C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
MonDAY • JAnuArY 23 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 21 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
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T R u T H
...the safest course is to do nothing against one’s conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death — Voltaire
‘God does not distinguish between male and female’
Jallikattu held in Tamil Nadu, claims two lives PAGE 08
Top seeds Murray, Kerber out of Aus Open
PAGE 02
PAGE 12
39 killed as Hirakhand Mental illness gripping express derails in Andhra nagaland health-scape
Vizianagaram, January 22 (ianS): At least 39 people were killed and 50 injured when the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday at 11.30 p.m. near Kuneru station, 24 km from Rayagada in Odisha. The train was on its way to the Odisha capital Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh. According to East Coast Railway spokesperson J.P. Mishra, nine coaches -- a luggage van, two general and four sleeper coaches, a second-cum-third AC coach, a third AC coach -and the engine derailed. “Four accident relief vans have been sent to the accident site. The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained,” Mishra said. Army personnel were deployed for the rescue work, which was in full swing and entered the final stage, the Railway Ministry said on Sunday evening. According to the railways, 13 unaffected coaches left the accident site carrying 300 passengers to Bhubaneswar via Sambalpur and Angul. About 500 stranded passengers were taken to their destinations by buses.
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Admission is totally free, monthly tuition fee is 35000/- per month. Reason for the rise ? Ah, we were compelled to make this adjustment ..because of Modi’s demonetisation!
Public Reminder We would like to remind you that Rejoinders to those statements/news pieces that have not been originally published by the newspaper will not be carried either. This is in order to maintain impartiality on an issue. We seek your understanding and cooperation! The Morung Express
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com sMs your answer to 9862574165 From the following options, which institution holds the most power in the present Nagaland state context? Why?
C M Y K
• State Government • Tribe Organisation • Church • Others Do you think that 33% reservation for women infringes on Naga customary law and procedure of Article 371 (A)? Yes
47%
no
33%
others
20%
Details on page 7
Ketholeno Neihu
Kohima | January 22
A damaged coach of a passenger train is removed after it derailed near Kuneru village in Vizianagaram district, in Andhra Pradesh, January 22. (REUTERS)
Officials said the injured were shifted to hospitals through medical relief trains and ambulances. They said 22 injured were taken to the Parvathipuram government hospital. Seven patients were referred to Kin George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. Seven were discharged after first aid. Some injured were brought to the Rayagada district hospital. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu rushed to the accident site. He met the anguished relatives of the deceased. He also called on the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock
over the accident. “My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones,” he said and prayed for their speedy recovery. Similar messages came from Vice President Hamid Ansari, Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) and Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Ganhdi. An inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety has been ordered. The railways have announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs
50,000 each for the injured. The Andhra government announced Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. The train had departed from Jagdalpur at 3 p.m. on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar at 8.25 a.m. on Sunday. It ran off the track minutes after it left Odisha and entered Andhra Pradesh, from where it would have re-entered Odisha. This is the latest in a series of train accidents in last two months. Following Saturday’s accident, train services have been suspended on the route. Some trains were cancelled or diverted.
As a silent global crisis because of the stigma and discrimination attached to it rises, cases of mental illness appear to be rising at a distressing level in Nagaland too. According to data provided by the State Mental Health Institute (SMHI) in Aradura Hill, Kohima, there have been 1281 OPD registrations from May 2016 to date at the institute, which certainly is startling. Most of the patients are male youth, having a history of induced and substance abuse like consumption of alcohol, drugs, smoking of cigarettes and weed etc. which is more common and easily influenced among this group, the SMHI revealed. At least eight out of ten male patients have admitted to use of such substances. These occurrences are seen more in the age group of late teens to the forties. Dr. Wapang, SMHI Medical Superintendent, observed that there has been a consistent increase in the OPD registration in recent years. However, it may not be the number of cases increasing but awareness about the illness being cultivated in our society, he maintained.
• At least 1281 OPD registered at SMHI, Kohima since May 2016 • Stigmatization of mental illness delay proper help to patient Mental illness is ranked among the top stigmatized illnesses in the world affecting one out of four people. In Nagaland, where mental institutes are labeled as only for the “mentally deranged and insane people” and a “disgraceful” disease, the situation is further aggravated when the illness is frequently linked to spiritual/ religious beliefs. A number of cases of mental illness including clinical depression and stress, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, psychosis, substance abuse etc., have been reported in Nagaland. People suffering from mental illness experience depressed mood, loss of interest and appetite, disturbed sleep, low self-esteem, muddled thinking and become anti-social and such depressive episodes can be categorized as mild, moderate to severe, Dr. Wapang highlighted. Often, in Nagaland, mental illness has been blamed on instances such as “Satanic worshipping, invasion of the body by demons and other spiritual
entities,” a factor that delays proper help to the patient at an early stage. When treatment is delayed, patients usually have to undergo treatment, medication and other therapies for a longer duration or sometimes throughout his/her life. As Dr. R Themmungla, a clinical psychiatrist indicated that early intervention is the most effective. Kevi (name changed) who has been undergoing regular consultation at the SMHI for depression said she is seeing improvement in her health, appetite, sleep and social life through the medication and counseling of the doctors. Before, Kevi had been taking the assistance of “quacks” and “prayer warriors”, albeit without any results. Her family finally discussed the need to see a psychiatrist and landed at the SMHI. “It is over a year that I have been undergoing treatment here at the institute and regularly taking my medications. With
the help of talk therapy, I am more open to share my problems,” Kevi said. Mood swings, fear of crowd, loss of appetite, negativity and insomnia had confronted her normal life and relationships with people for years. “There are many people who also share the same case as mine. With a little openness, awareness and concern, wasted hopes can be reclaimed,” Kevi expressed. Dr. R Themmungla observed there is an earnest need for wide social awareness and de-stigmatization of persons suffering from mental illness. “Sensitization at the familial, institutional and societal level through the media, educational institutions, churches and NGOs through awareness programme, seminar and word of mouth to promote de-stigmatization and concerns relating to such cases can become a driven mobility and force of change,” the clinical psychiatrist explained. The State Government also needs to equip the institute with more work forces, infrastructural improvement and increase its facility and services, increasing its branches for ease of access. Thewriteriscurrentlyanintern atTheMorungExpress.
AR vehicle ambushed in Assam, 4 killed NAGALAND VISION 2030
guWaHaTi, January 22 (ianS): Tinsukia (Assam), Jan 22 (IANS) Two soldiers of the Assam Rifles were killed and two others injured on Sunday when militants ambushed a convoy near Jairampur on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, police said. The security forces, however, launched a counter-insurgency operation immediately in the area and killed two of the militants involved in the ambush. The attackers belonged to the United Liberation Front of West Eastern South East Asia (UNLFW), a joint platform of most of the northeastern militant outfits, including the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Socialist Council of Nagaland led by Khaplang (NSCN-K) and Coordination Com-
mittee (CorCom) of Manipur. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Sahay said security forces had launched a counter-insurgency operation against the militants. “Two of the militants involved in the ambush were neutralised later. The forces also recovered two weapons from their possession,” said the DGP. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said 15 to 20 militants caried out the ambush. Unofficial sources said the militants fled with some arms and ammunition of the Assam Rifles personnel after the attack. The ULFA and NSCN-K had ambushed an army convoy in Tinsukia district in November last year and killed three soldiers. Following the incident, the secu-
What drove women to join marches around the world this weekend?
LOnDOn/DEHLi/ WaSHingTOn, January 22 (THOmSOn rEuTErS FOunDaTiOn): Hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets in cities around the world on Saturday in opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump, a day after his inauguration. Women protesters, many wearing pink knit hats, marched through downtown Washington around the White House and other landmarks, and also protested in other U.S. cities. Thousands of women also took to the streets of Sydney, London, Tokyo, New Delhi and other European and Asian cities in solidarity. Trump has angered many people with comments seen as demeaning to women, Mexicans and Muslims, and worried some abroad with his vow on Friday to put “America First”. “I came in support of
women’s rights and to protect our future and our health, and to prevent backsliding from the few gains we’ve made in the last few decades,” Karla Jackson, a 56-year-old pensioner from Raleigh, North Carolina, said as the Washington march got underway. In London organisers said an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people took part in the march, including Mayor Sadiq Khan. “I’m here to show support for all the women, especially in Washington,” said Penny Dedman, 66. In Barcelona, Spain, around 2,500 people joined the protest, organisers said. “My message is that it is time to wake up and inform ourselves. This is no time to sit by. We need to make it happen,” said Stephanie Loveless, 33, a doctoral researcher and organiser of the Barcelona march. Protesters also took to the streets of the Indian
‘Process of communitisation has to be promoted’
rity forces had restricted the movement of vehicles on Jagun-Jairampur Road and intensified mobile checkposts. The Inter-state border between the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and Assam-Nagaland border has also been put under intensified vigil. Meanwhile, a joint statement by the CorCom and the ULFA faction claimed responsibility for the attack and that they undertook a joint attack on the security forces, code-named “Operation BARAK”. “A joint team attacked the 13 Assam Rifles at Warabasti area on Jagun-Jairampur Road and killed three soldiers and injured two or more and were able to recover three weapons, including two AK Rifles and one INSAS Rifle,” said the statement signed by ULFA faction commander-inChildren fetch water in the remote area of Akhegwo village under Meluri sub division of chief Paresh Asom.
capital New Delhi. “I am here because I want to go out without feeling scared of being molested. You face it day and night. It has become normalised,” said activist Logna Bezbaruah, 25. “I am here today because I support the cause of equality. Women aren’t asking for more rights, just equal rights,” said activist Bhanu Pratap Pangtey, 27. In Bengaluru, where police are investigating reports of the mass molestation of women on New Year’s Eve, protesters said people should fight against sexual harassment being seen as normal. “I and a lot of my friends have to deal with a lot, mostly from men,” said Gayatri Ashta, 25, a technology consultant. “Somewhere my anger had over the years become acceptance and then plain complacency. This march has reminded me that we don’t have to accept this,” she said.
Phek district. (Photo by Chizokho Vero)
CPO ‘banishes’ eight ULB poll candidates DimaPur, January 22 (mExn): The Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has “banished” eight NPF candidates for the Phek Town Council elections from Chakhesang region of Phek district “for defying the community resolution on ULB election adopted on January 3 and reaffirmed on January 9.” A press release from the CPO stated that the eight candidates have been “banished” for seven years with effect from January 17 “as per Chakhesang customary law.” A press note from the CPO President Kekhwengulo Lea and General Secretary Mutsivoyi Kotso cautioned that any individual/group “dealing with them or expultionist found within Chakhesang region of Phek district shall be doing so at their own risk.”
our Correspondent Kohima | January 22
The Nagaland Vision 2030 while touching on education and health care matters stated that the rural areas have no choice but to continue depending on the government institutions and services unlike the urban areas where the people have options for private sector services. “Therefore, urgent attention needs to be given as to how the quality of the services provided through the public institutions can be improved in the next five years,” the Vision statement observed. It stated that along with special incentives as also capacity-building programs for the government functionaries, the process of communitisation has to be promoted with more ardour and up-scaled wherever necessary. The NGO sector also has to be promoted through various incentive programs to go into the rural areas to provide such services, it added. The Vision document also stated that the housing and sanitation perspectives seem clear with provision of 100 per cent housing to all by 2022 and 100 per cent sanitation of the households by 2021. Water supply however remains an issue. Over the years, only 623 habitation out of 1530 or 40.72 per cent of the habitation were deemed fully covered while 864 habitations or 56.47 per cent were only partially covered. “While the rural development department envisages to supplement drinking water supply by reviving springs, streams,
water sources and traditional ponds, this will not be adequate. Structural changes in the form of water charges need to be introduced for their continued maintenance,” the Vision document said. It also added that there will be need for substantial investment in rural water supply to provide adequate water supply to the villages in the next ten years. Although 94.65 per cent of the villages have been electrified, the availability of constant power supply is altogether a different matter, the Vision document stated adding that there are serious problems of maintenance for which a special program needs to be drawn up for improving both the transmission and distribution to the rural areas. Skilling and capacity building among the rural population is an essential ingredient for uplifting them, it stated adding that this is required for the purposes of livelihood, accessing gainful employment both in the rural areas and even outside. “But along with this, if the economy of the state is to be transformed through agriculture, the people in the rural areas, especially framers will have to be enabled with better skills and knowledge to enhance their productivity at commercial scale,” the Vision document observed. It maintained that their skills have to be built up not only to adapt to new farming technologies but also to venture into non farming activities like transportation, storage, marketing, processing and even packaging. Special programs therefore, have to be drawn up to build the capacities of the rural people to meet the needs of the emerging economy, it added.
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MOnDAY 23•01•2017
NAGALAND
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
‘God does not distinguish between male and female’ Yimchunger Baptist Church Dimapur celebrates silver jubilee
Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): The Yimchunger Baptist Church Dimapur (YBCD) celebrated its 25th anniversary from January 21 to 22, 2017. Dr. Toshila, Women Secretary, YBBA, while speaking on the first day of the programme, maintained that gender inequality was prevalent for many centuries, but with the coming of Christ came his unconditional love and the chain of inequality has been set free. She asserted that equal preference and privilege should be honoured to girl child as well if we want to grow both spiritualDr. Toshila, Women Secretary of YBBA ly and socially in our own lives, speaking during the silver jubilee celebra- church or community. “God tion of Yimchunger Baptist Church Dima- does not distinguish between pur on January 21. male and female but sees all as
NPF begins campaign at DMC ward 2
children of God,” she stated, according to a press release received here. She further quoted from the scripture (Galatians 5: 22-23) and encouraged the congregation to instill the fruit of the spirit, i.e., love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control in our daily lives and activities. “Change is enviable if we change our mindset,” she added. K. Zungkum, Convenor, History Committee highlighted how YBCD came into being. In 1991, 22 households formed a fellowship and from there on the church was affiliated to YBBA in 1992 when Rev. Akum was its Executive Secretary. The church in the beginning was built through
kind contribution of various Yimchungrü churches around Dimapur district and well wishers, he said thanking the doners. A short speech was delivered by Akhrieo Kire, GB, Kuda ‘C’ khel, where he conveyed greetings to the present church leaders and members for attaining 25 years of existence and also appreciated the pioneers for their sacrifices and vision because of which YBCD is where it is today. LK Among, former pastor, shared his memories as the first pastor of YBCD and the struggles, blessing and achievements. Acknowledging that it was an honour and privilege to serve at the church, he conveyed appreciation for the support he re- An Angami girl carries organic vegetables which were given as gifts to the guests during an official function at Viswema in Kohima district recently. Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero ceived from the members.
78 Bn CRPF conducts civic action program at Chedema Our Correspondent Kohima | January 22
Morung Express News Dimapur | January 22
NPF candidate for Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) elections from ward no 2, Khekaho Awomi kicked off campaign on Sunday with an assurance to work for the uplift of the ward and the town. Speaking at the programme at Ghorapatty, Khekaho appealed for support of the people from the ward to bring changes in the society. He also sought to work for youth empowerment if he is voted to power. “I will go out of my way to bring changes in the society,” he assured. A host of NPF leaders and elected members also spoke during the programme.
78 Battalion CRPF Sechu Zubza officials with youth and leaders of Chedema village.
Gun, camping materials seized from Intanki National Park
The gun and other materials seized by the Forest Protection Force of Intanki National Park on January 20.
pErEn, January 22 (mExn): One 12 bore gun along with camping materials were seized by the Forest Protection Force of Intanki National Park during routine patrolling on January 20. A press release from Field Director, Intanki National Park informed that when the Forest Protection Force personnel were on patrolling duty, a hunting group comprising three people along with gun and camping materials were found entering inside the Intanki National Park. Having seen the patrolling party, the group fled from the site, it said. “When chased one of the 12 bore gun along with camping materials were seized,” the release added. The gun, according to the release, was brought and kept under the custody at Forest Protection Camp while the other belongings were burned at the spot. The Field Director stated that the recovered gun will be dealt with as per the relevant Act.
The 78 Battalion CRPF Sechu Zubza today conducted a civic action programme at Chedema village under Kohima district by distributing sports items to the village students’ union, Chedema football club and Government Middle School Chedema. The sports items were officially handed over by Anil Kumar Jha, 2nd-in-command, 78 Bn CRPF. Addressing the brief function, Anil Kumar said the main objective is to build relationship among the forces and the citizens for peaceful coexistence. He added that the sports items were contributed to develop the games and sports in the society and to bring more laurels to the state and the nation in future. Anil kumar further stated they had contributed the sports items particularly to the school and college going students to develop them physically and mentally fit. The programme was chaired by D. Richa, Assistant Commandant, 78 Bn CRPF and vote of thanks was pronounced by W. Lasuh, Assistant Commandant, 78 Bn CRPF.
Clark Journal of Theology released
moKoKchung, January 22 (mExn): The Clark Journal of Theology Volume VI, Issue No 2 (ISSN 2455 – 5789) of Clark Theological College (CTC) was officially dedicated and released by the principal of the college, Rev. Dr. Marnungsang at Multi-Purpose Hall, CTC, Aolijen today. The principal informed the community that the Clark Journal of Theology continues to address pertinent themes and issues that help particularly theological communities around the world. He further stated that the exchange of the journal with other standard International academic journals
Clark Journal of Theology editor Dr. L. Imsutoshi Jamir (left) and CTC principal Rev. Dr. Marnungsang releasing the journal on January 22.
is both enriching Clark students’ community as well as world academic communities, for which, he thanked the editorial committee members for their excellent
efforts, commitment and sincere work, according to an official communiqué. While introducing the journal, the editor Dr. L. Imsutoshi Jamir stated that the
present issue of Clark Journal of Theology was published at the backdrop of the college yearly theme, ‘Discerning the Signs of the Times’ and therefore the theme, ‘Intertwining of Politics, Culture and Religion’, was chosen for the issue. The editor stated that the present theme addressed by different scholars certainly will in many ways help readers to consciously address the present problem associated with intertwining of politics, culture and religion in India. The editor also thanked the Principal, faculty members and particularly all the article contributors for their support and scholarly works.
Special coaching for Nagaland Judicial Service Exam
guwahati, January 22 (mExn): Unique Law Institute, a law coaching centre based in Guwahati, is organizing two-month special coaching for upcoming Nagaland Judicial Service Exam (Grade III Judicial Service Exam) under Gauhati High Court from the first week of February at its Six Mile, Guwahati campus. Law students who are interested to join the special coaching can directly call at 8822842444 during office hour. Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Direc-
tor (Academic), Unique Law Institute in a press release informed that the institute has already conducted 15 batches of coaching for judicial service. Former judge, university professors, law experts and highly professional skilled persons are associated with the integrated coaching, it added. He also informed that most of the law students of the North East region are unaware about how to prepare and make themselves competent for judicial service exams. “Due to lack of
awareness, most of the law students of these states are still now far away from judicial service. Law students of this underdeveloped part of the country hesitate to appear judicial service exam due to lack of proper guidance,” he added. Therefore, to increase the number of candidates in the judicial service from the states like Arunachal Pradesh, Unique Law Institute has been conducting judicial service exam coaching since 2013, the release added.
Financial literacy prog held in Pfutsero ‘Homiletic Lab: Skill Development in Preaching’
pfutsEro, January 22 (mExn): A financial literacy programme was organised by North East Network (NEN) with Nagaland State Cooperative Bank (NSCB) and NABARD, supported under FIF and managed by NABARD, on January 20 at Pfutsero Town. Imsunaro, DDM, NABARD Phek and Leudi Zeliang, ABM, NSCB Pfutsero were the resource persons of the programme, which was attended by 52 women participants from Lasumi, Zapami, Leshemi, Mesulumi, Sakraba and Pfutsero Town, informed a press release. Imsunaro highlighted about the mission of NABARD and the various activities it undertakes for rural people and rural development. While deliberating on digital financial literacy, she emphasized on cashless transactions, savings and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs). She pointed out that the Government is introducing
a cashless economy; therefore, it is crucial for all to have bank accounts as inclusion in the financial institutions will be difficult in the future. She elaborated on the difference between Self Help Groups (SHGs) and JLGs, in number of membership composition and the advantage of forming JLGs so as to avail various financial services from the bank. Leudi Zeliang shared about the banking system and its importance in the current context and also the future prospect. He assured the participants about the availability and readiness of the Bank to help and assist the people so that both can grow together. NEN works with women farmers, vendors and weavers in Phek, Kohima and Dimapur districts, to facilitate women’s access to their rights and entitlements. Financial inclusion is one of the issues that NEN has been promoting and advocating for, the release added.
MEx File
Invitation for Young Talent Artistes Award
Kohima, January 22 (mExn): Applications have been invited for Young Talent Artistes Award for the year 2016 --17 from eligible candidates, talented and skilled in the categories of folk music and songs, folk dance, theatre, creative arts or painting, handicrafts etc. Young talented artistes in the age group of 18 — 30 years (as on March 31, 2017) are eligible to apply for the award. The award consists of Rs. 10,000/- and a citation. Candidates should be an Indian citizen and an indigenous inhabitant of North East India. Paudabo Suzah, Director, Art & Culture, Kohima has informed in a press release that application form may be submitted or sent to the Director, North East Zone Cultural Centre, P.B. No. 98, Dimapur — 797112, Nagaland on or before January 30.
Livestock show in Dimapur Dimapur, January 22 (mExn): The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Dimapur will organize a livestock show (pigs & poultry) on January 26 coinciding with the Republic Day celebration at the DDSC stadium. Therefore, any interested farmers of Dimapur district have been informed to contact the following numbers: For pig exhibition – 9436605973/ 9436072892; for poultry exhibition – 8974695433/ 9436002353. The categories of exhibits are as follows: Piglets of three months of age, poultry birds (chicken) of Desi variety (local) and LIT varieties (Kuroiler/ Vanaraja/ Gramapriya/ Shitiri etc), according to a press release from Chief Veterinary Office, Dimapur, Dr. Temsu Ozukum. Prizes will be awarded to the best exhibits for the different categories. Interested farmers have been requested to confirm their participation of the exhibits latest by 1:00 pm on January 24.
Nagaland to observe National Girl Day 2017 Kohima, January 22 (mExn): Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland will observe National Girl Child Day 2017 on January 24 at Capital Convention Hall, Kohima from 11:00 am onwards under the theme ‘My Girl Child- My Asset, Not a Liability.’ Chief Minister TR Zeliang will be the chief guest while Minister for Social Security & Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs Kiyanilie Peseyie will be the guest of honour. Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar (IAS) will share state vision for the girl child while SRCW Mission Director Daisy Mezhür will talk on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, status of girl child in the state and gender critical district. Opening remark will be made by Dellirose M. Sakhrie (IAS), Secretary, Social Welfare. The occasion will also witness presentation of bravery award.
Meetings & Appointments NCSU Dimapur unit meeting
The Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU), Dimapur unit has called an emergency meeting on January 25, 11:00 am at its office. Therefore, all the registered members of the union under Dimapur district have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.
SDEO Pughoboto calls meeting
A coordination meeting for academic year 2017 under SDEO, Pughoboto has been scheduled on January 27, 11:30 am at the office chamber of the SDEO. Therefore, all the Headmasters/ head teachers/ teacher in-charge under the establishment of SDEO, Pughoboto have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.
CSU assembly
Resource persons C. Bendangonen Jamir, Prof. Dr. Alfred Stephen and Dr. L. Imsutoshi Jamir, Director, CCCRC along with the participants.
moKoKchung, January 22 (mExn): A threeday workshop on the theme “Homiletic Lab: Skill Development in Preaching” was organized at Clark Theological College, Aolijen from January 19 to 21. Eight intensive sessions were conducted cov-
ering the following topics: ‘Homiletics: an overview’, ‘Importance of Homiletics’, ‘Major Types of Sermons’, ‘Elements of Sermon’, ‘Plots and Moves in Sermon’, ‘Text to SermonHomiletic Lab’, ‘Sermon Analysis’ and ‘Practical Session of Preparation’. Altogether, 73 BD
Final year students participated in the workshop organized by Clark Communication and Cultural Research Centre (CCCRC) in collaboration with Werner College of Preaching (WCP). Resource persons were Prof. Alfred Stephen and C. Bendangonen Jamir.
Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) has informed all its units and sub-ordinate bodies that the 3rd Union Assembly for the tenure 2016-18 will be held on February 4, 11:00 am at Town Hall, Chetheba, to be hosted by the Chetheba Students’ Union. The Assembly Affairs of the Union has requested all the units and sub-ordinate bodies to positively send their representatives to the 3rd Union Assembly without fail.
Mungya Village Council meeting
The Mungya Village Council, Wokha will hold its first general meeting on February 9, 9:00 am at Mungya village. Therefore, the council has requested all its units and members to attend the meeting without fail. The council also requested all federating units to hold a meeting before attending the general meeting and bring forward any agendas for the welfare and development of the village.
Monday 23•01•2017
NORTH-EAST 3
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
11-year-old gangraped Former UNC Presidents Need strategised approach to Meghalaya: twice in two months by 7 minors on Manipur situation stop discrimination against NE Tahamzam, January 22 (mExn): Three former presidents of the United Naga Council (UNC), namely KS Paul Leo, Samson Remei, and L Adani today issued a joint statement regarding the present situation in Manipur. Terming the issue of land as “very dear to the tribals and Nagas,” the joint statement said that “our culture, way of life and value system evolves from our relationship with the land. Land is our present and land is our future.” There are four MoUs with the Government of Manipur and Naga organizations that creation of new districts would not be done without consulting the stakeholders, they said. “There is also an assurance from the Government of India, based on the declaration of the Chief Minister of Manipur in the presence of the Union Home Minister, Chidambaram and UNC delegation that such sentiment would be respected.” The statement as-
serted that the stakeholders are those whose lives, land, livelihood, situation and opportunities would be affected by such decision. This position, it maintained, is “democratic, fair and constitutional.” It further informed that the Manipur CM “is on record stating that land belongs to the state and not to any community, going against the very spirit and letter of Article 371 C of the constitution which clearly gives cognizance to the land rights of the tribals in Manipur state.” “He has from his official throne also gone on to state that there are no Nagas in the State of Manipur, negating, our identity that has evolved through history, land and political consciousness,” it added. The former UNC presidents also lamented that the Manipur CM has chosen to “desecrate the MOUs and assurance, knowing well that extreme protest will follow, knowing that social divides will aggravate, knowing the people
will suffer.” “What noble purpose inspired this man and his government to create not only 2 districts which have been vehemently opposed but 7 districts on a midnight drawing lines that would divide peoples; that would alienate people from their ancestral domain; that would disturb peaceful co-existence of communities,” they questioned. The tragedy of this episode is that the people of the present state of Manipur, especially the intellectuals have not questioned this man, the statement lamented. “He has been accepted as the champion of a community, which has been subtly engineered to differentiate the others from their interest. He is truly the Chief Minister of his own and not of the entire people of the state,” the three former UNC presidents said. It concluded that the economic blockade was “initiated by the Chief Minister. Only his wisdom and realization can stop it.”
JaiPur, January 22 (PTi): Besides one-onone engagement between people, a more strategised approach is required to change the prevalent perceptions held by "mainstream" India about people from the North-East, noted Assamese human rights writer and academic Sanjay Hazarika said today. Hazarika, along with Assamese writer Dhruba Jyoti Borah and journalist Teresa Rehman, was speaking at a session of the Jaipur Literature Festival, on the racial abuse inflicted upon the people of the North-Eastern region of the country, by the so called "mainland". Rehman stressed on the need for more people to people engagements in order to combat racial discrimination. "I believe that one to one engagement between people will change perceptions. We should stop depending on the government, on the bureaucrats and the police. It is time for
us to talk with and engage with each other," she said. Hazarika, however, countered by stressing on the need for a "strategised approach". "We can talk to each other until we are blue in the face, but unless it is structured, we can keep talking without changing anything. "It is important to have force, not just of numbers but also of strategising whatever you do, so that it has an impact in one or two specific areas. Attitudes change when people talk to each other but you also have to institutionalise it," he added. Hazarika also talked about the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Acts), which he said was "lawfully installed discrimination". "Amid, the whole notion of discrimination, the fact is that there are areas where discrimination is installed by force of law. So you have something called the Armed Forces Special Powers Acts in several
states of the region. He attributed the reducing number of insurgencies in the region as compared to the "60s, 70s, 80s and 90s", to people’s desire of leading a "peaceful" life. "Part of the reason for this is that people are tired... they want to live a peaceful life. Part of the problem is that we have never tried to explore each other’s life traditions and histories," he said. He also emphasised for a need in behavioural change by making certain alterations in the college and university curriculum. "Not engaging with each other is another problem. They only interact with each other once they reach hostels in Delhi. So, a behavioural change is needed. For that changes must be introduced in the curriculum," he said. Borah, meanwhile, talked about the marginalised communities within the North-East, which because of a very limited number of speakers, are disappearing slowly.
Shillong, January 22 (PTi): An 11-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped at least twice by seven minor boys in Mawten village in South West Khasi Hills district, police said on Sunday. The girl was reported to have been gangraped first in a paddy field in the village in December last year and again on January 13 at her residence. “We have detained six of the accused. They all hail from the girl’s village and are in the age group of 14-16 years,” a senior district police officer told PTI. He said the detention was made based on an FIR filed by the family members of the girl. Police have registered a case against all the accused under section 376(g) (gangrape) of IPC and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The police officer said the accused have confessed to the crime and have been sent to a juvenile home. Last year, 101 cases were filed under POCSO and 22 rape cases against children in Meghalaya, according to the crime records bureau of the home department.
JACAATB holds joint meeting imPhal, January 22 (nnn): The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAATB) convened a joint meeting today afternoon with the various tribe apex bodies, tribe-based philanthropic youth organizations and student bodies which have persistently continued to extend their support to the JACAATB-spearheaded tribal movement. The joint meeting of leaders from the tribe/community-based organizations of the Mizo, Paite, Simte, Tedim Chin and Zou tribes/communities deliberated on the way forward for the JACAATB, and resolved to participate in the upcoming 'Tribute' program for the 'Tribal Martyrs' planned by the Young Paite Association General Headquarters in Churachandpur on January 26, 2017 at Salpha Pumbuk, Hiangtam Lamka.
Kachai Lemon Festival 2017 Cops on alert after threat to 'outsiders'
Kachai (maniPur), January 22 (mExn): Despite insufficient rainfall and increase in insect occurrence, the annual yield of the Kachai lemon recorded over 5 metric tonnes this year. This figure was recorded as products sold in the annual lemon festival (Kachai Lemon Festival) on January 20. Over 250 lemon growers of Kachai participated in the event organized by the Kachai Farming & Processing Co-operative Society and supported by Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), Manipur Tourism and Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MSACS), Government of Manipur. Speaking to the media, Kensith Horam, the chairman of the Cooperative Society lamented that despite getting the prestigious GI tag, Kachai lemon’s production and popularity has not augmented as expected and blamed the Government of
guwahaTi, January 22 (Tnn): Police are gearing up for more than the annual terror threats the state (Assam) faces in the run-up to Republic Day this time. With three outfits issuing threats to Bengali- and Hindi-speaking people to leave Karbi Anglong, Tripura and parts of West Bengal by March 31, police have had to tighten their security measures even further. A senior police officer said all pockets which have Hindi- and Bengali-speaking population in every district have been identified and put
Kachai lemon sold at the Kachai Lemon Festival in Manipur on January 20.
Manipur saying due importance and attention was not given. The chairman also revealed that the Kachai lemon farmers have decided to go organic and they are being assisted in this direction by MOMA, Department of Horticulture, Government of Manipur. The lemon festival which featured a buyer-seller meet and an organic workshop
conducted by MOMA, also gave away awards to lemon growers with scientists of ICAR as juries who judged the fruits on their size, the juice content and ascorbic acid content. V. Ngamreila Sira bagged the award for best Kachai lemon. K Rosy got the second best, Shoima Vashum, the third best and three best exhibitor’s awards went to Theimi Vashum,
Ringmichon Vashum and RK Ningtharla. Kachai lemon is one among the ten horticultural products from North East India to have got the GI tags and has the highest ascorbic acid, the highest so far in citrus fruit. The lemon festival was the 13rd edition since it started in 2005 to promote and encourage lemon growers and the Kachai lemon itself.
under strict vigil. "We have heightened police security in these pockets and one senior police officer in the rank of DSP has been put in charge of ensuring security in each of these pockets. We are taking the threat seriously," the officer said. The police are considering opening up easy and direct access of people to the SP in every district for faster flow of information directly to district heads. The Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO), the National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) and the
newly floated People's Democratic Council of Karbi-Longri (PDCK) issued the 'quit Assam' threat on January 2 and again on January 18. They said they oppose the Centre's move to rehabilitate Bangladeshi migrants in "Kamatapur, Karbi Longri and Tripura" and have, in response, asked Indian citizens (Hindi- and Bengali-speaking) to leave these three areas by March 31. The quit notice was signed by KLO chairman Jiban Singh Koch, NLFT organising secretary Seng-phul Borok and PDCK chairman JK Lijang.
Tripura’s super Superintendent of Police guwahaTi, January 22 (ThE indian ExPrESS): Along the winding India-Bangladesh border in Tripura, one name sends shivers down the spines of smugglers and criminals. His role in cracking a series of criminal cases—including bank heists, narcotics smuggling and a serial murder mystery—earned
him the state’s Policeman of the Year 2016 award this month. Abhijit Saptarshi, a 2008 IPS officer, was conferred the award by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in Agartala on the occasion of Police Week 2017. The 37-year-old Superintendent of Police from Mumbai has been curbing inter-state and domestic
crimes while handling political trouble and agitations in West Tripura. For six years till mid2016, Tripura Police grappled with a series of murders. “We would come across unidentified bodies lying in isolated places, with the victims killed after being sodomised. No cases were registered. We solved the eight murders.
Two carpenters led normal lives but were sexual perverts. They lured homeless people to secluded places where they used to commit the crime,” Saptarshi said. Last year, Saptarshi and his team cracked an interstate gang of bank robbers, the investigation of which went upto Odisha. They also busted a marijuana trade with roots in Bihar.
School building burnt down Post Jallikattu victory, Assam Cashless payment can root out in Aizawl; no casualties demands nod for buffalo, bulbul fights corruption from system: Assam CM
aizawl, January 22 (nnn): A school building was completely burnt down in Aizawl in the early morning of Saturday. However, no casualties have been reported. Source said that massive fire broke out at Mount Carmel School at Chaltlang locality in Aizawl and completely burned down the old building of the school which was a 3 storey Assam type structure. The incident took place around 1:45 am. Soon after the outbreak of fire, residents rushed to the spot and tried to douse the blaze. They also alerted fire station, but nothing could be done to evacuate
properties before the building was completely burnt down. It took around two hours to douse the blaze. As many as properties and furniture worth Rs 32-35 lakh were burnt down in the blaze, Mount Carmel School principal Lalnunkunga Sailo said. The school building had 12 class rooms occupied by students of standard VII-X. The exact cause of blaze is yet to be known, but it could have been caused by bonfire or cigarette butt, the school principal said. Speaking to the Mizoram Post, Sailo said both parents and students
need not panic as all classes will be shifted to new building. He said the new building which is under construction will be open from the next academic session. Meanwhile, the school principal issued a notification declaring that classes for class I – VII & XI will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the new building, while classes for VIII, IX, XI & XII will be held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively. Established in 1987, Mount Carmel School is one of the reputed schools in Mizoram. It has over 1150 students enrolled at present.
guwahaTi, January 22 (EnS): The Jallikattu ordinance has opened up a Pandora’s Box. People in Assam are now demanding they be allowed to hold the centuries-old buffalo and bulbul fights, which are part of the State’s harvest festival Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu. Such animal and bird fights were not held officially for the past two years in deference to court orders. Former Congress MLA, Haren Das, has appealed to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to replicate the measures of
the Tamil Nadu government for the resumption of the fights of buffalos and bulbuls, “which are parts of our traditions and heritage”. Buffalo fights used to be organized in a grand manner at Ahatguri in central Assam’s Morigaon and Sivasagar in eastern Assam while bulbul fights used to be held at Hajo, about 30 kms south of Guwahati, at the famous HayagrivaMadhava temple. The Ahatguri Moh-jooj Management Committee has appealed to the Centre to allow it to hold buffalo
fights. “The Central government has cleared the decks for the holding of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. It should take a similar measure in the case of Assam so that we can hold moh-jooj (buffalo fights) without any fuss,” the Committee said. It also urged Sonowal to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Consequent upon court orders, bulbul fights were off Magh Bihu celebrations in the last two years but buffalo fights did take place, albeit unofficially at some places.
Highly pungent capsicum varieties have higher antioxidant property R Prasad |The Hindu
A team of Indian researchers from the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University and other institutions has successfully decoded the molecular basis of extreme fiery hot (pungency) property of Bhut jolokia (Capsicum chinense) which is native of northeast India; Bhut jolokia has the highest pungency level in the world. In the study, many varieties belonging to C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. annuum were studied and comparative analysis carried out for pungency, vitamins and other metabolites. The high level of pungency and vitamins was found to be positively correlated with high antioxidant activities — the higher the pungency of the capsicum variety the higher was its antioxidant property. The results were published in the journal PLOS ONE. “Pungency and vitamin C
show high correlation, and these two along with other metabolites have high antioxidant activity,” says Sarpras M from the School of Life Sciences, JNU and the first author of the paper. “When we tested the extract on in vitro cell-free assays the highly pungent capsicum varieties showed very high potential for free radical scavenging activity compared with low pungent varieties. We compared capsicum varieties with low, moderate and high pungency.” To compare the free radical scavenging capacity of the capsicum varieties, the researchers generated free radical through chemical reactions and tested how effectively the extracts from different varieties scavenged the free radicals. Effectiveness in mice “We have now tested the effectiveness of the extract to scavenge free radicals in mice and cancer cell lines. We have got
some encouraging results,” says Sarpras. “The capsicum Bhut jolokia [popularly known as ghost chilli] has more anticancer property compared with other capsicum varieties,” Ajay Kumar from the School of Life Sciences, JNU and one of the authors of the study. “The scavenging property is useful in humans and animals as it neutralises the free radicals which are otherwise harmful,” says Dr. Nirala Ramchiary from the School of Life Sciences, JNU and the corresponding author of the paper. Seventeen varieties of C. chinense species had high pungency of over 0.9 million scoville heat unit, which is higher than what has been previously reported. While earlier studies have looked at antioxidant property of capsicum, the studies were limited to a few varieties. But for this study the researchers examined 136 varieties of capsicum
from northeast India belonging to three species — 63 varieties of C. chinense, 17 varieties of C. frutescens and 56 varieties of C. annuum. Maximum pungency was seen in C. chinense varieties followed by C. frutescens; C. annuum had the least pungency. Genes identified The team identified crucial genes involved in pungency development. A majority of candidate genes involved in capsaicinoid biosynthesis pathway showed many-fold higher expression in C. chinense species compared with C. annuum species. This suggests that the possible reason for the extremely high pungency seen in some C. chinense varieties “might be due to higher levels of candidate gene expression”. Variations in the pungency-related genes might also be causing variation in the level of pungency. “Around 10 metabolites which are precursors of capsaicinoid production
pathway indirectly enhances the pungency,” says Sarpras. “The major objective of the study was look at the pungency of different capsicum varieties belonging to different capsicum species and identify the genes regulating pungency biosynthesis. We were successful in identifying the crucial genes involved in pungency development,” says Dr. Ramchiary. “We are looking at ways of regulating the pungency development in capsicum fruits so it can be manipulated.” In addition to testing the pungency and testing its effectiveness in scavenging free radicals, the authors also studied 65 metabolites found in capsicum. “No harmful metabolite was found. We also did not find significantly unique metabolite differences in the three species studied. But there were differences in the quantity of metabolites in the three species,” says Dr. Ramchiary.
guwahaTi, January 22 (PTi): Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today mooted for cashless transactions through grassroot level programmes, saying his government has initiated several steps to digitise payment methods. "Cashless payment has the potential to root out corruption from the system and citizens must adopt cashless transactions as a way of life," the Chief Minister said inaugurating the 'DigiDhan Mela' here. Sonowal, who pitched for popularising cashless transactions at the grassroot level, announced that a 'Chief Minister's Award' would be given to the best performing district in adopting digital payment methods and familiarising cashless transactions among a large section of people. A prize of Rs 50,000 would be presented at the end of financial year 20162017 after March 31, 2017
to Deputy Commissioner for the best performing district, he said. Assam has performed better than many states in the country in ushering in cashless transactions at tea gardens and other interior places of the state, Sonowal said. Minister of Information Technology Keshab Mahanta said that his department is making all efforts to fast-track the digitisation process and 'DigiDhan Melas' organised at village and Panchayat levels would give an impetus to the government's efforts of transforming Assam into a cashless state. The chief minister launched the programme simultaneously at 2217 Gaon Panchayats covering 27 districts of the state, 414 village council development committees (VCDC) covering Bodoland Territorial Council districts and 82 Hill and other Autonomous Council Areas.
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business
AR employment opportunity Class 10, 12 passouts can apply before February 4
The Assam Rifles has released an employment notification inviting interested, eligible candidates to apply for the positions of General Duty, Clerk and Personal Assistant for compassionate ground appointment. Vacancy details Total posts: 68 Name of the posts: General Duty (Rifleman): 61 Personal Assistant: 1 Clerk (Havildar): 6 Eligibility criteria Educational qualification: General Duty: Candidates interested in applying for this post should have passed Class 10 from a recognised board/ equivalent. Personal Assistant: Candidates interested in applying for this post should have passed intermediate or Senior Secondary School Certificate (Class 12) examination from a recognised Board/university or equivalent Must possess an English typing speed of 35 words per minute on computer and Hindi typing speed of 30 words per minute on computer. Clerk: Candidates interested in applying for this post should have passed intermediate or Senior Secondary School Certificate (Class 12) examination from a recognised Board/ university or equivalent. Age limit: General Duty: The age of the candidates should not exceed 38 years. Personal Assistant: The age of the candidates should not exceed 40 years. Clerk: The age of the candidates should not exceed 40 years. Selection procedure: Candidates will be selected on the basis of a written test/interview. How to apply: Candidates interested in these posts are required to send their applications in a prescribed format along with all other relevant documents to ‘ Headquarters, Directorate General Assam Rifles, (Recruitment Branch), Laitkor, Shillong, Meghalaya - 793 01.’ Important dates: Last date for the submission of an application is February 4.
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
India pressed ahead with banknote ban despite RBI concerns NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, JANUAry 22 (rEUTErS): India pushed ahead with its decision to scrap banknotes even as the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) own board expressed concern whether the cash could be replaced quickly enough, the central bank has said in written testimony to parliament. The revelation comes amid growing criticism about whether the central bank and the government had sufficiently assessed the potential fallout from the Nov. 8 ban of about 86 percent of the cash then in circulation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shock move caused a severe cash shortage that brought large parts of the economy to a virtual standstill, as the central bank struggled to print new 500-rupee and 2,000-rupee notes to replace the old currency. A copy of the private testimony to a parliament panel, seen by Reuters, showed the central bank had also warned
nancial reforms and a former central bank governor. The document also notes the proposal to ban the cash had come from the government, in a letter a day before the announcement that advised the RBI to “immediately” put the plan before its board for approval. Under India’s RBI Act, such a move was necessary. The central bank did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comments on its submission to parliament. People queue outside an AtM of state Bank of India to withdraw cash in Ahmedabad. (REUTERS File Photo)
the government of “possible inconvenience to the public for some time,” among the potential consequences of the massive exercise. Despite its own doubts, the testimony showed, the RBI board approved the plan to ban 500-rupee and 1,000-rupee notes, as it believed the move would rein in counterfeiting and reliance on cash, and pull unaccounted cash
NEW DELHI, JANUAry 22 (PTI): Struggling to make a turnaround in India, General Motors has put on hold its investments on new models for the country as the US auto major undertakes a full review of its future product portfolio here. The company, which had in 2015 announced plans to invest $1 billion to enhance manufacturing operations and roll out 10 locally produced models, has not put any timeline for lifting freeze on investments on the new products. “...Given the shift in customer preferences in India, we are conducting a full review of our future product portfolio and have put on hold future investment in our allnew vehicle family for the market until we firm up our product portfolio plan,” a General Motors official spokesperson told PTI. While announcing $1 billion investment for India in 2015, General Motors CEO Mary Barra had said the company would
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move, the document showed. The RBI also believed the impact of such an exercise would be “transitory”, given its efforts to quickly replace the old notes, it said in the testimony. The RBI’s endorsement of the government action has drawn strong criticism from several former policymakers, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India’s 1991 fi-
General Motors puts on hold With Russia’s help, India to investments on new products for India increase train speed to 200 kmph
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into the financial system. “It might not immediately be possible to replace these notes fully in terms of both value and volume,” the board felt at a meeting ahead of Modi’s Nov. 8 announcement, according to the central bank submission. But the RBI’s board ultimately believed that “corrective” action could be taken and decided to recommend the
“PAINFUL” FOR RBI Since Modi declared the ban, the central bank has been forced to announce a barrage of measures to soften the impact, including several high-profile reversals, undermining confidence in it. In a letter to RBI Governor Urjit Patel, unions of central bank employees called such criticism “painful”, and accused the government of steering decisions behind the replacement of the banned
notes, saying that “blatantly encroaches” on the central bank’s jurisdiction. The government, however, has denied it was taking the decisions during the implementation, saying that it was merely cooperating with the RBI and reiterating that it fully respected the autonomy of the central bank. Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said such cooperation was necessary, since it involved an unprecedented “exercise” and that the flurry of action showed India’s flexibility in taking the necessary measures. “They never had got an experience of this kind of a war-type situation,” Goyal said, referring to the RBI. “So, every organization which is doing this is doing it for the first time. You will learn as you go along.” Previous banknote bans have not had such a dramatic impact as they removed only a small fraction of cash from circulation.
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strengthen business in India, China, Mexico and Brazil through the development of a new family of vehicles known as Global Emerging Markets (GEM) platform. Although SUV Trailblazer has been launched for the Indian market, multi-purpose vehicle Spin, which is among the planned new models, is yet to be launched here. Currently, the company’s arm General Motors India sells a range of vehicles, including hatchback Beat, sedan Cruze and multi-purpose vehicle Enjoy, among others. The company, whose Indian arm has managed to cut its net loss to Rs 1,003.39 crore in 201415 from Rs 3,812.46 crore in 201314, will now focus on “sustainable profitability” in the country. “If GM is going to make significant investments, we need to be certain that they will generate significant shareholder value,” the spokesperson said in an emailed response. “Moving forward, our prior-
ity remains to establish the right business conditions for sustainable profitability.” When asked about the company scaling down Indian operations and downsizing manpower across verticals, including dealer development, sales and marketing, and aftersales, the spokesperson did not comment. “We are consolidating our manufacturing operations in Talegaon for both domestic market and exports. Exports continue to be an important aspect of our operations in India indeed,” the spokesperson added. In 2016, GM India more than tripled exports compared to 2015 with 69,390 Chevrolet Beats shipped to Central and South America, the spokesperson said. Currently, General Motors is in the process to sell its Halol plant in Gujarat to China’s SAIC Motor Corporation after it decided to stop production there as part of consolidation of its manufacturing operations in India.
NEW DELHI, JANUAry 22 (PTI): Russian Railways is helping India’s national transporter increase the speed of its passenger trains up to 200 km per hour. Russian Railways is at present collaborating with Indian Railways on a 575-km stretch between Nagpur and Secunderabad and submitted a preliminary report last week. To reach the desired speed limit, Russian Railways has proposed several technical and technological solutions, including reconstruction of railway alignment as well as treating the earth bed where there are speed restrictions. Since Indian Railways doesn’t have coaches that can move with a speed of 200 km per hour, a new type of passenger cars needs to be approved as well. It has, however, expressed concern over “a number of large bridges with speed limits” on this particular stretch and has recommended a detailed survey of all these structures on the basis of which measures for reconstruction/repair will be taken up. It has also been pointed out that railroad switches, which enables trains to shift from
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ABoUt GUIde ABUse LIes AFFeCt LoAn Beet MAnUFACtUre BLoKe networK BoArd PLACe BrAKe PLUnGe BULLY PoInt CArs rIGHt CredIt seeK CrUde sHAre dAre stArt deLAY stoCK dIstUrB sUrPrIse eLeCtIon tAPs enCoUrAGe tArGet enVIronMent tweet FLUe UnIQUe GroUP worrY
4. Distinctive flair 5. Goat antelope 6. Passed sideways 7. Spartan 8. Annoying insect 9. Pressure 10. Deviation 11. Ancient Roman magistrate 12. Rental agreement 13. A small island 21. Wealthy man 25. Unit of pressure 26. Boys 27. Dogfish 28. Back talk 29. Improvident 34. Overrules 36. Fowl 37. Utilized 38. Not we 40. Savvy about 42. Another time 45. Clothing 48. Andean animals 51. Adhesive 52. Dental filling 53. Steam bath 55. River muds 58. A style of design 59. Essence 60. Ripped 61. Feudal worker 62. A musical pause Answer to Crossword 3835
std code: 03862
Police station Fire Brigade
222246 222491
232224
MH Hospital
227930 231081
Fire Brigade
2222952
Faith Hospital
228846
naga Hospital
2222916
shamrock Hospital
228254
oking Hospital
2243339
Zion Hospital
231864 224117 227337
Bethel nursing Home
2224202
northeast shuttles
08974997923
Police Control room
228400
KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers
Police Traffic Control
232106
north Ps
229529 229474
KOHiMa
east Police station
227607
west Police station
232181
south Ps
CIHsr (referral Hospital)
242555 242533
Zubza Ps
dimapur Hospital
224041 248011
Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652 railway
131/228404
Airport Indian Airlines
229366 242441 225212
nikos Hospital and research Centre
232032, 231031
nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre
248302, 09856006026
eden Medical Centre
248288
std code: 0370
8575045501
Officer-in-Charge 8575045510 8575045502
Officer-in-Charge 8575045520 8575045508
Officer-in-Charge 8575045518 Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506 Officer-in-Charge 8575045516 tseminyu Ps
8575045507
Officer-in-Charge 8575045517 Khuzama Ps
8575045505
Officer-in-Charge 8575045515 Kezocha Ps
8575045549
Officer-in-Charge 8575045538 women Cell
8575045509
Officer-in-Charge 8575045519 Control room
Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Game Number # 3831
std code: 03871
(formerly senapati)
Civil Hospital emergency-
Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777
SUDOKU
TaHaMZaM
one track to another, at stations on this stretch are not suitable for a speed of 200 km per hour and a different type of switch has been recommended. A digital technological communication network for the entire section, instead of the existing radio communication, was also proposed. A high-speed rail network will also require safety measures for pedestrians and motor vehicles at rail crossings. Keeping this in mind, overpasses, anti-collision and anti-ram barriers as well as automatic alarm systems have been suggested. A protective fencing along the length of the rail track was mooted in order to prevent accidents with people and animals on the track. The Russian Railways also suggested noise shields for tracks near residential areas. A protocol for this project was signed between the railway ministries of the two countries in October last year. The high-speed project will be jointly financed and the cost will be split equally between the two countries. Currently, the fastest train in India is Gatimaan Express with top speed of 160 km per hour.
Answer Number # 3830
8575045500 (Emergency No. – 100)
FiRE STaTiONS
KoHIMA soUtH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) KoHIMA nortH: 7085924114 (O) dIMAPUr: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKedIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC) woKHA: 03860-242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (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) Mon: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC) Kiphire: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) Peren: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LonGLenG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC) we4 woMen HeLPLIne 08822911011 WOMEN HeLPLIne 181 CHiLD weLFAre CoMMIttee Toll free No. 1098 childline
MOKOKCHUNG
std code: 0369
Police station 1 Police station 2 Police station Kobulong Police station tuli Police station Changtongya Police station Mangkolemba Civil Hospital
9485232688 9485232689 9485232690 9485232693 9485232694 9485232695 2226216
woodland nursing Home
2226263
Hotel Metsüpen (tourist Lodge) 2226373/ 2229343
CURRENCY NOTES BUY (rs) seLL (rs)
Us dollars sterling Pound Hong Kong dollar Australian dollar singapore dollar Canadian dollar Japanese Yen euro thai Baht Korean won UAe dirham (Aed) Chinese Yuan
66.49 81.46 8.29 49.92 46.39 49.62 57.34 70.62 1.81 0.0546 17.52 9.38
69.87 85.86 9.29 52.64 48.94 52.33 60.88 74.43 2.03 0.0613 19.62 10.51
monday 23•01•2017
NAGALAND
Thurutsuswumi people urged 6th General to preserve culture, traditions Session of JCBKK PheK, January 22 (Mexn): Dr. Er. Vekho Swuro, President, North East NGO Federation (NENGOF) on January 20 stated that the identity of a person is revealed by his/her culture and traditions and thus real identity is born out of culture. In this context, Swuro urged the people to keep preserving and promoting the culture and traditions. He further maintained that showcasing the aged-old traditions is part of preserving the social values and thus observing cultural days should continue even in the near future so that the right message is clearly passed on to the Electioneering on one side and protests against the conduct of the ULB elections have hogged coming generations. public attention in recent days. Amidst the hullabaloo, a school in a corner of Dimapur became an He was speaking on the unlikely pedestal to herald the elections. In the picture taken by alumni, the entrance to Dimapur first day of the two-day 26th Railway High School at Kalibari Road is seen shrouded in campaign posters.
SRSU 33rd biannual general conference concludes DiMaPur, January 22 (Mexn): The 33rd biannual general conference of Satakha Range Students’ Union (SRSU) concluded on January 15 at Hoishe Village. The session which began on January 12 with the theme ‘Growing impact’ was attended by G. Kaito Aye, MLA 36 A/C Satakha as chief guest and Vitoho Jimo, former INC candidate, 36 A/C Satakha and Zheito Chophy, former President, All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) as
guests of honour. G. Kaito Aye exhorted the congregation to move forward with vision and be competitive. He stressed on the importance of skill development, being independent, promoting and preserving our rich culture. In the concluding event, Zheito Chophy, former President, All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) maintained that leaders and students are the common people representing the welfare of the students’
community and the people. He urged the students to remain apolitical and maintain protocol in the society. He further urged the students to be humble, God-fearing, self-determined and ambitious. Stating that change is the need of the hour in our society where corruption is deeply rooted, he asserted it is the duty of the public to urge leaders for developmental activities, good infrastructure and better communication. He also
stressed on “quality leadership” and said that good coordination, teamwork, dedication and honesty is essential. When a responsible person fails to hold its responsibility, Chophy said, it is due to lack of quality leadership. Pastor Ihoshe, Hoishe Baptist Church Aizuto blessed the newly elected executive members for the tenure 2017-19 - Bokalu Jimo, President and Vinoholi Shohe, General Secretary and other members.
AR interacts with villagers
Cultural Day of Thurutsuswumi as chief guest at the village. The event was organized under the aegis of Thurutsuswumi Cultural Association. Swuro, while terming Thurutsuswumi as an important village having a historical nature, said the village stands at an important location surrounded with rivers – one flowing to Chindwin river and the other to Brahmaputra. With rich cultures and traditions, it is one of the honest villages from among the Chakhesang tribe, a press release mentioned him as saying. He further stated that the village is still upholding the spirit of nationalism. It was noted that the village had
protected the Naga leader AZ Phizo by sheltering him under a tree for a long period of time. Urging upon the village to respect the Chakhesang Public Organization’s (CPO) resolution in letter and spirit, Swuro added the apex tribal organization is pursuing with the mandate of the entire Chakhesangs. He asked the Chakhesang community to respect each other and live a peaceful life. Stating that peace and unity is the sole slogan of the Nagas, he further said Chakhesang should uphold the aspiration of the Nagas as peace loving citizens. The two-day long program featured several indigenous cultural activities.
PhesaMa, January 22 (Mexn): The 6th general session of Japfüphiki Chokri Baptist Khriesarüü Krotho (JCBKK) was held at Phesama Baptist Church under the theme ‘Set an example for the believers of Christ’ from January 20 to 22. According to a press release from JCKK Finance Secretary, Venucho Chüzho, the session featured 5 worship services and 2 workshops. The speakers of the sessions were Rev. Dr. Chekroveyi Cho-o, Associate Professor, OTS, Dimapur, Khrievino Sahu, Youth Coordinator, NBCC, Rev. Dr. Mechiehol Savi, School Co-ordinator, NBCC, Rev. Dr. Razouselie Lasetso, Professor, ETC, Jorhat and Rev. Puthavil Neikha, Pastor, Viswema Baptist Church, while Dr. Sao Tunyi, Epidemiologist, Department of H&FW and Khrievino Sahu were the resource persons. Visato Yhoshu and the Light House Worship Team led during the praise and worship services.
R-Day work distribution meeting held in Peren Peren, January 22 (DiPr): Meeting in connection with work distribution for the ensuing Republic Day celebration in Peren was held at the DC’s conference hall under the chairmanship of DC Peren, Zarenthung Ezung. The Chairman said that it is the duty of each department to participate in the Republic Day celebration. Various departments were assigned different duties. He also called upon the government employees of the district to participate in the celebration.
Departmental Coordination meeting held at Tseminyu tseMinyu, January 22 (DiPr): Departmental coordination meeting was held at ADC Tseminyu’s conference hall on January 13 for the forthcoming Republic Day celebration to be held at Tseminyu Town on January 26. All heads of offices, principals, headmasters of Government High Schools and private high schools, DBs, Ward GBs in Tseminyu Town attended the meeting. ADC Tseminyu, Vikhweno M. Meratsu, who conducted the meeting, requested the members to sincerely cooperate BJP candidate for DMC Ward No 7, Ikato initiates clearing of a water in all preparation works for the successful cellogged drain at Manipuri Basti, Dimapur on Saturday. ebration of Republic Day.
KohiMa, January 22 (Mexn): An interaction with Village GBs and Council Chairmen of nine villages under Chizami Sub Division was conducted by 9 Assam Rifles on January 19. The interaction focused on methodology to increase cooperation with local bodies and enhance peace and harmony in Chizami region, an AR release informed. A separate interactive meeting was also held with the anagement study Just see, after 54 years of cated unemployment is on “Micro, Small and MeGBs and village secretary of in respect of the statehood, more than half alarmingly rising up but no dium Enterprises with Pfuchama and Phesama vilState of Nagaland a century gone, the State provision for job creation is their Problems and Proslage on January 18, a sepa- Parliamentary Secretary for IPR, Khekaho Assumi speaking at the silver jubilee celrate AR release stated. ebration of Business Association of Akuluto Town, Zunheboto district on January 21. is an emerging aspect of re- is still unable to bring out a viable, the discourse con- pects” is appropriate in research work. Due to lack of clear economic policy vis- cluded. spect of nascent economy industries in Nagaland, the à-vis industrial initiative to Just recently, Chikho- of Nagaland. It is a certaindue inspiration to study start for revolutionising the sale Thingo obtained her ty that the new generation the field of management economy of the state. It is Ph.D degree in Tezpur has to struggle hard for by the students is still in a unimaginable to keep on University, the study topic their existence in absence nutshell. depending only on Central on “MSMEs in Nagaland: of favourable facilities. The In such a situation, it Government to run the af- A Critical Study into their new generation must venMeDZiPheMa, January 22 (Mexn): is high time for the State fairs of the state. The state is Problems and Prospects” ture to take up enterprises ICAR Research Complex NEH Region, Naga- Government to initiate in- not able to stand on its own under the supervision and in order to ameliorate the land Centre Medziphema conducted three- dustrial development bas- feet so far. This is not a viable guidance of Professor Sub- societal hardship of enviday training on ‘Oyster mushroom cultivation ing on resources like forest, position on the part of the hrangshu Sekhar Sarkar in ronment, the statement technology: A source of income generation for agricultural products, and state government, a close the Department of Busi- added. Thingo’s industrial marginal and small farmers’ from January 19- the natural given talents on ally observed. This is how ness Administration. This management study throws 21. The training was coordinated by Dr. Rajesha handloom and handicrafts the new generation will not may be one of the first re- new light which is relevant G. and Ph Romen Sharma. of the Nagas, insurances, be able to have hope on the search degrees in the field for the state of Nagaland to A total of 21 farmers, including 15 farm etc where we can somehow state government for their of Management if not the start with, it added. women, from different districts participated rely on ourselves in econo- future development. In first among the Nagas, the Vepo Thingo in the training which mainly focused on oyster my towards self-reliance. such circumstances, edustatement said. The study Agri Colony Kohima Zunheboto, January at Kigwema village and Potato mushroom cultivation, value addition and mar22 (Mexn): With the purpose Farm School at Kozama village, keting of the mushroom. of enabling farmers to gather Jakhama block. Viniesa, Potato During the valedictory programme, Dr. DJ more field experience and prac- Farm School Teacher of Koza- Rajkhowa, Joint Director highlighted the nutritices in different farming system ma village demonstrated to the tional significance of mushroom and motivatamong the local farmers, ATMA farmers about the methods of ed the trainees to come up as entrepreneurs in Zunheboto organized a tour to potato plantation, land prepa- mushroom production. He also encouraged the Kohima District for six selected ration, timely plantation, ap- farmers to start mushroom spawn production e mortal men whether rich how calculation and charge those fees have been doing since from the befarmers from Zunheboto block, plication of fertilizer weeding, to mitigate the problem of spawn unavailability. or poor flock to hospital for for the patient’s confinement in their ginning where nobody complain or A press release stated that a total of 90 spawn Satakha block and Gathashi irrigation, inter-cropping and various ailments where, hospital in their hospitals. question on the matter but of course block from January 19 to 20. Ac- also the advantages of potato packets were distributed to the participants by doctors are considered as next to God Well, an acquaintance was admit- I don’t really know other private hoscording to a press release, the farming that improved his life the Joint Director to encourage mushroom cul- and true that many come out joyfully ted to a private hospital for complain pital and their calculating and the tivation. team visited Kiwi Farm School economically. but many had to answer the call of of stomach pain on 17th Jan.2017 at charge on their patients admitted to God there itself and that sad end is the 5;30 p.m. and was discharged the their clinics.” Which in other word destiny everyone had to face in dif- next day 18th Jan.2017 at 3;30 p.m. shows that there’s no specific rules ferent ways. However sadly, the poor that comes to 22 hours. Whereas, as governing private hospital and thus bore the brunt of high cost at private per the room rent charge, mainte- adversely effecting the Naga public hospitals but ultimately opted for nance charge i.e. Rs.2350x2=4700 + especially the rural poor for whom a Secondary School Ground. was with the high expectation of cur- Rs.300x2=600/-respectively comes thousand rupees is a big money. The service was led by ing their ailments or at time situation to totaling Rs.5300/- for 22 hours Well, it may seem overtone exPastor Toshi Imchen while compelled them to opt for such clinic stay in that hospital which should pression to many who have never enthe pianist was Kokhrono not necessarily by choice but circum- be otherwise Rs.2650/- only. All the counter such a situation in their life Koza. Siimi NCRC, CRC, stances. As such many poor are pay- other charges such as doctors, nurse but reasoning the prevailing univerA.G. and Central CRC pre- ing out through their nose with the visiting charges, service charges, and sal code of conduct in this matter may sented Special song. CYE, hope of curing their sickness just to medicine charges are found to be fair enlighten them with logical concluCRC Tsiepfiitsiepfhe and end up in financial desperation. enough to the best of my observation sion. True, I never mean to demean CYE, CRC Merhiilietsa Therefore, it may be prudent on and belief. or tarnish the good reputation of my were the main choir. Of- the part of the medical fraternity of NaThus accordingly, I’ve ap- benefactor (Private clinics) rather I fertory prayer was pro- galand to adopt constituted uniform proached the Managing Director wholly support their yeomen service nounced by Pastor Savil rules in the interest of the Naga pub- with a written note seeking clarifica- in healthcare sector and services with Kikhi. lic. However, I unconditionally apolo- tion on the matter where he warmly modern facilities that are not availThe Convention Praise gized that I have no much knowledge welcome and hear me out patiently. able in the govt. hospitals in the state. & Worship team led thou- about the constituted rules of Medical Where according to his version; “Yes! Therefore, I ardently implore upon sands of young souls in the Council India and Medical Council of According to hourly calculation you the private clinics to take it in the best praise and worship. Nagaland and only trying to fathom might be right making 24 hours a day of sense and let the Naga public know The convention was the logic behind therein. but you see, in hotel you come in the the veracity of their billing system in organized by Nagaland No wonder, this write up is based late evening and stay put beyond the truest spirit of Christianity. N. Haisoyi Ndang KohiMa, January 22 Revival and Healing Con- tor, Mission Out-Reach, Christian Revival Church, on my experience with a certain pri- checkout time 12;00 noon the next Author & Founder Naga script (Mexn): Thousands of vention which conclud- Arunachal Pradesh CRCC Kohima in collaboration vate hospital in Kohima which, I found day, you’re liable to pay additional Author Zeliang customary laws people from all walks of life ed here Sunday evening as the speaker at Rüzhükh- with the 35 Christian Re- it to be a bit obscured and invariably day’s charge whether you stay for 24 Lower Bayavu Kohima attended the last day of the with Dr. Joram Dol, Direc- rie Government Higher vival Churches in Kohima. desirous of knowing the fact and figure hours or less and yes this is what we
Public SPace
Research work on industrial management in Nagaland
M
Farmers under ATMA Zbto tour Kma Training on oyster mushroom cultivation concludes
Seeking clarification from private hospitals in Nagaland on day’s calculation
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Revival and Healing Convention concludes
The Morung Express “Public Space” is to provide space for diverse opinions to be expressed and heard. The opinions in the “Public Space” do not reflect the views and position of the newspaper nor the editor.
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Monday 23•01•2017
IN FOCUS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express vOluME XII ISSuE 14 By Moa Jamir
Trump’s confrontational America
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rue to his self, Donald Trump marked the first day as the President of the United States by attacking the media of lying about the “size of his inauguration crowd.” He took office as the 45th US President on January 20. Next day, his first full day at office was greeted with protest by over one million people in the historic “Women’s March” in Washington and simultaneous events across the United States and around the world. This in a sense describes the very essence of Donald Trump – confrontational and assertively aggressive to get things done his way. His natural flamboyance is equally augmented by his outrageous and often undiplomatic statements on various issues over the years. Trump's aspersion of mainstream media is no secret and he once labelled CNN as "fake news” but they returned the favour with distinct uncharitable description. His inaugural speech would make a liberal bow heads in despair, but could strike an instant chord with a conservative, spiced with patriotic flavour – rhetorical, brash and populist. Pledging emphatically to put America's "forgotten men and women” first, Trump said that the carnage of America “Stops right here and stops right now...From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.” It is not merely transferring power from one Administration to another or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People, he further incited. “January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again...” and Trump concluded his speech by promising to make America ‘Strong, Wealthy, Proud and Safe Again.’ While his stand on immigration, minority rights, healthcare and other domestic issues have been well elucidated on the campaign trail, the issues are closely inter-connected with foreign policy. “The Trump Administration is committed to a foreign policy focused on American interests and American national security,” the White House Website stated outlining the “America First Foreign Policy” of the new administration. In a way, it conveys a strong assertion that America’s current problems are mostly caused by external factors. Thus, while defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror groups is a “highest priority,” it pledged to “defeat and destroy these groups,” by pursuing aggressive joint and coalition military operations when necessary, cutting off funding, expanding intelligence sharing, and engaging in cyber warfare. “We will rebuild the American military,” it said adding that President Trump is “committed to reversing” its shrinking trend as America’s “military dominance must be unquestioned.” “Peace through strength will be at the center of that foreign policy.” But the foreign policy is more economic than diplomacy as it promises to trade deals that work for all Americans. “For too long, Americans have been forced to accept trade deals that put the interests of insiders and the Washington elite over the hard-working men and women of this country... With a lifetime of negotiating experience, the President understands how critical it is to put American workers and businesses first when it comes to trade.” The strategy would involve withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and making certain that any new trade deals are in the interests of American workers. “By fighting for fair but tough trade deals, we can bring jobs back to America’s shores, increase wages, and support U.S. manufacturing.” There is a disorienting kernel of doubt about whether we can fully trust the man who will occupy the Oval Office, Nicholas Kristoff wrote in New York Times last week. However, it will be definitely confrontational and bellicose administration. For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com
lEfT WING |
Katy Migiro Thomson Reuters Foundation
Somali gang rape video sparks call for justice, and not fine of camels
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group of teenage boys who posted a video online of themselves raping two girls must not be allowed to evade jail by paying for their crime in camels, campaigners said, in a case that has sparked outrage in the conservative Horn of Africa country. In the attack last month, six teenage boys forced the girls, aged 14 and 16, into a car and drove them close to the Ethiopian border where they stripped and raped them, taking photographs and video, according to activists counselling the victims. Authorities in the northern region of Puntland have arrested five suspects over the attack and are tracking down the sixth. "It's inhuman what those young girls have been through, the way they have been raped, tortured, stabbed," said Hawa Aden Mohamed, executive director of the Galkayo Center for Peace and Development (GECPD), which is helping the girls. Rape is pervasive and often goes unpunished in much of Somalia, where decades of conflict have fuelled a culture of violence and weakened institutions meant to uphold the law. Traditionally, rape victims are forced to accept compensation - often in the form of camels or livestock - and marry their assailants in a centuries-old practice designed to end war between rival clans. But graphic images of the gang-rape, shared on Facebook, have shocked Somalis, prompting an outpouring of sympathy for the victims and donations from hundreds of people for the 16-year-old and her family. According to Somali Faces, a platform set up by Somalis in the diaspora, more than 9,000 pounds ($11,000) was raised in two days to help the girl, who has been forced to flee to a different city for fear of being ostracised by her community. "SEVERE PUNISHMENT" Faiza Jama Mohamed, head of the Nairobi office of the women's rights advocacy group Equality Now, said the attack highlighted the plight of thousands of Somali women. "It has been happening silently to many women and girls," Mohamed told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "Only now that it has escalated to the level of being shared through the internet, it became a big issue." Women across Somalia are often reluctant to report rape for fear of being denounced as impure and immoral and rejected by their families. Equality Now's Mohamed said a crowd of hostile men came to the hospital where the girls were being treated, demanding their release. "The hospital was under siege," she said. "That gives a red flag in terms of how the community is normalising this." Clan elders initially proposed that the perpetrators' families pay each of the girls' families 100 camels in compensation - an offer they rejected, GECPD said. "We have refused to allow traditional elders to intervene," Mohamed Ali Farrah, director of Puntland's justice ministry, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "We shall take the teenagers to the court for raping the girls and they will face a severe punishment." Puntland passed a Sexual Offences Act in 2015, introducing a 15-year minimum sentence for rape, as well as legal aid and free medical care for survivors. It also seeks to end traditional justice practices by stating that marrying the victim is not a defence and compensation does not "extinguish the criminal action".
C O M M E N T A R Y
Nicolai Due-Gundersen
Nationalism in Jordan: king, tribe, or country? This article traces the formation of nationalism in Jordan as both a pan-Arab identity and a relationship between Arabs and family rulers
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bdullah I (1882-1951) was, as his name suggests, the first ruler of what became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Yet, his ascension to the throne of a new British protectorate did not mark the beginnings of young nationhood. Transjordan was not to be its own land, its own identity. This much was made clear by Adbullah I’s speech as he headed for Amman, the capital of his state. “All the Arab countries [were] the country of every Arab” because Abdullah was not securing a state but the first step in his pan-Arab, dynastic ambitions". Abdullah’s brother, King Faisal I (1885-1933) had secured Iraq as another Hashemite kingdom, while his eldest sibling, Ali bin al-Hussein (1879-1935) boasted (a very shortlived) rule over the Kingdom of the Hijaz, which would eventually become Saudi Arabia. Abdullah I’s ultimate goal was not to be Emir of Transjordan but to “[…] unify Arab lands under the Hashemite banner”, the crest of his house. To that end, Transjordan was not to be defined by a love of country but a love of king. And love of king was to be maintained through a loyalty system intended to consolidate disparate and hostile tribes under Hashemite rule. The seeds of nationalism were thus not to be a sense of patriotism but a political tool, filtered through “[…] an important supra-tribal structure […] [that] stressed tribal and Islamic identity, emphasizing the important role of tribes and tribal allegiances in Transjordan.” Abdullah I’s nationalism sprang forth from a context of religion, regional conflict and resistance to Ottoman rule, but left a lasting legacy to be inherited by Jordan’s current Abdullah II. This article explores how nationalism in the Arab world was born of militant resistance, from the Ottomans to internal struggles, and shows how Jordanian nationalism, specifically, continues to be impacted by history and fragmented by Abdullah I’s decision to centralize his rule via tribal loyalty. Arab nationalism as resistance What would become of the Middle East and its respective states was a result of two World Wars, the collapse of Ottoman power and European interference. The belligerent context of the First World War was to become of great significance to Arab nationalism, defining it through resistance to a hostile ‘other’. A heightened awareness of ethnic identity at this time incited both Turkish and Arab nationalism to emerge. The prevalence of European enlightenment and libertarian ideas did much to encourage Ottoman Ar-
King Abdullah of Jordan and John Glubb Bagot. Circa 1947. Wikimedia Commons/ War Office. Public domain.
abs to engage in an ‘Arab Awakening’, rediscovering their historical ethnicity that was distinct from Ottoman administration. As the Ottomans lost ground to Europe’s colonial powers, they tightened their grip on remaining lands. Combined with the inevitable march of the First World War, Arabs began to see the Ottomans as despots and Arab nationalism meant not only a rediscovery of ethnic traits but the need for independence through resistance. Arab resistance against Ottoman rule eventually crystallized into the Great Arab Revolt. The Revolt demonstrated one of the first regionally organized forms of resistance that tied Arab nationalism to militant opposition (against the Ottoman Empire). A direct response to Ottoman restrictions on Arab language and culture, the uprising was led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali (1853-1931), Emir of Mecca and father of the Hashemite Faisal and Abdullah, who would go on to rule Transjordan and Iraq, respectively. Hussein bin Ali’s leadership and military clout prompted Arabs to rally around the Hashemite cause and to bestow the same respect to the notion of Hashemite rule after 1918 across Transjordan, the Arabian Peninsula and Southern Syria. From this brief context, it is possible to see how nationalism began to form as both a pan-Arab (rather than state) identity and as a relationship between Arabs and family rulers (i.e. the Hashemites) rather than as a relationship between citizens and a single, bordered state. Indeed, the aspirations of Abdullah I and his subsequent (lack of ) ap-
proach to national identity was a trait inherited from his father. Sharif Hussein incited and led the Great Arab Revolt under the assumption that he would “[…] establish a single independent and unified Arab state stretching from Aleppo (Syria) to Aden (Yemen).” This Arab state would be host to uniform traditions and religion but would also risk being ethnically fragmented, a trait that foreshadowed later flaws as Transjordan gained independence and a revealing new title: the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Emir and tribe: Abdullah I establishes Transjordan In a sense, Transjordan was formed and ruled as an unwanted compromise by its first Hashemite. In 1920, Emir Abdullah was driven to restore his brother’s Syrian throne, in line with his and his father’s panArab state. However, France’s mandate over Syria forced the Emir to focus on forming Transjordan’s first government and to shelve his dreams of a Hashemite Arabia. That same year, Emir Abdullah was declared ruler of Transjordan, a British protectorate. As such, the British carved Abdullah’s country into three distinct administrative provinces. These were: Northern Ajloun (with Irbid as its administrative capital); central Balqa (administrated from Salt) and the southern Karak region. It is worth noting that at the time of Adbullah’s ascendance to the throne, Karak was run by a distinct Arab Moabite government rather than by the Emir himself. Relying on financial and administrative assistance from British bu-
reaucrats in Jerusalem, Karak suffered from weak Moabite relations with the tribes and from logistical gaps. Exemplifying such gaps was the lack of postage stamps and the means to print them; Karak received Palestinian stamps from Jerusalem and local values were written on them by hand. Over time, the Palestinian link would grow to symbolize an increasing source of tension in the attempts of modern Jordan to define its nationalism and who fit into the official concept of nationhood. Abdullah’s first government was established on April 11, 1921. Within two years, Transjordan gained state recognition and was officially transformed into the Emirate of Transjordan, with Abdullah I as Emir. By 1925, the conservative region of Ma’an and the Red Sea port province of Aqaba were officially incorporated into the country. Transjordan was gaining territory and defining its borders. However, the twenties saw a significant and repeated context; the end of the First World War, and the end of resistance for Arab unity in a region still in chaos and political fragmentation. Nationhood would not emerge without political cohesion, and for this Emir Abdullah turned to the oldest inhabitants of his deserts, the local Bedouin tribes. Nationalism in Transjordan was about to be born. Its roots would not be patriotism, but the need for stability and power. Abdullah formed personal networks that enmeshed disparate tribes to the monarchy via security and other institutions. The British-assisted Arab Legion was established to enforce law and order, further incorporating tribes into the state structure. In so doing explain analysts Mohammed Oudat and Ayman Alshboul, Emir Abdullah would promote a framework for nationalism that excluded the nation state. Instead, nationalism would be a political system of “[…] loyalties based on the desire to defend both the honour of the tribes and the institution of the monarchy rather than to defend the notion of the nation-state.” Echoing his father’s dream of a Hashemite Arabian Peninsula, ethnic and tribal diversity came second to Hashemite security “[…] in a land in which tribes loathed central authority and where confrontations [between] Bedouins […] was one of the major obstacles.” The importance of tribalism to Hashemite security would continue under successive Jordanian monarchs. Nicolai Due-Gundersen is author of The Privatisation of Warfare and Inherently Governmental Functions (Intersentia, Cambridge) and a PhD candidate at Kingston University, London after four years in Jordan.
We Can Learn So Much From Nature David Suzuki
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CommonDreams
f you fly over a forest and look down, you'll see every green tree and plant reaching to the heavens to absorb the ultimate energy source: sunlight. What a contrast when you look down on a city or town with its naked roofs, asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks, all ignoring the sun's beneficence! Research shows we might benefit by thinking more like a forest. Solar roads could be a step in that direction. Roads, sidewalks and parking lots cover massive areas. Using them to generate power means less environmental disturbance, as no new land is needed to house solar power operations. A French company, Colas, is working with the French National Institute for Solar Energy to test its Wattway technology under various conditions, with a goal of covering 1,000 kilometres of existing highway with thin, durable, skid-resistant crystalline silicon solar panel surfacing over the next four years. They estimate that could provide electricity for five million people. Although critics have raised questions about cost and feasibility, it's not pie-in-the-sky. The technology is being tested and employed throughout the world.
Rooftops are another place to generate power using existing infrastructure. Elon Musk's company Tesla is making shingles that double as solar panels. Although they cost more than conventional asphalt shingles, they're comparable in price to higher-end roof tiles, and can save money when you factor in the power they generate. These developing technologies show that, as the world continues to warm, we can and must move beyond our outdated ways. In Canada and elsewhere, the political approach to climate change has often been to avoid discussing it — in part by firing government scientists or vetting their public statements — and maintaining the status quo by lavishly supporting unproven and risky technologies like carbon capture and storage that keep us tied to fossil fuels for years to come. It's nonsensical to dig up and melt oilsands bitumen, transport and burn it, and attempt to capture the emissions and stick them back in the ground, where nature had already stored the carbon. Nature took millions of years to do it, but we aren't a patient animal. U.S. science writer Janine Benyus coined the term "biomimicry" to de-
scribe technologies based on nature's ability to solve problems or exploit opportunities. It's an important concept because it requires humility and respect for natural processes rather than the imposition of our crude but powerful technological innovations. Every species shares the same challenges: how to get energy and food, avoid predators and disease (even bacteria get viral infections), what to do with waste and how to reproduce. Over long periods, numerous strategies to solve these challenges have evolved. We are a species magnificently adapted for survival, with a massive brain relative to our body size. Unlike any other species, we have the ability to ask questions and seek answers. We can find a treasure trove of solutions in the ways other species have dealt with challenges. Biomimicry has inspired applications ranging from producing energy through artificial photosynthesis to building lightweight support structures based on the properties of bamboo. By learning how nature works and how to work within it, we can overcome many problems we've created by trying to jam our technologies on top of natu-
WRITE-WING
ral systems. Fossil fuels were formed when plants absorbed and converted sunlight through photosynthesis hundreds of millions of years ago, then retained that energy when they died, decayed and became compacted and buried deep in the Earth, along with the animals that ate them. Rapidly burning limited supplies of them is absurd, especially when they can be useful for so many other known and possibly yet undiscovered purposes. Surely, with our knowledge and wisdom we can do better than rely on the primitive idea of burning things to stay warm and comfortable without regard for the consequences — pollution of air, water and land with its related impacts on health, as well as climate change, which is putting humanity's survival at risk. Our economic systems don't often encourage the most efficient and least harmful ways of providing necessities. They aim for the quickest, easiest, cheapest and most economically profitable paths. We can do better than that. Harnessing the sun's power and learning how nature solves challenges are good places to start. David Suzuki is a well-known Canadian scientist, broadcaster and environmental activist.
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7
The Morung Express POLL RESULTS
Do you think that 33% reservation for women infringes on Naga customary law and procedure of Article 371 (A)? How? Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes, 33% WR certainly infringes the spirit of Naga customary practices which is also honoured under Article 371A. If any women reservation is required, let political parties reserve 33% of their nominations but not wards or constituencies. • Yes, wards reservations based on gender is not a good idea. This will bring untold complications in the future. I don’t understand why the government of the day is being so stubborn and myopic. • Yes, the Naga customary law or the civil administration of the civic bodies does not apply any reservation status for women in the society. They can enjoy equal rights with the Men folks to contest in any election, as far as the Naga customary law is concern. • Yes, its a discrimination to Man • Yes... Although I feel it's not about women discrimination, rather the preservation of the special act entitled only to the State of Nagaland. And its the very reason why, the GOI is trying to take it back to enforce its uniform civil code, while taking full advantage of the Bankrupt government, fading Nationalism and opposition less government. • Yes it does because WR argues that due to patriarchal system and male dominance that 33% reservation should be implemented but a question is who defined our system patriarchal system was it from within ourselves or from the Outside? Secondly whose idea is it for reservation was it from within or outside. The only thing we knew was we had the right to govern independently and thus article 371A was implemented to protect our right to governance. And the same external force that defined us, that introduced this reservation is now trying to interfere in our self governance by infringing on this article with an aim to i believe to remove the said article..maybe Jallikattu stands as an example of the centres interference. And maybe Reservation is a way of centres interference in our customary practices. Some of those who voted NO had this to say: • No. 33% reservation has nothing to do with NCL. NCL is constructed procedure of justice and therefore cannot consider as "time immemorial" and given. • No at all. It is just an excuse to oppose 33%WR. • Article 371(A) has become a matter of Luxury. Where is the connection between 33% reservation and NCL. Naga Hoho should explain logically otherwise people will dismantle the importance of NCL because in reality it is constructed procedure of justice.
valid reasons to be in politics then I more clearly defined- namesam • I still haven't a clue how Article of my culture and i hung my head therefore the need to change and GB's, since the real power will be believe every Nagas would've sup243T affects Article 371A. And in shame of such culture and adapt so as to move along with in the hands of wards councillor. ported their fight but they projectwhat is Naga customary law as far also to be a man in such culture. time and the rest of the world. ed Naga Society very poorly when Is Nagaland the first and only state as 33% reservation for women is Also being a Christian i consider For this very reason, Article 371A where this 33% Women ReservaNo Nagas opposed any womenthat men and women are crewas not made absolute or static, concerned? tion is being implemented in Infolks to be a politician /leader. • No. Election of men or women ated alike by God and we should room was given to make changes so that the good of the people of • May be, instead of asking whether dia? If so, it wouldn't surprise me in Municipalities and Towns has not discriminate anyone or gen33% Women reservation infringes if Jammu & Kashmir is the next. nothing to do with customarily der. I wonder as to what absolute the state is not sacrificed on the on Article 371(A)? We should be Aye, in all honesty, gender equallaws for the plain reason: Nagas power has the tribal leaders of alter of traditions which may not ity is only theoretical in our sociasking whether the whole Municihad no governance by election Hahas or Hohos have that they be applicable anymore. Thanks to ety. But who really benefits from pal and Town Council/ULB elecin the past even by men, or no no suppress people's freedom to the wisdom of those who frame it. tion infringes on Article 371(A). 33%? The Indian government contest election. Is 'might is right' • A big No.... In fact nagas are maktowns then. If Article 371 (A) proMay be the answer to the first who sows seeds of discord by pitpart of our culture as well. Did ing fun of themselves by oppostects Naga customary laws, nomiquestion lies in the ANSWER to ting quasi-intellectuals and our nation is the way to select leaders they (tribal org) seek for people's ing reservation without substanwomen against our apex tribal the second question!! If it infringand this, too, should be limited to opinion first. By banning towns to tiating their real stand.... es, then the whole set up should bodies, and those willing to stand the Village Republic system as in suppress the democratic norms • No. 33% seat reservation for be scrapped irrespective of 33% against any divisive incursion and to oppose uplift the women, women folks doesn't infringe on the past. policy of Indian government, or or not and find a new working sysaren't our tribal bodies not any our customary practices or Art • No. Reservation is only to reprethose women who cannot speak tem for our Municipals and towns. 371A. Because election system sent and uplift the women folk. different from radical and mindNagamese let alone English, but less groups like Shiv Sena, MNS, itself is absent in the Naga cus- • To me, i don't find any such inIt's modern time, Bhai. The womis an unopposed candidate-elect fringement. But if the civil societtomary law. But leave the final en are not going to climb over the VHP and ISIS. ies say so, they should come out of her reserved ward. Of course, men; need not afraid. Naga cus- • No, Unless it is amended it verdict to the wisdom of the legal clearly how... so that people can that candidate benefits, because toms and traditions are quite safe. has nothing to do with the ulb luminaries. • No...... Because i don't that there know and think over it. Because she may not have the keen aptiIt's not be an act of infringement. election. this is a serious matter, we should tude for town development; may It's for the welfare of our sisters, • No. It in no way infringes upon is such rules that prohibit reserlack education to effect necessary N a g a vation for be careful before it is implementmothers, aunties, wives, etc etc. women in ed. I personally do not favour this modernised civilised changes, • No, First, It does infringes on that c u s t o m Naga cus33% reservation. If the govt. really but she will have a host of people feudal customary laws. Second, ar y law. wants to make way for women, (gender no bar) from her party It would tomary law. 33% reservation is not at all covi feel it would have been better backing her up. So there! • N o i t ered under Article 371(A). It's not have been • Let me make it clear. It may be or with a lesser % initially. legit if it doesn't at an Act of Parliament, it's a constiall! Being • Nothing works...discussion or it may not be the question of intutional arrangement which our was about fringing Art 371. The question is debating on 33% or 371A or cusagainst it is corrupt state assembly does not the village tomary or municipal election or about bad politics with ulterior c o u n c i l s pure selechave the power to defy. Christian state....nothing works. motive the GoI (RSS/BJP) is playtive discrim• First of all, what are those Naga but that's ing against the Nagas. Let me also Just let us seek an automatic faination! customary laws specified on the n o t t h e vour from God. We the nagas will remind you, in 2010 when Cong- I • N o, i t Article 371(A) ? It does not stated case here. was in power the opposition BJP/ never change. We are still lackMunicipal doesn't. Not in any way about women reservaing behind in every angles and its RSS demanded Art 370 & 371 to and Town implementtion being against the Naga custoo late to be with the rest of the be scraped/amended from the c o u n c i l s ing it denies tomary law. The article is so obIC but the foundation of these world. equal rights to women scure and needs to be well defined were never part of the Naga tratwo Article 'are' too strong to be dition and therefore, there's no • Not at all. 33% reservation for • First of all article 371 a is to upand stated clearly. So, it's a big NO. hold customary rights . Elections moved. Now, the main target of question of infringing on cuswomen is a constitutional right. • No not an inch. Art. 371 (A) cleardon't fall under this category as RSS is Art 370 of (J&K) so, by way tomary laws. Article 371A of the • No. Article 371A, four points rely defines it elections are purely secular in of manipulating Art 371 they want constitution is greatly misread lates to customs and traditions • Not at all. Urban local managepractise . Then also urban Dev to get even in J&K. Since T.R. Zealand misunderstood by most of practice within certain village jument is unrelated to gender biministry should scrap all the ing made the Nagas appear more risdiction and general rights of ased customary "laws". If civil the opponents of 33% reservafunds meant for muncipal bodies foolish, the GoI is about to touch tion, I don't know if they're doNagas over resources in Nagaland and tribal bodies insist that womwithout elections no one should 371 first. Nobody understand why en's reservation infringes on Art. ing it deliberately or being naive while 33% women reservation is Naga women are so short sighted get hold of these funds 371/A, then Nagas have to first of and ignorant. They also tend to a municipal act amended in the • I am not sure about It. Therefore or cant think and see beyond toIndian constitution. all do away with setting up towns read only what they want to, setI leave it upto Legal luminaries, morrow. Announcement of thou(urban and semi urban) in the ting aside the other provisions protectors of Naga customs and sand crore rupees of urban degiven in the same article. For the Some of those first place (which is too late anytraditions, politicians who are velopment schemes funds after way). Then do away with NLA and record, Article 371A protects only who voted OTHERS had this to say: eventually the idea of a sovereign the Naga customs, traditions, laws • It should be discussed thoroughly true representatives of their peoULB election has truly blinded by Nagas and GOI. And also why ple, learned and well read memnation - since they rock and will and land and it's resources and our Naga women folk. The future Nagas are accepting IPC even bers of civil society who are Nagas generation will hold them rerock the boat of what is perceived not the entire legislations made though we have customary law. by blood to convince me and give sponsible and answerable. Now it by the parliament. Parliamentary as unshakeable traditional cusI'm Confuse....!! a clear consensus on whether it's is more crystal clear, those Nagas acts which does not infringe upon toms. Positive change is inevitaa yes or no. I am not well versed taking part in ULB election with Naga customs, traditions etc. can • "Treating equals equally n unble to human progress. The earliequal unequally" to do justice to with the constitution of India to 33%WR shall be party with GoI er we confront our fear of change, be implemented in the state of all.. We fail to understand this so be confident and give a YES or in trampling and suppressing the the sooner our living standard Nagaland as in any other parts of we are all confused. Its not about NO. So, In the meantime. I am rights, freedom and protection will improve, primarily in relation the country. Further, Article 371A art 371A or customary law. These not going to take a chance. I am wall of the Nagas guaranteed by to urban livelihood, which will is not absolute. The very article, two are just an excuses by both not going to gamble with article Art 371 of IC. Hope there are no which our civil bodies are quotalso richly impact rural lives. sides. The question here is "Is this 371(A) which is the only armour anti-Naga Nagas! ing time and again, also empow• No. Even if our culture and tradiAct of parliament/Supreme Court Nagaland has against massive In- • I think 33% reservation for womers the Nagaland State Legislation bar the women from deciorder applicable in our context/ en is not entirely undermining dia right now. sion making we should shun such tive Assembly to make amends or society?. N we too have to ponder • Article 371 (A) clearly protects manhood, yes, it is absolutely uncivilised practise to change for rectifications of the Central laws ourselves whether women were/ reactionary to inherently naga Naga customary laws and its prothat are likely to come into congood. We can't be barbaric anyare subjugated or discriminated cedures aye? And since Art 371 customer law and a little contrasflict with the provisions given in more. Or can we? in our society. has no relevance to Art 243/244 tive to article 371 (A) but showing • No. In our tribe, i have heard article 371A and apply it in the much aggressive and barricading many a times that, women are state if it feels, it is for the good of • Whether it infringe Article 371(A) (which one is it?) there is no inor not but it surely does affected fringement, even if there is, it is to their privileges is also downmade synonymic to child and are the people and the state. Let's reour Naga Society hell lots with very flimsy. Okay, quite interesttrodening them (women). So for considered unwise to have a say member that no culture and trabaselessly tagging Naga society as ing truly. Now that every ward/ voting,I will vote to as much as on any major decision making. dition is static; what was good in a society where we Naga womencolony will have their councillor, women contestant and would Such immatured and stupid idea the past may not necessarily be folks are discriminated. Had the town GB's (Chieftains), if you will, like to keep my adherence to naga cannot and should not be our culso in the present due to changed NMA/JACWR used some other and his council members roles are customary law. ture. If they are than i am shame times and circumstances and
47%
33%
20%
Reimagining the role of donors: From funding projects to funding struggles While donors partner with civil society to counter shrinking civic space, their rigid funding systems can undermine progress Maina Kiai
B
openDemocracy
ilateral and multilateral donors occupy a critical position in the prevailing human rights business model. Their funding is essential for advancing human rights, yet with their current approaches, they may also be inadvertently accelerating the process of closing civic space. In 2015 alone, serious threats to civic freedoms were documented in over 100 countries. While donors partner with civil society to counter shrinking civic space, their frequently rigid funding systems— which often focus on short-term projects rather than long-term struggles—can actually undermine effectiveness, and hamper support to new movements critical for social change. Institutional donors now need to critically reassess their role in the human rights business model. Part of this process—which needs to be participatory—should involve a move towards a more empowering system that prioritises long-term and sustainable support to established NGOs and emerging social movements. Today’s donor models to support human rights causes derive largely from donors’ desire to easily evaluate their contributions and to immediately identify and quantify successes. They are also a product of the “copy and pasting” of the development or service-provision paradigm to human rights and democracy work. This has been formalised through “log-frame” based designs and “indicator-ism”
whereby project success is defined by achieving an indicator, an oftcritiqued model that assumes degrees of causality between donorfunded activity-driven projects and desired social outcomes. The eagerness to achieve shortterm and quantifiable results has pushed human rights groups to devote energy to—and claim successes from—project activities. For instance, an NGO will stretch its claim to effectiveness by attributing the arrest of a government official to an online petition it ran against corruption, but it has no capacity to follow up to ensure a corresponding conviction. Or an NGO will proclaim that speaking at the UN Human Rights Council for two minutes—with hardly any listeners—is an “indicator” of its impact internationally. Holding a number of workshops is taken to be an indicator of “increased awareness.” And there are many more examples. Yet this paradigm propels associations towards short-term activities rather than towards seizing opportunities in the long-term struggle for social justice. It also creates competition between associations as each strives to position itself as the most successful, instead of joining forces to achieve lasting change. This is unfortunate, since the major human rights achievements of the past century were— without exception—the result of alliances between various actors, working from diverse angles and with different tools but all strongly united in the “struggle”. In addition, donors have favoured the supply side over the demand side of democracy and
Miners protest in South Africa. Social movements that have the genuine capacity to address structural inequalities in society—such as labour movements— are often overlooked, ignored and underfunded.
human rights. Government institutions and structures have received a lot of “good governance” support, without equivalent investment in the demand side of governance. Even more, civil society is oftentimes told to work with government institutions if they want to access donor funds. Yet this fundamentally denies the independent and crucial role civil society has to play in democracy, and chokeholds associations to the brink of survival. Finally, the current funding approach blanks out support for social movements, directly by donors or indirectly by existing organisations, as they are not enabled to seize opportunities as they arise, or to catalyse social movements, which have—throughout history and across cultures—advanced human rights and social justice. Whether through associations formed in the workplace, or through people as-
sembling on the streets, such movements often emerge unexpectedly and without infrastructure, frequently now propelled by social media. Often emerging in times of profound crisis, they reflect the organic demands of ordinary people for recognition, equality, social justice, redress and change. Social movements are often messy, unpredictable and have long-term visions for social change that are difficult to assess and evaluate. Yet, despite their transformative power, social movements are currently overlooked in donor priorities. The opportunity cost of this business model is far from benign. Social movements that have the genuine capacity to address structural inequalities in society—from labour unions to pro-democracy protest movements—are overlooked, ignored and underfunded. Their galvanising potential can be
lost, often before it is able to properly form. Take, for example, the recent wave of peaceful protests in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Where should local organisers turn to for support, capacity and solidarity? Do the legitimate demands of the people met by state repression and many hundreds of deaths, not deserve more and better support than post-facto funded analyses, reporting, and advocacy? As I reported to the United Nations General Assembly, there is a global trend towards the weakening of workers’ rights that requires human rights organizations—including donors—to urgently include labor rights within a broader human rights agenda. The current dominant approach by donors reflects the unintended negative effects of donor benevolence, and also a paucity of ambition and an abdication of responsibility. Donors should realign their priorities towards supporting longterm struggles for social justice. Progress in achieving human rights cannot be captured in quarterly reports; sometimes it takes generations. Sincere partnerships involve a multi-annual commitment to the cause and priority should be given to nurturing ideas, promoting joint strategies, and advancing grassroots organizing abilities. This must not only involve a different engagement with existing organisations, but also a proactive approach to identifying and supporting new and emerging social movements, and engaging with actors traditionally side-lined within the human rights field (for example, labor movements).
Second, donors sincere about supporting civil society should not shy away from frank interactions with national authorities. All too often, narratives claiming that foreign funded human rights work undermines sovereignty or national identity are used by national authorities, even as they beg for this same foreign funding and support. Further, donors seem to retreat more and more to capitals and headquarters, following social change on their screens, when they should be reinvesting in local engagement, accepting that not all investment yields success. Third, donors must commit to a results framework whereby seizure of opportunities is favoured over ticking off activities and producing deliverables. This will indeed involve relinquishing a degree of control about the form of the supported human rights work, while insisting on transparency and accountability. Social change, by its very nature, is driven by the people and their associations. Donor support for human rights and civil society is badly needed in all corners of the globe to parry today’s extremely precarious situation. But a willingness to change and be creative, to invent new ways of supporting rights, is pivotal for democracy and development. Donors, just like us all, need to think tactically to get us out of this position. Maina Kiai is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. He has more than 20 years experience working in civil society and human rights in Kenya, Africa and globally.
Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.
8
MonDAY 23•01•2017
INDIA
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Jallikattu held in Tamil Nadu, claims two lives
Chennai, January 22 (ianS): Jallikattu, a popular bull taming sport, was on Sunday held in parts of Tamil Nadu with tens of thousands taking part but two participants were killed and several injured at one event. The sport was held at Pudukottai, Trichy and Ramanathapuram districts while bullock cart races were organised in Coimbatore and Theni, officials said. At Pudukottai, two bull valuters were severely injured and died on the way to a hospital, police said. Several other people were injured in the incident. The sport involves young men latching on to the hump of bulls. One who manages to stay put even after the animal makes three jumps is declared a winner. At times, the participants are thrown off the back of bulls or get gored by the animal. It was not clear how the deaths occurred in Pudukottai. The events were held after weeklong state-wide protests by students and youths and followed the promulgation of an ordinance by the Tamil Nadu government amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to hold Jallikatttu. The sport was banned by the Supreme Court in May 2014. But Jallikattu did not take place in Alanganallur in Madurai district as no preparation had been done there. Attempts to hold the event at Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul district failed due to protests against Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's wish to flag it off. Speaking in Madurai on his way to Chennai, the Chief Minister said: "Jallikattu is being held at several places in the state. At Alanganallur it will be held when the people want it. "Jallikattu cannot be stopped by anybody," Panneerselvam added.
Protests force CM to leave without inaugurating event
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to assist his government in its efforts to hold Jallikattu. The government will on Monday place in the assembly a bill for holding Jallikattu. It is expected to pass with majority support. Meanwhile, the massive youth protest in Chennai's Marina Beach entered its seventh day on Sunday. Some young people fainted at the venue owing to severe sun. The protest that started with a handful of a people on January 17 morning is now attracting lakhs. DMK leader M.K. Stalin urged Panneerselvam to explain to the demonstrators the steps the government will take so that there will not be any more
legal impediments for the conduct of Jallikatttu. The Supreme Court in 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including in bullock cart races. Since then, people have been urging the central government to take steps to allow the sport. On Sunday, R. Arul of Pasumai Thayagam, a Tamil group, told IANS: "All that the central government has to do is to remove the bull from the list of performing animals in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Is issuing a notification such a big issue?" Despite Jallikattu being held in parts of Tamil Nadu, many do not hide their anger vis-a-vis the People for Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA), Modi and Panneerselvam. The anger against PETA is the most severe. Many want the group banned for what they say is its opposition to Indian culture and tradition. On Sunday, the railways cancelled 19 trains after pro-Jallikattu crowds collected on railway tracks. These included the Palakkad TownTiruchchirappalli Passenger, KaraikudiTiruchchirappalli Passenger and Vanchi Maniyachchi-Tuticorin Passenger. "Daily some 40,000 passengers are affected due to cancellations and short terminations due to the protests. Many of them may be travelling to attend interviews or for health reasons," a railway official told IANS preferring anonymity.
Chennai, January 22 (PTi): Jallikattu was conducted in various parts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday even as protests continued at Alanganallur in Madurai where people refused to hold the famous sport seeking a “permanent solution”, forcing Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to leave for Chennai without inaugurating it. Panneerselvam had on Saturday said he would inaugurate the bull taming sport at Alanganallur, famous for holding jallikattu events, at 10 a.m. Groups of protesters continued to stay put at several locations in the state, including the Marina Beach at Chennai, epicentre of the stir for the last six days. The protesters are seeking a permanent solution for holding the sport, besides a ban on animal rights group PETA. As protesters demanded a permanent solution for holding the sport and raised slogans that ordinance was only a temporary measure, Panneerselvam said: the “State’s jallikattu ordinance route is permanent, robust and sustainable, will be made into a law in the coming Assembly session.” He reiterated that there was no ban following the promulgation of the ordi-
nance. The Chief Minister said the ordinance will be replaced by a law after bringing in a bill in the Assembly session, beginning at Chennai on Monday. Speaking to reporters at Madurai before leaving for Chennai, Panneerselvam said, “The ban on jallikattu has been removed completely, the sport will be held at Alanganallur, on a date decided by local people.” He said jallikattu was held in all parts of Tamil Nadu with the local administration and police taking all stipulated measures to hold the sport. Continuing blockades and agitations here at Alanganallur and Tamukkam grounds, besides neighbouring Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul, put a question mark over Panneerselvam inaugurating jallikattu. Panneerselvam, who had announced that he would inaugurate jallikattu at Alanganallur, had to stay back in a hotel here following the stir there by protesters who demanded a permanent measure to be in place. Following that, Panneerselvam was expected to inaugurate jallikattu at Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul. However, protests erupted there too placing the same demand for a “permanent solution.”
Can't promote 'Make in Bengal's transgender fights odds, SP, Congress clinch India' abroad & peddle 'Hate battle-ready for civil services exam poll alliance in UP in India' at home: Tharoor KolKaTa, January 22 (ianS): a third gender candidate, it has been the court battle. luCKnoW, January 22 (PTi): Capping days of feverish parleys, Congress and Samajwadi Party on SunKolKaTa, January 22 (ianS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has infused a lot of "personal energy" into his diplomacy, but it's difficult to push the Make in India initiative abroad while promoting "Hate in India" at home, says former central minister Shashi Tharoor. According to the seasoned diplomat, Modi's foreign policy is dogged by a growing perception that the "salesman is selling an empty package". "He has brought a lot of personal energy to his diplomacy and there is no underestimating that. His travels have been tireless. He has been a salesman for his view of India and Indian development," Tharoor told IANS in an interview during a visit here to promote his book "An Era of Darkness". "But there are two problems," said the author-cumCongress leader. "The first is there is an increasing perception that this salesman is selling an empty package. The reality at home is not being given enough importance. For example, Indian investors are not investing enough in India. Our home-grown capitalists are taking their money abroad. At the same time, Mr. Modi is trying to sell the attractions of investing in India to foreigners. This is a genuine problem," said the Lok Sabha member from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram constituency. "The second problem is that diplomacy has always got to be a means to an end. In our time we were clear that the purpose of our foreign policy is to promote a transformation and development of India and the Indian people. "That is, we need good relations with countries from which investment comes, we need good relations with countries which are sources of our energy security like the Arab world, we need to be on good terms with countries which are important sources of food security, countries where Indians are working and, therefore, they need to feel secure in those foreign countries and so on. "It cannot be an end in itself. It's difficult to promote Make in India abroad if you're promoting 'Hate in India' at home," says the keen student of history, who was Minister of State for External Affairs between May 2009 and April 2010. He said the main difference between the Congress and the BJP lay in their different views of nationalism -the former believing in an inclusive one which embraces all, irrespective of religion and language, and the latter promoting a narrow variety that is not shared universally. "Unfortunately, what the ruling dispensation prefers is a narrow-minded nationalism which reduces India to a particular community, the Hindu community, and that too a particular view of Hinduism which may not be shared universally by everyone. For example, the Dalits may dissent from that narrative. "To call the one nationalism and the other not is absurd. They are all different variants. One is inclusive and the other is narrow-minded nationalism and the (proponents of the) latter happen to be in power now. Some are feeling left out of this nationalism which I feel is a dangerous aspect." Having spent a considerable time at the United Nations, Tharoor, who ran for the post of Secretary General in 2006 along with eventual winner Ban Ki-moon, did not want to read too much into the emergence of right wing politics in many countries. "For example in France, Marine La Pen has captured some 30 percent in the polls but 70 per cent are still opposed to her brand of politics and it's unlikely that she will win the presidency. "In Holland, Geert Wilders may have become a highly-visible figure, but he is not going to be capturing the majority. Brexit was an anti-immigrant vote, (Donald) Trump's victory was partly fuelled by xenophobia. All these things are true but each country's politics has its own domestic reasons," Tharoor said. The charismatic 60-year-old politician gave some hints about his next literary venture. "This book ('An Era of Darkness') has just come out and is coming out in the UK onMarch 2. My publishers are very keen that I write something on the 70th anniversary of India's independence about the national character and us as a people."
Atri Kar's resolute voice betrays her frustration. On January 29, she will be the first transgender candidate from West Bengal to appear in a state civil services examination. Fraught with legal hassles, the 27-year-old's uphill climb to write the exam has cost her a lot of prep time, which she fears might limit her chances to realise her dream of a career in the state civil service. A battle-scarred Kar hopes the landmark Supreme Court judgement -- in which NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) was the petitioner -- is executed in letter and spirit because, she says, even nearly three years after the historic verdict, the ruling is largely restricted to introducing the 'other' category in voter cards. The apex court had through the verdict recognised individual's right to determine and express one's gender and had granted a legal status to the ‘third gender'. As an aspiring civil servant, Kar was shocked last year to find that the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) hadn't notified the 'other' category in its application forms for the state civil services examination. "After my requests to the WBPSC for including the 'other' category did not elicit any response, I decided to take legal recourse. Though I will finally be writing the exam in a week as
a long and arduous journey that has cost me a lot of time with regards to exam preparation," Kar told IANS. "I filed a case against the commission in Calcutta High Court with the help of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN). Since the court said it should be filed at the State Administrative Tribunal, we did accordingly and the tribunal ordered the commission to let me appear in the exam as a third-gender candidate," a harried Kar explained. She went to court again recently. Kar was the first third-gender candidate from the state to write the Railway Recruitment Board exam. "I appeared as a third-gender candidate in the first stage of the examination with fee relaxation but when the results came out, to my disappointment, there was no reservation for people like me. I scored 56 per cent but that was deemed insufficient to sit in the next stage. Cutoffs for many other categories were much lower, whereas we had no reservation. So I filed another case with the help of HRLN," said Kar, who was finally allowed to write the next stage of the exam in early January. A resident of Hooghly district's Tribeni, Kar had to juggle her primary school teaching and legal fight, a feat made all the more difficult by the fact that she was spending around five hours only to commute between her home town and Kolkata and back for
At the same time Kar, an English Honours graduate, was undergoing a "transformation" due to the ongoing hormonal therapy to become a woman. "I felt weak due to therapy and often thought it won't work out. I did request the state Education Department for help but nothing happened," Kar said, lambasting the alleged inaction of the state Transgender Welfare Board. "The NALSA judgement calls for public awareness so that people like me do not face discrimination. This has not happened. The authorities should ensure they can implement the judgement in a proper way and not just limit it to creating a separate category on paper," Kar said, admitting that she had to change three schools in two-and-half years because of the stigma attached. Asserting that she had been a good student all through, Kar apprehends the reactions to her struggle from members of her own community. "There might be two strands of thought -- a section may feel emboldened to actually pursue their dreams despite the odds while, on the other hand, others may be discouraged by watching me strugle." "If an educated person has to go through so much, then the lesser privileged ones may not be willing to chase their dreams," she added.
day forged an alliance to contest the UP Assembly polls together. At a joint press conference here, leaders the two parties said SP will contest 298 of the 403 seats and Congress the remaining 105. “SP and Congress have forged an alliance and will contest UP assembly polls together,” SP state president Naresh Uttam told the hurriedly convened media briefing. UP PCC chief Raj Babbar hoped the SP-Congress alliance will reap a bumper electoral harvest in the state and fulfil aspriations of all sections of the society. He said a Common Minimum Programme will be drafted within a week. Talks between top Congress and SP leaders had been going on for the last several days for but an announcement got delayed as the two parties refused to scale down their demand for the number of seats each would contest. Sources said the alliance materialised after Congress President Sonia Gandhi intervened. Top leaders of both parties finalised the seat sharing arrangement around wee hours on Sunday. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had earlier tweeted: “Discussion was at highest levelCM (UP), GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi.” Prospects of forming of an alliance between Samajwadi Party and Congress for the Uttar Pradesh polls had run into rough weather, with both parties hardening their stance over the number of seats. At one stage senior SP leader Naresh Agarwal had said the possibility of an alliance was “almost over” and blamed the “stubborn” attitude of Congress for the deadlock. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had initially offered 100 seats to Congress but they demanded 120. Samajwadi Party then argued that it had 234 sitting legislators and there were some others who would also contest. Thus, the ruling party needed at least 300 of the 403 seats. But, Congress leaders had informed the SP that in such a scenario, there cannot be an alliance. On the other hand, Congress’ Central Election Committee met in Delhi and went ahead with finalising candidates for 140 seats which will go to polls in the first 2 phases.
India headed for a green energy revolution: Harvard scientist KolKaTa, January 22 (ianS): Harvard chemist and energy innovator Daniel G. Nocera is a man on a "renewable" mission. The inventor of the artificial leaf and co-creator of its bionic version plans to launch a pilot of the advanced technology in India with the assertion that a "renewable energy revolution will take place" in the country. "I have no doubt about it. The revolution in renewable energy will happen in India. When you look at places in the developed world like the US, you are looking backwards, meaning that's what it used to be like (coal, oil and gas) and the emerging countries have a decision to take: Do they want to build something looking back or do they want to do something different," Nocera told IANS in an interview here on the sidelines of SABIC (Symposium on Advanced Biological Inorganic Chemistry) 2017.
Nocera, currently the Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University, invented the artificial leaf which used solar power to split water and make hydrogen fuel. Because society isn't set up to use hydrogen, to circumvent the problem of storing and using hydrogen, he and his team went one step further with the bionic leaf. They made liquid fuel. The bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel. It uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to generate the fuel. The system churns out energy 10 times more efficiently than natural photosynthesis. Nocera collaborated with Pamela Silver of Harvard Medical School for the bionic version. Now, the 59-year-old intends to set up a formal collaboration with the Insti-
tute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai and supply some of the science and the engineered bacteria to the scientists to take the technology forward. "I want to start anything
"You could imagine anybody with an artificial leaf. If you have sunlight you can use any water source. It doesn't have to be pure water. It is totally distributed. It can use dirty water and
Do emerging country's look back or do something different? that goes for the commercialisation of the bionic leaf, for instance. I want do it in India. I am not doing it with American companies. Because ICT has such great chemical engineers I am hoping we can do it. I want to start a pilot project. We already have a MoU in place (Harvard with ICT) but we haven't worked out the details of the project. We will do it now," Nocera asserted. The USP of the technology, which relies on unique catalysts that are biocompatible, is that it allows the use of any kind of water, even dirty water.
sunlight; it's the way to distribute fuel production," explained Nocera, who pitched his technology as being for the poor. But will it be cheap enough? "It's cheap enough, but it's not cheap enough to use now because nobody is going to invent anything that is cheaper than coal, oil or gas. Nothing is ever going to be cheap enough. That's a bogus argument, in my opinion. The only way to make it cheap enough is to put new policies in place which scientists don't do. They don't like to work with policy people. I work with
them," he averred. Nocera has given almost a hundred invited talks on the artificial system (that resembles a sleek modern-day smartphone) and has received his fair share of criticism as well for what has been called his "radical" approach. But he remains unmoved, maintaining whenever one does things differently, one is criticised. "We used silicon in the artificial leaf which absorbs light and separates the charge. The catalysts get energised by that and splits the water. It was extremely hard. For 40 years, people were trying to make a single magic material that absorbs the light, separates the charge and does the catalysis. Our system has different components and that's how photosynthesis works," he elaborated. Nocera, as the cofounder of the Sun Catalytix start-up (from where the hydrogen/artificial leaf story began in 2009) had
also started working with the Tata group in India on hydrogen as a fuel. However, due to the lack of infrastructure to use hydrogen, his company turned to developing a flow battery to store the power and plug it into the grid. Lockheed Martin acquired the startup in 2014. Envisioning a future where households will have rooftop bionic systems, Nocera believed it's a tough call for India -- which has a 100 GW solar power target for 2022 -- to continue using fossil fuels to keep the economy growing or to set up a whole new infrastructure for renewables. "I am hoping (India can achieve it). You have to really understand the pressure politicians are under: Everybody in India also wants his economy to grow. So do I put in a whole new infrastructure for renewable energy or do I just keep using fossil fuels to keep the economy growing," he wondered.
MondAY 23•01•2017
WORLD
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Losing Iraq, IS seeks to shore up Syria presence BEIRUT, JANUARY 22 (REUTERS): Islamic State is fighting hard to reinforce its presence in Syria as it loses ground in Iraq, deploying fighters to seize full control of a governmentheld city in the east while at the same time battling enemies on three other fronts. It underlines the residual strength of Islamic State even after its loss of a cluster of cities in Iraq and half of Mosul, and points up the challenges facing U.S. President Donald Trump in the war he has vowed to wage against the group. The jihadists have opened their most ferocious assault yet to capture the last Syrian governmentcontrolled area in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, a pocket of Deir al-Zor city that is surrounded by Islamic State territory. The assault has raised fears for tens of thousands of people living under government authority in the city. Their only supply route has been cut off since Islamic State severed the road to the nearby air base earlier this week. A military commander in the alliance of forces fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad said Islamic State was seeking to turn Deir al-Zor city into a base of operations. “They want to take it by force - and right now,” said
The commander urged the U.S.-led alliance and “every air force” to attack Islamic State to stop it moving its convoys in the Deir alZor area, an apparent sign of dissatisfaction with the current level of support from the Russian air force there.
An Iraqi soldier walks next to a wall painted with the black flag commonly used by Islamic State militants, during a battle with Islamic State militants near Arabi neighborhood, north of Mosul, Iraq on January 21. (REUTERS Photo)
the commander, a nonSyrian who declined to be identified because he is not an official spokesman for the alliance that includes a range of Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and the Russian air force. “The situation in Deir al-Zor is very difficult.” Islamic State appears focused on strengthening its hold over a triangle of Syrian territory connecting its main base of operations - Raqqa city - with Palmyra to the southwest and Deir
al-Zor to the southeast. The group seized Palmyra from government forces for a second time last month, a reversal for Assad just eight months after he had retaken control of the city and its world heritage site with the help of the Russian air force. Islamic State fighters are also putting up stiff resistance against separate campaigns being waged against them in northern Syria, one by U.S.-backed militias including Kurdish groups, and another
by Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups. “They are able to fight on four fronts, if they were in a state of great weakness, they would not be able to do this,” said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation reporting on the war. A senior commander in the pro-Assad alliance, also a non-Syrian, said: “The strength of Daesh is that it is a cancerous tumour, and when you remove it from one place, it goes to another.”
“FINAL BATTLE” Though Islamic State has faced military pressure in Deir al-Zor province, including raids by U.S special forces, the attacks against it there have been less intense than in other parts of its self-declared caliphate. Deir al-Zor has so far been a secondary priority for the Syrian army and its allies, which are most concerned with their battle against rebel forces in western Syria. The U.S.-backed campaign led by Syrian Kurdish groups has meanwhile focused on encircling and taking Raqqa city. Islamic State has been asserting itself in Syria with trademark brutality, this week killing civilians execution-style in Palmyra’s Roman Theatre, the Observatory reported. IS has also generated headlines by blowing up more of Palmyra’s ancient ruins, with satellite imagery emerging on Friday showing the destruction of one of its most famous monuments.
Russia seized on the capture of Palmyra from Islamic State last year as evidence of its efforts against the group in Syria, after critics accused it of mostly targeting moderate rebels. As yet there has been no sign of a major effort to take back Palmyra a second time, though the Syrian army and its allies are currently battling Islamic State to the west of the city. If Trump follows through on suggestions that he may cooperate with Russia in the fight against Islamic State, eastern Syria would be an obvious target. This would however mark a major shift in U.S. policy because it would help Assad. U.S. policy under President Barack Obama was built on the idea that Assad had lost legitimacy. Obama rejected any cooperation with Assad in the fight against IS, describing his rule as part of the problem. A Syrian official said the U.S.-led coalition was doing nothing to prevent Islamic State from moving its forces into Syria. “This is what’s helping Daesh,” the official said. “After losing Mosul, Daesh will think of reinforcing its capacity in Raqqa and Deir al-Zor because at the end of the day, they don’t have any sanctuary. The final battle will certainly be there.”
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Pope Francis says ‘wait and see’ on Trump
MADRID, JANUARY 22 (REUTERS): Pope Francis on Sunday said he would not make an opinion of Donald Trump until he first had a chance to see specific policies the new U.S. president would implement. On Friday, as Trump was taking office, Francis had urged him to be guided by ethical values, saying he must take care of the poor and the outcast during his time in office. “I think that we must wait and see. I don’t like to get ahead of myself nor judge people prematurely,” the Pope told Spanish newspaper El Pais in an interview. “We will see how he acts, what he does, and then I will have an opinion. But being afraid or rejoicing beforehand because of something that might happen is, in my view, quite unwise. It would be like prophets predicting calamities,” he said. Francis also warned the Europeans against populism, saying they should not repeat the same mistakes as in the 1930s when they turned to “saviours” to resolve the economic and political crisis only to end up at war. “Crises provoke fear, alarm. In my opinion, the most obvious example of European populism is Germany in 1933... A people that was immersed in a crisis, that looked for its identity until this charismatic leader came and promised to give their identity back, and he gave them a distorted identity, and we all know what happened,” the Pope said. “In times of crisis, we lack judgment, and that is a constant reference for me... That is why I always try to say: talk among yourselves, talk to one another,” he added.
Donald Trump warns journalists,calls them most Every meal triggers inflammation that may protect us LONDON, JANUARY 22 (IANS): the University of Basel in Switzerland, supplied with glucose and thus redishonest human beings Every time we eat food, it may trigger showed that depending on the con- mains active.
WAShINGTON, JANUARY 22 (PTI): Describing journalists as the most dishonest human beings on Earth, US President Donald Trump has said he has been “running a war” with the media and warned them of consequences for falsely reporting that less number of people attended his inauguration. “We had a massive field of people. You saw them. Packed. I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks, and they show an empty field,” Trump said. “I say, wait a minute, I made a speech. I looked out, it looked like a million, million and a half people. They
showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there. They (media) said, Donald Trump did not draw well. I said, it was almost raining, the rain should have scared them away, but God looked down and he said, we’re not going to let it rain on your speech,” he said. “Then I walked off and it poured right after I left. It poured. But, we have something that’s amazing because, it looked like a million and a half people. Whatever it was, it was. But it went all the way back to the Washington Monument. And I turn on -- and by mistake I get this network,
and it showed an empty field. And it said we drew 250,000 people,” he said. “Now, that’s not bad, but it’s a lie. We had 250,000 people literally around in the little bowl that we constructed. That was 250,000 people. The rest of the 20-block area, all the way back to the Washington Monument, was packed. So we caught them, and we caught them in a beauty. I think they’re going to pay a big price,” Trump warned. Trump was speaking at the CIA headquarters. He told his top spy agency that this is the reason for him visiting the CIA headquarters as the media has portrayed that he has differences with the intelligence community. “The reason you’re my first stop is that, as you know, I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth,” Trump said amidst applause and laughter from the CIA officials attending his maiden address to them. “They sort of made it sound like I had a feud with
Chinese tourism under scrutiny as Lunar New Year break nears BEIJING, JANUARY 22 (REUTERS): With 6 million Chinese tourists expected to travel abroad over the Lunar New Year break, China’s January 27 to February 2 holiday is crucial for Taiwan tour agency operator Li Chi-yueh, who relies on mainland visitors for a third of his revenue. But Li’s hopes are not high this year, after the number of mainland tourists plummeted 36% since President Tsai Ing-wen took power in May. Though Tsai says Taiwan wants peace with China, Beijing suspects she seeks formal independence. “China uses its sightseeing tourists as a diplomatic weapon,” said Li, owner of Taipei-based Chung Shin Travel Service, who has been representing Taiwan’s tour operators to lobby Tsai to improve ties with Beijing. “There’s a lot of concern that the industry won’t survive if we carry on like this.” The concern is not confined to Taiwan - tour operators and government officials elsewhere in Asia say they fear China is using its increasingly high-spending tourists as a lever to pressure or reward its neighbours. A government official from South Korea - which has irked China by agreeing to let the United States deploy an anti-missile system - said Chinese and Korean tour companies had told him the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) had instructed Chinese agencies to cut tours to South Korea by at least 20% between November and February.
The official calculated that thousands of potential travellers were lost after 8 applications to add charter flights between the countries in January and February were rejected without explanation. Chinese companies told him the measure was designed to cut an excessive number of low-quality, low-priced tours for Chinese tourists visiting Korea, the official said. The number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea inched up 1.8% on year in November, versus a 70.2% increase in August and a 22.8% rise in September. That was the worst since August 2015, when arrivals slid 32% after a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak. POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY China has not said it is seeking to limit tourists to South Korea or Taiwan to express displeasure at political disputes. Earlier this month, when asked about the limiting of charter flights over Lunar New Year, China’s Foreign Ministry said it did not understand the details of the situation but that cooperation and exchanges between the two countries needed to “have a basis in public opinion”. For Taiwan, China has said it was natural that Chinese tourists were choosing not to visit Taiwan at a time of political uncertainly. By contrast, the Philippines and Malaysia are enjoying strong spurts in growth of Chinese tourism as Beijing removes travel warnings and eases visa rules.
the intelligence community. And I just want to let you know, the reason you’re the number-one stop is exactly the opposite. They understand that, too,” he said and then said that the crown strength of his inauguration was being accurately being written by the media. Then Trump listed out another incident. So a reporter wrote that Trump took down the bust, of Martin Luther King. “It was right there. But there was a cameraman that was in front of it. So a reporter writes a story about I took down. I would never do that because I have great respect for Martin Luther King. But this is how dishonest the media is,” Trump alleged. “I only like to say that because I love honesty. I like honest reporting. I will tell you, final time -- when you let in your thousands of other people that have been trying to come in -- because I am coming back -- we’re going to have to get you a larger room,” Trump said indicating that he would have a bigger room for the White House press corps.
an inflammatory response that acts as a protective mechanism to fight the bacteria consumed along with the food, a study has found. The findings showed that this inflammatory response, which acts as a protective mechanism, fails in overweight individuals leading to diabetes. On the other hand, in healthy individuals, short-term inflammatory responses play an important role in sugar uptake and the activation of the immune system. The study, led by researchers at
centration of glucose in the blood, the number of macrophages -- a type of immune cell or “scavenger cells” -- around the intestines increases during meal times and produces the messenger substance Interleukin1beta (IL-1beta). This stimulates insulin production in pancreatic beta cells and prompts the macrophages to increase IL-1beta production. Insulin and IL-1beta work together to regulate blood sugar levels while IL-1beta ensures that the immune system is
This mechanism of the metabolism and immune system is dependent on the bacteria and nutrients that are ingested during meals, the researchers said. With sufficient nutrients, the immune system is able to adequately combat foreign bacteria, said Erez Dror from the university. Conversely, when there is a lack of nutrients, the few remaining calories must be conserved for important life functions at the expense of an immune response, Dror added.
Ants use sun, memories for ‘backward’ walk home LONDON, JANUARY 22 (IANS): Ants, which are famed for their highly developed work ethic, use the sun and memories of their surroundings to find the way home when they walk backward dragging a heavy load, scientists have found. A study, published in the journal Current Biology, showed that ants’ navigational skills are very sophisticated as when walking backward, they occasionally look behind them to
check their surroundings and use this information to set a course relative to the sun’s position. “In this way, the insects can maintain their course towards the nest regardless of which way they are facing,” the team of researchers from University of Edinburgh, Scotland, found. “Ants have a relatively tiny brain, less than the size of a pinhead. Understanding their behaviour gives us new insights into brain
function, and has inspired us to build robot systems that mimic their functions,” said Professor Barbara Webb of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics. Although ants usually walk forward when they carry small pieces of food, but walk backwards to drag larger items to their nest. Researchers observed that ants set off in the wrong direction when a mirror was used to alter their percep-
tion of the sun’s location. To ensure they stay on course, backward-walking ants also routinely drop what they are carrying and turn around. They do this to compare what they see with their visual memories of the route, and correct their direction of travel if they have wandered off course. The findings suggest ants can understand spatial relations in the external world, not just relative to themselves.
Japan enters uncharted waters as emperor’s abdication is pondered TOKYO, JANUARY 22 (REUTERS): Japan is moving to adopt a law allowing its octogenarian Emperor Akihito to abdicate but many touchy topics, such as his title and duties, remain to be settled before the monarch can retire in a step unprecedented for two centuries. Japanese law does not currently allow an emperor to give up the throne, but Akihito, 83, who has had heart surgery and prostate cancer treatment, said in rare public remarks last August he feared age might make it hard to fulfil his duties. A panel of experts is expected on Monday to indicate a preference for a special law to allow Emperor Akihito to retire, most probably by the end of 2018. Officials are looking at ancient precedents, since the last time an emperor abdicated was in 1817. “Japan is in uncharted territory except for historians,” said Colin Jones, a professor at Doshisha University Law School. Emperor Akihito may also look to examples of foreign monarchs of his generation, such as Dutch Queen Beatrix and Belgian King Albert II, or even Pope Benedict. All three retired in 2013. Beatrix resumed her former title of princess and remained active, while Albert retained his title, though mostly staying out of public view. Benedict, as “pope emeritus”, moved to a monastery inside the Vatican walls. “The emperor himself was friends with Queen Beatrix and King Albert since his days as crown prince,” said Naotaka Kimizuka, an expert in European monarchies at Kanto Gakuin University. “I think he will probably
Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko watch a martial art competition celebrating the 130 years anniversary of the foundation of the Imperial Guard in Tokyo on January 19. (REUTERS Photo)
consider them as reference points.” Besides the emperor’s title, duties and residence after he retires, the government also has to fix the name and date for the commencement of the new “imperial era” that will be ushered in by his successor, under Japan’s unique calendar. Once considered divine, Japan’s emperor, or “tenno”, is defined in the post-war constitution as a “symbol of the state and of the unity of the people”. He has no political power. Nonetheless, the title he is to be accorded after abdication is a touchy matter. History suggests Akihito should get the title “joko”, meaning “retired emperor”. But some experts say the term echoes ancient episodes when the former emperor retained power and clashed with his successor. They pre-
fer terms such as “zen tenno” or “moto tenno”, meaning former, or previous, emperor respectively. Emperor Akihito’s duties include Shinto religious ceremonies and constitutionally-defined tasks, such as the opening of parliament. These will be taken on by his successor, Crown Prince Naruhito. The hallmark of the popular monarch’s reign has been travels with Empress Michiko, such as visits to domestic disaster sites to cheer survivors, and overseas, to soothe the wounds of a war fought in the name of his father, Emperor Hirohito. Given Emperor Akihito’s belief that his public activities are central to his symbolic role, he may well let Crown Prince Naruhito take centre stage. “There is concern over splitting the
message, splitting the symbol,” if Emperor Akihito stays too active, Doshisha’s Jones said. The emperor’s younger son, Prince Akishino, has suggested his parents would enjoy activities such as music and the marine biology research in which Akihito specialises. A pay cut does seem in store for the imperial couple, who do not have a large personal fortune, unlike the British royals. If they retreat to the shadows, they will probably get an annual allowance roughly equivalent to the $400,000 received by Emperor Akihito’s younger brother and his wife - or about a fifth what they get now, Kimizuka said. Residence options for the couple include the Togu Palace, now home to the crown prince, and the Fukiage Omiya Palace, where Emperor Hirohito once lived, both within the spacious palace grounds in Tokyo. The ancient imperial capital of Kyoto also cannot be ruled out, some experts said. Once Emperor Akihito steps down, a new “imperial era” will begin, replacing the current “Heisei”, meaning “achieving peace”, which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne. Although Japan uses the Westernstyle Gregorian calendar, it has also kept its ancient imperial-era system - “nengo” or “gengo” - in which a new emperor ushers in a new era. The government might break with precedent and announce the name of the new era months before Emperor Akihito retires, to allow time for the switch to be made in official forms, calendars and computer programs, media have said.
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MonDAY 23•01•2017
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Pacquiao willing to fight Conor McGregor
MaNiLa, JaNuarY 22 (aFP): WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao is willing to square up with mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor if his potential superfight with Floyd Mayweather fails to materialise, a spokesman said Sunday. But the Filipino boxing hero-turned-senator stressed that any fight with McGregor would have to be a boxing bout, not an MMA contest. "If McGregor will fight me in boxing, why not? But not in MMA. MMA is much different than boxing," a spokesman quoted Pacquiao as saying a few days ago. "The fight can be at the 140-pound weight division. My normal weight when I'm not on training is just 141 or 142 pounds," he said. Both Pacquiao, 38, and McGregor, 28, have been trying to lure the retired Mayweather back into the boxing ring. For Pacquiao, it would be a chance to avenge his defeat to Mayweather at their long-awaited showdown in 2015. Meanwhile Ireland's McGregor, the first man to simultaneously hold Ultimate Fighting Championship titles in two weight divisions, has floated the idea of taking on the undefeated Mayweather, 39. In late November McGregor was issued a boxing license in the state of California in a development that fuelled speculation
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao poses for the media following a press conference at his boxing gym in Tokyo. (AFP Photo)
about a future showdown with Mayweather. Mayweather told ESPN's First Take programme that a McGregor bout was the only thing that could tempt him back into the ring. UFC boss Dana White also added further fuel to the fire this month when he offered to pay each $25 million, along with a cut of payper-view proceeds, to fight -- an offer that Mayweather later batted down. Pacquiao has previously parlayed his sporting fame into a career in politics, getting elected to the influential Philippine Senate last year while still continuing to box profes-
sionally. The Filipino southpaw had briefly retired from the ring after beating American Tim Bradley in Las Vegas in April but soon made a comeback, saying he still felt like a youngster. In his last fight in November, Pacquiao reclaimed the World Boxing Organization welterweight title for the third time with a unanimous-decision victory over former champion Jesse Vargas in Las Vegas. Pacquiao has been engaged in ongoing talks with his American promoter about a possible fight with Australian Jeff Horn later this year.
Rooney breaks United record, City denied by Spurs fightback
LoNDoN, JaNuarY 22 (aFP): Wayne Rooney became Manchester United's all-time leading scorer as his last-ditch wonder goal rescued a 1-1 draw at Stoke, while Pep Guardiola's problems mounted as Tottenham came from two down to force a 2-2 draw at Manchester City on Saturday. Rooney surpassed Bobby Charlton's tally of 249 goals for United when he struck with a superb effort deep into stoppage-time at the Britannia Stadium. The 250th goal of Rooney's glittering United career was just the 31-yearold's fifth of a difficult season and came as a timely reminder of the striker's class after he was relegated to the role of a fringe player for long periods this term. It was also much needed by United, who had fallen behind in the 19th minute when Juan Mata deflected Erik Pieters' shot into his own net. Jose Mourinho sent on Rooney in the 67th minute and the England star, who had gone two games without a goal since equalling Charlton's record in an FA Cup win over Reading on January 7, wasted his first chance to make history when he headed wide from six yards. But Rooney refused to be denied and, with Charlton watching from the stands, his magic moment arrived four minutes into stoppagetime when he curled a superb free-kick past Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant and
Wayne Rooney became Manchester United's all-time leading scorer on January 21, 2017 after he surpassed Bobby Charlton's (Right) scoring record of 249 goals in all competitions by scoring his 250th to rescued a 1-1 draw at Stoke. (AFP Photo)
into the top corner. Rooney's gem extended United's unbeaten run in the league to 13 matches, but lost in the euphoria of his landmark strike was a disappointing result that leaves his team three points adrift of the top four. "It means a hell of a lot. It is a great honour and I'm very proud," said Rooney, who signed for United from Everton in 2004. "It is not something I expected when I joined. The players who have played for this club have been world class. "To be all-time top goalscorer is a huge honour." C ha r l t o n s a l u t e d Rooney's achievement, saying: "I can honestly say I'm delighted for Wayne. He deserves his place in the history books. "He is a true great for
club and country." Mourinho added: "Before him the record belonged to a legend of English football. Now Wayne becomes a legend of Manchester United." At Eastlands, City took the lead in the 49th minute when Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris raced off his line in a failed bid to intercept Kevin de Bruyne's pass, allowing Leroy Sane to steer his shot into the empty net. - Chastening Lloris was culpable again five minutes later as the France international spilled Raheem Sterling's cross and De Bruyne punished the mistake with a simple finish. But Dele Alli sparked Tottenham's revival with a close-range header in
the 58th minute and, after Sterling had a penalty appeal controversially turned down, South Korea's Son Heung-Min swept home to complete the comeback in the 77th minute. It was another chastening experience for City boss Guardiola, who suffered the heaviest league defeat of his managerial career last weekend in a 4-0 loss at Everton. "It was an outstanding performance, but it's a pity what happened," Guardiola said. "We created more chances but were not able to win and again the right decisions were against us." Fifth placed City are languishing nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea, while second placed Tottenham lie six points behind the table toppers, who
host Hull on Sunday. Liverpool's title challenge suffered a major blow as lowly Swansea enjoyed a shock 3-2 victory at Anfield. Fernando Llorente put Swansea ahead in the 48th minute and struck again in the 52nd minute before Roberto Firmino scored for Liverpool three minutes later. Firmino drew Liverpool level with a fine finish in the 69th minute, but Gylfi Sigurdsson struck in the 74th minute after more sloppy play from the Reds rearguard. Swansea had started the day at the bottom of the table, but their first ever league win at Anfield lifted them out of the relegation zone and condemned Liverpool, seven points behind Chelsea, to their first home league defeat for 12 months. "The defending around all three goals wasn't good enough, 100 percent. Their third is a big mistake," Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said. Seamus Coleman's 87th minute strike gave Everton 1-0 win at Crystal Palace that plunged the hosts into the relegation zone. Andy Carroll showed West Ham can thrive without want-away star Dimitri Payet as his brace inspired a 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough. Sunderland slumped to the bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, while Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Watford.
Warner's fiery ton helps Australia Bangladesh cricket player held over girlfriend's photos seal ODI series win over Pakistan
SYDNEY, JaNuarY 22 (rEutErS): David Warner's 12th one-day international hundred and brisk fifties from Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head set up Australia for an 86-run win over Pakistan in the fourth match on Sunday as the hosts secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. The diminutive opening batsman smashed 130 for his sixth ton in his last 11 innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground, including his century before lunch in the third test against the same opponents in January. Maxwell then pulverised the Pakistan attack with his 78 off 44 balls and added a quick-fire 100 for the fourth wicket with Head, who hit 51 off 36 balls, as the hosts piled up 353-6 in their 50 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat. Pakistan needed to pull off the highest successful ODI chase on Australian soil to keep the series alive but lacked the required firepower in their batting and were bundled out for
David Warner leaps to celebrate his century, Australia v Pakistan, Sydney, January. (Cricket Australia)
267 with six overs remaining in their innings. Left-handed opener Sharjeel Khan top-scored for the touring side with his 74 off 47 balls keeping Pakistan in the hunt for the early part of their chase. Australia's paceman Josh Hazlewood and leg-
spinner Adam Zampa, tra runs through misfields playing in his first match of and overthrows. the series, picked up three Warner put together wickets each. a breezy 92-run opening stand with Usman Khawaja, who was caught behind DROPPED CATCHES It was a forgettable day for 30 and became the first for Pakistan in the field as of seamer Hasan Ali's five they dropped at least five wickets. catches and gave away exWarner, who hit 11
Miller fireworks leads South Africa to victory over Sri Lanka PrEtoria, JaNuarY 22 (rEutErS): David Miller smashed a quick-fire 40 as a new-look South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the rainshortened first Twenty20 International on Friday. South Africa, who rested a number of experienced players and had five debutants, were sent in to bat in a game reduced to 10 overs a side and bludgeoned their way to 126 for five at Centurion Park. Sri Lanka kept up with the run chase as they raced to 73 for one in the sixth over but then lost momentum as they lost five wickets in quick succession to finish well short on 107 for six. Miller (40 from 18 balls) and captain Farhaan Behardien (31 not out from 18 balls) provided the impetus for the home side’s innings as they put on 51 for the fourth wicket. Niroshan Dickwella (43 from 19 balls) provided a fast start for
Sri Lanka in their reply but was caught at deep midwicket off legspinner Imran Tahir (2-23). Tahir also removed fellow opener Dhananjaya de Silva (27 from 16 balls) in the same over. The innings faded after that, with 20-year-old debutant fast bowler Lungisani Ngidi (2-12) impressive for the home side. South Africa are trying a number of new players in this format and also handed debuts to batsmen Theunis de Bruyn and JonJon Smuts, wicketkeeper Mangaliso Mosehle and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. Sri Lanka gave a first appearance to Thikshila de Silva, who fell for a first ball duck as he was caught in the deep off spinner Aaron Phangiso. The second Twenty20 International will be played in Johannesburg on Sunday, before the series finale in Cape Town on Wednesday.
fours and two sixes in his 119-ball knock, added 120 for the second wicket with captain Steve Smith which gave Australia an ideal platform for a huge total. "It's the home crowd, absolutely love playing here," Warner said after being presented with the man of the match award. "I was quite slow tonight, but it's always special to put the boys in a great position." Hasan dismissed Warner and Smith, who made 49 after being dropped on 10, in the space of three deliveries but it did not hamper Australia's quest for quick runs. Maxwell was dropped on eight and made Pakistan pay for their profligacy by hitting 10 fours and a six in his innings as Australia accumulated 118 runs in their last 10 overs. Head smashed four sixes and two fours in his 36ball knock. The fifth and final match of the series will be played in Adelaide on Thursday.
Dhaka, JaNuarY 22 (aFP): Bangladesh police Sunday arrested national cricketer Arafat Sunny for allegedly breaching strict internet laws after his girlfriend accused him of uploading sensitive photos on social media. Police raided the home of the 30-year-old slow leftarm bowler in the Dhaka suburb of Aminbazar after his longtime girlfriend filed a complaint two weeks ago, said local police chief Jamaluddin Mir. "She said Sunny opened up a fake Facebook account of hers and posted their personal photos, which she found offensive and defamatory," he told AFP. "We have arrested him and sent him to the court, seeking to take him into custody for five days for questioning." If found guilty Sunny could face up to 14 years in jail or a fine of 10 million taka ($126,340) under the controversial law, which local right groups say is being used to crack down on dissent. There was no immediate comment from the cricketer.
"It seems to be a personal matter. We don't want to comment now, however, we are observing (the situation)," Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP. The spinner has played 16 one-day internationals, taking 24 wickets, and 10 Twenty20 internationals in which he picked up 12 wickets. He was suspended from international matches during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 for an illegal bowling action. Since then he has been playing domestic firstclass cricket for Dhaka Metropolis. Sunny is the third na-
tional team cricketer to have been arrested in recent years, after pacemen Rubel Hossain and Shahadat Hossain. Rubel was jailed in 2015 after he was charged in a rape case filed by an actress who claimed to be his fiancé. The fast bowler was however granted bail days after his arrest to join the squad for the 2015 World Cup. The actress later withdrew the charges. Shahadat spent nearly two months in custody last year after he and his wife were arrested on charges of torturing an 11-year-old girl whom he employed as a maid. A court acquitted the couple.
Spurs slip past Cavs in OT, Hornets topple Nets
LoS aNgELES, JaNuarY 22 (aFP): Kawhi Leonard finished off a dunk in the final seconds of overtime, capping a career high 41-point performance as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-115. "I am in a groove," Leonard said. "My players are getting me the ball in the right spots. I am just trying to win." LeBron James tied up Leonard for a jump ball with 13 seconds left and Cleveland behind by three points. James won the tip, but the ball started to go out of bounds when Kevin Love saved it. But his nolook toss behind his back went straight to a surprised Leonard who sprinted to the other end for a dunk and the clinching basket with four seconds left. The Cavaliers had a chance to send it to double overtime but Love missed a three-point attempt from the corner at the buzzer.
short-handed Spurs. David Lee scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while starting in place of injured Pau Gasol. Tony Parker also missed the game with an ankle injury. James and Kyrie Irving each scored 29 points and Love had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland. Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 12 rebounds. James' deep three-pointer from 30 feet away with 34 seconds left in regulation tied the game 107-107. Leonard had the job of guarding James most of the night. "He is a great player. It is alSan Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket ways fun playing against a guy against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Spurs won 118-115. like him, who is going to compete on every possession," (USA TODAY Sports) Leonard said. Love shot just three of 11 points for the sixth straight from the three-point line Sat- game, while LaMarcus Al- - Momentum In Charlotte, North Caroliurday. dridge scored 16 points and Leonard surpassed 30 grabbed 12 rebounds for the na, Nicolas Batum converted a
four-point play and hit another three-pointer in a span of 31 seconds down the stretch as the Charlotte Hornets toppled the Brooklyn Nets 112-105. Batum nailed a threepointer, was fouled and converted the free throw to give the Hornets the lead for good at 101-98 with 3:21 left. Then he hit another threepointer on the Hornets' next possession to extend the lead to 104-98 with 2:50 remaining. The Hornets stretched the lead to nine from there and never let the Nets get closer than five again. Hornets coach Steve Clifford has often lamented his team's fourth-quarter difficulties, but he was pleased with how his team found a way to make plays down the stretch. "The fourth quarter tonight was really a big deal to me," Clifford said. "They had the momentum, and we fought hard."
Monday 23•01•2017
EntErtainmEnt
Madonna
Priyanka Chopra supports anti-Trump women’s march
I’ve thought about ‘blowing up the White House’
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he songstress Madonna made a surprise appearance in the massive Women’s March in Washington that included many artistes that refused to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States this Friday. EFE news quoted Madonna as saying that she had “thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House” after Trump won the November 8 election, but instead she chose a “revolution of love”. She immediately proclaimed that “the revolution starts here,” and added “To the rebellion. To our refusal as women to accept this new age of tyranny.” “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged,” she said, and for those who criticised the protests, she offered a “big old F××× You.” With the same strength, she danced and sang her 1989 hit “Express Yourself” at a place near the Capitol, where demonstrators had been gathering since the early hours. The huge sea of protesters from cities all over the country exceeded the expectations of organisers, who put the number of participants at at least a half million, double what had been expected, EFE news reported. Authorities in the US capital likewise said around 500,000 people were taking part in the march. One indicator of the size of the crowd was the number of Washington
Metro passengers, which numbered 275,000 people as of 11.00 a.m. on Saturday, up from the 193,000 who had ridden that transit system as of that same time on Inauguration Day. Among those participating in the march was former Secretary of State John Kerry, who spoke with other demonstrators while walking his dog. The day’s events began with a mass rally near the US Capitol building, with huge numbers of people packing nearby streets and parks. For three hours, speakers including actresses Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd and America Ferrera, as well as prominent liberal documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, called for the protection of civil and human rights and slammed Trump. Moore ripped up a Saturday newspaper with news of Trump’s inauguration on the front page. The entire city was a sea of pink pussycat hats, which large numbers of female demonstrators were wearing to mock Trump for comments caught on a 2005 video clip, in which the then reality TV star boasted about leveraging his celebrity status to grope women with impunity, EFE news added. Some of the signs demanded respect for women’s rights, while others accused Trump of playing on voters’ fears during the campaign. Hundreds of sister marches also took place across the US, while antiTrump demonstrations also were held in cities around the world. Source: IANS
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ctress Priyanka Chopra extended her support for the women’s march here, a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the US President. But the 34-year-old actress was not physically present in the protest due to her shooting schedule. “So proud of all my sisters and the men that are at the women’s march. I’m so upset I couldn’t go. Girl love, women’s rights are human rights,” Priyanka posted on Twitter. The actress is in Los Angeles to resume the filming of her Hol-
David and Victoria Beckham Ed Sheeran wrote ‘love song’ for Barcelona rake in £22 million profits
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d Sheeran has recorded a ‘’love song for Barcelona’’. The 25-year-old singer loves the Spanish city so much he penned a song dedicated to it which will feature on the deluxe edition of his upcoming album ‘÷’. He said: ‘’I love Barcelona so I wrote a love song for Barcelona.’’ But Spanish speaking fans of the singer will be disappointed to know that despite his love for the city, the track - which features the flame haired musician singing in Spanish - ‘’doesn’t make a lot of sense’’ because his knowledge of the Spanish language is limited. He told The Sun newspaper: ‘’It doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s just the Spanish words I know put together. ‘’Foy Vance, a guy that’s on my label, we wrote the song together.
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avid and Victoria Beckham have raked in a £22 million bonus from their business empire. The 41-year-old retired soccer star and his wife, 42, earned the staggering amount from profits at their business firm Beckham Brand Holdings after accounts showed annual profits for the company have quadrupled from £10 million to just under £40 million. According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Beckham Brand Holdings oversees the fashion firm run by the former Spice Girl as well as DB Ventures, which brings in money from ‘’licensing and other forms of commercialisation of the David Beckham brand.’’ Beckham Brand Holdings made a whopping £33.3 million profit in 2016, but the celebrity couple who share children Brooklyn, 17, Romeo, 14, Cruz, 11, and Harper, five, together - only took home two thirds of the total as former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment Firm owns the other portion of the business. And it’s not just the Beckham family who are cashing in on their busi-
Dia Mirza to play Maanayata in Sanjay Dutt’s biopic
nesses either, as the publication reports that during 2016 ‘’dividends totalling £10.2 million have been declared and paid to its shareholders.’’ The whopping figures come after it was reported in 2015 that experts at the London School of Marketing estimated the famous family to be worth just over £500 million, putting them
ahead of the Queen. The Daily Mirror also reports the large jump in profits is likely down to a deal made with Hong Kong-based fashion firm Global Brands. Stephen Stern from the High Pay Centre told the publication: ‘’These are extraordinary numbers, but Beckham is a global superstar.’’ Source: Contactmusic
Joe Manganiello excited to take on Deathstroke role
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oe Manganiello has vowed to make fans proud of his performance in the forthcoming Batman film. The 40-year-old actor will play nefarious super soldier Deathstroke in Ben Affleck’s stand-alone movie and Joe is thrilled at getting the chance to take on a comic book character. Speaking about the reaction to his casting, he told Entertainment Tonight: ‘’I’m glad everybody’s happy. I’m just gonna put my head down and just really show up as prepared as any supervillain ever has. ‘’Growing up an avid comic book fan, and then there were a lot of superhero roles, and supervillain roles, that came my way that I said no to, or wasn’t allowed to do, because of other commitments. It’s just really exciting to think that this is the one.’’
‘’There’s one line where I say ‘Siempre Vivre La Barcelona’ which is actually Latin I think, but it just sounded cool. It means long live Barcelona.’’ Meanwhile Ed - who recently returned to the music scene with two
new singles ‘Castle on the Hill’ and ‘Shape of You’ after taking a one-year hiatus - recently revealed he believes his upcoming album is his ‘’best work to date’’. He said: ‘’First off, what a week! The reaction to my new singles has been absolutely mind-blowing and I can’t thank you enough. ‘’My new album ‘÷’ holds a very special place in my heart and I really believe this is my best work to date. I’ve been eager to get back and I couldn’t be more excited for March 3rd.’’ The ‘Thinking Out Loud’ hitmaker’s third studio LP will give fans an insight into the global superstar’s past relationships, family life, musical career and his one-year hiatus, which saw him travel the world. ‘÷’ will be released on March 3. Source: Contactmusic
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ctress-producer Dia Mirza will play the role of Sanjay Dutt’s wife Maanayata in the actor’s biopic. Dia, who has acted with Sanjay in films like ‘Parineeta’ and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’, had earlier this month said that she has joined the cast of the biopic, being helmed by Rajkumar Hirani. Now, the film’s co-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra has revealed her role. “Dia Mirza is doing the role of Maanayata,” Chopra told IANS at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, 2017. “It is a biopic and it is more than a biopic too because we expect people to learn something from it,” he added. Chopra also said that among other things, the biopic will also explore Sanjay’s relationship with his late star father Sunil Dutt. Veteran actor
Paresh Rawal is playing the role of Sunil Dutt, while Sanjay’s part is being brought alive by Ranbir Kapoor. The filmmaker, who has worked with Sanjay in films like ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.,’ ‘Eklavya: The Royal Guard’ and ‘Mission Kashmir’, revealed that after Sanjay’s release from Yerwada Central Jail last year, the actor used to tell him and Hirani about his life. They thought it could make a good film. They are looking for a December release. “I don’t make pictures depending on the release date. I prefer to make one picture in four years than four pictures in one year,” said Chopra, who is also set to direct a film on Kashmiri Pandits. “The shooting will begin from September,” said the director, who had helmed the film “Mission Kashmir” in 2000. Source: IANS
lywood debut “Baywatch”, which also stars Dwayne Johnson, Zack Efron and Alexandra Daddario. She posted a side-profile selfie on her Instragram account after she landed. “And we’re back! LA LA... again... let’s go! Always rushed for time... Everywhere to go and nowhere to be. ‘Baywatch’, night shoots, fun fun,” she captioned the image. Source: IANS
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Deathstroke was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez and first appeared in DC Comic ‘The New Teen Titans’ #2 in 1980. The character has a grudge against Green Arrow but his original enemy was the Teen Titans. He has also gone up against Batman on several occasions in DC Comics following their first duel in 1991’s ‘City of Assassins’ story, in which Deathstroke badly beat up the
Dark Knight. Slade/Deathstroke has also appeared on The CW’s TV series ‘Arrow’, and creator Marc Guggenheim recently revealed the character was involved in ‘’another DC project’’. When asked why the villain hadn’t returned to ‘Arrow’, he wrote on tumblr: ‘’The character of Slade Wilson is currently tied up in another DC project. Walter is more likely.’’ Source: Contactmusic
05:00PM | 08:00 PM (English)
12
MOnDAY 23•01•2017
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Top seeds Murray, Kerber out of Aus Open
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MELBOURNE, JaNUaRy 22 (aP): There was some symmetry about the fourth-round exits of topranked Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open. Both had the top seeding for the first time at a Grand Slam tournament. Both went out on the same court and, at least on paper, the same day. It was tough at the top on Sunday: Five-time finalist Murray lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to No. 50-ranked Mischa Zverev in the afternoon match on Rod Laver Arena, and defending women's champion Kerber lost 6-3, 6-2 to CoCo Vandeweghe in an upset that finished at six minutes past midnight. It was the first time since the French Open in 2010 that both top-seeded players went out in the same round. In the quarterfinals at Roland Garros that year, Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling and Serena Williams lost to Sam Stosur. Murray and Kerber didn't make it to the second week. “Of course, they are new experiences ... new challenges,” Kerber said of being the defending champion and top seed at a major for the first time. “I can learn from all the other stuff which is new for me. “I was trying everything, but I missed a lot and I make a lot of unforced errors. So this was not my game.” Vandeweghe had never
Paes wins, Sania loses
[LEFT] Britain's Andy Murray reaches for a shot during his Men's singles fourth round match against Germany's Mischa Zverev. [RIGHT] Germany's Angelique Kerber serves during her Women's singles fourth round match against Coco Vandeweghe of the U.S. (Reuters Photo)
been past the third round at the season-opening Grand Slam, and lost in the first round here last year. But she pounded Kerber with a powerful forehand, clubbing 13 of her 30 winners from that wing. “First time I've ever beaten a world No. 1,” Vandeweghe said, when asked to rate the win in terms of career highlights, “especially at a Grand Slam - it's pretty high.” Kerber saved a match point in the first round last year before winning her first major title, beating Serena Williams in the final. She replaced Williams atop the rankings after winning the U.S. Open. Now Williams can regain the top spot - if she wins the title here.
Murray lost the final here to six-time champion Novak Djokovic last year, but finished 2016 at No. 1 after a strong finish to the season that included titles at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the ATP Finals. He was undone by some old-school serve and volley from Zverev, who played the match of his life. He'll now meet 17-time major winner Federer in the quarterfinals. In between the upsets was pretty rocky, too. Federer was down 5-1 in the first set against Kei Nishikori but found a way to fend off the 2014 U.S. Open finalist, who was cramping and needed late treatment on his back, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
It was Federer's 200th career win over a top 10 player. He was ecstatic. “It was about staying with him. ... almost going down 6-0, I thought 'It's not going to get any worse from there,”' said Federer, on the comeback from six months on the sidelines to repair his injured left knee. “Huge win for me in my career.” For Murray, the overwhelming feeling was painful. “Right now I'm obviously very down because I wanted to go further in this event,” Murray said. “I've had tough losses in my career in the past. I've come back from them. This is a tough one.” Murray's exit follows
the second-round departure of Djokovic, beaten in the second round by No. 117-ranked wild-card entry Denis Istomin. It's the first time since 2002 that the top two seeds in the men's draw haven't reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, and the first time at a Grand Slam since the French Open in 2004. The absence of Djokovic and Murray certainly opens up it up for others. U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka, who had his major breakthrough here in 2014, is a growing contender after beating Andreas Seppi 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4). He'll play a quarterfinal against 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who
NASA, SASA Meets kick off today KOhIMa, JaNUaRy 22 (MExN): The Northern Angami Sports Association (NASA) will hold its 58th Meet from January 23. Athletics & games will start from January 23 to 25 at Botsa while wrestling will take place at Khuochiezie (Kohima Local Ground) on January 27. The inaugural function at Botsa on January 23 will be graced by MLA Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu, chairman NSMDC Pvt. Ltd as the chief guest at 9:00 am. Administration of oath will be done by NASA Athletic Secretary Dziesesakuo Rutsa. Meanwhile, the 55th Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) Meet also kicks off on January 23 at Jakhama Local Ground. MLA Er. Vikho-o Yhoshii will be the chief host while MLA Er. Kropol Vitsu will be the guest of honour. The inaugural function on January 23 will start from 9:00 am onwards with SASA Wrestling Secretary Zaprani Mekro administering oath. The four day long meet which concludes on January 26 will be marked by Naga wrestling, Sepak Takraw, badminton, volleyball, football, mar- The state Sepaktakraw team pose before leaving for the 27th Senior National Sepaktakraw Championship which is scheduled to be held from January 27 to 31 at Kadappa, Andhra athon race, bamboo walk, and track & field event events. Pradesh. The team comprising 22 players and 6 officials representing Nagaland will be leav-
54th WASA Wrestling Meet from January 25 KOhIMa, JaNUaRy 22 (MExN): The 54th Wrestling Meet of the Western Angami Sports Association (WASA) will be held on January 25 at Kohima Local Ground. A total of 56 wrestlers from the four units under WASA will be vying for the ultimate title. Meanwhile, WASA has called for a meeting with all the tournament and unit officials on January 24 at 3:00 pm at Kohima local ground. The respective units have also been informed to submit two flags each. The selected wrestlers will represent WASA at the forthcoming Angami Sports Association (ASA) Sports Meet scheduled in February this year.
Champions Leicester slip to new low at Southampton SOUthaMPtON, JaNUaRy 22 (REUtERS): Champions Leicester City's alarming slump continued with a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Southampton on Sunday that left them just five points off the drop zone and firmly embroiled in a relegation fight. First-half goals for James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez plus a late penalty by Dusan Tadic led the Saints to a comfortable win that came at the cost of an injury to key defender Virgil van Dyke, who hobbled off in the second half. Ward-Prowse opened the scoring after 26 minutes following good approach play from Cedric Soares, before Rodriguez doubled the lead in the 39th after reacting quickest to a bouncing ball in the box to fire a left-foot shot past the keeper. After the break, Wes Morgan was fortunate when his own goal was ruled out for offside but Leicester's captain then held back Shane Long for a penalty that Tadic thumped home as Southampton emphatically ended a run of four successive league defeats. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri vowed to return to basics as they seek to pull away from the relegation zone. "I think (in) the last matches I changed (the team's) shape to try to help my players play better but maybe I made mistakes," he said. "Against Chelsea (in a 3-0 home defeat) we played three at the back and today we wanted to play with a diamond. The players are used to 4-4-1-1 and know the positions but I made a mistake. "I think it is much better (to) give them what they know well. We tried to change our shape at halftime, to make a goal and we would have a chance to change the match. They won. They played better and deserved to win."
beat Dan Evans 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. In the bottom half of the draw, 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal is the only man still in contention who has won a Grand Slam title. The top half of the women's draw is open, too. Venus Williams returned to the quarterfinals for the ninth time with a 6-3, 7-5 win over No. 181-ranked Mona Barthel. The seven-time major winner next plays No. 24-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who beat No. 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-3. French Open champion Garbine Muguruza beat Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-3 and will next play Vandeweghe - they're both in the quar-
MELBOURNE, JaNUaRy 22 (IaNS): Veteran Leander Paes and his mixed doubles partner Martina Hingis won the first round but Sania Mirza's women's doubles campaign ended in the third round at the Australian Open tennis tournament here on Sunday. Paes and Martina won 6-4, 6-3 against Australians Destanee Aiava and Marc Polmans at the Melbourne Park. The Indo-Swiss pair needed 51 minutes to complete the proceedings, hitting two aces and 20 winners and winning four of the five break points received. Their opponents also managed to hit two aces but hit five fewer winners and committed 12 unforced errors, winning 40 of the total 94 points in the match. But Sania Mirza didn't enjoy such luck as she and Barbora Strycova lost to an unseeded Japanese Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato 3-6, 6-2, 2-6. The fourth seeded Indo-Czech pair hit 36 winners, two more than their opponents, but committed 25 unforced errors, three less than Sania's opponents. terfinals at Melbourne Park for the first time. Kerber's loss continued a poor run since she won the U.S. Open last September. She's played seven tournaments without winning a title, only reached one final, and was 5-7 against top 50 players. The bigger upset of the day, then, was produced by Zverev, the older and apparently lesser-talented brother of Alexander who had never gone past the third round of a major and was appearing at only his third Grand Slam in six years. Zverev attacked Murray, unsettling his natural baseline game, and won 65 of 118 points at the net. He made some stunning, lunging volleys on
clutch points, but for him it was all a blur. “It was like I was in a little coma, I just served and volleyed my way through,” Zverev said. “Honestly there were a few points where I don't know how I pulled it off.” Murray had reached the quarterfinals or better on his previous seven trips to Australia but never won the title - losing finals in 2010 to Federer and in '11, '13, '15 and '16 to Djokovic. He had not lost to a player ranked as lowly as Zverev at a major since his loss to No. 51 Juan Ignacio Chela here in 2006. It was also the earliest exit by a top-seeded player at the Australian Open since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.
Juve back to winning ways as Allegri throws caution to the wind
ing on January 23.
MILaN, JaNUaRy 22 (REUtERS): Serie A leaders Juventus bounced back from a rare defeat with a 2-0 win over Lazio on Sunday after coach Massimiliano Allegri threw caution to the wind with their pride having been clearly wounded by last weekend's reverse at Fiorentina. Allegri, an often pragmatic coach, fielded an ultra-attacking line up and it quickly paid off as his side brushed aside sleepy Lazio with early goals from Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain on the way to a 27th straight home league win. Juve, now four points clear of AS Roma, who have also played 20 games and host Cagliari in the late game, coasted in the second half and will finish the weekend
Late Sanchez penalty fires Arsenal to 2nd
England sneak consolation win
LONDON, JaNUaRy 22 (aGENCIES): Arsenal stole victory as an incredible Emirates finale saw 2 injury-time penalties netted. Ten-man Gunners thought Granit Xhaka’s red card had cost them when Andre Gray netted to cancel out Shkodran Mustafi’s first goal for the club. But Alexis Sanchez kept his cool from the spot deep in stoppage time, after a furious Arsene Wenger was sent to the stands in a frantic finish. Clarets boss Sean Dyche was livid too, when the spot-kick was awarded against his side – with Laurent Koscielny offside
in the area before Ben Mee was penalised for kicking him in the face. Wenger was given his marching orders by Jon Moss for his reaction when a penalty was given at the other end for Francis Coquelin’s trip on Ashley Barnes. Germany defender Mustafi netted the opener by rising highest at an Ozil corner after the break to nod past Tom Heaton. But Xhaka’s mindless two-footed lunge on Steven Defour made for a nervy finale for the hosts, who pulled through for their seventh win in ten games. Dean Marney suffered a bad injury with 15 minutes left and hard to be carried off on a stretcher.
KOLKata, JaNUaRy 22 (aGENCIES): England survived a late scare to sneak nail-biting, final-over consolation win in the third ODI against India in Kolkata, thanks to some Chris Woakes deathbowling. Virat Kohli did what he does best, blasting a classy 50 before he too nicked behind, this time off the bowling of Ben Stokes. However, the partnership between Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya rapidly broke into three-figures, setting up a grandstand finale. Some superb late hitting from India’s lower order ensured a nail-biting finish, but ultimately they fell six runs short of
top of the table. The champions have 48 points ahead of Roma on 44 along with Napoli, who won 2-1 at AC Milan on Saturday, while Lazio stay fourth with 40 points from 21 games. Dybala broke the deadlock after five minutes when he met Mario Mandzukic's header at an awkward height and fired home a low volley from outside the area. His fellow Argentine Higuain added the second when he caught two defenders napping and got in between them to turn home Juan Cuadrado's cross for his 14th league goal this season. Higuain had another effort disallowed while defender Leonardo Bonucci turned the ball just wide from a cross by the Argentine after charging forward before halftime.
the target, on 316-9, despite only needing six runs off the final four balls. Earlier England had got off to a flying start thanks to Jason Roy, picking up where he left off in the last ODI to blast a quickfire 65 from just 56 balls. Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan both batted beautifully to lead England towards 300, with the skipper making 43, while the flame-haired Yorkshireman notched a rapid 56. Stokes smashed an unbeaten 57 off just 39 balls while Woakes bludgeoned 24 as England finished their innings on a very competitive 321-8.
Tears flow as Chapecoense return to action
ChaPECO, JaNUaRy 22 (REUtERS): Thousands of fans gathered under a blazing sun in southern Brazil on Saturday as Chapecoense played their first match since most of their players were killed in an air crash in Colombia in November. The friendly against Palmeiras was the first game of the season for both sides but it was much more about symbolism and emotion than sport for a club looking to bounce back from one of football's great tragedies. The game was halted in the 71st minute to allow fans to scream their now famous "Vamos Chape!" chant in tribute to the players and staff who perished in a plane crash in Colombia in November. The Arena Conda stadium was adorned with thousands of hand-made origami in the shape of
[LEFT] Goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, who survived when the plane carrying Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense crashed, carries the Copa Sudamericana trophy with his teammate Nivaldo. [RIGHT] Relatives of players of Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, who perished in a plane crash, react before a charity match between Chapecoense and Palmeiras. (Reuters Photo)
hearts and tsurus, birds that signify health, good fortune and long life. One banner behind the goals read, "Eternal Champions, kit man to the president", a reference to the many players and backroom staff who died. The survivors and their
relatives took centre stage before a ball was kicked, with Jackson Follman, the goalkeeper whose leg was amputated as a result of the crash, being presented with the Copa Sudamericana trophy in a tearful ceremony. Follman was one of
only six people to survive the crash, which came as the Chapecoense squad approached Medellin to play Atletico Nacional in November’s Copa Sudamericana final. The plane ran out of fuel and hit a mountainside, killing 71 people on board,
many of them players, officials and reporters on their way to the game. Chapecoense were awarded the Sudamericana title by CONMEBOL in December after the fixture was cancelled. In an emotional ceremony, the wives of the dead players were given the medals their husbands would have received. Follman, who was wheeled into the centre circle in his wheelchair, cried as he lifted the trophy, Chapecoense's first ever continental title. The game that followed was hard fought but with a scorching sun overhead and both sides giving their squads their first run out of the season it was never more than a glamorous training match. Palmeiras scored the opener after nine minutes when Raphael Veiga
nipped in between hesitant defenders to score from just inside the box. Douglas Grolli equalised for the home side five minutes later when he headed home a free kick from the left. Amaral gave Chapecoense the lead just minutes into the second half with a glancing header. But Vitinho grabbed a late equaliser for Palmeiras with a spectacular left-foot shot from outside the box with 12 minutes left. The ground was well short of its 20,000 capacity but those who did turn out said they hoped it was the start of a new era for the club. "We couldn't not be here," Sizelda Filipi, a fan who lives around 30 kms from the ground, said shortly before kick-off. "We'll get very emotional and then we'll move on. This is a restart."
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