January 6th, 2016

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DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 4 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

The New Year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write by setting goals ‘We are not natural -born enemies of Iran’

Training workshops for young women held in Tuensang

PAGe 09

T R u T H

— Melody Beattie

Club hero Zidane handed the Real Madrid hot seat

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PAGE 12

Coal mining in Nagaland a threat to the flora, fauna & local people Study of coal mining in Nagaland and its impact on environment- I Our Correspondent Kohima | January 5

Women carrying firewood and fodder for pig on their way back home from field in Tuensang. In many homes in the rural areas in Nagaland, the hearth is kept lit throughout the year by the firewood collected by womenfolk. Photo by Imojen I. Jamir

Sharif promises to act against Pathankot attackers

NeW Delhi, JaNuarY 5 (iaNS): Dialling Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Sri Lanka, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday promised “prompt and decision action” against terrorists linked to the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab.

Sharif gave the assurance after New Delhi provided “specific and actionable information” to Islamabad regarding the terrorists, and Modi underlined the need for Pakistan to take “firm and immediate action” against organisations and individuals responsible for the attack.

The Sharif-Modi telephonic conversation followed the killing of all six terrorists believed to be from Pakistan after they attacked the Indian Air Force base early on Saturday, leaving seven security personnel dead.

An official statement said Modi got a call in the afternoon from Sharif “regarding the terrorist attack on the Pathankot air base”. “Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked

to the Pathankot terrorist attack,” the statement said.

It said specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan. “Sharif assured Modi that his government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists,” it added.

This was their first known conversation since Modi dramatically flew into Lahore on Christmas Day while returning home from Kabul and spent some two hours with Sharif.

Radio Pakistan reported that Sharif telephoned Modi “and conveyed sorrow and grief on the losses in (the) Pathankot terror attack”.

It quoted Sharif as saying that terrorists always tried to derail the process of peace between the two countries.

“Pakistan will investigate in detail on the leads and information provided by the government of India,” it said.

The two prime ministers also showed a resolve to battle terrorism together through mutual cooperation, Radio Pakistan added.

The Nation, a Pakistani newspaper, quoted Sharif as saying: “We are with India in this hard time and will

assist in any way possible... We will investigate according to information given by India.”

Sharif and Modi also discussed other strategic issues, it added. Modi’s Lahore visit came after a series of diplomatic engagements between New Delhi and Islamabad. The two leaders had a seemingly impromptu meeting on November 30 at the Paris climate summit.

On December 6, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Khan Janjua met in Bangkok. Two days later, Sushma Swaraj landed in Islamabad to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.

On December 9, Sushma Swaraj announced that Modi would visit Islamabad in 2016 to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit.

India and Pakistan have since agreed to start a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. It was when the stage was being set for the foreign secretaries to meet this month in Islamabad that the terrorists raided the IAF base in Pathankot.

Nagaland is blessed with rich natural resources. Of these, coal is one such resource which can uplift the economy of the local people and Nagaland State in general if utilized properly.

Coal deposits are distributed in eight districts of the State. Existence of coal was first known in 1842 though a detailed and comprehensive report of the coal deposits in the State is yet to be brought out, according to a booklet on ‘Study of coal mining areas in Nagaland and its impact on environment,’ published by Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) in 2015.

In Nagaland, the Department of Geology and Mining brought out Coal Policy 2006 to achieve the best use of available coal resources through mining, beneficiation and economic utilization, keeping in view the constitutional safeguards provided to the State under Article 371-A of the Constitution with regard to land and its resources.

The most practiced coal mining method in Nagaland is rat-hole mining. In districts like Mon and Longleng, open cast mining is actively practiced too. As of now, the current picture of coal mining (both abandoned sites and ongoing mining activities) in the State is not a pleasant sight as it is done without any proper planning leading to wastage of coal reserves and causing hazards such a landslide and subsidence in many areas.

“This poses threat to the flora, fauna and the local people living in the vicinity,” the booklet stated, adding that “mining may be for a short period of time but the impact caused is long lasting and grievous. Its impact can be seen on air, water and land en-

Two NSCN(R) cadres arrested in Arunachal

iTaNaGar, JaNuarY 5 (PTi): Two cadres of NSCN (Reformation) have been arrested from Kheti village in Tirap district for alleged extortion, an official report said today.

Personnel of 1st Assam Rifles, Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit and state police conducted a joint search operation at Kheti village which led to arrest of the two NSCN (R) cadres who have been identified as self-styled Lt Wingan Agan (26) and Sergeant Damwang Bangsia, both from Tirap district on

Sunday, the report said.

One assault rifle, one automatic pistol with ammunition, extortion notes and receipt/ letter head of NSCN(R) were recovered from them, the report said.

Local residents said that these cadres and their leaders had been threatening local people and carrying out rampant extortion and forced recruitment in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, the report said. This is the second successful operation launched

by 1st Assam Rifles in Tirap district.

In an earlier operation carried out on November 19 last year, security forces recovered one automatic pistol, ammunition, round stamp and appointment stamp of NSCN (R) faction, extortion money and several undelivered and delivered extortion notes on the faction’s letter head addressed to public and government officials were recovered from Kheti village.

The NSCN (R) was formed post abrogation of ceasefire by

NSCN (Khaplang).

Since April last year, the NSCN (R) has been attempting to establish its base in the districts of Longding, Tirap and Changlang.

The ‘Reformation’ group is now extensively involved in extortion in the form of tax collection and they are not sparing any section of the society be it poor villagers, government employees, business community, unemployed and school administration, the report added.

Re-think development along with indigenous communities

C M Y K

iMPhal, JaNuarY 5 (MexN): The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) has stated today that the January 4 earthquake, with its epicenter in Tamenglong District, should be an occasion for “due consideration and sensitivity” to the repeated assertions from academicians, technicians, civil society organizations, that Manipur’s “proximity and location in very high seismic zone 5 requires a cautious and inevitable consideration of seismic aspect and impacts in all development planning and processes.”

In that, it called for a rethink of development planning based on rightful participation of all indigenous communities for just and sustainable development of Manipur.

While expressing “deepest condolence and heartfelt grief” to those who lost their lives in the earthquake mea-

CRAM highlights fault lines that appeared after Manipur earthquake

suring 6.7 on the Richter scale, the CRAM expressed concern over the several mega structures in Manipur that either fell apart or developed cracks.

A press statement from Sanaton Laishram, President of the CRAM, informed that these mega structures built for public purposes by the Government of Manipur with Corporate bodies, have fallen apart or have developed cracks, including the famed women’s market, sacred temples at Kangla, the lone flyover etc. in Imphal Town.

“It is highly concerning that Singda dam close to the epicentre of the tremor, had also developed cracks as had reported by nearby villagers in Imphal Free Press (5 January 2015). Further, there are reports of some of tunnels of Trans Asian Railway in

Tamenglong and the towers of World Bank funded High Voltage Transmission lines had caved,” it stated.

The inability for these mega development structures to withstand the seismic activity on January 4 indicates that “the seismic aspects and impacts, especially in Manipur which is juxtaposed in high and active seismic zone, within the folds of Himalayan Mountain range, has either not been considered or disregarded.”

The CRAM also brought to attention the “additional issue of low quality of works and aspect of fraud and corruption of the construction works by corporate bodies involved in the construction works.”

Further, Laishram pointed out that the proposed plans for building Tipaimukh Dam, Pabram and Irang Hydel proj-

ects and other mega dams under the Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012, the proposed Oil Exploration Plans in Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts, the extensive tunnelling and construction works for both Trans Asian Railway and Trans Asian Highway and multitude of other large scale development projects within Manipur need “serious introspection for their feasibility and rationality in places like Manipur.”

“There should be clear review of the existing mega development structures like Mapithel dam, the Singda dam, Khuga etc for their compliance or due consideration of Seismic impacts. This natural calamity should also lead to a development decision based on rightful participation of all indigenous communities and all those concerned with a just and a sustainable development in Manipur,” the CRAM asserted.

Seen here is a coal mine in Naginimora, Mon district, Nagaland. A study on coal mining in Nagaland done by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board has suggested that current methods of mining coal pose a threat to the flora, fauna and people living in the vicinity of the mines.

vironment.”

The booklet also stated that exposure of underground rocks and mineral releasing toxic gases on reaction with oxygen, water and sunlight caused air pollution which contributes to global warming, climate change etc. Excessive dust from mining interferes with photosynthetic & physiological activities of plants thereby retarding their growth. It also disrupts the air quality leading to many air borne diseases.

The booklet also stated that excavation of large areas also releases many toxic minerals which are harmful to aquatic organisms, especially fish, because of its acidity. It is also reported that people living in the vicinity of mining sites have problems with drinking water because of the presence of high iron content and complaints of water borne diseases like typhoid, jaundice, cholera etc.

The booklet also stated that agriculture, which is a source of livelihood for villagers, is facing hazards as cultivable land has started losing its fertility because of mining activity which removes the top soil and contaminates the land and water with its toxic discharges. These result in uprooting the indigenous people from their native place. Noise and vibration lead to wild animals and birds being driven away

from the nearby forests due to blasting and operation of machines.

“These show that blessings can sometimes turn out to be a curse if we fail to utilize them in a proper way,” the booklet added.

“Mining must be done in a scientific and sustainable manner without much harm to environment for strengthening the social structure,” the booklet stated.

“Coal is one of the major resources of Nagaland and coal mining has been practiced since 18th century.

Coal mining requires deforestation and soil excavation thereby leads to disturbance in the forest cover besides water pollution from the leachates,” stated Parliamentary Secretary of Industries and Commerce, Amenba Yaden in the preface.

Yaden stated that NPCB has been trying to implement the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 beside other Acts and Rules through consent management and regulating mining activities “so that our resources is utilized with minimum damage to our environment by following proper Mine Closure Plans.”

Akangmeren Imchen, scientists B Khriehunuo Rutsa and Lhaihoichoing Singson, both junior research fellows, besides others were instrumental in this project.

Public must mend the gap for ‘peace across borders’

Recalling his childhood ering that without the eagerness DiMaPur, JaNuarY 5 (MexN): In a commendable ef- days, Dr Benjongliba, in all of the people of both the parties fort to broker peaceful co-exis- nostalgia, said there used to be to come together, peace cannot tence, Parliamentary Secretary a weekly market at Rankham be imposed by the BPCC. “This is a very remarkable for Agriculture & Chairman NS- which people from his village AMB, Dr Benjongliba Aier con- depended highly for their every- occasion because in April last vened a joint peace sitting com- day needs. The village produce year when the situation arose in prising of members from Border from Yajang was also traded at the Rankham-Yajang-C sector, Peace Coordination Committee this market and people from public living there did not give (Assam-Nagaland), key mem- both the villagers respected a chance to the BPCC (A-N) to bers of Gabharoo festival orga- each other and there was no mediate. Rather they were sway nizing committee, representa- border tension, he reminisced. by different pressures including “Now-a-days, people from political angles and therefore tives from Rankham village area, Assam and council members of the plains sector encourage rich BPCC (A-N) was left with not people from the towns and cit- much scope for peace coordiYajang-C village on Tuesday.

The peace sitting, which was ies to do agriculture cropping in nation,” Imsu said.

Coordinator of the held at Yajang-C village, the ancestral vilParliamentary Secretary Dr BPCC (A-N) Temsu explained the lage of Dr Benjongliba Benjongliba urges peaceful Wathi overall situation precomes in the backdrop vailing in the entire of skirmish erupting coexistence between border belt with an between the villagers of Rankham (under Rankham and Yajang-C village emphasis for coordinated living with 101-Mariani Assembly Constituency, Assam) and Ya- the border belt and thus the tra- goodwill and mutual trust.

“Though the State governjang-C (under 30-Alongtaki As- ditional lands belonging to Nasembly Constituency, Nagaland), gas are being encroached upon. ments are in litigating mode, with the recent one occurring in This is the root cause for igniting however it is the people who will April 2015 last, a press statement trouble leading to misunder- and shall live in these areas forfrom BPCC (A-N) president BP standing and mistrust amongst ever. Therefore the people livthe peace loving border people,” ing in border locations need to Bora stated.

Since then, both States had the Nagaland parliamentary embrace each other and create a sense of neighbourly brothdeployed security forces to curb secretary for agriculture rued.

BPCC (A-N) president BP erhood by extending equal rethe situation. Though situation remains normal at the moment, Bora and Indreswar Gogoi, a spect and dignity in order to public interactions amongst the prominent personality and create peaceful coexistence,” he two villages have been missing. teacher from Rankham local- maintained.

The meeting ended with a Dr. Benjongliba in his ad- ity in their speech thanked the dress called upon the public MLA of Alongtaki constituen- resolution that the proposed representatives in attendance cy for coming forward to build joint peace meeting between to mend the gap and at the same peace in the locality. Gogoi also Rankham and Yajang villagers time extolled the traditional espoused hope of having a joint would be placed before Magh age-old good neighborly rela- peace coordination meeting in- Bihu i.e. January 14, 2016 where tion that existed between the volving both Rankham and Ya- the organizers of the Gabharoo Festivity-2016 has been asked Nagas and Assamese and par- jang-C villagers.

BPCC (A-N) vice president to coordinate along with the ticularly the people of Yajang Imsu Jamir reminded the gath- BPCC(A-N) team. and Rankham village.

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wednesdAY 06•01•2016

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Training workshops for young PCF 29th general conference on Jan 8 women held in Tuensang Tuensang, January 5 (Mexn): The North East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA) with funding support from the British Council in partnership with DIAGEO organized a cascade of workshops on Young Women’s Social Enterprise Development Programme (YWSEDP) where 100 women participated from various villages of Tuensang district of Nagaland.

The training has created a platform for women to develop into entrepreneurs.

The training basically focused on making the women self-reliant and empowered them with economic independence.

The training was conducted in four batches.

The trainees consisted of women between the

Phek, January 5 (Mexn): The 28th general conference of the Phekmi Collegiate Forum (PCF) is scheduled to held on January 8 next at Community Hall, Phek Village under the theme, “Education: A new perspective”.

Member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Ku-

zholuzo (Azo) Nienu will grace the conference as the guest speaker while Merina Chishi Soho, Senior Journalist will be theme speaker of the day long conference.

The day long conference will featured Presidential address by PCF President Kuveduyi Venuh,

special appearance by Kotisu unit, western tune by Kubito Soho, installation of new Executive council for the tenure 2016-2018. The forum conveyed its invitation to all the village fr9ontal organizations, leaders from church public, senior students to be part of the programme.

Former Minister Nokzenketba passes away

Participants during the workshops on Young Women’s Social Enterprise Development Programme held at Tuensang district.

ages of 18 to 40 years, these women came from all walks of life, and they were students, fresh graduates, high school dropouts, housewives and widows. The Resource persons for the

training Programme were Toshisangla Chang and Pangchangkhumla Chang of Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS), Tuensang.

The topics that were covered during the train-

ing includes Introduction to social enterprise, Need identification generating ideas, Marketing plan, business models and planning, accounting and financial plans, legal and policy issues

and business management.

At the end of the training, the trainees were all equipped to explore and were confident enough to enter new frontiers of entrepreneurship.

Mokokchung, January 5 (DIPr): Former Minister, Nokzenketba passed away at Jorhat (Assam) this morning. He was 67. According to Family sources, the former minister, who had undergone cardiac treatment at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong left Mokokchung early this morning accompanied by his wife and others for check up.

On the way he was forced to be admitted in a private clinic at Jorhat due

to rapid deterioration in his breathing. He was immediately shifted to ICU where the end came at around 9 AM. He left behind his wife and three daughters.

Born on 19 September 1948, in Chungtia village, Nokzenketba was first elected from 28 Koridang Assembly constituency to Nagaland legislative Assembly as an Independent candidate in 1982; then joined congress party resulting in formation of con-

gress ministry where he was inducted as Minister of State. In 1987 he was elected from the same constituency on congress party ticket and appointed as Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board.

In 1989 he was again elected from the same constituency and appointed as Minister for Agriculture under the government headed by late Vamuzo as chief minister.

Funeral service will be held in his residence at New market tomorrow.

Mystic KezoMa Kezoma, about 30 km away from state’s capital Kohima is known for its organic agricultural produces and rich biodiversity. The Morung Express captures few images of the village. Photo/Chizokho Vero

WednesdAY 06•01•2016

NORTH-EAST

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Death toll in Manipur quake reaches 8, normal life affected Imphal, January 5 (IanS): Normal life continued to be affected in Manipur on Tuesday as the death toll in the 6.7 magnitude earthquake rose to eight in the state.

"Three people each died in Imphal East and Imphal west districts while two deaths were reported in Senapati district. The government will pay Rs.5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed," Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei said.

Even as all educational institutes in the northeastern state were closed for a week, offices too declared a holiday for two days.

Most shops and business establishments were also closed.

A shortage of essential commodities and other consumables were reported since the main marketing complex in the state capital was shut.

Vehicles and pedestrians were barred from crossing the damaged Minuthong bridge over the Imphal river that connects the eastern and western parts of state capital Imphal.

Rapid response teams of the health department fanned out in the interior rural and mountainous areas of Manipur to provide medical relief to the affected.

Though 35 members of the National Disaster Response Force teams are working in Tamenglong

Manipur BJP demands CBI probe into Ima Markets ‘construction defects’ Our Correspondent Imphal | January 5

People look on as they stay outdoors after an earthquake at P.Molding village on the outskirts of Imphal on January 4. (REUTERS Photo)

district, no report of recovery of any dead body was received so far.

Over 100 houses and shops were damaged in the hill district.

Reports of damage to several school buildings in other districts of Manipur were received though there was no report of any casualty.

Monday's temblor at 4.35 a.m. on Monday had its epicentre in Tamenglong district. It also jolted Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, besides Myanmar

and Bhutan.

Manipur assembly building partially damaged by quake The newly-constructed building of the Manipur assembly at Chingmeirong here was partially damaged due to Monday's earthquake, an official said here.

An engineer who visited the complex along with Works Minister T. Ratankumar on Tuesday morning said on condition of anonymity that the building might not

withstand another earthquake of high magnitude.

Officials said once an expert committee submits a report, a decision will be taken on whether a new assembly secretariat should be constructed or the present one repaired and strengthened.

Earlier, accompanied by engineers and high officials, Ratankumar visited the assembly complex on Tuesday morning to assess the damage to partially damaged buildings.

Assam Assembly polls: The most interesting electoral battle of 2016 guWahatI, January 5 (thE IndIan ExprESS): This new year, Assam will witness the most interesting election among all the states that are heading for their respective assembly elections. There are strong reasons for this. The Congress, which has won three consecutive elections since 2001, claims it will make it four in a row despite the BJP’s record-win in seven of the state’s 14 Lok Sabha seats in 2014. The BJP feels that the people of Assam desperately want a change.

The Congress has its problems.

While incumbency – and with it the related allegations of corruption, misrule and internal bickering – is one, the steady rise of Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic

Front (AIUDF) has already robbed the party of its traditional Muslim vote bank. It is now looking forward to a Bihar-type anti-BJP maha-alliance but the AIUDF is unlikely to join it despite the efforts of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad; the gradual shrinking of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) also doesn’t look inclined to help the Congress against the BJP. The oncepowerful AGP is currently maintaining an equal distance from both parties despite signals from both.

The Congress has already flooded the roadsides with hoardings deriding the BJP’s ‘achche din’ with a punchline – Don’t underestimate the power of the common man! – borrowed from a Bollywood film. It has also started telling the people that

the defection of 10 party MLAs led by Himanta Biswa Sarma who was once Tarun Gogoi’s most-trusted lieutenant, to the BJP had only rid the party of “all the diseases”.

For the BJP, which brought back union sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal as state president, it is definitely a very tough battle. It has two major problems: one, there are many tall promises of 2014 which remain largely unfulfilled, and two, the Congress has already started campaigning against the “past deeds” of Himanta Biswa Sarma. The BJP looks unsure of what to say on the two most important promises it made in 2014 – Scheduled Tribe status to six communities of the state and forcing Bangladeshi infiltrators to leave.

Five arrested 'No insurgency-related incident in Tripura last yr' for circulating agartala, January He said many of the Bangladeshi nationals had (ptI): There was not a state's insurgents were still illegally sneaked into the fake currency 5single insurgency- related using Bangladeshi soil and state last year and police Itanagar, January 5 (ptI): Five persons, including two women, have been arrested from Miao-Kharsang area for circulating fake Indian currency note at Miao market on January 1 last. They were identified as Ali Ahammad, Habel Ud Din, Amin Ul Islam and 2 women from Satarakanara village in Barpeta district of Assam, an official statement said. A 21 high quality fake bank note of Rs 500 denomination and 2 mobile handsets seized by the police.

incident in Tripura last year, a top police official said today while noting that international terrorism was an area which needed a sharp vigil to be maintained.

"There was not a single incident related to insurgency last year (in Tripura).

The insurgency which devastated the state for the past three decades has largely been contained.

We are not complacent and keeping a close vigil on the situation," Director General of Police K Nagraj told reporters here.

currently had 16 camps running there. "International terrorism is another area which needs a sharp watch and the state police are gearing up to meet the new challenge," he said.

Asked if there was any chance of a terror attack launched using Bangladeshi soil, the DGP said, "The state has an 856km -long border with the neighbouring country. We cannot rule out any such possibility and are alert to meet any eventuality."

Nagraj said that 1,761

had deported them.

The DGP said that the overall law and order situation in the state has improved and the crime graph is down.

guWahatI, January 5 (Et): Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has alleged that Union home minister Rajnath Singh was busy politicking for two days in Assam while Pathankot was grappling with the terrorist attack.

Singh was in Assam on January 3 and 4, when he visited the India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj and Dhubri sectors. "For two days the home minister was in Assam busy doing politics. He could have winded up his Assam tour in one day. Touring the two border areas could have been done in one day," Gogoi said today.

The Assam chief minister targeted the PM as well.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday diplomacy has miserably failed. Modi is touring foreign countries ignoring the internal situation. Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan

Consolation 488, 665, 431, 623, 202

to attend Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's birthday recently," said Gogoi. He said the home minister gave a statement that the site of attack in Pathankot had been cleared of terrorists, but despite that there were attacks.

"It seems he did not have any idea of what is happening and just made a statement. He remembered border with Bangladesh now when election in Assam is drawing nearer. Why he did not make a visit earlier as it is almost 19 months that NDA government has been in power," he said.

Miffed at not being asked to accompany the home minister, Gogoi said, "He should have asked me to accompany him or taken the chief secretary or the director general of police. Earlier, during the UPA regime, Union home minister Shivraj Patil had taken All Assam Students Union leaders and govern-

it is the Border Security Force that is manning the India-Bangladesh border and BSF is under the home ministry, he said.

Gogoi also criticised Assam Governor PB Acharya for attending a programme organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad in Guwahati. "Being the constitutional head the Governor must be aware of the constitutional rights and duties," he said. Singh and Acharya had attended Students' Experience in InterState Living, an initiative of AVBP, a day earlier.

Dimapur: Nagaland Update on Re-opening Day

Classes for class 11, 12 and all Semester students will resume on 13th January 2016 and not 12th January as scheduled earlier. Hostellers may report to the hostels on 12th January 2016.

The office will re-open from 11th January 2016 onwards.

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ment officials. Singh took two MPs despite the fact that they do not represent those areas."

He said Singh was in Assam on an official visit, not a party programme. Assam government has said that about 97.32% of the border fencing work in Karimganj and Dhubri is complete.

Gogoi questioned how Singh can claim that borders will be sealed when fencing works in West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram are yet to be completed.

Containing infiltration is the job of the Centre, for

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More damages and injuries reported Meanwhile, the number of injured persons has reached 106 and 175 structures were either flattened or damaged and some 339 buildings developed cracks due to the quake that struck the state on Monday.

A team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) is assisting the humanitarian effort in the earthquake devastated areas. A Central medical team is also assisting treatment of the injured victims.

Control rooms are also being kept opened.

While Pathankot was grappling with the terrorist attack, home minister was busy doing politics: Gogoi

PHÜSACHODÜMI STUDENTS’ UNION 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Manipur BJP today alleged that the three buildings of Ima Markets in Khwairamband Keithel here were of poor quality and demanded a formal inquiry into the damage caused to the structures due to the 6.8 magnitude tremor that hit the state early Monday.

State BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba during a press meet here at the party office, said the Ima markets were built by the government without maintaining quality and so some portion of the three markets, especially walls and pillars, were damaged in the quake that struck the State at 4:35 am on January 4.

Ima Keithel is perhaps the oldest and only one of its kind in Asia. It is a market, which came into being sometime in 16th century, wholly operated by women.

Congress Chief, Sonia Gandhi during the previous UPA regime had inaugurated the present Ima markets structure on November 23, 2010. The market buildings were constructed by Simplex Infrastructures Ltd. Protests were seen in the women market complex yesterday during which a large number of women vendors expressed anger against the Manipur government over the alleged construction defects.

Chaoba demanded that the state government initiate a probe into the construction and that the task should be given to

independent agencies like the CBI. He also expressed his desire for demolishing the markets and constructing new ones by maintaining proper quality.

Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup and Manipur Keithel Nupi also demanded that the damage should be probed by CBI or NIA. Talking to reporters, Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup Mema criticised Chief Minister O Ibobi for allegedly showing no interest on the issue.

Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh clarified that state PWD had nothing to do with the construction of the Ima markets saying it was tasked with National Building Construction Company Ltd. Addressing reporters here, he admitted that no quality was maintained in the construction of the markets. He said three experts from IIT Roorkee are coming to Imphal to inspect the present condition of the market complex.

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* Free Admission & Tuition fees for ST/SC candidate sponsored by Ministry of Communications & IT, Govt. of India. General candidate’s fees are chargeable.  Last date of formsubmission for Sl 1 & 2 : 22nd Jan 2016  Last date of form submission for Sl 3 to 11 : 15th Jan 2016  Commencement of classes for Sl 3 to 11 : 18th Jan 2016 Application forms & prospectus can be collected from admin section or can be downloaded from our website.

Bus facilities, Hostel facilities available for both boys & girls.

For further details contact:9436215243, 9856071961, 9862181412 Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/groups/NIELITkohima/

A) Two Week Entrepreneurship Development Programme (stipendiary) For SC/ST/Women/PH candidates (from 11.01.2016 to 21.01.2016 at Jalukie Town, Peren Dist) Objective: 1) To motivate their decision making capabilities resulting in higher productivity and profitability for the potential / new entrepreneurs 2) EDPs are being organised to nurture the talent of youth by enlightening them on various aspects of industrial activity required for setting of MSEs Qualification:-10th Pass /BA/B.com/MSE units Batch Size: 25 Nos. Age: 18 to 40 yrs Selection Criteria: First come first served basis Stipend: Rs. 250/participant.

B) One day Industrial Motivation Campaign on 22.01.2016 (10.00 AM to 2.00 PM) - No participation Fee Venue: United Enterprises, Room No: 2, Mid Night Market, Jalukie Town, Peren Dist For further details contact: M.Govindaraj , Assistant Director , Mob:9436882304 G.Panmei ,Mob: 9402639464/9402681306 The Dy. Director I/c, Branch MSME – Development Institute Old Industrial Estate, Dimapur (Nagaland) Tel: 03862-248552

4

WednesdAY 06 •01•2016

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

45 Indians in Forbes list of achievers under the age of 30 New York, JaNuarY 5 (PTI): Forty five Indians and Indian-origin people have made it to Forbes’ annual list of achievers under the age of 30 who are “changing the rules of the game or creating entirely new playbooks” across varied fields.

The Forbes fifth annual ‘30 Under 30’ list features 600 women and men, who are America’s “most important young entrepreneurs, creative leaders and brightest stars” and are “changing the world” across 20 varied sectors such as consumer technology, education, media, manufacturing and industry, law and policy, social entrepreneurs, science and art and science.

“In the past, youth was a handicap to professional success. Getting older meant more resources, more knowledge, more money. No more. Those who grew up in the tech age have way bigger ambitions perfectly suited to the dynamic, entre-

preneurial and impatient digital world they grew up in. If you want to change the world, being under 30 is now an advantage,” Forbes said.

In the consumer tech segment is 22-year-old Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, billed to be the Airbnb of India. “In a country that lacks a steady supply of budget hotel chains, Oyo has developed a network of 2,200 small hotels in 100 cities across India,” Forbes said.

Others in the field are 28-year old Gagan Biyani and Neeraj Berry who co-founded Sprig, a mobile app that lets one find and order healthy meals and have them delivered quickly and 25-yearold Karishma Shah, the youngest hire at Alphabet’s Google X so-called moonshot factory, where the search giant places “smart people to come up with far-out technologies that can be applied to world’s big problems.”

In the Hollywood and

entertainment field is 27-year-old Canadian Lily Singh, writer-comedian and “part of a new generation of stars that has used YouTube to gain a following”.

Among the persons of Indian-origin is Nila Das, 27, is Vice President at Citigroup and is a mortgage bond trader running the bank’s secondary trading in agency collatoralised mortgage obligations, overseeing billions of dollars in volume each day.

The others making a mark in finance are 29-year-old Divya Nettimi, an investment analyst at Viking Global Investors, who co-managed Harvard Business School’s Alpha Fund while getting her MBA, 29-year-old Vikas Patel, a senior analyst at hedge fund Millennium Management and 29-yearold Neel Rai an investment analyst at Caxton Associates where he is part of a three-person team managing USD 600 million portfolio at pioneer-

ing macro hedge fund.

In the venture capital segment, notable persons of Indian-origin are 26-year-old Vishal Lugani, a senior associate at Greycroft Partners, and 27-year-old Amit Mukherjee, senior associate at New Enterprise Associates.

Media stars include 27-year-old Nisha Chittal, manager of social media and community at MSNBC and Ashish Patel, 29, senior vice president of Social Media at NowThis Media.

Leading the manufacturing segment is 28-yearold Sampriti Bhattacharyya, an MIT grad student who has developed underwater drones that are capable of autonomously communicating and working together to scan the ocean to look for lost planes, or measure oil spills or radiation under the sea and 29-year-old Saagar Govil, CEO of Cemtrex which produces environmental products and electronics solutions.

Among the social entrepreneurs is 28-year-old Anoop Jain, Founding Director of Sanitation and Health Rights in India, which builds toilets, collects human waste and uses methane coming off that excrement to create clean water.

In the law and policy field are 26-year-old Ashish Kumbhat, a monetary policy expert in the Federal Reserve Board, 27-yearold Dipayan Ghosh, privacy and public policy advisor at Facebook and 28-year-old Anisha Singh, the former lead of the international policy division of United Sikhs, where she founded national antibullying campaign and won a historic case against US Army requiring religious accommodation on behalf of a 19-year-old Sikh who’d been rejected from ROTC programs.

In the science field is 29-year old Sanjam Garg, assistant professor, at University of California Berkeley.

Lenovo launches world’s thinnest convertible laptop Yoga 900S New DelhI, JaNuarY 5 (IaNS): Chinese technology major Lenovo has launched a portfolio of new laptops, desktops and monitors across the Yoga series, ideapad and ideacentre brands to upgrade personal computer experience, leading with Yoga 900S, the world’s thinnest convertible laptop.

The new collection offers people distinct choices in performance, aesthetics and mobility. The eight new Yoga, ideacentre and ideapad devices upgrade work, gaming and entertainment experiences with their new designs and powerful hardware.

The carbon fibre chassis of Yoga 900S makes it lighter than previous models at 12.8 mm and 999 grams.

It is loaded with Windows 10 operating system and gives up to 10.5 hours of video playback. It comes with a convertible laptop’s 360-degree watchband hinge with four modes.

With its Intel Core m7 processor, it delivers an immersive entertainment experience assisted by Dolby Audio Premium and optional QHD screen (2560x1440) for crystal clear resolution.

Next in line is Lenovo VIBE S1 Lite that allows user to take great selfies and groupies in the dark.

Primed for all types of entertainment, Lenovo VIBE S1 comes with a 5.0” wide-view full high-definition display, and it keeps users mobile with its powerful 2700 mAh battery capable of playing movies or music videos for hours.

It is loaded with 64-bit MTK 6753 octa-core 1.3 GHz processor and 4G connectivity.

It offers 16 GB of on-board memory, plus up to 32 GB expandable through microSD storage.

Apart from these two leading products, Lenovo has also launched four new Y series devices -- ideapad Y900, Razer editions of ideacentre Y900 RE and Lenovo Y27g and Y27g RE curved gaming monitors.

With ideacentre 610S, Lenovo becomes the first company to launch world’s first compact home personal computer with an optional removable wireless projector for large-screen entertainment.

It also launched ideapad 700 and 710S laptops balance performance and portability at a great value.

The devices will be showcased at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) -- a four-day event to be held from January 6 in Las Vegas.

SC upholds ban on sale of Volkswagen faces penalties as US Railways seeks suggestions large diesel vehicles in Delhi sues for environmental violations on proposed regulator New DelhI, JaNuarY 5 (reuTerS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a temporary ban on the sale of large diesel cars in New Delhi to combat toxic smog in India’s capital, but postponed hearing an industry appeal on an environmental tax that carmakers say will hit investment.

Delhi’s block on new diesel cars has unsettled the industry, its salesmen and investors, who warn the ban and uncertainty surrounding it could derail a tentative recovery in auto sales.

Green groups want to extend the ban to smaller diesel cars and other smog-choked cities in India.

The presiding Supreme Court judge said on Tuesday that the court was considering expanding the ban to diesel cars with engine capacity of less than 2,000 cc - currently not covered - but

would first seek industry input on the matter.

The Supreme Court had also been expected to rule on Tuesday on a separate green tax on all diesel cars in the city, but has yet to announce its decision on that levy.

The decision on the tax, critical for automakers such as Mahindra & Mahindra (MAHM. NS), Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) and Toyota Motor Corp that have invested heavily in making cars for diesel-loving Indian consumers, may now be heard next week.

Delhi is one of the world’s most polluted cities, with its residents often struggling to breathe in air quality that is worse than in the Chinese capital of Beijing.

India’s automakers say they want a comprehensive plan rather than court-led initiatives - to determine the regulatory structure.

waShINgToN, JaNuarY 5 (IaNS): German car maker Volkswagen may face billions of penalties as the US Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit against it for violating the Clean Air Act by installing illegal devices to impair emission control systems in nearly 600,000 diesel cars.

Volkswagen could face penalties exceeding $90 billion, or as much as $37,500 per vehicle per violation of the law, Xinhua cited a senior Justice Department official as saying on Monday.

On behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Justice, filed the civil complaint on Monday in the federal court in Detroit, Michigan, against VW group, along with its Audi and Porsche units.

The complaint alleged that

_

LEISURE

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

SUDOKU Game Number # 3452

nearly 600,000 diesel engine vehicles sold by Volkswagen in the US market had illegal defeat devices installed that impair their emission control systems and cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards, resulting in harmful air pollution.

“With today’s (Monday) filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution,” said Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

The illegal devices installed

by Volkswagen can detect whether the vehicle is being tested in a lab or running on the road.

During test process the device will activate a car’s emission control system to pass

the US emission test, but during normal daily driving it will not, which caused the car’s real emission much higher than the US standard.

“The US will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation’s clean air laws alleged in the complaint,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

A civil complaint does not preclude the government from seeking other legal remedies, said the US Justice Department.

Volkswagen promised in a statement that it would continue to work cooperatively with the EPA on developing remedies to bring the TDI vehicles into full compliance with regulations as soon as possible.

DAILY CROSS WORD

CROSSWORD # 3464

Answer Number # 3451

New DelhI, JaNuarY 5 (IaNS): The railways ministry on Monday sought comments and suggestions on a concept paper it drafted aimed at creating a Rail Development Authority of India which will protect interests of consumers, ensure quality of service and promotes competition among others.

“Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu in his speech for Rail Budget 2015-16 had said that for orderly development of infrastructure services, enabling competition and protection of customer interest, it is important to have a regulation mechanism independent of the service provider,” said a ministry statement.

The National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) Report of 2014 and Bibek Debroy Committee Report had also recommended a regulator with overarching functions. The key functions of the envisaged regulator encompass fixing tariff, ensuring a level playing field for private investment in railways, determination of efficiency and performance standards and dissemination of information among others, the statement said.

Encouraging market development and efficient allocation of resources would also be some of its added functions. Through an executive order, the future regulator will have a chairman and four other members with experience and knowledge in railways, infrastructure, finance, law, management and consumer affairs, the statement added.

DIMAPUR Civil Hospital:

STD CODE: 03862 232224; Emergency229529, 229474

Metro Hospital: Faith Hospital:

227930, 231081 228846

Shamrock Hospital

228254

Zion Hospital:

231864, 224117, 227337

Police Control Room

228400

Police Traffic Control

232106

East Police Station West Police Station

227607 232181

CIHSR (Referral Hospital)

242555/ 242533

Dimapur hospital

224041, 248011

Apollo Hospital Info Centre:

230695/ 9402435652

Railway:

131/228404

Indian Airlines

229366

Nagaland Multispe- 248302, cialty Health & 09856006026 Research Centre

W

O

CReAtiON MythS PROMETHEUS ZEUS EPIMETHEUS RAVEN PEAPOD TRICKSTER PANDORA HOPE HUNGER BEAR IRIS POSEIDON DEUCALION PARNASSUS ORACLE BONES STONES MASTICATE HERA THOR ODIN VAFTRUDNER LOKI COYOTE PUCK ANANZI MIMIR EYEBALL WISDOM GEIRROD AGNAR FREYA

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K G N O D I E S O P E P O H C

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D O P A E P C T F S I R I P K

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

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U J U R P A R N A S S U S D N

S E N O B H O I Z N A N A F L

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

1. Stagger 6. Seedcases 10. Russian parliament 14. A drama set to music 15. Test 16. Colored part of an eye 17. Type of retinal cells 18. Start over 19. Furry mammal 20. Enteric 22. Terminates 23. Petroleum 24. Units of force 26. Fundamentals 30. Territories 32. By surprise 33. Most insincere 37. Roman emperor 38. Intends 39. Pledge 40. Most seductive (dress) 42. Follow as a result 43. Pig sounds 44. Ancient ascetic 45. Sensitivities 47. Frequently, in poetry 48. A small wooded hollow 49. Excessively dramatic 56. Murres

57. A musical pause 58. Maxim 59. Historical periods 60. Sea eagle 61. Unveiling 62. Not first 63. Lascivious look 64. Relieves

DOWN

1. Hubs 2. Atop 3. Lease 4. Algonquian Indian 5. Ottoman 6. Risk 7. Beasts of burden 8. Early 20th-century art movement 9. Burns slowly 10. Proportions 11. Pee 12. Attends to 13. Requests 21. It is (poetic) 25. Sweet potato 26. Prohibits 27. Cain’s brother 28. Indian dress 29. Image breaker 30. Accumulate

31. Deliver a tirade 33. Search 34. Alleviate 35. Render unconscious 36. You (archaic) 38. Troubadour 41. Paraphernalia 42. A dais 44. Eastern newt 45. Latin name for our planet 46. Assumed name 47. Cowboy movie 48. Affaire d’honneur 50. Not there 51. Feudal worker 52. Notion 53. Taxis 54. Chills and fever 55. Permits Ans to CrossWord 3463

WE4WOMEN HELPLINE 08822911011

Police Station 1:

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

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

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2226214

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CURRENCY NOTES

222246 222491

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65.12 95.43 8.13 46.6 45.63 46.63 54.48

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Euro

70.03

73.43

Thai Baht Korean Won New Zealand Dollar Chinese Yuan

1.75

1.94

0.0531

0.0591

43.83

45.99

9.50

10.58

WednesdAY 06•01•2016

NAGALAND/North-EAst

a shared Gabharoo Festivity - Former Minister Nokzenketba passes away Zeliang, Rio offer condolences 2016 a year for peace building DIMAPUR, JANUARY 5 (MExN): Organizers of Gabharoo festival informed on Tuesday that they are contemplating of extending the proposed Gabharoo Festivity-2016 to both the ‘hills’ and ‘plains’ area with the objective of enhancing the mission of Border Peace Coordination Committee (A-N) which uphold that sports and cultural assimilations of the bordering people are effective ways of peace coordination.

This comes as an encouraging development because since its institution, the celebration of Gabharoo Festivity was

otherwise confined only to the ‘plains’ sector, a press statement from BPCC (AN) president BP Bora informed.

The announcement was made during a joint peace sitting convened by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Chairman NSAMB, Dr Benjongliba Aier along with members from BPCC (Assam-Nagaland), key members of Gabharoo festival organizing committee, representatives from Rankham village area, Assam and council members of Yajang-C village.

However, in order to uphold the Gabharoo

Tourism Festivity Project for brokering peace, immediate blessings of the elected representatives of the Mariani and Alongtaki Legislative Assembly Constituencies followed MP of Nagaland and MP of Jorhat, Chief Ministers of both the States and District Administrations of Jorhat and Mokokchung districts was required so that the project is able to draw essential attentions in mitigating future conflicts if any in a meaningful way, the organizers felt.

Gabharoo Festivity-2016 is scheduled during third week of March at Gabharoo, a small hamlet

in the border under Selenghat block in Jorhat district, situated in a scenic area bordering with Lirmen and Yajang village of Mokokchung district of Nagaland.

All the neighbouring Naga villages situated in the border belt of Alongtaki Assembly constituency of Mokokchung district are expected to partake in the proposed festival for peace.

Nagaland parliamentary secretary for agriculture, Dr Benjongliba Aier and Assam parliamentary secretary (Power) Rupjyoti Kurmi are expected to be patron in the proposed Gabharoo Festivity-2016.

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 5 (MExN): Former Minister and Member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), Nokzenketba passed away this morning.

He was in his mid-sixties.

The former Soil Conservation and, Art & Culture Minister has serve the State in various capacities since his first election to NLA from Koridang A/C in 1982 as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang has expressed his grief to learn about the sudden demise of Late Nokzenketba.

In his condolences message, Zeliang described the former minister “as a straightforward, honest and dedicated leader of the masses.”

Late Nokzenketba was fearless who never swerved away from his convictions and a true man of his word who stood steadfast not only in his political convictions and determination to serve the people, the CM added.

Deeply regretting Late Nokzenketba demise, Zeliang along with his wife and children extended their heartfelt condolences bereaved his family in their hour of sorrow.

“We pray to the Almighty to grant you solace and strength to tide over the tragic death of your dear husband and father of the children,” Zeliang stated addressing to his condolences to the wife of the decease, Dr Chubayangla,

bers of the bereaved family and pray to Almighty god the Principal of Fazl Ali Col- to let the departed soul rest in peace” the MP further lege, Mokokchung.

“May the departed soul condoled. rest in eternal peace.”

The present State’s representative to the Parliament, Neiphiu Rio also expressed his deep pain to In connection to the news hear about the demise of item appearing on page the former minister. one of January 4 issue with Late Noksenkaba dedi- the heading -“NSCN (K) cated his life to the service of Finance Secretary, two the people and was always other cadres apprehendcommitted towards the wel- ed,” the name of NSCN (K) fare of the weaker section, finance secretary stands the former Chief Minister of corrected as ‘Max Assumi’ Nagaland stated in a con- and not ‘Max Asukomi’ dolence note received here as mentioned in the press adding that the State has lost statement issued by the a seasoned leader and the vacuum created by his de- Assam Rifles. This rejoinmise would be difficult to fill. der has been issued by rel“I extend my deepest atives of NSCN (K) finance condolences to the mem- secretary.

CorreCtion

Public SPace

Denominational-ism

J

esus priestly prayer for his disciples in John 17 was for them to be one. It gives the impression that Jesus knew beforehand that the Church of God would suffer the onslaught of differing groups after His departure. We asked, “Was Jesus prayer not answered? Was His prayer for the Church not powerful enough to pull down the barriers of divisions and disunity among the church?”Many times the early Church is represented as an ideal model for present day Churches. But deeper study proves that the early Church was also not free from the major challenges that the Churches faces today. For instance, the division between Jews and Gentile believers was one proof that shows that the early Church was also not free from the flaws of Church institutions. In that context, the Church leaders like Paul and other band of apostles manoeuvre to unite the two races together. Within this improbable unsuccessful mission, the sovereign plan of God was fulfilled in His Church.

When we talk about unity in the Church, it doesn’t necessarily mean uniformity. A Church can well be united in diversity. It also might not stick to a particular form of practices of worship but agree on all fundamental doctrines of the Bible. The whole picture of the Universal Church is one which has so many colours blending to make the Church of Christ more beautiful, glorious and majestically mysterious in the eyes of men. Therefore, denominational Churches if not pulled to the extreme edge of intolerance and hatred helps in the healthy growth of the kingdom of God. Nagaland, like any other place is plagued with different denominations. Denomination in and of itself is not wrong but -ism is. The extremism in not allowing the other denominations to flourish and freely function in anygiven setting is completely un-Christian and un-scriptural. Jesus said, “Those who are not against us are for us.” In other words, those groups outside the circle of Jesus invoking the name of Jesus were also His legitimate disciples and Jesus was not against them.

A cloudis hovering among the Christians today that people from other denominations are lessChristian than themselves. Of course, heretical teachings needs to be dealt with and responded to strongly but the restriction upon the believers from freely choosing the practice of worship is really disturbing. This kind of Christianity only leads to formalism and mundane nominalism. The forbidding of other denominations from entering into a community in the name of the community’ interest is pure hypocrisy. The rise of denominations proves that the established Churches are not doing well enough to capture the hearts of the people with its form of practices and worship system.

The superiority attitude of the denominationalism is purely Satanic in the dress of religion. The “holier than thou” attitude in some denominational circles is breeding contempt resulting in insignificant schism among the Christians community. There have been cases where other denominational churches are forbidden completely in some villages. Many would term “denominations” as disunity and division among God’s people. But I beg to differ. Denominations have a spiritual significance in the expansion of God’s kingdom. For instance, the 16th century schism between Catholic and Protestantism opened the eyes of the mass to perceive what’s wrong within the Catholic tenets of faith. The movement called for each believer to judge through the Biblical presentation. Hence, the rise of Protestantism called for inner change within the Catholic Church purging the evils of blind faith. It called for the Church to examine their roles of administration and teachings in the Bible.

Denominations are healthy because it restricts the dictatorial position and monopoly of one particular Church. In a secular and democratic system of society, the Church cannot behave in an undemocratic and despotic manner. The Church ought to be even-handed in serving the people. It should not bind people but free people. It ought to release people from religiosity and unnecessary laws and regulations. It should promote brotherhood and express love in the midst of differing views and beliefs. Yes, it’s easy to love and agree with one who’s on our side but not so with the others. But Christian should learn to co-exist together inspite of our differences and show the world that unity doesn’t have to depend on uniformity. Let’s hear it again, denomination is not disunity but -ism is. G.K Chesterton gives an interesting observation about Jesus teachings on loving our neighbours and also loving our enemies, probably says, Chesterton, because they are generally the same people. Maybe, it’s time that the Christians realize that the same enemy and the neighbour by and large are the other denominational Churches and Christians ought to love them as taught in the Bible.

Vebu Khamo Kohima Bible College

T

he recent advised by the union finance ministry to the state government to adopt austerity measure to check the state debt crisis is a welcome and a positive directives. We cannot expect the central government to wipe the man-made state government debt all the time.

Its high time that the state government should resort to practical proper budgeting and planning to check unnecessary and extravagant expenditure.

State like Nagaland

T

N. Rong

hounii festival is a remarkable moment to witness the cultural richness of one of the largest Naga tribes living in the present State of Manipur.

The first hand experience to get the feel of the rich cultural heritage will hopefully give a sense of clear understanding of the uniqueness of Nagas through the lens of Poumai tribe. Poumai tribe comprises of 94 villages out of which 85 are revenue recognized villages and 9 unrecognized villages spread across six sub-divisions in Manipur and one sub-division (Phek) in Nagaland State. The Poumai villages in two states are separated by a stream. When one travels to Laii (Vafiimai) village after crossing Liyai, one can see the Zhavamai village in Nagaland state on the other side. These villagers treasure a shared past, however, division imposed by the colonial powers denied the right to live together as blood brothers under single administrative roof.

The Poumai people who were divided into Nagaland state have to merge with the larger tribe and as such subsumed to Chakesang tribe.

N

agas are civilized and educated not today. The oral history of Nagas migration depicts evolution of civilization in association with time, place, people and knowledge attains which ascertains wonderful ethnicity among indigenous people situated border to Southeast Asian countries.

Had not Nagas emanated as civilized ethnic group, who Nagas are today would be far behind every contextual world. It is inevitable that Nagas civilization and education is not different from the history of the eastern world civilization where people nomad in search of good place and power struggle (Toynbee.

1934). The western world calls such nomad people as barbarian domination or wild people. Many Nagas introduce Naga identity as mongoloid or Chinese migrant. If so, the history of Mongolian precedes as evicted people by the Chinese dynasty (ibid). In this case the Nagas are evicted

Earning 50 paise spending 1 rupee where there is not much source of income for the government and most of the time is dependent on the central government , running such a government without proper planning, budgeting and extravagant expending will always put the government in debt crisis in every budget session. It may be of Congress, NPF or a BJP government, it will always left behind a big

debt to clear after 5 years.

The reason being our expenditure is always more than our income. It has been highlighted time and again that we have excess government employees as a result of the menace of backdoor appointment.

Excess means the government has to spend extra expenditure. Such kind of excess will always put any government in debt in the

long run. Nagaland is lucky to be getting funds from the central government since its statehoood. But we do not see much development as we have a big virus called corruption. Drug addict and alcoholic parents will always ruin their family similarly wherever there is rampant corruption like ours we cannot expect much development.

This is the situation most

of the calamities hit African area are facing today where the western countries and United Nation are providing lots of fund for rebuilding but there is not much visible development because of misuse of funds.

Good actors and director's can bring life to an average movie script but bad actors and director will ruin even one of the best movie script in the world. Simi-

OF CElEbratiON aNd HOpE Technically, Poumai in Nagaland become a sub-tribe among Chakesang tribe and as such their true identity as Poumai tribe could not be exercised as a separate recognized tribe in the state of Nagaland. This adds to the complexity of protecting distinct tribal identity and also denied the political aspiration. The Naga people’s aspiration is built upon such cases to unify own people (read as brothers and sisters) separated by colonial powers and to consolidate the ancestral territories which belong to them (Nagas) to reclaim the pre-colonial status for a common homeland. In nutshell, thus, Naga Nationalism movement gained momentum when the government of the past failed to acknowledge and act according to the historical and political rights of the Naga people.

In analogy, Zeliangrong people inhabit in the three states of north east India; Nagaland, Manipur and Assam. The Zeliangrong people are also divided by the colonial powers in three states against their will and

wishes. When one travels to Tamphung (The last village from Manipur, Senapati District) and view the Barak River, there is a junction that divides Senapati and Tamenglong District in Manipur side and Peren in Nagaland side. Territorially, culturally, historically the Zeliangrong people are one, however, it is painful to see that the same people were divided to different states through the colonial rules. Such cases do exist among tribes like Konyak, Tangkhuls, Rengma, Lotha, Sema and others. The interesting thing is, this kind of arbitrary divide by colonial rules become the bone of contention in the present situation. However, such cases are the living testimony before the world how the historical, political rights and aspiration of the Nagas for unified homeland (Nation) had been denied for this long.

Thounii, a grandest Festival of Poumai tribe a “New year festival or the festival of dawn”, celebrated after storing up paddy and all kinds of food grains and crops in

thanksgiving for good harvest and good health showcases the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Poumai tribe. Festival is a time of establishing new bond and reviving old relationship. It is not only for Poumai to celebrate but guests from Naga family and other communities as well to thoroughly enjoy the richness and beauty of the Poumai culture in this happy Thounii Celebration 2016 sending a message to the world through its theme, “Our Culture is Our Identity.” From the land of Poumai flow the rivers of Barak and Iril. Barak River gently originates from the cold hills of Liyai (Zhaimai) and flows through Mao territory then Maram territory, Zeliangrong territory and beyond, seamlessly connecting them giving as sense of commonness. Iril originates from Lakhamai flows through Tangkhul territory and flows down to Imphal valley. Laini River flowing through the land of Ngari (Raimai), (Phaibung Zhifiimai, Chumai) and Laii circle villages (Vafii and Zhobii) territories (from

Poumai territory) joining Phek District in Nagaland and beyond. Poumai villages contribute to these rivers as tributaries. These rivers enrich the lives of lakhs of people, providing water for agriculture and living. So much so, the pottery items/ earthen wares from Oinam Hill (Onaeme) called ‘Pouli” provided utensils for the Poumai people, other Naga tribes and beyond and was inevitable an obligatory item to perform rites and rituals among many Naga tribes before the dawn of modernity. The song says, ‘Even Sun reluctantly goes to its home after visiting the beautiful Poumai land.”

These rivers that connect the people across ethnicities and race, once again remind us the significance of peaceful coexistence by respecting each other’s position.

Again, coming to the pressing issue at hand, Indo-Naga peace process started way back in 1997 (1st August) after a ceasefire agreement was inked between Government of India and NSCN (IM) to resolve the decades old

larly Nagaland has all the potential to become one of the favourite destination spot in India. We have the raw material of rich history, culture, cuisine, favourable climate, rich soil, beautiful landscape etc. But as long as there are many bad actors and directors we will never realised our potentials.

Gandhi has rightly put up that "the world has enough for everyone's needs, but not enough for everyone's greed".

Moameren Pongen Asst Prof Chumukedima

confrontation has been given a fresh hope by signing of peace accord on 3rd August 2015 after Mr Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India.

Along Longkumer aptly observed in this book A Way Forward, “The all-India political dynamics at present with a single party majority government in Delhi under the determined leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a boon for the Naga issue.”

This humble piece, in fact is prepared in anticipation of Union Minister for Tribal Affairs gracing the occasion as chief guest to be published in local Daily in Senapati. However, due to the technical problem the paper could not be published and Union Minister also cancelled his visit due to the recent earthquake in Manipur. Thounii can be an opportune moment for Union Minister and his team to take back home “memories of beautiful culture” and ‘deep longing’ of Naga people for final settlement of Indo-Naga political issue. Which until such thing happen is a ‘dawning hope’ for the struggling people.

tHE CiViliSEd EdUCatEd NaGaS people from China. Subsequently, civilization and education concurrently moved wherever Naga people moved from place to place.

How Nagas are civilized and educated? Civilization from stone curving, half naked, digging wild potatoes, hunting wild animals and birds, gun making, head hunting, war among villagers, transportation on bare foot for miles, carriage load from one village to another village and education of indigenous agriculture culture, earning wisdom, indigenous poet and song composer, story teller, understanding religion, belief, tradition, brewing rice beer, blacksmith, traditional craft such as bamboo basket, mat, wooded bed, stool, table, curving rice pounding wood, fire ignition, myth, indigenous month, year, season, politics and other earlier way of life have gradually escalated to modern and postmodern civilization of technology and education of contemporary world.

From farmer, carpenter, craft person, weaving, potter etc. to modern education of literacy remains connected. Naga people have become predominant to modern education and the literacy growth takes place every year. Though Nagas do not have or have Naga language/dialect like many other neighboring states and nations, every village remain civilized and educated in producing meanings and symbols in own language that connects to belief and culture (Geertz.

1973). Today English and Nagamese appear as contract language to exchange message among the Nagas.

Whether Nagas will have own permanent language is still questionable.

The more Nagas embark on newer civilization and education, the greater and smarter Nagas become in every aspect. Political civilization is explicitly displayed by replacing the imminent Kingship politic which existed since decade, with modern Government

law and order. However, there is a regretful introspection that Kingship politics embeds more honesty than the modern Government-ship where double corruption replaced the once uncorrupted society. The rationalization over this political civilization is whether corruption emerges from contemporary education where highly educated Nagas engaged in politics. Similarly education in religion and culture have become more questionable – the more educated religious leaders emerge the more divisions embroiled among the Nagas. Cultural civilization is another derogatory repercussion of educated Nagas which in the name of expediting education it remissions cultural values, yet Nagas are still educated.

There are three speculative stages of the Nagas. First stage belongs to the honest Nagas that could refer to older folks who grew among the traditional well-organized society which Tonnies

calls it Gemeinshaft (Baum.

1975) of where moral and cultural values remained invincible every day. The second stage belongs to middle age Nagas who conspicuously ensemble as educated intellectual with higher literacy rate which give birth to more corruption and destroyed the Naga society in greed and robbery. The third stage belongs to maligned intention of young Nagas both self-claimed civilized and educated who in reality are among imitation, honesty, truth seeker, rethinker of past and present Naga society for the better future; some are those who claim ownership of every phenomenon emerges both in social network and virtual world.

First stimulating question for the current young Nagas is what kind of civilization and education do you prepare to transfer to future innocent Nagas?

Second question is where is the voice, feelings and ideas of the old men and women who are crawling at villages

who feel to share what they think about the Naga society but remain submerged?

The civilized educated Nagas have made the voice of the old Naga folks vague and suppressed when too much explicit contemporary educated knowledge looks better and displayed, which is in fact not. In the current scenario of civilized educated Nagas, every Naga needs to go back to every grandparent to seek wisdom and knowledge, former education and civilization and other necessary which are almost forgotten, to reconnect what are missing between the good former society and the worst current society.

Good society in this context does not mean the society without a single problem.

Unless such revitalization takes place among the current civilized educated Nagas, the epidemic of deploring untenable society would remain the same tomorrow.

Lemwang Chuhwanglim Researcher & Activist Email: lemswang@gmail.com

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

wednesdAY 06•01•2016

IN FOCUS

6

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express Xivolume issue 4 X issue 185 Thursday 9volume July 2015 By dr. asangba Tzüdir

Hope for the New Year

“And Joshua said unto the people; Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you”

T

he year 2015 has been a topsy-turvy ride and has witnessed the heights as surprising events after events unfolded. And looking back at the year that has been, one is made to ponder in heightened anticipation about what the New Year has in store for us. Though with full of uncertainties, the New Year has renewed our hearts and filled it with a ‘song’ that is full of dreams, aspirations, expectations, wishes and hope and a spring of belief that somehow the New Year will bring solutions to all the myriad of problems. The year has started to roll out and we are there on the rim of every new day to deal with whatever spins out. The recent turn of events in the past few days makes us only long for peace and hope that tomorrow offers a better chance to live without fear. For so long, there has been a deep longing for peace, not knowing where and how it will come from.

Drawing an insight from the Bible, the book of Joshua says, “And Joshua said unto the people; Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” and we see how as God promised, in the most wondrous fashion, the Israelites were taken from the bondage of slavery across the River Jordan led by the priests carrying the casket containing the Ten Commandments. The way God’s wonder unfolded in the River Jordan is magnanimous. The unthinkable happened at Jordan because the Israelites responded to the call to obedience and sanctity. Therein lies our hope too.

Reflecting on our society, and considering the negativities and the tangible issues and problems all around, it seems a difficult proposition to break free from the shackles wherein our lives are strangulated by various forms of corruption in every sphere of human activity, be it in social, cultural, political or religious matter; and more so the Naga political conundrum.

Nagas today seem to be traversing a trajectory of life wherein we have lost all sense and sight of our existence, our life and thereby meanings. And as the New Year unfolds, it is only wise to pin our hopes on the Lord for a ‘divine intervention’ to draw us out from the present ‘Naga Condition’. But it will be wiser to first address the predicament that makes each of us a human – a moral being with the will the change from within oneself.

The message for the Israelites was to sanctify themselves and bow to His will. In a similar strain Nagas too need to sincerely address the concepts like good, goodness, goodwill, truth, honesty, just, responsibility, etc. and with a sanctified heart turn it into intelligible and meaningful concepts and also in redrawing a moral perimeter for ourselves. Let it also be reminded that it was the will of the Lord for the casket containing the Ten Commandments to lead the Israelites out of river Jordan. Likewise our lives too should allow the various ‘commandments’ to be in front and with obedience, imbibe and follow it as our guiding principles and also renew our morality towards reaffirming in the hope for a change for better that we so long.

With a change in our mindset and with renewed hearts, Let us roll into the New Year 2016 with faith and hope in God’s wondrous works.

(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is an Editor with heritage publishing house.

He writes a weekly guest editorial for the Morung Express. Views and comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)

lEfT WING |

Preetha Nair IANS

Writing is my second life: Diplomat Navtej Sarna

N

avtej Sarna, the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to the UK, belongs to the crop of writers who have come to be known as the 'MEA school of literature'. However, he can also claim the distinction of separating his professional and literary life in a succinct way.

As his ninth book 'Second Thought' hits the shelves, the seasoned diplomat says that nothing stops him from living his "second life" - that of a writer - to the fullest.

The book, a collection of his columns that appeared in 'The Hindu' for over seven years, takes the reader down the nostalgic path of a literary journey interlaced with private memories.

The collection ranges from classics to contemporary writers.

As Sarna - who has the distinction of being the longestserving spokesperson of the external affairs ministry - gears up to take up his new challenge later this month, he told IANS in a freewheeling conversation that his next book will have to wait a while as he has a daunting job ahead as the new envoy to one of the India's most imporant diplomatic, strategic and trading partners.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Your book talks mostly about writers and their mental landscape.

A: There are different aspects of writers which another writer is curious to know. I am curious to know about the magic formula, about writers and their mental landscape. There is a curiosity about the language, different narratives, which certain writers experiment with. It helps one's craft in knowing the structure of a particular book. I have written mostly about 20th century classical writers whose different styles helped me a lot.

Q: How do you keep the worlds of a writer and a diplomat apart and together at the same time?

A: It has always been a challenge and I have been doing it for the last 35 years. It's my second life. I decide consciously not to write about my life as a diplomat. It makes it easier to sustain both lives. I lived both the facets of my lives comfortably and I have balanced it in a very cautious way. I have a lot of friends from both the fields.

Q: Tell us about the 'MEA School of Literature' A: We have several writers who published their works and are being called the 'MEA School of Literature'. It feels good. For instance, there is Pavan Varma, Vikas Swarup and a couple of more writers among us.

Q: Throw some light on tracing Hemingway in Havana, who had a great influence on you...

A: Hemingway is an iconic writer and I visited his home in Havana. There are legends of about his extravagance. They have turned his house into a museum; it has his bars, fishing boats, grave of his pets, guns, boots, African jackets, among many other things. Another thing I found out is that Hemingway used to scribble down his weight in the bathroom daily.

Hemingway was easy to track. It is a whole industry.

Q: The book has a strong thread of nostalgia running through it.

A: Whether in the Mumbai piece or about the second-hand book shops, nostalgia is a strong emotion that I induced into my writing. The past is a safe place to fall back. It is there in your head and it gets rosier by the day and each person's past is their own. I draw upon the past a lot and it's inevitable for me as a writer.

Q: Any misadventures along the way?

A: That should be the visit to Tolstoy's estate in 1983 which didn't happen. Those days, foreigners needed to get a permit to leave Moscow's city limits, which we didn't have.

Q: Can we expect a novel from London?

A: Right now, I don't have an idea about my new project. I have a busy job ahead in London.

C O M M E N T A R Y

Tatyana Ivanova

The Nobel Laureate vs. the Dictator

Nobel Prize Winner Svetlana Alexievich is challenging both a dictator and a bad case of historical amnesia

T

he prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature 2015 has been awarded to my compatriot from Belarus, writer and journalist Svetlana Alexievich. Many Belarusians pin their hopes on this prize. That’s why she started her Nobel Lecture at the Stockholm City Hall with the words: “I do not stand alone at this podium…

There are voices around me, hundreds of voices.”

They are the voices of her protagonists that she interviewed over the decades. They are the voices of Belarusians she was hearing and evoking all her creative life. “Flaubert called himself a human pen,” she noted in her lecture. “I would say that I am a human ear.”

News of a homegrown Nobel laureate in literature is more important in Belarusian society than news of a politician, especially a dictator. Since its announcement in October, Alexievich’s prize has been the subject of heated discussions in Belarusian social networks as well as in all the independent mass media.

The novelty has stolen the spotlight from the “great” President Alexander Lukashenko. Journalists and civil society of late have found him relatively less interesting, even during his so-called election victory. Lately, he has been mentioned only when Alexievich brought him up or he criticized her.

Many remember Lukashenko in the context of the Ig Nobel Prize that he won 2013. The annual Ig Nobel Peace Prize, a kind of anti-Nobel, is awarded at Harvard University to poke fun at specious achievements. Lukashenko won his for making it illegal to applaud in public. The Belarus State Police also received the award—for arresting a one-armed man for applauding.

From Scant Applause to Critique Svetlana Alexievich criticizes dictatorship and dictators of all kinds, including Lukashenko. She debunks their fraudulent elections and wars. At the same time, she distances herself profoundly from politics by positioning herself as a writer who studies human nature.

The German Deutsche Welle wrote about the “scant applause” for Alexievich in her home country: About six hours after the Nobel Committee had named Svetlana Alexievich the winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated the author, telling the state news agency Belta that he was “honestly happy” about her success, adding “I hope very much that her award will serve our state and the people of Belarus.” That was the extent of Lukashenko’s recognition. On Belarusian state television, the news from Stockholm was not a headliner but instead a dry news bulletin.

At her press conference in the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Alexievich said: “Dictatorship is primitive creation, usually headed by the unintelligent people.” The dictatorship in Minsk proved its primitivism by going to great lengths to ignore its Nobel Laureate. Instead of expressing national pride in Alexievich, Lukashenko started to criticize her, in much the same way the Soviet Union denounced Nobel Laureate Andrei Sakharov. Lukashenko said, in a transcript of a speech on the president’s website: Some of our ‘artists,’ creative individuals, even Nobel Prize winners … went abroad and tried to pour a bucket of dirt over their country. It is completely wrong because, like your parents, or your mother, you don’t choose your motherland, your land. [Belarus] is what it is. If you speak badly about your motherland, are ashamed of her, that means you, above all, are a bad son.

The congratulations, celebrations, and meetings for Alexievich at the Minsk airport were from ordinary people, journalists, civil society representatives, and colleagues. Belarusians organized a “Let’s celebrate the Nobel Prize together” campaign through social media.

Heroes of Revolution In her banquet speech after the Nobel Award Ceremony, Alexievich talked about Belarus. She explained that Belarus has not taken the path to democracy, despite declaring independence from the Soviet Union 25 years ago. Indeed, no change has come about since Soviet times. The country still gets called a “communist reservation.”

Yet behind the mask of what Lukashenko calls “stability,” Belarus is experiencing ongoing revolution. Alexievich spoke of the heroes bravely fight for liberty in Belarus that the Lukashenko regime has jailed, expelled, and killed.

Several generations have grown up since Belarus became independent after the August 1991 coup.

Each of them has had its own revolution, has come out onto the Square to demonstrate, and each has wanted to live in a free country. They have all been beaten, sent to prison, driven out of universities, and fired from their jobs. Our revolution has not been victorious, but we do have our own revolutionary heroes.

Freedom is not an instantaneous holiday, as we once dreamed. It is a road. A long road. We know this now.

According to Alexievich, the entire world is experiencing a return to a past of imperialism and totalitarianism. ”A barbaric era is upon us once again. An era of power. Democracy is in retreat,” she said. “We are witnessing a new clash between good and evil.

We are both witnesses and participants.”

Some days later, in her interview with the online independent Russian TV Rain she talked about loyalty to totalitarianism in the post-soviet period: “We are tied to the past like dogs,” she said. “Empire in the 21st century–it is an absolute anachronism.”

Alexievich spoke about the tragedy of the “little red man” in her speech at the Stockholm City Hall.

The figure of this little man has intrigued her for decades. He appears in her books as someone facing huge problems: war, perestroika, Chernobyl, and dictatorship. Her little man is a red man, a Soviet man, who survives his troubles and changes. The transformation of a Soviet man to a Chernobyl survivor and an adherent of dictator Putin or Lukashenko

is something she has seen happen. Alexievich wonders about the nature of the little red man. Why is he still around after the end of the Soviet era? Why does he support a new dictatorship? Why is he prone to make war? Why does he create and maintain dehumanized geopolitical boundaries in which the value of human life approaches zero?

The little man is the one who does not care, does not influence, does not take part in decision-making on the important issues for society. He doesn’t even want to, and he is quite tenacious in his refusal. Part of the attraction of the figure of this little man is that he can be found not only in the post-Soviet zone of influence but elsewhere as well, even in the United States.

Links to Current Wars Today Russia is making war again—in Ukraine, in Syria. She is surrounding herself with a ring of enemies by opposing the United States, European Union, and even former friends such as Turkey. In Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine, where Putin has launched both conventional warfare and propaganda attacks—the social networks exploded with the quotations from the books of Alexievich. Ordinary people posted stories from her War’s Unwomanly Face about World War II and Zinky Boys about war in Afghanistan. These stories very much resemble the stories of contemporary wars in Ukraine and in Syria.

In her Nobel Lecture in Stockholm, Alexievich told one of her Afghanistan stories: I drove to a hospital for Afghan civilians with a group of nurses – we brought presents for the children. Toys, candy, cookies. I had about five teddy bears. We arrived at the hospital, a long barracks.

No one has more than a blanket for bedding. A young Afghan woman approached me, holding a child in her arms. She wanted to say something— over the last 10 years, almost everyone here has learned to speak a little Russian—and I handed the child a toy, which he took with his teeth. “Why with teeth?” I asked in surprise. She pulled the blanket off his tiny body—the little boy was missing both arms. “It was when your Russians bombed.” Someone held me up as I began to fall.

With her true war stories or her oral history about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, Alexievich is addressing the same issue: abuse of power and the destruction of people. With the Nobel Prize, her books will now receive worldwide dissemination.

Perhaps they can help prevent more of these disasters in the future.

Will we be the People of the Great Change?

Christopher Chase

Let us not talk falsely now, the hour’s getting late – Bob Dylan

L

ooking out at the ecological crisis we humans have created, the analogy of mass murder or collective suicide could be applied. For centuries we’ve been steadily and methodically killing off other life forms in the Natural world. Now our greed and selfishness seems to be destroying us as well.

Is there a way out? Hopefully, yes, but it will require more creativity, collaboration, love, and wisdom then modern “technologically advanced” humans have exhibited (as a whole) in a very long time. It requires large numbers of us “waking up” and caring deeply, becoming less “techno-logical” and much more “eco-logical” in our behavior and thinking.

Do most people realize what we’ve been doing and the “inevitable” outcome of our actions- if we do not change? I think large numbers of us do, though its like someone struggling with a drinking problem, sugar craving, drug or food addiction.

Collective Awakening in a Time of Crisis You may realize that what you crave is hurting others (and slowly killing you) but you cannot stop. As the Buddha pointed out, “craving” is at the

“root” of most of our problems. Craving paired with dualistic thinking, the idea that each of us exists somehow separate from other people and the rest of the Universe.

Buddha was wise to illuminate the dangers of ego-centric thinking and how it leads to desires for sense pleasure, as well as fearful thoughts, anger and hatred. He taught how dualistic thinking and craving is what creates all the suffering in our lives, spins the wheel of samsara.

As humans have grown more powerful technologically, the levels of destructiveness and suffering have been magnified. Forests all over the earth have been destroyed, “prec i o u s” m e tals and other resources being dug up, polluting water supplies.

Radioactivity leaking into the air and oceans, crime and violence overcoming ghettos and slums, then spilling out into larger populations.

We’ve reached a point of crisis, where a greater collective awakening is required. We’ve been like a cancer that’s grown out of control, or a virus that spreads without consideration for its host. There really is no other choice, either a majority of us wake up and change, soon- or the Web of Life implodes upon itself and we all go the way of the dinosaurs…

What’s needed right now isn’t a blissful “rapture” type of awakening, where we all fly off into the heavens. Neither is it about running off into the mountains to meditate in caves, cut off from the rest of society. We need spiritual practices like yoga and meditation to help us stay optimistic, mindful, peaceful and compassionate, but our destination is not somewhere far off in the distance.

deeper understanding of the causes of problems. We have to think less mechanistically and more ecologically.

We need to open our hearts, and seek guidance there. Recognize love, joy, compassion and gratitude as natural sources of wisdom. Let go of this idea that “knowing” is something that happens only in our heads. And realize also- as Buddha, Jesus and others have taught- that happiness is not someWaking up to the Miracle of this Uni- thing we need to continuously “purverse we Live in sue” – but that it arises naturally when We need to wake up here, on this we truly love and support one another. planet, right where we are. To wake up in our apartments and cities, wake up Will we be the People of the Great on our farms, in our schools, govern- Change? ments and work Our Planet is a Garden of Life, a places. Wake up Global Eden that can be saved and to the beauty and restored to a state of balance. But miracle of this time is running out. For decades now Universe we live we’ve been at a turning point, a fork in in, to the value and sacredness of all life. the road. The problems we see in the Change our priorities, live more mind- world around us exist because we’re fully, with greater wisdom and love. still moving in the wrong direction, we We have to think of people and other haven’t changed course yet. living beings as being sacred and “preThe decisions we make over the next cious” – rather than valuing only money, decade will decide how Life unfolds on possessions and certain metals. We have this planet for hundreds, thousands, perto care about the forests, oceans and ani- haps millions of years into the future. mals. Care about our bodies, our famiHow shall we be remembered by lies, neighbors, children and ourselves. our children’s children’s children- as We need to become wiser when we People of the Great Change, or the try to fix things that don’t work in our Great Catastrophe? There’s still time to world. Take the time to patiently inves- turn around but our window of opportigate relationships and interconnec- tunity is narrowing. And what happens tions when difficulties arise, to gain a next is up to ALL of us.

WRITE-WING

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

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

wednesdAY 06•01•2016

PERSPECTIVE

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

WelcoMe to another Year of transforMation

7

The Newspaper with an Opinion The Morung Express

Michael Edwards

Can the world be reconstructed through the fusion of personal and social change?

We say yes, and here's what we're learning

O

n a winter’s night in 1955, a young preacher named Ma r t i n L u t h e r King climbed into the pulpit of the Holt Street Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Once there, he delivered a speech that would eventually lead to his own assassination, while breathing new life into the struggle to transform the world in the image of love and social justice.

If his words are remembered at all these days it’s because of what they helped to launch—the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which heralded a decisive turn in the movement for civil rights. What King said has largely been forgotten, yet the content of his speech was revolutionary in ways that stretch far beyond the context in which he delivered it.

As I listen to it now on a scratchy YouTube clip, the hairs on my neck stand up straight, the crowd of voices rising to a crescendo as King talks about the keys to the struggle for equal rights.

“But it is not enough for us to talk about love,” he said, “There is another side called justice. And justice is love in calculation. Justice is love working against anything that stands against love. Standing beside love is always justice.”

Love is the anchor or inward expression of social justice, I think King was saying, and justice is the outward expression of “love in calculation”— a conscious design for remaking the world in a different image of ourselves.

Radical transformations are possible if love and justice reinforce each-other to create a permanent shift in direction among human beings and the institutions they create.

“Only new selves could give birth to a new world, but only a new world could sustain the new human beings who constituted it, and who would sustain it in turn,” as Josiah Royce put it in the aftermath of the American Civil War almost one hundred years before.

Then as now, there will be no end to patriarchy without deep-rooted changes in men’s behavior; no solution to climate change unless all of us reduce our consumption and carbon footprint; no decline in inequality unless we learn to share resources with each-other; no meaningful democracy until we work through our differences in a spirit of common purpose; no lasting peace if we continue to project our fears and insecurities onto other people.

I

It is the year 2016 - another year for new year resolutions, new dreams and hopes. Although this may sound like an echo of the previous year, the significance of new years are meant to bring in exactly that and more – a renewed hope, a new commitment or stronger determination towards making our lives and the society we live in more meaningful. It is our hope that 2016 brings in a positive change for a Nagaland that we can be proud of, and so for our column this year, we begin it with a young minds’ perspective about her wish for the youth of 2016.

But turning these examples around, there must also be real and living forms of politics and activism and economics that grow from and reinforce the qualities we want to encourage. “We must be the change we want to see” is a favorite quotation falsely attributed to Gandhi, but it’s equally true that we must see the change we want to be. And that means showing how real economies can deliver justice and wellbeing, and real politics can bring people together to break the logjam of vested interests.

Unfortunately, such boundarybreaking experiments are in short supply, constantly constrained by the mantra that change is impossible because of (insert your favorite bogeyman): globalization, footloose corporations, human nature, the weakening of governments, corruption in politics, the decline of the public, too much TV and far too much Rupert Murdoch.

If we believe that only small changes are possible in our political and economic systems, then small change is all we’re going to see—another turn of the wheel with little or no forward movement.

The challenges of uniting personal and social change were central to the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s, expressed through civil rights, gay liberation, the rise of the women’s movement and the first stirrings of environmentalism. In the decades that followed, this spirit was less in evidence in politics and activism, though it remained alive among feminists and other radicals like Audre Lorde, June Jordan, and bell hooks. Elsewhere, the social and spiritual sides of activism began to move apart, perhaps exhausted by earlier efforts or beaten down by the arrival of the neo-liberal revolution and the celebration of selfinterest and materialism that followed in its wake.

But today, there’s a resurgence of interest in the possibilities of transformation and an upsurge in attempts to put them into practice, spurred on by the failure of conventional approaches to make much headway against inequality, and the urgency of problems like climate change which demand boundary-breaking solutions.That’s why we launched Transformation as a new section of openDemocracy in 2013. What have we learned since then?

First and foremost, there’s a substantial readership for the material we’re publishing—well over a million unique visitors spread across the world and around 400,000 who’ve returned to the site more than once.

Our contributors are diverse, with 65 percent of those returning our questionnaires self-identifying as women or trans-gender, 55 per cent as aged under 40, and 41 per cent as LGBTQ. Most are activists (many of whom have never written for a large audience before), with good representation from academia and a few professional writers.

Underneath these numbers we’ve covered a wide range of issues, especially in the areas of bio-politics, emerging trends in social activism, sustainable economic alternatives, non-violent conflict resolution, and transformative politics. We’ve also looked deeply into the human dimensions of problems and solutions that encompass religion and spirituality, art and music, storytelling and poetry, and the worlds of mental health, wellbeing and the emotions.

Secondly, despite this resurgence of interest, the space for transformative work may be declining—or perhaps it’s being deliberately constricted by forces that fear its radical potential. There is plenty of ‘transformation talk’ these days, but much of it is superficial—an outgrowth of ‘irrational exuberance’ about the liberating possibilities of technology, networks, ‘mindfulness,’ social enterprise and the sharing economy. There's no doubt that these innovations are interesting, but often they overlay rather than overturn existing patterns of power and inequality.

Institutions that should provide space for genuinely radical ideas and action are also being eroded, neutered, corporatized or co-opted, including NGOs, civil society and philanthropy, the public sphere, universities and even social movements.

Against this background it’s important for the section to continue its coverage of potentially-negative trends as well as ‘accentuating the positive’ by publicizing real and workable alternatives.

Third, there’s excitement but not consensus around what sparks and sustains these transformative alternatives. This is especially true around the role of religion, which has been the most divisive topic we’ve covered. Opinions converge a little more around the value of love, compassion and spirituality in fostering a deeprooted personal commitment to live life differently, without the social hierarchies and political restrictions that religions often impose. But even here there’s plenty of controversy around the misappropriation of yoga and meditation for stress-relief, as well as

about the excesses of positive psychology and the ‘happiness industry.’ We’ll continue to explore all of these trends from a critical perspective.

Unashamedly, Transformation was set up to challenge the reluctance of many progressive activists to take the personal dimensions of social change as seriously as the political, by showing that self-development isn’t (or doesn’t have to be) New Age narcissism. Rather, it means engaging in the daily struggle for dignity and justice in a different spirit that opens up more effective routes to action.

At the same time, we’re also pushing back against the reluctance of many spiritual and self-help advocates to take the political dimensions of personal change as seriously as the inner life they espouse, by showing that love and compassion flourish more easily when new institutions are built on sharing and solidarity instead of the mindless pursuit of competition, growth and power.

Both of these challenges have proven to be tough, and we’ve received some useful pushback in the comment threads on our articles from readers who are not persuaded about the benefits of a transformational approach as we define it. There are still useful doubts and suspicions on all sides.

Some readers have questioned the value of mindfulness and other personal development practices when faced by the raw realities of power and injustice. Others who are steeped in these practices have reacted against the perceived antagonism that runs through some of the pieces we’ve published. Rather than agreement, there’s a sense that readers, editors and writers are all navigating through territory that doesn’t have a map.

That’s the fourth thing we’ve learned—although the personal-political connection seems to provide a crucial pathway into processes of deep-rooted transformation, no-one knows how to make them work in concrete terms at any scale. Those who think they already have the answers waiting to be rolled out in detail are either fools or liars. Transformation is not another good-news magazine, but a place to engage with each-other about the realities and struggles of the radical imagination.

All great stories are love stories in one form or another, but the story of love and justice has not yet been told. With your help we aim to put that right. Welcome to another year of transformation.

Young Minds of 2016 Losin Lorin, B. Com 4thSem (Accounting & Finance Honours)

E

veryone has a different past and now as the year begins, everyone is probably starting this year with different views, hopes and dreams. But I believe there is something common we all share. All of us want happiness, peace, love, protection and all the good things in life.

We do not desire sadness, despair, pain and suffering. That is what makes us all human. The fact that we love and care about our family, friends, kids and elders makes us equal.The beginning of the year may be sad for one and may be the best one for another. Though we all have different experiences it is our hope that brings us together.

The importance we give in social gatherings especially during the Christmas season brings each and everyone together.As we value our experiences we learn from the mistakes that bring out the depth of true living. I believe that the depth of true living is the unity of different minds. We all have big goals but one mind can only aim up to a certain limit. Two minds can dream bigger goals. I believe that as the two come together we will learn more and achieve more, which can motivate us to aim higher and bigger to make a difference.

What do I expect this year? As a youth, I would want our generation to grow up and develop with a humble mind set.

I would really want to begin this year with a better connection, understanding and love within the Naga community.

Not forgettingthe mistakes we made but accepting them and beginning with fresh and positive thoughts.We always talk about unity, but are we really implementing that, excluding the unity between family, and friends. Is our society united? I don’t think so, I honestly feel we are still very selfish and dishonest but what can we do to change that? I hear from elders about the problems of tribalism, favouritism besides the other problems of corruption, bribery, politics etc. in our society and it makes me wish that all these problems could be erased.

But how? How should we move forward? With what attitude?

What do Ias a youth really expect?

Though I can’t give advice to people about how to mould our attitudes or how we should move forward; I can share my views on how I wish we can move forward.

We need change. That’s the word we all fear, whether it is a good or a bad change. I would like to welcome change whether good or bad into my life. To mould myself, to learn from good experiences and bad ones too. Someone once told me that the little things we do in life creates a greater impact than the big tasks we perform. Our behaviour, our attitude our habits inspire one another. Therefore, I wish thatwe, the youths begin this year by making small changes in our habits, ethics and attitude. The little changes we make in ourselves will inspire people and that in turn will make our state a respectable one.

By simply being honest everyone’s life will be easier; by simply being clean and avoiding littering will reduce so many sicknesses if you really think about it.As a youth I really expect this year to be an eye opening year for the Nagas, especially the younger generation.I always hear our elders talking amongst themselves about how smart the younger generation are and how with every new generation they are becoming smarter and smarter. But I sometimes wonder if we really are smart enough to understand the real problems of the world and not just our society?

What drastic changes can we make? Thus, I believe the younger generationhas a huge responsibility and high expectations from elders to grow up with inspiring experiences and attitudes. I really hope that this year all our past experiences will mould us and that will be the foundation for an amazing result.As they say that with each generation the knowledge, confidence and smartness level is drastically increasing, I also hope that we witness improvements in our behaviour and our your time –a couple of days or even weeks. First, add But in India, we have modified it to be five times personality too. What I am talking about is giving importance of your annual income. This was changed keep- to the spoken word.How effective are our words? all your income into it. Salaries, house rents, intering in mind our culture and consumer preferThe motto of the London stock exchange market “my est earned, etc. Then make a list of all the expenses, ences. word is my bond’ really inspires me. The fact that such a big without missing anything out. Microsoft Excel has a • To have a healthy cash flow, your total loan EMI market can function with just being totally honest with his/ “family budget” excel sheet. Fill up all the relevant should not be more than 35 per cent of your in- her clients and financial transactions shows the value or imfigures and make a cash flow worksheet. Check come. These EMIs can be home loans, car loans, portance they give to the words once spoken. The only way to where you can fine-tune your cash flow to improve education loans or credit card payment. improve our society is to value our word. To value whatever your finance. Redo it again with your life partner and • Your retirement corpus should be 20 times of your we speak and to be positive. print and post it on your refrigerator. annual income. If your current annual income is If from now itself we cannot think positive, and doubt ourInternationally, financial planners follow some five lakhs, than on the day of your retirement, you selves when we are still young, we will never be able to change thumb rules for a healthy cash flow budget. And they should have one crore in your retirement fund. later. Similarly, the way we perceive others will not be positive are: either.

• Thirty per cent goes to household debt, like Emergency fund Therefore, although everyone is beginning this year with rent, or home loan EMI, Auto loan EMI, etc.

Have an emergency fund ready at hand for any different experiences, whether bitter or sweet we all have the • Twenty-six per cent goes to living expenses, unseen eventualities. Again, the thumb rule tells you same desire - the desire to have a happy life; and that we can like food / groceries, cloths, entertainment, petrol, that you should keep atleast three months’ expenses achieve it, but only with true unity, humbleness and hard mobile bill, medicines, etc. aside for emergencies. The emergency fund can be work, and not forgetting honesty.

• Twenty-five per cent for tax, like income tax, mu- stashed in a money market instrument, instead of a I know it sounds so easy to say but it is hard to do. But so nicipal property tax, etc. regular savings account for a superior return. are the bad things, yet we manage to do them. Maybe we just need tochange our concept. Make the good things easy to • Fifteen per cent on savings and investment for re- Leave the card tirement, like your mutual fund, Provident Fund, In my experience in studying the spending pat- say and easy to do by simply accepting changes and learning NPS, etc. tern of consumer behaviour, I have come across from it. By forgiving and loving one another.

Life is too short to do good things in life so why should we • Four per cent on insurance, like-life insurance, many compulsive spenders as slaves to plastics. waste our time with the negative? My wish for 2016 is to dehealth insurance, house hold insurance, etc.

Leave that card behind. It is difficult to spend your hard-earned money physically counting them at a velop positive changeas the year begins.

Financial ratio billing counter than through a card. Instead, take out of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College Another thumb rule which is internationally fol- your weekly expenses every Saturday and avoid im- “Degree in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into lowedis ratio of affordability. They are as follows: pulsive spending. the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is Hope the New Year brings joy to you and your • Internationally, the affordability of a house you a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College.

For feedback or comments please email: admin@tetsocollege.org”. own is 2.5 times of your annual gross income. loved ones. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

NEw YEaR RESOlUTiON

have a confession to make. During this time of the year, along with millions other, I too write my New Year’s resolutions and number them one to ten. Normally, I keep an account of them for a couple of months, but as the year progresses, they gather dusts in a corner of my study. This time, I tried to dig out some of my old resolutions. Some written in the first page of my diaries and the last three as self-addressed email to me.

What made me happy is that the patterns have remained the same, though the targets have changed.

Something like,‘marry the love of your life’, written 15 years ago, later became ‘take her for a vacation to Bali’,or ‘buy your dream off-roader’ has turned into ‘buy a small driver-friendly hatchback’. Some new additions have also been made. Last year, it was: ‘introduce my six-year-old to swimming and the 11-yearold to Sattriya dance’.

A few resolutions have, however, remained the same. Primary among them is the – ‘write my first book’. Well, maybe that constant will remain the same.

And the second is –‘never to procrastinate’. Well, let’s talk about it some other time. And since I am supposed to only talk money matters, let me tell you what resolutions you can take to make the coming year and your future more financially fruitful and content.

Make a budget The first step towards getting a grip on your finances is by making a budget. Now since it is the single most important task to financial discipline, take

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

WEdnEsdAY 06•01•2016

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Pathankot attack: Missed clues and lax security

nEW DELHi, January 5 (rEutErS): The hijacking of a police officer's car by gunmen disguised in uniform should have set off alarm bells and helped prevent a deadly weekend attack on a military air base, officials and security experts said.

His colleagues' slowness to react was one of several security lapses in the buildup to the predawn raid, blamed by India on Pakistani militants and a blow to the recent improvement in ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Three days on from an assault that killed seven military personnel and wounded 22, five attackers have also been eliminated, but an operation was still under way to secure the sprawling compound in Punjab that lies 25 km from the border with Pakistan.

Police Superintendent Salwinder Singh's call to a colleague in the early hours of Friday morning, after his car was hijacked, was at first treated as a case of armed robbery, the officer who answered the phone said.

"The truth is that we did not take Singh's complaint seriously, because his record has not been clean," a second senior officer in the Punjab police told Reuters, on condition of anonymity.

The police sources said Singh had just been transferred after a woman constable filed a sexual harassment case against him. Singh, who was interrogated on Monday for six hours by federal investiga-

Parrikar admits 'security lapses' lead to terror attack

Security personnel search the boot of a car outside the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot in Punjab on January 3. (REUTERS Photo)

tors, could not be reached for comment.

Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has said the location of the attackers was only pinpointed as Pathankot on Friday afternoon.

That was at least 12 hours after the seizure of Singh's unmarked vehicle, in which he was travelling with two other men following a visit to a shrine near the border with Pakistan.

"Too much time was wasted," said A.S. Dulat, a former head of the Research & Analysis Wing, India's main foreign intelligence agency. "How did they infiltrate to where they did? How were they

allowed to roam around for 24 hours?"

Civilian and military officials say a security alert was circulated quickly enough to prevent the assailants from damaging fighter jets and helicopters at the base.

Nevertheless, a lack of inter-agency cooperation may have hobbled the security response, with another local police chief calling the air base a "fortress" that senior colleagues cannot enter without a written request.

"It always operated like a self-sufficient township but had no interaction with the city police or local administration," Manoj Ku-

PatHankot, January 5 (ianS): Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar admitted on Tuesday that "security lapses" led to the terrorist attack on the IAF base here that left seven security personnel and six terrorists dead.

Parrikar also told the media after visiting the base that combing operations were still going on but "this is only for safety purposes" and that no more terrorists were believed hidden in the huge complex.

Some gaps led to security lapses, leading to the pre-dawn terror attack on Saturday, the minister said. He did not elaborate.

"What is worrying is how they (terrorists) entered the base," he added.

Parrikar visited the Pathankot Indian Air Force base in Punjab on Tuesday along with the chiefs of the army and air force.

The head of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the audacious terrorist strike, also visited the base separately.

"Combing operations are (still) going on," Parrikar said. "This is only for safety purposes."

He said the body of one of the terrorists still

mar, Pathankot's deputy testified to police that the superintendent of police, attackers had used his told Reuters. phone, possibly to call their handlers, according to the DUMPED BY Indian Express.

THE ROADSIDE One local report said Singh's cook, Madan the assailants dumped Gopal, said he was dumped Singh's car 500 metres from by the roadside with his em- the base. How they got into ployer after a long drive dur- the compound is still uning which their eyes were clear. Once inside, they taped shut. The gunmen burst into a guards' mess took fellow passenger Rajesh and fired indiscriminately.

Verma, a jeweller, with them.

One guard tackled and "We both walked for killed an attacker, only to an hour to reach a nearby die from another gunman's police outpost," Gopal, 61, bullet, said Air Commotold Reuters. "Singh got dore J.S. Dhamoon, comin touch with his superi- mander of the base. ors but they told him to go Three more suspected home and come to the of- militants were killed later fice the next day." on Saturday after running Verma survived and through the compound,

firing into windows.

The guard who died was a member of the Defence Security Corps (DSC), a unit made up of veterans who guard military facilities. Five of the seven military personnel to die served in the DSC, some of them in their fifties.

Some observers said the DSC should not guard high-value military assets. "They were not up to speed," said Nitin Gokhale, a security analyst who edits a defence portal.

Yet the greater weakness at the base, with a 24-km perimeter and a 3-metre (10foot) wall topped by barbed wire, may have been a lack of adequate surveillance.

had a suicide vest, with a grenade sticking out.

"I am very, very clear that they (our officers) should not take any risk," he said, recalling how a National Security Guard (NSG) officer lost his life earlier while trying to reportedly shift a similar body.

Parrikar admitted that the entire operation "is a very difficult" one.

"It is tedious. This has been done without compromising any assets... Not just the strategic assets but even a building."

He said barring one building where the terrorists took shelter, no other building was even damaged because the security personnel managed to corner the raiders in a corner of the sprawling base.

He said the terrorists had AK-47 rifles, pistols, Swiss knives, commando knives besides 40-50 kg of bullets. They also had improvised mortars. "They had high quality explosives."

The minister said the NIA had started investigation into the attack. He said it would find out "who sent them".

"They have got initial leads, where they have come from, how they have come."

"You can have a wall, but a wall can be scaled and, probably, a surveillance system such as CCTV was lacking," said Govind Sisodia, a former senior commander of the National Security Guard counterterrorism unit.

There have been conflicting reports of how many attackers were involved in the raid, since claimed by the United Jihad Council, an alliance of more than a dozen pro-Pakistan militant groups based in Pakistan-run Kashmir.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, both claiming the region in full but rul-

ing it in part. Tight security along the frontier there has pushed militant attacks south to Punjab.

Analysts and officials said the attackers may have worked in groups, with the carjackers acting together and two others believed to have entered the air base separately, possibly before the main attack. One remains unaccounted for.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted his congratulations on Saturday evening to India's security forces on "successfully neutralizing all the 5 terrorists in 'Pathankot Operation'". At the time, the official body count was 4. Singh's tweet was later deleted.

Women to constitute 33% of constables in paramilitary India using 'underground outfits' nEW DELHi, January 5 (Pti): Women will soon account for 33%of constable-rank personnel in paramilitary CRPF and CISF and 15 per cent in the border guarding forces BSF, SSB and ITBP. These forces together comprise of around 9 lakh personnel of whom only around 20,000 are women now.

The 33% reservation in constable level posts in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and 14-15% posts in border guarding forces of Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will start immediately.

"With a view to enhance representation of women in Central Armed Police Forc-

es, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved 33% posts at constable level for being filled up by women," a Home Ministry statement said. This reservation would be horizontal, it said.

The move came following the recommendation of the Committee on Empowerment of Women in its sixth report which had suggested urgent need to provide due representation to women in paramilitary forces.

The CRPF, considered to be world's largest paramilitary force mostly deployed in law and order duties and the anti-Naxal operations, has just around 6,300 women in its rank.

The parliamentary Standing Commit-

tee on Home Affairs has recently found that women personnel constitute only a little over nine per cent of the Delhi Police force and asked the Home Ministry to ensure that their numbers are enhanced up to 33%.

"The committee notes that as on date, the representation of women in Delhi Police is 9.27% only. "However, on March 20, 2015, Government of India has approved reservation of 33 per cent for women horizontally and in each category (SC, ST, OBC and others) in direct recruitment in nongazetted posts from constable to sub- inspector in the police forces of all Union Territories, including Delhi Police," the Committee observed.

Sino-Indian ties to benefit world: Indian envoy bEiJing, January 5 (ianS): China and India are reemerging in a mutually supportive manner and their cooperation will benefit the world, India's ambassador Ashok Kantha has said.

Kantha has a "sense of deep satisfaction" as relations between the Asian neighbours gained momentum since he took office in 2014, Xinhua quoted the ambassador as saying.

Kantha will complete his tenure and leave China this week.

The last two years were "the most productive phase" in the development of Sino-Indian ties, as shown by frequent highlevel exchanges, especially the

two landmark visits by leaders of the two countries, he said.

In September 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India. In May 2015, Xi welcomed Modi to his hometown.

In addition to reaching a series of agreements and understandings, the leaders also sent out "very powerful signals of the desire by India and China to work together", said Kantha.

The re-emergence of India and China was a defining development of the 21st century, and the two countries have to take into consideration each other's interests, concerns and aspirations, he added.

China is one of India's largest trading partners, with two-way trade in 2015 expected to reach $100 billion. "We need to move to a more balanced trade relationship," said Kantha, adding India was trying to expand its economic engagement and attract investment from Chinese companies.

While China has promoted strategies including 'Made in China 2025' and 'Internet Plus', India has launched initiatives such as 'Make in India', 'Digital India' and 'Smart Cities'. Kantha said these will create new opportunities for the two countries to contribute to each other's development.

"Indian companies have

strengths when it comes to the knowledge-based economy, which can contribute to China's economic development, which emphasises innovation and R&D," said Kantha. China and India, as neighbours and two of the world's fastest growing economies, approach several key global issues with similar perspectives.

"We have converging interests when it comes to international issues. Therefore, it is not surprising that collaboration is increasing significantly." Kantha admitted there were problems, such us border disputes. "But we will not let them get in the way of the development of relations."

to bully Nepal, says Prachanda

katHManDu, January 5 (ianS): Muddying the waters further, a prominent Left leader here on Tuesday charged India with "bullying" Nepal using various Nepali political or underground outfits as military forces against the landlocked Himalayan nation.

"India is playing a very dangerous game against Nepal that will have far-reaching ramifications," UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' warned while addressing a gathering here of the party's journalist-wing.

Prachanda, who led a 10-year-long Maoist insurgency in Nepal's western regions from 1996 to 2006, accused India of opening up political and military fronts against the Himalayan nation.

The chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-Maoist), who has served less than nine months as the country's prime minister, has earlier criticised New Delhi's approach to Nepal and has more recently alleged India's hand in the ongoing political agitation in Nepal's southern plains where over 55 people have died during the last four months.

He said agitating Madhesi leaders like Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party president Mahantha Thakur and Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party-Nepal chief Upendra Yadav were "working at the behest of India" as its (India's) political wing, and C.K. Raut and Jai Krishna Goit were working as the "military wing".

C.K. Raut, PhD, is a computer scientist, author, and political activist who has been actively involved in demanding a separate state for the Madhesi people of Nepal. He has been placed under house-arrest by the Nepal government since April last year.

Jai Krishna Goit is the founder of the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha which advocates creation of a separate Madhes state for Madhesi peoples in Nepal's Terai region.

"India is playing a very dangerous game against Nepal that will have far-reaching ramifications. Please do not be surprised that Thakur, Yadav, Raut and Goit are mobilised from the same power centre," said Prachanda without naming India.

"But we will not let India's gameplan succeed in Nepal," said the Left leader, adding that

the Nepal government was trying to seek a peaceful end to the more than four-month-old Madhesi agitation.

Prachanda is prone to being a loose cannon and has been known for his often outlandish claims. On Monday too, he had alleged that attempts were underway to make Nepal "another Syria or East Pakistan" in the guise of the Madhesi movement.

"People in Madhes have fought in many movements and many revolutions. But attempts are underway to snatch them from us," he alleged. Urging his party leaders to stay together against such attempts, Prachanda said: "Some people do not want to see Nepal as a unified nation."

For more than four months, the plains of the Nepal Terai have been simmering with Morcha-led protests against the country's new Constitution that was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20. The Morcha has expressed dissatisfaction over the content of the new Constitution, including demarcation of the federal units, and called for an inclusive Constitution and citizenship.

Mass cheating in Bihar exams: ‘Intolerance: We are living in sheer fear’ Four headmasters suspended

MuMbai, January 5 (ianS): Renowned academic and Marathi litterateur Shripal Sabnis, who had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore trip, says he lives in the shadow of fear over "intolerance" to what he claims were "unbiased, objective observations".

Some right-wing activists have threatened to "break his limbs" and "kill him" for daring to speak against Modi.

"Intolerance? I know what it is. My family and I are cowering in it. We live in sheer fear with death staring at us. There is no help from the police or government - barring an assurance by (Minister of State for Home) Ram Shinde. The family members are weeping," Sabnis told IANS over phone, practically under a self-imposed exile in Pune.

Noted for his bold

views, Sabnis, 64, lives in Pune with wife and two children even as the family comes under increasing siege from right-wing elements. They hae sought his resignation, burnt his effigies and issued threats.

Sabnis reportedly said at a college event last Thursday in Pune that "had Modi had been attacked in Pakistan, we would have been compelled to pay tributes to him before (eminent Marathi poet) Mangesh Padgaonkar (who died on Dec. 30)." He also said that "Modi is tainted by Godhra".

Later, while on a lecture tour in Marathwada on Saturday, enraged BJP activists protested against him forcing him to rush to Osmanabad's Umarga Police Station and lodge a complaint against two persons before returning to Pune.

"My comments have been selectively twisted

and highlighted out of context by some vested elements within the BJP-RSS, without going into their totality," Sabnis said in his interview.

According to the writer -now elected president of the prestigious four-day 89th All India Marathi Literary Conference (AIMLC) scheduled to open in Pimpri-Chinchwad on January 15 -- he had lavished "conditional praise" on Modi, which was not appreciated by the hardliners in the BJP-RSS. "I had expressed pride that our prime minister had showed the courage to go to Pakistan with his heart in his hands, since there could be treachery and his life could be at risk. What is wrong with that statement?" he said.

Talking about the Godhra incident, which was the starting point of 2002 riots in Gujarat, Sab-

nis said that "the whole country knows what is the truth about Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat."

"I have actually praised the prime minister for his good work. However, if Modi feels I have said something objectionable, let him say so and I shall immediately apologise to the entire nation," Sabnis declared.

He said it was regretful how certain elements in the BJP and the RSS selectively used his statement to attack him (verbally) and issue death threats, asking for an unconditional apology. However, he said he was in no mood to oblige "the goons" who failed to understand his statements.

Dwelling on the freedom of speech enshrined in the Indian constitution, Sabnis asserted out that "nobody has the right to

take it away from me".

He said he would speak against "what is wrong and in favour of what is right.

That's what I have done all these years even through my books and articles," he pointed out.

Nevertheless, adopting a conciliatory tone, he said there are many good and sane elements within the BJP-RSS and he was ready to hammer out any differences with them.

"Let these good people in the BJP-RSS call me for a debate or discussion and the matter can be sorted out in a 'chai pe charcha' amicably and peacefully without resorting to threats or violence," Sabnis said, hoping to reach out.

Defending his statements, the author of 29 Marathi books - including "Sanskruti Samikshechi - Tisri Bhoomika", "Secularism Prabhodhanacha

Mandand" and "Bharatiya Prabhodhan Ani Nav Ambedkar-vad" - said he is not connected with any political party in the country and merely spoke from his heart.

"In the current atmosphere, some people don't want a balanced viewpoint on any issue - they want you to view and speak as they see everything. Otherwise, after (slain rationalists) Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi, they will lay down Shripal Sabnis' (dead) body," he said in a pained voice.

Sabnis appealed for adequate security for himself and his family - a demand supported by the ruling BJP-ally Shiv Sena on Monday - so that he could get down to preparing for the mega-literary event that is expected to attract over 25,000 delegates from all over the country.

Patna, January 5 (ianS): To send a clear message not to compromise with cheating during the matriculation exams this year, Bihar's education department has suspended four headmasters of government-run schools where large-scale cheating was reported in the 2015 exams, officials said on Tuesday.

"The decision to suspend the four headmasters was taken after a directive of state Education Minister Ashok Choudhary to ensure cheating-free exams this year," an education department official said.

The four headmasters were of schools in Vaishali and Saran districts.

"The department acted against them to fix responsibility and accountability to conduct cheating-free exams.

Last year, Bihar's name was defamed following largescale cheating," the official said.

Earlier, Choudhary said it has also been decided to drop exam centres blacklisted for large-scale cheating in the past three years.

Nearly 16 lakh students will appear for the matriculation exams in March 2016.

A photograph last year showed parents and friends scaling the wall of a four-storeyed school building in Mahnar in Vaishali to help the examinees cheat. The photo went viral on social media.

Choudhary also announced stern measures to stop cheating, including installation of CCTV cameras in exam halls.

WednesdaY 06•01•2016

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

‘We are not natural-born enemies of Iran’

UNITED N AT I O N S / DUBAI, JANUAry 5 (rEUTErS): Saudi Arabia said on Monday it would restore ties with Iran when Tehran stopped meddling in the affairs of other countries and pledged that Riyadh would continue to work “very hard” to support bids for peace in Syria and Yemen despite the spat.

Saudi Arabia cut all ties with Iran on Sunday following the kingdom’s execution of prominent Shi’ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Protesters in Iran and Iraq marched for a third day to denounce the execution.

When asked what it would take for ties to be restored, Saudi U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi told reporters: “Very simple - Iran to cease and desist from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, including our own.”

He added, “If they do so, we will of course have normal relations with Iran. We are not natural-born enemies of Iran.” On Monday, Bahrain and Sudan cut all ties with Iran, following Riyadh’s example. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Reuters Riyadh would also halt air traffic and commercial relations between the rival powers.

Jubeir blamed Iran’s “aggressive policies” for the diplomatic action, alluding to years of tension that spilled over on Saturday night when Iranian protesters stormed the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to hundreds of thousands of Iranians, partially downgraded its relations but the other Gulf Arab countries - Kuwait, Qatar and Oman stayed above the fray.

Shi’ite Iran accused Saudi Arabia of using the attack on the embassy as an “excuse” to sever ties and further increase sectarian tensions. A man was shot dead in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province late on Sunday, and two Sunni mosques in Iraq’s Shi’ite-majority Hilla province were bombed in the

fallout from the dispute between the Middle East’s top Sunni and Shi’ite powers.

But analysts said fears of a sectarian rupture across the Middle East were premature, and the break in Saudi-Iran relations could be more a symptom of existing strains than evidence of new ones.

“The downgrading of ties is not fundamentally a question of responding to executions and the storming of an embassy... (but rather) a function of a much deeper conflict between the two states,” said Julien Barnes-Dacey, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

CALLS FOR RESTRAINT Crude importer China declared itself “highly concerned” with the developments, in a rare foray into Middle East diplomacy. The United States and Germany called for restraint. Russia offered to mediate an end to the dispute but a U.S. senior State Department official said Iran and Saudi Arabia must work out their differences themselves.

“It is not going to be helpful for us to own this process, certainly to be seen to be driving it,” the U.S. official said. “They have to work this out between themselves if a solution to this tension is going to be longlasting and sustainable.”

Brent jumped 4 percent early on worries about the tensions. But the crude oil benchmark erased its gains and settled a few cents lower as fears rose about the global economy and the Middle East dispute looked unlikely to disrupt oil supplies immediately.

Stock markets across the Gulf dropped sharply, led by Qatar which fell more than 2.5 percent, with geopolitical jitters outweighing any benefit from stronger oil.

Saudi Arabia rift with Iran likely to hinder US peace effort in Syria

A protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the execution of Shi’ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London on January 3. (REUTERS Photo)

year-old civil war, where Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab powers support rebel groups against Iran-backed President Bashar al-Assad.

“It was very difficult to get everybody around the table,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “It certainly is going to be even more difficult to get everybody back around the table if you have the Saudis and the Iranians trading public barbs and public expressions of antagonism.”

Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in bringing together Syria’s political and armed opposition groups that would participate in peace talks with Assad’s government.

State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Washington expected meetings between the warring parties in Syria to take place as scheduled this month. The SYRIA, YEMEN United Nations aims to hold The row threatened to de- talks on Jan. 25 in Geneva. rail efforts to end Syria’s fiveSaudi U.N. Ambassador

Mouallimi said his country’s severing of ties with Iran would not affect its efforts to secure peace in Syria and Yemen. “We will attend the next Syria talks and we’re not going to boycott them because of Iran or anybody else for that matter,” he told reporters at the United Nations.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Saudi foreign minister on Monday that Riyadh’s decision to break off diplomatic ties with Iran was extremely troubling.

The U.N. chief urged Saudi Arabia to renew a ceasefire it ended this weekend with the Iran-allied Shi’ite Houthi group in Yemen that it has been bombing for nine months.

Trade between Saudi Arabia and Iran is small compared with the size of their economies, but some business is routed through the United Arab Emirates; comprehensive figures are not available. Investment ties are also minimal,

though Saudi food conglomerate Savola has major manufacturing operations in Iran.

Saudi Arabia executed Nimr and three other Shi’ites on terrorism charges on Saturday, alongside dozens of Sunni jihadists. Shi’ite Iran hailed him as a “martyr” and warned Saudi Arabia’s ruling Al Saud family of “divine revenge”.

Shi’ite groups united in condemnation of Saudi Arabia while Sunni powers rallied behind the kingdom, hardening a sectarian split that has torn apart communities across the Middle East and nourished the jihadist ideology of Islamic State.

Western powers, many of which supply billions of dollars worth of weaponry to Gulf Arab powers, tried to tamp down the tensions with Iran but also deplored the executions, as human rights groups strongly criticised Saudi Arabia’s judicial process and protesters gathered outside Saudi embassies.

WASHINGTON, JANUAry 5 (rEUTErS): Beneath this weekend’s rupture in Iranian-Saudi relations lies a deeper fault line between the United States and Saudi Arabia that may hamper U.S. President Barack Obama’s efforts to end Syria’s civil war, current and former U.S. officials said.

The Saudi government’s decision to execute Shi’ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, despite U.S. warnings, illustrated the limits of U.S. influence over the kingdom.

And the Saudi decision to cut diplomatic ties to Iran after outraged Iranian protesters entered, and set fire to, the Saudi embassy in Tehran, runs directly counter to U.S. efforts to promote contact between the two nations, particularly on Syria.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s longshot effort to bring the nearly five-year Syria civil war to an end may be the first casualty of the latest tensions.

The Saudi ambassador to the United Nations, Abdallah AlMouallimi, on Monday said the Saudis will attend UN-sanctioned talks set to begin in Geneva Jan. 25, but held out little optimism for their success.

U.S. officials acknowledged the Saudi-Iran diplomatic rift diminishes chances for the peace process. “It’s going to make it a lot harder,” said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It’s obviously very fragile,” said a second senior U.S. official.

ARMS SALES MOVING FORWARD Current and former U.S. officials said they believed Riyadh and Washington have too many shared interests, from ensuring the flow of oil, to fighting al Qaeda and Islamic State militants and completing huge arms contracts, to permit a fundamental breach.

U.S. and Saudi officials are continuing to work on a $1.29-billion sale of U.S. precision munitions approved in November, according to military and industry sources. The deal, which seeks in part to replenish bombs and missiles used in the Saudi battle against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, should be finalized in coming months.

A separate, $11.25-billion Saudi purchase of four Lockheed Martin Corp surface warships, approved in October, also is expected to move forward on its yearslong schedule, the sources said.

“The Saudi-U.S. defense relationship is a juggernaut,” said Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank. “It survives endless presidents and kings and it just keeps rolling and that’s what’s going to happen this time.”

LOOKING PAST OBAMA? Despite the Saudis’ ultimate reliance on U.S. security guarantees, the kingdom in the last year repeatedly has signaled a willingness to act independently of the U.S. on national security matters.

Saudi Arabia gave the U.S. scant notice last March when, with Arab allies, it launched air strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels it said are supported by Iran.

And last month, the kingdom announced the formation of a 34-nation Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism. The United States is not among the members.

Riyadh has also made little secret of its opposition to Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, a hallmark of the U.S. president’s foreign policy. With Obama in his last year as president, Saudi Arabia seems to be looking past Obama, toward the next U.S. president, said one analyst with deep ties to Saudi officials.

‘Honour press Afghan forces end siege near Indian consulate China lodges protest with Myanmar freedom vow’ BEIJING, JANUAry 5 (rEUTErS): Britain said on Tuesday that it was “deeply concerned” by reports of the disappearance and possible detention of five Hong Kong booksellers specialising in publications critical of China, one of whom is British, and urged the city’s commitment to press freedom.

A spokesperson for the British embassy in Beijing called on authorities in Hong Kong, a former British colony, and China to ascertain its citizen’s welfare and whereabouts. It did not identify the person.

“We are deeply concerned by reports about the disappearance and detention of individuals associated with the Causeway Bay Books bookstore in Hong Kong,” said the spokesperson, according to a statement from the British embassy in Beijing.

“We encourage the Hong Kong SAR government to honour its commitment to protecting the freedom of the press, and we hope the Chinese authorities will continue to make every effort to ensure that the environment in which the media and publishers operate in the Hong Kong SAR supports full and frank reporting.”

The remarks, referring to the “special administrative region” (SAR) of Hong Kong, came as British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond began his two-day visit to China and after China’s foreign ministry warned that it would not tolerate outside interference in the affairs of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of wide-ranging autonomy and an independent judiciary and media under a “one country, two systems” formula.

Lee Bo, 65, a shareholder of Causeway Bay Books, “vanished” last week, according to a missing person report filed by Lee’s wife on Thursday. Four associates involved in publishing or selling literature critical of Beijing have also gone missing in mysterious circumstances over the past few months.

The disappearances have stoked fears of mainland Chinese authorities using shadowy tactics that erode the “one country, two systems” formula under which Hong Kong returned to China.

Asked about the possibility of several of the booksellers holding British passports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that “Hong Kong is China’s domestic affair”.

“No foreign country has the right to interfere,” she said at a daily news briefing.

She said that “any Hong Kong residents of Chinese descent born in Chinese territory, including Hong Kong people,” were Chinese citizens.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying said on Monday there was no indication so far outside agents were involved in the disappearance of the booksellers, but that it would be “unacceptable” if any were.

MAZAr-I-SHArIF, JANUAry 5 (rEUTErS): Afghan special forces killed a group of insurgents holed up in a house in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Monday, bringing to an end a 24-hour siege following the insurgents’ attack on the nearby Indian consulate.

The soldiers killed the three insurgents who had shut themselves into a large house near the consulate, said Abdul Razaq Qaderi, deputy police chief of Balkh province.

He said an investigation was under way to try to identify the men and those behind the attack, which occurred on the same day gunmen attacked an Indian air base in Pathankot in the northwestern state of Punjab near the border with Pakistan.

Eight members of the security forces were wounded in the gun battle which followed the attack on the consulate. The Indian ambassador said all the consulate staff were safe.

The attack began late on Sun-

day after gunmen tried unsuccessfully to break into the consulate, taking advantage of the fact that many people were watching the final of a football championship between Afghanistan and India.

After a heavy exchange of fire that went on until well into the night, security forces suspended operations before resuming in the morning, firing rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns at the building.

“The area is sealed off and we are proceeding cautiously and making all possible efforts to protect the lives of those in the area.

The attackers will be killed,” the provincial governor, Atta Mohammad Noor, said on his Facebook page.

Gunfire rang out as helicopters circled overhead in a residential area of the city.

Noor blamed “enemies of peace and stability” for the attack, which came amid renewed efforts to lower tension between India and its rival Pakistan and restart peace talks with

the Taliban in Afghanistan.

But there was no more concrete indication of who may have been responsible.

Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kabul and Islamabad on the same day, underlining the drive to improve stability and overcome the longstanding hostility in the region.

However, Sunday’s attack and the assault in Pathankot underlined how difficult that process is likely to be.

In 2014, India’s consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat was hit by heavily armed insurgents including suicide bombers, one of a series of attacks on Indian diplomatic stations in Afghanistan over previous years.

Pakistan has long been suspicious of India’s engagement with Afghanistan and its diplomatic presence there.

In Kabul, two suicide attacks on the same day highlighted how fragile the security situation in the country has become.

BEIJING, JANUAry 5 (rEUTErS): China said on Tuesday it had lodged a protest with Myanmar after a land mine injured a Chinese person on their common border, the latest incident of cross-border conflict to strain ties between the neighbours.

China has repeatedly demanded effective action from Myanmar to contain fighting along the border between the Myanmar military and ethnic minority rebels.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the person was injured by a land mine on Sunday but she did not say exactly where the explosion happened.

“This situation is under further investigation,” Hua said at a daily news briefing. “We express serious concern over this.”

“The Chinese side has already made solemn representations to Myanmar and demanded that Myanmar take effective measures to avoid the future occurrence of a similar situation and prevent the

conflict in north Myanmar from endangering the security of Chinese people’s lives and property.”

The Myanmar military has been battling several rebel groups including at least two that operate near Myanmar’s border with China, in Myanmar’s Shan State and Kachin State.

Thousands of Myanmar civilians have sought safety on the Chinese side of the border over the past few years because of the fighting.

Hua urged Myanmar to work with China to “safeguard the peace and stability of the China-Myanmar border region”.

When contacted by Reuters, Ye Htut, Myanmar’s minister of information and spokesman for the president’s office, declined to comment. Last March, China was infuriated when five people were killed by stray bombs falling on its territory in Yunnan province during fighting in Myanmar.

China and Myanmar share a 2,000 km (1,250 mile) border, much of it remote and hard to access.

Barack Obama tightens gun rules

Gun control activists rally in front of the White House in Washington on January 4. (REUTERS Photo)

WASHINGTON, JANUAry 5 (rEUTErS): The White House unveiled gun control measures on Monday that require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks, moves President Barack Obama said were well within his authority to implement without congressional approval.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives now will require that people who

sell guns at stores, at gun shows or over the Internet be licensed and conduct checks, officials said. The ATF was finalising a rule requiring background checks for buyers of dangerous weapons from a trust, corporation or other legal entity as well.

Obama, speaking to reporters before the measures were made public, said they were consistent with the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment, which protects the

right to bear arms.

“These are not only recommendations that are well within my legal authority and the executive branch, but they’re also ones that the overwhelming majority of the American people, including gun owners, support,” Obama said during a meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other advisers.

Obama is igniting a political firestorm by bypassing Congress with the measures, which could spark legal challenges. Republicans say Obama is misusing his powers.

Shares in gun makers Smith & Wesson Holding Corp and Sturm Ruger & Co Inc rose against a falling stock market on Monday in anticipation of increased gun sales, as has happened before when the White House mulled weapon sales reform.

Stymied by Congress’ inaction on gun control, the president asked his advisers in recent months to examine new ways he could use his executive authority to tighten gun rules unilaterally after multiple mass shootings generated outrage nationwide.

The White House had drafted a proposal on licenses previously

but was concerned it could be challenged in court and hard to enforce.

Guns are a potent issue in U.S. politics. The National Rifle Association, the top U.S. gun rights group, is feared and respected in Washington for its ability to mobilise gun owners. Congress has not approved major gun-control legislation since the 1990s.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the administration did not have an estimate of the number of people who would be affected by the changes.

She did not set out a numerical threshold for dealers, telling reporters on a conference call that people selling one or two guns at a flea market could considered be dealers. But she said hobbyists and collectors would still be exempt from registration requirements.

Obama said the measures would not prevent every mass shooting or violent crime, but they did have the potential to save lives.

‘EXECUTIVE OVERREACH,’ RYAN SAYS The president’s use of executive action launches his final year with a move that Republicans say exemplifies misuse of his pow-

ers. Congress, which is controlled

by Republicans, rejected Obama’s proposals for legislation to tighten gun rules in 2013.

“The president is at minimum subverting the legislative branch, and potentially overturning its will,” Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan said in a statement before the White House announcement.

Republicans have called for more focus on mental health care rather than measures to restrict gun ownership. The White House said it would ask Congress for $500 million in its 2017 budget to boost access to mental health care.

U.S. states have taken their own approaches to addressing gun violence. Texas legalized openly carrying handguns, while New York and Connecticut have banned high-capacity magazines.

In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the rights of individual Americans to keep and bear arms. But the court also recognized that laws imposing conditions on commercial guns sale can be consistent with the Second Amendment.

10

wednesdAY 06•01•2016

sports

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Amla leads SAfrica's Australia withdraws from U-19 cricket World Cup in Bangladesh ICC disappointed with Australia's withdrawal reply with double ton

South Africa's Hashim Amla plays a shot during the second cricket test match against England in Cape Town, South Africa, January 5. (REUTERS)

CAPE TOWN, JANuAry 5 (rEuTErs): Captain Hashim Amla remained unbeaten after his third test double century as South Africa moved closer to forcing a draw against England in the second test at Newlands on Tuesday.

Amla was 200 not out at lunch with Faf du Plessis (81) at the other end, guiding the hosts to 428 for three.

The blooming 160run partnership between them helped South Africa cut their deficit to 201 after England’s swashbuckling first innings total of 629-6 declared.

Dropped twice on

Monday, an otherwise unflappable Amla betrayed nerves on 197, skying a shot and watching anxiously as Joe Root misjudged the ball and failed to get close to it.

Amla scrambled for two runs to go to 199 and brought up his double century off 461 balls in an innings that offers both him and South Africa much inspiration after 12 months of dismal test cricket.

South Africa had kept England in the field through the entire third day on Monday, losing just one wicket and looked determined to inflict more energy-sapping misery on the visitors on the fourth day.

They started overnight on 353-3 and added 75 runs from 30 overs in the first session of the fourth day.

England produced some lively overs early on Tuesday but then turned to off spin as they moved closer to taking the third new ball, which is available immediately after lunch.

England did have a chance to catch du Plessis when he was on 61 but the edge flashed past James Anderson at first slip off the bowling of Moeen Ali. It was similar to the catch that Anderson had grassed on Monday when Amla got a thick edge to a delivery from Root.

'Matter of time' before Neymar wins Ballon d'Or: Ricardo Kaka

mADriD, JANuAry 5 (iANs): Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Kaka believes "it's a matter of time" before his compatriot Neymar is awarded the Ballon d'Or trophy, given to the best footballer of the world annually by governing body FIFA. Neymar is a nominee for the 2015 award, for which he is competing against Argentine Lionel Messi and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, reports Efe. "Thankfully, Neymar has improved a lot since he's gone to play in Europe - his game is a lot more mature," he said on Tuesday.

"Now it's a matter of time until he reaches first place," he added.

The Orlando City player who won the Ballon d'Or when playing for AC Milan in 2007, ahead of Messi and Cristiano, considers it "fair" that the trophy has been alternating between both in recent years. "It had always been a rotation: Ronaldo and Zidane won it three times, but there was always some other player - names like Figo, Ronaldinho, myself, Rivaldo, Cannavaro.

"Then comes this succession of Cristiano and Messi, only the two of them

- and it is fair, for what they have been doing year after year," he said.

Kaka, who after coming to Milan played four seasons at Real Madrid (20092013) and then returned to the Italian team, noted the absence of Brazilian players among the nominees in recent editions since he picked up the trophy in 2007. "It's difficult to point out a single reason for this, but it must serve to alert Brazilian football." "And, truth be told, it's no easy task to forge a Ballon d'Or winner," said the 33-yearold midfielder.

syDNEy, JANuAry 5 (rEuTErs): Australia have withdrawn from the under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh later this month because of concerns over the "safety and security" of the squad, Cricket Australia said in statement on Tuesday.

Australia postponed a test tour of Bangladesh in October for similar reasons and Cricket Australia (CA) Chief Executive James Sutherland said the situation had not improved.

"Regrettably, the advice from our government suggests that the security threat to Australians travelling to Bangladesh remains as high now as it was when we postponed the test team's tour of that country late last year," Sutherland said in the statement.

"Included in that is reliable information suggesting there is a high threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh and the knowledge that the Australian Government has authorised the dependants of posted diplomatic staff in Bangladesh to return home to Australia.

"In the end, with all of the information and advice we have received, we feel we had no alternative other than to make this difficult decision."

Muslim-majority Bangladesh faces what appears

DubAi, JANuAry 5 (iANs): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday said it was disappointed with Australia's withdrawal from this month's ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh for security reasons, and invited Ireland to replace the three-time champions.

Cricket Australia (CA) earlier in the day announced that it has withdrawn from the 11th edition of the 16-nation tournament to be held in Bangladesh from January 27.

It said "the advice from our government suggests that the security threat to Australians travelling to Bangladesh remains as high now as it was when we postponed the Test team’s tour of that country late last year (in October)".

But the ICC said that the 19-day tournament will be hosted in Bangladesh as planned as it has put an "appropriate" security structure in place.

"The ICC explained that its own security manager and an inde-

to be a growing threat of militant violence and has seen a string of incidents last year including the shooting of three foreigners, two of whom died.

The International Cricket Council said via Twitter preparations for the Jan. 22 to Feb. 14 tournament were continuing and Ireland had been invited to replace Australia.

"The ICC takes its respon-

syDNEy, JANuAry 5 (rEuTErs): West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has been fined A$10,000 ($7,197) by the Melbourne Renegades Twenty20 team for asking an Australian TV reporter out on a date and directing personal comments at her during a televised pitchside interview.

Gayle had earlier suggested Monday's incident was a "simple joke" that had been "blown out of proportion" but the Renegades acted after widespread condemnation of the incident.

"Chris's comments were completely inappropriate and disrespectful. There is simply no place for these type of comments at the Melbourne Renegades," Chief Executive Stuart Coventry said in a team statement. "The club would like to extend a formal apology to Mel McLaughlin. We think of her very highly and the club and players will ensure we work with her in a professional and respectful manner in future.

"We've had several discussions with Chris over the past day and he has acknowledged that his comments were out of line."

Gayle had just hit 41 from 15 balls to help the

Russia's Maria Sharapova serves to Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova during their final match of the Fed Cup tennis tournament in Prague, Czech Republic, in this November 15, 2015 file photo. (REUTERS)

The world number four had been due to face compatriot Ekaterina Makarova in first round action later on Tuesday but was replaced by another Russian, lucky loser Margarita Gasparyan.

That match, on Pat Rafter Arena, was one of several to be delayed on Tuesday by rain on the east coast of Australia, causing further headaches for tournament organisers shorn of two of

sibilities around safety and security of ICC events extremely seriously," ICC Chief Executive David Richardson was quoted as saying.

"ICC are confident that the proposed security arrangements for (the tournament) will adequately address the identified risks."

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan told Reuters the withdrawal was "unfortunate".

our own and independent security experts, and the robust security plan that has been developed, the ICC remains of the view that it is appropriate for event planning to continue as scheduled,” he added.

“Naturally, as part of that planning process, the ICC’s own security team, supported by an independent security agency, will continue to monitor closely the situation in Bangladesh, including all travel advisories provided by relevant government agencies." Richardson said the world cricket governing body is optimistic that Bangladesh will deliver a successful tournament.

“The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup is an extremely important event on the ICC calendar, which has a reputation of producing international stars," Richardson said.

"We remain confident that the ICC, in conjunction with the BCB, will be able to successfully deliver this event in Bangladesh.”

"We are ensuring highest security," he said. "We don't see any security issues in Bangladesh. You just can't stop games considering one or two incidents. Terror attacks are happening everywhere in the world. But games are taking place."

Sutherland said Cricket Australia had monitored the security situation in Bangladesh closely since pulling

out of the test tour and their head of security had travelled to Dhaka last week.

"We have always maintained that the safety and security of Australian teams and officials is our number one priority," he added. The Australia under-19 squad will still travel to the United Arab Emirates next week to play a triseries against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Gayle fined A$10k for 28th ZASA sports meet underway at Lizu JANuAry 5 (DiPr): ity due to unavoidable circumstances. In The 28th sports meet of Zunheboto Area his absence, Headmaster, Shovishe Memo'disrespecting' TV reporter ZuNhEbOTO, Sports Association (ZASA) started today at rial School, Kakugha S. Rotokha graced the Renegades to victory over the Hobart Hurricanes in the nationally televised match in Tasmania when he was approached

by Channel 10 reporter McLaughlin.

After suggesting that he had played well in order to get an interview with McLaughlin, the big-hitting batsman proceeded to direct personal comments towards her. "To see your eyes for the first time is nice," the 36-year-old said. "Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby."

The comments were immediately condemned by the Big Bash League and Channel 10, who said McLaughlin had been angered and upset by the encounter. Gayle, speaking to reporters on his return to Melbourne on Tuesday, said he had not meant to be disrespectful or offensive to McLaughlin. "(It was a) simple comment, a simple joke. It seemed to be blown out of proportion," he said.

"If she felt (offended), I'm really sorry for that. There wasn't any harm meant in that particular way. "It wasn't any harm done and like I said, I will leave it at that.

I'm sorry for that. We have to move on, simple."

Injured Sharapova, Halep out of Brisbane event

brisbANE, JANuAry 5 (rEuTErs): Australian Open contenders Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep withdrew from the Brisbane International on Tuesday after suffering injuries less than two weeks before the first grand slam of the year.

Romanian top seed Halep was felled by inflammation in her left Achilles, an injury that hampered her 2015 campaign, but was hopeful of being fit in time for next week's event in Sydney.

Russian Sharapova, the defending champion, was nursing an arm injury which meant a premature exit and no matches at her only tournament before the Melbourne slam which begins on Jan 18.

"I hurt my forearm in practice a couple days ago and need to precautionary withdraw with the #AusOpen starting," Sharapova was quoted as saying by Brisbane tournament organisers.

Sharapova has long been dogged by injuries and missed last year's U.S. Open with a leg muscle injury and then suffered an arm injury on her return in China in October.

pendent security agency had been working very closely with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Bangladesh security agencies, and that the planned security arrangements satisfactorily mitigate the risks identified such that it remains appropriate for the event to continue as planned," the ICC said in a statement.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said: “Whilst the ICC notes and respects the position of Cricket Australia, which we understand is based on an advice received from the Australian Government, we are obviously disappointed with the decision." “The ICC takes its responsibilities around the safety and security of ICC events extremely seriously. And taking into consideration the full and unequivocal support of the Bangladesh government that has been afforded to us at the highest level and through all local security agencies, the advice we have received from

their biggest draw cards.

The injuries to Halep and 28-year-old Sharapova, five-times a grand slam singles champion, follow fitness concerns over Australian Open defend-

ing champion Serena Williams, who pulled out of her first match of the year at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Monday because of a knee complaint.

Halep, the world number two, was scheduled to face twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in second round action after receiving a bye and she downplayed concerns about the injury being anything serious.

"I did an MRI and it's nothing dangerous, but it's still an inflammation," said Halep who was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium.

"I have just to take a few days' rest." U.S. Open finalist Roberta Vinci escaped any drama and became the first woman through to the last eight on the Brisbane hard courts after the Italian demolished Dominika Cibulkova 6-1 6-1.

In the men's draw, seeds David Goffin and Domini Thiem won on Tuesday to make the second round, where 17-times grand slam champion Roger Federer will begin from against German Tobias Kamke on Wednesday.

Lizu New Village, Zunheboto. Altogether, 11 villages are participating in men football and women volleyball tournament in the event which will conclude on January 9.

Parliamentary Secretary, Jails, Science and Technology who was scheduled to grace the inaugural function expressed his inabil-

function as the chief guest where he exhorted the participating teams to excel in sports.

He also called upon the players to show true sportsmanship during tournament. Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Vikaho Zhimo and welcome song was presented

by Lizu New Village and Botoka Zhimo.

25th MDCA tourney underway, National players in the fray Our Correspondent

Mokokchung | January 5

The 25th MDCA T20 Cricket Tournament 2016 organized by the Mokokchung District Cricket Association (MDCA) opened here today at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung with twelve teams vying for the coveted trophy.

In the first match of the tournament, defending champion Titans CC players overwhelmed Sovran Kings.

Electing to bat first, Titans CC put up a huge target of 169 runs from the allotted 20 over. Longsasunep (51 runs) of Titans CC scored the first half century of this year's tournament.

Chasing the target, Sovran Kings got off to a brilliant start with their opening batmen reaching the team’s 50 runs mark in just 5 over.

But with the introduction of Longsasunep (3/19) into the bowling attack, the Sovran Kings batting order collapsed eventually falling short of the target by 42 runs. Titans won the match comprehensively and started their title defence on a positive note.

In the second match of the day, Sovran CC defeated Suzerain CC by 9 wickets. Suzerain batting first could manage to score only 99 runs with Sunep contributing 33 runs for his team.

Tiaakum (3/12) was the pick of the bowlers for Sovran CC. Chasing the target Sovran's opener batsman Jonathan R Longkumer (20 runs), Michael (45 not out) and Tejasol (30 not out) made the Suzerain bowling attack look dreary as they chased down the target in just 9 overs.

Earlier during the day, the President of the

Match Day 2 Fixture on January 6 1st Match - Rolling Ball vs Skylark CC (8 am) 2nd Match - Brotherhood vs Climbers Grip (11:30 am) MDCA, Er. Chubatoshi speaking at the brief inaugural programme said that cricket was unlike any other game and maintained it was a game of “patience, temperance, tolerance, discipline, resolute and determination.”

He further urged the youngsters, especially the upcoming local cricketers, to take inspiration, take up the game of cricket and convince the world that it is a good game. The programme was chaired by chaired by Merensunep while MDCA Treasurer said the Benediction.

The most interesting part would be the participation of renowned cricketers who are playing in the national arena, and expected to dominate the pitch during the ten day tournament.

All eyes will be on Jonathan Rongsen, Hokaito Zhimomi and other Ranji Trophy players who would be participating at the tournament as team members of different cricket clubs.

The tournament, which is free, is open to all. The MDCA has further invited all cricket lovers and sportsmen of Mokokchung to witness the tournament, which will be one of kind, where even national players, will be at the crease, anticipating for the pace of the fast bowlers.

Meanwhile, the Mokokchung District Cricket Association has expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the participating teams and all those involved, in making the inaugural function of the 25th MDCA T20 Cricket Tournament 2016 a grand success.

NRA to conducts training and shooting competition

DimAPur, JANuAry 5 (mExN): The Nagaland Rifle Association (NRA) with collaboration with the Aries Rifle & Pistol Shooting Academy, Dimapur have been allotted to conduct Training Camps and Competitions in Small Bore Rifle & Pistol (NR) in across Nagaland. The decision taken at its Governing Body meeting was done in view of the upcoming 4th North East Zone Shooting Championship to be held at Nagaland during September/October 2016, a press note from NRA President, Merang Jamir informed.

The Training Camps and Competitions will be conducted as per rules & regulations under National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) Match Book 2015, in Small Bore Rifle & Pistol (NR), it added.

NRA further informed that following officials and shooters have been selected to conduct the Training Camps and Competitions in the different Clubs representing a particular district.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Merang Jamir Sentiyanger Vipu P. Swu Chizou Sorhienuo Kimatsung Jamir

- Official - Official - Shooter - Shooter - Shooter

The aforementioned individuals are also permitted to carry the weapons under Licence Nos. 9890 NH/NEW (valid upto 31-12-2017) and 1121/NL/DMR (valid upto 31-12 2018) & ammunitions from Dimapur to Mokokchung Via Assam, Kohima and Kiphire, the Association stated.

Merang Jamir, President, NRA will be the overall in-charge of the above mentioned arms and ammunitions, it said adding that the permit is valid from January 5- April 30 2016.

The Schedule of Training and Competition are as follows:SN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Range/Competition Aonokpu Village Dimapur Mokokchung Kiphiri Kohima 7th ARAPSA Championships 1st Nagaland Championships

Organizer Aonokpu Rifle Shooting Club Aries Rifle & Pistol Shooting Academy Cosmos Rifle Club Kiphiri Rifle Club Aries Rifle & Pistol Shooting Academy Aries Rifle & Pistol Shooting Academy Nagaland Rifle Association

Date January 6-8 January 27-30 March 17-19 April 5-7 April 11-14 Dates Not Decided Dates Not Decided

Wednesday 06•1•2016

EntErtainmEnt

Philippines named as

‘Country of the Year 2015’ F

P

hilippines is named as the 'Country of the Year' for beauty pageants in 2015 by a website called Global Beauties (GB), a site dedicated to major international beauty pageants from around the world.

Getting right down to facts and numbers, Parul Shah was Miss Grand International 2015's 3rd runner-

up, Hillarie Parungao was placed in the top 10 of Miss World 2015 that was held in China, Janicel Lubina was placed in the top 10 of the Miss International 2015 pageant in Japan, Rogelie Catacutan was a quarter-finalist in the Miss Supranational 2015 pageant in Poland and the list isn't over yet. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

took home the Miss Universe crown along with Angelia Ong who took bagged the Miss Earth crown.

This brilliant streak of wins is a result of the efforts of Filipino beauty queens who flaunt an exotic ethnical blend, their hardworking support staff and organisers and most importantly, their newfound fans.

ilmmaker Michael Bay is all set to return as director for Transformers 5. Bay, 50, who has directed all the films in Transformers series confirmed the news, said The Hollywood Reporter. However, the Pearl Harbor director said that he is willing to pass on the director’s cap to someone as this will be his last Transformers movie.

“Transformers, I still have a great time,” he said. “It’s fun to do a movie that 100 million people will see. But this is the last one. I have to pass the reins to someone else,” he said. Paramount Pictures recently organised sessions with writers to create a new direction for the franchise, with the new script being written by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway along with Ken Nolan.

Actor Mark Walhberg, who starred in 2014’s Transformers: Age of Extinction, is expected to lead the cast. The new movie is an attempt to create a greater cinematic universe for Transformers.

Michael Bay to helm

‘Transformers 5’

TV actress files FIR against eight men

T

elevision actress Pratyusha Banerjee of "Balika Vadhu" fame has filed an FIR against eight men, including three policemen, alleging they barged into her residence here.

The incident reportedly happened on Monday evening.

Pratyusha told IANS that the eight entered her Kandivali residence and asked for her friend, actor Rahul Raj Singh. When she told them he was not at home, they misbehaved with her.

"I'm extremely upset with whatever happened last evening. If this is how policemen are going to behave, then what to do? I have filed an FIR against eight men, of whom three are policemen," Pratyusha said.

"They entered my house, pushed my door, they were misbehaving with me and were so rude.

C M Y K

It took me three hours to convince the police to file the FIR since police themselves were also involved.

Today, I am going to meet the (area) DCP," she added when IANS contacted her on Tuesday.

Apparently, it's all got to do with a car loan that Rahul Raj Singh had taken from a bank and had been irregular in his repayments.

Pratyusha said: "On the night of December 31, the bank had sent a recovery agent to my place for a Rs.5,000 EMI for the month of December without even informing us.

The man had come drunk and was not ready to leave even after we gave the money. So, Rahul took matters in hand and sent him out of the house.

"Last night, they again came to my house. I told them Rahul does not live here and that's when all this happened," she added.

Guns N' Roses confirmed to headline Coachella 2016 Guns N’ Roses Stars Axl Rose and Slash are confirmed to reunite for the first time in more than 20 years as part of the 2016 Coachella Music Festival in California.

R

eports surfaced last month (Dec15) that the estranged former bandmates were poised to team up once

again to headline the annual Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio in April (16), and the rumours were confirmed by officials via Twitter.com on Monday (04Jan16), with Guns N' Roses slated to front the second night of festivities.

The news comes hours after Rose pulled out of an

appearance on late-night U.S. show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a day before he was scheduled to front the band for a performance on Tuesday (06Jan16).

The first night of Coachella will feature another reunion with dance stars LCD Soundsystem, who split in 2011, while DJ Cal-

vin Harris will headline the third night.

Other big names schedule to perform during the festival include Ellie Goulding, Ice Cube, Disclosure, Sia, Zedd, Chris Stapleton, Sufjan Stevens, Foals, Major Lazer, A$AP Rocky, and The Kills. The 2016 Coachella festival will take place from 15 to 17 April and from 22 to 24 April (16).

Aditi Rao Hydari unveils her 'Wazir' fashion line

B

ollywood beauty Aditi Rai Hydari, who is all set to release her latest film ‘Wazir’, unveiled its clothing line on Monday. With the clock ticking down to the big Friday release, the actress set out to the clothing store to take a look at the beautiful anarkalis on display.

In the film, Aditi will play a ‘Queen’ of sorts, and she had the perfect costumes to match the part. In an interview with DC she said, “I represent the queen — as a chess piece. The story has drama, thrill and emotions.”

The star, who hasn’t had much success at the box office over the years, is looking forward to the release of ‘Wazir’, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar.

Talking about her experience working with the Bollywood superstars, Aditi said, “I am happy to be associated with ‘Wazir’, it’s like a dream-come-true for me to be sharing screen space with Farhan Akhtar and Amitabh Bachchan. It has a very gripping story and was a huge emotional investment.” Aditi, who plays a dancer in the film, will be seen romancing Farhan for the first time on the big screen.

Jaden Smith bags Louis Vuitton campaign – modelling womenswear

A

t a glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that the new Louis Vuitton ad campaign features four promising young female models – emerging talent showcasing futuristic garb from a storied fashion house best known for its monogrammed luggage.

Yet while all those cast are certainly new names to have on your radar (Scottish beauty Lady Jean Campbell, for example), one is in fact Jaden Smith the teenage son of Men in Black actor Will Smith.

The 17-year-old holds his own in an asymmetric skirt and tassled top in the image, which was re-

leased on Instagram by the brand’s creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière. The campaign, titled Series 4, was taken by revered fashion photographer Bruce Weber, the man responsible for Abercrombie & Fitch’s legendary black and white campaigns.

Lending some serious street cred to the French fashion house, Smith is proof that the fashion world’s gender-fluidity movement isn’t going anywhere in 2016. If 2015 was the year that comeback brand Gucci made it hard to determine the gender of its catwalk models, 2016 looks set to be the one where the boundaries in ad cam-

paigns become all the blurrier. It's a movement Jaden will be perfectly comfortable with. Last year, he demonstrated his commitment to gender neutral dressing wearing a monochrome shift dress to a friend's prom.

Ghesquière addressed Smith's involvement in the campaign by stating: "He represents a generation that has assimilated the codes of true freedom, one that is free of manifestos and questions about gender. Wearing a skirt comes as naturally to him as it would to a woman who, long ago, granted herself permission to wear a man’s trench or a tuxedo. Jaden Smith conveys

Sushant Singh Rajput quits smoking

T

he actor, when quizzed about it, says, "Yes I have quit smoking three weeks back. I had been doing it since my theatre days and never thought why I was doing it. I was shooting for the film (MS Dhoni) and lit the cigarette and for the first time thought how stupid and dangerous habit it is and I just gave up."

It's tough for most people to quit smoking and some BTown stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn have still not been able to do it.

But now after Vivek Oberoi, Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Arjun Rampal now it's Sushant Singh Rajput's turn to quit the cancer stick.

The actor, when quizzed about it, says, "Yes I have quit

smoking three weeks back.

I had been doing it since my theatre days and never thought why I was doing it. I was shooting for the film (MS Dhoni) and lit the cigarette and for the first time thought how stupid and dangerous habit it is and I just gave up."

He adds, "Surprisingly there was never a craving post that."

Harshvardhan Kapoor to play the lead in 'Mr India 2'

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umours of a sequel to Anil Kapoor and Sridevi-starrer Mr India have resurfaced after a brief lull. According to industry insiders, Anil’s son Harshvardhan Kapoor is likely to play the lead in the sci-fi’s second instalment. Says a source, "Though Harsh will debut this year with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Mirziya', he will turn to his uncle's (Boney Kapoor) banner for his second outing, which will be 'Mr India 2'." In November last year, Boney had said.

"We are keen to make 'Mr India 2', but we need an exciting idea for it. The day we get the idea we will jump at it." For the sequel, the producer said the casting of actors would depend on the script, while promising that wife Sridevi and brother Anil would no doubt be part of it.

It had also been speculated that Boney's son, actor Arjun Kapoor would star in the film. While Boney remained unavailable for comment, a source close to Harshvardhan confirms the story.

something very interesting about the integration of a global wardrobe. He’s found an instinctive balance that makes his extraordinary attitude a new norm. That really inspired me in the creative process for this collection.”

Jaden Smith is perhaps best known for appearing alongside his father Will in 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happiness. A film career followed: the 17-year-old was the star of The Karate Kid and has just finished a follow up to the movie. He's also an accomplished rapper and keen fashion fan, as photographs on his instagram account Chrisitaingrey prove.

Hillstar NOW SHOWING

11:00 AM | 05:00 pm | 08:00 Pm

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wednesdAY 06•01•2016

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Indian schoolboy breaches 1000-run mark in an innings

MuMBaI, JaNuary 5 (reuters): Maharashtra schoolboy Pranav Dhanawade rewrote the record books on Tuesday, hammering an epic 1009 not out in an inter-school cricket tournament to register the highest individual score in an innings in any form of the game.

T h e 1 5 - y e a r- o l d smashed 129 fours and clobbered 59 sixes in his staggering 323-ball knock played over two days before his team, KC Gandhi School, declared their innings on a staggering 1465 for two. An admirer of India's limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dhanawade's monumental knock drew praise from batting great Sachin Tendulkar.

"Congrats #PranavDhanawade on being the first ever to score 1000 runs in an innings. Well done and work hard. You need to scale new peaks!" tweeted the former India captain.

Dha nawa d e, w h o opened the innings against Arya Gurukul School, had C M Y K

Club hero Zidane handed the Real Madrid hot seat Iain Rogers Reuters

gone past Arthur Collins' 628 not out, the previous highest in minor cricket scored in 1899 in England, on Monday.

The son of an autorickshaw driver, Dhanawade had also gone past the highest individual score by an Indian in minor cricket, a record previously held by Prithvi Shaw who scored 546 in the Harris Shield in 2013-14.

"I have always been a

big-hitter," Dhanawade told the Hindustan Times after Monday's play.

"When I started I never thought about breaking the record. The focus was never that. I just played my natural game, which is to attack from the word go.

"After reaching 300, my coach Harish Sharma told me to play on. I did not know of the world record, but we had the Indian record (Shaw's 546) in mind."

Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh hail Pranav Dhanawade for record-breaking innings MuMBaI, JaNuary 5 (IaNs): Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to congratulate Mumbai school cricketer Pranav Dhanawade for his record-breaking innings of 1,009 not out in an H.T. Bhandari Cup Under-16 inter-school tournament clash.

Pranav's epic 323-ball knock consisted of a staggering 59 sixes and 129 fours.

His team, K.C. Gandhi High School, declared their innings at 1465/6 with Pranav remaining unbeaten at 1,009.

He batted for 395 minutes and had a strike rate of 312.38. The youngster broke a 116-year-old record after surpassing 652 on Monday, thus taking over the reins of the highest individual score (including minor cricket) from A.E.J. Collins of England.

On Monday, the teenager also crossed Prithvi Shaw's innings of 546 scored two years ago in a Harris Shield

match, an innings that had previously been the highest individual score in any form of cricket in India.

"Congrats #PranavDhanawade on being the first ever to score 1000 runs in an innings. Well done and work hard.

You need to scale new peaks!," Tendulkar posted on his Twitter handle.

Harbhajan was equally effusive in his praise for the wonder kid. "well played... no matter what levels cricket it is but numbers are just unbelievable.another @sachin_rt in making?," he tweeted. Former India Test opener Aakash Chopra wrote on Twitter: "Pranav Dhanawade has scored 1000 runs in an innings... well played, son???? Request to media -please leave him alone??"

Commentator Alan Wilkins tweeted: "The numbers for Pranav Dhanawade are mind-numbing! 1009 from 323 balls.

59x6s, 129x4s. 870 runs in boundaries!

Did anyone in Mumbai see it?"

Zinedine Zidane's appointment as Real Madrid coach in place of Rafa Benitez has handed the club's former France great his chance to follow up a stellar career on the pitch with management success at the highest level.

Benitez, experienced but unpopular, was abruptly dismissed on Monday less than halfway through the season after an indifferent run of results left the club trailing leaders Atletico Madrid and second-placed Barcelona in La Liga.

Fan hero Zidane, an elegant figure in stark contrast to his frumpy predecessor, has been promoted from his job as coach of the B team, who play in the third tier of Spanish soccer.

It will be the 43-year-old French World Cup winner’s first top-flight management role.

The pressure to deliver at a club that expects a regular stream of major silverware will be huge and it remains to be seen whether the decision by club president Florentino Perez to discard Benitez and hand the reins to the relatively green Zidane will pay off.

Benitez, 55, replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season after the Italian failed to deliver any of the three main titles in 201415, marking the Spaniard’s return to the club where he began his coaching career in the youth ranks.

However it quickly became clear that his reputation as a detail-obsessed and excessively defensive tactician, whether deserved or not, did not sit well with the Real fans.

He failed to consistently deliver the entertaining, attacking football they demand and persistent reports in local media that he did not get on with key figures in the dressing room

did not help his cause.

Benitez also appears to have been blamed for Real’s expulsion from the King’s Cup for fielding an ineligible player.

When Real were hammered 4-0 at home by arch rivals Barca in La Liga at the end of November it was the beginning of the end and Benitez has been roundly whistled at the Bernabeu in recent months, when fans have also called for Perez to step down.

Zidane joined Real from Juventus in August 2001 and helped the club win their ninth European title with a stunning volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final.

A 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship winner with France, he is regarded as one of the most skilful and stylish midfielders to play the game.

His career ended in ignominy in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin when he was sent off for butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

Sharply-dressed and softly spoken, he commands both the devotion of supporters and huge respect from the players, something Benitez has struggled with during his coaching career in Spain, England and Italy.

Zidane's first game in charge will be Saturday’s La Liga game at home to seventh-placed Deportivo La Coruna, when he is assured of a huge ovation from the adoring supporters.

Real have been drawn to play AS Roma in Europe's elite club competition, with the first leg in the Italian capital on Feb. 17.

"It's an important day for me," Zidane told reporters on Monday after Perez announced his appointment, without specifying the length of his contract. "I am emotional, more than when I signed as a player."

Real Madrid's new coach Zinedine Zidane (L) and Real Madrid's President Florentino Perez pose for the media at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, January 4. (REUTERS)

Beckham hails Zidane as the right choice for Real

LONDON, JaNuary 5 (reuters): Zinedine Zidane is the right man for the job of Real Madrid coach, former team mate David Beckham said on Monday after the Spanish club sacked Rafa Benitez and replaced him with the French World Cup winner.

"Does it get any better than this??," the former England captain, who played with Zidane at Real after joining from Manchester United in 2003, declared on Instagram.

"A man that has been the best at a game we all love, taking over of a club that myself and many more people love... Someone with drive, passion and also doesn't accept failure on any level," added Beckham.

"Taking over from a manager that has huge experience and respect in the game, but taking on a position that he will relish...

THE BEST PERSON FOR

THE JOB." Former Girondins de Bordeaux and France team mate Bixente Lizarazu hoped that his close friend, promoted from the role of coach of Real's B team, would succeed.

"I am very happy for him because I know he is fully committed to this coaching career now, it’s a life choice," he told French RTL radio.

"Zizou coaching Real Madrid, it makes me think of (former Barcelona coach) Pep Guardiola... it’s the same kind of start for Zizou and I wish he’ll have the same success. He is a very determined person, who does things with passion."

Guardiola, now at Bayern Munich and one of the world's most sought after coaches, won 14 trophies including two Champions League titles in a four-year spell as Barcelona head coach.

He had previously been a loyal servant of the club as both a player and B team coach.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon, who resigned in 2009, struck a discordant note, however.

He warned that Zidane was a gamble and that he might not be given much time to prove himself, with former Real coach Jose Mourinho potentially available after his sacking

by Chelsea last month.

"I wish Zidane all the best but it will be difficult.

If he is not successful then Jose Mourinho will be on the bench in June, I am sure," he told BBC radio.

"He lacks experience as a coach. That is a problem.

"I think the players like Zidane. He won everything with Real Madrid. I am sure the fans will receive him in a very good way. What happens in the next weeks, nobody knows."

62nd Kohima Village Sports Meet begins Kohli wins Cricketer of the Year award, Kirmani honoured too

Morung Express News

Medal Tally on Day I

Kohima | January 5

Touted as one of the grandest sporting event in the State Capital, the Kohima Village Sports Association (KVSA) kick started its 62nd Meet on January 5 with Khriehu Liezietsu, Parliamentary Secretary, YRS, State Lotteries, MTF & Chairman DPDB Kohima as the Chief Guest.

The inaugural session began with the blessing and lighting of the KVSA Torch at Thevokemouzie

by Rev. Fr. Visosie-o Solomon Vizo followed by the march-in of the contingent of four Khels namely Lhisemia, Tsütuonuomia, Dapfhütsumia and Pfuchatsumia.

A prayer was invoked by Neivizolie Chielie, Pastor KBK followed by the welcome address by Medovilhoulie Tseikha, Convenor, Organising committee who expressed hope that the Sports meet will foster integrity and unity among the different Khels of the

D.Khel T.Khel L.Khel P.Khel

Gold 4 3 2 0

village.

Echoing the same ideals, Ketounei Kire, President KVYO who delivered the Presidential address noted that with great vision and value assessment about the significance of sports in human civilization, the elders of the Kohima village started the KVSA meet.

With the main objective to connect and instill peace among the members of the village, Kire hoped that Kohima village will leave an exemplary mark to the rest of the people through the Sports meet. The KVSA Theme Song, ‘Kewhimia Geizo’ was presented by Kenei-ü Sachü, Pelevinuo Mechülho, Mezhülenuo Miachieo and Keneisedenuo Zatsu.

Silver Bronze 1 3 3 4 5 0 0 2 Basing his speech on Jesse Owen’s quote, “Friendship born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust,” Khriehu Liezietsu acknowledged that the Sports meet is significant because it is a time where villagers bond through the various sports activities.

“This is a significant event for us. It is where our friends, our clans and our guests assemble,” Liezietsu noted further urging all the sportspersons to guide and inspire each other so that the event can pave way for younger generation to grow.

The Chief Guest also spoke on the growing influence and development

of Sports and the employments opportunities it provides. With the increase in population and scarcity of government jobs, Liezietsu appealed the sportspersons to try and make a living out of Sports.

Citing the examples of how sportsperson earn in a day what an officer earn in year, the Parliamentary Secretary also pointed out India is also excelling with the introduction of sporting events such as the Indian Super League, Indian Super league etc.

Liezietsu encouraged the crowd gathered admitting that the village is developing in all fields be it music, art, sports, academics however the village should strive for excellence which is possible if given hardwork and determination.

Considered as one of the biggest village in Asia, the Kohima Village formed its village council in 1944.

To foster and encourage the traditional bond of friendship, harmony and understanding among the four Khels, the village formed the Kohima village sports meet and till 1958, it conducted the meet.

The responsibilities of organizing the Meet was given to the youth in the village under the banner ‘Kohima Village Sports Association’ and today it is hosted alternately by the four Khels. The biennial Sports Meet however has been hosted by the Kohima Village Youth Organisation since 2014.

The Sports events for the first day included of 100 metres race, Discuss Throw, Shot put, 800 metres race, 200 metres race, Javelin, 1500 metres race 4x200 metres race (men), Broad Jump and 400 metres relay.

MuMBaI, JaNuary 5 (PtI): Former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani was bestowed with the prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cricket, while Test captain Virat Kohli bagged the Polly Umrigar Trophy for Cricketer of the Year in the BCCI awards night here Tuesday.

The 66-year-old former India cricketer and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad was presented the award by BCCI president president Shashank Manohar at the Cricket Board's annual awards (201415 season) ceremony. The coveted Polly Umrigar award was also handed over to Kohli by Manohar.

Kirmani, who was also given the award of citation, trophy and Rs 25 lakh, took a mild dig at modern wicketkeepers when asked about the difference from his time to the present day. "These days it's not about wicketkeeping techniques but just about

producing results. Dhoni has been able to do it," he said before praising the limited overs skipper, who was in the audience and grinning: "Good job, Dhoni."

"The only thing in my mind when playing was to do well and keep the tri-colour flying. I thank the BCCI for honouring me with the C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award."

Kirmani, who was understudy to Farokh Engineer on successive visits to England in 1971 and 1974 before taking over as the no.1 gloveman, effected 198 dismissals in 88 Tests during the latter period of the famous Indian spin quartet. "I am proud to have kept wickets to the three spin legends - Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekar and Bishen Bedi," he remarked over his career.

Kohli said that the greatest moment of his career so far is the Test series in Australia, which India lost 0-2, but not before giving a tough fight to

the hosts. "It is important to start the year well and we were able to do so in Australia. I compliment the entire team. It was the greatest moment of my career so far and would probably remain so," he said.

Referring to the great chase the team made in Adelaide before falling short narrowly, Kohli said: "Some days you bat like a man possessed.

All I had in my head was the target of 367," he said.

Talking about the knock of 107 against Pakistan in the subsequent World Cup, the Delhi stalwart said that on the morning of the match when he woke up he saw 3000 people on the bridge that connected the hotel to the stadium with musical instruments and flags. "There was such a frenzy and it struck me that I am going to play in front of these guys in three hours. I challenged myself to do it and I was able to do it," Kohli remarked.

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