Jan 11 2023

Nagaland

Reconsider state demand: CPO to ENPO

KOHIMA, JAN 10 (NPN):

Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) Tuesday resolved to appeal to Eastern Nagas to reconsider their demand for creation of Frontier Nagaland so that Nagas could continue to live as “one entity”.

This was contained in a five-point resolution adopted by CPO during the 41st general session of CPO at Middle Khomi village Phek district.

CPO said further divisions at this juncture would disintegrate the already fragmented Naga family.

The five-point resolution read out at the session by CPO Resolution Committee convener Nuzota Swuro further appealed to Southern Angami, Mao and Maram Khullen brothers to maintain peace and tranquillity in the true spirit of brotherhood and maintain age-old traditional relationship of one family for peace-

NK Singh acting Chief Justice of Gauhati HC

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (IANS): The Centre has notified the appointment of Justice N Kotiswar Singh as the acting Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.

The Department of Justice, under the Law Ministry, in a notification, said Justice Singh would take over from January 12 after incumbent Chief Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya demits office on January 11.

Justice Singh was born on March 1, 1963 at Imphal to (late) Justice N Ibotombi Singh of the Gauhati High Court, who had served as the first Advocate General of Manipur, and N Gomati Devi. He briefly practiced in the Supreme Court before shifting to the Gauhati High Court. He was designated as a senior advocate by the Gauhati High Court in 2008. He was appointed a judge of the Manipur High Court upon its creation in the year 2013. He was later transferred to the Gauahti High Court in 2018

Impur AC seat declared vacant

DIMAPUR, JAN 10

(NPN): Following the demise of Dr. Imtiwapang Aier, sitting MLA from 23 Impur Assembly Constituency (A/C) on January 7, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) secretariat has notified that the 23 Impur (ST) A/C seat has become vacant with effect from January 8, 2023.

ful coexistence.

The organisation also resolved to appreciate district administration and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) for their concern and sincerity towards completing the two-lane road construction, and the villages along the highway for extending their cooperation in the ongoing road projects within Chakhesang jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the CPO resolved to insist upon all contractors for timely completion of the remaining projects and quality work

as per the guidelines and specifications of NHIDCL.

It also resolved to carry out tree and flower plantations along the highways within its jurisdiction, besides reaffirming the resolutions adopted during the 38th CPO General Session on January 10, 2020 at Phek town and the resolution on Chakhesang tribe 75thanniversary celebration on January 10, 2021 at Phek town.

Earlier, former director general of police (DGP) Besesayo Kezo spoke on the general session theme “Living in the legacy of our leaders.”

Dr Chotisuh Sazo, MLA; Chakhesang Gazetted Officers’ Association president Vekhosa Chakhesang and Tenyimi People’s

Organisation president Timikha Koza also spoke at the session. CPO president Vezühü Keyho delivered the presidential address.

CentretorespondtoENPOdemand

After the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs began holding direct talks with Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) over the latter’s demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state and as ENPO and various CSOs of Eastern Nagaland had decided to not participate in the forthcoming assembly election likely by end of February or first week of March 2023; the Centre is expected to announce its response while keeping the constitutional obligation to hold polls before expiry of the current 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Solution to the Naga political issue has been tem-

porary shelved since the unanimity for finalising the draft for inking an agreement was yet to be achieved. However, those privy to the consultations among stakeholders maintained that the government of India will get into gear and make known what it can offer under the constitution and that process will be after the assembly polls.

On the issue of ENPO statehood demand, earlier Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K. Therie had disclosed that the union home ministry had hinted at granting a Regional Autonomous Council (RAC) for ENPO.

Apex tribal hohos stand for solution before polls

DIMAPUR, JAN 10 (NPN):

The 14 apex tribal hohos of Nagaland (now encompassing 15 tribes) have reiterated their earlier stand and earnestly appealed to the Government of India not to hoodwink innocent Nagas with another sugar-coated slogan or phase, but seriously and sincerely bring about an honourable and acceptable solution to the protracted Indo-Naga issue before general election that was due and without further delay.

In a statement issued through its media bureau, the 14 tribal hohos recalled that during the early part

of 2018 general election, Naga people had wanted “Solution but not Election”, but the sugar-coated phrase “Election for Solution” of BJP government had somewhat swayed the, which they termed as deception.

The hohos said that Centre should seriously look into this very matter without further delay and bring “Solution before Election” if it was serious and diligent enough to solve the protracted issue.

The hohos stated that they had met all the Centre’s interlocutors and even appealed Prime Minister with a representation on

July 24, 2021 for an early acceptable solution, which was the utmost desire of all Naga people.

They also pointed out that six tribes of Eastern Naga People’s Organisation and eight tribes of Nagaland had a deliberation on August 31, 2019 at Acacia Hotel, Dimapur and had unanimously resolved to support the ongoing peace talks for an early solution to the Naga political issue.

It may be mentioned that various apex tribal and civil society organizations including political parties have also appealed Centre to announce the final settle-

ment to the vexed Naga political issue before the Assembly elections, while some have also demanded imposition of President’s Rule in order to facilitate final solution.

Many of the organizations have also reminded the BJP government at the Centre to fulfill its 2018 ‘Election for Solution’ promise.

Organizations like the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC), comprising of Ao, Lotha and Sumi tribes– have also threatened to abstain from taking part in the Assembly polls, if the Centre failed to fulfil its 2018 election promise.

National Medical Commission team pays surprise visit to NIMSR

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JAN 10 (NPN): Two officials from National Medical Commission (NMC) inspected Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR) at Phriebagie, Kohima and teaching hospital at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHA) here on Tuesday.

The State government officials were taken by surprise as the NMC inspectors arrived without prior intimation, which was reportedly a regular practice of the commission.

NIMSR directorcum-dean Dr Soumya Chakraborty, who joined office on December 12, 2022, told Nagaland Post that the NMC officials had expressed satisfaction at the facilities.

She claimed that the inspectors were happy to see apartments for the faculty, boys’ and girls’ hostels, road in the campus and the overall construction.

She admitted that the visiting NMC officials were apprehensive of the administrative building since bamboo scaffolds and ladders were not cleared. However, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) officials, including commissioner secretary

Tongpang stresses on promoting entrepreneurship

LKM could play a major role by reviving Langpangkong Trading Co-operative Society as a non-banking financial company that would provide loans to local entrepreneurs to build a robust economy.

and

She said laboratories were ready, except for the procurement and installation of equipment.

Chakraborty disclosed that the visiting NMC officials were unhappy because faculty recruitment was not done even though the posts were advertised in October 2022.

She attributed the delay to a screening committee that was set up for evaluation of applications prior to interviewing of the applicants, pointing out that everything had to be done systematically in accordance with NMC criteria and norms.

The NMC officials also pointed out that NIMSR was not painted at the entrance gate. They were assured that this would be done.

The director clarified that Tuesday’s inspection was not final and that more such visits would take place.

She asserted that once the construction and recruitment processes were over, the equipment were installed and the book centre was put in place, the institute would

look like a fully functional college, after which getting permission to kick start the college would not be a problem.

NIMSRtobeready

byMarch2023

Meanwhile, during the visit, it was also found that sports complex, apartments, external works and roads within NIMSR were complete, while the boys’ and girls’ hostels and administrative block were in final stage of completion.

Electrification and water supply connections were also ready and sanitation fittings were underway.

According to NIMSR officials, the entire college will be ready by March this year, including the teaching block and hospital. They also disclosed that procurement of equipment was in process.

Regarding recruitment, it has been learnt that screening process was complete and interview would begin shortly.

The State government had advertised for 88 posts, including six professors, 20 associate professors, 24 assistant professors and 38 senior residents/tutors.

forgive one another and restrengthen unity in the range and accord due honours to pioneers of LKM, which celebrated its glorious 75 years of existence.

Power shutdown in parts of Dimapur from Jan

DIMAPUR, JAN 10

build a strong economy for the benefit of society.

MOKOKCHUNG, JAN 10

(NPN): PWD (Housing & Mechanical) minister Tongpang Ozukum on Tuesday said government jobs were important for growth but promoting entrepreneurship was even more important to

He said this while speaking as special guest at the morning session on day2 of Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang (LKM) 75th platinum jubilee celebrationcum-33rd Sports Meet that began at Chuchuyimlang vil-

lage on January 9 evening on the theme “Terangrang Lensar” (Dynamic Pioneers).

Tongpang stressed on providing loans to entrepreneurs but lamented that the banks had not been forthcoming in this regard due to trust deficit. To mitigate this issue, he remarked that

He recalled that Langpangkong Trading Co-operative Society was established in 1949 on a share-holding system, which he termed as a visionary initiative to take Langpangkong range forward.

Mentioning that Langpangkong range was unique as its encompassed members from Ao, Phom and Chang tribes, Ozukum called upon the people of the range to

UIDAI urges OVSEs to adhere to Aadhaar usage hygiene

NEW DELHI, JAN 10

(NPN): Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued a set of guidelines to Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) highlighting several usage hygiene issues, better safety mechanisms at users level, and ways to further enhance residents’ trust while using Aadhaar voluntarily for lawful purposes.

According to a Ministry of Electronics & IT statement, the entities have been informed to perform verification of Aadhaar after explicit consent of the Aadhaar number holder. These

entities need to be courteous to residents and assure them about the security and confidentiality of their Aadhaar while conducting offline verification, UIDAI said.

It asked the entities to maintain the log/record of the explicit consent received from residents for any future audit by UIDAI or any other legal agency thereof.

UIDAI has also asked OVSEs to verify Aadhaar via the QR Code present on all four forms of Aadhaar (Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, m-Aadhaar and Aadhaar PVC card) instead of accepting Aadhaar in physical or electronic form, as a proof of identity.

Offline verification is the use of Aadhaar for carrying out identity verification and KYC processes locally, without connecting to the Central Identities Data Repository of UIDAI. The organizations conducting offline verification of an Aadhaar number holder for a lawful purpose are called OVSEs, it stated.

Further, the entities have been urged to ensure that no services were denied to any resident for refusing to or being unable to undergo offline verification of Aadhaar, provided the resident is able to identify himself/ herself through other viable alternatives.

It has been underlined that OVSEs need to provide residents viable alternative means of identification in addition to Aadhaar, for rendering service.

Verification entities, generally should not collect, use or store Aadhaar number of the resident after having conducted offline verification of Aadhaar, UIDAI has informed OVSEs.

Post verification, if the OVSE finds it necessary for any reason, to store a copy of Aadhaar, UIDAI said the OVSE must ensure that Aadhaar number is redacted/masked and irretrievable.

Ozukum also released the jubilee souvenir and gave away L Pangersowa Jamir Trust Award for Academic Excellence and LL Yaden Meritorious Scholarship to the students.

In his speech, Consultant Law and Justice department A Chuba Ozukum urged the students to be one step ahead of others in their respective fields as the world today demanded only excellence.

(NPN): Power department on Tuesday informed that there would be power shutdown in parts of Dimapur from January 13-19, 2023 starting 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.

In a press release, SDO(E)-III Dimapur Er Nungsang Jamir stated that power shutdown was being necessitated in view of dismantling and shifting of old existing HT and LT Lines to newly erected Trunk Line in Dimapur town area.

As per the proposed shutdown programme, the areas under 11 KV RKM & Duncan feeder includ -

ing Duncan area, Lengrijan area, DC Court area and part of oriental colony would be affected from January 13-14 and from January 18-19 while the areas under 11 KV Landmark & Notun Basti feeder including PWD, Midland, Residency, Supply, Landmark, Notun Basti, Naga cemetery, Island and LRC would be affected on January 16 and 17.

All the electricity consumers in the affected area have been requested to extend cooperation and bear the inconvenience during the shutdown period.

Economy staring at two recessions in same decade

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (IANS) Global growth is slowing sharply in the face of elevated inflation, higher interest rates, reduced investment, and disruptions caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to the World Banks latest Global Economic Prospects report.

Given the fragile economic conditions, any new adverse development -- such as higher-than-expected inflation, abrupt rise in interest rates to contain it, a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, or escalating geopolitical tensions -- could push the global economy into recession.

This would mark the

first time in more than 80 years when two global recessions have occurred within the same decade, the World Bank said.

The global economy is projected to grow by 1.7% in 2023 and 2.7% in 2024.

The sharp downturn in growth is expected to be widespread, with forecasts in 2023 revised down for 95% of advanced economies and nearly 70% of emerging markets and developing economies.

“The crisis facing development is intensifying as the global growth outlook deteriorates,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

“Emerging and developing countries are facing a multi-year period of slow growth driven by heavy debt burdens and weak investment as global capital is absorbed by advanced economies faced with extremely high government debt levels and rising interest rates. Weakness in growth and business investment will compound the alreadydevastating reversals in education, health, poverty, and infrastructure and the increasing demands from climate change.”

In the US, growth is forecast to fall to 0.5% in 2023 -- 1.9 percentage points

China concerned over safety of its citizens in Pak

principal director, who were present at the site, assured the visiting officials to remove them in time.

Correspondent

Spl. Correspondent

(L-R) NIMSR director-cum-dean Dr Soumya and aerial view of NIMSR complex. (NP)

Tongpang Ozukum with the recipients of L. Pangersowa Jamir Trust Award for Academic Excellence and LL Yaden Meritorious Scholarship on Tuesday.

Dignitaries with CPO officials during the 41st general session, Tuesday.

CCRC holds golden jubilee proclamation rally

Pastor NCRC Gariphema Rev Thekruzhü Khana also spoke on the manifestation of God’s work through the movement of the holy spirit amidst the darkest period of the Naga political movement and oppressions.

He added the NCRC was formed through tears, prayers anointed by the holy spirit and exhorted the people to upkeep the tenets of faith.

brief history of CCRC was presented by Rev Sanyi Nyekha.

Following which the rally proceeded to CCRC Mission Centre Chetheba and the rally flag was hosted by executive secretary, CCRC, Rev Z David Koza.

In a culmination service, CCRC, Vesatso Tetseo highlighted the changes that Christianity has brought about in Nagaland.

Nodal officers of election cells hold meeting in Kma

DIMAPUR: Chakhesang Christian Revival Churches (CCRC) on January 9 held a golden jubilee proclamation rally from Trinitarian Spot Gariphema, the birthplace of Nagaland Christian Revival Church (NCRC) in Kohima district, which was flaggedoff by NCRC Gariphema pastor Rev. Thekruzhü Khana.

In a press release, CCRC golden jubilee media and publicity committee stated that the day-long event which coincided with NCRC Foundation Day culminated at CCRC Mission Centre Chetheba in Phek district.

At a programme at Gariphema village, senior pastor and chairman ordination board CCRC,

Rev Zhowhuyi Nyekha recounted the movement of the holy spirit movement among the people and the formative years which the NCRC came into being on January 9, 1962.

A pioneer leader himself in revivalist movement, Rev Nyekha also highlighted briefly how the CCRC also came into being and formed the council

in 1973, which would be celebrating its golden jubilee later this year.

He maintained that the manifestation of the holy spirit movement has been doing miraculous things ever since its formation at Gariphema village and ignited the people which was now spreading across the people and nations.

A speech was also delivered by secretary, organising committee, Dr Chekhwuveyi Khusoh. The programme was chaired by executive secretary Chakhesang Christian Revival Churches, Rev Z David Koza; a short speech was delivered by CCRC chairman, Vesatso Tetseo and special prayer for the jubilee and proclamation rally marked the morning event.

The participants of the rally in the afternoon proceeded to NCRC Chesezu in Phek district, the first Christian Revival Church among the Chakhesang, wherein the prayer service was led by vice-chairman, CCRCC, pastor Solhou Sono and a

Organisations condemn alleged murder

DIMAPUR: Rengma Mothers’ Association (RMA) and Odyutsu Ekhung (OE) Wokha have separately condemned the murder of Terilo Odyuo alias Lucy Kent (Terilo) daughter of late Nzanbemo Odyuo of Bhandari Village allegedly by her husband Logvusen Kent son of late Kegloalo Kent of Tseminyu Village, a resident of Tsokhinsin Colony, Tseminyu Town.

In a condemnation note, RMA vice president, Priscilla Seb and general secretary, Elizabeth Kemp expressed shock at the “indiscriminate killing” of an

innocent woman, who has the fundamental right to be safe and protected from violence. RMA said such barbaric act was unacceptable under any circumstances and that it deserved to be condemned by all sections of the society.

The association has urged the administration to punish the culprit as deemed fit and deliver justice at the earliest. Further, RMA has extended its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved family members.

OE: Odyutsu Ekhung, HQ Wokha has strongly condemned the murder of

Lucy Terilo on January 7 near Millenium Prayer & Healing Centre, Tseminyu village allegedly by her husband.

Condemning the murder, OE chairman, K.M Odyuo and joint secretary, Wojamo Odyuo have strongly urged to the law enforcing authority to not grant bail and award life imprisonment to the accused.

Further, the Ekhung has conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to God to grant comfort at this time of grief, and for the departed soul to rest in peace.

He said Nagas as Christians have been endowed with the responsibility for the extension of God’s kingdom and the good news of Jesus Christ in humility and in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Tetseo challenged the participants to spread the love of Christ as a member of Christian Revival Church by igniting the movement of the holy spirit with devotion and dedication.

The programme was led by Pastor Rev Zaseyi Veswuh; invocation was said by advisor CCRC, Rev Veshoseyi Rhakho and chairman golden jubilee organising committee, Kühusayi Nyekha delivered words of gratitude.

DIMAPUR: A meeting of all the Nodal Officers of different Election Cells in connection with the ensuing State Assembly Election, 2023 was held at DC’s Conference Hall, Kohima on January 9.

According to DIPR report, DC and District Election Officer Kohima, Shanavas C briefed the nodal officers on the roles and responsibilities. He called upon them to be mentally prepared and form their

respective teams before the announcement of the election.

He also emphasised on various important sections of election process and asked them to start working with their respective team for smooth functioning of the election process.

The meeting also had a detailed discussion on the management of manpower, training, material and transports and other different election cells.

DC Chumoükedima informs

DIMAPUR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Chumoükedima, Abhinav Shivam has informed all concerned that EVM/VVPAT demonstration using the mobile demonstration van for EVM/VVPAT would be carried out in Chumoükedima Town Area by master trainer, Bodevi Shuya on January 11, 2023. For further coordination, one has been asked to contact Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC), Dziesengunuo Mere at 7005641694.

CANSSEA condoles demise of Dr. Imtiwapang

DIMAPUR: Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employee’s Association (CANSSEA) has expressed pain on the sudden demise of Dr.Imtiwapang Aier MLA and former NLA Speaker. CANSSEA in a condolence note said that Nagas have a lost a young dynamic

and able who still had much to contribute towards the society.

The association conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that Almighty God to give comfort to the bereaved family at this hour and the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.

ACkNoWLedgeMeNt

Words are inadequate to express our sincere gratitude to all those who stood by us spiritually, physically, financially and materially at the sad demise of our beloved mother Late MH o NYANI LAP o N, who left for her heavenly abode on 04.01.2023 at Senjum Village, Dimapur.

We deeply regret our inability to mention and thank each and everyone of you individually, but pray that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Our special thanks goes to : 1. Shri. Mhathung Yanthan, Hon’ble Advisor for Horti. & Border Affairs

Senjum Village Baptist Church

Senjum Women Prayer Group

Senjum Youths

Dr. Longshithung Jami

Dimapur Lotsu Union

Two Wheeler Taxi Union Dimapur

Born on : 15.03.1956 died on : 04.01.2023

2 Timothy 4:7

All individuals, groups and well-wishers

Loving Husband, Children, In-laws and Families

10th Death Anniversary of our beloved father

LATE MATSUNG PONGENER

(R td. Director of Industries & Commerce )

BORN ON 4TH APRIL ,1932

DIED ON 11TH JANUARY, 2013

We, the family members of Late B. k . Rai (Rtd. Jt. Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Nagaland) would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to all our friends, neighbours, churches, unions, relatives and well-wishers, who stood by us and comforted us physically, financially and spiritually during his illness till the time he departed to his heavenly abode.

Loving Wife, Children, grandchildren and In-laws

Mention

Death changes everything! time changes nothing… We miss being in your presence, your ever gentle smile, the sound of your voice, your wisdom and your humour, the stories of your life. The gates of memories will never close, for that is where we seek solace. Holding you close within our hearts, till we hold your hand in Heaven

Loving wife, children, in-laws & grand children

The Family of Late Mrs. Bendangnungla Lkr, would like to extend our heart-felt gratitude to each and everyone of you, who stood by us with your tireless attendance, prayers, materials generosities and financially supporting throughout her sudden demise.

cannot be made individually but your compassion and valuable fellowship will be treasured always. Humbly we pray God’s abundant Blessings and grace be upon you.

Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty

ACkNoWLedgeMeNt

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

Author Moanaro Imchen (centre) with Rev. Kikum Lkr, pastor Kumlong Baptist Church (right) and secretary Ao Senden Literature Board at the launching of the book, titled “Tanelaren Lenitsu Ajok” in Mokokchung on January 9.

DC Kohima, Shanavas C and others at the meeting.

CCRC golden jubilee proclamation rally participants with leaders and members of NCRC Gariphema on January

9 at Trinitarian Spot, Gariphema

GBs custodians of customary law: Pangnyu

ment of India.

He also lauded the efforts made by the association and extended gratitude to the district administration and former Deputy Commissioner (DC) M. Shayung Phom for allocation of a site in the heart of the town for the Customary Court.

In a short speech, DC Longleng, Dharam Raj lauded the GBs for coming up with the beautiful building without financial support from the government. On the grievances of the GBs, the DC assured cooperation and support towards the association to redress their issues.

DIMAPUR: Minister of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), Pangnyu Phom asserted that GBs were the guardians and custodians of the customary law and order and called upon them to discharge their duties and responsibility wisely and with utmost sincerity.

According to a DIPR report, Pangnyu was speaking at the inaugural function of Customary Court of GB’s Association Longleng (GBAL) near the Public Ground PPC ward on January 9.

The minister urged upon the GBAL members to maintain the dignity and prestige of the GB and

discharge their roles and responsibility with utmost sincerity.

Pangnyu regretted that GBs have lost their dignity and trust of the people, in the recent past, due to random appointments of GBs without following government policies and traditions, negative attitude and behaviour, and involvement of GBs in politics.

He attributed the existence of GBs since the era of British raj to the responsive role played by the early GBs.

To mark the inauguration of the Customary Court, Pangnyu appealed to the association to reform

Tening Namsan village inaugurated

and rededicate themselves in their service, and restore the past glory, respect and dignity of the GBs by adopting a wise decision to deliver justice to the people.

Although GBs were not government servants, the minister said they were “very much part and partial agents of the government” because GBs have been authorized and appointed by the government to maintain law and order under their respective jurisdiction/village.

He further maintained that the united voice of the Nagaland GBs’ Association has been nationalized and respected by the govern -

Special registration camps for teachers

DIMAPUR: Directorate of School Education has informed that Special Registration Camps for teachers will be conducted in Kohima and Dimapur in order to saturate registration of teachers under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS). The camps will be held as per the details below.

He also stated that state government should entrust more role and responsibility to the GBs along with financial assistance. The DC said it was the right time for the government to focus towards preservation of the institutions.

During the programme, Phom Peoples’ Council (PPC) president, Shami Angh also delivered a speech; associate pastor, LTBC, H. Mongngoi was the compere; dedicatory prayer was pronounced by executive secretary Phom Baptist Church Association (PBCA), Tialemba; welcome address by LDGBA, T. Yingie Phom and mass prayer.

DIMAPUR: The threeday, 57th Yimkhiung Akheru Arihako (YAA) general conference began at Pungro, Kiphire on January 10 under the theme “Breaking through to excellence: Facing the Yimkhiung Future

Together”.

The inaugural session was graced by advisor to Chief Minister and secretary general, NDPP, Abu Metha as the special guest and advisor, IPR and Village Guards, S. Keoshu

Yimkhiung as the guest of honour. Metha also unveiled a monolith in commemoration of the 57th Yimkhiung Akheru Arihako (YAA). The General conference is will culminate on January 12.

Cattle owners asked to avail vaccination

DIMAPUR: Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Dimapur, Dr. Kelesekho Tsukru has informed all cattle owners under Dimapur, Nuiland and Chumoükedima districts to vaccinate their cattle with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination provided by department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS).

In a press release, the CVO Dimapur informed that the AH&VS department has been carrying out FMD vaccination all

over the state since 2022 on the directive of government of India.

In this regard, CVO has asked all cattle owners of the three districts to render cooperation to the department staffs and officials engaged in FMD vaccination which would continue till January 2023.

Further, CVO has urged the cattle owners to avail the opportunity to vaccinate their animals as and when the department staffs visit their respective villages/locality.

DC Mkg informs on CMHIS enrolment drive

DIMAPUR: Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Sashank Pratap Singh has informed that a special enrolment drive for Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) would be conducted from January 11-18 at the respective mentioned venues.

DIMAPUR: The newly recognized Tening Namsan village was inaugurated by advisor of Water Resources, Namri Nchang on January 9.

According to DIPR report, Namri in his inaugural address, advised the elders and the council members of Tening Namsan to work hand in hand with the administration and other government functionaries to witness more development activities in the coming days.

He thanked the Nagaland government led by the chief minister for achieving the long awaited dreams of the people of Tening Namsan village. He called on the citizens of the newly recognised village to live in peace.

Earlier, the advisor upon his arrival, unveiled the monolith which was followed by traditional howling. Others who spoke at the inaugural programme includes Ex-Chairman, TVC, Namkiabui, sec -

retary,

of the programme included cultural dance by THYO, special presentation by Winangthone.

The programme was chaired by chairman Tening Namsan, Ramga, while the vote of thanks was delivered by chairman, Tening Village Council, Pelenkeng.

Necessary information and documents required for registration have been provided in the annexure. An amount of Rs. 20 will be charged per household for the registration and no fee will be charged for card issuance. All teachers (regular/ contractual/ad-hoc) residing under Dimapur, Chumukedima, Niuland and Kohima Districts have been requested to make use of the facility and get themselves registered for the CMHIS without further delay.

The registration camp will be held on January 12, 13 and 14, 2023 from 10 am – 3pm at Room No. 306, Directorate of School Education in Kohima and at Conference Hall, DC office in Dimapur.

According to a DIPR report, the enrolment drive on January 11 would be held at Dibuia, Khensa, Longsa Chungtia, Aliba; January 12 at Waru -

mong, Changtongya Town, Changtongya Village, Akhoya Chuchuyimlang; January 13 at Molungkimong, Nukshiyim, Liro Model village, Kelingmen, Yaongyimsen; January 14 at Mongchen, Longjang, Khanimo, Longpa, Mopungchuket; January 16 at Yimchenkimong, Lirmen, Yajang A, Aonukpu, Lakhuni; January 17 Changki, Merangkong, Unger, Sungratsu, Kupza and January 18 at Tuli

Town, Wamaken, Anaki, Asangma.

Further, DC has informed that the responsibilities/duties of various stakeholders shall be followed during the conduct of the drive - all administrative officers shall liaise with supervisor/operator and village council/ward authorities for making logistical arrangements for the camp; all administrative officers to make sure that the camps start on time and

shall report daily on the camps held in their jurisdiction to the DC; operators are to liaise with the respective administrative officers under whose jurisdiction the villages are located for effective and smooth conduct of the camp; village councils and ward authorities are requested to arrange a hall for conduct of the enrolment drive in their respective villages/wards and ensure wide publicity about the camp.

AR hold security meeting with GBs; organise weapon display

DIMAPUR: Tuensang Battalion of Assam Rifles held meeting with GBs and chairman of Tobu area in view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations and upcoming Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections on January 9.

A press release by PRO of Assam Rifles stated that at the meeting, GBs and chairmen assured to sustain peace in the region

and to work in full coordination with Assam Rifles for maintaining peace and development in the area.

Mokokchung Battalion under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) organised Weapon and Pipe Band Display for NCC candidates at Fazl Ali College Campus, Mokokchung district on January 10.

The candidates undergoing Combined Annual Training Camp - 109

(CATC) conducted by 25 Nagaland NCC Battalion from January 5 to 12 took part in the activities.

The aim of the programme was to increase awareness about the weapons and to motivate young minds to join the folds of the Indian Armed Forces.

The weapon display show was held under the theme “know your defense forces” in which candidates cleared their doubts

and fear about the weapons used by the Security Forces.

The cadets also enjoyed the patriotic tunes played by the pipe band team of the Mokokchung Battalion.

Meanwhile, Phek battalion flagged off the mountaineering expedition to Mt Saramati, the highest peak at Meluri town, Phek district on January 10.

The expedition was flagged off by Commandant 38 Assam Rifles Col Hem Chandra Singh at Meluri town.

The expedition team comprises of three officers and 28 soldiers, two riflewomen.

The expedition will start from Meluri and move towards Base Camp via Ziphu - Mimi - Pungro. Mt Saramati would be scaled on January 15.

DoSE notifies on fee structure

DC Nuiland bars declaration of consensus candidate

DIMAPUR:

In view of the ensuing general elections to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nuiland, Sara S Jamir has informed that declaration of village/area/range consensus candidates by various public organisations/ village councils/range organisations was violative of various election related laws and offence under the Indian Penal Code.

In a circular dated, the DC informed that interference or any attempt to interfere with the free exercise of electoral right by any means such as threat of injury/restraint was an offence under Sec 171C, 339 and 340 of IPC. The DC said under

Sec. 125 of Representation of the People Act 1951, any attempt to promote enmity between classes in connection with elections on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language constitutes electoral offence and is also punishable under Sec. 153A. 153B. 295A and 505(2) of IPC.

DC said that the same has been reiterated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in its instructions dated April 26, 2014 that further prohibits any organisation/group from activity or statements that amounts to attack on personal life of any person or is malicious or offends decency and morality. The DC said violation of same

by any organisation can also lead to debarment and denial of permission to hold any further programmes/activity.

Further, Deputy Commissioner said village councils being auxiliary to the administration under Sec 15 of The Nagaland Village Council Act 1978 was bound to be neutral in matters related to elections.

Therefore, the DC has asked all to refrain from declaration of village/area/range consensus candidates or any other activity that subverts free exercise of electoral right by any means and warned of action under the applicable penal provisions of law.

Tening Namsan, Kainia. EAC, Nsong, Yimkum I. Ozukum and Superintending Engineer (Agri), Er. Achakbo Newmai. Other highlights

Nagaland State Bharat Scouts and Guides erected a Naga traditional gate at the entrance of the allotted area for Nagaland state at the ongoing 18th National Jamboree at Rohat Pali Rajasthan from January 4 to 10. 85 members team of NSBSG are participating at the jamboree.

S. Pangnyu Phom along with DC Dharam Raj and president PPC.

Advisor to chief minister, Abu Metha and others after unveiling the monolith at Pungro, Kiphire on January 10. (IA Pungro)

DIMAPUR: Directorate of School Education has notified all Heads of all Government Schools (GHSS/GHS/GMS/ GPS) to adhere to the office’s notification of even number dated 16th June 2022 with regards to the fee structure which is to be followed in Government Schools

functioning within the State of Nagaland. Further, it is reiterated that no admission fee and exam fee shall be collected from students up to Class VIII except that to be paid to the NBSE as per RTE Act, 2009. The order is for strict compliance by all concerned.

(L)Assam Rifles personnel and GBs and chairmen at the meeting on security at Tobu. (R) NCC cadets at the weapon display.

Namri Nchang with district administration and others at the inauguration. (DIPR)

SC to examine validity of CA Section 6A

NEW DELHI, JAN 10

(PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would examine the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act (CA) relating to illegal immigrants in Assam and commence the hearing on pleas after concluding the cases arising out of the division in the Shiv Sena. Section 6A in the Citizenship Act was inserted as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered by the Assam Accord.

The provision provides that those who have come to Assam on or after January 1, 1966 but before March 25, 1971 from specified territories, including Bangladesh, as per the Citizenship Act amended in 1985, and since then are residents of Assam, must register themselves under section 18 for citizenship.

As a result, the provision fixes March 25, 1971 as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, at the outset, said that it

would hear the pleas on February 14 after hearing the cases related to the Maharashtra political crisis triggered by the division in Shiv Sena.

‘’Whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act suffers from any constitutional infirmity,” the bench said, making it clear that this would be the main issue to be adjudicated upon and this will cover all other constitutional questions which may arise in the matter. The framing of one issue does not stop the bench from framing other issues later, said the bench which also comprises Justices M

R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli, and P S Narasimha. The bench said that the petitioners will argue first followed by the central government and after that intervenors and others can advance their submissions.

“Today we won’t be able to start the hearing. We will hear this some other day,” it said, adding that the lawyers will have to file the written submissions and compilations of case laws and other materials within three weeks.

The top court on December 13 had asked the counsel for the contesting parties to decide the issues

3 coal miners’ death; police verifying facts

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 10: Meghalaya police on Tuesday have filed a suo-moto case in connection with the reported deaths of three coal labourers inside a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district, a police official said on Tuesday.

According to local media reports quoting sources said, three coal miners reportedly died inside a coal mine in Rymbai under East Jaintia hills district.

The newspaper reports stated that it is unclear how

the coal miners died, even as the newspaper quoted the unidentified sources that “no one will speak about the incident for fear.”

Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, a police official said that a police team has been sent to various villages, especially to Musniang village to confirm if any villager have died in a coal mine accident.

“Right now nobody is saying anything. But we are in process of recording statements of as many people possible,” the police official said.

Coal mining is banned in Meghalaya since April 2014 by a National Green Tribunal order. The green Court banned rat home mining ironically to avert such mishaps in the unregulated and dangerous mines.

The Meghalaya High Court had come down very hard on the administration and directed specifically the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to not bow to any political interference while implementing its order to completely arrest illegal coal mining in the State.

for adjudication in a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act relating to illegal immigrants in Assam.

“The counsel would segregate the cases which fall for decision before this court into distinct categories and the order in which the arguments are to be made,” the bench had said, adding “we will keep it for directions”.

The bench had directed the apex court registry to provide scanned soft copies of the complete set of pleadings filed on the issue.

As many as 17 petitions, including the one filed by Assam Public Works in 2009, are pending on the issue in the apex court.

Prior to this, the Constitution bench had directed the parties to file joint compilations consisting of “written submissions; precedents; and any other documentary material on which reliance will be placed at the time of hearing”.

“A common index shall be prepared in three separate volumes of the

above compilations,” it had said.

It had appointed lawyers Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, assisting Sibal, and Diksha Rai, the counsel appearing with Attorney General R Venkataramani as the nodal counsel to ensure that soft copies of the compilations are prepared and circulated to the Bench and to the counsel appearing on behalf of the contesting parties.

Under the Assam Accord signed by the All Assam Students Union, Assam government and the Government of India on August 15, 1985 to detect and deport the foreigners, Section 6A was inserted to the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to people who have migrated to Assam.

A Guwahati-based NGO challenged section 6A in 2012, terming it arbitrary, discriminatory and unconstitutional claiming it provides different dates for regularising illegal migrants in Assam.

A two-judge bench had referred the matter to the Constitution bench in 2014.

Manipur Doctors’ strike cripples OPD services in govt hospitals

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 10: Outpatient departments (OPDs) at government hospitals across Manipur were closed for second consecutive days on Tuesday owing to doctors’ strike.

The emergency and other in-patient services, however, did not affect as doctors continued to attend their normal duties at these wards.

With the OPDs in government hospitals remaining close, people needing the service thronged the two major hospitals in Imphal – RIMS and JNIMS.

Doctors of Manipur health services abstained from discharging OPD duty in response to an indefinite OPD shutdown stir call given by All Manipur Health Services Doctors’ Association (AMHSDA).

The AMHSDA, on January 5, announced shutting down of OPD services in all the government hospitals from January 9, until the state government addresses their demands.

State government doctors under the aegis of AMHSDA have been pressing the state government to address their demands by launching various forms of protests since the last week of October 2022.

They started the protest with a series of sit-inprotests, followed by mass casual leave.

The AMHSDA, however, suspended the strike after a ministerial level meeting on November 18 in which the state government negotiated with addressing four of the eight-point demands of the doctors.

The four demands of the AMHSDA which the state government agreed to

considered were the time bound/scale promotion, extension of superannuation age of specialist and non-specialist doctors to 65 years as administrative post as per the declaration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inclusion of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) in the basic pay with effect from January 1 of 2016 as per the 7th Central Pay Commission and major amendment of the outdated MHS rules 1982.

The AMHSDA suspended all protests it had launched after the state health minister gave his assurance to table the fourpoint demands to the next cabinet meeting.

Assam CM launches Jio True 5G services in Guwahati

GUWAHATI, J AN 10 (AGENCIES): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Jio True 5G services in Guwahati on Tuesday, reports Eastmojo.

Along with the True 5G services, Jio also launched True 5G-Powered Wi-Fi services at the Maa Kamakhya Temple complex.

Jio demonstrated the benefits of 5G in the field of healthcare through Jio Community Clinic medical kit and the revolutionary AR-VR device, Jio Glass to the chief minister. Through

Powerful bomb rocks NIT Manipur official’s residence

from Imphal Police station rushed to the spot after the blast and conducted a spot inve stigation along with forensic experts of the state police department.

The motive behind the bomb attack could not be ascertained by the police immediately. No militant group owned up the responsibility till the time of filing this report.

this, 5G can deliver highquality healthcare to rural and remote areas by turning it into smart healthcare solutions like Tele Radiology, Connected Ambulance, and Clinic in a bag. These

benefits will bring transformational changes in the lives of people in Assam.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said “I am happy to launch Jio’s True

Vendors’ body decries eviction drives in Guwahati city

GUWAHATI, JAN 10 (AGENCIES): The Assam Street Vendors’ Association has alleged that the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is carrying out various eviction drives against street vendors in the city without any settled policy, reports the Sentinel.

that the vendors are sitting in Guwahati without a plan, but in reality, they are the ones conducting the eviction without plan.

5G services in Guwahati.

I believe True 5G has the power to democratize the health infrastructure across Assam. The health solution demonstrated today, which is ‘Clinic in the bag’ can aid grassroots health workers and Asha workers. It has a simple design and can wirelessly connect to a suite of medical devices over 5G.

Healthcare workers with the help of specialist Doctors can diagnose and treat patients in even the most remote locations of Assam.”

The chief minister added, “My government

is fully committed to aiding the speedy roll-out of 5G services in Assam. By implementing 5 G-based health solutions we can fulfill Prime Minister Modi Ji’s vision of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission by building a Digital Health Ecosystem in the state.”

“Apart from the existing investment of Rs 9,500 crore, Jio has additionally invested over Rs 2,500 crore for work in progress to deploy the 5G network in the state and this shows their immense commitment towards our State’s development.

In the Court of Deputy Comm I ss I oner D I mapur : n agalan D n ot IC e

No.Rev-1/90-D/ Dated Dimapur, the th 2022

IMPHAL, JAN 10: A powerful blast rocked the residence of assistant registrar of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Laikangbam Doren Singh at Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak under Imphal po -

lice station on Monday night, around midnight. However, no casualties were reported at the site of the blast. Apart from digging a pitch breaking the RCC ground of the gate, the impact of the blast also damaged the window panes of the house.

As per the CCTV footage, two masked miscreants who came on a scooter deposited the bomb suspected to be IED at the gate of the house on Monday night, around 11.45 pm; the bomb went off after 10 minutes.

A team of police

Meanwhile, strongly condemning the bomb attack at the house of their official, staff of NIT staged a sit-in-protest at its campus in Imphal’s Lamphelpaton Tuesday.

During the protest, they demanded to clarify the reason behind the bomb attack if any of the armed groups involved while appealing to resolve if there was any misunderstanding.

The GMC recently evicted 300 street vendors from the footpaths of GS Road for allegedly occupying the space without any authorization.

An office-bearer of the Assam Street Vendors’ Association said, “Vendors who availed the PM SVANidhi loan were granted identity cards three months ago, but many are yet to receive it. The Government and GMC have been claiming

The GMC took the step without any planning. On the one hand several of them were recently given vendor identity cards, but on the other hand they were evicted”, the office-bearer said.

Meanwhile, a GMC official said that while some vendors were allowed to sit in specific areas, but they often tend to block roads and create traffic jams. Consequently, the eviction drives are being carried out. “The government is now trying to create a proper solution for such vendors in the city”, the official added.

Notice is hereby given that Shri Luhashe Awomi, a resident of Dubagoan who has applied for issue of mortgage clearance concerning to Patta No. of 647, Dag No. 185/726 measuring an area 00-02-10 located at Block No/Village Dubagoan (A.K), Mouza No. 3 which has been mortgages with NIDC Bank/Society.

Claim/objection concerning to the said land if any & should there be any, should submit to this court on or before 7(seven) days from the date of publication in local newspaper.

sd/- Deputy Commissioner Dimapur : nagaland DP-134/23 a ff ID av I t

Regd. No. 001/2023 Date 06/01/2023

I, Smti. G. Visheni Sema, D/o Late Ghomula, R/o House No. 79, South Point East Colony, Zunheboto Town, P.O/P.S- Zunheboto, under Zunheboto District in the state of Nagaland do hereby affirm and declare as follows:

1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India resident of above mentioned address.

2. That my actual and proper name is G. Visheni Sema and correct date of Birth is 24/06/1964 as recorded/entered in my Service Identity Card bearing Emp. Code: GONVIS46288, Aadhaar Card bearing No. 6629 1019 5722 and academic certificate whereas in my service book/record my name has been erroneously entered/recorded as Visheni Sema and date of Birth has also been erroneously entered/ recorded as 30/12/1967.

3. That this Affidavit is made for the purpose of declaring that the name G. Visheni Sema and Visheni Sema refers to one and same person and actual date of birth as 24/06/1964.

4. That this Affidavit is sworn to aver the above made statements and to make necessary correction before the concern authority.

verIfICatIon

ITANAGAR, JAN 10

(AGENCIES): The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet in its first sitting of the year has resolved to harness the hydropower potential of the state in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the local communities, state and the nation.

Arunachal, through its hydropower, would contribute majorly towards India’s commitment of increasing non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW. Hydropower is a major source of renewable energy and if harnessed would bring in the all-round socio-economic development of the area through massive investment in infrastructure as well as provisions such as free power, local area development fund, employment, contracts and business opportunities, social sector development such as health and education.

The Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday deliberated

and finalised an action plan for unlocking this rich potential. The cabinet decided that some important stalled projects currently with IPPs will now be handed over to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) for development.

The cabinet also decided to handover over five already terminated projects to the CPSUs namely, Naying (1000MW) and Hirong (500MW) to NEEPCO and Emini (500MW), Amulin (420MW) and Minundon (400MW) to the SJVNL

for development. These projects will see an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in the next 5-7 years and would generate green power of 2880 MW. It would also provide revenue of around Rs 500 crore per year in free power and around Rs 100 crore for local area development, the Cabinet resolved. The Cabinet further approved the indicative procedure for transferring the stalled hydropower projects from the IPP to CPSUs in order to unlock the potential.

I, hereby verify that the content made in paras 1 to 4 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and beliefs and nothing materials is concealed therein. DEPONENT

Solemnly sworn and affirmed before me on this the 6th day of Jan. 2023. notary puBlIC ZunheBoto : nagalanD DP-144/23

a ff ID av I t

Regd. No. 1042-2022 Dated : 14.12.2022

I, Mr. P.PAKHA KHIAMNIUNGAN, father of Miss JONGKOI LAM presently residing at H.No. 471, Chumoukedima, Ward-9, District-Chumoukedima, Nagaland.

1. That I am a bonafide and law abiding citizen of India and a resident of the above mentioned address.

2. That my daughter’s correct official name is JONGKOI LAM, which is entered in all academic certificates and official documents.

3. Whereas my daughter’s name is wrongly entered in my Service Book as P.CHOMTEI KHIAMNIUNGAN due to ignorance in some official records.

4. That both the name’s “JONGKOI LAM” and “P. CHOMTEI KHIAMNIUNGAN” belongs to my daughter’s name is of one and the single person.

5. That this affidavit is made to declare my daughter’s correct official name i.e. JONGKOI LAM and to show as an evidence to prove my daughter’s correct official name which shall be used in all official records and documents. ver I f IC at I on I verify and take oath and solemnly declare/affirm that the particulars furnished above by me are correct and that I have not concealed or misrepresented any facts. DP-147/23

Correspondent

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launching Jio True 5G services in Guwahati on Tuesady.

Arunachal Cabinet meeting

Government doctors staging protest at the hospital campus.

Supreme Court.

Employees of NIT, Imphal staging protest against bomb attack at the residence of the other officials.

SNIPPETS

Oil leaks from pipeline in Bihar

KHAGARIA, JAN 10 (PTI): A village in Bihar on Tuesday witnessed a mad scramble for petroleum, suddenly up for grabs from an oil pipeline extended up to Assam, which appeared to have developed leakage, said a senior police officer.

The proverbial gold rush, albeit unauthorized, was witnessed in Khagaria district, about 180 km from the state capital, confirmed the Superintendent of Police Amitesh Ravi.

Bomb threat on Moscow-Goa flight

JAMNAGAR/PANAJI, JAN 10 (PTI): The Azur Air international flight from Moscow which made an emergency landing at Jamnagar airport in Gujarat following a bomb threat finally arrived at its destination Goa on Tuesday afternoon, an official said. The Moscow-Goa flight with 236 passengers and eight crew members was diverted to the Jamnagar airport on Monday night after the bomb threat.

2 killed Chhattisgarh in gang fight

DURG (CHHATTISGARH), JAN 10 (PTI): Two men were killed in a clash between two gangs allegedly involved in stealing iron materials in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, a police officer said on Tuesday. The police on Monday arrested 18 persons and detained three minors in connection with the violence on Sunday night, he said. The CCTV footage of the attack has gone viral on social media in which a group of men can be seen brutally hitting one of the victims with sticks, axes and bricks.

Rape accused hangs self in UP

BAREILLY (UP), JAN 10 (PTI): A 24-year-old rape accused allegedly hanged himself at a village in Faridpur, police said on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Sunil Kumar, was found hanging from a tree on Monday, they said.

Indian diaspora unique force in global scene: Prez Murmu

INDORE, JAN 10 (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said the Indian diaspora has become an important and unique force in the global system.

Addressing the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention in Indore, the President praised overseas Indians for excelling in various walks of life through hard work and resilience.

“Indian diaspora today has become an important and unique force in the global system, It has grown into an energetic and confident community in every region,” she said.

The President said the Indian diaspora has exhibited extraordinary dedication and hard work and overcome many challenges to achieve excellence in all walks of life including art, literature, politics, business,

academics, philanthropy, and science and technology.

On the occasion, the president conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on select members of the Indian diaspora to recognize their achievements and to honour their contributions to various fields including in India and abroad.

Madhya Pradesh Gov-

ernor Mangu Bhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia were also present.

Earlier, President Murmu met her counterparts from Suriname and Guyana, Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Irfaan Ali, respectively, on the sidelines of the convention.

UGC directs varsities on two degree courses

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (PTI): The UGC has directed universities to devise mechanisms through statutory bodies to allow students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously, according to officials.

The directive comes after the University Grants Commission (UGC) noted that students are facing difficulties as universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) insist on migration or school-leaving certificates.

“It has come to the notice of the UGC that students are facing difficulties as HEIs insist on migration certificates and school-leaving certificates. In the absence of these certificates, the students are not granted admission and that defeats the facility of pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously,” UGC Secretary P K Thakur has said in a communication to universities and HEIs.

up in Tamil Nadu

of th e IPC, which deals with “assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power.”

Joshimath crisis: Hotel owners oppose ‘abrupt’ demolition move

JOSHIMATH (U’KHAND), JAN 10 (PTI): As the Uttarakhand government on Tuesday prepared to demolish two hotels badly affected by land subsidence in Joshimath, the hotel owners opposed the “abrupt” move, saying they had no prior information about it.

The state government, had on Monday, decided to mechanically demolish ‘Mount View’ and ‘Malari Inn’ hotels that developed huge cracks recently and were leaning towards each other, posing a risk to the nearby settlements.

Ranjit Sinha, Secretary, Disaster Management told reporters that the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee has been roped in for the demolition exercise.

The devastated hotel owners said they came to know about the development through newspapers and demanded that a onetime settlement plan should

have been offered to them before the decision was made. “I came to know about it through newspapers this morning. There was no prior notice. If the government demarcated my hotel as unsafe, it should have first come up with a one-time settlement plan before deciding to demolish it,” Thakur Singh, who owns Malari Inn, said.

“The SDM told me to be here as he was reaching here by 9 am. I have built this hotel with my sweat and blood. What will hap-

pen to me if it is demolished just like that?” Singh, who belongs to Bhotia tribe, told PTI. Mount View owner Lalmani Semwal expressed similar sentiments.

“It is like slaying a child one has reared through years of hard work in front of his parent,” he said. “We put in all our resources into building this hotel. We paid regular taxes to the government. It said nothing then and now all of a sudden, it comes up with a drastic decision like this. Isn’t it violation of human rights?

Maha pol crisis: SC to hear pleas on Feb 14

CHENNAI, JAN 10 (PTI): A day after the spat between the ruling DMK and Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on the floor of the state assembly, “#GetoutRavi” posters, prominently featuring Chief Minister M K Stalin surfaced in some parts of the city.

The hashtag was trending on Twitter on Monday following Ravi’s face-off with the state government in the Assembly where Stalin, also president of the ruling DMK piloted a resolution against the Governor’s deviation from his customary address to the Legislature and retain the draft prepared by his government.

However, in Pudukottai, posters were put up by local BJP functionaries hailing Ravi. Many BJP

Twitter handles backed him and slammed the ruling DMK over the matter.

Stalin’s son and state Minister Udhayanidhi hailed what happened in the Assembly on Monday and said it was an “unprecedented event” in the history of the House.

“Normally our leader (Stalin) makes the opposition run with his replies (in the assembly) but this time he made the governor run,” he quipped at an event,

in an apparent reference to Ravi staging a walking out from the Assembly on Monday.

Stalin will be the first CM to voice concern whenever “our rights” are affected, he added.

A senior TN BJP functionary filed a police complaint against some MLAs of the ruling DMK.

In a tweet, A Ashvathaman, State Secretary, said he has filed the complaint under Section 124

Protests were held in Coimbatore against the Governor by the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam where the agitators attempted to burn an effigy of Ravi. Elsewhere, local BJP workers staged a demonstration condemning the incident. Police detained the respective activists seperately.

Meanwhile, another row erupted over the Raj Bhavan’s Pongal celebrations invitation allegedly not containing the state government emblem. The invitation contained only the national emblem, many alleged.

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, JAN 10 (PTI/IANS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will commence hearing on February 14 on pleas related to the Maharashtra political crisis triggered by the Shiv Sena’s division.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was told by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena, that he will will seek reference of the cases to a seven-judge bench to have a re-look of a 2016 judgment on powers of assembly speakers to deal with disqualification pleas. Shiv Sena ‘rebel’ who changed his mind in Guwahati, gets ACB notice now: Pressure further mounted on the Shiv Sena-UBT after an

MLA - who had “rebelled” in June last year and then changed his mind in Guwahati - has been slapped with an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) notice, party leaders said here on Tuesday.

Balapur (Akola) MLA Nitin Deshmukh has been served the ACB notice, mak-

ing him the third MLA in the past two months to get such notices for allegations pertaining to holding disproportionate assets. The Sena-UBT has again cried foul at the hounding of its legislators by various probe agencies by the government.

Mezhür higher Secondary School Midland, KohiMa VACANCY

BEF is an NGO committed towards social service to empower Education, Health Care, Hospitality and Travel/ tourism in Northeast India. As a pilot mission, BEF has established its base in Mokokchung District, Nagaland to enhance the Education System of the rural and semi-urban communities.

BEF believes and act on the core values of “LIFELONG SUSTAINANCE WITH LOCAL IMPACT” which provides a platform to all sections of the society without any gender or castes differences to harness local skills and resources and uplift the lives of each households of the community. This is a lifetime commitment with a long term investment to ensure tangible results and accomplishment of its vision and provide a lifelong secured tenure to all its employees.

There is a need of such educated manpower who would be trained to work as mentors, counsellors, teachers, accountants, fitness guides, project managers on a long term basis in any existing entity the foundation chooses. A simple Employability Screening form can be filled by any interested candidate through the link https://bit.ly/BEF2023 in the limited period of application from 10th Jan. to 24th Jan 2023.

1. B.Sc PCM for High School Section. 2. Graduate with Montessori Trained for Primary Class.

3. Bachelor Degree in Computer Application/ Science/B.Sc Computer Science/Graduate with PGDCA or DOEACC ‘A’ Level . Hand written application with full bio-data should be submitted to the office between 9:00 A.M to 12:00 P.M. on 16th or 17th January 2023.

Principal K-57/22

3 Driver (KVK) 06/02/2023 Paper-I

4 Assistant (KVK), Junior Library Assistant 07.02.2023 Paper-I Paper-II

5 Cook 07.02.2023 Paper-I -

6 Bus Conductor/Attendant 07.02.2023 - Paper-I

7 Workshop Attendant, Chowkidar 07.02.2023 Paper-I -

8 Sweeper-cum-Cleaner 08.02.2023 Paper-I -

9 Peon, Hospital Attendant 08.02.2023 - Paper-I

10 Security Guard 09.02.2023 Paper-I

11 Library Attendant 09.02.2023 - Paper-I List of eligible/ not eligible candidates and syllabus for written examinations are available in the University website www.nagalanduniversity.ac.in. Sd/Registrar

Who can apply:

1. Any one above 21 years and below 45 years of age.

2. Should hold a graduate degree of any stream. MKC -11/23

B. Sound Assistant (SA) Rank Name Roll No Remarks 1st Shri. Sentsuthung Humtsoe NLA/SA/5

C. Assistant House Keeper (AHK) Rank Name Roll No Remarks 1st Shri. Talionen Longkumer NLA/AHK/10 The Office reserves the right to cancel the result of any candidate if irregularity is detected in any manner.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ADVERTISEMENT

Dated Kohima the 2nd January 2023 No. TPT/SPL-1/2/17 : As per the clearance of the P&AR Department vide U.O. No. 1096 dated 16/12/2022 and concurrence of Finance Department Vide RFC/ESTT. No 26/132 dated 19/12/22, applications are hereby invited for filling up 10 (ten) vacancies of Driver Grade-II in the Pay Matrix Level-3 under the establishment of Transport Special Pool, Nagaland Civil Secretariat as per the terms and conditions prescribed below:

Terms & Conditions:

1. The minimum educational qualification required will be Class-VIII passed and should possess a valid driving licence with not less than 2 years of driving experience.

2. Age limit shall be as per the latest Government OM on the subject including those relating to serving State Government employees.

3. In-service candidates should produce “No Objection Certificate” duly countersigned by the concerned AHOD/HOD.

4. Reservation of post shall be as per the existing policy of the State Government.

5. Last date of submission of application is 07.01.2023 (3:30 pm)

6. Application without required documents and/or application received after the last date shall be summarily rejected and no representation against such rejection shall be entertained.

7. Those who have already submitted their application before the notification of the advertisement are requested to submit afresh.

8. Application should be addressed/submitted to the Transport Officer in-Charge, Transport Special Pool, Nagaland Civil Secretariat with an application fee of Rs 200/- (Two hundred only). 9. Date, time and venue of driving test /interview will be intimated in the local dailies in due course of time. No separate call letters shall be issued to the candidates.

President Murmu honouring an overseas Indian during 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Sammelan at Indore on Tuesday.

Cracks appear on a building in Joshimath area of Chamoli district, Tuesday. (PTI)

Young women walk past posters that read ‘#GetOutRavi’ pasted on a wall in Chennai, Tuesday. (PTI)

Continuing conversion dilemma

Indicating that there has been a rethink over its past rulings vis-à-vis ‘conversion’ from Hinduism to other religions, the Supreme Court on January 9, maintained that the issue was of national importance and that conversion needs to be viewed from that angle. While reiterating that there was a difference between ‘freedom of religion’ and ‘freedom to conversion’ the Supreme Court Bench comprising of Justices M.R.Shah and C.T.Ravikumar agreed that everybody can covert but not by allurement or deceit. The Supreme Court was hearing the case on the PIL filed on September 23,2022 by serial public interest litigator and BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay and sought responses from the Centre and others to the plea filed. Interestingly, in 2019 the litigant had also filed a PIL against extension of the Inner Line Permit(ILP) in Dimapur but which the court dismissed on June 2,2019. Upadhyay has submitted in his petition that forced religious conversion is a nationwide problem which needs to be tackled immediately. The state of Tamil Nadu was to respond to the petition. Earlier Gujarat state also appeared before the Court Bench. On the issue of conversion, Upadhyay had pleaded against conversions especially in Tamil Nadu.In response the advocate for Tamil Nadu pointed out that Upadhay is a “BJP spokesperson” who is also “facing a case of sedition” and therefore, the PIL against religious conversion was “politically motivated.” When the advocate for Tamil Nadu reminded that Upadhyay was a “BJP spokesperson”, “facing a case of sedition” and his petition against religious conversion was “politically motivated”; the Court responded that the Tamil Nadu advocate was instead giving “political colour” to a “very serious” issue of religious conversions through force, deceit, and allurement”, which was a concern for the entire nation. When the advocate for Tamil Nadu reiterated that the issue of religious conversion was a State subject under List 2 Entry 1 of the Constitution and that there was no illegal religious conversions in Tamil Nadu as alleged by the petitioner as the law on religious conversions of 2002 was subsequently repealed in the state; the court asked the advocate not to bring political colour to the matter. The Supreme Court as well as the Delhi High Court have in the last two years dismissed three similar pleas on “forced conversions” filed by the same BJP leader- Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. When Senior Advocate CU Singh told Court that the petition should be rejected outrightly as many have been in the past on the same subject matter, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said that all rationalists should be supporting such a petition. “Don’t take this as an adversarial litigation. This is a very serious issue,” Justice Shah added. Senior advocate Arvind Datar, who was appearing for Upadhyay, submitted there was no specific provision in the Indian Penal Code on illegal conversions. Justice Shah said that aspect was for the legislature to consider-whether or not to amend the IPC.Shah also added that this ought to be considered in the larger perspective and see what can be done in this situation. The matter will be heard again on February 7. As it stands it is clear that state legislatures will be obligated to enact anti-conversion laws which in themselves, take away the basic right especially of minority religions to propagate while no questions are to be asked when conversion of people from minority religions convert to the majority religion.

DailyDevotion

The Opened Sight

I now send you, to open their eyes…that they may receive forgiveness of sins… —Acts 26:17-18

This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.

God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, “…that they may receive forgiveness of sins….” When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion— only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.

This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: “…an inheritance among those who are sanctified….” In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.

Quotes

Quo vadis secular India: Where are you heading?

The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum condemns the acts of violence against the Christians in Chhattisgarh.

The incident is just one of many that are happening too often. The NJCF stands in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters who suffer the burnt of hatred and jealousy of uninformed majority religious group. Instances such as this are happening too often in the country where majority of them do not make it to the news. The silence of the authority has emboldened the narrow minded majority who stand threatened by the good deeds done by others. Let it be known, unless the mind is educated and those who are at the realm of power speak out the message of love, respect and peaceful coexistence; hatred, crimes and inflicting pain and suffering against the minority religious group will continue. We cannot allow the secular fabric of the country be given a back seat.

The recent circulation of the Special Branch, Assam Police is another example of creating terror. He was scapegoated by the authority to cover the face of the government. Nevertheless, it has created much tension in the region. Such a circulation is not only a threat but an unhealthy move and the authority cannot simply hide under the pretext that they aren’t consulted. A circulation with such magnitude cannot just be ordered by a subordinate had there been no coordination with the authority.

It was just a means to test the water and to hurt the sentiments of the Christians in the region. The trust deficit created among the Christian community in the region will take time to recover that in the region there is already such an evil design in the making. The NJCF hope and pray that the authority will sincerely put the matter to rest for the sake

of peaceful coexistence in the region.

To say the least, what has been happening in the country is disturbing and mind boggling. Tension and uneasiness has become the order of the day because of the inflictions caused by certain religious group trying to suppress the religious freedom of the minorities. The channels are many, but to name one, “Anti conversion bill” enacted and legislated with false accusations to prohibit freedom of religious practices of the minorities in the country. While on the other hand the present regime try to propagate its religion through their political agenda. It has become a terror because minority religious groups are no longer free to practice their religions and do good to humanity.

In a situation such as this, we need to be reminded of the basics of what secularism is all about. Those who are illiterate may not know what secularism is all about.

This is why they continue to take their vent against the minorities especially the Christian community because they think otherwise and feel insecure of the good the Christians do to humanity. But things are happening right under the nose of those who are suppose to educate and have the power to stop it. This is why we need to be reminded once again.

Secularism means the separation of religion from political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life, religion being treated as a purely personal matter. It can neither be legislated nor enforced. In this sense, it is wrong to say “all Indians are Hindus.” The Preamble of the constitution asserts that India is a “secular” nation and does not prioritize any one religion for the country and its people. This is inline with the freedom of Conscience, that is, all persons have equal right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion. It gives

Europe has dodged an energy apocalypse this winter, economists and officials say, thanks to unusually warm weather and efforts to find other sources of natural gas after Russia cut off most of its supply to the continent.

Natural gas suppliers in recent days have increased their stocks at a time when they’re usually being drawn down — an unexpected boost that has relieved fears of gas used to heat homes, generate electricity and power factories running out by winter’s end.

As a result, short-term gas prices have fallen from record highs, dropping from 18 times what they were before Russia massed troops on Ukraine’s border in early 2021 to four times higher. That’s still painfully high, eating away at company earnings and consumer spending power through costly utility bills and inflation.

But analysts say the worst case of shortages and rationing has been avoided.

Here are key facts about Europe’s energy struggles: Why is Europe facing less risk of gas shutoffs?

Warm weather has allowed Europe’s storage facilities to remain 83% full since Jan. 1, with levels even rising on some days. That’s extraordinary. Gas reserves are usually drawn down starting in October and refilled the next spring.

Politics

Feds propose ‘student loan safety net’ alongside forgiveness Biden, López Obrador, Trudeau meet in Mexico City for summit

Having elected House speaker, Republicans try governing How Republicans are trans-

equal respect to all religions and protects all religions equally. The interpretation is simple, show respect to others and do good to one another regardless of your religious affiliation. Serve one another in love and let diversity be our strength.

In a multi-religious society like India, respect and equal protection are disappearing because of the upper hand of the majority. Even though, secularism is a fundamental reality of Indian’s fabric, secularism is made to suffer because Article 356 is muted and likewise, the authority choose to remain silent. Those who are in power and have the constitutional tool should not only crow during election talking about development, peace and forward movement when discrimination and infliction of pain to religious minorities become the order of the day.

Unfortunately, vandalism, hate crimes and attacks of the Christians in the mainland India has nullified the validity of references to secularism because hatred and insecure superiority complex has taken over the nation. We can only ask the question, why has India become so hateful and insecure? In dismay, we can only lament that the people in power has become hand in glove with those who are trying to create terror in the minds of the innocents.

They talk tough on other issues but become blind to the suffering, abuse and persecution of the religious minorities in the country. The constant reference to development, peace and harmony are just going down the drain because it is now considered useless, because the country is no longer controlled and ruled by what has been enshrined in the preamble, safeguarded by the constitution. To say the least, India is becoming a lawless country. The voice of the fanatics and religious fundamentalists are given precedence. This is leading to an unfortunate state

forming the House in the majority

Record-high temperatures — which have hurt businesses dependent on snow sports — come top of a scramble to find new suppliers to replace most Russian gas, which Europe depended on before the war. Moscow has shut off most of its supply to Europe as governments imposed sanctions and supported Ukraine.

Countries have lined up expensive supplies of liquefied natural gas — which comes by ship, instead of pipeline — from the U.S. and Qatar. Germany leased five floating import terminals for LNG for almost 10 billion euros, the first of which arrived in November.

Industry has reduced use, sometimes simply by halting energy intensive production such as fertilizer or steel that was no longer profitable at high prices.

“We have prevented the worst that we were threatened with in summer ... a complete economic meltdown for German and European industry,” said German Energy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters last week.

Simone Tagliapietra, energy policy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, put it this way: “The energy crisis per se is not over, but the peak of the emergency has been avoided.”

What does this mean for utility bills?

Consumers may avoid further extreme price spikes, but bills will stay higher than usual because gas prices are still far above where they were in early 2021.

Some relief has come from government support. In Germany, Europe’s largest economy, the government passed gas and electric price caps allowing small businesses and consumers to buy 80%

of affairs in the country destroying the fabrics of secularism. False religious agenda has become the political agenda of the nation and therefore, it has paralyzed stern actions against the perpetrators who are causing terror to other religious minorities.

Insecurity among the major religious group in the country has been causing harassment and abuse of power for the last few years often backed by people who have the power and authority to act. So far the nation have not heard of any exemplary punishment in the court of law of those who are seeking to incite hatred in the community. On the reverse, they are protected and incited to do harm to others in the name of religion. India, known for its tolerance is set to destroy the society by imposing the will and religious agenda of the majority upon its citizens by inflicting fear in the minds of the innocent religious minorities in the country. We continue to ask, where is equal protection and equal respect?

“All Indians are not Hindus.” You cannot change the religious demography of a nation by proclaiming something that is not true. It simply amounts to force conversion over ridding the secular nature of the country. It is a farce and an idealistic propagation by some fanatics and fundamentalists who have seen nothing beyond their confined religious practices amassing wealth to abuse the minority religious groups. India must learn to leave the choice of religion to individuals. Each religion must propagate love and respect for others only then the nation will flourish.

Has politics anything to do with what is happening in the nation? The answer lies in this, the present political structure is a threat to secularism. Since the nation is majority Hindus, politicians are using religion and castes to divide the nation. This

has given rise to inequality and intolerance among the people. The majority religious group have taken advantage of the soft corner of the present regime.

In fact, the country is run not by political principle of unity in diversity but religious agenda of the majority. The masters have become the subjects of religious propaganda. They are totally amused and entertained with the agenda of the lunatics. So much so that, the political agenda of the nation which is known for it secularism has been reduced to mere mockery. Unless this is addressed in wider scale, the nation will become a paradise of hate and destruction.

What is happening in the nation where supremacy is sought by vandalizing and persecuting certain religious group is most unfortunate. It is many steps backward to time. The civilized world has come out of marginalizing the minorities be it social, economics or religion and here we are where supremacy is sought by suppressing the rights of others. It is merely, an expression of “insecurity” an uncivilized approach to moving forward.

The Christian community in the country do not need to elaborate our contribution to the nation building. The Christian community has always played the role of reaching out to people in need regardless of caste or religion. This, we will continue to do as part of our service to humanity.

Religious minority groups are always under threat from different angles. One of which is the enactment of anti conversion bill doing the round in the country. The sole purpose of this bill is create terror and to bring people under threat and to curtail individual freedom to choose. Why has doing good and serving humanity become a threat to the secular India?

Let it beknow to those who are trying to create terror to religious minority

Christian in the country, our Holy Book teaches us “to love our enemies and those who try to destroy us.” We are taught to continue to do good to humanity in the midst of all these things that our happening around us. We are taught to “repay evil with good.”

The abusive tactics to destroy other religious faith can be put to an end if the authority at the helm of power can have the audacity to say, “live in peace respecting each other’s practice” and punish those who go against this principle in the court of law. The silence of the authority is simply condoning with the act of the perpetrators. The cycle will continue unless it is curbed intentionally to build a conducive society where every individual is free to choose and live by his/her religious conviction.

The country leaders talks about peace and peaceful coexistence to persuade the voters who put them to power. But it has become undoubtedly clear that they are being used by those people who cannot see anything beyond their religious walls. Political leaders and heads of the country are functioning on behest of those who are still locked within their own religious confines.

In such a situation, how can secular India flourish? How can a country progress and move forward when minorities are marginalized and are threaten everyday? The time has come for this region to seriously ponder whether we are on the right track or are blindly following others to be swallowed one day where are voices will be lost and we can no longer speak for those who suffer daily for the sake of the their faith. At this rate, we do not know where secular India is heading, we can only read the handwriting on the wall.

Rev. Dr. N. Paphino, Vice President, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum

of their energy at last year’s price.

That has been key for small businesses that use a lot of energy, such as Andreas Schmitt’s chain of 25 Cafe Ernst bakeries in the region around Frankfurt.

The price caps “have helped calm down the worst expectations” from this summer, said Schmitt, also vice chairman of the baker’s guild in the Hesse region of southwestern Germany.

At the peak of energy prices in August, he faced an 800,000euro ($858,120) increase in gas and electric costs to run his ovens and light his stores for 2023. Now, he’s looking at a jump of 300,000 euros.

“That is not nice but it’s survivable,” Schmitt said.

Even with the energy caps, 8.8 million households in Germany are facing an average price increase of 38%, or 586 euros for a family of four, this year, according to price comparison website Check24.

Without the price relief, it would have been a 58% increase, or 911 euros more out of pocket. Such support raises budget deficits, and not all 27 European Union countries are as strong financially as Germany, which could afford a 200 billion-euro rescue package.

“My worry is that it’s not sustainable,” said Agata LoskotStrachota, senior fellow at the Center for Eastern Studies in Warsaw. “And the other thing is differences between member states regarding the level of state financing that can be granted in longer terms. And these differences may fuel political differences in Europe.”

What happened to Putin’s energy war against Europe? Europe’s success in filling

storage means Putin has lost much of his energy leverage over Europe, analysts and politicians say. Surprisingly, some Russian gas is still flowing to Europe through pipelines crossing Ukraine to Slovakia and under the Black Sea to Turkey and on to Bulgaria.

“I think this supply is a sign of weakness,” Tagliapietra said. With global oil prices low and Russia being a major exporter, “they need the cash.”

Oil prices have been slack due to fears of slowdowns in major economies such as the U.S. and Europe as inflation and higher interest rates hold back growth.

A European ban on most Russian oil starting Dec. 5 did not create a sudden surge in global oil prices and neither did a price cap from the Group of Seven leading democracies on Russian crude to other countries. The $60-perbarrel price cap is enforced by banning insurers — mostly based in Europe or the U.K. — from handling Russian oil sold above the cap.

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will cut off oil to countries obeying the cap. But because it was set above the current price of Russian oil, it hasn’t led to Moscow slashing production. Much of the Russian oil shunned by Western buyers has been shipped to India and China at a steep discount.

While oil prices have fallen from highs of $120 a barrel this summer, things could change. Oil products such as diesel could get more expensive in Europe once a ban on those supplies from Russia takes effect Feb. 5.

What could still go wrong?

Europe is vulnerable to unexpected events, such as an accident

or technical problem at a major pipeline or LNG export terminal, extreme weather, or low levels of wind or hydroelectric power.

Energy analysts are watching energy demand from China, where fuel use plummeted during its “zero COVID” policy that sharply restricted movement to prevent the spread of the virus. Since China has loosened restrictions, demand for shiploads of liquefied gas could rise later this year once a COVID-19 wave subsides.

In that case, Europe would face higher costs to acquire gas, and the losers would be poorer countries in Asia and Africa that don’t have the money to compete.

The International Energy Agency has warned Europe not to get overconfident, saying a scenario where Russia cuts off its remaining supply and Chinese demand rebounds could leave Europe short of gas for next winter. The IEA called for a strong push on renewable energy and efficiency measures such as energy-saving heat pumps to replace furnaces, calling such steps “vital to head off the risk of shortages and further vicious price spikes next year.”

While Putin’s response to the oil price cap was muted, he may still have energy cards to play given Russia is a major oil supplier and is still sending some gas to Europe, said Loskot-Strachota from the Center for Eastern Studies.

“In general, the response has been rather weak, but will that be it?” she said. “The energy crisis is not gone. We are not experiencing the worst-case scenario, but the factors of uncertainty are not gone.”

David Mchugh (AP)

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

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

~ Sir Francis Bacon

Europe has avoided energy collapse. But is the crisis over?

SNIPPETS

PM to inaugurate National Youth Fest

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Youth Festival in Karnataka’s Hubbali on Thursday, an event that is being held on the National Youth Day which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda to honour his ideals, teachings and contributions.

“Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the 26th National Youth Festival in Hubbali at around 4 pm,” a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office said.

1 held with Rs 28 cr worth cocaine

MUMBAI, JAN 10 (PTI): The Mumbai Airport Customs has seized cocaine worth Rs 28.1 crore concealed by an Indian passenger in a false cavity specially made in a duffle bag, officials said on Tuesday.

The passenger, who carried 2.81 kg of the contraband from Addis Ababa, was arrested following the seizure on Friday, the Customs said in a release.

Fire breaks out at Goa paint factory

PANAJI, JAN 10 (AGENCIES): A massive fire broke out in Goa’s Pilerne on Tuesday at a paint factory, with 10 fire engines pressed into service to battle the blaze. The blaze began at the Berger Becker Coatings Pvt. Ltd factory at the Pilerne Industrial Estate around 2:40pm.

CISF jawan shoots self at IGI airport

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (PTI): A CISF jawan allegedly ended his life at Delhi’s IGI airport by shooting himself from his service weapon on Tuesday, officials said.

The constable-rank jawan has been identified as Jitendra Kumar. The jawan shot himself using the 9mm pistol inside a bathroom at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 3:45 pm, they said.

Child falls into borewell in UP

HAPUR (UP), JAN 10 (PTI): A four-year-old boy fell into an open borewell in the Kotla Sadat area here on Tuesday, officials said. The boy was playing near the borewell when he fell inside, they said.

DGCA show cause notice to Go First

MUMBAI/ NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (PTI): Aviation regulator DGCA on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to Go First for “multiple mistakes” that led to 55 Delhi flight passengers being left behind in a coach at Bangalore airport on Monday and the budget airline has apologised for the incident, saying it happened due to inadvertent oversight in reconciliation.

The airline has been given two weeks time to respond to the show cause notice and based on the response, further action will be initiated. Go First has derostered the staff involved in the incident pending an inquiry. The airline has issued a show cause notice to the ground handling agency concerned at the Bangalore airport for the lapse.

The incident happened on Monday morning with the passengers who were to board a Delhi flight and later in the day, the Directorate Genral of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had sought a report from the airline about the incident. In a statement on Tuesday, the regulator said that Go First operated flight G8-116 on BangaloreDelhi sector leaving behind 55 passengers in the passenger coach at Bangalore airport. After perusal of the incident report submitted by Go First on Tuesday, the watchdog said that prima-

Jammu worst victim of BJP’s political gimmick: Mehbooba

JAMMU, JAN 10 (PTI): PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said Jammu is the worst victim of BJP’s political gimmick, alleging that the saffron party is surrendering interests of people from the region to benefit big corporate houses.

She also said her party risked its political interests to honour aspirations of the people of Jammu region who had given huge mandate to the right wing party in the 2014 assembly elections.

The former chief minister reiterated her party’s stand that integration of the two regions of Kashmir and Jammu was the essence of development and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Jammu, once considered as the economic hub of the erstwhile state, is the worst victim of BJP’s political gimmick. People in Kashmir always suspected the intentions of BJP but Jammu gave a huge mandate to the party (in 2014 assembly polls) on the assurances of political and economic empowerment,” Mufti said while addressing a meeting of senior party

leaders here.

Accusing the BJP of indulging in “divisive and deceitful” politics, Mufti said the saffron party is surrendering interests of people to benefit big corporate houses of the country.

“From economy to cultural identity, BJP has looted Jammu of everything which it was once proud of. Today big corporate houses from across the country have deep penetration into Jammu, unemployment rate is alarming, developmental growth is at standstill while even the militancy has spilled over to the region,” she said.

Mufti said Kashmir and Jammu are interdependent with each other and PDP has always tried to be the bridge between the people on both sides.

“(PDP patron) Mufti Muhammad Sayed even risked political interests of his party to honour aspirations of Jammu region, which had given a huge mandate to the right wing party in previous assembly elections,” she said referring to the PDP forming the government in alliance with BJP.

facie it emerges that the airline failed to comply with various norms.

“In the instant case, multiple mistakes such as lack of proper communication, co-ordination, reconciliation and confirmation have resulted in a highly avoidable situation,” DGCA said. It has issued a show cause notice to Accountable Manager/ Chief Operation Officer of Go First as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations.

‘Agniveers’ start military training

RAMGARH/NASHIK,

JAN 10 (PTI): Military training of the first batch of ‘Agniveers’ has started in Punjab Regimental Centre (PRC) in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, a senior officer of the regiment said on Tuesday.

Terming it a new chapter in the history of the Indian Army as well as the centre, the Commandant of PRC Brigadier Sanjay Kandpal while talking to media persons here, said the PRC was fully prepared for providing military training to the first batch of 217 ‘Agniveers’ with upgraded infrastructure, incorporating state of the art technology simulators, infrastructure faculty development programme,

Meanwhile, the first batch of 2,600 Agniveers has joined the Artillery Training Centre near in Nashik, a senior official said on Tuesday. Their training began from January 1, said Lt Colonel S K Panda, Arty Depot Regiment.

The training will be of 31 weeks including a 10-week basic training and 21-week advanced training, Panda added.

Plea in SC against caste survey

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (PTI): A petition was filed before the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the Bihar government’s decision to conduct a caste survey in the state, claiming it was against basic structure of the Constitution.

The petition, which is likely to come up for hearing in the coming days, alleged that the notification was “discriminatory and unconstitutional”. The public interest litigation (PIL), filed by advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, sought quashing of the notification issued by deputy secretary, government of Bihar, in respect of conducting a caste survey in the state and to refrain the authorities concerned from conducting the exercise.

The petition alleged that the notification dated June 6, 2022 violated Article 14 of the Constitution, which provides for equality before law and equal protection of the law, adding that the notification was “illegal, arbitrary, irrational and unconstitutional”.

Rahul offers prayers at Golden Temple ahead of Punjab leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR JAN 10 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a day ahead of the start of the Punjab leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He landed at the Amritsar airport Tuesday afternoon after concluding the Haryana leg of the march in Ambala district.

Sporting a turban, Gandhi paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple.

Gandhi was accompanied by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, local MP Gurjit Singh Aujla and other party leaders.

Several Punjab Congress leaders till Tuesday morning were not aware of Gandhi’s visit to Amritsar.

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh had told reporters earlier in the day in Ambala that Gandhi

will be going to the Golden Temple. After his Amritsar visit, Gandhi will return to Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab Tuesday evening.

Earlier in the morning, Gandhi resumed the foot march from Shahpur in Ambala Cantt during which he was also joined by party leader Raj Babbar.

The Yatra had entered Haryana’s Panipat from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh on Thursday last and later it also passed through Karnal and Kurukshetra districts

before concluding in Ambala district.

Prior to that, in the first phase in Haryana, the Yatra had passed through Nuh, Gurugram and Faridabad districts from December 21 to 23.

Ramesh said the Yatra covered 255 km in Haryana during eight days crossing seven districts.

“In the afternoon today, there will not be Bharat Jodo Yatra. We will go to Punjab now and halt for the night in Sirhind.

Jharkhand tribals demand freeing Parasnath hills from Jains

RANCHI, JAN 10 (PTI):

A large number of tribals on Tuesday assembled near the Parasnath hills in Jharkhand’s Giridih district, urging the state government and the Centre to free their holy site from the “clutches” of the Jain community.

They also warned of severe agitation if their demand was not met.

Thousands of tribals from Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha reached the hills earlier in the day, carrying traditional weapons and beating drums.

“’Marang Buru’ (Parasnath) is the birthright of Jharkhand’s tribals, and no power in the world can deprive them of this right,” a member of the ‘Jharkhand Bachao Morcha’, which claims to be an outfit of over 50 bodies, asserted on

Tuesday.

It said that thousands of adivasis will observe a day’s fast on January 30 at Ulihatu in Khunti district, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda, in solidarity with the movement to “save” the Parasnath hills.

Rahul Gandhi at Golden Temple during the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Amritsar, Tuesday. (PTI)

Mehbooba Mufti

AIRLINE APOLOGISES FOR LEAVING BEHIND 55 PASSENGERS

Budget to focus on fiscal consolidation

NEW DELHI, JAN 10

(PTI): The forthcoming budget is likely to meet the targeted 6.4 per cent fiscal deficit and pencil in for a 50 bps reduction in the same for the next fiscal, according to a foreign brokerage report.

The Modi government will present its last full budget on February 1 as the budget 2024 will be a vote on account because the nation will be heading for the hustings from April next year.

The previous budget had pencilled in a fiscal deficit -- the money the government will have to borrow from the market to meet its expenditure -- of 6.4 per cent.

(Tax breaks, jobs or plan to beat China: What will Budget 2023 offer? Click to know)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had recently said she would meet the fiscal targets as budgeted given the more than budgeted tax collections.

The commodities shock forced incremental

spending on food and fertiliser subsidies and exhausted the fiscal room from higher tax buoyancy. That apart, the government has also tabled extra demand for spending before Parliament, comprising 0.8 per cent of GDP or Rs 2.2 lakh crore in December, mainly towards capital expenditure, rural development and defence.

Wall Street brokerage Goldman Sachs in a report on Tuesday said it expects the government to meet the budgeted fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of GDP, with an expenditure compression to the tune of 0.3 per cent of GDP from the budgeted spending to cushion the incremental subsidies due to

BMW recalls over 14k electric cars

SAN FRANCISCO, JAN 10 (IANS):

Automaker BMW has recalled over 14,000 electric vehicles for a software malfunction that may lead to a loss of power and an increased risk of a crash. The recall covers certain iX SUVs and i4 and i7 sedans produced between October 14, 2021, and October 28, 2022.

The software issue relates to the high voltage battery electronic control unit, according to BMW.

“The high voltage battery electronic control unit (ECU) software may cause an interruption of electrical power,” it said in the recall notice. Specifically, a misdiagnosis can sporadically occur within the battery management electronics, which could cause the electronic control unit to reset. “If a reset occurs, this could cause an interruption of electrical power,” according to the company.

The owners of these cars can drive vehicles while waiting for a software update to fix the problem. Last year, the automaker recalled a “small number” of 2022 i4 sedans and iX SUVs due to the risk of battery fires.

the commodity shock.

The brokerage also expects the finance minister to budget for a 50 bps reduction in fiscal deficit for FY24 at 5.9 per cent, fully driven by a reduction in food and fertiliser subsidies and project tax revenues to remain buoyant in the year -- sort of walking the fiscal consolidation path.

Their optimism comes from the direct and indirect taxes, which are tracking well ahead of budget estimates, even though the government is set to widely miss the disinvestment target.

The brokerage expects the budget to stick to the medium-term fiscal consolidation path, weigh spending

priorities on capex, manufacturing incentives, subsidies and welfare, and limit its market borrowing to the extent that it does not hurt markets.

Given that it’s a preelection budget, the brokerage said the government will increase capex allocation towards infrastructure, mainly towards roads and railways, slashing defence spending and increase allocation towards rural spendings and welfare measures, such as education and healthcare.

The government borrowing will remain elevated in FY24, which may require the RBI to restart OMO purchases in the second half of FY24 with domestic liquidity constraints abating, as per the report.

The report also rules out any major reforms to be announced in the budget, except for some details on PLI incentives and a roadmap on direct tax code implementation, along with the rationalisation of subsidies, particularly fertilisers.

Centre to respond to ENPO...

(From p-1)

Also sharing the same information, veteran Naga leader and former chief minister and governor Dr. S.C. Jamir disclosed to Nagaland Post that he learnt that the Centre could offer an autonomous council-like package to ENPO under Section 244 b.

Dr. Jamir also told Nagaland Post that the ruling party in the state has compounded the problem by not engaging with the eastern Nagaland representatives in a serious manner.

Jamir also said such an issue should have been discussed on the floor of the assembly under any circumstances and expressed astonishment that instead the PDA and later UDA offered to play the role as messengers to the Centre.

Jamir was clearly unhappy that the state which came into being after many tribe leaders had sacrificed everything to end the suffering of the people during the turbulent 50s was now being allowed to breakaway. He said the breakaway was like slicing a family members who have lived together for many decades.

Other sources also said the autonomous council under 6th schedule will also include a legislative council

formed with elected representatives. The autonomous council will also manage and control funds provided directly from the Centre. It was also speculated that a mini-secretariat will be created and established at Eastern Nagaland.

It was also disclosed that the Centre had made it clear that bifurcating a small state like Nagaland to form another separate state was impracticable on several grounds. The Centre purportedly stated that the demand for a new state carved out of present Nagaland will be totally unviable because of size and lack of economic potential, serious problems which even present Nagaland state continues to face.

It may be noted that ENPO along with the seven tribal bodies and all frontal organizations, after a marathon five-hour meeting at DUDA Guest House at Sovima on January 7, resolved to apprise the Central team of the ‘talking points’ discussed on the ‘blueprint’ presented by the team Ministry on January 5.

It was learnt that the talking points will be presented to MHA panel during the next round of meeting likely by this week.

‘Make in India’ TV shipments grow 33% to reach 5 mn units

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (IANS): The India TV market grew exponentially in the festive season last year and ‘Make in India’ TV shipments grew 33 per cent (on-quarter) in the July-September period to reach 5 million units, a report showed on Tuesday. Dixon led the ‘Make in India’ TV shipments, followed by Radiant.

In the electronic wearables category, the true wireless stereo (TWS) segment led in terms of local manufacturing with almost 37 per cent of its shipments being manufactured in the country, according to Counterpoint Research.

Bharat FIH led the ‘Make in India’ TWS shipments, followed by Padget, while Optiemus led the locally manufactured smartwatch shipments.

“The top five manufacturers contributed to more than 55 per cent of

UIDAI urges OVSEs to adhere...

(From p-1)

Any Aadhaar can be verified using the QR code available on all forms of Aadhaar (Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, Aadhaar PVC card, and m-Aadhaar) using mAadhaar App, or Aadhaar QR code Scanner. Tampering of Aadhaar documents can be detected by offline verification, and tampering is a punishable offence and liable for penalties under Section 35 of the Aadhaar Act.

In case, they notice any misuse of information, verification entities need to inform UIDAI and the resident concern within 72 hours. UIDAI has cautioned OVSEs not to perform offline verification on behalf of any other entity or person and ensure full cooperation to the Authority or law enforcement agencies in case of any investigation involving misuse of Aadhaar.

the locally manufactured TV shipments in Q3 2022.

Local manufacturing continues to stay robust for segments like smartwatches, TWS, tablets and neckbands too,” said senior research analyst Prachir Singh.

Bharat FIH, Padget, Avishkaran and Optiemus were the top four brands and cumulatively contributed to almost 90 per cent of the locally manufactured TWS shipments.

“In the tablets category, Samsung, Dixon and Wingtech contributed to more than 90 per cent of the locally manufactured shipments. However, in

the smartwatch category, Optiemus dominated the local manufacturing and contributed to more than 90 per cent of the shipments,” Singh added.

More and more efforts are being made to make the country a significant player in the global value chain.

“These efforts now also include semiconductor manufacturing. Many states like Gujarat have even come out with their own semiconductor policies and are bringing about associated reforms and policy changes,” said research analyst Priya Joseph.

(From p-1)

Saying that traditionalist, racialist and separatist attitudes won’t take the society forward, he appealed to the student community to become a rationalist group to march forward.

Speaking on the occasion, Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) president Nungdokyanger Ao urged students to serve the society and discover their lives by discovering their innate talents.

Other who spoke include Land Resources Department director A. Pangjung Jamir, Langpangkong Mungdang president Marsanen Imsong, Phom Students’ Conference president N Dape Phom and OKM president Limatongzuk Jamir.

Earlier, pastor Chuchuyimlang Baptist Arogo Rev. T. Lima pronounced the invocation.

Kangtsung Kaketshir Telongjem and the jubilee choir presented songs on the occasion.

The first day (January 9) of the jubilee celebrations was attended by Amenba Yaden, MLA as special guest.

National Medical Commission team... Economy staring at two recessions in same decade

(From p-1)

below previous forecasts and the weakest performance outside of official recessions since 1970.

In 2023, euro-area growth is expected at zero %-- a downward revision of 1.9 percentage points. In China, growth is projected at 4.3% in 2023, 0.9 percentage point below previous forecasts.

Excluding China, growth in the emerging markets and developing economies is expected to decelerate from 3.8% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2023, reflecting

significantly weaker external demand compounded by high inflation, currency depreciation, tighter financing conditions, and other domestic headwinds.

The report offers the first comprehensive assessment of the medium-term outlook for investment growth in emerging markets and developing economies. Over the 2022-2024 period, gross investment in these economies is likely to grow by about 3.5 %on average -- less than half the rate that prevailed in the previous two decades.

(From p-1) The officials revealed that more than 200 applications had been received from all over the country, including some Naga applicants who had applied for posts like assistant professors and senior residents/tutors.

In the first year, NIMSR will start with three departments – Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry – and the students’ intake capacity will be 100. The officials said over 700 staff/employees would be required for institute when it was fully functional, of which about 300 would be required in the first year.

Pak EC issues arrest

warrants for Imran

ISLAMABAD, JAN 10 (PTI): Pakistan’s top election body on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Imran Khan and other top leaders of his party in a contempt case. The case is based on statements issued by top Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf leaders against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja. A four-member ECP bench headed by Nisar Durrani issued warrants against Khan and his close aides - Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar.

7.6 quake damages buildings in Indonesia

JAKARTA, JAN 10 (AP): A powerful deep-sea earthquake damaged village buildings in a lightly populated island chain in eastern Indonesia early on Tuesday and was widely felt in northern Australia. Two school buildings and 124 houses were damaged in Indonesia’s Tanimbar islands and Southwest Maluku districts, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said. Only one injury was reported. “Local residents felt strong tremors for three to five seconds. There was panic when the quake shook so the residents left their houses,” agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement. The epicentre of the magnitude 7.6 temblor was in the Banda Sea, nearest the Tanimbar islands, which have about 127,000 residents. The quake was felt in several regions, including Papua and East Nusa Tenggara provinces, as well as in northern Australia.

Israel detects 10th bird flu outbreak in seven weeks

TEL AVIV, JAN 10 (IANS): The highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a chicken breeding farm in Israel, the 10th bird flu outbreak detected in the country in seven weeks. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the first outbreak was detected on November 22 at a farm in the northeast of the country, reports Xinhua news agency.

The latest outbreak occurred among 21,500 chickens in a coop in the village of Beer Tuvia, where infected birds had been discovered in another coop 350 meters away last week. Following the detection, the Ministry quarantined all chicken coops within 10 km of the infected coop and instructed the public to purchase poultry meat and eggs only at regulated selling places, avoid buying unmarked and unpackaged eggs and consume the cooked eggs and meat only.

China concerned over safety of its citizens in Pak

FM QIN ASKS BILAWAL TO TAKE ‘STRONG’ SECURITY MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM

BEIJING, JAN 10 (PTI):

China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang in the first phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Beijing is concerned about the safety of its workers based in Pakistan and urged him to take “strong” security measures to protect them.

Qin, who recently succeeded Wang Yi, had a phone call at the request of Bilawal on January 9, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement here said on Tuesday.

Besides customary references to special ties between the two all-weather allies and China’s wish to improve the relations further, Qin “stressed that with the Chinese New Year just days away, the Chinese side is highly concerned about the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and hopes that the Pakistani side will continue to take strong security measures”.

Bilawal assured Qin that “the Pakistani side will spare no efforts to protect the safety of the Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Pakistan,” the

statement said.

The security of hundreds of Chinese personnel working on various projects of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a subject of concern for Beijing in recent years.

The CPEC aims to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar port in Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province. India has objected to the CPEC as it traverses through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

China apprehends renewed attacks on its citizens

during the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, to be celebrated for a week from January 21.

Pakistan has pressed army contingents to provide security for the Chinese workers.

In April last year, three Chinese teachers were killed in a suicide bombing attack at Karachi University, which was carried out by the separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

The BLA is opposed to China’s investments in Balochistan and has accused the all-weather allies

SL Prez instructs ministries to slash 5 per cent of funds allocated in Budget

COLOMBO, JAN 10

(PTI): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed his ministries to slash five per cent of their estimated expenditure allocated in this year’s Budget as Sri Lanka’s Treasury was facing an acute shortage of funds, exacerbating fears that the cash-strapped country’s economic crisis could be even worse than previously anticipated.

Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst economic crisis since its independence from Great Britain in 1948, triggered by a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves.

In April last year, Sri Lanka declared its international debt default due to the forex crisis.

Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, Cabinet spokesperson and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena said President Wickremesinghe has informed the cabinet that the Treasury was facing a severe shortage of funds.

Gunawardena explained the income that could have been earned through taxes within the first few months of 2023 was greatly reduced owing to the ongoing economic crisis from last year.

“The economic crisis is worse than what we had anticipated,” he said.

“On Monday, the President has instructed that Cabinet to slash 5 per cent from all proposals

a ppreciation

Sunrise Colony Council (UNB) Burma Camp, Ward No.3, under Dimapur-I, Nagaland appreciates Shri. to V i H oto aY e M i , Hon’ble MLA & Advisor Power, Nagaland for donating cash towards renovation of Sunrise Colony Council Hall during most urgent need as the Council Hall was in dilapidated condition. Through the said donation we have renovated our Council Hall and at present we are utilizing the same without facing any kind of hindrances. The undersigned on behalf of Sunrise Colony Council while lauding and conveying our sincere gratitude to Shri. toViHoto aYeMi, Hon’ble MLA & Advisor Power, Government of Nagaland for such noble gesture towards our council and humbly appeal to all the public to support such capable, visionary and a leader of integrity so as to witness all round development in the days to come. I also pray that our Almighty God guide and give him good health, wisdom and long life.

submitted by the ministries allocated in the 2023 Budget,” he noted.

Gunawarde said issues have arisen regarding the payment of government employees’ salaries for the months of January and February, adding that disbursing this month’s Samurdhi allowance would also get delayed by a couple of weeks. President Wickremesinghe, who is also Sri Lanka’s finance minister, said last year that a fresh and an out-of-the-box ap-

proach was required to provide impetus to the febrile economy. Sri Lanka, which is trying to secure a USD 2.9 billion bridge loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been trying to to get financial assurances from its major creditors -- China, Japan and India -- which is the requisite for Colombo to get the bailout package.

Last week, Wickremesinghe said he was hopeful of obtaining the IMF bailout package in the first quarter of this year.

Sri Lanka begun debt restructuring talks with its creditors since September last year as warranted by its agreement with the IMF.

Wickremesinghe earlier said India and Sri Lanka held “successful” talks on debt restructuring and the country will also begin discussions with China.

of exploiting the resourcerich province. Some of the other attacks were also attributed to radical Islamic militant outfits like the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was blamed for orchestrating the bomb attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project at Dasu in 2021.

Thirteen people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed and 23 others injured in the attack, which sent shockwaves in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed “deep concern” over the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan on the CPEC projects when Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met him here in November last year.

With the recurring attacks on its citizens, China is reportedly pressing Pakistan to permit Chinese security agencies to provide security for their personnel which, according to media reports, Islamabad is resisting, as it meant boots on the ground for the Chinese armed forces.

Besides the recurring attacks, China is concerned about Pakistan’s perennial economic problems especially, the declining balance of payments situation, prompting Beijing to step in to bail out Islamabad to avert a crisis similar to Sri Lanka.

The International Monetary Fund said last year that Pakistan’s total non-Paris Club bilateral debt currently stands at about USD 27 billion, of which Chinese debt is worth about USD 23 billion.

The Chinese side said it is ready to work with the Pakistani side to follow the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepening the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, and jointly building a closer ChinaPakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Bilawal added the ironclad brotherhood between China and Pakistan is the “North Star” guiding Pakistan’s foreign policy towards China.

US looking forward to engaging new Israeli govt: White House

WASHINGTON, JAN 10 (PTI): The United States is looking forward to working with the new Israeli government, the Biden administration said and asserted that it supports the normalisation of ArabIsrael relations.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and its far-right and religious allies secured an emphatic victory in the general elections in the Jewish nation last year defeating Yair Lapid. This is Netanyahu’s sixth stint as prime minister.

“We really do look forward to engaging the Israeli government. I will be going to Israel, and that will be a substantial topic of conversation when I go,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in New Mexico.

The Biden administration, he said, will have the opportunity to engage deeply with the new Israeli government on the threat posed by Iran. “We share the same fundamental objectives. We will work through any differences we have on tactics the same way that we have over the course of the past two

years,” Sullivan said. “We had Prime Minister Netanyahu for the early months, then we had Prime Minister (Naftali) Bennett, and then we had Prime Minister Lapid. One thing all three of those men had in common: None of them liked the JCPOA. All three of them felt very strongly about the need for us to coordinate closely on Iran policy. And Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his latest iteration, I think, will be no exception to that,” he said. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, was reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 together with the European Union. The P5+1 include the five permanent members of the Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- plus Germany State Department

Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday that the Negev process is not a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Nepal PM ‘Prachanda’ wins vote of confidence in Parl

KATHMANDU, JAN

10 (PTI): Nepal’s newlyappointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Tuesday comfortably secured a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, with almost unanimous support from both his alliance of seven parties and the opposition.

‘Prachanda’ received the support of 268 of the 270 lawmakers who were present in parliament - the highest number of votes a prime minister has ever received in a vote of confidence in parliament.

He needed only 138 votes in the 275-member parliament to continue his term as the prime minister.

Pashupati Shamsher JB Rana, the senior-most member of the House who chaired the session, declared that the motion of the vote of confidence tabled by Prime Minister Prachanda has been en -

dorsed with a majority.

Rana, who chaired the meeting did not vote, while four other lawmakers were absent. Two lawmakers voted against Prachanda.

All political parties except People’s Front Nepal (PFN) and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) - voted in Prachanda’s support. Both the PFN and NWPP have one lawmaker each.

The 68-year-old CPNMaoist Centre leader was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time on December 26 last year after he dramatic ally walked

out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader K P Sharma Oli. In his speech at the lower house earlier, Prachanda said that he wanted to take forward politics of consensus, cooperation and mutual trust rather than the politics of negation, disrespect and vengeance as the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that he as the head of the government wished to give the world a message of national unity in Nepal and pledged to remain dedicated to his duties and responsibilities and give something new to the people.

The Nepali Congress (NC) - the largest political party in parliament with 89 seats - in a surprise move supported Prachanda during the trust vote.

Prime Minister Prachanda had met Nepali

Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday and sought his support in parliament.

A key meeting of the NC held on Tuesday afternoon decided to vote in favour of the trust motion but not to join the government, a senior NC leader said.

However, four lawmakers, including two general secretaries, opposed the decision made by Nepali Congress president Deuba to caste vote in favour of the government.

The NC and CPN (Maoist Center) had forged an electoral alliance for the parliamentary election held on November 20.

But after the NC reportedly declined the post of the prime minister to Prachanda as agreed before, the Maoist Center in a rather surprising move forged an alliance with the CPN-UML to form a new government.

Janata Dal (Unite D)

(n. JoHn ZelianG) chairman Sunrise colony council

Qin Gang

PK Dahal ‘Prachanda’

Ranil Wickremesinghe

UN says ozone layer slowly healing, hole to mend by 2066

Earth’s protective ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing at a pace that would fully mend the hole over Antarctica in about 43 years, a new United Nations report says.

A once-every-fouryears scientific assessment found recovery in progress, more than 35 years after every nation in the world agreed to stop producing chemicals that chomp on the layer of ozone in Earth’s atmosphere that shields the planet from harmful radiation linked to skin cancer, cataracts and crop damage.

“In the upper stratosphere and in the ozone hole we see things getting better,” said Paul Newman, co-chair of the scientific assessment.

The progress is slow, according to the report presented Monday at the American Meteorological Society convention in Denver. The global average amount of ozone 18 miles

(30 kilometers) high in the atmosphere won’t be back to 1980 pre-thinning levels until about 2040, the report said. And it won’t be back to normal in the Arctic until 2045.

“Ozone action sets a precedent for climate

action. Our success in phasing out ozone-eating chemicals shows us what can and must be done — as a matter of urgency — to transition away from fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gases and so limit temperature increase,” World

Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas said in a statement.

Signs of healing were reported four years ago but were slight and more preliminary. “Those numbers of recovery have solidified a lot,” Newman said.

The two chief chemicals that munch away at ozone are in lower levels in the atmosphere, said Newman, chief Earth scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Chlorine levels are down 11.5% since they peaked in 1993 and bromine, which is more efficient at eating ozone but is at lower levels in the air, dropped 14.5% since its 1999 peak, the report said.

That bromine and chlorine levels “stopped growing and is coming down is a real testament to the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol,” Newman said.

U.S. greenhouse emissions show signs of slowing — but not quickly enough

“There has been a sea change in the way our society deals with ozone depleting substances,” said scientific panel co-chair David W. Fahey, director of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s chemical sciences lab.

Decades ago, people could go into a store and buy a can of refrigerants that eat away at the ozone, punch a hole in it and pollute the atmosphere, Fahey said. Now, not only are the substances banned but they are no longer much in people’s homes or cars, replaced by cleaner chemicals.

Natural weather patterns in the Antarctic also affect ozone hole levels, which peak in the fall. And the past couple years, the holes have been a bit bigger because of that but the overall trend is one of healing, Newman said.

This is “saving 2 million people every year from skin cancer,” United Na-

tions Environment Programme Director Inger Andersen told The Associated Press earlier this year in an email.

A few years ago emissions of one of the banned chemicals, chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11), stopped shrinking and was rising. Rogue emissions were spotted in part of China but now have gone back down to where they are expected, Newman said.

A third generation of those chemicals, called HFC, was banned a few years ago not because it would eat at the ozone layer but because it is a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. The new report says that the ban would avoid 0.5 to 0.9 degrees of additional warming.

The report also warned that efforts to artificially cool the planet by putting aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect the sunlight would thin the ozone layer by as much as 20% in Antarctica. (AP)

Microsoft’s new AI tool can copy any voice

Tech giant Microsoft has released its new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, VALL-E, that can replicate any voice in just three seconds.

The tool was trained on 60,000 hours of English speech data, reports Gizmochina.

Moreover, it can replicate the emotions and tone of the speaker, which earlier models were not capable of.

However, there are concerns about the ethical implications of this new technology.

The voices generated by VALL-E and similar technologies will sound increasingly believable, which might pave the way for realistic spam calls that imitate the voices of real people that a potential

Astronomers find most distant stars of Milky Way galaxy

and 11.

Astronomers have discovered more than 200 distant variable stars known as RR Lyrae stars in the Milky Way’s stellar halo. The most distant of these stars is more than a million light-years from Earth, almost half the distance to our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, which is about 2.5 million light-years away.

The characteristic pulsations and brightness of RR Lyrae stars make them excellent “standard candles” for measuring galactic distances. These new

observations allowed the researchers to trace the outer limits of the Milky Way’s halo.

“This study is redefining what constitutes the

Prince Harry’s book hits shelves after days of controversy

both so big, there’s hardly any space between the two galaxies.”

ookshops across London opened at midnight to meet the demand for Prince Harry’s memoir after it officially went on sale.

Fans queuing to buy a hardback copy described wanting to hear the story “from the horse’s mouth”.

It follows the chaotic launch of Spare with multiple leaks and copies being made available in Spain last week.

Waterstones says Prince Harry’s book has been one of its “biggest preorder titles for a decade”.

The booksellers opened their flagship Piccadilly branch early on Tuesday in expectation of high customer demand, as the book was published around the

world in 16 languages.

Branches of WH Smith in locations including Euston, Victoria, Heathrow and Gatwick were also among those to extend their hours for the release.

The memoir is already top of the best sellers in the UK for online retailer Amazon, after days of headlinegrabbing revelations from leaks - ranging from how Prince Harry lost his virginity to claims that Prince Harry was attacked by his brother, Prince William.

The 410-page memoir, revealing the conflict and personal tensions inside royal palaces, shows Prince Harry’s version of growing up and then falling out with the Royal Family.

(Saudi

outer limits of our galaxy,” said Raja GuhaThakurta, professor and chair of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz. “Our galaxy and Andromeda are

GuhaThakurta explained that the stellar halo component of our galaxy is much bigger than the disk, which is about 100,000 light years across. Our solar system resides in one of the spiral arms of the disk. In the middle of the disk is a central bulge, and surrounding it is the halo, which contains the oldest stars in the galaxy and extends for hundreds of thousands of light years in every direction.

“The halo is the hardest part to study because the outer limits are so far away,” GuhaThakurta said. “The stars are very sparse compared to the high stellar densities of the disk and the bulge, but the halo is dominated by dark matter and actually contains most of the mass of the galaxy.”

Yuting Feng, a doctoral student working with GuhaThakurta at UCSC, led the new study and is presenting their findings in two talks at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle on January 9

According to Feng, previous modeling studies had calculated that the stellar halo should extend out to around 300 kiloparsecs or 1 million light years from the galactic center. (Astronomers measure galactic distances in kiloparsecs; one kiloparsec is equal to 3,260 light years.) The 208 RR Lyrae stars detected by Feng and his colleagues ranged in distance from about 20 to 320 kiloparsecs.

“We were able to use these variable stars as reliable tracers to pin down the distances,” Feng said. “Our observations confirm the theoretical estimates of the size of the halo, so that’s an important result.”

The findings are based on data from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS), a program using the Canada-FranceHawaii Telescope (CFHT) to study a cluster of galaxies well beyond the Milky

90th Birthday

Mr. Tongpanginshi Ao Merangkong Village 11/01/2023

Oba, we celebrate this special day with praise & thanksgiving to the Lord who has been gracious all through your life.

May the Almighty God love and care for you always.

From Loving Wife, Children & Grand Children

victim knows.

Another possibility is the impersonation of politicians and other public figures, which can cause misleading information to spread on social media.

Moreover, some banks use voice recognition technology to verify the identity of a caller and with AIgenerated voices, it could become more difficult to find if a caller is genuineAor not.

So, it is important for Microsoft to create measures to regulate the use of VALL-E to make sure that it is used for good and not for malicious purposes, the report said. (IANS)

Way. The survey was not designed to detect RR Lyrae stars, so the researchers had to dig them out of the dataset. The Virgo Cluster is a large cluster of galaxies that includes the giant elliptical galaxy M87.

“To get a deep exposure of M87 and the galaxies around it, the telescope also captured the foreground stars in the same field, so the data we used are sort of a by-product of that survey,” Feng explained. (ANI)

Gazette)

Corrigendum: Apropos the news report, “NE INRC organise driver’s talent hunt”, published on January 10, the headline should read as “NE INRC driver’s talent hunt held in Dimapur” and not as published. Inadvertent error is regretted.

50th Wedd I n G Ann IV ers A ry rev. Wati sangtam & Mrs. yongpila

NASA false-color image, the blue and purple shows the hole in Earth’s protective ozone layer. (NASA /AP)

Volleyball tourney underway at Old Jalukie

Correspondent

JALUKIE, JAN 10 (NPN): The four-day long, 31st edition of the Old Jalukie village shifting day memorial volleyball tournament 2023 kick started on Tuesday at Old Jalukie village Sector C.

The opening ceremony was graced by Masangum Hiekha, PA to former chief minister TR Zeliang, as the special guest.

The tournament is an open event under Peren district and played on league (best of three) and intervillage/town basis.

Altogether, 13 teams are competing for the coveted title in the four-day long event. In the opening match, defending champions Azailong defeated host village Old Jalukie A in straight sets 25-21, 27- 25.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, Hiekha said that volleyball used to

be an indoor game however, due to absence of infrastructure and facilities, most of the volleyball tournaments in Nagaland were

pursue for construction of indoor volleyball stadium in collaboration with Peren District Volleyball Association (PDVA) through available schemes and project.

The special guest also reminded the youth on the available facilities and projects for them while citing the ongoing construction of standard size Astro turf football field at Jalukie town.

He also called for unity among various sectors of Old Jalukie, reminding the gathering that Jalukie has many potentials being located at a tri-junction connecting Manipur, Assam and Nagaland. He stated that many commercial activities will take place in few years as Jalukie will be the centre point for the three Northeastern states.

dom selling of lands.

Hiekha further urged the sportsperson to be discipline and consistent and urged them not to indulge in substance abuse which would spoil their career.

Earlier, the tournament flag was unfurled by the special guest, who also declared the tournament open.

played outdoors. He said that in Nagaland, there was only one indoor volleyball stadium in Mokokchung. In this regard, he assured to

39th Sekrüzu Area Sports Association’s meet concludes

In this regard, he urged the people to take cognizance of the value of land and urged to abstain from ran-

The programme was compered by Paubamleube and Suiyingaule, invocation was offered by pastor Old Jalukie Baptist Church, Zieroying Hiekha, welcome address by treasurer tournament board, Akobe Kenn, short speech by GB Old Jalukie village council, Inrangruing, special numbers by Keputcui maa and youth department while the oath to the players was administered by games and sports secretary, Old Jalukie Village Youth Organisation, Adaube Mpom.

Zhaleo graces CYOG-C wrestling and volleyball meet

DIMAPUR, JAN 10 (NPN): Advisor, Sericulture, Excise & Minority Affairs, Nagaland Zhaleo Rio graced the inaugural programme of the two-day Chakhroma Youth Organisation Group-C (CYOGC) wrestling and volleyball meet at Medziphema ‘A’ village on January 10 as the special guest. Altogether, 5 villages are in the group.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, Zhaleo spoke on the importance of games and sports while stressing on the need to “develop a determined spirit to succeed” and a collective effort from stakeholders.

from Medziphema Town to Ngwalwa. He asserted that the bus service will boost marketing avenues for villagers as well as students who commute to schools and colleges.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JAN 10 (NPN): The Kohima Municipal Ward 1, 2 and 3 sports meet commenced at Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School ground under the theme, “Celebrate life, live drug free”.

The opening ceremony was graced by chairman, Nagaland Building and Other Construction

Workers’ Welfare Board (NBOCWWB), Dr. Kekhrie Yhome, as the special guest. Yhome shared that games and sports had become an important activity in the modern age, where people could come and get to know one another setting aside many differences and creating a congenial atmosphere for a better world to live in.

However, he also maintained that one also

requires recreation or else, life would be difficult and boring.

Short speeches were also delivered by chairman ward 1, Atoulie Mepfhuo, chairman 2 Khinyi Woch and chairman ward 3 Jabou Sekhose.

Invocation was pronounced by assistant pastor, Khedi Baptist Church, Khriezosielie Belho while oath was administered by Meyietuo Sachu.

KOHIMA, JAN 10

(NPN): The seven-day long 39th sports meet & second edition Naga Wrestling Championship 2023 of the Sekrüzu Area Sports Association (SASA) concluded on Tuesday at Sekrüzu HQ under Phek district under the motto, “Fraternity Towards Progress”.

Eight villages including one town that comes under SASA – Dzülha, Thürütsüswu, Khütsa, Phühgi, Rüzazho, New Rüzazho, Suthozu Old, Suthozu New and Sekrüzu Town took part in the meet. The tournament was hosted by Phühgi Youth Welfare Union.

In the men’s football final, Thürütsüswü village defeated Khütsa village by

Zillion Utd FC lift Longmisa Citizens Trophy

DIMAPUR, JAN 10

(NPN): Zillion United FC beat Lenjeter FC 5-0 to lift the first ever Longmisa Citizens Football Trophy at Longmisa village on January 9. Speaking on the occasion, joint director (Rtd) Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Er. J. Wati Pongen, harped on the importance of good infrastructure for the overall development of an athlete. He said good infrastructure should complement along with the talent, health and hard work of an athlete to reach his optimum level.

Stressing on the lack of various essential infrastructures and developments in the village, the retired bureaucrat asked the gathering to retrospect and make amends for their past shortcomings while envisioning and setting a positive goal for a progressive future of the village.

The first Longmisa Citizens Football tournament which was organized by Wholistic Development Board, Longmisa was a four-day long event was participated by eight teams from Longmisa village vying for the coveted trophy.

a solitary goal to emerge as the champions of the football trophy.

The lone goal for Thürütsüswü was scored by Bizoto Swüro in the first half that prove to be decisive in the match.

The closing ceremony was graced by Nagaland Wushu president, Küdecho Khamo as the guest of honour. Khamo urged the sportspersons to be committed and disciplined to excel in their sporting career.

While observing that most of the Nagaland athletes that bagged medals in recently Northeast Olympics are mostly from individual disciplines, he asked the gathering to choose one discipline so that they can

excel further. Impressing upon the athletes to make the best use of talents, he said that in return, they will achieve success in future.

To make sports a profession, he reminded them not to be seasonal players but to think of their future. He challenged the youths that it is time for them to decide what they want to do in their career.

The programme was chaired by general secretary SASA, Veduto Swüro, special number was presented by Lükhoto Nienu, invocation and benediction were pronounced by Rev. Veküso Swüro and Akha Shijo respectively while vote of thanks was proposed by finance secretary SASA, Cekrolhü Sapu.

He exhorted the players to choose their game and dedicate themselves wholeheartedly wherein discipline, health and training plays pivotal role in building one’s career.

“Sports is a profession which promises immense scope even in employment sector so long a person can achieve laurels and earn recognition”, he stated. He added that parents or elders should also prioritise to encourage youngsters in the field of sports and advised, young people to learn to cope with failures and learn from mistakes.

On development sector, Rio assured that road renovation and black topping of the road from Medziphema Town till Tsüüma would com mence soon, which will be followed by introducing NST bus service

On the general assembly election which is likely to be held in few months, Rio opined that people should organise common platform for intending candidates to debate on contentious issues related to development and people’s welfare programmes.

The inaugural session was chaired by Rokozhakho Kruse while former pastor, Medziphema ‘A’ Baptist Church, Kelhoutshevi Kehie, pronounced the invocation and Sitso Terhüja shared the welcome address.

Later in the day, Zhaleo attended the 22nd Sakipheto Area Students’ Union conference at Kupuhe Village as the special guest which got underway with student members from 7 villages.

The programme was chaired by Khevikhu Yeptho and invocation was offered by Youth Pastor, ABK Noghipu Kiho.

Dearest Mama, Days have passed and turned into a year, and yet it has been a year of extreme heartache for us whom you have left behind. You are gone from our sight but never for a moment from our hearts. We miss you a little more each day, and will do until we meet again.

Special guest Masangum Hiekha declaring the tournament open at Old Jalukie on January 10. (NP)

Kohima municipal ward sports meet underway at Rüzhükhrie Govt Hr Sec School ground. (NP)

Zhaleo Rio

Guest of honour Küdecho Khamo along with host of dignitaries and SASA officials at Sekrüzu.

1st ODI: India beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs

GUWAHATI, JAN 10

(IANS): Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka slammed a valiant unbeaten 102 but that only reduced the margin of defeat for the visitors as India won the first ODI by 67 runs to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, here on Tuesday.

After Virat Kohli slammed his 45th ODI century while captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill slammed fifties to propel India to a massive 373/7, Sri Lanka made 306/8 in reply, with Shanaka’s 88-ball 102 coming too late after opener Pathum Nissanka made 72 off 80 balls.

For India, young tearaway pacer Umran Malik picked figures of 3/57, while Mohammed Siraj scalped an impressive 2/30. Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Hardik Pandya had a wicket each.

Chasing 374, Nissanka got going with three boundaries off Shami in the first three overs. But Siraj helped India bounce back with his immaculate line and length -- forcing Avishka Fernando

to miscue a leading edge to mid-off and then castling Kusal Mendis through the gate with a sharp nipbacker.

Nissanka was involved in a brief 41-run stand with Charith Asalanka, before speedster Umran had the latter gloving behind to keeper, though replays later showed there was no bat involved. Nissanka continued to drive and sweep with ease while Dhananjaya de Silva took time before driv-

ing, lofting and sweeping effortlessly.

The 72-run partnership between Nissanka and Dhananjaya ended when Mohammed Shami got a length ball to swerve away and forced the latter to nick behind without any footwork in the 25th over, falling for 47. Six overs later, Nissanka’s fighting knock came to an end when he mistimed a pull to midwicket off Umran.

Wanindu Hasaranga

Malaysia Open: Treesa-Gayatri duo advances; Srikanth, Saina bow out early

KUALA LUMPUR, JAN 10

(IANS): Rising Indian women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Pullela Gopichand on Tuesday sailed into the Round-of-16 of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament while ace shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal suffered first-round exit on Tuesday.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist pair Treesa and Gayatri registered a straight game 21-19, 21-14 victory over Hong Kong’s Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam of Hong Kong here at Axiata Arena.

The world no. 16 Indian pair will cross swords with the world no 14 Bulgarian sisters Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, World championships silver medallist Srikanth, who is struggling with his form lately, failed to register a win in the year’s first tournament and lost 19-21, 14-21 to world No. 17 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan. On the other hand, Nehwal went down fighting 12-21, 21-17, 12-21 to

Han Yue of China.

After losing the opening game, Nehwal bounced back into the contest taking the second game 21-17 and managed to force the decider. However, the Indian shuttler could not maintain the momentum in the deciding game and ended up on the losing side against the world No. 11 Chinese.

In other action, Aakarshi Kashyap too suffered defeat in her first round at the hands of Wen Chi Hsu of Chinese Taipei 10-21, 8-21. Men’s doubles pair Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala lost to South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae 10-21,

18-21 in the preliminary round.

The women’s doubles pair of Treesa and Gayatri registered India’s only win on the opening day of the Super 1000 tournament.

On Wednesday, twotime Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will face Spain’s Carolina Marin in her first match while Lakshya Sen will lock horns with his compatriot HS Prannoy for a place in the round of 16.

World championships bronze medallist men’s double pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will be up against South Korea’s Choi Sol Gyu and Kim Won Ho in their season’s first tournament.

smacked Yuzvendra Chahal for a brace of sixes over mid-wicket and lofted over cover for four. But the legspinner had the last laugh, as the right-handed batter holed out to deep midwicket at the end of the 32nd over. In the next over, Umran had Dunith Wellalage caught at first slip for a golden duck and fastened Sri Lanka’s crumbling.

Chamika Karunaratne fell to Hardik Pandya while trying to loft off him and hit

straight to mid-on. Shanaka was waging a valiant battle for Sri Lanka, lofting uppishly while slamming and timing the ball hard to get boundaries and get his fourth ODI fifty in 50 balls.

He continued to drive, loft, pull, and slash on the up before getting his century in 87 balls with a cover drive off Shami in the final over, after Rohit withdrew the appeal of his run-out from non-striker’s end when he was at 98.

Shanaka finished off the innings with a six over deep mid-wicket to bring the century of his partnership in 73 balls with Kasun Rajitha as well as the side’s 300. But it was insufficient for Sri Lanka to avoid a loss in the series opener.

Brief Scores: India 373/7 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 113, Rohit Sharma 83; Kasun Rajitha 3/88, Dasun Shanaka 1/22) beat Sri Lanka 306/8 in 50 overs (Dasun Shanaka 108 not out, Pathum Nissanka 72; Umran Malik 3/57, Mohammed Siraj 2/30) by 67 runs

AR Phek battalion flags off Saramati mountain expedition

DIMAPUR, JAN 10 (NPN): 38 Assam Rifles Phek battalion under the aegis of HQ 5 sector and IG AR (N) flagged off the mountaineering expedition to summit Mt Saramati, the highest peak of Nagaland on January 10. The expedition was flagged off by Commandant 38 Assam Rifles col. Hem Chandra Singh at Meluri town in Phek district. The expedition team comprises of three officers and 28 soldiers of 38 Assam Rifles including two

riflewomen. To encourage the youth towards adventure activities, 17 local youths including two girls have been co-opted in the team.

Various civil society organisations, village leaders and local populace also were a part of the flagging off ceremony, who also showcased immense support and enthusiasm towards the organisation of this expedition.

The expedition began from Meluri and move towards Base Camp via Ziphu - Mimi -

Pungro. Mt Saramati would be scaled on January 15, Indian Army Day wherein the tricolour along with Indian Army and Assam Rifles flag would be hoisted on the top. The aim of this expedition was to re-invigorate pride amongst the locals by ascending the highest peak of Nagaland. The expedition further aimed at promoting Naga unity, women empowerment and importance of physical fitness for a healthy lifestyle and mind.

Wales forward Gareth Bale announces retirement

CARDIFF, JAN 10 (NPN):

NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (IANS): Defending Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal is confident of his title defence in Melbourne, saying “I am in good shape” despite back-toback losses in the United Cup in Sydney.

Nadal had a brilliant start to the 2022 season that saw him win four titles including the Australian Open and French Open - but the abdominal injury ruined his latter half of the season. Even the Spaniard did not get the start he wanted in the 2023 season as he lost both his singles rubbers at the United Cup.

“It’s true that the last couple of tournaments I wasn’t able to play to my standards and here at the beginning of the season I lost two matches in Sydney, but honestly, I am not unhappy with the preparation,” new.com.au quoted Nadal.

“I need to win matches for sure. But the preparation is going quite well, practising a lot and I think I am in good shape. Then you need to demonstrate that in the matches, in the official tournaments.

“But I’m confident that if I am able to have this last week of positive practices, why not?” he said.

FA Cup: Arsenal fend off Oxford to reach 4th round

OXFORD, JAN 10

(IANS): Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah struck for Arsenal in a 3-0 victory over hosts Oxford United in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

A tense first half at the Kassam Stadium saw both sides struggle to create chances, with neither team able to produce a moment of magic when it mattered, reports thefa.com.

However, the second half showed renewed intent from the 14-time champions and Elneny’s header and Nketiah’s brace saw them seal a deserved victory on the night.

Arsenal were largely in control in the opening 20 minutes and ultimately throughout the first half, though neither side were able to generate an early opportunity.

It was the hosts who eventually produced the first shot on goal 25 minutes in, though Cameron Brannagan’s long-range strike was easily blocked.

The Gunners were able to generate some chances and there were appeals for a penalty when Albert Lokanga’s shot appeared to be blocked by Elliott Moore’s arm, though

any appeals were waved away. A lack of clinical play in the final third affected both sides, and Eddie Nketiah’s 43rd-minute flick sailed over the bar in what was probably the best chance of the opening 45 minutes.

A string of corners went Arsenal’s way though some stern defending, particularly from the likes of Lewis Bate, saw the U’s stay

on level terms.

However, just after the hour mark Elneny rewarded Arsenal’s pressure with a goal.

The Egyptian was left unmarked in the box and headed home from Fabio Viera’s freekick for his first goal in over 18 months and give his side the lead.

And Nketiah put the Gunners firmly in the driv-

ing seat seven minutes later, rounding the ‘keeper after a superb break and calmly slotting home to double Arsenal’s advantage.

It didn’t take too long for Nketiah to seal victory, a second superb strike putting the game out of sight and setting up a tantalising fourth round clash between Arsenal and Manchester City.

Gareth Bale announced his retirement from club and international football at the age of 33 on Monday, bringing to an end one of the most decorated careers in British football history.

Wales’ record appearance holder and goal scorer led his country from the international football wilderness to qualify for two European Championships, reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, and a first World Cup since 1958.

during Wales’ World Cup group stage fixture with England on November 29. “After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football,” Bale posted in a message on social media. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love”. “It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate.”

C ol. Hem Chandra Singh flagging off Saramati mountain expedition at Meluri.

Indian bowler Umran Malik celebrates with teammates the dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Dunith Wellalage during the 1st ODI match between India and Sri Lanka, at Barsapara Stadium, in Guwahati. (PTI)

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Pullela Gopichand

The Los Angeles FC forward, who previously

played for Southampton, Tottenham and Real Madrid, made his final competitive appearance

Gareth Bale

Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny reacts after scoring against Oxford United during the FA Cup.

‘I am in good shape’: Nadal confident of his Aus Open title defence