27 Sept 22

Correspondent LONGSA (WOKHA)/DI MAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): Union Minister of State for Skill Development & En trepreneurship, Electronics & Information Technology

Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said that BJP’s ideology was to build a stronger, new and a better India for all Indians.

Addressing a huge crowd at a programme or ganised as part of ‘Lok Sab ha Pravas Yojana’ at Public Ground here on Monday, he said the opposition might say that BJP was anti some body or pro somebody or that it had a political ideol ogy that was coloured. But, the political ideology of BJP was development, progress and opportunity for every Indian, he added.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Saab Ka Saath, Saab Ka

Vikas, Saab ka Vishwas’, Chandrasekhar said it meant equal opportunity, progress and prosperity regardless of sex, caste or religion ad loca tion for every Indian. He remarked that one of the things that made him very happy while trav elling around Nagaland was meeting beneficiaries of schemes like PM Awas Yojana, JJM, PM Kisan, Ayushman Bharat, etc.

On the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, he said India was successful because the country has a leader in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who united all Indians and decided to fight the pandemic together.

Chandrasekhar said In dia was world’s fastest grow ing economy as per World Bank. He claimed that India had won awe and respect of all countries in the world and that people were begin ning to say that the future economic recovery of the world would be led by India.

In his short speech, advisor Information Tech nology, Science & Technol ogy, and New & Renewable Energy adviser and BJP national spokesperson Mm honlumo Kikon informed Chandrasekhar that Longsa was a village that elected a BJP MLA at a time when people were averse to vote for the party due to miscon

ceptions and propaganda spread by people with vested interests.

Welcome address was delivered by BJP State ex ecutive member Renpont hung Ezung, who is also the intending candidate from 38 Wokha A/C. Longsa Baptist Church associate pastor Yitsabemo Ezung invoked God’s blessing and 38th Wokha Mandal BJP president Pithungo Michael Ezung proposed vote of thanks at the programme chaired by Wokha District BJP president Yanthungo Kikon. State BJP officials as well as Wokha district and mandals, public leaders and hundreds of villagers at tended the programme.

Zunheboto: Earlier, Rajeev Chandrasekhar dur ing his visit to Zunheboto met Zunheboto district ad ministration officials and asked them to develop a

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): An eight-member delegation of the Working Committee (WC) of the NNPGs, led by its convenor N. Kitovi Zhimomi arrived in the national capital Delhi Monday to hold parleys with Government of India’s representative AK Mishra.

The meeting will be held on September 28 and is likely to go one for few days, sources said. Though WC said that all official talks had already concluded, its co-convenor Isak Sumi informed Nagaland Post that their visit to Delhi would be to “fine tune the political process in order to facilitate an early solution”.

Meanwhile, sources said that the meeting be tween NSCN (I-M) leaders and Centre’s representa tive AK Mishra have been “very positive”. Delibera tions have been going on for nearly a week, and this time, after “resumption of talks”, both sides have held fruitful meetings, sources said.

WASHINGTON, SEP 26 (PTI): A new SARS-CoV2-like virus discovered in Russian bats is capable of infecting humans, and is resistant to current vaccines against COVID-19, a study has found.

A team lead by re searchers at Washington State University (WSU), US, found spike proteins from the bat virus, named Khosta-2, can infect human cells and is resistant to both the antibody therapies and blood serum from people vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2.

A virus uses the spike protein to enter and in fect the human cells. Both Khosta-2 and SARS- CoV-2 belong to the same subcategory of coronaviruses known as sarbecoviruses.

“Our research further demonstrates that sarbecovi ruses circulating in wildlife outside of Asia -- even in places like western Russia where the Khosta-2 virus

was found -- also pose a threat to global health and ongoing vaccine campaigns against SARS-CoV-2,” said Michael Letko, correspond ing author of the study.

The finding, published in the journal PLoS Patho gens, highlights the need to develop universal vaccines to protect against sarbecovi ruses in general, rather than just against known variants of SARS-CoV-2.

“Right now, there are groups trying to come up with a vaccine that doesn’t just protect against the next variant of SARS-2 but actu ally protects us against the

sarbecoviruses in general,” Letko said. “Unfortunately, many of our current vac cines are designed to specific viruses we know infect hu man cells or those that seem to pose the biggest risk to in fect us,” the scientist added.

While hundreds of sar becoviruses have been dis covered in recent years, pre dominantly in bats in Asia, the majority are not capable of infecting human cells. The Khosta-1 and Khosta-2 viruses were discovered in Russian bats in late 2020, and it initially appeared they were not a threat to humans, the researchers said.

“Genetically, these weird Russian viruses looked like some of the others that had been discov ered elsewhere around the world, but because they did not look like SARS-CoV-2, no one thought they were really anything to get too excited about,” Letko said.

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): State BJP president Temjen Imna Along on Monday directed all party office bearers at the State, district and mandal levels, karyakartas/karyakamis and party members at all levels “to desist from any form of lobbying/cam paigning/declaration of candidature(s) in any man ner whatsoever.”

In a notification issued on September 26, the State BJP president further said that the “seat-sharing for mula and selection of can didatures” will be decided and declared by the party Central Election Commit tee in due course of time.

Along said that the notification has been neces sitated in the interest of the party “to prevent propagan da and misconception and issues with Central directive for strict compliance until further notice.”

The party chief warned that any violation of the directive shall invite stern disciplinary action.

According to BJP par ty sources, the notification has been issued, as directed by the Central party high command, since many in tending candidates have started carrying out elec tioneering activities even before the assembly con stituencies/candidatures have been finalized.

NEW DELHI, SEPT 26 (PTI/AGENCIES): Con gress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken on Monday briefed party president Sonia Gandhi about the developments in Rajasthan and are expected to submit a written report about the crisis in the party’s state unit latest by Tuesday.

According to reports, Sonia expressed her displea sure and anger and asked, “How could he do this?” in a clear reference to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

Sonia has sought a de tailed written report from party observers- Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken.

Meanwhile, sources said: “Status-quo to be maintained till Congress president election nomina tions. Decision on issuing of show cause notices to miffed MLAs, vocal in public, will be taken after interim chief takes action on report by observers,” a source said.

Talking to reporters after a nearly one-and-ahalf-hour-long meeting with Gandhi, AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Ajay Maken said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was organised with the consent of Gehlot, and termed the act of the MLAs loyal to him to hold a parallel meet

ing as “indiscipline”. Maken said it was “unfortunate” that the CLP meeting could not be held.

There was a clear di rection by the Congress president that “we speak to every MLA and submit a report, and then the Con gress president would have taken a call after speaking to everyone”, he specified.

But according to Maken, the representatives of the MLAs loyal to the chief minister put forward three conditions, includ ing that the decision on the next chief minister would be taken by the new party president. “How is it pos

sible that the person moving the resolution authorises the Congress president... that person wants to fight AICC president polls and if he wins the polls, he would decide on it? If this is not conflict of interest, what is?” he said in a reference to Gehlot.

Pilot, who is seen to be the main contender for the chief minister’s post if Gehlot is elected as the Congress president, is also expected to meet the party high-command amid the developments. The Con gress in Rajasthan plunged into a crisis on Sunday after around 90 MLAs submitted their resignation to Rajast

han Assembly Speaker CP Joshi over a possible move to appoint Sachin Pilot as Gehlot’s successor.

Gehlot reportedly out of Cong prez race: Rajast han Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who was a top fa vourite to take over the reins of the Congress party after the presidential election, is now reportedly out of the race over allegations of “orchestrating” the political crisis in the state.

Senior Congress lead ers including Mukul Was nik, Mallikarjun Kharge, Digvijaya Singh, KC Venu gopal are now expected to enter the fray.

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): All Nagaland PreService Teachers’ Asso ciation (ANPSTA) has wel comed and appreciated the department of school educa tion (DoSE) recent directive to heads of all government schools to ensure that no teachers engaged proxies under any circumstances.

ANPSTA through its media cell has appealed to the responsible authorities to implement the directive in true spirit and take nec essary action against those teachers keeping proxy.

Advertise vacant posts of PT: ANPSTA has re quested the department to advertise the existing vacant posts of primary teacher (PT) within this year “with out making an excuse”. Failure to do so, the association cautioned that it would take every demo cratic step deemed legal and the department would be held responsible. ANPSTA alleged that the depart ment “doesn’t bother or take time” to appoint thou sands of incapable teachers through

director school education communicated with its cen tral team, requesting them to postpone the proposed agi tation for another 20 days.

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN):

Correspondent/PTI

KOHIMA, SEP 26 (NPN):

All Nagaland Ad hoc Teach ers Group (ANATG)-2015

Batch, which deferred their proposed agitation by 20 days, resumed its agitation

KOHIMA, SEP 26 (PTI):

The Nagaland government has spent over Rs 1,300 crore on 416 projects which are incomplete for almost 20 years, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said.

This was revealed in the State Finances Audit Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 31, 2021, which was tabled by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the just concluded Nagaland Leg islative Assembly session.

There were 416 proj ects lying incomplete/on going as on March 31, 2021 for which Rs 1,380.04 crore had been spent by 36

on Monday demanding immediate service regula risation.

Despite heavy downpour, hundreds of ANATG-2015 Batch from various government schools across the State, gathered

at Naga Solidarity Park and staged a rally outside Nagaland Civil Secretariat complex, Kohima.

ANATG-2015 batch, comprising of 1,166 mem bers, had on September 7 informed that the principal

At the protest site, ANATG-2105 batch mem bers were seen holding plac ards and banners, some of which read: “We have served the department/ govt. for more than 11 years”, “Justice delayed is justice denied”, “The 1166 teachers of ANATG-2015 batch have already ap peared/cleared the depart mental suitability test in the year 2017” etc.

Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has condemned the alleged failed attempt by a CRPF personnel to plant an improvised explosive device (IED) on September 23 along the national high way between Nungba and Puiluan village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district where a programme for the renova tion of Jadonang Memorial was scheduled to be held on September 24.

In a press release, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and general secretary Süpu ni Ng Philo said the admis sion by the accused that the

IED was planted under the direction of his commander Inspector Dogra Singh of the 87th CRPF Battalion while IED was delivered to him by 39th Assam Rifles at Nungba revealed “a new low in the sinister plot of the Indian Armed forces to hi jack the hard-earned peace” brought about by the ongo ing political negotiation between the Government of India and the Naga political groups.

The federation ques tioned as to how many such incidents had gone unde tected in the past and how many innocent Naga souls

were made to face the brunt of the armed forces atroci ties for no fault of theirs.

NSF maintained that the latest incident cannot be one isolated case as the Indian armed forces would have “no qualms in victim izing the innocent civilians to meet their desired goal of creating chaos and con fusions through dubious means”.

The federation has, however, expressed relief that the “attempt to cause death and grievous hurt” was thwarted by the vigilant womenfolk of Puilang vil lage.

Departments since the year 2003, the CAG report said.

The age profile of in complete projects based on the year of sanction/year of start of these projects ranges from 2003, it said.

The CAG report re vealed that from 2003-11, there were 63 incomplete projects for which Rs 722.61 crore has been spent with cost over-run amount ing to Rs 156.61 crore as on March 31, 2021.

In 2011-12, an amount of Rs 67.96 crore was spent for 19 incomplete projects while in 2012-13, Rs 132.86 crore has been spent for 39 ongoing projects with cost over-run of Rs 25.84 crore.

Further, 2013-14: 134

projects (Rs 53.55 crore), 2014-15: 59 projects (Rs 23.98 crore), 2015-16: 21 projects (Rs 96.18 crore), 2016-17: 10 projects (Rs 11.98 crore), 2017-18: 34 projects (Rs 67.48 crore), 2018-19: 9 projects (Rs 42.78 crore), 2019-20: 4 projects (Rs 5.28 crore), the report said.

While for 2020-21 there were no such incom plete projects, the CAG report, however, said that a total of 24 incomplete/ going projects on which Rs 155.38 crore was spent does not have information about the year of commencement.

The report stated that of the 36 defaulting depart ments, the major defaulting

departments were PWD (Roads & Bridges) – Rs 258.85 crore against 15 projects; PWD (Housing) –Rs 235.56 crore against 35 projects, Police Engineering Project – Rs 177.75 crore for 48 projects; Urban De velopment – Rs 96.77 crore for 26 projects; Geology & Mining – Rs 48.95 crore for 4 projects; Veterinary and Animal Husbandry – Rs 19.3 crore for 62 projects; Civil Administration Works – Rs 15.33 for 47 projects while other 29 (names not specified) had spent Rs 527.53 crore against 179 incomplete works.

The report said that analysis of the 416 incom plete projects revealed that

in 63 projects, target year of completion was not fur nished by the Departments till the end of audit period.

Of these 416 projects, works in respect of two projects (estimated cost Rs 10.93 crore) had been sus pended during 2014-15 after incurring an expenditure of Rs 10.46 crore (95.70 per cent of estimated cost).

In 358 projects, there was no financial progress during 2020-21, it said, adding that there was 100 per cent financial achieve ment in six projects but 100 per cent physical progress was not achieved while in one project physical prog ress was nil.

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): Nagaland Law Stu dents’ Federation (NLSF) has slammed the alleged ongoing process to regular ise 154 contractual assistant professor (AP) posts.

NLSF through its me dia and publicity wing said that the move to facilitate the service of assistant pro fessors without extending opportunity to the deserving ones through free and fair exam would “only jeop ardise the spirit of meritocra cy among the job aspirants.”

NLSF also said that the legislator’s statement in the assembly regarding process of regularization of contractual appointee was

“contradictory statement” and violation of the princi ples of “equality” enshrined under Article 16(1) in the Constitution.

Further, NLSF main tained that assistant profes sor appointments under the higher education depart ment should at least follow its due procedural examina tion process. It, therefore, appealed to the minister to allow free and fair competi tion for all qualified candi dates from Nagaland. NLSF cautioned that it would not remain a silent spectator in its quest for ‘justice for all’, and affirmed its fullest support to Nagaland NET Qualified Forum.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar (NP)

‘World Pharmacist Day’ observed in Kohima, Tuensang

Correspondent

KOHIMA : Nagaland Pharmacist Association (NPA) in collaboration with Kohima District Phar macist Union (KDPU) organised the state level “World Pharmacist Day” on the theme “Pharma cy United in Action for a Healthier World”, in the Conference Hall of the chief medical office (CMO), here, on Septem ber 25.

The celebration com memorates the establish ment of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) on September 25, 1912.

Addressing the gather ing of pharmacists serving under the department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), district pharmacy officer, Kohima, Khizoto spoke on the theme. He also shared the ob jective to extend invitation to colleagues from all areas of pharmaceutical profes sion to join the campaign and demonstrate how they were unified for health and overcoming conflict, politi cal and cultural perspectives and economic inequality. He

Pathso stakeholders support ENPO’s demand

DIMAPUR: Extending support to Eastern Naga land Peoples’ Organisa tion (ENPO)’s demand for “Frontier Nagaland” and Khiamniungan Tribal Coun cil (KTC) September 22 res olution, a “grassroots level sensitisation programme on Frontier Nagaland” was jointly organised by the pub lic organisations, student body, and village council on September 25 at Pathso No keng Village, Noklak.

A press release by Path so Nokeng Students’ Union (PNSU) executive chairman informed that during the meeting, the stakeholders were highlighted with the background of the demand and the decisions made at the KTC and ENPO levels by KTC executive member, Z Khaoshai. Pathso No keng Public Organization (PNPO) president, P Sune encouraged the gathering to extend support in due steps of action until the demand was fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the public reaffirmed to extend full support and cooperation to the demand and stand by the ENPO and KTC deci sions. The gathering was also briefed on the proposed mass Walkathon on October 7 organized by the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federa tion (ENSF).

One hurt in mishap

to achieve welfare goals of the sector.

Khizoto was also of the view that the govern ment must shift the mindset to have a more balanced curriculum that fosters com petency of the profession in order to empower pharma cists to further define roles in the health care system in Nagaland.

health awareness.

Drug inspector Ko hima, Ethungbemo Ezung and deputy director phar macy, Khele Thorie also exhorted the gathering.

The programme was chaired by AYUSH, phar macist, Sezovonuo Tetso while invocation was offered by Aloni Shijoh.

Tuensang, on September 25.

In a press release, DMO NHM Tuensang, Apheang stated that dur ing the programme, a short speech was delivered by head pharmacist Imlienla.

Health camp conducted at Thonoknyu PHC

DIMAPUR: The second round of the free health camp under “Seva Pakhwa da” (a fortnight of service) was held at Thonoknyu PHC under Noklak district.

DIMAPUR: Dimapur po lice have informed that one non-local unidentified pe destrian aged around 30 years, was hit by a scooty at Gorapatti Golaghat Road, near Amar Mill Dimapur, on September 24.

According to Dimapur police PRO, the pedestrian received serious head injury and was admitted in the ICU at Faith Hospital Dimapur. The pedestrian was wearing a black shirt, grey half pant with black leather belt and double hearted tattoo marks imprinted on right dorsum hand with orange thread on the right wrist.

In this regard, police have re quested relatives/ friends to contact OC West PS or Faith Hospital Di mapur.

NPA members at the celebration at Kohima on September 25. (NP) said the day was a chance to emphasise the importance of the pharmacist profes sion-related responsibilities, without which there would be no comprehensive patient care.

Khizoto stated that the profession has changed over time and today, it was not only limited to medi

cines but also extended to the preparation, produc tion, analysis and storage of medical supplies.

He pointed out that pharmacy education and its branch of pharmaceuti cal industry in the country has witnessed tremendous expansion over the last cen tury.

He also added that the limited public awareness of pharmacy services was a current challenge for phar macies in the health system in Nagaland.

In this regard, he rec ommended both govern ment and non-governmental organisations in this profes sion to collaborate in order

H&FW deputy drug controller, Lithungo high lighted the need to upgrade pharmacist profession in the state and remarked that just acquiring a degree was not enough.

He therefore, urged upon pharmacists to con tinue equipping themselves with more knowledge and to report poor quality drugs while also disseminating

Pharmacist and KDPU president Kiyekhu Chophy delivered welcome address, pharmacist and NPA presi dent Libonthung R Shitiri offered the vote of thanks while NSACS pharmacist Jentinochet Amri presented a special number.

Tuensang: Tuensang District Pharmacist Union (TDPU) observed World Pharmacist Day in the con ference hall of the CMO

She emphasised on roles of pharmacists and their importance in health care sector, perception of pharmacist and its involve ment in different health sector including pharma co-vigilance.

The programme was chaired by TDPU president Hoshea and invocation was offered by pharmacist Imti kumla.

A special number was presented by Chubalemla and friends while vote of thanks was proposed by pharmacist Lanu.

In a press release, free health check-up team incharge Kevidezo Peter Rut sa stated that Dr. Jonkoi, nurses Puhoi and Juphoi along with other healthcare workers and staff attended to villagers at the health camp.

While the party is ar ranging medicines and ma terials for the camps, the medicines for the camp at Thonoknyu were provided by BJP state spokesperson Kakuto N Chishi and state vice president Basu Damani.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Lt. Mrs. ASANGLA JAMIR

Born : 01/05/1959 Died : 17/09/2022

The family of Late Mrs. Asangla, wishes to acknowledge the many expressions of sympathy and gestures of kindness shown to us following our sad loss.

We offer our heartfelt thanks to the many friends, neighbours and well-wishers who visited us at home, hospital attended the wake, service and burial, and who provided emotional and practical support for us at this difficult time. For those who telephoned, travelled long distances, we are truly grateful.

A special word of thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of Eden Medical Centre Dimapur and Nemcare Super Specialty Hospital Guwahati, for their kindness, respect and care shown at all times.

To those who helped in any way, your contribution made our loss more bearable. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude.

As we grieve the sad demise of our beloved father Late Langkhongam (Angam), words are inadequate to express our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, Doctors and nurses of CIHSR, friends, well wishers, churches, organizations, associations, councils and fellowships for all your support through prayers, physically, financially and unconditional moral support through words of comfort and encouragement during his illness and at the demise of our beloved father who left us for his heavenly abode on the 22nd September, 2022.

We deeply regret our inability to thank each and everyone personally but it is our ardent prayer to Almighty God to bless you all abundantly.

Loving wife, sons, in-laws, grand children and relatives

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7 P-4673/22

Born : 08/02/1982 – Died : 15/09/2022

We, the family members of Late Nongothung Shitiri (Zeney) would like to extend our heartfelt gratefulness to all our friends, neighbours and well wishers who stood by us during our sad hours at the demise of beloved Late Nongothung (Zeney).

We acknowledge the good deeds you have rendered to our family by showering your invaluable prayer supports, your supports both financially and materially and for all the unseen supports. We trust the Almighty God will surely bless you all abundantly as He always does!

We, in particular convey our profound thankfulness to:

1. Pastors of Spirit of Faith Church (SFC) Dimapur and Wokha and all the Members.

2. SFC Worship Team, Dimapur.

3. Kasumi (Roni-C) Village Baptist Church.

4. P. Tokugha Village Baptist Church.

5. Niu Colony Fellowship (DSBC).

6. C-Khel Pangti Village and Well Wishers.

7. NCRC Roni Old Village and Well Wishers.

8. GB and Council Members of Niu Colony.

9. Sumi Kiphimi Kuqhakulu, Niu Colony

11. GHS (Primary Section) Burma Camp. P-4655/22 P-4663/22

10. Riverlife School, Teachers and Students, Burma Camp.

AckNowLeDGeMeNt

Mishap victim.

CII hands over 468 BP instruments to H&FW deptt

LOU DHPS convenes emergency meeting

Tongpang Ozüküm highlights functions of

SEPTEMBER

DIMAPUR: Confedera tion of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday, handed over 468 numbers of blood pressure (BP) instruments to the department of Health & Family Welfare, to be dis tributed at District Health Centres in Nagaland.

In a press release, H&FW IEC bureau stated that during a brief pro gramme, CII Nagaland State Council chairper son, Hokhuli Sema in her speech, stated that the 468 blood pressure instruments (LCD Deluxe DLX Cuff BATT, ADPT, BPDGI34, Diamond) were being do nated as CII COVID Relief and Response Initiative under the Corporate So cial Responsibility (CSR) programme.

Various programmes organised for students

DIMAPUR: Educational institutions, departments and other organisations have been organising various pro grammes for students across the state.

SJU: Department of Political Science, St. Jo seph University (SJU) Chü moukedima on September 21 observed United Nations’ “International Day of Peace 2022” on the theme, “End Racism, Build Peace” with a talk by freelance speaker and academic, Dr. Kethoser Aniu Kevuchusa.

A press release by SJU stated that while speaking on “Peace in the Context of Naga Political Conflict”, Dr. Kevichusa pointed out that the “costs of war in Nagaland” owing to brutali ties faced by people under both government of India and “Naga underground groups”, were clearly re flected in problems resulting in (non/under) develop ment, unemployment and fear psychosis, largely due to political instability and political conflict.

He specified various dimensions of peace, exoge neous and endogenous ways in which conflicts could be understood and resolved.

In separate events, SJU in collaboration with Talent Acquaintance Company organised campus drive for present final year students on September 22. Department of psychology and counsel ling conducted an outreach programme on September 23 at Open Doors, an old Age Home in 4th Mile, Chümoukedima. The de partment of Zoology also conducted an outreach pro gramme on September 22 at Bluemoon School, Sang tamtilla Village while depart

On receiving the BP instruments, principal di rector of H&FW, Dr. K Vikato Kinimi expressed gratitude to the CII for its generous donation.

He stated that their dedication to the communi ty will not go unnoticed as such act of thoughtfulness will help many patients in the treatment and detection of blood pressure related diseases.

Further, the principal director expressed hope to seeing more inspiring par ticipation towards making a mark in the state.

In the introductory note, state head CII Na galand Branch Kohima, Chuba Ozukum informed that the donation was in tended to be handed over

earlier but it was delayed due to the pandemic and other inconveniences.

He however, men tioned that the council was happy to donate the instruments in the presence of the department officials.

It may be mentioned that this was a contribution to the state government’s COVID readiness across the health centers in the districts.

The cost of the BP instruments is around Rs. 13 lakh and the project was done under the initia tive of CII Nagaland state head, members, advisor CII North East, Brig Ashis Bhattacharyya and team from CII CSR Foundation, who approved the relief proposal.

DIMAPUR: Land Owners Union (LOU) of Doyang Hydro Power Station has informed the chairmen/ head GB, presidents and secretaries of LOU units and executive members of 17 land affected villages of Doyang Hydro Power Station that an emergency coordination meeting will be held on September 28, 10 am, at Community Hall, Thillong village (Doyang) to discuss the ultimatum served to DHPS by LOU DHPS Doyang, Wokha. All con cerned have been requested to attend the meeting.

DC Tuensang informs

DIMAPUR: Deputy com missioner (DC), Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant has in formed that the district has received State Disaster Re sponse Fund (SDRF) from NSDMA, Home depart ment, for 2019-20. DC said list of beneficiaries is made available at DDMA Cell, DC’s office and requested beneficiaries to collect the amount from DDMA Cell, Tuensang, September 28 onwards. Beneficiaries have also been asked to produce any of the documents— Aadhar Card/EPIC/Ser vice ID/PAN Card for iden tification purpose.

Correspondent MOKOKCHUNG, SEPT 26 (NPN): Nagaland Build ing & other construction workers, welfare board (NBOCWWB) conducted an “Awareness & Field Reg istration” at the Grace Gar den, Alempang ward, with minister of PWD (Housing & Mechanical), Tongpang Ozüküm, here, on Monday.

Exhorting the benefi ciaries, Tongpang lauded NBOCWW board for con ducting such a “special reg istration drive” at Angety ongpang constituency.

He stated that such

awareness campaigns have opened the eyes of many workers who had been unaware of the benefits of schemes that could be availed. He also disclosed that there was consideration to accommodate females in the future.

Tongpang highlighted that each beneficiary re ceived Rs. 2000 upon im mediate registration and that two siblings of the beneficiary would receive Rs. 500 monthly, as educa tional monetary assistance (Children Educational Al lowance).

NBOCWWB CEO, T.

Chubayanger who chaired the programme also in formed that the board was planning to authenticate the beneficiaries through Aadhar to strike out bogus beneficiaries.

Earlier, a short speech was delivered by NBOCW WB chairman, Dr. Kekhrie Yhome and welcome note was delivered by Alempang ward chairman Limasashi. Later, vote of thanks was proposed by Longmisa village council chairman Merensosang Jamir and invocation was offered by ABC pastor, Rev. Dr. Temsu S.

Mangmetong Students’ Union Kohima unit celebrates golden jubilee

ment of Economics organ ised cultural and economic talent day on September 23 at university auditorium.

TGOUN: The Global Open University, Naga land, department of Hotel Management, organised a programme on disaster man agement and first aid dealing with emergency situation and fire drill at the Univer sity campus on September 23, as part of the student’s academic curriculum in collaboration with Home Guards, Civil Defense and SDRF Dimapur.

In a press release, TGOUN stated that alto gether, around 50 students and faculties of Hotel Man agement and Fashion Tech nology (regular students) took part in the demonstra tion programme.

At the programme, de partment of Hotel manage ment in-charge, S. Bendang Imsong acknowledged dis trict commandant, Home Guards, Civil Defence and SDRF Dimapur, Akhu Kath and his team led by Lipok sashi Aier (S.I) and 11 expert armed personnel for im parting knowledge through demonstrations.

NCHD&IT: Naga land Centre for Human Development & Information Technology (NCHD&IT), a non-profit organization that works in education sector in the Government primary Schools of Dimapur district under donor agent IDeA – The Ant, organised an annual education fair on September 22 at Ghokito Vil lage. During the programme, students of Ghokito Govern ment Primary School were given a school bag each along with their activity report.

DDFPSU holds meeting; elects new office bearers

DIMAPUR: Dimapur District Fair Price Shop Union (DDF PSU) held a general meeting on September 21.

At the meeting, Dimapur District Fair Price Shop Union se lected Shihovi Sema as president, Lipokyanger as vice president, Hukali Sema as general secre tary, Ezanbemo Yanthan as joint secretary while Shikuto Sema was selected as the as finance secretary cum treasurer and CP Gonmei, Hotoshe Chophy and Ayangla as advisors, for the ten ure 2022-2027.

DIMAPUR: Mangmetong Students’ Union (MSU) Kohima unit celebrated its golden jubilee on the theme, “towards excellence” (Tematiba Dangi) at RCEM PA Jotsoma, Kohima on September 24.

According to a DIPR report, NPWD executive engineer, Er. Imnameren Imchen said excellence was a system-based diagnostic approach that does not come easily, and for a person or a union to move forward, diagnosis was important in order to introspect areas that need improvement.

Er. Imnameren urged upon the students to retro spect the education system in the last 50 years and see

if it has reached a level that needs appreciation. He urged upon the students to be passionate, responsible, honourable, identify their talent and to communicate.

In his address guest of honour, Imkong L. Imchen, MLA, recalled how the union was founded with a handful of students after a deliberation.

He challenged the gath ering to be aware of their roots and encouraged the students to do all things through God like their pio neers.

Further, Imkong ad vised the students to be courageous, speak the truth, and to remain united.

The guest of honour

also released the jubilee sou venir during the programme.

MSU Kohima unit, first president, Nungsangmeren Imchen also shared a brief history of the union and said the Union was founded on March 12, 1972 by a handful of students.

During the programme, Mangmetong Senso Telongjem Kohima, president, Samson Tzudir exhorted the gathering;

jubilee greetings were deliv ered by representatives from Mangmetonglar Telongjem Kohima, Kohima Ongpang kong Kaketshir Telongjem, Ao Kaketshir Telongjem Kohima and Mangmetong Kaketshir Telongjem; welcome address was delivered by MSU Ko hima unit, president Mulushi Imchen and vote of thanks by convenor, jubilee planning committee, Jangsemba Tzudir.

Dr. K Vikato Kinimi receiving the BP instruments from CII representatives on Monday.

Tongpang Ozüküm addressing the participants and others at the programme on Monday. (NP)

EE NPWD, Er. Imnameren Imchen speaking at the MSU Kohima Unit golden jubilee celebration. (DIPR)

CSOs lock BJP office in Kangpokpi

deadline, members of the district based CSOs locked the main gate of the BJP and pasted a bill which read, “Kangpokpi BJP office to remain shut from today, 26th September 2022 –CSO Kangpokpi”.

The members also de clared to impose complete ban on all activities related to the BJP and its youth wing BJYM in the district indefinitely with immedi ate effect.

Massive landslide damages dam wall in Arunachal

GUWAHATI, SEP 26 (AGENCIES): A massive landslide triggered by heavy rain in Arunachal Pradesh has damaged the guard wall of Subansiri Lower Hydro electric Project (SLHP) at Gerukamukh. The intake tunnel of the project has been closed due to the dam age, said sources.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, SEP 26: Ma nipur based Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Monday locked the main gate of ruling BJP’s office in Kangpokpi district and declared to boycott the party in the state.

CSOs locked down the BJP office with a padlock in protest against failure

of the BJYM to clarify on September 16 firing incident at Leikot village.

CSOs alleged that on September 16, activists of BJYM Manipur Pradesh allegedly opened fire during a drive against illegal drugs in the village and injured a youth.

Terming the act of the BJYM activists as “unlaw ful”, residents of Leikot

village demanded the state government to book the BJYM activists involved in the firing incident.

But with no action ini tiated, the CSOs threatened to impose a complete ban on all the activities of the BJP and BJYM if the demand of the Leikot villagers was not fulfilled within a week or before September 25. With the expiry of the

Earlier, a joint meeting of the CSOs held at Kang pokpi district headquarters on Sunday resolved to lock the office of the BJP in the state in protest against the party’s failure to give a posi tive response to the demand of the villagers.

After the meeting, the leaders of the CSOs ap pealed to the people of the district to not attend any event related to the BJP and urged organizations based in the district not to invite any BJP MLA, ministers and party leaders as guests at any event or function.

“The guard wall col lapsed after the rise in water level due to heavy rain in Arunachal Pradesh. After the damage, the labourers working at the site were immediately evacuated. Ongoing work has been shut down and it will take time before restarting,” an official source said.

According to NDTV re port, two of the five tunnels of the hydroelectric project have been shut down by the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) to avoid inundation in the downstream areas of Sub ansiri River in Lakhimpur district, he further said.

GUWAHATI, SEP 26 (IANS): Amid the row over violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act by driving a safari vehicle inside the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP & TR) in Assam beyond the scheduled time by Chief Minister, Tourism Minister and spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev a.k.a Sadhguru, Principal Chief Conser vator of Forests (PCCF) M.K. Yadava on Monday said that the VVIPs did not violate the law.

The PCCF said that after the unveiling of three statues of rhinoceros at the Mihimukh of KNP & TR on Saturday, they (forest officials) had invited Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and spiritual guru Sadhguru to participate in a safari vehicle inside the KNP & TR.

“The law has permit ted the Chief Wildlife War den to allow the visitors to take part in a safari vehicle in a special case. Many

people do not know the spe cial provision leading to the unnecessary controversy. The issue was raised as part of a hidden agenda to defame the national park,” the PCCF told the media. Noting that all arrange ments were made for the safari vehicle and there was no way that “we could take it back just because it was becoming dark”, the senior Indian Forest Service of ficial said that during the safari vehicle, KNP & TR Field Director and other forest officials were present in the park. “If any one is accused over this issue that is I... myself, not the VVIPs

has seized power. This is a golden opportunity for our country to resume talks to restore peace there,” said Zoramthanga.

AIZAWL, SEP 26 (PTI):

India should negotiate with military authorities in trouble-torn Myanmar and various ethnic groups there to restore peace in the neighbouring country, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has said. India shares an over 1,600-kmlong international border with Myanmar.

“We have received re quests from some quarters of Myanmar that India should broker peace in the country where the military

The chief minister said he was sent to Myanmar on a peace mission along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval a few years ago. However, the peace nego tiation with the Myanmar military government and ethnic groups was aborted when the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy came to power in 2015, he said.

Zoramthanga was in the national capital during the September 3-24 period and met President Drou padi Murmu, Prime Min ister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah among others over the Myanmar political crisis, and influx of refugees from the neighbouring country.

Correspondent

SHILLONG, SEP 26:

Noting that early child hood development pro gramme was ‘very critical programme’, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Monday em phasised on the importance of working on a mission mode as opposed to the generic schematic approach towards improving devel opmental indicators.

Delivering a key-note address at State level work shop on Meghalaya Early Childhood Development (ECD) Mission with the theme, “Unleashing Ev ery Child’s Full Potential for A Bright Tomorrow”, Sangma said that the mindset of the community that focusses on child develop ment later in life needs to be changed.

“We start focussing on children only when they

are fourteen or fifteen years of age but in fact the early phases of a child’s life are very critical and its impact can last a lifetime,” he said.

“The process of a baby’s development begins from conception and is influenced by a pregnant woman’s health, nutrition and environment and after birth the baby continues to develop rapidly, impacting his or her physical, intel lectual and emotional wellbeing, learning potential and subsequently, earning

capacity and success in adulthood,” Sangma un derscored.

Stating that the Early Childhood Development is an investment that will directly influence health, economic and social out comes for individuals and society, the Chief Minister also mooted for 100 Days Mission Mode programmes to make a difference at the grass root levels.

The Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission focuses on provid ing motor and cognitive development, socio-emo tional development, health and nutrition, and early education development as key areas for the holistic development of children.

The mission also aims to transform Anganwadi Centres to Early Child hood Development centres.

About 5000 Anganwadi Centres will be upgraded

GUWAHATI, SEP 26 (PTI):

Researchers at IIT-Guwahati have developed a new strat egy to deliver chemothera peutic drugs directly to the infected cells of a cancer patient, thereby significantly reducing side effects.

Explaining it, profes sor Debasis Manna of the Department of Chemistry said the researchers had two needs in the development of chemotherapy drugs -it must be targeted at the

cancer cells and must be released by an external trig ger whenever it is required.

“The problem with existing chemotherapeutic drugs is that they kill healthy cells of the body in addition to cancerous cells, leading to numerous undesirable side effects,” IIT-Guwahati said in a statement on Monday.

In fact, it is believed that cancer deaths are as much due to the side effects of chemotherapy as the dis

ease itself, it added.

“There is worldwide research to overcome the drawbacks of secondary tox icity of chemotherapeutic drugs. Some strategies that are being explored include target-specific delivery of the drugs and on-demand delivery of appropriate drug doses to cancerous cells and tissues,” it said.

The molecules devel oped by the IIT-Guwahati researchers self-assemble as

capsules to hold the drug, which then attaches only to cancer cells, the state ment said.

“When infrared light is shone on it, the shell breaks and releases the en capsulated drug into the cancerous cell. The IIT-G scientists rightly believe that their approach would allow the development of drug carriers for chemotherapy with enhanced efficacy and negligible side effects,” it

Arunachal to hand over APPSC paper leak case to CBI

ITANAGAR, SEP 26

(PTI): Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Mon day said his government has recommended a CBI inquiry into the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam paper leak.

The question paper of the exam for the As sistant Engineer (Civil), conducted on August 26 and 27 by the APPSC, was leaked. Police have arrested five people so far in the case.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, SEP 26: Mani pur chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday inaugu rated the Flybig Flight from Imphal to Tezu at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.

Speaking on the oc casion, Singh said that the flight launched today un der the UDAN Scheme of the Central government, will connect Imphal with Arunachal Pradesh by the

Flybig flight.

The flight will directly fly to Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh and then to Guwa hati. With such an initiative, connections among peoples of different northeast states will become closer, he as serted.

He added that this will not only increase people to people connections but also bring growth in businesses and in the tourism sector.

The chief minister in formed that Imphal to Bang

kok via Guwahati will start its operation soon.

The direct flight from Imphal to Bangkok was, however, still under con sideration, calculating the volume of passengers from the state, he said assuring that the same will also be started.

The inaugural pro gramme was also attended by state works minister Gov indas Konthoujam and state transport minister Khashim Vashum.

Speaking to reporters in Ziro in Lower Subansiri district after inaugurating a slew of projects, Khandu said the state government has decided to hand over the investigation to the CBI.

“The APPSC is con sidered to be the highest recruitment institution of the state and such kind of corruption in the recruit ment process will not be tolerated,” he said.

Unemployed youths of the state have a lot of expectations from the AP PSC, he added.

added. The research pa pers have been co-authored by Manna, along with his research scholars Subhasis Dey, Anjali Patel, and Biswa Mohan Prusty among oth ers. Anti-cancer activities were carried out in col laboration with professors Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh and Plaboni Sen of IITGuwahati, and professors Arindam Bhattacharyya and Soumya Chatterjee of Calcutta University.

and 10,000 Early Child hood Development fa cilitators from the SHG cadre will support Early Childhood Development centre activities. Around 5800 Anganwadi Workers will be upskilled to deliver early childhood education to children from 6 months to 6 years.

The Early Childhood Development facilitators along with VHCs will con duct meetings with parents to take the science of Early Childhood Development to every household.

In the course of his address, the Chief Min ister also laid down the Government’s vision of making Meghalaya one of the top 10 states in India in terms of developmental indicators.

He said that every scheme and mission being implemented in the State is interconnected.

ITANAGAR, SEP 26 (PTI): To motivate Indian Army units guarding the ter ritorial integrity of the coun try along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig Dr B D Mishra (Retd) on Mon day presented citations to three army units at the Raj Bhavan here.

The governor present ed citations to the 97 Field Regiment, the First Bat talion of Arunachal Scouts and the 25th Battalion of the Madras Regiment, for their professional competence and elan, which they have displayed in their area of operational responsibilities, Raj Bhavan sources said.

Commanding Officer of 97 Field Regiment Col Vi vek Pathak, Subedar Major S N Yadav and junior most gunner of the unit, Gunner Surjeet received the Gover

or the guests,” Yadava clari fied. Environment and ani mal rights activists alleged that Assam Chief Minis ter, state Tourism Minister and Sadhguru violated the Wildlife (Protection) Act by driving a safari vehicle inside the KNP & TR at the late evening which is much beyond the scheduled time.

Activists Soneswar Narah and Prabin Pegu on Sunday lodged a police complaint at the Bokakhat police station in Golaghat district against the Chief Minister, spiritual guru, and the Tourism Minister, demanding action against them under the act.

nor’s citation while, Com manding Officer of 1st Bat talion of Arunachal Scouts Col Mukul Sati, Subedar Major Dorjee Khandu Bapu and junior most Sepoy Az epso Ngadong received the citation.

For the 25th Madras regiment, Commanding Officer Col Saurabh Kumar Mishra, Subedar Major R Jay Kumar and junior most Sepoy Manu received the citation, the sources said. Mishra exhorted the commanding officers and troops to continue maintain ing the highest order of in violability of the Line of Ac tual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and urged them to uphold discipline, hard work and empathy in the face of any situation or challenge as professional mission oriented men of the Indian Army.

AGARTALA, SEP 26 (PTI): Three retrenched teachers of Tripura were injured on Monday when police used water cannons to prevent protestors from breaking a barricade near Circuit House here, police said. Hundreds of termi nated teachers gathered in front of the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan here for participating in the ‘Bid hansabha Abhiyan’(march to Assembly) seeking their immediate reinstatement into service. When they tried to break the police bar ricade near Circuit House, the security personnel over powered the agitators and used water cannons which led to a scuffle between the two sides, Superintendent of Police (SP), West, Sankar Debnath told PTI. “Three persons are reported to be injured and they were taken to hospital. All of them are out of danger”, the SP said. However, Dalia Das, leader of a joint forum of the retrenched teachers, claimed that the law enforc ers had “assaulted some of our associates”. 3 teachers injured as police use water cannons to disperse protestors

AffidAvit

NORTH LAKHIMPUR, SEP 26 (PTI): Flood water has entered the powerhouse of NHPC’s under-construc tion 2,000-MW Subansiri hydro project along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, officials said on Monday.

A portion of the tem porary guard wall at the powerhouse collapsed on Sunday night after seepage started due to flooding of Subansiri river, following heavy rain in upstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh, a company source told PTI.

“This was a temporary wall, which we would have removed after completion of the work at the powerhouse. However, the breach took place prematurely,” he said.

The machines of one unit of the project, touted to be the company’s big gest hydroelectric project undertaken in India so far, have been installed, while work on the second unit was underway when water entered the building.

“We will now have to dewater the premises. Then, cleaning will take place as the floor will be very slurry.

Work at the powerhouse will be delayed by four-five months,” another official said.

He also said that the damage is recognised as a threat to the ongoing last phase of construction work of the powerhouse.

On Friday, a diversion tunnel of the project was damaged due to landslides. No one was injured in the incident, the officials said.

The company had constructed five diversion tunnels as temporary mea sures to divert the river for construction of the dam foundation.

However, tunnel 5 was blocked at the outlet dur ing 2020 and tunnel 2 was blocked near the entry point on September 16 this year due to landslides.

In June, one person was killed and another seri ously injured when the roof of Intact Tunnel 2 collapsed.

The Assam govern ment in March this year had informed the state assembly that partial commissioning of the ambitious project has been further postponed till August 2022.

I, Shri. Y. Manshah Konyak, F/o. Mr. M. Pangkhong James Konyak, through this Affidavit vide Regd. No. 2130/2022, dtd. 26.09.2022 do hereby declare that my son’s actual/correct D.O.B is 24.08.2014. Hence, my son’s actual/correct D.O.B. is 24.08.2014 and shall be used in all future correspondences.

DEPONENTDP-4659/22

DECLARATION

General Public is hereby notified that we, the relatives of Smt. I. Asangla , D/o Lt. Sangpolong, with her daughter Smt. Limaienla (former residents of Nagarjan) are disowning them due to their illicit money laundering activities. Anybody dealing with Smt. I. Asangla & her daughter will do so at their/his/her own risks & responsibility for any act, deed or dealing done by them.

D ECLARANTS

1. Shri.

2. Shri.

GRATITUDE

We, the Councils of S.M. Colony and v ilhume Colony express our utmost heartfelt gratitude to dimapur d istrict d isaster Management Administration, deputy Commissioner dimapur, Additional deputy Commissioner dimapur, Sub divisional Officer (Civil) and 43rd Assam Rifles.

For their immediate assistance and support to the residents of the colonies by providing emergency supplies & food grains as the area was inundated by floods caused by heavy incessant rain on the 12th & 13th September 2022. We are forever indebted and grateful to your timely actions during our dire circumstances.

Flood water inundates NHPC project along Assam-AP border

Screengrab shows Himanta Biswa Sarma with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev at Kaziranga Park. (Twitter)

CSOs

Fleet

Zoramthanga

Conrad K Sangma

Azad launches Democratic Azad Party in J&K

JAMMU, SEP 26 (PTI):

Former Jammu and Kash mir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday launched his new party –the Democratic Azad Party (DAP) - coinciding with the first day of Navratri festival, exactly a month after ending his over five-decade long as sociation with the Congress.

Azad, 73, also unveiled the party’s flag that has three strips of mustard, white and dark blue colours, and said the priority of the new party will be its registration with the Election Commission, though it will continue its activities because assembly elections in J and K can be declared anytime.

Announcing 50 per cent tickets to youth and women in the next assembly polls, Azad said he will not make the restoration of Ar ticle 370 an election issue in Jammu and Kashmir.

The former union min ister also said there will be no discrimination on the basis of religion. “Our poli cies will not be impacted by sectarianism or religion. Ev eryone is free whether he is going to a Temple, Mosque, Gurdwara or Church.”

“I am launching DAP from here today. It symbol ises democracy and freedom

of speech and thought. Our ideology will be based on the ideals of Mahatma Gan dhi,” Azad, flanked by a large group of supporters in cluding former deputy chief minister Tara Chand and several other former minis ters, told reporters here.

The veteran politician clarified that Azad, the mid dle name of his party, does not symbolise him but it is meant to convey that the new party will be completely independent. “Democratic is for democracy and Azad for independence...The par ty will be democratic and not an autocratic one, the power will not remain in one hand and the provisions of the party’s constitution will

be based on total democ racy,” he said. Azad, who parted ways with the Con gress on August 26, said the DAP will have “no competi tion” with any other politi cal party and it will focus on “strengthening” peace and normalcy in J and K.

Extending his good wishes to Hindus on the commencement of Navratri festival, Azad said he had initially planned to float his party on September 23 but later it was decided the launch should be done on the first day of the Navratri to make a new beginning.

Referring to the party’s flag, he said the mustard colour symbolises creativity and diversity, white stands

You will see the support I enjoy when I submit my nomination paper: Tharoor

PALAKKAD (KER), SEP 26 (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday claimed he has the support of party workers from across the country for his bid to fight the AICC president polls.

Amid uncertainty over Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s candidature for the top party post, Thar oor also met Rahul Gandhi on the sidelines of Bharat Jodo Yatra at Pattambi in this north Kerala district. Tharoor said it was a cour tesy call as Gandhi was in his home district.

“You will see the sup port I enjoy when I submit my nomination paper. I will be in the fray if I get support from party workers from the majority of the states. So many people from dif ferent parts of the country have requested me to be in the fray,” Tharoor told reporters reacting to a query on his candidature for the Congress president’s post.

Tharoor said he was interested in fighting the poll

but the picture will be clearer only after September 30, the last date for submitting nomination papers.

The Thiruvanantha puram MP, who has got the nomination form for the poll collected from the Congress headquarters last Saturday, said a candidate should fight the polls with confidence.

“I have got the form. I am meeting people and talk ing to them”, he said.

Asked whether he has the support of the NehruGandhi family in fighting the polls, the Congress lead er said he had discussed the matter with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka and

“and all three have directly told me that they don’t have any issues”. He also claimed the support of party workers in Kerala in his bid to fight the polls.

Tharoor had met Sonia Gandhi last Monday and expressed his intention to contest the poll.

The Congress presi dent conveyed she would stay “neutral” in the elec tions, according to sources.

Sonia Gandhi had wel comed the idea of more people contesting the poll and dispelled the notion that there would be an “official candidate”.

According to a notifi cation issued by the party on Thursday, the process for filing nominations for the election will be held from September 24 to 30.

The date for a scrutiny of the nomination papers is October 1, while the last date for withdrawal of nom inations is October 8.

The final list of candi dates will be published at 5 pm on October 8.

for peace “as we believe in Gandhian philosophy which will be our priority and our principle”. The dark blue has a vast meaning cov ering different aspects like freedom of speech, thinking, intuition, imagination and inspiration, he said.

Responding to a ques tion about Article 370 that was scrapped by the Centre in August 2019, he said his party will not make its restoration an election issue in J and K. Issues relating to roads, water supply and price rise are meant for elec tions. “I won’t stop anybody from making anything an election issue. I have a lot of things. Why should I make it an election issue?” he said.

Replying to a question about Kashmir-centric par ties, particularly the PDP, criticising his remarks on Article 370 of the Constitu tion, Azad said, “You just check Parliament records of who has spoken or who has not (on Article 370). Get the records of Parliament on any one’s name. But my take is simply that I don’t use such issues for elections.”

Azad asserted he has never said restoration of Article 370 was not possible.

“I never said this can not happen. I said that I can

not convince Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. If anyone can persuade Modi ji and Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji, they should do it. It will be a welcome step. I do not have any such influence on Modi ji,” Azad said.

He said only Parlia ment can restore Article 370 but “we need a majority”.

By abrogating Article 370, the Centre had revoked the special status of J and K. The Supreme Court has agreed to list after Dussehra vacation the pleas challeng ing the Centre’s decision.

Congtakesswipeat Azad’spartylaunch

The Congress on Mon day took a swipe at its for mer leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for launching Demo cratic Azad Party (DAP), saying ‘DAP’ in Kashmiri means to lie down lazily, which “the leader is already accustomed to”.

Congress general sec retary in-charge of commu nications Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, “Finally, Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced the name of his political outfit — Demo cratic Azad Party (DAP). DAP in Kashmiri means to lie down lazily, something he’s already accustomed to.”

Government blocks videos on YouTube channels: Anurag Thakur

NEW DELHI, SEP 26

(PTI): Government has ordered the blocking of 45 videos from 10 YouTube channels that contained fake news and morphed content with the intent to spread hatred amongst religious communities, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said on Monday.

The blocked videos had a cumulative viewer ship of over 1.30 crore and claimed that the government had taken away the religious rights of certain communi ties, an official statement said. “These channels had content that spread fear and misconception among com munities,” Thakur said.

An official statement said the blocked content included fake news and morphed videos spread with the intent to spread hatred among religious communi ties.

Examples include false claims such as the govern ment has taken away the religious rights of certain communities, violent threats against religious commu nities and a declaration of civil war in India, the ministry said. The ministry

said the action was taken on the inputs from intelligence agencies. “Some of the vid eos blocked by the Ministry were being used to spread disinformation on issues related to Agnipath scheme, Indian Armed Forces, In dia’s national security ap paratus, Kashmir,” it said.

The content was ob served to be false and sensi tive from the perspective of national security and India’s friendly relations with for eign nations, it added.

“Such videos were found to have the potential to cause communal dishar mony and disrupt public order in the country,” the ministry said.

The order to block the videos was issued on September 23 under the provisions of the Informa

tion Technology (Intermedi ary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, the statement said.

Earlier, the government had blocked 102 YouTube channels and Facebook ac counts that sought to create communal disharmony, Thakur said.

The ministry said cer tain videos depicted errone ous external boundaries of India with parts of J-K and Ladakh outside the Indian territory. Such cartograph ic misrepresentation was found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and territo rial integrity of India, the I&B ministry said.

Accordingly, the con tent was covered within the ambit of section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Kerala, a hot spot of terrorism, fringe elements: Nadda

THIRUVANANTHA

PURAM, SEP 26 (PTI):

Kerala is now a “hot spot” of terrorism and fringe ele ments, and life is not safe here, BJP chief J P Nadda claimed on Monday.

Nadda also attacked Kerala Chief Minister Pina rayi Vijayan, saying that his family was also getting involved in government matters and the Left party has allegedly also fallen prey to family or “dynastic rule” as “daughter, son-in-law involvement in government is also seen”.

A day ago, in Kottay am, Nadda had alleged that the opposition parties were all State or regional parties and most of them were “family parties”.

Referring to the rally in Haryana of opposition parties which had gathered to celebrate former Chief Minister Devi Lal’s birth anniversary, he had said that “two things are common to them. One, they all are family parties and two, all are fully neck deep in cor ruption”.

He had also given ex

amples of the “dynastic parties” in the various States and had said the BJP was fighting to save democracy from these “dynasty-based, highly corrupt” parties.

During his speech in the State capital on Mon day, he referred to the law and order situation in the State and alleged that com munal tensions were on the

BJP, Sangh Parivar indulging in ‘dirty politics’: Siddaramaiah

MYSURU, SEP 26 (PTI):

Senior Congress leader Sid daramaiah on Monday hit out at the ruling BJP and ‘Sangh Parivar’, accusing them of indulging in “dirty politics” and celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse.

The Leader of Opposi tion in the State Assembly, while speaking to people of his earlier constituency ‘Varuna’ here, currently represented by son Yatindra, said he would contest the 2023 Assembly polls from wherever the party high command asks him to, but would always be available to serve them.

“If anyone is indulging in dirty politics it is Sangh

Siddaramaiah

Parivar and BJP; Congress has never indulged in dirty politics in this country. Will a party that fought for the country’s freedom and got it, indulge in dirty politics? These people carry the post er of Nathuram Godse, who killed Mahatma Gandhi, in Ganesh processions, is it not dirty politics,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, while hitting back at Chief

Minister Basavaraj Bommai, he said, “What morality do they have? What do they mean by dirty politics? Is pointing at their corruption dirty politics? Is highlighting their 40 per cent commis sion corruption dirty poli tics?” Slamming Congress leaders for their ‘PayCM’ campaign, Bommai had recently stated that it was the grand old party’s dirty politics.

The former Chief Min ister, later addressing a gath ering in Varuna said, only people from a particular caste can become the RSS chief and there was no de mocracy within that organ isation. “If I’m a lawyer today, if I have become an

MLA or a Minister, it is be cause of the Constitution. If Droupadi Murmu, who be longs to the ST community, has occupied the country’s top post and has become a President, it is because of the Constitution. Will they make a person from the ST community as RSS chief?,” he asked.

For one to become RSS chief, he should be from a particular caste, Siddara maiah alleged and asked, “Since 1925 till today, in 97 years, has a person from a caste other than one caste become its chief?”

“Is there a Constitution there (RSS)? Is the Consti tution applicable there?.... Babasaheb Ambedkar used

to say: I’m born as a Hindu, tried a lot to change its sys tem, but failed. I won’t die as a Hindu,” he added.

Siddaramaiah also said Varuna is the constituency that made him the Chief Minister and that he can never forget the voters of the constituency, and would ever be grateful to them.

He said, “I will contest from the constituency from where the high command asks me to, whether it is Varuna or Kolar, Koppal or Badami...don’t think about certain work that have not taken place in the constitu ency (Varuna), whether I’m an MLA or Yatindra, whoever it is, think that I’m your MLA. “

rise and there was tacit sup port of the Left government to those who create and promote violence which was a serious issue.

He said State-spon sored lawlessness was also a reason for BJP workers, from the booth-level on wards, to go to the people and inform them about the kind of governance in

Kerala. “Kerala has now be come a hot spot of terror ism. It has become a hot spot of fringe elements. Life is not safe here. Ordinary citizens do not find them selves to be safe. Communal tensions are on the rise and there is tacit support of the Left government to the people who create and pro mote violence,” Nadda said while speaking at the booth office-bearers’ meeting here.

Later, he also inaugu rated a BJP district commit tee office in Thiruvanantha puram.

In his speech at the booth officers meeting, he also alleged that “appoint ments in Kerala universities were being made based on nepotism”.

“We have been told that relatives of those in volved in the Chief Min ister’s Office (CMO) are getting appointed in univer sities,” he said.

Nadda also referred to the controversial Bill passed by the Kerala Assembly re garding powers of the Lok Ayukta and alleged that the

State government was try ing to dilute powers of the Lok Ayukta.

“They are trying to see to it that CMO does not come under the ambit of Lok Ayukta. This is what is going on,” he alleged.

Besides all these allega tions, he reiterated the ac cusations he made a day ago against the State govern ment and the Chief Minis ter regarding corruption and lack of financial discipline which has pushed Kerala into a debt trap.

Nadda’s office tweeted earlier in the day that “ BJP National President @ JPNadda Ji attended & ad dressed a meeting of Core Committee Members of six Lok Sabha constituencies in Thampanoor, Kerala. BJP State President Shri @ surendranbjp & other senior leaders were also present”. It also tweeted, “BJP National President Shri @JPNadda Ji visited the Panachikkadu Dakshina Mookambika Temple in Kottayam, Kerala and sought the blessings of the deities.”

MUMBAI, SEP 26 (PTI):

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday asked Union Finance Min ister Nirmala Sitharaman to explain why the rupee has fallen to an all-time low against the US dollar.

The rupee depreciated 43 paise to an all-time low of 81.52 against the US dol lar in early trade on Mon day as the strengthening of the American currency and risk-averse sentiment among investors weighed on the local unit.

At the interbank for eign exchange, the rupee opened at 81.47 against

the greenback, then fell to 81.52, registering a fall of 43 paise over its previous closing.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP targeted Sitharaman for her remarks made at a press conference in Pune on Saturday that the rupee has “held back very well” against the US dollar when compared to other curren cies.

“Can she explain why the rupee has fallen to an all-time low of 81.47 against the US dollar? If she con centrates more on the fi nance ministry and less on Baramati, maybe she can,’’

NCP national spokesman Clyde Crasto said in state ment. Against the backdrop of the rupee dropping to a lifetime low against the greenback, Sitharaman on Saturday said the Reserve Bank and the finance minis try are keeping a very close watch on the situation.

“If any one currency which has held its own and did not get into fluctuation or volatility as much as other currencies, it is the Indian rupee. We have held back very well,” she had told reporters in Pune at the end of her three-day tour of Baramati last week.

Hiring Alert Linked

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Share your resume documents to M.Neshanthi@Raymond.in Joining preferred on immediate basis. Fluency in Nagamese/English required.

Ghulam Nabi Azad unveils the flag of his new ‘Democratic Azad Party’ during a press conference, in Jammu, Monday. (PTI)

NCP asks FM Sitharaman to explain why rupee has fallen to all-time low against USD

Shashi Tharoor

Anurag Thakur

JP Nadda with Prakash Javadekar during a meeting of Booth Presidents and district level Booth-in-Charges in Kerala. (PTI)

Rudderless and wonderless

Congress party continues to be in the news for all the wrong reasons as it fire fights one crisis after another. This has happened after 2014 when the party led by Rahul though his moth er was president, seemed to have lost direction. The latest crisis in Rajasthan is also due to mis handling of the rivalry between two of Rajasthan’s prominent leaders- chief minister Askhok Gehlot and the party’s generation next leader, Sachin Pilot.

The 71-year old Ashok Gehlot, one of Rahul’s close advisers, was chosen by the Gandhis to take over as next president of the Congress in the election slated on October 17 and results of which are to be declared by October 19. When Gehlot agreed he also wanted to remain as chief minister. However Rahul rejected Gehlot’s plan in favour of the policy of one-man- one post. This would have paved the way for rehabilitating Sachin Pilot as chief minister, a post he so desired and which the Gandhis were not averse to. After all, Sachin had been instrumen tal in reviving the party organisation in Rajasthan to win a spectacular victory against BJP in 2018. However instead, the Gandhis committed a blun der by choosing veteran leader and semi-retired Ashok Gehlot to be chief minister. Once in the chair, Gehlot did everything to marginalise Sachin, probably to groom his son Vaibhav Gehlot, cur rently Congress Lok Sabha MP. Eventually Sachin rebelled but the 18 MLAs supporting him were not enough to bring down Gehlot. After his rebellion the high command relieved Sachin of the post of deputy chief minister and state party chief. He re turned back but Gehlot did not restore the post of deputy chief minister or party chief. The Rajasthan crisis was similar to the case when in 2020, in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh, Jyotiraditya Scindia defected to BJP along with his supporters to being down arch rival Kamal Nath’s Congress government. The Gandhis should be blamed for the missteps of the Congress because they make the final decisions. However, it is considered a cardinal sin by the sycophancy filled AICC commit tee to apportion blame on the Gandhis, especially Rahul Gandhi, who wields power but insulated from accountability. The Rajasthan crisis, like all others before it such as Madhya Pradesh when the high command watched as Jyotiraditya was being sidelined by Kamal Nath and Punjab when the Gan dhis allowed Sidhu to openly attack chief minister Amarinder Singh –cost the Congress both states and Rajasthan is also likely to follow the same path. Scindia was not given the prominence because the Gandhi loyalist feared he would overshadow Rahul. Similarly, the same loyalists who messed up in Punjab did not want Sachin to move centre stage as likely Congress president as it would push Rahul into the shadows. For the Congress, its cup of woe seems unending even as the grand old party vainly attempts to conduct a farcical election to choose the next party president. While India has changed, the Congress refuses to change. It still lives in the past glory of the Indira-Rajiv heydays. However Indira was a hardcore politician and Rajiv, eventually learnt the tricks of the trade.Unfortunately the heir apparent Rahul is naïve, a novice in politics and a non-serious politician. Rahul would do well to note that “Politics is a game of perception” and “democ racy is a game of numbers”. Not understanding these two hackneyed quotes could explain why the Congress continues to be adrift.

DailyDevotion

The “Go” of Reconciliation

If you…remember that your brother has something against you… —Matthew 5:23

This verse says, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you….” It is not saying, “If you search and find something because of your unbalanced sensitivity,” but, “If you…remember….” In other words, if something is brought to your conscious mind by the Spirit of God— “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:24). Never object to the intense sensitivity of the Spirit of God in you when He is instructing you down to the smallest detail.

“First be reconciled to your brother….” Our Lord’s directive is simple— “First be reconciled….” He says, in effect, “Go back the way you came— the way indicated to you by the conviction given to you at the altar; have an attitude in your mind and soul toward the person who has something against you that makes reconcilia tion as natural as breathing.” Jesus does not mention the other person— He says for you to go. It is not a matter of your rights. The true mark of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.

“…and then come and offer your gift.” The process of reconciliation is clearly marked. First we have the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden restraint by the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit, and then we are stopped at the point of our conviction. This is followed by obedience to the Word of God, which builds an at titude or state of mind that places no blame on the one with whom you have been in the wrong. And finally there is the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God.

Post-mortem

Solutions for Naga Questions

The Nagas claim that they were never conquered or ruled by any foreigner from antiquity, but lived in their respective village-states indepen dently somewhat similar to the city-states of ancient Greece. The advent of the British Imperialists into the Naga Hills had brought some changes in some parts of the Naga country but they didn’t exercise direct rule over them as they did in other parts of their territories. Most of the Naga tribes were brought under their suzerainty without consent or knowledge. They were largely left undisturbed as they were. At the time of the independence of India and Myanmar from the British Empire, the Nagas were divided and gifted to them. The absence of any treaty with or accession to either India or Myanmar testi fies to it.

During the latter part of the British rule after the 1st World War, the political consciousness and nationalism amongst the various Naga tribes emerged and their leaders formed the Naga Club and submitted the famous demand for independence from any foreign control after their de parture from India and Myanmar to the Simon Commission. But the British Empire left hurriedly without conceding the demand. Hence, we have Nagas in India and Myanmar today. Thereafter the Nagas became more organ ised and powerful incorporat ing Nagas from both India and Myanmar under the charismatic leadership of AZ Phizo, the father of Naga nationalism.

India has attempted to solve the Naga question without suc

cess on many occasions because it is beyond their power and consti tution as it involves the Nagas of Myanmar. Broadly speaking, the Nagas fall under 3(three) catego ries with 3(three) different issues, namely, i) local issues - involving the Nagas of the state of Naga land, ii) national issues - involving the Nagas living in other states of India outside Nagaland, and, iii) international issues - involv ing the Nagas living in foreign countries like Myanmar. Besides that there is another category of Nagas without borders which is dealing with all the different categories as one unit.

Whereof, the Naga issues must be intelligently and carefully segregated into local, national, and international for easier un derstanding and successful solu tions. Once we mix up two or three issues that will not only complicate them but cannot solve them satisfactorily without having the jurisdiction. Though they are intricately and delicately linked respectively with them, specific problems and they must be addressed separately without jeopardising the interests of oth ers. For example, if the Nagas at tain sovereignty or independence, then, they will have a single and common problem for all. Simi larly, if they get the integration of all Nagas into one administra tive unit in India, then, they can have a single or common solution for all the Nagas of India, not otherwise.

Right now, the negotiating parties are not talking about the sovereignty or integration of the Nagas. They are only trying to solve the Naga Question within

the constitution of India without disturbing the state boundaries.

To solve this issue will require the unstinted support and coop eration of the Government of India and the neighbouring host states in which the Nagas are living. The question of having a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas within India cannot be unconstitutional if the letter and spirit do not run counter to the Constitution of India. In any negotiation, participating par ties must adopt a policy of ‘give and take’ attitude for solution or agreement. They should not be too adamant or unreason able or rigid in their positions. Accordingly, we expect India to be more mature, magnanimous, and accommodating and Nagas to be more humble, pragmatic, and reasonable in their approach Perhaps once they success fully segregate the Naga Ques tions and address each one of them impartially, logically, and pragmatically without emotions, prejudice or ego, they can bring a very honourable, acceptable, and lasting solution to the sat isfaction of all. Let the future generation decide the questions of integration and sovereignty. If the present generation of leaders can disentangle themselves from the political maze by simplify ing it like ‘cutting the Gordian knot’ into different parts for the social and economic progress of the Nagas better than what they are today, then, their names will become enshrined and immor talised in the memory of every Naga. Great Naga nationalists indeed!

Besesayo Kezo, IPS, Retd. DGP

On union ministers constant visit to Nagaland

During the Look East Policy era, Union Ministers hardly visited the region and par ticularly our state Nagaland. If any union ministers visit, it will be a mega event, big inaugurations, mass gatherings, etc. getting all public at tentions in media. There also used to be much publicity and preparations prior to the arrival. The programs were also mostly concentrated in Dimapur and Kohima so that they land in Dimapur airport in the morning and fly back to Delhi in the evening.

Look East Policy has been aptly upgraded to Act East in 2014 and this has impacted not just the policy towards Southeast Asia but also the North East Region of the country, which is the gateway to many Southeast Asian countries. In conjunction with this upgraded policy, our honourable Prime Min ister Narendra Modi, in January 2015, directed Union Ministers to visit Northeast fortnightly. Again upgrading the directive, after 2 years, in 2017, he made one night stays mandatory for all union ministers visiting the region.

During BJP National Presi dent’s recent visit to Nagaland on 15 and 16 of September, he stated that our honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi has already scored half century (50 times) in visiting Northeast (whereas some didn’t visit even his constituency 10 times in 10 years). This is NaMo’s leadership from the front. Union ministers are following the suit and their visit to Nagaland has become a routine af fair. BJP officials, karyakartas and ministers/advisors are seen frequent ing Dimapur airport to welcome the guests. The most recent being the high profile visit of Union Minister

of Finance & Corporate Affairs in August last and then followed by Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Smti. Pratima Bhoumik visit to Kohima and then reaching Kiphire, the farflung district bordering Myanmar on 20th September. Districts like Kiphire are not visited even by our own state ministers/advisors unless there’s a befitting mega event. As I write this, we have Union Minister of State for Electronics, Informa tion Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri. Rajeev Chandrasekhar visiting our State. The interesting thing is, he chose to travel 7-8 hours by road from Dimapur to Zunheboto and ate by a roadside rice hotel accompanied by our Advisor for Tourism, Art & Culture, Shri. H. Khehovi. This is his second visit in five months. He visited Nagaland in the early part of May this year and reached Mon and Longwa. His plan to physically reached Kiphire wasn’t possible due to inclement weather but held a meeting with key officials of Kiphire district administration in Dimapur.

Now, it is high time for Naga land to capitalize on these frequent visits by the Union Ministers, pro gram their visits in such a way that every district and community is benefitted irrespective of party or political affiliations. When Delhi is trying their best to take our region and state on board the growth engine of the country, it is only imperative that we appreciate the action and respond with inclusive mindset for consanguineous growth and devel opment of Nagaland.

Khalenmew Yimchunger, Khiangtopung Ward, Pungro Town

Emotional intelligence might make you more resilient, but there’s a catch

One of the economic sec tors which can transform a community or a nation is none other than tourism. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. For some countries, it can represent over 20 percent of their GDP. In ternational tourism saw a strong rebound in the first five months of 2022, with almost 250 million international arrivals recorded. This means that the sector has recovered almost half (46%) of pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Tourism allows people to experience some of the world’s cultural and natural riches and brings people closer to each other, highlighting our common humanity. And it is an essential pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment to our Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 8, 12, and 14. It serves as a first entry point to the world of work, especially for women, youth, migrant workers, and rural populations in developing and least developed countries (LDCs). Women represent a majority of the tourism sector workforce, while half of that workforce is less than 25 years of age. Moreover, in many parts of the world, the protection of biodiversity and conservation rely heavily on the tourism sector and the revenue it generates.

The constant growth of the tourism sector during the last six decades reflects more progressive access to tourism thanks to the decline in the cost of transport and the world-wide growth of the middle classes. The recognition of the right to holidays in the Universal Declaration of Hu man Rights, and the improved adoption of labor rights in many countries have also supported its development. These factors also serve as a backdrop for the resilience shown by tourism in recent years. The sector has ex perienced almost uninterrupted growth despite challenges such as the global economic crisis and natural disasters.

The many important contri butions of tourism encouraged the United Nations World Tour ism Organization (UNWTO) to institute World Tourism Day (WTD) in a meeting that took place in Spain, commencing the first celebration of the ob servance in the year 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with

Reader’s

an important milestone in world tourism: the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970. The UNWTO is a leading UN in ternational agency in the field of tourism. Its mission is to promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and sup port to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

The timing of WTD is par ticularly appropriate in that it comes at the end of the high sea son in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere. This year the focus is on rethinking tourism. It aims to inspire the debate around rethinking tour ism for development, including through education and jobs, and tourism’s impact on the planet and opportunities to grow more sustainably.

WTD returns to focus on the future. As the sector’s recov ery gets underway and builds on unprecedented political and public recognition for the sector, UNWTO shall highlight the op portunity to rethink how we do tourism. WTD will be celebrated as the shift towards tourism is be ing recognized as a crucial pillar for development and as progress is well underway. May 2022 marked the first time the United Nations General Assembly held a special debate on tourism, il lustrating the historic relevance of the sector. Tourism is now on the agenda of governments and of international organizations in every global region.

The impact of the war in Ukraine could cost a possible loss of US$ 14 billion to the tourism economy. The scenario in international and domestic perspectives is different. The demand for domestic tourist destinations has increased post pandemic. There are domestic tourist destinations which are yet to be explored properly. Com munity engagement is a must if we want to promote tourism in the true sense. WTD is an op portunity for us to discuss issues related to tourism and this year’s theme is giving us an opportunity to rethink tourism and make it more sustainable for all of us.

Ranjan K Baruah, Ganeshguri, Guwahati, (bkranjan@gmail.com)

Here’s why a better way to measure emotional intel ligence could improve relationships.

The tricky thing about emo tional intelligence is that despite being widely agreed to be a posi tive attribute, experts don’t agree on what it is.

One explanation is that emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, express, under stand, manage, and use emotions. Kurt Kraiger, a professor at the University of Memphis who studies the concept, tells me he thinks of emotional intelligence as “acute awareness of one’s and other’s emotions, the capacity to manage those emotions to ac complish tasks, and the capacity to connect with others using emo tions appropriate to the context.”

But this is just one theory. Finding a unified definition of emotional intelligence is impor tant because it determines how it is measured. Measurement, in turn, is critical because it sets the stage for improving and augment ing emotional intelligence.

Overall, emotional intel ligence is thought to positively influence health, relationships, and how well one does at school or work. Some research suggests people with emotional intelli gence are more resilient to stress.

These benefits help explain why there’s such serious inter est in determining how to be more emotionally intelligent. For now, it’s not known how much improvement is really possible — but there are actions you can take that are proven to boost emotional intelligence at least a little bit.

Emotional intelligence as a concept has been around since 1990. Since then “there’s been a lot of opinions about what it is, what it isn’t, and how to measure it,” says James Floman. Floman is an associate research scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

There are three main theo ries or models of emotional intelligence, and how emotional intelligence is measured depends on the model you’re adopting, Floman explains. There is the ability-based model of emotion al intelligence, the personality model popularized by the book Emotional Intelligence, and the mixed model which combines elements of the other two.

There’s no consensus on the specifics of emotional intel ligence — how it comes about, how it’s defined, and the capacity for improving it. Some research ers think emotional intelligence is an innate ability, while oth ers think of it as a set of skills, Kraiger explains.

“I would argue that in gen eral, people who are seen as hav ing more emotional intelligence have learned from experience,” Kraiger says.

Other scientists say that if you have these four traits, then you’re more likely to be emotion ally intelligent:

• You think about your re actions

• You see bad situations as a positive challenge • You can modify your emo tions

• You can put yourself in other people’s shoes You may see those traits in yourself, but it can be difficult to scientifically verify whether or not you truly exhibit these characteristics.

“One of the issues with selfreporting is that people have a narrative about themselves about these skills,” Floman says. “But those stories don’t necessarily reflect their actual competence.”

Floman is part of a team at Yale developing new emotional intelligence tests in an effort to robustly measure three of the four branches of emotional intelli gence: emotion perception ability, emotion understanding ability, and emotion regulation ability.

The fourth branch — de fined as facilitating thought — is more difficult to measure. It refers to the process of intentionally modifying the environment in a way that’s conducive to facili tating the emotions one wants. In practice, this could look like turning on a song that pumps you up when you want to feel more confident before an important meeting.

“It’s really important to have a measurement that we have some confidence in so that we can make sure that we’re measuring what we think are the core targets of intervention,” Floman says. “If we don’t have a high-quality way to measure, we can’t test whether or not an intervention is working or if it’s actually doing what we think it’s doing.”

Can you become more emo

tionally intelligent? The answer, in part, depends on which aspect of emotional intelligence you’re talking about.

“We know emotional intel ligence can be altered, but the extent that it can and for whom — those questions are still out standing,” Floman says.

For example, the extent to which a person can improve their capacity for perceiving emotions is a “hotly debated subject,” Flo man says. There’s evidence that you can get better at perceiving emotions, but it’s a hard skill to get better at once you’ve reached adulthood.

Kraiger says that role-play ing and practicing “what if” scenarios can help people prac tice recognizing and labeling the emotions of others. Put into practice, this sort of scripting can help individuals in various professional situations, such as dealing with an upset customer.

Kraiger was part of a team that evaluated the robustness of previous studies focused on im proving emotional intelligence.

“While some studies find a posi tive effect and some don’t, overall we find that yes, emotional intel ligence can be improved through training,” he says.

Other studies on cognitive behavioral therapy show it can help people become more emo tionally resilient and stable over time, Floman says. “It doesn’t work for everyone, and there’s a lot of variables involved, but if there’s a meaningful relation ship with a counselor, then often there’s a change,” he explains.

There’s also increasing evi dence about the effect of medi tation on one’s mood, as well as the long-term ability to manage emotion.

Managing emotion can be split into two categories — man aging the emotions with yourself, and supporting the emotions of others. Floman is especially interested in the way emotional intelligence can strengthen so cial connections because of the powerful link between having a supportive community and good mental health.

With improved forms of measurement, scientists can de termine the best ways to develop skills related to emotional intel ligence — and more people can experience the benefits.

Sarah Sloat

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

~ Helen Keller

Decision on PoK should’ve been taken during 1971 Indo-Pak war, says Rajnath

SHIMLA, SEP 26 (PTI):

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that decision on Pakistan-occu pied Kashmir (PoK) should have been taken during 1971 war between India and the neighbouring country.

The defence minister said this while addressing a function to honour mar tyrs’ families at Badoli in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. “We have recently marked the Golden Jubilee of victory of 1971 war. The 1971 war will be remem bered in the history as the war fought for the humanity instead of property, posses sion or power,” Singh said.

“There is only one re gret. The decision on PoK should have been taken at that time itself,” he said.

Singh also attended a similar function at Nadaun in Hamirpur district.

In Kangra, Singh also shed light on the Centre’s unwavering resolve to make the country ‘Aatmanirbhar’ and the progress achieved due to the measures taken to realise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

“Earlier, India was known as a defence import er. Today, it is among one of the top 25 defence exporters in the world. From about Rs 900 crore eight years ago, de fence exports have

crossed Rs 13,000 crore. We are hopeful that the defence exports will touch Rs 35,000 crore by 2025 and the target of Rs 2.7 lakh crore set for 2047 will be met,” he said.

While maintaining that India has never attacked any country, nor has it captured an inch of foreign land, he assured the nation that if any attempt is ever made to disturb the harmony in India, a befitting reply will be given. “India is a peaceloving country, but it should not be mistaken with being coward or afraid of war. At a time when we were deal ing with COVID-19, we had to face the tension on the northern border with China. The courage of our soldiers during the Galwan incident

proved that no matter how big the power is, India will never bow down,” he said.

Singh said that the for mation of the post of ‘chief of defence staff’ and setting up of the department of military affairs are some of the major reforms taken to bolster the national security.

“Doors of NDA have been opened for girls, while women in the Armed Forces are being given permanent commission. We have also allowed deployment of women on warships,” he said. Singh stressed that the government is building a ‘New India’, which will give a sense of security and trust to all our peace-loving friendly countries and those with evil intentions will get

nothing but dust.

On the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot air strikes, the defence minister stated that India’s new strat egy against terrorism has broken the backs of those who try to hurt the unity and integrity of the nation.

“Terror activities were carried out from Pakistan under a well-thought-out policy. After the Uri and Pul wama attacks, our govern ment and the Armed Forces, through the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot air strikes, displayed to the world India’s unwavering commitment to root out terrorism. We showed that our forces have the capabil ity to act on this side and, if needed, on the other side of the border. India’s image has been transformed. It is now seriously listened to on inter national platforms,” he said.

The defence minister was of the view that the inspiration taken from the heroes of the Armed Forces is the reason behind India moving swiftly forward on the path of development.

“When the dark clouds of war appear and national in terests are attacked, it is the soldiers who bear that attack and protect the country. It is the supreme sacrifice of the fallen heroes which keeps the people alive,” he stated.

AHMEDABAD, SEP 26 (PTI): Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Siso dia said at the end of his six-day poll campaign in Gujarat on Monday that people of the state were waiting for change from 27 years of Bharatiya Janata Party rule.

He campaigned in 14 northern districts of the state, covered as many As sembly seats and also held six roads shows.

“During my campaign ing, the one thing people repeatedly told me was they have had enough of this (BJP) government. They want complete change. The common feeling among the public is they are fed up of 27 years of BJP rule,” he told reporters.

“After six days of my journey, I can say the AAP is certainly going to form government here. The BJP is set to go. The people have understood there is a po litical party that talks about improving the condition of schools, hospitals, reducing power bills like we have done in Delhi and Punjab,” he claimed.

During his campaign, people showed him a gov ernment hospital that was privatised in Palanpur, as well as a medical facility built at a cost of Rs 70 crore lying waste, he said.

Congress left no stone unturned to destroy Gujarat when in power: Shah

AHMEDABAD, SEP 26

(PTI): Union Home Minis

ter Amit Shah on Monday alleged the Congress had left no stone unturned to de stroy Gujarat when it was in power and also delayed the Sardar Sarovar dam project.

Shah said Prime Minis ter Narendra Modi became king Bhagirath when he was the chief minister of Guja rat, to ensure that the waters of the Narmada river reach the arid regions of Ahmed abad and Kutch districts.

Bhagirath is a legend ary king, who as per mythol ogy, brought the Ganga river to the earth from the heav ens through severe penance.

“Foundation stone of the Narmada project was laid by former PM Jawaha rlal Nehru when I was born (in 1964). But, the previous Congress governments did nothing since then. No work was done on the project till 2002. The project finally picked up pace when Naren dra Modi became the chief minister in 2002. Thanks to him, parched regions of Ahmedabad and Kutch received Narmada waters,” said Shah, who is on a twoday visit to Gujarat.

He was addressing a gathering in the Jodhpur area of Ahmedabad city after laying the foundation stone for a project of build ing 2,140 houses for the Economically Weaker Sec

tions (EWS) in the Sarkhej area of the city, which falls under his Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Shah said in the past villages did not get electric ity after 7 PM. but today rural areas have access to 24-hour electricity.

“The Congress had left no stone unturned to destroy Gujarat. But today, Gujarat is known for its model of development. Curfew hasn’t been imposed in Gujarat for the last 20 years. Riots were common during the Congress rule. Today, no one even dares to engage in communal riots,” said Shah.

The Assembly polls in Gujarat are due in Decem ber this year.

The campaign for the elections is hotting up with the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which has chal lenged the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power in the state for the last 27 years.

Shah said the Indian

economy was at the 11th spot when Modi became the prime minister (in 2014), but now it is the fifth largest economy in the world sur passing England thanks to the PM’s leadership.

The senior BJP leader inaugurated a new office building of the Ahmed abad Municipal Corpora tion (AMC) and launched a beautification project for two lakes in Shilaj and Sarkhej areas that fall under the Gandhinagar constitu ency.

Earlier in the day, Shah addressed a farmers’ confer ence at Bavla village in the Ahmedabad district.

Farmers from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency had organised the “Rin Sweekar Sam melan” (gratitude accep tance conference) to express gratitude for providing ir rigation facilities in 164 villages situated near Nal Sarovar in Sanand taluka, a government release said.

7 killed as vehicle falls into gorge in Himachal’s Kullu

SHIMLA, SEP 26 (PTI):

accident, he said.

An ex gratia payment of Rs. 4 lakh each is being extended to the family of the deceased.

A person with serious injuries has been admitted to the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) hospi tal while others undergoing treatment in the Community Health Centre in Itaunja are said to be out of danger, the DM said.

The State Disaster Re sponse Force (SDRF) team which was called to assist in the search operations is still present at the spot to ensure that nobody is trapped in the pond, he said.

Investigations are on to find out the reasons behind the accident and feedback is also being taken from the eyewitnesses, he said.

Police and administra tion are on alert to ensure that large numbers of people do not travel especially on narrow roads as this in creases the risk of accidents, he said.

The DM along with senior district and police of ficials rushed to the spot and instructed the concerned of ficials to ensure all possible help to the victims.

RANCHI, SEP 26 (IANS): Four people in cluding three women of a family were tortured after being accused of witchcraft in Jharkhand’s Dumka district.

A few people from Aswari village under Sarai yahat block of the district forcibly fed them excreta and urine. The four were also tortured with hot iron rods. Despite being treated inhumanly, the victims could neither muster the courage to go to the police nor tell anyone about the atrocities inflicted on them.

On Sunday, police reached the village after getting information about the incident. After this, all the four victims were admitted to a hospital for treatment.

According to informa tion, a person named Jyotin Murmu called a meeting of the people of the village on Saturday night. In the meeting, three women of one Srilal Murmu’s fam ily were accused of being witches.

Seven tourists were killed and 10 sustained injuries when a tempo traveller fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, of ficials said on Monday.

President Droupadi Murmu, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union minister Anurag Thakur, who hails from the state, expressed grief over the accident that took place at 8:30 pm on Sunday near Ghiyaghi in Banjar subdivision.

Five tourists died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at the hospital, the officials said.

The deceased were identified as Rishab Raj, Anshika Jain, Aditya and Ananmaya from Uttar Pradesh, and Saurabh, Pri yanka Gupta and Kiran from Delhi, Kullu Superin tendent of Police Gurdev Sharma said.

Officials had earlier said three of the dead were from IIT Varanasi. How ever, it was clarified later that they were among the injured.

Pradesh are those injured, he said. BJP MLA from Banjar Surender Shourie streamed a video on Face book at 12.45 am on Mon day, informing people about the accident that occurred in his Assembly segment.

The injured were first taken to Banjar hospital from where they have been referred to Kullu regional hospital for treatment after being given first aid, the MLA said.

The Banjar MLA thanked the district admin istration and the locals for carrying out rescue opera tion despite darkness.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of many people, including students, in a road accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. I express my deepest con dolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Murmu tweeted in Hindi.

injured a speedy recovery. May God give place to the departed souls,” Anurag

Thakur, who is the MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, tweeted.

Gangwar said.

Eight women and two children were killed in the

Forty-seven people

He also met the victims admitted in the CHC Itaunja and enquired about their condition.

It was claimed that the animals and children of the village were getting sick due to their witchcraft. Af ter this, about a dozen peo ple armed with sticks and other weapons attacked the victims’ house.

Rahul Goswami, Kshitija Agarwal, Priyapal, Ishan Gupta from Haryana, driver Ajay Chauhan, Abhi nav Singh, Nishtha Badoni from Uttar Pradesh, Rushav from New Delhi, Lakshaya from Rajasthan and Jai Aggarwal from Madhya

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said in a tweet in Hindi, “I am deeply sad dened to hear the news of the death of seven people in a road accident in Kullu. May God give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured.”

NEW DELHI, SEP 26

(PTI): The Congress on Monday said it has initiated legal action in five cases of “fake and divisive news” peddled by BJP leaders and their “online hate factory” to hurt Bharat Jodo Yatra, asserting that it will not take this lying down.

Congress general secre tary in-charge communica tions Jairam Ramesh also shared what he said was a police complaint by Kerala MP Hibi Eden against a particularly “vicious bhakt”.

“We have initiated legal action in five cases of fake and divisive news peddled by BJP leaders and their bhakt online hate factory to hurt Bharat Jodo Yatra. Be warned! We will not take this lying down,” Ramesh said. In the police complaint shared by Ramesh on Twit ter, Congress MP Hibi Eden

complained against a social media post with two pic tures. “The impression these pictures sought to convey was that INC leader Rahul Gandhi was posing with an individual who had been accused of sloganeering ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ on a previous occasion. However, as was made clear almost immediately, the individu als in the photographs were two separate and distinct people,” Eden said.

“The distortion was not an innocent one be cause it sought to falsely and maliciously suggest that former INC president Ra hul Gandhi, who was on a yatra to unite Indians had demonstrated sympathy for individuals who supported Pakistan and approved their illegal sloganeering and was ultimately attempting to ‘break India’,” he said.

NEW DELHI, SEP 26

(PTI): The Supreme Court Monday expressed displea sure over the delay in hear ing the bail plea of Ma harashtra’s former home minister Anil Deshmukh, arrested in connection with a money laundering case, and directed the Bombay High Court to hear and de cide his case expeditiously.

The top court observed that any person who has filed a bail application has a legitimate expectation that his plea will be disposed of at an early date. It said keep ing an application for bail pending is not consistent with the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitu tion.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli noted that the bail plea of Deshmukh is pend

ing in the high court since March 21. “We issue a direction and permit the petitioner to apply before the learned judge, to whom the case has been assigned, tomorrow. The application shall be taken for hearing during the course of this week and decided expedi tiously,” the bench said.

The top court clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.

Justice N J Jamadar of the high court is hearing the bail plea of Deshmukh.

At the outset, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, ap pearing for 73-year-old Deshmukh, submitted that the hearing on the bail plea is being deferred and sought interim bail.

Solicitor General Tush ar Mehta, appearing for ED, opposed the interim bail plea and said the top court should not pass any such order. Deshmukh was ar rested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Novem ber 2021 and is currently in judicial custody.

On April 8, the high court adjourned the hearing on Deshmukh’s bail applica tion while deprecating the practice of seeking urgent hearings of bail pleas citing medical emergencies.

“The accident near Ghiyagi in Kullu is very sad. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the

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LUCKNOW, SEP 26 (PTI):

Ten people were killed while 37 were injured when the tractor-trolley in which they were travelling overturned and fell into a pond here on Monday, a senior district of ficial said.

were travelling in the vehicle which was on its way to a Durga Devi temple in Un naee village for a ‘mundan’ ceremony, District Magis trate (Lucknow) Surya Pal

Rajnath Singh during a ceremony organised to honour the family members of military martyrs, in Kangra district. (PTI)

Sisodia predicts AAP will form govt in Gujarat’

J’khand: Accused of witchcraft, 4 forced to eat excreta women, children killed as tractor-trolley falls into pond; injured

SDRF personnel conduct a rescue and relief operation after a tractor trolley overturned and fell into a pond. (PTI)

Anil Deshmukh

Amit Shah during the foundation stone laying ceremony of 350 bedded ESIC Hospital, at Sanand. (PTI)

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S&P pegs India’s GDP growth at 7.3 pc

NEW DELHI, SEP 26

(PTI): S&P Global Ratings

on Monday retained its pro jection of India’s economic growth at 7.3 per cent for the current fiscal and said inflation is likely to remain above the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent till the end of 2022.

In its Economic Out look for Asia Pacific, S&P said the external environ ment has soured for econ omies in the region and higher global interest rates will continue to exert pres sure on central banks in the form of capital outflows and currency depreciation.

S&P Global Ratings Asia-Pacific Chief Econ omist Louis Kuijs said a pronounced slowdown in China was offset by a strong rebound in India as con sumption, especially of ser vices, continued to recover and investment grew rapidly.

“We have retained our India growth outlook at 7.3 per cent for the fiscal year 2022-2023 and 6.5 per cent for the next fiscal year, al

though we see the risks tilted to the downside,” Kuijs said.

The Reserve Bank ex pects the Indian economy to grow 7.2 per cent in the current fiscal (April-March). The growth last year (202122) was 8.7 per cent. Indian economy ex panded 13.5 per cent in the April-June quarter, sequen tially higher than the 4.10 per cent growth clocked in the January-March period.

Several other agencies, including ADB, Fitch Rat ings and Citigroup, have al ready slashed India’s growth projections to either 7 per cent or below.

ADB and Fitch pegged India’s growth estimate at 7 per cent, while Ind-Ra, SBI and Citigroup expect it to be 6.9 per cent, 6.8 per cent and 6.7 per cent, respectively.

S&P Economist Vishrut Rana said the rupee may continue to see volatil ity in the coming days, but India has ‘substantial buffer’ to withstand foreign fund outflows. There have been increased capital flow pres sures globally as the US Fed briskly tightens monetary policy. This has led to sig nificant US dollar strength, and global currencies are down against the greenback.

New Covid-like virus in bats could infect humans, resist vaccines: Study

(From p-1) “But when we looked at them more, we were re ally surprised to find they could infect human cells. That changes a little bit of our understanding of these viruses, where they come from and what regions are concerning,” he added.

The researchers determined

(From p-1) district skill develop ment plan that mapped lo cal aspirations and created opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurships.

“Our emphasis should be making optimum use of local resources and reduce migration to urban cen tres,” he said.

Khosta-1 posed low risk to humans, but Khosta-2 dem onstrated some troubling traits. They found that like SARS-CoV-2, Khosta-2 can use its spike protein to infect cells by attaching to a recep tor protein, called angio tensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), found throughout human cells. The team then

He also reviewed the implementation of Central government schemes and urged the functionaries to work zealously until the last mile was covered.

Chandrasekhar, ac companied by advisor Tourism H. Khehovi Yep thomi and ex-BJP candi date Dr. Sukhato A. Sema

set out to determine if cur rent vaccines protect against the new virus. Using blood serum derived from people vaccinated for COVID-19, the researchers found that Khosta-2 was not neutral ised by current vaccines.

They also tested se rum from people who were infected with the Omicron variant, but the antibodies, too, were ineffective. Letko said the new virus is lacking some of the genes believed to be involved in pathogen esis in humans. There is a risk, however, of Khosta-2 recombining with a second virus like SARS-CoV-2.

“When you see SARS-2 has this ability to spill back from humans and into wildlife, and then there are other viruses like Khosta-2 wait ing in those animals with these properties we really don’t want them to have, it sets up this scenario where you keep rolling the dice until they combine to make a potentially riskier virus,” Letko added.

(From p-1)

There was no physical progress, despite expenditure of Rs 30.37 crore (16.04 per cent of the estimated/re vised cost of 189.39 crore) incurred on 19 projects up to March 2021, it said.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara launched at Rs 10.45L

NEW DELHI, SEP 26 (AGENCIES):

The much-awaited Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara has been launched, with prices ranging from Rs 10.45 lakh19.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

A cousin to the recently launched Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the Grand Vitara not only boasts of hybrid powertrains but also brings back 4WD system to this segment since the discon tinuation of the Renault Duster AWD. It is now Maruti’s flagship model in India and also the second to arrive from the brand’s upcoming SUV onslaught, Autocar India reported.

Bookings for the Grand Vitara, which have been underway for a token amount of Rs 11,000, have already

crossed 55,000 units, with the waiting period stretching up to five and a half months. The Grand Vitara is available with dual-tone colour options too on the top-end Alpha, Zeta+ and Alpha+ trims, which cost an additional Rs

The SUV can also be owned through Maruti Suzuki Subscribe for an all-inclusive monthly subscription fee that starts from Rs. 27,000. Maruti Suzuki is offering a special introduc tory package with the strong-hybrid variants that consists of an extended warranty of 5 years/1,00,000 km – up from the standard 2 year/40,000 km – and a genuine Nexa accessory pack worth over Rs 67,000. Importantly, as

we have already reported, the mildhybrid variants of the Grand Vitara undercut those of the Toyota Hyryder by Rs 20,000. Meanwhile, the strong hybrid variants cost Rs 50,000 more than the Hyryder’s.

The 103hp, 1.5-litre K15C petrol mild-hybrid engine, which already does duty on a range of Maruti Suzuki mod els, comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. And like in the Hyryder, the AWD system is only available with the top-end mild-hybrid manual variant. Maruti claims an effi ciency of 21.11kpl for the manual vari ants, 20.58kpl for the automatics and 19.38kpl for the manual AWD variant.

noon. The victim, a Naga male in his late twenties, was reportedly working as a labourer for a road con struction firm.

Project cost in respect of 18 incomplete projects was revised from Rs 271.46 crore to Rs 454.82 crore, it said. It said that the Capital Expen diture of Rs 1,380.04 crore incurred on these 416 incompletes remained blocked.

Soon after the inci dent, a video went viral on social media, where people were seen recovering the body from the debris. in Zunheboto

(From p-1)

“It is truly hard to imagine the harassments and the hardships that the civilian populace would have to endure had the ne farious design of the armed forces succeeded,” NSF said. The federation has acknowledged and appre ciated the womenfolk of Puilang for their fearless role in preventing the worst from happening to the people by “unravelling the evil plot.”

Meanwhile, the federa tion has reiterated the resolu tion adopted during the 2nd Federal Assembly held on March 12, 2022 in Kohima to firmly extend non-cooper ation to Indian armed forces until the Armed Forces Spe cial Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 was repealed from the Naga homeland.

and other party leaders, held a meeting with BJP karyakartas, and shared with them the vision of the Prime Minister for a New India based on Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas. He later visited the Sumi Baptist Church in Zunheboto, considered the largest Baptist church in Asia, and offered his prayers.

The CAG report said that block ing of funds on incomplete projects/ works impinges negatively on the quality of expenditure and deprives the state of the intended benefits for prolonged periods.

It may be mentioned that, Chandrasekhar, who reached the hilly town af ter a nine-hour journey by road from Dimapur, is the first union minister to visit the district after a span of four decades.

(From p-1) backdoor appointment without considering the negative impact on state education system. However, the association claimed that it was taking a year to make a decision for open recruit ment to recruit deserving and well-trained teachers, who have been deprived of their rights to equal oppor tunities.

Further, delay in completion of the projects was fraught with the risk of cost overrun, which was evident in 63 projects which were pending since 2003-11, it said.

Therefore, the CAG recom mended that effective steps need to be taken to complete all these projects without further delay to avoid time and cost inefficiencies.

Service regularization: ANATG-2015 batch stages...

(From p-1)

Briefing mediapersons before the rally, ANATG-2015 Batch spokesperson Bendan dgtemsu Ozukum said they comprise of graduate teachers, primary teach ers, drawing teachers and other vocational teachers who have been appointed on ad hoc basis against sanctioned post from the year 1994 to 2012.

As per the School Education Department’s norms for service regula risation, the departmental suitability test, verification of documents and inter views were conducted by the government/depart ment on May 20 and 22, 2017, he said.

However, he claimed that even after the fulfil ment of all the criteria, the matter of regularisation was not considered.

Ozukum said that

ANATG had decided to start the agitation from September 8 but accepting the request of the princi pal director of Education Department for 20-days to look into their demand, they cancelled the agita tion. Nonetheless, while the 20-days request ended on Sunday, the ANATG-2015 launched the agitation on Monday.

“We are serious and we will continue the agita tion indefinitely and not settle for anything else other than service regulari sation,” affirmed Ozukum.

Meanwhile, advisor for school education KT Sukhalu told PTI that the government and the department is concerned about the ad hoc teachers service regularisation.

The department is looking into it and will try and resolve the matter at the earliest, said Sukhalu.

Seeks clarification on NSSB: Meanwhile, the as sociation has sought clarifi cation from the responsible authority whether the re cruitment process of prima ry teachers fell under NSSB or district board committee.

ANPSTA welcomes directive to... condemns bid to plant IED...

According to ANPSTA, during an informal meeting with the school education advisor KT Suklalu at his residence on August 12, 2022 (prior to NSSB adver tisement) purportedly stated that primary teachers now fell under NSSB.

However, ANPSTA said that as per school edu cation director the primary teacher posts were yet to be decided whether the re cruitment process fall under NSSB or district board com mittee, thus delaying the recruitment process for PTs. ideology for India’s growth projects worth in

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road under Zunheboto district on Monday. According to police sources, the incident took place on Monday after

Italy shifts to the right as voters reward Meloni’s party

ROME, SEP 26 (AP): A party with neo-fascist roots, the Brothers of Italy, won the most votes in Italy’s national elections, looking set to deliver the country’s first far-right-led govern ment since World War II and make its leader, Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s first woman premier, near-final results showed on Monday.

Italy’s lurch to the far right immediately shifted Europe’s geopolitical real ity, placing a eurosceptic party in position to lead a founding member of the European Union and its third-largest economy.

Right-wing leaders across Europe immediately hailed Meloni’s victory and her party’s meteoric rise as sending a historic message to Brussels. Near-final re sults showed the centre-right coalition netting some 44 per cent of the parliamen tary vote, with Meloni’s Brothers of Italy snatching some 26 per cent.

Her coalition partners divided up the remainder, with the anti-immigrant League of Matteo Salvini winning nearly 9 per cent and the more moderate Forza Italia of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi taking around 8 per cent.

The centre-left Demo cratic Party and its allies had around 26 per cent, while the 5-Star Movement — which had been the biggest vote-getter in 2018 Parlia mentary elections — saw its share of the vote halved to some 15 per cent this time around. Turnout was a his toric low 64 per cent. Poll sters suggested voters stayed home in part in protest and also because they were dis enchanted by the backroom deals that had created the three governments since the previous election.

Meloni, whose party traces its origins to the post war, neo-fascist Italian So cial Movement, sounded a moderate, unifying tone in a victory speech early on Monday that noted that Ital ians had finally been able to clearly determine who they

wanted to govern. “If we are called to govern this nation, we will do it for everyone, we will do it for all Italians and we will do it with the aim of uniting the people (of this country),” Meloni said. “Italy chose us. We will not betray (the country) as we never have.”

While the centre-right was the clear winner, the formation of a government is still weeks away and will involve consultations among party leaders and with Presi dent Sergio Mattarella. In the meantime, outgoing Pre mier Mario Draghi remains in a caretaker role.

The elections, which took place some six months early after Draghi’s govern ment collapsed, came at a crucial time for Europe as it faces Russia’s war in Ukraine and the related soaring energy costs that have hit ordinary Italian pocketbooks as well as in dustry. A Meloni-led gov ernment is largely expected to follow Italy’s current foreign policy, including her pro-NATO stance and strong support for supply ing Ukraine with weapons to defend against Russia’s invasion, even as her coali tion allies stake a slightly different tone.

EU partners signal discomfort

AP: Italy’s European Union partners are sig nalling discomfort, even vigilance, after Italy, one of the bloc’s founding members, swung far to the political right. The result of Italy’s latest election raises troubling questions about whether Rome will maintain its commitments to EU principles, laws and ambitions.

The French prime minister Monday said her government, along with EU officials, would be watching to ensure that basic human rights are guaranteed in Italy after Giorgia Meloni’s neo-fascist far-right Broth ers of Italy Party topped the vote count in Sunday’s parliamentary election. In Europe, we uphold some values and obviously we will ensure, and the presi dent of the commission will ensure, that these values on human rights, the respect of other people, especially the respect of the right to abor tion will be respected by all (member states), Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told French broadcaster BFM TV.

15 dead, 24 wounded in school shooting in Russia

Russia admits mobilisation errors, amid public oppn

MOSCOW, SEP 26 (AGENCIES): The Krem lin has admitted mistakes were made in its drive to mobilise Russian army re servists to fight in Ukraine, amid growing public op position.

“There are cases when the decree is vio lated,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokes man said, adding that “all the errors will be correct ed”.

Multiple reports say people with no military experience - or who are too old or disabled - are being called up.

MOSCOW, SEP 26 (AP):

A gunman opened fire in a school in central Russia on Monday, killing 15 people and wounding 24 others be fore shooting himself dead, authorities said.

The shooting took place in School No. 88 in Izhevsk, a city 960 kilome ters (600 miles) east of Mos cow in the Udmurtia region.

Russia’s Investigative Committee identified the gunman as 34-year-old Ar tyom Kazantsev, a graduate of the same school, and said he was wearing a black t-shirt bearing “Nazi sym bols.” No details about his motives have been released.

Powerful typhoon leaves 6 rescuers dead in north Philippines

MANILA, SEP 26 (AP):

Typhoon Noru blew out of the northern Philippines on Monday, leaving six people dead, knocking down power in two entire provinces, trap ping villagers in floods and forcing officials to suspend classes and government work in and around the capital. The most powerful typhoon to hit the country this year slammed ashore in Burdeos town in Quezon province before nightfall on Sunday then weakened as it barrelled overnight across the main Luzon region, where more than 52,000 people were moved to emer

gency shelters, some forc ibly, officials said. Gov. Dan iel Fernando of Bulacan province, north of Manila, said five rescuers, who were using a boat to help residents trapped in floodwaters, were hit by a collapsed wall then

apparently drowned in the rampaging waters.

“They were living he roes who were helping save the lives of our countrymen in the calamity,” Fernando told DZMM radio network. “This is really very sad.”

Police said a Bulacan villager drowned after refus ing to heed appeals to leave his riverside house. Authori ties were separately trying to confirm another death in Burdeos town and a missing farmer in a flooded village in western Zambales province.

In Aurora province’s hard-hit Dingalan town, more than 6,000 houses were damaged and a new ly built evacuation centre housing more 200 displaced families was battered by the fierce wind and rain but no injuries were reported, offi cials said. About 3,000 peo ple were evacuated to safety

in metropolitan Manila, which was lashed by fierce wind and rain overnight.

Classes and govern ment work were suspended on Monday in the capital and outlying provinces as a precaution although the morning skies were sunny.

The entire northern provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija, which were hit by the typhoon, remained without power on Monday and repair crews were at work to bring back electric ity, Energy Secretary Ra phael Lotilla told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a televised meeting the presi dent called to assess damage and coordinate disasterresponse.

The Committee said 15 people, including 11 children, were killed in the shooting, and 24 other peo ple, including 22 children, were wounded in the attack.

The governor of Ud murtia, Alexander Brecha lov, said the gunman, who he said was registered as a patient at a psychiatric facil ity, killed himself after the attack.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the shooting as “a terrorist act” and said Russian Presi dent Vladimir Putin has giv en all the necessary orders to the relevant authorities.

“President Putin deep

ly mourns deaths of people and children in the school, where a terrorist act took place,” Peskov told report ers Monday. The school educates children between grades one and 11. It has been evacuated and the area around it has been cordoned off, the governor said.

Russia’s National Guard said Kazantsev used two non-lethal handguns adapted to fire real bullets. The guns were not registered with the authorities.

A criminal probe into the incident has been launched on charges of multiple murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Last week’s mobilisa tion decree has already triggered widespread protests. President Putin announced what he de scribed as partial mobili sation on 21 September, with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu later saying 300,000 reservists would be called up.

However, reports in opposition Russian media suggested that up to one million people could be called up, pointing out that one paragraph believed to be about the exact number of the required reservists was omitted (classified) in the published version of Mr Putin’s decree on the official Kremlin website.

ISLAMABAD, SEP 26

(PTI): Six Pakistan Army officials, including two Ma jors, were killed in a helicop ter crash in southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Monday, the second such incident after another military heli copter crashed in the same province last month.

The crash occurred near Khost in the Harnai district of the province on Sunday night during a flying mission, it said.

All the “six personnel on board, including 2 pilots” were killed in the crash, the Army said. No reason for the crash was given.

The accident comes more than a month after a similar incident occurred in Balochistan on August 1 when a Pakistan Army heli copter crashed, killing all six personnel, including a Lieu tenant General, on board. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani mili tary, said on Monday that 39-year-old Major Khur ram Shahzad (pilot) and

The funeral prayers of the six army personnel were offered at Quetta Garrison, according to the ISPR. Balo chistan corps commander as well as senior military and civil officials attended the funeral. Their bodies are now being sent to their na tive towns where they will be buried with full military honours, the army said.

Prime Minister She hbaz Sharif said he was deeply grieved and prayed for the deceased and their family members. He said the entire nation shared the grief of the bereaved.

President Arif Alvi also expressed grief over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families. Former prime min ister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party leader Fawad Chaudhry said he licopter flying was getting dangerous in the country, adding that it required “en gineering evaluation”.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The general public is hereby informed that Mr. KEVILEZO SANCHU, S/o Mr. HIELHOU SANCHU is henceforth excommunicated from Zhadima Village on 9 th August 2022 for a period of three (3) years. He has been ex-communicated from the village for continuously committing thievery, extortion, sale of liquor and intoxicants and abetting social crimes.

The public is hereby notified that any untoward incidences perpetuated by him shall solely be his own doing(s) and shall not reflect the image of Zhadima Village anyway whatsoever.

The Nehru Yuva Kendra, Phek along with the Phek Town Chakhesang Students' Union organised a one day mega event under the banner Yuva Utsav/Youth Festival on 24th September at Town Hall, Phek District. The event was graced by Shri Mechietsho Koza, EAC Phek. Many other dignitaries from various government departments, NGOs, Youth Club members, Schools and Colleges took part in the event. Competitions on various categories ranging from Yuvasamvaad Best participants, Cultural events, Painting, Poetry, Photography and Declamation were organised. The winners will be representing NYK Phek at the State Level Yuva Utsav.

Changsü Yanthan tsolo Yanpoe Yanpia eYi okho DiMAPuR : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

Through this column, we the Changsü Yanthan Tsolo Yanpoe Yanpia Eyi Okho (CYTYYEO) Dimapur with immense pride and honour would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Miss Chonbeni Oren Patton, D/o Mr. Orenthüng Lotha (NCS) & Mrs. Eranbeni Lotha of Yammhon New Village for securing the post of Economics & Statistical Officer (Class-I Gazetted) under Economics & Statistical Department, Nagaland through NPSC-I (CTSE) 2021.

The CYTYYEO further prays that our Almighty God continue to guide and bless you more and wish you the best success in your future endeavors.

Sd/- Sd/(Nchümbeni Ezung) (Yisanbeni N Ovüng) Chairperson, CYTYYEO Secretary, CYTYYEO DP -4657/22

FELICITATION

Wokha Town Lakhuti Eloe Ekhung would like to extend our heartiest congratulation to Mr. Chonben Lotha , S/o Mr. Ayamo Patton for successfully clearing the recently declared NPSC (CTSE) 2021 as an Asst. Programmer under Election Dept., Govt. of Nagaland. We wish him the best for his future endeavors.

Sd/- Sd/Mrs. Rosalen Patton Mrs. Myingthunglo Ngullie Secretary Chairperson

Off ICE O f t HE

WOKHA HUMTSO ELUMYO

SENIOR YOUTH WELFARE FORUM

FELICITATION

The Wokha Humtso Elumyo Senior Youth Welfare Forum (WHESYWF) conveys its heartiest congratulations to:-

1. Er. t hungchibeni Z Murry, D/o Mr. Zubenthung Murry and Mrs. Wobeni Murry for securing the post of SDO (Civil Engg) Class I Gazetted under PHE Department.

The Jungi Motsurui Ekhung with immense pride and honour conveys heartfelt congratulations to our members.

1. Shri. Nongothung Jungio, IRS, S/o Mr & Mrs. Zanbenthung Jungio on being promoted to Commissioner of Income Tax.

2. Er. Meribeni L Jungio, D/o. Mr & Mrs. Lichumo Jungio for securing the Post of Assistant Drilling Engineer (Class-1 Gazetted) under Geology & Mining Department through CTSE conducted by NPSC 2021.

3. Smti. N. Renchano Kithan, W/o Mr. Lichumo Jungio on being promoted to Assistant District Education Officer.

The Ekhung appreciates your achievements and further wishes you all good health, wisdom and success in your future endeavors.

Sd/- Sd/(Nchumbemo Jungio) (Pichamo Jungio) Chairman Secretary Jungi Motsurui Ekhung Jungi Motsurui Ekhung Wokha : Nagaland Wokha : Nagaland WC -224/22

KOHIMA PONGIDONG EKHUNG

FELICITATION

A new Union as Kohima Pongidong Ekhung (KPE) was formed on 25-09- 2022 with an aim to maintain unity among the villagers and to promote Workmanship in our society. The Ekhung consisting the following Office Bearers for a term of 5 (Five) years with effect from 2022-23.

1. Chairman : Shri. E.Motsuthung Lotha.

2. Vice Chairman : Shri. C. Mhao Humtsoe. General Secretary : Shri. T.Azamo Humtsoe. Joint Secretary : Shri. Erenthung Humtsoe. Finance Secretary : Shri. Rutsamo Tsopoe. Publicity & Information Secy. : Shri. Rulanthung Emangrui. Prayer & Fellowship Secretary : Smti. Alumi Humtsoe. Asstt. P& F Secretary : Smti. Orensali Humtsoe. 1. Shri. Myanthung Humtsoe. Smti. Mhabeni R.F. Lotha. Shri. Ntsono Tsopoe. Dr. Tumbenthung Y.Humtsoe.

5. Shri. Ekonthung Ezong.

The newly formed Ekhung would like to extend our profound heartiest congratulations to one of our bonafide members Dr. Tumbenthung Y. Humtsoe, son of Shri. Yanbemo Humtsoe for securing the post of Statistical Officer, (Cl-I Gazetted) under Economics & Statistics Department, Govt. of Nagaland through NPSC and the first Secular Doctorate in Philosophy from the native Village of Pongidong, under Wokha District.

The Ekhung wishes him good health and invoke God's blessings upon his future endeavours.

2. Er. Renpithung Z Murry, S/o Mr. Zubenthung Murry and Mrs. Wobeni Murry for securing the post of Assistant Mechanical Engineer Class I Gazetted under Works & Housing Department.

3. Er. B. Lichamo Murry, S/o Mr. Boshamo Murry and Elano Murry for securing the post of Lecturer in Electricals and Electronics Engineering under Technical Education.

4. Mr. Yilobemo Kithan, S/o Mr. Yanbemo k ithan and Mrs. Renboni k ithan for securing the post of Assistant Professor in Political Science under Higher Education Department.

5. Mr. Konathung Murry, S/o Lt. Rev. N.T. Murry and Loreni Murry for securing the post of Senior Technical Officer under Law and Justice, Govt. of Nagaland.

The Forum wishes them good health and wisdom in exercising their duties for the welfare and upliftment of the people of our society.

Sd/- Sd/

Nzanthung P tungoe Yanrenthung tsanglao Gen. Secy., WHESYWF President, WHESYWF OF THE MOTSURUI EKHUNG

Shri. T. Azamo Humtsoe Shri. E. M. Lotha Secretary Kohima Pongidong Ekhung (KPE) Kohima Pongidong Ekhung (KPE) k-2281/22

Sd/- Sd/-

Giorgia Meloni (AP/PTI)

30-year-old Major Muham mad Muneeb Afzal (pilot) were among those killed in the crash.

Police and paramedics work at the scene of a shooting at school No. 88 in Izhevsk, Russia, Monday. (AP)

Residents wade through waist-deep flood waters after Super Typhoon Noru, in San Miguel, Bulacan province. (Reuters)

Siddhart and Sweta crowned Mr and Miss Gorkha Nagaland 2022

Siddhart Chetri from Kohima and Sweta

Sonar from Mon district were crowned the first Mr and Miss Gorkha Nagaland 2022 respectively on September 25, at Holy Cross Hr. Sec. School au ditorium, Dimapur. The event was organised by B Bros Entertainment under the motto “To promote, and uplift the talent of one’s community”.

Altogether, 28 finalists from different districts of Nagaland competed for the title.

The 1st runner-up title for Mr. Gorkha was bagged by Prakash Sher estha, while Raj Rana bagged the 2nd runnerup position, while Miss Gorkha Nagaland 2022, 1st runner-up was bagged by Deepbhiyani Lama and 2nd runner-up by Rebecca Tamang.

Sub title winners in the male category are Best Model - Richard Gurung, Mr Ramp walk - Prakash Sherestha, Mr Personality - Siddhart Chetri, Best Eth nic - Siddhart Chetri, Mr

Popular - Pratham Thapa, Mr Talent - Raj Rana. While sub title winners for female category are Best Model - Sweta Sonar, Miss Ramp walk - Sweta Sonar, Miss PersonalityDeepbhiyani Lama, Best Ethnic - Diya Rai, Miss Popular - Deepbhiyani Lama and Miss TalentAngel Tamang.

Judges for the event include, designer/chore ographer, Prasantt Ghosh;

VLCC Femina Miss In dia Nagaland 2022, Lovi Awomi; proprietor of Elite Strength Gym and fitness

India 2022 finalist, Rovin uo Lama and CEO, B Bros Entertainment, Sunil BK.

President, National Peoples Party Nagaland, Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema graced the occasion as spe cial guest, while and state executive member BJP Na galand, K Hukuto Khulu, was guest of honour.

Nikato Tamang, Suraj Gautam, Tashi Ta mang, Sourav Lama (Solo) lead guitarist of Vortax Band and Dreamworks Taekwondo Academy en thralled the audience with their performances.

SET NU Dimapur observes 15th Fresher’s Day

Wamba Walling from CSE de partment and Sentirenla Ao from AET department were crowned Mr and Miss Fresher’s 2022 of School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Na galand University, Dimapur during its 15th Fresher’s Day on September 24 at IMC Hall under the theme “Carpe Diem”.

Speaking on the occa sion, special guest, deputy commissioner of police Chumoukedima, Munesh, reminded the students to cherish, value and enjoy every moment of life. She encouraged the students to

use time judiciously and to study with full dedication and a with a strong deter mination.

She also advised the students to focus on educa tion as it is the most impor tant factor.

Dean NU-SET, profes sor V.K. Vidyarthi, exhorted the students and encouraged them to be focused and to

use the knowledge they gain as an engineer to convert their knowledge of basic sci ence into a product with the aim of making things work efficiently and effectively with principle of science, mathematics and research. He further encouraged the freshers to be a good engineer as, “Engineers are the backbone of Nation.”

trainer, Neitho Rio Achu mi; proprietor Raindrops Academy, Pushpa Thatal; Glamanand Super Model

The host of the evening were Jenny La mechane Chhetri and Re shab Chettri. The show was choreographed by Sanjeev Tamang.

With pride Ao Baptist Church Diphupar

FELICITATION in the recently conducted NPSC examination Union further

On this glorious day of 25th Sept. 2022, Unity Village Ao Baptist Arogo celebrated the reverend ordination of our Pastor, Rev. L. Panger Jamir

The church congratulates you and your family on your ordination. Your decision to live a life of service for God is one that we are all proud of. It is our prayer that you be a role model to whole lot of people as you take up this new role. May heaven smile on you and may you find joy and satisfaction in your ministry.

The church also express our sincere gratitude to ABAM for fulfilling the need of our church and all the Ordination Council Members for making this program a successful one.

The Dimapur Changtongya recently declared

1. Mayangchila Jamir Daughter of T. Takotoshi Bendangla, JE (Civil Engineering) Housing Department, Govt.

2. Meyilemla Jamir, Daughter of Dally Jamir and Akumla, JE (Electrical Engineering) Department of Power, Govt. of Nagaland. The Union further wishes them the very best in their future endeavours.

Watisenla Jamir Anungla Jamir President General Secretary Dimapur Changtongya Changtongya Tsur Tsur Telongjem

(Centre) Miss and Mr Gorkha Nagaland 2022, Sweta Sonar and Siddhart Chetri, flanked by first and second runners-up after the crowning ceremony

Miss and Mr, Sentirenla Ao and Wamba Walling with Munesh.

The

L

Women’s Basketball WC: rout S Korea 145-69

in their Group A game in Sydney, Australia on Monday.

Brionna Jones and A’ja Wilson led the scor ing with 24 and 20 points respectively, with six other players hitting double fig ures as the United States outdid Brazil’s previous record of 143, set in 1990 against Malaysia.

The United States’ pre vious tournament high was 119, which it achieved on two occasions.

“It was huge,” Wilson said. “I think everyone scored and that’s the beauty of it. It comes from every one, from one to 12.

“It involves all of us. And I think now because we have a complete team it feels a lot better as well and we’re starting to mesh, we’re starting to click.

“But this is huge, I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a team that can score the basketball like this crazy and put up 145 points.”

The United States has secured qualification for the tournament quarterfinals after winning all four of its group stage games so far, and will be looking to win a record-extending 11th title.

NAYSA-C organise one day conference

NEW DELHI, SEP 26 (PTI): Having returned to top-flight shooting after a long sabbatical, Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar feels athletes could “forget the ABCD of sport” if they stay away from action for three-four years.

London Games silver medallist pistol shooter Kumar, incidentally, had taken a long break from shooting to focus on his ca reer with the police in Him achal Pradesh. It included intense academic training, field training and border training, taking up most of his time and attention.

It was only last year that he returned to the sport, hoping to dominate it one more time.

“Spending time away was not a big deal since I was providing job security for myself. It is not a big deal, either, starting the sport from scratch,” he said.

He conceded, though

that muscle memory built over many years as a sport shooter was lost during police training.

“Technique goes for a toss. If one doesn’t train and compete for three or four years, one forgets the basics, the ABCD of sport. When you return at the highest level, you realise you have all but forgotten how to play,” he rued.

Kumar has a clear target in mind for the up coming National Games: emulate his own five-gold, one-bronze medal haul during the 2015 edition in Thiruvananthapuram.

The upcoming edition is starting in Ahmedabad on September 29.

“That (performance) is a thing of the past. I believe I can push myself more and can even excel at the Olympic level once again. That single goal has fuelled my motivation,” the 2012 Olympic medal list said, revealing that he has been preparing for the Gujarat Games for over six months.

“I am happy that within a year of my return to shooting, I have made it for my fourth National Games. I will try to per form well here ahead of the World Championships,” the 37-year-old said.

‘Above Thirty-Five League Season 7’ kicks off in Dimapur

KOHIMA, SEP 26 (NPN): Northern Angami Youth and Sports Association-C (NAYSA-C) organised a one -day conference at Vi phoma village on Septem ber 24. The conference was hosted by the village coun cil and youth and sports organization.

FCBU’s foreign recruits add firepower to squad

BENGALURU, SEP 26 (IANS) : FC Benga luru United (FCBU) have strengthened their ranks by adding international players Jairo Rodrigues and Mohamad Kdouh to the squad for the ongoing season.

The two-time BDFA champions have made a strong statement of intent by signing on two players of the highest calibre and look set to challenge for the title again.

FCBU have brought on board the 29-year-old Jairo Rodrigues to shore up their defence and provide an aerial threat from set pieces. Jairo has previously played in the ISL for Kerala Blasters. Lebanon Interna tional, Mohamad Kdouh, joins FCBU as an attacking forward with a knack to score crucial goals. He en joyed a steady rise through the junior ranks and rep resented Lebanon interna tionally at youth levels.

He has successfully represented Bangladesh Premier League champi ons Bashundhara Kings.

FC Bengaluru United Head Coach Khalid Jamil, was thrilled to announce the experienced players joining his squad. “I am delighted that we have signed players who will fur ther enhance the ability of our squad. I wanted them to be a part of our squad because I feel they embody our playing style and will be able to raise the morale and technical ability of the entire team.

The main speaker of the event was PS to CM, Neiketouzo Kengurüse.

Northern Angami Youth Organization presi dent, Roko Angami and Northern Angami Public Organization-C, president, Zasibeizolie Rülho, ex horted the gathered youths.

NAYSA-C president, Vizosielie Khoubve deliv ered the president’s address.

Leaders from the 12 member villages attended the conference. The meet ing was followed by a tradi tional yowling war cry com petition with participants from the member villages. NAYSA-C executives with the speakers after the conference at Viphoma on Saturday.

NEW DELHI, SEP 26 (AGENCIES): As widely anticipated, fresh elections to the Table Tennis Federa tion of India (TTFI) are in the offing in November.

During Monday’s hear ing in the Delhi High Court, both parties – the TTFI and the Committee of Adminis trators (CoA) - through their counsels had no objections to fresh elections, Sportstar reported.

Representing the TTFI, senior counsel Anupam Das, along with Parth Go swami, pointed out that it was learnt, the International Table Tennis Federation of India (ITTF) had written to the CoA and there was an apprehension of the TTFI getting suspended by Sep

tember 30. To this query, the counsel for CoA Senior Advocate Raj Shekhar Rao confirmed that there was indeed a communication

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): Natak FC blanked Trinity Sporting 2-0 on the inaugural day of the “Above Thirty-Five League Season 7” formerly known as CASE Premier League at DDSC Stadium on Sep tember 24.

A goal from Thain gamlong in the first half and an own goal by Trinity custodian Aning sealed the fate of the defending cham pions. In the other match of the day, Nizams FC came from behind to beat Super Strikers 4-2.

For Nizams, Peter scored two goals, Lipok added another and an own goal from Lhoulavolie while Ramesh and Vayu scored for the Strikers. The league held un der the theme “Beyond Friendship, Beyond Fitness and Beyond Football” was started with the sole aim of promoting fitness and friendship through football for non-professionals above 35 years of age.

All Sumi Chess Championship

DIMAPUR, SEP 26 (NPN): Sumi Chess Association Nagaland (SCAN) will be organising its 10th All Sumi Chess cham pionship 2022 from October 21 and 22 at Dimapur.

The association has informed all chess enthusiastic persons of Sumi com munity to participate the said tournament.

TTFI, CoA agree in court for fresh elections

from the ITTF. After seeking instructions from the CoA, he told the Court that, till November, there was no threat of suspension.

Interested persons can take part by paying entry fee of Rs. 1000 for open category and under 18 years category Rs. 500 while for physically challenged person, there will be no entry fee. Further information can be con tacted at 7005828821,9366971226 and 7005623757.

A

SYDNEY,

Women’s Cup Korea

A’ja Wilson of USA in action. (AP)

Players of Natak FC before the inaugural match.

One forgets ABCD of sport if away from action for 3-4 years: Vijay

Vijay Kumar

Tiafoe seals first Laver Cup for Team World

LONDON, SEP 26 (RE

UTERS): Fances Tiafoe returned to haunt Team Europe with a dazzling win over Stefanos Tsitsipas to give Team World their first Laver Cup title on Sunday, ending Roger Fe derer’s hopes of finishing his career by lifting another trophy.

Two days after he and Jack Sock beat Federer and Rafa Nadal in a tearful farewell for the Swiss great at the O2 Arena, American showman Tiafoe saved four match points against Tsitsi pas before roaring to a 1-6 7-6(11) 10-8 victory.

Tiafoe’s win, worth three points for his team, gave John McEnroe’s Team World an unassailable 13-8 lead, having started the day trailing 8-4 and staring at a fifth straight defeat in the event co-founded by Federer.

Team World enjoyed a super Sunday as Canadian young gun Felix AugerAliassime stunned 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6(3). Earlier, Auger-Aliassime had partnered American Sock to a 2-6 6-3 10-8 win against Briton Andy Mur ray and Italian Matteo Ber rettini.

Tsitsipas had the chance to take the match to

a deciding singles match, but Tiafoe showed tre mendous guts to save four match points in a gripping second-set tiebreak.

The American had the pro-Europe crowd in rap tures, and his team mates off their feet, with some ex traordinary shot-making in the so-called Laver Breaker.

And when Tsitsipas hit the net on match point, Tiafoe collapsed to the court and was immediately buried under a pile of his red-shirted team mates and captain McEnroe.

“It’s an unbeliev

able feeling,” Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open semi-final said on court.

“Jonny Mac was dropping F bombs all week saying we need to get it down this year. “It wasn’t just me but I showed a lot of heart to get this done. I was getting my ass kicked for a while but I kept going. This is big, we’re going to celebrate big tonight.”

McEnroe was ecstatic at finally getting his hands on the trophy and getting one over old rival Bjorn Borg who was captain of a Team Europe side that were

big favourites.

“No one beats Team World five times in a row,” the American said. “Felix stepped up big time.

“Frances is prime time, we saw that at the U.S. Open. This is an incredible team event and I’m loving every second of it.”

It was not the ending Federer had dreamed of in the last event of his 24-year professional career.

Apart from playing his last-ever competitive match, he had sat at court side in every match here, of fering his words of wisdom

Shahbaz, Iyer in T20I squad vs SA

NEW DELHI, SEP 26 (PTI): Yet to recover from COVID-19, Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of India’s three-match T20I series against South Africa, while Bengal allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed came in place of a rested Hardik Pandya.

Meghalaya set to host NE Olympic Games

SHILLONG, SEP 26: The 2nd edition of the North East Olympic Games will be hosted by Meghalaya as part of its 50th anniversary of statehood celebrations in November 2022 and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has encour aged all stakeholders, from players to coaches, officials and everyone involved, to dream big.

Speaking at the curtain raiser of the Games, which was held at Pinewood Ho tel here on Monday, Sangma congratu lated and thanked the Meghalaya State Olympic Association and Department of Sports and Youth Affairs for working very hard to organise the North East Olympic Games in Meghalaya.

“It is a great milestone and all stake

holders have worked very hard to achieve this and bring it together,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also unveiled the Games’ logo, the official mascot - NEO, a clouded leopard, which is Meghalaya’s state animal - and launched the Games’ website and information booklet.

The mega regional sporting event - to be held from November 10 to 16 - returns after four years, with the inaugural event having taken place in Manipur in 2018. There will be 3,000-plus athletes plus officials and spectators at the NEOG 22 taking part in 18 disciplines.

The Meghalaya Government has given the Games its full support as a way to also celebrate 50 years of Meghalaya statehood.

15 NCC cadets from Nagaland attend All India Trekking Camp

The series is starting September 28 in Thiruva nanthapuram. With allrounder Deepak Hooda also out of the series due to back spasms, the national selection committee is set to recall middle-order bat ter Shreyas Iyer for the South Africa series.

“Shami hasn’t recov ered from his bout of CO VID-19. He needs more time, and hence, will be out of the South Africa series. Umesh Yadav will contin ue as Shami’s replacement for the South Afria series,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari will lead Rest of India team in the Irani Cup against Saurashtra.

T20: India 7 pts clear of Eng at top

NEW DELHI, SEP 26

(PTI): India went seven points clear of England at the top of the ICC T20 rank ings following its narrow series win over Australia in Hyderabad.

and support to his team mates.

“Of course I’m disap pointed,” 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer told reporters at the end of an emotional weekend.

“I was on the team. Almost lost my voice. My hands hurt from clapping. Told Andy (Murray) in the locker room, I don’t like losing. It’s not fun.

“This weekend has been all over the place for me. I enjoyed it, but it’s un fortunate that we couldn’t get the win tonight.”

Tiafoe, beaten heavily by Djokovic the previous evening, was making no apologies to Federer for be ing the pantomime villain.

“Absolutely not. I’m not going to apologise to him. He’s got a lot to apolo gise after the last 24 years after beating everybody on the tour,” Tiafoe, clutching a beer, said.

“But I will say thank you for having me in this amazing event, for what he’s done for the game. He’s a class act. Happy to know him, happy to call him friend, happy to call him a colleague, and best wishes in his second act.”

Team World will be aiming to retain their title next year when the event takes place in Vancouver.

Denmark upset in Nations

BERLIN, SEP 26 (IANS):

World champions France lost 2-0 to Denmark, while the Netherlands and Croa tia claimed victories over Belgium and Austria to se cure UEFA Nations League semifinal spots.

France showed them selves to be out of shape just under two months be fore the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Les Bleus will meet Denmark again in Group D. Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Skov Olsen scored two goals in the first half as hosts Denmark deserved their victory, reports Xi nhua. After the defeat, France sit behind Croatia and Denmark with only five points in Group 1 of League A. Austria were relegated to League B after their 3-1 loss to Croatia. Real Ma drid’s Luka Modric put the Croatians ahead in Vi enna after just six minutes.

Christoph Baumgartner of Hoffenheim equalised three minutes later, but in the second half, strikes from Marko Livaja and Dejan Lovren sealed the win for Croatia.

In Group 4, Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands secured first place with a 1-0 win over Belgium thanks to Vir gil van Dijk’s 73rd-minute goal.

Without injured key players Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay, Neth erlands coach Louis van Gaal had to search for an alternative line-up which saw Marten de Roon (Ata lanta) and Vincent Janssen (Antwerp) replace the FC Barcelona duo.

This resulted in a tight match against Belgium, who had been beaten by their Dutch neighbours 4-1 in Brussels in June.

Captain Virgil van Dijk headed in a Cody Gakpo corner in the 73rd minute, a few minutes after 38-yearold Dutch goalkeeper Rem ko Pasveer of Ajax, who debuted last Thursday in a 2-0 win against Poland

in Warsaw, made a terrific save from an attempt by Amadou Onana.

The win means the Netherlands end on 16 points from six matches in Group 4 of the highest level of the Nations League, and qualify for the final four next year in the Nether lands.

Belgium finished sec ond in the group with 10 points. For both teams, the match was also their last test before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which starts on November 20 in Qatar.

Wales will play in League B in the upcoming Nations League season after a 1-0 defeat against Poland.

India face Vietnam test in football tourney

HO CHI MINH CITY, SEP 26 (PTI): The Indian men’s football team will have its task cut out when it takes on Vietnam in the Hung Thinh Friendly Foot ball Tournament here on Tuesday.

In their opener last Saturday, India were held to a 1-1 draw by lowerranked Singapore.

Up against a confi dent Vietnan, who blanked Singapore 4-0 in their first match, the Blue Tigers will have to be extremely focussed.

“It will be a very different game against a much stronger opponent, so our approach will also change accordingly,” said India head coach Igor Sti mac said on the eve of the match.

DIMAPUR, SEP 26

(NPN): Fifteen NCC ca dets from Nagaland par ticipated in the All India Trekking camp held at Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi district in Odisha from September 19-26.

The cadets were from 25 NL Bn. NCC, Mokokc hung, 24 NL (i) Coy NCC and No.1 NL Sqn NCC from Zisaji Presidency College, Kiphire, Peren Government College, Patkai Christian College, Chümoukedima, Eastern Christian College, Dima pur, Cornerstone Higher

Secondary School, Zun heboto and Army Public School, Rangapahar took part in the camp.

Altogether 510 NCC cadets from various direc torates from all over India participated in the camp held under the command of Trek Manager Group Commander Col. Amitabh Roy, SM.

At the camp, the ca dets trekked to four dif ferent locations namely; Rabandhara (20km), Karlapada(20km), Risi Gain(60 km) and Dokarichahchara(80km).

Altogether 101 cadets from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tri pura, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland attended the camp. At the closing ceremony, the ca dets from Nagaland en thralled the audience by showcasing Naga warrior dance which was witnessed by the chief guest of the event, Commodore Somen Banerjee, Dy. Director General of NCC, Odisha Directorate. Cadets from Northeastern region also won the award for the best cadets for performance.

Down 0-1 against tour ing the Australia, the Rohit Sharma-led India bounced back in style to level the series in Nagpur before Vi rat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav’s fifties in the decid ing rubber on Sunday sealed a 2-1 win. The six-wicket final over win improved its ranking by one point to 268 points, a seven-point lead over its closest rival in Eng land in the ICC T20 rank ings released on Monday.

The upcoming threematch series against South Africa will give India a chance to consolidate its lead at the top ahead of the World Cup in Australia.

The Proteas occupy third place on the team rankings with 258 points but could stake its claim in the upcoming series commenc ing at Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Incidentally, it was Pakistan’s narrow three-run win over England in the fourth game in Kara chi on Sunday that helped India increase its lead.

“We need to be more focused, especially on ver tical football and quick transition.

The India head coach has also closely followed the match between Viet nam and Singapore, and believes that their Tues day’s opponents are an organised unit.

“I’ve watched their first match against Singa

“At the same time, we must maintain focus on our defence as well. They pose a real threat from long range shots, and from their crosses, and we need to be able to deal with that,” said Stimac.

Julius Baer Cup: Erigaisi goes down to Carlsen in final

NEW YORK, SEP 26 (PTI): Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi went down against world no.1 Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Julius Baer Generation Cup online rapid chess tourna ment, losing the second match 0-2.

Having won the first match, the Norwegian had the advantage and he won the first two games of the second match to close out the finale early on Monday.

Having won the first match, comprising four games, 2.5-0.5, Carlsen needed to only draw the second to take the top prize. He won two games of the second match and shut out Erigaisi.

The final was a twomatch affair with each match consisting of four games. If the players had won a match each, a blitz tie-break would have been required to decide the win ner.

Requiring to win the second match to have a chance to push the final to a tie-break, the 19-year old Indian player found him self in trouble against the world no.1 in red-hot form.

Erigaisi resigned on move 48 and slipped into further trouble. The second game was over in 52 moves as Carlsen dashed the Indian GM’s hopes.

Carlsen had been un stoppable in the preliminary phase and lost just one game, resigning after just two moves against Hans Niemann and subsequently dropping a game to Lev Aronian in the quarterfi nals. Carlsen’s performance makes him the first player to hit the historic 2900 Tour Rating mark.

Erigaisi, with a fine performance in the Julius Baer Cup, part of the Melt water Chess Tour, has quali fied for the eight-player tour final in San Francisco later this year.

pore and they (Vietnam) are a very disciplined side,” said Stimac.

“They have also had enough time after the first game for recovery, while we need to see how many of our boys will be avail able and fit to play.”

Hinting that there may be significant changes to the side, he said, “A few of our players are back and fresh now, so we will make sure we have enough strength and speed on the pitch for Vietnam.”

However, the 55-yearold chose to look at the brighter side, which is the availability of most of his players for selection.

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Team World’s Frances Tiafoe celebrates with the trophy after winning the Laver Cup. (Reuters/Andrew Boyers)

NCC cadets from Nagaland with officials at the Trekking camp.

Denmark players celebrate after the match. (Reuters)

Indian men’s football team training on the eve of its match against Vietnam. (AIFF)

Members of Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD) at the inauguration of a new basketball court at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on Sunday. The court was inaugurated by proprietor Nagaland Minerals and Mines, Temjenmoa Jamir. (NP)

Arjun Erigaisi

Correspondent