18 july

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 222

DIMAPUR, SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Social Media misinfo on covid ‘killing people’: Biden

FOLLOW US ON

nagalandpostofficial

Watch us on YouTube

@Nagaland_Post

INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

Evin Lewis powers WI past Aus in final of T20 series SPORTS, PAGE 12

State at an overly critical stage, says H&FW Nagaland begins ‘Unlock 3’ from today CONFIRMED CASES AND DEATHS WEEKLY WEEKLY DATADATA OFOFCONFIRMED CASES & DEATHS

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): Rising number of Covid-19 cases in Nagaland has set alarm bells ringing as this comes against the backdrop of more relaxation (Unlock) of the Covid-induced lockdown as decided by the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19.

After being in the decline for weeks, the rising curve in the Covid-19 graph has led State Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department express alarm as the “state remains yet again at an overly critical juncture”.

Even on July 12, principal director health & family welfare (H&FW) Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao warned that the state government would be compelled to reimpose lockdown if the Covid-19 situation worsened.

Dr Khimiao had said that the unlock process would be carefully observed and, if the situation worsened, current unlock would be reversed. As a rule of thumb, one threshold for the percent positive being “too high” is 5%. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier recommended that the percent positive remain below 5% for at least

Petrol price hiked, diesel unchanged

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies Saturday increased the petrol price, but kept the kept diesel rates unchanged offering some relief to the transport sector. Accordingly, petrol price increased in the range of 30-40 paise per litre across the country. With Saturday’s rate revision, petrol price in Dimapur rose to Rs.100.36 per litre while the price in Kohima climbed to Rs.101.31 per litre. Petrol prices in all the districts in Nagaland have now crossed Rs.100-per litre mark.

ASTD revokes non-cooperation

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) on July 17 decided to revoke the noncooperation with former Naga Council Dimapur president, T. Bangerloba, after both parties met and agreed to have mutual cooperation in all matters in future. ASTD on July 9, 2020 unanimously resolved to impose non-cooperation with T Bangerloba as a result of his non compliance of the directives and wishes of the ASTD on the matter of misunderstanding between the ASTD and Bangerloba pertaining to NCD.

This is it!

“This Odd- Even number isn’t getting anywhere because I was never good at addition and substraction.”

K Y M C

2500

90

84

80

2062 1951 67

2000

1604

71 70

68 60

1622

1500

50

1172 1079

1087

40

1000

29 500

385

10

18

22 631

662 14

3

689

623 17

405 9

116

17-23 APR

20 10

12

1

0

10-16 APR

30

0

24-30 APR

1-7 8-14 MAY MAY

15-21 22-28 29 MAY- 5-11 MAY MAY 4 JUN JUN

CASES

two weeks before governments consider reopening.

Weekly positivity rises to 8%: The state witnessed a spike of 689 cases between July 10-16 as compared to weekly cases reported since June 12. It was also pointed out that the weekly sample positivity rate had shot up by 2%- from 6% last week to 8% this week. The four districts that had reported a weekly positivity rate of more than 10% were - Kohima 22%, Mokokchung 17%, Longleng 11% and Kiphire 12%.

According to various reports, more fresh Covid-19 positive cases were reported in Dimapur. There have also been reports of several children some even below

12-18 JUN

19-25 JUN

26-2 JUL

3-9 10-16 JUL JUL

DEATHS

two-years old being infected with the virus.

Hospitalization on the rise: The department further expressed concern that hospitalization of Covid patients were on the rise, with 79 admissions in the past week, the highest since June 19.

“Hospital admissions are remaining constant for the last 5 weeks and do not show a decline,” it added. The government “freed private hospitals” from compulsorily admitting Covid patients in Dimapur after which, only CIHSR and District Hospital Dimapur are admitting Covid-19 patients.

Superspreader event in Mokokchung: According to Health department’s

Source: Health department

Staff Reporter

weekly bulletin released on Saturday, a superspreader event was reported in Mokokchung after 24 out of 46 contacts were tested positive after attending a funeral service with a positivity rate of 57%. The department once again warned that superspreading events were the main drivers of this pandemic and advised maximum precautions to minimize such incidents.

Vaccination need of the hour: Despite several appeals made by the state government to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries were inoculated against Covid-19, the department pointed that over 70% of the population was still susceptible to CO-

VID-19 infection and vaccination needed to be ramped up urgently along with strict maintenance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviours.

From March 2021 till date, only two out of 404 Covid-19 deaths were found to have been fully vaccinated (two weeks completed after second dose), the department said. With the Delta variant in circulation, H&FW advised those who had taken the first jab to get the second dose and to remain “very cautious” till the full vaccination is completed.

State logs 100 new Covid cases, 5 deaths

Nagaland on Saturday recorded 100 fresh Covid-19 positive cases, taking the total caseload to 26576 and with more fatalities, the death toll surged to 524 (including 14 non-Covid deaths but with positivity) Of the fresh cases, 36 were from Dimapur, Kohima-25, Mokokchung-12, eight in Wokha, five in Peren, four each in Phek and Tuensang, three in Longleng, two in Kiphire and one in Mon. Further, five more patients succumbed to the infection-- two each in Dimapur and Kohima and one in Mokokchung.

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): The State government has decided to further ease Covid-19 lockdown restrictions for a period of 15-days (July 18-August 1) as part of the ‘Unlock 3’ process, allowing colleges and school (class XI and XII) to reopen, social, religious and political gatherings etc. with certain precautions and strict adherence to all the applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

In this regard, state chief secretary J. Alam issued fresh guidelines while all District Task Forces (DTFs) have been directed to map areas for microcontainment zones in case the situation so warrants.

Schools/Colleges to reopen: Schools have been allowed to reopen for classes XI and XII from August 2, subject to teachers and nonteaching staff having been fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against Covid-19, or completed 15 days after taking the first dose. Col-

leges have been allowed to open from July 26 with the same criteria/protocols as mentioned for reopening of schools. While directing both schools and colleges to strictly adhere to SOPs, the order stated that the Home department would be issuing guidelines for the maximum number of attendance of the students allowed in classes.

Trainings: Opening of in-house skill development institutes/establishments with 50% capacity from July 26, subject to all trainers, assistants and nonteaching staff having been fully vaccinated (taken both doses) against Covid-19, or completed 15 days after taking the first dose. SOPs to be issued by the Home department.

Gatherings: Social, political, religious, entertainment, academic, cultural gatherings and other public gatherings allowed up to a maximum of 50 persons if events are held indoors, and up to a maximum of 100 persons for outdoors, subject to strict adherence to Covid-19 appropriate behaviours and all the applicable SOPs. In the event of exceptional requirement of holding of function/ program with a larger gathering the prior permission of DTFs will be required.

Restaurants: Restaurants have been allowed

in house dining up to 50% capacity with strict adherence to applicable SOPs and, subject to all the attendants/staff having been fully vaccinated (both the doses) or completed 15 days after taking the first dose.

Returnees/travellers: Returnees/travellers entering the State and tourists, who are asymptomatic and fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will not need to undergo testing at the point of entry or undergo quarantine.

Those who have completed 15 days after taking the first dose have been exempted from undergoing tests at the point of entry but will be required to quarantine for seven days. All other cases, the persons concerned will be required to undergo testing on payment as per the government approved rates at the point of entry and further undergo seven days quarantine.

Inter-district movement: Inter-district movement of person for nonessential service or purpose including private journey by light vehicle is allowed subject to the person(s) including the driver being asymptomatic and having completed their vaccination or have completed 15 days after taking the first dose.

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): In continuation with the earlier orders, commissioner of police (CP) Dimapur, R. Tetseo and deputy commissioner Kohima

Gregory Thejawelie issued separate orders informing that essential movement of all vehicles in Dimapur and private vehicles in Kohima under Kohima municipal

areas will continue as per the existing odd-even rule.

The order will remain in effect from July 18 to July 31 in Dimapur and in Kohima till August 1.

Schools to reopen for Classes 11 & 12 from Aug 2

Colleges allowed to open from Jul 26

(SOPs for inter-district movement and returnees at www.nagalandpost.com)

Staff at Civil Sectt, directorates asked to get HSLC and HSSLC on Jul 20 vaxed or show no Covid report to get salary Dresults I M A P U R , J U L 1 7 Odd-even rule to continue in Dimapur, Kohima (NPN): Nagaland board of

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): The state government on Saturday warned that it will not allow staff/ employees of the Civil secretariat and directorates to attend office and stop their salaries if they are not vaccinated against Covid-19 or fail to produce Covid-19 negative test report every 15 days.

In this regard, the principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha issued an order directing all employees/staff of the Nagaland Civil Secretariat and directorates to be vaccinated to

attend office, or to produce Covid-19 negative test report by getting tested every 15 days through either RTPCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT on self-payment basis as per government approved rates.

Salaries of those who have not taken a single dose of vaccine against Covid-19 or who have failed to furnish Covid-19 negative test report will be stopped beyond July 31, the order stated, adding that they will not attend office and the period of absence of such employees will be treated

as leave without pay.

Fur ther, Administrative Heads of Departments/Heads of Departments have been asked to enforce the directive, and submit report to the Home department on or before 15th of every month giving in detail the status of vaccination or submission of COVID-19 negative test report, as the case may be, for all the employees/staff, and the salaries deducted on account of the staff/ employees concerned availing leave without pay, until further notice.

School Education (NBSE), which is scheduled to declare the provisional results of the HSLC and HSSLC exams 2021 by July 20 afternoon, informed that results would be made available in four modes-- internet, SMS, android mobile App and printed form.

To access the result from the internet, one could log on to www.nbsenl.edu.in, www. nbsenagaland.com, www. indiaresults.com, www.results.shiksha, www.schools9. com, www.exametc.com and www.jagranjosh.com

Assam starts 2-day drive to burn drugs worth over `160 cr

Sarma along with officials destroying the seized items in Diphu, Saturday.

GUWAHATI, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Saturday set fire to heaps of

drugs at two locations as the state government started its drive to destroy narcotics worth over Rs. 160 crore seized over the past couple of months.

According to reports, four locations have been selected for the public burning of drugs. The drive was held at Diphu and Golaghat on Saturday and will be held at Nagaon and Hojai on Sunday.

Speaking at Golaghat, Sarma said: “We have managed to recover narcotics worth Rs. 163 crore over the past two months through the proactive action of our police department. This,

however, is only 20-30% of the state’s narcotics market. This means Assam has a narcotics market worth Rs. 2000Rs 3000 crore.”

According to an Assam Police, 18.82 kg of heroin, 7944.72 kg cannabis, 67,371 bottles of cough syrup, 12,70,394 numbers of unprescribed sedative tablets, 1.93 kg of morphine, 3 kg methamphetamine and 3,313 kg of opium have been seized over the past couple of months. Drugs coming from Myanmar are known to enter Karbi Anglong and Golaghat through neighbouring state Nagaland.

RSZ undertakes plantation drive along NH-2 Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUL 17 (NPN): Rengma Selo Zi, an NGO initiated massive tree plantation across the 30-km stretch between Khelebinkun area (Botsa- Tseminyu border) to Satsuphen bordering Wokha after completion of the National Highway 2, once known as the worst road in the state.

This road (from Tseminyu to Wokha) used to be in a dilapidated condition for a long time. The inaction of the government at improving the deplorable condition of the road had led to a series of protests.

Members of the RSZ during the plantation drive on Saturday. (NP)

Hoardings were hung along NH-2 to express strong resentment of the people such as: “Divided by distance, united by potholes” and “Do not travel through NH2

if you do not know how to swim”. After almost nearly two decades later, the road has become one of the best highways to travel. Tree saplings were planted by RSZ

under the theme “Green Highway Project” Launching the plantation drive, ADC Tseminyu W. Manpai Phom lauded RSZ for the initiative and congratulated them for overcoming hiccups before and during the construction of the road. He also reminded RSZ to keep in mind nurturing and caring for saplings as sustenance to ensure success of the plantation drive Highlighting the concept of the project advisor RSZ ZukeyaWoch said long cherished dream of the Rengmas has become a reality with the completion of the highway. (Cont’d on p-5) K Y M C

2

STATE

Seminar on ‘Elderline’ held in Kohima

Correspondent KO H I M A , J U L 1 7 (NPN): Seminar on Nagaland Senior Citizens’ Helpline also called Elderline was held here, at LCS building, on Saturday.

Resource persons for the seminar included directorate of social welfare assistant director K Wango Langsym, Kohima district legal services authority (KDLSA), retainer lawyer Sunjib Rana and panel lawyer Asenla Walling.

Topics discussed at the seminar were government benefits for senior citizens and old age pension shared

by Langsym, maintenance, welfare of parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 shared by Sunjib while Asenla shared on the topic social welfare schemes.

Opening the seminar, Langsym presented a detailed insight into the various government schemes available for senior citizens and old age pension.

He disclosed that the state disbursed its various programs and benefits through National Service Assistance Program (NSAP).

Pe o p l e u n d e r t h e age of 60 to 79 were categorised as senior citizens while 80 years and above were very senior citizens where under the old age pension, seniors in the former category are provided Rs. 200 per month while Rs 500 was provided to the

Resource persons and Elderline executives after the seminar on Saturday. (NP)

latter category, Langsym disclosed.

Later in the afternoon session, Asenla highlighted on the different roles and services provided by KDLSA and its primary role of educating and creating awareness on individual rights and legal matters besides taking up legal cases.

She said that while staying true to its motto, “Access to Justice”, KDLSA provided free legal service to the less privileged and those below poverty line, widows and juveniles.

She delivered a detail explanation on legal services including pre and post-litigation, different cases such as criminal, civil and cases that falls under domestic violence act, juvenile justice act and human trafficking.

Along with legal camps such as lok adalat, other activities including legal clinics, legal literacy

club etc., were organised in schools of which 10 such clubs have been set up in Kohima district, she informed.

She said Elderline Nagaland had a big role to play in ensuring that all programs and schemes provided by the government were implemented properly.

Sharing on the topic maintenance and welfare of parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, Rana pointed out the various amendments made to the Act in 2011.

He shared that apart from biological parents, the word “parents” in legal term covered adoptive parents, grandparents and step parents while children includes biological, adopted, step children, daughters and sons-in-law.

Rana further highlighted the various provisions found under the said

Act.

Earlier during the programme, Elderline program manager Neithonuo Liegise gave a brief introduction.

She disclosed that elderly population had risen rapidly all over the world due to advancement in healthcare facilities, better living conditions and some other factors and that the same trend was also evident in Nagaland.

She presented the elderly population figures, life expectancy and the challenges faced by the society owing to the sudden rise.

Invocation was pronounced by FRO leader Vivoto Poru.

In the second session connect leader Kevitsonuo gave the introduction, field officer Kekhriengunuo offered prayers while call officer Vesakulu Veswuh gave the closing remark.

NEWS IN BRIEF AVC general meeting: Ashaa Village Council (AVC) has convened a general meeting on July 23 at Ashaa village fellowship church.

All members have been requested to attend the meeting.

NBSE informs on CMMSF felicitation prog: Nagaland Board of School Education has informed that the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Students Fellowship (CMMSF) felicitation programme for 50 students who have secured top ranks in the HSLC Examination 2020 would be held virtually on July 19, 10 a.m.

AHoD and HoD meeting on July 19: A meeting of administrative heads of departments and heads of departments would be held on July 19, 1 p.m. in the secretariat conference hall, Kohima. The meeting can also be virtually attended at http: meet. google.com/rrt-dwcvqhx. All AHoDs and HoDs have been requested to meeting.

AR conduct various activities

DIMAPUR: Phek battalion cleared off road block caused due to landslide at Akhegwo-Avangkhu road axis, Ziphu village, Phek on July 14, PRO informed.

The battalion also organised a plantation drive on July 14 and 15. A total of 3510 saplings were planted at Avanghku, New Thewati, Ziphu, Meluri, ANWRS stated that the suppli- Akhen and Phek town. ers were facing financial problems and were not in a position to continue the supply of wet ration. It, therefore, requested the responsible authority to release the payments at the earliest.

Ration suppliers demand release of payment DIMAPUR: Expressing dismay over the non-payment of ration bills of NAP including NAP (IR), the All Nagaland Wet Ration Suppliers (ANWRS) has appealed to the state government to soon release the payment which was due for 12 months.

In a press release, Vikugha Chopy, on behalf of the ANWRS, stated that they have not been paid since August 2020 till date. It said that the suppliers had almost completed the supply for the month of July despite pandemic.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

Working committee visits N-iSF at BokeBotsa; reviews progress of activities APC APPEALS FARMERS TO ‘FOCUS ON CONSERVATION OF FORESTS’

Y Kikheto Sema ploughing the field at Boke-Botsa on July 17. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR: Working committee led by agriculture production commissioner (APC), Y. Kikheto Sema visited Boke-Botsa on July 17, to review the progress of activities being implemented under the Naga Model Integrated Settled Farming (N-iSF).

According to a DIPR report, Kikheto said that Boke-Botsa was naturally blessed with perennial water catchment area and that the villagers had maintained a large stretch of conserved area, thus, he said, the brunt of the drought was felt less in these areas.

He appealed to all the villagers and farmers to focus on more conservation of forests in order to reduce the effects of climate change phenomenon such as droughts and flash

dp-3312

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

floods.

The APC urged the farmers to focus more on settled farming rather than jhum as the former required lesser area and produces better yield and was eco-friendly.

The APC stated that under PM-KISAN, altogether 2 lakh farmers had been benefitted in the state and an amount of Rs. 251.75 crore has been directly credited in their individual bank accounts by the centre.

He advised the farmers to invest the amount prudently in meeting the agricultural requirements of their farms rather than wasteful consumption expenditure.

The APC appealed

to the village councils and the farmers to be more realistic in planning as per the local dynamics of the village.

The working committee members include officials from agriculture, fisheries, sericulture, soil & water conser vation and animal husbandry.

The visit included piggery farm, mini soil plant, fishery ponds, coffee plantation, and fields under terrace cultivation.

It may be mentioned that under N-iSF, all the agri & allied departments are converging under one umbrella to develop a cluster where the farmers would be facilitated to carry agri & allied related activities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born on : 09-03-1979 – Died on : 12-07-2021 You have left this world but your memories are still fresh in our minds.

The constant love and affection that you left behind shall always remain in our hearts.

Through this column we the bereaved family members of Late Marcel Thingza Sareo would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who stood by us physically, financially, materially and in prayers during his last rites.

We convey our special thanks to :1. Tangkhul Catholic Community, Dimapur 2. Holy Cross Church, Dimapur 3. Tangkhul Baptist Church, Diphupar 4. Tangkhul Baptist Church, Darogajan 5. Tangkhul Union, Dimapur 6. Tangkhul Baptist Church, Diphupar (Women Society) 7. Railway Netaji N.S.T Christian Fellowship 8. Hunphun Preilong Council 9. Railway Netaji Council 10. Friends and Neighbours. dp-3317

Loving Wife, Children & Family Members

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Karan Ghebring (Gurung)

k-1200

K Y M C

Late Mrs. Vinili Chishi, wife of Mr. Khulu Chishi who passed away on 15th July 2021.

Iza, the values you set in our lives will ever remain in us as the guiding light through this journey of life. You are in a better place and peacefully resting.

We love you and miss you so deeply.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big Thank you to all those who have been rendering their help in every possible ways.

1. Doctors and Nurses of CIHSR, Dialysis section.

2. Doctors and Nurses of District Hospital Dimapur.

3. Hevishe Village Baptist Church.

4. Friends, Relatives and Well-wishers.

We are so grateful for your effortless help and sacrifice you all have made. We are indebted. We pray that our loving God bless you all.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

dp-3315

Born : 10 October, 1989 – Died : 13 July, 2021 With grateful heart and teary eyes, we the family members of Late Karan Ghebring (Gurung) would like to thank and express our heartfelt gratitude towards all the people who supported us physically, emotionally and financially during our hard times.

We deeply regret our inability to thank each and everyone individually, but all we can do is say a humble prayers through this column.

We convey our heartfelt gratitude to: 1. Pastors, Deacons, Youth Department and members of Hindi Baptist Church.

2. Chairman and Administration Satff of Livingstone Foundation International School.

3. Miss Kajenkala Alinger.

4. Friends, colleagues and students.

5. Walford Area Youth Organisation.

6. Mrs. Bichano Ngullie and family.

7. Immanuel Ministry.

8. Walford Colony friends and neighbours.

With love and prayers, From mother and family members. dp-3313

(2 Timothy 4:7)

Loving Husband, Children, Grandchildren and In-laws K Y M C

nagalandpost.com Poll Q . : Should there be mandatory testing for covid in office, educational institutions?

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

A B C

Meetings discuss ramping up of COVID-19 activities

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A

B

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

C

70% 26% 4%

NEXT POLL Q: Can the Centre along

with states halt further rise in price of petrol and diesel?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST

3

STATE

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

Deputy CMO, H&FW, Dr. Khriesilie Sachii and team with volunteers demonstrating the donning and doffing of PPE kit for dead body management on July 17. (DIPR)

Trainings and sensitisation programmes continue

of the sub-division. The house also welcomed the new members, including EAC Ghathashi, Nitile Tep. Random testing & vaccination to be intensified at Wokha town: District task force (DTF) for COVID-19, Wokha, has decided to conduct random sample testing during the DTF meeting held on July 16.

The random sample testing would be conducted at business establishments/ shops/vendors at Wokha town, Vankhosung Mission compound, Wokha village and Longsa village.

The consultative meeting was held with village council chairman of Longsa, Wokha village, representatives from Lotha Baptist Churches Association (LBCA) Vankhosung,

President Wokha District Chamber of Commerce & Industries and DTF members to work out mechanism for smooth conduct of COVID-19 testing and vaccination.

Dead body management training at Kohima village: With the initiative of DTF Kohima, the Kohima Village task force and the health & family welfare department, conducted a training and demonstration for dead body management at Christ King Church, Kohima village on July 17.

Re s o u r c e p e r s o n , deputy CMO, H&FW, Dr. Khriesilie Sachii elaborated on the updated guidelines of COVID-19 dead body management which was issued by the directorate of health and family welfare and stated that there was a

DIMAPUR: Pughoboto sub-division planning and (Temperature in ºC) Max Min development board (SDAgartala Overcast with a stray t-storm 32 25 PDB) meeting was held 27 21 Aizawl Cloudy with a stray t-storm under the chairmanship Guwahati Cloudy with a thunderstorm 32 25 of additional deputy comImphal 28 21 A t-storm around in the a.m. missioner & SDPDB vice Itanagar A stray a.m. t-storm; cloudy 29 24 chairman, Thungchanbemo Shillong Thundershowers in the morning 23 18 Tungoe at DB court hall, Kohima Showers and heavy t-storms 24 19 Pughoboto on July 16.

Dimapur A p.m. t-storm in spots 32 24 26 20 Mkg Cloudy, a t-storm in the p.m.

According to a DIPR Tuensang A p.m. t-storm in spots 20 16 re por t, the house apWokha A p.m. t-storm in spots 26 21 proved the LADP 2021-22 Zunheboto Cloudy with a thunderstorm 23 18 schemes, which included the COVID-19 briefed on the vaccination and sensitisation drives being taken up in all the villages.

Meanwhile, executive engineer PWD, Chengkato Kath highlighted on the DIMAPUR: St. Joseph status of the road condition University (SJU) Dimapur in collaboration with the International Organization Globethics organised a twoday webinar on “professional ethics and faculty enrichment” on July 14-15.

A press release by SJU PRO informed that executive director, Globethics. net, Geneva, Switzerland, Rev. Dr. Fr. Msgr. Obiora Ike delivered the keynote address and dean of student affairs SJU, professor Charles Mhonthung Ezung inaugurated the proceedings of the webinar.

On the first day, former professor, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil & Former Director, IAPCHE Dr. J. Dinakarlal spoke on teachers and values” during the first session while on the second session, consultant and research fellow, Acts Academy of Higher Education, Bangalore, Dr. I. Mohan Razu spoke on “challenges to campus life and peace”.

On the second day, former vice chancellor, St. ISA, AWS members along with villagers during the exercise programme on July 17.

Joseph’s University, Nagaland, Dr. Joseph Dunston DIMAPUR: Participatory community approach to household tap connection led the panel with an inter- Rural Appraisal (PRA) water launched by Min- by 2024.

He then encouraged esting talk on “NEP 2020 exercise to implement istry of Jal Shakti.

“Jal Jeveen Mission” villagers to contribute 5% AWS secretary, Meand its impact on ethics and values in higher educa- at Kidding village was ren while speaking on the through community partion”; international trainer initiated on July 17 by objective of “Jal Jeveen ticipation as per the misand motivational speaker Implementation Support Mission” said the mission sion guideline to achieve Director, Vantage Academy, Agency (ISA) Alongphi aims to provide functional the target.

A short speech on Nagercoil, Arun Gladwin Welfare Society (AWS) household’s tap connecinitiated the interactive ses- under PHED Tuensang tion to every household the safe drinking water with service level at the and water disease was sion and strategic partner- Division.

A press release by rate of 55 litres per capita delivered by ISA chairman ship and donor relations, Globethics.net, Geneva, AWS informed that the per day and to provide to Thsazila.

The programme was Christine Housel outlined “Jal Jeevan Mission-The all households in rural the ethical foundations of Har Ghar Jal Se Jal” pro- India safe and adequate sponsored by the PHED global partnerships. gramme was based on water through individual Tuensang Division.

JULY 18

SJU holds webinar on professional ethics for faculty

minimal risk of spread of COVID-19 infection from a dead body if standard precautionary measures are followed However, misconceptions, stigma, and discrimination of the families remained when a person dies of COVID-19.

Dr. Sachii highlighted on the preparation of a dead body in a healthcare institution setting, the transportation process, the procedure at burial site/ crematorium.

He also briefed on additional sections on handling COVID-19 deaths in a home/community setting safety guideline for caregiver of the deceased and prevention of stigmatisation. He further stressed that during lockdown or period of travel restrictions, the family members, relatives and friends of the deceased may be allowed to travel to attend funeral on special permission from the district task force (origin and destination) with safety precautions and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

Meanwhile, Kohima village council chairman, Helievi-o Solo lauded Kohima village volunteers, Kohima village scouts and guides for accepting the challenges at these trying times.

Earlier, convenor VTF, Dr. Khriesatalie Yhome highlighted on the importance of the dead body management at village level and sensitising the people of COVID-19. Later in the programme MO Botsa, Dr.

Atsei-ii Yhome and her team demonstrated the donning and doffing of different personal protective equipment (PPE) kit.

COVID-19 vaccination at Notun Bosti: COVID-19 vaccination drive was carried out by Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Saturday at Government Primary School (Angami) and Council Hall, Notun Bosti Colony, Dimapur.

A press release by Notun bosti council Dimapur (NBCD) informed that 300 eligible beneficiaries were vaccinated during the drive and that so far 95% of the eligible beneficiaries of the colony have been vaccinated.

Review, sensitisation programme on COVID-19 at Jakhama: A review cum sensitisation programme on COVID-19 vaccination and testing for Jakhama sub-division was held today the July 17 at Bamboo Hall, Kisama organised by Kohima DTF on COVID-19.

According to a DIPR report, advisor for urban development and municipal affairs, Dr. Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire also attended the programme.

Minister in-charge, Tongpang Ozukum minister for PWD (mechanical & housing) in his speech stated that Nagaland has recorded the lowest when it comes to testing and vaccination but highest in death rate in the country and in order to improve the situation the public was required to take

individual responsibility and follow SOPs. He also appealed on behalf of the government to the village and block level task force to use their authority to strictly implement the SOPs and COVID-19 protocol in their jurisdiction.

The minister further encouraged the gathering to be united against the fight towards the pandemic through understanding and cooperation.

Advisor, youth resources & sports, Zale Neikha said the prevailing rate of positive cases in the district was a concern and called for every responsible individual to contribute by following the SOPs in order to stop the transmission.

He said the only way to protect oneself from this virus was to get vaccinated and called upon the village leaders and apex organisations to disseminate and sensitise the people on the importance of testing and vaccination for the safety of the community.

Advisor for technical education & election, Medo Yhokha also stated that the government had opened the unlock-II not because the state was now safe from the virus but because it was a necessity.

Meanwhile, DC Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie stressed on the provision of law laid down under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897/ Nagaland Epidemic Diseases (Covid-19) Rules 2020 and relevant section

under IPC 188.

CMO Kohima, Dr. Vezokholu Theyo shared the history of the outbreak of COVID-19 and emphasised on the three covid appropriate behaviors to stop the transmission of the virus.

Village council chairmen, representatives from women organisation, Covid village task force, Southern Angami public organisation, Southern Angami women organisation and Southern Angami youth organisation attended the programme.

DHD receives dialysis machines: ICICI Foundation through the support of Fairfax India Charitable Foundation under Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis programme donated dialysis machines for district hospital Dimapur and Tuensang.

In a press release, national dialysis programme nodal officer, Dr Neisakho Kere mentioned that three dialysis machine sin District Hospital Dimapur had been installed on July 14.

Dr Neisakho Kere also informed the public that BPL cardholders could avail the service free of cost and would be available at a nominal charge as soon as the hospital would resume OPD and other Non-Covid essential services.

The programme would be installing the dialysis machine in district hospital Tuensang by the end of July and would be made functional by August.

PRA exercise for ‘jal jeveen Bethany Sisters celebrate 100th foundation day mission’ begins at Kidding village DIMAPUR: Sisters of the Little Flower, better known as Bethany Sisters, celebrated the 100th foundation day of their congregation on July 15 at Christ King Convent, Bara Basti, Kohima.

A press release from Bethany Sisters Nagaland informed that Bishop of Kohima Diocese, Most Rev James Thoppil DD celebrated the centenary Holy Mass in Christ King Church along with eight other priests.

In his homily, Bishop Thoppil lauded the life and service of Bethany Sisters for the past 100 years that

has made the world a better place, through their various ministries.

He said the occasion of the congregation’s centenary was an apt time to thank them for the good works done by Bethany Sisters in Christ King Church, School and Hostel in Kohima, Holy Cross Church, Holy Cross School and Christ School in Dimapur, and St Joseph Church, School, Hostel and dispensary in Viswema.

“Ever since their entry into Nagaland in 1969, Bethany Sisters have worked relentlessly towards the improvement

of Naga society, and their contribution has been highly significant”, said Bishop Thoppil.

A fellowship meal followed the Eucharistic celebration which was attended by the sisters and some members of the laity.

The release informed that Bethany Sisters were founded by Monsignor RFC Mascaren has on July 16, 1921, in the coastal city of Mangalore in Karnataka with four lady teachers of his school with the aim of making education available to the poor and less privileged of those days, especially girls and the

rural poor. Today, over 1400 Bethany Sisters make their presence felt in almost all the states of India and nine foreign countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.

The year-long centenary celebration that began on July 11 saw the launch of several projects and that entire Bethany Congregation had been preparing for the centenary celebration through prayers, seminars, spiritual retreats and various good works.

The release informed that celebrations were also held in Holy Cross Convent, Dimapur and St Joseph Convent, Viswema.

Dimapur district administration receives medicines DIMAPUR: District administration received medicines worth more than Rs. 3 lakh for Dimapur district to be distributed to the needy people. The medicines were donated by Arobic Remedies and Pharmaceuticals Company, Maharashtra, managing director, Leena Damgadge.

According to a DIPR report, ADC Dimapur, Atokhe received the medicines on behalf of the district administration at police mess, Chumukedima on July 17.

The consignment comprised of anti-allergy, iron, liver tonic, multivitamins, calcium supplement, pain ADC Dimapur, Atokhe receiving the killer, medicines for easing acidity, 17. (DIPR) fever and several other basic essenThe ADC thanked the donor for tials medicines for pregnant women her generous contribution. and others.

Leena Damgadge who is the

consignment of medicines on July

wife of ADGP Sandeep Damgadge said that medicines should also reach the interior districts of Nagaland.

DAY-NSRLM exhibition and sales day at Changtongya FARMERS SENSTITISED ON CONTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC FARMING TO ECONOMY

Varieties of vegetables put on sale during the exhibition & sales day at Changtongya.

DIMAPUR: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAYNSRLM), block mission K Y M C

management unit, Changtongya RD block with support from Changtongya block level federation organised an “exhibition-

cum-sales day” at the local ground, Changtongya Town, as an initiative under Livelihoods and FNHW, on July 17.

In a press release, DAY-NSRLM informed that the exhibition included organically grown vegetables and fruits from all the eight villages under Changtongya block with the aim to promote organic farming and its health benefits and to further encourage the farmers on self-sustainability.

The event was aimed at creating awareness on the contribution of organic farming to the economy of the land and people. Farmers were also encouraged to procure healthy food to the consumers during the pandemic.

DAY-NSRLM also stressed on the importance

of availing fresh and organic vegetables to complete a nutritious plate at the home which was becoming a challenge for the general public while on the other side, the healthy produces from field go to waste at times.

The best grown exhibited vegetables and fruits were judged and awarded with prizes.

The exhibition was dedicated by pastor CTBA, Rev. Temshi and was judged

by MO CHC Changtongya, Dr. Imtimongba Kichu, chairman, all ward union Changtongya Town, Putinungba Jamir and Changtongya Town Watsu Tentet, Rongsennungla President.

K Y M C

4

Mizoram reimposes total lockdown in Aizawl

Gaurav urges PM to enhance vaccine supply to Assam

Gaurav Gogoi

GUWAHATI, JUL 17 (PTI): Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase the supply of vaccines to Assam which is currently among the ten states with the highest active cases in the country.

In a letter to PM Modi, the Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha said as the state copes with the second wave of COVID-19, the vaccine supply must be enhanced.

“As India continues to fight the pandemic. Vaccination must be made the top priority. It is central to mitigating the effects of the pandemic, supply to states remain a significant

Dibrugarh airport to extend runway DIBRUGARH, JUL 17 (PTI): The foundation of Dibrugarh Airport’s runway extension project was laid by the Airports Auhority of India to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav), officials said on Saturday.

The foundation stone ceremony on Friday was attended by Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha as chief guest, Airport Director Ramjee Awasthi and other officials. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore, will increase the length of the runway of the Dibrugarh airport from the current 1,830 metre to 2,290 metre.

The deadline for completing the project is December 31, 2022.

Airport officials said that the project will enhance the safety of aircraft operation, lessen the load penalty to the aircraft apart from reducing the minima to operate in low visibility with CAT-I lighting system.

Currently, the construction work of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and hanger is also going on at the airport at a cost of Rs 31 crore. The ATC tower and hanger will be completed by March 31, 2022.

K Y M C

bottleneck,” the Kaliabor MP said.

Assam is witnessing a severe shortage in supply of vaccines as “evident from the chief minister’s demand for more vaccines for the state in the recent review meeting held with you along with the chief ministers from other North-eastern states,” Gogoi pointed out.

The state government had launched an enhanced vaccination drive last month. with a target of administering three lakh vaccines daily for ten days but this was achieved only on two days, with the number of total doses dropping to 13,511 on June 30, he said.

The state health officials have expressed helplessness at the closure of over 80 per cent of operational vaccination centres during the drive due to lack of adequate supply of vaccines, Gogoi claimed.

Meanwhile, 29.1 per cent of Assam’s population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of July 12 and 5.69 per cent were fully vaccinated as of July 10.

IMPHAL, JUL 17: With the Manipur government announcing a 10-day curfew, there was a mad rush at shops in Imphal city on Friday.

Two days ago the state government announced the imposition of stricter curfew for 10 days beginning from Sunday (July 18) to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19.

Since then, panic buying was witnessed across the city and in the market places in the outskirts of the city, as several people lined up outside grocery stores ahead of the 10-day curfew.

Traffic jams were also witnessed at almost all the streets across the city since morning, giving a hard time to police in controlling the traffic till late this evening.

Like in the previous day, a sizable crowd lined up to buy grocery items, vegetables and other essential items in bulk.

People made a beeline in front of a few shops to buy their daily needs across the twin capitals of Imphal West and Imphal East.

Even as vegetable mar-

missioners depending on the pandemic situation, it said.

The Mizoram government had eased restrictions in the AMC area from June 30.

The order said the trajectory of positive cases continues to rise with the daily average of new infections growing steadily from 55 in April to 202 in May to 381 in the first fortnight of July.

With the majority of fresh cases being reported from the AMC area, the imposition of total lockdown is necessary to curtail a further surge, it said.

Only essential services including water and electricity, healthcare and LPG distribution will function, the notification said.

All shops will be closed in the AMC area except those dealing with essential commodities, it added.

At least 483 more people, including 127 children, have tested positive for the virus in Mizoram, pushing the tally to 26,690, an official said on Saturday.

ITANAGAR, JUL 17 (PTI): Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has assured Arunachal Pradesh that necessary funds will be allocated by the Centre for the upcoming development projects in Itanagar, a senior official said on Saturday.

A team of Itanagar Municpal Corporation (IMC) officials, led by Mayor Tame Phassang, had on Friday met the Union minister for housing and urban affairs in Delhi and apprised him of the civic body’s plans for the state capital and its adjacent areas, while also seeking funds for setting up a solid waste management plant, a proper drainage system, and multi-level car parking facilities.

During the meeting, Phassang pointed out that Itanagar, being the capital city, needs to upgrade its infrastructure to be able to boost the economy of the state, the official said.

The mayor further noted that the proposed projects would generate employment opportunities.

U Tirot’s death anniv observed in Meghalaya

Manipur education minister launches Assam govt to provide financial MOODLE Learning System for colleges help to families of Covid victims

Correspondent

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JUL 17: Rich tributes were paid to U Tirot Sing, the legendary Khasi patriot king on his 186th death anniversary on Saturday, even as the day was also commemorated as part of the “Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav”, celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence.

“Today we remember one of the early heroes of the freedom fighting movement, U Tirot Sing Syiem who fought relentlessly till his last breath to prevent Khasi Hills from falling into the hands of the British colonizers,” tweeted CM Conrad K Sangma. Power Minister James Sangma, who laid floral wreaths at the statue of legendary freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem at Madan Ïewrynghep, tweeted : “U Syiem Tirot Sing was an epitome of bravery, valour & integrity. He was a great leader who stood his ground, spoke the voice of his people & defended their rights with his life. To him, the rights of his people are paramount & that is a lesson that all of us must imbibe.”

IMPHAL, JUL 17: Manipur education minister Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh on Saturday launched the MOODLE Learning Management System for the government and government aided colleges of Manipur.

After launching the online education system of the latest version, the minister hoped that the new initiative will help the college students of the state immensely during this pandemic.

He said that the MOODLE Learning Management System is simpler than other versions of online learning systems.

“Education is a sector which we all need to promote and boost up with priority,” he added, while asserting that education at school level was seen being more focused in comparison with the higher education in

Mnp BJP supports Assam’s Cattle Preservation Bill

DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): Manipur BJP, in a press statement by its spokesperson Wilubou Newmai, stated that the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill - 2021 introduced by Assam Government is not a threat to the Northeast region and “not detrimental to the inherent trade and deprive the food habits of the indigenous people of NE region.”

Taking cognizance that the Congress party from different Northeastern states have opposed the introduction of Assam Cattle Preservation Bill - 2021 calling it is a threat to the whole Northeast region, Newmai maintained that the Bill is not a threat to peaceful co-existence rather this Bill will help in ushering a new era of communal harmony in Northeast India.

Pointing out that Assam’s culture encourages cow protection and Assamese people have a special/ dedicated day for cows during Bihu, Newmai stated, “ The people of Assam want to live in a complete harmony, so if the consumption of beef is an irritant to some other communities, why not ban it.”

“Assam has a long tradition of respecting each other sentiment. Many Mus-

Correspondent

lims do not consume beef because it will affect the religious sentiments of other religious communities. So this Bill will not create any communal tension rather it will help in creating communal harmony,” the Manipur state BJP spokesperson added.

Newmai said that there is no need to fear or worry about the Bill and it It will not go against other NE states which Congress believes that it will snatch away the livelihood of cattle traders Assam being the entry points of most NE states.

“Cattle transport from other neighbouring states can also be allowed if they issue valid permit for transportation of cattle. There is a need to have similar Cattle Preservation Bill in every state of the country where different religious communities live together to create communal harmony,” Newmai said.

The Bill was tabled in the assembly of Assam recently. It provides that the sale of beef or its products will not be allowed in areas that have a predominant population of Hindus, Sikhs and other non-beef-eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra (Vaishnavite Monastery).

the state.

The education department has geared up to secure NAAC scores by the colleges of the state, he added.

Officials of the state education department, including commissioner and director, were relentlessly working to promote education in the state, higher education in particular, he said.

Maintaining that teaching is one of the noblest professions, Singh said that those who are in the teaching profession should serve with dedication.

“Teachers play the role of shaping the society by imparting knowledge and skills to the students,” he said, stressing that knowing their priceless and dedicated services with responsibility, they are being honoured every year on September 5.

“If the education system fails, the whole generation will be lost,” he added.

Panic buying ahead of 10-day stricter curfew in Imphal’s Thangal Bazar on July 17. kets remained closed, people were seen thronging at vegetable vendors on the sides of the streets across the city.

Because of the heavy flow of traffic, main streets of the capital city like Nagamapal, Wahengbam Leikai, Keishampat, Thangal Bazar and BT roads witnessed snarls. “People are afraid that they will not be allowed to step out of their homestead during the 10-day long curfew. So, I am here to buy grocery items and vegetables to meet the need during this period,” a customer, waiting his turn outside a shop in Keishampat Junction said.

“We had not witnessed such a shopping spree even during festival season,” said a shopkeeper.

Even medical shops

The minister appealed to all to cooperate with the government initiatives to promote education in the state.

Obstructions and agitations by students’ and teachers’ organizations have been hampering teaching and learning processes of the schools and colleges. Such unwanted activities should be stopped, he added.

To solve the problems arising out of shortage of staff in government colleges, the minister said, the state government will be conducting recruitment drives very soon to fill up the vacancies in the state.

Vice Chancellor of Manipur University Dr Sanatombi and VC of Dhanamanjuri University prof Rajmohon and top officials of the state education department were among others who attended the launching function.

Nagaland Board of School Education Kohima

NOTIFICATION No. 54/2021 Dated Kohima, the 17th July 2021

No.NBE-35/Ex-NSEE/2021-22 :: In pursuance of the Government Notification No.HTE/NSEE/14-4/2020/328 dated Kohima the 15th July 2021, it is hereby notified for information of all concerned that the Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE) 2021 shall be conducted by Nagaland Board of School Education on 4th August 2021 in offline mode. The following may be noted carefully by the aspiring candidates of Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE) 2021.

1. The centres of Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE) 2021 shall be allotted in Kohima and Dimapur.

2. Examination centres will be allotted as per the option given by the candidates either in Kohima or Dimapur. Change of centre will not be entertained.

3. The centres of NSEE 2021 in Dimapur and Kohima will be: A. Kohima Examination Centres: B. Dimapur Examination Centres: 1 Rüzhükhrie GHSS, Kohima 1 GHSS Dimapur 2 Baptist High, Kohima 2 Greenwood School, Dimapur 3 Mezhür HSS, Kohima 3 Christian HSS, Dimapur 4 Ministers’ Hill Baptist HSS, Kohima 4 Don Bosco HSS Dimapur 5 Bethel HSS, Kohima 5 Little Star HSS Dimapur 6 Grace HSS, Kohima Provisions shall be given to download the Admit Cards of NSEE 2021 from the Board’s portal nbsenl.edu.in w.e.f. 29th July 2021. Further details shall be given later.

4. The NSEE 2021 will be for 2(two) hours only.

5. Candidates will have to attempt/answer only 120 (one hundred twenty) questions carrying 4 marks each per question.(30 questions each in Chemistry, Physics, Botany & Zoology) 6. All Questions shall be Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).

7. The NSEE shall be conducted on 4th August 2021 from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon.

8. All questions shall be based on the Core Curriculum/Syllabus (Science Stream). Syllabus for NSEE is not reduced.

9. During the conduct of NSEE 2021, all SOPs issued by the Government of Nagaland shall be adhered to and appropriate COVID behaviour maintained during the conduct of NSEE 2021.

10. Instructions to candidates and other details to download the admit cards, account number to remit the fees etc. shall be uploaded later at the Board’s portal nbsenl.edu.in. Candidates must go and visit the portal to do the necessary things.

dc-588

(Mrs. Asano Sekhose) Chairman

witnessed brisk sales.

However, in a worrisome trend, people crowding outside shops failed to follow COVID-19 protocols.

After wide prevalence of Delta variant of COVID-19 coupled with rapid increase in the daily spike of the corona virus infection cases, Manipur government on Friday ordered stricter curfew for 10 days beginning from Sunday (July 18).

While passing the order, the state government stressed on the need to take stringent measures to break the chain of transmission.

Ahead of the passing the curfew order, the state chief minister said that in view of the alarming Covid situation in the state, there will be a strict curfew from

GUWAHATI, JUL 17 (PTI): The Assam government will provide onetime financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to families of people who have died of COVID-19, State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog said on Friday.

Presenting the budget for 2021-22 in the assembly, Neog claimed this is a firstof-its-kind scheme by any government in the country.

The state government had already announced the ‘Chief Minister Shishu Seva Scheme’ for children who lost their parents due to coronavirus and the ‘Chief Minister COVID-19 Widow Support Scheme’ for widows. Under the scheme for children, an amount of Rs 3,500 will be provided per child each month. For those below 10 years who may not have an extended family or guardian, the Assam government will take steps

July 18 to July 28.

He added that all institutions will remain closed except for essential services such as medical services, water supply, power supply, telecom/internet services, air travel and agricultural activities.

Further, only the people coming out for vaccination and testing will be permitted to venture out during this curfew.

State forces along with CRPF will be deployed for strict enforcement of the curfew, he cautioned.

Following the order of the state government, magistrates of all the districts of the state have also issued separate orders promulgating sub-section 2 of section 144 of CrPC, 1973.

to house them in child care institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep and education.

In the other scheme, each widow is eligible for a onetime grant of Rs 2.5 lakh.

The modalities for application and availing the benefit under the new schemes will be issued by the Health Department in due course, and the programmes will cost the exchequer around Rs 40 crore, the minister said.

A l t o g e t h e r, 4 , 8 8 8 deaths of adults, including 1,345 females, due to COVID-19 have been reported in the state till July 13, Neog said. A total of 56 minors (less than 18 years of age) have also died due to the virus during the same period.

She said 95,770 COVID-19 patients were provided free treatment along with food worth Rs 300 per day till June this year.

FELICITATION We, the Tamlu Employees Union with immense pride and honour, would like to felicitate and congratulate Shri. B. Jinmei Konyak S/o Bentick Konyak for being promoted to Dy. S.P (NAP).

The Union also wishes the very best in your future endeavour. May God bless you as you start a new journey.

W. CHEMKAI KONYAK President Tamlu Employees Union

A. TOWANG KONYAK General Secretary Tamlu Employees Union

dP-3316

act fast to check the further spread of the virus.

The health ministry, too, had flagged concerns over a surge in coronavirus cases in the regon in the recent past, and central teams have been deputed to seven states, including Mizoram.

The shutdown will be in force from July 18 till the midnight of July 24, an official order said.

Lockdown or other stringent restrictions may be imposed in other parts of the state by deputy com-

Panic buying in Imphal ahead of 10-day curfew

OFFICE OF THE

UNGMA SENSO TELONGJEM DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

The Ungma Senso Telongjem Dimapur, (USTD) would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to our esteemed member Dr. C. NUKSHIMENLA IMSONG daughter of Dr. M. Chuba Imsong & Mrs. Yashipokla Longkumer on her achievment of PhD degree in psychology on the thesis entitled "A comparative study on the psychological factors and motivation levels that influence job satisfaction of post graduate teachers in Government and Private Schools in Nagaland" The USTD further wishes her greater success and achievements in her future endeavors.

Sd/Sd/(TAKANUNGBA LKR) (LIPOKMEREN LKR) President, USTD Gen. Secretary, USTD

dP-3305

AIZAWL, JUL 17 (PTI): The Mizoram government has reimposed a seven-day complete lockdown in Aizawl Municipal Corporation area in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases, over two weeks after easing restrictions, officials said.

The announcement also comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the COVID-19 situation was worrisome in some districts of the northeastern region, and urged the chief ministers to stay alert and

Funds promised for projects in Arunachal: Official

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

OFFICE OF

KOHIMA JANGPETKONG SENSO TELONGJEM KOHIMA : NAGALAND

FELICITATION With immense pride and joy, the Kohima Jangpetkong Senso Telongjem (KJST) extend our heartiest congratulations to Shri T Sanny Pongener of Dibuia Village on being promoted to the post of Director, Department of Sericulture and Er. I. Tiameren Walling of Khar Village on being promoted to the post of Chief Engineer, NPWD, Government of Nagaland.

The KJST further prays that as you continue to serve the Public, may the Almighty God guide and bless in the future duties to the best of your ability.

B. Alem Pongen I. Watitemjen Walling President General Secretary

k-1219

File photo of lockdown in Aizawl.

NORTHEAST

K Y M C

5

NATIONAL/STATE

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

meets two SP women workers Border dispute with NCP chief Pawar meets PM Modi Priyanka ‘attacked’ during panchayat polls China to rock Parliament

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (IANS): The border dispute with China will be discussed in both the Houses during the monsoon session of Parliament starting from July 19 as opposition parties are to demand the government’s status report over the issue.

This was apparent after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met two former defence ministers -- A.K. Antony and Sharad Pawar -- on Friday, just three days ahead of the session.

Chief of Defence Staff

General Bipin Rawat and Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane were also present during the meeting.

Singh met them amid the ongoing de-escalation talks with China.

Also Congress -- during the parliament strategy meeting headed by party chief Sonia Gandhi -- had decided to raise the border issue with China in the coming monsoon session of parliament.

The session beginning

Amarinder agrees to Sidhu’s promotion but with riders

Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu have been at loggerheads recently.

CHANDIGARH, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday agreed to a Congress plan to promote rival Navjot Singh as the party’s state president and end the simmering mutiny but listed terms for the solution, sources said.

In a report by NDTV, Captain Singh’s agreement came after a meeting with Congress’s Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat who flew in a helicopter from Delhi to meet the Chief Minister in Chandigarh. Sources said

Captain Singh agreed to accept any decision taken by party chief Sonia Gandhi.

H oweve r, C a p t a i n Singh also said that he should be involved by the party leadership while taking important decisions and that Sidhu’s appointment should complement his efforts in helping the party come back to power in the next year’s elections, sources said. Captain Singh also demanded that he be given a free hand in reshuffling his cabinet and in the appointment of working presidents under Sidhu.

Fuel prices sucking blood:TDP AMARAVATI, JUL 17 (IANS): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) general secretary Nara Lokesh on Saturday alleged that “sky is the limit” for fuel prices in Andhra Pradesh, demanding the government slash tax burden on petrol and diesel. “Fuel prices are zooming like sky is the limit. With record breaking prices, petrol is Rs 108 per litre and diesel Rs 100 per litre,” said Lokesh.

He said these exorbitant fuel prices are “sucking people’s blood worse than leeches”. The TDP’s second in command questioned as to why Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is not slashing taxes on fuel and alleged that it indicates the magnitude of the government plundering the masses.

on July 19 will end on August 13.

Earlier this month, the Chinese displayed banners near the Line of Control in Demchok during celebrations of the birthday of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on July 6.

Chinese People’s Liberation Army men and civilians came on the other side of the Sindu river in the Demchok region of Ladakh.

“They waved their flag in protest when villagers on Indian side were celebrating the birthday,” said the officer, adding that they came in five vehicles and raised banners and flags.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had greeted the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 86th birthday. It was for the first time, Modi officially said he spoke with the Dalai Lama.

Five more test positive for Zika in Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUL 17 (PTI): Five more people, including a minor, tested positive for Zika virus in the state, taking the total reported cases of the infection to 35, of which 11 are active, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Saturday.

One of the positive cases was reported from Ernakulam, the minister said and added that the personconcerned was a health worker in Thiruvananthapuram.

Till now all the cases of Zika have been reported from the state capital.

The virus was confirmed in tests conducted at the Virology Lab of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Alappuzha and the Microbiology Lab at Coimbatore, the minister said in a release.

Sharad Pawar with PM Modi

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (PTI): NCP president Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday, and both leaders held talks on a number of issues in a nearly hour-long meeting. The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted a picture of their meeting but shared no details about their talks.

In a tweet Pawar said, “Met the Hon. Prime Minister of our country Shri Narendra Modi. Had a discussion on various issues of national interest.”

The meeting comes two days before Parliament’s Monsoon session starts on Monday.

A veteran leader widely recognised for his political acumen, Pawar is the main architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra and is seen as a lynchpin for any future opposition alliance against the BJP. Squabble among alliance partners over one issue or another has often come to the fore, with state Congress president Nana Patole’s frequent digs at other two partners -- the Shiv Sena and the NCP -- making news of late.

The 80-year-old veteran leader is also known for his warm relations with politicians across party affiliations.

LUCKNOW, JUL 17 (PTI): Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday met two women workers of the Samajwadi Party with whom BJP activists had allegedly misbehaved during the recent block panchayat chief elections, and demanded repolling at places where violence took place.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier alleged that BJP workers misbehaved with his party candidate Ritu Singh and her proposer Anita Yadav in Lakhimpur Kheri, pulling their “sarees”. In a terse message to the ruling party, Priyanka in a Hindi tweet said, “The goons of the BJP involved in ‘cheerharan’ of the democracy should hear that women will become pradhans, block pramukhs, MLAs, MPs and prime minister, and defeat the government, which gives pa-

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra interacts with the victims of Pasgawan Block Pramukh nomination violence.

tronage to those committing atrocities against women.”

“For justice of all victims of the panchayat poll violence -- all my sisters and citizens -- I will write a letter to the State Election Commission,” she further said.

After meeting the SP workers, Gandhi told reporters at Semra village in Lakhimpur Kheri’s Pathgava block that it was their

constitutional right to file nomination papers and contest elections “but this right of theirs was snatched”.

“They were beaten up while they had gone to file nominations and disrobed. You can imagine what was going on in their mind. Along with Anita, his 19-year-old son was also there,” Priyanka said, alleging that nobody tried to stop it.

Delhi pvt hospitals witness surge in RSZ undertakes plantation drive along NH-2 cases of post-Covid complications NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Neurology departments in some private hospitals in Delhi are experiencing a surge in postCOVID-19 cases and seeing 20 to 25 patients weekly with such problems. In postCOVID scenario, common neurological problems such as fatigue, brain fogging, critical illness neuromayopathy and post-COVID stroke were seen in several individuals in the national capital, ANI report stated.

Common manifestations are a state of confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, and constant anxiety.

Among these patients, most are young to middle-aged people. Neuro experts stated that they are seeing patients with brain fogging even after two months of testing positive and cases of critical illness neuropathy have been reported after six to eight weeks. Dr Vinit Suri, senior consultant Neurosciences at Indraprastha Apollo Hospi-

tals told ANI that in brain fogging, patients experience mild headaches, low moods, difficulty in thinking, concentrating or remembering.

“The critical illness neuromyopathy is observed in patients who have been on ventilators and administered steroids, multiple muscle relaxants and antibiotics. It causes the weakening of all four limbs and it takes six to eight weeks for such patients to get back to normal. In post-COVID stroke, a patient may have clotting or bleeding inside the brain,” said the doctor.

In post-COVID outbreaks, several patients are experiencing various fungal infections such as mucormycosis, candida other than most common pain, breathing difficulties, hyperlipidemia, malaise and fatigue, and hypertension.

Dr Madhukar Bharadwaj, senior consultant-Neurology, Aakash Healthcare said, “In the past two weeks,

we have received 15-20 cases with neurological conditions after the patients recovered from COVID. The most common condition we have seen is the acute headache and infection in the brain, known as post-COVID encephalopathy. The other conditions are GuillainBarre syndrome and muscle weakness.”

“Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves. It may be triggered by an acute bacterial or viral infection.

Symptoms start as weakness and tingling in the feet and legs that spread to the upper body. Paralysis can occur,” the neurology expert said.

Dr Bharadwaj said, “Asymptomatic patients are experiencing headaches after one month as such conditions cannot be diagnosed through the tests. It gets difficult for us to look for the root cause of headaches in such patients.”

(From p-1) He said RSZ felt it was their responsibility to beautify the NH-2. Woch mentioned that RSZ plans to provide amenities for comfort of travellers and would also take care of the saplings for next ten years.

President RSZ Kenneth Kath in his brief address said the project will be expanded as an annual event to the next villages as well.

For the current project, he said every range will maintain the trees in their own jurisdiction.

Over 5400 tree saplings comprising of cherry, Bauhinia/tree orchid, Oak tree, Silver Oak, Tea beans, alder leaf birch/betula, Siris, wild mango, pears, Banaba tree and banyan fig were planted on Saturday.

Meanwhile in a brief interaction with Nagaland Post RSZ president Kenneth Rengma said the project was the first initiative of RSZ. He recalled that people of Tseminyu and travellers passing through Tseminyu town used to face untold misery because of the deplorable condition of the NH 2 Construction also had another negative impact after many trees were felled. Rengma said due to deforestation, the weather changed and dwellers in Tseminyu faced water shortage.

He was confident that such plantation drives will provide the needed balance against abnormal weather conditions.

SDO (C) TseminyuTsutsoweKupa, core group RSZ, village elders and youth volunteers carried out the tree plantation. The tree saplings were sponsored by Professor G.T Thong and ZukeyaWoch.

Rev. Fr. GL Khing invoked God’s blessings before launching the plantation drive.

SALT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, DIMAPUR ADMISSION NOTICE FOR CLASS 11 & B.A (I)

APEX VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

Hostel seats Available Add : 4th Mile near Agri. Expo Junction, Dimapur Contact : 8974507931/8119962193/8258840972

dp-3320

REquESt fOR PROPOSAl UNDP India on behalf of SDGCC, Planning & Coordination Department, Government of Nagaland is pleased to invite proposals from agencies for ‘Development of an SDG Dashboard for monitoring SDGs in Nagaland’.

For more details, please refer on the link: https://bit.ly/NagalandDashboard dc-590

1. Hostel Facilities for both boys and girls.

2. Offline Admission can be done on all working days during office hours (10.00 am to 2.00 pm) 3. Online Admission You can email (saltchristiancollege@gmail.com) or Whatsapp us (9436002894/ 8731893444/ 8787683805) with details of the candidate. After which the office will contact you.

Let us maintain social distancing norms during office hours.

Principal db-07

OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION OF SAINIK SCHOOL IMPHAL (OBASSI) NAGALAND CHAPTER FELICITATION The old Boys Association of Sainik School Imphal Nagaland Chapter with immense pride and joy congratulate Cadet Kevisa Kense, Adm No.172, Director, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Govt Of Nagaland on being inducted to the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Cadre from Non-State Civil Service of Nagaland by the Government of India. It also convey its best wishes and success in all his future endeavors.

The Association further expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Shri. Narendra Modi, The Prime Minister of India and the State Government under the dynamic leadership of Shri. Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland for the honour bestowed upon one of its members.

(Cadet C Lima Imsong) President

(Cadet Leyant. N) General Secretary

dp-3309

Eligibility 10th Passed 8th Passed dp-3073(b)

Duration 2 Years 1 Year

k-1191

ADMISSION OPEN

Course Name Diploma in Patient Care Nursing Assistant

dc-587

6

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Why are Sikhs of Kashmir angry?

VOL. XXXI NO. 222 DIMAPUR, SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

Milking fuel

W

hile incomes of millions have dwindled mostly due to loss of jobs across India, the prices of essential food commodities continue to rise upward spurred by daily hike in prices of fuel. The Congress launched its recent nationwide protest against unchecked rise in prices of fuel from July 7 to July 17 in order to ventilate people’s sufferings. True that such issues are not political but they are more often than not, politicized by political parties. Every political party does it.

The BJP did it in a more aggressive manner while in opposition during the rule of the UPA-II. Since 2010, the public sector Oil Marketing Companies make decisions on the pricing of petrol and diesel based on international product prices, exchange rate, tax structure, inland freight and other cost elements. The BJP had organized major nationwide protest rallies against the UPA-II over fuel prices at regular intervals since 2011, when fuel pricing was deregulated and marketing companies were allowed to fix prices. BJP had a major protest rally in January 2011; then May 31,2012; June 22,2012 and September 2,2013. The Congress protest came against the backdrop of price of petrol breaching the Rs.100-mark across India. The rise in prices of food items has been overwhelming due to rising fuel prices and which has worsened since 2020 when the pandemic was declared and nationwide lockdown imposed. By not reducing taxes the government is able to earn higher revenue and where excise collection surpassed targets. When fuel prices go up, it has a serious secondary impact on the economy. Rise in fuel prices is increasing transportation costs across the country and even if crude prices drop this may not come down.

Considering that almost every single commodity is transported by road at some stage, transportation costs are embedded into all costs. However, the government feels fuel hikes provides it with a huge revenue and that is why it is unwilling to cap the increases. Even a comparative analysis of the revenue shows that from April 2020 to January 2021 the government reaped a hefty 400 % increase in fuel prices. A look at how the government taxes people will be understood by the following: the central government charges 34% as Excise Duty and state government charges another 23% which total 57% as the tax on the retail price of one litre of petrol. Again, while base price for diesel stands at Rs 39.90 per litre, the central and state government taxes together makes up nearly 54% of taxes in the retail price for one litre diesel. Seven years ago, crude oil price constituted two-thirds of the fuel price, now taxes and other levies occupy this pace. The first wave had caused enough misery in terms of millions of migrant laborers displaced and upward spiral in prices of essential food items. For instance one kg of sunflower oil priced at Rs.96 during pre-lockdown, today stands at Rs.175 per kg. The People will continue to suffer till the government decides to cap taxes on daily price rise.

Though India has a much stronger economy than Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, yet prices of petrol and diesel is much cheaper in those countries. It makes more sense to reduce fuel prices to reduce inflation and benefit people and their future.

DailyDevotion The Miracle of Belief My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom…

—1 Corinthians 2:4 Paul was a scholar and an orator of the highest degree; he was not speaking here out of a deep sense of humility, but was saying that when he preached the gospel, he would veil the power of God if he impressed people with the excellency of his speech.

Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the effectiveness of redemption, not by impressive speech, nor by wooing and persuading, but only by the sheer unaided power of God. The creative power of redemption comes through the preaching of the gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher.

Real and effective fasting by a preacher is not fasting from food, but fasting from eloquence, from impressive diction, and from everything else that might hinder the gospel of God being presented. The preacher is there as the representative of God— “… as though God were pleading through us…” (2 Corinthians 5:20). He is there to present the gospel of God. If it is only because of my preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get close to Jesus Christ. Anything that flatters me in my preaching of the gospel will result in making me a traitor to Jesus, and I prevent the creative power of His redemption from doing its work.

“And I, if I am lifted up…, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

Quotes

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. ~ Josh Billings

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

K

ashmir has historically been a multi religious society, where Kashmiri Muslims, Kashmiri Hindu Pandits and Kashmiri Sikhs have lived with each other for centuries maintaining cordial, harmonious and brotherly relationship.

Sikhs of Kashmir, who actually are not historically from Punjab but are believed to be Brahmin and Rajput converts from neighbouring Jammu region and even Kashmir valley are very much an integral part of Kashmiri society.

After the exodus of the Kashmiri Hindu Pandits, the Sikhs of Kashmir are now the largest religious minority of Kashmir Valley, distributed equally among Baramulla in North, Srinagar in Central and Tral in south Kashmir Valley. The bond between Kashmiri Sikh and Kashmiri Muslim communities is as old as the history of Kashmir. The Kashmir valley is home to some of the most important and sacred gurdwaras located in Srinagar and Baramulla cities. So why is that the Sikh community of Kashmir is suddenly up in arms?

The recent controversy over alleged cases of forced conversion and marriage of Sikh girls

has not only been widely publicized and politicized, but it has also ruptured the cordial relation between Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Sikh communities. Since there are various conflicting views and information circulating on the details and facts of these cases, I would not like to comment upon merits of these individual cases, but would rather focus on the wider picture of the status of Kashmir’s non-Muslim minorities.

The problem lies in the fact that Kashmir’s majority Muslim population loves to remain in complete denial of how their image is perceived outside Kashmir valley but sooner or later they are confronted with the bitter reality, which is never debated or resolved and therefore the problem continues to persist.

Regardless of what the majority Muslim population of Kashmir may think about themselves, the fact is that Kashmir valley is not only a conflict region but is also recognised as one of the most radical Muslim enclaves of the world, where religious minorities (Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs) have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. No one outside Kashmir believes

in the so called “Jagmohan” conspiracy theory for facilitating forced exodus of Kashmir’s largest religious minority of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits. The dark episode of 1989 of the forced and violent exodus of Kashmiri Pandits has remained a biggest blot on the former secular credential of Kashmir’s majority community, whether or not they want to believe.

The subsequent rise of religious radicalism, orthodoxy, social conservatism and proliferation of puritan Islamic school of thoughts has further dented the image of Kashmir as an enclave of moderate, tolerant, secular Muslims, who followed their own unique syncretic Sufi Islam called “Rishiyat” that was an amalgamation of Central Asian Sufi traditions and Kashmir’s own Hindu Shaivism.

Those of us from majority community of Kashmir, who have had friendship and acquaintance with Sikh community of Kashmir would tell the truth of the life that Kashmir’s Sikh community has been living since last three decades in a highly brutalized, violent and religiously radical and intolerant Kashmir. Beyond the slogans of “Sikh � Muslim” bhai chara

lies a suppressed story of religious harassment, religious taunts, stigmatization of Kashmiri Sikh community, which has only grown worst.

I have been regularly hearing stories of Muslim community pressure on Sikhs to convert to Islam, which happens both expressly and indirectly. It is a fact that Kashmiri Sikh girls are special target of religious harassment.

My Sikh friends would regularly tell me how their Muslim acquaintance would ridicule their Sikh faith and practices and would encourage them to visit mosques and learn about Islam. Kashmiri Sikh girls would be pressured to be “girlfriends” with Muslim boys. Few years back A Kashmiri Sikh girl in South Kashmir was stabbed over her refusal to wear Islamic hijab.

The Sikh community of Kashmir, which already knows about the misery of Kashmiri Pandit community has been living in fear. They know that their presence is misused to exhibit an example of secular credential of Kashmiri Muslims but they can’t say anything due to fear of being stuck in an overwhelmingly Muslim majority region, where they have substantial financial and

economic interests.

It is a fact that nonMuslim girls are groomed not just in Kashmir but in almost all Muslim majority countries and regions for marriage with a Muslim man and conversion to Islam. We all know that seeking conversion (not forced one) is an important part of the religious culture of Muslim societies, which has unfortunately been twisted to force nonMuslim girls to marry a Muslim and then compulsorily convert to Islam.

Kashmir is no different.

Sikhs in Kashmir are angry because they have been facing and quietly suffering the religiously driven onslaught of converting to Islam for a long time, accelerated by the rise of the new generation of radicalized, orthodox puritan Muslims of Kashmir. These radical Muslims don’t even spare Sufi Islam following Kashmiri Muslims and regularly taunt and harass them of following a “corrupt” faith and indulging in “shirk” and “biddah” and worshipping graves, one can only imagine the plight of Sikh minority, who can’t even express their misery and suffering that they endure on daily basis out of fear of their security.

The latest incident, even

though politicised by a Sikh politician from Delhi has finally broken the patience of Sikh community of Kashmir Valley and emboldened them to tell their tale of suffocation and suffering.

As a majority community of Kashmir, it is our religious Islamic duty to protect our religious minorities, which we have unfortunately not done and it is a fact. We must acknowledge the toxic effect of religious radical elements, who have been harassing Sikhs of Kashmir are also parallelly harassing Kashmiri Sufi Muslims and Kashmiri Shia Muslims. It is not a question of Islam versus Sikhism, but of radicalism and intolerance versus Kashmir’s glorious religious tradition of tolerance, Kashmiriyat and Sufi Rishiyat, which is at stake.

We must understand and acknowledge grievances of our Sikh brothers and sister and strive to address them and make Kashmir once again a mecca of peace, tolerance and secularism.

Javed Beigh is a political leader and is State Secretary of People’s Democratic Front.

He can be reached @ javedbeigh across social media platforms. Views expressed are personal (IANS)

Empowering women-the leadership role in the current scenario

“N

o country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens”- Michelle Obama.

Globally women have shown their success paradigm in various different important sectors that man holds hitherto. When the Cold War era impeded long last and the 34 heads of European countries mainly dominated by male lauded rejoicing the end of unprecedented Cold War era.

The feminist advocates on which ‘era did it end eventually ‘ as the patriarchal era strongly persists still at that point of time. Today the ending sluggish nature of the patriarchal system is roaring near with escalating winds of change waving tremendously in the favour of women moulding them in the front sprint socially, politically, culturally and economically.

A stereotype where leadership is male specific is not gender specific anymore. One among the five key aspects of the UN Inter-Agency Committee on Women and Gender Equality indefinitely supports gender inequalities in power and decision making. Politics in the Nordic and Baltic states displays the decision making paradigm accessed by the women. Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinisto, Norway Premiere Erna Solberg and recently elected first female

W

Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern advancing the role play exhibiting their incessant valour and prudence in the public decision making is indeed influential and stands praiseworthy. The rise of Kamala Harris as the first women vice president of US and the highest elected official in the US history displays yet another landmark victory certifying women. A bird in the cage metaphor that often circumscribed women freedom is seen degrading spontaneously with women flocks now efficiently leading the flying V formation of the birds holding in abeyance the sky is the limit.

The world greeted and watches India’s daughter Bhawana Kanth the sole and the first female fighter pilot to represent women in the Republic Day in her well refined jumpsuit costume making her the limelight of the parade signs a symbol of women empowerment. As a tribute towards the Girl Child Day the Government of Uttarakhand courageously laid the responsibility of assembly affairs into the hands of a young and dynamic 20 year old girl Shristi Goswami as the Chief Minister of child assembly for a day marks a matter of pride and respect towards women. The first women team of 34 female was also inducted into CRPFs COBRA commando unit. This enormous field requires tough

mental and physical attributes which can now be noticed significantly in women will perhaps impetus inspiration to many young girls aspiring to partake fin the commando or military sector. The theory prescribed by Virginia Wolf in her essay A room of one’s own room evince inconsiderable here when she strongly avers of how men socially and physically dominates women by inscripting women as men’s mirror . Today women force has reached its highest mountain heyday with aplenty of women participating in various sections thus empowering women in the leadership role though there are still instances of noticeable woeful issues interfaced by women on the other side of the river bank. The world’s richest person list incorporates the likes of Mackenzie Scott an American novelist, Walmart heiress Alice Walton an entrepreneur, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers a French Billionaire whose family owns the company L’Oréal marks the incoming of women entitlement in the wealth and the economic segments as well.

The world also witnessed the inbound leading right activists in African countries such as Odunayo Eweniyi and Damilola Odufuwa fighting for the rights of Nigerian Women.

The #EndSARS (Special Anti Robbery Squad) movement projected became a rallying cry around the world. The world

Life lessons from Wimbledon

imbledon Wins: What his life and used his inner fire to Can We Learn from fuel his success. the Grasscourt Ge2. Parenting 101 niuses?

Novak comes from a famNovak Djokovic won the ily of competitive skaters (NOT Wimbledon singles title on July tennis players). But his family 11 and made history. The unas- allowed him a choice of sport, suming tennis star is currently and he chose tennis, and here world number 1. The lonely he stands today, right at the passion, struggle for survival, and top! Sounds like it makes sense dark side of living in the public to have children follow their eye are not highlighted, and it can passions? make us feel as though celebri3. A Break is not the End ties have a charmed life without A crippling elbow injury in emotional burnouts or failures. 2017 followed by surgery made Take a look at 5 life lessons Novak frustrated and worried we can think about from tennis about his career at the time. king Djokovic’s life that show us Looking back from the top, success can be a lot about learn- Djokovic recalls the six months ing, losing, and living: away from tennis as a much1. Moving On from the Past needed physical and emotional Djokovic hails from war- break. He says the injury was torn Serbia and often recalls the a “major turning point” in his hardships, fear, and poverty he life and made him come back faced as a child. As an adult, stronger and calmer. he chose to move past the anger 3. Tap into Your Lighter and distress that war created in Side

even witnessed the coming of leading child climate activist Greta Thunberg a Swedish born and the environmental activist Nemonte Nenquimo leader of the Waorani nation, Ecuador.

In the health sector, when the world was fiercely battling the pandemic and human life was supposedly put at risk, the real life superwoman Sarah Gilbert Co-founder of Vaccitech developed a corona virus gun vaccine that could help save the world from the intangible creatures of COVID -19.Today the replenished theory of women empowerment has churn out galore women to substantially explore their inner potential and have enormously labelled their titanic name in the global world thus surpassing men in various diverse sectors. The philosophical statement inscribed by JS Mill on his brilliant essay “The Subjection of Women” proves worth here when he strongly stated the women could not be treated as inferior to men in terms of their intellectual and spiritual capabilities. The Greeks philosophy “silence is a woman’s glory” has indeed transformed into “the unsilence of a woman is her glory today”.

In the context of Nagaland where women have been undoubtedly empowered in various important segments the crestfallen lies inherent when the state does not have even a single female individual in the political decision making body.

Women’s role in the political sphere still remains bleak and sings irreversible with persisting cumulative deadlock between Article 243T (2)and (3) of the Indian constitution which famously speaks in favour for reservation of seats for women and the indispensable Article 371A that grants special provision with respect to the state of Nagaland with Article 371A(2) as the major contention . The Naga women which constitutes half the population of the state remains to establish their political visibility only as voters due to the cultural, social, economic and self-imposed constraints as stated in the journal Electoral dynamics of India-the study of Nagaland by Professor Maomenla Amer. The only women elected as a member in the Lok Sabha representing Nagaland till date has been Ms. Rano Shaiza in the year 1977.Today Naga women no longer live in the era of Aristotle where women’s role were confined only within their domestic work.

The Naga women has established themselves as the strong contender of men in various fields such as education, entrepreneurship, art, music, sports, media, research etc., leading the current life race through their exceptional finesse though they are still to label their infinite name as the highest political decision makers.

Tokato K Sumi Lizumi Village

Reader’s Post

Djokovic is not all-work and seriousness. He is known for his impersonations of other tennis players such as Federer, and Boris Becker, among others! A Sir, little humor can definitely ease With deep grief and utter frustration. I hereby state to concern troubles! authority not to confuse the aspirants, who’re trying to secure a 5. Remember the Joy post through legal means and to issue notification at the earliest Novak decided to quit tennis to ensure transparency and validity of the published post. Dated after a devastating loss in Miami 16th January 2020, ADVT NO ED/HT/ADVT-1/2015-16/12. last year. However, playing tennis For a moment it brought hope to thousand of aspirants but with his sons, and wife Jelena within a few months, all hopes were shattered by the pandemic. helped him rekindle the joy. As a result the aspirants compromised and became a mute specSometimes we need to take time tators even though only 84 post was advertised after a century. off to remember why we started The scenario became excruciating when an official report by an a job and what was fun about it! concern authority was published on 22 April 2021. Which stated Life is a rollercoaster for 190 post of graduate and undergraduates Hindi teachers post are everyone and success has to be lying vacant but it is best known to them. At what stand, they balanced off with a little humor didn’t advertise the remaining post. and hope. The challenges each of Though my primary aim is to request to conduct the exam us face may not be visible but if for published post. Reminding the fact, not a single notification we find a way to get through them was issued till date for the said advertisement. with hope and courage, the road I hereby request concern authority to assure the aspirants ahead becomes easier to walk on. that the authority won’t lost their credibility and exam will be conducted according to the directives issue by the govt.

Preetika Chandna Yours faithfully (As published by The Times of India) Swuto Swu, Medziphema 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.

Request to conduct Hindi teachers exam

‘Population issue to target a community’

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (PTI): Amid a push for a population control policy by some Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday alleged the BJP’s motive of raising the issue is political and aimed at targeting a “particular community”.

The for mer Union minister said the population debate is “utterly misplaced” and half a century out-of-date as a large majority of Indian states have achieved replacement levels of fertility. In an interview with PTI, Tharoor said the bigger challenge for India in the next 20 years will be to prepare for an ageing population, not a growing population. He alleged the ruling party is raising this issue out of “thinly-concealed motivation” to target a “particular community”.

“It is no accident that the three states where the government is talking about reducing population are UP (Uttar Pradesh), Assam and Lakshadweep, where

7

NATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

everyone knows who their intended audience is,” the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

“The Hindutva elements in our polity have not really studied the demographic issues. Their motive is purely political and communal,” he said when asked about the push for population control in UP and Assam. Tharoor’s remarks come days after Uttar Pradesh’s draft population control bill was made public and the Assam government proposed formulation of a policy in this regard. Both states are ruled by the BJP. The UP draft bill has provisions to debar people who have more than two children from the benefits of government schemes and proposes perks to those who follow the two-child policy.

Also, some BJP MPs are set to introduce private members’ bills on population control and uniform civil code in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, according to information from the secretariats of

Shashi Tharoor

both Houses.

The Monsoon session begins on July 19 and would conclude on August 13.

Asked about the upcoming Parliament session and the key issues the Congress and the Opposition would raise, Tharoor said the government has been “so colossally inept’ that there are multiple issues “we need to raise in the public interest”.

“The ineptitude of the government in its disastrous mismanagement of COVID, especially the blunder-laden vaccine policy; the continued failure to resolve the farmers’ agitation; the cratering economy, with GDP growth at its lowest in three

decades,” he said listing the issues the Opposition needs to focus in Parliament.

He also referred to the “price rise caused by extortionate fuel taxes; the worst unemployment ever recorded”, the French investigation into corruption in the Rafale deal” the situation on the Sino-Indian border and the crisis in Afghanistan.

“And who knows what else may arise by Monday morning, given the government’s many unsavoury sins of omission and commission?” Tharoor said.

On disruptions rather than debate becoming the norm in Parliament, the 65-year-old Congress leader said it was well known that he has been opposed to disruptions in principle and prefers to debate the issues.

“But if you look at those disruptions in recent years that have been called by the Opposition, they have always been caused by the ruling party’s refusal to discuss a specific issue of burning national importance, which leaves the

Opposition no choice but to draw attention to the issues the government wishes to avoid through disruption,” he said. If debates were allowed, disruptions would be unnecessary, he asserted.

Tharoor urged the government to have the courage to debate any issue the Opposition wishes to raise.

“That’s what Parliament is for. The government prefers to treat it as a noticeboard where they can just announce their laws and policies,” he said.

“If the ruling party treats Parliament with respect, which means agreeing to discuss the issues the Opposition raises and not just using their brute majority to push through the government’s agenda, I am sure the Opposition will reciprocate in kind,” he argued. Asked whether the Afghanistan situation would also be a key issue to be raised in Parliament, Tharoor said, “Yes, that’s why I mentioned it along with China as the two external affairs issues that require discussion.”

Sisodia urges L G not to take decision on Delhi govt matters NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (IANS): Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, urging him not to take decisions on the subjects falling under the Delhi government’s purview.

This comes amid a standoff between the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government and the Centre-appointed L-G on appointing special public prosecutors in cases related to the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day and 2020 northeast Delhi riots.

In his letter Sisodia pointed that L-G has been chairing meetings with officials of different department of the Delhi government and instructing them without informing the concerned ministers.

“It has also come to my notice that the officials in L-G’s office are pressuring Delhi government officials to comply with directions issued by the L-G,” Sisodia’s

Manish Sisodia

letter read.

“I thought several times before writing this letter to you, but it is not about the personal relations but about protection of democracy. If the Centre appointed-L-G would sideline the elected government and start taking decisions on every subject on his own, then the democratic system which we have gained through fighting for years will be destroyed,” it stated. Sisodia said it is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution that the Centre appointed-L-G will call meetings and pass arbitrary decisions and force

the officials to comply with directions on subjects which directly fall under the elected government.

“The Constitution allows you to take decisions on three subjects - Police, Land and Public Order and other than these three subjects, the elected government is free to take its own decisions. Being the L-G of the national capital, you have veto power to differ with the decision taken by the elected government,” the letter read.

Sisodia cited the Supreme Court’s order on July 4, 2018, which read, “The Lieutenant Governor of NCT of Delhi is bound by aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and this position holds true so long as the Lieutenant Governor does not exercise his power under the proviso to clause (4) of article 239AA. A Lieutenant Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decisionmaking power.”

Mukul Roy takes charge as Modi got India’s first independent security policy: Amit Shah Bengal assembly’s PAC chairman KOLKATA, JUL 17 (PTI): Legislator Mukul Roy, who has switched over to the ruling Trinamool Congress after winning the West Bengal election on a BJP ticket, on Friday took charge as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman of the state assembly.

Roy, officially a BJP MLA, was appointed the PAC chairman on July 9.

Objecting to the appointment, eight saffron party legislators on Tuesday resigned as heads of various assembly panels.

The BJP has said that as per norms, an opposition MLA is appointed as the PAC chairman and the

Mukul Roy

TMC misused that rule.

The assembly Speaker’s office announced new names of chairmen of the eight committees on Friday. All of them are TMC MLAs. Roy, t h e M L A o f Krishnagar Uttar seat, was at the office for over half an

hour after taking over his new responsibility.

Asked to comment on reports that BJP is planning to move court seeking his disqualification as an MLA, he told reporters: “Anyone can go anywhere he wants.”

Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay earlier said that there was no impropriety in the appointment of Roy as the PAC chairman.

He had also said as per norms, the chairmanship of eight standing panels went to opposition BJP MLAs but if they resigned, the posts will automatically go to the next seniormost members of the House.

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (PTI): India’s security policy was either “influenced or was overlapping” with the foreign policy and it was only after Narendra Modi became prime minister that the country got an independent security strategy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.

Shah was delivering the ‘Rustamji memorial lecture’ and it was being attended by personnel and officers of the Border Security Force (BSF). He also gave way gallantry medals to serving personnel and for those killed in the line of duty from the country’s largest frontier force.

“I used to think if there is a security policy of this country or not? Till Naren-

dra Modi became the prime minister, we did not have any independent security policy,” Shah said.

“It was either influenced by foreign policy or it was overlapping with the foreign policy,” he said.

Shah said that after Narendra Modi became prime minister, the country got an independent security policy.

“Our idea is to have peaceful relations with all, but if someone disturbs our borders, if someone challenges our sovereignty, the priority of our security policy is that such an attempt will be replied in the same language,” he said.

This security policy was a “big achievement” as the country wanted such a

Amit Shah

good plan, Shah said.

“I believe without this (security policy) neither the country can progress nor democracy can prosper,” the home minister said “Modiji (PM) has done this big job. I do not want to give examples as it is well known,” he said, adding

that the policy was made operational on the ground by his government.

Shah also declared that his government is working to ensure that there “will be no gap in the fencing” along India’s borders by next year.

He said about three per cent of the country’s border was unfenced, at present, and this has left a “big space” for infiltration of terrorists and other border crimes like smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics.

The home minister said India will soon develop indigenous counter-drone technology. This is being done by technical organisations like the DRDO and

some other agencies, he said.

His comments come in the backdrop of the drone attack on the IAF station in Jammu last month where two unmanned aerial vehicles dropped bombs injuring two airmen and damaging a portion of a building. This was a first such attack.

The minister added that the security and technology development establishment was also working on artificial intelligence and robotic technologies as part of a long drawn project.

The about 2.65-lakh personnel strong BSF guards over 6,300 km of Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Yediyurappa to resign after govt’s 2nd anniversary: Sources

BENGALURU, JUL 17 (IANS): Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa has been asked to step down after July 26, the day, the ruling BJP government will complete its second year in office in the state, sources said here on Saturday.

Yediyurappa’s demand for two months time to con-

Stalin urges Centre to act over protecting Indians in SA

M.K. Stalin

CHENNAI, JUL 17 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged the Central government to take measures to safeguard the Indian community in South Africa where violent protests have erupted since the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma last week.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Stalin referred to the reports of riots in South Africa affecting the Indian community and a large section of Tamil population have

suffered economic losses.

“It is learnt that they (Indian community) are also apprehensive of further escalation of tensions there,” he said. The Chief minister urged Jaishankar to take up the matter with the South African government through diplomatic means to impress upon the need for restoration of peace and harmony at the earliest and also to take adequate measures to safeguard life and property of the Indian community including people from Tamil Nadu.

As many as 121 people, mostly of Indian origin, have died in South Africa’s worst post-apartheid era violence in the past week.

Indian origin people, who are the worst sufferers, were forced to arm themselves in two provinces, especially in Durban city, home to more than 70 per cent of the 1.4 million Indian origin population in the country.

dc-589

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL, KOHIMA COLLEGE, KOHIMA KOHIMA: NAGALAND

NO.KCK/CIRCULAR/2020/

dp-3263

/Dated Kohima, the 16th July, 2021.

ADMISSION NOTIFICATION (B.A. & B.COM. 1st Semesters) This is for the information of all interested students seeking admission to B.A & B.Com 1st Semester at Kohima College that Online application forms submission and subsequent provisional admission to B.A. & B.Com. 1st Semester 2021 will be as stated below: a. Issuance & Submission of Forms : 19th – 23rd July 2021. b. Declaration of selected list: 30th July 2021. c. Admission dates: 30th July – 3rd August 2021. d. Commencement of Classes – 10th August 2021.

For all necessary instructions for admission, please refer to the latest instructions uploaded in the College website at https://www. kohimacollege.ac.in dated 16th July 2021.

K-1211

B.S. Yediyurappa

template stepping down, has been categorically rejected by the BJP high command, they added.

While the Party has offered the post of deputy chief minister to his son B.Y. Vijayendra, Yediyurappa has apparently been insisting on the post of the state party president for him.

The calculation is to go to the assembly elections under his son’s leadership, thus making Vijayendra the natural choice for the CM post.

However, the BJP high command is insisting that things should happen as per the party’s decisions, not by the conditions laid down by CM Yediyurappa.

PRINCIPAL Kohima College, Kohima Kohima: Nagaland dc-586

8

Currency Squeeze: Rupee expected to weaken further

Of Research- Currency, Emkay Global Financial Services.

“Better than expected US retail sales data will appreciate the USDINR spot, rising bets for earlier than expected Fed Rate hike or tapering.”

Experts predict a range of USDINR(Spot) is expected to trade with a positive bias and quote in the range of 74.20 and 75.20.

“Next week, in the first half of the week we expect the momentum to remain relatively low as market participants remain cautious ahead of the ECB policy statement,” said Gaurang Somaiya , Forex & Bullion Analyst, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

“Expectation is that the central bank could continue to remain dovish thereby keeping gains capped for the EURUSD pair.”

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 BUSINESS FICCI lauds Assam Flyod Hyundai launches Alcazar FM for presenting Staff Reporter display: The SUV comes with a factory-fitted air putax free Budget D I M A P U R , J U L 1 7 rifier with an AQI display

GUWAHATI, JUL 17 (IANS): Industr y body FICCI has appreciated Assam’s first woman Finance Minister Ajanta Neog for presenting a tax free Budget for FY 2021-22 in the state Assembly on Friday.

The Chairman of the Northeast Advisory Council of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Ranjit Barthakur, complimented the Finance Minister for presenting a ‘forward looking budget’, free of any additional tax burden at a very difficult time. Welcoming the focus of the Budget on agriculture and rural economy, Barthakur said decisions like setting up of farm machinery banks, capacity building initiatives for farmers, the measures taken for improving cattle stock and community-based initiatives for increasing fish production will go a long way in ensuring the food security of the state.

(NPN): Flyod Hyundai Dimapur dealer principal Er. Shikato Sema Friday launched the latest SUV Alcazar, at its showroom located in Purana Bazaar.

At the launching programme, Er. Shikato noted that despite the risk involved in launching the new vehicle amid the Covid-19 pandemic, they were optimistic that the vehicle with latest features would satisfy the customers.

Based on the modified Creta platform, the new Hyundai Alcazar is positioned against the Tata Safari and the MG Hector Plus. The new Hyundai Alcazar is available with two engine options – a 159PS, 2.0L petrol and a 115PS, 1.5L diesel. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic.

Drive rearview monitor: This feature allows the driver to see the rear traffic

(L) Flyod Hyundai dealer principal Er Shikato Sema with the first customer. (NP)

or view on the touchscreen while driving forward. It works differently compared to the rear parking camera, as it takes data from the rear camera to show in the infotainment system without putting your car into reverse gear.

Fully digital instrument console: Alcazar comes fitted with a 10.25-inch digital instrument console, while its rivals come with a 7-inch MID with analogue speedometer.

Seatback tables: The front seats of the Alcazar comes with seatback tables for the rear occupants. These

tables also come with a retractable cupholder.

Rear sunshades: Alcazar comes with sunshades for the rear occupants as standard. These sunshades are manually operated, and are useful in protecting passengers from the sun’s glare and heat.

Paddle shifters: The automatic variants of the Alcazar SUV comes with paddle shifters as standard.

This feature makes driving fun and engaging. Adding to it, the SUV offers multiple driving modes and traction control modes.

Air purifier with AQI

mounted in the centre console. As soon as driver starts the AC, the AQI index falls as the air quality improves.

Other features include blind spot monitor, 64-colour ambient lighting, floormounted second-row centre console. The SUV also gets segment-first wireless smartphone charger for the second row occupants. This feature is only offered on the 6-seater version of the Alcazar.

Earlier, senior assistant Hirakato Sema and Minakshi Das made the introductory presentation of the new car.

The invocation prayer was proposed by senior sales consultant Avo, welcome address by sales manager Gokul Das, vote of thanks by assistant service manager Satish Gupta and benediction proposed by sales consultant Khelito Sema. The programme was conducted following Covid-19 SOPs.

MUMBAI, JUL 17 (IANS): High imported commodity prices is expected to weaken the Indian rupee against the US dollar during the trade week ahead, experts opined.

Besides, the possibility of IPO money outflow to foreign venture capitalists will impact rupee’s position via-a-vis USD. Last week, rupee consolidated in a narrow range and has been having a muted reaction despite various data releases. “Indian rupee is expected to weaken against

the US dollar in the coming week due to higher crude prices and a possible outflow of IPO money going back to foreign venture capitalists,” said Sajal Gupta, Head, Forex and Rates at Edelweiss Securities.

The rupee closed at Rs 74.5650 per USD on last Friday.

“The safe-haven bets for dollar are still intact and after Powell’s testimony FX traders aren’t convinced over the insistence of dovish outlook,” Rahul Gupta, Head

Headline CPI inflation might have peaked out

Ola scooter receives 100K bookings in a day Mahindra Bolero Neo launched in Nagaland & Assam

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (IANS): Ride-hailing major Ola on Saturday announced that its electric scooter has received a record-breaking 100,000 reservations within the first 24 hours, making it the most pre-booked scooter in the world.

Ola Electric opened the reservation for its electric scooter on the evening of July 15. It can be reserved for Rs 499 via its official website -- olaelectric.com.

“I am thrilled by the

Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

tremendous response from customers across India for our first electric vehicle. The unprecedented demand is a clear indicator of shifting consumer preferences to EVs,” Bhavish Aggarwal, Chairman and Group CEO, Ola, said in a statement.

“This is a huge step forward in our mission to transition the world to sustainable mobility. I thank all the consumers who have booked the Ola Scooter and have joined the EV revolu-

No. 9980 Yesterday’s solution No. 9979

No. 4600 Yesterday’s solution No. 4599

No. 3624 Yesterday’s solution No. 3623

ACROSS 1. Day nursery (6) 7. Set free (3,5) 8. Fingerprints, slang (4) 10. Hairpiece (6) 11. Metallic element (6) 14. Limb (3) 16. Relaxes (5) 17. Abode of Satan (4) 19. Tree type (5) 21. Japanese padded quilt (5) 22. Songbird (5) 23. Immense (4) 26. Tooth type (5) 28. Mr Gibson, actor (3) 29. Wall pass (3-3) 30. Concluding part (6) 31. Chopping tools (4) 32. Irish emblem (8) 33. Infuriate (6) DOWN 1. A firm grasp (6) 2. House of God (6) 3. Otherwise (4) 4. Unplaced horse (4-3) 5. Frolics (5) 6. Shed these when crying (5) 8. Cloudy (4) 9. Beseech (3) 12. For every (3) 13. Distinctive character (5) 15. Stinking (5) 18. Urge, incite (3,2) 19. Young fox (3) 20. Mafia boss (3) 21. Attacking footballer (7) 22. Rodent (3) 23. Superficial appearance (6) 24. Unfortunately (4) 25. Dozen (6) 26. Slightly damp or wet (5) 27. Lawful (5) 28. Mingle, blend (3) 30. Sham (4)

Mahindra Bolero Neo launch in Kohima and Dimapur.

India and the world’s largest tractor company by volume, on July 17 also launched the new ‘Bolero Neo’ at Poddar Autocorp Private Limited, Paschim Boragaon, NH 37, Guwahati.

The launch was done

by Kapil Muni Yadav, Chief Manager, SBI, Maligaon Branch, Guwahati, Ravi Agarwal, former champion in Rallying and a Mahindra Adventure enthusiast, Ashesh Mishra, RSM, NER Region, M&M Ltd. and Rajdip Roy Chowdhury, ASM, NER Region, M&M Ltd. Packed with modern design, powerful technology and plush features, the Bolero Neo is made for the young evolving customers.

These include a stylish new design and premium interiors crafted by Italian automotive designer Pininfarina, comfortable cabin and safety technology such as standard dual airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and cornering brake control (CBC) and ISOfix child seat.

It is built on 3rd generation chassis shared with Scorpio and Thar and it comes with the proven Mahindra mHawk engine.

go-anywhere capable SUVs with their persona and aspirations for a modern and trendy SUV. The design, performance, and engineering enhancements in the new Bolero Neo make it a modern, unmissable and authentic SUV for the bold and fearless Young India.

The addition of Bolero Neo to our brand portfolio will help us retain Bolero amongst the top 10 selling SUV’s in the country.”

What makes Bolero Neo an Authentic yet modern SUV? Modern unmissable presence design, premium Ital-

ian design interiors & host of comfort, convenience and connected features Solid Performance with mhawk100 engine with 73.5 kW (100 BHP) power & 260 Nm torque Tough goanywhere capability with 3rd Gen Chassis which goes on Scorpio and Thar Multi-Terrain Technology (MTT) - Remarkable Safety & low cost of ownership Low cost of maintenance

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., one of the leading automobile companies in

FOR SALE Own A 2BHK Fully furnished flat, behind Westside Mall, Near GMC, Christian Basti, GS Road, Guwahati.

Contact : 9401454460 dp-3250

LOCKDOWN OFFER

THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY

LAND FOR SALE

1st Class Brick Stock available Satym Co. Ltd. hurry up Rate Rs. 8.80 paise per piece at Padumpukhuri Monday Bazar near Pine Mount School, Dimapur Contact No. : 9612958620 9615263355 dp-3304

‘Bolero Neo’ unveiled at Poddar Autocorp Private Limited, Guwahati

DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

DIsTANCE EDUCATIoN

NIOS/BBOSE 10th & 12th, BA/B.Sc./B.Com/ Fine Arts/ MA/M.Lib./B.Ed./M.Ed… many more Special Offer: Hurry, one sitting exam available for this session only.

For further detail visit www.thevirtualacademy.in or call 9366014407 Sd/- Director dp-2870b

AFFiDAVit Regd. No. 1315/18 Dated : 15/10/18 I, Shri.Temjenmangyang, S/o Lt. Takamatong, permanent resident of Molungkimong Village in the District of Mokokchung, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows: 1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India.

2. That my name Temjenmayang, my father’s name Imtinokdang Ao and my Village name Changki are wrongly entered in my official records and it is incorrect.

3. That, I made this affidavit to declare that my name Temjenmangyang and Temjenmayang are same and one person and that is me. Also, my father’s name is Lt. Takamatong instead of Imtinokdang and my Village name is Molungkimong instead of Changki Village.

4. Now I hereby declare that my name Shri. Temjenmangyang, S/o Lt. Takamatong, resident of Molungkimong Village be use in all my official documents pertaining to my service.

That the above statements made in Para 1 to 4 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and declare these statements with sound mind and health.

DEPONENT TEMJENMANGYANG Regd. No. 465/2021

AFFiDAVit

Date : 16/07/2021

I, Shri. P.G Gaithaoni Rongmei, S/o Meinganglung Rongmei, R/o. H/No. 129, East Police Colony, Dimapur, Nagaland, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follow :1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India resident of above mentioned address.

2. That in my Aadhaar Card No. 5908 9826 0375 and Pensioner Identity Card my name and father name has been recorded/entered as P.G Gaithaoni Rongmei F/N-Meinganglung Rongmei, whereas in my PAN Card No. BMXPG3910R my name and my father name had been entered/recorded as P.G Gaithoni F/N- Pheiga Gangmei Meilung Dikhamrai.

3. That "Rongmei" is my tribe name and correct spelling of my name is Gaithaoni.

4. That the name P.G Gaithaoni Rongmei F/N-Meinganglung Rongmei and P.G Gaithoni F/N-Pheiga Gangmei Meilung Dikhamrai refers to same and one person i.e me and my father name.

5. That henceforth I shall used/Address my name as P.G Gaithaoni Rongmei F/N-Meinganglung Rongmei in my PAN Card and all official purpose.

VERIFICATION

I, hereby verify that the contents made in para 1 to 5 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and beliefs and nothing materials is concealed therein.

DEPONENT Solemnly sworn before me.

Magistrate/Notary Public Dimapur : Nagaland dp-3314

Land for sale at Duncan Bosti, Dimapur Nagaland

1. 6007.5 sq. ft. (Rs. 36,04,500/-) 2. 5107.5 sq. ft. (Rs. 30,64,500/-) 3. 3,314.7 sq. ft. (Rs. 19,88,820/-) dp-3318

Contact : 9774746281 8132807224

LAND FOR SALE Old Showuba Area

Four Lane touched 43,200 sq. ft.

Per sq. ft. Rs. 370/Near four lane 5 Puras Per sq. ft. Rs. 90/Mobile No. : 9856603713 9612242850 dp-3174

LAND FoR sALe Four Lane Touched. 1 Bigha, Road level,

3 minutes drive from Showuba Flyover at Rs. 350 per sq. ft.

Contact No : 8794629096 7005185928 dp-3233(b) Lost Notice

I, Visiesotuo Meyase am applying for duplicate copy of B.A nd 2 Semester & 5 th Semester Marksheet as I have lost it.

Name : Visiesotuo Meyase F/Name : Kevisede Roll. No. : AH16040035 Regd. No. : 16040120 of 2016

k-1218

Ola Electric scooter

DIMPAPUR/GUWAHATI, JUL 17 (NPN): Apex Motor launched the all new Mahindra Bolero Neo on July 16 with Chief Guests Ms. K. Koshai , branch manager, Dimapur and its first Bolero Neo customer Diocese of Kohima Bishop’s House, Dimapur.

The new Bolero Neo was launched in Apex Motor Enterprise at an introductory price of Rs.8.48 Lakh (Ex-Showroom Price, All India) for the N4 variant.

The new Bolero Neo will cater to the evolving customers looking for an SUV that is tough and authentic yet modern and trendy. The existing Bolero will continue to be sold along with the Bolero Neo in the market. Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd., said, “The Bolero Neo combines the new age customer’s affinity towards a tough, powerful,

k-1208

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (IANS): The headline retail price inflation based on the consumer price index might have peaked out, said Motilal Oswal Financial Services. According to MOFSL research, the peak out trend might provide some relief to market participants, especially in the bond segment.

“We expect IIP to remain broadly unchanged in YoY terms in June’21, before reporting marginal growth of 1-2% YoY over July-Aug’21.”

“Overall, we do not see RBI hiking rates in FY22.” Recently, CPIbased retail inflation came in unchanged at 6.3% YoY in June 2021.

“The number was marginally above our expectation of 6.1%, but below the Bloomberg consensus of 6.6% YoY in Jun’21.

tion. This is only the beginning!” the CEO added.

The company said it is seeing unprecedented demand from customers who continue to throng the website to book the scooter in record numbers.

The Ola Scooter is said to be a revolutionary product from Ola Electric, with class-leading speed, unprecedented range, the biggest boot space as well as advanced technology that make it the best scooter customers can buy. The company said it will be priced aggressively to make it widely accessible and it will be made-in-India for the world, to be manufactured at the company’s state-ofthe-art Futurefactory.

The first phase of the Ola Futurefactory is nearing completion and will be operationalised soon, while the full capacity of 10 million vehicles per annum will be built by next year.

AffidAvit I, Shri M. Chimba Phom permanent resident of Pongo Village District Longleng hereby declare that my name M.Chimba Phom, M. Chumba Phom & M. Chimba refer to one and same person i.e myself and the same shall be used for all official purposes and future reference vide Notary Public affidavit Regd. No. 703/2021 date 10/7/2021. k-1210

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

Social Media misinfo on covid ‘killing people’: Biden WASHINGTON, JUL 17 (AP): President Joe Biden has said that social media companies are “killing people” by failing to police misinformation on their platforms about COVID-19 vaccines.

Biden’s com ments came a day after US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared misinformation about the vaccines a threat to public health, and as US officials advised that deaths and serious illness from the virus are almost entirely preventable because of the vaccines.

Biden, asked if he had a message for platforms like Facebook where false or misleading information about the coronavirus vaccines has spread, told reporters, “They’re killing people.”

“The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated,” he said.

Speaking on Thursday, Murthy said misinformation about COVID-19, deemed an “infodemic” by the World Health Organization, was deadly.

“Misinformation poses an imminent and insidious threat to our nation’s health,” Murthy said dur-

Bashar Assad sworn in as Syrian prez for 4th term DA M A S CUS, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Syrian President Bashar Assad was s w o r n i n Bashar Assad Saturday for a fourth seven-year term in the war-torn country.

The May elections were described by the West and Assad’s opposition as illegitimate and a sham.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the presidential palace and attended by clergymen, members of parliament, political figures and army officers.

In power since 2000, Assad’s re-election in a landslide was never in doubt. His new term starts with the country still devastated by 10 years of war and sliding deeper into a worsening economic crisis. The U.N. estimates that more than 80% of Syrians live under the poverty line.

The Syrian currency is in a free fall and basic services and resources have become scarce.

Joe Biden

ing remarks at the White House. “We must confront misinformation as a nation.

Lives are depending on it.”

Given the role the internet plays in spreading health misinformation, Murthy said technology companies and social media platforms must make meaningful changes to their products and software to reduce the spread of false information while increasing access to authoritative, fact-based sources.

Too often, he said, the platforms are built in ways that encourage, not counter, the spread of misinformation.

“We are asking them to step up,” Murthy said. “We can’t wait longer for them to take aggressive action.”

Facebook spokesper-

son Dani Lever responded: “We will not be distracted by accusations which aren’t supported by facts. The fact is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet.”

“More than 3.3 million Americans have also used our vaccine finder tool to find out where and how to get a vaccine. The facts show that Facebook is helping save lives. Period,” Lever said.

Twitter posted on its platform, “As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves around the world, we’ll continue to do our part to elevate authoritative health information.”

Thailand bans public nationwide gatherings amid Covid surge BA N G KO K , J U L 1 7 (IANS): Thailand on Saturday extended a ban on public gatherings nationwide and might further tighten restrictions as the numbers of daily Covid-19 cases and fatalities surged to new records.

The country reported 10,082 new cases on Saturday, surpassing 10,000 for the first time, despite the partial lockdown imposed in worst-hit regions since Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The total number of infections has risen to 391,989, according to the Centre for the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the country’s coronavirus task force.

Cumulative deaths rose to 3,240, up by 141 on Saturday, according to the CCSA. The country extended a ban on public gatherings nationwide, which took effect immediately, according to a royal gazette issued late Friday.

Violators may be subject to a fine of up to 40,000 baht ($1,220) or a maximum

of two years in jail or both.

The CCSA said it was also considering tougher measures such as closure of more businesses and public mobility restrictions to tackle the current situation.

The Southeast Asian country has been grappling with its worst-ever wave of the outbreak.

The worsening situation came as the highly contagious Delta variant is spreading fast in the country, with the medical system crumpling under pressure while the already dire economic situation turning critical for many.

The country’s economy continued to take a toll from the pandemic, with the World Bank this week lowering its 2021 growth forecast for the economy to 2.2 percent, from a projection of 3.4 per cent in March.

“Economic activity is not expected to return to its pre-pandemic levels until 2022, and the recovery is projected to be slow and uneven,” the World Bank said in its Thailand Economic Monitor for July.

9

INTERNATIONAL

SA violence: Govt was poorly prepared, says Ramaphosa JOHANNESBURG, JUL 17 (PTI): South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said his government was poorly prepared for the “orchestrated” violence witnessed by the country, but underlined that the “attempted insurrection” has failed because of citizens’ support. Protests sparked on July 7 after the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma and rapidly devolved into unprecedented massive looting and arson across the country.

“As this government, we must acknowledge that we were poorly prepared for an orchestrated campaign of public violence, destruction and sabotage of this nature,” Ramaphosa said in a national address on Friday night.

“Yet, despite the widespread destruction, this attempted insurrection has failed to gain popular support. It has failed because of the efforts of our security forces, and it has failed because South Africans have rejected it and have stood up in defence of our hard-won democracy,” he said.

Relative calm returned to KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces on Friday after a week of rampant violence, looting and arson that has left over 200 people dead, hundreds of busi-

Cyril Ramaphosa

nesses razed to the ground, and billions of rands looted from stores by thousands of people.

“While we commend the brave actions of our security forces on the ground, we must admit that we did not have the capabilities and plans in place to respond swiftly and decisively,” Ramaphosa candidly admitted.

“Once this crisis has passed, we will undertake a thorough and critical review of our preparedness and our response. It is clear now that the events of the past week were nothing less than a deliberate, coordinated and well-planned attack on our democracy,” he added.

Zuma started a 15-month sentence after the country’s apex Constitutional Court found him guilty of contempt of court because he refused to return to the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, where he has been repeatedly accused of involvement in corruption by witnesses.

Europe flood death toll tops 160, costly rebuilding ahead BERLIN, JUL 17 (AP): Rescue workers laboured to deal with damage laid bare by receding water Saturday as the death toll from disastrous flooding in Western Europe rose above 160 and thoughts turned to the lengthy job of rebuilding communities devastated in minutes. The death toll in western Germany’s Rhineland-Palatinate state, home to the badly hit Ahrweiler county, rose to 98. Another 43 people were confirmed dead in neighbouring North Rhine-Westphalia state. Belgium’s national crisis center said the country’s confirmed death toll rose to 27.

Days of heavy rain turned normally minor rivers and streets into raging torrents this week and caused the disastrous flooding that swept away cars, engulfed homes and trapped residents. Immediately after the floods hit on Wednesday and Thursday, German authorities listed large numbers of people as missing — something apparently

People walk through a damaged street after flooding in Chenee, Province of Liege, Belgium, Friday. (AP/PTI)

caused in large part by confusion, multiple reporting and communications difficulties in the affected areas, some of which lacked electricity and telephone service.

By Saturday, authorities still feared finding more people dead, but said numbers unaccounted for had dropped constantly, without offering specific figures.

In Belgium, 103 people were listed as missing Saturday, but the crisis center said lost or uncharged cellphones and people taken to hospitals without identification

who hadn’t had an opportunity to contact relatives were believed to be factors in the tally. Meanwhile, the receding floodwaters eased access across much of the affected regions and revealed the extent of the damage.

“A lot of people have lost everything they spent their lives building up — their possessions, their home, the roof over their heads,” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting rescue workers and others in the town of Erftstadt.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born on : 18/07/1933 Died on : 10/07/2021 We, the family members of Lt. Yongdangnaro (W/o Lt. Tenjusangba) Khar would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the well wishers during the prolonged illness till the time of her departure to the eternal abode. We regret our inability to thank each and everyone individually.

May the good Lord bless you all abundantly.

Loving family members & relatives dp-3306

LATE PURHIYI DEMO (Retd. Joint Director Sericulture) 11/02/1956 – 02/07/2021 You shall forever be engraved in our hearts, until that day arrives where we shall no longer part.

With utmost sincerity we would like to thank each and every individual who supported and stood by us as we celebrated the life of our beloved father.Your prayers, concern and sympathy has been a great source of comfort for our family.

We are unable to mention each one of you for all that you have done and contributed, but the Lord knows your deeds and we believe he will bless each of you abundantly.

May the Lord be our guide and strength during this hard time.

“My heart and my flesh shall fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”

Psalms 73:26

K-1214

Wife, children and family members

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Acknowledgement

Border crossing between Pak and Afghan reopens after Taliban seizure

K Y M C

Late Mr Kodokha Koza 01/04/1968 to 17/06/2021 “If we live we are living for the Lord. And if we die we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.”

Romans 14:8

People walk towards the border crossing in the Pakistani town of Chaman.

next week.

Pakistani Noor Ali, who had been visiting Kabul, said it took him two attempts to reach Spin Boldak in recent days because of fighting in Kandahar province, on the border.

“I was scared, but the Taliban did not create any problems, they checked my documents and allowed me to go through,” he told AFP after arriving in the nearby city of Quetta.

The Taliban’s seizure of the border town follows weeks of intensifying clashes across Afghanistan, with

the insurgents capitalising on the last stages of the US troop withdrawal to launch a series of lightning offensives, overrunning districts at a staggering rate.

The group have also taken other vital border crossings with neighbouring countries in the north and west.

An Afghan returning to work in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar said he passed government soldiers and Taliban fighters on his journey through Kandahar province to the Spin Boldak crossing.

With profound gratefulness, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have sympathised and supported us physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially during the prolonged illness and demise of Late Mr Kodokha Koza (Chakhesang). Through your prayers and support we were able to find strength in these testing times and have reinvigorated our faith in God and humanity.

As an extension of our expression of gratitude, we would like to specially thank the following: 1. Chakhesang Baptist Church, Diphupar B and all concerned Departments 2. CBC Diphupar ‘B’ Prayer Warriors 3. Chakhesang Community Diphupar ‘B’ 4. Chakhesang Youth Organisation Diphupar ‘B’ 5. Sangtam Baptist Fellowship Diphupar ‘B’ 6. CLEF Note Music Academy Diphupar ‘B’ 7. Doctors, Nurses and Staff of CIHSR, Dimapur 8. Thasomi Welfare Society, Kohima 9. Staff and Personnel of Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Nagaland: Kohima 10. Officer in Charge and Staff of Fire Station, Chumukedima, Dimapur 11. Dr. Zekolo Koza 12. Dr. Nepuni Athikho 13. Dr. Adielo Swuro 14. Mr. Vephupra Keyho 15. Mr. Thitu Zuo As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude. May our Almighty God bless each of you abundantly.

dp-3307

KABUL, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): A key crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan partially reopened on Saturday, days after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country.

Pakistan shut off the border when the militants captured Spin Boldak from Afghan government forces on Wednesday, leaving thousands of people stranded on either side and trade at a standstill.

A Pakistani border official, who did not want to be named, told AFP that people were being allowed to enter Pakistan in small groups, while hundreds were heading into Afghanistan. An AFP journalist witnessed people crossing in both directions.

“We have decided to let them cross over to Pakistan... after checking their travel documents, enabling them to join their families on Eid (al-Adha),” the border official said, referring to the Muslim holiday which will be celebrated

Loving Wife, Son, Daughters, Grand Children, Relatives and In-laws

17/04/2013- 08/07/2021 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Revelation 21:4 Our little angel Alivia kept us happy and cheerful for a short span of time. There was never a dull moment in our company and we could not help but smile in joyfulness.

We the bereaved family of Lt. baby Alivia Sumi express our heartfelt gratitude to all our friends, well wishers, family and relatives for the love , support and kindness shown to us during her brief illness and demise.

We convey our deepest gratitude to: 1) Honourable Chief Minister, Nephieu Rio. 2) Rev. Joshua , Christian Academy International.

3) Aram Chihui & family.

4) Vikato Shikhu, CBCNEI. 5) Doctors and nurses of Naga Hospital , Kohima.

6) Doctors and nurses of BBCI, Guwahati.

7) City Health Hospital, Guwahati.

8) Checkiye Village Baptist Church.

9) Sumi Baptist Church, Kohima.

10) Sumi Aphuyemi Baptist Church Kuqhakulu.

11) Sumi Students Union Kohima.

12) Naga Students Union Guwahati.

Immense gratitude to all the blood donors, NGO's, Associations, Groups and individuals from Dimapur, Kohima and Guwahati.

Loving Mom and Family Members dp-3319 K Y M C

INFOTAINMENT

10

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

Scientists look to repair hearts Lakes of liquid water at Mars’ southern ice cap may just be mirages using deadly spider venom M A which combine to send a message for heart cells to die,” Dr. Palpant said in a statement published by the University of Queensland, adding that the scientists have not been able to develop a drug that stops the death signal despite decades of research. The team has successfully tested a protein from spider venom, called Hi1a, on beating human heart cells exposed to heart attack stresses to see if the drug improved their survival. According to the study, the protein blocks acidsensing ion channels in the heart, reducing cell deaths and improving the survival of heart cells. “This will not

only help the hundreds of thousands of people who have a heart attack every year around the world, it could also increase the number and quality of donor hearts, which will give hope to those waiting on the transplant list,” Macdonald said.

The University of Queensland said that the discovery builds on earlier work by King who identified a small protein in the deadly spider that was shown to improve recovery from stroke.

It further stated that the research team was aiming for human clinical trials “for both stroke and heart disease within two to three years.” (Hindustan Times)

Sharon Stone sells first-edition ‘The Great Gatsby’ signed by Leonardo DiCaprio for $200,000

A

round midnight on Friday night in France, after a dazzling fashion show on the lawn of a mansion in Antibes, the actor-turned-emcee was auctioning off 32 one-of-a-kind gowns by designers such as Versace, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy and Balenciaga at the amfAR Cannes gala.

Joined onstage by the 32 models who’d walked a makeshift runway — which was so slippery, two of them had tripped — Stone was ready to pocket a big check for the non-profit devoted to fighting HIV/AIDS.

But the money didn’t flow as freely as the bottles of champagne that amfAR waiters poured over a five-hour dinner for a crowd of about 400 European high rollers, business titans and oligarchs. “Do I have a bid for $200,000!” Stone said. “Let’s go.” After not a single hand went up immediately, Stone looked out into the crowd with exasperation.

In the end, the 32 gowns curated by Carine Roitfeld sold for $265,000. In glitzier years, the fashion show has brought in more than $1 million from generous donors.

tain subglacial conditions (SN: 2/19/19). Below the ice, temperatures average –68° Celsius, far past the freezing point of water, even if the lakes are a brine containing a healthy amount of salt, which lowers water’s freezing point.

An underground magma pool would be needed to keep the area liquid — an unlikely scenario given Mars’ lack of present-day volcanism.

“If it’s not liquid water, is there something else that could explain the bright radar reflections we’re seeing?” asks planetary scientist Carver Bierson of Arizona State University in Tempe.

In a study published in the July 16 Geophysical Research Letters, Bierson and colleagues describe a couple other substances that could explain the reflections. Radar’s reflectivity depends on the electrical conductivity of the material the radar signal moves through. Liquid water has a fairly distinctive radar signature, but examining the electrical properties of both clay

minerals and frozen brine revealed those materials could mimic this signal.

Adding weight to the non-lake explanation is a study from an independent team, published in the same issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The initial 2018 watery findings were based on MARSIS data focused on a small section of the southern ice cap, but the instrument has now built up three-dimensional maps of the entire south pole, where hundreds to thousands of additional bright spots appear.

“We find them literally all over the region,” says planetary scientist Aditya Khuller, also of Arizona State University.

“These signatures aren’t

Netflix wants to add gaming service in App

N

etflix is always trying to stay ahead of its streaming competitors and their recent announcement proves the company is set on standing out. After rolling out Downloads For You (downloadable movies and tv shows based on your watch history), Fast Laughs (the TikTok-esque feature that gives viewers clips of comedy content on the go), and Smart

Downloads, which deletes episodes you’ve already watched to free up space on your device, the streaming giant announced plans on Wednesday to add gaming to the platform.

Making the decision to add gaming opportunities makes sense especially after researchers noticed a spike in gaming activity during the pandemic. Still, the decision doesn’t come

without hurdles. According to CNN, several other media companies have attempted to add gaming to their roster in the past (Google’s Stadia and Amazon’s Crucible) but have ultimately failed, so the pressure for Netflix to succeed is significant. Netflix also doesn’t plan on charging subscribers for the added feature, so that means all of the family members logged into your account will have easy

Greenland scraps plans for oil and gas exploration

on the region’s marine life, including Beluga whales, walruses and narwhals.

The European countries have pledged to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.

Burning fossil fuels releases damaging carbon di-

oxide into the atmosphere, a key driver of the climate crisis.

The Independent’s Stop Fuelling The Climate Crisis campaign is highlighting how change can be achieved in the run-up

Anthony Bourdain’s AI-Faked voice in new documentary sparks backlash

D

ocumentary filmmaker Morgan Neville paints a raw and personal image of Anthony Bourdain in his new documentary, “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” which opens in theaters on Friday.

In the documentary, editors Eileen Meyer and Aaron Wickenden weave in narration by Bourdain pulled from audio clips, show outtakes, video interviews and audiobooks.

However, when asked how he obtained some quotes from Bourdain in a new article in the New Yorker, Neville tells writer Helen Rosner that he used artificial intelligence to create three quotes with Bourdain’s voice. “I created an AI modK Y M C

el of his voice,” Neville says.

He goes on to say, “If you watch the film, other than that line you mentioned, you probably don’t know what the other lines are that were spoken by the AI, and you’re not going to know.”

Representatives for the documentary note that the AI voice technology was used for less than 60 seconds. Film critics and documentary filmmakers took to Twitter in response to the article, expressing their discomfort with the artificially generated voice, which Neville characterized as a “modern storytelling technique.”

After the backlash broke out on Twitter, Neville responded to Variety, saying, “There were a few

sentences that Tony wrote that he never spoke aloud.

With the blessing of his estate and literary agent we used AI technology. It was a modern storytelling technique that I used in a few places where I thought it was important to make Tony’s words come alive.”

Speaking to GQ magazine, Neville explained the process to Brett Martin. He said, “We fed more than ten hours of Tony’s voice into an AI model. The bigger the quantity, the better the result. We worked with four companies before settling on the best. We also had to figure out the best tone of Tony’s voice: His speaking voice versus his “narrator” voice, which itself changed dramatically of over the years. The narrator voice got very performative and sing-songy in the “No Reservation” years. I checked, you know, with his widow and his literary executor, just to make sure people were cool with that. And they were like, Tony would have been cool with that. I wasn’t putting words into his mouth. I was just trying to make them come alive.”

to the global Cop26 climate talks this year.

In Greenland, rising temperatures mean that retreating ice could uncover potential oil and mineral resources which, if successfully tapped, could dramatically change the fortunes of the semi-autonomous territory of 57,000 people.

But the socialist-led government, in office since April, called the suspension of exploration “a natural step” because it “takes the climate crisis seriously”.

It added: “The future does not lie in oil. The future belongs to renewable energy and in that respect we have much more to gain.

“This step has been taken for the sake of our nature, for the sake of our

fisheries, for the sake of our tourism industry and to focus our business on sustainable potentials.”

Ministers have made climate concerns central to their legislative programme.

An official statement read: “The Greenlandic government believes that the price of oil extraction is too high. This is based upon economic calculations but considerations of the impact on climate and the environment also play a central role in the decision.”

The US Geological Sur vey estimates there could be 17.5 billion barrels of oil and 148 trillion cubic ft of natural gas off Greenland but the island’s remote location and harsh weather have limited explo-

ration. The decision cuts off potential investments that could have aided efforts to gain economic independence from Denmark.

Ten years ago, Greenland was a hot spot for miners of diamonds, iron, rare earths and other metals but extraction became uneconomic.

The Greenland Ice Sheet is the largest single source of sea-level rise and it will play “an important role in a warming climate”, according to a study published in Nature last year.

A number of other European countries have also scrapped plans for oil exploration in recent years, including Denmark itself, France, Spain and Ireland.

(Independent)

OFFICE OF THE

NAGALAND FISHERIES TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION

access. Leading the gaming charge is Mike Verdu, who previously worked as vice president at Facebook Reality Labs and as senior vice president of Electronic Arts (EA), but critics say Netflix isn’t ready to take on the new addition. It’s too early to tell whether gaming will gain a permanent place in the entertainment platform, and a date has yet to be announced for the roll out which means

no Outer Banks treasure hunt game yet.

Netflix boasts an impressive 207.64 million subscribers with Amazon Prime Video as its competitor at 200 million. The company was founded in 1997 and has steadily grown to include original movies and series as well as blockbuster movies and nostalgic TV like Love Jones, The Parkers, and Girlfriends. (Refinery 29)

OFFICE OF THE

NORTHERN ANGAMI GAZETTED OFFICERS' KROTHO - 'D' NAGALAND : KOHIMA

No. NAGOK-D/Gen-1/2021

Dated : 16. July 2021

FELICITATION

The Northern Angami Gazetted Officers' Krotho - "D" felicitates its member Mr. Kevisa Kense, Director of Fisheries, Nagaland for having been appointed by the President of India into Indian Administrative Service (IAS) on 13th July, 2021.

The NAGOK-"D" thank the Almighty God and the Government of India for uplifting one of its members to the most prestigious Civil Service in the country to serve the people. The Krotho also thank the State Government for putting its trust on its member and forwarding his name to the Central Government for final selection and appointment.

The Krotho wishes Mr. Kevisa Kense (IAS) health and wisdom to carry out the higher responsibilities now bestowed upon him by the Government of India and encourages him to tirelessly serve for upliftment of the people of the State.

(Er. Duoneiu Pielie) General Secretary

(Ketoulhou Metha) President

H.Q. KOHIMA : NAGALAND Regd. No. R.S. 704 Dated 30-04-84

FELICITATION

The Nagaland Fisheries Technical Association (NFTA) would like to express its heartiest congratulations to Shri. Kevisa Kense, Director of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Government of Nagaland for being inducted into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from Non-State Civil Service of Nagaland.

The Association takes great pride in him for becoming the first Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc) Graduate in India to have achieved this feat and wishes him all success in his future endeavours. The Association further wishes to place on record its sincere gratitude to Shri. Kevisa Kense for his persistent concern towards the welfare of its members and displaying exemplary leadership skills in his many years of association with NFTA. (KHRIEZHATO NAKHRO) General Secretary, NFTA

(Dr. VIMEZO KIRE) President, NFTA

K-1213

G

reenland has dropped all its plans for oil and gas exploration because of the climate emergency, saying the price of extraction was too high.

Environmental group Greenpeace hailed the decision as “fantastic”, saying there was “no time to lose”.

But it comes just as the governments of France, Germany and Italy are poised to decide whether to back a massive gas project in the Russian Arctic.

The project is forecast to produce 19.8 million tonnes a year of liquid natural gas, prompting environmentalists’ concerns not just over the fossil fuel extraction but also over the effect of extra shipping

unique. We see them in places where we expect it to be really cold.”

Creating plausible scenarios to maintain liquid water in all of these locations would be a tough exercise. Both Khuller and Bierson think it is far more likely that MARSIS is pointing to some kind of widespread geophysical process that created minerals or frozen brines.

While previous work had already raised doubts about the lake interpretation, these additional data points might represent the pools’ death knell. “Putting these two papers together with the other existing literature, I would say this puts us at 85 percent confidence that this is not a lake,” says

Edgard Rivera-Valentín, a planetary scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston who was not involved in either study.

The lakes, if they do exist, would likely be extremely cold and contain as much as 50 percent salt — conditions in which no known organisms on Earth can survive. Given that, the pools wouldn’t make particularly strong astrobiological targets anyway, Rivera-Valentín says. (SN: 5/11/20).

Lab work exploring how substances react to conditions at Mars’ southern polar ice cap could help further constrain what generates the bright radar spots, Bierson says.

I n t h e m e a n t i m e, Khuller already has his eye on other areas of potential habitability on the Red Planet, such as warmer midlatitude regions where satellites have seen evidence of ice melting in the sun. “I think there are places where liquid water could be on Mars today,” he says. “But I don’t think it’s at the south pole.”

(Science News)

K-1217

group of Australian scientists are looking to halt the harmful effects of heart attack by using the venom of one of the world’s deadliest spiders. The researchers have developed a drug candidate from a molecule found in the venom of the Fraser Island funnel-web spider to stop the “death signal” sent by the heart that leads to cardiac arrest.

The development of experimental medicine, which has only been tested in the lab so far, has been led by Dr Nathan Palpant and Professor Glenn King from The University of Queensland and Professor Peter Macdonald from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Explaining the ‘death signal’, Dr Palpant said that the heart attack causes a reduction in blood flow to the heart which subsequently results in a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. “The lack of oxygen causes the cell environment to become acidic,

aybe hold off on that Martian ice fishing trip.

Two new studies splash cold water on the idea that potentially habitable lakes of liquid water exist deep under the Red Planet’s southern polar ice cap.

The possibility of a lake roughly 20 kilometers across was first raised in 2018, when the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft probed the planet’s southern polar cap with its Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding, or MARSIS, instrument. The orbiter detected bright spots on radar measurements, hinting at a large body of liquid water beneath 1.5 kilometers of solid ice that could be an abode to living organisms (SN: 7/25/18).

Subsequent work found hints of additional pools surrounding the main lake basin (SN: 9/28/20).

But the planetary science community has always held some skepticism over the lakes’ existence, which would require some kind of continuous geothermal heating to main-

davp 10120/11/0002/2122

K Y M C

Jamaica, Costa Rica rally to win Group C games in Gold Cup

LOS ANGELES, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Junior Flemmings notched the winning goal as Jamaica came from behind to beat Guadeloupe 2-1 on Friday in Group C of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Guadeloupe took the lead after just four minutes at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, when Dimitri Ramothe’s blast deflected off Jamaica defender Amari’i Bell and snuck past goalkeeper Andre Blake at the near post for an own goal.

The Reggae Boyz would find their leveller within 10 minutes, however, when Philadelphia Union striker Cory Burke hit a perfectly placed shot from the top of the area that handcuffed Guadeloupe goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien.

Flemmings snapped the deadlock in the 87th

Bengaluru FC sign Ibara Doniama

Ibara Doniama

Jamaica’s players celebrate after scoring against Guadeloupe.

minute, making a brilliant individual effort by outsmarting several defenders and firing a shot through Thuram-Ulien’s legs.

The group’s other game also ended in a comeback 2-1 win, in this case for Costa Rica over Suri-

11

SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

name.

Gleofilo Vlijter opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with Suriname’s first ever Gold Cup goal.

But Costa Rica stormed back, scoring two goals in two minutes to

take the lead.

In the 58th minute, Joel Campbell equalized with a powerful header and, just a minute later, captain Celso Borges netted after Suriname goalkeeper Warner Hahn lost control of the ball.

BENGALURU, JUL 17 (IANS): Indian Super League (ISL) side Bengaluru FC have bolstered their attack ahead of the upcoming AFC Cup Playoff Stage with the signing of Congolese striker Prince Vinny Ibara Doniama, the club has announced.

The 25-year-old, who recently represented Ligue 2 side Chateauroux on loan from Belgian First Division A side Beerschot, joins on a two-year deal with an optional one-year extension.

Ibara, who began his career at ACNFF in Congo, had stints with clubs in Gabon and Tunisia before joining Qatar Stars League side Al-Wakrah in 2017.

Shakib takes five, Das slams century as B’desh crush Zimbabwe

HARARE, JUL 17 (IANS): All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan took five wickets to become Bangladesh’s top wicket-taker in ODI history as they defeated Zimbabwe by 155 runs in the opening tie of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club here. The all-rounder now has 274 wickets at 29.44, five more than second-placed Mashrafe Mortaza (269 at 32.65).

Liton Das set up the win for Bangladesh on Friday night through a 114-ball 102 before Shakib sealed it with a five-wicket haul.

Thanks to Das’s workman-like century, built with the help of eight boundaries and no sixes, Bangladesh scored 276/9 in 50 overs and then dismissed the hosts for 121 in 28.5 overs. With this win, Bangladesh consolidated their second spot on the ICC World Cup Super League standings and now are on 60 points.

Blessing Muzarabani (2/47) helped Zimbabwe make ear-

Liton Das set up the win for Bangladesh on Friday night

ly inroads as he dismissed Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal for a duck. The home side kept chipping away at Bangladesh’s batting lineup, who were in a spot of bother at 74/4 before Das and Mahmudullah came together to bail the visitors out.

The two put on a 93run stand for the fifth wicket before Luke Jongwe (3/51) sent Mahmudullah (33) back. Das brought up his fourth ODI hundred and his third against Zimbabwe in the 40th over. Just when it looked like he would bat till the end, Ngarava got the

wicket of the Bangladesh opener. Afif Hossein (45) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 58-run stand helped propel Bangladesh to 276/9 in 50 overs. Zimbabwe faltered early in their chase as they lost both their openers within the first five overs with Taskin Ahmed (1/22) and Mohammad Saifuddin (1/23) picking up a wicket each. Brendan Taylor and Regis Chakabva tried to provide some solidity to the innings but once the skipper was dismissed by Shakib (5/30) for 24, the rest of the lineup folded quickly.

Indian boxing team trains in German player alleges racial abuse during Olympic friendly Italy before flying out to Tokyo

Indian boxers on the last day of their training in Italy ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. (PTI)

Italy for their last day of training as they leave for Tokyo Saturday night.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed that Mary Kom and men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh would be the flagbearers for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics.

(R) Jordan Torunarigha was allegedly the target for racist abuse

stating on Twitter: “Regarding this matter, the Honduras Football Federation states that the situation was a misunderstanding on the

pitch.”

Torunarigha, 23, has not made any statement on the incident, but his coach, Stefan Kuntz did.

“When one of our players is racially abused, playing on is not an option,” Kuntz said.

Incidents of racial abuse both on and off the pitch have been a staple in the international soccer world, especially in the past few months.

Following the UEFA Euro 2021 Final on July 11, three Black players faced abusive online behavior from England fans after missing penalty kicks in a shootout that determined the game. Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford missed their shots as England tried to take home its first international trophy since 1996.

Four people were arrested on July 15 for online abuse targeted at the players.

In June, U.S. Men’s National Team defender Mark McKenzie said he was also a victim of online racial attacks following the team’s win over Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League Final.

McKenzie gave away a ball early in the night that led to Mexico’s first goal and later had a handball in the box.

“Supporters or non supporters, fans or not ... it’s about having respect for your fellow brothers and sisters from various corners of the earth because our diversity is what makes us so powerful,” McKenzie wrote on Twitter.

k-1212b

k-1212a

NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): The dauntless Indian Boxing Team have trained for the last time in Italy before flying to Tokyo. In what will be her last Olympics, the 38-year-old Mary Kom was seen with Ashish Kumar Chaudhary, Vikas Krishan, and Manish Kaushik in

“I am ver y happy about being given this opportunity to be the flagbearer. I want to thank each and everyone, SAI, IOA, Sports Ministry, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is not easy for everyone to be given this opportunity,” Mary Kom had told ANI. The men’s boxing side comprises number one and Asian Games champion Panghal (52kg), Manish Kaushik (63kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg), and Satish Kumar (+91kg).

The women’s squad i n c l u d e d M a r y Ko m (51kg), Simranjit Kaur (60kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), and Pooja Rani (75kg).

TOKYO, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Germany’s Jordan Torunarigha and his teammates exited the field Saturday during a game against Honduras after Torunahiga was allegedly racially abused.

The two countries were playing a closed-doors Olympic warm-up game in Wakayama, Japan. As a result of the abuse, the game – which was played in three 30 minute segments – ended five minutes early, Germany’s team Twitter account confirmed. The score was 1-1.

The Honduras Football Federation denies that any racially charged comments were made intentionally,

K Y M C

K Y M C

12

SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021

Evin Lewis powers WI past Aus in final of T20 series

SAINT LUCIA, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Opening batsman Evin Lewis was at his rampaging best with an innings of 79 in setting the West Indies on their way to a 16-run victory over Australia in the final T20 International of their five-match series at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Friday.

Lewis’ punishing innings off just 34 balls, highlighted by nine sixes and four fours, lifted the home team to 199 for eight and earned him the “Man of the Match” as the Caribbean team also took the series by a convincing 4-1 margin.

Pacers Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Russell then claimed three wickets apiece while none of the tourists´ top-order batsmen were able to sustain the effort deep into the innings and they were restricted to 183 for nine in reply despite being well on course halfway through the chase.

West Indies beat Australia in the fifth and final T20I to take five match series 4-1.

Mitchell Marsh, who posted three half-centuries in his previous four innings in the series and was by a long way the visitors´ outstanding performer, looked set for another substantial contribution but fell for 30 off 15 balls to a sharp

caught-and-bowled dismissal off the first delivery bowled by Russell in the match.

Despite being hampered by what appeared to be an ankle injury, Australian captain Aaron Finch sought to keep his team in

the hunt. However when he fell for what proved a top score of 34 to Hayden Walsh via an outstanding catch by Fabian Allen at long-on in the tenth over, the innings gradually ran out of steam.

“He changed the game

for us with that catch,” was stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran´s assessment of that superb bit of work by the versatile Allen. “This is a wonderful achievement for the team. I am especially happy for Hayden Walsh. He works so hard on his game and we know that leg-spinners can often be champions in T20 cricket.”

Walsh, the Antiguan leg-spinner, was named “Man of the Series” for his haul of 12 wickets across the five matches, one short of the T20I series record of New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi, also against Australia, earlier this year.

While he went wicketless, veteran player Chris Gayle made an invaluable contribution with the ball in conceding only nine runs through three overs of spin to frustrate the best efforts of the Aussie middleorder to stay in the hunt for the challenging target.

“I thought we did ex-

tremely well in the second half of their innings to limit them below 200, given the start they had gotten,” said Finch of his team´s effort in the field. “Unfortunately we just haven´t backed it up with the bat.

There are some guys here with not a huge amount of international experience so it can be tough for them, but I don´t want to be too critical of them.”

Buoyed by this performance, which in some ways made amends for the preceding 3-2 series loss to South Africa in Grenada, West Indies can now look forward to another five-match series against Pakistan in the continuing countdown to their defence of the World T20 title in the United Arab Emirates in October-November.

Before the Pakistan duel though the West Indies and Australia meet in three One-Day Internationals in Barbados starting next Tuesday.

UEFA announces CL final venues till 2025

N YO N ( S W I T Z E R LAND), JUL 17 (IANS): Europe’s football governing body UEFA has confirmed the list of host cities for the Champions League finals for the next four seasons till 2025.

Due to the shake-up in final venues caused by the pandemic, a new schedule was announced by the UEFA on its Twitter handle.

Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg, Russia will host the final in 2022.

The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, which lost the 2021 final hosting to Porto will now be the hosts for the final in 2023. The 2021 final, played between

Chelsea and Manchester City, was eventually moved to Porto because of the UK government’s travel restrictions to Turkey. The 2020 final too was moved from Istanbul to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, due to the pandemic. The Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, originally scheduled to be the venue for the 2023 final, will now host the 2025 final.

London’s Wembley Stadium retains the hosting rights for the 2024 final.

“The European Club Season Kick-Off event, which includes the draws for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League will take place in Istanbul at the end of August both for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons,” said UEFA in a press release. The release also said that the cities of Dublin and Bilbao will be compensated for withdrawal from hosting rights of Euro 2020.

Filip Krajinovic stuns French Open First resident of Olympic Village tests positive for COVID finalist Tsitsipas in Hamburg Open

H A M BU RG, J U L 1 7 (IANS): Serbian Filip Krajinovic, ranked 44th in the world, shocked top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 at the Hamburg European Open to reach the semifinals and claim a third top-10 win of his career.

The sixth seed fought back after losing the first five games on Friday evening, claiming nine of the next 11 to advance in two hours and one minute. He won 76 per cent of his first-service points against the world No. 4 Tsitispas, using the drop shot to great effect to reach his first last4 of the season. Krajinovic will next face countryman Laslo Djere after the Serbian eased past third-seeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-2. Second seed Pablo Carreno Busta of

Filip Krajinovic

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Spain also marched into the last-4 as he defeated Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 7-6(4), 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes.

He will next play Federico Delbonis of Argentina after the world No. 48 defeated eighth seed Benoit Paire of France 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-4.

“He started really well, really aggressively,” Krajinovic said of Tsitsipas, the French Open finalist this year. “I could not find my game, could not find my

serve, he was overpowering me. But at the end of the first set, I started to feel better I was going for my shots.

It paid off in the end. I am happy to beat Tsitsipas, he is an amazing player.

“I always play well here, and I hope I keep playing well here. [Laslo] Djere is an amazing player, so it is going to be a tight match next. It is going to be an interesting [match] tomorrow.”

TOKYO, JUL 17 (AP): The first resident of the Olympic Village has tested positive for COVID-19, Tokyo Olympic organizers said on Saturday.

Officials said it was not an athlete with the the Games opening in just under a week on July 23.

Tokyo officials including Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the organizing committee, confirmed the case and said the positive test was Friday. Organizers say for confidentiality purposes they can only offer a vague description and few details.

“In the current situation, that positive cases arise is something we must assume is possible,” said Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo organizing committee.

The person is identified simply as a “gamesconcerned personnel.” The

The Olympic rings are on display throughout Tokyo.

The Games begin July 23.

person is also listed as a non-resident of Japan. Tokyo officials said the person was placed in a 14-day quarantine.

The Olympic Village on Tokyo Bay will house about 11,000 athletes during the Olympics and thousands of other staff. IOC President Thomas Bach said this week there was “zero” risk of ath-

letes in the village passing on the virus to Japanese or other resident of the village.

Organizers say since July 1 and as of Saturday, 45 people under their “jurisdiction” have tested positive.

Only one involves a person in the village and most are identified as “contractors” for Tokyo 2020 and “gamesconcerned personnel.” The

list includes one athlete — who tested positive on July 14 — and three members of the media. Of the 45, only 12 are listed as “nonresident of Japan.”

Organizers say that athletes and staff who have been away from Tokyo at training camps are excluded from this list and their accounting. Tokyo officials said they could not give an estimate of the number of people in the village as of Saturday.

New COVID-19 cases on Saturday were reported at 1,410. They were 950 one week ago, and it marks the 28th straight day that cases were higher than a week previous. It was the highest single day since 1,485 on Jan. 21. IOC President Thomas Bach, as he has done all week in Tokyo, again asked the Japanese to support the Olympics. Opinion polls, depending how the question

is asked, show 50-80% want the Olympics postponed again or canceled.

“We are ver y well aware of the skepticism, obviously that a number of people have here in Japan,” Bach said Saturday in his first large briefing of the Olympics at the main press center in Tokyo. “My appeal to the Japanese people is to welcome these athletes.”

Bach was asked the question about the absence of support at least twice, both times by Japanese reporters. “Even in Japan there was never 100% support for the Olympic Games or any other event. This is part of democracy,” he said.

“You will always have different opinions and, that such a discussion is becoming more heated and more emotional in the situation of a pandemic, is something we have to understand. Many people feel under stress.”

Giroud joins Milan from Chelsea Led by Kohli, Indian team undergoes net session in Durham Transfer news: Ben White to Giroud contributed 39 D U R H A M , J U L 1 7 explosive wicketkeepergoals in 119 appearances, (PTI): From captain Virat batsman Rishabh Pant Arsenal; Varane to Man United

Olivier Giroud

ROME, JULY 17 (IANS): Olivier Giroud has completed his move from Chelsea to AC Milan, the Italian Serie A giants confirmed on Saturday. The French hitman will wear NO. 9 jersey next season,it said.

H av i n g s p e n t h i s youth career with Grenoble, Giroud made his transfer to Arsenal in the summer of 2012, before a move to Chelsea in January 2018.

At Stamford Bridge,

winning one Champions League, one Europa League and one FA Cup, reports Xinhua.

In the national side, Giroud made his debut with the France senior squad in November 2011, scoring 46 goals in 110 appearances and winning the World Cup in 2018.

The Rossoneri has been linked with the 34-year-old, and the striker is likely to play second fiddle to talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic. According to the Italian media, the transfer just cost Milan one million euros plus performancerelated bonuses.

Milan finished second in Serie A last season, earning a Champions League spot for the next season.

Kohli to swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma, the top guns of the Indian team underwent an extensive net session at the Durham County Cricket Club here on Saturday, preparing in earnest for the marquee Test series against England.

Besides Kohli and his limited overs deputy Rohit, one-down batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul also hit the nets, as they trained to tackle a challenge that is expected to test their skills against the moving ball when they stand up to the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer.

The BCCI also shared snapshots of the team’s bowlers with pacers Ishant Sharma, Moham-

Team India during net session at the Durham County Cricket Club on Saturday.

med Shami, Mohammed Siraj and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin seen training hard ahead of their warm-up game. The five-match Test series starts on August 4. Before that, the Kohli-led Indian side is scheduled play a practice match against Combined Counties from July 20.

India, who straightaway jumped into the World Test Championship (WTC) final without having any match practice last month, were beaten by a well-prepared New Zealand side that had already played a two-match Test series against the hosts England. Earlier this week,

and the team’s throwdown specialist Dayanand Garani tested positive for COVID-19. Garani’s positive report came on Thursday and other members of the India squad and the coaching staff, who were in contact with him, were isolated after that.

Bowling coach Bharath Ar un, reser ve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and India’s standby opener Abhimanyu Easwaran are the three members of the Indian contingent in UK who have been isolated.

All three have tested negative for the virus, but have to follow the UK Government’s Health Safety Protocol and stay in isolation.

Aus stuns US women 70-67 in pre-Olympic exhibition

LAS VEGAS, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Breanna Stewart and her U.S. Olympic teammates aren’t panicking, even though they’ve lost consecutive games for the first time in a decade.

Two days after losing to a team of WNBA AllStars, the Americans fell to Australia 70-67 on Friday in a pre-Olympic exhibition game.

“There’s a standard and the standard is winning and we haven’t gotten to that point yet,” said Stewart, who scored 17 points for the U.S. “It’s frustrating, it’s part of the game and part of the process. When we get to Tokyo and get to the Olympics that’s when it’s really, really crunch time. We’re continu-

Americans fell to Australia 70-67 in a pre-Olympic exhibition game on Friday.

ing to elevate and get better every day. We’ll get to where we want to be.”

The U.S. str uggled from the outside, missing 16 of its 18 3-point attempts.

The Americans, who got together as a team for the first time earlier this week, also had 18 turnovers.

“In the third quarter we turned the ball over and

gave Australia too many easy baskets,” U.S. coach Dawn Staley said. “We were able to defend when we’re in front of them. When we turned the ball over, we weren’t able to get back.”

It was the first time the U.S. has lost back-to-back games since 2011 in Spain.

The Americans had gone 29-2 since then in exhibition

games. Ezi Magbegor, Stewart’s Seattle Storm teammate, scored 17 points to lead Australia.

Stewart’s three-point play tied the game at 66 with 2:59 left before Magbegor scored and Marianna Tolo made a reverse layup with 2 minutes remaining to give Australia a 70-66 advantage.

The U.S. missed seven straight shots before Brittney Griner was fouled with 17 seconds left. She made one of two free throws.

After a timeout, the U.S. committed four consecutive fouls to try and get Australia to the foul line.

After the fourth foul, Australia turned the ball over with 10.9 seconds left, but Stewart’s 3-pointer before

the buzzer was off the mark.

The loss comes on the heels of the U.S. men dropping exhibitions against Nigeria and Australia this week.

The Opals’ victor y came hours after star center Liz Cambage withdrew from the team, citing mental and physical health concerns. She had been worried about the experience at the Tokyo Games, with players isolated in a bubble-like environment. Cambage posted a statement on social media late Thursday night saying the prospect of having no friends, no family, no fans and no support system outside the women’s basketball squad was “honestly terrifying.”

“It hasn’t been easy definitely,” said Australia coach Sandy Brondello, who had never beaten the U.S. as a coach or player. “It shows the character of this team. I wasn’t sure what the game would look like today.” Brondello said the team supports Cambage’s decision.

“Mental health is a real issue. For now she’s not going to be with us, we’re focused on the future and not the past,” Brondello said.

Even without Cambage, the Australians put forth a stellar effort. The Opals were down 13 at the half before rallying against the No. 1 team in the world that has a 49-game winning streak in the Olympics.

Ben White

Raphael Varane

LO N D O N, J U L 1 7 (AGENCIES): In the latest transfer news, Ben White to Arsenal and Raphael Varane to Manchester United are the main focus. Two center backs at very different stages in their careers, both costing a lot of money, will definitely boost these Premier League giants.

For White, a move to Arsenal will cap an incredible rise in recent years after playing in the lower leagues while on loan from Brighton and then being a part of the England squad this summer. As for Varane, the French superstar has basically won it all at Real Madrid and the World Cup winner would add class and experience at United alongside Harry Maguire.

Time to focus a little more on these two deals which are close to being completed. Reports say that a transfer fee has been agreed after lengthy negotiations, plus White’s personal terms are also set and he will sign for the Gunners when he returns from his summer vacation in less than 10 days. Per the report, the transfer fee is set to be $68.8 million, which is a huge fee for a player who has just one Premier League season under his

belt. Ben White will reportedly sign a five-year deal to become an Arsenal player.

Another deal which has been rumbling on is Raphael Varane to Manchester United and there seems to have been a breakthrough.

Sky Sports again have the details, as United and Varane have reportedly agreed on personal terms as the Frenchman has just one season left on his current contract at Real Madrid.

More details from Sky: “Once a final agreement is reached, it is hoped United will be able to quickly negotiate a fee with Real and add the France international to their squad.

United, however, remain cautious but hopeful a deal can be struck before the end of the summer transfer window.”

Varane, 28, wants the move to happen and the only stumbling block now is how much Real will demand for the classy center back.

Silly mistakes cost United dear last season and that has led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replacing David de Gea with Dean Henderson as his number one goalkeeper, plus Varane is likely to replace Victor Lindelof.

Printed, Published and Edited by Geoffrey Yaden at G.M. Printers, Circular Rd. Dimapur-797112. Ph: Desk 248489, Fax: 225366, e-mail-npdesk@gmail.com. Adm.& Advertisement :248267 Fax: 248500 e-mail-npostadvt@gmail.com Kohima: 2290567, R.N. 40978/90 RN/NE 707 K Y M C

K Y M C