JeM was an "important and positive first step,"he said. The spokesman noted that considerable progress had been made into the investigation into the alleged links of Pakistani terrorists to the attack on the IAF base.

Pakistan, Swarup said both sides have mutually agreed that more time was needed to prepare for the talks.

He said India noted that the Pakistan government was considering to send a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the Pathankot attack.

“We look forward to the visit of the Pakistani SIT and our investigative agencies will extend all necessary cooperation to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice,” he said.

Asked if India would give more evidence after having given actionable evidence if

Pakistan sought it, Swarup said since the Pakistani SIT was being welcomed, then more evidence, if available, would surely be handed over. Asked whether the Indian government thought that this time Pakistan was serious about bringing the Pathankot attackers to book unlike in the case of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, he said: “We will go by what objective evidence we see on the ground. We are not going to go by empty statements. So far, what Pakistan has done we have welcomed and we hope they will continue with these efforts.”

Paki airlines's office in Delhi vandalised

NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14 (IaNs): A Hindu Sena activist was arrested after the right-wing group's members vandalised the office of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) here on Thursday afternoon, police said. Posing as potential customers, fourfive Sena activists entered the PIA office on Barakhamba Road in the central business district around 3 p.m. and vandalised the office, breaking several computers and tearing up documents.

A Delhi Police team reached the spot and arrested 24-year-old Lalit alias Amit while the others managed to escape.

“We have arrested a Hindu Sena activist who along with some other group members vandalised the PIA office,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal said.

“We have registered a case under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code,” said the officer, adding that efforts to ascertain the identities of the others involved in the incident were on.

Police have obtained the CCTV footage on the incident.

The PIA office, situated on the fifth and sixth floors of Narain Manzil on Barakhamba Road, was closed when the Hindu Sena activists struck and raised anti-Pakistan slogans after vandalising the office.

Police said the activists left behind some pamphlets saying Pakistan was continuously involved in terror attacks in India, including at Pathankot's Indian Air Force base, and the Indian consulate in Afghanistan.

“India should not have any relations with Pakistan till it stops terrorist activities and hands over fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and internationally-designated terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed to India,” one of the pamphlets read.

U.S. human rights official urges India pledges steadfast Union budget on Feb 29, support, for poorer nations Indian leaders to promote tolerance to focus on reform, growth uNItED NatIoNs, JaNuary 14 (IaNs): India has pledged its steadfast support to poorer countries on issues that matters to them and said it would give them special consideration.

India's newly-minted Permanent Representative, Syed Akbarduddin, said on Tuesday, "India will be resolute in pushing for developing country unity and will spare no effort to give special consideration to the interests of our brothers and sisters from LDCs (Least Developed Countries), SIDS (Small Island Developing States) and LLDCs (Land-locked Developing Countries). They can count on our steadfast support on issues of concern to them."

He was speaking at meeting of the Group of 77 held here for the ceremonial transfer of the chairmanship of the organisation of developing countries from South Africa to Thailand. Group of 77 or G-77 is the largest inter-governmental organisation at the UN and it advocates for its economic interests and promotes cooperation among the members. From 77 members at its founding in 1964, it has grown to 134 members.

Referring to Agenda 2030, the ambitious programme of sustainable development goals adopted at the UN summit last September, Akbaruddin said, "If 2015 was a

year of negotiation and deliberation, 2016 should be a time of consolidation and implementation."

Asserting that the focus during the implementation phase should be on the priorities and needs of the developing countries, he said, "The founding principles of the Group of 77 -- equity, solidarity and unity, rooted as they are in our collective aspiration to help our people achieve a life of dignity -are even more relevant."

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said his chairmanship's priority would be pushing for the effective implementation of Agenda 2030. "In line with our theme, we will seek to pursue inclusive development, allowing for the active involvement of all stakeholders," he said.

He added that it was important to ensure that the "commitments made by developed countries to developing countries are duly honoured".

India redoubled its outreach to small island developing countries and land-locked developing countries. Last year, it hosted the second summit of the 14-nation Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in Jaipur and New Delhi.

India announced enhanced wideranging cooperation, including in space and information and communications techology.

Many medical projects stuck due to resource crunch:ICMR NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14 (PtI): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) today said a large number of biomedical research projects being undertaken by 32 scientific organizations across the country have been stuck due to resource crunch.

"There have been budget cuts across the board in the Indian Council of Medical Research," ICMR Director General Soumya Swaminathan said.

ICMR has 32 institutes that are suffering due to lack of funds for upgrading the infrastructure, maintain equipment, buy consumables and to conduct field studies.

"We had asked for Rs 10,000 crores for our 12th five year plan from 2012 to 2017 as we had plans to spend that amount and our expenditure has been 100 per cent every year. But we have received only 50 per cent of what we had requested. Many projects are not on track because of this," Soumya said at a media interaction.

She said that scientific organisations need to be empowered to become globally competitive.

"Resource crunch affects in

many different ways. A research institute should always have cutting edge technology.

If we are working with outdated equipment and facility and if things are not available on time, we cannot be globally competitive," she said.

Managerial delays are affecting scientific innovations and experiments, she alleged.

"It takes six months to get a reagent while in west you get it in one day. By the time a scientist starts doing an experiment it is already done and published somewhere else. We cannot compete globally unless we change the way in which we use science," the ICMR Director General said.

Soumya, however, expressed hope that the government will give more financial and managerial flexibility to scientific organizations.

"A progressive and high standard research can only be done if we get full budget. We are hopeful of getting more funds as Prime Minister wants to support scientific organizations by bringing accountability and empowering management," she added.

Sarah Sewall, U.S. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, wearing a floral garland, gestures after her visit to a temple in New Delhi on January 14. (REUTERS Photo)

NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14(rEutErs): A top U.S. human rights official expressed concern on Thursday about recent incidents of violence in India against religious minorities, urging national leaders to be vigilant in protecting the right of Indians to freedom of worship. "We have concerns about some of the recent incidents here in India," said Sarah Sewall, U.S. under secretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, citing

the mob killing of a Muslim man rumoured to have eaten beef and a string of attacks on churches last year.

"Much of the challenge is for political leaders, as well as religious leaders, to be setting a strong and firm example about the need to uphold constitutional protections," Sewall told Reuters during an official tour of a mosque, church and Hindu temple in Delhi.

Sewall's visit this week to New Delhi and Dharamsala,

where she is due to meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, is part of a warming in U.S.-India ties since tension between the allies spiked over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in the United States in 2013.

Ties have improved since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, though some sticking points remain over U.S. visas issued to Indian citizens who have been trafficked in the United States, besides India's criminalisation of homosexuality.

U.S. officials have said Indian citizens who have been issued U.S. "T visas" have been subject to restrictions, including long delays in renewing passports at Indian consulates in the United States.

The United States still has some outstanding concerns about how those visas are being handled, Sewall said, but added that she was "encouraged by the direction the practice was evolving."

"I will say from the U.S. side, we feel like the relationship is very much on track," Sewall told Reuters.

She is scheduled to meet Indian officials to discuss areas of mutual concern, including violent extremism, migration, and the protection of citizens from trafficking and slavery.

NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14 (rEutErs): The government will focus on economic reforms to achieve higher growth in the union budget due to be presented by the end of February, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said on Thursday.

Sinha, addressing an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said the budget would be presented on Feb. 29.

A finance ministry official, who declined to be identified, later clarified that the date of the budget, usually delivered in February, would be set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is holding consultations with the country's industrial chambers and other stakeholders.

On Wednesday, financial regulators, including Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan, met Jaitley and called on the government to stick to fiscal consolidation and improve the quality of spending to lift growth.

They also asked him to provide adequate funds to recapitalise banks weighed down with bad loans, and exempt life isurance premiums from service tax. India has revised down its projection of economic growth to 7% to 7.5% for the current fiscal year that ends on March 31, from earlier estimate of 8.1% to 8.5%.

Jaitley said economic growth was expected to gain momentum in the coming quarters, as the impact of economic and structural reforms undertaken by the government takes firm root.

"We have achieved macro stability to a large extent but the growth moderation in the global economy and policy uncertainties among advanced countries pose a risk to this outlook," a finance ministry statement said, quoting Jaitley.

"We have achieved macro stability to a large extent but the growth moderation in the global economy and policy uncertainties among advanced countries pose a risk to this outlook," a finance ministry statement said, quoting Jaitley.

Killing the chill - the Kashmiri way NEW DELHI, JaNuary 14 (IaNs): Have you ever imagined carrying red-hot charcoal filled in an earthen pot inside your dress? It sounds dangerous, but Kashmiris do it to kill the chill.

As Kashmir freezes in bonechilling temperatures, woollen and thermal wear are not enough to cope. 'Kangri', commonly called kanger in Kashmir, is a traditional earthen pot in a woven wicker basket and filled with red-hot charcoal.

Kashmiris carry it inside the 'pheran', a traditional long flowing tweed over-garment, to keep the freezing winter away.

As most of rural Kashmir is devoid of electricity, locals use the kangri daily as it doesn't disappoint them like electricity does.

"Winter in Kashmir means kangri. Due to poor electric supply we use the kangri on a daily basis as it is cheaper than oil, gas and heaters" said Wali Muhammad, a resident of Chadoora in Budgam.

"At present, the majority of people in the Valley use kangris to keep warm. With its potability we can take it anywhere," Muhammad added.

Everybody cannot make a kangri. It needs skill, dexterity and craftsmanship.

"We collect twigs from deciduous shrubs, scratch and peel them. After peeling, it goes through the process of soaking, drying, and then dyeing", kangrimaker Abdul Rashid told IANS. "Dried and dressed twigs are woven around a bowl-shaped earthen pot decorated with colourful threads to make the kangri beautiful," he added.

"The production of kangris has declined over the years due to availability of alternate heating gadgets", Rashid said.

With the increasing winter cold, other modern heating equipment has been flooding the markets but have failed to replace the kangri.

Kangri has become a popular handicraft. Besides being used for heating purposes, it re-

mains a durable article which is eco-friendly and cost-effective.

"There are different prices of kangris starting from Rs.70 a piece. The prices can go as high as Rs.3,500 depending on the artistic work and design," said Muhammad Shafi, the owner of a kangri shop in Srinagar.

"This is a specialty as some kangris are made only for newly-weds. Like many other household articles, the brides carry them to their in-laws' houses.

The kangri is also used as a decoration piece in drawing rooms.

"Its colours, innovative designs and artwork attract tourists.

"If you want to visit Kashmir during winter, you will find different shops selling heaters and other appliances, but you will be surprised to see heavy rush of people at shops selling kangris," Shafi claimed.

Kashmiris may use modern gadgets to keep themselves warm, but the majority prefer to follow their culture by using the kangri.

Kangri traditional Kashmiri fire-pot. (IANS Photo)

FridaY 15•01•2016

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

IS-linked suicide attackers hit Indonesian capital Jakarta, January 14 (aFP): Islamic State-linked suicide attackers struck at the heart of the capital of Muslim-majority Indonesia Thursday, killing a Westerner and blowing up a Starbucks, police said. Five extremists launched an assault copying “the pattern of the Paris attacks” as they detonated explosives and shot at people in a district packed with malls, embassies and United Nations offices.

The assault also left an Indonesian man dead and 19 other people injured, and a police post destroyed, in what the country’s president called “acts of terror”.

“There is a strong suspicion that this is an ISIS-linked group in Indonesia,” national police spokesman Anton Charliyan told AFP, referring to the Islamic State group by an alternative name.

“From what we see today, this group is following the pattern of the Paris attacks.” IS gunmen killed 130 people in a series of coordinated attacks on the French capital in November.

The claim of IS involvement will send a chill through Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia with Muslim populations, where fears abound that extremists bloodied on the battlefields of the Middle East could have brought their jihad home.

Indonesia suffered several major bomb attacks by Islamic radicals between 2000 and 2009, including the 2002 strike on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people. A security crackdown weakened the most dangerous networks, leading to a long lull in largescale strikes. But the New York-based Soufan Group says that of the 500-700 Indonesians who travelled abroad to join the self-proclaimed caliphate of the IS, scores have since returned.

Gunfire Police chief Charliyan said the fivestrong cell who struck Thursday included three suicide bombers who initially targeted a Starbucks opposite a major shopping mall. After the first explosion, two men armed with pistols took two men hostage. He identified them as an Algerian and a Dutch national, however Jakarta police chief Tito Karnavian said the second man was Canadian.

Charliyan said the Algerian managed to escape with bullet wounds, but the second man was shot dead on the spot and that an Indonesian man who had tried to

Timeline - Explosions, gunfight rock central Jakarta

An Indonesian policeman stands guard in front of a blast site at the Indonesian capital Jakarta. (Getty Images)

Islamic state officially claims Jakarta attacks CaIrO, January 14 (reuters): Islamic State officially claimed responsibility on Thursday for a gun and bomb assault in the centre of Jakarta earlier in the day that killed seven people, five of whom were attackers.

“A group of soldiers of the caliphate in Indonesia targeted a gathering from the crusader alliance that fights the Islamic State in Jakarta through planting several explosive devices that went off as four of the soldiers attacked with light weapons and explosive belts,” the group said in a statement.

Islamic State’s statement said there were 15 people killed but the official tally according to the Indonesian government is seven. A news agency affiliated to Islamic State had earlier reported the group’s responsibility. help the hostages was also shot and killed.

“Soon afterwards, two men riding.... motorbikes, ran into a police post and blew themselves up,” he said, adding four officers had been left in a critical condition. Witnesses said the gunman who emerged from Starbucks began firing at bystanders, reloading his weapon as security forces moved in behind the cover of moving vehicles.

stairs,” said Ruli Koestaman, 32, who had been in a nearby building when the attack started mid-morning.

“We then saw that the Starbucks downstairs was destroyed too. I saw a foreigner -- westerner, a man -- with a mangled hand but alive. “A Starbucks waiter then ran out with blood coming out of his ear. And I asked anyone hurt inside, he said yes, one. Dead already.

“Then everybody gathered and a ter‘felt like an earthquake’ rorist appeared. He had a gun and start“I heard a loud bang, boom. It felt ed shooting at us and then at Starbucks. like an earthquake. We all went down- Then the police post... exploded.” Police

said there were four blasts, although eyewitnesses reported at least six.

Graphic photographs from the scene showed the bloodied bodies of what appeared to be two men in civilian clothes lying by the side of a road next to the wrecked police post. Another body, also apparently male, was pictured lying on his back in the centre of the street while another, almost naked, lay nearby.

StarbuckS Shuttered Starbucks said it was shuttering all branches in the Indonesian capital in response to the attack.

“This store and all other Starbucks stores in Jakarta will remain closed, out of an abundance of caution, until further notice,” a statement said. The area is home to several embassies, including those of the United States, France and Spain. A number of United Nations agencies are also housed nearby.

Britain and Australia advised their nationals to avoid the area. Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged people to remain calm. “Our nation and our people should not be afraid, we will not be defeated by these acts of terror,” he said, in comments broadcast by MetroTV.

Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the heart of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday morning. At least six people died, including five militants. Casualty numbers may change as official data is updated with fresh reports from the scene.

Below is a timeline of the events as Reuters reported them. All times local (GMT +0700 hours).

1049 - An explosion was heard near a Starbucks cafe close to United Nations offices in central Jakarta, according to eyewitnesses.

1057 - A second explosion was heard in central Jakarta, Reuters eyewitnesses said.

1100 - A police officer was shot near the site of an explosion, according to domestic TV reports. A Reuters eyewitness said gunfire and several explosions were heard. There were six explosions, local TV reported.

1108 - A Reuters eyewitness said three people died and there was a gunfight. A national police spokesman said the explosions were suspected to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.

1113 - The central bank continued a scheduled monetary policy meeting despite the blasts. Indonesia’s stock index and currency fell after the explosions.

1118 - Security forces were seen entering the bombed Starbucks cafe in central Jakarta, said an eyewitness.

1143 - Police said around 10-14 gunmen were involved in the attacks.

1201 - A police spokesman said three police officers and three civilians had died in the attacks.

1217 - More gunfire was heard in central Jakarta, according to a Reuters eyewitness.

1221 - Police told domestic TV that there was no explosion in West Jakarta suburb of Palmerah, and no hostages were taken. They also said gunfire had ceased, and no one was arrested.

1231 - Police said they believed two suspected perpetrators fled in the direction of West Jakarta.

1237 - A further explosion was heard near the site of the attacks, a Reuters reporter on site said.

1300 - Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo condemned the attacks and issued condolences to victims. He urged the public not to be afraid of “acts of terror like this”. He cut short his trip to Java to return to Jakarta where he will hold a meeting on the attacks.

1304 - Indonesia’s intelligence chief said there were no indications yet that the Jakarta attack is related to Islamic State.

1322 - A police spokesman said police had shot dead four suspected militants who were part of the attacks, and the area was being secured.

1322 - Starbucks said one customer was injured in attacks, and all employees were safe. The store that was attacked and all other Starbucks stores in Jakarta will remain closed until further notice.

1351 - The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time in 11 months by 25 basis points.

1409 - A central bank official said markets have calmed after the Jakarta attack.

1435 - Police said they suspected at least three suicide bombers.

1438 - Police arrested four suspected attackers involved in the blasts.

1522 - Indonesia’s security chief said five militants were killed, including one foreigner, and that “everything is under control now”.

North Korea says Davos snub over Special US force ‘now in place’ in Iraq nuclear test ‘politically motivated” seOuL/GeneVa, January 14 (reuters): North Korea said on Thursday that the World Economic Forum’s decision to withdraw a ministerial invitation to a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, following its recent nuclear test was “based on unjust political motivation” driven by the United States.

In a U-turn, the Geneva-based WEF announced on Wednesday that North Korean foreign minister Ri Su Yong’s invitation to the Jan. 20-23 meeting had been revoked after Pyongyang carried out a fourth nuclear test in defiance of a United Nations ban.

In a letter to the organiser from its U.N. ambassador in Geneva, seen by Reuters, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said it had hoped to have the opportunity to demonstrate its economic performance and promote economic cooperation.

It would have been the first time in 18 years that a North Ko-

rean delegation attended the event, a gathering place for elite from the worlds of politics, business and entertainment.

“Unfortunately, however, the WEF side has unilaterally cancelled the participation of the DPRK delegation based on unjust political motivation which clearly runs counter to the nature and position of WEF as an international forum for discussion of economic issues,” said the letter.

Yann Zopf, a WEF spokesman, said he could not confirm receipt of the letter addressed to managing board member Philipp Roesler or comment.

But Myong Nam Choe, deputy ambassador at North Korea’s diplomatic mission in Geneva, told Reuters: “It was physically hand-delivered. We were waiting outside the WEF to make sure the organisers got it the first thing in the morning”.

South Korea warned North

Korea on Wednesday that the United States and its allies were working on sanctions to inflict “bone-numbing pain” after its latest nuclear test, and urged China to do its part to rein in its isolated neighbour.

“We believe the decision by WEF is based on political motivation because the organiser has suddenly decided to cancel, taking sides with the belligerent United States and its allies that are pursuing hostile policies against DPRK,” Choe said. “We are 100 percent sure there is pressure and even blackmail.”

North Korea’s ambassador in Geneva, Se Pyong So had met WEF organisers as recently as Monday to discuss preparations for Ri’s participation, while Choe had met them on Tuesday, he said.

“We were informed a few minutes before the press conference by telephone,” Choe said of the canceled invitation.

WasHInGtOn, January 14 (reuters): A new U.S. force of special operations troops has arrived in Iraq and is preparing to work with Iraqi forces to go after Islamic State targets, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.

Carter disclosed the deployment in a broad speech to U.S. soldiers that sought to underscore American efforts to accelerate the campaign against Islamic State, both in Iraq and Syria.

“The specialised expeditionary targeting force I announced in December is now in place and is preparing to work with the Iraqis to begin going after ISIL’s fighters and commanders,” Carter said at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

While the force was expected to number only about 200, its deployment marks the latest expansion of U.S. mili-

tary pressure on Islamic State.

It also exposes American forces to greater risk, something President Barack Obama has done only sparingly.

The force is separate from another deployment last year of up to 50 U.S. special operations troops in Syria to coordinate on the ground with U.S.backed rebels fighting in a civil war raging since 2011.

Carter said that smaller group of forces had already established contact with rebels, as well as new targets for airstrikes and “strikes of all kinds.”

“These operators have helped focus the efforts of the local, capable forces against key ISIL vulnerabilities, including their lines of communication,” Carter said.

Republicans have sought to portray Obama’s strategy to defeat Islamic State as flawed and insufficient, as the militants plot or inspire

attacks far beyond their selfdeclared caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

Obama, in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, warned against overstating the fight against Islamic State but said his administration is focused on destroying the extremist group.

Carter’s upbeat assessment emphasized advances

by Iraqi forces -- including retaking control of the city of Ramadi -- and by U.S.-backed rebels in Syria. He focused on efforts to “collapse” the Islamic State’s power centres of al Raqqah, in Syria and Mosul, in Iraq.

“President Obama is committed to doing what it takes – as opportunities arise, as we see what works, and as the enemy adapts – until ISIL is delivered a lasting defeat,” he said.

Carter was addressing soldiers from the 101st Airborne

Division, 1,800 of whom will deploy to Iraq in the coming months, largely to train Iraqi forces and Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

Beyond Syria and Iraq, Carter acknowledged that Islamic State was “metastasising” in North Africa, Afghanistan and Yemen. That, he said, required a “nimble response” and pointed to a Nov. 13 strike that killed Islamic State’s leader in Libya.

He also pointed to December strikes that killed militants with links to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Carter said he would meet next week in Paris with defence ministers from six nations -- France, Britain, Australia, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. He called for “all of the capabilities they can bring to the field.”

“As I will emphasise in Paris next week, we must all do more,” he said.

Myanmar: Suu Kyi to avoid ‘rocking boat’ with military ahead of handover

nayPyItaW, January 14 (reuters): Myanmar election winner Aung San Suu Kyi will not press for an immediate change to the constitution that bars her from becoming president, and will instead appoint a ceremonial head of state, a senior official in her party said on Wednesday.

She will also include in

the new cabinet at least one member of the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was trounced in the November vote, as well as technocrats from ethnic minorities who have long complained of being sidelined from power.

The democracy champion is keen to avoid open confronta-

tion with the powerful military, perhaps wary that the last time she triumphed at the ballot box in 1990, the army kept her under house arrest for years and refused to surrender power.

That does not mean Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party has given up on its overarching goal of amending the constitution,

the party official told Reuters, but the issue has not been discussed yet between the sides in recent weeks.

“Our choice of president will be only ceremonial and the decisions will be made only by Aung San Suu Kyi,” said the official, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of negotiations on how the country will be run following the NLD’s landslide election victory.

He reiterated Suu Kyi’s assertion that she would stay “above the president”.

But by appointing a figurehead president, the NLD aims to “show the people this ridiculous constitution must be amended.”

Suu Kyi has discussed aspects of the transition with the army chief at “a few”, previously unreported, closed-door meetings since the elections, he said.

She has also appointed NLD liaisons who are in regular contact with the army, part of intensifying efforts to build trust between the party and its former enemies.Last month Suu Kyi met the former head of the junta that

ruled the country for 49 years, Than Shwe, pledging the NLD wanted work for the “brighter future” and not focus on the past.

PraGMatiSM truMPS the PaSt The Nobel laureate’s conciliatory steps towards the army reflect a pragmatic approach to transition from semi-civilian rule in place since 2011, and see Suu Kyi’s image as a democracy icon blur with that of a political operator. That pragmatism has drawn criticism in the recent past.

One issue Suu Kyi largely avoided during election campaigning, for example, was the plight of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslims, a silence that was frowned upon by some international observers.

As far as political transition is concerned, however, experts said the 70-year-old’s willingness to do business with the former military dictatorship was unavoidable. “Her priority ... is not to get rid of the military or to diminish it, but to bring it under civilian control, and I think that’s understood by ev-

eryone to be a gradual process,” said Richard Horsey, a respected Yangon-based analyst and former senior United Nations official in Myanmar.

“It’s not going to happen overnight and it can only happen if the military accepts to be brought under civilian control, given ... its de facto authority and power.”Myanmar’s existing constitution, drawn up by the junta, guarantees the military a quarter of seats in parliament, control of three security ministries and a constitutional veto. rOckinG the bOat NLD representatives were meeting or calling army officers “two or three times” a week, the official said. Both mid- and high-ranking party members were involved in the talks.

“They (the military) are nervous. They want to know that we won’t rock the boat,” said the official. Zaw Htay, a senior official in the president’s office, supported the dialogue.

“Trust and cooperation are based on understanding. So both sides need to talk to each

other directly without using a third person,” he said.

Suu Kyi’s new cabinet will be streamlined to include less than 25 ministries from 36 now, according to the NLD source.

Ministerial and presidential candidates, still under debate among top NLD leaders, will be announced just before the start of the new parliament on Feb. 1, he added.The NLD does not plan to retain any ministers from the current administration due to political opposition, although the relative lack of experience in government among the NLD leadership is a cause for concern.

“We are worried that our people have little or no experience in actual governance,” said the official. The government will include at least one member of the USDP, however, a move welcomed by the office of President Thein Sein, who has led Myanmar since 2011 and introduced a series of reforms.“It’s a good thing,” said Zaw Htay. “The NLD is the winner, but they do not want to take it all. It’s a positive step for national reconciliation.”

10

friDAY 15•01•2016

sports

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Sania-Martina earn 29th win in a row, enter final Sydney, January 14 (IanS): Top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis survived a scare to win their 29th consecutive match and enter the women's doubles final of the Sydney International here on Thursday.

The Indo-Swiss tennis pair won a rain-interrupted semi-final 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in one hour and 32 minutes to beat Romanian Raluca Olaru and Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan on Court 1 of the NSW Tennis Centre.

In the process, they eclipsed the 22-year-old record set by Gigi Fernandez of the US and Natasha Zvereva of Belarus, who won 28 consecutive matches in 1994. Sania and Martina have now begun to chase the world record which was set in 1990 by the dynamic Czech duo of Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova, who won a whopping 44 matches in a row.

"Today the girls we were playing, they were playing probably the best I've seen them play. Slava has won Slams, before Olaru was playing really well. We had to really put everything that we had and really come out with our A Game when we needed to, especially in that super tie-break," said Sania.

"It's not like because we been winning so much we take it for granted really.

We try every time. We're the hunted. Everyone plays their best against us, and we have to keep playing our best as well to win."

The world's top ranked pair are now eyeing their second title win of the year after clinching the Brisbane International crown last week. They claimed nine

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis broke a 22-year-old world record by winning their 29th women’s doubles match in a row en route to their entry into the women’s doubles final of the WTA Sydney International, in Sydney. (PTI Photo)

titles last year en route to becoming the top ranked women's doubles team, the highlight being wins at the Wimbledon and US Open.

On Thursday, the top pair, dubbed 'SanTina' by their fans, were trailing by a set, lost 4-6, and were down 1-2 in the second set when rain intervened. That helped them turn the tables upon resumption as they fought back to overturn the deficit and claim the second set 6-3 and utilised their experience to claim the decider narrowly 10-8.

The win was viewed by the ecstatic pair as an ideal preparation for their Australian Open ambitions, starting next week, which will be their third straight Grand Slam triumph if they win it. They have not lost a match since the Cincinnati Masters last year.

"This is something that I dreamed about and was hoping for. I can only say it over and over again. It's something that it's a priority also. When I was playing singles, singles was priority. I became No.1 there.

Also simultaneously I was No.1 in both," said Martina.

"Now I put 100 or 120 percent into this, and that's what makes us this great doubles. The chemistry is amazing. We don't always play super tennis, but we come out and find a solution, that's what makes us right now the best doubles in the world."

In men's doubles, Sania's compatriot Rohan Bopanna, partnering Romanian Florin Mergea, defeated Australians Sam Groth and John Peers 6-2, 6-4 in 57 minutes to enter the semi-final.

Arsenal held by Liverpool Leicester stun Spurs to go joint-top

London, January 14 (aFP): Joe Allen’s dramatic last-minute equaliser earned Liverpool a 3-3 draw at home to Arsenal on Wednesday while Leicester City beat Tottenham Hotspur to move level on points at the Premier League summit.

The Welsh midfielder volleyed home in front of the Kop at a wintry Anfield to deny leaders Arsenal a victory that would have kept Arsene Wenger’s men two points clear at the top of the table.

Robert Huth scored an 83rd-minute winner as Leicester won 1-0 at fourthplace Tottenham Hotspur, while Manchester City remain three points off the pace in third after drawing 0-0 at home to Everton.

“I’m very disappointed, but overall I cannot fault the effort and commitment of the team,” Arsenal manager Wenger told the BBC. “I felt we had an apprehensive start. We went 1-0 down and then we started to play. We come out of the game with a lot of positives, but still some regrets.”

Arsenal travel to Stoke City on Sunday and will do so still battling doubts about their title credentials after failing to protect the advantage given to them

by Olivier Giroud’s 55thminute goal.

Roberto Firmino was preferred to Christian Benteke up front by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and he rewarded the German’s faith by slamming home a 10th-minute opener after Petr Cech parried a shot from Emre Can. Aaron Ramsey equal-

Olivier Giroud scores the third goal for Arsenal. (Reuters)

ised four minutes later, beating Simon Mignolet at his near post from Joel Campbell’s through-ball, only for Firmino to restore the hosts’ lead in the 19th minute, gathering a layoff from James Milner and arcing a magnificent 25yard shot into the top-right corner. Giroud equalised in the 25th minute, toeing Ramsey’s corner past a hesitant Mignolet at the near post.

The France striker then committed an embarrassing miss, somehow diverting Theo Walcott’s low cross away from goal with the net yawning, before Firmino grazed the bar in firsthalf stoppage time.

Giroud atoned 10 minutes into the second half, collecting Campbell’s deflected pass and turning away from Kolo Toure before planting a shot past Mignolet for his 18th goal of the campaign.

But Allen had the last

Arsenal signs Elneny MDCA Tourney: Reigning champs

London, January 14 (aP): Egypt midfielder Mohamed Elneny could make his Arsenal debut at Stoke on Sunday after completing his move to the Premier League from Swiss club FC Basel. The 23-year-old Elneny arrives after winning three consecutive Swiss league titles at Basel, which he joined from El Mokawloon in Egypt. After the Liverpool game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Elneny ''has joined us and we will see if he can qualify for Sunday.'' Arsenal says Elneny's transfer remains ''subject to the completion of regulatory processes.''

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid get 2-window transfer bans – FIFA

ZurICH, January 14 (reuterS): Real Madrid and their neighbours Atletico Madrid have both been banned from signing new players for the next two transfer windows for breaching rules over the transfer of minors, soccer's governing body FIFA said on Thursday. The ban does not cover the current transfer window, which runs until the end of this month. "The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players," said FIFA in a statement. Atletico were fined 900,000 Swiss francs and Real 360,000, FIFA added.

Titans CC take on Sovran CC in final

MokokCHung, January 14 (Mexn): Titans CC and Sovran CC today became the last two teams standing at the ongoing 25th MDCA Inter Club Cricket Tournament after they won their respective semifinal matches played here at Imkongmeren Sports Complex.

In the first semifinal match, defending champions Titans CC defeated Team Bendangsunep by 8 wickets to book a berth in the MDCA finals for the third consecutive time. Team Bendangsunep after winning the toss elected to bat first but were restricted to a mere 99 runs downing all wickets in 19.4 overs. Sonu contributed 34 runs and Moakumzuk 14 runs for Team Bendangsunep. Longsasunep claimed 4 wickets for Titans. Merenti and Bir Bahadur also scalped 2 wickets each for the Titans.

Titans chased down the target in 16.5 overs with Rohit Sharma scoring 40 runs while Akumdong remained unbeaten on 23 runs. Dharani claimed 2 wickets for Team Bendangsunep. It may be recalled that Team Bendangsunep set the exact target of 100 runs in their quarterfinal match against Züngamedem CC which they managed to successfully defend but they were unable to repeat the feat against the strong Titans side today.

In the second semifinal, Sovran defeated Skylark CC by 24 runs. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Sovran set a respectable target of 137 runs losing 6 wickets in 20 overs. Imliwati top scored in the Sovran scorecard with 37 runs to his name

Viswema wrestling meet today

koHIMa, January 14 (Mexn): The Viswema Youth Organization (VYO) will hold its 70th Wrestling Meet on January 15 at John Govt. Higher Secondary School Ground, Viswema. MLA Er. Kropol Vitsu will be the chief guest in the inaugural function while Er. Zale Neikha, president

Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) will be the guest of honour. The inaugural function will start from 9:00 AM onwards with VYO President Eyosa Kikhi as chairman. VYO Games & Sports Secretary Tepukiil Khanyo will administer oath to the wrestlers.

Neivolie is Phesama Wrestling Champ Our Correspondent Phesama | January 14

Neivolie Zashümo today emerged champion of Phesama Youth Organization (PYO) Wrestling Meet 2016 held at Phesama Panchayat Ground.

Vikehiezo Mejura, Anguto Mejura and Thejao Matthew Kuotsu stood 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

Er. Zale Neikha, President Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) speaking on the occasion as chief guest called upon wrestlers to maintain discipline and strong determi-

nation to excel in the field.

He also challenged the wrestlers to maintain constant practice, saying that regular practice will help build their stamina and accomplish proficiency in the field of games and sports.

Stressing on the need to apply the best technique, he also called upon the wrestles to share techniques with one another to acquire specialization.

Er. Neikha challenged the wrestlers to set a comprehensive target to excel at the higher level of tournaments. He also called upon the wrestlers to show

courtesy to one another to enhance the spirit of the game.

He further extended invitation to the forthcoming SASA’s 54th wrestling meet 2016, scheduled for January 28 and 29 at Kohima Local Ground.

PYO sports secretary Visako Zashiimo administered oath to the 22 participating wrestlers.

Later, Dr. Vilhousa Seleyi, president Angami Public Organization (APO) graced the closing ceremony as the guest of honour and gave away prizes to the winners.

while Imliwapang and Wapongtoshi contributed 27 and 21 runs respectively. Aosashi took 2 rival wickets for Skylark.

Chasing the target, Skylark managed to score just 113 runs losing 5 wickets in the process in the allotted 20 overs with Nirpen contributing 40 runs and Aosashi making 25 runs. Sovran bowlers Michael and Tiaakum claimed 2 wickets each.

The final, to be played on January 15 from 10 a.m. onwards at Imkongmeren Sports Complex, is expected to be a cracker of a game with both teams matching strength for strength in all departments.

The only factor in Titans favour might be their experience playing the finals for the third year in a row. If Titans win tomorrow, they would become the first team to lift the MDCA Trophy three times in row in the 25 editions of the district's biggest cricket tournament played so far. Sovran, on the other hand, would be looking for not just a win tomorrow but, with some of the biggest local names like Jonathan and Imliwati on their lineup, also to put the Titans juggernaut to stop.

While Sovran CC is one of the oldest cricket clubs and a traditional powerhouse in cricket Mokokchung, Titans are a relatively young club that grew rapidly in strength and has been dominating the game for the past three years in Mokokchung. The Titans versus Sovran final promises to be a classic cricket final match.

Match Day 10 Fixture:

Final - Titans CC Vs Sovran CC (10 AM)

word in a breathless encounter, meeting substitute Benteke’s knock-down with an assured volley that nestled in the bottom-left corner.

“It’s an explosion of goals, but at the final whistle you cannot ignore there were problems,” Klopp told BT Sport.

A late Harry Kane penalty had earned Tottenham a 2-2 draw with Leicester when the teams met in the FA Cup on Sunday, but Claudio Ranieri’s men claimed a measure of revenge thanks to Huth’s late goal at White Hart Lane.

The German centreback was left unmarked to head home a Christian Fuchs corner, allowing Leicester to open up a seven-point advantage over their opponents, who are now just a point clear of fifth-place West Ham United. “Unfortunately it’s January, not May,” said Ranieri.

“There’s so much work

to do. We have to remain calm and believe in what we’re doing.”

Manchester City were left to curse Everton for the second time in a week, drawing 0-0 at the Etihad Stadium after losing 2-1 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final last week.

“I think we were the better team,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Everton didn’t create any chances.

We had 17 shots, but for different reasons we didn’t score.” Elsewhere, James McClean scored an 86thminute winner as West Bromwich Albion drew 2-2 at improving champions Chelsea.

Chelsea substitute Kenedy put Chelsea on course for victory in the 73rd minute after Craig Gardner had cancelled out Cesar Azpilicueta’s opener for the hosts, but McClean had the final say with a low, right-foot shot.

Defoe hat-trick Jermain Defoe netted a hat-trick as Sunderland climbed to within a point of safety by winning 4-2 at fellow strugglers Swansea City, who are now just a point above the relegation zone.

After Defoe had given Sunderland a third-minute lead at the Liberty Stadium, a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty and an Andre Ayew strike put Swansea 2-1 up.

But Swansea had had Kyle Naughton sent off for a high foot on Yann M’Vila in between and the visitors’ numerical advantage told in the second half as Patrick van Aanholt equalised before Defoe scored twice. Goals from Shane Long and Dusan Tadic gave Southampton a 2-0 win over Watford.

Meanwhile, Jon Walters and Joselu scored and Ryan Bennett put through his own goal as Stoke won 3-1 at home to Norwich City, who replied through a screamer from Jonny Howson.

Petekuolie lifts WADSA Wrestling C'ship

kIruPHeMa, January 14 (Mexn): Upcoming wrestler Petekuolie Nipu of Sechü Zubza village emerged as the champion of the 43rd Western Angami ‘D’ Group Sports Association (WADSA) wrestling meet held at Kiruphema Bawe Ground from January 13 to 14.

A press release received here informed that the 19 year old Petekuolie downed his elder brother and prominent wrestler Seketoukho Nipu (26 years) in the final to lift the title. The siblings are sons of veteran wrestler Rokomekho Nipu, a former Western Angami wrestling champion.

It may be mentioned here that the siblings both took part at the WADSA meet after securing the first position and the 1st runner-up at the Sechü Zubza wrestling meet held in December 2015. However, at Sechü Zubza, it was the elder brother Seketoukho who lifted the title.

The third and fourth positions were bagged by Neitsilie Zhünyü (21 years),

and Pelesetuo Rhatsu (20 years), both from Sechüma village.

The champion walked home richer with Rs. 20,000, while the second, third and fourth position winners received Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 7,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Sechü Zubza village also emerged as the group point winners in Naga wrestling championship.

The two-day wrestling championship also featured junior category wrestling and free style wrestling.

In the junior category, Khriesamhalie Nagi of Sechü Zubza lifted the title, while Mhasivilie Vielie of Kiruphema village bagged the 1st runner-up. The third and fourth positions were bagged by Kekhrieneizo Suohumvü of Kiruphema village and Thepfüsahu Kuotsu of Mengujuma village respectively.

The inaugural function on day-one witnessed Rovilatuo Mor, Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, as the chief guest. In his address,

he encouraged sportspersons to partake in games and sports activities with total commitment and dedication.

He also urged the sportspersons to take part with all seriousness so as to excel and make a livelihood out of it.

The closing function on day-two was graced by Satuo Sechü, president Western Angami ‘D’ Group Organisation (WADGO) as the guest of honour.

The other selected wrestlers are Kekhriezo Nagi, Kedizelhou Zhünyü, Neisakuolie Nipu (All from Sechü Zubza), Megovizo Visienyü, Mhasivituo Kruneilie, Keneiselhou Hozoyie, Thejangutuo Vielie (All from kiruphema), Visazotuo Zhünyü, Megovilhou Sechü (Both from Sechüma) Neivilie Sechü (Mengujuma) and Keneingulie Kruse (Thekrejuma).

The selected wrestlers will represent WADSA at the forthcoming Western Angami Sports Association wrestling meet scheduled from January 22 to 23 at Kohima Local Ground.

Barca cruise into Cup quarters with derby win

BarCeLona, January 14 (aFP): Barcelona ended a three-game series of bad-tempered derbies against Espanyol on top by sealing their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals Messi is brought down 6-1 on aggregate courtesy

by Alvaro Gonzalez. of a 2-0 win at Cornella-El (Getty Images) Prat on Wednesday.

Fresh from picking up his record fifth Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi was once again Barca's inspiration as he brilliantly picked out Munir El Haddadi to open the scoring before the youngster tapped home his second of the night late on.

There was less aggression on the field than in the previous two meetings between the sides in the past 10 days, however Espanyol could be punished for offensive banners towards Colombian popstar Shaki- Luis Suarez. booked their place in the on Tuesday, for Friday's ra - the partner of Barca deAthletic Bilbao, Celta last eight to join Sevilla and quarter-final draw. fender Gerard Pique - and Vigo and Las Palmas also Mirandes, who qualified La Liga leaders Atletico

Madrid host Rayo Vallecano on Thursday tied at 1-1, whilst Gary Neville's Valencia have one foot in the quarters as they lead Granada 4-0.

Last season's finalists Athletic Bilbao completed a 4-2 aggregate victory over Villarreal thanks to Inaki Williams's neat turn and finish to claim a 1-0 win on the night at El Madrigal.

Celta Vigo shrugged off their poor La Liga form of late to end Cadiz's Cup reprieve after they advanced to the last-16 due to Real Madrid's expulsion from the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

John Guidetti's third goal of the tie and Dejan Drazic's late strike sealed a 2-0 win to progress 5-0 on aggregate.

And Las Palmas edged a goalfest against Eibar 6-4 on aggregate thanks to their second 3-2 win of the tie.

Friday 15•01•2016

EntErtainmEnt

T

he nominations for the 88th Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Actor John Krasinski, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, and filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Ang Lee announced the nominees in all 24 categories.

The Academy Awards will be hosted by Chris Rock, and will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, Feb. 28, live on ABC.

The nominees are listed below: Best Picture The Big Short Bridge of Spies Brooklyn Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Room Spotlight

Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Performance by an actor in a leading role Bryan Cranston, Trumbo Matt Damon, The Martian Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl Performance by an actress in a leading role Cate Blanchett, Carol Brie Larson, Room Jennifer Lawrence, Joy Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn Best director Adam McKay, The Big Short George Miller, Mad Max Alejandro Inarritu The Revenant Lenny Abrahamson Room Tom McCarthy Spotlight Performance by an actor in a supporting role Christian Bale, The Big Short Tom Hardy, The Revenant Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight Mark Rylance, The Bridge of Spies

Performance by an actress in a supporting role Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight Rooney Mara, Carol Rachel McAdams, Spotlight Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs Best documentary feature Amy, Asif Kapadia and James GayRees Cartel Land, Matthew Heineman and Tom Yellin The Look of Silence, Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen What Happened, Miss Simone?, Liz Garbus, Amy Hobby and Justin Wilkes Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, Evgeny Afineevsky and Den Tolmor Best documentary short subject Body Team 12, David Darg and Bryn Mooser Chau, beyond the Lines, Courtney Marsh and Jerry Franck Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah, Adam Benzine A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Last Day of Freedom, Dee HibbertJones and Nomi Talisman Achievement in film editing The Big Short, Hank Corwin Mad Max: Fury Road, Margaret Sixel

The Revenant, Stephen Mirrione and Lady Gaga Spotlight, Tom McArdle “Writing’s On The Wall” from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, “Spectre” Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey Music and Lyric by Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith Best foreign language film of the year “Embrace of the Serpent” Colom- Best motion picture of the year bia “The Big Short” Brad Pitt, Dede “Mustang” France Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers “Son of Saul” Hungary “Bridge of Spies” Steven Spielberg, “Theeb” Jordan Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger, “A War” Denmark Producers “Brooklyn” Finola Dwyer and Achievement in music written for Amanda Posey, Producers motion pictures (Original score) “Mad Max: Fury Road” Doug “Bridge of Spies” Thomas Newman Mitchell and George Miller, Producers “Carol” Carter Burwell “The Martian” Simon Kinberg, Rid“The Hateful Eight” Ennio Morri- ley Scott, Michael Schaefer and Mark cone Huffam, Producers “Sicario” Jóhann Jóhannsson “The Revenant” Arnon Milchan, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary John Williams Parent and Keith Redmon, Producers “Room” Ed Guiney, Producer Achievement in music written for “Spotlight” Michael Sugar, Steve motion pictures (Original song) “Earned It” from “Fifty Shades of Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, Producers Grey” Music and Lyric by Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Daheala Quenn- Best animated short film “Bear Story” Gabriel Osorio and eville and Stephan Moccio “Manta Ray” from “Racing Extinc- Pato Escala “Prologue” Richard Williams and tion” Music by J. Ralph and Lyric by Ant- Imogen Sutton “Sanjay’s Super Team” Sanjay Patel ony Hegarty and Nicole Grindle “Simple Song #3” from “Youth” “We Can’t Live without Cosmos” Music and Lyric by David Lang “Til It Happens To You” from “The Konstantin Bronzit “World of Tomorrow” Don HertzHunting Ground” Music and Lyric by Diane Warren feldt

Best live action short film “Ave Maria” Basil Khalil and Eric Dupont “Day One” Henry Hughes “Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut)” Patrick Vollrath “Shok” Jamie Donoughue “Stutterer” Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage Achievement in sound editing “Mad Max: Fury Road” Mark Mangini and David White “The Martian” Oliver Tarney “The Revenant” Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender “Sicario” Alan Robert Murray “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Matthew Wood and David Acord

The 88th Academy Award nominations were announced Thursday at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Jackson, Tom Wood, Dan Oliver and Andy Williams “The Martian” Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Chris Lawrence and Steven Warner “The Revenant” Rich McBride, Matthew Shumway, Jason Smith and Cameron Waldbauer Achievement in sound mixing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” “Bridge of Spies” Andy Nelson, Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Gary Rydstrom and Drew Kunin Scanlan and Chris Corbould “Mad Max: Fury Road” Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo Original screenplay “The Martian” Paul Massey, Mark “Bridge of Spies” Written by Matt Taylor and Mac Ruth Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen “The Revenant” Jon Taylor, Frank “Ex Machina” Written by Alex GarA. Montaño, Randy Thom and Chris land Duesterdiek “Inside Out” Screenplay by Pete “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley; Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio Original story by Pete Docter, Ronnie and Stuart Wilson del Carmen “Spotlight” Written by Josh Singer & Achievement in visual effects Tom McCarthy “Ex Machina” Andrew Whitehurst, “Straight Outta Compton” ScreenPaul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara play by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Bennett Berloff; Story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan “Mad Max: Fury Road” Andrew Wenkus and Andrea Berloff

‘The Revenant', 'Joy' ‘Friends’ cast scheduled to appear in NBC tribute to comedy director to release in India T

C M Y K

G

olden Globe Awa rd - w i n n i ng movies “The Revenant” and “Joy” will hit the Indian screens soon.

Fox Star Studios will release “The Revenant” on February 26, while “Joy” will be released on January 22, read a statement.

“The Revenant”, a bio-

graphical Western film set in 1823 Montana and South Dakota, bagged three awards - best drama film, best actor in a drama for Leonardo DiCaprio and best director for Alejandro G. Iñárritu - at the 73rd edition of the Golden Globe Awards.

Actress Jennifer Law-

rence won the best actress for best performance in a motion picture, musical or comedy award for her role in "Joy", which is a story of a family across four generations, centered on the girl who becomes the woman who builds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right.

he cast of NBC's hit sitcom "Friends" is scheduled to come together next month for the first time on the network since the series ended in 2004 for a tribute to TV comedy director James Burrows, NBC executives said on Wednesday.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer will be part of a starstudded tribute to the 75-year-old Burrows, NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt told journalists at the Television Critics Association.

The Feb. 21 special will also see the casts of other comedy shows that Burrows has directed, which includes "Cheers," "Frasier" and "Will & Grace."

"I'm hoping that all six of them will be in the same room at the same time, but I'm not sure of that," Greenblatt said of the "Friends" cast. "I'm not sure if we can logistically pull that off. But I think it's safe to say that all six of them will be there."

The six performers, whose careers were

ONE DIRECTION IS SPLITTING Extended hiatus to become a permanent break

launched by the show, have rarely come together as a group since the show went off the air. Aniston, Cox and Kudrow last appeared

together in 2014 to spoof their "Friends" characters in a sketch on late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

"Friends," which premiered in 1994 and followed six adults in their mid-20s trying to navigate work, life and love in

Manhattan, became one of NBC's most-watched shows and has appeared on lists of the greatest TV shows in history.

Hillstar NOW SHOWING

02:00 pm | 08:00 Pm

F

ive months after announcing they would begin an extended hiatus in March, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles will split, a source close to the British boy band reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.

This comes after Horan, 22, denied rumors of a split in November. “We’re not

breaking up,” he told Entertainment Tonight. "We're literally taking time out to see our friends and see our family, and reflect on what we've done over the last few years."

The foursome — Zayn Malik exited the group in March 2015 — decided “not to renew their recording contract” after wrapping their tour in October, says the close source. “The

1D thing just ran its course.

They’ll remain friends, but they are exhausted and want solo careers.”

Not necessarily in front of a mic, though. “Liam is really interested in songwriting and production,” says a second insider. And Styles, 21, is looking toward the big screen. Adds the first source, “Harry is launching a career in act-

ing and singing.”

As for Tomlinson, 24, he’s going to be busy as a first-time dad. As Us Weekly confirmed in July, the pop star is expecting a baby with stylist friend Briana Jungwirth. The boy band, who got their start on the U.K.’s The X Factor in 2010, will still release a video for another song on their Made in the A.M. album.

05:00 PM

WHICH ORGANISATION

wants you to play at work?

LIVE A LIFE LESS ORDINARY

WE DO. We are India's most exciting workplace.

And, we're making you an offer....

JUNIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS & OTHER RANKS

M

Category

1

Soldier (General Duty) (All Arms)

Class 10th with 45% marks in aggregate and 33% in each subject. In case candidate has passed class 10th from education board adopted grading system, candidate must have the grade which contains 33% in each subject. No percentage considered in case candidate has passed higher qualification i.e 10 + 2 and above.

17 ½ -21 Years

2

Soldier (Technical) (Technical Arms, Artillery, Army Air Defence)

10+2 simple pass in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English with minimum 45% marks in th aggregate or 10 class pass with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and 3 years diploma in engineering from an AICTE recognised institute.

17 ½ -23 Years

3

Soldier Clerk/Store Keeper Technical (All Arms)

10+2 in any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science) with 50% marks in aggregate and minimum 40% in each subject. Should have studied and passed English and Maths/Accounts/Bookkeeping in class 10th or class 12th with 40% marks in each subject. In case of graduate with Maths/Accounts/Bookkeeping th and English (Even Elective), the stipulation of scoring 40% (in Maths/English) in class 10 or class th th 12 and scoring 50% marks in aggregate in class 12 is waived off. In case of graduate without English and Maths/Accounts/Bookkeeping, he should have scored more than 40% in English and Maths/Accounts/Bookkeeping at least once in class 10th or class 12th .

17 ½ -23 Years

4

Soldier Nursing Assistant (Army Medical Corps) and NA (Vet) in RVC

10+2/Intermediate exam pass in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and minimum 40% in each subject or in case the candidate has a BSc degree th with (Botany/Zoology/Bio-Science) and English, the stipulation of percentage in class 12 is waived off.

However, the candidate should have studied all the four specified subjects in class 12th also.

17 ½ -23 Years

5

Soldier Tradesmen (All Arms)

10th /I.T.I (except Syce. Mess Keeper and House Keeper – who may be 8th pass)

17 ½ -23 Years

6

Havildar (Surveyor Auto Cartographer Engineers)

7

Y K

Education

Age

BA/BSc with Maths. Must have also passed 12th class (10+2) or equivalent with Maths and Science as main subjects

20-25 Years

Junior Commissioned Officer Religious Teacher (All Arms)

Graduate in any discipline. In addition requisite qualification in his own religious denomination.

27-34 Years

8

Junior Commissioned Officer Catering (Army Service Corps)

10+2 or equivalent exam and Diploma/Certificate Course of a duration of one year or more in Cookery/Hotel Management and catering tech from a recognised University/Food Craft Institute.

AICTE recognition is not mandatory.

21-27 Years

9

Havildar Education (Army Education Corps)

Candidates graduated in BSc/BCA/BSc (IT)/B.Tech/BE (Science Stream) and BA (Arts Stream) from recognised university.

20-25 Years

Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic or call 011-26175471/26173840 davp 10601/13/0054/1516

C

Sr No.