Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches scheme to provide rice at 1/kg

from
Guwahati News, Latest Guwahati News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India

Villagers lynch two men in Assam

Two youths from lower Assam's Chirang district, about 170km from Guwahati, were lynched by villagers on Wednesday who suspected they had killed the village headman on Tuesday night.

from
Guwahati News, Latest Guwahati News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India

Understand customary system before implementing laws

Timber extraction around the Protected Public Forest signboard in Somra. (Photo courtesy RRtIP)

Naga communities in Myanmar faced with degrading forests

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 28

In 2014, the residents of Somra, a Naga village in Myanmar, found a new signboard posted on the side of the road inside the community watershed forest area. The sign announced the proposed designation of 5,000 acres of Public Protected Forest (PPF).

Where exactly were these 5,000 acres within Somra’s customary land? Nobody in the village was sure because the government staff who posted the sign left without informing either the local customary or government authorities.

A report titled ‘Land and Forest Governance in the Naga Village Republic’ by the Resource Rights for the Indigenous Peoples (RRtIP) took the case study of Somra to understand what happens when Government of Myanmar departments implement land and forest management laws incompatible with the customary system in Naga villages.

“They end up undermining sustainable forest management,” the report, released in Yangon on February 27, concluded.

Claiming rights
The forest around the PPF sign has been managed by the community to protect the watershed and provide subsistence food, fuel, building materials and medicine, noted the RRtIP report.

The village chief and the tribal council convened a village meeting to discuss how to respond to what they essentially understood was the government claiming rights to their customary forest.

The Forest Department of the Government of Myanmar, informed the report, has been designating more forest areas as Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) in the past few years in order to reach the target set in the National Forestry Master Plan (2001–2030) to have 30% of the country’s land area within the PFE.

“The expansion of the PFE to new areas,” noted the RRtIP report, “caused some communities concern that it does not recognize their customary claims and restricts their access to the forests that they depend on and need for observing their cultural and religious traditions.”

After open discussion and debate, the community agreed that they would revise the customary rules for forest management in the proposed PPF area by opening the forest for both domestic and commercial use.

Degraded forests
As the community began to use the timber, the village agreed to share profits from timber sales, allocating 10% of the sale price to the village fund, 10% to the clan with claims to the forest and the rest to those who harvested and sold the timber.

While the village funds were judiciously used to fund public meetings, work-related travel costs for village authorities, etc., the forests were left degraded.

“Villagers noted a decline in wildlife in the area, especially deer and gaur. Customary authorities and community members would have preferred keeping their forest intact and their customary tenure secure over earning cash from selling timber,” stated the RRtIP report.

But government laws insensitively imposed on the land meant that vulnerability drove decisions made by the people instead of the customary systems that had secured these forests for generations.

“Undermining the customary system left both communities and the Forest Department with a degraded forest, a result that neither group wanted.

Expansion of government administration without recognizing customary tenure poses a threat to the livelihood, environment, and culture of the Naga people living in Myanmar,” established the RRtIP.

The community recommended that the Forest Department learns more about the customary system for managing forests and recognizes their land tenure system through better understanding and communication.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

DRDA Mon on strike; unpaid for a year

Mon, February 28 (MExN): The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Mon employees have not been paid their salaries for one whole year. To protest this, the DRDA Mon began a pen-down strike on February 27 which is set to continue till further notice, informed Manching Konyak, Deputy Project Officer of DRDA Mon, in a press release today. During the strike period, the DRDA Mon “will not carry out any official works.”

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Nagaland among top in prevalence of psychoactive substances use: Study

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 28

Nagaland is among top states in prevalence of psychoactive substances use with illegal cannabis products, opioids, sedatives and inhalents being the highest.

According to the ‘Magnitude of Substance Use in India, 2019’ which was released by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on February 19, in Nagaland the use of ganja and charas, which are illegal as per the international drug conventions as well as the Indian law (the NDPS Act, 1985), is 4.65%, second highest after Sikkim (7%).

Nationally, about 2.8% of Indians aged 10-75 (3.1 crore individuals) are users of any cannabis product-bhang (legal form of cannabis) and ganja, charas and other illegal forms, the report found.

According to the report, though bhang use is found to be more prevalent than ganja/charas, dependent use is lower for bhang users (1 in 16) than ganja/charas users (1 in 7). Also it was indicated that ganja/charas is more likely to cause harm or lead to addiction as compared to bhang.

The report also collated and analyzed reports for seven other categories of psychoactive substances: alcohol, opioids cocaine, Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), sedatives, inhalants and hallucinogens.

It is the first time in the country to study and document substance use from all the states and UTs of the country.

Nagaland State is also among states “affected in terms of percentage of population” and was reported as the second highest prevalence of opioid users at 25.22% after the State of Mizoram.

In general, the prevalence of opioid use in the north-east and north-west region of India is higher compared to other regions. Atleast more than 10% of the general population in Northeast states indicates prevalence of opioid use, the survey found.

About 2.26 crore in the country use opioids, the most common opioid used is Heroin (1.14%) followed by pharmaceutical opioids (0.96%) and Opium (0.52%).

Nagaland also figured high in use of sedatives (non-medical, nonprescription use) and inhalants. The percentage of current use is 5.4%, also second highest after Sikkim followed by other Northeast states like Manipur and Mizoram.

The survey indicated that about 1.08% of 10-75 year old Indians (approximately 1.18 crore people) are current users of sedatives. Inhalants (overall prevalence 0.7%) are the only category of substances for which the prevalence of current use among children and adolescents is higher (1.17%) than adults (0.58%), the report said.

The number of people dependent on cocaine, ATS and Hallucinogens is extremely small in comparison to the size of country’s population.

The estimated number of People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Nagaland State is 34888. Nationally, it is estimated that there are about 8.5 Lakh PWID. Opioid group of drugs are predominantly injected by PWID (heroin – 46% and pharmaceutical opioids – 46%). Among a substantial proportion of PWID report risky injecting practices, Nagaland is also among other 10 states. According to the findings of the study, reach of the national programmes for treatment of substance use disorders is grossly inadequate and there is a wide gap for treatment (mismatch between demand and availability of treatment services).

The study suggested that a conducive legal and policy environment is needed to help control drug problems and further suggested that a scientific evidence-based treatment is needed to be made available for people with substance use disorders at an adequate scale. It also stated that evidence-based substance use prevention programmes is needed to protect young people and added that the approach of generating and utilizing scientific evidence must continue.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

ECI likely to announce schedule of Lok Sabha polls shortly

Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 28

Abhijit Sinha, Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, today said the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the schedule of the parliamentary elections in a few days time.

Sinha said this during a State level awareness workshop on EVM/VVPAT, media certification and monitoring committee and media matters with media persons from both print and electronic in view of the upcoming general elections to Lok Sabha elections 2019.

He said this media workshop is being conducted as there are some fresh instructions/changes from ECI and the media has to be updated in conformity with the commission’s guidelines.

For Lok Sabha polls in Nagaland, he said, the Commissioner Nagaland will be the Returning Officer (RO).

Sara S. Jamir, joint secretary Power and NLMT talked on paid news/fake news/media and MCMC while R. Mhathung, assistant chief electoral officer & NLMT demonstrated EVM/VVPAT administrative procedures and hands on. Touching on EVM/VVPAT, Sinha said that EVMs were first used during the 1982 elections in Kerala.

The first official use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) in the country was in Noksen Assembly Constituency under Tuensang District of Nagaland during 2013.

In view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, CEO Nagaland has been conducting series of activities to ensure successful conduct of the polls.

Tokheho Yephomi is the current Lok Sabha member from Nagaland. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on February 26 told the Nagaland State Assembly session that there are 12,09,613 voters in Nagaland as per final published E-Roll 2019. Out of this, 6,13,409 are male while 5, 96, 204 are female voters.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

South Africa: Group to sue self-styled prophet

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 28

The BBC has reported that a group of funeral directors in South Africa have said that they will sue a self-styled prophet who claims to have resurrected a dead man.

A viral video of Pastor Alph Lukau shows him shouting “rise up” to a man lying down in a coffin who then jerks upright to cheers from worshippers. The video has also gone viral in Nagaland.

The funeral companies told the BBC that they were manipulated into being involved.

The spectacle, seen outside Pastor Lukau’s church near Johannesburg, has been ridiculed and condemned by many.

“There are no such things as miracles,” the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities told South Africa’s national broadcaster. “They are made up to try to get money from the hopelessness of our people.”

Three funeral companies who said they were manipulated by the “scheme” are now taking legal action for damage to their reputation, reported the BBC today.

Pastor Lukau’s church, Alleluia Ministries International, did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

The Sowetan news site reported that the church has since backtracked on its resurrection claim, saying the “dead” man was in fact “already alive” when he was brought to the premises in Kramerville.

Pastor Lukau had only “completed a miracle that God had already started,” Alleluia International Ministries was quoted by The Sowetan as saying.
The BBC’s Milton Nkosi said the video has sparked a national debate on fake pastors and had been widely condemned by established religious groups.

However some South Africans have taken to social media with the hashtag #ResurrectionChallenge to see the funny side.

It is the latest high-profile row over religious leaders in the country who make extraordinary claims to their congregations.

Last year, informed the BBC, a South African pastor was found guilty of assault for spraying his followers with a household insecticide which he falsely claimed could heal cancer and HIV.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

No change in Class 11 exam schedule

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 28

Class 11 Promotion Examination 2019 will continue as scheduled. In light of a dubious message circulating on social media about the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) rescheduling the ongoing Class 11 promotion examination, officials informed that the examination will continue as originally scheduled.

The message created confusion by stating that the question papers for Economics and Sociology were leaked, as a result of which, the dates for the remaining papers have been rescheduled.

The NBSE’s Academic Officer D. Tsürho clarified on Thursday evening that it was a “fake message” and there was no leakage of question papers.

Stating that the remaining promotion exams for Class 11 on March 2, 4 and 5 will take place as scheduled, Tsürho informed that the Board will be filing a complaint to inquire into the false message.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Nagaland media sensitised on concerns of paid news

Joint Secretary, Power & National Level Master Trainer, Sara S. Jamir presenting the powerpoint presentation on Media Certification and Monitoring Committee in view of General Election to Lok Sabha, 2019 at Hotel Japfu Kohima on February 28. (DIPR Photo)

Kohima, February 28 (MExN): A one-day state level awareness workshop on EVM/VVPAT, media certification and monitoring committee/media matters with media official in view of General Election to Lok Sabha, 2019 organized by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer was held at Tapi Hall, Hotel Japfu Kohima on February 28 with the media personnel.

Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, IAS in his address said that media has an important role in election management and essential in the conduct of elections. He also briefed about the menace of paid news and to be awareness of such news, reported DIPR news.

Joint Secretary, Power & National Level Master Trainer, Sara S. Jamir, in her power-point presentation on paid news said that money used through media in elections has assumed alarming proportion and a major junk of media malfunction in recent times as a serious electoral malpractice. She said paid news is still not made an electoral offense by law but has been causing concern to the Election Commission in conducting free and fair election. This paid news misleads the public and hamper their ability to form correct opinions and caused undue influence on voters and also affect their Right to Information.

Sara S. Jamir also said that paid news can be checked by making paid news as an electoral offence through amendment of RP Act Act, 1951, use expenditure ceiling mechanism to curb this menace, partner with stakeholders, including political parties and media to fight this threat against democracy and sensitize people on the ill effects of paid news as a menace to the conduct of free and fair election.

She said that the Paid News Monitoring Mechanism are Constitution of Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC), obtaining rate card, sensitization of media and trainings and organising media and political party workshops.

The Commission has issued the Media Certification & Monitoring Committee at district and State Level whose major three functions are pre-certification of political advertisements on electronic media including social media, monitoring and action on paid news cases and monitoring the media violation cases during election process, Sara S Jamir added.

The media has been among the most powerful ally of the Election Commission of India, the most eager supporter of the Commission’s constitutional function and the Commission’s strength and an ally in election management and essential in the conduct of the elections. She said that there are 2 major aspects of engagement with media during elections i.e. facilitation and regulation of media which are important in election management as absence of positive communication with media can create difficulties in conduct of elections, therefore the CEOs need to have regular interaction with media almost on daily basis during election and maintaining a line of positive communication with media, and also create an efficient structure for Information dissemination to media. She added that the media is considered extremely essential to a democracy as a healthy democracy cannot exist without a free and responsible media.

Assistant Chief Electoral Officer & National Level Master Trainer, R. Mhathung also demonstrated and briefed the media on EVM/VVPAT Administrative Procedures and hands on.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Champang recommended as Aspirational Block for Wokha

DPDB members attending the meeting held at Pangti community hall on February 28. (DIPR Photo)

Wokha, February 28 (MExN): The monthly District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting was held at Pangti Village community hall on February 28. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chairman DPDB, Wokha & Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon IAS.

According to a DIPR report, during the meeting the board deliberated regarding approval for Aspiration RD Block under Wokha district. The board after thorough discussion recommended Champang RD Block as the aspirational block for Wokha district.

For reiteration of Yanmhon EAC Post, the board decided to send reminder to State Government for consideration of the said issue at the earliest.

In regard to development of Sungro PHC, Chief Medical Officer, Wokha Dr. Robin Lotha apprising the members about Sungro PHC, said Sungro PHC is one of the oldest health centers under Wokha district covering six villages, further added that due to lack of infrastructure and deplorable building condition of Sungro PHC basic required facilities cannot be provided where by hampering the health care delivery to the range people, the chairman requested to submit detail report for improvement of the said centre in the next meeting.

The Vice Chairman also appealed all DPDB members to extend support to the Lotha Student’s Union (LSU) for the successful conduct of the 28th General Conference of the Naga Student’s Federation (NSF) which is scheduled to be held at Wokha.

Department of Tourism and Forest presented detail report about their departmental activities. During the presentation District Forest Officer, Zuthunglo Patton (IFS) apprised the members that, Wokha District holds more than 2/3rd of Nagaland’s Elephant population as per the Synchronized Elephant Population Estimation India 2017, the number of elephants estimated for Nagaland is 446 which is 2nd highest density per sq.km next to Karnataka. Where she highlighted about the Human Elephants conflict management and human injury/death and agricultural/property damage caused by wild elephants during the recent years.

The DFO also presented about the measures taken, conflict solutions, also interventions and strategy at various levels to be taken up by central as well as state government.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

‘Technology is Power’

Indian scientist and experimental physicists, Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram.

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 28

Eminent Indian scientist and experimental physicists, Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, has iterated that ‘technology is power’ and that if India is to become a global technology leader, than it should be in the forefront in creating IPRs and make itself immune to technology control regimes.

Paraphrasing futurologist Alvin Toffler’s famous statement “Yesterday violence was power, today wealth is power and tomorrow knowledge will be power”, Chidambaram, a former principal scientific adviser to the Government of India and ex-chairman, Department of Atomic Energy, said “today, more than at any time in history, ‘Technology is Power’ and this will continue to be so in the foreseeable future.”

“I said this because all the sources of power Toffler mentions have their foundations in technology. Technology domination is sought through the mechanisms of Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Control Regimes… And India should have the ambition to be the first introducer of new advanced technologies”, said Chidambaram in his address as chief guest of the National Science Day celebration at NIT Nagaland on Thursday.
Speaking on the topic ‘Science, technology and development’, Dr. Chidambaram who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India in 1999, also said for India to become a knowledge-driven economy, the country should have the ability to develop new knowledge and the ability to appropriate knowledge developed in other countries.

“We need an advanced technology superstructure, but it cannot be built without the foundation of higher education and basic research (including what I have called ‘Directed Basic Research’). And we need leaders, scientific and political, who understand the ‘coherent synergy’ between technology development and basic research,” he said.

Expounding on ‘India of our Dreams’, Chidambaram said if India wants to become economically developed, scientifically advanced and militarily strong, then she should embrace the UN’s sustainable development goals, establish an excellent RDI Ecosystem, R&D-led Innovation backed by high-quality manufacturing skills. Asserting that national development and national security are two sides of the same coin, he said development without security is vulnerable and security without development is meaningless.

“We must remember that the greatest advantage of recognized strength is that you don’t have to use it. And that the greatest disadvantage of perceived weakness is that your enemy may get adventurist”, he added.
Chidambaram said dwelled on nuclear applications for sustainable development in sectors like food security and agricultural productivity, diagnosis radio therapy and nuclear medicine, food preservation & safety, water resources management, industry: safety and productivity, radiation processing for safety and value addition and radiography.

Stressing on the need for e-connectivity for inclusivity and knowledge sharing, he informed that the Indian National Knowledge Network, a multi-10s (to be enhanced to multi-100s) gigabit per second core optical-fibre backbone network, would connect 1600 knowledge institutions in the country.

The chief guest also unveiled the logo of the recently formed NIT Nagaland Science Society with its motto “Science for a reason, science for humanity.”

Chief scientific officer, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Nagaland, Dr. Zavei Hiese who graced the event as guest of honour highlighted on the scientific and allied activities of the Nagaland Science & Technology Council (NSTC) including detailed ground water survey of the entire state and GI registration of Naga indigenous vegetables and traditional attires. Established in 1999, he said the council has infrastructural facilities including bio tech lab, water quality testing lab, engineering wing, remote sensing and geo informatics lab and patent information centre.

Lauding NIT Nagaland for launching NIT Nagaland Science Society, Hiese impressed on the need to popularize science in other districts of the state and also urged for formation of a state level science society.

Earlier, director, NIT Nagaland, Dr. S. Venugopal, delivered welcome address and HoD (Science & Humanities), NIT Nagaland, Dr. JP Borah, gave a brief introduction about the formation of the Science Society.

Later in the afternoon, the students had an interactive session with Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram and Dr. Zavei Hiese.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

‘Silk Peel Dermal Infusion’ now in Nagaland

Nise Meruno formally launching the Silk Peel Dermal Infusion at Clinical Spa, Family Health Clinic, Dimapur on February 28. (Photo Courtesy: Keso Chakhesang)

Morung Express news
Dimapur | February 28

‘Silk Peel Dermal Infusion,’ an advanced clinical facial device and a first in Nagaland and Northeast India was formally launched today at Clinical Spa, Family Health Clinic, Dimapur.

Nise Meruno, internationally acclaimed pianist and singer was present as guest during the launching event.

A world-class leading facial device, it is a 3-in-1 advanced technology and cost effective as compared to manual facial treatment, Family Health Clinic Proprietor Dr Kahuka Sema while introducing the device said.

This is the third and latest clinical device apart from Venus Viva ad 3D Lipo available here at Clinical Spa, it was informed.

Silk Peel Dermal Infusion combines a three-step simultaneous procedure- it exfoliates by removing dead cells from the skin; cleanses the skin by sucking debris from pores; and infuses serums specific to the skin condition. The serum infusion also treats a variety of skin concerns and is recommended according to skin type and sensitivity, Dr Kahuto also informed.

The procedure on face and neck can be done in just 20 minutes. For one time, the charge at the clinic can be procured at Rs 4000.

However, for long-lasting results, 5 times in two weeks is recommended and at the same time the clinic is giving free facial for the fifth one.

The event was attended by family and friends and David Ngullie, Principal, Assemblies of God School, Dimapur pronounced the dedicatory prayer. The programme was led by Keso Chakhesang.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Manipur police would be equipped with sniper rifles, says CM Biren

IMPHAL | Feb 28 Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today informed the House that state police would be equipped with sniper rifles in addition to MP5 sub-machine guns and bomb diffusing kits as a part of police modernization. The Chief Minister w......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Court transfers Satyabhama murder case to Fast Track Court

IMPHAL| Feb 28 District and Session Judge, Imphal East today transferred the sensational alleged rape and subsequent murder case of Ningombam Satyabhama Devi in 2013, to the additional session judge, Fast Track Court, Imphal East, after conviction orde......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Inmates are kept at separate cells, jail is not recruiting place for insurgents

IMPHAL | Feb 28 Chief minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh stated today that the accused of a rape and murder case who has been awarded the death penalty by Senapati session judge last year, would be hanged inside the premises of the jail campus. He wa......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Importance of Urdu language stressed

IMPHAL | Feb 28 A one-day interactive session with centre in-charge of Urdu, Arabic, CABA-MDTP and others of Manipur was held today at Hotel Imphal with Governor, Najma Heptulla attending the occasion as chief guest. Expressing her delight that Urdu......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Kamjong rallies for peace and immediate transfer of army officer

UKHRUL | Feb 28 The Eastern Tangkhul Naga Long today carried out a rally at Kamjong Headquarter and submitted a memorandum to chairman of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group, government of India, demanding the immediate transfer of commanding officer, Ajay......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Rape accused remanded to judicial custody

IMPHAL | Feb 28 Police foiled an attempt to attack the grandfather of an alleged rape accused by angry relatives of the minor victim, when the grandfather, accused of rape was produced before the court of Special Judge POCSO Imphal West today with a pr......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Awl-Len festival held

CHURACHANDPUR| Feb 28 AWL-LEN 2019, a cultural festival of the Vaiphei Tribe, was held today at Vaiphei community Center located at New Lamka. The event was attended by sitting MP of outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, Thangso Baite; former minist......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

National Science Day observed

IMPHAL | Feb 28 Advance Level State Biotech Hub, department of Biochemistry and Department of Library & Information Science, Manipur University jointly organised the celebration of National Science Day 2019 today at Conference Hall of the Library, Mani......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

MPP appeals for support in upcoming election

IMPHAL | Feb 28 Manipur People’s Party (MPP) has appealed to the people to support the party in the upcoming parliamentary election citing that a regional party will be the only one who will save and protect the State. Addressing media persons at it......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Total shut down suspended

IMPHAL | Feb 28 The 24-hour total shut down called from February 28 midnight by People Action Committee against Brutal Killing of Pravish Chanam along with Women Organisations, various CVOs and student organisations has been suspended due to on-going e......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

KLAM extends support to mass rally

IMPHAL| Feb 28 Kangleipak Loinasillon Apunba Marup (KLAM) has declared that it will support the mass rally to be held on March 3 demanding the inclusion of the Meitei Community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list to safeguard the indigenous population of ......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

NEDP urges for Independent Commission to investigate human right violations

IMPHAL | Feb 28 A one-day consultation programme demanding an Independent Commission to investigate human rights violations committed by the state forces was held today at Manipur Press Club organised by North East Dialogue Forum (NEDP). The partici......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

46-year old individual convicted for murder

IMPHAL| Feb 28 Session judge, Imphal East, Golmei Gaiphulshillu today convicted 46-year old Yumkhaibam Kullachandra Singh, son of late Y. Hemchandra Singh of Andro Khunou for the murder of a 39- year old individual under u/s 447 IPC (Criminal Tress pas......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Three individuals sent to prison on charges of alleged sexual assault on minor girls

IMPHAL| Feb 28 Special Judge POCSO, Imphal West today sent three persons including a female to jail on alleged charges of sexual assault on minor girls in separate incidents. A couple who has been identified as Elangbam Lalit Singh, 65, son of (late......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’ programme held

JIRIBAM| Feb 28 A ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’ programme was held today at the residence of former BJP candidate of Jiribam, Th. Ranabir Singh located at Dibong Mayai Leikai, organised by Jiribam BJP Mandal. The event was attended by president, Jiriba......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Yarns distributed to weavers

THOUBAL| Feb 28 North East India Development Party (NEIDP), 32-Wangkhem assembly constituency today distributed yarns to handloom weavers of Kiyam Heibong Makhong with the objective of forming cluster of female weavers at a programme held at Thoubal Ki......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Tree plantation programme held

THOUBAL| Feb 28 A tree plantation programme cum felicitation ceremony for women bearing girl children was held at the conference hall of District Hospital Thoubal, Khangabok, organised jointly by District Health Society, Thoubal and the management soci......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

TRAU FC posted first home win in Hero 2nd Division League

IMPHAL | Feb 28 TRAU FC kept their hope alive for the final round showdown beating Mohammedan Sporting Club by 2-1 goals in the Hero 2nd Division League 2018-19 played at the former home turf at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium. This is TRAU FC first home......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Champ posted 55 runs victory in Veteran T-20 Cricket 2019

IMPHAL | Feb 28 Champ Khagempalli pulled off 55 runs victory over Cyclone Thangmeiband in the opening match of the 7th Manipur Veteran Cricket Association T-20 Cricket Tournament 2019 played at Langthabal Public Ground. Champ after winning the toss ......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

8th Kanglei Mega Sports from to kick from Mar 20

IMPHAL | Feb 28 The 8th Kanglei Mega Sports Festival 2019 organised by Kangleipak Students’ Association will be held from March 20-25 at Mapal Kangjeibung. KSA Convenor of the Organising Sub-Committee, Sanjoy Khulakpam while speaking to media at its......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

Violence of words

It is amazing how the notion of violence has expanded over the years, particularly in the modern times when so much intensive research work is being done into the study of conflict and peace. The understanding of violence today is indeed extremely nuanced......

from IFP RSS Feed
IFP RSS Feed

NBA roundup: Wade buzzer-beater lifts Heat past Warriors

Field Level Media/Reuters

Dwyane Wade banked in a miracle shot — a 3-pointer at the buzzer off of one leg — as the host Miami Heat shocked the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors 126-125 on Wednesday night.

Goran Dragic had 27 points off the Miami bench, Wade finished with 25 points in a reserve role, and Josh Richardson scored 21. The Heat snapped their six-game home losing streak, and they did it two nights after losing to the team with the worst record in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns.

Dragic scored 20 of his points in the second quarter Wednesday, when Miami led by as many as 24 points. That was the highest-scoring quarter of Dragic’s career.

Klay Thompson led Golden State with 36 points, Kevin Durant had 29 and Steph Curry added 24. Draymond Green fouled out and was held to five points.

Trail Blazers 97, Celtics 92

Damian Lillard scored 33 points and Maurice Harkless added 17 as visiting Portland continued to cruise through its East Coast road trip with a victory against Boston, which lost its fourth straight.

Jusuf Nurkic added 16 points as the Trail Blazers improved to 4-0 on their seven-game trip. It was their fifth consecutive victory overall and it came one day after eight Portland players were trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes while at practice at nearby Emerson College.

Kyrie Irving scored 31 points for the Celtics, who went 5-6 in February. Irving’s scoring outburst came after he scored just seven points in a loss at Toronto on Tuesday.

Bucks 141, Kings 140 (OT)

Eric Bledsoe opened overtime with a 3-point basket, and Nikola Mirotic added another two minutes later, allowing visiting Milwaukee to pull away from Sacramento and post its 12th win in 13 games despite limiting star Giannis Antetokounmpo to 24 minutes due to a sore right knee.

Bledsoe paced the Bucks with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists for the fifth triple-double of his career. Antetokounmpo scored 17. Sacramento’s Buddy Hield led all scorers with 32 points.

The Kings played the fourth quarter and overtime without rookie standout Marvin Bagley III, who injured his left knee in the final minute of the third period.

Rockets 118, Hornets 113

James Harden scored 30 points, and Clint Capela had 23 points and 17 rebounds as Houston won its third straight game with a narrow victory at Charlotte.

The Rockets let a 15-point, first-half lead slip away completely and had to come from 12 down in the second half. They ultimately seized control with a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter and salted the game away on two free throws by Harden with 14.6 seconds remaining.

Chris Paul added 17 points and 10 assists for the Rockets, and Gerald Green and PJ Tucker scored 15 apiece. The Hornets, who lost for the fifth time in their past six games, were led by Kemba Walker with 35 points.

Lakers 125, Pelicans 119

LeBron James had 33 points and 10 assists as host Los Angeles held off New Orleans. It was the first game in which James and Anthony Davis faced each other since Davis publicly demanded a trade late last month with the Lakers reportedly being his top choice for a new team.

Davis, who sat out the Pelicans’ 128-115 victory against Los Angeles last Saturday in New Orleans, had 22 points in 21 minutes Wednesday.

Brandon Ingram scored 23 points, Kyle Kuzma added 22, and former Pelican Rajon Rondo had 11 points and 16 rebounds as Los Angeles won for the second time in six games. Former Laker Julius Randle led the Pelicans with 35 points.

Spurs 105, Pistons 93

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points, and San Antonio defeated visiting Detroit to snap a three-game losing streak.

DeMar DeRozan and Marco Belinelli added 17 points each for the Spurs, who won for just the second time in their past nine games. White hit for 15 points, and Jakob Poeltl and Patty Mills scored 11 points apiece for San Antonio, which returned home from its arduous Rodeo Road Trip with a victory.

Reggie Jackson led the Pistons with 22 points, Blake Griffin added 17 points, and Andre Drummond contributed 10 points and 17 rebounds for Detroit. The Pistons had a three-game win streak snapped.

Jazz 111, Clippers 105

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points while Rudy Gobert added 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Utah over Los Angeles in Salt Lake City.

Derrick Favors and Ricky Rubio added 13 points apiece for the Jazz, and Favors grabbed 11 rebounds. Utah won its fourth straight home game after overcoming early shooting struggles.

Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari scored 18 points apiece to lead the Clippers. Montrezl Harrell added 16 for Los Angeles, and Patrick Beverley had 12 points and 10 boards.

Mavericks 110, Pacers 101

Rookie Jalen Brunson drilled a clinching 3-pointer with 1:03 to play, and Dallas beat visiting Indiana.

Brunson finished with a career-best 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and he added five assists and three steals. Rookie teammate Luka Doncic scored 26 points, including a deep 3-pointer with 2:02 to go for a 103-96 lead.

Bojan Bogdanovic led Indiana with 22 points but managed just four points in the fourth quarter. Wesley Matthews, in his return to Dallas since being traded prior to the deadline, contributed 20 points, including two late 3-pointers.

Hawks 131, Timberwolves 123 (OT)

Rookie Trae Young matched a career high by scoring 36 points for the second straight game as host Atlanta rallied to beat Minnesota. John Collins added 34 points on 13-of-21 shooting as the Hawks avenged squandering a 22-point lead in a 123-120 overtime loss to Minnesota on Dec. 28.

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 37 points on 12-for-19 shooting from the field and added 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who fell to 9-22 on the road this season after dropping the opener of the three-game trek.

Andrew Wiggins had 21 points for Minnesota, Derrick Rose had 18 and former Georgia Tech star Josh Okogie chipped in with 15 while playing in front of family and friends in attendance.

Wizards 125, Nets 116

Bradley Beal scored 31 points as Washington overcame a sluggish start in the opening minutes and rolled past host Brooklyn, snapping a four-game losing streak and winning for the fourth time in 13 games.

The Wizards gave up the game’s first 10 points but wound up leading for the final 38:20. Trevor Ariza added 14 of his 23 in the third quarter when Washington outscored the Nets by a 33-19 margin.

D’Angelo Russell scored 28 points and had seven assists for Brooklyn, which lost for the fourth time in its past six home games. The Nets heard some boos from fans after the final buzzer.

Bulls 109, Grizzlies 107

Zach LaVine scored 30 points on 12-for-19 shooting to help Chicago win at Memphis. Lauri Markkanen contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls in his fourth straight double-double and 10th consecutive 20-point outing.

Otto Porter Jr. scored 20 points as the Bulls won for the fourth time in five games.

Avery Bradley recorded 23 points and seven assists and Mike Conley scored 21 despite a 7-for-21 shooting effort for the Grizzlies.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Copa del Rey: Suarez double downs Madrid to send Barca into Cup final

For offline only, take Reuters for Online: Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid (AP Photo)

MADRID, February 28  (Reuters):  A clinical Barcelona won 3-0 at Real Madrid in an intense second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final for the sixth straight season.

A dominant yet wasteful Real ravaged their rivals in the first half while spurning a string of clear chances at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yet Barca went ahead against the run of play in the 50th minute as Ousmane Dembele led a counter-attack and Suarez slotted his pass into the net.

Spearheaded by the pace and confidence of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr, Madrid continued to fly forward but failed to find the target.

Barca effectively killed off the tie when Raphael Varane bundled the ball into his own net as he tried to prevent Suarez reaching another cross from Dembele.

Suarez then earned a penalty and further humiliated Madrid by converting with an audacious ‘Panenka’, deceiving goalkeeper Keylor Navas by chipping the ball into the net.

Barca, who lost first leg games to Levante and Sevilla in the Cup and drew 1-1 with Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final, booked their place in the final at the Benito Villamarin stadium, the home of Real Betis, on May 25.

Bidding to win the trophy for a record fifth year in a row, the Catalans will face either Betis or Valencia, who drew 2-2 in the first leg of their semi-final and meet again on Thursday.

“This is another demonstration of how good this team is. People keep saying that we don’t care about the Cup, but we have shown that we always want to win every single trophy,” Suarez told reporters.

NUMEROUS CHANCES

Real coach Santiago Solari stressed his side’s dominance in the game but cursed their inability to take their numerous chances.

“In football you have to be efficient and take the chances you get,” he said.

“We fell with honour, we could do no more. We were not clinical but they were, and we go home feeling hurt because we really wanted to reach the final.”

Worst of all for Madrid, La Liga leaders Barca will be back at the Bernabeu once again on Saturday for a league fixture which, should they win again, would see them move 12 points clear of their arch rivals.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde attempted to neutralise the threat of Vinicius by deploying right-sided defenders Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo to protect the left flank but the Brazilian was still the most dangerous player in the first half.

Vinicius could have won a penalty when Semedo clattered into him and had three clear chances to score before the interval, failing to hit the target twice from inside the area, and being thwarted by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

He continued to dance his way through Barca’s defence after the break but his final touch let him down.

Shortly after Suarez’s opener, he cut into the box and delivered a cross which Sergio Reguilon met with a diving header, but Ter Stegen flew across his goal to repel the effort.

Madrid, who were also beaten 3-0 by Barca at the Bernabeu in La Liga last season and were thrashed 5-1 by their rivals back in October, lost their heads after that chance and there was no coming back following Varane’s own goal.

Barca seemed to relish their role as Real’s tormentors and Suarez took the ball from usual penalty taker Lionel Messi to complete their fourth victory in five visits to the Bernabeu with an ice-cool finish from the spot.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Facebook Watch to broadcast El Clasico live and free in India

MUMBAI, February 28 (Reuters): Fans in India will be able to watch Sunday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona live and free on Facebook Watch, the social media giant’s streaming platform, La Liga has said.

Spain’s top flight signed a landmark deal with Facebook last August which will allow viewers in the Indian sub-continent to watch every game over the next three seasons for free on the social network, although not all matches are streamed live.

Facebook began venturing into sports streaming in 2017 by broadcasting weekly Major League Baseball games and counts India as its largest market by users.

“As home to the two most-followed sports clubs on Facebook and some of the world’s most iconic footballers, La Liga has a huge global presence on our platform,” Peter Hutton, Facebook’s head of global live sports programming, told Reuters.

Through the Facebook Watch partnership, La Liga has been able to reach a new and younger audience in a country of 1.3 billion people with 82 percent of viewers so far under the age of 35.

“El Clasico is the biggest rivalry not only in La Liga, but the world, with an aggressive competitiveness between the clubs and of course adding to that luminous history,” Jose Antonio Cachaza, managing director, La Liga India said.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism: Imran

Imran Khan. REUTERS File Photo

New Delhi, February 28 (PTI) Pakistan is ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday, maintaining that dialogue is the ‘only way’ for peace and stability in the region.

Chairing a Cabinet meeting, Khan briefed the members about the latest developments in the Indo-Pak relations following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 and subsequent aerial engagement by the two countries’ fighter jets.

“Dialogue is the only way for peace and stability in the region,” Khan said.

“I had made an offer to India to investigate the Pulwama attack and hold dialogue on bilateral issues.

“Pakistan is ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism,” Geo Newsquoted Khan as telling Cabinet members.

India on Thursday told Pakistan that it has to take concrete steps against the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group before they could engage in talks.

A 12-point agenda, including the current security situation, was discussed during the meeting and the ministers of foreign affairs and defence briefed the Cabinet on the Indian ‘aggression’, sources said.

The report quoted Khan as saying that he ‘tried to call Modi last night’ (Wednesday).

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Khan is ready to talk to his Indian counterpart Modi over the telephone to offer him peace.

Qureshi told Geo News that if India gives priority to peace, Pakistan is ready for peace.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to Narendra Modi on the telephone and ready to extend an invitation of peace. Is Modi ready?” he asked.

“We are ready for every eventuality. If they give priority to peace, we are ready for peace. If they prioritise dialogue, we are ready for dialogue,” the foreign minister said.

Qureshi also confirmed the receipt of India’s dossier on the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which 41 Central Reserve Police Force soldiers were killed in an attack claimed by Pakistan-based terror group JeM.

“Let’s talk together on the basis of the dossier. I am ready to talk. You want to talk about terrorism, I am ready. You want to talk about peace, I am ready. You want to make it a common challenge, I am ready,” he said.

India carried out air strikes against the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot.

In the operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for suicide attacks were eliminated. The facility at Balakot was headed by Yousuf Azhar, the brother-in-law of the JeM chief.

Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested a pilot. Later, Prime Minister Khan said that Pakistan will release the pilot as a goodwill gesture.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Weather based integrated agro advisory for the month of March

Managing a ‘complex divorce’

Witoubou Newmai

What have India and Pakistan become following what Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre famously christened, their most “complex divorce in history”? The aftermath of the complexities continue to haunt both nations at regular intervals.

The latest is the Pulwama incident. Thousands of editorials and articles have been written about the situation and still counting at great pace; and with every addition of opinion or comment appears a cliché, due to near saturation of idea proliferation. Consequently, there is a general monotony as one reads the newspaper articles and editorials on the issue. What is left to be said at this point of time, is a mystery.

For television viewers, on both sides, it is both appalling as well as entertaining, as most jingoistic anchors compete to drive up the hyperbole. Here in India, an anchor of a TV channel has gone to the extent of proclaiming that “we” no longer have room to listen to peace advocates as “having gone this far, India should not pull back.” To these “illustrious nationalists” as someone had remarked, dialogue or peace initiative is just a “dilution.”

At this juncture, it is prudent to check if anyone is orchestrating or exploiting the charged situation to bolster “case.” Or else, the prevailing situation can slide into some formlessness.

Going back to Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, their seminal book, Freedom at Midnight, presented a succinct glimpse of the peculiarity of the manner in which India and Pakistan parted.

“Never before had anything even remotely like it been attempted…nowhere were there any guidelines, any precedents, any revealing insights from the past to order what was going to be the biggest, the most complex divorce action in history, the break up of a family of 400 million human beings along with the assets and household property they had acquired in centuries of living together on the same piece of earth,” they noted.

Decades down the line after the “most complex divorce action in history,” hyperbole has become the tool for both the countries. After having had fought ‘four wars’ already, and frequent skirmishes, diplomatically as well as allegedly through other methods, another flare-up occurs as the brinkmanship continues.

Amid this sea of ranting and hurling jibes post Pulwama incident, there emerges a faint voice of reason, which we cannot afford to ignore.

The Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD) “demands both governments of India and Pakistan to show restraint and avoid any war like situation,” and take up “immediate measures from both sides to de-escalate the situation and de-militarize borders by withdrawing troops to the peace time level”. The PIPFPD “recognizes that failed policies of both India and Pakistan in addressing Kashmir issue is at the core of the problem”.

One should also take note of Kuldip Nayar’s viewpoint when it comes to India and Pakistan relation. In his book, Scoop!, Nayar advocated that Pakistan and India should “agree to create a ‘soft’ border along the ceasefire line, pending a permanent solution…”

The moot of the whole point is thus: making efforts to grow one’s resolve through the employment of hyperbole at times of one’s choosing may no longer considered an adroit move in this conscious world.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Status of Seed production in Nagaland: Scope and opportunities

On Farm Trial on System of Rice Intensification(SRI) under Wokha, District

After public grilling, ex-Trump lawyer Cohen to testify on Russia in private

Former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen talks to the news media after Cohen concluded his testimony at a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US on February 27. (REUTERS Photo)

WASHINGTON, February 28 (Reuters): President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen will talk behind closed doors on Thursday to a congressional panel investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election, capping an explosive week of testimony in which he leveled new allegations of wrongdoing at his former boss.

In his third and final Capitol Hill session this week, Cohen will testify, starting at 9:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT) and going all day, to the House Intelligence Committee. It has been probing Russian election meddling and any collusion with the Trump campaign.

It will follow dramatic public testimony by Cohen on Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee, in which the one-time “fixer” for Trump accused the president of breaking the law while in office and said for the first time that Trump knew in advance about a WikiLeaks dump of stolen emails that hurt his 2016 election rival Hillary Clinton.

As he did before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Cohen is expected to apologize for lying to Congress in 2017. That was when he submitted a statement saying efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow had ceased by January 2016. In fact, the talks stretched to June 2016. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for that lie and other crimes.

Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a tweet on Wednesday that he planned to dig into the Trump Moscow project, the revelations about Wikileaks and any White House role in Cohen’s prior false statements.

“Today Cohen provided the American public with a first-hand account of serious misconduct by Trump & those around him,” Schiff said. “Tomorrow we’ll examine in depth many of those topics.”

At Wednesday’s hearing Cohen said Trump never explicitly told him to lie to Congress about the Moscow skyscraper negotiations. But Cohen said he believed he was following implicit directions to minimize their efforts on the tower.

Cohen told the House Oversight Committee he had no direct evidence that Trump or his campaign colluded with Moscow during the election campaign, but that he had suspicions that something untoward had occurred.

Possible collusion is a key theme of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, which has dogged the president during his first two years in office. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegation, as has the Kremlin.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

As Assad holds on in Syria, EU’s ‘strategic patience’ tested

People walk in front of a bilboard with a picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Homs, Syria on September 18, 2018. (REUTERS File Photo)

BRUSSELS, February 28 (Reuters): After eight years of civil war from which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is emerging victorious, the European Union is divided over how to deal with a man accused of using chemical weapons on his own people.

Next month the bloc hosts an international conference in Brussels to raise billions in aid for displaced Syrians, a moment of reckoning for Europe’s efforts to isolate Assad as the United States pulls back its troops, diplomats say.

The EU, the world’s biggest aid donor, has repeatedly made its reconstruction support conditional on a U.N.-led peace process to end a war that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced about half of Syria’s pre-war 22 million population.

But with the U.N. process stuck, Russia’s 2015 intervention proving decisive for Assad, and Arab neighbours considering re-establishing diplomatic ties, the EU’s divisions risk eroding what little power it has.

“The pressure on us to rebuild Syria is increasing, particularly from the Russians,” said one senior EU diplomat.

Italy, Austria and Hungary, all fierce critics of European immigration policy and closer to Moscow, favour talking to Syrian authorities to allow millions of refugees to go home.

Italy’s foreign minister, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, said in November that Assad, whom the West accuses of using banned chemical weapons, “could still be an interlocutor” and has mused about re-opening Italy’s embassy in Damascus.

Assad is pushing EU states do that by suspending visas used by diplomats in Beirut to enter Syria, EU officials say.

“POLITICAL PROBLEM”

Poland’s nationalist ruling party says it is ready to finance homes and schools to help Syrians return, although it will not break with the EU’s official position not to rebuild Syria until a political transition is underway.

“We show solidarity (with the EU), however this is a very important political problem,” Poland’s Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told Reuters.

France, Germany and Britain say there can be no money for Syria while Assad – who is under EU sanctions – remains in power and no suggestion of renewing diplomatic contact.

They have called on governments to consider even tighter rules on aid, echoing humanitarian agencies who say Assad tries to channel aid to loyalists.

“Big countries speak of strategic patience,” a second senior diplomat said.

Others such as Sweden, Spain and Ireland say it makes no sense to talk about sending Syrians back to homes destroyed by war.

“The geopolitical situation is not right for us to take out our cheque books. It’s a matter of leverage and we can’t just give away the only leverage we have,” another EU envoy said.

A U.N. agency estimates the war has cost Syria $388 billion in economic damage.

MORE VOCAL ON ACCESS

EU leaders glossed over Syria at their summit with Arab leaders in Egypt in February, relieved the meeting came before any possible decision to re-admit Assad to the Arab League.

In an attempt to find a middle way, rights campaigners say EU governments should be more vocal in pushing Assad and his Russian backers to allow aid to reach all Syrians.

The European Commission has put aside 1.1 billion euros ($1.25 billion) in assistance to civilians in Syria, but not all of that has been spent because of access problems. The Brussels conference is likely to raise more such funds.

It must benefit all civilians, rights groups say.

“If countries want to engage in reconstruction … it should be done in a non-discriminatory manner, based on need, that they reach the most vulnerable, it shouldn’t benefit the government that is responsible for war crimes,” said Diana Semaan, a Beirut-based Amnesty International researcher who documents Syrian rights violations.

Other possible conditions tied to aid include access to political prisoners, and an end to forced conscription, arbitrary arrests and the seizure of property, although Semaan said these were unrealistic given Assad’s record.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express

Senegal president wins re-election with 58 percent of vote

Senegal’s President and a candidate for the presidential elections Macky Sall, speaks after casting his vote at a polling station in Fatick, Senegal on February 24, 2019. (REUTERS Photo)

DAKAR, February 28 (Reuters): Senegal President Macky Sall won re-election with 58 percent of votes cast in last Sunday’s poll, according to provisional results announced by the official counting body on Thursday.

The majority win hands Sall a second term without a run-off vote. Opposition candidate Idrissa Seck came second with 21 percent of votes, while Ousmane Sonko placed third with 16 percent.

Sall, whom rights groups have criticized for squeezing out rivals, was tipped to win after a modernising first term that propelled Senegal’s economic growth to more than six percent – one of the highest in Africa.

Since Sunday’s vote, opposition candidates have rejected reports of an out-right victory for Sall, saying their tallies point to a second round of voting.

Seck and Sonko have not yet commented on the National Vote Counting Commission’s results, which are preliminary until validated by the constitutional council. The candidates have 72 hours to register an appeal.

Senegal has long been viewed as West Africa’s most stable democracy, with peaceful transitions of power since it gained independence from France in 1960.

More than 66 percent of 6.7 million registered voters took part in the election.

from The Morung Express
via The Morung Express