13 May 2023

Nagaland Post

IPL: Mumbai Indians thrash GT by 27 runs SPORTS,

Dissidence against CM Biren

DIMAPUR, MAY 12

(NPN): In the aftermath of recent arson and gory violence that rocked Manipur, all ten MLAs belonging to the Kuki community have accused the Biren Singh government of failing miserably to protect the community and therefore, have resolved to pursue for grant of a “separate administration under the Constitution of India” and live peacefully as neighbours with Manipur.

Seven of the signatories are BJP MLAs, two are ministers and one an

State logs 2 fresh cases of Covid-19

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Nagaland on Friday recorded two fresh cases of Covid-19 pushing the total caseload to 36015. According to the health bulletin, the two fresh cases were reported from Kohima. The state currently has ten active cases (three in Dimapur and seven in Kohima); all under home isolation. The death toll remained unchanged at 782 (including 5 non-Covid deaths but with positivity). Meanwhile, India has recorded 1,580 fresh Covid infections, while the active cases have come down to 18,009 from 19,613, according to the Union Health Ministry data on Friday.

CBSE exams from Feb 15 next year

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (PTI): The board exams for Class 10 and 12 for next year will begin from February 15, 2024, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced on Friday.

The announcement was made by CBSE Exam

Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj. The Ministry of Education has decided to announce exam schedules much in advance to sync the academic calendar and help students prepare for entrance exams. CBSE has also decided to change the nomenclature of the ‘compartment’ exam to ‘supplementary’ exam based on recommendations made in the NEP-2020, a senior official said on Friday.

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SC directs Centre, states on sexual harassment panels

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

Imran Khan gets two-week protective bail in corruption case INTERNATIONAL, PAGE

CNCCI asks govt to clarify if 18 factions can impose multiple taxes

advisor to the BJP chief minister N Biren Singh. Of the remaining three MLAs two belong to the Kuki People’s Alliance and an Independent.

The legislators include-- Ngursanglur Sanate, Letpao Haokip, LM Khaute, Letzamang Haokip, Paolienlal Haokip, Nemcha Kipgen and Vungjagin Valte from the BJP. Two from the KPA include -Kimneo Haokip Hangshing and Chinlunthang Zou while Haokholet Kipgen is an independent member. In a joint statement,

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAY 12

(NPN): Working Committee (WC) of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) led by its convener N Kitovi Zhimomi on Friday met Nagaland governor La Ganesan at Police House, Chümoukedima.

Speaking with the media after the meeting, WC, NNPGs co-convenor Isak Sumi said since it was their first time meeting with Ganesan after he was appointed as governor, they apprised him of the

the MLAs maintained that the violence that began on May 3 in Manipur, was allegedly “perpetrated by majority Meiteis and tacitly supported by the Government of Manipur against the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi hill tribals” They said the tacit support lent to the mobs by the Biren Singh government has served to partition Manipur and consequently effected “a total separation from the State of Manipur.”

They said the Kuki community can no longer exist under Manipur “as the hatred against our tribal community reached such a height that MLAs, ministers, pastors, police and civil officers, laymen, women and even children were not spared; not to mention of the destruction of places of worship, homes and properties”.

(PTI): Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the state governments to undertake a time bound exercise to verify whether sexual harassment committees have been constituted in all ministries and the departments.

The top court said there are serious lapses in the enforcement of the 2013 Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act.

A bench of Justices

AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli said an improperly constituted sexual harassment panel would be an impediment in conducting an inquiry at the workplace, as envisaged under the statute and the rules.

The apex court said it will be equally counterproductive to have an ill prepared committee conduct a half-baked inquiry that can lead to serious consequences like imposition of major

and the doorway to Central government, Isak said the delegation wanted to send a message through his office.

He also pointed out that since the formal talks had already concluded on October 31, 2019, the solution was now being eagerly awaited.

ground realities and urged him to request the Central government the urgency to announce a solution and subsequent implementation of the agreement that had already been placed.

Since the governor was the constitutional head

“So now the ball is in the court of Government of India,” he stated. When asked about the role of the legislators/ government as facilitator, Isak said he did not wish to comment as “to what

Indigenous groups urge PM to take direct charge of ‘Indo-Naga’ talks

DIMAPUR, MAY 12

(NPN): Indigenous/adivasi leaders have resolved to urge the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to take “direct charge” of the “IndoNaga” peace negotiations. The resolution was adopted at a meeting organized by Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) in New Delhi, on May 12, 2023.

In a press release, the NPMHR said the meeting, which adopted two-point resolution, was attended by indigenous/adivasi leaders and organization from the state of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

According to NPM -

HR, the meeting expressed appreciation on the “durability of the Indo-Naga peace process”, which had lasted for over two and a half decades.

One of the resolutions read “…It is recognized that the Framework Agreement is not only the highest achievement of the peace negotiations but also the only workable solution in the present juncture, hence it ought to be respected to ensure honorable and lasting peace in the Naga areas.”

The leaders present at the meeting expressed belief that “lack of significant progress” since the signing of the Framework Agree -

penalties on a delinquent employee.

“The Union of India, all State Governments and Union Territories are directed to undertake a time bound exercise to verify as to whether all the concerned Ministries, Departments, Government organizations, authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, institutions, bodies, etc. have constituted ICCs/LCs/ICs, as the case may be and that the composition of the said Committees are strictly in terms of the provisions of the PoSH Act,” the bench said. The bench also directed that a copy of the judgment be transmitted to the chief secretaries who shall ensure strict compliance of these directions by all the concerned departments.

The top court directed the Centre and all states and UTs to file their affidavits within eight weeks for reporting compliances.

extend they were sincere or not, but it is for the people to judge.”

“Every election, political parties make commitment that talks would be resolved soon after the election if the party is voted to power. This has been going on for several decades,” Isak stated.

He reiterated that “talks had already concluded since 31st October, 2019. Now we are only waiting for the signal from government of India for the inking of the final agreement.”

Zunheboto ANM nurses threaten stir

ment could potentially destabilize the efforts at peace. The indigenous/adivasi leaders, therefore, urged the Prime Minister to take direct charge of the negotiations “to expedite its satisfactory resolution.” Describing the meeting as “historic”, the NPMHR said that important indigenous/adivasi leaders including Faggan Singh Kulaste (Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel, Government of India), Omkar Singh Markam (ExCabinet Minister and sitting MLA of Madhya Pradesh), Dr.Hiralal Alawa (MLA, Madhya Pradesh) attended the meeting.

Staff Reporter

DIM APUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Expressing strong resentment against the state government’s silence over taxations imposed by 18 factions, Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has asked the state government to clearly spell out whether taxations by “18 different factions” was legal or illegal?.

CNCCI chairman

Dr. Khekugha Muru said after deliberation on the problems faced by the business community, the CNCCI Special Executive Council at Tourist Lodge here decided to ask the government to come out clearly in the open and declare whether the taxations by the factions were legal or illegal. He warned that CNCCI would take its decision depending on the reply of

the state government. He regretted that due multiple factions imposed by 18 factions, the business community was facing severe difficulties and their businesses were being pushed on the verge of break down.

Dr. Muru also maintained that if the state government considered taxation by the factions as legal, then both the state and central government should cease taxing the business in the state. He also countered that if such taxations were illegal, then the state government should take action and stop such illegal taxations.

Dr Muru pointed out the rise of multiple factions in Nagaland over the years and presently there are 18 factions and all of who are collecting taxes under various forms. He said business community are asked to pay multiple taxes to each faction and ultimately end up paying around 35 to 40 forms of taxes to all the 18 factions.

Dr.Muru said that when business community was still facing losses incurred during the Covid lockdown, such multiple taxes were pushing businesses to the verge of closing down.

Kohima bypass road project underway: Gadkari

DIMAPUR, MAY 12

(NPN): Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Friday said that the project was underway to develop the Kohima bypass road, converting it into a two-lane road with paved shoulders. In a tweet, union minister said that the proposed development would stretch over a length of 10.5km and include a 0.5-kilometer tunnel, connecting NH-39, 150 (currently NH-2), and NH-61 (currently NH-29) as part of Package-2. He said that the primary objective of the project

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Expressing dismay over nonpayment of salary, the nurses under CSS ANM Zunheboto district have threatened to launch protest by abstaining from duty if the government failed to release salary within one week.

In a letter to principal director health & family welfare, the ANM Association Zunheboto stated that they have not received salary from January 2023 till date. The association stated that all districts under CSS ANM have received their salary for January and February 2023. ANM association Zunheboto unit has, therefore, appealed to release the department to release the pending salary.

Candle light vigil and prayer for peace in Manipur

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Hundreds of people, including students joined the candle light vigil that was held at Super Market, Dimapur on Friday and prayed for peace in Manipur. The candlelight vigil was organized by Dimapur Baptist Pastors’

Fellowship (DBPF) on the theme “Together in Unity”. Addressing the gathering, senior pastor, Sumi Baptist Church Dimapur, Rev. Vitoshe Swu, said that the world was not only for one religion or tribe, but belonged to all communities and religion, bonded by love. Lamenting the ongo -

ing situation in Manipur, he appealed for peace and also requested all to pray for peace. He said that “Satan hated love” and creates issues and burdens in societies time and again so as to create chaos and hatred amongst the peace-loving citizens. Maintaining everything prophesized in the Bible was

taking place, Vitoshe, therefore, urged all to take it as a duty to pray for Manipur. He also appealed to the gathering to pray that such situation did not happen in Nagaland.

Earlier, the programme began with invocation by pastor, Imnatoshi and special number by Alobo Naga and students of Musika.

Works in progress at the proposed tunnel site. (Twitter)

was to enhance connectivity with other states in the northeast region, providing fast, sustainable, and costeffective mobility options to all commuters.

Gadkari said that under

the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “this project underscores the commitment to delivering worldclass highway infrastructure to the northeast and accelerating its economic growth.”

CNCCI office bearers at the press conference. (NP)

Arms missing in 2 Kuki militant camps

Correspondent

IMPHAL, MAY 12: Shortfall in arms and ammunition from at least two designated camps of Kuki militants were detected, said security advisor to Manipur government Kuldiep Singh said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the chief minister’s secretariat, the security advisor said that search and inspection at the 14 designated camps of different Kuki militant outfits under tripartite suspension of operation (SoO) was in progress.

As many as 19 Kuki based militant groups under two umbrella organisations – Kuki National Organisation and United People’s Front (UPF) – are under the tripartite suspension of operation (SoO) truce with the Centre and state government.

“The inspection in designated camps is in progress and fewer arms and ammunition are found in two designated camps. Details are being examined,” the security advisor said.

Assam

IMPHAL, MAY 12 (PTI):

A soldier from the Assam Rifles was injured while diffusing an improvised bomb in Saitan village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district Friday morning, about 60 km south of Imphal, officials said.

A defence spokesperson said that the crude bomb was locally fabricated and the soldier who was trying to diffuse it did not suffer major injuries.

A day before, a policeman was killed and four others injured when suspected militants opened fire at them near Tera Khongfangbi also in Bishnupur district.

Since then police and army personnel had launched a combing operation to flush out the militants

He claimed that the law and order in the state was slowly improving and the curfew was relaxed for seven hours in almost all the districts under prohibitory orders.

Except Thursday’s gunfight with the militants that killed a police commando personnel, no untoward incident was reported during the last 24 hours and curfew relaxation hours as well, the Singh said. So far, 42 companies of Central security forces have been deployed at strategic locations, particularly at the peripheries of the valley and hills, the security advisor said.

Efforts were on to bring back the Imphalbound loaded trucks stranded along NH-2 in Senapati after blockade at various places in Kangpokpi district which the highway passes through.

The SP and DC of Kangpokpi district were engaging in talks with leaders of CSOs based in the district to allow safe passage of the vehicles.

“I hope the stranded vehicles will be brought back at the earliest,” Singh said.

A total of 339 cases related to arsons and snatching of arms from the police stations and police person-

Correspondent

nel on duty were registered.

As many as 423 arms and 6697 ammunition have been recovered or surrendered so far.

Around 45,000 people displaced by the violence conflict have been evacuated and they have been sent to their respective houses and safer places, he said. No extra flights to move people from outside the state operated for the day and no one was stranded at the Imphal airport, he said. So far, 2,759 people, mainly students, have left Manipur by air following the violence conflict, he added.

Relief measures continue to be taken up and are being monitored at the highest level, the security advisor informed.

On the other hand, the daily press briefing by a cabinet minister on the latest law and order situation was suspended for the day for reasons best known to the government only.

Earlier, the state IPR minister and education minister would brief the

Fire destroys 20 shops in Assam

media every day at 6 pm since the outbreak of the chain of violence in the state.

However, a release by the DIPR on the latest law and order situation stated that normalcy was returning in the state. It stated that “It is not the time to play politics when our people are suffering. Political parties are requested not to play politics at this juncture.”

The government release refuted a news item carried out in some sections of local media stating that ‘the government has lost to SoO cadres.’

“These statements are very unfortunate and the government appeals that such irresponsible statements not be made. The government and the security forces are at the forefront to make sure that all steps are taken to ensure the safety of the people,” it stated.

As peace has started prevailing in Manipur, the release requested all Manipuris to help in maintaining peace and tranquility.

Two minor tribal girls gangraped in Tripura, one arrested

HAILAKANDI (ASSAM), MAY 12 (PTI): At least 20 shops and commercial establishments were gutted and property worth over Rs one crore destroyed in a fire in Ratanpurbazar area of Hailakandi in Assam, officials said on Friday. The fire broke out around midnight on Thursday and engulfed a large part of the market, they said.

Locals informed the fire brigade and the blaze was brought under control after a few hours with the help of local residents.

“At least 20 shops and other commercial establishments were gutted in the massive fire in the market on Ratan Road. Property worth over Rs one crore was destroyed,” the officials said.

The cause for the fire is yet to be known, but electrical short circuit in one of the shops is suspected to have led to the inferno, they said.

Businessmen whose shops and establishments were gutted have blamed the local authorities for the poor state of electrical connections in the place and demanded compensation. the officials added.

AGARTALA, MAY 12

(PTI): Two minor tribal girls were allegedly gangraped in Tripura’s Gomati district, police said on Friday.

The prime accused identified as Molarai Jamatia of Tingharia was arrested but eight remaining accused persons are still at large, said Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Jyotishman Das Chowdhury.

According to police, the two girls came to attend ‘Baishaki Mela’, an annual cultural programme at Amarpur town of the district on Wednesday and met Molarai, who had befriended one of them over Facebook.

“From the fair premises, the youth took them to a rubber plantation at Chechua on Wednesday night on a scooter. Seven to eight youths were waiting there.

After reaching there, Molarai and his friends raped the two girls”, the AIG said.

Molarai then took both the girls to Amarpur and left them in the early

hours of Thursday, he said, adding the victims went to Birganj police station.

Based on the statement of the two girls, the police swung into action and arrested Molarai for his alleged involvement in the gang rape case on Thursday.

“We have arrested the prime accused of the case and are trying to arrest other accused persons. The medical test of the victims have been done as part of the investigation process”, he said.

The Tripura Commission for Women (TCW) has condemned the gang rape of the two tribal girls.

“It is shocking that two girls were gang-raped by a group of youths in Amarpur’s Chechua area. We condemned the crime and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the heinous act”, TCW chairperson Barnali Goswami said on Friday.

Earlier, a college girl was also raped in the outskirts of Agartala inside a moving vehicle.

GUWAHATI, MAY 12

from the area, officials said.

Violent clashes had broken out in the northeastern state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations and tension between the Meiteis and Kukis.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.

Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

SHILLONG, MAY 12:

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday called on Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia and submitted proposals to establish heliports and international airport in the state.

Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong are in New Delhi meeting various Union Ministers.

Apart from Scindia, the duo also called on Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh this afternoon.

Apart from establishing the heliports in Shillong and Tura, Sangma proposed for setting up of an international airport besides making Baljek air port located in West Garo Hills district

on May 12 met Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi. operational.

“These proposals are aimed at boosting our State’s tourism potential & economic growth through air connectivity,” the Chief Minister said.

The state has just one airport at Umroi called the Shillong Airport. Even this airport is unable to handle

large aircraft like Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 as the runway is short. Efforts are to extend the runaway from 6000 feet to 7500 feet so that Boeing and Airbus can land and take off.

The Baljek airport on the other hand has been nonoperational and so the Garo Hills region doesn’t have an

airport yet. The centre sanctioned the construction of the Baljek airport in 1995 and was inaugurated in 2008. Work is on to extend the airport’s runway so that ATRs could operate from it. Currently, the length of the runway is a mere 3300 feet.

VPP give 48-hour ultimatum to M’laya govt to put on hold job recruitment

Correspondent

SHILLONG, MAY 12: Meghalaya’s opposition

Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Friday has served a 48-hour ultimatum to the Conrad Sangma-led to come up with a notification halting recruitment processes till issues regarding the state job reservation and roster system are resolved.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad

GANGTOK, MAY 12

(PTI): To boost the population of indigenous communities in Sikkim, the state government has decided to provide advance and additional increments to its employees having two or three children with retrospective effect from January 1 this year, according to a notification.

The state government employees possessing Sikkim Subject Certificate/ Certificate of Identification shall get one advanced increment for having two surviving children, the Department of Personnel Secretary Rinzing Chewang Bhutia said in a notification issued on May 10. Those employees having three surviving children shall get one additional increment, he said, adding anyone of the spouses can claim for advance increment on mutual understanding. The scheme shall be effective from January 1, 2023 and only those employees whose second and third child is born on or after January 1, 2023, shall be eligible for the

Sangma through Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, VPP General Secretary Dr Ricky A J Syngkon urged the government that for everyone’s interest “we solicit a notification to this effect (halting recruitment) be issued within 48 hours.”

The party also expressed unhappiness that their request to the ruling dispensation to convene a special session of the assembly to discuss the vexed

scheme, Bhutia said. The benefits of the scheme shall not be applicable in case of adoption, the Department of Personnel Secretary said.

The scheme providing financial incentives to state government employees has come four months after Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang promised sops to overcome a low fertility rate among local indigenous people in the Himalayan state. “The low fertility rate among the local indigenous population is a matter of serious concern in Sikkim...We must do everything in our hands to reverse the process,” Tamang had said at an event in Gangtok in January this year.

Sikkim is the least populous state of India with a population of around seven lakh people. The state has the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at 1.1 which is the lowest in the country. The chief minister has repeatedly expressed concern at the declining population of the indigenous Lepcha, Bhatia and Nepalis communities.

issue of job reservation and roster system has not been heeded. Addressing a gathering after the submitting the letter, senior VPP legislator, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit threatened to agitate if the government fails to comply to issue a notification halting recruitment processes.

85 percent of the state government jobs are reserved for the tribal communities. 40 percent is reserved for the Khasi-Jaintia-Bhoi

communities, while 40 per cent for the Garos. Another five percent is reserved for the other tribes residing in the state.

It has been noticed by the High Court, quite accidentally, that the roster system necessary to implement the job reservation system in letter and spirit has not been followed over the years. The High Court directed the state government to put in place the roster system.

Nagaland for possession of:

1. GPF 2. GIS

3. Gratuity 4. Leave encashment

5. Pension etc 6. Closing of A/C

Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the estate/pension benefits of the said deceased may if she/ he so desire appear in this court on or before the said day of 11.06.2023

Given under the hand and seal of the court on this day the 11.05.2023.

MKC-172/23

Several pressure groups from Garo Hills are now demanding that the roster system must be implemented retrospectively since the formation of the state.

However, pressure groups in Khasi Hills are demanding that the roster system should be implemented prospectively.

Meanwhile, Basaiawmoit was upset as he was supposed to hand over the memorandum to Chief Min-

ister Conrad Sangma at the secretariat.

However, Sangma and his Deputy Prestone Tynsong are both in New Delhi.

Basaiawmoit therefore didn’t go to the secretariat and asked the party General Secretary to hand over the memorandum to the government.

Basaiawmoit said he was unaware that the CM and his deputy are afraid to meet the VPP.

IN THE COURT OF PRINCIPAL DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE MOKOKCHUNG : NAGALAND S/C NO. 64/2023 NO

NOTICE INVITING CLAIMS/OBJECTIONS OF OTHER CLAIMANT(S) FOR ISSUE OF SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE UNDER PART-I OF INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT 1925

Whereas application under Succession Act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate/pension benefits of Late. L. Moatemsu has been applied by Smti. Moarenla, wife of Lt. L. Moatemsu R/O H.No. 565 Mongsenbai Ward, Mokokchung, Nagaland for possession of:

1. GPF

3. Gratuity

(PTI): The Assam government has constituted a fourmember expert committee to examine the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The panel, headed by Justice (Retired) Rumi Phookan, has been asked to submit its report within two months, the chief minister said in a tweet on Thursday night. Other members of the committee are Assam advocate general Debajit Saikia, additional advocate general Nalin Kohli and senior advocate Nekibur Zaman.

“Following my announcement to form an expert committee to examine the legislative competence of state legislature to en -

act a law to end polygamy, the state government has constituted the committee today…The committee has been given a deadline of 60 days to submit its report,” the chief minister said on the microblogging site. Sarma had announced on Tuesday that the state government would set up an expert committee of legal luminaries to scrutinise the legality of banning polygamy in the state by the legislative assembly. He had also said that the proposed panel would examine the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 along with Article 25 of the Constitution in relation to the Directive Principles of State Policy for a Uniform Civil Code.

DP-2064/23

2. GIS

4.

SHORT TENDER NOTICE

Principal District & Sessions Judge Mokokchung : Nagaland.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

Civil Misc. Case No. 9/2023

NOTICE

Whereas the petitioner Miss. T. Yangerla Jamir, D/o Late M. Toshi Jamir, a resident of H/No. 66, Oriental Colony, Dimapur has filed a petition, praying for declaration as "Legal Heir and Next of Kin" of Late M Toshi Jamir.

Notice is hereby issued inviting objection, if any to file before this court on or before 13th June 23 day of 2023 as to why the prayer of the petitioner shall not be granted.

Given under my hand and seal of this Court this 12th May day of 2023.

DP-2061/23

(MHALO HUMTSOE)

Additional Deputy Commissioner Dimapur : Nagaland

Whereas

of the said deceased may if she/he so desire to appear in this court on or before within a period of 30 days from the date of publication.

DP-2063/23

Sealed tender are invited for making of Bilingual Signboards to Nagaland University, Lumami. Interested firms may download the tender details/documents from the University website: www.nagalanduniversity.ac.in

Sd/(Dr. Abemo) Registrar DC-540/23

And whereas, the land area of the proposed Nyukshai Village for recognition as per survey report is 431 Acres with following boundaries:

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma

rifles’ soldier injured diffusing IED in Manipur

M’laya CM discusses intl airport with Scindia Panel formed by Assam govt to examine legality to ban polygamy

Sikkim to reward employees having 2 or more children

Kuldiep Singh addressing media on latest law and order situation of the state in Imphal on Friday.

SNIPPETS

Speaker, 2 Odisha ministers resign BHUBANESWAR, MAY 12 (PTI): Odisha

Speaker Bikram Keshari

Arukha and two state ministers resigned Friday evening in the wake of speculations that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is contemplating a reshuffle of his cabinet. The two ministers of state who put in their papers are Samir Ranjan Dash (School and Mass Education) and Srikant Sahu (Labour). After submitting his resignation letter, Arukha said he has quit on personal grounds.

Criminal conviction rate goes up in UP

LUCKNOW, MAY 12

(IANS): More than 30,000 criminals have been convicted and sentenced in the past three years in Uttar Pradesh. According to the government spokesman, the highest number of 10,520 criminals was sentenced by the court under the Arms Act between 2020 and 2022. According to the latest statistics compiled by the Directorate of Prosecution, 4,078 criminals were sentenced under the POCSO Act; 1,218 under rape cases; 8,646 under crime against women and children; 2,387 under murder charges; 1,152 under cases of dowry deaths, and 1,141 under robberies, and 279 under cow slaughter cases.

Army commando dies in parachute mishap

AGRA, MAY 12

(IANS): An army commando was killed when he fell from a height after his parachute got entangled in the high-tension line in the Malpura area of Uttar Pradesh’s Agra district here on Friday. Police officials said that the incident took place in the dropping zone under Malpura police station when the parachute of commando Ankur Sharma got entangled in the high-tension line.

Four killed in road accident

CHENNAI, MAY 12

(IANS): Four people were killed and seven others grievously injured when a van collided headon with a bus in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district on Friday morning. According to police, a van carrying a dance troupe from Tiruchendur to Kanniyakumi collided with an oncoming bus at Vellamadam in Nagercoil- Tirunelveli, national highway. The bus was en route to Roshakulam from Nagercoil.

DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh fine on Air India

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

(PTI): Aviation regulator

DGCA on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh for lapses in addressing “safety sensitive issue” related to the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend in the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27. Besides, the licence of the pilot who operated the flight has been suspended for three months, the regulator said in a statement.

13 B’deshi held for illegal stay in country

THANE, MAY 12 (PTI):

The Navi Mumbai police in Maharashtra have arrested 13 Bangladeshi nationals, including five women, for allegedly illegally staying in the country, an official said on Friday. The station house officer of Khandeshwar police station said the foreigners were taken into custody from Khanda Colony in New Panvel on Tuesday night. They were living there for the past year without a visa or passport, he said.

Delhi govt moves SC saying Centre not initiating transfer of services Secy

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

(IANS): A day after the Supreme Court held that the Delhi government will have the power to control its officers, the AAP government has moved the apex court complaining that the Centre isn’t initiating the transfer of services secretary ordered by it.

The Kejriwal government removed the Secretary of the Delhi government’s Services department on Thursday evening.

Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India. Singhvi submitted that a bench needs to hear this matter. The Chief Justice said he will consider it listing next week.

Singhvi contended that the top court delivered the judgment on Thursday and now there can be contempt and added that under Article 141 of the Constitu-

tion, there can be contempt of this court’s order also. Singhvi said they are saying that they will not transfer anybody and “I can file contempt...But it will take time.

So kindly list the matter”.

On Thursday, Ashish More, secretary of the Delhi government’s services department, was removed from his post, hours after the apex court judgment. Former Delhi Jal Board CEO A.K. Singh, a 1995-batch (AGMUT cadre) IAS officer, will replace More.

On Thursday, a five-

Non-screening of ‘The Kerala Story’: SC seeks response of TN, Bengal govts

NEW

DELHI, MAY 12

judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said:

“The ideal conclusion would be that GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) ought to have control over ‘services’, subject to exclusion of subjects which are out of its legislative domain. If services are excluded from its legislative and executive domain, the ministers and the executive, who are charged with formulating policies in the territory of NCTD, would be excluded from controlling the civil service officers who implement such executive decisions.”

The Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the lieutenant governor (L-G) is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land. The top

Ignore orders of ‘unconstitutional’ Maha govt: Sanjay Raut to officials

MUMBAI, MAY 12

(IANS): Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut on Friday called upon the state bureaucracy and police not to ‘heed’ the orders or directives of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis’ government which has been rendered ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ by the Supreme Court verdict.

“The SC judgement is very clear on this aspect. This ‘illegal’ government has to go within three months. We are waiting for the decision of the Speaker on the disqualification of 16 MLAs, but the apex court verdict has declared the entire government as ‘unconstitutional’, and even the remaining 24 MLAs will be disqualified now,” said Raut.

He accused the Shinde-Fadnavis duo of spreading ‘misinformation’ and half-truths about the SC judgement claiming it as a ‘victory’, and pulled up some sections of the media which

termed it as a ‘relief’ for the state government as “tantamount to potential contempt of the Supreme Court”.

“In view of the developments, all the decisions, orders, etc., of the ShindeFadnavis government are rendered illegal... I call upon the officials and police not to follow any orders of this ‘unconstitutional’ regime, or it could spell consequences even for them later,” warned Raut darkly.

Training guns on the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar,

the Rajya Sabha MP said that he (Speaker) is expected to give his decision on the disqualification of 16 MLAs, including CM Shinde.

“Until then, this government has lost the moral authority to make any decisions or issue orders, the bureaucracy and police must not obey any orders of Shinde-Fadnavis, come what may, or it could result in a situation of anarchy,” said Raut.

He also described Narwekar -- who has earlier been with Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, the (original) Shiv Sena and now the BJP -- as a man without ideological commitments and only interested in power. Raut reiterated that after the SC’s directions on Thursday asking the Speaker to take the decision on the matter of 16 MLAs’ disqualification within a reasonable period, “this ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ Shinde-Fadnavis government is destined to collapse very soon”.

court stressed that if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature as well as the public is diluted.

The bench -- also comprising Justices M.R. Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli, and P.S. Narasimha -- observed that in a democratic form of government, the real power of administration must reside in the elected arm of the state, subject to the confines of the Constitution.

The top court had stressed that an unaccountable and a non-responsive civil service may pose a serious problem of governance in a democracy. It creates a possibility that the permanent executive, consisting of unelected civil service officers, who play a decisive role in the implementation of government policy, may act in ways that disregard the will of the electorate, it added.

Kharge, Sonia to decide on CM post: Shivakumar

BENGALURU, MAY 12

(IANS): Karnataka unit Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Friday claimed there is a huge wave for his party in the state, while underlining that INC president Mallikarjun Kharge and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi will take a decision on the chief ministerial post if the Congress is voted to power.

Speaking about “power sharing” between him and Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar told mediapersons: “The decision of Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is final on this matter.”

He further said: “I don’t have a belief in exit polls. According to me, we will win 141 seats. Our surveys have collected more samples than the exit poll agencies. The Congress leader said “BJP leaders are claiming that they will form the government no matter how many seats they get. It is their illusion”.

CBSE results: Over 3.08 L students score above 90%

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

(PTI): Over 3.08 lakh students have scored above 90 per cent in the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 exams, while over 66,000 secured scores above 95 per cent, the board announced on Friday. While the number of students who scored above 90 per cent and 95 per cent has gone down in both the classes when compared to last year, CBSE officials said it would be wrong to draw a comparison as the academic session was split into two terms last year because of the pandemic.

Last year, over 3.71 lakh students scored above 90 per cent marks and 98,340 candidates scored above 95 per cent in both the classes. The board has scrapped the practice of announcing merit lists and

awarding divisions on the basis of marks to discourage unhealthy competition among students.

In Class 12, 1,12,838 (1.12 lakh) students scored above 90 per cent and 22,622 candidates secured above 95 per cent marks.

Among those who scored above 90 per cent, 271 are from Children With Special Needs (CSWN) category, while 44 CSWN students scored above 95 per cent.

Last year, 1,34,797 candidates scored above 90 per cent in Class 12, while

(PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday sought replies of the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu governments on a plea of the producers of “The Kerala Story” challenging the ban in the eastern state and theatres withdrawing its screening in Tamil Nadu following threats.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha questioned the West Bengal government saying the film is being screened in the rest of the country without any problem and there appears to be no reason for the ban.

“Movie is running in the rest of the country including in states having similar demographic composition and nothing has happened. This has nothing to do with the artistic value of the film. If people do not like the movie, they will not watch the movie,” the bench told senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government. Singhvi said according to intelligence inputs,

there may be a situation of law and order problem and peace among different communities may be breached.

The bench also asked the Tamil Nadu government to specify measures taken to provide adequate security to theatres screening “The Kerala Story”.

“The state government cannot say that it will look the other way when theatres are attacked and chairs are being burnt,” the bench told advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for Tamil Nadu government, after he submitted that there is no ban on the movie.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for producers of the movie, said there is

de facto ban in Tamil Nadu as theatres screening the movie are being threatened and they have dropped the screenings.

“For West Bengal, we are seeking quashing of the ban order,” he said. “We are issuing notices to both the states and they may file their response by Wednesday. We will take up the matter on Thursday,” the bench said.

“The Kerala Story”, starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on May 5. Directed by Sudipto Sen, the film claims women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State(IS).

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (PTI): Same sex marriage is against the natural order of humanity and it will have an adverse impact on Indian society if legalised, a Pune-based women’s organisation has claimed in a survey report.

In its report, the Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra, which follows the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) line of thought, said that some people also believe that “legalisation of such marriages will create and promote anarchy and chaos in society”.

Responses of 57,614 people in 13 languages from across the country were taken for the survey on “the potential impact of same sex marriage on women, children and society if it gets a legal cover”, it said. The respondents were from four different age groups and they identified themselves as “male, female and other gender”. The report said according to data collected, “it has been observed that the majority of the received responses

suggest a rigid approach for accepting ‘same sex marriages’ in the personal sphere of their life”.

“It also indicates that majority of individuals believe that legalising same sex marriages will adversely impact Indian society,” according to the survey report of the women’s study centre.

“There also seemed to exist some anxiety among certain individuals that legalisation of such marriages will create and promote anarchy and chaos in society,” it said. Of those surveyed, the highest number of responses (26,525) came from people in the 41-60 years age group, followed by 16,284 in the 26-40 age group and 6,068 in the 18-25 age group, the report said.

It said while 83.9 per cent of the respondents identified the same sex marriage issue as a “serious concern” in the country, 91 per cent think it is not appropriate to legalise same sex marriage. The report noted that there is “a con-

JOB VACANCIES

siderable number of individuals who think that same sex marriages are actually against the natural order of humanity and rather it disturbs the balance of the natural order”.

It said that as many as 75 per cent of the respondents believe that same sex relationships are “not a natural phenomenon”. “Increasing percentage of respondents have this belief in higher age groups,” the report said.

It said answering an open-ended question in the survey, several respondents mentioned countries where same sex marriages after legalisation “faced several judicial and social problems”.

The report said that a “large majority of respondents across age groups and genders said they will not support same sex marriage in their own family or extended family”. There are individuals who in their replies to the survey have mentioned that no religion across the world “either permit or support same sex marriages”, it said.

33,432 candidates scored above 95 per cent. However, in 2019 (pre-pandemic academic session), the number of students scoring above 90 per cent and 95 per cent was 94,299 and 17,693, respectively. Delhigovtschoolssurpass overallpasspercentage

Delhi government scho ols have achieved a pass percentage of 91.59 per cent, higher than the nationwide pass percentage of 87.33 per cent, in the results announced by the CBSE for Class 12 on Friday, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appreciated the students for their excellent performance. Like every year, girls from Delhi government schools outshone boys.

Adani row: SC gives 3 months to Sebi to complete probe

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it may grant three months more time to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to complete its probe into the controversy surrounding the Hindenburg Research report on the Adani Group.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said that it accepts the petitioners’ point that Sebi cannot take indefinitely long period to complete its probe and “we are

not going to give them six months, we give them three months”, adding that it is not keen on accepting Sebi’s request to grant six-month extension to complete the probe. The Chief Justice told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Sebi, “We will now place the matter for around mid-August that will give you three months’ time. You complete your investigation in three months and come back to us, because there has to be some alacrity... We cannot say that you need a minimum of six months.”

The top court said that it has

received the report submitted by the court-appointed expert committee headed by retired apex court judge Justice A.M. Sapre. The apex court was hearing an application moved by Sebi seeking an extension of six months to submit its probe report. The six-month extension was vehemently opposed by advocate Prashant Bhushan.

The Chief Justice said the report of the committee headed by Justice Sapre has been received in the registry and it will examine it over the weekend and then pronounce the order on Sebi’s application on Monday.

The North East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA) is looking for a highly capable database manager to enhance the performance of our organization's Management Information System which will include collaborating with managers and team members to determine data needs, data flow design & database configuration and execute the system.

Job Posting: Kohima

Qualifications: Bachelor/Post Graduate degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), computer science, information systems, or information technology | Advanced proficiency in database: Oracle/SQL Server/MySQ/(SQL)/XML etc., | 2-3 years IT operation with strong understanding of database structures, theories, principles, and practices | Experience with data management and data processing flowcharting techniques and data security | Knowledge of best practices in database management.

Application Procedures: Qualified candidates only should apply. Please send applications (CV and statement of interest) to jobs.nagaland@neida.org.in by May 25, 2023 “Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for next stage of the selection process”

K-1028/23

JOB VACANCIES

The Nagamaiki Smallholder Pig Producer Company Pvt. Limited is looking for committed Professionals to fill the following positions

Chief Executive Officer (1 Post)

Educational Qualification: MBA/ Masters in Rural Development/ Agriculture

Marketing/ Agri Business Management or in such other related areas

Job Profile: Responsible for overall operation and management of the Producer Company (legal and statutory compliances, FPO administration, human resource & financial and business management etc.). Develop organizational and business goals, strategies, policies and set annual business targets and achieve milestones. Establish profitable business enterprises

Work experience: Minimum 5 years’ experience in the domain of rural livelihoods/marketing and business development

Job posting: Kohima with extensive field work and travel in all the districts of the state

Accountant (1 Post)

Educational Qualification: B. Com/M. Com/MBA Finance

Job Profile: Maintain and record daily business transactions, account book keeping, asset management, ensure maintenance of organization internal controls and financial procedures; donor reporting and finance management

Work experience: Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in Accounting/NGO

Accounting, Knowledge of Tally

Job posting: Kohima, Nagaland

Application Procedures: Qualified candidates only should apply. Please send applications (CV and statement of interest and post Applied for) to nagamaiki@gmail.com by May 20, 2023 “Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for next stage of the selection process”

K-1029/23

Students celebrate their success after declaration of CBSE results, at a school in Gurugram, Friday. (PTI)

‘Legal cover to same sex marriage will have adverse impact on Indian society’

Sanjay Raut

Covid fingerprint

After three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 5, has declared an end to the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, days before a similar emergency in the United States was also set to expire. This is likely to usher the world into a new phase of disease monitoring with a scaling back of surveillance and available resources to fight COVID-19. WHO said the decision did not mean the danger was over, and cautioned that the emergency status could be reinstated if the situation changes. The virus was first detected in late 2019 in Wuhan China, but it remains unclear how and where it first began spreading among humans. Beijing stands accused of obstruction and has ignored repeated WHO requests for more access and information to help solve the mystery. WHO belatedly recommended the Public Health Emergency of Concern(PHEIC) on January 30,2020 after the virus broke out in China. Since the start of the pandemic 3 years ago, WHO has recorded close to 7 million deaths from COVID-19, though the real death toll from the pandemic may be three times that. A few thousand deaths are still being reported to the agency every week, and some models estimate that excess mortality is still at about 10,000 deaths a day worldwide. One thing is for sure about SARS-CoV-2, that the virus that causes COVID-19, is changing constantly. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a number of prominent variants, including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron. Variants of viruses occur when there is a change — or mutation — to the virus’s genes. In another report, a virus called Florona is said to occur after “double infection” or “co-infection” with both SARS-CoV-2 and the flu virus. The case was detected in an unvaccinated pregnant woman who had been admitted to a medical centre. Now, scientists worry that that Covid infection transmitting between species can give rise to new variants. The study also found that proliferative viruses can be spread through dogs’ nasal discharge. The researchers suggest that pet vaccinations should be actively considered to prevent animal-to-human infection. A variant of interest is a coronavirus variant that, compared with earlier forms of the virus, has genetic characteristics that predict greater transmissibility, evasion of immunity or diagnostic testing, or more severe disease. A variant of concern has been observed to be more infectious, and is more likely to cause breakthrough infections or reinfections in those who are vaccinated or previously infected. These variants are more likely to cause severe disease, evade diagnostic tests, or resist antiviral treatment. Alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are classified as variants of concern. Omicron’s subvariants are considered to be especially efficient spreaders of the disease, and while scientists are still learning about XBB.1.5, they say it is the most transmissible strain of the virus so far. The original strain of Omicron was more transmissible than Delta was. Virologists say that it’s entirely possible that yet another variant could emerge. Immunity seems to decline after a number of months, but at the same time, scientists hope that boosters dramatically improve immunity.

DailyDevotion

The Habit of Having No Habits

If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful… —2 Peter 1:8

When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.

Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, “I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God.” No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.

Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.

By Oswald Chambers

Quotes

James M. Barrie

Construction of man of tomorrow for new world

Ihave been leading a life full of incidents and coincidences. I have been a Sportsman, a Lawyer, a Legal / Political Advisor, a Motivational Speaker, a Corporate HR consultant, a Columnist, an Artist, a Meditation Teacher, a Reiki Master, a Healer, a Poet, a Singer, a Mystic, an Adventurer, an Explorer, a Counsellor, a Theologian, a Seeker and now a ‘Professor’ who has permanently settled in one of the remotest states in the northeast region of India- The Nagaland.

Whenever I do rigorous introspection I come to realize that the roles that I have ‘consciously’ played from time to time were nothing but necessary responses to the demands of ‘creation’. It is important for a man to learn to be responsive to ‘creation’, this, I believe is an only path to the ‘Right Growth’ that the custodians of ancient wisdom and the grand teachers and wisdom Masters of humanity like Buddha, Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mahavir, Zoroaster, Bodhi dharma and many divine souls that appeared on this planet from time to time have revealed and spoken about in different ways. Acting upon God’s voice can not only change our destiny, but by the “Rule of Divine” also transforms everyone and everything around us in a drastic way. Man is spiritual in nature. We are essentially spiritual beings because we are naturally and consciously oriented beyond our material life toward transcendent norms of truth and goodness. This is the ground of our dignity and value over other, non-spiritual animals. If a man learns to open himself to the frequency of the creation he elevates his inner core to receive a wisdom underlying all ‘religions’ when they are stripped of

accretions and superstitions which renders life intelligible and demonstrates that justice and love guide the cosmos. This self-discovered wisdom is the revelation of the latent spiritual nature in the human being, without dependence on any external phenomena.

This unique discovery opens us up to the endless possibilities in this ever-changing creation and man becomes a vehicle of God- and finally ends up playing a role in life as a response to the creation.

Nagaland and Naga society have been undergoing a process of great transformation. New world can only be created through a vision of ‘transformed’ people under Godly wisdom. The colleges and schools in Nagaland are fully and completely responsible for the creation of the new breed of “transformed” Naga souls.

As a man who has been constructively playing multiple roles in our Naga society for the last many years, I have observed some very disturbing trends in the local education system. Not only school education, but also the higher education system needs to align itself with the higher objectives and goals of building a new man for tomorrow who not only will contribute to the nation building process but leave their strong imprints in the timeless history of ever transforming ‘creation’. To achieve these higher goals, teaching pedagogies, teaching psychology, teacher’s approach and most importantly institutional psychology needs to be altered, changed and transformed.

In the great history of this nation, educational institutions and teachers have been understood as the necessary agents of change. As Prof. Mark Stevenson, an Astrophysicist once quoted, “Teacher is neither a human resource, nor a school

or college is a ‘Business or Industry’. Teachers are human beings, and there is no point to reduce them simply at the level of human resource as we have seen such things happening in other industries where productivity is measured in terms of ‘produced units’.

In the entire history of the world, education was never a business nor money making activity- rather it has always had a charitable touch and an aura of ‘service’. As I traveled in nook and corners of Nagaland and have understood our society better, I discovered that the needs of Nagaland and Naga society are different- where students ALSO need the THOUGHTS AND IDEAS not simply measured academic lessons ‘injected’ in terms of ‘billed lecture hours’.

As my mentor, philosopher, a great name in the field of International Law, Prof. V.S. Mani would often say, “Great ideas, thoughts and actions are produced in freedom of body, mind and soul-an environment where noble goals are valued more than paths”. Teachers and education institutions holds a cardinal responsibility to create a conducive environment for students not just to enable them to score some marks but also to help them to construct themselves by offering them the ‘natural freedom’ which our traditional academic culture always ‘protected’ in the past in great academic institutions like Nalanda, Taxila, Vikramshila and many morewhen half of the world was wandering in the darkness. The ancient universities of India have produced such gigantic literature which no other university was able to produce. One Naga historian rightly pointed out in one of the seminars I have attended, “The time has come for

Nagaland and other states in India to revive and adopt the ancient ‘teaching-learning’ model which proved successful for over thousands of years in India”. What model was he talking about? He was talking about academic discipline and at the same time freedom to walk a “PATHLESS” path to learn.

I am an advocate of pathless paths to learn. This concept revealed in my mind when I was wandering in the Mon town with my disciple Haiguing Kuame during our “Eastern Nagaland Motorcycle Tour’’ which we both undertook to educate our Eastern Naga people about their constitutional & legal rights and also to learn & document the painful ground realities through series of meetings with Tribal organizations and leaders in headquarter of every Eastern District.

Haiguing could be more educated, knowledgeable about the facts, evidence and realities of Eastern Nagaland than any of his B.A. Political Science Honours classmates. Haiguing could be in a position to talk about Eastern Nagaland much better than any professor in Tetso College who never ever visited the remotest regions of the state. Is this not an education?

Exposure to the world is a real education, experience is a real teacher- this was the tradition in Indian academia for centuries-where Master would take his disciples on long journeys for months to cultivate their mind and liberate their soul.

I am proud of the past and present members of my Mountaineering Club who became disturbed whenever they visited and discovered Eastern Nagaland. “Sir, these problems are not given any weightage in the media ‘’. “Sir, why is the Government not building a good

road from Pungro to Thanamir, we should do something”. My students shared their sentiments during their Nova Iter”22 Expedition last year. Similar sentiments and views expressed during Mt. Khelia Expedition too. “It is unbelievable that there is no PHC”, “Let us file complaints Sir, these are our people, they deserve all facilities’ ‘. “Sir, it seems Drugs and HIV is a big issue here, what Govt is doing”, “Sir, where will poor students go to study since there is no college in Noklak, isn’t that violation of Fundamental right”. The burst of emotions and passionate inquiries that I witnessed during Mountaineering and Motorcycle Expeditions with my disciples convinces me that I am on the right path as a Mentor and Teacher. Our Naga students’ needs education through right exposure and experience. The rigid, non-academic approaches and systems that may work in education institutions in Mumbai or Bangalore or Pune or USA, made functional on the basis of some European business model will not work in Nagaland- this is fact. Educational institutions need to be more flexible and accommodative if they desire to build a new generation that will take the society and the nation forward. I feel teachers and educational institutions in Nagaland need to create more constructive “free spaces”. These spaces can be created by taking views of students, faculty members and members of civil society into consideration. What students needs and demands along the line of what does the society and the nation needs and demands is something that should compulsorily shape the policies of any academic institution as every academic institution be it private or government

Manipur violence reopens ethnic scars in neighbouring states

The ugly face of ethnic conflict has once again returned to haunt Manipur, but this time its effect has also been felt in the other northeastern states and it may continue for a longer period.

In the wake of the ongoing unrest in Manipur, over 1600 people have crossed the border into Assam’s Cachar district and more than 30 people, mostly women and children took shelter in Mizoram’s Saitual district.

In a spillover of the ethnic violence in Manipur, members of the Kuki and Meitei communities clashed in the Meghalaya capital Shillong on Thursday night and the police have arrested 16 people in connection with the incident. Security was tightened further in the hill city. Both the states’ authorities have arranged temporary shelters at a few government schools and food and other necessary commodities have been provided to them.

Two Mizoram districts -- Aizawl and Saitual -- share around a 95 km border with Manipur, which has also 204 km and 225 km inter-state borders with Assam and Nagaland respectively.

Many tribal and non-tribal communities specially the Meitei, Naga, Kuki, Mizo, Chakma are living in different northeastern states presenting a complex linguistic mosaic with over 200 dialects.

The northeastern region is home to 45.58 million people (2011 Census). The indigenous tribals constitute around 28 per cent of the population and they mostly speak in their mother tongue or their indigenous language.

The tribals and non-tribals belong to Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities with different lifestyles, cultures, traditions and languages. Any kind of negative incident involving one or two communities in a particular state often has a counter-effect in other states of the region causing ethnic trouble.

Besides the insurgency, Naga-Kuki, Meitei versus other tribals, Chakma versus other tribals, and numerous other ethnic conflicts have claimed thousands of lives and damaged huge property during the past many decades in the northeastern region.

From the beginning of this year, unrest resurfaced in Manipur for multiple reasons.

On May 3, unprecedented violent clashes, attacks and arson broke out at various places during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category.

Acting on a writ petition filed by the Meetei (Meitei) Trade Union, the Manipur High Court acting Chief Justice M.V. Muralidaran on April 19 had directed the state government to submit the recommendation

for inclusion of Meitei (Meetei) community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry.

The High Court order said: “The issue of inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list of the Constitution is pending for nearly ten years and above. No satisfactory explanation is forthcoming from the side of the respondent State for not submitting the recommendation for the last 10 years.

“Therefore, it would be appropriate to direct the respondent state to submit its recommendation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs within a reasonable time.”

The High Court order snowballed into a major controversy with thousands of tribals turning up for the Tribal Solidarity March’ in 10 hill districts on May 3 called by a student body.

Earlier a civil writ petition filed by eight members of the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union led by union secretary Mutum Churamani Meetei had sought the issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent (Manipur government) to submit a recommendation in reply to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry’s letter dated May 29, 2013.

According to the Meitei and other agitators, the influx of outsiders from both inside and outside the country, including people from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, has significantly affected the identity, culture, economy, administration and the environment of Manipur.

The Meitei community is demanding inclusion in the list of ST. Those demanding ST status claimed that there is a need to protect the valley inhabited by the Meitei community while tribals living in Manipur’s hill area have already been protected as Scheduled Tribe category status. The BJP led government in Manipur has claimed that the process is on to include Meiteis in the ST list.

The Central government, on December 11, 2019 at the height of the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), introduced the ILP (Inner Line Permit) system to strictly monitor the movement of outsiders in the state and to protect the interests of the indigenous people.

The ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, is an official travel document that allows an Indian citizen to visit the states where ILP is enforced for a limited period of time and with a specific purpose.

Manipur has witnessed a series of agitations for the past several months with many women, students and youth bodies and civil society organisations agitating against the state government’s alleged “delaying tactics” in introducing the National Register of Citizens

is a social asset, a national asset; certainly not a business organization or a company especially in the context of state of Nagaland and the Naga society. It is important for academic institutions all over India to interact with each other to understand similarities and differences.

Moreover, institutional tie ups with Government organizations, Government Departments, Policy making bodies of government, government research institutions, Police Forces, Defense Forces helps students to discover their role/roles in the complex ecosystem of the nation-state. New Nagaland will be a reality when we grant our students, our young generation sufficient freedom to enable them to listen to the voice of GOD. Voice of the GOD is heard from within through a holy silence and holy silence can only be experienced in “free spaces” where noble goals are valued and sacred demands of ‘creation’ are met. Nagaland needs free spaces- in schools, colleges, universities, tribal bodies, unions and in families. A seed of life can nourish and flourish only in the God given freedom of creationwe need to respect that. If the individual evolves, the chains, prisons and mental asylums of society dissolve. The prisons, chains and the mental asylums of society exist only because the individual is not allowed to evolve. I showed my friends and disciples a bright light of freedom, I taught my disciples the path towards self-discovery, knowledge and the new world. What about you? When would you all contribute to the construction of the “Free Man” of ‘new’ tomorrow?

Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Dept of Political Science, Tetso College, Nagaland

(NRC) in the state, and in the functioning of the Manipur State Population Commission (MSPC). Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had said that his government is ready to implement the NRC in the state but to do that, approval from the Central government is required.

He said that the state government has already constituted the MSPC and it would identify the immigrants in the state based on the cut-off year of 1961.

“People of Myanmar seeking asylum in Manipur is a different issue. At any cost, we would protect the demography as well as the tradition and culture of the indigenous people of the state,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government earlier decided to identify those Myanmarese refugees who have sought asylum in the northeastern state, and keep them at the designated detention centres.

So far, around 5,000 immigrants, including women and children, have fled from conflict-hit Myanmar after the military took power in the neighbouring country in February 2021.

An official said that the Manipur government has recently constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Tribal Affairs and Hill Development Minister Letpao Haokip after thousands of Myanmarese crossed over to the state due to the armed conflict near the Indian border areas between the Myanmar Army and the People’s Defence Force.

The hills account for 90 per cent of the state’s area and 10 per cent population while the valley occupies 10 per cent land.

In the valley, there are Hindu, nontribal Meitei communities while the hills are inhabited largely by the Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities.

In another development, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), an apex body of eight major students organisations of seven northeastern states, condemned the Manipur government’s action evicting the indigenous settlers belonging to the Zo community and the violent incidents that followed.

“The tribals were evicted on the pretext that they are settling on reserve forest whereas the fact is that these indigenous settlers have been residing in these areas for ages.”

“The government of Manipur has to take into account that these are the indigenous communities of northeast and have inhabited these lands from their forefathers and they are not illegal immigrants from Nepal or Bangladesh,” NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa and General Secretary Mutsikhoyo Yhobo said in a joint statement.

Sujit Chakraborty, IANS

International Nurses day theme 2023: Our Nurses. Our Future.

May 12 is celebrated as International Nurse Day every year all over the world. It is the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, who is considered as the founder of modern nursing.

This is day is celebrated to mark the contributions of nurses to the society and recognizes the selfless work and sacrifices of nurses during the pandemic and those living in conflict zones. Every year there is a different theme and for 2023 it is: “Our Nurses. Our Future.” This theme will be a global campaign which sets out what nursing needs now and in the future in order to address the global health challenges and improve global health for all. We need to learn from the lessons of the pandemic and translate these into actions of the future.

Nurses are the professionals who can lead the world out of the postpandemic slump in healthcare. But the largest health care profession in the world is currently facing challenges such as shortage of nurses, burn outs and other mental health challenges, as most of the time nurses work in tough environments where extreme stress is part of their job. To support and ensure strong future for the nursing profession, it is essential to invest in nursing education and training, provide adequate resources and support for nurses in the workplace, and address the root causes of nursing shortage such as low salaries and lack of professional development opportunities.

Nurses are key to healthier communities, responsive societies, thriving economies and powerful nations. Now is the time for policy makers, national and local decision-makers to take decisive steps to build and optimize an enduring, strong and sustainable nursing workforce. The Our Nurses. Our Future. Campaign will shine the light on nurses and on a brighter future, moving nurses from invisible to invaluable in the eyes of policy makers, the public, and all those who make decisions affecting the delivery and financing of health care.

Life is a long lesson in humility.

~

SNIPPETS

Toddler raped in Rajasthan’s Baran

KOTA (RAJASTHAN)

MAY 12 (PTI): A twoand-a-half-year-old girl was raped by a 30-yearold man known to the minor’s family in a village in Rajasthan’s Baran district, police said on Friday.

The accused Sonu Banjara (30), who was absconding since the alleged incident on Thursday evening, was detained on Friday morning, a senior police officer said.

According to police, the girl was playing outside her house when Banjara, who lived nearby, took her to his house. He raped her there and then fled the spot.

When the child reached her home, her parents found injuries on her body and took her to a nearby hospital, he said, adding that after receiving primary care, she was referred to Jay Kay Lon Hospital in Kota.

Man kills 3 women of uncle’s family

PITHORAGARH,

MAY 12 (PTI): A man on Friday murdered his aunt, her daughter and daughter-in-law at Bursum village in Gangolihat sub-division of the district following an argument.

The accused identified as Santosh Ram is on the run, Gangolihat Revenue Police Officer (tehsildar) Abrar Ahmad said.

Ram often quarrelled with his aunt, the second wife of his uncle Sher Ram, he said.

He had a quarrel with her early on Friday morning too. When her daughter and daughterin-law tried to stop him he assaulted all of them with a sharp-edged weapon, killing them on the spot, Ahmad said.

Maldives national held with drugs worth Rs 40 lakh

KOCHI, MAY 12 (PTI): A Maldivian passenger was apprehended by the CISF at the Cochin airport on Friday for allegedly trying to smuggle narcotics worth Rs 40 lakh by concealing them in his body around the groin area, a spokesperson of the force said.

The passenger was supposed to take a flight to Male but Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel found him to be suspicious during frisking around 9 am, he said.

Students used to get bookish knowledge, NEP will change that: PM

GANDHINAGAR, MAY 12 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that earlier students used to get “kitabi gyan” (bookish knowledge) but the new National Education Policy (NEP) will change that.

Addressing teachers gathered here from across the country for the 29th Biennial Educational Conference, organised by the All India Primary Teachers Federation, Modi said Google can give data and information but the role of teachers is to be the mentors of students.

“Earlier, we used to give just ‘kitabi gyan’ to our students, but this will change with the introduction of the New Education Policy,” Modi said.

He said the new NEP focuses on practical learning. “Such an education system is at the centre of NEP and now it is the responsibility of the teachers

to implement this system on the ground,” said the PM in an appeal to the teachers. He recalled how one of his school teachers used to make him and other students learn about numbers using grains.

Referring to the changes made in the NEP, Modi stressed the need for giving primary education to students in their mother tongue and added that NEP has made provisions for it. According to Modi, education imparted in local languages will also help talented youths from villages to become teachers.

“After our Indepen-

Allahabad HC orders scientific survey of ‘Shivling’ at Gyanvapi

PRAYAGRAJ, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): The Allahabad High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a scientific survey of a structure, which Hindu petitioners claim is a “Shivling”, inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, reports Ndtv news.

The Varanasi district court had denied the petitioners’ request for the survey in October last year.

In the order today, the high court said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should use a “scientific” method in surveying the structure and avoid dam-

aging it. The Gyanvapi mosque authorities have denied the structure is a Shivling, or relic of Lord Shiva. They said the structure is a part of a fountain in the “wazu khana”, where people perform ablutions before offering namaz. The structure was found earlier last year during a video survey carried out at the Gyanvapi mosque complex on the orders of a lower court, in response to a request by five Hindu women requesting yearlong access to pray at a shrine inside the mosque complex.

dence, English became a dominant language. Even today, parents want their kids to study in English medium. As a result, talented teachers from villages and from poor family backgrounds stopped getting opportunities just because they never got a chance to learn English. Since NEP puts stress on education in local languages, it will also help such teachers in getting opportunities,” he said.

Praising what he called the noble profession of teaching, Modi said whenever he met any world leader, including royal rulers of Bhutan and Saudi Arabia, they told him that they had received their education from teachers from India.

The King of Saudi Arabia (Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud), who is a very senior and respectable leader, told me that his teacher was from Gujarat, Modi said.

Modi said though he has never been a teacher in

CBI books Wankhede for seeking bribe to let off Aryan Khan in drugs-on-cruise

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

his entire life, he has been a lifelong student who observes things happening in society. He told the audience that despite being the PM, he is still in “live contact” with his school teachers who are alive. Modi said that the role of a primary teacher is very important in shaping a child because, after family, it is the teacher with whom he spends the maximum time and learns from the teacher’s behaviour and mannerisms.

In his address, Modi highlighted that the disconnect between students and schools is widening today as the students hardly remember their school after finishing their studies.

To bridge this disconnect, the PM suggested that the school management along with teachers and local residents should start celebrating the foundation day of that school every year and invite past students.

(PTI): The CBI has filed an FIR against former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede for allegedly seeking Rs 25 crore bribe for not framing Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugson-cruise case, officials said on Friday.

Aryan Khan was arrested in the alleged drug bust case on the Cordelia cruise ship on October 2, 2021, they said.

A coordinated search operation was launched on Friday at 29 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Guwahati and Chennai after filing the FIR against the 2008-batch IRS officer Wankhede and four others -- then NCB Superintendent Vishwa Vijay Singh, Intelligence Officer Ashish Ranjan and two private persons K P Gosavi and Sanvile D’Souza -- in the case, they said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked Wankhede and others for

Uddhav seeks early disqualification of MLAs

MUMBAI, MAY 12 (PTI): Post-Supreme Court ruling on the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis the focus has now shifted on the Assembly Speaker with Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday seeking an early decision on the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but the House presiding officer insisted he will not succumb to any pressure while adjudicating on the matter.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on the other hand, said it is not right to put pressure on Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar

as he will decided on the matter at an appropriate time following due process of law.

Stepping up pressure on the Shinde camp, Thackeray said the rebel MLAs facing disqualification have got only temporary respite from the Supreme Court.

Thackeray made the remarks a day after the Su-

preme Court gave its verdict on last year’s political crisis that resulted in the collapse of the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by him following a rebellion by Eknath Shinde, who later joined hands with the BJP to become the chief minister. Thackeray’s party colleague Anil Parab said they will write to Narwerkar urging him to take a call on the matter at the earliest. “The gift of life to the 16 MLAs is temporary because the Supreme Court has given a reasonable time and it has limitations. The Speaker must take his decision at the earliest,” former CM Thackeray told reporters.

Sachin Pilot invokes ‘Karnataka lesson’ for Congress in Rajasthan

AJMER, MAY 12 (AGEN-

CIES): Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot, a day after launching his ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’ to raise the issue of corruption during the previous BJP regime led by Vasundhara Raje, said on Friday that his party must learn from the Karnataka assembly election, which he claimed the party would win because it raised corruption issues against the Basavaraj Bommai government, reports Hindustan Times. Pilot has been persistently demanding alleged corruption during the Raje government from his own Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot. “We are

Pilot’s yatra ‘personal’ one, keeping eye on it:

Cong’s Rajasthan in-charge Randhawa

alleged criminal conspiracy (120-B IPC), and threat of extortion (388 IPC) besides provisions pertaining to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act on a complaint from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

“It has been alleged that the said officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau of Mumbai Zone, in order to obtain undue advantage from the persons and others in the Case No. 94/2021... registered and investigated under the supervision of then Zonal Director of Mumbai Zone of NCB, had entered into criminal conspiracy with others and alleged ly ob -

tained undue advantage in the form of bribes from the alleged accused...”, a CBI spokesperson said.

The probe agency alleged the NCB, Mumbai Zone had received information during October, 2021 related to the consumption and possession of narcotics substances by various individuals on a private cruise ship.

“It has also been alleged that the said persons entered into conspiracy in order to extort an amount of Rs 25 crore (approx) from family members of the alleged accused of the case No. 94/2021 of NCB, Mumbai, by threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of narcotics substances as per the alleged directions of then zonal director (Wankhede) being the supervisory officer,” he said. A token amount of Rs 50 lakh as bribe was allegedly obtained in furtherance of this conspiracy by the said persons, he said.

Political slugfest in WB on termination of 36K teachers

KOLKATA, MAY 12

(IANS): A fresh political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal over the termination of service of 36,000 primary teachers in the state following an order issued by the Calcutta High Court on Friday. Commenting on the development, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the high court must see that no teacher becomes a victim of the court’s decision.

“We had been saying since the beginning that only qualified persons should get jobs. But at the same time, it has to be seen that no one becomes a victim of stubbornness.

services of 36,000 primary teachers have been terminated by a court decision, it is the state government which is responsible for it.

“Those who sold jobs against money should be arrested and the money should be recovered from them. The Trinamool leaders should be ready now to face the public’s ire,” Chakraborty said.

According to Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the termination of service of so many people is nothing less than a tsunami. “The entire state is shivering because of the tsunami of corruption. Under the current government, West Bengal will surely figure in the Guinness World Records for corruption,” he said.

Stage set for counting of votes in Karnataka assembly election

Representational image

BENGALURU, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): Counting of votes polled for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections, which witnessed a fierce contest between rivals BJP and the Congress, will be taken up tomorrow, reports Ndtv news. Parties, including the JD(S) wait with bated breath to know the outcome as hung assembly is a possibility.

The electoral fortunes of top leaders - Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S)’ HD Kumaraswamy, among many others will be known tomorrow.

The counting will begin at 8 am in 36 centres across the state, and poll officials expect a clear picture about the outcome is likely to emerge by mid-day.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the State, especially in and around the counting centres, to avoid any untoward incidents, official sources told Press Trust of India.

The State registered a “record” turnout of 73.19 per cent in the voting on May 10, to elect representatives to the 224 member Assembly. With most exit polls predicting a tight contest between the Congress and

Congress leader Sachin Pilot during his Jan Sanghrah Yatra in Kishangarh tehsil in Ajmer district, Friday. (PTI) going to form a government in Karnataka and the reason behind our win is because we levelled allegations of a 40 per cent commission government…people trusted us and that is why Congress will secure a majority to -

BJP, leaders of the two parties seem “jittery” over the outcome, while the JD(S) appears to be expecting a hung verdict, which would enable it to play a role in government formation.

Most pollsters have given an edge to the Congress over the ruling BJP, while also indicating the possibility of a hung Assembly in the state.

Having banked on the Narendra Modi juggernaut, the ruling BJP is looking to break a 38-year-old poll jinx where the people have never voted the incumbent party to power, while the Congress is hoping for a morale booster victory to give it a much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

It also remains to be seen whether former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowdaled JD(S) will emerge as a “kingmaker” or a “king” by holding the key to government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.

morrow. We said the same in Rajasthan too but if we fail to act on our promise, how will we win the public’s confidence…,” Pilot told reporters on the second day of his 125-km-long padyatra from Ajmer to Jaipur.

Sachin Pilot’s ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’ is a “personal” one and the party “is keeping an eye on” it, Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said on Friday. He said a discussion on all issues would be held when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge returns from Karnataka. Randhawa made the remarks after a meeting with state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra and co-in-charges Qazi Muhammad Nizamuddin, Amrita Dhawan and Virendra Rathore, among others, at the party’s Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Road office where Pilot’s march, organisational issues and preparations for the assembly polls this year were discussed.

“I met the three secretaries attached to me and the Pradesh Congress Committee chief here. This was our first meeting together as we were busy with the elections in Karnataka and the Jalandhar bypoll. The strengthening of the organisation and appointments for the frontal organisations in the state were discussed,” Randhawa told reporters after the meeting.

Training cum Promotion of Pig Breeder in Nagaland ICAR Nagaland Centre, Medziphema would like to conduct a five days programme to promote pig breeding in Nagaland. The programme will be conducted in May or June 2023. The interested pig breeders (having 10 or more than 10 sows at their unit) may fill up the proforma available at ICAR Nagaland Centre website (https://icarnagaland.nic.in/) and send it to icarnagaland@gmail.com by 20th May 2023. This programme will be for pig breeders and not for fatteners. Participants will be sorted out by the institute on their potentiality as future entrepreneurs in pig breeding. Programme schedule will be intimated to the selected participants only. DC-543/23

The counsels for the state government and the concerned departments will surely review the order of the court. I am not in a position to make further comments on this issue,” he said. CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said that although he feels bad that the

According to BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh, breaking the law is rampant in all the departments of the state government under Trinamool’s rule.

Sameer Wankhede

Uddhav Thackeray

Narendra Modi

Retail inflation eases to 4.7 per cent in April

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): India’s consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation fell to 4.7 per cent in April, data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) showed on Friday. In the month of March, the retail inflation was 5.66 per cent.

According to Business Standard, the food inflation also eased to 3.84 per cent in April. It was 4.79 per cent in March.

However, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) fell sharply to 1.1 per cent in March from 5.6 per cent in February.

“For the month of March 2023, the Quick Estimates of Index of In-

Tea

KOLKATA, MAY 12

(PTI): Tea Board India has decided to set up a fact-finding committee to ascertain the causes of falling green leaf prices despite declining production of small growers across the country, an official said on Friday.

Confederation of Small Tea Growers Association of India president Bijoygopal Chakraborty said the production during the ongoing second flush season has “fallen” coupled with dipping prices of green leaf, which goes against the basic principle of economics.

The second flush output constitutes 12-13 per cent of the annual production volumes in West Bengal, he said. The production of small tea growers in the state has “dipped due to pest attacks and scanty rainfall caused by global warming”, he said.

“Tea Board has decided to set up a fact-finding committee to ascertain the causes of falling green leaf prices,” an official told PTI.

Compared to last year

Gold tumbles Rs 710; silver plummets Rs 2,690

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

dustrial Production (IIP) with base 2011-12 stands at 150.5. The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of March 2023 stand at 154.2, 146.0 and 188.0 respectively,” the Centre’s announcement said.

“As per Use-based classification, the indices stand at 158.2 for Primary Goods, 120.9 for Capital Goods, 158.2 for Intermediate Goods and 178.7 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for the month of March 2023. Further, the indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables stand at 118.1 and 145.6 respectively for

when green leaf prices were around Rs 35 per kilogram, the same has plummeted to Rs 17 per kilogram during the second flush season this year, Chakraborty said. “Prices generally rise when a shortfall of a commodity arises. But in this case, prices of green leaf produced by small tea growers are falling, while production is also declining. The problem is even compounded by the rise in production costs. Such a situation is making operations of small tea growers unviable,” he said.

Chakraborty said that bought leaf factories (BLFs), which buy the crop from small growers, are pointing out the fact that “demand for tea leaf is falling and they are also saddled with huge inventories, which is leading to lower off-take”.

Annual production of small tea growers constitutes 65 per cent of the total crop in north Bengal, while it is close to 52 per cent of the overall volume of the country.

the month of March 2023,” it added. The April’s inflation numbers were the lowest in 18 months. It was for the second month in a row that retail inflation remained within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) comfort zone of below 6 per cent.

Retail inflation rose from 5.7 per cent in December 2022 to 6.4 per cent in February 2023 on the back of higher prices of cereals, milk and fruits and slower deflation in vegetable prices. The RBI has projected the CPI inflation at 5.2 per cent for FY2023-24, with 5.1 per cent in Q1, 5.4 per cent in Q2, 5.4 per cent in Q3, and 5.2 per cent in Q4, and risks evenly balanced.

(PTI): Gold prices tumbled Rs 710 to Rs 60,970 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday amid weak global cues, according to HDFC Securities.

The yellow metal had settled at Rs 61,680 per 10 grams in the previous trade.

Silver also plummeted Rs 2,690 to Rs 73,445 per kg.

“Gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at Rs 60,970 per 10 grams, down Rs 710 per 10 grams,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.

In the overseas market, gold and silver were quoting lower at U.S. Dollar 2,009 per ounce and U.S. Dollar 24.10 per ounce, respectively.

(From p-1) He said Friday’s CNCCI meeting decided to demand that the state government “immediately” come out with response in the public medium, failing which, CNCCI would be compelled to take steps for survival of business.

Dr.Muru also claimed that every district in Nagaland will stand together respond in unity against forcible collection.He also added that if any business individual was harassed, kidnapped or tortured, the entire business community in Nagaland will respond in unison.

Dwelling on the syndicate system, monopoly and license raj organized by various Naga factions, Dr.Muru said such systems needed to be stopped since the business community cannot be made to sustain the luxurious lifestyle of others.

Speaking on village or colony council collecting tax, Dr.Muru noted that unless these are approved by the competent authority, such taxation have to be regarded as illegal.He also disclosed that CNCCI will conduct its own investigation on this matter. He termed it as harassment the frequent random checking of business establishments by unauthorized persons or organizations.

While admitting that consumers have the right to complaint, yet any action needed to be taken within the parameters of functions and protocol under consumer act. He also said what was needed is to follow up such cases but complainants should not take the law into their own hands.

He said CNCCI will write to the state government to set up a committee

headed by a Food Safety Inspector(FSI) or administration, along with a member of CNCCI and civil society, to form a committee authorized to conduct checks. On problems faced by the business community due to “multiple authorities” in the state, he noted that this only confused the people.

As an example Dr.Muru cited grant of license for sale of fire crackers, where the state government permitted it under certain restrictions but other “authorities” putting a ban. In this regard, he said the business community was confused as to whose authority would it obey. In this regard Dr.Muru reminded the state government to come out openly and inform public as to whose authority should the public follow?

Indigenous groups urge PM...

(From p-1) Several leaders of tribal, political and social organizations including Vela Ram Gogra of BTP Rajasthan; Bala Jagtap of Prahar Social Party, Maharashtra; Shradha Kashyap of Ekta Parishad and others attended the meeting. NPMHR said that Faggan Singh Kulaste expressed solidarity and commitment for the cause of peace in the Naga areas. He also reportedly assured to take the concerns expressed in the meeting to the political leadership of India. Other indigenous/adivasi leaders such as Dr. Heera Alawa, Velaram Meena, Rakesh Mahale, Gajanand Mahale, Hafiz Harun, Hari Singh Marawi, Gulzar Singh Marawi, Bala Saheb Jagtap, Arslan Y.Khan and Bijaya Panda also expressed their solidarity with the Naga endeavour for peace, NPMHR stated.

Dissidence against CM Biren

(From p-1)

The signatory MLAs said to be made to live among the Meiteis again was “as good as death for our people.”

MUMBAI, MAY 12 (PTI):

Benchmark BSE Sensex recovered from early lows to close at a five-month high on Friday, riding on gains in banking and auto stocks ahead of the release of key inflation data.

The 30-share index gained 123.38 points or 0.20 per cent to settle at 62,027.90, the highest closing level since December 12, 2022.

The barometer opened lower due to early weakness in energy, power and IT stocks and touched a low of 61,578.15 in the day trade. Later, it rebounded on buying in financial and auto shares to hit a high of 62,110.93 points.

The broader NSE Nifty edged up 17.80 points or 0.1 per cent to close at 18,314.80 points. The 50-stock index rose by 245.8 points on weekly basis, marking its third straight week of gains.

Among Sensex scrips, Mahindra and Mahindra rose the most by 1.92 per

cent. IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, HUL, Bajaj Finance and HCL Tech were among the other gainers.

PowerGrid fell the most by 2.67 per cent, followed by NTPC (2.34 per cent) and Tata Steel (1.43 per cent). Ultratech Cement, Nestle, Sun Pharma, Infosys, L&T, Kotak Bank, TCS and Wipro also declined.

“A slew of weak economic data points from the US and China hinting towards a slower pace of economic growth disturbed the mood of the Asian market. The domestic market recovered in the second half as investors back home awaited the release of inflation data that is expected to cool down below 5 per cent,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said.

Markets remained volatile for yet another session and ended almost on a flat note, Ajit Mishra, VP - Technical Research at

Religare Broking Ltd, said.

“The tone was negative in the first hour, however, buying in index majors, especially from banking, financials and auto space helped the index to trim losses,” Mishra said.

In the broader market, BSE smallcap index dropped by 0.08 per cent while BSE midcap fell 0.33 per cent.

Among major sectoral gainers, BSE Auto advanced 0.93 per cent, Bankex by 0.73 per cent, and Financial Services by 0.42 per cent.

On other other hand, BSE Utilities dropped 1.83 per cent, Metal by 1.69 per cent, Oil & Gas by 1.13 per cent, Power by 1.19 per cent, Commodities by 0.99 per cent, and Energy by 0.77 per cent.

Market breadth was negative as out of 3,638 stocks traded, 1,653 stocks advanced, 1,865 dropped and 120 closed unchanged on BSE.

The signatories said that as elected representatives of their people and in respecting their sentiments, they have endorsed their political aspiration for separation of their districts from Manipur.

The MLAs also said they have decided to hold a political consultation with their people at the earliest regarding further steps which they will be taking.

Meanwhile, BJP chief minister Biren Singh has been wracked by dissidence even as early April when four BJP legislators, came out in defiance of his leadership.

The flurry of legislators quitting government posts began on April 13, when

former cop and Heirok MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh resigned as the CM’s advisor, saying he had “not been given any responsibility”. In the week that followed, two more legislators-- Karam Shyam,MLA from Langthabal and P Brojen Singh , MLA from Wangjing Tentha - quit their posts as heads of Manipur Tourism Corporation and Manipur Development Society, respectively. Two of them -- Thokchom Radheshyam and Karam Shyam- had been cabinet ministers in Biren’s first term. The four legislators were among the MLAs who had also reportedly camped at Delhi to voice their grievances to the BJP high command. Apart from the four, there were reports of a few other BJP MLAs who were unhappy with the style of functioning of Biren Singh.

OPPO shuts down chip design unit

BEIJING, MAY 12 (IANS): Smartphone maker OPPO has shut down its chip design subsidiary called Zeku, as the semiconductor market goes through a heavy slump, the media reported on Friday.

According to the South China Morning Post, OPPO announced the move in a brief statement, calling it a “difficult decision” and blaming “uncertainties in the global economy and smartphone market”.

Zeku employees received less than a day’s notice about the unit being shut down, the report claimed.

The global technology brand set up Zeku in 2019 to design chips that could be used in its devices.

Other smartphone makers, including Xiaomi, have also set up their own

chip-design verticals.

The move came as chip manufacturing has been severely affected in China by escalating US export restrictions targeting advanced semiconductors.

“Out of 3,243 fabless chip firms in China last year, only 566 had sales above 100 million yuan ($14.4 million), according to Wei Shaojun, president of integrated circuit design at the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA),” the report mentioned. Global semiconductor revenue is projected to decline 11.2 per cent to reach $532 billion in 2023, and the short-term outlook for the semiconductor market has deteriorated further.

In 2022, the market totalled $599.6 billion, which was marginal growth of 0.2 per cent from 2021, ac-

cording to the latest forecast from Gartner. The PC, tablet and smartphone semiconductor markets are stagnating. The combined markets will represent 31 per cent of semiconductor revenue in 2023 and total $167.6 billion.

Board to form panel to examine causes of falling prices

Sensex rises 123 points to close above 62,000 on gains in banking, auto shares

SNIPPETS

Palestinian militants

fire rockets to Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, MAY 12

(IANS): Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets to the Jerusalem area for the first time since the current round of violence started, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. Israeli emergency services reported no casualties in the latest barrage of rockets. Simultaneously, the Israeli military announced it was conducting airstrikes against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the Gaza Health Ministry. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations on Friday morning with senior defence officials, Xinhua news agency reported.

2 terrorists killed in Pakistan shoot-out

ISLAMABAD, MAY 12

(IANS): Two terrorists and two security personnel were killed in an exchange of firing in Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province on Friday, an Army statement said. The incident happened in the early hours when a group of terrorists attacked a camp of the paramilitary troops frontier corps in northern Balochistan, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement. Three terrorists were also injured in the clash, the ISPR added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

S.Korea Air Force begins

large-scale training

SEOUL, MAY 12

(IANS): The South Korea

Air Force on Friday kicked off a regular large-scale exercise to bolster its combat capabilities and ensure the country’s defence posture. The eight-day Soaring Eagle exercise began at an air base in Cheongju, 112 kilometre south of Seoul, amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korea’s firing of a purported solidfuel intercontinental ballistic missile last month. The exercise mobilises more than 160 personnel and nearly 60 warplanes, including F-35A stealth fighters, F-15Ks, KF-16s and KC-330 tanker transport aircraft, according to the Air Force, Yonhap news agency reported.

Iran, Oman to start space co-op

TEHRAN, MAY 12

(IANS): Iran and Oman have agreed to start cooperation in the space sector, media reported. The issue was discussed in a meeting between Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology

Isa Zarepour and Omani

Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology

Saeed bin Hamoud alMaawali in Tehran, the report said on Thursday. Speaking at the meeting, the Iranian Minister said his country is capable of building remote sensing and communications satellites for launch into low Earth orbits and can cooperate with Oman in this area, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Myanmar soldiers kill 19 villagers

BANGKOK, MAY 12

(AP): Soldiers from Myanmar’s military government raided a village in the country’s central region, killing 19 villagers including four children and burning their bodies, independent media and a resident said on Friday. The killings on Wednesday in Nyaung

Pin Thar village in Bago region’s Htantabin township may have been in retaliation for an attack by resistance forces opposed to army rule.

Imran Khan gets two-week protective bail in corruption case

SC KEEPS FAVOURING ITS ‘LADLA’ IMRAN KHAN: PM SHEHBAZ

ISLAMABAD, MAY 12

(PTI): In a temporary relief to Imran Khan, a special bench of the Islamabad High Court on Friday granted him protective bail for two weeks in a corruption case and ordered that the former Pakistan prime minister should not be arrested till May 17 in any case registered after Tuesday.

The bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the Al-Qadir trust corruption case, a day after the Supreme Court termed Khan’s dramatic arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises on Tuesday as “invalid and unlawful”.

The court in its order also stated that the former premier should not be arrested in any case, registered after May 9, till May 17. The bench also ordered the authorities to provide ‘fool -

Imran

other formalities. The hearing was delayed for nearly two hours due to security reasons. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday questioned the Supreme Court’s granting of relief to its “ladla” Imran Khan, saying its “double standards” have led to the death of justice in Pakistan.

“When he (Imran) was presented in court yesterday, the CJP said it is good to see you. And, he said this in a case of corruption,” he said.

S Africa slams US for accusing it of supplying arms to Russia

JOHANNESBURG, MAY 12 (PTI): South Africa on Friday hit out at the US for accusing it of supplying arms to Russia amidst its war with Ukraine, saying the country cannot be bullied.

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

WASHIMNGTON, MAY

12 (AP): Elon Musk said he has found a new CEO for Twitter, or X Corp. as it’s now called, and multiple media reports identify her as NBCUniversal’s Linda Yaccarino, an executive with deep ties to the advertising industry.

Musk did not name Yaccarino when he made the announcement Thursday, but on Friday NBCUniversal said that Yaccarino would be stepping down from the company as chairwoman for global advertising and partnerships.

According to Yaccarino’s LinkedIn, Yaccarino has worked at NBCUniversal for nearly 12 years — previously serving as chair for advertising and client partnerships and as president of cable entertainment and digital advertising sales. Prior to her time with NBC, Yaccarino worked at global entertainment company Turner for

almost two decades.

Yaccarino interviewed Musk on a Miami stage last month in front of hundreds of advertisers.

Luring advertisers is critical for Musk and Twitter after many fled in the early months after his takeover of the social media platform, fearing harm to their brands in the ensuing chaos. Musk said in late April that advertisers had returned, but provided no details.

NBCUniversal’s press release did not specify why Yaccarino was leaving the company on Friday, but her departure fueled speculation about her future role at Twitter. Multiple media reports reported early Friday that Musk was “in talks” to hire Yaccarino as CEO. Sources familiar with the matter later confirmed to The Washington Post that Musk had selected Yaccarino to head the social media platform.

G-7 talks focus on ways to fortify banks, supply chains

NIIGATA, MAY 12 (AP):

Bank runs, cyber security and building more reliable supply chains to ensure economic security were among items on the agenda of closed-door financial talks Friday in Japan by the Group of Seven advanced economies.

Tensions with China, and with Russia over its war on Ukraine, loomed large on the wide horizon of issues the G-7 is tackling this year in Japan, its only Asian member.

But while G-7 finance ministers and central bank chiefs discussed ways to protect the international rules-based order and prevent what they are calling “economic coercion” by China, Beijing lashed back, accusing the club of wealthy nations of hypocrisy.

China is a victim of economic coercion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday.

and was killed in violence in March when police raided Khan’s Lahore residence to arrest him. The IHC’s decision to grant Khan a twoweek reprieve from arrest came hours after he warned of countrywide unrest if he was arrested again.

Khan, 70, arrived at the court amid tight security and underwent the biometric identification process and

is escorted by police officers as he arrives to appear in a court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday. (PTI) proof security’ to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief. Khan is expected to return to his Bani Gala residence. In another case, the IHC judge Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri conducted the hearing in the Zile Shah murder case and after arguments, the court accepted Khan’s protective bail in the case till May 22. Shah was a PTI supporter

“If you want to keep favouring this ladla (pampered), then you should also release all the dacoits behind bars in the country. Let this be free for all,” he said while addressing the federal Cabinet on Friday. Describing Khan and his party as “liars”, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday slammed the Opposition for pushing the cashstrapped country towards “destruction”.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni in an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation said there was no official record of any arms sales to Russia. Her remarks came a day after US Ambassador Reuben Brigety at the US Embassy in Pretoria said the US had information that the Russian vessel Lady R had been loaded with weapons at the naval base of Simonstown on the South African coast late last year.

“(South Africa) cannot be bullied by the US. They want to treat us as if we are one of their states. We are not. We are a sovereign and republic state and we are not going to co-govern with the ambassador of the US,” Ntshavheni said.

Ukraine says it has retaken territory near embattled eastern city of Bakhmut

KYIV, MAY 12 (AP):

Ukrainian military commanders said on Friday that their troops had recaptured more territory from Russian forces at the scene of the war’s longest and bloodiest battle, for the eastern city of Bakhmut, but it wasn’t clear if this marked the start of Kyiv’s long-expected counteroffensive.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said Kyiv had stepped up attacks north of the region.

The 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of territory retaken by Ukrainian forces south of Bakhmut this week represented a significant gain and will protect an important supply chain, according to commanders of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, a special forces unit that led the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he met with the top military commanders Friday, noting

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an independent inquiry into it and promised firm action if there was any wrongdoing.

“When you say you have these concerns, we say to you, officially, from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, we do not have a record of any authorisation for South Africa selling arms to Ukraine, Russia and Belarus,” Ntshavheni said.

“We comply as a country to our own Conventional Arms Control Act, which says arms manufactured in South Africa cannot be used in wars that affect women, children, and we are very clear on that,” she said, adding that there was strict oversight on arms sales.

Ntshavheni also commented on the decision by the Department of International Relations and Communication (Dirco) to demarche Brigety and for the minister of the Department Naledi Pandor to meet with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Friday, describing this as part of the diplomatic steps to address the situation.

She decried the move by the ambassador, saying it was the wrong way to raise any concerns that the US might have on any issue.

“It doesn’t work. If the US has concerns about anything in South Africa, they are allowed to raise them — but the channel they need to contact is Dirco to say (that) these are the issues they have problems with because we have a relationship with the US,” she said. Ntshavheni said South Africa has no sanctions against Russia and did not wish to get involved in any dispute that the US might have with Russia or China.

Pope advices Italians to have more kids, not pets

the trend.”

ROME, MAY 12 (AP):

Pope Francis joined Italy’s conservative premier on Friday in encouraging Italians to have more children, denouncing the financial precariousness facing young couples and “selfish, egotistical” choices that have led to a record low birth rate that is threatening the country’s economic future.

“If any country should be criticized for economic coercion, it should be the United States. The U.S. has been overstretching the concept of national security, abusing export controls and taking discriminatory and unfair measures against foreign companies,” Wang said in a routine news briefing.

China accuses Washington of hindering its rise as an increasingly affluent, modern nation through trade and investment restrictions that the United States says are needed to protect American economic security.

Speaking before the talks began, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said such measures are “narrowly targeted” and focused on national security.

“It’s not focused on undermining China’s economic competitiveness or preventing them to advance economically,” Yellen said.

DHAKA, MAY 12 (AP):

Authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar prepared to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people Friday, warning them to stay away from coastal areas as a severe cyclonic storm called Mocha churned in the Bay of Bengal.

The storm is expected to roar in on Sunday with a wind speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour, gusting to 175 kph between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, India’s Meteorological Department said.

Bangladesh is a delta nation of more than 160 million people and is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones. Evacuation of nearly

A Ukrainian tank rides on the road near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Thursday, May 11, 2023. (AP) that he heard a report from Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi whose forces “stopped the enemy and even pushed him back in some directions.”

In a statement on Telegram on Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed that Ukrainian forces gained ground around the city, reiterating statements from military commanders earli-

er this week. The battle for Bakhmut, once a salt-mining town, has been grinding on for eight months.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the millionaire owner of the Russian military contractor, the Wagner Group, harshly criticized the Russian military for losing ground around Bakhmut and exposing the flanks of his forces battling for the city.

Thousands to be evacuated as B’desh, Myanmar brace for severe cyclone threat

500,000 people is expected to start Saturday with 576 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those moved from their homes along a vast coast, said Bangladesh government administrator Muhammad Shaheen Imran.

“This is the first cyclone system in the north Indian Ocean this year,” said Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, a senior scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department. “The cyclone is severe and will likely affect millions of fishers and coastal communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar.”

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar’s southwestern Ayeyarwady or Irrawaddy Region with a

CONDEMNATION

storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.

Myanmar authorities warned of possible flash floods and landslides in coastal areas as residents stocked up on essential supplies, said Hla Tun, a director at the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The Friday edition of the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar carried reports about rehearsal exercises for emergency management, response, recuse, cooperation, readiness and rehabilitation processes in various regions.

Francis urged concrete political action to invert the “demographic winter,” which in population terms resulted in the disappearance of a city the size of Bari last year. Blasting couples who have pets instead of children, Francis called for resources to be dedicated to helping couples grow their families, saying it was necessary to “plant the future” with hope.

“Let us not resign ourselves to sterile dullness and pessimism,” Francis told an annual gathering of profamily organizations. “Let us not believe that history is already marked, that nothing can be done to reverse

Italy recorded a record low number of live births last year, 392,598, which combined with an elevated number of deaths, 713,499, has accelerated the demographic trend that threatens to crash the country’s social security system. The government of Premier Giorgia Meloni is backing a campaign to encourage at least 500,000 births annually by 2033, a rate that demographers say is necessary to prevent the economy from collapsing by growing the wage-earning population as retirees draw on their pensions.

Meloni came to power last year on a pro-family campaign of “God, family, fatherland” and her government has proposed a host of measures to try to encourage families to have more children, including tax cuts to increase spending power, given Italy’s fertility rate of 1.24 children per woman is among the lowest in the world.

Dated : 12th May 2023

Chumoukedima Yaongyimsen Union condemn the act of Mr. Merentuba Imsong, S/o Ajungkaba Imsong (Nukshiyim) and Mrs. Sentimongla Imsong

D/o Achung Imsong (Yaongyimsen) who currently resides in Seiuruzha colony ward 8. The duo was caught red handed of forging Chumoukedima Village council’s official seal, signature and manufacturing fake Land Registration Certificate, which the Union vehemently condemn and declare that they should be punish according to the law.

Khan, center,

Janet Yellen, center, with G7 FM, central bank governors with invited non-G7 countries, in Japan, on Friday. (AP)

NBCUniversal’s Linda Yaccarino to take over as new Twitter CEO

Intl. nurses day celebrated

Vikepu Tepa and vote of thanks by secretary welfare, TNAI, Mary Tikhir.

Mokokchung: In Mokokchung, the day was celebrated at IMDH Mokokchung. Addressing the gathering as chief guest, CMO Mokokchung, Dr. Kibangkumba called upon all the nurses to reaffirm their dedication to the call of the Nobel profession.

Correspondent

KOHIMA/DIMAPUR,

MAY 12 (NPN): Along with the rest of the world, Nagaland also celebrated International Nurses’ Day by conducting several activities to thank and honour the nurses for the crucial role performed by them in healthcare. The day is celebrated on May 12 around the world to highlights the importance of nurses in the healthcare sector. International nurses day also marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

KOHIMA: The day was celebrated, under the

theme, “Our nurses. Our future” at Multipurpose Hall, NHAK on May 12.

Speaking on the occasion, commissioner and secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Y Kikheto Sema, lauded the nurses for their dedication and work, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which he termed it as reminder of the vital role played by nurses.

Emphasizing that the greatest threat to global health was the shortage of workforce, where women consisted of 70% of the global health workforce, and in order to promote gender equality, Kikheto suggested

on the need to invest in the nursing sector. He said in Nagaland out of the total 1797 nurses only 21 were male nurses. He also described hospital with fewer/ less nurses to a building with a weak foundation, and said that to meet the healthcare challenges, investment in the nursing sector was needed.

Highlighting the theme of the celebration, principal, SON, Tiakala Longkumer highlighted the crucial role played by the nurses in shaping the future of the healthcare. The program was chaired by secretary finance TNAI, Alula Walling, invocation by chaplain,

Rural Haat inaugurated at Sakraba

DIMAPUR: Sakraba Rural Haat funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Agency was inaugurated at Sakraba, Phek on April 11 by General Manager NABARD, RO Dimapur, Tiakala Ao.

Jacob asks deptts to prepare for monsoon

DIMAPUR: In view of the monsoon season, minister of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Jacob Zhimomi asked all responsible departments under Niuland district to be prepared for any monsooninduced disasters.

He said nurses were the backbone of health care institution, and advised the nurses to be dedicated to implement all the health programme initiated by the government.

Earlier, speaking on the theme, Lipoksangla N/T said the day was celebrated to honour the service rendered by the nursing community for humanity. The programme was chaired by T. Temsusenla Aier vice president,SON, prayer for the nurses was offered by pastor MTBA and vote of thanks by Imolangla Jamir N/T.

In her address, Tiakala emphasized the main visions of NABARD- to be the development bank of the nation for fostering rural prosperity, to promote sustainable and equitable Agriculture and Rural development through participative financial and non-financial intervention, innovations, technology, and institutional development for securing prosperity.

She also said that Rural Haat has been made disabled friendly making it accessible for wheelchair passageways, emphasizing eco-friendly and a traditional hut constructed by the village council for the weary travelers to rest with a facility of pay-and-use toilet.

Yoruba becomes State’s first smart village

DIMAPUR, MAY 12

(NPN): Yoruba village in Phek district has won the distinction as Nagaland’s first smart village. It was inaugurated by director of Census Operation and Citizen Registration Nagaland Anoop Khinchi during a programme held at the village ground on Thursday.

The programme began with a “Transform Thought, Transform Village” march that was undertaken from Lakeview till local ground, followed by planting of saplings by guests, who were welcomed by villagers.

Speaking on the occasion, Khinchi congratulated the villagers and expressed his happiness for their resolve to develop the village. He acknowledged the team led by Dr Priyanand Agale, founder president of Eco Revolution Movement and Eco Needs Foundation, for coming forward to develop the village.

Eco Needs Foundation adopted the village to trans-

form it into a smart village.

According to Khinchi, smart village meant making the lives of citizens comfortable and easy with amenities made available at their doorsteps in coordination with various departments.

He stressed venturing into rubber, tea and coffee plantations, and rejuvenating and manage spring-shed for water supply for human consumption. He requested the villagers to take the guardianship.

Noting that ecotourism had a huge potential, he urged the villagers to think of the biodiversity and come out with sustainable plans to conserve the environment and be in sync with nature while focusing on economy and livelihood.

In his speech, Agale remarked that history was created with Yoruba becoming the first smart village of Nagaland. He disclosed that there were over 50 schemes for development of rural areas. He said smart village

initiative was a continuous effort to ease the living of people at the village with futuristic approach for development.

He said smart village was the collective responsibility of villagers, administration, corporate, public representatives, including MLAs and MPs, to develop it with all basic amenities to ease the lives of people. He said the smart village initiative meant making effective utilisation of all available resources in smart way by considering present and future requirements.

He said stated that smart village was the model for sustainable development, making the best use of technology, natural resources and care of the environment.

Agale informed the gathering that under the smart village programme, no household would be left behind in development. He highlighted the five elements of smart village

– retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield, e-Pan and livelihood. He also shared various activities carried out under each element of smart village.

According to him, retrofitting was aimed at enhancing the beauty of the village, while new infrastructure would be created under redevelopment with new village approach road work having been already started. He explained greenfield as caring for environment and carrying out environment-related activities like water conversation, plantation, solid and liquid waste management, use of renewable energy. He said e-Pan stood for technology, focusing on communication and e-learning to provide learning and skills to enable people to earn.

He called for efforts from all residents of the village to bring about change and underscored the important role of women and youth. He said Yoruba

would serve as a role model for villages across the State and help in boosting the tourism sector.

Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Yoruba Village Council chairman Vethisa Lohe, while the introductory speech was delivered by retired joint director Dr Cisoi Khusoh.

The programme was chaired by Vetsokho Lohe, Smart Village team, prayer was offered by Christian Revival Church pastor Rev Zaseyi Veswuh and songs were presented by Yorubami Women Welfare and Cisanyi Lohe and friends. Many paintings were displayed across the villages on the occasion. This was stated in a DIPR press release.

According to a DIPR report, Zhimomi, who is also the chairman of Niuland District Planning & Development Board (DPDB), was addressing the monthly meeting of DPDB on May 11 at the Conference Hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Niuland office.

The minister cautioned the departments that this year’s monsoon could be “very harsh” for the district and advised them to be fully prepared.

Stating that DC Niuland and vice chairman DPDB, Sara S Jamir has convened a meeting of all departments on May 16 for the same, Zhimomi directed respective departments to prepare a monsoon preparedness plan for further

NSCN (Khango) clarifies, warns

DIMAPUR: NSCN (Khango) has clarified that it has neither endorsed nor entrusted any officials to issue “non-local identity cards” or collect money in Kuhuboto area, Niuland district. In a press release, NSCN (Khango) MIP said that some unscrupulous elements were involved in issuing IDs and collecting money in the name of “NSCN government”.

NSCN said it viewed the “act of imposters indulging in tarnishing the good image of the government” seriously and warned any individual or group to desist from any such activities to avoid stringent action.

deliberation.

Underscoring the importance of empowering youth of the district, he asked all the stakeholders to provide platform to the youth.

The minister also directed departments yet to establish office in the newly district to put up the proposal through the district administration for necessary action.

CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY

Bouquets available at Domain Building, Near Titan show room, Dimapur

OFFICE OF THE MOPUNGCHUKET AIT LAISHIR TELONGJEM FELICITATION

Though this column the Mopungchuket Ait Laishir Telongjem (MALT) would like to convey our heartiest appreciation and happiness in congratulating Miss Yongkongnukla Ozukum D/o Mr. Tsuktitemjen & Mrs. Wapangrenla for successfully achieving her degree of “Doctorate” on her thesis “Women Entrepreneurs of Nagaland: A Sociological study ” from the Dept. of Sociology, NEHU Shillong.

The MALT as a whole wishes the best in her future endeavors. Sd/- Sd/President Asst. Gen. Secy. Katilong Jamir, MALT Imlikumzuk Aier, MALT

Y Kikheto Sema with the nurses at NHAK on Friday. (NP)

Jacob Zhimomi speaking at the DPDB meeting. (DIPR)

SIT formed to probe allegations against WFI chief: Police to Court

NEW DELHI, MAY 12

(IANS): The Delhi Police on Friday informed a court here that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

In the Rouse Avenue court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal, Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava submitted that a status report has been filed in the case under a sealed cover and that it must not be disclosed as the case involves sexual offences.

The SIT team has 10 officials, including a female Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

“The team has been set up to collect inputs from different states based on complaints filed by female wrestlers,” said the official.

The court was also informed that the statement of one of the victims before the concerned magistrate under Section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code will be recorded in the day. The

court has posted the matter for hearing next on May 27.

On Wednesday, the court had sought from the Delhi Police a status report in the matter.

Since April 23, prominent Indian wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, who have achieved Olympic and World Championships recognition, have been staging a protest at Jantar Mantar against the WFI chief.

Farmers have also extended their support to wrestlers and had arrived from Haryana and Punjab on Monday to join the protest.

During the hearing, the judge had issued notice to police on protesting wrestlers’ plea seeking monitoring of the investigation and

recording of statements of the alleged victims before the court.

On Tuesday, Delhi Commission for Women also issued summons to

Result of state hostel football trials declared

Hriday Hazarika, Nancy win first senior World Cup medals

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal for failing to arrest the accused in the matter of sexual harassment of women wrestlers.

Delhi Police records statement of WFI chief in sexual harassment case

Delhi Police has recorded the statement of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment against female wrestlers, a Police official said on Friday.

The police have also requested some documents from him, the source said, adding that if necessary, further statements will be taken.

Sources reveal that Singh has denied all the allegations levelled against him.

The police have also taken the statement of Assistant Secretary of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Vinod Tomar, another accused in the case. He has been named in the FIR filed by the Delhi Police.

Additionally, the Delhi Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter in-depth. The SIT team has ten officials, including a woman Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

“The team has been set up to collect inputs from different states based on complaints filed by female wrestlers,” said the official.

Since April 23, prominent Indian wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, who have achieved Olympic and World Championships recognition, have been staging a protest at Jantar Mantar against WFI chief. Farmers have also extended their support to wrestlers and had arrived from Haryana and Punjab on Monday to join the wrestlers’ protest.

KDAA holds first annual general meeting

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): The department of Youth Resources and Sports (YR&S) has declared the selection results of state hostel football trials held in the month of March 2023. All the selected players have been requested to contact the coach in-charge, at 9612443985 or 9436619586 for further details. Selected name list for state sports hostel for the year 2023 are: Kikrusezu, Tahnyei, Atou Chishi, Sarakhum, Nipuvi, Asa, Kelhoukhrielie, Saronbemo, Myjoi, Tohika, Ayenmongba, Noklen and Sunjem Wapang.

CDCA inform on senior men’s trials

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Chumoukedima

District Cricket Association (CDCA) has informed all the senior’s men cricket players under Chumoukedima district that there will be trials for on May 15, 8:30 am at Sovima Cricket Ground. It also informed that registration of cricket clubs, senior’s men, women, U-23, U-19, U-16 for the district will be opened till the last week of this month. For clarification, contact at 9615264233.

Messi to start for PSG after in-house suspension

PARIS, MAY 12 (AGEN-

CIES): Lionel Messi will start Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 home game against AC Ajaccio on Saturday after returning to training following a club-imposed suspension, coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday.

“I spoke with him on Tuesday to see what his mindset was and I found him very determined to play... He will start tomorrow,” Galtier told a press conference.

the squad for their 3-1 win at second-bottom Troyes two days later.

BAKU, MAY 12 (PTI):

Former junior world champion Hriday Hazarika and Haryana’s Nancy won their first individual senior World Cup medals, shooting down silver in the men’s and women’s 10m air rifle competitions here on Friday.

The Assam marksman shot brilliantly in the final, where his lowest score of 10.1 came in the very first of the 24-shot contest.

Nancy was even bet-

ter, recording a lowest of 10.2 in her final.

However, both went down to more accurate shooters on the day. Hriday lost to Hungary’s Zalan Pekler who shot 252.4 to the Indian’s 251.9, while Nancy, after going into the final two shots with a 0.1 lead over China’s Han Jiayu, could not hold on to the cushion to finish with 253.3 to her opponents’ 254.0. Both the men’s and

women’s finals were of very high quality, with China’s Sheng Lihao recording a score of 9.9 in his 21st shot, the only score in the nines by the six medallists across the two finals. The latest results left China and India locked in a battle for supremacy with two more days to go. China led the medal tally with two gold, one silver and two bronze while India have one gold, two silver and one bronze.

DON BOSCO HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL KOHIMA

Organized Awareness Programme on HIV/ AIDS

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): The first annual general meeting (AGM) of the Kohima District Athletic Association (KDAA) was held on Friday at District Sports Officer (DSO) office Kohima.

A press release issued by the association stated during the meeting, various agendas were discussed and house resolved

to felicitate its member who brought laurels for the association; to collect annual membership fee and to organise Kohima district athletics meet 2023 wherein it will invite all the government and private schools within Kohima to participate.

Further the house also resolved to organise coaching camps for both men

and women athletics. The meeting was presided by Neingusalie, invocation prayer by Nielazetuo Khezhie while reports were presented by joint secretary KDAA, Leketoulie Liezietsu and treasurer report was presented by Keneisevi Meyase. The business session was presided by Thepfungunyu Solo.

Messi was back in training on Monday after being suspended for making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia and missing a training session as a result.

French media reported that Messi was suspended for two weeks after making the trip when he was supposed to train with the squad the day after the Ligue 1 leaders’ 3-1 defeat to Lorient last month.

Messi apologised to PSG and his team mates last Friday and was left out of

PSG are six points clear of Lens and eight in front of third-placed Olympique de Marseille with four games remaining this season.

Messi’s future at PSG has been the subject of much speculation recently, with a source close to the Argentina captain telling Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season.

The player’s focus is on winning the French title, however, Galtier said.

“He’s very eager to win that title,” the coach said.

Italian Open: Sinner soars past Kokkinakis, advances to third round

ROME, MAY 12 (IANS): Jannik

Sinner made a lightning-fast start to his Italian Open 2023 campaign, breezing past the 6-1, 6-4 to reach the third round at the ATP Masters 1000 event, here on Friday.

A near-complete performance from the World No. 8 featured precise serving, fierce baseline hitting and high-class net play, and he wrapped victory in 79-minutes at the Foro Italico to improve to

French Open announces prize money increase

PARIS, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): The prize money for this year’s French Open will total 49.6 million euros ($54.6 mn), up 12.3% on 2022, organisers of the claycourt Grand Slam announced on Friday. The amount offered for the Roland Garros singles draws will be raised by 9.1% on 2022, with organisers saying in a statement they had “significantly increased” the prize pot to ensure a more even distribution between players. Losing players in the opening 3 rounds of the singles draw stand to receive between 11% and 13% more this year, with organisers also increasing prize money for the 3 rounds of the qualifying competition by an average of 11.8%. Men’s and women’s champions will receive 2.3 mn euros each.

13-3 at Masters 1000 level for the year. Sinner arrived in Rome having reached the championship match in Miami either side of semi-final runs in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo, a sequence of Masters 1000 performances that have lifted the 21-year-old to fifth in the ATP Live Race To Turin.

The Italian feels ready to

Dr. Seyiekhrietuo John, SPO and State Nodal Officer, National AYUSH Mission Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Kohima, Nagaland, was the Guest Speaker when Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Kohima Organized Awareness Programme on HIV/ AIDS, on 12th May 2023 for the students of Classes 8 to12.

Dr. John exhorted the students not to be scared to know about HIV/AIDS. He explained how HIV is spread and what students must do not to be victims of HIV/ AIDS. He gave guidance on the DO’S & DONT’S on HIV/ AIDS, so that having a good knowledge about it will able students to enjoy robust health and excel in their studies. Dr. John also emphasized on the implications and challenges faced by people with HIV/AIDS. Dr. John urged the students to be more compassionate and learn not to look down or discriminate people living with it.

He also awarded certificates to the winners of the various competitions held on Painting, Drawing and Poetry Composition to promote students awareness on HIV/AIDS with the theme: “LOVE IS THE ANSWER” to all ailments in life including HIV/AIDS.

K-1033/23

impress at home as he seeks another deep run to boost his early Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes.

Sinner is now 5-0 in his opening-round matches in Rome, where he reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 2022. His next test in the Italian capital is a third-round clash against Sebastian Baez or lucky loser Alexander Shevchenko.

Hriday Hazarika and Nancy

KDAA members after the annual general meeting at DSO office Kohima on Friday.

Lionel Messi

Jannik Sinner

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

IPL: Mumbai Indians thrash GT by 27 runs

MUMBAI, MAY 12 (PTI):

Suryakumar Yadav played some outrageous shots enroute his maiden IPL hundred (103 not out) as his stunning knock outshone a superlative all-round show from Rashid Khan to set up Mumbai Indians’ 27-run win over Gujarat Titans here on Friday.

Invited to bat, MI posted 218 for 5 on the back of world number one T20 batter Suryakumar’s 103 not out off just 49 balls and then restricted GT to 191 for 8 to notch up their seventh win this season.

This was MI’s fourth consecutive 200-plus score on their home ground.

While Suryakumar played a blinder of an innings which was studded with 11 fours and six sixes, Rohit Sharma (29), Ishan Kishan (31) and Vishnu Vinod (30) chipped in for the home side. Chasing 219, GT were in danger of being bowled out for a low total, but a brutal unbeaten 79 off just 32 balls from Rashid -- which had three fours and 10 sixes -- reduced the margin of the defeat drastically.

For Mumbai, Akash Madhwal (4-0-31-3), Kumar Kartikeya (3-0-37-2) and veteran Piyush Chawla (40-36-2) produced a superb show with the ball.

But the indomitable Rashid was simply unstoppable. He followed his superb bowling effort of 4/30 during the MI innings with a stunning show with the bat as he added 88 runs from just 40 balls for the unconquered ninth wicket with Alzarri Joseph (7 not out), but his effort was just not enough.

GT’s fourth loss in 12 matches was their first in away games this season. With eight wins and 16 points, they remained at the top of the table.

MI’s seventh win in 12

matches thus took them back to third spot with 14 points and a net run rate of -0.117.

The in-form Shubman Gill (6) was also beaten by the skiddy pace of Madhwal, who sent the opener’s off-stump cartwheeling.

After powerplay, GT had knocked off 48 from their target but a huge blow was dealt by Chawla, who got a googly to pass between Shankar’s bat and pad to crash into his wickets. In 14 balls, Shankar did well to hit six fours to make 29.

Miller (41 from 26

balls) added 45 runs for the sixth wicket with Rahul Tewatia (14) to help GT stabilise, but could not lead a comeback for his side.

Earlier, India and MI skipper Rohit could not convert his start but appeared to be getting back to his usual self at the crease, hitting a few exquisite shots in his 61-run opening stand in the powerplay with Ishan Kishan (31) to lay the platform for a big total.

Rashid, who took his overall wickets tally to 23 to top the bowling chart, jolted

MI right after the powerplay to have Rohit caught in the first slip for an 18-ball 29, which included three fours and a couple of sixes. The second breakthrough came four balls later, with the Afghan legspinner trapping Kishan LBW. Rashid continued to make inroads as he had Nehal Wadhera (15) chop one onto his wickets, but MI’s acceleration was enough to take them to 96 for three at halfway mark.

Vinod perished in the 16th over as he hit a full toss off Mohit to be dismissed for a fine 30 off 20 balls (2x4s, 2x6s), having put on a 42ball 65 for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar. Rashid, however, kept chipping away as he snapped the key wicket of Tim David (5) in the 17th over, taking an easy return catch for his fourth wicket in the game. But Suryakumar continued with his barrage of shots from the other end, hitting Mohit for 20 runs in the 18th over with three fours and a six and brought up his first century of IPL career with a six off the last ball of the innings. In the process, Suryakumar also put on another 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Cameron Green (3 not out), which came off only 18 balls.

Erling Haaland, Sam Kerr win FWA’s player of the year awards

MAY 12 (AGENCIES): Manches-

ter City’s Erling Haaland has been named the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s player of the year, while Chelsea’s Sam Kerr won the women’s award, it was announced on Friday.

Norway international Haaland, who has scored a record 51 goals in all competitions for City this campaign, triumphed with 72% of the votes -- the biggest

margin since the Premier League began. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka came second among the votes followed by his team mate Martin Odegaard.

In the women’s game, Australia international Kerr became the first player to win consecutive awards after she bagged twice as many votes as Aston Villa’s Ra-

World Championships: Hussamudin, Deepak, Nishant sign off with bronze

chel Daly. Chelsea’s Lauren James came third. Haaland and Kerr will receive their awards at a ceremony on May 25.

Haaland’s City are top of the Premier League table by one point with four games remaining, while Kerr’s Chelsea are second in the Women’s Super League standings.

TASHKENT, MAY 12 (PTI): Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammad Hussamudin (57kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) signed off with bronze medals at the World Boxing Championships, wrapping up India’s best-ever show at the marquee event here on Friday.

It was heartbreak for Hussamudin as the Nizamabad boxer was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury about an hour before his semifinal bout. On the other hand, Deepak’s memorable campaign came to end as he went down fighting to two-time World Championships bronze medallist France’s Bilal Bennama 3-4 in a close contest which went into bout review.

Nishant’s semifinal

also went to bout review with the judges’ ruling in favour of the 2022 Asian champion and 2018 Asian Games silver medallist Aslanbek Shymbergenov of Kazakhstan.

Deepak was named in the squad ahead of 2019 Worlds silver medallist Amit Panghal. Both boxers were tentative in the beginning, trying to get the measure of their opponents.

Deepak was able to land a few punches but Bennama used his left jabs to great effect and took the round 3-2. Bennama was the aggressor in the second round as he moved around the ring to dodge Deepak’s punches but the Indian found a way to breach his defences and land some eye-catching right crosses.

The final three minutes were fought intensely with both boxers throwing punches but the frenchman was successful in blocking Deepak’s blows to take the win.

Earlier, the 29-yearold Hussamudin sustained a knee injury in his quarterfinal bout against J Diaz Ibanez of Bulgaria and decided against risking aggravation. “Hussamuddin gives a walkover due to injury and settles for bronze. He had a knee injury in the last bout after which he had pain and swelling,” BFI said in a statement. Hussamudin, who was competing in his debut World Championships, was scheduled to face Cuba’s Saidel Horta in the last four clash.

KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 12

(IANS): The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Friday issued a temporary ban on a new ‘spin-serve’ that has had the attention of the world’s top badminton players recently.

The new spin serve was first implemented in tournaments at the Polish Open 2023 in March by Danish doubles player Marcus Rindshoj in the second round of the tournament. Since then, the innovative trick created a rage in international badminton with players across the globe trying their hand to learn this new technique.

“BWF Council has approved a proposal for an ‘experimental variation’ to the Laws of Badminton to forbid the use of the new ‘spin serve’ effective immediately until 29 May 2023,” the statement from badminton’s global governing body read.

“The amendment to 9.1.5 of Section 4.1 of the BWF Laws of Badminton now states that the server shall release the shuttle without adding spin, and the server’s racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle. Any failure to adhere to the experimental variation to the law will result in a fault being called,” it added.

The interim ban takes effect immediately at all BWF sanction international tournaments until May 29, 2023.

In the spin serve technique, the server traps the cork between the middle finger and the thumb and tries to put a spin to it with a carrom strike motion before sending it across the net with the racquet. By spinning the cork before hitting, it produces an unthinkable spin which makes it difficult for the player on the receiving end to pick up.

Speaking on the decision of banning the sin serve, BWF chief Poul-Erik Hoyer said that the new spin serve is similar to the Sidek serve or S-serve, which is banned.

BWF issues an interim ban on new ‘spin serve’

Erling Haaland and Sam Kerr

Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav plays a shot during the IPL 2023 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Friday. (PTI)