25 May 2023

Russia says it shot down drones in border region

19 opposition parties to boycott inauguration of new Parl building

NEW DELHI, MAY 24

(PTI): In a show of unity, 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left and TMC, on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out.

Noting that the inauguration of the Parliament building is a momentous occasion, the opposition parties in a joint statement said, “Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion”.

However, Prime Minis-

Govtannouncesplan forbiginauguration

New Parliament building.

ter Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response”.

Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The opposition parties said the president is not only the Head of State in India, but also an integral part of

One held for child pornography in Kma

Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it.

The opposition parties said Article 79 of the Constitution states, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.”

The Congress, TMC, DMK, JD (United), AAP, CPI-M, CPI, SP, NCP, SS (UBT), RJD, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK, RLD are the signatories of the joint statement.

NPF urges Centre, Naga groups to expedite political dialogue

NPF party leaders at Kohima on Wednesday. (NP)

Correspondent

KOHIMA, MAY 24

(NPN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) has urged the Centre, NSCN (I-M) and NNPGs to expedite the political

AKM urges H&TE deptt to reconsider attachment order

DIMAPUR, MAY 24

(NPN): Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) has appealed to the higher & technical education (H&TE) department to reconsider the attachement order of assistant professors from Mokokchung College of Teacher Education (MCTE) and Fazl Ali College (FAC) Mokokchung.

In a letter to the commissioner & secretary H&TE, AKM president Lanutoshi Aier and general secretary Satemmongba said at a time when both MCTE and FAC were understaffed, the decision to temporarily transfer seven assistant professors to New Model college, Mangkolemba and New Model College, Wakching was a disheartening

dialogue and bring about a logical conclusion. This was part of a seven-point resolution adopted at the party’s central office bearers’ (COB) meeting held at the party’s central office

here on Wednesday. The House also acknowledged the efforts put in by the rank and file of NPP in the February 23 Assembly election and also the logistic support provided by the party’s Manipur unit. It also congratulated the two party MLAs who emerged victorious, including Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and Achumbemo Kikon, and also appreciated the efforts of all other party candidates for “fighting till the last despite all odds”.

Brushing aside the reservations and boycott calls by several opposition parties against inauguration of the new Parliament building, the government is leaving no stone unturned to celebrate the occasion in a grand manner and in line with age-old traditions and rituals to be presided over by priests belonging to a 500-year-old Dharmic mutt in Tanjore.

Even as the opposition scaled up its protest, the government announced its plan for a big inauguration ceremony marked by the installation of ‘sengol’ or ceremonial sceptre symbolizing righteous governance in the new building and mass feting of workers who were engaged in its construction.

DIMAPUR, MAY 24 (NPN): Cyber Crime Police Station, PHQ arrested one person from Kohima for child pornography on May 18. In a press note, DIG (CID) informed that the accused was part of Rooms/ Groups in “Wickr app” where child pornography was shared/posted amongst the members.

DIG said the case was referred to Nagaland police by Interpol, Stockholm through CBI International Police Co-operation Unit (IPCU).

In this regard, police have reiterated that publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material in electronic form was a criminal offence.

Though Wickr app, Whatsapp etc, provides end to end encryption, police said they could gain access and detect criminal activities. Therefore, police requested all to report such matter for legal action.

HSLC, HSSLC exams 2023: Girls continue to outdo boys

DIMAPUR, MAY 24 (NPN): Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) on Wednesday declared provisional results of the HSLC and HSSLC Examinations 2023 with girls continuing to outperform boys.

HSLC recorded pass percentage of 70.32% while in the HSSLC the overall percentage in Arts stream was 82.62%, Commerce stream 85.83% and Science stream 86.79%. In the HSLC Examination 2023, out of 24361 candidates, a total of 17130 candidates qualified the examination with a qualified percentage of 70.32%.

Out of the total qualified, 9350 were girls and 7780 were boys. In the Top 20 list, there are 99 candidates out of which 33 were boys and the rest 66 were girls.

The overall pass percentage for the last five years were 2022 (64.69%), 2021 (69.42%), 2020 (70.03%), 2019 (68.29%) and 2018 (66.01%).

This year, 140 schools secured 100% qualified/ pass percentage. Out of which, 112 were private schools and 28 were government schools. This year, 24 schools have zero/nil result and all are government schools.

In terms of district wise performance for government schools, Kohima district topped the table with a percentage of 73% followed by Mokokchung and Phek districts at 70% and 63%. Shamator district is at the bottom with 6%. In respect of private schools, Noklak district is at the top with a percentage of 97% followed by Kohima at 94%.

The number of candidates who secured 80% and above in aggregate is 2716 out of which, 61 candidates are from government schools.

HSLC, HSSLC toppers share success stories

Staff Reporter/Correspondents

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA/ MOKOKCHUNG, MAY 24 (NPN): Toppers of HSLC and HSSLC examinations 2022 while attributing their success to teachers, parents and God on Wednesday, shared their success stories and future plans too.

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAY 24 (NPN): National People’s Party’s (NPP) newly-appointed national general secretary (frontal organisations) Dr Andrew Ahoto

expressed hope that the Nagaland NPP legislators would be accommodated in the Neiphiu Rio-led government and allocated good portfolios. Interacting with media persons upon his arrival from Delhi at Dimapur airport, Ahoto, said that since the coalition government was formed recently, NPP would be patient and give time to the leaders to decide which portfolio to give to its MLAs.

Paiwang urges Centre to consider MMC as regional institute

DIMAPUR, MAY 24 (NPN): State health and family welfare (H&FW) minister, P. Paiwang Konyak, has requested the health ministry to consider Mon Medical College (MMC) as regional institute under Central Government as there was no institute of national or regional importance in Nagaland.

Paiwang, who met V Hekali Zhimomi, additional secretary and director general NACO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in Delhi on May 24, 2023, and deliberated on various issues about medical college, HIV & AIDS, nursing college, and tobacco control, thanked the ministry and NMC for granting LOP for the NIMSR Kohima. He sought continuous

support of the ministry as Nagaland plans to start the first academic session from the current year 2023-24.

Paiwang also thanked the Ministry for approving the upgradation of three Nursing schools to Nursing Colleges in the District Hospital of Dimapur, Kohima, and Mokokchung. He requested the ministry to further provide more nursing colleges in the State in PPP mode.

Commissioner & secretary H&FW, Y. Kikheto Sema, who accompanied health minister, appreciated the ministry for providing all assistance in the control of HIV & AIDS. He stated that Nagaland being the second highest HIV & AIDS preva-

lent in the country, the State was taking seriously to Test, Treat, and create massive awareness campaign involving all stakeholders including NGOs and Churches.

He said that the State has taken a new initiative in coordination with the State GIS cell to use drones for timely delivery of drugs and equipment.

IN this regard, Sema requested the ministry to sanction for procurement of drones under the new innovative scheme. Sema also stated that Nagaland, being the second highest consumption of Tobacco and its related product in the Country, had recently declared “Tobacco-Free Zone” in all the government and

private hospitals and schools in the state.

Appreciating the initiatives taken by the State in recent days regarding the awareness of AIDS and HIV, Hekali Zhimomi suggested increasing the surveillance, treatment, and preventive measures, which would be supported by the Ministry.

She also appreciated the initiative taken on awareness of Tobacco and declaring the “Tobacco Free Zone”. She suggested collaborating with NGOs that were in the field to achieve its desired goal.

Zhimomi opined that there were a lot of avenues in the Nursing Sector and encouraged the State to start the three Nursing colleges at the earliest.

Health and hygiene, a far cry in Dimapur city

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAY 24

(NPN): Neglect of garbage collection and disposal in Dimapur by civic authorities is making the city look like a garbage dump.

Also street food at several places in Dimapur reveal a total lack of supervision by civic authorities on food safety.

While recooked food is detrimental to health, re-used oil for cooking can release harmful toxins, increase the percentage of trans- fats in it and can take a toll on people’s health by resulting in several harmful effects.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Christy Paul Mathew, who topped HSLC exam with 99%, credited his success to teachers, parents and God. A student of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, Mathew disclosed that he had spent two to four hours on studies every month, before gradually extending the study hours in the run-up to the exam. He said he believed that consistency, determination and hard work were the keys behind success. Besides studying, he enjoys

sketching, playing basketball, watching movies and surfing the internet. He disclosed that he planned to continue his higher studies at his native place in Kerala and wished to become an astronomer.

On the other hand, HSSLC Arts topper Mo -

anola Longchar from Town Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung who scored 97.20%, said she was overwhelmed with joy at the result and expressed her gratitude to God for bestowing her with more than she had asked for.

NPP hopeful ofMLAsbeing accommodated in govt: Ahoto

Andrew Ahoto (NP)

Christy Paul Mathew (HSLC Topper)

Zahid Ahmed Laskar (HSSLC Commerce Toper)

Moanola Longchar (HSSLC Arts Topper) Awang P Yimpushü (HSSLC Science Topper)

(Cont’d on p-10)

(Cont’d on p-10)

Ura Academy holds annual conference

Soecial song was presented by Union Baptist Church choir, Gospel singer Ato Nienu and Lidi Kro-u.

NSF congratulates UPSC, HSSLC & HSLC candidates

Correspondent

KOHIMA, MAY 24

(NPN): Three- day annual conference of Ura Academy commenced on Wednesday at Ura Academy Hall, Mission compound under the theme ‘ ‘Mother Tongue; The power of our thought’.

The program was graced by the Tenyimi People’s Organisation (TPO) president Timikha Koza.

In his speech, Koza expressed concern on the diminishing culture of honesty and truthfulness in the society, and called upon the Tenyimia community to revive and keep up the age old

tradition. The guest speaker also released Neizütso Mekrisuh Fifth book in Tenyidie Language, titled “Kedakelie Kelhou A Vie”.

Member Board of Director, Ura Academy, Deo Nukhu encouraged the people, especially the younger generation to speak in their mother-tongue at home.

The programme chaired by Daso Paphino, vice president Ura Academy began with an invocation by Rev. Tsolie Chase pastor, Baptist Church Khonoma.

The welcome address was delivered by Vitshulieü Sekhose, Board of Director member, Ura Academy.

Enforcement drive against sale of tobacco in Mon

DIMAPUR: Enforcement Squad under National Tobacco Control Programme Mon carried out enforcement drive near educational institutions at Mon Town on May 24. A DIPR report stated that at the drive huge amount of tobacco products were seized and destroyed at the dumping area. The raid was mainly to strengthen COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) 2003 in the district and to ensure that no shops sell tobacco products near educational institutions. As per Section 6(b) of COTPA 2003 selling any kind of tobacco products within 100 yards of School area was strictly prohibited. During the drive 20 defaulters was penalized under COTPA Sec(b).

On May 25, orientation programme will be held where key note address will be delivered by Kikruneinuo Liezietsu, joint secretary, Ura Academy. The resource persons will be Prof. Buno Liegise, HoD Department of Education, Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema; Dr Khotole Khieya, Assoc Professo, Department of Education, Nagaland University Kohima Campus, Meriema; Dr Metseilhouthie Mor, Asst Professor, Pfütsero Govt College, Phek and Vizonyü Liezietsu. Meanwhile, directorate of school education has directed all Modern Indian Language Tenyidie and Nagaland Heritage Studies Tenyidie Teachers to participate in the programme.

Tenyidie Kephrünuoko Krotho (TKK) conference will be held on May 26.

DIMAPUR: Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has congratulated the four Naga youths who have successfully cleared the Combined Civil Services examination 2023 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). NSF in a congratulatory message said it was elated and extended gratitude to Yimkum I Ozukum, Vevotolu Kezo, Imkongnukla Ao and W Aotula Ozukum for bringing laurels to the Naga youth and Students’ community through their success. The federation also wished them the success as they embark upon their new

journey as administrative officers. NSF also extended congratulations to all the students who have successfully cleared the HSLC & HSSLC examinations 2023 conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). For those candidates who were yet to better their efforts, NSF wished them to embrace the outcome as an opportunity to shine brighter while giving their best in the pursuit for it. The federation was confidence that with their abilities, they will emerge triumphant in their next attempt.

Patton congratulates

DIMAPUR: Deputy chief minister, Y. Patton has congratulated the students who have successfully cleared the HSLC and HSSLC examination 2023.

Patton in his message said, “Success comes after hardwork and sincerity to ones duties, and students duty is to study”. He said it was encouraging that girls have come at par with the boys when it comes to bringing out good results.

Patton also urged the students to inculcate good habits so that they become good leaders and decision makers. He also urged those students who could not make it to try harder to come out triumphantly next time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Teacher under Niuland meeting: All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association and teachers serving under Niuland district has convened a meeting on May 26 at 2 pm at Government Higher Secondary School, Niuland on the formation of ANSTA Unit, Niuland district. All teahers under Niuland district have been requested to be present at the meeting.

NSCN (R) recovers 2-wheeler: CSC (Crime Supression Cell) of Akato led NSCN (R) has recovered a motor bike Apache (Engine No CE4CK2400982, and Chassis No.MD634CE43K2CO1165).

In this regard MIP, has informed genuine

owner with appropriate and proper documents (in originals) to claim it within seven days. Further details can be contacted at 7085351770.

NSCN/ GPRN (K) Khango recovers vehicle: The crime monitor cell of the NSCN/ GPRN (K) led Khango has recovered a bajaj pulsar 150 (black and blue colour), (AS04-8655, E/No - DNZCCED23064, C/No - MD2A11CZ4ECD44919). In this connection, NSCN/ GPRN (K) Khango has informed the rightful owner to claim the bike from CMC secretary by producing original documents within seven days. Further details can be contacted at 8974696928.

Stress awareness week enters third day

KOHIMA, MAY 24 (NPN): As part of the ongoing ‘Stress Awareness Week’, organised by The Carl Rogers Institute of Mental Health and School Counselling in collaboration with National Mental Health Program, department of Health & Family Welfare, a programme was organised at Northfield Higher Secondary School, Kohima.

Resource persons of the programme were Kezhazolie Mere and Anupam Kohli.

Mere spoke to the students about who Carl Rogers was and how his therapy became widespread all over the world.

Acknowledgement

14/03/1983 – 18/05/2023

We the bereaved family of Lt. NCHUMTHUNG LOTHA of Pongidong Village, Wokha, would like to express our profound gratitude and heartfelt thanks to each and every Individual, Friends, Well-Wishers, Relatives, Assam Rifle, churches and organizations, who showered your love, sympathy, immense support and help extended to us during our time of grief. We are truly encouraged by your kindness, prayer, financial support, along with comforting words during his prolonged illness.

Though we are unable to mention each and everyone individually, it is our humble prayer that our loving Heavenly Father bless each one of you abundantly.

Beloved Wife, Brothers, Sisters and In-laws

DP-2290/23

Born : 25/09/1990 – Died : 23/05/2023

We, the family members of Late Inakali Yeptho, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to every Individual, Churches, Organisations, Friends, Relatives, Neighbours and Well-Wishers who stood by us spiritually, phyiscally, financially and materially at her sudden demise.

We will always be indebted to each and everyone and it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God bless each and everyone of you abundantly.

He pointed out the different types of stress which included acute stress, post traumatic-stress, psychosocial stress and so on. On the other hand Anupam, spoke to the teachers about how stress affects us both physically and psychologically.

The first step to maintain our mental health includes identifying and becoming aware about the sources of stress, he said. Both the resource persons mentioned that maintaining a healthy diet, journaling, physical exercise, breathing exercises, having mindful me-time are some activities that could help with controlling stress.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have Kept the faith”. 2nd Timothy 4:7

Born 01-06-1937 Died 10-05-2023

Late Vihuto Yepthomi

Retd Secretary Government of Nagaland Akukau Khukishe Village

Through this column, the bereaved family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals, friends, relatives, neighbours and well-wishers who stood by us during his brief hospitalization and at the time of his demise.

We are truly indebted and sincerely appreciate the many gestures of sympathy, love and support rendered to us in many different forms at the time of our loss and grief.

We regret our inability to mention and thank each and every individual, but it is our sincere prayer that God in His abundance bless you all.

We convey our special thanks to:

1 Doctors, Nurses & Staff (ICU) CIHSR, Dimapur

2 Sumi Hoho, Nagaland

3 Sumi Kukami Hoho

4 Aghunato Tokukujo Kukami Kuqhakulu (Nihoshe-Khumishi)

5 Kukami Union Tokiye Range

6 Eastern Sumi Students' Union (ESSU)

7 SBAK, Nito Mount

8 Nihoto Village Baptist Church

9 Sumi Baptist Church Kohima

10 Minister’s Hill Fellowship (SBCK)

11 Minister’s Hill Youth Fellowship (SBCK)

12 Sumi Community Old Minister’s Hill, Kohima

13 Kohima Sumi Officers Kuqhakulu

14 Aghunato Area Union, Kohima

15 Nagaland Pensioners Association

16 Lower Jail Colony Panchayat, Kohima

17 Lower Jail Colony Women Society, Kohima

18 South Point West Prayer Fellowship, ZBTO

19 Seven Home School, Zunheboto

20 Khukishe Village Union, Zunheboto

21 Khukishe Baptist Church

22 Khukishe Village Council

23 Khukishe Village Students' Union

24 Kulolau Khukishe Ghalimi Akighini Muqo

25 Kulolau Yepthomi Kuqhakulu

26 Kipelau Yepthomi Kuposhukulu

27 Collective Leadership All Rank & Files (NNC/GDRN-NA)

28 Mr & Mrs Kikheto Yepthomi (IAS)

29 Mr & Mrs Q. Tuccu (Nihoto)

30 Mr & Mrs K.T. Sukhalu (Advisor)

31 Mr Pukhayi Sumi (Ex-MLA)

32 Mr & Mrs Kiyezhe Aye (Ex-Minister)

33 Mrs & Dr Nihoto P Chishi

DP-2307/23

A view of the annual conference of Ura Academy. (NP)

NEXT POLL

‘International Year of Millet’ campaign kicks off

DIMAPUR: A week-long campaign to commemorate World Environment Day and International Year of Millet under the theme “Climate Resilient and Smart Agriculture” kicked off with a seminar organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tuensang on May 24.

The seminar was organised with an aim to raise awareness and educate the farming community in adopting innovative climate resilient agricultural practices to tackle climate change.

In his inaugural speech, senior scientist & head, Dr. Pijush Kanti Biswas spoke on the need to adapt to the changing climatic conditions and adopt sustainable agricultural practices. He also shed light on cultivation of high

yielding varieties of vegetable crops that thrives well under adverse climatic conditions.

At the technical session, ACTO (Agronomy), K. Samuel Sangtam spoke on climate resilient practices in cereal crops. He encouraged the farmers to conserve indigenous potential varieties of cereal, coarse cereal and vegetables varieties. ACTO (Agriculture Extension), Yanger Pongen spoke on extension services vs climate smart agriculture. He said advancement in agriculture could be achieved only if the farmers become technology smart and ready for economical change.

A lecture on “Role of IPM under adverse climatic conditions’ was delivered by ACTO (Plant Protection),

Elimination of TB in Longleng discussed

DIMAPUR: Longleng District TB Forum held a meeting on May 24 at DC conference hall, Longelng and deliberated on the Prime Minister vision to eliminate TB from India by 2025.

Delivering keynote address at the meeting, district TB officer, Longleng, Dr. Temsusashi, explained on the objective of District TB Forum besides sharing the vision of making Longleng district TB free by 2025 along with the rest of the Country.

Start-Up Nagaland: Nagabots Incubation Centre inaugurated

DNSU appeals govt to start DGC Science block

DIMAPUR, MAY 24

(NPN): The Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) has expressed concern over the state government’s failure to start the proposed Science block at Dimapur Government College, which was inaugurated on November 12, 2020.

In a press note, DNSU said that the members met Higher Education and Tourism minister Temjen Imna Along at his residential office chamber on May 9, 2023 and submitted a representation addressed to the commissioner and secretary, Higher Education.

The union also mentioned that it was a serious concern as many students who were in pursuit of studying Science stream

were compelled to seek admission outside of the State due to limited Science departments in the State colleges.

DNSU expressed gratitude to Imna Along for assuring that the Science block would be functional from the next aca-

demic session and hoped that the government and the concerned department would not delay the process.

The union also met the commissioner & secretary Higher Education and shared the same concern.

K. Michael Pienyu, where he highlighted the different components, principles and concept of IPM to the participants and urged the farmers to adopt them diligently. ACTO (Vety. and Animal Husbandry), Dr. Temjennungsang spoke on “Climate resilient practices in animal husbandry” emphazing on climate smart technologies for livestock and poultry. An audio visual presentation on climate resilient practices was also projected followed by interactive session with the farmers. Altogether, 28 farmers from Kuthur and K. Wongthu villages participated in the programme. Earlier, the programme commenced with a welcome address by programme assistant, Seveto Nyekha.

Congs’ Karnataka victory sparks hope: Toshipokba

DIMAPUR: Congress member and former MLA from Aonglenden Assembly constituency, Toshipokba said that the recent triumph of the Congress in the recently held Karnataka elections has brought a wave of optimism and change.

He noted that the victory would not only revive the spirit of the Congress party but also instil confidence in millions of Indians, including the Naga community, who aspire for progress, unity, and inclusive development.

Toshipokba said that the outcome of the Karnataka polls was a testament to Congress’ unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people and a resounding endorsement of the values of equality, justice, and secularism.

He said that the Congress has a rich legacy of leadership and experience, consistently demonstrating its commitment to the welfare of the people and the progress of the nation. “The party’s steadfast dedication to secularism ensures India remains a beacon of inclusivity and pluralism, which are vital to the diverse communities of North East India, including the Naga people,” he stated.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approaching, Toshipokba appealed to the Nagas “to exercise their democratic right and make an informed choice for the future of our great nation.”

“Let us rally behind Congress and embrace a brighter future for our region and our country,” he added.

NDPP central youth organisation holds AGM

acknowledged the contributions and sacrifices of the party members. He emphasized that the NDPP youth organisation must emerge as the “steel frame of the party” to strengthen and shoulder the party. Speaking on the usage of social media, Metha reminded the youths to use social media platforms responsibly, and urged them to fact-check and authenticate before posting any contents. He also mentioned how NDPP has set new records by empowering women and electing women legislators from the state. The annual general meeting was chaired by working president, Lhouvi Punyü while general secretary Kehouneiu Thernuo presented the annual report. Welcome address was delivered by president, Imchatoba Imchen and David Himb enthralled the gathering with a special number.

Deputy commissioner Longleng, Dharam Raj, who also attended the meeting, stressed on the Prime Ministers commitment to eliminate TB from India by 2025, where the government has been implementing a National Strategic plans to end TB by 2025. He appealed all the participants to come forward and extend their cooperation and support in carrying out the strategic plan to eliminate TB STS Tongang and TBHIV coordinator, Meriden Khuvung delivered short speeches and explained about the programme activities in the district and different incentives available under the programme. TB champion, Imtichuba also shared about his testimony about his TB treatment.

DIMAPUR: Department of Industries and Commerce on Wednesday inaugurated Nagabots Incubation Centre (NIC), the 5th incubation centre under Start-Up Nagaland.

The incubators will offer incubation space, infrastructure, tools and equipment, services, outreach initiatives, training programs and/or other incubation related events, building the entrepreneurship ecosystem for startups.

The centre was inaugurated by director of Industries and Commerce, A. Temjen Jamir.

The director also visited the lab within the incubation centre which show-

Tokheho chairs DISHA

DIMAPUR: MP Lok Sabha, Tokheho Yepthomi convened the quarterly meeting of district development coordination and monitoring committee (DISHA), Zunheboto on May 24 at DC office, Zunheboto.

The meeting was chaired by DC Zunheboto, Rahul Bhanudas and also attended by MLA Dr.

Sukhato A Sema.

In his opening remark, Tokheho Yepthomi said that from this year onwards the state government has to release the state share of 10% after which only the central government will release its 90% share within the next 30 days. He also informed the members that all the ongoing projects

cased cutting-edge technologies, including a 3D printer and a multi-purpose robotics arm, exemplifying the centre’s commitment to providing start-ups with the necessary resources and infrastructure for their development.

Various models of innovative projects were also put on displayed, offering a glimpse into the immense potential and creativity thriving within the Nagaland start-up ecosystem.

Earlier, the inauguration began with an invocation by director of ABTK, Ruokuovinuo Noudi and director of NAGABOTS, Er. Kikrukhrielie Khezhie delivered welcome address and highlighted the signifi-

cance of the occasion. Team leader, Start-up Nagaland, Keneirienuo K. Thenuo presented an overview of the start-up ecosystem in Nagaland and founder of Arintin Ventures, John Pienyü shared his vision and expectations from an incubator, emphasizing the importance of providing comprehensive support and resources to startups in their early stages.

The department hoped that the inauguration of the Nagabots Incubation Center will create a significant milestone in the region’s entrepreneurial journey with the support of industry leaders, mentors, and the government.

Zunheboto meeting

and schemes have to be completed by the end of the year only then the central government will award the next project or scheme. He also informed the meeting that state government will not be allowed to keep any Central sponsored schemes or projects money in savings rather the state government was to report it to the central

government if a particular project was not completed in a stipulated time or year. Tokheho also requested the departments implementing Central Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and projects to make sure that every project was completed on time and ensured that the projects and schemes reached the beneficiaries.

DIMAPUR: NDPP Central Youth Organisation held its annual general meeting on May 23 at NDPP Central Office, with advisor to chief min-

ister, chairman IDAN and secretary general, NDPP, Abu Metha as special guest.

A report by Media Cell, Central Youth Or -

ganisation, NDPP informed that Abu Metha in his speech, congratulated the youth leaders for the success in the recently held general elections and

Nagaland VDB Association led by president Tohoshe Awomi and Kohima District VDB Association president Roko Angami and members with minister of Rural Development Metsubo Jamir, commissioner and secretary Neposo Theluo, RD director Azenuo Pienyü and officials at coordination meeting on May 24 in Kohima.

Abu Metha speaking at the NDPP central youth organisation annual general meeting.

Director of Industries and Commerce, A. Temjen Jamir and others.

Inaugural function of the seminar at Tuensang on May 24.

DNSU office bearers with Imna Along.

Sarma, Sangma discuss border dispute

GUWAHATI,

MAY 24

(PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday held discussions for resolving an interstate dispute in the remaining six of the 12 locations.

After the meeting in Guwahati, Sarma announced at a press conference that he along with Sangma will visit the disputed areas in Assam’s Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills, where the problem is a “little bit complicated”, next month.

Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state in 1972 but the new state had challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, leading to disputes in 12 border locations.

The two Northeastern states signed an MoU in March 2022 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to end the dispute in six areas along the 884.9 km border between the two neighbours.

According to the agreement, 36.79 sq km of the disputed area was taken up for settlement in the first phase, with Assam getting

full control of 18.51 sq km and Meghalaya over 18.28 sq km of land.

“It will be a confidence-building measure so that people on both sides are assured that we are resolving the differences.

“I believe that through discussions, mutual trust and confidence, we will be able to resolve the other six areas of disputes much earlier than expected,” the Assam chief minister said at the press conference. Sangma said though the differences in these six areas are “complicated”, these too can be resolved with a spirit of trust

Endangered Red Panda spotted in Tawang

July to review the progress of work.

“People on both sides are emotive, temperatures are not different on either side,” he said, adding that the situation on the Assam side is a little different as the area bordering West Jaintia Hills district falls under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

“As it is under KAAC, the Assam government does not have direct control over land…but it does not mean that we are different entities.

A representative of KAAC is there on the regional committee for the area.”

and friendship.

Things are “complicated” but we believe that where there is a will, there is a way, the Meghalaya chief minister said.

Sangma said the survey and other allied work in the six areas, for which an agreement was signed between the two states in the first phase last year, is underway.

When asked if any deadline was set for finding solution to the remaining six areas, Sarma said, “These six areas are a little bit complicated, putting a time frame is not a proper idea but we will meet in

Amritpal quizzed by NSA officers in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail

GUWAHATI, MAY 24

(IANS): Pro-Khalistan leader and ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh was interrogated by the National Security Agency (NSA) officers in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail.

Singh has been lodged in the Dibrugarh jail since April 23 after he was taken into police custody from Moga’s Rode village in Punjab.

According to police sources, the NSA officers reached Dibrugarh on

Tuesday and interrogated Singh for more than two hours.

Meanwhile, the other nine associates of Singh, who are also lodged in the Dibrugarh jail, were also questioned by the NSA officers.

A senior police officer on Wednesday said Singh was interrogated separately. Later, his aides were quizzed.

Lat week, parents of Amritpal Singh - Tarsen Singh and Balwinder Kaur

- met him in the jail.

Earlier on May 4, Kiranpal Kaur, wife of Amritpal Singh, also met him in the prison.

Kiranpal was accompanied by family members of another inmate and Amritpal’s aide Daljit Singh Kalsi.

Nine other associates of Amritpal Singh, including his close aide Papalpreet and uncle Harjit Singh, have been lodged in Dibrugarh jail since March.

OFFICE OF THE TOWN HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, MOKOKCHUNG

(Under the aegis of Goodwill Educational Society, Mokokchung. Regd. No: HOME/SRC-7637) NBSE Regd.No. RR/3043/2006. FELICITATION

The School Management, Administration, Teachers and staff of the School extend their heartfelt gratitude to the following HSLC and HSSLC 2023 toppers –

Whatever will be decided will be done by taking each side into confidence, the Assam chief minister added.

On assuming the chief minister’s office in May 2021, Sarma announced that his priority was to resolve longstanding boundary disputes with neighbouring states. Subsequently, three regional committees were set up to resolve the issues in a phased manner. The regional committees submitted their recommendations which were handed over to the Union Home Minister in New Delhi.

ITANAGAR, MAY 24 (PTI): A little Red Panda, listed as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature list of threatened species, has been spotted at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Wednesday. Perhaps this is for the first time a red panda has been spotted in the border district of the northeastern state.

“Cute and little #RedPanda spotted in Tawang!

The small mammal is listed as endangered in the International Union for Con -

servation of Nature list of threatened species. “These bamboomunching species mostly reside in Himalayan regions

of the Northeast. Let us together protect them. They are important to safeguard biodiversity and maintain ecological integrity,” Khandu tweeted along with a video of the mammal.

According to the World Wildlife Fund website, the red panda is slightly larger than a domestic cat, with a bear-like body and thick russet fur. The belly and limbs are black and there are white markings on the side of the head and above its small eyes.

Red pandas are very skillful and acrobatic animals that predominantly

stay in trees. It is the state animal of Sikkim which hosts the Red Panda Festival every year. The winter event features parades, live music and draws tourists and locals alike.

Almost 50 per cent of the red panda’s habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas. They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to cover themselves in winter, presumably for warmth. Primarily an herbivore, the name panda is said to come from the Nepali word ‘ponya,’ which means bamboo or plant-eating animal.

Assam Rifles organize ex-servicemen rally

DIMAPUR, MAY 24

(NPN): A mega Assam Rifles Ex-servicemen Rally for ex-servicemen of West Bengal was conducted under the aegis of DGAR at Darjeeling, West Bengal on May 23 under the theme ‘Serving Those Who Served Us’.

The occasion was graced by Maj Gen DK Singh as the chief guest.

The aim of the rally was to connect with the veterans, strengthen bonds with them and acknowledge

their contribution for the country during the prime of their lives.

Speaking on the occasion, Maj Gen DK Singh lauded the contribution of the veterans and the serving soldiers of West Bengal who have contributed immensely to ensure the security and prosperity of the North–East and the country.

The veterans were informed about various beneficiary schemes including the recruitment ralli es, sports

OFFICE OF THE DIMAPUR ZONE AO OFFICERS’ FORUM

Dimapur : 797112 : Nagaland.

Ref.No. DAOT/GEN-C/2023- O1,

Dated: 24/05/2023

FELICITATION

With immense pride and honour and Thanksgiving to our Almighty God, the Office of the Dimapur Zone Ao Officers’ Forum would like to convey our heartiest congratulations to the following personals for successfully passing out the recently declared UPSC 2022 Exams results:

quota for recruitment in Assam Rifles, reservation in various educational institutes/hostels, Ayushman Bharat and extension of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to Assam Rifles veterans. The ADG also highlighted about conception of an Ex-servicemen (ESM) Cell at every Unit level, adoption of Veer Naris and disabled veterans and out-

reach programmes as part of which the Assam Rifles is reaching out to Veer Naris and veterans pan India. As part of the event, a felicitation ceremony was organized in which Veer Naris and veterans and other exservicemen were felicitated.

The representatives of HQ DGAR, Shillong also provided a platform for registration of grievances and their immediate redressal.

FELICITATION

We the Longpa Senso Bendanglir telongjem would like to congratulate Miss. Aotula Ozüküm daughter of Mr. T. Watimeren Ozüküm and Mrs. Kining for clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Exam. (2022)

We extend our prayer that, the Almighty God bless you with good health and success in future endeavours.

S. Bendang Longkumer Tako Aier President Secretary

1. Ms. Moanola Longchar

2. Ms. Wangshizenla Top 1 (HSSLC - ARTS) Top 13 (HSLC)

3. Mr. Limsowa Jamir – State Subject Topper (Social Sciences) HSLC

4. Ms. Lemsemchila – State Subject Topper (Social Sciences) HSLC

5. Ms. Lanubenla – State Subject Topper (Social Sciences) HSLC The School also congratulates all its successful HSLC & HSSLC candidates and wishes the best in all their future endeavours.

Sd/- Sd/-

Principal Chairman Managing Board MKC-186/23

Ref. No. ............

CONGRATULATIONS

Date : 24/05/2023

The Ao Senden with immense pleasure hereby congratulates the four successful candidates from Nagaland on their glorious achievement for cracking the prestigious UPSC 2022 Civil Services Examination.

1. Rank 203 Mr. Yimkum I Ozukum

2. Rank 387 Ms Vevotolu Kezo

3. Rank 723 Ms. Imkongnukla Ao

4. Rank 874 Ms. W Aotula Ozukum

We further acknowledge all the successful candidates for bringing laurels to the people of Nagaland by achieving such a prestigious feat through your dedication and hard work. We wish all the best and success in your careers and may God bless you all in all your endeavours to serve the nation in the days to come.

CHUBAWATI LONGCHAR (Imtipokyim) President Gen. Secretary MKC-185/23

Aor Kilem, Sangtemla Ward, Mokokchung - 798601

Ph. No. : 03692228896; E-mail : aosenden@gmail.com

Mr. Yimkum I Ozükum (Süngratsü), S/o. Mr. Imtilepzük Ozükum & Mrs. Merainla Aier. All India Ranking- 203.

Miss Imkongnukla Ao (Yimjenkimong), D/o. Mr. Nokzenketba Walling & Mrs. Moasangla. All India Ranking- 723.

Miss W. Aotula Ozükum (Longpa), D/o. Mr. T. Watimeren Ozükum & Mrs. Kining. All India Ranking- 874.

The Forum further congratulates Ms. Vevotolü Kezo D/o. Khüpo Kezo from Kikruma Village who cleared UPSC 2022 Exams with All India Ranking 387. The Forum wishes them success in all their future endeavours.

SD/-

SD/(LANUZULU AIER) (IMOSONG IMSONG) General Secretary President (M) 8131959415 Email: lanuzulu@gmail.com

DB-659/23

The Peren Town Ao Union with immense pride and honour would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Miss. W. Aotola Ozukum, D/o Mr. Watimeren Ozukum and Mrs. Kining (Longpa) for successfully cracking the UPSC Exam.

The Union further wishes success and prays that our Almighty God continue to bless her in all her future endeavors. Sd/- Sd/Mr. Imkumtemsu Jamir Mr. Kilangtemjen Lkr President General Secretary Peren Town Ao Union Peren Town Ao Union

Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma during a meeting, in Guwahati, Wednesday. (PTI)

Red Panda

Mob vandalize PWD minister’s house in Manipur

Correspondent

IMPHAL, MAY 24: Amid the escalating tension, a mob in Manipur’s Bishnupur district vandalized the residence of state PWD minister Govindas Konthoujam at Ningthoukhong

Bazar under Bishnupur police station on Wednesday evening.

Reports said that a large number of people thronged the residence of the minister and ransacked furniture, window panes and vehicles parked in the front courtyard.

They also set fire files at the front office of the minister, reports said.

While a group of crowd were vandalizing the residence, another group of people, mostly womenfolk, blocked the road from Moirang Lamkhai to Thinungei and prevented convoys of CRPF and RAF from further proceeding to Moirang where fresh tension erupted after the killing of one person and injuring to another.

A team of Bishnupur police who rushed to the

Correspondent

spot dispersed the mob using tear gas shells and mock bombs. There were no reports of any casualties in the melee.

The situation was brought under control, the police said.

While storming the residence of the minister, the agitators shouted various slogans which included among others “No separate administration in Manipur at any cost”, “Save indigenous people from immigrants”, “stop using SoO Kuki militants to divide Manipur”, “Resign incompetent CM”, etc.

They further demanded the deployment of adequate security for safe -

Suspected militants kill one, injure two in Manipur

Correspondent

IMPHAL, MAY 24: Following fresh tension after killing of one person and injuring two in gun firing by suspected militants, district administrations cancelled curfew relaxation in three valley districts of Manipur on Wednesday.

Of the two persons injured in firing by the suspected militants at Ngangkha Lawai, a village at foothill bordering between Bishnupur and Churachandpur, one succumbed to his injury.

guarding life and properties of residents of Tronglaobi area of the district.

The minister was not at his residence at the time of occurrence of the incident, the report said.

On the other hand, Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI), the training complex of the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) at Lamdan in Churachandpur district has been torched by some armed miscreants on Wednesday evening.

The MMI complex is located near the Loktak Hydro-Electric Project under Henglep sub-division of Churachandpur district.

Another person also sustained bullet injuries after the suspected militants opened fire toward Kadangband, a village at the border between Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts last night.

The person killed was identified as Toijam Chandramani Singh (40) of Churachandpur,Thengra Leirak presently staying at a relief camp in Moirang of Bishnupur after his house was torched on the first day of mayhem on May 3.

He succumbed to bullet injuries at ASIAN Hospital in Imphal’s Kwakeithel where he was shifted from Bishnupur district hospital after he sustained critical in-

juries. After the news of the death and injuries of the two persons, a large number of people in and around Moirang protested on the streets. They gathered at Moirang Lamkhai and tried to stop all vehicles of security forces.

Additional Central security forces including RAF personnel rushed to the spot and controlled the situation.

In another gun firing incident involving suspected militants at Kadangband, a village bordering with Kangpokpi district, a villager identified as Aribam Rishikesh Sharma (29) sustained bullet injury on his right little finger and right thigh. He was admitted at RIMS hospital, Imphal.

Recently posted troops of BSF and personnel of 7th Manipur Rifles rushed to the spot and engaged in gun fight with the militants

and also conducted an area domination operation after the firing ceased.

In yet another incident, suspected militants descended from the hill side and set afire at least three houses at Tronglaobi village under Phoubakchao Ikhai police station of Bishnupur district. In the aftermath, many houses belonging to rival communities were burned or damaged. The houses were abandoned houses and many of them were already damaged or burned partially earlier.

In the meantime, security advisor to the chief minister Kuldiep Singh, in a press briefing on the latest law and order situation at chief minister’s secretariat today, said that operations against armed militants and miscreants by Army, Assam Rifles, CAPF and state po-

lice have intensified.

In the intensified operations, a combined team of Manipur police and 22 Assam Rifles apprehended three persons including an IRB rifleman and a village chief with a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and bombs at Kangchup foothill on Tuesday night, around 9.35 pm. The arms and ammunition were intercepted upon checking a car with three occupants by the combined team for checking.

Among the nabbed persons, Thangneimang Khaute Vaiphei (63) of Leilon Pheijang Vaiphei village of Kangpokpi District is the chairman/chief of the village and retired employee of state PHED.

Another person identified as Luntinsang Chongloi (33) of the same Leilon Pheijang Vaiphei village is a new recruit rifleman of 10th IRB Bn (Rfm no. 1023651).

The third person was identified as Lunsiamlen Vaiphei (19) son of Haominthang Vaiphei of the same village as the former.

A cash amount of Rs

37,650 was also recovered from the possessions of the nabbed trio, the security advisor informed. As disclosed by the nabbed persons, arms

and ammunition were collected from Churachandpur.

In another operation today, around 3 pm at Thingpui village in Bishnupur district on receipt of information about the presence of some suspected armed militants, Bishnupur district police commando recovered one double barrel gun, two single barrel guns, 18 cartridges and three Chinese hand grenades, the security advisor said.

“The situation is normal in many districts. In a few districts, the situation is tense but under control. Curfew was curtailed in the valley districts due to some law and order situation,” Singh told the reporters.

He said that movement of essential items along NH37 was ensured as a total of 160 loaded vehicles have left Jiribam for Imphal.

Another 205 empty trucks including LPG carriers and three buses have left Imphal for Jiribam.

The security advisor then reiterated the government’s earnest appeal to all concerned not to believe any rumour and confirm any rumour using the rumour free number 9233522822 and also to make all efforts to restore peace and harmony.

BJP MLA unhappy with Centre’s response to Manipur crisis; says he will resign

IMPHAL, MAY 24: BJP

MLA in Manipur, Lourembam Rameshwor said on Wednesday that he was not satisfied with the manner the government at Delhi was dealing with the current ethnic crisis in the state.

The MLA representing Keirao Assembly constituency of Imphal East district strongly condemned the Central government and BJP leadership.

The disgruntled MLA said that the Central government and BJP leadership turned a deaf ear even as Manipur is burning. Despite their repeated requests, no positive action to restore peace and normalcy in the state was seen taken up so far, he said.

At this juncture, there is no reason to remain as MLA and in the party when the people are living in constant fear and at the limit of their woes, the MLA said, while addressing media before leaving for New Delhi today.

“I think it would be bet-

ter to resign from the MLAship and leave the party (BJP) and go to the field along with youths to protect the land and its people,” he said.

He informed that as a last resort, he along with Speaker Th Satyabarta Singh will be dashing to New Delhi today to meet with the Union home minister Amit Shah. Whether he would resign from the MLA-ship and leave the party (BJP) would depend on the outcome of the meeting, he said.

The MLA said that after violence incidents erupted in the state on May 3, he along with some of his colleagues have been pressing the state and Central govern-

ments to take up appropriate action for the protection of life and property of the people.

Party leaders at the state and national levels were also urged to do the needful in this regard. However, no visible action to restore peace and tranquility has been taken up even after

more than a half a month since the eruption of the violence, he alleged. For instance, he along with some of his MLA colleagues had repeatedly requested to evacuate pregnant women of Kotha, a Meitei village in Tengnoupal district and keep them at a safe place in Imphal.

However, no positive response came from the government as well as party leaders so far, he alleged.

“At this juncture, from my side, there is no willingness to remain as an MLA and also in the party. It would be better for me to join hands with the youths as I have to protect Mani-

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

NAGALAND: KOHIMA

NO.DTE/ESTT-2/02/2023-24/

Dated, Kohima the th May,2023.

NOTIFICATION

The Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE)-2023 appeared candidates are hereby informed to submit Self Attested HSSL C Mark Sheet to the office of the undersigned and also asked to verify their details, options exercised through the Department Website: www.dtenagaland.org.in on or before 5th June, 2023, 5pm. Necessary corrections and rectifications are allowed based on the information furnished in the NSEE-2023 application forms.

No mark sheet or rectification will be accepted or allowed after 5th June, 2023, 5 pm.

(Er.Vipulhou Lhoungu) Director

pur’s boundary drawn by our forefathers,” Rameshwor said. The MLA added that even though 10 Kuki MLAs had already placed their demand to the Centre, other MLAs are still not airing their stance to the Centre. He had campaigned with his colleagues but was

still not able to sit together except with the congregation at the chief minister’s secretariat.

“I have campaigned for a congregation to take a unanimous stand of ours. However, it still not able to materialize,” he said.

The MLA also expressed strong dissatisfac -

tion and alleged that a neighbouring state, Mizoram, interfered into the internal affairs of the state. If the current crisis remains unresolved, other neighbouring states may also interfere without knowing the ground reality and actual cause of the crisis, he said.

DAINTY BUDS

Old Ministers’ Hill, KOHIMA : NAGALAND Co-Ed with Hostel facility

Registration Forms for Class - 11 (Arts) 2023 is available at the School Office. (9:00 AM to 1: 30 PM)

Registration forms can be downloaded from the School website www.daintybuds.co.in

Contact: + 91 8132027681 email-daintybuds@gmail.com

DC-611/23

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT DISTRICT HOSPITAL MON MON : NAGALAND NO.MCH-50/B/NB/14-15/87 /Dt. Mon the 24th May 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Applications are invited for interested & eligible candidates for Walk-in-Interview for 5 (Five) Nos. of Staff Nurse in the ICU of the District Hospital Mon.

1. On contractual basis for a period of 1 (one) year (w.e.f date 1st June 2023 to 31st May 2024). The contractual service is extendable on yearly based performance.

2. The remuneration shall be @ Rs. 15,000/- (fifteen thousand) per month during the period of support.

3. The details of Recruitment Process, Eligibility Criteria & Application form can be downloaded from the department website- https://nagahealth.nagaland.gov.in

4. The application form to be filled by the candidate with all relevant documents which are attested to be submitted to the office of the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Mon on or before 29th May 2023.

5. Walk-in- interview will be held on 31st May 2023 at District Hospital Mon. (DR. MERENINLA SENLEM) Medical Superintendent District Hospital Mon DC-614/23

CBC 17219/12/0007/2324

PUBLIC COLLEGE OF COMMERCE

Burma Camp Road, Near Railway Fly Over Dimapur : Nagaland (ARTS & COMMERCE) (BOYS & GIRLS)

Recognised by UGC u/s 2(f) & 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956 & Accredited by NAAC (2nd Cycle) Phone No. 03862-230131

Email id: pccdimapur1985@gmail.com Website: www.pccdimapur.com

ADMISSION NOTICE

Admission Forms & Prospectus for B.A & B.Com 1st Semester are being issued from College office in between 8:30 AM & 02:00 PM. Direct Admission on first come first serve basis.

Courses Offered: ARTS & COMMERCE (Certificate Course, Diploma Course, Degree Course, Honours Course, Honours with Research)

ARTS (Subjects Offered): Education, Political Science, Economics, English, History, Sociology including Skill Enhancement and Value Based Courses as per NEP 2020.

COMMERCE: Subjects as per Nagaland University Guidelines including Skill Enhancement and Value Based Courses as per NEP 2020 College is centrally located and connected by all modes of land transportation. College has well equipped Computer Lab with internet facility and offers certificate courses on computer; well-resourced Library with internet & INFLIBNET. Fee concessions are given to the rank holders, meritorious and economically weaker students. Classes for B.A & B.Com 1st Semester shall commence in the 1st Week of July, 2023.

CBC 17219/12/0010/2324

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

NAGALAND : KOHIMA - 797004

Dt. Kohima, the th May, 2023.

NOTIFICATION

NO. DTE/ ESTT-1/ 2015: It is to notify that the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR) Kolkata has established an Incubation Centre for the North Eastern States of the nation with the help of Ministry of Education, Government of India. They are keen to nurture in-house talents of the Polytechnic and engineering graduates from the North Eastern states for the promotion of all forms of innovations.

Currently, NITTTR, Kolkata is searching for the potential entrepreneurs from the North Eastern States of the country. Essential qualification and experience requirement for the potential entrepreneurs is Diploma holder in any branch of Engineering/ Technology with at least five years’ industrial experience or B.E./ B. Tech in any branch of Engineering/ Technology with at least three years’ industrial experience. Candidate must have requisite aptitude and potentials in entrepreneurship and innovations. A consolidated stipend of rupees twenty five thousand only (H 25,000/-) per month will be offered to the selected entrepreneurs.

Interested entrepreneurs in Nagaland are requested to submit their application with all necessary documents on or before 29th May, 2023 to the office of the under signed during office hours.

(Er. VIPULHOU LHOUNGU) Director DC-615/23

A structure of Manipur Mountaineering Institute torched by miscreants on Wednesday evening.

Three persons, including IRB rifleman, arrested with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition by security forces.

Lourembam Rameshwor

Biren’s conflict of interest

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh’s admittance that his government was responsible for triggering the large scale communal violence that rocked the state for days in the first week of May, does not amount to shouldering responsibility but a barely concealed justification for what his government had done. There was no government for days in Manipur as mobs went rampaging across several parts of the state – targeting certain communities and torching homes besides churches. According to a list published by the Churachandpur District Christian Goodwill Church, as many as 121 churches and buildings belonging to 15 denominations were torched or destroyed in the ethnic violence that began on May 3 across Manipur. Abdicating authority can be an act of complicity as armed mobs went about a kind of ethnic cleansing. These happened not due to a normal administrative action but a sinister attempt by the Biren Singh government to undermined the authority of the autonomous district council in the hills , by declaring lands occupied by tribal settles as reserved areas and then justify the haste in which homes of the settlers bulldozed under the plea of getting rid of poppy growers. Any normal procedure that satisfies the rule would not have attracted so much vehement opposition. These actions only triggered sporadic violence in the last part of April and then on May 3 in which 73 persons died and over 35,000 others were displaced. Biren Singh’s admittance was actually a justification for what his government had done solely to facilitate land grabbing and displacement of tribals from their ancestral lands without proper compliance with relevant statutes. As a veteran politician in Manipur and one acquainted with decades of simmering tensions among the hill and valley inhabitants, Biren Singh knows very well that forest in tribal areas comes under the district autonomous council. The sky won’t have fallen if such actions were done after careful study and ensuring that bulldozer politics is not replayed in the state. The loss of so many lives and destruction of properties and targeting churches are not simple matters in any state or in any case. The rule of law was given the go by because there was some sinister motive behind. It is on this count, that many well meaning people of Manipur including a majority of the dominant community feel that president’s rule is the only way forward since Biren Singh has failed to protect his people and whose actions are suspect. After wilfully allowing law and order to deteriorate, Biren Singh has the temerity to promise to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur .In fact, the Central government ruled by the same party, which takes pride in proclaiming its “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas” should put it into practice and review the role of its chief minister, N. Biren Singh, for his alleged direct responsibility for crimes committed at a time when he is also the home minister. It is doubtful if the situation will improve under the same person who had allowed the state to burn. Unfortunately also, several quarters have doubted whether Biren Singh will employ all means at his disposal to arrive at a peaceful solution.

DailyDevotion

The Delight of Despair

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

—Revelation 1:17

It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.

“He laid His right hand on me…” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?

Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells…” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.

By Oswald Chambers

Quotes

The powers of head, heart and hands Career in Tea

As a couple transition into parenthood their world takes a conscious shift from themselves to this little fragile dependent mysterious human and an ocean of unconditional love that does not know existed shows up and one finds it very difficult to imagine their world without them. But child rearing also brings out the other extreme end of emotions where the parents experience stress, sleepless nights, burnouts, guilt etc. It definitely is complicated because no one has a perfect manual guide on how to be the perfect parent. Every experience in this stage of life is a part and parcel that comes along with the responsibility of being a parent. These responsibilities grow even greater as the child begins to physically develop. So the parent’s attention towards the child’s physiological needs expands during the early stages of life.

The demand for these needs do not come in sequence or else the process of parenting would be in no comparison easy. As the motivation for other human needs emerge it should be accommodated with their growth. If not, it hinders the natural progression of the human strive for constantly becoming. So, this urges parents to be insightful about the security of the child’s future, their education, profession and to be successful are a paramount need and a constant concern. Thus, the parent and child embark on this journey to create the security and safety needs.

But the search is not linier as it appears to be for, life is defined by uncertainty. So, this stage is no different and is complex and nuance as there are a lot of different factors that impact the child’s reach

Atiny nation called Papua New Guinea is very popular these days in social media and has hit headlines in the mainstream media -both electronic and print.

Never in history has perhaps a Christian Prime Minister of such a small nation - touched the feet of a ‘Hindu’ PM - Narendra Modi.

Modi detractors, traditional BJP bashing clubs and a section of intellectuals are stumped. Some in fact got shockers when such a thing happened when they always thought only Sonia Gandhi is entitled to ‘sainthood’ and the Crown Prince Rahul Gandhi ought to be rewarded with the post of India’s Prime Ministership.

But while waiting in the wings frustrated in more ways than one that we find there are others who want to become ‘more Congressman’ than the most. Former Union Minister under Atal Bi -

hari Vajpayee and Chandrashekhar -- Yashwant Sinha wrote on Twitter:

“I plan to contest my next Lok Sabha election from Papua New Guinea on a Modi ticket which I hope he will give.”

Yashwant ji is a senior and old colleague in the BJP and I used to interact with him on various matters including economy and politics of north east. As a former IAS officer, he was also a well informed person. That is why I am a bit surprised by what he has been stating and doing for the last few years.

Sinha wrote that he wants to contest next Lok Sabha election from Papua New Guinea. This is a

for a stable future.

Like parenting style, family dynamics, socio-culturalreligious influences, financial stability, genetics, logistics and many more of such factors contribute as forces that shapes the life of the children. Despite such influences it is indeed necessary for parents to be diligent of the systems and institution where their children are enrolled to pursue for their future security/ position in life because the institution as well as the parent both must provide a positive support system so as to produce well integrated functioning beings that can also excel in the natural environment. This must not be carried out randomly without any thought process quickly discarding everything that is traditional or old. But it would be wise to revise, be flexible and blend both the traditional and new method of education because by now we should be informed that learning is personal and one shoe does not fit all, so some excel in academic education and others in vocational skills. Learners tend towards varying levels of different intelligence so the ability to grasp concepts is not equal for everyone. People differently incline or gravitate more towards a specific interest like numbers, languages, patterns, tunes, movements, visual, colours, facts and figures, academic knowledge, and theory.

Understanding these needs and initiating different platforms, activities, programs and a well-rounded curriculum in an artificially structured setting will give the child the opportunity to explore the concept of play. Definitely such learning will foster the child to organically reason how to conduct themselves in the real-life

play since they have cultivated the desirable attitudes and life skills like communication, negotiation, teamwork, cooperativeness, discipline, respect, independence etc.

So, paying attention to the insatiable thirst and finding the link within the different parts of the child’s materialistic, spiritual, scientific and creativety stimulates the child to become the wholesome unique individual that they are. But if the child is encouraged only to focus on a specific narrow orientation then they miss out on the real value of education and can become carriers and breeders for a lot of crises. And so, when the child is able to secure one’s future through the process of education that is integrated and not fragmented, it affects the whole being because there is complete alignment with what one has learned with the mind, translating that into something practical with their hands which then they are able to connect the theoretical learning in real time bring relevance to the learner’s life. Making them belief that they are not just a commodity but also an active share holder who can contribute thus, moulding them to be industrious for themselves, family and society. This gives them the self-esteem to find solutions for the challenges they will inherit and also take the risk to push the boundaries and pursue to invent, create and innovate the ideas that they envision.

So, it is very evident that when the security needs of the children are met it allows them to develop their highest interest and potentials giving meaning to their existence in the world.

Temsumenla, Counselling Psychologist ANCA (All Nagaland Counsellors Association)

The cup that cheers us in the morning is none other than tea. It is a beverage made from the Camellia sinesis plant. Tea is the world’s most consumed drink, after water. It is believed that tea originated in northeast India, north Myanmar and southwest China, but the exact place where the plant first grew is not known. Tea has been with us for a long time. There is evidence that tea was consumed in China 5,000 years ago.

Tea production and processing constitutes a main source of livelihoods for millions of families in developing countries and is the main means of subsistence for millions of poor families, who live in a number of least developed countries.

The tea industry is a main source of income and export revenues for some of the poorest countries and, as a labourintensive sector, provides jobs, especially in remote and economically disadvantaged areas. Tea can play a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security in developing countries, being one of the most important cash crops.

Tea consumption can bring health benefits and wellness due to the beverage’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight loss effects. It also has cultural significance in many societies.

Re-emphasizing the call from the Intergovernmental Group on Tea to direct greater efforts towards expanding demand, particularly in teaproducing countries, where per capita consumption is relatively low, and supporting efforts to address the declining per capita consumption in traditional importing countries, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate 21 May as International Tea Day.

Tea is not only a healthy drink but it is central to our cultures from China to Argentina and from India to Kenya. India is the second-largest producer of tea globally and Indian tea is one of the finest in the world. As of a

2018 survey, a total of 6.37 lakh hectares of area was cultivated in India for tea production. India is also among the world’s top tea consuming countries, with 80% of the tea produced in the country consumed by the domestic population.

India’s total tea production for the calendar year 2020 was 1,257.52 million kg and for the financial year 2020-21 it was 1,283 million kg. In May 2022, India’s tea production stood at 127.11 million kgs, and it was at 91.77 million kg in April 2022. From January-September 2022, India’s tea production stood at 984.67 million kg.

India exports tea to more than 25 countries throughout the world. Russia, Iran, UAE, USA, the UK, Germany, and China are some of the major importers of tea from India. All these bring more opportunities for young people to build their career related to the tea industry. There are different job roles in the tea industry. The Indian tea industry provides numerous direct and indirect job opportunities across the country. Right from research to marketing it has different options and opportunities.

Tea planter or the owner may be from different academic backgrounds or even less qualified academically. But to become Managers or Assistant Managers it is important that one must qualify academically like management. There are different institutes that offer special courses in connection with tea. Assam Agricultural University based in Jorhat has a specialized course in Tea Husbandry & Technology. One must know that employability skills are also needed to be successful in the tea industry apart from academic qualifications. (With direct inputs from UN publication)

Ranjan K Baruah (Ranjan K Baruah is a career mentor and skill trainer can be reached at bkranjan@gmail.com or 8473943734 for any career-related queries.)

Democratic India thrives and Moditva rocks

statement in frustration who was surprised not to become Finance Minister once Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014.

The problem is more with ‘neo-converts’ as always and Yashwant Sinha ji’s remarks suggest he is desperate to please the parties like Trinamool Congress and the Congress. If he wanted to ridicule BJP for the episode in Papua New Guinea, I only wonder at his wisdom today. This is to submit respectfully.

Hope, he does not end up becoming a laughing stock himself. In 2021, Sinha ji joined Trinamool Congress and perhaps wanted a Rajya Sabha berth. However, he left in June 2022 as he was selected by the Opposition parties as their presidential candidate last year. He lost the election to BJP-led NDA candidate Madam Droupadi Murmu. So, that’s frustration we find in Yashwant Sinha.

Many others among BJP’s opponents and Narendra Modi’s critics too would have been rendered in a shocking state of mind after Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape welcomed PM Modi by touching his feet.

We as Indians and as BJP karyakartas feel proud of the occasion as in this country we have seen ‘touch your feet’ exercise used to be often in the political circle a symbol of sycophancy. The Congress party is well known for sycophancy and a number of stories of ‘picking up shoes’ episodes by Congress leaders even from Indira Gandhi

~

days. Other regional parties also tried the game.

But in Modi’s case, the Prime Minister himself discouraged these at personal levels on a number of occasions. Here, I may also add that ‘touching feet’ is a typical ritual as the respect for Modi ji comes ‘naturally’ to his admirers both within India and also outside.

Prime Minister James Marape has proved that.

The visit of Modi to that small nation also witnessed historical moments with Papua New Guinea PM Shri Marape welcoming Shri Modi and touching his feet on his arrival.

Moreover, Papua New Guinea generally does not accord a ceremonial welcome to any leader or visitor coming after the sunset. But an exception was made for Shri Modi ji yet again.

I will say all these prove the emerging power of India and the unprecedented leadership offered by Modi ji during these turbulent times in South Asian and also globally.

China has had great influence on Papua New Guinea and there have been reports in western media that dozens of serious issues including mechanical, electrical and fire safety concerns were found with lapses in at some major buildings constructed by China in that country.

We must take note that the Noble Centre, the tallest building on Port Moresby was built by a Chinese state-owned enterprise, and is today ‘empty’ because of safety issues. The 23-storey tower has been deemed

uninhabitable after the discovery of more than 70 defects. This is the ‘China story of benevolence’ for those who often like to defame India and think Beijing can play saviour to their fortunes. The reality is bit harsh and we must be having the wisdom in the new century to discover that.

In terms of IndiaPapua New Guinea relations, we have to realise that country is not Mauritius or Nepal. The citizens of that country are 98 percent Christians and now the people are being asked whether they want the country to be officially declared “a Christian nation”. Hence, PM Marape knew exactly what he was doing at the airport.

He is actually being a ‘good Prime Minister’ for his tiny nation as he has discovered that India and the Indian Prime Minister’s friendship and assistance to his country has been genuine and not guided byself-seeking motives.

Now the explanation on ‘touching feet gestures’. Marape as reported in the media comes from the Huli tribe. one of PNG’s largest ethnic groups. His father was a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. Kindly note, Adventist Protestants believe that God created the earth in six days and observed the seventh day as a day of rest. We in Nagaland also believe 7th day as the day of rest.

Governor of West New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea, Sasindran Muthuvel, explained the gesture of PM

Marape by stating that:

“Genuflecting or touching an elderly person’s knee or feet is an old tradition in the South-western Pacific country. There is nothing new to it in our country, and that is what Marape did despite being a Christian’.

Of course PM Modi is now 72 plus and Marape at 52 years is much younger than PM Modi. In fact, while welcoming PM Modi, two other members of the Marape cabinet were in a queue and also touched PM Modi’s feet.

We have always believed that once PM Modi ji took over, there was a need for ‘reinvention’ of Indian foreign policy.

Prior to 2014, Congress leaders generally loved to present India as a weak player and as a safeplaying contender at the global stage. India’s international relations had been ‘mismanaged’ by the previous governments. In 2014 election manifesto and various media conferences, we tried to underline that Congress leaders have failed abroad, as they have at home, because they followed ‘western models’.

Now, the ‘New India’ has a new vision and a new strategy. India is determined, decisive and very clear about concepts and perceptions.

India has emerged as a genuine voice of the Global South and this is fact countries such as Papua New Guinea appreciates this. Prime Minister Modi during his visit there rightly said, “Those whom we considered trustworthy, it turned out that they were

not standing by our side in times of need. During these challenging times, an old saying has proven true: “A Friend in need is a friend indeed.”

“I am glad that India stood with its Pacific island friends during this challenging time. Whether it was vaccines or essential medicines, wheat or sugar; India, in line with its capabilities, has been assisting all partner countries.” PM Modi said.

It is true the challenges in diplomacy are new now. PM Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and their team have made it possible to appreciate globally that New Delhi disapproves NATO expansion. It did not back the Russian line that Moscow faces existential threats. India abstained from UNSC and UNGA voting and made it clear that Russia’s concerns also ought to be understood. This has made a big difference globally.

Today, many global players that hitherto underestimated New Delhi’s position has started showing a ‘new variety of respect’ for India. This was amply clear in recent Hiroshima meets at G-7 Summit and the meeting of Quad leaders including the US.

PM Modi’s repeated stance that there is a need for “immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities”, and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy is appreciated at the world stage. Hence Modi’s foreign policy is a runaway success and India rocks.

M Chuba Ao, BJP national vice president

“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

Steve Martin

POSHAN tracker app training underway

reflect as task not done. She asked the trainees to work in coordination with each other and improve and reflect the performance of the state in the POSHAN tracker app.

Topics on “Community Based Events and Growth Monitoring” was delivered by BCC consultant Peter Vero, Poshan Abhiyaan and SPMU, Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan Department of Social Welfare, Kohima.

AAA&GA panel inspects SCC

DIMAPUR: Academic & Administrative Audit and Gender Audit (AAA&GA) committee inspected Sao Chang College (SCC) on May 20.

SCC media cell informed that the committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Bharat Kangude, Associate Professor & Head department of Physics, PDEA’S Anantrao Pawar College, Pirangut Pune, Maharastra along with Loyem Memorial College principal incharge, Rupali Purkaystha as member.

SASR holds ‘igniting innovation & entrepreneurship’

DIMAPUR: School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University (NU:SASRD) organized a “Nagaland spark: Igniting innovation and entrepreneurship programme” on May 19 at the MultiPurpose Hall, NU:SASRD.

DIMAPUR: A five-day state level POSHAN Tracker App training commenced on May 23 and at Directorate of Social Welfare, Kohima. The training will continue till May 29.

Poshan Tracker App training has been imparted to the District Project Officers, Child Development Project Officers, Supervisors and POSHAN Co coordinators from all districts in the state.

At the training, JPC

POSHAN Abhiyaan and deputy director, Soren Kikon stressed on the importance of uploading of Aadhaar verified beneficiaries in the POSHAN tracker as all the funds for different schemes have been linked to it. Director of Social Welfare Tosheli, also stressed on the importance of data uploading in the POSHAN tracker app as task performed without uploading data in the tracker app will

The training was designed to be followed up with a roadmap for training of ICDS functionaries at Block levels to be developed by DPOs and CDPOs, and imparted by resource persons from State NeGD Longkumpo Jamir and SPMU POSHAN.

Around 350 trainees comprising of DPOs, CDPOs, supervisors and POSHAN co-ordinators will be attending the training programme.

The inspection committee interacted with vice principal, Longtichang Tzudir, IQAC coordinator Dr Santosh Kr Singh and with other IQAC members, teaching faculty, ministerial staff, students and others.

The team also inspected Science Block, Classrooms, Computer Laboratory, Library, Tribal Museum, hostel, RUSA ploy houses, Multipurpose Hall, NSS office, NCC office, TT Hall cum Mini gymnasium, College canteen etc.

A press release by information and publicity secretary NU:SASRD Longmay CS Lemz, informed that the programme was graced by vice chancellor, NU Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik as the chief guest and director, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat Dr. G Narahari Sastry, as the guest of honour.

Jagadish while addressing the students talked on the benefits of technology and the ways to implement them. He encouraged the students to be innovative and to play a role in transforming the society through entrepreneurial approaches.

Guest of honour, Narahari emphasized on priorities area in innovations and entrepreneurship in North

NSBB celebrates ‘International Day for Biological Diversity’

DIMAPUR: Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB) in collaboration with Razeba Sudents’ Union (RSU) organised “International Day for Biological Diversity”, under the theme “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity” and in conjunction with Mission LiFE at Pame Tsüdu, Public Amphitheater Zhavame village, Phek on May 22.

A press release by CCF & member secretary, State Biodiversity Board, Supongnukshi, informed that working plan officer, forest department, Velatso Demo, was special guest,

who shared about the impact of loss of biodiversity, loss of top soil, destruction of forest and wildlife.

He stressed on the importance of soil and that the loss of top soil will have negative effect on crop production. He also shared about the importance of trees in sequestering carbon and how burning of woods and forest fires contributed to global warming.

He further urged the community to sustainably use their natural resources and ensure that the resources were passed on to the future generations.

NSBB consultant,

while delivering the keynote address, stressed on the theme, which was drawn from the adoption of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and where India is leading a global mass movement “Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)”which is envisioned as the India-led global mass movement that will prompt individual and collective action to protect the environment.

He also highlighted about the National Biodiversity Act, 2002 and emphasized on the roles, the Biodiversity Management Com -

mittee play in managing and conserving their bio resources.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Ngapunyi Albert Krocha, welcome address by VDB secretary Zhavame, Thoo Shupao, Mochilü Lea greeted the gathering on behalf of Razeba Public Organisation (RPO) and vote of thanks by RSU president, Paosu Shupao.

Other highlights of the programme included, folk song by Zhavame Folk Group, competition such as story narration on best conservation practices amongst 4 villages, paint-

ing & essay writing competition amongst students and open photography contests were organized as part of the celebration.

The gathering also pronounced a strong pledge to protect the environment and to follow environment friendly habits and carried out plantation drive in the village area by the participants.

The participants included Razeba Public Organisation, village councils, women organisation, youths, students’ union of Zhavame, Zelome, Tsupfume villagea and Razeba (Ad hoc) Town.

East. He motivated in localizing global innovations and globalizing local ideas, and spoke on “knowledge toxicity”.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by department of Agricultural Extension, NU:SASRD Prof. Jungmayangla Longkmer, welcome address by registrar, NU Dr. Abemo and opening remarks by Pro-Vice-Chancellor, NU:SASRD Prof. Akali Sema.

Short speeches were delivered by department

of Agricultural Extension Prof. K K Jha, Head Technology Incubation, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology-Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI)

Dr. Namrata Misra, CEO, KIIT-TBI and chairman, Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster (BCKIC) Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar and vote of thanks by Dean, NU:SASRD Prof. L Daiho.

In the second session, resource persons Prof KK Jha, Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar

spoke on translating ideas to enterprises: path forward while Dr. Namrata Misra spoke on building the North East bio-entrepreneurship cluster. Another resource person, Program Associate, KIIT-TBI Ray Saisoubhagya spoke on the funding opportunities for innovators.

The programme concluded with “My story session” from Dr. Akumtoshi Lkr and Gloria Nyenthang who are both part of the BIG North East 2nd call Grantee.

Skill development programme for Gorkha youths

DIMAPUR: A three-day Skill Development Training programme for youths under Association of Gorkha Baptist Churches Nagaland, was organised by AGBCNYD from May 19 to 21. A press release by

AGBCNYD stated that resource persons were Vithorzo Secu, K Danlunla and Neikole Khutso.

Speaking at the programme, Youth Secretary, Shishir Lama, congratulated trainees on completion of the training and encour-

aged the youths to utilise the knowledge gained for generating income. The programme was conducted at Singrijan Village, Chümoukedima mission center where 84 Youths from 23 Churches under AGBCN participated.

Members of AGBCNYD at the training programme.

Inaugural function of the programme at Multi-Purpose Hall, NU SASRD.

A view of the gathering at the training in Kohima.

Growth expected to exceed 7% in FY23: Shaktikanta Das

NEW DELHI, MAY 24

(PTI): Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said the growth for 2022-23 is expected to be more than the advance estimate of 7 per cent on the back of economic momentum maintained in the third and fourth quarters of the last fiscal.

As per the second advance estimate released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in February, the economy is estimated to grow at 7 per cent in 202223 against 8.7 per cent in the preceding fiscal.

“There is a possibility that it could be even more... it will not be a surprise if the GDP growth of last year comes slightly above 7 per cent,” he said at a CII event here.

Provisional Annual Estimates for the year 2022-23 will be released on May 31, 2023. “It initially appeared in the third quarter that

there was a pent-up demand which was supporting the economic activity, but all the economic indicators in the fourth quarter of last financial year show that economic activities sustained momentum.

“In fact, all the highfrequency indicators, around 70 of them, which we monitored in the Reserve Bank of India, almost in all of these high-frequency indicators, the momentum was maintained in the fourth quarter. So therefore, we should not be surprised if the growth is slightly

more than 7 per cent,” he said.

For the current financial year, he said the RBI has projected a growth rate of 6.5 per cent.

About the global scenario, he said the coexistence of high inflation and banking stress is complicating the responses of central banks, as they face or trade-off between the risk of either straining financial markets or having to tolerate a longer period of high inflation.

“Amidst these global uncertainties, the Indian banking system remains stable and resilient with strong capital and liquidity positions, improving asset quality better provisioning coverage and improved profitability,” he said. Das said the decision to tweak policy rates was not in his hand as he himself is driven by the situation on the ground.

(From p-1)

HSSLC Examination

2023: 15 institutions under Arts stream, five institutions under science stream and four institutions under commerce stream secured 100% pass result.

The performance of boys and girls streamwise in terms of pass percentage was: Arts

— Girls (86.27%) Boys (78.44 %), Commerce-- Girls (90.34 %) Boys (82.47 %) and Science

— Girls (90.39 %) Boys (82.51 %). The overall pass percentage in Arts stream was 82.62%, Commerce stream 85.83% and Science stream 86.79%.

HSLC and HSSLC Compartmental Examination: In addition to the conduct of HSLC compartmental examination, the NBSE would be conducting the Compartmental Examination for HSSLC candidates with effect from this year i.e. 2023. Candidates failing in three or less subjects are eligible to sit for the examination. Two chances will be given to clear the compartmental papers to reduce drop-out rates from the system.

HSLC, HSSLC toppers share success stories

Improvement examination: Improvement examination in three or less subjects for both HSLC & HSSLC passed candidates would be conducted along with Compartmental Examination w.e.f. 2023. This is to help students improve and pursue courses of their choice in line with the vision of National Education Policy 2020. Improvement examination in one subject: Provision for candidates who qualified at the HSLC Examination but secured ‘Needs Improvement’ in one subject will be given the opportunity to reappear in the ‘Needs Improvement’ subject at the immediate examination will be introduced w.e.f. 2023.

HSLC/HSSLC repeaters: A repeater candidate would appear HSLC/HSSLC Examination as per the existing prescribed syllabus and course of the examination concerned. Repeaters would submit the Application forms and Examination fee for HSLC Examination 2024 online during August 1-12, 2023 and for HSSLC Examination from August 8-12, 2023.

NPF urges Centre, Naga groups to expedite political dialogue

(From p-1)

In his address, Liezietsu admitted that 2022 was a year full of trials and tribulations for NPF MLAs as he recalled how many of them had left the party at the eleventh hour during the Assembly election.

He said, “They had left the party at such a time when it was difficult to manage resources.” He clarified that NPF did not blame them or anybody, but said it was unfortunate that some of them were still trying to justify their action by blaming their parent party and its president. Liezietsu suggested that they better remained silent because no amount of justification could cover their act of defection. He advised them to retrospect and “come back home for better future”.

He noted that in spite of many changes taking place, one thing that remained constant was the decades-old Naga political problem. He opined that the issue could

be solved only politically through a human approach. Liezietsu emphasised that the solution to this issue did not require new political philosophy, but a political approach based on history.

“We still hold that political philosophy under the banner of Naga People’s Front passed on to us by our elders, which is the only honourable way to solve the Naga problem. We are here and we will continue to be here till our goal is reached,” he asserted. The NPF president cautioned that the present coalition government could be trying to divert the mind of young generation from the Naga political issue.

“They may divert the mind of few people with easy money, but the Naga political issue will remain until a solution was arrived at that was honourable, acceptable and inclusive,” he reiterated.He said the solution required trust and that it would be wrong to blame the Centre at this juncture,

but “ourselves” for delaying the solution. According to him, everything depended on the State government, underground leaders, tribal leaders, civil society groups, etc. In his short speech, NPF secretary general and MLA Achumbemo Kikon asserted that the party’s ideology and principle still stood, claiming that the party was formed and was still existing on the premise that an honourable, inclusive and acceptable solution to the Naga political issue should be arrived at.

He said that the party would continue to exist in the days to come with the support of people, claiming that it was respected by the young and old alike in Naga society and beyond. And as the party reflected the identity of Nagas, he mentioned that the people looked up to it “If we deviate from the thought and ideas, we will be no longer fit to be a part of the party,” he told the party functionaries. Kikon assured that NPF would protect, promote and

strengthen Naga identity, besides safeguarding other indigenous minority groups that were living with “us”. He exuded confidence that the party’s popularity would rise again and that it would be strengthened to continue serving the Nagas.

Speaking on the occasion, NPF Legislative Party (NPFLP) leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu said it was his privilege to be able to work under Naga political legends such as former chief minister Vizol and former chief minister and party president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu ever since he joined active politics in 2002. He mentioned that the best things these leaders had taught him was to be God fearing, principled, maintain integrity and to stand the ground come what may even, if it meant standing alone. “We are politicians who represent younger generation and play politics with an open mind and with positive roadmap for the people of Nagaland. I strongly

believe that together we can do many things, rather than waste our time criticising and blaming one another for the bad performance of the party in the recently-concluded Assembly election,” he stressed.

Nienu called on party workers not to recollect the bitter past as it would destroy a perfect future ahead, but put trust and faith in God, as He alone could shape and design the future for better or worse. As the leader of NPFLP, Nienu pledged to protect and safeguard the interest of the party under all circumstances, assured that he would not entertain any arrangement that could be detrimental to the interests of the party. The meeting was chaired by NPF working president Pusazo Luruo, while general secretary S Akho Leyri pronounced the invocation. General secretary Toniho Sheqi delivered the welcome address and vice-president Khonjah Konyak proposed the vote of thanks.

(From p-1) She mentioned that she was also happy for being able to bring a good name not only to her school and family, but also to her community.

Daughter of Limawapang Longchar of Lirmen village, Moanola was also among the top 11 rank holders in the HSLC exam.

Moanola credited her success to the God, her parents, teachers and friends who had been very supportive from the beginning. She remarked that even when she did not believe in herself, they always believed in her.

The topper also appealed to her friends and the student community in Nagaland to always put God first, besides working and studying hard.

Meanwhile, HSSLC Commerce topper Zahid Ahmed Laskar from Christian Higher Secondary School, Di -

mapur divulged that he was consistent with his daily studies, spending 18-19 hours daily. During his free-time, he said he used to spend his time playing with his friends and reading Quran. He mentioned that he aimed to become a chartered accountant and now pursue B Com from any top college in India. He attributed his success to his parents, teachers, school authority, God and friends.

Regarding social media, Laskar commented that social media had adversely affected lives of many students because they did not know how to use it. He said, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many students spent a lot of time on social media rather than focusing on their studies. He urged parents to restrain their children from using mobile phones during study hour and till they achieved their goal.

Awang P Yimpushü from St John Higher Sec-

ondary Residential School, Dimapur, who topped Science stream in HSSLC exam with 97%, disclosed that his consistency in study hours -spending at least nine hours every day –was the main factor for his success.

Besides studying, he said he was fond of playing football and wished to become an engineer like his father.

He attributed his success to God, his parents and teachers, while divulging that he was preparing for Advance JEE exam, which was scheduled on June 4.

Shaktikanta Das

HSLC, HSSLC exams 2023: Girls continue to outdo boys

New parl building inauguration row: BJP accuses Cong of hypocrisy

NEW DELHI, MAY 24

(PTI): What was the “locus standi” of Sonia Gandhi when she along with the then PM Manhoman Singh inaugurated legislative buildings in Manipur and Tamil Nadu, the BJP asked on Wednesday while countering the Congress’ criticism over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Congress’ hypocrisy knows no limits,” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla charged as he reminded the opposition party that former prime minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament House Annexe and her successor Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the Parliament Library building in 1987. As many as 20 parties, including the Congress, have announced a boycott of the ceremony on May 28, demanding that President

Droupadi Murmu and not PM Modi do the inauguration.

Accusing the government of “completely sidelining” President Murmu, 19 parties have, in a statement, said they find no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out”.

The BJP spokesperson alleged that the Congress had no problem when the then prime minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Assembly building and com-

Siddu, DK in Delhi, may discuss K’taka cabinet expansion

plex in Manipur in 2011.

“PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi inaugurating the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly building complex is ok,” he said on Twitter.

“What was locus (standi) of Sonia Gandhi at these inaugurations?” Poonawalla asked.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had inaugurated the central hall in Bihar Legislature, Poonawalla said on Twitter.

“In these five instances were the President, Governors insulted?” Poonawalla said, calling the Congress “mother of hypocrisy”.

Congress, TMC, SP and AAP are among the parties that have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

Noting that it is a momentous occasion, the 19 parties in a joint statement said, “Despite our

BJP, Bajrang Dal activists attacked with swords in Karnataka

DAKSHINA KANNA -

DA, MAY 24 (IANS): A group of miscreants attacked a BJP worker and a Bajrang Dal activist with swords in the communallysensitive Dakshina Kannada district on Wednesday.

The two injured persons have been identified as Mahendra, local convenor of Bajrang Dal, and Prashath Naik, a BJP worker. Both have been admitted to a private hospital in Puttur.

According to the po-

lice, the incident took place near Mani in Bantwal taluk.

It is suspected that the attack was a fallout of BJP’s celebrations that followed the announcement of Assembly election results in the region. The BJP won six out of the eight seats in Dakshina Kannada district.

It is alleged that the attackers belonged to the Congress.

The police said the attackers came in an Omni

vehicle which they rammed into a two-wheeler on which the victims were riding. As they fell down, the attackers assaulted them with swords. Mahendra and Prashanth have suffered injuries on their head and leg.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the attack was carried out by a few residents of Mangaluru, namely Rakesh, Mani Manjunath and Mahalinga. A hunt is on to nab the accused.

belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion.”

However, Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response,” they said.

The DMK, Janata Dal (United), CPI-M, CPI, NCP, SS (UBT), RJD, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK and RLD are the other signatories of the joint statement.

Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said his party will also skip the ceremony.

NEW DELHI, MAY 24 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar reached the national capital Wednesday evening, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to arrive late at night, with the two likely to meet the top Congress leadership to discuss cabinet expansion.

After landing here, Shivakumar told reporters that it was a “normal routine visit” and that he will meet senior party leaders to discuss issues concerning the state.

“We have to finish our cabinet (expansion) as early as possible. That is in process. My chief minister is also

coming,” he said. He said they will meet the top leadership including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Sources said the chief minister is expected to arrive late at night.

Rejecting rumours of a rift within the party, Shivakumar said, “As the party president (Karnataka), I am telling you that nothing is there, no internal issues are there.’

On being asked about supporters of Congress MLA D Sudhakar staging a protest outside Siddaramaiah’s house, Shivakumar said, “(It’s) quite natural. All of the workers (of the party) want to become ministers.”

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were sworn in as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively, along with eight ministers on May 20. Portfolios have not been allocated to the ministers yet. According to Congress sources, the party high command approved the first list of eight ministers against the earlier plan of inducting a much higher number of legislators into the cabinet. This was done as there were allegedly differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar over some names, during discussions held last week in Delhi ahead of swearingin ceremony.

Previous legislations of K’taka will be revised: Priyank

BENGALURU, MAY 24 (PTI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday said the orders and legislations enforced under the previous BJP regime like school textbook revision and anti-conversion laws, which are against the state’s interest, would be revised or withdrawn by the new Congress government after reviewing them. Amidst demands to overturn the “hijab ban” from various quarters, the Minister, without

making any direct comment on the issue, maintained that the government will be having a look at all the policies of the previous government which are against the Con-

stitution, against the spirit of building the society, and against the inclusiveness of the society.

“We will relook at every policy matter that the previous government has brought in,” he said. Kharge said the new government would withdraw all the legislations and orders that hamper the state’s economic progress and prosperity, and go against the interests of Kannadigas.

“Previous government

had decided to observe certain jayantis (birth anniversary of prominent figures) and left out others. Not only jayantis, their orders, whether it is regarding textbooks, anti-cow slaughter, anticonversion bills (laws), all of them will be revised,” he said. Speaking to reporters here, he said: “All those bills (laws) and orders that hamper the economic progress of Karnataka, its prosperity, and will affect Kannadigas, will be withdrawn.

Priyank Kharge

Shehzad Poonawalla

India will be global leader by 2047: VP Dhankhar

on a rise like “never before” and this rise was unstoppable and the incremental growth trajectory will go high from here and by 2047, ‘Bharat’ will be a global leader.

Rahul’s fresh passport plea: Court asks Swamy to file reply

Sisodia withdraws interim bail pleas

NEW DELHI, MAY 24 (IANS): Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday withdrew his interim bail pleas filed before the Delhi High Court in connection with the corruption and money laundering cases being probed by the CBI and ED related to the excise policy.

ED raids are misuse

NEW DELHI, MAY 22

(PTI): Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said India was moving on an unprecedented growth trajectory and will be a “global” leader by 2047, the year it will commemorate a hundred years of Independence.

He stressed that the economic progress of the country was deeply connected to its security, and defence forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF) were guardians of the “holistic growth” of India.

Dhankhar was speaking at the annual ‘Rustamji memorial lecture’ of the BSF here.

The lecture is organised in memory of the BSF’s first chief and founding father K F Rustamji, who was the director general of the 3.25 lakh-strong force during 1965-74.

The Border Security

(PTI)

Force (BSF) was raised in 1965 and is primarily tasked with guarding the Indian frontier with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Dhankhar said national security was the “cornerstone” of the country’s progressive prosperity, and the developments that should have come earlier are taking place now.

“You see the kind of road infrastructure we have, the kind of technological involvement that is taking place, the kind of arms that are being made available and the kind of facilities that are being created for the human resource...this not an obligation, this is our duty (towards the security forces like the BSF),” he said.

Dhankhar said he was “satisfied” and “gratified” to find that attention was being paid to these issues.

The VP said India was

NPP hopeful of MLAs being accommodated in govt: Ahoto

(From p-1)

When asked about his new assignment, Ahoto explained that frontal organisations primarily dealt with women, youth and minorities.

He further denied any rift within NPP State unit, clarifying that it was common to have some minor discontentment here and there. “We don’t have much of a rift as of such. Everything is OK,” he claimed.

On the possibility of any major reshuffle in the State party setup, he said that there would be no reshuffle, adding that everything would be in consultation with the central leadership.

When asked whether having an opposition in the assembly was healthy for overall development, he said irrespective of having an opposition or an opposition-less government, the important matter was whether development was taking place. He maintained that NPP’s priority was to deliver good governance.

Clarification: Apropos the news item “NPP in no hurry to be part of Govt: Nyamnei”, it is clarified that the newly appointed State NPP president A Nyamnei Konyak had said that the party legislators were in no hurry to be accommodated in the council of ministers.

Govt announces plan for...

(From p-1)

While disclosing the plan, Union home minister Amit Shah chose to focus on how the ceremony would mark the revival of a tradition where the passing on of the “sengol” would represent the legitimization and recognition of a new regime.

Asked about opposition’s boycott, Shah said that the government had extended an invite to all and “they are responding as per their wisdom”. “The event should not be politicised,” he added. The historical Sengol, which was received by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru symbolising the transfer of power from the British to India in 1947, is set to be installed in the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. The sacred scepter traces its origin to the Chola Empire.

The Sengol, which measures 5 feet, has rich workmanship from top to bottom. The Sengol’s orb, which symbolizes the world, is surmounted by a carving of Nandi.

“Just a decade ago, we were the 11th largest economy but in September 2022, we have had the distinction of being the fifth-largest economy by overtaking our erstwhile colonial ruler, and by the turn of the decade, we will be the third-largest (economy),” he said.

Dhankhar said the country took strides when it came to the digital economy and in 2022, India’s “digital transfers” were four times more than the US, the UK, France and Germany.

“All this is possible because our borders are safe,” Dhankhar added.

He also lauded the BSF for undertaking efforts and working in “extremely trying circumstances 24x7” to check drugs and human trafficking and cow smuggling from across the IndiaBangladesh border.

The VP also made an appeal to all border states to be “extremely sympathetic and sensitive” to the requirements of the BSF.

During the event, he also decorated a total of 35 BSF personnel, including two for gallantry, for rendering exceptional service.

NEW DELHI, MAY

24 (PTI): A court here Wednesday asked former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy to file his reply by Friday to a plea of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a no-objection certificate for issuance of an “ordinary passport” to him after he surrendered his diplomatic passport upon his disqualification as an MP.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vaibhav Mehta, while posting the plea of Gandhi on May 26, observed the right to travel is a fundamental right and courts had placed no restrictions on the movement of the Congress leader who travelled several times without having to obtain a permission.

The ACMM also said that while granting bail to Gandhi in December 2015, the court had placed no restrictions on his travel

Health Ministry to launch 60-day ‘Tobacco Free Youth Campaign’ on May 31

NEW DELHI, MAY 24 (PTI): The Union Health Ministry is planning to launch a 60-day pan India campaign on the theme ‘tobacco-free youth’ on May 31 which will focus on taking steps to prevent initiation of tobacco use among youngsters and assisting users to quit.

Tobacco use has declined but data reveals that its use is still unacceptably high among adolescents and adults in India.

According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), current tobacco use among young adolescents (13–15 years) in 2019 was 8.5 per cent and in the previous round (2010), it was 14.6 per cent - a decline of 42 per cent.

Several initiatives like ‘tobacco-free educational institution’ are part of the campaign being planned for World No Tobacco Day observed on May 31.

In a letter, Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry V Hekali Zhimomi urged states and Union Territories to conduct special drives for enforcement of the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (CoPTA), 2003.

AKM urges H&TE deptt to reconsider...

(From p-1)

Appreciating the setting up new colleges, AKM, however, said that the current measures to deploy faculties from FAC and MCTE was bound to have a negative impact on the normal functioning of the affected colleges. Therefore, AKM has requested the department to reconsider the attachment order in the larger interest of the student community.

Further, AKM hoped that early completion of the ongoing recruitment process by the department and appointment of assistant professors to the New Model Colleges would “be a more just solution” and one that would be to the satisfaction and benefit of all concerned.

OFFICE OF THE KEZO CLAN KIKRUMA

Pfutsero-797107, Phek, Nagaland.

The Kezo Clan with immense pride and honour extends our heartiest congratulations to Er. Vevotolü Kezo Daughter of Mr. Khupo Kezo and Mrs. Pusocholu Kezo from Kikrüma village for securing AIR 387 in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022.

BENGALURU, MAY

24 (IANS): The new Congress government in Karnataka is all set to remove the ban on hijab in the state, sources said on Wednesday.

The new government is waiting to settle down and complete the cabinet expansion.

While campaigning for the May 10 Assembly polls, the Congress Congress, especially Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, had vehemently stated that ban on hijab and all laws made on communal basis by the previous BJP government would be withdrawn once the party assumes power in the state.

Asked about Amnesty International’s rising concern on hijab ban in Karna-

taka, DyCM Shivakumar on Wednesday stated in Vidhana Soudha, “I don’t want to comment on the matter of hijab as it is a policy matter.”

However, Priyank Kharge, the cabinet minister addressing press reporters maintained that the Congress will withdraw the ban on hijab, halal cut and cow slaughter laws.

Sources claimed that the party is all set to withdraw these laws, including the Anti-Conversion law brought by the previous BJP government.

A decision will soon be taken on the construction of a 114-foot tall Jesus Christ statue in Kapalabetta near Kanakapura town. This is proposed to be the largest Christ statue in the world.

We pray that our Almighty God continues to bless her and grant her the strength and wisdom as she embarks on her new endeavors.

and the plea of Swamy for imposition of restrictions was rejected then.

Gandhi, who was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after his conviction in a defamation case, is an accused in the National Herald case in which Swamy is the complainant.

The Congress leader, whose sentence has been suspended in the defamation case filed over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname, had moved the court seeking a no-objection certificate on Tuesday.

Gandhi’s counsel Tarannum Cheema, who appeared along with advocates Nikhil Bhalla and Sumit Kumar, sought grant of a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Congress leader so that he could secure a fresh passport. ACMM Mehta, however, said Swamy has the right to file a reply on the application.

The bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said: “Noting that the condition of the petitioner’s wife has improved and is stable, the interim applications are dismissed as withdrawn.”

The senior AAP leader had moved the high court on April 3, seeking interim bail in the case on the grounds of his wife’s illness.

The same single-judge bench had on May 11 directed the jail superintendent to provide Sisodia with a video conferencing facility to speak to his wife every alternate day between 3-4 p.m. as per prison rules, till the disposal of the bail plea.

Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju said he had earlier argued suppression as it was not mentioned in the application that the wife was discharged.

He added that the applications were being withdrawn due to his contention regarding suppression.

“This is not a simple withdrawal,” Raju said.

The court, however, said that without going into any such contention, the application is dismissed as withdrawn.

ED

of power

by Centre: AAP’s Sanjay Singh

MUMBAI, MAY 24 (PTI):

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh on Wednesday accused the Centre of misusing its power after the Enforcement Directorate raided two of his associates in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

Talking to reporters here, the Rajya Sabha member said he would continue to raise “corruption with regard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi”, referring to the Adani-Hindenburg issue.

“Fake cases are being pressed against my associates and ED raids are taking place. Let them do what they want,” he said.

Earlier, Singh issued a Twitter video message, saying two of his associates – Ajit Tyagi and Sarvesh Mishra – are being raided by the federal agency.

Singh is among many senior AAP leaders, including party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who are in

Mumbai to garner support for their fight against the BJP-ruled Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi.

Singh said the verdict of a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court was overturned by the Centre through an ordinance to reduce the powers of the elected government of Delhi.

“This shows that the Modi government has no commitment towards upholding constitutional values. They don’t believe in the Constitution, democracy and the judiciary. They only topple governments with the use of money,” he said.

The AAP leader said that no invitation has been extended to President Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building and it amounted to an insult to the office of the constitutional head of India and ‘Adivasis’ (tribals). “That’s why we are boycotting the inauguration,” he said.

Ram temple to open in January next year

struction of the Ramjanaki Path and the Bhakti Path is also ready, the statement issued here said. The airport and the railway station are also being expanded, it added.

These road corridors are important as these will facilitate the movement of devotees to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and the Hanuman Garhi temple, the statement said.

The width of the Ram Janmabhoomi Path will be 30 metres and the width of the Bhakti Path will be 14 metres, it said.

LUCKNOW, MAY 24

(PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government has expedited infrastructure works in Ayodhya, including expansion of its airport and railway station, as the city prepares for the opening of

the Ram temple in January next year, according to a statement.

Work is also in progress on the Ram Path, a 13km road from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat, it said. The outline for the con-

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has invited people to come for the Ram temple’s opening, it said and added that he is review-

ing the progress of different works regularly. Supporting the government’s initiative to develop Ayodhya, shopkeepers, without any resistance, have given the land of their shops for the construction of the “grand” temple and its other facilities, the statement said. There has been no complaint of any irregularity in disbursement of compensation under this project, it said. Those evicted have been allotted shops in newly developed complexes, while many shopkeepers were rehabilitated to their old places with the cooperation of owners, the statement said.

OFFICE OF THE MAOVA VILLAGE COUNCIL

P.O : MEDZIPHEMA TOWN - 797106 DIST. CHüMOUKEDIMA : NAGALAND CORRIGENDUM

The Maova Village Council is constrained to issue this press statement with regards to the Press Order dated 09th April 2023, where the context and intent was misinterpreted and misunderstood by few individuals land holders of Maova Village.

We, the Kikrüma Women Society, Kohima would like to extend our profound appreciation to Miss Vevotolü Kezo of Kikrüma village who has successfully cleared the UPSC. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to her father Mr. Khüpo Kezo, her mother Mrs. Pusocholü Kezo and all her siblings who are always supportive and stood by her side. May Almighty God bless you in your future endeavours.

VENüSALü KEZO Vesüpralü Kezo President Gen. Secy Kikrüma Women Society, Kohima Kikrüma Women Society, Kohima

Therefore, the Maova Village Council hereby withdraw the press statement dated 09/04/2023 under the caption 'Order' as the Maova Village Council has no ill intentions towards anyone, but will uphold and implement the Village Council Act of 1978.

Sd/-

(Paoboi Changsan) Sutminlal Vaiphei Chairman Secretary Maova Village Council Maova Village Council DP -2303/23

Sd/- Sd/-

VEKHUTSO KEZO KÜLÜZHOYO KEZO Chairman General Secretary DB-657/23

OFFICE OF THE NOKSEN FELLOWSHIP DIMAPUR FELICITATION

The Noksen Fellowship Dimapur with great joy and profound appreciation, would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Dr. Tinojongshi Chang for being appointed as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tseminyu District.

The Fellowship further wishes that Almighty God grant him the strength and wisdom as he embarks on his new assignment.

Sd- Mr Keko Chang, Sd- Mr Lepsu Chang, Leader, NFD’ Secy, NFD.

MUDUTSUGHO (KILOMI) VILLAGE GBs’ & VILLAGE COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The GBs’ and Village council of Mudutsugho (Kilomi) Village would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the commendable work being carried out by M/S Bhima Pvt Ltd under the leadership of Shri Prasad (AGM) on the ongoing 2 lane Chakhabama-Zunheboto road project.

The 75 kms NE Phase A project holds immense importance for our community, as it enhances connectivity and contributes to the overall development of our region. The high-quality workmanship, attention to detail, and adherence to project timelines have not only exceeded our expectations but have also earned the admiration and respect of the entire community. We are pleased to acknowledge the milestones achieved and the substantial improvement in the road infrastructure. The positive impact of the improved road infrastructure will be far-reaching, promoting economic growth, enhancing accessibility, and fostering social integration.

Hokishe Swu Daniel Wotsa Head GB Village Council Chairman

OFFICE OF THE SATAKHA TOKUKUJO KÜKAMI HOHO P.O : SATAKHA DISTRICT : ZUNHEBOTO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Satakha Area G.B Association would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to M/s Madhucon Company under (M.P.L). On the day 18th May 2023, we the G.B’s of Satakha Area Association visited the 2 Lane construction of package IV i.e. M.Tsugho to Zhekiye village and by seeing physically we appreciate the good skill of labourers and also convey our big thanks to Madhucon Company for the construction of NST bus shelter at Satakha, Kohima road junction and also black topping the statue area. We wish Madhucon Company all the best in their future endeavors.

Sd/- Sd/-

V.Hokugha Chishi G.B Yetovi Zhimo G.B Chairman General Secretary Satakha Area G.B Satakha Area G.B Association Association DP -2282/23

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar during the BSF Investiture Ceremony 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Wednesday.

Subramanian Swamy, Rahul Gandhi

UP CM Yogi Adityanath at the Ram Temple construction site.

officials during raid at residence of Saversh Mishra (green black striped t-shirt), PA to AAP MP Sanjay Singh. (PTI)

K’taka govt all set to overturn hijab ban

Modi govt doesn’t believe in SC: Kejriwal

MUMBAI, MAY 24 (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday claimed the ordinance issued for control of services in Delhi implies the Narendra Modi government does not believe in the Supreme Court.

After meeting Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence in Mumbai, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener Kejriwal said state governments were being toppled by using the CBI and the ED.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray said they have come together to defeat forces that are against democracy.

Kejriwal met Thackeray to seek support for the AAP’s fight against the Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi. He said the Shiv Sena has promised to support the people of Delhi when the ordinance comes to the Rajya Sabha in the form of a bill.

“This will be like a semi-final in the Rajya Sabha. If the bill is defeated in the Rajya Sabha, then the Modi government will not come back to power in 2024,” Kejriwal claimed.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has three members in the Rajya Sabha.

During the meeting with Thackeray, Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP Rajya Sabha

members Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, as well as Delhi minister Atishi.

This was Kejriwal’s second visit this year to ‘Matoshree’, the private residence of Thackeray in suburban Bandra.

Addressing a joint press conference with Thackeray, Kejriwal accused the Centre of using central agencies to topple state governments, and referred to the collapse of the Thackeray government in Maharashtra last year.

“The ordinance on control of services in Delhi means the Modi government doesn’t believe in the Supreme Court. The ordinance implies that how can the Supreme Court give a judgment against us (the Centre),” Kejriwal said.

Backing the AAP

Apex Vocational Training Centre

2023

leader, Thackeray said the Supreme Court’s order was important for democracy.

“We have come together to defeat those against democracy. If we miss the train this time, then there will be no democracy in the country. We have come together to save the country and the Constitution,” Thackeray said.

Kejriwal said the Centre, through the ordinance, took back all the powers given by the Supreme Court.

“In a democracy, power should vest in the elected government as it is accountable to people,” he said.

Kejriwal claimed the BJP neither believes in democracy nor the Supreme Court.

The BJP resorted to ‘Operation Lotus’ in Delhi and when it failed, the Centre brought the ordinance, he said. “They have become arrogant. When one becomes very arrogant, he becomes very selfish. Such a person, who lives with such arrogance and selfishnes, cannot run the country,” Kejriwal said without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This is not the fight for Delhi alone, but it is for democracy, the Constitution and federalism,” he said. Slamming the BJP, Kejriwal claimed, “Their leaders and ministers abuse judges. They run campaigns against judges and call re-

Maha Congress expels ex-MLA

tired judges anti-national. They have given a message that we will bring an ordinance and overturn the Supreme Court’s decisions.”

Mann said democracy was in danger as some selected people were running the government instead of those elected.

“Raj Bhavans have become head offices of the BJP and governors have become star campaigners,” the Punjab CM claimed.

On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP’s fight against the Centre’s ordinance.

The Centre on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against GroupA officers from the DANICS cadre.

VISITING CONSULTANTS

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Ashish Deshmukh

MUMBAI, MAY 24

(IANS): The Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday expelled former MLA Ashish Deshmukh for six years for making public statements against the party leadership including Rahul Gandhi and state unit chief Nana Patole.

The expulsion order was issued to Deshmukh by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the Chairperson of the MPCC Disciplinary Committee vide a letter of May 22. The committee had discussed the show-cause notice served on April 9 to Deshmukh -- son of former Minister and ex-state Congress president Ranjit Deshmukh -- and his reply to the same.

“We found the reply regarding your public utterances against the party unsatisfactory. You are expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years with immediate effect,’’ the disciplinary committee’s letter to Deshmukh said.

Deshmukh had fomented a huge row when he called upon Gandhi to apologise to the OBC community over his ‘Modi surname’ remarks that finally led to his losing the Lok Sabha membership.

Adhir calls PM ‘Pagla’ Modi after Rs. 2000 phase out issue

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

KOLKATA, MAY 24

(IANS): Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday made a controversial remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while slamming the Centre’s decision to phase out Rs 2000 currency note.

“All of a sudden the fresh decision to phase out Rs 2,000- denomination notes was announced. He is not Modi. He is ‘Pagla (Mad)’ Modi. People are addressing him as ‘Pagla Modi’,” Chowdhury told a section of the media persons.

He also took a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and AAP’s Delhi and Punjab

CM’s Arvind Kerjriwal and Bhagwant Mann for the meeting at the state secretariat of West Bengal on Tuesday. “Both AAP and Trinamool Congress are actually trying to finish Congress. Both the parties have an understanding with the BJP.

Both Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee are involved in competitive communalism against BJP. Even in Karnataka, AAP had divided the opposition vote bank in certain seats. Otherwise the Congress could have ended with a higher tally,” Chowdhury said. He said that the Karnataka results prove that with no opposition alliance minus Congress will be able to take on BJP and Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari questioned the justification of the meeting between the chief ministers of West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab at the state secretariat of Nabanna. Adhikari has also issued a Twitter message on this count. “If it was a meeting between the CMs: - # what was the Order of Business? # was any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the WB Got & the Delhi Got? Such as:-a) The Delhi Got is going to help the WB Got in adapting their Liquor Policy? Or b) The WB Education Dept. will train the Education Dept. of Delhi, how to conduct Teacher Recruitment process fairly & honestly?”

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Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann and Uddhav Thackeray and others during a meeting at his residence ‘Matoshree’, in Mumbai, Wednesday. (PTI)

Russia says it shot down drones in border region

KYIV, MAY 24 (AP): Rus-

sian forces shot down “a large number” of drones in Russia’s southern Belgorod region, a local official said on Wednesday, a day after Moscow announced that its forces crushed a cross-border raid in the area from Ukraine.

The drones were intercepted overnight over the province, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a Telegram post.

He said that no one had been hurt, but unspecified administrative buildings, residential buildings and cars were damaged.

Ukrainian officials

made no immediate comment. Russia said the previous day that it beat back one of war’s most serious crossborder attacks, with the Defence Ministry saying that more than 70 attackers were

Japan to provide 100 military vehicles to Ukraine

TOKYO, MAY 24 (AP):

Japan held a ceremony on Wednesday marking its planned donation of about 100 military vehicles to Ukraine, as Tokyo seeks to provide equipment that can be of broader military use than its earlier shipments of helmets and hazmat suits.

In a ceremony at the Defence Ministry at which two half-ton trucks were on display, Japanese Vice Defence Minister Toshiro Ino handed a document to Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky listing the three types of vehicles included in the donation.

“We hope the invasion ends as soon as possible and peaceful daily lives return,” Ino said. “We will provide as much support as we can.”

The donation, which also includes 30,000 food rations, comes as Japan’s government is seeking to ease its military equipment transfer policy under a new national security policy that allows its military a greater offensive role, in a major break from its postWorld War II self-defenseonly principle.

While other countries have provided Ukraine with tanks, missiles and fighter jets, Japan has lim-

Ukraine’s top Gen. seriously injured in Russian strike

MOSCOW, MAY 24

(IANS): Ukrainian armed forces’ commander in chief, General Valery Zaluzhny, who has not been seen publicly for some time now, was seriously wounded some weeks ago in a Russian strike near Kherson, and is unlikely to return to service, media reports said on Wednesday.

Zaluzhny suffered a head trauma and numerous shrapnel wounds in early May, in a missile attack on a Ukrainian command post not far from the village of Posad-Pokrovskoe, RT quoted RIA Novosti as reporting. The Russian agency, quoting a source, said that the general had undergone a craniotomy at a military hospital in Kiev after the strike, and doctors say that the 49-year-old is going to live but won’t be able to execute his duties as commander anymore.

Speculations about Zaluzhny’s whereabouts emerged after he refrained from participating in a highprofile NATO meeting on May 10. The Chairman of the bloc’s military committee, Rob Bauer, said that Kiev told Brussels that the Ukrainian commander couldn’t attend in person nor via a video-link due to a “complex operational situation” on the ground in the conflict with Moscow.

Zaluzhny hasn’t been seen in public since then, even though footage that has emerged online in recent days that suggested he was fine, turned out to have been made before his disappearance.

killed in a battle in Belgorod that lasted around 24 hours.

It made no mention of any Russian casualties.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that local

troops, airstrikes and artillery routed the attackers.

Twelve local civilians were wounded in the attack, officials said, and an older woman died during an evacuation. Details of the incident in the rural region, lying about 80 kilometres (45 miles) north of the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and far from the front lines of the almost 15-month war, are unclear.

Moscow blamed the incursion that began Monday on Ukrainian military saboteurs. Kyiv described it as an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian parti-

sans. It was impossible to reconcile the two versions, to say with certainty who was behind the attack or to ascertain its aims.

The region is a Russian military hub holding fuel and ammunition depots. Moscow officials declined to say how many attackers were involved in the assault or comment on why efforts to put down the attackers took so long. The Belgorod region, like the neighbouring Bryansk region and other border areas, has witnessed sporadic spillover from the war, which Russia started by invading Ukraine in February 2022.

ited its donations to nonlethal equipment because the transfer policy prohibits the provision of lethal weapons to countries at war.

Japan has provided Ukraine with bulletproof vests, helmets, gas masks, hazmat suits, small drones and food rations since Russia’s invasion began last year.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged the trucks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when they met in Hiroshima on Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit. Japan has also offered to treat injured Ukrainian soldiers at a Japanese military hospital.

The vehicles consist of half-ton trucks, high mobility vehicles and material handling vehicles, the government said. The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency said the details, including the exact number of vehicles and timing of their shipment, are being finalised.

Tokyo has joined the United States and European nations in sanctioning Russia over its invasion and in providing humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine.

Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson get into heated exchange with man at Cannes Film Fest

Joe Jonas said that he cried tears of jealousy when his younger brother Nick was hired as a judge on ‘The Voice’.

Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were involved in a tense exchange with a man at the Cannes Film Festival.

The actor and his wife seemingly scolded an employee as they attended the premiere of his new movie ‘Asteroid City’, reports aceshowbiz.com.

On Tuesday, May 23, the pair walked the red carpet together to support the special screening of Wes Anderson’s film. In photos which have circulated online, the Oscar winner was seen furiously pointing his finger at the younger man and making a stern face while his wife was also holding her hand up in front of her as she spoke to the man.

It’s not clear what they

were discussing, but the man was also seen gesturing at Hanks as he posed with his ‘Asteroid City’ co-stars on the red carpet.

Despite the apparent misunderstanding, Hanks and Wilson continued to trek down the red carpet and were all smiles as they posed together on the stairs before heading inside the venue. The two were also seen dancing together as they reunited on the red carpet after posing for the cameras separately.

Hanks cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo and matching bow tie teamed with a smart white shirt for the premiere. He completed his look with shiny black shoes.

As for Wilson, she looked glamorous in a chic

black dress with a long black cloak which trailed the ground behind her. The dress was adorned with silver gems which shimmered under the spotlights. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo.

‘Asteroid City’ is a scifi romantic comedy-drama film which is set in the 1950s in a fictional American desert town that has an eerie feel to it. It follows the transformative events that occur at an annual Junior Stargazer convention in 1955.

Anderson penned the script based on a story he developed with Roman Coppola. It will be released in select U.S. theaters on June 16 before expanding to a wide release on June 23. (IANS)

Actor Nitesh Pandey, who essayed the role of Dheeraj Kumar in the top rated television show ‘Anupamaa’, passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 51. Reports claim that the actor suffered a massive cardiac arrest late on Tuesday night in Igatpuri near Nashik. He succumbed to the same instantly.

Nitesh started his journey with theatre in 1990. In 1995, he bagged the role of a detective in ‘Tejas’. He went on to work in serials like ‘Manzilein Apani Apani’, ‘Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani’, ‘Saaya’ and ‘Durgesh Nandini’.

Apart from television, he also worked in films. His work in the National Award winning film ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’ received widespread appreciation. He also starred in ‘Om

Shanti Om’ and ‘Badhaai Do’. He also worked in television show ‘Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara’ and also ran an independent production house named Dream Castle Productions. Last seen in ‘Anupamaa’ and ‘Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara’, Nitesh, who has been a popular face in the television industry for over two decades, was from Almora Kumaon in Uttarakhand. He is now survived by his actress-wife Arpita Pandey. The two had met on a TV show ‘Justajoo’ after which they got married in 2003. Nitesh was earlier married to actress Ashwini Kalsekar. (IANS)

The 33-year-old ‘S.O.S.’ singer made the admission when he joined a podcast with his two siblings Nick, 30, and 35-yearold Kevin - who released their sixth Jonas Brothers studio record, titled ‘The Album’, earlier this month, reports Female First UK.

He added that he heard the news while watching Fleetwood Mac play ‘Landslide’ at New York’s Madison Square Garden in March 2019. He told on ‘The Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard’ show: “It was at the most picturesque setting, it was at the Fleetwood Mac show at (Madison Square Garden) and as they’re playing ‘Landslide’ I found out that he was going to be a judge on ‘The Voice’. I was so jealous I cried my eyes out to ‘Landslide’. It was bittersweet, of course, ‘cause I’m super happy for him, but I’m also bummed ‘cause I want that f****** gig.”

As per Female First UK, Joe served as a coach

on the Australian ‘Voice’ for one season in 2018, with Nick going on to work as a voice coach on series 18 and 20 of the singing show before he was replaced by 29-year-old ‘The Way’ singer Ariana Grande.

Joe said: “I just enjoyed the job, so I was like, ‘What the f***? But (Nick) crushed it and, you know, it was great.”

Despite their sibling rivalry, they insisted on the podcast their overall aim is to see someone “with the last name Jonas” winning.

Nick also revealed that he and Joe auditioned for the same role in ‘Wicked’. But he said that while

they are “competitive” in “sports and other things” they ultimately support each other when it comes to their careers.

Joe agreed, adding about the ‘Wicked’ auditions: “Yeah, we said, ‘Go in there and kill it ‘cause it’s gotta be one of us. It has to be one of us.’ That being said, never got that call.”

Kevin also revealed he felt “some of that” jealousy when Nick and Joe embarked on solo careers amid the Jonas Brothers band break several years ago.

Nick said: “We always say we want someone with the last name Jonas to win. That’s our goal.” (IANS)

OFFICE OF THE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Nagaland for appointing Smti Nginyeih Konyak as the Chairperson of Nagaland State Women Commission. We hope that it will be a testament to the progressive Vision and commitment of the government to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

KNSK would also Congratulate, Smti Nginyeih Konyak on her new assignment and wishes the best for the role and responsibility entrusted to her by the people of the State. KNSK assures full co-operation and support in the execution of her assignment whenever required for the welfare of the Society.

K-1138/23

(Smti Ponglem.Konyak) President KNSK

OFFICE OF THE EASTERN NAGALAND WOMEN ORGANISATION

H.Q Longleng No. H/RS-5134/22-01-2009 FELICITATION

With immense pride and profound appreciation the office of Eastern Nagaland Women organisation heartily congratulates Smti. W. NGINYEIH KONYAK on her appointment as the Chairperson of Nagaland State Women Commission. We would also like to acknowledge her sincerity, devotion and efficiency rendered to the Commission during her service as Member of NSWC 2019-2022. ENWO further expresses gratitude to the UDA Government headed by Shri. Neiphiu Rio, the Hon’ble Chief Minister for reposing trust in the competence by allotting the Chairmanship of NSWC.

As you endeavour with your new assignment and responsibilities, may the Almighty God grant you strength, capability and good health to carry out the mandate tasks on your shoulder.

A.Shamthai Phom M.Chongthen President Media Secy.

‘Anupamaa’ actor Nitesh Pandey dies of cardiac arrest at 51

Joe Jonas cried tears of jealousy when brother Nick became ‘The Voice’ judge

Lajong to represent Meghalaya in I-League again Senior men’s inter-district cricket: Zbto, Mkg and Kma register wins

(IANS): After the final whistle at the SSA Football Ground in Shillong, despite the fist pumps, the jumping high fives and the obvious jubilation, there is no way Shillong Lajong’s players could have known they had finally broken through and secured promotion to the I-League. Their game against Bengaluru United had ended in victory, a glancing header by Figo Syndai settling the issue at home. They had huffed, puffed and endured over eight minutes of injury time before finding the opportunity to head towards the stands and salute the crowd. And yet there was no way they knew.

Lajong head coach Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet, confirms this. “In that moment, we were celebrating the victory, because just that itself gave us a chance,” he was quoted as saying by AIFF. “But I remember rushing towards the stands to find out the result of the

Atalanta United game...”

Atalanta United Ambernath FC, who had been on a scorching run, crashed to a loss against United SC at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani, to guarantee Lajong’s promotion to the I-League. It was a sweet homecoming for a state running on strong resurgence fuel.

“People don’t remember this but Lajong played the Hero I-League for eight seasons in a row,” Larsing Ming Sawyan, President of the Meghalaya Football

Association says. “Which is more than many reputed clubs across the country.”

In a year of momentous triumphs for Meghalaya football - the state also reached the finals of a memorable Santosh Trophy campaign - it was appropriate that Lajong, the pathbreakers for the game in the state, had the last say. It was also appropriate - as much poetic as predicted - that its squad featured many youngsters who had turned out for Meghalaya in the tournament’s final in Riyadh.

Several reasons could be traced behind this success. One of those has been the revamp of the Meghalaya Football League, a state league that is contested by 25 clubs across 21 district associations.

Shillong and West Jaintia Hills, who boast a stronger football pedigree get more than one slot in the league. The state association mandates that minimum six U-21 players are included in each club’s squad, and at least two feature in the starting XI.

The entire league is sponsored by the state government, and to encourage participation over 80 per cent of the revenue generated is fed back to the clubs. Financial viability has been key and recognising that, the association encouraged clubs to create gate revenue and find personal sponsorship all of which is their own. On the pitch, the state league’s large-scale participation has also meant more youngsters are playing foot-

ball, and therefore creating a larger talent pool of talent. A majority of Lajong’s squad, Nongbet says, were part of the club’s academy and graduated upwards, step by step. “You can say we are the greenhorns of Indian Football,” he says. “And maybe we are, but over the past few years, if you look at results at the National stage, you will see Meghalaya constantly taking strides forward. It’s not a flash in the pan.”

Wanshan Kharkhang, Treasurer, Meghalaya Football Association says that this has been a systemic approach designed for success. “Our approach has been towards developing youth and grassroots structures throughout the state,” he says. “We analyse and send teams according to what experience players can gain from the competition. For the North East games for example we only sent the U-19 team, to give them experience and blood them for pressure.”

DIMAPUR,

MAY 24

(NPN): Zunheto, Mokokchung and Kohima won their respective matches on the third day of the ongoing senior men’s inter-district cricket tournament at Nagaland Cricket Stadium and Sovima Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

After being sent in to bat first, Zunheboto posed a competitive target of 144 in 30 overs for Tseminyu to chase. In the run chase, Tseminyu produced a close encounter and Mokokchung won by 2 wickets in 25.4

overs. Man of the match was awarded to Monu Kumar for his crucial 22 runs knock and 2 wickets claim.

Winning the toss, Mokokchung opted to bat first and went on its way to produce an imposing target of 226 runs for Phek to win it.

With a mountain of a challenge awaiting the Phek team in the run chase with 226 runs required for the win the batsmen could not withstand the pressure and went all out for just 34 runs in 13.5 overs. Mokokchung won the match by an as -

tounding 192 runs. Man of the Match was awarded to Lolgsasunep for his 6 wickets haul.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Kohima started off brilliantly with Imomenba silencing the naysayers with a brilliant 97 runs knock in 81 balls. In the run chase, Mon succumbed to 65 runs (all out) in 18.4 overs making Kohima win by a margin of 139 runs.

Man of the match was awarded to Imomenba Walling for his 97 runs knock.

Man Utd’s Rashford could return against Chelsea, says Ten Hag

MANCHESTER, MAY 24 (AGENCIES): Forward

GENEVA, MAY 24 (IANS): China’s Wu Yibing achieved his second victory in two days after defeating Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 7-6 (5), 6-3, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Geneva Open. The final match of the day on the central court began at 19:30 local time. The pair engaged in a fierce first set, where Wu eventually gained the upper hand with a 7-5 win in the tiebreaker, reports Xinhua.

Wu, the first Chinese mainland player to win an ATP title in Dallas in February, held his serve to lead 4-3 in the second set before securing the victory. The 23-yearold, ranked 59th globally, will confront Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the next round. Zverev, ranked 27th in the world, is a gold medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a two-time ATP Finals champion in 2018 and 2021.

Marcus Rashford could return from a two-game absence when Manchester United host Chelsea, manager Erik ten Hag said on Wednesday as the Premier League club look to secure their place in the Champions League next season.

The 25-year-old England international, who is United’s top goalscorer this season with 29 goals in all competitions, missed their last two wins against

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth, first with a leg injury and then an ill-

ness. “It looks like (he will be available),” Ten Hag told reporters ahead of Thurs-

day’s home game against 12th-placed Chelsea. “Yesterday he returned to training. He looks quite fit but we have to see today what is the outcome of the training, how did he recover, and then we will make our choices.”

The Dutchman, who ended United’s six-year trophy drought when they won the League Cup in February, said his team are on the right path but acknowledged that they are a work in progress.

After missing Cham -

pions League football last season, United are on track to secure a top-four spot in this campaign - they need a point from their final two matches against Chelsea and 10th-placed Fulham.

United are fourth in the standings with 69 points, three more than fifth-placed Liverpool, who have played a game more. “We are in a

project and we want to go back and win trophies,” Ten Hag said. “We win one trophy, but we want to win more trophies. We want to compete with the best, but we are still on a journey. But we think we are in the right direction. But we can always be better because good is not good enough.

KDFRA

to organise new membership recruitment drive

DIMAPUR, MAY 24 (NPN): Kohima District Football Referees Association (KDFRA) will be organizing a two-day new membership recruitment drive-cum-refresher/fitness test for all the referees under KDFRA on June 2 and 3 in Kohima. All members have been asked to attend the said programme. For more information, one may contact at 9774811752, 9856928241 or 9366385475.

PSV Eindhoven head coach Van Nistelrooy resigns

THE HAGUE, MAY 24

(IANS): With one round of matches remaining in this season’s Dutch Eredivisie, PSV Eindhoven head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy resigned on Wednesday, citing a lack of support.

PSV stated that the board of directors had had several discussions about internal affairs over the past few days and had a meeting with Van Nistelrooy on Tuesday evening. At that time it was decided, according to PSV, to keep the focus on the match against AZ, with further talks to be held after the end of the season.

However, on Wednesday morning, Van Nistelrooy told the first-team squad and coaching staff that he would be stepping down with immediate effect, due to “a lack of support within the club”, a Xinhua report said.

At the request of the board, assistant coach Fred Rutten will now take charge against AZ on Sunday in Alkmaar. PSV still needs one point to secure second place behind champions Feyenoord, which would mean a ticket to the qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. PSV is currently three points ahead of Ajax, who plays FC Twente on Sunday

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born: 1931 Died: 21-05-2023

We the bereaved family of Late Chepamo Humtsoe would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the individuals, churches, friends, well wishers and citizens of Pongidong Village who stood by us and supported us spiritually, physically and financially at the sudden demise of our beloved father on 21st May 2023.

We regret our inability to mention each and every individual, but your acts of kindness will be remembered with gratitude. It is our prayer that the Almighty living God bless you all abundantly.

Loving wife, children, in-laws & grand children.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

If we live, we live in the Lord; and if we die, we die in the Lord. So then if we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Bible

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the family members of Late Meduhele Magdalene Pucho would like to express our profound gratitude to each and every individual, relatives, in-laws, friends, neighbours and well-wishers who supported us spiritually, physically, financially and materially during her illness and sad demise.

We convey our special gratitude to:

1. Rev. Fr. Vemedo Joseph Kezo, Parish Priest, Mary Help of Christians Cathedral (MHCC), Kohima.

2. Parishioners of MHCC, Kohima.

3. St. Francis Xavier Church, Kidima.

4. Cathedral ACU, ACWA, ACYA, CYM.

5. Legion of Mary, Cathedral.

6. Angami Catholic Union, SFS Parish Kohima.

7. Kidima Catholic Union, Kohima.

8. Kidima Catholic Women Association, Kohima.

9. Kidima Community Kohima.

10. Kidima Women Organisation, Kohima.

11. Lower Tsiepfü Tsiephfe Union (LTTU), Kohima.

12. LTTU Women Organisation, Kohima.

13. Kidima Krotho, AG Colony, Kohima.

15.06.1943 – 14.05.2023

Through this column, we would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, relatives, friends, churches, organizations, doctors and nurses and well-wishers for your love, sympathy, prayers and condolences, physical, material and financial support during the brief illness and demise of our beloved Late Mrs Tonili Yepthomi, W/o Dr. K. Izheho Zhimomi, Hd. G.B. Pherima 'B' (Sakipheto)

We humbly pray that your beneficence be amply rewarded in abundance by our loving Heavenly Father.

Loving Husband, Children, In-laws, Grand Children and Great Grand Children

DP -2293/23

14. Kidima Students Union (2021-23)

15. MSc -Chemistry (2016-18 batch), NU.

16. Officers and Staff, Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland, Kohima.

17. Officers and Staff, Directorate of Soil & Water Conservation, Nagaland, Kohima.

18. Management, Teaching & Non-Teaching Staff of Model Hr. Sec. School, Kohima.

19. Dr. Prasenjit Deka and Team, GNRC Hospital (6th Mile), Guwahati.

20. Dr. Tsielhoutuo Rhutso, Hon’ble MLA.

21. Dr. Pusasül Martin Chaya.

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

K-1134/23

Loving Children and Grand Children

B-649/23

D

DP-2284/23

AC K NO WLEDGEME N T

LATE GHOZHETO YEPTHOMI

09/10/1936 – 24/04/2023

The family members of Late. Ghozheto Yepthomi would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, organizations, churches, relatives, friends, neighbours, well wishers, doctors and staff of Eden Hospital Dimapur who stood by us physically, financially and spiritually during his illness till his demise.

We remain deeply indebted for the love and kindness which has been a great source of comfort to us. We also regret our inability to mention and thank everyone individually but it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Loving Wife, Children, Grandchildren and In-laws

Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag.

Players with match officials before the match on Wednesday.

MI beat LSG by 81 runs in IPL Eliminator

Sindhu, Srikanth enter 2nd round; Prannoy, Sen beat higher-seeds

CHENNAI, MAY

24 (PTI): Little known Uttarakhand engineer Akash Madhwal bowled a dream spell as his five-wicket haul took five-time champions Mumbai Indians one step closer to summit clash after thrashing Lucknow Super Giants by 81 runs in IPL Eliminator, here on Wednesday.

Mumbai Indians

scored 182 for 8 in 20 overs and it seemed 15 short given explosive batting firepower of Lucknow but Madhwal’s incredible figures of 3.3-0-55 and some terrific ground fielding led by skipper Rohit Sharma saw Gautam Gambhir mentored side crumble for a paltry 101 in 16.3 overs.

There were three runouts in what turned out to be a forgettable evening for the Sanjiv Goenka owned franchise.

MI will now take on Gujarat Titans on Friday in the second Qualifier in Ahmedabad to decide on Chennai Super Kings’ opposition for the big final on Sunday.

If the first part of the evening belonged to a fiery Naveen ul Haq, whose 4 for 37 made everyone feel wary about MI’s final score, Madhwal reassured the faith that

his skipper showed in him.

The delivery that clinched the final was one bowled to dangerous Nicholas Pooran (0) from round the wicket. He delivered it from slightly wide off the crease and it shaped inward before nipping away with a touch extra bounce forcing the southpaw to edge it to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.

That literally broke LSG’s back and on either side of that wicket, Madhawal took four more to enhance his reputation having been a tennis ball cricketer till the age of 23.

Skipper Rohit, who has been pilloried for his fitness threw himself around and the relay throw to run Krishnappa Gowtham out was a fabulous effort.

Earlier, flamboyant Afghanistan seamer Naveen ul Haq picked up four wickets as Lucknow Super Giants managed to keep Mumbai Indians under-check at 182 for 8 in 20 overs.

Naveen, who has been under spotlight since his angry exchanges with Virat Kohli during a league game against RCB, was constantly booed by the Chepauk crowd but he did well

Cristiano Ronaldo says Saudi

league

could become top five in the world

enough to dismiss MI skipper Rohit (11 off 10 balls), batting mainstay Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 20 balls), last match’s hero Cameron Green (41 off 23 balls) and the ever-dangerous Tilak Verma (26 off 22 balls). Naveen getting Surya and Green in one over could well prove to be decisive as MI were atleast 15 short of par-score. MI also needed to replace Surya with Impact Player Nehal Wadhera, whose 23 off 12 balls took them past 180-run mark. Wadhera smacked a six and hit two fours in the final over bowled by Yash

Thakur (3 for 34) to boost MI’s score.

The impressive Moshin Khan (1-24) conceded only 6 runs in the penultimate over before Wadhera stepped up the pace in Thakur’s next, the final over of the innings.

Skipper Rohit (11, 10 balls, 1x4, 1x6), who began slowly, fell trying to up the pace, jumping out to hit Naveen only to find Ayush Badoni in the way in the fourth over.

Yash Thakur struck in the next over, getting Ishan Kishan (15, 12 balls, 3x4) to nick one to the keeper.

Suryakumar and Green gave some momentum to the innings with a 66-run third wicket partnership in a little over six overs.

Green, who hammered a ton in the final league match against SRH, slammed six boundaries and 1 six while Yadav hit two maximums and an equal number of fours in his 20ball knock.

Brief Scores:

Mumbai Indians: 182 for 8 in 20 overs (Cameron Green 41, Suryakumar Yadav 33; Naveen-ul-Haq 4/38, Yash Thakur 3/34). Lucknow Super Giants: 101 all out in 16.3 overs (Marcus Stoinis 40; Akash Madhwal 5/5).

KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 24 (PTI): Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu had to dig deep to beat Denmark’s Line Christophersen in the women’s singles opening round, while Lakshya Sen stunned world No. 4 Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in men’s singles of the Malaysia Masters, here on Wednesday. Sindhu, seeded sixth, had to toil for one hour and two minutes to get the better of Christophersen 21-13 17-21 21-18 and maintain her superiority over the world no. 33 Dane, who the Indian had defeated four times earlier.

The two-time Olympic medallist Indian, ranked 13th in the world, will next play Japan’s Aya Ohori.

World No. 22 Sen got the better of seventh seed Yew in three games 21-10 16-21 21-9 in a gruelling round of 32 match that lasted 55 minutes. Sen faces Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong in the pre-quarterfinals.

Earlier, HS Prannoy dished out a superlative display to stun world number six Tien Chen Chou of Chinese Taipei. World no. 9 Prannoy held his nerves after going a game down to upset Chou, ranked sixth, 16-21 21-14 21-13 in his opening match to enter the pre-quarterfinals.

Prannoy will next lock horns against Shi Feng Li of China.

The other Indian man to enter the second round was Kidambi Srikanth,

who defeated Toma Junior Popov of France 21-12 21-16.

He will be next be up against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, seeded eighth. However, it was curtains for qualifier Ashmita Chaliha, Aakarshi Kashyap and Malvika Bansod in the women’s singles competition as they suffered straight-game defeats to crash out in the opening round.

While Ashmita lost 17-21 7-21 against fourth seed Yue Han of China, Aakarshi was shown the door by top seed Japanese Akane Yamaguchi 17-21 12-21. Malvika was no match for second seed Zhi Yi Wang of China as she lost 11-21 13-21.

Real Sociedad close in on Top 4 finish, Barca lose in Valladolid

RIYADH, MAY 24 (AGENCIES):

Portuguese

soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo believes the Saudi Pro League he joined this season could in time become one of the top five leagues in the world.

The Portugal skipper joined Al-Nassr in January on a contract estimated by some media reports to be worth more than 200 million euros ($220.16 million).

Ronaldo has played in three of the world’s top leagues with stints at Real Madrid in Spain’s La Liga, Manchester United in the English Premier League and Juventus in Italy’s Serie A. The 38-year-old said the quality of the Saudi competition had improved even in his short time in it.

“We are much better and the Saudi league is getting better and the next year will be even better,” he told Saudi SSC channel on Tuesday.

“Step-by-step I think this league will be among the top five leagues in the world but they need time, players and infrastructure.

“But I believe that this country have amazing potential, they have amazing

people and the league will be great in my opinion,” he added. The Saudis do not lack ambition and a source told Reuters earlier this month that Riyadh club Al-Hilal had made a formal offer to secure the services of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s

rival for the title of best player of his generation.

Ronaldo scored a stunning winner on Tuesday as AlNassr fought back to beat visitors Al-Shabab 3-2 and put Al-Ittihad’s Saudi Pro League title celebrations on hold.

MADRID, MAY 24 (IANS): Real Sociedad edged closer to Champions League qualification with a 1-0 victory at home against Almeria.

Takefusa Kubo netted the game’s only goal during the fourth minute of firsthalf stoppage time, striking a brilliant shot into the top corner of the net, reports Xinhua.

Almeria was reduced to 10 men just 10 minutes later following a harsh challenge from Luis Suarez on Robin Le Normand. Despite not managing to equalize in the second half,

their resilience suggested that they might yet avoid relegation.

Celta Vigo and Girona settled for a 1-1 draw, a result that likely assures

Celta’s La Liga survival.

Carles Perez put the home team ahead just four minutes before halftime. Cristhian Stuani equalized with a twice-taken

penalty in the 58th minute, and both goalkeepers made excellent saves in the closing moments, resulting in a split of points.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez altered his starting lineup significantly for the league champions’ visit to relegation-threatened Valladolid.

Pablo Torre made his league debut for Barca, with Eric Garcia and Marcos Alonso also included in the starting lineup. Barcelona fell behind in the first minute when Andreas Christensen inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.

Larin doubled Valladolid’s lead from the penalty spot in the 21st minute, after Eric Garcia was adjudged to have fouled Gonzalo Plaza. This happened amidst another underwhelming performance by Barcelona. Plaza added a third goal for Valladolid, who also hit the woodwork twice in the second half before Robert Lewandowski scored a late consolation for Barcelona. Valladolid’s win breaks their five-game losing run and heaps pressure on Getafe and Espanyol, who both have fixtures on Wednesday night.

Paris 2024: Number of opening ceremony spectators still undefined

PARIS, MAY 24 (IANS): How many people will be able to watch the first ever outdoor opening ceremony of an Olympic Games on site in the summer next year? The answer is still unclear, as France’s Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin talked about “hundreds of thousands of people” when asked that question.

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games will start at 8:24 pm (local time) on July 26, 2024, and will last three hours, confirmed Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet in a press conference, as the French government, the organising committee and the

Federer

NEW DELHI, MAY 24

(IANS): Roger Federer said he will miss seeing Rafael Nadal play at this year’s French Open, emphasizing that Nadal’s remarkable record at the clay-court major stands as one of the most extraordinary achievements in the history of all sports.

The 14-time Roland Garros champion, Nadal, announced his withdrawal from the clay court major at the Rafa Nadal Academy last week as he is recovering from his hip injury.

The Spaniard will not play in the season’s second major for the first time since his tournament debut in 2005.

Nadal played Federer at the French Open six times and won on every occasion, including four finals.

Federer conducted a question-and-answer session with his fans on Twitter, where the Swiss legend was asked about Nadal not playing in Paris this year.

In reply to the user, the 20-time Grand Slam winner wrote: “Yes I will miss seeing him play,” adding that “French Open + Rafael Nadal = one of the most incredible records in the history of all sports.”

Federer also said, “I’m happy for him (Nadal) that he’s giving himself the necessary time so that he can come back healthy and

make a few more magical runs.”

Asked about his favourite match with Nadal, the Swiss named the 2008 Roland Garros final which he lost 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. “RG 2008. Those 4 games were awesome,” Federer wrote.

Having retired last September, it has been rumoured that Federer could

soon be working as a tennis commentator, but he brushed away all the speculations, saying “no plans to commentate this year”.

He also spoke about how he is enjoying it most since retiring from professional tennis.

“Feeling great nowadays. What I miss most: having a spontaneous dinner out on tour with friends after a match or practice and of course the big stadiums, fans and the thrill of it all.

“There was a lot of little stuff that I didn’t know was creating so much stress that just dropped away, which is really cool. Like a weight being lifted off my shoulders,” he said.

The former World no. 1 also hinted at a potential return to the court to play exhibition matches. “I’d love to play exhibitions in the future and if so, coming to South America again would be amazing,” Federer wrote.

French capital’s mayor signed a security protocol on Tuesday, reports Xinhua. Some 116 boats will be hired to transport over 10,000 athletes, sailing six kilometers from Pont d’Austerlitz to the Pont d’Iena, with several iconic monuments such as Notre Dame, the Louvre

Shotgun WC: Anantjeet, Ganemat finish 6th ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN) MAY 24 (IANS):

Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Ganemat Sekhon finished sixth in the mixed team skeet competition at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun, here on Wednesday.

The duo of Anantjeet and Ganemat shot a combined 142 after 75-targets each in qualification, with the fourth and final qualifying position going at 143.

Italians Tammaro Cassandra and Chiara Cainero won gold defeating the home pairing of Eduard Yechshenko and individual women’s skeet gold medallist Assem Orynbay 41-40 in the gold medal clash.

Anantjeet missed just two targets on the day to post a 73, however Ganemat’s 69 meant that the Indians missed out on a shot at a medal by the narrowest of margins.

and the Eiffel Tower serving as a backdrop. Around 100,000 tickets will be sold for exclusive riverside positions with a price of up to 2,700 euros. Those who wish to watch the open-air gala for free will need to pre-register for tickets.

“We think that a very large number of people who want to see these Olympics will be able to do so in complete safety,” Darmanin said about the pre-register policy, though the exact figure remains unclear.

The organisers initially expected a total number of 600,000 places, but in February, Valerie Pecresse, public transportation

chief of the Ile-de France region, demanded that the figure was cut to “less than 500,000”, citing “insufficient transport capacity.”

Since then, behind the scenes, several political and police sources have mentioned a figure of 400,000 to French media. On May 16, Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera also mentioned a gauge “around 400,000”, still to be refined.

Darmanin, in charge of Olympic security, answered with vague words on Tuesday, saying “hundreds of thousands” of spectators will sit on the high quays to watch the grand show.

Dainese wins Giro stage 17 after mass sprint

LONDON, MAY 24 (AGENCIES): Alberto

Dainese timed his sprint to perfection in a breathless finish to win Wednesday’s stage 17 at the Giro d’Italia, a 195-kilometre ride from Pergine Valsugana to Caorle.

Ineos Grenadiers rider Geraint Thomas continues to lead the overall standings, 18 seconds ahead of Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) with Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) in third place. The Team DSM rider held off Jonathan Milan (Bahrain Victorious) in a mass sprint to prevail by a few centimetres, with Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla) taking third place.

“In the last metres, I was really digging so deep. I was really on the limit and I saw Johnny coming. I couldn’t throw my bike because I was really on the limit but it’s nice to get a few centimetres in front and get the win,” Dainese said.

“In the last five days, I was quite sick with stomach issues. Today was the first

day I was feeling okay, like 80%, and to win after such a struggle in the last five days is insane.”

Briton Mark Cavendish, who announced on Monday that he will end his 17-year career as a professional cyclist at the conclusion of the season, also appeared to be in contention for the stage win, but faded in the final kilometre.

A four-man breakaway comprising of Thomas Champion (Cofidis), Charlie Quarterman (CorratecSelle Italia), Diego Sevilla (Eolo-Kometa) and Senne

Leysen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) built an advantage of over two minutes. Leysen attacked with 22km to go and put in a valiant performance as he battled a challenging headwind, but he never stood a chance as Movistar and Groupama–FDJ took control of the surging peloton, which swallowed up the Belgian rider with 5km left. Thursday’s stage 18 takes place on a mountainous 161-km route from Oderzo to Val Di Zoldo, with two category one ascents.

I’m happy for Nadal that he’s giving himself the necessary time:

PV Sindhu Kidambi Srikanth

Cristiano Ronaldo

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Alberto Dainese

Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo celebrates with teammates.

HS Prannoy

Mumbai Indians bowler Akash Madhwal celebrates with teammates the wicket of Lucknow Super Giants batter Nicholas Pooran during the IPL Eliminator match. (PTI)