Indian American Teen Eesha Khare Invents Wondrous 20-sec Charger,

Eesha Khare (AP)

An 18-year-old Indian-American girl has invented a super-capacitor device that could potentially charge your cellphone in less than 20 seconds.

Eesha Khare, from Saratoga, California, was awarded the Young Scientist Award by the Intel Foundation after developing the tiny device that fits inside mobile phone batteries, that could allow them to charge within 20-30 seconds.

The so-called super-capacitor, a gizmo that can pack a lot of energy into a tiny space, charges quickly and holds its charge for a long time, NBC News reported.

Khare has been awarded USD 50,000 for developing the tiny device. She has also attracted the attention of tech giant Google for her potentially revolutionary invention.

According to Khare, her device can last for 10,000 charge-recharge cycles, compared with 1,000 cycles for conventional rechargeable batteries.

"My cellphone battery always dies," she said when asked about what inspired her to work on the energy-storage technology.

Super-capacitors allowed her to focus on her interest in nanochemistry "really working at the nanoscale to make significant advances in many different fields."

The gadget has so far only been tested on an LED light, but the good news is that it has a good chance of working successfully in other devices, like mobile phones, the report said.

Khare sees it fitting inside cellphones and the other portable electronic devices proliferating in today's world.

"It is also flexible, so it can be used in rollup displays and clothing and fabric. It has a lot of different applications and advantages over batteries in that sense," Khare added.

Manipur Activist 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila's 1000 Word Poem

New Delhi, May 21 : A 1000-word “very long” poem, penned by Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast for the past 12 years to protest against what she calls repressive laws allowing widespread human rights abuses, forms part of a new book on the activist from Manipur.

Titled “Birth” the poem concludes “Iron Irom Two Journeys

• Where the Abnormal is Normal,” a book written by author and documentary filmmaker Minnie Vaid and published by Rajpal and Sons.

The book is based on the life of Irom Sharmila, on factors that triggered the now 40-year-old-activist to began a total hunger strike, without food or water since November 4, 2004 against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

“She was 28-years-old at that time and holds the unenviable record of being the longest ‘hunger striker’ anywhere in the world till date,” writes Miinie Vaid from Manipur.

The book also contains interviews of her close family members and those who have helped her over the past 12 years.

Sharmila was a “sensitive youngster deeply interested in society and human beings,” says a foreword written by Deepti Mehrotra who has authored two books on the Manipuri activist.

“I will write a poem, a very long poem. it will be a poem of one thousand lines. I will write about society. I will write about my experiences since my childhood. I will write about what I have seen,” Sharmila told Deepti while she was in Delhi and in solitary confinement after being arrested for a fast unto death in the year 2006.

Six weeks after returning from Delhi, Sharmila was ready with the poem “Birth”written in “neat lettering in the Bengali script that she had learnt in school.”

80% Voting in NC Hills Autonomous Council Polls

Haflong (Assam), May 21 : Over 80 per cent votes were cast in the 11th N C Hills Autonomous Council election in Assam's Dima Hasao district which was held peacefully amidst tight security.

The election will decide the fate of 138 candidates for the 28 Member of Autonomous Council seats.

Polling was held in 200 polling stations across the district which has a total electorate of 1,21,297 voters. Election office sources said the polling was peaceful with no untoward incident reported from any part.

Former insurgent leaders of the Dima Hasao Daogah- Nunisa (DHD-N) and DHD(Jewel), besides Congress, BJP, Indigenous People Party, Dima Hasao Dol and Independents are in the fray.

Counting of votes will be held on May 24, the sources added.

Whole Village To Be Moved From Elephant Corridor in India

The region is home to some 1800 elephants

Villagers voluntarily relocate from elephant corridor
May 2013. Marking a significant milestone in efforts to secure a crucial elephant corridor in northeast India, residents of an entire village have literally put down in stone their willingness to relocate voluntarily outside the corridor to provide a clear passage for elephants.

Modern traditional houses
The foundation stone for a model ethnic village was laid down, marking the site of relocation of the Ram Terang villagers from the Kalapahar Doigurung Elephant Corridor. The village will have traditional style houses reflecting the culture of the area, but it will also be equipped with modern facilities and necessities such as electricity, health care and education.

Unveiling the foundation stone in the relocated area
Laying the foundation stone, Rechno Haising Ronghang, the 40th King of Karbi Anglong said, "This is a new step that will benefit wildlife as well as people. There should be no barrier when it comes to wildlife conservation. We need to think of it as something that is necessary for human survival too." He congratulated the team for the initiative that will benefit the people of the corridor areas.

People of the village celebrating their impending move
The Kalapahar-Doigurung Elephant Corridor connects Kalapahar with Doigurung-Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaziranga National Park. For 30 years the village of Ram Terang, named after the head of the village, has been situated in the middle of the corridor. As a result, human-elephant conflicts have been common and with regular loss of property and life for both the elephants and the humans.

1800 elephants
"There are about 1800 elephants in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape making it the habitat of about 8% of India's elephants. Securing this corridor is not just about the right of passage for these elephants but also to relieve local people of losses caused due to conflicts", said Dr Bhaskar Choudhury, Regional Head (Assam).

The process of course, reaching up to this milestone was not an easy one. It began about three years ago.

"The villagers were very hesitant at first when we approached them with the idea of relocation, and naturally so, as it involved their complete overhaul of their livelihoods. However, eventually they understood the need and benefits of the efforts for animals as well as themselves. Many individuals and agencies played a very crucial role in achieving this, and we are extremely grateful to all of them," said Dilip Deori, Assistant Manager, WTI, while expressing his appreciation for the support and cooperation being shown by the local community and organisations.

The project was supported by Elephant Family, IUCN - Netherlands and Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund, and implemented by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), to assist the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Assam Forest Department in wildlife conservation in the region.

China Seeks Access To Bangla, Myanmar via India's Northeast

New Delhi, May 21 : China has sought better access to Bangladesh and Myanmar markets through infrastructure development in India's North East linking these countries with China and other countries in the South East Asian region, even as the two countries agreed to maintain peace on the border.

The two sides took stock of the recent incident of Chinese incursion in Ladakh in the western sector and agreed to engage special representatives tasked with evolving further measures that may be needed to maintain peace and tranquility along the border.

The two sides expect an early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement, prime minister Manmohan Singh said in a media statement after talks with visiting Chinese premier Li Keqiang.

Chinese premier on his part termed India and China as "strategic partners and good friends" that could speak to each other with candour.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart after they held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, the PM said, ''An honour for me to welcome Premier Li to India, been an immense pleasure to get to know him personally.''

"Starting yesterday evening Premier Li and I have had wide ranging discussions. I am delighted that there are so many fields of convergence between India and China,'' the PM said.

India and China also signed eight agreements at the end of official delegation level talks between Li Keqiang and Manmohan Singh.

The agreement signed between the ministries of external affairs and commerce could see an increase in export of buffalo meat and fishery products to China.

The agreement signed by the two countries aims to help meet the regulatory requirements for such exports with respect to safety, hygiene and quarantine.

In a bid to enhance people-to-people contact, India and China also signed an agreement to facilitate co-operation and linkages between cities and states/provinces.

The two sides also agreed to conduct the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra every year between May and September with the Chinese side saying that they would make further improvements to the existing facilities for pilgrims.

Besides, in a move that is likely to facilitate smooth communications, China has agreed to assist India in renting wireless sets and local SIM cards for those going on the pilgrimage.

Singh said that he sincerely appreciated the decision of Li to make India his first foreign trip since taking over.

He said that the rise of India and China is good for the world and the world has enough space for both.

The prime minister also invited Chinese investments in Indian infrastructure even as he sought greater market access for Indian goods in China.

The Chinese premier said that five areas covered in the joint statement include liberalisation of trade and investment and increasing people-to-people cooperation.

YMA Crackdown On Bootleggers

By Linda Chhakchhuak
 
Aizawl, May 20 : Dozens of Young Mizo Association (YMA) members yesterday swooped down on two city localities to survey the impact of the Central YMA (CYMA) deadline against bootleggers. Liquor, both moonshine and Indian (IMFL) and Burmese made liquor are easily available across the dry State.

Last month, the CYMA had set May 15 as the deadline for illegal brewers of Rangvamual and Phunchhawng to leave.

So far, 128 families engaged in bootlegging have left the villages due to the crackdown. Some families engaged in the illegal trade were still in the locality but were asked to leave peacefully.

According to a church study, there are 884 families in these localities out of which 241 are bootleggers. CYMA reckoned that most will get settled somewhere and hopefully engage in some other work.

The localities are the main watering hole for the thirsty drinkers of the city. The State is under the Mizoram Liquor (Total) Prohibition Act (MLTP) 1997. But the Act faces criticism on the ground that it is that the rich and powerful quietly bring in their drinks and guzzle it.

“The deadline for them to leave was May 15. We are here to check if any of these alcohol sellers are still around and we want all illicit liquor sellers to leave this place,” the general secretary of the CYMA, Vanlalruata told The Assam Tribune.

Ridding the State of the menace of alcohol and drugs to safeguard the youth is on the agenda of the CYMA.

Situated as it was on the main highway between the only airport of the State and the city, the localities had become a major eye-sore and a den of vice and all sorts of alcohol-related crimes. These two localities supply the bulk of illicit alcohol to the city and wider neighbourhoods. Throughout the day, drinkers and their vehicles can be seen lined up along the highway, including vehicles with official markings which offer much mirth to passers-by.

Despite numerous raids by the Excise cops over the years, they continued with the roaring business due to the loose implementation of the law which failed to keep the bootlegging king-pins locked up in jail while the lawkeepers continued harassing ordinary drinkers. This is the first time that such a major step has been taken to clear the area by anybody.

The State’s law enforcement agencies, churches and other organisations have tried to close down these illegal liquor joints several times without much success. Several churches of the city have been engaging with the people of the localities to support them in shifting to other means of earning a livelihood but as they said bootlegging is “easy money for people to give it up.”

Many experts such as medical doctors, social activists and church based workers have certified the lethal chemical content of the hooch. The Chief Minister has been known to comment that ‘earlier alcoholics had swollen faces and lived for a long time, but this illicit alcohol dried up the buttocks and the drinkers died so young.’

Many say that unless the State lifts the MLTP Act and allows healthier booze on legal sale, non-teetotalers will risk anything for a drink including drinking poison. According to local doctors alcoholism related deaths are increasing.

The CYMA has come in for criticism for allegedly taking away the livelihood of poor people and Burmese migrants, but the YMA members assert “there are many other ways of earning a living.”

David Zohmangaiha Becomes First Mizo To Scale Everest

Aizawl, May 20 : David Zohmangaiha (38) s/o K Zokhuma (L) has become the first Mizo to scale the highest mountain in the world, the Mount Everest. He, along with team members, set foot on the mountain peak at 5:30 am on Saturday. Vanlalliana, Maubawk, Head Adventure of Sports & Youth Services department of Mizoram was also in the expedition team as Base Camp Manager. Meanwhile, three persons of the team could not reach the peak due to physical problems.

Family of David exclaimed, "We are very happy and we are also very proud of him. In the beginning we were almost disheartened as a huge amount to the tune of lakhs of rupees was required for the expedition as it was a bit difficult to get sponsored because no Mizo has yet scale the Mt. Everest before. So, while we were almost losing heart, David had not only achieved his goal but won our hearts."

The expedition team, which set out to scale the Mt. Everest on April 5, 2013, reached Camp IV, the last stage before reaching the peak which is of 7920 metres ( 26,000 feet) high on the night of May 16 around 10 pm. and from there they proceeded upward to reach the peak measuring 8848 metres (feet 29,029) the following day. Sources said they had to stop for some time when they reached 'South Col’ which is near Camp IV, as speedy wind of 60 kilometre per hour blew along and also because of the snowfall. Also, even after 3 of the team members reached the peak, the other members had to stop at 'South Col’ due to lack of oxygen and food. They started again on Friday night, and the other five climbers reached the peak in the morning yesterday.

The expedition conducted under the aegis of Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association was sponsored by North Eastern Council. Sources also informed that Vanlalliana’s contribution for the success of the expedition is immense, citing that after when the team doctor faced physical problem, he even helped in taking care of the members’ physical condition.

In order to scale the Mt. Everest it is required to secure Grade ‘A’ in each of Adventure Courses, Basic Mountaineering, Advance Mountaineering and Search & Rescue. After these, it is necessary to scale at least one minor peak and one major peak, of a height 20, 000 feet and 22, 000 feet respectively. Even after fulfilling all these requirements, it is further required to undergo Pre-Expedition for Major Peak.

In terms of logistics too, advance booking' and a total amount required by one person is Rs. 18 lakh. The team members from Mizoram were sponsored by Sports & Youth Services department besides DRDA Project Director, Rotluanga and D3 Business Enterprise, Ramhlun North.

 Starting on April 5, 2013 from New Base Camp, 8 of the expedition team members scaled the mountain peak during May 17-18. They will leave New Base Camp on May 22 and proceed to New Delhi.

 David Zohmangaiha, the first from Mizoram to set foot on the peak of the Mt. Everest, is the present leader of Silver Hawk Adventure Club, Republic Veng, Aizawl. His club Silver Hawk Adventure Club had during 2006-2010 ventured to all the Mizoram boundaries.

Record has it that one Mizo identified as Capt. Samuel Lalrintluanga (Indian Army), employed at Medical Office of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkasi, Uttaranchal State had earlier participated as Team Leader of Mt. Everest Joint Expedition under the aegis of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). The team had scaled the Mt. Everest on May 21, 2009. Although Samuel Lalrintluanga was the first Mizo to participate in the team of expedition to scale the Mt. Everest, but due to certain problems, he failed to book his name among the team members who had reached the mountain peak.

Also in 1995, Mizoram Alpine Club had climbed Mt. Abigabin (24, 639 feet) on behalf of Mizoram Adventure Association (MAA), but after being qualified for expedition to scale the Mt. Everest, they could not do so due to financial problem. But then, as they were already qualified earlier, they opened up the way for Adventure Club which is under MAA.

It may be recalled that Sir Edmund Hillary, Auckland, New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, Nepal were the first to scale Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

Mizoram MP For Judicial Probe Into House Collapse

Aizawl, May 20 : The lone Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram Lalhming Liana on Saturday reiterated the demand of his Mizo National Front (MNF) party that a judicial inquiry and not a magisterial inquiry should be constituted to probe the collapse of a government building on May 11 which killed 17 people in northern Aizawl.

Lalhming Liana said that the disaster was not a natural one, but a 'government-made' disaster as loss of valuable lives could be avoided if the state public works department (PWD) acted on time and dismantle the office building vacated almost for a year.

The PWD office building swept nine houses killing 17 people and the state government was responsible, he said, adding that a judicial inquiry should be ordered for an impartial and fact finding inquiry.

He also slammed the Congress government led by chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and also the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for allocating only Rs 2,278.59 crore as the state annual plan outlay.

"While the Planning Commission fixed Rs 2,500 crore for the state annual plan for the current fiscal, inclusion of Rs 221.41 crore under North Eastern Council (NEC) and Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), which were earlier allocated over and above the state plan outlay in the yesteryears indicated as the plan size was smaller than that of 2012-13 which was Rs 2,300 crore," he said.