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Irish Examiner
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
Paula Hynes: A truly great Yorkshire show
As the saying goes, there is no rest for the wicked, and life seems to be busier than ever. We mowed two fields for bales this week — one actually yielded better than it did for first cut, and the second was a surplus paddock, although I'm not sure how surplus it actually was, as with the blistering sunshine last week grass growth has dramatically slowed and our paddocks are burning up. We saw afternoon temperatures reach 30C last week in the farm yard, but thankfully, the weather will be more showery this week. We are sticking with the pink bale wrap theme for #WrapItPink, so the yard is packed with pink silage bales now. While grass growth is slow, the rate at which our maize crop is growing this year is superb. The general rule of thumb is that maize needs to be knee high by the fourth of July, tassels should generally appear in August, and then it is a ripening process for the cobs, or what some might call sweet corn, and harvesting normally takes place from October onwards. Cob fill is highly dependent on temperature, and ultimately, the feeding quality is determined by cob fill. Our maize was actually 7ft tall by late June, and cobs were developing by July 4. Cobs should develop really well with the weather we are having, and the crop should be easily ready for harvesting in September. An American visitor asked recently how we were able to grow such fantastic maize, and I informed him the technical side of producing such a good crop was planting the seed, and after that, it was pure luck, heat, rain, more heat and sunshine. With Becky away last weekend, we attended Dunmanway show with Georgie and three young heifer, she won the January heifer class with an Ambrose-sired Adina heifer who is a daughter of the Unix heifer she won so much with in 2023, she also won the Jersey calf class with Kaira and got reserve champion jersey. She placed second in the All Ireland EBI calf class, which was won by the Shannon family and there is always a bit of friendly rivalry there, in the last six years it has either been us or the Shannons who have won the class and the rivalry remain friendly, the Shannons gave our girls great encouragement when we began showing and often gave the girls a loan of a heifer to show. Steven and Sarah are on the Cork YMA committee with Georgie and Becky. Stephen is the current chairperson and is always very encouraging to new members of the club. It is always nice to return a favour and it is great to see him taking our Bullseye Alanna heifer for the showmanship at YMA finals this year. I have been lucky enough to attend some great shows in the UK with Georgie, UK Dairy Day, New Forrest, UK Dairy Expo, the All Britains, the Royal Highland, so it was bags packed on Monday evening as we headed to the Great Yorkshire Show, where Georgie was showing her Jersey heifer named Ravina. The show was first held in 1838 and moved around Yorkshire until a permanent showground was secured in 1950 near Harrogate. The show has become the largest in England, and is only surpassed in Britain by the Royal Welsh and the Royal Highland. Queen Elizabeth II even attended the show in 2008 to help celebrate its 150 th birthday. This year, 150,000 visitors were due to attend — including us. We arrived at the show at 2pm, and after a quick look around, it was time to get Ravina clipped off and show ready, prepare the other two heifers Georgie was showing for Katherine Jenkinson, and then a little chill time before pitching our tent, which Katherine kindly brought to the show for us. Tent pitching gave me flashbacks of building my own mud hut in Kenya; similar temperatures but mud hut construction was somewhat easier. Tent building would not be our strongest attribute, and we were far from auditioning for the Girl Guides, but thankfully winds were low and we didn't blow away that night. A 5am start to get the heifers washed and dried so Georgie could topline them and be ready for the show ring at 9.30am. Ravina placed second, adding another prestigious prize card and rosette to Georgie's collection. Later that day, she was approached by other breeders to compete in the interbreed group of five with Ravina the following day, and she was delighted to be part of the group representing the Jersey breed. Another 5am start with showing starting again at 9.30am, so it was a busy start washing and getting the straw beds cleaned before getting Ravina prepared for the ring, while also getting another heifer ready for the showmanship. Alison and Hannah Shepard of Darrison Holsteins kindly offered Georgie the use of one of their heifers for the class. Boots shined, hair neat and tidy, Georgie in her HYB show whites headed into the ring for the Junior Showmanship which was being judged by Ben Yates. She knew she would have to deliver showmanship perfection to have a chance at winning the class, and she kept ice cool and delivered to be pulled in first place and remain there to win the class. Once out of the ring, it was a quick change into her jersey show uniform, and with Ravina waiting, she jumped on the halter for the interbreed group of fives, where the group finished in third place. Pete was home alone farming as Becky was also attending the IHFA open day at Greenans in Monaghan, where she was gaining more experience at stock judging. With all these adventures, the girls are constantly gaining new experience. Georgie has been lucky enough to attend some of the very best shows in the UK, learnt to constantly show different heifers, compete under pressure and make valuable memories. A neighbour of mine recently said to me to make the most of life. Sometimes, I wish we weren't so busy, but our adventures help us to make memories that will last a lifetime. We departed Yorkshire knowing indeed they are home to one of the greatest agricultural shows. Read More Paula Hynes: A presidential visit to Charleville Show
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mizoram border on high alert as fighting in Myanmar intensifies
The Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram's entire Eastern frontier is on high alert as fighting between rebel groups across the border has intensified, people aware of the matter said. Over the last three years, after the 2021 military coup, over 30,000 Myanmar nationals have entered Mizoram. (Representational image) This has led to at least 5,900 refugees fleeing to India with reports of some of them dying during the trek and some getting injured, who are being treated at hospitals in Mizoram. The Chin National Army and Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) – two factions of the rebel forces that are fighting the Myanmar military junta- are engaged in an intense fight for control of areas in Myanmar just across the border. Officials in Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police said that during one such gunfight, bullets and shelling spilled across to the Indian side in the border town of Zokhawthar in Champhai district. The residents of several villages in other towns across Eastern Mizoram have seen gunfight and grenade attacks happen right in front of them across the porous border. The most intense gunfight, lasting several hours, was reported on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. 'On Saturday, the fighting had started in the Myanmar areas of Rikhawdar, Satawm, and Khawmawi. Over the last two days, the fighting has spread to other parts of Myanmar such as Leilet and Tedim. These too are areas that share a border with Mizoram. There were hours of intense gunfight (small firearms), mortar fire, and grenade attacks. Some of the people injured in the gunfight were also brought to Mizoram state government's district hospital in Champhai,' said one officer, who asked not to be named. At least one refugee, officials said, also died on Sunday while trying to cross the Tiao river, which serves as the border between the two countries. 'We have reports of one Mizoram national also who died in the gunfight earlier this week and three other no-verified cases of drowning,' an official from the home department said. HT tried to contact Champhai's district magistrate and superintendent of police for a response but the two officials were not available for any comments. Over the last three years, after the 2021 military coup, over 30,000 Myanmar nationals have entered Mizoram. But most government agencies working on the ground say that the actual figure could be two or three times the official data Confirming the fresh influx of nearly 6,000 refugees in the last one week, Malsawmliana, general secretary of the Central Young Mizo Association, said, 'Central YMA has extended aid to the refugees displaced by the ongoing misunderstanding and disunity among the Zo ethnic groups in Chin state of Myanmar. ₹3 lakh has been sanctioned to YMA Zokhawthar branch to procure food, while another ₹2 lakh has been sent to Vaphai branch.' YMA is one of Mizoram's most influential civil society organisations, which has been taking care of the refugees since the military coup in Myanmar. Security agencies believe the large influx of refugees could be a potential internal security problem in the coming years. Though there are checkpoint and integrated check posts at different points along the Indo-Myanmar border, through which nationals of both India and Myanmar (living within 10km in border areas) can enter and stay temporarily after submitting specific documents, the refugees are entering through other points along the porous border - most common being the shallow parts of the Tiao river. The Centre has started work to build a border fence along the India-Myanmar border to stop the infiltration. But this is a project, which could take years.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
YMA provides aid to Myanmar refugees
1 2 Aizawl: The central committee of Young Mizo Association (YMA) on Thursday gave Rs 5 lakh humanitarian assistance to nearly 5,000 refugees from Myanmar's Chin state who have taken shelter in four villages of Champhai district following clashes between Chin armed groups. A press note issued by the central YMA said food and other essential items worth Rs 3 lakh were given to the Zokhawthar village unit of YMA, while food and essential goods worth Rs 2 lakh were given to the Vaphai unit of YMA. The press note mentioned that Rs 1 lakh was handed over to the sub-headquarters Champhai YMA as a contingency fund. Emergency Relief & Disaster Services, Salvation Army, India Eastern Territory (IET) also distributed 10 quintals of rice, 8 quintals of lentils, 15 cases of edible oil, and 1.5 quintals of salt to the refugees in Zokhawthar village on Thursday. The same amount of essential items was distributed to refugees taking shelter in Vaphai village and Saikhumphai hamlet on the same day. The Salvation Army volunteers also distributed soap, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, and toothpaste to individual refugees in the three villages. At least 3,852 refugees from Myanmar have taken shelter in Zokhawthar Indo-Myanmar border trade centre in Champhai district, and around 850 are taking refuge in Saikhumphai hamlet, Vaphai, and Farkawn villages of Champhai south district.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Speak Mizo only, YMA serves diktat to Myanmar refugees, residents
Aizawl, In a surprising move, a branch of Young Mizo Association , Mizoram's largest and influential civil society organisation, on Wednesday served a diktat to residents and around 7,000 refugees in an area in Champhai district to speak only in Mizo language, the lungua franca of the state. Speak Mizo only, YMA serves diktat to Myanmar refugees, residents Though thousands of people have entered Mizoram from neighbouring Myanmar, especially its Chin state, since 2021, this is the first time such a diktat was heard for them from any branch of the YMA. Those who took refuge in Mizoram from Myanmar have ethnic links with the Mizos who have several tribes, and each of them has a dialect. The Zokhawthar branch of YMA instructed local residents and Myanmar refugees through a public announcement system that they should speak only the Mizo language in public places as well as in the village by shunning their ethnic or clan dialects. Zokhawthar in east Mizoram's Champhai district is situated on the India-Myanmar border and is separated by the Tiau river from Khawmawi village in Myanmar's Chin state. The village has seen an influx of a large number of refugees from Myanmar in the past few days following armed conflict between Chin armed groups. Speaking to PTI, Zokhawthar branch YMA vice-president Vanlalngurchhuana said that the announcement aimed at "unifying and integrating the Mizo tribes irrespective of their geographical origin". He claimed that misunderstandings often crept up between the Mizo tribes when each clan or sub-clan speak their own dialect. This also makes them alienated from the Mizo mainstream, which disturbs the process of Mizo integration, Vanlalngurchhuana asserted. "We appeal to the refugees and local residents to strictly stick to speaking the Mizo lingua franca and stop speaking their own dialects. It does not mean trampling their rights. Our main motive is Mizo integration so that the refugees and local residents co-exist peacefully," Vanlalngurchhuana told PTI. An advocate, who refused to be named, said the diktat contravenes Articles 14 and 29 of the Indian Constitution. Article 14 guarantees the right to equality before the law, while Article 29 protects the interest of minorities and guarantees the right of any group with a unique language, script or culture to protect and preserve it. Officials said that about 4,000 refugees from Myanmar's Chin state fled to Mizoram and took shelter in Zokhawthar in the past six days. But, Zokhawthar already had more than 3,000 refugees who fled from the neighbouring country after a military coup in 2021, they said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Print
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Speak Mizo only, YMA serves diktat to Myanmar refugees, residents
Those who took refuge in Mizoram from Myanmar have ethnic links with the Mizos who have several tribes, and each of them has a dialect. Though thousands of people have entered Mizoram from neighbouring Myanmar, especially its Chin state, since 2021, this is the first time such a diktat was heard for them from any branch of the YMA. Aizawl, Jul 9 (PTI) In a surprising move, a branch of Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizoram's largest and influential civil society organisation, on Wednesday served a diktat to residents and around 7,000 refugees in an area in Champhai district to speak only in Mizo language, the lungua franca of the state. The Zokhawthar branch of YMA instructed local residents and Myanmar refugees through a public announcement system that they should speak only the Mizo language in public places as well as in the village by shunning their ethnic or clan dialects. Zokhawthar in east Mizoram's Champhai district is situated on the India-Myanmar border and is separated by the Tiau river from Khawmawi village in Myanmar's Chin state. The village has seen an influx of a large number of refugees from Myanmar in the past few days following armed conflict between Chin armed groups. Speaking to PTI, Zokhawthar branch YMA vice-president Vanlalngurchhuana said that the announcement aimed at 'unifying and integrating the Mizo tribes irrespective of their geographical origin'. He claimed that misunderstandings often crept up between the Mizo tribes when each clan or sub-clan speak their own dialect. This also makes them alienated from the Mizo mainstream, which disturbs the process of Mizo integration, Vanlalngurchhuana asserted. 'We appeal to the refugees and local residents to strictly stick to speaking the Mizo lingua franca and stop speaking their own dialects. It does not mean trampling their rights. Our main motive is Mizo integration so that the refugees and local residents co-exist peacefully,' Vanlalngurchhuana told PTI. An advocate, who refused to be named, said the diktat contravenes Articles 14 and 29 of the Indian Constitution. Article 14 guarantees the right to equality before the law, while Article 29 protects the interest of minorities and guarantees the right of any group with a unique language, script or culture to protect and preserve it. Officials said that about 4,000 refugees from Myanmar's Chin state fled to Mizoram and took shelter in Zokhawthar in the past six days. But, Zokhawthar already had more than 3,000 refugees who fled from the neighbouring country after a military coup in 2021, they said. PTI COR NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
