15 june

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 189

DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

EURO 2020: Slovakia stun 10-man Poland; Czech Republic beat Scotland

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New ‘Delta plus’ variant 2 identified

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): The highly transmissible Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has mutated further to form the ‘Delta plus’ or ‘AY.1’ variant but there is no immediate cause for concern in India as its incidence in the country is still low, scientists here said.

The new Delta plus variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave.

In May, the WHO tagged B.1.617.2 strain as the ‘Delta’ variant of SARSCoV-2. The variant was identified as one of the drivers of the second wave of coronavirus infections that devastated parts of the country earlier this year.

Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, initial data suggests that the Delta plus variant shows signs of resistance against the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment.

This treatment for Covid-19 was recently authorised by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

A scientist specialising

VARIANT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE According to a latest report

by Public Health England, a UK government public health body, 63 genomes of Delta with K417N mutation have been identified on GISAID In its latest report on Covid-19 variants updated on June 11, India has reported six cases of AY.1 or Delta+ as of June 7

Scientists fear monoclonal antibodies cocktail patients may not work against the Delta+ mutant  At this point, the variant frequency for K417N is not much in India, say experts An earlier report by PHE said the Delta-AY.1 (Delta with L417N) was found through routine scanning of variation in Delta

in genomic sequencing, Bani Jolly said on Twitter, “A small number of sequences of Delta (B.1.617.2) having spike mutation K417N can be found on GISAID. As of today, these sequences have been identified in genomes from 10 countries.”

“The sequences have recently been designated as lineage AY.1 (B.1.617.2.1), a sublineage of Delta, due to concerns about K417N is one of the mutations found in the Beta variant (B.1.351),” Jolly added.

Public Health England, in its latest report on coronavirus variants, said the Delta plus variant was identified in six genomes from India as of June 7. The health agency has confirmed the presence of a total of 63 genomes of

the Delta variant with the new K417N mutation.

However, scientists say there is no immediate cause for concern since the prevalence of this new variant is still low in India.

Variant frequency for Delta plus variant not much in India: A scientist at Delhibased CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Vinod Scaria said in a tweet on Sunday, “One of the emerging variants is B.1.617.2.1 also known as AY.1 characterized by the acquisition of K417N mutation.”

Scaria went on to say that the formation of Delta plus variant was the result of a mutation in the spike protein of SARS-COV-2.

It is the same spike protein

which enables the virus to enter and infect human cells.

“The variant frequency for K417N is not much in India at this point in time. The sequences are mostly from Europe, Asia and America,” said Vinod Scaria. Travel histories for the Delta plus variant are not readily available, he added.

In fact, the sequences come from a number of countries across the globe other than India, such as the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, Portugal, Poland, Turkey, Nepal and Switzerland, according to outbreak.info.

“Looking at the large (T95I) cluster, it seems like AY.1 has arisen independently a number of times and could be more prevalent than observed in countries with limited genomic surveillance,” said Bani Jolly.

Transmissibility of new variant a crucial factor: Immunologist Vineeta Bal said the Delta plus variant’s resistance to monoclonal antibody cocktail is not an indication of higher virulence or severity. Bal is a guest faculty at Pune’s Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

Row erupts over Ram temple trust land deal Oppn demands probe; BJP says, attempt to derail construction NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (PTI): A war of words erupted between the BJP and the opposition parties on Monday over allegations of corruption in the purchase of land in Ayodhya by the Ram temple trust, with the Congress demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe and the saffron party terming it as an attempt to “defame” and “derail” the temple construction.

Latching onto the issue to target the BJP and the RSS, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that it was a “big scam” committed using

A model of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya

funds collected from devotees and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer the nation.

After AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and former UP minister and Samajwadi Party leader Pawan Pandey claimed on Sunday that land worth Rs 2 crore was brought at an inflated price of Rs 18.5 crore

by Shriram Janmabhoomi

Teerth Kshetra Trust, its general secretary Champat Rai dismissed the allegations. Rai asserted that there was complete transparency in the land transactions, but the opposition parties were unconvinced.

The controversy involving the emotive Ram temple issue has erupted as political parties prepare for the assembly elections

in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh due next year.

Members of the Uttar Pradesh Women Congress held a demonstration near the official residence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.

Hitting back at the opposition parties, BJP leaders claimed that those who were opposed to the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya were the ones levelling the “false” allegations on the land sale.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also demanded a “clarification” from the Trust, saying the construction of the temple is a matter of faith for the party and the common people. “We need to know what is happening.

We need to know whether the allegations are true or false,” he said.

“How transmissible this new variant is will be a crucial factor to determine its rapid spread or otherwise,” Vineeta Bal told news agency PTI. She added, “Thus in individuals catching infection with the new variant, it may not be a matter worth worrying.”

P l a s m a f r o m va c cinated people will have to be tested: Director of CSIR-IGIB, pulmonologist Anurag Agarwal also told news agency PTI, “There is no cause of concern due to the new variant in India as of now.”

Agarwal, who is also a medical researcher, said blood plasma from fully vaccinated individuals will have to be tested against the Delta plus variant to determine whether it shows any significant escape from the body’s immune response.

“Understanding this continued evolution is of great importance in mapping the evolutionary landscape of emerging variants.

Largely the virus has tried to optimise for transmission and immune escape by step-wise acquisition of new mutations,” said Anurag Agarwal.

State records 109 fresh Covid cases, 3 deaths DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): Nagaland on Monday recorded 109 fresh Covid-19 positive cases while three more patients succumbed to the infection.

According to Health department data, Mokokchung reported the highest with 52 cases, Kohima-26, Dimapur-14, seven in Mon, five in Zunheboto, two in Wokha and one each in Peren, Phek and Teunsang, taking the total caseload to 23,753.

Further, three more succumbed to the infection-one each in Kohima, Kiphire and Tuensang, pushing the death toll to 456, including 14 non-Covid deaths but with Covid positivity.

KPA fund issue: ANCSU serves ultimatum on state govt DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has demanded that the state government bring out the committee report before June 20, 2021 with regard to its demand for probe into the fund utilization of Rs.3.71 crore at Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) under

This is it!

“After hardware stores are allowed to open, we wanted to be seen and get works.”

K Y M C

AICTE-NEQIP scheme.

According to a letter addressed to the state chief secretary, ANCSU president Vimeyiekho Vitso and vice president Inato Y Chisho cautioned that failure to bring out the report within the stipulated period would compel the union to resort to ‘intensified & indefinite digital protest’.

Threatens to launch ‘intensified and indefinite’ digital stir All Nagaland College Students’ Union has alleged that the state government “wilfully neglecting” and not delivering justice to the

student community was “no less than assassination of students’ rights.”

The union reminded that after its continued digital protest, an enquiry committee was set up on October 17, 2020 to probe into the fund utilization at KPA and bring out a report within three-month period.

However, ANCSU stated that the state government was silent on the enquiry committee’s report till date. The union stated that delay in bringing out the committee report only indicated the “inefficiency of the committee or the intention of the state government to rescue those involved in the matter.”

Israel’s new govt gets to work international, Page 7

Scientists to sequence genomes of Covid-19 variants prevalent in NE GUWAHATI, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): Three research institutes have come together to sequence genomes of the SARS Cov-2 virus variants prevalent/evolving in the North East, NE Now report stated.

As per the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) database, out of the total SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced from samples all over India, only 0.71 per cent of genomes have been sequenced from samples originating from Northeast India. This indicates underrepresentation and the critical dearth of genome surveillance in the region.

Though sequencing efforts in a sporadic manner have been carried out on Covid-19 samples originating from Northeast India, a concerted effort under the aegis of INSACOG is yet to be undertaken.

Senior officials of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-North East Institute of Science and

Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat along with the Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal, which is an autonomous institute under Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE, Dibrugarh recently met to discuss collaborative strategies and planning for a concerted genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2.

“This is a move for an increased monitoring and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants prevalent, circulating, and spreading in the Norteast region,” an official of NEIST said.

CSIR-NEIST director G. Narahari Sastry, DBTIBSD director Pulok K. Mukherjee and Biswa Jyoti Borkakoti, scientist E of ICMR-RMRCNE along with the team of core scientists for SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing of the three Regional Genome Sequencing Labs (RGSLs) participated in the brain-

storming session.

Sastry mentioned that CSIR-NEIST had created a state-of-the art genome sequencing facility in its recently established Centre for Infectious Diseases at its Jorhat campus to lead the genome surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the North Eastern region.

He also mentioned that CSIR-NEIST had an advanced computational facility, which would play a pivotal role in the sequence data analysis. Sastry called for cooperation from all the eight North Eastern region states to make the genome sequencing, a success.

In the wake of the sudden emergence of SARSCoV-2 variant of concern B.1.17, commonly known as the UK variant, the Centre initiated the INSACOG formation for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 genome in order to understand the spread and evolution of the virus and to arrest the future spread of this virus in the country.

Genome sequencing report expected soon Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUN 14 (NPN): Following the visit of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) team that collected genome sequence from Nagaland, the sample report is expected to be received anytime.

Sources from Health & Family Welfare department informed Nagaland Post that the ICMR team came to Nagaland and collected 98 samples and assured to give the reports in a week’s time.

Though there was some confusion over the Centre’s guideline on genome sequencing, the sources explained that during a webinar, the issue was discussed and during which the Central team hinted to visit the State.

Accordingly, the team members arrived and collected the samples themselves. And now that seven days have elapsed since the samples were collected, the sources said the reports could be expected anytime now.

It may be recalled that the Health & family welfare (H&FW) department had earlier dispatched samples of Covid-19 positive cases for genome sequencing to Kolkata.

Then principal director H&FW, Dr Kevichusa Medikhrü said that as per the Centre’s directive, 5% of Covid positive cases had to be sent for whole genome sequencing and hence the State had dispatched them on April 26. However, due to some technical issues, fresh samples were taken by the ICMR team.

More flay Along’s remark on Naga issue DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): State BJP president and minister higher education and tribal affairs, Imna Along is under fire for his purported remarks that solution to the Naga political issue should come under the ambit of the Constitution of India.

Ao Region NSCN (I-M): CAO, Ao Region, NSCN (I-M) has expressed indignation at Temjen Imna Along for his “irresponsible utterance” and said this was meant to please “his BJP/ RSS mentors in Delhi”.

In a release, Ao Region also expressed shock at Along’s “feigned ignorance” of his root and “God-given history and political identity” of Naga people.

Ao Region said hit at out Along’s “ loud-mouthed Indianised politics” which it

said, finally exploded when he made nonsense of his TV interview stating that Naga solution would be under Indian constitution and Indian Union. It said this was highly obnoxious of Along to undermine Naga political issue in such a demeaning manner.

It further reminded Along that negotiations that followed after the first “Indo-Naga ceasefire” in 1964 failed for the very reason that Government of India was not willing to accept the Naga issue as a political issue. The Region also claimed that Naga negotiators, under Naga National Council (NNC) stood firm against all kinds of pressures and made their stand loud and clear, that Nagas would not accept the Indian constitution.

Having seen the 1964 ceasefire and Shillong Accord 1975 and learning the lesson the hard way, Ao Region said the present “ongoing Indo-Naga political peace process” was the result of the initiative taken by then Prime Minister of India Narasimha Rao, who officially acknowledged the Naga issue as political issue and not India’s “law and order” issue.

It reminded Along that by his “intoxicated statement on Naga issue” Along has made himself nothing less than a political pariah.

JD(U): In another release, Janata Dal United (JDU) Nagaland unit said it was disturbed by the opening statement of State BJP president Imna Along after formation of Core Commit(Cont’d on p-6) tee on

Health department issues directives to healthcare workers Fuel prices rise after day’s pause DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): State health and family welfare (H&FW) department has issued fresh directives to all the healthcare workers (HWCs) in various health units/establishments in view of surge in Covid positive cases and for effective management of the pandemic.

In a circular, principal director H&FW, Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao, has instructed HWCs to sincerely and effectively discharge their job functions and responsibilities. HWCs have been direct-

ed to timely report requirement of essential medicines and other logistics to prevent stock out and ensure uninterrupted supply.

While informing all HWCs not to leave the station without permission from the PD’s office, the department said no leave was permissible unless on health ground, duly recommended by the medical board.

Further, HWCs have been asked to report all cases of Influenza Like Illness/ Severe Acute Respiratory Illness or any clustering of

cases or unusual events. It cautioned that noncompliance of the directives would be dealt swiftly with disciplinary actions.

Meanwhile, all HCWs under various health units have also been directed to report to the respective controlling officer as per the provisions of the Epidemic Act 1987 & (Amendment) 2020, in the event of obstruction or hindrance in discharging duties. They are also to report harassment impacting the living or working conditions and preventing them

from discharging duties, harm, injury, hurt, intimidation or danger to him/her life besides loss or damage to any property to documents in the custody of, or in relation to him/her.

Further, the department has informed all health committees of various health centres and hospital management society of district hospitals to discharge their responsibility as mandated under the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act, 2002/Society Bye Laws

respectively.

Accordingly, all health committees/hospital management society have been directed to look after the overall health needs of the residents under their jurisdiction as well as management of the respective health units etc. They have also been asked to address any public grievances relating to functioning of the health centre and healthcare services.

Besides, the department has urged them to report unauthorized absence of any staff to the PD’s office.

DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): After a day’s hiatus, the state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) hiked the prices of petrol and diesel on Monday pushing the prices of two auto fuel to new historic highs across the country.

According to a price notification of state-owned OMCs, petrol price was hiked by 29 paise per litre and diesel by 30 paise.

With the latest price revision, petrol price in Dimapur breached Rs.95mark and is now retailing

at Rs.95.10 per litre while diesel price increased to Rs.89.39 per litre. In the state capital Kohima, prices of petrol and diesel surged to Rs.96.05 per litre and while diesel price breached Rs.90mark and is now retailing at Rs.90.15 per litre.

The hike on Monday was the 24th increase in prices since May 4. In 24 increases, petrol price has risen by Rs 6.01 per litre and diesel by Rs 6.55 a litre.

Fuel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes.

K Y M C

2

state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

Kohima, Dimapur observe ‘World blood donor day’

Donors with certificates at the voluntary blood donation campaign. (NP) Participants during the blood donation camp organised by MCD, on Monday.

Monday.

The campaign was organised by Voluntary Blood Donors Association Kohima (VBDAK) in collaboration with Assam Rifles Kohima battalion, supported by Blood Bank, NHAK. The campaign would culminate on Saturday, during which voluntary donors in and around Kohima including school students would be expected to participate.

On Monday, a total of 12 individuals came forward and donated blood, which

nagalandpost.com Poll

CoVS & AH Jalukie launches prog for farmers

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A

B

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

C

19% 73% 8%

Next poll Q: Will reaffirmation on

Climate change by G7 make any impact?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST June 15

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala A p.m t-storm in spots

33 25

Aizawl

A couple of showers

29 21

Guwahati A stray morning thunderstorm 34 26 Imphal

Cloudy with a stray t-storm

Itanagar A thunderstorm in spots

29 23 31 24

Shillong

Clod and sun with a t-storm

25 19

Kohima

Cloudy with thunderstorm

26 19

Dimapur A stray morning thunderstorm 33 24 Mkg

Cloud with a thunderstorm

Tuensang Cloudy with a t-storm

27 20 21 16

A t-storm around in the p.m.

28 22

Zunheboto Cloudy with a t-storm or two

24 18

Wokha

Officials of CoVS & AH handing over fruit saplings to the beneficiaries. inaugurated the programme ti, under this programme the According CoVS & AH as- veterinary college, Jalukie sistant professor, Dr. Imtiwa- extended benefits to more

pur (MCD) donated 35 units of blood to the blood bank at the District Hospital.

In a press release, working president A Rahman stated that there was a growing demand of blood during the pandemic, which encouraged MCD to organise the donation camp.

It also informed that individual blood donation in emergency cases would also be continued by MCD Shukriya blood donors’ group and may be contacted at 7005622050, 9856324874 or 7005506019.

than 100 farmers of Peren and Dimapur districts.

Ginger Rhizome, fruit saplings, DOC kroiler chicks and breedable male goat were distributed to the beneficiaries. The programme was conducted under the leadership of CAU Imphal vice chancellor, Dr. Anupam Mishra.

Meanwhile, college of veterinary sciences dean, professor Ar un Kumar Sangwan highlighted the keynote of the programme

and extended his gratitude to all the staff of the institute for their contributions to the noble cause. It may be mentioned that the programmed was aimed at the development of fruit village, integrated farming system and spice production in Nagaland.

The programme was launched with an objective to support and uplift of farming communities in the NER during COVID-19 pandemic.

news in Brief NPGN NNC/NA/(MK) terminates one: NPGN NNC/ NA/(MK) has “terminated” its UT1 chairman Samson Sumi allegedly “for long communication gap towards government officials” and misuse of money. NPGN NNC/NA/(MK) MIP Nito Aye stated that the decision to terminate Sumi was taken by its collective leadership.

The group has, therefore, informed all responsible not to “entertain/deal with Samson Sumi in any kind of issue in the name of NPGN NNC/NA/(MK).”

KES informs: Kohima Educational Society has informed that the last date of entry for the Graham prize for Naga literature has been extended till June 30, 2021.

This was necessitated due to the many inconveniences and disruptions in communication caused by the lockdown period.

Kohima police arrest two

DIMAPUR: Kohima police arrested two persons Vetsüto Nakro (21) and Shevotso Getsa (21), both presently residing at Pfutsero Phek on Monday.

According to Kohima police PRO, the two persons were arrested in connection with Kohima south police station case No. 0009/21 regarding snatching of a purse from a lady by two unknown miscreants on April 24, near district home guard office, upper Chandmari, Kohima.

The duo was arrested after thorough investigation and several attempts as they were absconding, PRO said.

Condolence messages from orgns DIMAPUR: All Nagaland Hindi Teachers Union (ANHTU) has expressed grief over the sudden demise of M. Piyongtemjen Jamir, who passed away on June 13.

In a condolence note, ANHTU president Ruchunlo Tep described late Jamir as the pioneer of Hindi language in Nagaland, who spent all his life for the propagation and the development of the language.

While maintaining that words seemed inadequate to express its sadness over the demise of late M. Piyongtemjen Jamir, ANHTU conveyed deepest condolences to the grieving family members.

CGBA: Chakhroma Gaon Burah Association (CGBA) has mourned over the demise of Neingusie Meyase, who passed away on June 12. In a condolence note, CGBA president Rokovitso Kuotsu and general secretary, Thepfukuo Nagi said that late Meyase was one of the senior most members of CGBA who rendered his valuable service to the association in different capacities for several decades.

It said that the association had lost a real pillar who was a lifelong advisor of the association.

F u r t h e r, C G BA prayed that God would grant strength and solace to the bereaved family.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord.

Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God.” Romans 14:8 We, the bereaved family of Late Akong Konyak would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to all our neighbours, friends, relatives and well wishers for yours comforts in all aspects as we mourn the sudden demise of our beloved father. We also thank all those who supported and sympathized us through prayer, extended physical, materials and financial help during the Lt. AKONG KONYAK prolonged illness.

Born: 20-10-1965 We also extend our special gratitude to:Died: 08-06-2021 1. Kongan Union, Mon Town 2. K.B.B.B 3. Chohnyu Bumeinok 4. PHC staff, Naginimora 5. Doctors & Nurses from District Hospital, Mon 6. Konyak Union (KU), Naginimora Unit 7. Town Baptist Church, Naginimora 8. Kongan Jesuhu Union, Naginimora 9. Theological Fellowship, Kongan We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual but it is our prayer that our good Lord bless you abundantly in return.

Loving wife, children, grand children and relatives

25TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY of Late. S. Temsumongba Imchen

We think about you always We talk about you still You have never been forgotten, and you never will.

A life so well lived- a legacy of love, joy & pride Our grateful hearts will treasure.

Until We Meet Again.

K-1046

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

DIMAPUR: College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (CoVS & AH) Jalukie, a constituent college under Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal along with 13 constituent colleges and six KVKs across Northe East Region (NER) launched a community upliftment programme on the theme “agriculturally vibrant and self reliant NEH region” on June 9 and 10.

Manipur chief minister, N. Biren Singh virtually

He added that the group had been supporting by arranging donors for some patients at the hospital who were in dire need of blood. The group is also spreading news about the campaign through social media, Imsong added.

Donors were handed out certificates, badges and were provided with refreshment. (Correspondent) Dimapur: On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, the Muslim youth of Dimapur under the banner of Muslim Council Dima-

DIMAPUR: India Northeast Tribal Community Welfare Society (INTCWS), Notun Bosti, Dimapur under its education wing Libra consultancy has inspected and reserved seats at a few engineering and medical colleges in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Punjab in the first week of April, 2021 as part of its 13th annual activities for the welfare of tribal students.

In a press release, INTCWS chairman Atsei Sekhose informed that the visit was undertaken with a view to provide parents and students to avail correct information in regard to courses, affiliations, fees, faculty, labs, etc. The society informed that medical seats were provided through NEET only. INTCWS also stated that it endeavoured to facilitate and lighten the burdens of tribal students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, it informed that so far, the society has inspected and had MOU with 455 universities, colleges and schools in India.

DIMAPUR: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, people in Kohima and Dimapur played key roles in ensuring a safe blood supply on “World Blood Donor Day”, which is observed on June 14 every year. The aim is to raise awareness of the need for safe blood for transfusion and of its critical contribution.

Kohima: A voluntary blood donation campaign was organised to mark World Blood Donor Day at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), here, on

Q.:Will India be able to vaccinate all citizens

by December 2021?

would be stored at the blood bank for later use.

V D BA K p r e s i d e n t Bendang Imsong said they were hopeful that more volunteers would come forward in the next few days.

He also said people were still sceptical about donating blood and therefore the association was trying to help encourage potential donors to come forward as there was no risk for a healthy person to donate their blood in a controlled environment with the help of medical experts.

INTCWS inspects edn institutions

LT. NIGHOZU CHISHI, EX. PASTOR Born on 15.10.1929- Died on 13.05.2021 The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

We, the family would like to express our sincere gratitude to each and everyone who stood with us physically, morally and financially at the demise of our beloved LATE NIGHOZU CHISHI, EX. PASTOR. A special word of thanks to1. Ghathashi Town 2. SABAK (Pughoboto) 3. Shesulimi Village 4. Toluvi (Dimapur) We tender apology to all individuals whom we could not mention in persons but it is our earnest prayer that the Almighty bless you all abundantly.

Loving children, in-laws, grandchildren & great grandchildren K-1048

Loving, Family members DP-XXXX DP-2781

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

HEKISHE ACHUMI (G.B) CHAIRMAN VILLAGE COUNCIL, AWOTSAKILI VILLAGE (Born : 12.01.1940 – Died : 07.06.2021)

‘The Lord Gave and the Lord hath taken away: Blessed be the Name of the Lord.’

Job 1:21

DP-2773

Dearest beloved Ipu, You lived your life in ways that you will be remembered for your patience, tolerance, humility, simplicity and benevolence. Yours is a story many will not forget to retell. Death leaves a void but death can never bury our love for you. This painful loss is only a short separation between life and death until we meet again beneath God’s Love. Rest in eternal peace where there is no more pain and suffering. We celebrate your life and your virtues.

You live on in everything we are.

We would like to gratefully thank everyone: friends, relatives, well wishers, churches, associations and organizations who extended their help physically, financially and spiritually during the brief sickness and demise of our dearest father Mr. Hekishe Achumi.

We would like to mention few individuals and groups who had rendered their relentless support in times of our dire crisis: 1. Shri. Mmhonlumo Kikon, Advisor, IT, 10. Imliakum, EAC Zunheboto Science & Technology, NRE, Govt. of 11. Mr. Khehoshe H. Yepthomi, Nagaland.

President NDDP, Zunheboto.

2. Shri. Kikheto Y. Sema, IAS, APC and 12. Doctors and staff of Hezukhu Commisioner and Secretary to Govt.

Memorial Hospital, Zunheboto. of Nagaland.

13. Sumi Baptist Church Zunheboto.

3. Shri. LT. Colonel Doshehe Sema, 14. ES & staff, SBAK- Nito Mount and Ex- Minister.

Nito Theological College, SBAK. 4. Shri. K. Tokugha Sukhalu, Honourable 15. Prayer Warriors Zunheboto.

Advisor School Education.

16. South Point East Prayer Fellowship.

5. Deputy Commissioner, Zunheboto.

17. Sumi Kukami Hoho.

6. Dr. Anitoly, Deputy Chief Medical 18. Awotsakili Village Council, Officer Dimapur.

Awotsakili Union Zunheboto & Dimapur, 7. CHC Chozuba Hospital.

Awotsakili Students’ Union and 8. Dr. Shikato Yeptho, Zunheboto.

Awotsakili Baptist Akukuho.

9. Mechietsho Koza, EAC Phek.

19. Atoizu GB Association.

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS Wife, Children, In-Laws, Grandchildren and Relatives K Y M C

Born : 03.06.1931 – Died : 03.06.2021 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 “Aba you were such a wonderful father for which you have done amazing things for us. You are a dutiful father, a visionary man with commitment, conviction and most of all”.

We, the bereaved family members of Late Yangroba Walling would like to convey our deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation to every individual, friends, relatives and well wishers for immensely supporting us spiritually, physically and financially at the sad demise of our dearest Aba. It is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God bless each and everyone of you abundantly.

Special thanks to: 1. Medemyim Baptist Church, Council and Task Force.

2. Dr. Longrineken, Hon’ble Advisor Treasuries & Accounts & N/H. 3. Mr. & Mrs. Watitemjen Khar 4. Imdong, Head GB Khar Village.

5. Mr. & Mrs. Lanumayang Longchari ( Longnak) We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual personally, but it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Loving Wife, Children, Grandchildren & Relatives DP-2775 K Y M C

Northeast/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

Navy team completes mapping in M’laya mine

S h illo ng, J un 1 4 (PTI): The Indian Navy on Monday completed mapping of the 152-metre-deep vertical shaft of the flooded coal mine in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district where five miners remain trapped since May 30, an official said.

The water level at the mine in Umpleng area was recorded to be 33 metres deep and the rescuers managed to dive up to a depth of 15 metres inside the flooded mine, district deputy commissioner E Kharmalki told PTI. The team of Navy personnel had successfully conducted the mapping process of the bottom of the vertical shaft using their remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and sonar machines.

According to a magistrate at the accident site, the dewatering exercise is continuing and a total of 2.52 lakh litres have been pumped out of the main

Around 60 personnel of the NDRF and various state agencies are waiting for the water level to come down to about 10 meters

shaft and 8.64 lakh litres have been removed from the second mine, both of which are interconnected.

Around 60 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and various state agencies are waiting for the water level to come down to about 10 metres in the 152-metredeep pit, as that is the maximum level in which they can work. Using the ROV,

NSCN (I-M) rejects SF claim of links with DNLA

DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): NSCN (I-M) has rejected the claim of security forces that the group was using the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) as a new front for the purpose of extortion in Assam.

NSCN (I-M) through its MIP stated that “Indian security forces had once again indulged in making wild allegations against the NSCN. This is the irony of the situation created by the security forces in the land of ceasefire that has facilitated the ongoing Naga political talks for over two decades.”

NSCN (I-M) asserted that the need to use other organizations for extortion did not arise at all. “We go for legitimate tax collections from different commercial sources and have nothing to do with extortion as interpreted by the security forces,” NSCN (I-M) stated.

Further, the NSCN (I-M) denied the role of “brigadier” Chipemmi Shimrang for his alleged link with DNLA. The NSCN (I-M) stated that “Brig. C. Shimrang has not been around Nagalim since 2016.” Therefore, the NSCN (I-M) stated that it was “highly ridiculous to use his name in the security forces scheme of anti-NSCN propaganda.” NSCN (I-M) stated that security forces gunned down eight cadres of DNLA on May 23, 2021 at Dugudisha in Karbi Anglong, Assam, which it described was “nothing less than pure act of insanity.”

Alleging that eight DNLA cadres were killed in a fake encounter, the NSCN (I-M) has asked the security forces not to drag “NSCN’s name to save its face from their wicked manner of counter-insurgency operations.”

a team of the Indian Navy had located three bodies weeks after the shaft of another mine at Lumthari in the same district was filled with water from a river on December 13, 2018.

The unmanned ROV was sent down the flooded rat-hole coal mine to determine visibility inside it.

At the Umpleng mine accident this time, at least five people have been iden-

tified by the district administration - four from Assam and one from Tripura- who got stuck somewhere inside the rat-hole mine after it was flooded following a dynamite explosion on May 30.

The rat-hole mine is located about 20 km from Khliehriat, the headquarters of the East Jaintia Hills district.

Hazardous rat-hole coal mining is not permitted in Meghalaya after the

NSCN/GPRN inducts new caretaker CAO of Shepoumaramth KOHIMA, JUN 14: Thanksgiving program of the new incoming Caretaker CAO, Shepoumaramth region, H. Veio Thomas Prou, Tatar, was organised at Khabung Karong on June 12 last.

Different dignitaries including the Naga Hoho, United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women’s Union (NWU), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga People’s Organization (NPO), Senapati District Women’s Association (SDWA), Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), Zeliangrong Union, Senapati Zone, Thangal Union, Poumai Naga Union (PNU), Poumai Naga Women’s Union (PNNM), Poumai Naga Students Union (PNTM), Karong Union, and others attended the program.

The Jt. Secretary to the GPRN, N. Elvis Moyon, Secretariat, Kilo Affairs on June 4 last had earlier issued an order to appoint H. Veio Thomas Prou, Tatar as Caretaker CAO of Shepoumaramth Region. Handing over of files by the incumbent Caretaker, CAO was reportedly

done on June 11 last.

The welcome address was brought by Kh. Danii, Former President, PNU, while Samson Rimai, vice president, Naga Hoho stated on the need to work together for common good.

Asha Wungnam, President, NWU congratutlated the new incoming CAO of the region and appreciated the organisers of the program, adding it was the first day to attend such thanksgiving program and assured to cooperate with the new CAO. Solomon Arow, president, NPO in his speech stressed on the need to build public relation to bring peace and development in the region. The president advised the new CAO to build confidence of the people.

The new CAO of the region, Veio Thomas Prou, Tatar expressed gladness to the gathering and sought the cooperation of all. Reiterating the important roles of the CSOs in the region, the CAO urged the CSOs to be united and represent the people with respect and integrity. The program was organised under strict observance of SOPs.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned it in 2014.

A deep vertical shaft is dug till coal seams are found in the rat-hole mining. Once the seams are found, coal is taken out through small holes along the horizontal line of the coal seams.

Six co-workers of the trapped miners escaped the tragedy as they were outside the mine at the time of the incident and they have been escorted to their homes in Assam.

The police arrested the owner of the coal mine, Shining Langstang, and charged him with violation of the NGT order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.

The ‘Sordar’ (mine manager) is on the run and a lookout notice has been issued since he was the one who brought migrant workers from Assam and Tripura to work in the illegal mine, a senior police officer said.

7 held for raping woman, 3 minor girls

Agartala, Jun 14 (PTI): Seven men have been arrested for allegedly raping a woman and three minor girls at a rubber plantation in West Tripura district, around 15 km from here, a police officer said on Monday.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Amtali range, Anirban Das, said seven of the eight accused were apprehended on Sunday from Champaknagar in Jirania police station area, after the family members of the minor girls and the woman filed a complaint.

According to Das, the accused, who were familiar faces from the neighbourhood, had invited all four for a motorcycle ride. The woman and the girls were then taken to a rubber plantation at Bardhamanthakurpara in Ranibazar police station area on Saturday and allegedly raped.

All eight accused fled the scene, following which the girls managed to hire an auto rickshaw and reach their homes, the SDPO said.

5 held in connection with Tinsukia mob lynching case

DIBRUGARH, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): Tinsukia police on Monday arrested five persons in connection with the recent mob lynching case in which a 34-year old man named Sarat Moran had died, a TNT report stated.

In addition to five arrests, four other persons have been taken under

remand for interrogation.

Sarat, a resident of Kordoiguri village was lynched on suspicion of cattle theft on June 12.

“We have sent five persons to jail and another four are under police remand for further investigation.

We have set up a special investigation team(SIT) under ASP to probe the

matter,” said Tinsukia SP Debojit Deori.

Sarat’s father Prabeswar Moran(90) and mother Ulapi Moran(85) are in utter state of shock since the day of the lynching, stating that their son was the sole breadwinner for them.

Sarat was rescued by the Baghjan police, and

later on, shifted to FRU hospital in Doomdooma where he succumbed to his injuries. Police found several cut marks on the victim’s body.

The police informed that Sarat was brutally tortured during the lynching.

Giving details about the incident, police offi-

cials informed that the victim had gone to a friend’s house for an overnight stay when he was caught on suspicion of being a cattle lifter and lynched.

A similar incident of mob lynching was reported earlier from Tinsukia when a mother and son were lynched at Sewpur tea estate.

3 Child rapist held M’laya to take action against in Manipur rice supplier after probe Correspondent IMPHAL, Jun 14: Police in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district have arrested a man who has been at large for more than a month after he allegedly raped an eightyear-old minor girl.

Thirty-three-year-old Mangminlan Touthang of Mission Veng (Moreh ward no. 2) was arrested by a combined team of Moreh police station and police commandos from T Bongbal village, 37 km from border town Moreh last (Sunday) around 10 pm, the police said. The man has been at large since he allegedly sexually assaulted the eight-year-old girl on May 10 last.

After a complaint was lodged by the medical officer of Moreh Primary Health Centre, Moreh police station, under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. However, the police were unable to arrest the alleged accused as he left home after the incident.

On Sunday night, a combined team of Moreh police and police commandos attached with the police station launched a manhunt operation at T Bongbal village based on specific information and arrested the alleged accused.

The victim of the sexual assault is currently lodged at a home run by an NGO in Imphal for counselling and rehabilitation, the police added.

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JUN 14: The Meghalaya government on Monday said that it is waiting for an enquiry report regarding the seizure by police of PDS rice meant for Meghalaya from a private go-down in Assam, based on which action would be initiated against the supplier.

State chief minister Conrad Sangma said that the seized rice has nothing to do with the Public Distribution System or with the COVID-19 relief but the rice was “meant for the Social Welfare department”.

“The State had already received the entire amount of the NFSA rice in advance for the months of May and June. Therefore, there is no question of this rice being there and lying there. There’s no tag which states that this is the Meghalaya rice,” Sangma told reporters.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya director of Social Welfare department, D.D. Shira said that the rice seized by Assam Police from a godown in Assam is claimed to have been allocated to Continental Milkcose Ltd.

by FCI (Food Corporation of India), Shillong through the Social Welfare Department.

“In this regard, it is hereby clarified that the Government of India allocates rice under

Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) to different States. The Directorate of Social Welfare in turn allocated the rice to the approved manufacturer (Continental Milkcose Ltd) which was lifted from the FCI go-down,” Shira stated in a press statement on Monday.

“There has been no instance of non-supply of food items so far, and complete indented quantities have been received,” Shira stated, adding that the Directorate of Social Welfare has been sending random samples of the food items for lab analysis and quality testing from time to time to ensure that the food items supplied is no of sub-standard quality and conforms to the nutritional norms.

“The department is awaiting official letter from the concerned I.O/Assam Government for enquiry and further appropriate action against the supplier,” the statement underscored.

The Assam Police had made the seizure from a private go-down in Boko recently, in the wake of which the opposition Congress and also the BJP, which is part of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance have demanded an inquiry into the alleged food-grain scam, involving diversion of one lakh bags of PDS rice meant for Meghalaya.

Northeast COVID-19 UPDATE

M’laya records 10 deaths and 403 new COVID-19 cases Shillong, Jun 14: Ten more deaths due to Covid-19 complications increased the fatality figure to 743 and 403 new cases added up to 4529 active cases, while 487 recoveries surged the number of recovered cases to 37, 037 on Monday in Meghalaya, which has so far registered 42, 309 confirmed cases.

Director Health Ser-

vices (MI), Dr. Aman War said the Coronavirus-related deaths registered on Monday were four in East Khasi Hills district, two each in Ri-Bhoi district and West Jaintia Hills and one each in East Garo Hills district and West Garo Hills district.

With 1,682 active COVID-19 cases and 573 deaths due to the viral

disease, the East Khasi Hills, which includes state capital Shillong is the most affected district, followed

by West Garo Hills district with 727 active cases and West Jaintia Hills district with 591 active cases, while the other eight districts of the state have less than 500 active cases each as on date.

(Correspondent)

Mnp crosses grim milestone of 60,000 Covid infections IMPHAL, Jun 14: Manipur surpassed a grim milestone of 60 thousand COVID19 infections on Monday, with the state registering 459 new cases over the past 24 hours.

The fatality tally also closed to 1000 as 16 deaths over the past 24 hours took the cumulative number of deaths due to the dreaded virus to 990 on Monday.

As per the latest data of the state health department, the 459 new cases was the lowest single-day spike of the current month (June) even as the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state

reached 60,311.

Against the 449 new cases, a total of 499 patients were discharged upon recuperation on Monday, taking the total number of recoveries to 50,878. The recovery rate stood at 84.35%.

The state health department, in its data, also reported deaths of 16 persons due to COVID-19 complications in the past 24 hours, with four in Imphal West, three each in Imphal East, Thoubal and Churachandpur, two in Bishnupur and one in Kakching district.

(Correspondent)

State

DC Kma launches dry ration package COVID-19: Vaccination drives, meeting & information

District administration employees packing the relief materials at Khuochiezie on Monday. (NP)

Correspondent Kohima, JUN 14 (NPN): A dry ration relief package for daily wage earners was launched by District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), chairman and deputy commissioner, Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie at Khuochiezie (local ground), here, on Monday.

Keeping in mind the hardships faced by daily wage earners especially since the lockdown, the state government had taken

up the initiative to provide relief materials which would help mitigate their economic worries.

For Kohima district, a total of 7000 beneficiaries have been listed from all the colonies and wards under Kohima municipal and rural areas.

According to a government directive, the number of beneficiaries in administrative sub-division/circle includes Chiephobozou (700), Tseminyu (700), Jakhama (300), Sechü

Zubza (300), Botsa (300), Kezocha (200) and Tsogin (200) while the remaining 4300 would be distributed among Kohima municipal and Kohima Sadar areas.

The relief package has 12 items which includes rice, lentils, kholar, mustard oil, sugar, salt, tea, bath soap, washing soap, masala packet, onion & garlic and chilli powder.

Regular distribution of the package would be in full swing from Tuesday, 9 a.m. onwards.

DIMAPUR: The state government, district administrations, civil society organisations and others have been carrying out various activities to sensitise the public on COVID-19. Various advisories and directives are also being issued in the interest of the public.

Kiphire DTF meeting discusses extensive vaccination: Kiphire DTF meeting was held on Monday at DC’s conference hall, Kiphire.

According to DIPR report, chairman DPDB Kiphire, T. Yangseo Sangtam, MLA, said that the people should not believe in false information about the vaccine and therefore, he encouraged the citizens to avail the vaccine for preventive measures.

He also urged the members to initiate vaccination drives in rural areas and urged upon the village authorities not to hamper the vaccination drive by prohibiting the medical team.

He said that they should instead extend their cooperation during the vaccination drive.

The MLA lauded the administration, DTF, medi-

cal team, front line workers, tribal Hohos, civil societies, Church leaders and NGOs for the tireless efforts round the clock, in the fight against the pandemic.

DC and chairman DTF, Rahul Mali said that patients visited the hospital only after their conditions grew worse.

In this regard, he encouraged them to visit the hospital on early signs of symptoms. Mali also highlighted DTF activities and strategies for the entire district.

Meanwhile, the MLA visited Covid patients and later visited the ongoing oxygen plant construction at district hospital.

CGBA appeals GBs and public: Chakhroma Goan Burah Association (CGBA) has appealed to all concerned, particularly the GBs of Chakhroma jurisdiction to have “serious concern and be more active on our part” at respective villages/ colonies/wards in order to facilitate smooth sailing of government programmes and guidance to fight against the virus at their respective places. In a press release,

CGBA president Rokovitso Kuotsu and general secretary Thepfukuo Nagi said that the association was disturbed to have known that COVID-19 positive cases were increasing everyday and that the mortality was also increasing to a great extend along with the surge.

It appreciated the efforts of the government and civil societies in containing the spread and said that by the grace of God, much was improved compared to the past weeks.

Vaccination drive at Pfutsero: A special vaccination drive was organised by block task force (BTF), Pfutsero on June 13 at Pfutsero town sports complex.

In a press release, ADC & chairman, BTF for COVID-19 Pfutsero informed that a total of 749 persons were vaccinated in one session.

AR conduct vaccination drive at Shamator: Assam Rifles, Shamator batallion with the joint effort from CHC Shamator, led by medical officer, Dr. Mhathung L. Ngullie and Dr. Jacob from AR Shamator battalion conducted a

Covid vaccination drive at Lasikiur village. During the drive, MO AR Dr. Jacob briefed the gathering. The Shamator batallion also conducted a sanitisation drive on Monday at Lasikiur village, Tuensang.

DC Wokha informs on odd-even system: Deputy commissioner & chairman DTF Wokha, Orenthung Lotha has informed that plying of taxi and auto rickshaw would be on odd-even basis.

In order to streamline the system for the safety of the driver and passengers, the additional measures have been laid down for strict adherence: taxis and auto rickshaw are permitted to operate with a maximum of two passengers only without passenger in the front seat.

If any passenger is found without wearing mask the offender and the driver shall be fined an amount of Rs. 200 each; taxi and auto rickshaw drivers should disinfest the frequently touched area such as door knobs, door handles etc. After every trip and should compulsorily keep hand sanitiser in the vehicle; the production of negative COVID-19

test report by driver may be from any of the testRAT/RTPCR/True Nat/ CBNAAT/ (testing shall be free of cost).

All the drivers coming in to contact with the public be vaccinated at the earliest as per the criteria of the government of India, and pending complete vaccination, they should carry COVID-19 negative rest result valid up to 15 days. However, COVID-19 negative test result may not be required from a driver who has a fully vaccination certificate.

If the driver completely isolates himself by putting a plastic barrier/sheet in the vehicle between the driver and the passenger, the driver of such a vehicle may be exempted from the requirement of carrying COVID-19 test report; mingling and overcrowding with other drivers and crowding at the taxi/ auto rickshaw stand should be avoided. Any driver showing COVID-19 like symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, loss of smell/ taste, diarrhea etc. should immediately isolate and get tested.

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXxI NO. 189 Dimapur, TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

Caution on unlock

I

t is understandable that people who have been either under total or near Lockdown feel caged and are waiting for life to get back to normal.

People in India and many parts of the world, were quarantined or marooned during much of 2020. The second wave has led to re-lockdown in many states.

Markets, shops and commercial activities came to standstill across India while lakhs who became infected with the coronavirus, unable to explain the source of infection and not having any travel history.

Nagaland went under the second total Lockdown from June 4 till June 11 but was extended to June 18. Coronavirus cases during May till early part of June continued to break records by crossing the 300-mark in a single day. There have also been high recoveries at around nearly 75%. However, number of deaths due to Covid during May were alarming.

At one point in May 25 there were 18 deaths. For a small state like Nagaland, such a figure is high. The number of new cases has sharply declined to double digit and death rate to single digit but official sources are apprehensive about the potential threat of the virus reaching the rural areas. Lockdown in Nagaland is being relaxed to a large extent though educational institutions are still closed and office attendance eased. In a way, there is an attempt to ‘normalise’ life as much as possible in order to restart the economy.

Many people live mostly in rural areas and most of them are farmers or engaged in small time business.

Some activities such as farming, construction, restaurants including roadside businesses have been relaxed but with strict adherence to covid protocols.

The state is likely to relax the lockdown in view of decline in number of new cases and deaths. However, it would be more appropriate to focus on stopping the virus than on relaxing the lockdown. This view may not be shared by most people but it is based on the experiences in other countries. In England, the lifting of restrictions has been described as a “dangerous moment” by international medical experts such Professor Jonathan Van Tam and England’s deputy chief medical officer. According to the view, relaxing lockdown should not be as important as saving lives even under extended Lockdown. The health experts say that relaxing lockdown means people will come into contact with more people and that increases the opportunity for the virus to spread. That was how the second wave spread rapidly and the Delta virus made things worse with spikes in new cases and more deaths across many countries, especially India. The experts maintain that the focus should be on getting people vaccinated and preventing another wave of infections. With health infrastructure in over 80% of the state, especially in rural areas, being without adequate manpower and also medical facilities, there is need to seriously consider whether easing curbs of Lockdown should be the primary focus of the government. The wrong handling of Covid-19 pandemic in India is well known and accepted.

Waiting until cases fall further would make the virus easier to control and give more time to react if there is a ‘third wave’. However, that requires keeping a painful lockdown for longer and this requires political will based on sound medical advice.

DailyDevotion Get Moving! (1) Abide in Me… —John 15:4 In the matter of determination. The Spirit of Jesus is put into me by way of the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I then have to build my thinking patiently to bring it into perfect harmony with my Lord. God will not make me think like Jesus— I have to do it myself. I have to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). “Abide in Me”— in intellectual matters, in money matters, in every one of the matters that make human life what it is. Our lives are not made up of only one neatly confined area.

Am I preventing God from doing things in my circumstances by saying that it will only serve to hinder my fellowship with Him? How irrelevant and disrespectful that is! It does not matter what my circumstances are. I can be as much assured of abiding in Jesus in any one of them as I am in any prayer meeting. It is unnecessary to change and arrange my circumstances myself. Our Lord’s inner abiding was pure and unblemished. He was at home with God wherever His body was. He never chose His own circumstances, but was meek, submitting to His Father’s plans and directions for Him. Just think of how amazingly relaxed our Lord’s life was! But we tend to keep God at a fever pitch in our lives. We have none of the serenity of the life which is “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Think of the things that take you out of the position of abiding in Christ. You say, “Yes, Lord, just a minute— I still have this to do. Yes, I will abide as soon as this is finished, or as soon as this week is over.

It will be all right, Lord. I will abide then.” Get moving— begin to abide now. In the initial stages it will be a continual effort to abide, but as you continue, it will become so much a part of your life that you will abide in Him without any conscious effort. Make the determination to abide in Jesus wherever you are now or wherever you may be placed in the future.

Quotes

Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. ~ J. Paul Getty

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

T

he 47th annual G-7 Summit, ended on Sunday last at the Carbis Bay in Cornwall, UK. Though the British Prime Minister wanted the summit to showcase his brand of ‘Global Britain’, after the Brexit. But there were terse exchanges between the French, EU and British leaders and officials on the issue. In effect the summit turned out to be more Biden focussed and expectations were raised high on some real agreement taking place on the 3C’s before the summit, though that was not the result ultimately.

Broadly, Biden sought to set a new tone after the unrestrained Trump years.

Most G-7 leaders seemed relieved to have a return to a more predictable and traditional US administration.

France’s Emmanuel Macron welcomed Biden back to the “club.”But the final Communiqué showed that even Biden’s expectations to ensure a consensus on many of his promises fell short.

Covid-19 On the issue of Covid19, the leaders of the seven most affluent western nations seemed united, but there was difference of opinion on the way forward. Earlier, they had showed commitment to donate 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses over the next year to poorer countries. But in reality the bloc fell short of its own goal -- 613 million new doses pledged, instead of a billion.

G-7 Summit Disappoints

Even so, the vaccine effort gave Biden some help with his China push. Biden has criticised China for a transactional brand of vaccine diplomacy, where the shots are being doled out for geopolitical advantage.

Biden called on democracies to counter China and Russia by donating vaccines equally and based on need, without seeking favours in return.

The COVAX facility, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), aims to secure 2 billion vaccine doses for lower-income countries by the end of 2021.”We will work together with the private sector, the G20 and other countries to increase this contribution over the months to come,” the communiqué said.

China On the second day of the summit, US unveiled plans to counter China through infrastructure funding for poorer nations. Promising to “collectively catalyse” hundreds of billions of infrastructure investment for low- and middle-income countries, the G7 leaders said they would offer a “values-driven, highstandard and transparent” partnership.

G-7s “Build Back Better World” (B3W) project was aimed directly at competing with China’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road Infrastructure (BRI) initiative, which has been widely criticised for saddling small countries with

The 3Cs: Covid, China and Climate Change dominated the G-7 Summit.

But overall the leaders were not able to present a united standon any major issue.

unmanageable debt, including even G-7 member Italy since its launch in 2013.

However, several leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pushed back over worries about turning the G-7 into an antiChina group, suggesting any infrastructure programme should be framed as a more positive, pro-environment effort.

French President Emmanuel Macron also pushed back publicly, saying that the “G-7 is not a group that is hostile to China.” Macron was one leader who sought the middle ground.

China hit back at these statements dismissively saying that the days when “global decisions” were dictated by a “small group of countries are long gone”. Chinese embassy in London issued a statement saying that world affairs should be handled through “consultation by all countries”, and added that the valid global system was the “international order based on the principles” of the United Nations.

The final version of the communiqué skirted B3W, instead creating a task force to study how to spur infrastructure development abroad. It made no mention of BRI, though Biden renewed his call at a press

On climate, our hubris is the problem

T

his was meant to be a consequential year for the environment. A summit in January issued an adaptation action agenda. United States President Joe Biden convened a climate leaders’ summit in April. The G7 promised to stop financing coal. The United Nations (UN) will hold a high-level dialogue on energy in September. In October, Italy will host a planet-focused G20 meeting while China will convene a biodiversity conference. The Glasgow climate talks in November will be a litmus test of climate action. If global summits could save the planet, 2021 would have done the trick.

The truth is that the world doesn’t need saving, we do. Humans are altering the face of the planet and the future of millions of species in the age of the Anthropocene. But as an intelligent species, it is our problem-solving approach that needs course correction. Let us recognise the pathologies.

Techno-centrism: Our instinct is to look for technologies to solve problems.

We over-engineer rather than trust nature.

So, a dam takes precedence over a waterrecharge well. A seafront embankment gets investment but saving mangroves that buffer against storm surges does not.

We use phrases such as biomimicry to give the illusion of human ingenuity in copying nature. Take the idea of injecting sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and lower the earth’s temperature (mimicking large volcanic eruptions). Or the quest to build carbonsucking machines for “direct air capture”.

Instead, why not focus on retaining carbon in healthy soils by practising regenerative agriculture? Soils store 2,500 billion tonnes of carbon, thrice what is in the atmosphere and four times that stored in all living plants and animals.

Techno-fixes seem attractive because there are fewer things to control. It is easier to conceive of a fleet of specially designed balloons or aeroplanes to inject stratospheric aerosols than imagine a wholesale change in agricultural practices for hundreds of millions of farmers.

Techno-mercantilism: The corollary to techno-centrism is the desire to control rather than collaborate. Climate technology platforms seldom offer developing countries the chance to co-develop advanced technologies. Since many countries face the prospect of shifting from importing oil to importing solar panels, I examined 15 emerging markets for their net import dependence for renewable energy equipment. Only four (China, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore) were net exporters. No summit is exploring an agenda to diversify renewables’ supply chains that give more countries a stake in green industries.

Despite an earth-shattering pandemic, access to vaccines remains contested. What confidence can developing countries have for access to technologies to combat the more pernicious climate crisis? Of more than a dozen bilateral partnerships on green hydrogen, none involves South American countries, one includes Morocco in Africa, and one involves Brunei in Asia. A spate of hydrogen alliances merely supports the national programmes of advanced

countries. They are not genuine collaborative efforts.

No deal for development: A grand bargain on climate action should include a deal for development for low-income countries. The seventh sustainable development goal (SDG7) on access to sustainable energy for all must connect with SDG8 on decent work and economic growth or SDG9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure. Energy access cannot be just a light bulb in a poor woman’s hut. It must mean access to clean energy to power enterprises and support livelihoods. Where is the conversation about green industrialisation for Africa or Asia?

We are shifting from the need to secure gas pipelines to protecting critical minerals for electric vehicle batteries. But will Bolivia forever export raw materials (historically silver and tin; now the world’s largest reserves of lithium)?

Will the Democratic Republic of Congo remain a Wild West of minerals needed in clean tech products? How will they avoid currency appreciation thanks to a commodity boom (the dreaded Dutch Disease), making it hard to competitively export finished products?

Financial exclusion of nature: The financial ecosystem is paying attention to the environment, social and governance guidelines. Yet fundamental flaws remain.

We want public finance to be leveraged (rightly) to attract multiples of private capital into sustainable infrastructure. But where is the private investment to make the vulnerable more climate-resilient?

Amidst debates about sustainable finance, nature is excluded. We value products that clean up degraded resources, not assets that are clean. GDP grows when a sewage treatment plant is built, not when a river is not polluted to begin with. No financial product induces the latter.

Uncompromised lifestyles: No summit discusses sustainable lifestyles. Ironically, we whoop with delight when Elon Musk unveils an electric pickup truck with a range of 400km, but do not ask why a city-dweller should own a pickup truck in the first place. Are materials not needed to make heavy vehicles, even if electric? Why only focus on range anxiety when it comes to EVs but not on reducing mobility needs in better-planned cities?

How do we go from a throwaway culture to pledging “no single-use everything”: Water, waste, minerals, plastic, soil, even carbon? We must change the metrics of valuation. India has the world’s thirdlargest startup ecosystem. Can it aspire to birth the world’s first circular economy unicorn?

Halfway through a supposedly consequential year, can we honestly say that summits are mitigating and not aggravating these pathologies? Treating the world’s poor with a disdainful saviour complex means we want them to be audiences for speeches, not partners in reimagining development. The planet doesn’t need fixing; our hubris does. Let’s start by admitting we have a problem.

Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (The views expressed are personal)

conference, and said that, “I proposed that we have a democratic alternative to the Belt and Road initiative, to build back better.”

Climate Change The claim by environmental activists before and after the summit was that the world’s rich nations, which caused the climate crisis, know what’s expected of them - but they consistently fail to deliver in full.They asserted that for the umpteenth time the rich club has failed to deliver on its promise to channel $100bn a year to poor nations coping with climate change’s negative affects.

Environment campaigners further warned there could be no over-arching deal to protect the climate unless $100 billion sum is reached and guaranteed at the vital COP-26 climate conference in Glasgow in coming December.

Teresa Anderson, from Action Aid said that the G7 must announce real finance through grants and stop turning a blind eye while the world’s poorest and most marginalised are hit hardest. The summit made some progress, especially on heralding the demise of coal - the fuel that drove the industrial revolution and sent emissions soaring. President

Biden talked about the end of coal for power generation in America (with no details of a date, or of how he would get legislation passed through the Congress). The president also trumpeted the end of coal finance for poor nations, with the hopethat this may heap pressure on China to follow suit.

India As PM Modi had announced last month that due to surging Covid cases in India, he’d not travel to the UK, he addressed the summit virtually. He conveyed India’s commitment to “collective” solution to global health challenges, and called for “one earth, one health” approach, which aims for unity and solidarity among the states of the world to deal with the pandemic. He also emphasised the need to keep raw materials for vaccines easily accessible.

Modi further sought G7’s support for a proposal moved by India and South Africa at the WTO for a TRIPS waiver. This waiver will help India scale up production of anti-COVID-19 vaccines.

The argument found strong support from Australia and other countries. French President Emmanuel Macron too argued for strengthening the abilities of countries like India that can play a vital role to contain the pandemic.

Summit’s Attainment The UK summit was the first G-7 summit to be held in last two years, and will serve as a blueprint for

international gatherings in the post-pandemic age. The western leaders met after four turbulent years of Donald Trump in the White House, and though Biden was welcomed into the Club, yet he seemed unable to make a significant mark at the summit, as most of pre-summit promises were not included in the final communiqué and this shows that he’ll have to work hard to convince his European allies.

It was also the final summit for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has served as a bulwark for Europe for 16 years, a position which is being eyed by Macron to become “Dean” of the club. Also there was no mention of a new US-UK Atlantic Charter modelled on the historic statement made

by Churchill and Roosevelt on the post-war world order, a dream cherished by both Biden and Johnson to be remembered as the one who led the world’s economic recovery post-pandemic.

The summit’s Communiqué which was issued several hours after the end of the summit, promises many things but falls short of what was expected to be achieved before the summit.

Asad Mirza (Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi.

He was also associated with BBC Urdu Service and Khaleej Times of Dubai. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs.)

Older adults are at higher risk of social isolation during COVID pandemic: Study

T

he risk of severe illness increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Over 95% of fatalities due to COVID-19 in Europe and 80% in China have included people older than 60 years old. In the USA, 80% of deaths were among adults 65 and above. Decreasing social interactions due to ‘social distancing’ has had a negative impact on mental and physical health in older people. Elderly face greater risk of financial hardship due to chronic nature of ailment and comorbidities, which require long term treatment and care.An Indian Institute of Technology Madras study has called for greater Government investment in public healthcare to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the elderly.

Based on the 75th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) 2017-18, the study, published in the prestigious international journal Globalization and Health, found that only 18.9% of the elderly had health insurance and therefore they may not be able to bear large expenditures on health; and further,27.5% of people whose age is 80 years or above are immobile and 70% of elders are partially or wholly financially dependent on others.

The study was undertaken

by Prof. V.R. Muraleedharan, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, and Dr. Alok Ranjan, the first author who was a postdoctoral student at IIT Madras, and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department

of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Jodhpur.

The NSS survey covered 113,823 households and 555,115 individuals from randomly selected 8077 villages and 6181 urban areas. The results showed that disparities exist in health status as well as healthcare access of elderly people across the country.

“Our research highlights ways in which the elderly may have suffered even due to COVID-19 control measures, such associal/physical distancing that could increase depression, and lead to a higher chance of inflammatory response in the elderly. There are several such ailments specific to the vulnerable elderly population. These are highlighted empirically, supported by other studies carried out in other country settings during the current pandemic”, Prof.

V.R. Muraleedharan said.

The vulnerability of India’s elderly increases across economic levels, and other dimensions such as the place of residence, gender, social group (caste), marital status, living arrangements, surviving children, and economic dependence. The current COVID-19 pandemic poses a greater risk of social isolation among the elderly, which may cause detrimental health impact. Missed treatments, unavailability of drugs also pose a major health challenge to elders.

Diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular issues are the grim realities of old age. Most of the elderly have either one or more of these underly-

ing conditions, apart from a weak immune system they are likely to have. The COVID19 pandemic made access to healthcare facilities more difficult and unlike the young, the elderly may have also struggled to adapt to tele-consultations and online shopping.

Speaking about the relevance of the study to tackling future pandemics, IIT Madras Alum Dr. Alok Ranjan, Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Jodhpur, said,“The future is uncertain and we may experience such pandemics and adversaries in coming years and therefore it is important that we take lessons from the current pandemic to ensure that such disasters in the future are less detrimental to the physical and mental health of the elderly.”

The poor among the elderly would suffer more than others. As a result, their access to regular primary healthcare services, and continuity of care that is essential for those suffering from non-communicable diseases, given their dependency and lack of mobility, may have worsened further during this pandemic.

Overall, given the evidence on the possible hardships that the elderly may have already gone through during the pandemic and hardships that they may face in the future, the importance of strengthening the public health care system cannot be over-emphasized, researchers opine.

(India Science Wire)

Reader’s Post

Sir,

Kindness- the need of the hour

The lockdown had its positive as well as negative impacts in all of our lives. While it has reduced the number of Covid positive cases in almost all the districts of Nagaland, there are thousands of families across Nagaland who have been struggling to meet their daily needs. Infact in Dimapur itself, there are hundreds of such cases where people are struggling to even feed themselves. There are a lot of questions that needs answering and a lot of unanswered prayers as well. However, what saddens me the most is our failure to be compassionate to others. Recently, I came across a heart wrenching video of a farmer whose only plight was for the government and the apex society to provide an imbursement/help to farmers like him who had suffered huge drawbacks in their finances due to the pandemic. Likewise, there are numerous other people like him whose only wish is for a Good Samaritan to pass by their way. Therefore, I would like to earnestly request the GoN and every concerned authority to look into this matter and act accordingly without delay.

“A simple act of kindness can make a tremendous impact on a person’s life.”

Akumla Ao, Dimapur

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

WPI inflation hits all-time high Retail inflation hits 6-month high of 6.3 pc in May

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (PTI): The wholesale pricebased inflation accelerated to a record 12.94 per cent in May, on account of rising prices of crude oil, manufactured goods and a low base of last year.

In May last year, WPI inflation was (-) 3.37 per cent and in April 2021, WPI inflation hit double digit at 10.49 per cent.

This is the fifth straight month of uptick seen in the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation.

“The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, was 12.94 per cent for the month of May, 2021 (over May, 2020) as compared to (-) 3.37 per cent in May 2020.

“The high rate of inflation in May 2021 is primarily due to low base effect and rise in prices of crude petroleum, mineral oils viz. petrol, diesel, naphtha, fur-

5

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

nace oil etc. and manufactured products as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year,” the Commerce and Industry Ministry said.

Inflation in fuel and power basket spiked to 37.61 per cent during May, against 20.94 per cent in April, amid hardening of global commodity prices.

Prices of crude petroleum and other fuels had crashed last year in May due to lockdowns across the globe which had caused demand to plummet.

In manufactured products, inflation stood at 10.83 per cent in May, against 9.01 per cent in the previous month.

However, inflation in food articles eased marginally to 4.31 per cent in May, even as onion prices spiked.

Inflation in onion stood at 23.24 per cent in May, against (-) 19.72 per cent in April.

ICRA Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said the core-WPI inflation (manufactured non-food products) hardened sharply to a series-

high 10 per cent in May 2021, with a broad-based uptrend across most subsectors.

“The continued rise in global crude oil prices, a weaker rupee and the upward revision in domestic fuel prices remain risk factors for the upcoming WPI print. However, we expect the headline WPI inflation to recede modestly to 11.912.3 per cent in June 2021, as the base starts to normalise,” Nayar added.

PHDCCI President Sanjay Aggarwal said high fuel inflation is escalating the input costs of the industry and its competitiveness in the domestic and international markets.

“At this juncture, we urge the government to consider petroleum products in the ambit of GST to rationalize the prices and to contain the rising inflation,” Aggarwal added.

ITM B-School HoD, Financial Markets, Krupesh Thakkar said though RBI might not look into these numbers too cautiously, these cost-push pressures

would be seen in the Retail Inflation with a lag.

“Of course, the yearly Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures do depend on its segment weightage and relative base impact, but these pressures cannot be ignored,” Thakkar added.

The RBI, which takes into account retail inflation while framing monetary policy, had earlier this month kept interest rates unchanged at record lows and committed to maintain an accommodative policy stance to support growth.

RBI pegged retail inflation at 5.1 per cent in this fiscal ending March 2022, with upside risks from higher commodity prices and reemergence of higher supply constraints amidst the current phase of lockdowns.

Meanwhile, rising prices of edible oils and protein rich items pushed the retail inflation to a six-month high of 6.3 per cent in May, breaching the comfort level of the Reserve Bank and thus rendering reduction in interest rates a difficult proposition in the near term.

106,300 vials of Amphotericin-B allocated to states

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (IANS): Amid cases of rising cases of black fungus with Maharashtra reporting the most, the Centre said that it on Monday allocated an additional over one lakh vials of Amphotericin-B allocated to states/UTs and Central institutions.

Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, in a tweet, said that to ensure significant availability of Liposomal Amphotricin-B, additional 106,300 vials of the drug were allocated across all the states/UTs and Central Institutions.

A total of 53,000 vials of conventional Amphotericin-B have also been allocated to all the states/UTs and Central Institutions, to ensure its smooth supply and timely treatment of patients, he said, A total of 28,252 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis had been reported in India till June 7 so far from 28 states in which 86 per cent (24,370) have a history of Covid-19 infections and 62.3 per cent (17,601) of diabetes, as per the government.

AAP will contest all seats in 2022 Gujarat polls: Kejriwal says BJP and Cong in ‘tacit’ alliance AHMEDABAD, JUN 14 (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest all seats in Gujarat in the 2022 Assembly polls, the party’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Monday as he visited a Vaishnavite temple in the city and blamed the ruling BJP and opposition Congress for the “plight” of people but avoided a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on their home turf.

Addressing a press conference on the campus of the Vallabh Sadan temple after taking darshan of the deity, Kejriwal, who was on a one-day visit to the city, said his party was a credible alternative to the BJP and the Congress in Gujarat who he said had a tacit alliance between them.

“The AAP will contest

Arvind Kejriwal

each and every seat in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections. The AAP is a credible alternative to the BJP and Congress. Gujarat will change soon,” he said.

The Gujarat House has 182 seats.

“Gujarat is suffering because of this friendship and alliance between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP ruled this state for the last 27 years. I heard people saying that Congress is in the pocket of the BJP. Both the BJP and Congress are the same. This must stop,” he said.

Kejriwal said the Congress and the BJP have been in power for most of the pe-

riod after Independence but “people are witness to what they have done. Farmers are committing suicide even after 75 years”.

During the press conference, the former head of a Gujarati news channel, Isudan Gadhvi, joined the AAP in the presence of Kejriwal. Blaming the BJP and the Congress for the “current situation” of Gujarat, Kejriwal said the common people were left to fend for themselves during the coronavirus pandemic.

Irrespective of tall claims, farmers in Gujarat are committing suicide, government-run schools and hospitals are in shambles and traders are living under fear, he alleged.

“People want to know why the electricity costs are so high in Gujarat when it’s free in Delhi? If governmentrun schools and hospitals are top-class in Delhi then why are they in a bad shape here?

Now, the time has come to change Gujarat,” the AAP leader said.

WB extends Covid Year after Galwan clash: India develops Vatican rejects Kerala nun’s curbs till July 1 with final appeal against dismissal some relaxations military infra, deploys around 60K troops THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): Kerala’s rebel Catholic nun Lucy Kalapura, who hit headlines by taking on a Bishop allegedly accused of raping a nun, was told to vacate her convent after the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church in the Vatican, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, rejected her appeal against the dismissal, The Indian Express report stated.

Sister Lucy, 56, has been dismissed from her congregation Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) in May 2019, on charges of “violation of the vows of obedience and poverty”. In the same year, she had appealed to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, which rejected the same in September 2019. Later, Lucy moved a final appeal with the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in the Vatican, which is the highest point of appeal for a

Lucy Kalapura (File)

clergy for justice within the Church. Reacting to the dismissal of her appeal, Lucy said she would not vacate the convent (at Karakkamala village in Wayanad district). “I would seek justice in the Indian legal system.

I had petitioned the local court, which has temporarily stayed the congregation order to vacate the convent.

The petition is still pending in court. I would not vacate the convent at any cost,’’ said the nun, who had retired as a teacher of a government-aided school in Wayanad.

Lucy had a strained

relation with her superiors since 2015, but it reached a flashpoint and came to the fore in September 2018 when she took part in a public agitation of nuns in Kochi, demanding the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is an alleged accused in a case pertaining to the rape of a nun belonging to Jalandhar-based Missionaries of Jesus. During the nuns’ agitation, Lucy had published articles in non-Christian publications and had raised critical comments in social media sites, which the authorities felt as belittling the Church and its clergy.

The chargesheet included that she had also published a handful of her poems as a book, even after the superior denied permission for the same. The nun bought a Maruti Alto car with a vehicle loan obtained as a salaried person. This action amounted to violation of the vow of obedience as per the congregation.

K O L K AT A , J U N 1 4 (AGENCIES): The West Bengal government on Monday announced extension of Covid restrictions till July 1 with some relaxations. After witnessing a steady decline in daily Covid cases in past one month under strict restrictions, the Mamata Banerjeeled government announced that restrictions on transportation services will continue while movement of people will remain prohibited between 9 pm and 5 am. Movement of private vehicles to remain suspended excluding for emergency. All education institutes and waterways will also remain closed.

However, government and private offices can function from June 16 with 25% strength. “All government offices will function with 25% strength. Private and corporate offices will remain open from 10 am to 4 pm with not more than 25% strength,” said Banerjee.

Shops in shopping mall complexes will be allowed to open from 11 am till 6 pm with 50% workforce.

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (IANS): A year after the Galwan valley clash in eastern Ladakh, China is still sitting at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) while India has geared up for a long grind.

Indian and Chinese military delegates have had 11 rounds of talks to resolve the border disputes at the friction points. The only thing that has happened is that both the countries have agreed to resolve the dispute peacefully. The Indian Army has focused on being better prepared to face Chinese belligerence in Ladakh over the last year, as a final resolution seems far off.

India has enhanced military infrastructure, increased troop deployment to 50,000 to 60,000 troops, and constructed better roads to improve connectivity for quick force mobilisation.

The force continues to be on high alert with its enhanced troop deployment of over 50,000 men on the ground in Ladakh for the

last one year, including during the harsh winter when the temperature dips to minus 40-degree Celsius.

Last month, Indian Army chief General M.M. Naravane had said that the troops are on high alert along the LAC, keeping a watch on the activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Naravane said that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored.

He also stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both

Will cooperate with investigative process: Parkash Badal to SIT better, I will be available to join the investigation as per law, at my current place of residence (in Chandigarh.)” Badal hoped that “this SIT, unlike the previous one, would respect the law of the land and conduct a fair investigation, withstanding political interference from the ruling dispensation” which, he said, had been “brazenly subverting the law for petty political gains”.

In his two-page response to the summon from the SIT investigating

Parkash Singh Badal

the handling of Kotkapura incidents by the previous government, Badal said “the entire process of investigations already stands brazenly compromised through blatant and unapologetic political inter-

Farmers across India suffering due to Centre’s indifference: Mamata

KO L K ATA , J U N 1 4 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said farmers across the country aresuffering due to the Centre’s indifference, and vowed to fightfor the welfare of the “very backbone” of society.

Banerjee also said the day marked the 10th year of theSingur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill that waspassed in the assembly after a “long struggle”.

“Today, it pains me that across the nation our farmerbrethren are suffering owing to the indifference of theCentre. Together, we shall continue our fight to ensure thewell-being of the very backbone of

Mamata Banerjee

our society. Upholdingtheir rights remains a top priority,” the CM tweeted.

“On this day, 10 years back, the Singur LandRehabilitation and Development Bill 2011 was passed in the WBassembly after a long & difficult struggle. We unitedly foughtfor the rights of our farmers & addressed their grievances,bringing

in positive change in their lives,” she added.

The Trinamool Congress supremo has been raising hervoice and rendering support to the farmers’ protests againstthe controversial agri laws passed in Parliament last year.

Sha had also assured farmer leaders led by RakeshTikait and Yudhvir Singh during a meeting last week of supportto their agitation against the three farm laws.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union led by Tikait and Singh hadsupported the ‘No vote for BJP’ campaign ahead of the WestBengal assembly elections, and have plans to extend that inother upcoming state elections as well.

ference and it reeks too strongly of political vendetta to inspire any confidence about a fair process of law being followed”. In spite of this, said Badal, he will “cooperate fully” with the investigative process.

The for mer Chief Minster pointed out that the very need for the present SIT had “arisen out of the brazen politicisation of the case by the previous SIT”.

In this regard, Badal criticised “one of the members of the previous SIT” for his “openly political

conduct” which had allegedly subverted the entire investigative process.

“With a callous and contemptuous disregard for all the established procedures and norms, this officer completely usurped and appropriated to himself the entire functioning and designated role of all the other members of the SIT, including its chairman, and rendered them totally redundant and they were reportedly not even a part of the investigative process”.

UNITY COLLEGE Residency Colony, Dimapur, Nagaland E: hr@unitycollegedimapur.com

S.No.

Post

1

Asst. Prof. in Education

2

Asst. Prof. in Sociology

Government of Nagaland

Office of the Principal, Government Polytechnic Kohima Kohima, Nagaland

Naharbari Junction, East Dimapur

NO.GPK/ACDM-3/2017/

DP-2688

THE OFFICE OF

KOHIMA EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY Literature Prize Entry Extended The last date of entry for the Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature has been extended till June 30, 2021. This has been necessitated due to the many inconveniences and disruptions in communications caused by the period of complete lockdown.

Organizers Kohima Educational Society (KES)

Minimum Qualification Ph.D/M.A with NET/SLET (Experience Preferred) Ph.D/M.A with NET/SLET (Experience Preferred)

Pay Scale : 15600-39100 with AGP, HRA and Medical Insurance Application along with scanned copies of relevant documents, experience certificates and recent passport size photo should be emailed to hr@unitycollegedimapur.com on or before 30th June 2021.

All Applications are to be submitted through Email only.

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CHANDIGARH, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): Five times Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal on Monday categorically reiterated his “intent and commitment to fully cooperating with the law” and said he had ‘complete faith in the judiciary’. He has, however, asked the SIT “to reschedule the date for his appearance for the investigations as he is not keeping good health and has been advised complete bed rest for 10 days by doctors”.

“As soon as my health gets

sides.

He said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong River. The Army chief maintained that China has deployed around 50,000 to 60,000 troops in eastern Ladakh in immediate depth so India has also made mirror deployment in depth. Even after 11 rounds of military talks at the Corps Commander level to find a resolution, there is still no breakthrough despite the disengagement in Pangong.

Indian and Chinese forces have met to resolve the border disputes at the

other friction areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and the 900 sq km Depsang plains.

Naravane also said that Indian is currently concentrating on resolving the outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.

He had pointed out that India’s stand during the disengagement agreement in the Pangong Lake area remained the same that the status quo ante of April 2020 must be restored.

The army chief also stated that trust levels between the two countries are low, but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process.

In the Galwan valley, where a bloody clash between the forces of the two nations left 20 Indian four Chinese soldiers dead on June 15 last year, including Commanding Officer Col Santosh Babu, the troops had concentrated at just 1.5 km apart.

Dated, Kohima, the 14th June 2021

NOTIFICATION

In view of the forthcoming Regular Even Semester (II/IV/VI) and Compartmental Odd semester (I/III/V) Examinations, tentatively scheduled to Commence from the 2nd Week of July 2021, the students of Government Polytechnic Kohima are hereby informed to fill up the Examination form w.e.f 19th – 25th June 2021 without fail. Late submission of examination forms shall not be entertained.

All concerned are to take note that eligibility to appear the end term examination is subject to clearance of PA/Sessional result – having submitted exam form not withstanding. Details of exam routine shall be notified later in the Institute website.

Examination forms links can be accessed from the institute website www.gpknagaland.org For compartmental candidates, Examination fee of Rs. 550/- may be deposited to office Account through Net banking or UPI, and upload the payment slip to the link provided in the website.

A/C Name : Principal, Govt. Polytechnic Kohima A/c No : 1147104000045289 Bank name : IDBI bank IFSC Code : IBKL0001147 For any clarification, you may contact the following numbers: 8974518681/ 8119823032.

DC-490

( Er. Keyiekhru Rhutso ) PRINCIPAL.

national/state

ISLAMABAD, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): In a rare agreement between two arch-rivals India and Pakistan, which have a history of long-time rivalry with disputes on every front from sea to land, exporters from both sides of the border have mutually agreed to share the ownership of the regions prized Basmati rice, a solution considered the most workable to reach the European markets.

“There has to be a joint ownership, which is a logical solution to the dispute,” said Faizan Ali Ghouri, a Pakistani rice exporter.

The fight between India and Pakistan over the claim of the origin of Basmati rice has a long history, as this variety is produced largely on both sides of the border.

India has filed a claim in the European Union (EU) seeking a geographical indication (GI) tag for Basmati rice. Pakistan, on the other hand, has opposed India’s claim and has filed a request for a protected GI tag.

“There is no logic in both countries’ claim for the sole exclusivity of Basmati rice. Although its origin is Pakistani Punjab, it is grown in both sides of the border.

Therefore, a joint ownership is the only viable solution to the long-standing dispute,” said Ghouri.

“The EU buyers also prefer joint ownership of the rice variety as they want to keep both New Delhi and Islamabad on board in terms of commodity exports,” he added. Ghouri’s views were seconded by Ashok Sethi,

Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

the director of Punjab Rice Millers Export Association in India, who also suggested that both the countries should jointly protect the Basmati heritage.

“India and Pakistan are the only two countries which produce Basmati in the world. Both should jointly work together to save the heritage and protect the GI regime of the rice,” said Sethi.

It is pertinent to mention that EU had recognised Basmati as a joint product of India and Pakistan in 2006.

Both Pakistan and India make good money from their respective exports of Basmati rice. Pakistan annually earns $2.2 billion, while India makes about $6.8 billion from Basmati exports.

More flay Along’s remark...

(From p-1) Naga Political Issue (CCNPI) on solution of the Naga political issue.

JDU obser ved that while the working perimeter of the newly-formed CCNPI was still to be declared, Along’s statement had already made it loud and clear, the limitations of CCNPI. JDU reminded Along about the genesis of political talks between Government of India (GoI) and Naga national workers, especially with NSCN-IM, based on three pre-mediated principles – at the highest level (i.e.

Prime Ministerial level), in a third country and without any pre-condition.

Since the talks were directly between the government of India and Naga national workers, JDU said it was absolute nonsense for any third party to make a curtailing interference.

Instead of ameliorating

the stalemate obviously visible, JSU alleged that the pre-conditions set by Along had only vitiated the atmosphere of the ongoing talks. The party accused him of deliberately belittling the uniqueness of Naga cause and undermining the agreed principles of the ongoing dialogue. Admitting that all political parties were bound by an allegiance to the Indian constitution, JDU, however, asserted that this did not imply that fact of Naga nationalism, which preceded India’s independence, should be thrown to the thin air just to safeguard a temporary position.

JDU therefore demanded that both CCNPI and BJP Nagaland clarify their position as to whether the precondition declared

by Along was his personal statement or of CCNPI or BJP, in the larger interest of Naga people and for posterity.

No. 9590 Yesterday’s solution No. 9589

No. 4209 Yesterday’s solution No. 4208

No. 3234 Yesterday’s solution No. 3233

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Narendra Modi

the lead to highlight landdegradation issues at international forums and cited that the “Delhi Declaration” of 2019 called for better access and stewardship over land and emphasized gender-sensitive transformative projects.

“In India, over the last 10 years, around three million (30 lakh) hectares of forest cover had been added.

This has enhanced the combined forest cover to almost one-fourth of the country’s total area,” the prime minister said.

“We are on track to achieve our national commitment of land degrada-

tion neutrality. We are also working towards restoring 26 million (2.6 crore) hectares of degraded land by 2030,” the prime minister said.

This would contribute to India’s commitment to achieve an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion (250 to 300 crore) tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, he added.

“We believe that restoration of land can start a cycle for good soil health, increased land productivity, food security and improved livelihoods,” the prime minister said.

Noting that land degradation poses a special challenge to the developing world, Modi also told the meet that in the spirit of South-South cooperation, India is assisting fellow developing countries to develop land-restoration strategies.

A centre of excellence is being set up in the country to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues, he said.

BJP’s new plan to shake off Covid criticism

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): The BJP is set to start the second phase of a countrywide voluntary service to promote Covid vaccination, promote awareness and help people affected with the disease. The programme was initiated last month by BJP chief JP Nadda as the country grappled with the second wave of Covid and the opposition accused the government of being unprepared to deal with the crisis.

Under the “Seva Hi Sangathan” programme, Nadda has instructed party workers to help with vaccination campaigns, relief programmes and training healthcare volunteers in villages.

Under the vaccination campaign, the party workers have been asked to ensure that all people aged 45 years and above get both doses of the vaccine.

Among the 18 to 44 year age group, specific tar-

get groups have been set who are at high risk of contracting the disease. The workers have been asked to motivate delivery men, auto rickshaw drivers, domestic helpers, newspaper distributors and gas cylinder delivery staff to get vaccinated.

The other group considered crucial will comprise parents of children below the age 12 years. This is part of the government’s preparatory measures to forestall a possible third phase in which a section of experts believe will be highly risky for children.

A letter from Arun Singh, the party’s National General Secretary that enumerated Nadda’s instructions, also marked out other priority areas: “Organising blood donation camps and donating blood on requests should be taken up. Arranging ration kits and food distribution at hospitals and other places should be taken up on the basis of neces-

sity. Assigning volunteers to individual houses where either aged people are facing problems or all are infected.

Tele medicine consultancy and medical help centres to attend to post COVID complications should also be taken up. Helping people affected with ensuring they get their insurance facility at the earliest (either health or life) should be looked into.

Volunteers have to assist families in need.”

Teams will be formed at state level to train workers in rural areas and store basic medical equipment like thermal scanners, oxymeters, home test kits and oxygen concentrators at the local party offices.

Rural areas bore the brunt of the second wave of the virus and with the health infrastructure in a shambles in these areas, critics claim the people have died without medical treatment and the deaths have been unaccounted for in official data.

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Pakistan and India agree to share ownership of Basmati rice

NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (PTI): India is working towards restoring 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land by 2030 and assisting fellow developing countries to develop land-restoration strategies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a high-level UN dialogue on Monday.

Asserting that land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today, Modi said if left unchecked, it will erode the very foundations of our societies, economies, food security, health, safety and quality of life.

“Therefore, we have to reduce the tremendous pressure on land and its resources. Clearly, a lot of work lies ahead of us. But we can do it. We can do it together,” he said.

The prime minister made these remarks in his virtual address at the UN “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” at the United Nations.

He said India has taken

LAND FOR SALE Kachari Gaon

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We, the Chen Area Union Kohima (CAUK), would like to convey our sincere appreciation to Shri.Temjen Imna Along, Hon’ble President BJP Nagaland, Minister Higher & Technical Education & Tribal Affairs, Government of Nagaland for providing Dry food packages to students and daily wage earners of Chen Area people residing in Kohima town on 12th June 2021.

Further, we thank you and acknowledge for your kind gesture and support towards the people of Chen during this difficult time of COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown 2021.

May God continue to bless you and your family abundantly for welfare of the people.

(Chenshock Salim) (T. Khuzu Konyak) General Secretary President C.A.U.K C.A.U.K

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LJP’s leader in Lok Sabha to the Speaker.

The five MPs had met Speaker Om Birla on Sunday night to inform him about their decision to replace Paswan with Paras as their leader.

Sources in the Speaker’s office said that their request is under consideration There has been no comment from Paswan on the issue.

Soon after Paras spoke to reporters, Paswan drove to his uncle’s residence in

to stake claim in the Election Commission to represent the real LJP with its president now left isolated at the top after taking on the mantle following his father’s death last year.

It may move to oust Paswan from the top party post in the coming days.

Sources close to him have blamed the JD(U) for the split, saying the party had long been working to isolate the LJP president after his decision to go all out against Chief Minister Kumar in the 2020 assembly polls.

The JD(U), which was for the first time reduced to the status of a junior partner to the BJP after it lost more than 35 seats due to the presence of LJP candidates, has been seething and had worked to woo over a number of LJP’s organisational leaders to its fold.

The lone LJP MLA joined the JD(U).

Paras denied the charge that Kumar’s party had a role in the split.

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Chirag Paswan (File)

the brink of collapse, he said in reference to its poor show in the polls, and lashed out at “anti-social” elements in the party, an apparent pointer to a close aide of Paswan whose proximity to him has not gone down well with many party leaders.

Paras said his group will continue to be part of the BJP-led NDA, and added that Paswan can remain in the organisation.

The group of five MPs has conveyed their decision of electing Paras as the

the national capital to meet him. Paswan’s cousin and MP Prince Raj also stays there.

Paswan, who has not been keeping well for some time, waited for over 20 minutes in his car before he was let into the house and then left after spending more than an hour inside.

He left without saying a word to waiting media persons.

It is believed that neither of the two rebel MPs met him. A household help said the two were not at home when the LJP chief arrived.

Paras had long been unhappy with Paswan’s style of functioning and was joined by other MPs, including Chandan Singh, Veena Devi and Mehboob Ali Kaiser, as they believed that his campaign against Nitish Kumar had left them at a disadvantage in the state’s politics.

Kaiser has been elected the party’s deputy leader.

The group is also likely

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NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (PTI): Five of the six Lok Janshakti Party MPs in Lok Sabha have joined hands against their leader Chirag Paswan and elected Pashupati Kumar Paras, the youngest brother of Paswan’s late father and party founder Ram Vilas Paswan, in his place, causing a big churn in Bihar politics.

Paras on Monday lauded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a good leader and “vikaspurush” (development-oriented man), highlighting the deep fault lines within the party as his nephew has been a strong critic of the supreme JD(U) leader.

“I have not broken the party but saved it,” Paras, the MP from Hajipur, told reporters.

He asserted that 99 per cent of LJP workers were unhappy with the turn of events in Bihar as Paswan led his party against the JD(U) and it fared poorly in the 2020 assembly polls.

The LJP has been on

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Elect his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras as leader

India working towards restoring 2.6 cr hectares of degraded land by 2030: PM

Contact : 9402441336

OFFICE OF THE

UNGMA SENSO TELONGJEM KOHIMA : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

K-1043

LJP implodes, 5 MPs oust Chirag Paswan

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

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6

The Ungma Senso Telongjem Kohima (USTK) felicitates Shri Sharingain Longkumer, Hon’ble Speaker (NLA), on his nomination by the Hon’ble Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla to the 4 (Four) member committee “To Review the powers of presiding officers under the tenth schedule of the constitution and the Rules made thereunder”. The Union takes pride in the fact that his nomination, which is only the second such instance of nomination from the North East to a similar committee, is in recognition of his capability and competence. It is our prayer that God guide him in bringing more laurels.

CHUBAMAYANG JAMIR TEMJENSOWA JAMIR PRESIDENT (USTK) GENERAL SECRETARY (USTK)

Israel’s new govt gets to work

New Delhi-Tel Aviv ties on upswing, but shaky nature of new govt a concern

Israel’s new PM Naftali Bennett talks to Yair Lapid during a first cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday. (AP)

the opposition leader.

World leaders welcomed Bennett to his new role after a two-year period of political paralysis in which the country held four deadlocked elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to congratulate Bennett on his ascension to power, saying that he looked forward to meeting him and deepening their countries’ strategic partnership.

Modi also conveyed his ‘profound gratitude’ to Benjamin Netanyahu, thanking

him for his ‘personal attention’ to bilateral ties.

The start of Bennet’s tenure marks a new phase in India-Israel relations, which have been on the upswing in recent years. However, the change of guard is unlikely to radically change bilateral ties, with the shaky nature of the ruling coalition in Israel likely to be among the aspects New Delhi will need to keep an eye on.

Possible impact on India

Ties between India and Israel have improved greatly

UK PM expected to delay COVID lockdown end by 4 weeks to July 19 LONDON, JUN 14 (PTI): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a four-week delay to an end to all legal lockdown restrictions in the country when he makes a statement later on Monday in relation to so-called “Freedom Day”, which was set for June 21.

The last and fourth stage of the lockdown roadmap is now expected around July 19 instead amid a worrying spike in cases of the Delta variant, which experts fear will result in greater hospitalisations in the coming weeks. On Sunday, the UK recorded 7,490 new cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths, with the sevenday average for cases up 49 per cent compared with the seven days before.

Scientists and health officials have called for a delay in lifting all social distance norms in order to allow the vaccination programme to gain further ground, with second doses for the older age groups and first doses for the younger population cohorts of over-25s now eligible for jabs.

“It is one last heave.

It is a straight race between

Putin dismisses accusations of cyberattacks

Boris Johnson

the vaccine and the virus,” a senior government source was quoted by ‘The Daily Telegraph’ as saying after Johnson met his Cabinet ministers and scientific advisers to assess the latest data.

Johnson is expected to blame the delay on the third wave of COVID-19 infections and say it will allow millions of more people to be vaccinated and more to receive a second jab by the end of July. As well as a delay in lifting restrictions to allow scientists more time to monitor the Delta variant – first identified in India – the UK Prime Minister is also likely to announce a drive to accelerate the vaccination programme.

The extension will be put to a House of Commons vote this month and

could trigger a backbench rebellion from Johnson’s own Conservative Party MPs, who have been calling for an end to all lockdown measures for some time.

Under stage four of the roadmap, venues and events would be allowed to operate without capacity limits and the cap on guests at weddings would also be lifted. However, a further delay means entertainment venues like nightclubs and theatres and pubs and bars must continue to operate with restricted numbers. The guidance that “everyone who can work from home must do so” will remain in place and weddings can be attended only by 30 guests.

The June 21 timeline was tied to several criteria being met, including the vaccine rollout continues successfully; evidence shows vaccines effectively reduce hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated; infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS, and the assessment of risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern (VOCs).

in the past few decades. New Delhi established full diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv in 1992, during the tenure of PV Narasimha Rao. Later, between 2012 and 2016, Israeli exports to India saw a period of sustained growth. In this period, India was the client for 41 percent of these exports, as per an article in Hindustan Times.

On 4 July, 2017, Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel, marking 25 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

It is important to note that Bennett held important positions in the Israeli government throughout this period. From 2013 to 2015, he was the country’s Minister for Economy and from 2013 and 2019, he also held the portfolio of Minister for Diaspora Affairs. More recently, from 2019 to 2020, he was Israel’s defence min-

ister. Thus, this gives reason for hope that the positive trend for the ties between the two countries will continue.

Further, in the past few years, India has more unequivocally pushed for closer relations with Israel.

Fur ther, under the Modi government, the Centre has sought to de-hyphen India’s ties with Israel with ties with the Arab countries and Iran.

Unstable coalition

The one concern that India may have for the near future is the shaky nature of the new government.

The diverse anti-Netanyahu bloc was cobbled together by the secular centrist Yair Lapid, a former TV presenter.

It spans the political spectrum, with three rightwing, two centrist and two left-wing parties, and even an Arab Islamic conservative party.

China tried to warn United States off strengthening Quad, reveals Joe Biden

London, Jun 14 (PTI): US President Joe Biden has revealed how China tried to warn him off strengthening the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, referred to as the Quad as an informal strategic partnership between India, Japan, Australia and the United States.

Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the UK-hosted G7 Summit in Cornwall on Sunday, the President who took charge in the White House earlier this year said that in his conversation with a Chinese leader he was asked about his international relations plans before he assumed the presidency. Biden did not reveal the identity of the Chinese leader.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to Biden for two hours in February, days after he assumed office as the US President.

On February 11, Pres-

Kabul, Jun 14 (IANS): A key Taliban divisional commander has been arrested in Afghanistan’s northern province of Takhar, amidst the ongoing violence in country, a local spokesman confirmed on Monday.

“Rohullah Rohani and one of his protectors have been arrested following an operative task conducted by personnel National Directorate of Security (NDS), or national intelligence agency in Yangi Qala district in Takhar,” the spokesman told Xinhua news agency.

The province has been the scene of recent heavy clashes. The Taliban militant group has not responded to the report so far.

The report came as Taliban militants have attacked security forces and captured several suburban districts across Afghanistan in recent weeks.

In neighbouring Kund u z p r ov i n c e, A f g h a n national security forces launched a counter-attack early Monday and evict militants from Khan Abad district which was captured

by Taliban militants over the weekend, local officials confirmed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

06.06.1982 – 26.05.2021 The family of Late VILETO SALE, S/o Late Melhoulie Sale would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by us physically, financially and through constant prayers.

We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual personally, but it is our humble prayer that God Almighty bless you all abundantly.

Family members K-1049

Vladimir Putin

K Y M C

ident Biden said: “Last night, I was on the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping. And you all know as well as I do, these folks - and it was a good conversation. I know him well. We spent a lot of time together over the years I was Vice President.”

“When I was asked what I was going to be doing after being elected, I said we’re going to reestablish the strength of American relationships

so we can be counted on again…,” Biden recalled on Sunday of the meeting with the unidentified Chinese leader. The Chinese leader then requested him to not get India, Japan, Australia, and the US together under the Quad umbrella.

Biden said the Chinese leader suggested that, “Well, maybe you (Biden) shouldn’t get the Quad…” meaning India, Japan, Australia, and the United States - “…working together.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

(Born : 31/03/1921, Died : 10/06/2021) We, the bereaved family of LT. NHGEO NGULLIE would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to all individuals, friends, well wishers who stood by us and supported us through prayers, financially, morally and physically at the sudden demise of our beloved father on 10/06/2021.

We convey our special citation to;1. Y. Patton, Dy. CM, Minister of Home, Road & Bridges, Govt. of Nagaland 2. Hachio Patton, Sr. PS to Dy. Chief Minister, Govt. of Nagaland 3. Lt. Likonthung Wopan 4. GBs, Niroyo 5. Niroyo Baptist Church 6. AG Church, Niroyo 7. SP & staff DEF Wokha and all rank and files.

Loving wife and family members WC-114

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Moscow, Jun 14 (AP): Russian President Vladimir Putin has sharply dismissed allegations that his country is carrying out cyberattacks against the United States as baseless.

Putin’s comments in an interview aired on NBC on Monday come two days before he is to meet U.S. President Joe Biden in Geneva and underline the tensions between the two countries.

“Where is the evidence?

Where is proof ? It’s becoming farcical,” Putin said.

“We have been accused of all kinds of things — election interference, cyberattacks and so on and so forth — and not once, not once, not one time, did they bother to produce any kind of evidence or proof, just unfounded accusations.”

In April, the United States announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and new sanctions connected to the hacking of the SolarWinds information technology company.

File photo of Joe Biden with Xi Jinping.

New Taliban commander arrested

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J E RU S A L E M / N E W DELHI, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): For the first time in 12 years, Israelis on Monday woke up to a new prime minister, after Naftali Bennett secured the backing of parliament and ousted longtime leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

The two held a brief handover meeting in the afternoon, but without the formal ceremony that traditionally accompanies a change in government - a sign of Netanyahu’s lingering anger and hostility toward the new government.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, narrowly approved the new Bennett-led coalition government on Sunday, ending Netanyahu’s historic 12-year rule.

Bennett now presides over a diverse and fragile coalition comprised of eight small and midsize parties with deep ideological differences. Netanyahu serves as

7

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

01.01.1936 – 12.06.2021 We, the family members of Lt. Neingusie Meyase would like to say ‘THANK YOU’ to all who stood by us during the demise of our dearest father on June 12, 2021. To all individuals and organisations, we genuinely appreciate your kind presence, thoughtful messages of condolence, and generous gifts.

We are beyond grateful and deeply indebted to you all for walking this road with us.

God bless you all!

Loving Family members.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

01.09.1954

31.05.2021

We, the family members of Lt. KHRIESAVILIE LIEZIETSU would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who stood by us morally, physically, financially and through prayers during his time of prolonged illness till his demise.

Though we are unable to thank each and everyone individually, it is our humble prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Our special thanks to: 1. Koinonia Baptist Church, Kohima 2. Koinonia Prayer Centre 3. Upper Naga Bazar Baptist Church, Kohima 4. Dr. Kejavisa Asa Savino, Oking Hospital 5. Relatives, friends and neighbours Loving wife and children K-1045

1942 – 2021 We, the bereaved family members of Ex-Serviceman 5/4 Gorkha Regiment Hav. Late Shri Bir Bahadur Thapa would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, friends, neighbours, relatives and well wishers who stood by us physically, financially and through prayers during his brief illness and sad demise on 05/06/2021.

Though we are unable to thank each and everyone individually, we pray that the Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

We would also like to convey our special thanks to: 1. Administration, Doctors and nurses of Oking Hospital, Kohima 2. Daklane Panchayat 3. Daklane Women Organisation 4. Daklane Youth Social Oraganisation 5. President & colleagues, Daklane Sector-2 6. Gorkha Public Panchayat, Kohima 7. Gorkha Singhadevi Mandir Committee, Kohima 8. Punjab National Bank, Kohima His Last Rites (Shrad) will be held on the 17.06.2021 Loving Wife, Sons, Daughters, Grand Children and All family Members K-1044

Died on 13th May 2021 We, the family members of Late Kevil Pucho (Afriend) extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who stood by us and rendered physical, moral, financial, material and prayers support during his prolonged illness and sad demise.

We are especially grateful to: 1. Baptist Church Kidima.

2. Kidima Baptist Fellowship, Kohima.

3. Puchotso Kintso Club, Kidima 4. Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso, doctors, nurses and staff of KOHIMAS Hospital.

5. Executive Engineer and staff, South Division PWD, Kohima 6. PWD staff, Kidima.

7. Lower Midlane Women Prayer Fellowship, Kohima We regret our inability to thank each and every one individually, but it is our sincere prayer that the Almighty God bless each one of you abundantly.

Loving Wife, Family Members & Relatives K-1047 K Y M C

8

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021

EURO 2020: Slovakia stun 10-man Poland; Czech Republic beat Scotland Schick double, including long-stunner sees off Scots

Patrik Schick scored one of the most remarkable goals in European Championship history as the Czech Republic get their campaign off to a flying start in Glasgow. Schick, who had also netted an excellent header in the first half, doubled his tally after the break with a curling, looping effort from just inside the Scotland half, having spotted home keeper David Marshall far off his line.

Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak (right) was shown a second yellow Schick had opened the scoring for Czech Republic with a header three card and sent off minutes before half-time in the Group D encounter.

Moscow, Amsterdam, Jun 14 (Agencies/IANS): Slovakia opened their EURO 2020 campaign with an emphatic 2-1 win over 10-man Poland on Monday night.

Earlier, Patrik Schick scored one of the most remarkable goals as the Czech Republic beat Scotland 2-0 while Netherlands snatch a 3-2 win over Ukraine.

A Wojciech Szczesny’s own goal and a Milan Skriniar strike gave the Slovaks the win in St. Petersborouh, Russia, with Karol Linetty scoring the consolation for Poland.

They were however forced

to play the last half-an-hour with a man less after Grzegorz Krychowiak was sent off following two bookable offenses.

The match got off to a slow start, with no clear chance in the opening 14 minutes, until Duda unleashed a shot that went inches wide of the post after wriggling through the defense.

Slovakia then got the breakthrough in the 18th minute and it was a superb strike from Mak, who played in down the left of the area and held the ball up sensationally before beating Jozwiak and Bereszynski.

His effort was almost saved

by Szczesny, but he ended up putting it in the back of his own net, becoming the first goalkeeper to score an own goal in EUROs. Poland had a perfect response in the second period, leveling less than a minute after the restart with a beautiful strike.

Mateusz Klich played in Maciej Rybus down the left of the area, who in turn sent a neat cutback into the middle, which Karol Linetty easily tapped home past Dubravka’s outstretched hand.

Linetty almost made it two in two minutes after latching on to a neat cut-back from Klich,

Copa America: Neymar inspires Brazil to 3-0 win over Venezuela London, Jun 14 (Agencies): Hosts Brazil began the defence of their Copa America title with a comfortable victory over a Covid-affected Venezuela in the tournament’s opening match.

Talisman Neymar scored one and assisted another, adding a second for Tite’s side with a second-half penalty before setting up Gabriel Barbosa late on.

Paris St-Germain defender Marquinhos bundled in a 23rd-minute opener after Venezuela failed to clear a corner, BBC reported.

Nine-time winners Brazil won a first Copa America title in 12 years in 2019.

Twelve of Venezuela’s players and coaching staff tested positive for Covid-19 a day before their opening match in Group A, which also includes Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Colombia won their opener against Ecuador 1-0, with Edwin Cardona scoring the only goal of the game minutes before half-time from a cleverlyworked free-kick.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the video assistant referee (VAR) overturned the decision.

Everton forward Richarlison had a first-half goal disallowed for offside and Neymar missed from close range as Brazil initially struggled to make their dominance count. Neymar scored his 67th international goal after Yohan Cumana fouled D a nilo, but he missed a n other great chance to move closer to Pele’s national record of 77, shooting wide after breaking through the Venezuela defence in the closing stages. The PSG forward then

rounded goalkeeper Joel Graterol before squaring to substitute Barbosa for a tap-in.

The 47th edition of the Copa America - delayed a year because of the coronavirus outbreak - is taking place in Brazil, after Colombia and Argentina were stripped of the tournament.

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) removed Colombia as co-hosts in May amid anti-government protests and Argentina were later replaced because of rising Covid-19 cases in the country.

but his shot went straight into Dubravka’s hands.

It however got worse for Poland when Krychowiak bundled into Hromada with a late challenge, picking up another yellow that saw him off the pitch.

Slovakia made their numbers count in the 69th minute when Skriniar fired in a beautiful effort into the bottom corner after a corner ball fell to him.

TUESDAY’S MATCH Hungary Vs Portugal 9:30 pm WEDNESDAY’S MATCH France Vs Germany 12:30 am

Assam’s Shahil first-ever chess Intl Master from NE New Delhi, Jun 14 (Aencies): India saw its first-ever chess International Master from the Northeast region with Assam’s 14-year-old Shahil Dey achieving the feat today. In a moment that is sure to bring about a reason to cheer for the Chess community in India, Shahil Dey was awarded his first International Master norm at the GM Round Robin Tournament held in Serbia, reported The Bridge.

The tournament took place in February and was the former Under 7 and Under 9 National Champion’s first major outing since the lockdown. His overall performance rating stands at 2473. The boy from Assam has been making waves in the Chess community and is currently coached by International Master Roktim Bandyopadhyay in Kolkata. The highlight of the entire event was the feats he accomplished during his victories over formidable Chess players.

During the course of the tournament, he defeated individuals with higher ratings such as Grand Master Hans Niemann, whose ELO rating is 2525. He also finished in second place above the likes of GM Kosic Dragan, GM Atalik Suat, and IM Ratkovic Milovan.

At 49.7 yards, the Bayer Leverkusen forward’s astonishing effort was officially the furthest recorded distance from which a goal has been scored at the European Championship. Scotland had battled gamely on their return to tournament football after a 23-year absence and spurned a number of excellent chances of their own.

The game would have had a different complexion had Jack Hendry found the net

instead of cracking an effort against the bar early in the second half, while Lyndon Dykes was guilty of wasting two superb opportunities.

While Scotland were profligate, the Czechs were worthy winners, soaking up Scottish pressure in the first half, and quieting a noisy Hampden Park crowd, who were seeing their side play in a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup.

Netherlands win five-goal thriller against Ukraine Gritty Ukraine bounced back from two goals down but Denzel Dumfries’s late winner helped the Netherlands snatch a 3-2 win on home soil on Sunday.

The Dutch, also known as ‘Elftal’ assumed control from the starting whistle, and they should have got the opener early in the game but Memphis Depay, Dumfries and Georginio Wijnaldum lacked in accuracy, Xinhua reports.

After the interval, the hosts were eventually able to turn their chances into rewards. Ukraine goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan blocked a cross into the path of Wijnaldum, who rifled the opener from 13 metres into the top left corner seven minutes into second half. Frank de Boer’s men gained momentum and made it 2-0 in the

59th minute after Weghorst made use of a loose ball inside the box to poke home from six metres. The ‘Elftal’ thought the game was sealed but Ukraine halved the deficit against the flow of game with 75 minutes gone when Andrey Yarmolenko traded passes with Roman Yaremchuk before hammering home from 20 metres into the roof of the net. Four minutes later, things went from bad to worse for the Netherlands as Yaremchuk shocked the hosts after heading home a free-kick cross from Ruslan Malinovskyi. The score was 2-all.

But the Dutch remained unfazed and clinched a late victory as Nathan Ake’s curl into the area allowed Dumfries to wrap up all three points in their opening game of Group C.

Djokovic wins French Open; gifts racquet to a boy Paris, Jun 14 (IANS): After winning the French Open title here on Sunday, world No.1 Novak Djokovic chose a young, vociferous fan to gift his racquet with which he had defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.

After Djokovic defeated Tsitsipas in a five-set humdinger 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, the world No. 1 handed his racquet to a young boy in the stands, who was ecstatic after receiving the ‘trophy’.

Djokovic said during the post-match press conference that there was a reason for choosing the boy.

“He was in my ear the entire match basically, especially when I was twosets-to-love down. He was encouraging me. He was

Djokovic gifted his racquet to a young fan in the crowd.

actually giving me tactics, as well. He was like, ‘Hold your serve, get an easy first ball, then dictate, go to his backhand.’ He was coaching me, literally,” said Djokovic.

“I found that very cute, very nice. So, I felt like to give the racquet to the best

person was him after the match (sic). That was kind of my gratitude for him [for] sticking with me and supporting me.”

Djokovic became only the sixth player in the Open Era to come back from two sets down to win a Grand Slam final.

Former world No. 1 John McEnroe of the US, who was one of the commentators for the match, said: “He’s pumped up!

Maybe get him to sign it while we’re at it. Inspire him to get on the court and practise. Sleep with that racquet!”

WTC winners to get USD 1.6 mn and Test Mace Dubai, Jun 14 (PTI): The winner of the upcoming World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will walk away with a prize money of USD 1.6 million along with the Test Championship Mace, the International Cricket Council said on Monday.

India and New Zealand will battle it out for the prestigious title at Southampton on June 18.

“The winners of the much-awaited ICC World

Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and New Zealand will take home a purse of $ 1.6 million along with the ICC Test Championship Mace,” an ICC statement read.

“The losing team will get USD 800,000 for finishing second in the nine-team competition, which was played over a near two-year cycle, adding context to Test cricket and to crown the first official world champions in the longest format of the game.”

The governing body said that the team finishing third among the nine competition nations will get USD 450,000 cheque, while the prize money for the fourth-placed team will be USD 350,000. “... the one that finishes fifth gets USD 200,000 while the remaining four teams will get USD 100,000 each,” it said.

The inaugural World Test Championships saw nine teams competing over a near two-year cycle to add

context to Test cricket.

The team claiming the inaugural world champions title in the longest format of the game will get the Test Mace, which was previously given to teams topping the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings.

“In case the final ends in a draw or a tie, the finalists will split the prize money for the first and second places and share possession of the Mace during the time they remain champions,” the ICC said.

Zerodha founder Kamath admits taking ‘help’ to beat Anand NBA play-offs: Phoenix reach Western Conference finals

C h e n na i , J u n 1 4 (PTI): An online charity chess event featuring former world champion Viswanathan Anand and several celebrities has run into controversy after a young entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath faced flak for resorting to unfair means in order to beat the Indian legend.

Nikhil Kamath, cofounder of Zerodha, a stock brokerage company and True Beacon, an asset management company, apologised on Twitter and admitted that he took help from chess analysts and computers during the event on Sunday.

Responding to Kamath’s tweet, Anand said on Twitter: “Yesterday was a celebrity simul for people to raise money. It was a fun experience upholding the ethics of the game.I just played the position on the board and expected the same from everyone.”

Kamath apologised for his misdemeanour and

Nikhil Kamath admitted he “had help” during a charity chess game against Viswanathan Anand played Sunday.

said he had help from people analysing the game and computers. “...…. It is ridiculous that so many are thinking that I really beat Vishy in a chess game, that is almost like me waking up and winning a 100mt race with Usain Bolt. I had help from the people analyzing the game, computers

and the graciousness of Anand sir himself to treat the game as a learning experience. This was for fun and charity. In hindsight, it was quite silly as I didn’t realise all the confusion that can get caused due to this. Apologies,” Kamath tweeted.

K a m a t h ’s m i s d e meanour overshadowed

the noble cause and Twitter saw several users slam the entrepreneur.

Meanwhile, All India Chess Federation Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan said it was unfortunate that such an incident happened during a charity event.

“It is really unfortunate. He (Nikhil Ka-

math) is a big celebrity. He should not have done that.

This is really bad. For the noble cause, we are helping people and such things shouldn’t happen,” he told PTI. “He is not a regular player nor our member and we don’t have jurisdiction,” Chauhan said when asked if any action was possible against Kamath.

The event - Checkmate Covid, was organised

by Chess.com India (chess. com is a global online chess community) with N G O A k s h aya Pa t r a Foundation. It saw various celebrities including Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and actor Aamir Khan among others taking on Anand in simultaneous games on Sunday evening to raise money for families affected during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chess.com said more than Rs 10 lakh was raised from the event and thanked the participants for making it a success.

L ONDON , J u n 1 4 (Agencies): The Phoenix Suns reached the Western Conference finals for the first time in 11 years with a 125-118 win over the Denver Nuggets - sweeping their best-of-seven series 4-0.

Chris Paul top-scored for the Suns with 37 points while team-mate Devin Booker added 34 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was marred by the ejection of NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic late in the third quarter.

He recklessly swiped for the ball but struck Cameron Payne in the face.

Serbian Jokic and the Suns’ Booker had to be separated by players, coaches and officials after squaring up to each other in the aftermath.

Jokic finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds as team-mate Will Barton led

Chris Paul (right) top scored for the Phoenix Suns.

the Nuggets on 25 points.

The Suns, who last reached the conference finals in the 2009-10 season, will play either the Utah Jazz or the Los Angeles Clippers. The Jazz currently lead that semi-final series 2-1.

Elsewhere on Sunday

night, the Milwaukee Bucks levelled their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Brooklyn Nets at 2-2 with a 107-96 win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo made 34 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, matching his play-off high score.

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