January 17th, 2016

C M Y K

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SunDAY • JAnuArY 17 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 15 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

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By Sandemo Ngullie

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

Gun shots fired in Shamator town Morung Express News Dimapur | January 16

Peace in Shamator town was disturbed after gunshots were fired in the wee hours of January 16. Though there was no report of any casualty, Shamator police informed that some 50-60 rounds were fired around 5:30-5:40AM. The police added that it could not ascertain the identity of the perpetrators and could not confirm whether the incident, which occurred below the Christian English School, was the result of an exchange of guns shots or was caused by firing in the air. Empty shells, mostly of 7.62 calibre were recovered from the site.

The situation in the town tensed following the incident but it was under control, the police added. Meanwhile, the Public Forum Shamator Town, while condemning the incident has urged the Tuensang district administration and the security forces to be vigilant in an already vulnerable situation.

TSU bandh on NH-202

C M Y K

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 16 (MExN): The Tikhir Students’ Union (TSU) total bandh on NH-202 under Tikhir jurisdiction has been underway since January 15, 6pm onwards. A press note received from the students’ union said the decision was made during an emergency meeting held on January 15 following the State cabinet’s decision to allow Yimchunger Akheru Arehako (YAA) golden jubilee to be held and non fulfillment of their four point charter of demands. It also resolved to boycott the YAA golden jubilee celebration in Shamator. Security forces, police, administration and medical department have been exempted from the purview of the bandh, the press note added.

T R u T H

Passion for sports ignited at Tuli

PAGE 02

PAGE 12

challenges UN to easterine Kire wins the India act unitedly on terror Hindu literary Prize 2015

Morung Express News

Public Information

o F

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Young leaders from NE interact with Arun Jaitley

We are ready to take off: Kire on emerging Naga writers and literature If you could make a living out of making promises and excuses, you’d be on the front cover of the leading magazine all the time. Tee he he..kidding sir!

P o W e R

Dimapur/Kohima | January 16

Nagaland’s own - Easterine Kire- poet, story teller and novelist has won one of India’s most prestigious awards on Literature - The Hindu Literary Prize 2015 for her novel ‘When the River Sleeps.’

“We are ready to take off. We are assembling to take off,” were the animated words of Kire during a telephonic interview with The Morung Express hours after receiving The Hindu Prize, 2015. She said this when asked about her view on the current Naga writers and literature in Nagaland.

Believing that young Naga writers are writing boldly and confidently now, Kire further encouraged, “write from the heartthat is the most important.”

The award was given away by British writer Alexander McCall Smith at the ongoing literature festival, ‘Lit for Life’ initiated

by The Hindu at Sri Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Chetpet, Chennai on Saturday.

Easterine Kire was nominated alongside Ami-

Easterine Kire with The Hindu Prize 2015 after being presented the award by Alexander McCall Smith at the Lit for Life, held at Sri Venkata Subbarao Hall on Saturday. Photo courtesy: Lit for Life facebook page

tav Ghosh’s Flood of Fire, Amit Chaudhuri’s Odysseus Abroad, Janice Pariat’s Seahorse, Anuradha Roy’s Sleeping on Jupiter, and Siddharth Chowdhury’s The Patna Manual Style.

Kire’s winning novel When the River Sleeps is about a lone hunter seeking a ‘heart stone’ in a faraway sleeping river and fighting all odds to get it. The book was described by K. Satchidanandan, one of the judges, as “a sample of how the mythopaeic imagination can work in our times”. He said Nagaland was almost unexplored in Indian fiction and the book, with its profound symbolism offered an alternative way of life.

Susie Tharu, another juror, spoke about the

judging process and how they enjoyed reading more than 40 books to come to a conclusion about the winner. “It was a very tight run,” she said. Smith joked about how “This literary festival is a delightful cake that we feast on over the weekend.

The cake has icing, and the icing is the literary prize.”

Earlier at the award giving ceremony, Kire read out an excerpt from her novel, describing a scene in which the protagonist and another man escape from a river with the spirits of widow women chasing after them with spears and curses. She described the book as an exploration of the Naga spirit universe.

“This is not my book, but our book, because of

the number of people that embrace it,” said Kire. She thanked all her readers who believed in the book.

“Some of them were even praying,” Kire added.

‘When The River Sleeps’ is by far the author’s favourite book. She said it took her 2 months to write and almost five months of research.

In 2012, Kire was nominated for The Hindu Literary Prize for ‘Bitter Wormwood.’ Published by Zubaan books, ‘Bitter Wormwood’ is a stirring insight on the Indo-Naga conflict, a 70 years’ long freedom struggle that had altogether changed the lives of the common people in Nagaland.

Her first novel ‘A Naga Village Remembered’ was

released in the year 2003.

Her second novel, A Terrible Matriarchy (2007), was selected by Indian Literature Abroad for translation into the UN languages.

‘Mari’, (Harper Collins, 2010) narrates the true story of a young mother who, after losing her fiancé in the World War II, bravely makes the decision to live on for her child and discovers happiness once again. It also portrays some unknown aspects of the World War II, like a lesser known but ferocious battle fought against the Japanese troops in Nagaland.

She has also written several children’s books, articles and essays. Kelhoukevira, Kire’s first book of poetry (1982), was the first book of English poetry in Nagaland.

According to Women’s Panorama, Kire’s works reflect the unpleasant realities of life in Nagaland and the complexities around the colonial atrocities and discrimination. It also highlights the in-house rivalry and ideological differences that existed among the Naga brethren who fought for freedom.

She brings out poignantly the fascinating and vibrant Naga culture for the rest of the world to see, through her prolific writings that arouse a charm for its age old traditions and scintillating folklores from the deepest corners of the mystic state that Nagaland is.

UNITED NATIONS, JANUARY 16 (IANS): India has challenged the world body to rise above the differences of its members over fighting terrorism and adopt an international convention to unitedly combat the spreading menace.

“Every day we are faced with distressing reminders to governments, societies and individuals of the threat held out by terrorists,” India`s Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said on Thursday after a briefing by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on his priorities for the year.

“Are we at the United Nations General Assembly content to remain silent bystanders,” he asked.

“Is it not time that we show a common resolve to rise above our semantic definitional differences and work on the long overdue Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism?”

Negotiations for the treaty that would provide for unified global action have been deadlocked for over 20 years, despite a renewed commitment to it by world leaders in 2005.

Differences in defining what are terrorist organisations and who are terrorists are factors holding up the proposed treaty. Some countries want exemption made for groups they consider to be “national liberation movements” instead of terrorist organisations, and terrorists they consider

to be “freedom fighters”.

“We think it is time to have a closer look at what we can do more and do better together to build global norms to counter the common threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism,” Akbaruddin said.

“Or are we condemned to allow each society or each Government to battle on its own? If so can we remain relevant to those who are affected by this scourge?”

In the briefing on his priorities, Ban did not touch on the languishing efforts for the anti-terrorism convention. “Wellcalibrated, security-based counter-terrorism measures remain essential,” he said. “But human rights must be at the forefront of our response.”

Unveiling a plan Friday to combat violent extremism, Ban sounded a note of caution. “Sweeping definitions of terrorism or violent extremism are often used to criminalise the legitimate actions of opposition groups, civil society organisations and human rights defenders.” This seemed to go to the heart of the disputes over defining terrorism in the proposed convention.

Ban, however, added, “The international community has every right to defend against this threat using lawful means, but we must pay particular attention to addressing the causes of violent extremism if this problem is to be resolved in the long run.”

All un-metered connections Curb wasteful expenditure of to be replaced: PHED states fossil oil, protect environment Warns of legal actions if consumers found illegally tapping water

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 16 (MExN): Nagaland Public Health Engineering Department (NPHED) informed consumers on Saturday that all existing un-metered connections will eventually be replaced by metering system in the urban sector and administrative headquarters.

This decision was resolved at a meeting held among the department officials in the presence of PHED minister and Commissioner and Secretary on September 4, 2015 last and made effective from December 1, 2015 onwards, a press statement from Er P Khetoi Awomi, Executive Engineer, PHED informed.

As informed earlier, the department also undertook detailed inspection of water supply system with special emphasis on illegal/unauthorised tapping of water

from Chumukedima (Patkai Bridge) to Nagarjan main reservoir along 300mm diameter DI main pipe line.

During the inspection, it detected six individuals from Chumukedima Ward no 1 and 2 illegally tapping water from the main line. In this connection, the department has warned the defaulters that repetition of such act will invite legal proceedings as per Nagaland Water Supply Consumer Rule 1998 (1st Amendment 2011).

Further, the department informed that a good number of un-metered/metered connections have been disconnected in order to streamline water supply only through Meter House/Control Box for proper and systematic distribution system.

Consumers have also been requested to arrange half inch (1/2 inch) G.I. pipe or PVC pipe from their own end to restore the water supply to their respective residence as per requirement, the release added.

Morung Express News

hazards due to use of Bio mass and appealed to stop the use of Bio Mass Dimapur | January 16 and encouraged use of greener fuels The Oil and Gas Conservation Fort- like LPG in rural areas.

DK Pathak, senior divisional night (OGCF) for the year 2016 in the State of Nagaland was launched manager (IOC) cum state level coorSaturday here at Hotel Saramati with secretary for Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Nagaland, T Kiheto Sema, as the chief guest.

The chief guest in his address emphasized on curbing of wasteful dinator for Ministry of Petroleum and expenditure on fossil fuel and to re- Natural Gas, Government of India, duce the growing burden on foreign for the State of Nagaland, highlighted exchequer and protect the environ- on the OGCF programme and prement from the adverse effect of green sented some fuel saving tips on the house gases emanating from burn- occasion, followed by circulation of ing of fossil fuels. He also stressed activities planned in the State of Naon creating awareness about health galand in next 15 days

Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight 2016 launched

‘start-Up’ for entrepreneurs

Modi’s extends tax sops, funding, selfcertification for start-ups

A young boy blowing a ‘pig’s bladder’ (indigenous ball) during the Paong Lung festival at Waoshu village, Tuensang District. Paong Lung festival is a thanksgiving festival of the Chang Nagas of Waoshu village and is celebrated after the harvest in the fields are done.

It is celebrated for six days where the villagers belonging to the same field groups gather and make merry by singing songs, dancing and feasting. Photo by Toshi Kichu

Huwoto Sema, senior depot manager of Dimapur Depot, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, explained on the objectives of the conservation fortnight –to create awareness on the need for conservation of hydrocarbons and environment protection for “sustainable development on our inherent strength.”

Led by Huwoto, all the participants took a pledge to conserve oil and gas in their respective capacities. Jingles were also played during the ceremony.

Among others, the launching ceremony was attended by government officials, district administration and police, officials from oil marketing companies, retail outlet dealers, LPG distributors and school children.

NEw DElhI, JANUARY 16 (IANS): With an income tax holiday for three years and exemption from capital gains levies on venture capital investments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the “Start-Up India Action Plan” here on Saturday with an enabling eco-system to promote and nurse entrepreneurship.

A host of incentives unveiled by him for start-ups also included selfcertification and a three-year exemption from inspections, an online portal and mobile app, an 80-percent cut in the patent application fee and a single-point hub for hand-holding.

At an event at Vigyan Bhavan conference complex here to launch the “Start-Up India Action Plan”, the prime minister also announced a Rs.10,000-crore fund for new enterprises, equal opportunity in government procurement, a Rs.500-crore credit guarantee scheme and easier exit norms.

The list of incentives also in-

cluded 35 new incubators under the public-private partnership mode, 31 new innovation centres at national institutes, seven new research parks, five bio-clusters and a mission with sector-specific incubators, labs, preincubation training and seed money.

“We want to ensure that we interfere as little as possible with the startups. For that, we have introduced self-certification. No inspection for three years,” the prime minister told the event to repeated applause from Who’s Who of India’s start-up and Silicon Valley ecosystems. He also said his government intended to club all related legislation involving start-ups and took a dig at the opposition in this regard.

The prime minister also said the difference that people will find today with governance in India was that on a Saturday, when it is an official day off, with no question of any activity after 6 p.m., such a grand event as today’s was taking place.

The prime minister said he wanted the youth today to transform themselves from job seekers to job givers. “I see that energy in this hall. It reflects the enthusiasm that lies in the

hearts of our youth across the country,” he said, adding he wanted startups to also look beyond IT. During the day-long event, several interactive sessions were held with stakeholders, ministers and mandarins on topics ranging from innovation and funding to promoting women entrepreneurs and mentoring.

“Today, it’s been a fascinating experience,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his address, referring to the day-long interactions. “Not only does it mark a change in the social profile of India, but a change in the mindsets of Indians,” Jaitley added.

He also said the government will ensure that it will only be a facilitator for start-ups. “Our only subsequent relation with start-ups will be when they pay their taxes in the year-end and continue to grow.”

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also spoke on similar lines and said discussions were evocative on what start-ups can do for India, if alone the government can understand them. “Start-ups have spoken loud and clear, and we have heard the message.”

Related stories on page 4

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SunDAY 17•01•2016

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Young leaders from NE interact with Arun Jaitley

Dimapur, January 16 (mExn): A twelvemember delegation of YLC (Young Leaders Connect) from Northeast India met with the Union Minister of Finance, Arun Jaitley at New Delhi on January 14.

Towards reaching a common goal of preparing North-East for the next level, YLC engaged with Jaitley and discussed and deliberated on several topics and issues related to the region.

Chaired by Bhaichung Bhutia (Indian Football Icon), the delegation comprised of Kiren Rijiju (Minister of State, MHA), Hekani Jakhalu (Director, YouthNet), Sushmita Dev (MP), Gaurav Gogoi (MP) Karma Paljor (Business Editor, CNN-IBN), Conrad Sangma (Chief Executive Member, GHADC), Imo Singh (MLA, Manipur), G G Ka-

mei (IRS), Tanushree Hazarika (Managing Director, Eclectic Group), Dr Lalrin Jahau (Surgeon, Mizoram) and Bjorn Deneise (GM, Mayfair Hotels).

A press note stated that YLC seeks to create a platform for expression of ideas that can harness the immense potential and the strategic location of the North-East and transform it into a model region by drawing a roadmap for developing it in a sustainable, time-bound and planned manner. With this objective, YLC submitted a set of recommendations to the Finance Minister to ensure optimum utilization of the rich natural resources and human resource base in the region.

The YLC group suggested that a special employment-linked skill develop-

Young Leaders Connect members with the Union Minister of Finance, Arun Jaitley during the interaction held at New Delhi on January 14.

ment drive along the lines of “Udaan” for Jammu and Kashmir could be launched in the North-East as well.

Such an initiative would

ensure adequate employment or entrepreneurship opportunities and put more emphasis on youth development. The need

of the hour is also to create new higher education institutions (HEIs) even while strengthening existing ones through improve-

ment in their governance, curricula etc. Vocational training, scientific education, research centers and institutes of excellence are

needed for the development of the North-East’s youth.

YLC also stressed on governance and policy related issues. There have been government policies aiming to promote the north East region but recent modifications have negatively impacted the desired objectives of these policies.

Hence, YLC recommended a few points like strengthening of the North East council (NEC), better coordination amongst agencies focusing on North east, ensuring proper utilization of development funds meant for the region, reverting to the original composition of the central assistance funds including special category status, special plan assistance, special central assistance, normal central assistance and north east

industrial and investment promotion policy. New and pending projects to connect the north east region through road, rail and air must be given special priority including connecting state capitals through rail, intra-regional and international air connectivity, multi-modal Kaladan project and Asian trilateral highway.

Young leaders Connect believe that urgent focus on these recommendations will enhance peace and prosperity in the region. Jaitley was happy to see the initiatives of the young delegation and encouraged the group to continue their good work for the benefit of the region. He also urged the young leaders to focus on the good governance of the Northeast. YLC is an initiative of YouthNet, Nagaland.

Department of Taxes urged to revamp structure Workshop on India-Japan partnership in Dimapur

Parliamentary Secretary, Planning & Evaluation, Neiba Kronu addresses officials and staffs of Taxes Department on January 16 in office of the Commissioner of Taxes Dimapur. (DIPR Photo)

Dimapur, January 16 (Dipr): Parliamentary Secretary, Planning & Evaluation, Neiba Kronu who was also recently given the charge of to oversee the department of Taxes held the first meeting with the officials and staffs of Taxes Department on January 16 in the office of Commissioner of Taxes

Dimapur.

Addressing the gathering, Kronu encouraged the department towards revamping the structure so that the tax collection would be more streamlined and effective. He further observed that every citizen should take pride by paying proper taxes so that the government could

provide more services to the public. "This will go a long way in developing a sense of belongingness and allegiance towards the state," he maintained and reminded that any government of the day cannot run without revenue.

Commissioner of Taxes Asangba Chuba Ao (IAS) highlighted on the

new modules of taxes including CST, e-payment, e-revenue, e-registration, revenue collection etc and informed that Nagaland is the first state in the North East to make e-registration.

OSD (G)V. Kezo lauded the department of taxes for the achievements made in recent years and observed

that the Department has been leading in the fore front in the area of technology revolution while interfacing between the Government and stakeholders.

Additional Commissioner Taxes Mhathung Murry highlighted on the basic facts abd achievements of the department.

Dimapur, January 16 (Dipr): The two-day workshop on ‘India-Japan partnership towards meeting the Challenge of Infrastructure Development in India’s Northeast’ that was earlier scheduled to be held in Kohima will now be held at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur on January 19 to 20.

The inaugural function will be held on January 19 at 5:30 PM. The workshop is being organized by the Government of Nagaland in collaboration with Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

The context for this workshop is the Tokyo

Declaration for Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership, issued after the meeting in Tokyo on September 1, 2014, between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which places special emphasis on Japan’s cooperation for enhanced connectivity and development in Northeast India and linking the region to other economic corridors in India and Southeast Asia.

The objective is to bring together experts and policy makers from both countries to discuss the opportunities and challenges for India and Japan cooperation in the

North East Region (NER).

The discussion agenda is structured around the following themes: • Economic Development in NER: Current Status and Potential • Connectivity Imperatives in NER: Inter-regional, With Rest of India and Cross Border • Areas for India-Japan Cooperation • Public Private Partnerships: Pointers from Japan’s Involvement in the Development of SEZ’s in Myanmar • Strategies for Enhancing India-Japan Cooperation in Infrastructure Development in NER.

Parliamentary Secy IPR meets DPC members

Dimapur, January 16 (Dipr): Parliamentary Secretary IPR, Khekaho Assumi held an interactive session with the Dimapur Press Club (DPC) members on January 16 at Theja Fort, Dimapur. This is the first ever meeting of the DPC members with any Parliamentary Secretary of IPR. In the meeting, members of DPC appraised the Parliamentary Secretary on issues regarding Press Accreditation to which Khekaho assured them to look into the matter and for which a meeting will be held during the first week of February 2016. Further issues regarding allotment of DPC office and “conducted tour” for journalists were also discussed.

Parliamentary Secretary IPR Khekaho also exhorted the media persons to highlight on programmes of Government which would benefit the common man. He assured the members of DPC that he would extend his help and cooperation in the best way possible.

DPRO Dimapur, Lolano P. Khuvung was also Parliamentary Secretary IPR, Khekaho Assumi along with DPRO Dimapur interacts with the DPC present in the meeting. members at Theja Fort Dimapur on January 16. (DIPR Photo)

MEx File ANSTGA meeting

Kohima Press Club informs

Dimapur, January 16 (mExn): The All Nagaland Small Tea Growers’ Association has informed all its office bearers, executive members and advisors across the state that it has scheduled a meeting on January 20 at 11 a.m. at its head officer in Darogapathar to discuss about the invitation from the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Association to its meeting and an international seminar on challenges before small tea holders and its way out to be held from January 28 to 30 at Lataguri Doars in West Bengal.

Kohima, January 16 (mExn): The Kohima Press Club (KPC) informed that the KPC’s office bearers names from 2001 to 2015 was approved during its general body meeting held on January 16 at KPC new office complex Kohima. In the meeting the house endorsed the present KPC office bearers to decide the date or month in regard to KPC election so as to maintain the uniformity in every KPC election as per the convenient of the club’s members. The KPC members were informed the visitation programme to NMA’s AIDS hospice on republic day (26th Jan.) and also 15th KPC foundation day to be held on January 20th at KPC new office complex, for which all the KPC members, invited media personnel and well wishers are invited to the programme. The press release was issued by Jt. Secretary KPC, Ng. Solomon Sha.

Government calendars and diaries on sale Kohima, January 16 (Dipr): The Nagaland Government 2016 Calendars and Diaries are on sale at the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, New Capital Complex and the office of the DPRO Kohima, Near DC’s Office at the Government approved rate of Rs. 100/- each.

KMC to organize tug-of- war competition Kohima, January 16 (mExn): In view of the forthcoming Republic Day celebration on January 26 at Secretariat Plaza, Kohima, the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) is organizing a Tug-of- War competition, comprising of all the 19 wards. All the 19 wards within Kohima municipality have been informed to arrange 20 participants each with five reserves for this event and submit the list on or before January 21 in the office of KMC. The tournament will take place in the afternoon and will be on knock-out- basis.

Meeting for Republic Day at Tizit mon, January 16 (Dipr): To chalk out the programme for celebration of Republic day at Tizit H.Q a co-ordination meeting was held on January 14 at the conference hall of ADC Tizit under the chairmanship of ADC, Tizit, Renabomo Odyou (NCS). The meeting was attended by all heads of offices, representatives of educational institutions, Vice chairman and member of ADHOC town committee, NGOs, public leaders and GBs. During the meeting, ADC expressed gratitude to the various NGOs for their support and co-operation given during the past celebrations and also hoped that they would emulate the same in the succeeding celebrations.

Deputy Commissioner Mon W. Honje Konyak (2nd from left) along with S.P. Mon Yangba Konyak, President Konyak Union Manlip Konyak and EE, Road & Bridge, Er. Tali Jamir, inspecting the ongoing construction of road near helipad at Mon town. The team also inspected the monolith junction adopted by the officers club for beautification of the area under the mission I Love My Mon Town. (DIPR Photo)

JAC for Dhobinala-Signal-Thahekhu-Rangapahar Road appeal

Dimapur, January 16 (mExn): The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Dhobinala-Signal-Thahekhu-Rangapahar Road, while expressing gratitude to the Department of PWD (Roads & Bridges) for taking up the construction works of the said road has made an appeal to speed up the construction work.

The appeal note issued by the Joint Action Committee Convenor K K Yepthomi stated that bringing a sigh of relief to the people of 13 vil-

lages and colonies affected by the road, the construction works of the said road commenced on 20th October 2015. “However, even after almost 3 months, the works have progressed at a very slow pace thereby causing much inconvenience to the commuters, especially for school and college going children and sick people,” the JAC added.

It also stated that owing to slow pace of works, public have been pressurizing the JAC to press for expediting the works. And, considering the

execution of works at the present pace would take months to complete, which would be well beyond the stipulated time. Therefore, JAC appeal to the department to expedite the works in the interest of all concerned.

Meanwhile, JAC would also like to assure that the committee would continue to render its utmost cooperation and support towards the department for smooth execution of the works, in the spirit and in action in which the committee have support the department in the past.

One arrested under NLTP

Dimapur, January 16 (mExn): The Excise Mobile Squad Dimapur Special Surveillance Team today arrested one Danan Joy for possession of 216 bottles of IMFL (beer). A press release from the Superintendent of Excise, Dimapur informing this stated that the accused has been booked under relevant section of the NLTP Act 1989 while the seized articles have been deposited at the Excise Mobile Squad Malkhana.

Healthy lifestyle camp held at Mokokchung moKoKchung, January 16 (mExn): A healthy lifestyle camp was held at IMDH, Mokokchung on January 15. The camp was held as per the directive of the Government with the aim to create awareness on the increase prevalence and incidences of non communicable diseases (NCD) like Diabetes, High blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases etc in the community.

Dr SS Akaba Longchar inaugurated the camp. In his speech he urged the participants to be aware of the problems of these diseases, which by itself is preventable by changing the food habit, exercise and way of living.

Blood pressure mea-

People participates at the healthy lifestyle camp held at IMDH, Mokokchung on January 15.

surements, Blood sugar testing and calculation of body mass index were conducted for all the patients.

Health talks and distribuMedicines were distions of leaflets on NCD tributed free of cost after were done by the District thorough examination by IEC Personnel. the Medical officers of the

Department. All together 74 patients above 30 years of age availed the services during the Camp.

SunDAY 17 •01•2016

NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

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Challenges before Sikkim, India's first organic state P.D. Rai IANS Sikkim has become the first organic state of India under the visionary leadership of our Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. He has led from the front to bring us to where we are. All right thinking Sikkimese have to be proud of this fact. We are truly giving the meaning to sustainable agriculture.

However, nothing remains static and so it would be worthwhile looking at the next set of challenges that we will be up against immediately.

The first is how do we continue to get certification of farmers' fields? This will be a challenge due to the fact that farmers will have to get it done themselves over time. It will have to be done as a yearly exercise to ensure that organic status is maintained in certified terms.

Many will wonder why this needs to be done at all.

Unfortunately, the trade does not trust farmers and their cooperatives per se.

This is by far the greatest reason. Hence, the certifi-

cation provides a transparent means for messaging the organic status of the farmer and his field.

This costs money and the question before the state government will be how will this be funded? It would be a real pity if after all this effort the farmers' fields continue to be organic but without certification.

Furthermore, it presents as much of a challenge to the traders and other value addition entities if this is not done. Many young agro-entrepreneurs are building their businesses based on this certification.

It will become untenable for them to sell their products based on Sikkim Organic brand. Even to build one.

Geo tagging is an important element in understanding where the source of the food produce is from.

Globally, this is even more important in view of the problems being faced due to food adulteration and other forms of processing issues.

Hence, all of these challenges will surface if certification of farmers' fields

North east Briefs

Imphal temporary market construction stopped by BJP leader Imphal, January 16 (IanS): Following the destruction caused by the January 4 earthquake, the construction of a temporary women's market in the Manipur capital was suspended on Saturday at the behest of BJP legislator Khumukcham Joykishan who said no tender was floated for the construction and no work order was issued. Following the halt in the construction work in the legislator's constituency, hundreds of angry women vendors stormed his house to demand an alternative market for them since they have been out of business since the earthquake damaged two women's market complexes. The BJP's state unit has been demanding demolition of the two market complexes saying they pose a threat to the women vendors. The BJP's state unit president Thounaojam Chaoba demanded a CBI inquiry into the "substandard construction" done five years ago. "Buildings and market centres built 50 years ago could withstand the earthquake but not these complexes," he said, demanding construction of new markets. The displaced women vendors have been selling various items by the roadside, much to the resentment of the street vendors. Sensing violent confrontations between the two groups, the government hurried with the temporary construction in the Thangal market. However, on Saturday, legislator Joykishan asked the contractor to stop work since no tender for the construction was floated and no work order was issued. "The chief minister should have some respect for the people and should not run the state whimsically," he said. On the explanation of the engineers that it was "emergency work", he said: "The construction of a market complex to lodge over 2,000 vendors is not an emergency work." Heavily armed policemen were patrolling the area to maintain law and order. Shakhitombi, a woman vendor, told IANS that the BJP lawmaker should provide an alternative site. Though the women protested at his house for a long time, he refused to come out and talk with them.

GNLA militant killed in encounter ShIllong, January 16 (pTI): A Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant, wanted for kidnapping a block development officer last year, was today killed in an encounter with the security forces in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district, police said. Acting on intelligence inputs, Swift Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos of the state police raided a makeshift camp of GNLA. As the commandos approached the camp they were fired upon, police said. In retaliatory fire, one of the militants who was in the camp was shot dead and another got shot in his arms. The deceased has been identified as Kandem, known to be an expert in assembling IEDs, IG (Operations) G H P Raju said. A shot gun was recovered from the site of the encounter and an operation is on to find his aide, identified as Chondro, and sanitise the area, he said. Kandem is suspected to have engineered the IED attack at a busy market in Williamnagar last week, the officer said. He was also responsible for the kidnapping of Jude Rangku T Sangma, a BDO in South Garo Hills' Chokpot last October and the most wanted armed cadre of the outfit, Raju said. The GNLA, formed in 2010, has been active in all five Garo Hills districts and named in various cases of kidnapping, extortion and killing.

Over 8,000 birds being culled in Tripura over bird flu agarTala, January 16 (IanS): With a fresh outbreak of bird flu being reported in Tripura, the mass culling of more than 8,000 chicken and ducks began on Saturday in the western part of the state, officials said here. "We have started culling of chickens, ducks and other poultry birds today (Saturday) at the governmentrun animal farm at Gandhigram in western Tripura. We have told officials to complete the culling drive at the R.K. Nagar government animal farm at the earliest," Tripura government's animal resource development department (ARDD) director Manoranjan Sarkar told IANS. He said: "The National Institute of High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal has confirmed the samples from the government farm are positive for H5 strain of Avian Influenza." "It has been decided to immediately commence the culling of birds and destruction of eggs and feed material among other things so as to control further spread of the disease without loss of time," said Sarkar, who is personally supervising the culling of birds. In addition to the culling, surveillance would be carried out over a further radius up to 10 km to monitor further spread of infection, if any.

are not done. If done, then it will add more trust and impel the process of value addition further. However, if not done then it will add risk to the whole value chain and indeed to the entrepreneurs.

The second important challenge is that of market-

ing. Much had been talked about this over the past so many years. Since I have been part of the discourse, it has always been there as an issue that needs serious tackling. However, now that the Organic Mission is a success and will be recognised by the world, we have

to take marketing even more seriously. This is an area where private entrepreneurs and businesses will have to come forward.

Produce of Sikkim have always gone to traditional markets via established channels. But now with new produce and that too

organic, disruption of traditional markets will happen. This will engender new opportunities to garner greater value. These opportunities must be seized.

Export markets can be tapped to get better value but then produce must be at a particular scale as well

as quality standards.

We may not have time on our side but then ease of doing business is what must be looked at very carefully by the government. Start-ups even in agro-processing and marketing can happen. Young Sikkimese entrepreneurs can have first mover advantage.

The third and final challenge is making young people go back to their fields to make money. A huge set of opportunities have been opened up by the vision and mission of our chief minister. This must be capitalised on forthwith. I think the agriculture minister and his team will have to make huge efforts to see that our certified lands do not end up as uncultivated.

This will be a great loss to our state. We must reap the fruits of the humongous efforts made thus far. Young people ought to put hands to work and see how the magic of the farms and nature will turn it into gold.

If the pricing of produce is stabilised and with modern farm practices, organic farming proposes

to change the life and lifestyles of our farmers and young people as much as it did during the green revolution in Punjab.

Hence, let us get future certification processes organised properly and with the least amount of cost to the farmers. Let us get our marketing right and move to higher value addition and branding. Our value chains must be properly lubricated for minimum commercial friction. And finally, let us get young people to the organic farms.

The last one, the most challenging, if done will have fulfilled the main objective of getting into Organic Farming in the first place.

I must hasten to add that these are not new ideas. But bringing them up now is to ensure that they stay within the realm of our consciousness. Even whilst all Sikkimese celebrate, looking ahead a little will be considered wise.

We need to stay alive to these issues to continue to lead the rest of India in #OrganicPartnership!

P.D. Rai is the sitting Lok Sabha member from Sikkim.

Exhibition to explore Assam's rich cultural heritage Congress wins Manipur guwahaTI, January 16 (pTI): The first exhibition in Britain to explore the impressive cultural history of Assam through objects, classical dance form Sattriya, manuscripts, music, besides a documentary is being held at the British Museum London from January 21 to August 15 next.

A British Museum press release for the Assam event says "Assam is today little known outside the North-east of India. "However, in the late medieval period it was the centre of a vibrant culture of devotion to the Hindu deity Krishna, a movement that was founded by the saint Shankaradeva (died 1568) and continues to this day".

At the event titled 'Krishna in the Garden of Assam: the cultural context of an Indian textile', the release said, "A striking element of this devotional cult is the re-enactment of scenes from the Life of Krishna, all over Assam but especially on the island of Majuli in the Brahmaputra River during the Ras Lila festival".

"These Krishna narratives were recorded not only in music, drama and dance, but also in woven textile imagery. This is the first exhibition in Britain to explore the impressive cultural history of Assam through objects", said the release sent by NRI Assam Co-ordinator for UK Rini Kakati today.

"The largest surviving example of such a woven silk cloth, or Vrindavani Vastra, will be the centrepiece of this exhibition at the British Museum. "It is one of the most important Indian textiles in the Museum's collection dated to about 1680 AD and is today over 9 metres long", it said.

Speaking on the state's handloom tradition, the Museum said, "Assam has been renowned for many centuries as a centre for weaving both silk and cotton.

The lampas technique of weaving was used to produce the Vrindavani Vastra. "The lampas technique is now lost in India but produced vibrant and highly sophisticated figured textiles between the 16th and 18th centuries", the release added. This textile is associated with the cult of the Hindu god Krishna.

It is today made up of 12 strips of woven silk, each one with depictions of the incarnations of Vishnu and with captioned scenes from the life of Krishna, These scenes are recorded in the 10th century text, the Bhagavata Purana, and elaborated in the dramas written by the saint Shankaradeva".

On the use of the Vrindavani Vastra, the release said, "The 12 individual strips were perhaps used to wrap copies of the Bhagavata Purana and decorate the altar used for venerating this text.

The episodes depicted include the defeat of the snake-demon Kaliya, the battle with the crane-demon Bakasura, swallowing the forest-fire, and hiding the 'gopis' clothes in the trees". "The later history of these twelve strips of cloth is fascinating.

They were taken to Tibet, stitched together to make a massive hanging and then, years later, were discovered in the monastery at Gobshi near Gyantse in southern Tibet during the Younghusband Expedition, the release informed.

This military foray was sent by (then Viceroy of India) Lord Curzon to open a trade route between India and Tibet.

The correspondent of The Times on that expedition was Perceval Landon, a close friend of Rudyard Kipling.

It was Landon who acquired the textile and then in 1905 gave it to the Museum, the release informed.

Stating the dramas of Shankaradeva are still performed today, especially at the festival of Ras lila on the island of Majuli, the release said contemporary commissions from Majuli (dance masks) and from the artists group Desire Machine Collective will be on display. The work

by DMC, funded by the Gujral Foundation, is a video artwork, it said, adding, the dance masks are of the type used in performances at the annual Ras lila festival.

A three minute film shot at the 2014 Ras lila festival will be screened at the exhibition.

On display will be loans from the British Library of illustrated manuscript leaves from the Brahmavaivarta Purana with very lively painted scenes of great quality from the life of Krishna.

A loan from Chepstow Museum is a remarkable survival of an 18th century English gentleman's silk 'banyan' or dressing gown, the British Museum release said.

The exterior is of subtle monochrome Chinese silk damask while the lining inside is of brilliantly-coloured Assamese Vrindavani Vastra textile with, woven into it, scenes from the life of Krishna as well as depictions of the lion-man incarnation of Vishnu, Narasimha, it said.

Objects of the exhibition will be shown at the Chepstow Museum following the London display, the release added.

local body elections

Imphal, January 16 (mExn): The Congress has won the local body elections in Manipur securing a total of 176 seats while Independents got 164 securing the second position followed by BJP getting 94 seats and two by CPI. The elections were held on January 11 in 18 Municipal Councils and eight Nagar Panchayats in the four valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur to elect 279 Councillors and 558 Ward Development Committee (WDC) members. In the remaining seats, the candidates had already been declared uncontested.

Results for the four subdivisions of Thoubal were declared in the afternoon. INC got 36 seats, 15 by BJP and 42 by Independents in the four subdivisions—Lilong, Thoubal, Kakching and Waikhong.

The results of the local body elections are likely to have a bearing on the upcoming assembly polls expected to be held in March 2017.

Meanwhile, the term of Manipur BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba had been extended

by BJP National President Amit Shah so that Chaoba can direct the whole crucial electioneering process.

Recently, there were reports that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had begun looking into the multi-crore Loktak Lake scam in which the Ibobi government has been accused of misusing Rs 400 crore funded by the Centre for clearing phumdis (floating biomas) from the lake.

The BJP has also been alleging that the Congress wins elections in the state by using muscle and power.

13 years on, Tripura power plant runs at peak capacity

agarTala, January 16 (IanS): Thirteen years after work on it commenced, a state-owned 101 MW combined cycle plant in Tripura has started generating power at peak capacity, beating many an odd along the way.

Northeast India's third biggest gas-based power project at Monarchak, 70 km south of Tripura capital Agartala and just eight km from the Bangladesh border, is run by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), under the union power ministry.

"The plant's 36 MW steam turbine successfully synchronised late on Thursday night. The 65 MW gas turbine has started generating its full load a few weeks back," NEEPCO general manager (Electrical) Samar Ranjan Biswas told IANS. "The entire 101 MW electricity is being supplied to Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).

The commercial production of electricity from this power project would start by February end," he added.

As the plant is located close to the India-Bangladesh border, it would be technically feasible to supply electricity to power-starved Bangladesh if the Indian government so wished.

The NEEPCO, a miniratna company, has invested Rs.1,000 crore ($148 million) to set up the project.

The other two gas-based power plants in the region are ONGC's 726 MW plant at Palatana in southern Tripura, its first in the commercial sector, and the 291 MW Kathalguri plant in eastern Assam's Dibrugarh district.

The project's foundation stone was laid in March 2002 by Suresh Prabhu, the power minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government at the centre.

The environmentfriendly project was originally slated to be commissioned in 2005. The union power ministry abandoned it in 2007 for a variety of reasons but work resumed in 2010 thanks to the Tripura government's pressure.

"Conceived in 2000 with an initial installed capacity of 500 MW, the power plant's capacity was reduced to 280 MW in 2003-04 after ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) reduced its gas allocation by half," Biswas said.

"The ONGC further slashed the gas allocation in 2008, forcing NEEPCO to further scale down the plant's installed capacity to 101 MW. ONGC's dilly-dallying in supplying gas on a regular basis caused the abnormal delay in commissioning the project," said Biswas of the project he heads.

An ONGC official said technical problems and NEEPCO's interruptions in taking gas were to blame

for the delay.

Biswas said the ONGC, after a series of parleys and interventions by the power ministry, recently began supplying gas to the NEEPCO plant.

ONGC Executive Director and Tripura asset manager S.C. Soni told IANS that the corporation was ready to provide 0.4 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMPD) gas to NEEPCO "but they did not assure us the gas would be taken uninterruptedly".

Soni pointed out there would be a technical glitch in the supply and ONGC would suffer losses if the NEEPCO project consumes gas only intermittently.

Designed by the US General Electric Company, the plant's turbines have been supplied by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

NEEPCO has also installed a five-MW capacity solar power plant at a cost of Rs.50 crore within the Monarchak plant complex.

This is the biggest such unit in the northeastern region, comprising eight states including Sikkim.

Credited with installation of several power projects in the northeast, NEEPCO, headquartered in Meghalaya capital Shillong, also plans to generate at least 1,500 MW from solar and wind energy in the next five years.

According to union

power ministry documents, the hydro-power potential of the northeastern region is estimated at 58,971 MW, which is almost 40 percent of the country's potential. However, only about 2.1 percent (1,242 MW) has been harnessed till last May. The northeast is going to be power surplus and it is an enormous problem to transmit the excess power to the country's powerstarved regions.

The eight northeastern states' off-peak and peak demand on an average is 1,500 MW to 2,500 MW against the current installed capacity of 4,730 MW. This means that most of the plants are working under-capacity.

Meanwhile, Tripura will soon begin supplying 100 MW of power to Bangladesh. The transmission lines have been commissioned on both sides of the border.

"The NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (an Indian government company) and the Bangladesh Power Development Board would soon sign an agreement to supply 100 MW of electricity to Bangladesh," Power Minister Manik Dey said.

"Transmission lines are ready to supply the power at any moment. However, the supply would start after a tariff agreement between the two companies," Dey told IANS after returning from Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

"In Dhaka, several meetings were held to finalise the power tariff. It was decided that the electricity would be supplied to Bangladesh at Rs.5.50 per unit," he added.

Dey, accompanied by officials of the external affairs ministry, power ministry, Central Electricity Authority, and NVVN, went to Dhaka last week and held a series of meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Minister of State for Power Nasrul Hamid and officials.

"During the meeting, the Bangladesh prime minister was very keen to get more power from India as the country needs 8,000 MW of electricity to meet its energy needs.

"The Tripura government is also ready to provide more power to Bangladesh if the central government has no objection," Dey added.

Bangladesh currently receives 500 MW of power from West Bengal and this will soon be doubled.

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4

SunDAY 17•01•2016

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

‘Start-Up India’ to end Licence Raj: Arun Jaitley New Delhi, JaNuary 16 (ageNcieS): Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the 'Start-Up India' initiative is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship by giving them freedom from the government. "It is a final break from the conventional Licence Raj of India," he said.

Jaitley said that though India in 1991 broke away from the shackles of Licence Raj, when the government wielded tight control over the economy, there are still many areas where the government plays a role in economic activities. "We ostensibly broke away with it (Licence Raj) in 1991. But the break was only partial, because who would be funded, there was an invisible role of the state, control over land permissions, foreign investment proposals, and environmental clearances," he said. "And unless the political nods came, to venture into newer areas which involved a lot of capital, an entrepreneur was reluctant."

Jaitley was speaking at the launch event of the 'Start-Up India' initiative at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan, a mega event in which 1,500 top entrepreneurs are participating.

The finance minister said the start-up initiative will be a "programme in which the government would only be at arm's length. The government will essentially be a facilitator with very little role in day to day interventions in this business."

Jaitley also said, on a lighter note, "I must confess that we normally have a large number of formal launches in this plenary hall of Vigyan Bhawan. But this one is with a difference. Because it is probably the first time I see a large number of potential entrepreneurs here, most of whom I am not familiar with. Otherwise at the formal launches we always have the usual suspects."

Since the NDA government came to power in May 2014, the minister said, its effort has been to restrict the role of state in policy domain. "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi was voted to power in 2014, if I look back at changes some of them are extremely significant. I find the traffic of industry visiting North Block has almost ended. There are no files to be pushed."

'Start-Up India,' a brainchild of PM Modi. would help create jobs

WeWork plans India foray very soon, says founder Neumann New Delhi, JaNuary 16 (reuterS): WeWork, a New York-based provider of shared office space, is planning to set up a business in India, founder Adam Neumann said at a conference on start-up businesses on Saturday. WeWork is a fouryear-old company that provides shared workspaces largely to start-up companies without owning the properties itself. "We want to build a local business in India and hire all local management ... We will launch here soon," Neumann said. Neumann has visited an old garment mill building in the technology city of Bangalore, which he might turn into one of the company's first shared workspace facilities in India, the Hindustan Times reported. India, home to a large number of technology startups, wants to build on the momentum by improving the operating environment for such firms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to unveil measures to make the country a more attractive proposition for startups when he speaks at the conference later on Saturday.

Government only to be facilitator for start-ups: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks at the launch event of the 'Start-Up India' initiative at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan, a mega event in which 1,500 top entrepreneurs are participating.

in the country at a time when the conventional private sector is facing several challenges, Jaitley said. "The government has limited potential to create jobs within the governmental system. The private sector's own expansion itself has thrown up

challenges because they have overstretched themselves," he said, referring to corporate India's very high debt levels.

The government in the Union Budget next month will announce a friendly tax regime that will encourage the setting up of

start-ups in the country, he said. The finance minister also noted the success of the MUDRA scheme which is aimed at creating small entrepreneurs in the country. "In four to five months, almost 1.73 crore entrepreneurs have availed loans through

MUDRA scheme," he said.

Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of SoftBank, and Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber, are among the other notable speakers at the event. Also, PM Modi will interact with entrepreneurs and address the meet this evening.

New Delhi, JaNuary 16 (iaNS): The government on Saturday said it was committed to act only as a "facilitator" to start-ups by ensuring a friendlier regulatory regime, easier capital availability and quicker exit norms through a bankruptcy code.

"Our intention is not to come down heavily as government, but only to facilitate," Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, while addressing the inaugural session of the Start-Up India programme to be launched

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Saturday.

"How to remove the clutter so that the core business work can be attended to, is our aim," she added.

Modi is also slated to release a Start-Up Action Plan, visit a virtual exhibition and interact with start-up entrepreneurs at the event.

"It isn't 'jugaad' (frugal innovation)," Sitharaman said of Indian entrepreneurship, adding that the government looks forward to engaging with entrepreneurs to remove "all the burdensome regulations for start-ups".

She said the number of people seeking government jobs had come down, while the numbers looking to start their own ventures had gone up.

"The number of government jobs is going down... there aren't any, while the Indian entrepreneur has come back to contribute to the benefit of the consumer," the minister said.

Sitharaman also said the government is bringing in a bankruptcy law, among other measures, aimed at further easing the process of doing business.

"The government is working on a exit policy, that is also required for companies. The Bankruptcy Code is before parliament," she said.

Explaining that her ministry had engaged with all the other ministries to ensure a successful Start-Up India event, Sitharaman said the government has set up a fund to help start-ups.

The government had, in August last year, set up an India Aspiration Fund to increase capital availability for start-ups.

World Bank will be anchor investor in Rail Development Fund waShiNgtoN, JaNuary 16 (Pti): The Rail Development Fund will be kick-started soon as there is a unanimity in the World Bank leadership, said the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. The World Bank will be the anchor investor in the new Railway Development Fund, which will be used to fund modernisation of Indian railways, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

"We have decided to work with the World Bank on creating a Railway Development Fund. This was already initiated. But now, we have taken it forward," Prabhu said on Friday after his meeting with World Bank officials.

Noting that the World Bank will be anchor investors in this new fund along with other co-investors, Prabhu said, "This fund will be kick-started soon as there is unanimity in the World Bank leadership".

He also said the World Bank

leadership has realised that based on the performance in the past one year, Indian Railways is in the "right direction". However, Prabhu did not divulge the size of the fund but indicated that it will be the largest ever provided by the World Bank to the Indian Railways.

Prabhu is in Washington to attend a World Bank meeting on transportation. During his stay in the US capital, he also met officials of the International Finance Corporation, the US Transportation Secretary Anthony Renard Foxx, and some of the think-tanks.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will look into the possibility of revenue generation through non-railway operation, he said.

"To help us in monetisation issues, bringing in the global best practices. Globally, railways get 30-40% of their income from nonrailway operations. In India, it is not even 2%. So, this is going to be

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LEISURE

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SUDOKU Game Number # 3463

challenging time particularly when Indian railways would have to bear the additional burden of the pay commission," he said.

During his meeting with Secretary Foxx, the two leaders decided to create an umbrella agreement with the Department of Transportation about transportation sector in general.

"Today, we also agreed to make railway specific umbrella agreement with the Transport Department, which will help to work on many things," Prabhu said.

Prabhu also said, "One of the things we have agreed to work on is to create a regulatory framework for safety, which is a very important issue for India. We want to enhance the safety of the Indian railways". In his interaction with a group of investors and infrastructure companies, Prabhu asked them to come and invest in Indian Railways.

"The Ministry of Railways has

fil the directive of Make in India," the Rail Minister said.

Meanwhile, US-India Business Council's (USIBC) president Mukesh Aghi has lauded Prabhu's effort to overhaul India's rail infrastructure. "In less than two years, Minister Prabhu has undertaken serious efforts to give a facelift to the Indian railways and revolutionise the way Indians travel, transport goods and services and conduct business," Aghi said. USIBC members are buoyed by the range of opportunities that lie in front of them, he said.

"Whether it is adding highspeed rails connecting major ports, modernising platforms, improving passenger amenities dedicated freight lines, electrification these are concerted efforts by the government to improve the performance of the railways through substantive restructuring so the sector can contribute to the overall growth of the country," Aghi said.

introduced a slew of initiatives, opportunities and reform measures that will allow investors to strive and grow," he said.

"Since the last rail budget in 2015, the Ministry of Railways has implemented 110 reform measures, fulfilling all the announcements made in the budget. We encourage American enterprises to take advantage of the transformation that the entire ecosystem is undergoing," Prabhu said.

"With 100% investment allowed in most segments of railway infrastructure such as suburban rail, metro rail, locomotive and rolling stock, manufacturing and maintenance, signalling and electric works and dedicated freight lines, the Ministry of Railways envisages investments worth $142 billion (nearly Rs 9.56 lakh crore) in the sector that will not only bring about more efficiency in the lifeline of Indian transportation but also boost manufacturing and ful-

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54. Cans 56. Den 57. Emissions 63. Against 64. Bluefin 65. Blacksmith’s block 66. Soft drink 67. A promiscuous woman 68. Condition 69. Avid 70. If not 71. Hollowed out

DOWN

1. Dry riverbed 2. Black, in poetry 3. Boor 4. Large luxurious car 5. Jargon 6. Buttons or clasps 7. Opposed 8. Not stereo 9. Christmas drink 10. Typographer 11. French for “Red” 12. Killer whales 13. Noxious plants 21. San Antonio fort 25. Legume 26. Midmonth date 27. Citrus fruit

28. Yachting cap 29. Loud 34. Eradicate 36. Start over 37. Colored part of an eye 38. Blind (poker) 40. Back 42. Turf 45. Lockjaw 48. Sleeping sickness carrier 51. Exclamation expressive of regret 52. Small boat 53. Name of a book 55. Hiding place 58. Think (over) 59. Within 60. Egg-shaped 61. Anagram of “Tine” 62. Sleigh Ans to CrossWord 3474

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

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MOKOKCHUNG:

KOHIMA NORTH: 7085924114 (O)

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

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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

Police Station 1:

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Police Station 2 :

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Civil Hospital: Woodland Nursing Home:

2226216 2226263

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1.75

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0.0524

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42.54

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SundAY 17•01•2016

NAGALAND

lKM takes serious note of haphazard P-Khel traditional market complex inaugurated Various other and unscientific coal mining Kohima, January 16 (mExn): The Pfuchatsumia Thinuo (khel) traditional market complex was inaugurated by Khriehu Liezietsu, Parliamentary Secretary, Youth Resources & Sports, State Lotteries and Music Task Force, Chairman, DPDB Kohima on January 16 at Ziekezou, Kohima village.

Hoping that the complex will benefit the younger generation, Khriehu congratulated the P Khel on

resolutions passed during its 31st Session at Tuli

Dimapur, January 16 (mExn): Taking serious note of present “haphazard, unscientific and mindless way” of coal mining in Langpangkong area in particular and Nagaland as a whole, the LKM has decided to organize a seminar on ‘Present Coal mining and its Consequences’ with experts at the earliest.

“It threatens the ecological balance and also endangering lives and geographical foundations of villages, LKM said in a resolution.

The resolution was among the many others resolved during its recent 31st conference-cumsports meet at Tuli which were released to media today.

The Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang (LKM) or the Langpangkong Students’ Conference is the apex students’ body in Langpangkong Range, one of the ranges inhabited by the Aos in Mokokchung district.

The LKM also decided to seek the reasons behind the inability of the Tuli Paper Mill (NPPC) for revival

by Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd despite availability of fund from the Govt of India.

“If HPC found to be not interested in reviving the mill, the LKM shall reclaim the land meant for NPPC Ltd for alternative developmental project for the benefit of the people” it said.

The concept of “Special Development Zone” mooted by Nagaland government also gets its attention and it would initiate a ‘Talk’ on concept of “Special De-

the completion of the Market Complex and appreciated that the construction of a community building does not only need financial contribution, but with the wisdom and cooperation of good leaders.

On the ongoing road construction under the aegis of the Legislator, Liezietsu appealed the people of the village to maintain cleanliness and sanitation suggesting the villagers to avoid washing of cars by

the roadside, avoid dumping of building materials alongside the road, which dirties the road and increase congestion of traffic.

Further updating on his activities, Khriehu mentioned that he has been sponsoring 50% coaching fees to encourage students to appear for civil and competitive exams, at ETEN Coaching Centre, one of the best coaching centres. Therefore, he has urged all those interested students to seize the opportunity

and make the best of it.

Seeking the support and cooperation of the people of the village to work hand in hand for the development of the village, Khriehu stated that there are many things to do in the future.

Giving a brief background on the construction of the building, Vilie-o Rutsa, Convenor, Building Committee stated that the construction started on April 9, 2014.

Assam Rifles apprehends one NSCN (IM) cadre Dimapur, January 16 (mExn): A Captain of NSCN (IM) was arrested during a operation conducted by 37 Assam Rifles under aegis of 6 Sector Assam Rifles at 7th Mile, Chumukedima on January 12, School children participating in a parade during the inaugural function of the 31st LKM con- the AR claimed today.

An AR press note inference-cum-sports meet at Tuli. (Picture courtesy: LKM facebook page) formed that the operation velopment Zone” in Naga- of land at Changtongya initiative to establish a Skill Development Center and land to put the concept in Town in 2016.

In the educational front, also to construct a multiproper perspective without jeopardizing the rights the conference has decided purpose complex in Tuli of the people and translate to constitute a ‘Research with the support of Minthe concept into reality for and Evaluation Commit- istry of Tribal Affairs and tee’ to assess the academic Ministry of Youth Affairs & the benefit of Nagaland.

The LKM further re- and physical performance Sports, Govt. of India.

Kohima, January 16 In the sports arena, the (mExn): Around 300 NCC solved to give its best effort and status of schools and in educating people to en- suggest remedial measures LKM has decided to set up cadets from various schools sure fair and free election to improve the dismal aca- a Langpangkong football and colleges of Kohima in the range as well as the demic situation in both the team as well as Volleyball congregated at the G Rio private and Govt schools team to broaden the partic- School to participate in the state.

While resolving to form particularly in Langpang- ipation scope of players in launch of the Govt of India national and international initiative “Start up India” a Trust and register it ac- kong area.

It will also establish a events. cordingly to serve the needs campaign on January 16.

A prize money of of the people through dif- award known as “LL Yaden The event was aimed ferent channels, the LKM Meritorious Scholarship” Rs. 1.00 lakh for foot- at celebrating the entrefurther passed resolu- for topper amongst the suc- ball winning team and preneurship spirit of the tion to organize a Farmers cessful candidates of HSLC Rs.50,000/- for Runner-up country involving the Consultative Meet with examination from Govt and Rs.50,000/- for Vol- young generation across agri-allied departments to High Schools amongst its leyball winning team and the length and breadth of Rs.25,000/- for runner-up the India, a press note from encourage, promote and members from 2016.

Geoffrey Yaden and along with the current tro- Lt Col Emron Musavi, PRO practice farming culture in more productive ways, the family are sponsoring the phies was also passed in (Def), Kohima informed. scholarship in memory of the conference.

LKM shall.

The activities included An annual Youth & live telecast of the openThe formation of Fund his father, Late LL Yaden, Raising cum Construction the first President of LKM. Sports Festival in Tuli in ing ceremony by Union FiThe LKM shall also form collaboration with public nance Minister Arun JaitCommittee was passed for construction of LKM Com- a “Think Tank” to guide and and private agencies was ley till the closing remarks mercial building in its plot assist the LKM and take an also mooted. made by the Prime Minister

was conducted by the unit based on information regarding movement of an armed NSCN (IM) cadre in the area.

Surveillance was established in the area to detect presence of the cadre, it said adding that the suspected individual was intercepted at around 6:30 PM.

According to the AR, one Point 22 Pistol with magazine and one mobile phone were recovered during the operation. It further identified the cadre as one Ambo Sema, a resident of Ikishe village near 5th Mile.

He further admitted that he was attempting to sell the recovered weapon

to a potential customer, the AR added.

Arguing the actions of the NSCN (IM) cadre was in contravention to the Ceasefire Ground Rules, the AR said he was handed over to Diphupar Police Station on the same day along with the recovered weapon.

NCC partners with G Rio School for ‘Start-up India’ Narendra Modi, it added.

After the telecast, the cadets organised a discussion moderated by Kevino Savino the Principal of the school, the PRO added.

Brig MS Nikam Group Commander NCC Kohima while extending gratitude to the school management for allowing the event inside its premise said he was impressed by the quality of discussion which generated in the brain storming session.

He also exhorted exalted the cadets to carry the central theme in their hearts and let hard work creativity and entrepreneurship make the definite change in them individually and Naga society at large.

A cyclist is seen engulfed in misty cloud as he cycles through a thick fog near Assam-Nagaland border area.

Along with north India, temperature in Nagaland is expected to remain low with temperature ranging from 4°C15°C in Kohima and 9°C-24°C in Dimapur in next 48 hours.

Rainfall is expected on Wednesday. (Morung Photo).

Public SPace

My loving family Alovili Som

My loving family Fills the house With dreams and memories.

We dine and make merry together.

Dogs play outside, Children play inside.

Sometimes a nuisance But its a pleasure to bear.

Because when time comes to say goodbye Words cannot express How deeply we want them to stay.

But sometimes , Life leaves us with no choice.

House is then filled with isolation.

The walls echoes their voice Memories come rushing in To bring tears to the eye Leaving us wishing When will they come back again.

T

hroughout the year, all our weekdays are scheduled for work.

Holidays are anticipated for rest and repose. Everyone seeks to find some timeout. But to one’s utter disappointment, one or the other programme will popped up on our calendar. What a holiday, right? For many, holidays are not holidays but busy-days. Activities starting from the religious programmes to social gatherings crowdour days and hours. Our world is tilted and jolted by endless tiresome circles of this and that work. It never ends. But humans! We are not machines and so we needgood rest.I would define holidays as a day of total rest.

There are three national holidays in India: Independence Day on 15th August, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth-

Reminiscence about Holidays day on 2nd October and Republic Day on 26th January. Apart from these three important national holidays, there are more than 20 recognized holidays for the Indians.Therefore, this country is considered as one of the top list countries in granting public holidays but one really wonder whether those special days are really meant for rest.

Extra-curricular activities are always filled in and more efforts are expected evenfor those particular events as well. So it’s not categorically a holiday but a work-day.There has been debate whether the public holidays should be more frequent than it is now but the new government seems to be quite unconvinced about this proposal.

In Nagaland, December and January seems to

be the busiest month for everybody. Not a day frees people from dis-engaging in all the invariable social and religious functions.

There are no space for spending solitary time in deep thoughts and sleep.

“Work is not always required. There is such a thing as sacred idleness,” says George MacDonald.

Rest is becoming quite uncommon even in our society. Quality timewith family is hardly possible.

Heavy schedules are becoming a huge burden for many. People want to keep moving which is not bad but at times, hectic. Possibly that’s why many are into mental illness, emotional instability, anxiety, depression, heart problems, lower-back pain and so forth.

Hence, the holidays that are given should be availed

A Testimony Salome Taka

O

n the 23rd of December 2015, I was at a work event (my last for the year) and excited I would be heading home in just a few hours time when, around 8:15 pm, I received a call from home with news that my parents were involved in a car accident while driving to my Grandma’s home to spend Christmas. Clutching firmly onto a railing next to me, I spoke to a feeble voice - my very injured mother. Hearing her this way and being told my dad was driving the vehicle, I knew I would be going home without hope of seeing my dad alive; and worried about the extent of my mom’s injury.

Because I was in the midst of a very important event, I immediately prayed for presence of mind to be able to close the event as required and for

comfort for my heart.

I asked god to give me strength and to stand by me to be able to accept what was yet to come. And He has done just that these past few weeks.

Heading to my apartment post the event to replacing my packed formal festive wear to hospital duty clothes, I have very little memory of the many thoughts that went on in my

head that night. I remember, however, abundance of tears pleading God for the life of my parents.

For the past 40 years my parents have been involved at a Theological college and will retire in the next two months.

This accident happened at a time when they are at a critical juncture in their professional lives contemplating ‘what next for God and where?’ Throughout the duration of my flight home, my conversation with God revolved around reminding Him the passion my parents have to serve Him. That it was too early for them to be strapped with life threatening injuries or to even lose their lives! What would then happen to the 1000s of dreams they have working for God’s Glory?

Without a theory of explanation humanly possible on the survival scale,

my parents ‘got away’ from a major car crash sharing a combined injury list of 5 fractured ribs, a lost tooth, a slashed lip, a chipped knee bone and a slit knee.

Considering the car now has value only at the scrap dealer, it is a miracle to be even alive!

This is my family’s story. This is our testimony.

This is God putting a hedge around my parents and protecting them so that together as a family we will continue to praise Him and give Him Glory! This is our commitment as a family to many more years of service towards God even post ‘retirement’ wherever He places us!

Grateful to Jesus. And all Glory to God from whom every Blessing flows!

Salome Taka is a Public Relations Professional based in Hyderabad. A follower of Jesus and Football and an incurable optimist.

with pure relaxation of the mind and soul.

What would a holiday be like without phones, laptops and other monotonous routine works?Maybe that’s an exciting thought! Instead of sitting at home, one can freely roam about in the forest or visit some old friend’s places.

Holidays doesn’t necessarily have to be a trip to other states or countries. There are numerous towns and villages in Nagaland that are waiting to be explored.From the mountains to the pristine rivers to the fresh air of forest instil us joy and refreshment.

The sound of chirping birds and of the winds still ambi-

ances around our beautiful land. Natural beauty surrounds us but the invasion of high-tech equipment is blinding our eyes from seeing and treasuring those real beauties.

Yes! Holidays are also a timefor involving in personal activities. Jump on the bandwagon of your riveted hobbies and take time for yourselves. That is not selfish but self-help for the greater task ahead. A break is always needed. Don’t beat the horse too harshly that it gets exhausted before it can reach its destination. Enjoy your day doing what you want. Why

should you be dictated by workloads and duties all the time? Have enough rest and spent in deep sacred thoughts about life, nature, beauty and the fading world. Think about the eternal glories that will one day wiped out our temporary world into celestial beauty. Take time to read and meditate on good books. Make your holiday one of the most memorable days. Enjoy them as if they are the last moments of your life on earth because holidays are made for rest.

Vebu Khamo E-mail: Vebukhamo38@ gmail.com

A rejoinder to news article

T

his rejoinder is given against the press release published in the name of one Mr. Thomas in Morung Express on 16th January,2016, Under the caption, “ Retrospection ……..nagaland”. Mr. Thomas said, “God had told not to accept Indian constitution”, when Shillong accord was made. But alas! Clause (1) of the accord is “……. Accept Indian constitution by their own volition”.

The second helpless attempt Mr. Thomas trying to fool the Naga people is “Shillong accord had died a natural death”. Wao… you may say as you wish but Nagas are not that foolish. Had it not been condemned by the anti accord party led by the Chairman Isak and Gen. Secy. Th. Muivah it would not have died. Not only had the Shillong accord signed by the NNC but started implementing by depositing a lot of arms and ammunition.

As far as killing is concerned, yes, I am against any form of killing, but then who started killing?

Who killed T. Sakhire, Dr. Imkongliba, General Kaito, etc? Were they also killed by the NSCN? What was the reason behind their killing? Never attempt to fool the Nagas any more brother Thomas. I am as you are, a man from backward community. I hope, by implementing the agreement which is likely to come out in the very near future our people, from both sides of the so called international boundary, will be able to see the light of the world to some extend and thereby come to know the real meaning of freedom. They will be able to live peaceful and prosperous lives. We must not stop them from having it by saying many back and forth words.

Yes, thanks a lot to all the Naga pioneers including AZ. Phizo for taking many positive steps till 11th November, 1975. Are the present NNC s taking any step? No nothing. Yes, Isak and Muivah with their friends and followers had condemned the Shillong Accord or Sale out Accord.

They could counter couped

who had couped them, fought the enemies left and right, garnered the international support, held political talk at the highest level, i,e Prime Ministers level unlike NNC having signed Shillong Accord with a Governor. Of course, it is very natural that people who fought against their own brothers with the help of their masters are jealous on the outcome of the negotiation which is likely to come out in the near future. They, not only jealous but are hell bent to undo the sacrifices and achievements undertaken by the NSCN led by Isak and Muivah. But Nagas are conscious enough to prove who can do what.

They know that history tellers, money collectors to build his own empire and power mongers can do nothing to defend the identity of the Nagas and their land and for the upliftment of the poor.

May God give honest mind to each and every Nagas.

KUKNALIM. T. Patkaipa Konyak NSCN

The Morung Express is introducing “Public Space” as part of our intention to provide deliberate space for the opinions of the people to be expressed and heard through this newspaper. Nonetheless, The Morung Express points out that the opinions expressed in the contents published in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper or the editor.

The Chalkboard

6

SunDAY 17•01•2016

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

_____________________________ Because Children Matters

Being Special Terri Mauro children with special needs expert

G

PreParing the grandParents for your child with autism

child's special needs.

It would be great if you could load them up with books on the subject and bring them right up to your speed, but it's probably more realistic to prepare an information packet with a handful of straightforward requests and a few printouts to prove that you're not making this stuff up. Use this list and the links below as a template to adjust as needed for your specific situation.

randparents can be great allies in advocating for your child with an autism spectrum disorder, but may also express skepticism about a behaviorrelated disorder that didn't seem to exist when they were parents. Oftentimes misinformation, old attitudes, and a fervent hope that their children's and grandchildren's lives will be trouble-free keep Five Things Grandparents grandparents from accept- Need to Know ing and accommodating your 1. Autism spectrum disor-

ders are diagnosed by a doctor and accepted by medical professionals as a real thing. It's not just an excuse for bad behavior or a harmful label to attach to a child. An autism spectrum diagnosis helps us all understand [child]'s behavior and interests and treat them in a loving and effective way.

2. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, there can be a lot of variation in the way it looks in different children. You may have

Your amazing child rning a e l W y l r a e d n a ent o m P o l e V e d d il h W c

A

child's brain develops rapidly during the first five years of life, especially the first three years. It is a time of rapid cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional and motor development. For example, a child learns many words starting at around 15–18 months. Rapid language learning continues into the preschool years.

The child's brain grows as she or he sees, feels, tastes, smells and hears.

Each time the child uses one of the senses, a neural connection is made in the child's brain. New experiences repeated many times help make new connections, which shape the way the child thinks, feels, behaves and learns now and in the future.

A close relationship between the child and the caregiver is the best way to nourish the child's growing brain. When a caregiver plays with and sings, speaks, reads or tells a story to the child and nurtures her or him with healthy food, love and affection, the child's brain grows. Being healthy, interacting with caregivers and living in a safe and clean environment can make a big difference in a child's growth, development and future potential.

Babies need lots of care and affection in the early years. Holding, cuddling and talking to the child stimulate brain growth and promote emotional development. Being kept

The early years, especially the first three years of life, are very important for building the baby's brain. Everything she or he sees, touches, tastes, smells or hears helps to shape the brain for thinking, feeling, moving and learning. close to the mother and breastfed on demand provide the infant with a sense of emotional security. The baby suckles for both nutrition and comfort.

For young children, crying is a way of communicating. Responding to the child's cry by holding and/or talking soothingly to her or him will help establish a sense of trust and security.

This kind of early bonding and attachment to the mother, father or other close caregiver helps a child develop a broad range of abilities to use and build upon throughout life. These include the ability to: • learn • be self-confident and have high self-esteem • have positive social skills • have successful relationships at later ages • develop a sense of empathy.

As children's brains develop, so do their emotions, which are real and powerful. Children may become frustrated if they are unable to do something or have something they want. They are often frightened of strangers, new situations or the dark.

Children whose reactions are laughed at, punished or ignored may grow up shy and unable to express

emotions normally. If caregivers are patient and sympathetic when a child expresses strong emotions, the child is more likely to grow up happy, secure and well balanced.

Boys and girls have the same physical, mental, emotional and social needs. Both have the same capacity for learning. Both have the same need for affection, attention and approval.

Young children can experience excessive stress if they are physically or emotionally punished, are exposed to violence, are neglected or abused, or live in families with mental illness, such as depression or substance abuse.

These stresses interfere with the developing brain and can lead to cognitive, social and emotional delays and behaviour problems in childhood and later in life.

Children who are physically or mentally punished in anger are more likely to become violent themselves. More positive and effective ways to address children's behaviour can include: • providing a child with clear explanations about what to do and what not to do • responding consistently to certain behaviours

read about autism or seen movies or met other kids with the disorder and thing that [child] does not resemble any of those. That doesn't mean [child] doesn't have an ASD, just that every person with an ASD is a unique individual.

3. You may see us parenting [child] in a way that's different from the way you raised your children. Please don't consider this a judgment on the way you did things. We've edu-

cated ourselves about what works best for [child] and are trying to parent according to this specific situation. We hope you will not judge us in return.

4. There are positive qualities associated with autism spectrum disorders that we celebrate and famous people who have that in common with [child].

We love every part of [child], and we know you do too. Help us put a positive spin on this disorder.

5. Don't be afraid to talk to us about [child's] autism spectrum disorder, ask for information, tell us things you've noticed, and be an active part of the team. [Child] needs all of us loving adults working together.

Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

— Author unknown

Find the hidden picture

• praising good behaviour.

These responses by parents and other caregivers encourage children so they become well-adjusted and productive members of the family and community.

Both parents, as well as other family members, need to be involved in caring and nurturing the growth, learning and development of children. They should make both girls and boys feel equally valued as they encourage them to learn and explore – this is important preparation for school.

Mothers around the world generally take on the primary role of addressing their children's rights and needs. They love, feed, console, teach, play with and care for their children.

A father's role is as vital as the mother's in nurturing and caring for their children and protecting their rights. A father should make daughters and sons feel they are equally important. Just like the mother, the father can help meet their child's needs for love, affection, approval, encouragement and stimulation. Together, the mother and father can ensure that the child receives a quality education and good nutrition and health care.

Once upon a time Love and Time

O

nce upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment. When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing

by Love in a grand boat.

Love said, “Richness, can you take me with you?”

Richness answered, “No, I can’t. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you.”

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel.

“Vanity, please help me!”

“I can’t help you, Love.

You are all wet and might damage my boat,” Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, “Sadness, let me go with you.” “Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!”

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, “Come, Love, I will take you.” It was an elder.

So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way.

Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, “Who Helped me?”

“It was Time,” Knowledge answered.

“Time?” asked Love.

“But why did Time help me?” Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, “Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is.”

Dot to dot

FAITH LEAF

SunDAY 17•01•2016

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES, MESSAGES, POEMS & SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

7

‘Black Hawk down’ survivor says Jesus is the only way to transform the world Michael Ashcraft and Mark Ellis

W

hat impacted Jeff Struecker most was NOT the thousands of hostile Somalis swarming his Humvee, nor the hailstorm of bullets and RPGs as he attempted to rescue fellow

Rangers in the ill-fated 1993 raid of Mogadishu made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down.

What impacted him most was the next October morning back at base when his buddies one by one asked him about death and the afterlife.

“It changed my life forever,” Struecker said at Liberty University in a video posted on YouTube. “I would still be a sergeant in the ranger regiment today if it wasn’t for what I saw the morning after the firefight. It wasn’t really the blood and the bullet holes that had an impact on me. It was back at the base the grown men, some of the toughest warriors on the planet, with tears in their eyes. They said, ‘Jeff, what happened to my best friend who just died last night? Jeff, what happens to me if I get on a helicopter or a Humvee tomorrow and I don’t make it home?’

“Almost all of them were saying, ‘Jeff, there was something different about you last night, and I want to know what it was,’” he said. “For the next 24 hours, I had guys lined up to ask me about Jesus Christ because they could see the difference that He makes when you’re getting shot at and when the bullets flying.”

The advice he gave that night did more to direct Struecker’s career than the intensive Ranger training.

Seeing a chance to impact the lives of men, Struecker became a chaplain for his same Ranger buddies in the 82 Airborne Division, a post he’s held for more than a decade.

The Ranger/Delta Force mission code-named Operation Gothic Serpent began to go awry when Ranger PFC Todd Blackburn failed his fast-rope drop-in and fell

70 feet to the ground headfirst.

While other Rangers secured the perimeter and Delta Force operators seized two of Mohammed Farrah Aidid’s top lieutenants, the subsequent efforts to rescue the fallen ranger led to two helicopters being shot down and 18 deaths.

The U.S. in 1992 was trying to provide free food during acute famine in Somalia at a time when the country was ruled by seven warlords. One of the warlords, Aidid, opposed the international aid and even killed 24 Pakistanis while they distributed food.

In 1993, the U.S. acted on a U.N. resolution and sent a military task force to either capture or kill Aidid and his top advisers. After seven missions, they had seized almost all of Aidid’s leaders. On Oct. 3, they received a tip that two outstanding top leaders were meeting in a building in Aidid’s stronghold; they decided to move in on that fateful Sunday afternoon.

Struecker led a column of Humvees to positions at each of the four corners of the building. Struecker rescued Blackburn, who was unconscious and bleeding through his nose and mouth, and stretchered him to a Humvee that would drive him to the base.

The attempt to rescue pilots and rangers from two helicopter crashes led to the casualties and the debacle that forced Defense Secretary Les Aspin to resign.

Steering through a narrow alleyway full of potholes, Struecker drove 15-20 miles an hour so he would not jar the injured soldier.

Turning a corner, “the entire city erupted with gunfire,” Struecker said. “We were being shot at from a 100 different directions, it seemed like – from rooftops, from alleyways and from doorways and windows. There were rocket propelled grenades and automatic gunfire from AK-47s from 20, 30 feet away.”

Rear gunner Sgt. Dominick Pilla was killed by a militiaman waiting in ambush.

“When I turned and looked over my shoulder, it looked like the whole back of my vehicle had been painted red with Dominick Pilla’s blood,” Struecker said. “I thought I was going to die in the next moments, but then I remembered I was in charge and I needed to get myself under control if I was going to get my men out of there.”

The column of Humvees managed to escape the hostilities in the city and return to the base. Medics

Miracles in Mozambique

S

ince moving to Mozambique in 1995 and giving away everything they had, Heidi and Rolland Baker have learned to depend on God. “If God does not show up, we are dead,” says Heidi.

Living among the poor has allowed Heidi to see firsthand how when they embrace the life of the Beatitudes, they are truly blessed. “The Beatitudes are God’s recipe for revival. They are a portrait and description of Jesus. When we walk as Jesus walked, we will be blessed,” shares Heidi.

She believes God is calling a generation forward to be “laid-down lovers for Him, to walk in the ways He walked, and to follow His Sermon on the Mount as their instructions for their Christian walk.”

Heidi says there is something about the poor that delights the heart of God. The reason God breaks forth in Mozambique in great power is because the people are poor in spirit. “I believe Jesus meant that poor in spirit is a posturing of the heart where one is wholly given, fully yielded, completely desperate and totally dependent on God alone.”

For years, Heidi dreamed about providing water to the people who live in the villages in the most desperate conditions. After years of praying, planning, crying, working and networking, they broke ground with an enormous well drilling rig in Pemba this month. “We know hundreds of thousands of people will be affected by this development as we can now bring water from the earth as Jesus brings living water from heaven to the desperate people of Mozambique,” says Heidi. “I cried today as the huge drill rig broke through solid rock and dirt.”

Many of their Mozambican friends walk from two hours to an entire day just to get one container of water. Many people die each year from diseases connected either with their lack of clean water or contaminated water.

AGAINST ALL ODDS In 1995, Heidi arrived in Mozambique, the poorest country in the world, with her family. The government offered them a horribly dilapidated and neglected "orphanage." After many years of brutal civil war, thousands of children had been left as orphans, displaced and abandoned. There were 80 children, and God poured down His love and provided food day by day. A church was planted and hundreds began to turn to the Lord.

The former communist directors of the government orphanage were furious ever

since Heidi and her husband took over since their extreme corruption and thievery had been stopped. Scheming together with an equally corrupt faction of the government, they concocted accusations and issued a legal decree against Iris Ministries that forbade prayer and worship, Christian singing, and all forms of "unapproved" food and clothes distribution and medical assistance.

Since Heidi and the children did not obey the new rules, they had 48 hours to leave the property. Heidi was told there was a contract out on her life. So, they evacuated to their office in the capital city of Maputo. The children gathered in the dining room/church and began to sing praise and worship songs at the tops of their lungs. They were beaten and told they could not worship God. One by one, they began to walk the 20 miles to the city office. Reunited, Heidi, Rolland and the orphans called out to God in total desperation. They had lost everything and there was no place for them to go and no food to eat.

A friend from the American Embassy came with chili and rice for the Bakers and their two children. They prayed over the pots of food and told the 80+ children to sit down. Everyone ate and was full!

God rewarded their faith, and now their property in Pemba is over seven times what was lost in 1997. “Government officials who once persecuted us and beat our children are now thankful for us staying in the country,” says Heidi.

MISSIONS IN HER BLOOD Heidi was called to the mission field when she was 16 and living on an Indian Reservation as an American Field student where she was led to the Lord by a Navajo preacher. Several months later she was taken up in a vision for several hours and heard the Lord tell her to be a minister and missionary to Africa, Asia and England.

Heidi met her husband Rolland at a small charismatic church in Southern California and married six months later. They left for the mission field two weeks after they were married, with simple instructions from the Lord, one way tickets and $30 in their pockets. They spent 12 years in Asia and saw thousands come to Jesus.

After meeting, Jackie Pullinger-To and working with her ministry to drug addicts in Hong Kong, their hearts were increasingly broken for the poor and unwanted. In 1992 they left to do their PhDs at Kings' College, University of London.

and surgeons ran to stretcher in Blackburn. Meanwhile Struecker thanked God that he had gotten out alive.

“I leaned over the hood of that Humvee completely exhausted, and I said, ‘God, I can’t believe I survived that. I can’t believe that anybody survived that,” Struecker said. “There were thousands of armed Somalis that we just drove through.”

Rangers “fast-roped” in to secure the perimeter of the target building where two Aidid lieutenants were meeting.

At that moment, the platoon leader informed Stuecker that a Black Hawk helicopter had been shot down, and that the pilot needed Humvees to go rescue him. A special operator counseled him to wash the blood off the Humvee first so as to not terrify the new crew.

“I took buckets and sponges and brushes, and I began to clean Dominick Pilla’s blood off of the back of this Humvee,” Steucker said.

As he washed the Humvee, he experienced convulsions of fear like he had never felt before. “I was totally completely certain that I was going to die,” he said. “And every fiber of my being was saying, ‘No, Jeff, don’t do this. This is crazy. It’s suicide. You’re going to get yourself killed if you go back out there.’

“I was thinking that as a leader, not only would I get myself killed but I would get every one of my men killed if I went back out there,” he said. “There will be 10 more body bags tomorrow morning if I go back out there.”

But then he remembered he was a Ranger, whose creed is to never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy. As a Christian, he started to pray.

“God I’m in big trouble right now, and I need your help because I’m certain that I’m going to die tonight,” he said.

The Lord brought to his mind the recent Bible devotional about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Jesus said, “Not my will but yours be done.”

“Jesus, the perfect sinless Son of God, walked into the hands of the enemy and He willingly, freely gave His life up so that your sin and my sin could be dealt with once and for all,” Struecker said. “At the back of that Humvee, I prayed, not my will. From that moment on, God once and for all dealt with that fear. I had no worries about what was going to happen to me that night.”

He was given no surety that he would survive, but he felt strangely assured that if he died, before his body fell to the ground, his soul would be transported to Heaven.

“I realized if I go home to my family in Georgia or go home to my Father in Heaven, in either case I cannot lose because of what my Savior Jesus Christ had done for me,” Struecker said. “That alone gave me the peace to go back and forth into the streets repeatedly for the rest of the night.”

Meanwhile, dozens of Rangers and Delta Force operators were fighting for their lives, completely surrounded by militiamen. Superior marksmanship and helicopter strafing runs held off the masses attempting to overrun the U.S. soldiers.

Struecker drove back into the maelstrom, dodging burning tires and evading ambushes at every turn.

Once an RPG bounced off the hood of his Humvee and exploded against the wall, Gunmen opened fire on him with AK-47s from point blank range, but miraculously no one on his vehicle was injured.

He found half of the assault force in the city, loaded up the soldiers and headed back to the base.

To rescue the second batch of soldiers, Pakistanis and Malaysians joined the effort. At 11:30 p.m. the convoy left to rescue the rest of the assault force.

In all, U.S. forces suffered 18 deaths and 73 injured.

The U.S. left the region shortly afterward and Aidid was subsequently killed in battles for control of Somalia.

As fallout hit Washington, Les Aspin, U.S. defense sec-

Delta Force special operators deploying from a “Little Bird” helicopter drop in.

retary, resigned because he had refused requests for tanks and armored vehicles in support of the mission. President Bill Clinton was criticized extensively for abandoning the region before goals were achieved and for failing to recognize the link between Aidid’s forces and Al-qaeda.

After counseling a large number of comrades shaken by death, Struecker realized God had something greater for him than “kicking in doors and slinging lead at the enemies of our country,” he said.

He became a chaplain for his same Ranger regiment.

“Before that night, I thought you could transform the world through military prowess and national power,” Struecker said. “But I realized something in Mogadishu, Somalia: There is only one force great enough to transform the world, and it is the Holy Spirit of the Living God through his Son Jesus Christ.”

W

ith the mission to contend for and steward revival to impact communities and cities in India and beyond, a team of organization and individuals are organizing the event, “Kingdom Invasion – Awakening the Body of Christ” from 28th to 31st January, 2016 at the State Stadium, Dimapur, Nagaland, India. The speakers are Heidi Baker, Jonathan Seet, and Shan Kikon.

About Heidi Baker

Heidi and Rolland Baker, founders of Iris Ministries, served as missionaries in Indonesia and Hong Kong before following God’s call in 1995 to Mozambique. In the face of overwhelming need, the Bakers now watch God provide miraculously for well over 10,000 children every day through their ministry, and many more through the Iris network of more than 15,000 churches, Bible schools, primary schools, and remote outreach programs. They live in Mozambique, Africa.

• Author, Reckless Devotion: Into the Heart of Radical Love • Co-founder Iris Ministries Missionary to Mozambique, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Hong Kong and London • Started missions work in Mozambique in 1995 • Founded over 7,000 churches and care for over 5,000 children • Oversees a national Bible college • BA & MA, Vanguard University in southern CA • PhD studies, Kings College, University of London • Husband: Rolland • Adult children: Crystalyn and Elisha

Source: CBN.com

Heidi Baker’s Reckless Devotion to Faith

H

eidi was called to the mission field when she was 16 and living on an Indian Reservation as an American Field student. She was led to the Lord by a Navajo preacher and several months later she was taken up in a vision. For several hours she heard the Lord tell her to be a minister and missionary to Africa, Asia, and England. Heidi met her husband Rolland at a small charismatic church in Southern California and married six months later. They left for the mission field two weeks after their wedding, with simple instructions from the Lord, one-way tickets and thirty dollars in their pockets. They spent 12 years in Asia and saw thousands come to Jesus. In 1995, Heidi and Rolland moved their family to Mozambique, the poorest country in the world. The government offered them a horribly dilapidated and neglected "orphanage." They started caring for 80 children and watched God pour out his love and provide food day after day. The Bakers now watch God provide miraculously for well over 10,000 children every day and have a network of more than 10,000 churches, Bible schools, primary schools, and remote outreach programs.

Today Heidi and Rolland’s ministry “Iris Global” has networks of churches and churchbased orphan care in all ten provinces in Mozambique in addition to their bases in main cities. In recent years they have concentrated on the Makua, a people group of four million in the north who were listed by mission re-

searchers as “unreached and unreachable.”

With tremendous help from missionaries and nationals, around two thousand churches have been planted among these people in the last eight years. Heidi is now “Mama Heidi” to thousands of children, and oversees a broad holistic ministry that includes Bible schools, medical clinics, church-based orphan care, well drilling, primary schools, evangelistic and healing outreaches in remote villages and a network of thousands of churches.

RECKLESS DEVOTION Heidi and Rolland have learned throughout their many years of ministry what it takes to live a life sold-out and passionate about their faith. They invite everyone to develop a radical love that thrills God’s heart. They also realize that there is a cost to loving God with abandonment. However, Heidi reveals that if you love and you know how loved you are, the cost doesn’t matter. The cost of following Him is insignificant if you are truly in love with Him, developing that radical love is simple. She believes that first you must allow God to love you by connecting with Him. Secondly, it’s about stopping for the one in front of you and pouring out your love to others. By receiving and giving love you can develop a heart that loves Jesus radically.

dreds of people coming to the Lord from different faiths. They have also been facing great trials and persecution along with that breakthrough. They are in the midst of having over a hundred of their national leaders people deported because of political issues. Heidi went with their leaders to meet with the governor and they experienced extraordinary favor.

They felt something change and the animosity and political agenda dissipate. They believe that things are turning around and that their international workers are going to stay.

MIRACLE STORY Heidi and Rolland go into the wilderness to minister to tribes of people that have never heard the gospel. They usually take children with them to minister. Heidi took one of their orphans named Enselmo to help minister. Enselmo is 13 years old and was abandoned because he was born with clubbed feet. While ministering to a tribe of people, Enselmo felt like he heard that God wanted to heal someone who was crippled. A mother came out and she put a crippled child on the dirt in front of Enselmo who had no muscle tone. Enselmo looked at Heidi happily and put his hands on the child and the child got up in front of everyone.

Rather than being bitter that God healed the child and not his clubbed feet, Enselmo reRECENT UPDATE joiced. Through a string of events, Enselmo Heidi and Rolland have recently seen hun- received surgery that fixed his clubbed feet.

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.

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SundAY 17•01•2016

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

CPI opposes Peter's bail plea; US wants india, Pakistan to continue dialogue hearing adjourned till Jan 30 Ban Ki-moon offers support for resumption of India-Pakistan talks

Peter Mukerjea being produced at the Esplanade Court in Mumbai. (PTI photo)

MuMBai, January 16 (pti): The CBI today opposed former media baron Peter Mukerjea's bail plea in Sheena Bora murder case on the ground that he was part of the murder conspiracy and had concealed information about the victim's disappearance from his son and Sheena's fiance Rahul.

"Peter was in touch with prime accused and his wife Indrani Mukerjea from the

day of Sheena's murder (April 24, 2012) and till her body was disposed the next day," the CBI said in its reply on the bail application of Peter, who was arrested in the case on in November last year.

"He was also part of the conspiracy and had concealed the fact (about Sheena'a death) from his son Rahul Mukerjea," the central investigative agency said.

The central agency also

informed the court that certain important documents (including that of financial transactions in the case) are under its scrutiny and the investigation was still going on.

Special CBI judge H S Mahajan adjourned the hearing on Peter's bail application till January 30.

Meanwhile, Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai were today produced in the court, where Indrani's daughter Vidhie (with Sanjeev Khanna), relatives of Khanna and brother and other relatives of Peter were present.

CBI is likely to file its reply on the bail application filed by Indrani's fromer husband Sanjeev Khanna, filed through his lawyer Shreyansh Mithare, on January 30.

The court also directed the CBI to file its reply on Indrani's application seeking her medical reports from the state-run J J hospital.

Washington, January 16 (ians): Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif as a "welcome sign" the US says it wants the two countries to continue to have a dialogue to fight terrorism.

"We want them to continue to have a dialogue and to continue to look for ways to cooperate against a common threat," US State Department Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Friday in response to a question.

The conversation between the two Prime Ministers was a "welcome sign", he said, with both condemning the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot and expressing their shared commitment to fighting terrorism.

"That was not an insignificant discussion that they had, nor was it an insignificant commitment that they made, and it's exactly the kind of commitment that we want them to continue to make," Kirby

uniteD nations, January 16 (ians): Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the resumption of India-Pakistan diplomacy and offered his support for holding talks.

Asked by a reporter Friday about the on-again, off-again interactions between the two South Asian neighbors, Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, "Advice of the secretary general would always be for 'on' in order to support the talks."

"Obviously, there are circumstances that are involved," Dujarric said, "but he has been supportive of the dialogue between the leaders of Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues."

Talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries were scheduled to take place Friday, but said.

The spokesperson said, "It should come as a shock to no one that terrorist groups will try to undermine those sorts of efforts by conducting spectacular attacks - to do exactly that."

The terrorists, he said, wanted "to sow fear, and to hopefully sow doubt in the minds of national leaders

were put off to "the very near future," according to Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Foreign secretaries S. Jaishankar of India and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry of Pakistan spoke by phone Thursday about resecheduling the talks.

The talks, planned after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reset diplomacy following meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Paris and in Lahore, hung in the balance after a terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2.

On Wednesday, Pakistan announced a crackdown on Jaish-eMohammad, the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation suspected of being behind the attack.

towards a level of cooperation that can have a practical effect."

"And obviously, we don't want to see that happen," Kirby said. The US was "encouraged by the dialogue that has recently taken place between India and Pakistan, and we'd like to see that continue."

Describing India-US

MuMBai, January 16 (ians): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party was ready to support the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in parliament once the government accepts the opposition party's conditions. "The day the conditions are accepted, we will help pass it in just 15 minutes," Gandhi assured during his interaction with management students of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies at Vile Parle here. He expressed willingness for a 'compromise' on GST with the government by discussing it across the table, but alleged that the government was not ready for it. Gandhi pointed out that it was the Congress which had introduced the GST bill, but the BJP had stopped it in parliament for seven years. "(Finance Minister) Arun Jaitley did not allow it to pass then, and Narendra Modi, then Gujarat chief minister, also did not allow GST," he said, referring to the roadblocks confronting the proposed legislation. "Jaitley does not have to tell me GST is good. I know it's good. But we don't want a GST without a cap on taxes, we want a limitation on the maximum tax that can be charged," he added.

The Congress leader denied that it was the strategy of the party to block parliament on the issue.

Three of a family found dead in Kolkata apartment KolKata, January 16 (ians): The bodies of three members of a family, suspected to have been murdered, were found inside an apartment in Kolkata's Palm Avenue area on Saturday, police said. "They were identified as Jessica Fonseca (42) and her 16-year-old twin sons Darren and Joshua," said Special Additional Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Crime) Debasish Boral. The bodies were found inside a bedroom, while police also recovered three bloodstained kitchen knives and a 25-pound dumbbell from the crime scene. Jessica's husband Neil Fonseca, who was found critically injured, claimed that his wife killed her two sons before killing herself. While the deceased bore cut marks on the throat and injuries on the head, Neil Fonseca sustained wounds on his throat and hands. According to police, Neil, an interior decorator, claimed that he had a fight with Jessica in the early hours of the day and in a fit of rage, she stabbed her two sons and also attacked him with a dumbbell. "The statements made by Neil are subject to investigation and confirmation. We are also ascertaining if his injuries are self-afflicted or he was attacked," said Boral. While there were as many as four other people inside the house, none of them heard any noise from the room from where the bodies were recovered. The crime was discovered only after the room did not open in the morning and family members called police. Police suspect marital discord to be the reason behind the crime.

prove," Kirby said.

"And we have excellent relations with the Government of India," he said. "We want to make them even better."

"We know how important this relationship is, and I can assure you and the Indian people that the United States remains committed to it," he said.

Rajnath Singh discusses IS influence with 13 state security agencies

NatioN Briefs

Congress ready to give 'conditional' support to GST

relationship as an important one, the spokesperson said, Washington was committed to it and wanted to continue to improve its excellent ties with New Delhi as there was still much to be done.

"There's still much to be done, and again, this is an important relationship that we want to continue to im-

neW Delhi, January 16 (ians): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday met representatives of 13 security agencies of different states here and discussed alarming influence of Islamic State (IS) over youths through social media.

He also reviewed security aspects during the day-long meeting with the officers from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The officers belong to intelligence department and law enforcement agencies discussed issues relating to Daesh, also known as ISIL, ISIS or IS, a home ministry statement said, adding that the meeting was also attended by senior officials of the union home ministry.

The issues discussed included imisuse of social A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man takes a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers on the media, and the sources of occasion of 'Makar Sankranti' festival in Allahabad on January 15. (Reuters Photo) impetus that attract per-

sons, especially youths, to IS, the statement said.

The growth of IS' influence in India's neighbourhood, the best possible law enforcement response, the need for appropriate welfare schemes for minorities, social media strategies to be followed and capacity building of state police organizations, especially in the area of information technology were the additional issued discussed in the meeting, the statement said.

In his concluding remarks, Rajnath Singh said: "India's traditions and family values will triumph over even this evil, and that the traction that Daesh has got in India is extremely limited."

He however noted that there was a need to keep up vigil on all fronts and not let down their guard in any manner but noted that a large number of people and, in fact, most Muslim organisations in India had come out against both Daesh and other forms of terrorism.

Bengal now pit of hell, must oust Trinamool: Former CM singur (West Bengal), January 16 (ians): The Left Front on Saturday resurrected an old slogan in poll-bound West Bengal emphasising the need for industries, as it called for evicting the ruling Trinamool Congress from this rural hamlet, which a few years back saw violent peasant protests against 'forcible' land acquisition that finally culminated in ending the Left Front's 34-year reign.

Protesting against then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's bid to set up the Tata Nano small car plant here in Hooghly district by acquiring a large chunk of land, the main opposition of that time, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool, had spearheaded the protests that saw the automobile

giant move out the unit to Sanand in Gujarat.

"Agriculture is our base, industry is our future" -- the Left Front slogan once prominently seen on walls across the state and heard in all its meetings -- was raised on Saturday by none other than Bhattacharjee, who returned to this area after five years to flag off a protest march against lack of factories and jobs in the state during the Banerjee's rule.

Slamming the Trinamool regime, Bhattacharjee said Bengal now resembles a "pit of hell".

"Our boys and girls have no future. We are only regressing.

Youths don't have jobs. No factories are coming up. People of entire India are laughing at us.

"Even the existing factories are closing shop. Jute mills are closing down, every day in the newspapers, you will read the death news of a tea garden worker. They are dying of hunger, lack of medicines.

"I had been thinking and thinking whether I should come here. Then I decided that I needed to tell you these things. So I have come," said Bhattacharjee, whose words were greeted with tumultuous applause by the crowd.

"We have come here to evict this government. We Leftists will rid West Bengal of the pathetic state of affairs," he thundered.

Bhattacharjee said the state needed both agriculture and in-

dustry -- the former for feeding the people, and the latter for ensuring jobs to the scores of unemployed youths who were the future of Bengal.

Pointing to the abandoned Nano plant, which is now the subject of a legal battle between the Mamata Banerjee government and the Tatas, Bhattacharjee said: "Only agriculture won't do. In Singur, we had planned the huge plant. Had the plan fructified, the car plant and the large number of ancillaries would have completely changed Hooghly district.

The protest march -- demanding jobs, industries, agriculture and protection of farmers' rights -- would cover 191 km till West Midnapore district's Salboni,

where, significantly, the then Left Front government had planned a 10-million tonne integrated steel plant to be set up by the Sajjan Jindal promoted JSW Steel at an investment of Rs.35,000 crore.

After the Left Front lost power to the Trinamool in 2011, the plant became stillborn, largely because of lack of coal linkage.Only a few days back, the foundation of a cement plant promoted by JSW and entailing an investment of Rs.800 crore was laid at Salboni.

The Left Front has been mocking the government for failing to start the integrated steel plant, and instead managing only the cement factory that entails a much lower investment and would ensure fewer jobs.

Opportunistic Indian politicians put tradition above law 'Prohibition successful nowhere' Amulya Ganguli IANS

Elections, which are the lifeblood of democracy, reveal their negative side when politicians abandon ethical convictions for the sake of playing to the gallery.

Pandering to the various predilections of the electorate ranging from the distribution of cash, clothes or liquor to appealing to their religious/sectarian instincts has been an unfortunate feature of Indian elections.

Tactics of this nature have sometimes proved successful as has been demonstrated by the BJP's use of the divisive Ram temple issue to move from the fringe of national politics to centre-stage.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's claim in the early stages of the temple agitation was that the judiciary had no right to interfere in matters of faith. The party's chief minister in Uttar Pradesh at the time, Kalyan Singh, courted ar-

rest with a proud smile for having defied the Supreme Court's orders on protecting the Babri masjid, which was pulled down by a saffron mob in 1992 to make way for the proposed temple.

A similar show of defiance can be seen in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's call to the centre to promulgate an ordinance to negate the Supreme Court's ban on the jallikattu programme which involves taming bulls.

In response to the petitions of animal rights activists, a judicial ban on the practice has been in force for four years. But next year's assembly elections in Tamil Nadu have awakened the state's politicians to the need to protect the "ancient tradition" of jallikattu, which marks the Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu.

For Jayalalitha, the outpouring of respect after a lapse of four years for a tradition which has elements of cruelty and sadism has apparently been necessitated by the recent devastating

floods in Chennai caused by incessant rain, which exposed the failures of the administration and the degradation of natural water bodies by the builders' lobby.

Although her principal opponent in the state, the DMK is not in the best of health under 92-yearold M. Karunanidhi, she cannot be too sure of the success of her own, one-person AIADMK. In any event, since she cannot afford to take any chances in these uncertain days of volatile voters.

While Jayalalitha's compulsions are understandable, what is odd is why the BJP, which virtually has no presence in Tamil Nadu, should have taken up the cudgels for the chief minister. Is it cozying up to Jayalalitha for a tie-up in the state or is it for the sake of the AIADMK's cooperation in parliament for the passage of the reform bills?

The BJP is apparently so upset by her umbrage that it wants the chairman and vice-chairman of the animal welfare board to resign for having approached the

Supreme Court about the government's pro-jallikattu notification.

So much for the ruling party's respect for institutional autonomy! Perhaps we will now see a couple of saffron apparatchiki appointed to these posts who are not too sensitive about the modern fad about the "rights" of dumb creatures.

It is possible, of course, that much of this is play-acting because the politicians know that it is not possible in this day and age to persist with a "sport which does not make for pleasant viewing. It is a replica of less sensitive times which is out of sync with the modern world."

Besides, television footage of the hapless bulls can haunt the pro-jallikattu politicians at election time. Bull-taming is not the only "ancient tradition" which is favoured over judicial diktats. An even more celebrated case is that of the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, where women between the ages of 10 and 50 - menstruating

women - are not allowed to enter.

Evidently, high literacy levels and a strong communist presence make no difference where misogyny is concerned.

While the Supreme Court has ruled that women cannot be stopped from entering temples, it is unlikely that there will be a change in the status quo in the foreseeable future because governments are wary of intervening in areas where the response of the voters is uncertain.

It is worth noting, however, that of the three "estates", the judiciary remains virtually the only one which, by and large, keeps in step with today's ideas, unlike the executive, which is persuaded by opportunistic politicians to cater to the base instincts of the hoi polloi, and the legislature, which is mostly dysfunctional. The media, too, which is the proverbial fourth estate, generally plays a creditable role by highlighting the selfserving antics of the politicians.

thiruvananthapuraM, January 16 (ians): With assembly polls around the corner in Kerala, the CPI on Saturday did not reveal what its liquor policy would be but only noted that nowhere in the world has total prohibition turned to be a success.

Addressing reporters here, Communist Party of India's state secretary Kanam Rajendran said: "Nowhere in the world has total prohibition turned to be a success."

In an oblique reference to the Congress-led government's liquor policy that allows sale of alcohol only in five-star hotels, the CPI leader said the party will come out with its liquor policy at an appropriate time.

When newsmen asked if the CPI -- if it comes to power -- will allow the

opening of around 700 two, 3 and 4 star hotel bars that have been closed since the beginning of this fiscal, he evaded a direct answer.

"The liquor policy is an annual policy and at the appropriate time, we will come out with our policy and we know that people here are willing to wait for our policy," Rajendran said.

After the liquor policy was recently cleared by the Supreme Court, the owners of the closed down bars have been eagerly waiting to know the stand of the Left opposition.

The Oommen Chandy government has dared the CPI-M to tinker with the present liquor policy.

Currently, the Congress and the CPI-M are on their state yatras, while the Indian Union Muslim League and the BJP have also announced theirs.

SundaY 17•01•2016

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Burkina Faso Attack: Operation ends at hotel At least 23 people from 18 nationalities killed in Burkina hotel attack

O ua g a d O u g O u, January 16 (aFP): At least 23 people from 18 countries were killed in an attack by jihadist gunmen on a top hotel and a restaurant in the capital of Burkina Faso, before security forces ended the siege on Saturday and killed four assailants.

A total of 126 people were freed, including 33 wounded, from the four-star Splendid hotel, popular with Westerners and UN personnel, after security forces retook the 147-room facility and the Cappuccino restaurant nearby in the early hours of Saturday, Interior Minister Simon Compaore told AFP. The jihadists' assault had been completely crushed by midday Saturday, a security source said.

Four jihadists, including two women, were killed in the counter-assault.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the attack saying it was "revenge against France and the disbelieving West", according to a statement carried

by US-based monitoring group SITE. The attackers were members of the Al-Mu-

rabitoun group based in Mali and run by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, SITE said.

The security source said at least 23 people from 18 countries were killed in the jihadists' assaults, adding that the toll could yet rise.

Aside from the four jihadists killed, a fifth attacker could be seen rushing into a nearby bar, according to witnesses who managed to escape.

Compaore told AFP earlier that firefighters had seen 10 bodies on the terrace of the restaurant.

A total of "126 people, including at least 33 wounded, have been freed.

Three jihadists -- an Arab and two black Africans -have been killed," Compaore said.

President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who took office just last month, visited the hotel Saturday but made no immediate comment.

Communication Minister Remis Dandjinou told AFP the counter-assault was carried out by Burkinabe troops with the support of French special forces. He also said that among those who escaped unharmed was Labour Minister Clement Sawadogo.

North Korea says peace treaty & halt to exercises, would end nuclear tests sEOuL, January 16 (rEuTErs): North Korea on Saturday called for the conclusion of a peace treaty with the United States and a halt to U.S. military exercises with South Korea to end its nuclear tests.

The isolated state has long sought a peace treaty with the United States, as well as an end to the exercises by South Korea and the United States, which has about 28,500 troops based in South Korea.

"Still valid are all proposals for preserving peace and stability on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia including the ones for ceasing our nuclear test and the conclusion of a peace treaty in return for U.S. halt to joint military exercises," North Korea's official KCNA news agency cited a spokesman for the country's foreign ministry as saying early on Saturday.

Asked if the United States would consider a halt to joint exercises, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said it had alliance commitments to South Korea.

"We are going to continue to make sure the alliance

is ready in all respects to act in defence of the South Korean people and the security of the peninsula," he told a regular news briefing.

Asked earlier this week about North Korea's call for a peace treaty, the State Department reiterated its position that it remained open to dialogue with North Korea but said "the onus is on North Korea to take meaningful actions towards denuclearisation and refrain from provocations."

The two Koreas remain in a technical state of war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

North Korea said on Jan. 6 it had tested a hydrogen bomb, provoking condemnation from its neighbours and the United States.

Experts have expressed doubt that the North's fourth nuclear test was of a hydrogen bomb, as the blast was roughly the same size as that from its previous test, of a less powerful atomic bomb, in 2013.

Pyongyang is under U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

A French source meanwhile put the death toll at 27 dead.

An AFP reporter at one point saw three men clad in turbans firing at the scene on Avenue Kwame Nkrumah, one of Ouagadougou's main thoroughfares.

A witness also reported seeing four assailants who were of Arab or white appearance and "wearing turbans".

SITE published a clip from a phone conversation with one of the fighters participating in the attack.

"I counted 18 but there are at least 30 dead," the jihadist claims.

French and U.S. soldiers gather before launching a counter-assault on Islamist gunmen at the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on January 16. (Reuters Photo)

'There was blood everywhere' Early Saturday, a fire raged at the main entrance of the hotel in Ouagodougou and screams could be heard from inside, while on the street outside about 10 vehicles were set alight.

"It was horrible, people

were sleeping and there was blood everywhere.

They were firing at people at close range," Yannick Sawadogo, one of those who escaped, told AFP. "We heard them speaking and they were walking around people and firing at people who were not dead.

And when they came out they started a fire."

The attack comes less than two months after a jihadist siege at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in the Malian capital Bamako left 20 people dead, including 14 foreigners -- an attack claimed by the same Al-

Qaeda affiliate behind the Ouagadougou assault.

The head of the city's main hospital said prior to the start of the counterassault that 20 people had been killed and that there were "more white people than black" among the dead.

'Odious, cowardly' The French embassy said on its website earlier that a "terrorist attack" was underway and urged people to avoid the area.

French President Francois Hollande in a statement condemned the "odious and cowardly attack".

With Ouagadougou airport closed because of the attack, and an Air France flight from Paris to Ouagadougou was diverted to neighbouring Niger.

A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washing-

ton could provide dronebased surveillance.

The Burkinabe army, meanwhile, said a heavilyarmed group of about 20 people had also carried out an attack on Friday near the border with Mali, killing two people -- a police officer and a civilian -- and leaving two others wounded.

Several attacks have taken place in Burkina Faso in recent months, but no such assaults had hit the capital.

In April the Romanian security chief of a mine in northern Tambao was kidnapped in a move also claimed by Belmokhtar's Al-Murabitoun group.

Burkina Faso is part of the G5 Sahel grouping that counts the fight against terrorism as part of its remit.

It has also offered support to France's Barkhane counter-terror mission, spanning five countries in Africa's restive Sahel region, and French special forces are stationed in Ouagadougou's suburbs.

Last month, Burkina Faso swore in Kabore as president, completing the troubled West African state's transition after the overthrow of its longtime ruler Blaise Compaore in 2014 and a failed coup attempt in September.

Indonesia identifies militants, arrests 12 people over attack JaKarTa, January 16 (rEuTErs): Indonesian police on Saturday named the five men they suspect launched this week's gun and bomb attack in Jakarta, which was claimed

by Islamic State, and said they had arrested 12 people linked to the plot who planned to strike other cities.

As investigators pieced together clues from the radical group's first attack on Indonesia, neighbouring Malaysia said it had arrested a man in Kuala Lumpur who had confessed to planning a suicide attack in the country.

"We ... have carried out acts of force. We have done searches, we have made arrests and we have obtained evidence connected with the terrorist bombing at Sarinah," Jakarta police spokesman Mohammad Iqbal told a news conference.

"We will not say how many people or what sort of evidence we have as it will upset out strategy. Be patient, when the case is closed and things are clear we will disclose them."

Seven people, includ-

ing the militants, were killed in Thursday's attack near the Sarinah department store in the Indonesian capital's commercial district. About 30 people were hurt.

Police held up pictures of the dead and wounded at the news conference, including a man who kicked off the siege by blowing himself up in a Starbucks cafe.

Another attacker, who opened fire with a gun outside the cafe, was named as Afif. A National CounterTerrorism Agency spokesman said Afif had served seven years in prison, where he refused to cooperate with a de-radicalisation programme.

The brazenness of the Jakarta assault, which had echoes of marauding gun and bomb attacks such as the Paris siege in November, suggested a new brand of militancy in a country where extremists typically launch low-level strikes on police.

Police spokesman Anton Charliyan said the Jakarta five and the 12 others who were arrested had plans to attack cities else-

Anti-terror police walk as one carries a box with items retrieved from the house of a suspected militant involved in Thursday’s attack in Jakarta, in Sampit, Indonesia Central Kalimantan province on January 16. (Reuters Photo)

where in Indonesia, including Bandung, which lies some 120 km (75 miles) southeast of the capital.

"There were general plans targeting certain places like police and government offices, foreigners or those cooperating with foreign entities," Charliyan told reporters.

MALAYSIAN PLANNED SUICIDE ATTACK In Malaysia, the country's police chief said a suspected militant who was arrested in a metro station

in Kuala Lumpur on Friday had confessed to planning a suicide attack.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the 28-year-old Malaysian planned to carry out the attack in the country after receiving orders from a foreign member of Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

"The suspect is also responsible for hanging IS flags at several locations ... to warn the government to stop arresting IS members in Malaysia," Khalid said in a statement.

No details were given about where and how he planned to attack.

Khalid said three other people suspected of being supporters of Islamic State were arrested this week at Kuala Lumpur airport after they returned from Turkey.

Malaysia has been on high alert since Thursday's siege in Jakarta. Security has been beefed up in public areas and borders have been tightened to prevent jihadis getting into the country.

Earlier on Saturday, Indonesia said it had shut down at least 11 radical websites and several social media accounts, including several on Facebook that expressed support for the Jakarta attack.

"We are monitoring many websites and public complaints about this," said Ismail Cawidu, a public relations official at the communications ministry.

The government also sent letters to social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Telegram requesting radical material be immediately blocked or taken down, Cawidu said.

The alleged mastermind behind the Jakarta attack, an Indonesian citizen fighting with Islamic State in Syria, is believed to have used social media extensively to share his beliefs about the group and communicate with contacts in Indonesia using blog posts and mobile messaging apps.

Authorities believe there are at least 1,000 Islamic State sympathisers in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population.

Taiwan opposition leader Tsai wins presidential vote Syria tells the UN: No one cares TaIPEI, January 16 (rEuTErs): Taiwan's independence-leaning opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen won the island's presidential election on Saturday after the ruling party admitted defeat, a result likely to usher in a new round of uncertainty with giant neighbour China.

A source with Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) told Reuters that the party was working on Tsai's victory speech.

She was expected to speak within the hour.

"Eric Chu disappointed everyone. We lost. The Nationalists have been defeated," Nationalist presidential candidate Chu said, surrounded by sombrelooking supporters, some in tears, adding he had also resigned as party chairman.

Outside DPP headquarters, supporters also cried, but for joy.

"The Taiwanese people despise the party that gets too close to China," said Jeff Chang, 35.

Anita Lin, 37, said she was "thrilled".

"Taiwan's future is not in China. It's in the world."

Tsai will be thrust into

one of Asia's toughest and most dangerous jobs, with China pointing hundreds of missiles at the island, decades after losing Nationalists fled from Mao Zedong's Communists to Taiwan in the Chinese civil war.

She will have to balance the superpower interests of China, which is also Taiwan's largest trading partner, and the United States with those of her freewheeling, democratic home.

Tsai risks antagonising China if she attempts to forcefully assert Taiwan's sovereignty and reverses eight years of warming China ties under incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou of the Nationalists, whose forces retreated to Taiwan in 1949.

There was no immediate reaction from Beijing.

In a statement carried by state media earlier in the day, China's Taiwan Affairs Office repeated it would not get involved in the election, saying only that it was "paying attention to across the Taiwan Strait".

A 16-year-old Taiwan Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairpersinger with a South Kore- son and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen casts her an girl band inadvertently ballot in New Taipei, Taiwan on January 16. (Reuters Photo)

shot to the top of the election agenda on polling day after she publicly apologised for holding a Taiwan flag, prompting China and Taiwan to trade accusations.[nL3N150076] The election comes at a tricky time for Taiwan's export-dependent economy, which slipped into recession in the third quarter last year. China is also Taiwan's top trading partner and Taiwan's favourite investment destination.

Support for the DPP has swelled since 2014, when hundreds of students occupied Taiwan's parliament for weeks in the largest display of anti-China sentiment the island had seen in years.

Tsai has the tide of history against her. Ma and his predecessors all failed to bring about a lasting reconciliation with China, which considers Taiwan a rogue province to be taken by force if necessary.

Shots were traded between the two sides as recently as the mid-1970s.

At stake are relations with an ascendant and increasingly assertive China under President Xi Jinping.

more about our people than us

unITEd naTIOns, January 16 (rEuTErs): Syria told the U.N. Security Council on Friday that no one cares more about the Syrian people than President Bashar al-Assad's government after the United Nations accused rival parties in the five-year conflict of war crimes by starving civilians.

The Security Council met to discuss the besiegement of some 400,000 people in Syria. The United Nations says half are in Islamic State controlled areas, some 180,000 in government areas and about 12,000 in areas controlled by opposition armed groups.

It is the second meeting the council has held on the issue this week after images emerged of starving civilians in the town of Madaya, which is besieged by pro-Syrian government forces. International relief organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said it has confirmed 35 deaths from starvation in Madaya.

"The Syrian government is the government that is most mindful of its people," Syria's deputy U.N. envoy

Mounzer Mounzer told the 15-member council.

"No one can claim to care more about our people than we do, no other country, especially when it comes to providing assistance to areas under the control of armed terrorist groups," he said.

Aid reached Madaya on Monday for the first time in months and a U.N. official described seeing malnourished residents, some of whom were little more than skeletons and barely moving. The U.N. Children's Fund UNICEF on Friday confirmed cases of severe malnutrition among children in the town.

"The primary responsibility for this suffering lies with the party maintaining a siege," deputy U.N. aid chief Kyung-Wha Kang told the council. "It is, however, shared by those that conduct military activities in or from populated areas, thereby using civilians as shields and placing them in harm's way."

Humanitarian aid was also delivered on Monday to government-held villages of Foua and Kafraya

in Idlib province which are besieged by rebel forces.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that Syria's warring parties, particularly the government, were committing "atrocious acts" and "unconscionable abuses" against civilians.

The civil war was sparked by a Syrian government crackdown on a pro-democracy movement in early 2011. Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq, and some 4.3 million Syrians have fled the country. The United Nations says at least 250,000 people have been killed, 6.6 million people in Syria have been displaced and 13.5 million need humanitarian assistance.

Kang said "the slow and bureaucratic procedures that have been imposed on humanitarian operations in Syria must be simplified and streamlined." However, Mounzer said all measures and precautions needed to be taken to ensure relief workers were safe and that the aid doesn't fall into the hands of "terrorists."

10

SunDAY 17•01•2016

sports

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Federer gives Djokovic 'little star' of approval

MELBOURNE, JaNUaRy 16 (REUTERS): Novak Djokovic deserves a "little star" next to his name for a spectacular 2015 season that saw him win three Grand Slams among his 11 titles but the men's game is not simply a matter of the Serb versus the rest, Roger Federer said on Saturday.

The world number one's dominance has seen pundits line up to declare the end of the 'Big Four' -- suggesting Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray are unable to compete on equal terms at Grand Slams with Djokovic.

The Serb heads into the Australian Open a raging favourite to capture his sixth title at Melbourne Park but Federer gave short shrift to talk of a Djokovic dictatorship, pointing to Stan Wawrinka's victory over him in the French Open final.

"It completely depends what you're looking at. If you're looking at (Djokovic's) season, he was the most dominant player by far last year," Federer told reporters at Melbourne Park. "Then if you look at just who won the Slams

and the Masters 1000s, doesn't hold truth, because Stan won the French.

"Who's had the most success? The top five guys really, with Stan, you know, Murray, myself, Novak and Rafa.

"Now the rankings are back to more normal again after Rafa's worked his way back up.

"Yeah, I still think the same guys are playing very well. But, of course, Novak deserves like a little star next to his name right now because he's been doing extremely well.

"Same for Stan, really."

Federer, seeded third in Melbourne, was beaten in the U.S. Open and Wimbledon finals by Djokovic last year, as well as in the decider for the season-ending World Tour Finals.

However, the 17-time Grand Slam champion still showed last year that he has the weapons to topple the Serb, winning three of their eight clashes.

After parting ways with Stefan Edberg, 34-year-old Federer has brought Croatian former world number three Ivan Ljubicic, a close friend of Djokovic's, into

Cornet dominates shaky Bouchard to win Hobart International title

Serbia's Novak Djokovic (L-R), Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, Switzerland's Roger Federer, Belarus' Victoria Azarenka and Australia's Lleyton Hewitt stand on court during Kids Tennis Day at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 16, 2016. The Australian Open tennis tournament starts January 18. (REUTERS)

his coaching team.

The Swiss denied that he has been focusing on Djokovic and said he was more concerned about improving his own game.

"I'm always on the lookout for how to play certain players or certain tournaments or about my own game," he said.

"So Novak might be a

small piece of the puzzle, but it wasn't the (only) piece. I'm more focused about my own game than any other player.

"I always believe there's

new things you can learn, but there's always sometimes a way of staying motivated, staying hungry.

Someone like Ivan can also help do that."

HOBaRT, JaNUaRy 16 (aFP): France's Alize Cornet stormed to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard to claim her fifth career title at the Hobart International on Saturday. The 42nd-ranked Cornet was too strong and consistent for the misfiring Canadian, winning the decider in 68 minutes in windy conditions. But as much as seventh seed Cornet dominated, former world number five Bouchard was well off her game, losing serve seven times, producing five double faults and serving at just 48 percent. Bouchard hit 34 unforced errors for the match to Cornet’s 17, a key difference. The Canadian struggled in the windy conditions, only holding serve once in the match. Cornet broke Bouchard's opening service game and then gave back the service break before reeling off five straight games to take the first set.

Bouchard broke Cornet's opening service in the second set and led 2-0 before the French star won six games in a row to take the set and the match. It was 25-year-old Cornet's first WTA title since winning at Katowice in 2014, and gave her a perfect tune-up for next week's Australian Open in Melbourne. Cornet will face Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski in the first round of the year's opening Grand Slam, with a possible second-round clash with second seed Simona Halep. The 47th-ranked Bouchard, who beat three seeded players -- Alison Van Uytvanck, Camila Giorgi and Dominika Cibulkova -- on the way to the Hobart final, takes on another Serb Aleksandra Krunic in her first-round match in Melbourne. "(It was a) rough day at the office. I didn’t have the energy and emotional control as I need too, to be able to perform well," Bouchard said. "I woke up and had personal family issues at home and things like that, and I couldn’t keep my focus. "As soon as things started going downhill, I really couldn’t keep my emotions together."

5th Open Pcheda Competition held Bolt shocked by IAAF reports, against wiping records Our Correspondent

of the state.

He said one of the objectives of Tragopan Club was to promote and uphold the good traditional practices of forefathers, where featuring Pcheda as an annual event is one of the living testimonies.

Also stating that unity and peace is a must in the Naga society today, he was optimistic that the Club’s relentless effort in bringing the people closer through various activities under its motto “Strength lies in unity” would set a good example to all sections of Nagas to live in unison and oneness.

Neikha also called upon the people to contribute towards a pleasant environment by protecting forest in their respective areas.

Later, R.Khel GB Vikechiiho Noswe exhorted the gathering at the 33rd annual day of the club.

Viswema | January 16

The 5th Nagaland Open Pcheda Competitioncum- 33rd annual day of Tragopan Club, Viswema took place here today at Phuzwii.

Pcheda is an indigenous game, which is now included as one of the chapters in Tenyidie ClassVI text book of the School Education Department, Nagaland.

Zayieho Kin emerged as champion and pocketed a cash prize of Rs. 15,000.

Keneizoto Neikha, Rukuhokho Kennao and Noketozo Pusa stood 2nd, 3rd and 4th stood position and pocketed Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 4,000 respectively.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion as the event patron, Tebiil Neikha, Registrar, Soil & Water Conser-

KINGSTON, JaMaIca, JaNUaRy 16 (REUTERS): Six-times Olympic champion Usain Bolt said he felt shocked and let down by the scandal-hit IAAF, but the Jamaican sprinter was against resetting athletics world records as the sport attempts to move on from the doping crisis. Thursday's second instalment of a World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) report slammed the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), accusing its former head, Lamine Diack, of running a clique that covered up organised doping and blackmailed athletes as senior officials looked the other way.

The first part of the report by independent investigator Dick Pound, a former head of WADA, in November led to athletics superpower Russia being banned from competition for state-sponsored doping.

Jamaican sprint king Bolt, the biggest Tebiil Neikha, Registrar, Soil & Water Conservation Nagaland inaugurates the 5th Nagaland name in athletics with a plethora of titles, Open Pcheda Competition at Viswema on January 16. (Morung Photo) records and commercial deals, said the vation Nagaland expressed tition and keeping alive the to promote this game as IAAF had failed their athletes. happiness to Tragopan good traditional practices one of the popular games "When I heard it was quite shocking Club for popularizing and of the forefathers in Nagaland, and also to for me to hear that because as far as I was taking Pcheda as a compeHe stressed on the need reach out to different parts concerned I think they were doing a good job to clean up the sport," Bolt told Reuters in Kingston after collecting his sixth National Sportsman of the year award. "So for me to hear something like this was quite shocking and you feel let down as an athlete to be wanting to actually help clean up MaNGKOLEMBa, JaNUaRy 16 (MExN): The the sport, and then something like this to seventh edition of the Open Volleyball Tournament at come up about the body.

Mangkolemba concluded on January 15 with Waromung "It's kind of a letdown, so hopefully Sports Association (WSA) emerging as the winner. In the final played before a capacity crowd, WSA defeated the Ever Green Club (EGC), Ungma, in four sets. The winner walked away with a running trophy and a cheque of Rs. 70000, a press release received informed.

Our Correspondent Just before the final match, a closing ceremony programme was held with Supongnukshi, IFS, Conservator Kohima | January 16 of Forest, Nagaland, as chief guest. The tournament was declared open on January 13 by Asangba Chuba, IAS, The Southern Angami Sports’ Association Commissioner of Taxes, Nagaland. Along with the win- (SASA) will hold its 54th Wrestling Meet ner’s cup, a host of prizes were given away with runners- 2016 at Kohima Local Ground from Januup EGC receiving Rs. 40000 while the two semifinalists ary 28 to 29. Minister for Forest, Environ– Sporting Club and Thor Clan, both from Mangkolemba ment & Climate Change Dr. Neikiesalie – were awarded Rs. 15000 each. Imsentoba of EGC was (Nicky) Kire will be the chief guest while adjudged as the player of the tournament. Bendangtem- MLA Er. Vikho-o Yhoshii will be the guest su of WSA and Toshienba of WSA were chosen as Best of honour. The champion in Naga style Spiker and Best Setter respectively. This annual event, will fetch a cash prize of Rs. 80,000 while organized by Falcon Club of Mangkolemba, witnessed the 2nd, 3rd and 4th position will carry Rs. the participation of 8 teams.

60,000, Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 20,000 respec-

Brilliant Broad lifts England to series win in South Africa

WSA wins Mangkolemba Volleyball tournament

there's nosuch thing, but we'll see what happen (with the investigations)." Diack stepped down last year after 16 years leading the IAAF and was replaced by Briton Sebastian Coe. The Senegalese is already under formal investigation in France on suspicion of corruption and money laundering linked to the concealment of positive drug tests in concert with Russian officials and the blackmailing of the athletes to allow them to continue to compete.

The reports noted that Diack "sanctioned and appeared to have had personal knowledge of the fraud and the extortion of athletes carried out by the actions of the illegitimate governance structure he put in place". UK Athletics (UKA) released "A Manifesto for Clean Athletics" on Monday, calling for world records to be wiped clean and drug cheats to be banned for at least eight years in radical proposals aimed at heralding in a new era for the sport. The 29-year-old Bolt, who set the 100 metre and 200m world records of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds in 2009 and shared in the 4x100m mark of 36.84secs in 2012, was against the proposal.

"As far as I’m concerned it’s really pointless," he said.

"What's done is done, you have to just move forward and try to make the upcoming championships and Olympics and the next (world) records as best as we can and just look forward to the future," added the 11-times world championship gold medallist. "You can't worry about the past, but try to build on the future."

SASA to hold 54th Wrestling Meet

England's Stuart Broad (L) gestures to the fans as he celebrates the dismissal of South Africa's Stiaan van Zyl who was caught out by Ben Stokes during the third cricket test match in Johannesburg, South Africa, January 16. (REUTERS)

JOHaNNESBUR G, JaNUaRy 16 (REUTERS): A venomous spell of fast bowling from Stuart Broad led England to an emphatic seven- wicket win over South Africa in the third test on Saturday to clinch the series.

Broad’s brilliant return of 6-17 on a lively wicket skittled the Proteas for 83 in their second innings on the third day.

England reached their modest victory target of 74 with relative ease as captain Alastair Cook (43) topscored in guiding them to 77 for three from 22,4 overs under gloomy skies.

The tourists now have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, with the final game to be played in Pretoria.

South Africa bowled out England for 323 in the morning session for a slender first-innings deficit of

10 runs, but were no match for the bounce and movement of a rampant Broad as they crumbled to their second lowest test score since returning to international cricket in 1991.

Broad’s inspired spell after lunch was reminiscent of his 8-15 against Australia at Trent Bridge last August as he tore through the South African top order aided by some excellent catching.

After removing openers Dean Elgar (15) and Stiaan van Zyl (11), Broad grabbed the key wicket of captain AB de Villiers (0) when he induced an inside edge to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. It got worse for the home side when their other kingpin Hashim Amla (five) clipped the ball to James Taylor at short-leg, who showed excellent reactions to take a low catch.

Temba Bavuma (0) became Broad’s fifth victim

when he tried to evade a lifting delivery, but only succeeded in gloving the ball on to his stumps.

Broad’s brilliant day was completed when he ended the innings with an excellent catch off his own bowling as he dived forward grab a ball that had come off the boot of batsman Faf du Plessis (14).

Ben Stokes grabbed two scalps and there were also wickets each for James Anderson and Steven Finn.

The latter complained after the innings of tightness on his left-side and will be assessed on Sunday.

Rabada, 20, had earlier claimed his first fivewicket haul in test cricket when he bagged 5-78 to limit England to 323. It was a first home series defeat for South Africa against a team other than Australia since England won 2-1 in 2004-05.

tively. Quarter finalist will be awarded with Rs. 5000. The winner in senior category of free style wrestling will carry Rs. 6000 while runner-up will get Rs. 4000.

Prize of junior/cadet category is set at Rs. 4000 for winner and Rs. 2000 for runner-up. The inaugural function will start by 9:00. Meanwhile, SASA informed that weight measurement for free style will take place on the evening of January 28.

The tournament officials, team managers or team coaches have been asked to turn up for briefing on January 27 at 2:00 PM at the tournament venue.

Martina Hingis joins Sania as World No.1

MELBOURNE, JaNUaRy 16 (IaNS) More than 15 years after she reigned supreme at the top of the women's doubles rankings, Swiss tennis great Martina Hingis has reclaimed the world no.1 rank.

The 35-year-old has joined doubles partner Sania Mirza as coWorld No.1 in the latest Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released here on Saturday.

With the Australian Open starting here on Monday, the development is expected to be a major boost for Sania and Hingis. The Indo-Swiss combination have just won the Sydney International title -- their 11th trophy since coming together around a year ago.

Hingis had spent 35 weeks at the top of the doubles pile earlier in her career. Her reign as the world no.1 came in six stints -- from June 8 to August 2, 1998 (eight weeks), August 17 to October 25, 1998 (10 weeks), November 2-22, 1998 (three weeks), June 7 to July 4, 1999 (four weeks), August 2 to 22, 1999 (three weeks) and January 31 to reer week at the top, while Mirza that No.1 ahead of your name. It's definitely something I was aiming earns her 41st.

March 19, 2000 (seven weeks).

"It's a really nice feeling having for, and with Sania I felt like I had She will now begin her 36th ca-

the opportunity to get there. When she became No.1 in Charleston I was just as happy as when I did it myself," Hingis was quoted as saying by the WTA. "Being the No.1 team for the last 10 months -- we've proven it with two Slams and the WTA Finals in Singapore - we definitely belong there. It was just a question of time to get that No.1 ranking.

"I'm so happy for her that 16 years later she's become No.1 again!" Mirza, who first rose to No.1 last April, commented. "But regardless of what the ranking was, we were the No.1 team in the world," she added.

"I'm so happy that we're together now not just as the No.1 team, but as individuals as well."

The Swiss-Indian duo is on a 30-match winning streak that has brought them seven straight titles at the US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and WTA Finals in 2015, and Brisbane and Sydney this year.

They'll take that streak -- the longest since 1990 -- into the Australian Open this fortnight.

Sunday 17•01•2016

EntErtainmEnt

2016:

Outrage as Black actors absent from nomination lineup

T

he glaring absence of black actors or directors among this year's Oscar nominees has triggered an outpouring of criticism, setting social media abuzz as the list was unveiled on Thursday.

No sooner had the nominations been announced at a ceremony in Beverly Hills than the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite began trending on Twitter, as was the case last year.

"There was more diversity in the 1936 Berlin Olympics," tweeted one user, named Richard Hine, alongside a picture of African-American athletes at the games.

"The unbearable whiteness of being," was another catchphrase repeated on Twitter.

ThinkProgress, a liberal blog, echoed the sentiment of many

who were surprised that black actors and filmmakers were shut out of the race. (Also Read - Oscars 2016: Complete List of Nominees) "Hollywood sure loves sequels: for the second year in a row, zero actors of color get Oscar nominations," it said in an article on its website.

Among the actors who had been expected to be nominated were Idris Elba, who earned rave reviews for his role as an African warlord in Beasts of No Nation, Will Smith for the sports drama Concussion, and Michael B Jordan for the Rocky sequel Creed.

The director of the criticallyacclaimed Straight Outta Compton, a biopic about the rap group N.W.A, was also snubbed.

Some were outraged that Sylvester Stallone - widely seen as a sentimental favorite - was nomi-

nated for Best Supporting Actor for Creed instead of Michael.

(Also Read: Oscar Nominations: Leonardo DiCaprio's The Revenant Leads With 12 Nods) Mr Stallone in the movie reprises his iconic role of boxer Rocky Balboa, for which he was nominated but failed to win an Oscar when the original Rocky came out in 1976.

"Classic #OscarsSoWhite tho that Creed, with a black main character and director, only gets award nods for the white characters," one tweet read.

'Pushed For More Diversity' Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who is black and who has pushed for more diversity in the Academy's ranks since her election in 2013,

acknowledged that more action was needed on that front.

"We have been actively bringing in more diversity into our membership. Actions need to be taken to make sure the industry as a whole is more inclusive," she told AFP. But Tim Gray, awards editor for industry magazine Variety, said critics should perhaps look more towards the studios in denouncing the lack of diversity in Hollywood.

"The Academy people don't vote by race or gender but it's the studios that need to fix this by better reflecting the population," Mr Gray told AFP. Some 6,000 members of the Academy, all of them who work in the film industry, voted for the films, actors and directors that will be vying for an Oscar on February 28.

Comedian Chris Rock, who is black, is hosting the star-studded ceremony and many are predicting that he will have a "field day" poking fun at the all-white lineup of actors nominated.

The Academy had already come in for heavy criticism for a lack of diversity at last year's Oscars at which all the acting slots went to white performers.

Tom Nunan, an academyaward producer and lecturer at the UCLA School of Theatre Film and Television, said change would only come once the Academy expanded its membership to include more minorities.

"If you don't expand the diversity of that membership - and by extension producers and directors who more fairly reflect society - you get this grotesque imbalance," he told AFP.

Duchess of Cambridge turns Penn says Journalist for Children's Charity

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scar-winning actor Sean Penn on Friday rejected Mexico's claim that his secret meeting with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was crucial to the drug kingpin's recapture, saying officials were trying to put him in the crosshairs of the feared cartel.

Penn also told talk show host Charlie Rose that he regrets the fallout from the Rolling Stone article based on his interview with Guzman. Their meeting in a jungle hideout was the first interview anyone scored with the fugitive drug lord, and Penn said he had hoped it would spur a broader discussion on the drug war.

In Penn's first major television interview about the meeting, Rose asked the actor whether he believed Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto's government had deliberately sought to credit him with Guzman's capture to put him at risk from the Sinaloa Cartel.

"Yes," Penn replied.

Mexico putting him at risk with cartel

"There is this myth about the visit that we made, my colleagues and I with El Chapo, that it was... 'essential' to his capture," Penn said.

"We know the Mexican government, they clearly were humiliated by the notion that someone found him before they did," added Penn.

The actor, who has won Oscars for "Mystic River" and "Milk," said he met Guzman "many weeks" before his arrest, in a location far from where the kingpin fell into police hands in northern Mexico six months after staging a spectacular prison break through a tunnel in his cell floor.

"I have a terrible regret," Penn said in the interview recorded on Thursday in California. "I have a regret that the entire discussion about this article ignores its purpose, which was to try to contribute to this discussion about the policy on the war on drugs."

"Let me be clear. My article has failed," said Penn.

Rolling Stone pub-

It's official: Ranbir and Katrina have broken up!

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he most adorable duo of the tinsel town Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have parted their ways.

After loads of speculations about the cracks in their relationship the love birds have finally drifted away from each other. The news about their break up was making rounds since quite some time, but when the two stars Ranbir and Katrina were spotted together with each other a couple of times, the rumors died down.

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have always remained mum on their relationship but the two have given enough proofs to the shutterbugs of their close rapport. Reports now suggest that both Ranbir and Katrina have officially called it quits and are no longer together. A source close to the Kapoor family has confessed that actor Ranbir has moved back to

his parents’ house two days ago and Katrina Kaif is still residing in the apartment they both shared.

Speculations about Ranbir and Katrina breaking up were much in the air, when Ranbir apparently got too close with actress Deepika Padukone during the promotions of their film ‘Tamasha’. The candid confessions did not go down too well with Katrina and this instance created a rift between the two.

It is also being said that the Fitoor actress Katrina was not too happy with Ranbir sharing screen space with Deepika in the film ‘Tamasha’. However, all the speculations died down when Ranbir and Katrina were spotted together at the Christmas brunch at the Kapoor residence. The two stars were also spotted in a mushy embrace at the terrace of their apartment.

Nevertheless, this bad news is surely shattering!

lished Penn's article on Saturday, a day after Guzman's recapture. The piece cited the drug lord boasting about smuggling drugs into the United States, and about laundering ill-gotten gains.

Guzman's lawyer on Wednesday accused Penn of lying, and said he should be called to give evidence.

"He (Guzman) could not have made these claims... Mr Guzman is a very serious man, very intelligent," Juan Pablo Badillo said. "Where's the proof?

Where's the audio?"

Neither Penn's publicist nor Rolling Stone have commented on Badillo's claims. The excerpt of the Rose interview, published ahead of its full airing on CBS on Sunday, did not address the lawyer's comments.

A government spokesman said on Tuesday that Mexico was not directly investigating Penn nor his companion, actress Kate del Castillo, but rather the circumstances around the meeting.

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atherine, Duchess of Cambridge is to guest edit The Huffington Post UK to raise awareness for Children's Mental Health. The 34-year-old royal supports various causes within her role as a princess and is frequently busy attending charitable events. In February (16) she's to get even more hands on, as she will reside over the posts on the British website. She'll be commissioning content from the likes of experts, teachers and parents, with the hope of drawing attention towards the mental wellbeing of youngsters.

She will be inviting journalists into Kensington Palace, the London home she shares with Prince William, with a spokesperson confirming the news.

"The Duchess of Cambridge has made the mental health of young children a key focus of her work in recent year," they said in a statement. "The Duchess will be commissioning contributions from a number of leading figures in the mental health sector as well as from young people, parents, and teachers. We look forward to welcoming The Huffington Post team to Kensington Palace next month."

In return, Huffington Post UK editor-in-chief Stephen Hull can't wait to work alongside the duchess. In 2013 the motherof-two and wife of Prince William became a pa-

Adele to launch own clothing line

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inger Adele is reportedly keen to release a collection aimed at stylish but busy mothers later this year.

"It's still in the early stages, but she's been getting input from several designers and working on her own sketches. There will be a few signature pieces like her favourite winter apparel, the poncho, but mostly it'll be mix-andmatch day-wear in neutral tones," a source told Now magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "She's chosen really high-end, soft fabrics

Hate any kind of nation-bashing in films

A tron for charity Place2Be, which provides therapeutic and emotional services in primary and secondary schools for pupils who need support. Some of the issues tackled are bullying, domestic violence and bereavement.

"We are thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge is joining the HuffPost UK team for a day as a guest editor," Stephen smiled.

"Dealing with mental health issues has been a major editorial focus for us

and I'm very excited to be working together on such an important project."

In 2015, the duchess filmed an emotional message as part of Place2Be to coincide with Children's Mental Health Week. She mentioned her husband William during her talk, and shared their concern.

"Both William and I sincerely believe that early action can prevent problems in childhood from turning into larger ones later in life," she said during the clip.

ctor Akshay Kumar says he detests nation-bashing in films. “It’s (Airlift) not about a nation, it’s about saving people. I hate any kind of nation-bashing in films. I don’t like it,” the actor told the media here on Thursday while promoting his forthcoming film “Airlift”.

Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, “Airlift” also stars “The Lunchbox” fame actress Nimrat Kaur.

Akshay plays a character who had a crucial role in the evacuation of Kuwaitbased Indians during the Iraq-Kuwait war in 1990.

The story of the film is from the point of view of Akshay’s character who helped Indians get airlifted from Kuwait. As the poster of the film suggests – 1,70,00 refugees, 488 flights,

More heartbreak for Celine Dion after death of husband

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eline Dion has been dealt another blow as she mourns the death of her husband Rene Angelil - her brother is also fighting for his life. Multiple reports suggest the singer's 59-year-old sibling Daniel is also battling cancer, and has been given days to live.

Rene, 73, lost his fight with the disease on Thursday (14Jan16).

Daniel is suffering with brain, tongue and throat cancer, and his loved ones fear he may not make it through another week. A representative for the star has confirmed her brother, one of Celine's 13 siblings, is close to death as the family gathers by his side in Montreal, Canada.

"It could be any day now,"

- the clothes are meant to be comfortable above everything else," the source added.

The 27-year-old may already have a stockist as plus-size brand Evans likes her sense of style. Tom Doran of Evans added to the magazine: "When we worked with designers Clements Ribeiro, they used designers tried and tested on Adele. Their high street collection for Evans included the Adele dress - inspired by the very outfit she wore (at the 2012 Grammys)."

Her brother Daniel is also battling cancer... and devastated family believe he only has 'hours to live'

a source told People.com.

"No one knows how long he has. Celine had heard that he might pass on Tuesday but he seems to be holding on."

Following her husband's passing on Thursday, the My Heart Will Go On singer cancelled her scheduled weekend concerts at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. "They're close," the insider added. "She's close with all of her siblings. It's hard. Celine is still in Vegas with her kids making plans for (her husband's) funeral. It's a typical grieving process. There's moments of shed tears, moments of memories and laughter.

She's grieving the loss of her husband."

59 days and one man.

Air India entered into Guinness Book of World Records for the civil airline that had evacuated the most people till date.

Akshay said the pilots of Air India were the biggest heroes. “Hats off to them,” he added.

Hillstar NOW SHOWING

02:00 pm | 08:00 Pm

Kangana on Success, Rejection and 'Ten Years of Humiliation'

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ctress Kangana Ranaut intends to write a book on her struggles and the way she has dealt with it. "The way I have dealt with my failures has been very heavy and I would like to write a book about that, how success will never teach you anything" said Kangana.

"So I've been struggling for the past 10 years, and I think that's what has shaped me as a person today. I don't know whether people consider me as suc-

cessful or not - that is a very external aspect of one's growth. But, I think I'm a very successful person on a very personal level. And when you lose something or face failure, it's about how you deal with it and not lose your self-respect and self-worth," added Kangana.

The Queen actress also said that success, all over the world, is overrated.

"Ten years of humiliation, rejection, embarrassment could've made me be-

lieve what the whole world thought about me. For example, if they thought of me as a loser, I didn't think of myself as that. Or as what the world or my parents thought of me. That's why I could do what I did in my life. Not just in India but all over the world, winning and success is so overrated," she said.

Kangana, who aspired to be a doctor before she decided to enter the film industry, said that the system of success or 'standing first

in class' is prominent since schooldays. She was also reprimanded by her parents if she didn't score well in class. "We need to tell our children that it is okay to fail. There is nothing wrong in it. Nothing lasts forever.

That kind of spirit needs to be there," said Kangana.

Kangana also feels that this kind of prominence given to success creates a feeling where rejection becomes hard for people to accept.

"Rejection is so hard to

deal with, for anyone, especially men. There's no acceptance for the fact that this woman doesn't want or that she doesn't have feelings for me. Usually that is the intention and I feel that is the reason why violence against women is increasing. That kind of rejection triggers it," said Kangana.

Kangana also confessed about being physically abused by a celebrity from the industry and how she is fighting back physically and legally.

05:00 PM

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SunDAY 17•01•2016

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Passion for sPorts ignited at tuli

(LEFT) Players in action; (RIGHT) Enthusiastic spectators cheer their team during the final football match of the LKM Sports Meet at Tuli. (Morung Photo/Moa Jamir)

LKM’s meet witnesses enthusiastic fan support Moa Jamir Tuli | January 16

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With enthusiastic responses from the village teams, the 31st edition of LKM’s Sports Meet saw events played and witnessed with great passion and varying emotions from both players and spectators.

19 villages of Langpangkong Range had converged at Tuli Town for the Langpangkong Students Conference or Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang’s (LKM) General Conference cum Sports Meet. Held trienni-

ally, it commenced on January 12 and concluded yesterday. Langpangkong Range is one of the six major mountain ranges inhabited by the Aos in the Mokokchung District. While Merangkong was the host village, it was held in Tuli Lenden, as the area falls under its jurisdiction.

As the penultimate day approached, tensions ran high as passion for the game became magnified through varied mechanism.

“My heart is bursting with tension,” a lady supporter from Unger village exclaimed with great trepidation at the sideline of the football semifinal against Changtongya Village.

When the match ended goalless and went for a tie-breaker, most of

the supporters turned their back and made silent prayers as their home team players made their shots. Some covered their eyes while other murmured silent prayers.

When the match went in favor of Changtongya, a lady from the village showed a bag whose cord was snapped. Apparently, she had snapped it in her anxiety during the shoot-out.

As the sporting event continued, utmost rivalries got built; but all in a healthy sporting competition. Everyone became match analysts, dissecting every move of their teams as well as their rivals.

On the final day, the crowd attendance swelled as people from all

walks of life converged at Tuli Town to root for their team. Children perched on their parents’ shoulders; some clung precariously on side plank while others climbed trees to get a glimpse of the ongoing games.

The fans were fervent and emotions often ran high, but they were never rowdy or disruptive. It helped that they were warned in advance by the host Village Council as well the army of volunteers not to create unruly scene during the matches.

Instead, they fought it out by singing and chanting their respective village anthems and involving in friendly banters with the other side.

Even the motivating gospel hymns and Revival songs were belted with-

out much ado during the intense moments of the game.

Some banged drums, other blew horns and used water bottles as instruments while fans clad in various hues and colors savored the matches.

The ladies supports were the most vocal of them.

Commentators too joined the bandwagon often building up the excitement by inciting the crowd humorously as they resorted to different tactics to show their loyalties.

In the process, tall promises are made and rewards announced spontaneously. In the final football match between Changtongya and Merangkong Village, a women organisation announced cash prize for any goal

scorer from the latter village. “I will double the amount for any scorer from our village,” retorted a rival spectator.

In the end, it was a triumph of sporting spirits, offering its patrons with varied emotions and excitation creating memorable moments for both spectators as well as players.

In the end, the host village Merangkong was declared the overall Champion of the Sports Meet winning both the Boy’s Volleyball and Football games. The village was also runner-up in the Girls’ Volleyball.

Salulamang village won the girls’ Volleyball while Changtongya Village and Changtongya Yimsen were the runners-up in Boys’ volleyball and football respectively.

Eriksen double reignites Spurs' title hopes LONDON, JaNuary 16 (reuters): Christian Eriksen's double helped earn Tottenham Hotspur a comfortable 4-1 win over Sunderland to reignite their Premier League title challenge and plunge their visitors into deeper trouble at the other end of the table. Eriksen struck either side of halftime and even though there was a touch of fortune to both goals, the Danish international's uncanny habit of scoring against Sunderland made for a second miserable trip to north London in a week for Sam Allardyce's men. Just as at Arsenal in the FA Cup last week, Sunderland took a firsthalf lead against the run of play, this time from Patrick van Aanholt, only to end up suffering a comprehensive defeat, with Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane, who notched his 15th goal of the season from the penalty spot, also on target.

Les Reed said.

Southampton are 12th in the topflight standings following an inconsistent first half of the season.

"Charlie has a fantastic goalscoring pedigree but remains hungry to improve and develop as a footballer -- something that convinced him that Southampton is the ideal next step in his career," Reed added. Austin scored 18 goals for QPR in the Premier League last season but they were relegated to the Championship. "I can't wait to get started now," Austin said. "As soon as Southampton showed an interest that was the one club I wanted to go to."

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Klopp: i could have been boss of Manchester united

LONDON, JaNuary 16 (aGeNCies): Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Manchester United did speak to him when appointing Sir Alex Ferguson's successor but rejected the idea because he was already committed to Borussia Dortmund.

Ferguson revealed last year that Klopp - one of a number of "very desirable candidates," as he described him - had been sounded out in 2013, along with Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti before David Moyes was appointed.

But ahead of a first ever encounter with United in his 15-year managerial career, Klopp said he could not have accepted a job offer, even though the approach was a "big honour".

Klopp (below), whom Ferguson

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southampton sign Charlie austin

LONDON, JaNuary 16 (reuters): Southampton have completed the signing of striker Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League club said on their website (www.saintsfc.co.uk) on Saturday.

British media reported that Southampton paid four million pounds ($5.7 million) for the 26-yearold who has agreed a four-and-ahalf-year contract.

"This signing is an indicator of our intent to finish the season strongly and continue the progress we've made in the last few years," Southampton executive director of football

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said last month could conceivably establish Liverpool as a superior side to United, while praising the German's "class" in defeat to Newcastle United, said there was no firm offer whereby United said "come in March, (or come in) May". But he could not have accepted one had it been tabled. "We spoke. We didn't speak a lot but, for me, it was a lot," he said, in response to a question about Ferguson's disclosure, made in his management book 'Leading'.

"It was a big honour, the whole talk, to be honest. But in life it is always important… There was a time but I could not leave Dortmund. That is it. It was the same at Mainz (where Klopp managed for seven years until 2008). We decided 'thanks' and that was a good deal."

Neisakhoto wins 76th Kigwema Wrestling Meet

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KOhima, JaNuary 16 (mexN): A young 24 year old Neisakhoto Thorie hailing from Seca Khel emerged as champion of the 76th Wrestling Meet of Kigwema village on January 15. Organised by the Kigwema Youth Organisation, the 76th Wrestling meet was held on January 15 and January 16.

Kekhrie Yhoshü from Khamima Khel won the second position while the third was bagged by Teisovikho Thorie from Seca Khel and Akhoto Kere from Khamima Khel.

Reaffirming the unity and integrity of the village, Medo Yhokha, President, Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) who graced the closing ceremony as the Guest of Honor stated that the principle qualities and values that Kigwema is known for has been created, not in the present time but by the ancestors who safeguarded and upheld values for the sake of the future. Therefore, Yhokha

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(From L-R) Teisovikho Thorie, Kekhrie Yhoshü, Atoto Kere (Naga Wrestling Defending Champion), Neisakhoto Thorie and Akhoto Kere.

urged the village to continue to lead and guide the people with inclusivity and unity so that the young can continue the legacy.

“Our outlook on relationship with the environment needs to be redefined,” affirmed Yhokha who stressed on the issue of climate change and environmental issues. The attitude

of “My property, My Way” needs to change for the sake of our future generation, added the AYO President requesting the village to protect and safeguard the natural resources, wildlife and eco system.

Sportspersons have a responsibility as ambassadors of integrity and humility, concluded Medo

Yhokha exhorting the sportspersons on maintaining discipline and a healthy lifestyle, A special feature of the meet was the Air Rifle Shooting Competition which was initiated in 2006 with an objective of promoting healthy competition and reducing hunting in the village.

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