Jan 12 2023

Nagaland

Breakdown of law & order in Nagaland: AICC

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and member of Parliament (MP) Mukul Wasnik alleged complete breakdown of law and order in Nagaland.

Wasnik, who is heading the six-member AICC delegation, arrived Nagaland to hold discussions with senior State Congress leaders with regard to the forthcoming Assembly elections. The other members include AICC screening committee chairman for Nagaland Mohan Prakash, member screening committee Sanjay Dutt, MPs and AICC observers-- Francisco Sardinha, Dr. K. Jayakumar, and AICC secretary I/c Nagaland and Sikkim Ranajit Mukherjee.

Speaking exclusively to Nagaland Post here on Wednesday, he stated that

State police set up control room

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): Nagaland Police have set up a police control room to assist the citizens of Nagaland living outside the State for any grievances and distress calls.

In a circular, DGP Nagaland Rupin Sharma informed that one could contact the helpline number/WhatsApp number 08794833041, email spcrkonima@gmail.com or social media accounts-- facebook www.facebook.com/NagalandPolice and Twitter @ DGP_Nagaland. Further, any prospective job applicants from Nagaland in any part of the country could also contact the helpline for verification of the antecedent/genuineness of the prospective employees by giving details. Police have requested that so far as possible the messages/communication be made over text mode.

Power dept informs

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): Power department has informed that the department would be carrying out re-strengthening work of the old and fragile 33 kV line supplying power to adjoining colonies/wards of Diphupar-A village including CIHSR (Referral Hospital). In order to expedite the work, SDO Elect sub-division No. II has informed that there would be power shutdown on all week days from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. till the completion of work. SDO appealed all consumers of the affected areas to bear with the inconveniences.

the writ of the State government was not running in the manner it should.

He expressed great concern over high level corruption, unemployment, lack of development and industries. Wasnik said Congress, as a responsible political party, aimed to usher in an atmosphere where a sense of security was felt by every single individual and where industries could come up and provide employment to youth.

Even though Congress did not have a single repre-

sentative in the Assembly, he claimed that the party had been playing the role of a responsible opposition party, taking up different issues of public concern, and expressed the hope that the party would get the support of masses in the upcoming Assembly election when the schedule was announced.

He acknowledged party workers in the State and district levels for undertaking various exercises, charting strategies, gearing up organisations and reaching out to the people.

On whether Congress would be forging alliance with any party, he disclosed that there had been interactions with some like-minded parties in this regard, though nothing had been finalised yet.

He said it would not be surprising to see a very “formidable combination” coming up, which he assumed would be able to completely change the discourse during the election campaign.

He also claimed that many leaders from other parties had approached Congress leaders at different levels to work together.

Though many have speculated NPCC and NPF coming together again against the NDPP-BJP alliance in the State, Wasnik did not divulge any specific details, but disclosed that some discussions were on with like-minded parties on

the possibility of an alliance.

“To say anything at this moment won’t be appropriate on my part but, nonetheless, the exercise is underway,” he remarked.

He also refused to provide the number of candidates likely to be fielded by NPCC in the election, stating that it would be “premature” to talk on the number now. Wasnik however claimed that “quite a large number of people” had expressed their intention and willingness to contest election.

Earlier during the day, the AICC delegation led by Wasnik held discussions with NPCC president K. Therie and working president Bobby Panicker.

According to NPCC communications department, discussions were held on the probability of elections

Crucial meeting of NPAC, apex hohos today

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN): A crucial meeting of the Nagaland People’s Action Committee (NPAC) along with all the apex tribal hohos of Nagaland will be held on January 12 to deliberate on the forthcoming state Assembly election vis-à-vis Naga political solution.

Asserting that the proposed meeting was of “utmost importance”, NPAC has urged all tribal apex hohos to attend the meeting to be held at Hotel Saramati from 11 a.m.

NPAC on Monday said that the people of the State were of the view that the BJP government has not been able to fulfil its election promise of 2018–“Election for Solution”.

A civil society organization (CSO) leader, who wished not to be named, said that the meeting of all the tribal hohos, irrespective

of all issues, was crucial as it would decide the next course of action on how to push Centre to accord topmost priority to announce the final settlement to the decades old Naga political issue.

While acknowledging that holding Assembly elections was a constitutional requirement, he, however, noted that “it is more important for the people-- the ones who vote, to first have a free and peaceful life from all kinds of forces to choose our own leaders.”

He said the Govern -

ment of India should first understand that the decades old unresolved Naga issue was the root cause of all issues that have plagued the society be it tribalism, corruption, extortion, threats, syndicates, manipulation, division etc.

“Elections will come and go but if the Nagas miss the bus for solution, we will be doomed for generations,” he asserted.

It is an opportune time for all Nagas to leave aside all the so called tribal/clan issues and stand up as one,

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN): Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has once again appealed to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi to have “political will” and ink the final agreement before the State Assembly elections to strengthen the confidence between the people of Nagaland and the Centre, and usher in lasting peace and progress that would go a long way in building a permanent peace in the Northeast.

In an open statement on the long-awaited solution to Naga political issue, NTC through its media cell the council drew attention

of the Centre on its silence to the inordinate delay in resolving the vexed Naga political issue even after more than three years since negotiations with NSCN (IM) and Working Committee (WC), Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) had officially completed on October 31, 2019.

NTC pointed out that the ball for settlement of the protracted issue before election, which was the longcherished dream of Naga people in general and Naga Political Groups (NPGs) in particular, was in the court of the Centre now. It mentioned that this was the time to test the trustworthiness

and sincerity of the Central government towards the people of Nagaland.

The council asserted that it could not tolerate to see the hard-earned works for resolution of the Naga political issues, as had been done and submitted by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, vide Report No. 213, and its recommendations that were overdue were shelved.

It however expressed its faith on the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his sincere determination to resolve the decades-old Naga political issue.

(Full text on p-6)

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN):

ACAUT Nagaland has fully endorsed and hailed the 15 tribal hohos for the timely message to the Central government for early settlement of the Naga political issue, reiterating the August 31, 2019 declaration of six tribes of ENPO and eight tribes of Nagaland.

In a press note, ACAUT convener Tia Longchar, coconvener Simon Kelio and secretary Hetoi Chishi said the hohos had rightly termed BJP’s slogan “Election for Solution” as deception and therefore Nagas should not be hoodwinked with another sugar-coated slogan or phrase. As one of the world’s

DCs bar declaration of consensus candidates

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): On the eve of announcement of poll schedule for Nagaland to elect the next 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), several Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have cautioned that declaration of village/area/ range consensus candidates by various public organizations/village councils/range organisation was violation of various election-related laws and offense under the Indian Penal Code.

It may be noted that Nagaland Post had on January 6 commented that the state government direct all DCs to issue cautionary notices as was done by DC Wokha

earlier. It may be noted that earlier DCs of Mokokchung, Wokha and Nuiland had issued circulars against declaration of ‘consensus candidate’. On Wednesday, DCs of Dimapur and Peren also issued similar circulars, informing all village and range authorities and organisation that declaring consensus candidates was illegal.

The circular pointed out that undue influence at elections, including interference or any attempt to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right by any means such as threat of injury/restraint was an offence. 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 an electoral offense and was also punishable under Sec 153A, 153B, 295A and 505(2) of IPC.

The same has been reiterated by the ECI in its instructions dated April 26, 2014 and further prohibits any organization or group from activity or statements that amount to an attack on the personal life of any person or are malicious or offend decency and morality. Violation of the same by any organization can also lead to debarment and

denial of permission to hold any further programmes/ activity. Further, the Village Council Act 1978 is bound to be neutral in matters related to the election.

Therefore, all the public/range organisations/ village council have been asked to take due note of the provisions of the law and refrain from the declaration of village/area/range consensus candidates or any other activity that subverts the free exercise of electoral right by any means such as threats of injury or wrongful confinement. Any organization/person that violates the same shall be dealt with strictly as per the law.

oldest civilisation, they stressed that India should not trample and throttle the rights of young Naga society with Machiavellian politics. They also noted that the hohos’ representation to Prime Minister for early solution as the utmost desire of Nagas seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

To express their loss of faith in fulfilling the poll promise, ACAUT said the Naga public should now register their protest against the betrayal by coming out on the streets. ACAUT stated that the projected strong central top leadership of BJP seemed weak when it came for a decisive verdict to con-

clude a ceasefire started 26 years ago. They warned that going ahead with election just to fulfil the constitutional obligation and driving the citizens to another bout of unabated taxation with exploding corruption would push Nagaland to a state of chaos and anarchy.

“When hope is snuffed out from the students and youth, when development is compromised and investment opportunities are stalled due to the protracted political conflict without settlement. When unity has become a casualty in the social fabric of the Nagas society due to fissures of divisions in all possible bound-

aries, where the agencies of the GoI are busy splitting Naga Political Groups into dozens and instantly signing ceasefire agreements. In the state of Nagaland, when the people living below the poverty line and unemployment statistics are among the highest in the country, in a state where the basic human dignity is petered away, it is only a matter of time that Nagaland will be tagged a failed state,” they cautioned. At a time when the tribal apex hohos had taken the lead as endorsed and mandated by Nagas, ACAUT called upon people of Nagaland to rise to the occasion and be ready to carry out del-

ENPO, MHA team to meet in Guwahati

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) talk team members on Wednesday left for Guwahati to hold another round of meeting with the Home Ministry (MHA) constituted committee headed by advisor (North East) AK Mishra.

The meeting is likely to be held from January 12 and may continue for several days, sources said.

Sources said that the ENPO delegation will apprise the Central team of the ‘talking points’ discussed during the January 8 meet-

CP Dimapur issues traffic, road safety advisory

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN):

Raising serious concerns over public road safety and road traffic related offences, Commissioner of Police (CP) Dimapur, Kevithuto Sophie has reiterated the following road traffic related advisories issued by CP’s office.

CP cautioned that driving at speeds beyond the prescribed speed limitation, in an inebriated state or under the influence of drugs or in such a manner that posed danger to self and others was an offence.

CP further stated that it was mandatory for both the rider and pillion rider of two wheelers to use helmets and carrying more passengers than authorised in the R/C or as

permit conditions in vehicles/ two wheelers and three wheelers was not allowed.

Installation of any sound producing retrofitting like pressure horn/exhaust muffler, etc, producing more than 80 decibel sound, installation of front and rear bull bar/crash guard, installation of sun films on front & rear windshield with less than 70% VLT (visual light transmission) and less than 50% VLT on side windows of the vehicle and installation of unauthorised red, white or blue flashers on the vehicle were not permitted.

CP warned that any vendor found selling such unauthorised retrofitments would be prosecuted under relevant

sections of law.

Plying of unregistered vehicles (U/R, A/F) without acknowledgement receipt from the concerned authorities was an offence.

Driving of vehicle by juveniles under 18 years of age was strictly prohibited. The guardian of such juvenile/ owner of the vehicle would be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and liable for punishment of imprisonment up to three years and a fine of Rs 25,000.

CP said that the advisory was issued for cooperation and strict public compliance so as to avoid any inconvenience and to collectively ensure public road traffic safety.

Traffic advisory for INRC rally in Kma

In view of the ‘Nagaland: Round 4 of Blueband FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2022’ to be held from January 13-14 at Kohima district, Kohima police has issued traffic advisory.

In a press note, PRO Kohima police informed that movement of vehicles would be restricted on the following routes on the dates and timing mentioned-- January 13 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jotsoma to Khonoma and January 14 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

T Khel Model Village (bye pass road) to IG Stadium.

In this regard, alternative route to Khonoma village and vice versa on January 13 will be via Khonoma- Mezoma –Dzudza bridge.

Police has requested all concerned to bear with the inconvenience and extend co-operation for the success of the rally.

ing at DUDA guest house Sovima, attended by over 100 members representing seven tribal bodies, frontal organizations of ENPO including Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union and Rajya Sabha MP.

It may be noted that the Central team during its meeting with ENPO delegation in Guwahati on January 5, presented the ‘blueprint’ in a bid to settle their demand for creation of a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.

ENPO delegation was asked to table the ‘blueprint’ and hold an open discussion with the community leaders to arrive at a consensus

decision. As per reports, the Central team had categorically ruled out bifurcating a small state like Nagaland on several grounds.

Though ENPO has been tight-lipped about the contents of the blue print, there were speculations that Centre was ready to create an autonomous council under 6th schedule of the Constitution, which will include a legislative council formed with elected representatives, and also manage and control funds provided directly from the Centre. It was also speculated that a mini-secretariat would be created and established at Eastern Nagaland.

Cabinet reshuffle buzz gains ground

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): As the BJP is set for its national executive meeting and prepares for upcoming polls, the possibility of a reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers this month has gained ground with the performance of ministers and the ruling party’s political imperatives likely to drive changes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejigged his team only once, in July 2021, in his second term, unlike in his first stint, when he reshuffled and expanded his council three times.

Though there has been no official word, sources said the changes may occur anytime this month before the start of the Budget Session of Parliament on January 31. The BJP’s

executive meeting is on January 16-17.

There is a view that the party’s standout win in the Gujarat assembly polls and the lessons drawn from the loss in the Himachal Pradesh assembly and the Delhi municipal elections may play a factor in ministerial changes, besides its political needs in poll-bound states like Karnataka, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Similarly, there is buzz that changes may also be brought in the party’s organisation.

The changes in Modi’s council of ministers have always been marked by shock exits and surprise entries, and have also hit headlines for the changes in portfolios of incumbents.

Staff Reporter

NTC calls for final agreement before polls ACAUT endorses 15 tribal hohos’ message to Centre

Participants during NPAC public rally for solution held on August 5, 2022 at Naga Shopping Arcade area. (NP File)

(Extreme R) Wasnik with AICC & NPCC officials, Wednesday. (NP)

GBs asked to reform their roles

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN): The new office building of Chuümoukedima District GB’s Association (CDGBA) was inaugurated by general secretary, Janata Dal (United) Nagaland Unit, Kitoho S Rotokha at DC Complex Chümoukedima on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, Rotokha maintained that it was time for the GBs to reform their roles as they were chosen “not to serve as a servant to the government”.

Pointing out that the word “Gaon” was an Assamees (Akhomiya) word, he said Nagas need to follow its own traditions and customs, and change the word into something else.

He said that Nagas can come up with a word to portray the word “Village”, and not use the word “Gaon” to represent the village chiefs.

He said that the red waistcoat worn by the GB’s were given by the Britishers during their reign in India, to identify them as helpers to carry off and rescue dead bodies a nd injured soldiers during the battle.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Meeting for R-Day:

DC Dimapur, Sachin Jaiswal has convened a meeting on January 16 at 12 noon at the conference hall of DC Dimapur to chalk out programme for the ensuing Republic Day. In this connection, all administrative officers, heads of departmnets and other members/ invitees have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.

CCRMC requests: Council of Chakhesang CRC (CCRMC) has requested the presence of all the leaders of Chakhesang like CPO, CMA, CSU, CYF, “national workers” and political leaders at the three-day prayer meeting from January 1315 at CCCRC Mission Center Chetheba.

Since GBs are the pride of Nagas, and their attire only resembled as the servants and slaves of Britishers, Rotokha suggested that the powers and functions of GBs needed to be reformed.

He therefore vowed to would fight for the integrity of Nagas and challenged the GBs to be reformed and not to remain as slaves of the government.

“GBs are the custodian to the Naga customary law”, he stated, and urged the gathering to not forget the identity and root of a GB. Speaking on election, he stated that Nagas should

be aware of the visions and agendas of an intending candidate, and not only focus on money.

Claiming that elections were the root of all corruption, he maintained that politicians were compelled to spend money due to public pressure.

If solution was not achieved before election and election is announced, he confirmed that he would contest the election from JDU, and further urged all Nagas to opt for clean election. In regards to civil societies and organization’s opposing to hold election, he challenged all to work in

a CK n OWL e DG e M ent

true spirits and not only talk on it. “If CSO’s are true to their statement, they should not even allow candidates to file their nomination”, he stated, if not, adding that all should morally resign from the organization and also deform the organization.

Meanwhile, general secretary, Nagaland GB Federation, Shikato Zalipu, in his brief message expressed the hope that the association would cater to unity and prosperity of entire Nagas.

He also noted that GBs are the roots of the village people and acted as the mediator, eyes, ears and

mouth for the state government, in the interest of all public.

He later read out aims and vision of NGBF.

Also delivering a short speech, ADC Chümoukedima, Dr. Kuzonyi Wideo, stated that it was the duty of GBs to monitor every sector and also informed that it was prerogative of GBs to take part in clean election for the welfare of the people. He appealed all GBs to check on use of money by candidates during election process.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Medoi Kozo, invocation by Asso pastor, CABC, Aomar, and presidential address delivered by president, CDGBA, Rokovitso Kuotsu.

Short speeches were also delivered by members representation Chümoukedima town, Medziphema GB units, Chakhroma GB Association, Dhansiripar GB Unit and Seithekema GB Unit.

It can be noted that the renovation of the newly inaugurated office building of CDGBA was sponsored by JDU Nagaland Unit general secretary, JDU, Kitoho S Rotokha.

Workshop on Public Health and Advanced HIV disease held

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JAN 11(NPN): Kripa Foundation Nagaland in collaboration with Medicins Sans Frontiers, Access Campaign organised a one day workshop on “Public Health and Advanced HIV disease” at Kripa Foundation Training Hall, Red Cross Building Raj Bhavan Road on Wednesday.

Resource person, Regional Head, Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), Access Campaign, Leena Menghaney highlighted the objective of the workshop regarding the background, burden, and causes of advanced HIV Disease (AHD) and to identify a critically unwell AHD patient and Advocacy for AHD care, diagnosis and treatment.

With the only Antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres for advanced HIV in Bihar, Menghaney urged the civil societies and people of the state to pursue for a centre for Nagaland.

Menghaney said that despite of increasing access to treatment, the number of people with advanced HIV at the time of diagno-

aCK n OWL e DG e M ent

sis remains high and has not yet declined.

She shared that the mortality rate among people with advanced HIV disease was very high even with access to ART and that the risk of death was higher with low CD4 cell count, especially with CD4 cell count <100 cells/mm3. She also informed on the components of the recommended WHO basic pack-

age of care for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD). She further informed the participants of the workshop that the AIDSrelated mortality was driven by 36% Tb,18% by Cryptococcal meningitis, 15%by PCP, 15% by Toxoplasmosis and 17% by other severe bacterial infections and other factors and was followed by interaction session.

BORN : 10.03.1968 DIED : 18.12.2022

We the family members of Late MEZAYANGBA (Changki) would like to express our gratitude to everyone near and dear, who had helped us financially and physically at the sudden demise of our beloved on 18th Dec.2022.

As we find it difficult to acknowledge you all in person, yet we pray that our Good and Rich Lord bless you all abundantly for your good deeds .

3rd Death

From Loving Wife, Children & Relatives

anniversary

26.12.2022 Our beloved father

neituu rino had left us on 26th of December 2022 to be with our Lord.

We offer our heartfelt gratitude to our friends, family, neighbours, churches and community, who provided support emotionally, physically, through prayers and charitable donations.

Those who have extended help in any way, your contribution is deeply appreciated. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude. May our Almighty God shower His abundant blessings upon all.

Loving wife and children

As the family grieves at the loss of our beloved mother who left for her heavenly abode, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all the well-wishers who ushered their unconditional support in various forms. May the Lord graciously requite your compassionate service rendered upon our family. With the implausibility of mentioning every individual who stood by us, we sincerely acknowledge the following few:

Late tarcicius tsungroshan yanthan Born : 23.12.1938 Died : 05.01.2023

We, the bereaved family members of Late tarcicius tsungroshan yanthan would like to express our deepest gratitude and thanks to each and every Individuals, Church Leaders, Organizations, Friends and Well-Wishers for the sympathy and support rendered to us physically, morally, materially and financially at the sudden demise of our beloved Father on 05th Jan’ 2023.

We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual but we pray that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly for your kindness. the family of Late tarcicius tsungroshan yanthan of Lakhuti village

10th Death a nniversary of our beloved Late er. Jemsung tzudir

Y. Kithan 1932 – 12.01.2020 Three years have passed since you left for your heavenly abode. But you are fondly remembered and deeply missed. Your love for us will always remain in our lives. Rest in peace until we meet again. Loving wife, children, in-laws, grandchildren and Great Grandchildren dp-161/23

Died on 12-01-2013 Dearest Abao, it's been 10 years since you left us and today we are especially reminded of how fortunate we were to have you for as long as we did. You were a great dad and a loving husband and your memories will forever remain bright in our hearts.

Loving wife, children and family members

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” I Peter 56

Resource person Menghaney at the workshop. (NP)

Kitoho S Rotokha with the GBs and others at Chümoukedima on Wednesday. (NP)

Scholarship in honour of TCK Lotha launched

had exemplified in his distinguished servic e to the people of Nagaland as an administrator and political leader of the highest calibre.

She also highlighted on the main aims and objectives of the trust. The scholarship will provide Rs. 50,000 per annum to a chosen candidate during their undergraduate studies in any recognised field of education.

From the second year, the scholarship will be open to students from all the Naga tribe based in Nagaland.

Interested candidates may apply in the prescribed form available for download on the www.tcklothafoundation.org website.

The details of the scholarship and the eligibility criteria will also available on the website tcklothafoundation@gmail. com

Meeting for R-Day: DC Dimapur, Sachin Jaiswal has convened a meeting on January 16 at 12 noon at the conference hall of DC Dimapur to chalk out programme for the ensuing Republic Day. In this connection, all administrative officers, heads of departmnets and other members/invitees have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.

Kohima DPDB meeting: DC and vice chairman of DPDB, Shanavas C has informed all the concerned members of District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) Kohima that since the normal date of the DPDB meeting falls on Sunday, the monthly meeting of DPDB has been postponed to January 19 at 11 am in the DPDB Conference Hall Kohima. Therefore, all members have been asked to note the change and make it convenient to attend the meeting positively.

DIMAPUR: TCK Foundation, a social and educational trust, initiated by Abeni TCK and the family members of late TCK Lotha, former chief secretary and minister, launched the TCK foundation scholarship for undergraduate studies at the LTC Hall, Wokha town on Wednesday.

A press release by TCK Foundation stated that the programme was graced by deputy chief minister, Y. Patton as guest of honour, who was TCK Lotha’s colleague in the Assembly of 1998.

Patton expressed

happiness to the family members for launching a scholarship in honour of TCK Lotha.

He said late TCK Lotha of Tsungiki village of Wokha district was the first Lotha IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh Cadre, 1964.

Born in a humble family he started his educational career in the village and finally managed to crack the UPSC exam in 1964.

Patton described Lotha as distinguished and refined statesman who served the state of Nagaland in various important positions during the difficult times of

ANSU celebrates golden jubilee

insurgency.

Since the scholarship was the first of its kind, he challenged the well-wishers to willingly come forward and contribute towards the activities of the trust.

In a brief welcome note, Abeni TCK Lotha said the TCK Foundation was a non-profit trust instituted by the family members in memory and legacy of TCK Lotha.

She said the foundation was for the propagation of the ideals of educational excellence, courageous leadership and societal responsibility with compassion that Lotha

Also speaking at the event, Rev. Shan Kikon said the scholarship was a means of facilitating deserving candidates, who were unable to pursue higher education owing to financial constraints, with valuable financial support towards their undergraduate studies so as to enable them to achieve their desired life goals.

Since this was the first year of the launch, the first invitation has been opened to students from the Lotha community.

In the initial year (2023) two individuals will be chosen – male and female, for a duration of four years.

The support offered per student shall be Rs. 50,000 per annum, subject to fulfilment of the Foundation’s eligibility criteria.

DNSU free coaching classes commence

DIMAPUR: A month long exclusive free coaching classes for HSLC candidates 2022-23 sponsored by Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) commenced on January 11 at different locations in and around Dimapur.

A total number of 300 students registered for the free coaching classes till date.

According to DNCU educational secretary, Tesiding Newmai, the ini -

All physical application forms with attached documents and copies must be sent at the address of the Foundation before June 30, 2023.

The programme was chaired by Khyochano TCK and invocation by pastor T. Mhao Kikon, from Tsungiki Baptist Church.

Messages from chief minister, Neiphiu Rio and former chief minister of Nagaland and governor, S.C. Jamir were also read to the gathering.

Another highlight of the programme was video messages by L. Colney (I.A.S. retd), former Chief Secretary Nagaland, R.S. Pandey (I.A.S. retd), former Chief Secretary Nagaland and Binod Kumar (I.A.S. retd) Nagaland, who were all colleagues of late T.C.K. Lotha.

EDSC elects new team: East Dimapur Sumi Council (EDSC) during its general meeting held at council hall on January 9, 2023 elected new team of office bearers for the tenure 2023-2025. The new team would be led by Vihoto K Achumi as chairman with Shetoho Achumi and Nikhevi Shikhu as vice chairman, Hetoyi Kinimi as general secretary, Vishiho Achumi and Inavi Awomi as secretary, Nihovi Chishi as information and publicity secretary and Toluvi Wotsa as treasurer.

DC Phek informs arm licence holders: Deputy Commissioner Phek has ordered all the arm licence holders under Phek district to report to the concerned police station between 9 am – 3 pm latest by January 31, 2023 with arms/ammunition and a license booklet for physical verification. The order has been issued following the rules 30 and 112 of the Arms Rules 2016, in view of the upcoming General Election to the 14th NLA and to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the district.

CCRMC requests: Council of Chakhesang CRC (CCRMC) has requested the presence of all the leaders of Chakhesang like CPO, CMA, CSU, CYF, “national workers” and political leaders at the three-day prayer meeting from January 13-15 at CCCRC Mission Center Chetheba.

Zhaleo inaugurates Gorkha community hall at Medziphema

tiative was especially for those students who needed coaching classes but were unable to access to such services due to various reasons.

The coaching classes will be emphasised on Science, Mathematics and English.

Dimapur Naga Students’ Union has urged all the registered students who are undergoing free coaching classes to attend the classes regularly.

DIMAPUR: Advisor of Water Resources, Namri Nchang graced the All Nchangram Students’ Union (ANSU) golden jubilee as the special guest on January 10.

A report by DIPR stated that the jubilee was observed under the theme “Achieving Pioneers Vision with Excellence.”

Speaking at celebration, Namri said jubilee itself was a milestone achievement and people were reminded of the sacrifices and hardships rendered by the pioneers under whose leadership and guidance the union attained 50th glorious years. He

said the momentous event also reminded the growth and achievement made by the students’ community of Nchangram and were the fruits and visions of the leaders of yesteryears.

Namri acknowledged all the leaders of ANSU for their laudable services and contributions towards bringing positive transformation in the village. He encouraged the youngsters and students to give more effort to preserve and promote the traditions and culture. He also urged the gathering to honor and respect the elders and parents and fear God first.

Namri advised the

parents present in the programme to guide and mould their children to be competent in this competitive world to achieve greater heights while students were asked to pursue academic career with dedication and hard work.

Highlights of the programme were- a special presentation by Nchangram Village Youth Organisation and a traditional folk song by Tiakgang and jubilee greetings by the Naga Students Federation representative Benreu students union, and late Dihabo Kaurinta family who was also the first government teacher at Nchangram vil-

V&AH officers trained on ultrasonography

DIMAPUR: A three-day, short-term training programme on “Hands on training on clinical use of Ultrasonography” organised by Clinical Department of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Jalukie, Peren came to an end on January 11.

The training was organized as per the request and demand by the veterinary officers of Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services for skill development and on basic knowledge of clinical use of Ultrasonography. Six veterinary officers from Kohima, Dimapur and Wokha

participated in the training programme. Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Jalukie, Dr. I Shakuntala said training programme like this were the need of the hour, as it provide the platform for the field veterinarian to learn and update their understanding of the advanced techniques.

Dr. Gunjan Das, Professor and Head, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine and Training Coordinator, in his welcome address mentioned that need and requirementbased training programmes should be the trend and also emphasized the importance

of disease and pregnancy diagnosis by use of ultrasonography. Dr. Tukheswar Chutia and Dr. Bhumapati Devi were the resource persons at the training person.

The training programme included theoretical aspect of ultrasonography, operating USG machine and hand on use in clinical cases, pregnancy diagnosis by use of USG in bitch (at veterinary hospital), sow and doe (College farm) and also installation, customization and clinical use of the newly purchased portable USG machine by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.

ANMs, ASHAs trained on HBYC

DIMAPUR: A three-day training on Home Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) was held for Urban Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) on January 9-11 at Conference Hall, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mokokchung office.

A press release by CMO Mokokchung office informed that the training was monitored by PMCH from Directorate of Health Family Welfare, Nagaland, Benjungtoshi Jamir.

The trainees were trained on the role of HBYC, planning home visits for HBYC, addressing social vulnerability to improve coverage of children, early childhood development, growth chart monitoring, iron folic acid supplementation, full immunization and immunization details in MCP card. The trainers included district community mobilizer, consultant NUHM, Block ASHA Coordinators and Community Health Officers. The training for Mangkolemba, Alongkima and Tsurangkong blocks would commence from January 17-25.

EVM/VVPAT demonstration in Chumoukedima

DIMAPUR: An EVM/ VVPAT demonstration using the Mobile Demonstration Van for EVM/ VVPAT was carried out in Chumoukedima town area on January 11.

According to DIPR report, with the initiative of District Election Office Chumoukedima, a live demonstration of how Electronic Voting Machines and the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trial machines worked was conducted to clear doubts and apprehension regarding electronic voting machines. Effort was also being made to sensitize the public on how the machines work and also to let them know their voting rights.

The demonstration was carried out at Chumoukedima 2nd Gate Auto stand by Master Trainer, Bodevi Shuya.

While EAC, Chumoukedima, Dziesengunuo Mere and Dobashis were also present at the demonstration. This was stated in a DIPR report.

DIMAPUR: The newly constructed Gorkha community hall at Medziphema town was inaugurated by advisor of Sericulture, Excise and Minority Affairs, Zhaleo Rio as the special guest on January 11.

The hall was dedicated by Suraj Dutraj, pastor, NBC Medziphema Town.

A press release by NDPP 5 Ghaspani-II A/C, press secretary, Thejangukho Yalietsu stated that Zhaleo in his speech lauded the efforts of the commu-

nity and leaders for their hard work to achieve their dream of the people.

He said Gorkha community had waited for years to get their own hall and acknowledged the contractor Gohu Angami, for constructing a quality building to them. Zhaleo said other communities or groups may be given the opportunity to use it but should utilise the community hall with a sense of belonging.

He revealed that the hall was constructed under

JVC constitution booklet released

the aegis of Minority Affairs with minimal funds. The advisor also reminded the gathering to do away with the presentation culture as unnecessary expenditure incurred while buying gifts for guests and dignitaries.

The inaugural function was chaired by GYASU Medziphema president, Sanjay K. Dutraj and Nobin Pradhan, president, Nagaland Gorkha Association was the guest of honour.

Niuland DPDB meeting

DIMAPUR: Deputy Commissioner Niuland has convened the monthly meeting of DPDB on January 16 at 11 am at the DC conference hall, Niuland. All members have requested to attend the meeting positively.

DIMAPUR: Jakhama Village Council (JVC) released its 2nd Amendment Constitution booklet at the village council first general meeting of this current year on January 11 at the Council Hall, Jakhama village.

According to JVC media cell, the booklet containing 27 pages was released by KVC chairman, Zhopo Richa after a prayer by Puzoto Sophie, pastor of Jakha Town Baptist Church. The 2nd Amendment Committee of “Yehzabo” (Constitution) consisted of Kezhokhoto Savi, advocate as convenor and Saku Rolnu GB and Kikoviku Yosa as members.

According to Kezhokhoto Savi, JVC approved its first constitution with the motto – “Truth and Victory” which came into force on May 1, 1993 and now everyone residing within the Jakhama village jurisdiction would honour the present Constitution as law abiding citizen which was approved and came into force on November 25, 2022.

Savi said the JVC constitution would strengthened the Article 371 A of the Constitution of India where a special provision was given to the Nagas of Nagaland.

Y. Patton, family members of T.C.K Lotha and others at the event, Wokha Wednesday.

Zhaleo Rio with officials of Gorkha community and other leaders at the inaugural of Gorkha Community Hall at Medziphema on January 11.

Namri Nchang speaking at the ANSU golden jubilee celebration. (DIPR)

Zhopo Richa and Kezhokhoto Savi with others at the release of the constitution.

EC stresses on inducement-free polls

AGARTALA, JAN 11

(IANS): The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday stressed on the need for an inducement-free assembly elections in Tripura, and asked the central and state agencies to take appropriate steps in this regard, officials said.

The full Election Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by two Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel, and several senior officials, arrived here on Wednesday afternoon to review the preparations of the forthcoming assembly polls in Tripura.

An official of the Tripura Election Department said that the Commission reviewed the preparation with the Nodal Officers of various Central and State Enforcement Agencies to ensure an inducement-free elections in the state.

Immediately after its arrival, the poll panel met the leaders of the political parties at the state guest house and then met the state and district level officials including the District

Magistrates and the Superintendent of police of eight districts. Ruling BJP, opposition CPI-M, Congress, Trinamool Congress and other parties have urged the EC to hold the assembly polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

Tripura Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinkarrao and State Police Nodal Officer G.S. Rao gave a detailed presentation to the Commission regarding poll preparedness and security arrangements for Assembly elections, expected to be held later next

month.

The Commission would also review the preparations with the Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan and all the Secretaries of Tripura government on Thursday. A SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) programme would be organised by the CEO at Ujjayanta Palace premises in Agartala on Thursday where electors’ photo identity cards would be distributed to the newly registered voters by the Commission.

CPI(M) ready for ‘understanding’ with Cong, Tipra Motha in Tripura: Yechury

AGARTALA, JAN 11

(PTI): CPI(M) general secretary Sitram Yechury on Wednesday said his party was ready for an “understanding” with the Congress and Tipra Motha to defeat the BJP in the Tripura assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference in Agartala, Yechury, however, said that a final decision on it will be taken by the CPI(M)’s state leadership.

“Our principle task is to adopt a tactical alliance to maximise the anti-BJP votes to defend democracy and Constitution. Efforts are being made for the broadest possible mobilisation of secular forces to take on the challenges posed by the BJP,” he said.

Correspondent

DIPHU, JAN 11: Karbi Anglong police under Khatkhati police station arrested one and seized 363.17 gram of heroin worth around Rs 2 crore near Durga mandir locality of Khatkhati town on Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police led by SDPO Bokajan, John Das and CRPF set up a police checkpoint near Durga Mandir along National Highway 129. The police intercepted a Swift Dzire car (AS01A3848) coming from Dimapur. On searching, police detected 28 packets of soap cases containing 363.17 gram of heroin. The accused identified as one Sabir Ahamed (32) was arrested under various NDPS acts.

Sitram Yechury

“The CPI(M) is ready to go for an understanding with the Congress and Tipra Motha to defeat the BJP in the upcoming assembly election.

But, a final decision on it will be taken by the state party leadership,” he added.

On Tipra Motha’s demand of a ‘Greater Tipraland’, CPI(M) state secre -

tary Jitendra Chowdhury said it is within the constitutional framework.

“They are seeking a constitutional solution. We have had a dialogue with them. We are looking for a respectable understanding to liberate the people of Tripura from the reins of terror,” he said at the press conference.

Yechury was here to attend the CPI(M)’s state committee meeting to finalise the strategy for the assembly elections.

Alleging that the RSS is the main “political enemy” of the country, he claimed that a “hate-filled” campaign was being planned ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to polarise the country for political gains.

Coal mine accident: M’laya police confirm 3 deaths

SHILLONG, JAN 11:

Meghalaya police on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of three men, who were believed to be coal miners, in an illegal coal mine accident in the coal-rich district of East Jaiñtia Hills.

“Three deaths have been confirmed in two villages Musniang Rim and Musniang. We will approach the court for permission to exhume the dead bodies to ascertain the exact cause of the deaths,” Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, the district police chief of East Jaiñtia Hills, said.

A suo-motu case has been registered and notices under Sections 160 and 91 of the CrPC are being issued to all the headmen for ascertaining the veracity of

the reports about the death of the three men.

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

The newspaper stated that it was unclear how the coal miners died, even as the newspaper quoted unidentified sources that “no one will speak about the incident for fear.”

“The deaths of the three men were confirmed by the headmen of the two villages. We are building the evidence and proceed accordingly,” Dhanoa said.

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

Before leaving the state on Thursday for poll bound Meghalaya, the CEC and the ECs would brief the media on Thursday.

From Meghalaya, the full EC would go to another poll bound state Nagaland on January 13 and would return to Delhi on January 15.

After returning to Delhi, the Election Commission would likely announce the schedule of the election in three northeastern states, considering the Class 10 and 12 examinations of the Central Board of Secondary Education.

TMC here to win election, says Derek O’Brien

Correspondent SHILLONG, JAN 11: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien on Wednesday said that his party is here to win the forthcoming assembly election and would “never do business” with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even as he claimed that every other political party in Meghalaya is in the “same bed” with BJP. “We will never and ever do business with BJP or either the A2 team of the BJP or the B team of the BJP,” O’Brien told reporters after launching TMC’s campaign song in the presence of Meghalaya TMC president Charles Pyngrope.

Taking pot-shots at the ruling NPP, he said, “The existing political party in the state who is running the government is in bed with the BJP...”

TMC has fielded 52 candidates, even as Meghalaya TMC president said that six more candidates will be announced soon.

Govt giving priority to interior villages, border areas: Mnp CM

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 11: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday reiterated his government’s plan to develop Senapati district headquarters as a city of the state. “Senapati is a strategically important area, and taking advantage of the national highway, which passes through the district, it can be fully developed, Singh said while speaking at the inaugural function of the Laii (Vafiimai) Day at Laii village of the district.

The Laii (Vafiimai) Day was celebrated on the theme “Our Culture, Our Identity ‘’ at the local ground of the village.

“We are trying to create a city-like atmosphere in the district with due consultation with civil organizations like NPO and students’ union etc.,” he said.

The chief minister highlighted various developmental projects undertaken in the district as a part of government plan for the development of the district.

While calling upon the people to be united and live

together, the chief minister urged all to forgive and forget the past mistakes and instead move forward unitedly.

He also sought the people’s support to the ‘War on Drugs’ campaign and further appreciated the people of the district including the Poumais, Thangals, Maos, Maram, Liangmais for coming out voluntarily and pledging against poppy plantation and illegal drug business. Speaking on the ills of poppy plantation, Singh said that it not only helps in production of drugs like opium but also destroys forest and environment. It

causes massive deforestation, which is adversely affecting the climate.

At the same time, the chief minister also lauded the Naga community for protecting and preserving the jungle cover in their areas.

He further lauded the people of the village for properly preserving their age-old tradition and culture. Expressing his desire to visit the interior villages of the state, the chief minister said that the government has to understand the necessities and needs of its entire people including those living in the interior villages.

Eviction drive in Assam; 299 families to go homeless

NORTH LAKHIMPUR

(ASSAM), JAN 11 (PTI):

The drive to evict encroachers from a forest land in Assam’s Lakhimpur district continued for the second day on Wednesday, with 299 families residing on a 250 hectare tract left in the lurch.

The evictees, most of them Bengali-speaking Muslims, rued that they could not collect all of their belongings, and their crops were destroyed in the drive.

The exercise that began on Tuesday was being undertaken by the state to free up around 450 hectares in Pava Reserve Forest. Officials on the first day cleared 200 hectares in Mohghuli village, which was home to 201 families.

“The eviction drive resumed today at 7.30 am. It has been peaceful so far.

MoS reviews Central schemes in Manipur

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 11: Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai on Wednesday reviewed various central schemes taken up in Manipur’s Thoubal district.

The Union minister arrived Imphal on January 9 on an official tour to Manipur. Earlier, he had visited Indo-Myanmar border at Moreh and reviewed the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness, and ongoing border fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border in Moreh sector of Manipur. Along with top officials of the Assam Rifles, the union minister visited its field formations and forward company operating bases along the India-Myanmar border.

We have not faced any resistance,” a senior official of the district administration told PTI. The administration has plans to clear the remaining 250 acres during the daylong exercise on Wednesday.

Around 70 bulldozers, excavators and tractors have been pressed into action in Adhasona village, while 600 police and CRPF personnel stood guard along with 200 civil officials, the official stated. With some belongings in tow, Hasmat Alam (name changed on request), who witnessed his house being razed to the ground, claimed that he had been a resident of that area for the past 28 years.

“This year, the harvest was good. I grew brinjal, cabbage and cauliflower and sold some of the produce in

the market. Around 70 per cent of the crop, however, got destroyed in the drive,” he said.

Authorities were seen using tractors and bulldozers to flatten the crops.

Excavators also filled the ponds and fisheries with earth. All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) termed the eviction drive as “inhuman and one-sided” and staged a brief protest at Sonapur area of Lakhimpur district.

According to the senior official, several notices for vacating the land were issued to the “illegal settlers” since November 2021.

“On September 7 last year, we served the final notice and asked them not to grow crops, but they did not pay heed. The evicted land remains under flood

waters in the summers and the encroachers grow crops only in the winter season,” he pointed out.

Last year, the circle officer of Naoboicha had personally approached the “encroachers” and asked them to leave voluntarily, the official explained.

Rahima Khatun, one of those affected in the drive, said agriculture was their only means of survival.

“There is no school or mosque in the part where the drive was being conducted; these tracts were used primarily for agriculture purposes. Our livelihood is now at stake,” she added.

Lakhimpur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashok Kumar Dev Choudhury noted that out of the 46 sq km Pava Reserve Forest, only 0.32 sq km were free

and the rest all occupied.

Altogether 701 families have encroached upon the Pava Reserve Forest land over the last three decades, he said. These settlers had in 2006 applied for declaring their place of stay as ‘Forest Village’, but the government had rejected that proposal then.

In July last year, 84 families had submitted documents claiming land ownership but those were found to be fake upon scrutiny.

“If a person comes to the forest, he will not find any sign of it. It has been transformed into a village, where people are engaged in farming. Once known for wild buffaloes, all animals have vanished from Pava due to this encroachment over the past three decades,” he added.

Even enemy can’t ignore dev under BJP rule: Mithun

AGARTALA, JAN 11 (PTI): Noting that Tripura is on the path of development under the BJP-led government, actor-turnedpolitician of the saffron party, Mithun Chakraborty, on Wednesday asserted that even the “enemy can’t ignore” the growth the northeastern state has witnessed in the last five years.

Addressing a gathering at Teliamura in Khowai district as part of the BJP’s ongoing Jan Vishwas Yatra, the veteran film star said he joined the saffron party because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he is a “big fan of his”.

“I have seen the massive development that has taken place in Tripura in the last five years under the BJP rule. All the BJP-ruled states have witnessed growth because our PM always cares about the welfare of

Flood problems remain same for Assam’s rural women

DHEMAJI (ASSAM), JAN 11 (PTI): Rebuilding homes, besides helping children and livestock adjust to a new place, as floods turn them into refugees every year is a cross the women in Assam’s Dhemaji district have to bear. Their menfolk who are mostly migrant labourers eking out a living in far-off cities or farms are sometimes blissfully unaware of the floods which have washed away their homes and often family members.

The mighty Brahmaputra and its 26 tributaries inundate vast tracts of land in 1200 odd villages of the district, and they remain under water for a large part of the year – from April to

October - as three to four

waves of deluge force people to take shelter in safer places, with some of them never coming back.

“We have to leave our homes almost every year with our children and livestock during the flood season

to safer places. When we return, we have to either repair or rebuilt our house … sometimes in a new spot,” Junali Hazong, an Anganwadi worker of Azarbari village, told PTI.

Most of the houses in rural Dhemaji district are

built atop bamboo stilts, locally called ‘Chang ghar’.

People stay inside the house while livestock is kept below.

However, during floods, the animals have to be accommodated inside to protect them from being washed away. When living at home becomes perilous during floods, they move towards the embankment and return home after the water recedes.

“Some people do not come back and shift to highlands in remote areas in the hope that the impact of flood will be less severe in those areas,” Binita Doley, a homemaker of Medipauma village, said.

Many residents of severely affected villages have moved

homes many a time. “Floods are a way of life for us but we face immense difficulties to make both ends meet,” she said. Women face varied other problems both during flood season and afterwards in the district where 32 per cent of girls get married before 18 years.

“During floods, we face the problem of hygiene and sanitation, particularly for pregnant and menstruating women, proper nutrition and children’s safety. After the water recedes, fields are not fit for cultivation and we cannot survive on the limited produce, and our men are forced to leave home to earn money,’’ 30-year-old Sumita Pegu said.

the people. “I have travelled across 70 per cent of the globe and very well understand what development is. Even the enemy can’t ignore the development Tripura has witnessed in the last five years. The state is on the path of growth and prosper-

ity,” he said.

However, he did not specify who he was referring to as the “enemy”.

The BJP national executive member said he is a “big fan” of Modi as “he implements what he says”.

Chakraborty said Tri-

pura would be among the best states of the country in the next five years and appealed to people to vote for the BJP to speed up the development pace.

Election to the 60-member assembly in the state is due this year.

Arunachal Gov praises soldiers for guarding LAC with dedication

ITANAGAR, JAN 11

(PTI): Arunachal Pradesh

The governor who is currently on tour to Upper Siang district of the state, while interacting with Indian armed forces at Tuting near the LAC on Tuesday, said the country is progressing due to its security and territorial integrity ensured by the Army.

“Every Arunachalee and every Indian is proud of our soldiers who are guard-

ing the borders,” Mishra said. The top leaders of the country are aware of the challenges of our armed forces and are making every effort to address the needs of soldiers and their families, he said. Mishra added that the Centre is making

the armed forces ‘Atma Nirbhar’ and ensuring that the country’s fighting capabilities do not depend on import of weapons, an official release said here on Wednesday.

“Today India is one of the powerful nations,” Mishra said.

The governor urged the armed forces to reinforce the goodwill among the civil population and reach out to them especially during an emergency. He also exhorted the officers and soldiers to prepare themselves in the proud traditions of the Indian Army to make supreme sacrifice for the nation.

Full bench of Election Commission headed by CEC Rajiv Kumar held meeting in Agartala on Wednesday.

N.Biren Singh attended Laii Day Celebration at Laii Village in Senapati district on Wednesday.

Mithun Chakraborty with party’s Tripura President Rajiv Bhattacharjee and others during the party’s Jan Vishwas Yatra at Teliamura on Wednesday. (PTI)

Governor Brig Dr B D Mishra (Retd) has praised the soldiers for guarding the frontiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with elan and dedication.

Brig Dr BD Mishra (Retd)

Women on banana rafts in Assam. (File)

Correspondent

Heroin worth Rs.2 cr seized at Khatkhati

Derek O’Brien

Truck mows down six people in UP

RAE BARELI (UP), JAN 11 (PTI): A truck mowed down six people, aged between 33 and 74, standing at a roadside tea stall in Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday morning amid dense fog, police said. Four more people were injured in the accident on the BandaBahraich highway. According to the police, the truck ran over the villagers gathered at the tea stall and fell into a ditch.

Locals feared that more people might be trapped under the truck.

Graft case: 3 Noida cops suspended NOIDA, JAN 11 (PTI):

A police sub-inspector and two constables deployed in Noida have been suspended on charges of corruption, officials said on Wednesday. “Constables Amit Kumar and Arvind Kumar were accused of taking bribe from a person..,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Ashutosh Dwivedi said. Jhandupura police post in-charge Sanjay Punia, a sub-inspector, has also been suspended in connection with the case, he said. Dwivedi said further inquiry and legal proceedings in the case are underway.

Boy beheaded in human sacrifice ritual

SILVASSA, JAN 11 (PTI): A nine-year-old boy was kidnapped and decapitated as part of a “human sacrifice” ritual for getting money and later his body was chopped into pieces, Dadra and Nagar Haveli police said on Wednesday and added 100 personnel were involved in connecting the dots to crack the brutal crime. Police arrested two men and detained a teenage boy last week after the headless body was found dumped near a canal at Vapi in Valsad district in neighbouring Gujarat. A case of murder was registered.

2 killed in Bengal elephant attack

BANKURA, JAN 11 (PTI): Two persons were killed in separate elephant attack incidents in West Bengal’s Bankura district, a senior police officer said on Wednesday. An elderly woman was killed by a wild elephant in Jharia village of the district in the early hours of Wednesday, the officer said. In another elephant attack case, a 45-year-old man was killed in Sangrampur village on Tuesday night, he said.

VP questions ‘basic structure’ doctrine

JAIPUR, JAN 11 (PTI): Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday questioned the landmark 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case verdict that gave the basic structure doctrine, saying it set a bad precedent and if any authority questions Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution, it would be difficult to say “we are a democratic nation”.

As he again criticised the scrapping of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act in 2015 by the apex court, Dhankhar said he does not subscribe to the Kesavananda Bharati case ruling that Parliament can amend the Constitution but not its basic structure.

The basic structure principle became the ground for setting aside several Constitutional amendments, including the quashing of the Constitutional amendment and the corresponding NJAC Act on the appointment of judges in the higher judiciary.

In the NJAC verdict, the apex court held that the law violated the principle of independence of the ju-

diciary which was a basic tenet of the Constitution.

Dhankhar, who is the Rajya Sabha chairman, on Wednesday asserted that parliamentary sovereignty and autonomy are quintessential for the survival of democracy and cannot be permitted to be compromised by the executive or judiciary.

Addressing the 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference here, he said that the judiciary cannot intervene in lawmaking.

“In 1973, a wrong precedent (galat parampara) started.

“In 1973, in the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court gave the idea of basic structure saying Parliament can amend the Constitution but not its

Delhi cop stabbed by mobile snatcher as others look on

NEW DELHI, JAN 11

(AGENCIES): A Delhi policeman was stabbed 12 times by a man caught stealing a mobile phone and a crowd failed to stop the attacker or even react, security camera footage shows.

The 57-year-old constable, Shambhu Dayal, died four days later, on Sunday, reports NDTV.

His family will be given Rs. 1 crore, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced today.

The horrific video from January 4 shows Shambhu Dayal being stabbed repeatedly as a large number of people watch from a safe distance. The video starts with the policeman walking with the alleged thief, An-

ish Raj, whom he had just caught from the slums in Mayapuri in west Delhi.

A woman had complained to the police that Anish had stolen her husband’s phone and threatened them.

When Shambhu Dayal reached the spot, the woman pointed Anish to him. The police constable reportedly found the stolen phone on him. As Anish was being taken to the police station, he took out a knife hidden in his clothes and plunged it into the policeman’s back.

The video shows Anish stabbing Shambhu Dayal on his neck, chest and stomach. The constable fights back, and manages to push Anish, who falls and then runs off.

basic structure. With due respect to the judiciary, I cannot subscribe to this,” Dhankhar, who has been a Supreme Court lawyer, said.

He asked, “Can Parliament be allowed that its verdict will be subject to any authority... The executive has to follow laws and the judiciary cannot intervene in law-making.”

“If any institution on any basis strikes down the law passed by parliament then it will not be good for democracy and would be difficult to say we are a democratic nation,” the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.

Talking about the judiciary scrapping the NJAC Act, Dhankhar said it was “a scenario perhaps unparalleled in the democratic history of the world”.

“The executive is ordained to be in compliance with the constitutional prescription emanating from Parliament. It was obligated to adhere to the NJAC. Judicial verdict cannot run it down,” he said.

Parliamentary sovereignty cannot be permitted to be diluted or compromised by the executive or the judiciary, he further said.

His statement comes in the backdrop of a raging debate on the issue of appointment to the higher judiciary with the government questioning the current Collegium system and the Supreme Court defending it.

Dhankhar said no institution can wield power or authority to neutralise the mandate of people.

Renewed efforts to persuade locals to allow demolition in Joshimath

JOSHIMATH/DEHRADUN, JAN 11 (PTI): Renewed efforts were made by the administration on Wednesday to persuade hoteliers and locals refusing to allow the demolition of two precariously standing hotels in subsidence-hit Joshimath in Uttarakhand.

A fresh round of talks was held between Secretary to the Chief Minister, Meenakshi Sundaram and the protesters who have been demanding compensation on the lines of Badrinath before the demolition exercise is undertaken.

Hotels ‘Malari Inn’ and ‘Mount View’ are leaning towards each other dangerously, posing a threat to the human settlements around the structures. The Uttarakhand government had directed the razing of unstable structures on Monday, starting with these two buildings.

Talking to reporters, the senior official clarified that only two hotels in Joshimath have to be dismantled and not the houses demarcated as unfit for living.

“I want to clarify one thing. Only two hotels are to be dismantled. Demolition, though being used widely, is not the precise word in this context. Houses in the danger zone are not going to be demolished. The red

cross marks put on them is only to have them vacated,” Sundaram, who is also the nodal officer for the land subsidence-hit town, said.

He, however, did not give a definite timeline on the beginning of the demolition exercise, but said his interaction with the protesting locals was positive and the matter will be resolved soon.

The chief secretary also announced that Rs 1.5 lakh is being given as interim assistance to the affected families. Out of this amount, Rs 50,000 is being provided in advance for house shifting and Rs 1 lakh for disaster relief which will be adjusted later, he said.

Those who want to shift to a rented accommodation will be given Rs 4,000 per month for six months,

Farmers’ protest turns violent in Bihar’s Buxar

PATNA, JAN 11 (AGENCIES): A group of farmers protesting over compensation for land acquisition turned violent and attacked the policemen who tried to control the mob in Bihar’s Buxar district on Wednesday morning, reports the Hindustan Times.

The farmers claimed that they had been protesting peacefully against the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) power plant company at Buxar’s Chousa locality for a new rate of land acquisition for the project at rates decided 12 years ago when the plots were bought. The construction of a 1320 MW coal power plant began at a cost of Rs.11,000 crore in 2021.

The farmers pelted stones at the police as well

IAS officer Khemka gets 55th transfer in 31 years

CHANDIGARH, JAN 11 (IANS): The Haryana government has transferred senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka for the 55th time in his career of 31 years.

Khemka, Additional Chief Secretary in the Science and Technology Department, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Archives Department.

The 1991-batch IAS officer’s transfer

comes days after he wrote to Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, saying he did not have enough work with the merger of his Science and Technology Department into the Higher Education Department. In the letter, he indicated that the workload in the Science and Technology Department “was not more than two-three hours per week”, said a communication by him.

as the power plant. They carried sticks and rods and vandalised police vehicles and set on fire a vehicle. They also burnt tyres at the main gate of the SJVN plant and blocked the road. The police tried to control the situation after firing in the air but the farmers continued their protest. Four cops were said to be injured in brick batting and attack while a heavy contingent of police deployed at the spot.

The farmers had been staging protests here for the past 85 days. On Tuesday, they protested before the bolted main gate of the plant demanding current values/price for their agricultural land being acquired by the state-run power company.

Around 11.45pm on

Tuesday,

Police

he said.

Earlier, Sundaram held a meeting with the stakeholders and the locals and assured them that adequate compensation according to market rates will be given.

“The market rate will be decided after taking suggestions of the stakeholders in the public interest. The interests of the local people will be taken care of,” he said.

Meanwhile, the clamour for compensation grew as agitated locals continued to sit on dharnas and refused to allow the authorities to go ahead with the demolition.

“We want compensation on the lines of Badrinath. But the secretary to the chief minister said it was not possible.

SaysParliament’s sovereigntycannot becompromised byjudiciary

Jagdeep Dhankhar (C) addressing at the 83rd Conference of All India Presiding Officers’, in Jaipur, on Wednesday.

Residents affected by the gradual sinking of buildings walk, in Joshimath, Wednesday. (PTI)

a large number of police forces reached Banarpur village under Muffasil police station area, allegedly broke open the houses of some farmers who were sleeping with their family members and thrashed them with batons and boots.

detained four persons including Narendra Tiwary who were leading the protest. They also allegedly assaulted the women and used filthy language against them. The police action was caught on camera and went viral on social media.

A vehicle in flames after torched by villagers at Chausa in Buxar district, Wednesday. (PTI)

Ashok Khemka

All movement, no progress

It is a matter of deep concern as well as regret that the state government has either been wilfully unaware or simply ignoring what needs to be done with regard to improvement of train services at Dimapur railway station. The railhead was opened in 1903 and earlier known as Manipur Cabin. It was one of the most important railheads for the simple reason that it was used for supplying the allied forces with their requirements during the famous Battle of Kohima which eventually turned the tide of the second world war in the Asian theatre and also which dealt a big blow on Japanese plans to march to Delhi. The railhead, the most prolific revenue earner for the Northeast Frontier Railways(NFR), the second highest after Guwahati, has gradually been strangulated due to the state government’s total lack of action in monitoring the overall development and trying to understand why Dimapur railway station is hardly moving at the expected pace. Dimapur railway station serves passengers from Nagaland as well as Manipur, Karbi Anglong and parts of Assam. Land is required to construct the expansion of the platforms and a new railway track to accommodate increase in number of trains as well as to provide halting for passengers. This newspaper has since nearly three decades, has been highlighting issues such as inadequate seats for Dimapur passengers as well as adequate number of long distance trains. In 1996 then railway minister Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurated the Guwahati-Dimapur Jan Shatbdi under the scheme of connecting all state capitals. However, this train was extended to Jorhat and which resulted in greatly reducing seats for Dimapur passengers as well as waiting period from 25 minutes to 10 minutes and presently to 5 minutes. The Nagaland Express inaugurated in 2011, was mainly to cater to the growing needs of Dimapur and ran between Guwahati(Kamakhya) to Dimapur. It had a very good response but gradually stopped at almost every station between Guwahati and Dimapur. Then during Covid pandemic when some organisations in Dimapur raised hue and cry against continued ferrying of passengers due to fear of the virus, the train was shifted to Ledo and from where it continues to operate even after end of the pandemic. The plea by NFR rests on inability to expand railway services due to lack land. It has been pointed out that around 30 Hectares out of around 50 Hectares of NFR land at Dimapur have been occupied. A good number of those who continue to occupy railway land in Dimapur, since early 60s were given land on lease for use as godown. A significant number of those who have occupied railway lands were former railway employees who have managed to obtain some permission either from the NFR or patta from the district authorities. The railways has been sleeping on the issue of a huge chunk of its lands being occupied due to complicity of successive Estate Officers, who should have been aware. The NFR acted only after this newspaper had consistently highlighting all these issues since the past nearly three decades. The NFR issued show cause notices on November 14,2022 to the occupants to present themselves on or before November 29,2022. After expiry of the date, the Estate Officer then issued a notice on December 16,2022 for vacating the lands within 15 days which ended on December 31,2022. Now the strange thing is that these notices were simply pasted in and around the occupied lands but which most of the occupants claim, they were unaware of. Many of the ‘occupants’ claimed they came to know of the notices only after reading the report about the notices from Nagaland Post on January 9,2023.This also clearly indicates that, much against conventions, the NFR bypassed the local media for giving adequate publicity to its notices. Ultimately, the land issue will drag on for ages in court despite the Supreme Court directive on December 16,2021 to evict encroachers after giving two weeks time. The fate of Dimapur railway station as the will be like a feeder station for Dhansiri station or Bokajan but the state government appears least bothered and that is why all these are happening.

DailyDevotion

What My Obedience to God Costs Other People

As they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon…, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. —Luke 23:26

If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, “You call this Christianity?” We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid.

When our obedience begins to cost others, our human pride entrenches itself and we say, “I will never accept anything from anyone.” But we must, or disobey God. We have no right to think that the type of relationships we have with others should be any different from those the Lord Himself had (see Luke 8:1-3).

A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, “I will not cause other people to suffer”? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.

Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.

Post-mortem

NTC on long awaited solution to the Naga political issue

The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) would like to draw the attention of the Government of India (GoI) on the silence to the inordinate delay of resolving the vexed Naga Political issue even after more than three years of the political process of negotiations between the NSCN (IM) and the Working Committee (WC), 7 NNPGs with the GoI though the dialogue has officially completed on 31st October, 2019.

The NTC has submitted representation to the Honourable Prime Minister time and again for early resolution of the vexed Naga Political issue as the people are yearning for true peace in the land but not that of pseudo peace. In this connection, attention may be drawn to the latest representations submitted to the Honourable Prime Minister, GoI on the following dates: the 16th February 2022; the 30th April 2022; and the 16th September 2022 – the same copies of which were also duly submitted to Shri J.P. Nadda, National

Bharatiya Janata

(BJP)

of

the 16th September 2022. All representations to the Honourable Prime Minister contained the assured resolution of the protracted Naga Political issue with the sweetest word of promises, “Solution within 18 months on 1st December 2015 at Kohima by the highest authority of the GoI” and “Election for Solution by no less respectable person than that of Shri Ram Madav, National General Secretary, BJP, In-charge North Eastern States during the General Election to the Nagaland Legislative 2018”.

Initially, showing its sincerity the GoI has included in the standing Parliamentary Committee the Naga Political issue and laid its report that read as follows: “The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, GoI, had laid and tabled its report on both the Houses of Parliament vide Report No. 213, Quote: ‘TWO HUNDRED THIR -

TEENTH REPORT, SECURITY SITUATION IN THE NORTH EASTERN STATES OF INDIA (PRESENTED TO RAJYA SABHA ON 19TH JULY 2018), (LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA ON 19TH JULY 2018)’. UNQUOTE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO, Quote; ‘CHAPTER-III OTHER ISSUES, vide 3.1 Naga Peace Accord and at Para 3.1.10’ to look into the Naga peace talks and the said Committee recommended for an early conclusion of the peace talks. Quote: “The Committee, therefore, strongly recommends that the Government should conclude the peace talks, at the earliest, based on a broad understanding over the most contentious issues. The Committee also recommends that Government should tread carefully on the issues sensitive to the Nagas and not let vested interests highjack the peace narratives”. Unquote.

The NTC, at the same time highlighted the will-

ingness of the State Legislators and the Members of Parliament their eagerness to solve the protracted Naga political issue. Quote; “the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue (PCCoNPI) formed with 59 Legislators and 2 Members of Parliament on 9th July 2021 adopted 5 - Points Resolution in which the Resolution 4 stated that; Quote: “All Members of the Core Committee and the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue, including the two Members of Parliament, have come together under the same banner in line with the Election Manifestos of all Political Parties and commit to the people that the elected members are prepared to pave way as and when an inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution is arrived at”. Yet again the PCCoNPI has adopted its final 4-Points Resolution in their 16th July 2022 meeting containing continuance and similarity of resolution which was reportedly submitted to

“Football unites all”, but ‘nationalism’ simmering on and off the pitch

World over, football as a game is loved by all.

In the recently concluded FIFA World Cup @ Qatar billions watched that spread out for about a month, football lovers had glued to their television sets and those who could afford went to Qatar. As times pass-by, football as a game has undergone sea changes in its format, techniques, rules and regulations. Skills, style, formation, variation, combination, defense and attacks have phenomenally progressed in scientific precision as the game of football has assumed alarming professionalism.

At the start of every game, national anthem of both the countries of the teams played and captains exchanging flags of their respective countries. When national anthem is being played everyone stands and sings with reverence, passion and emotion. Nonetheless, during the course of play one can see the rise of temperaments and frustrations, emotional outbursts, joy and anger and gestures of all sorts amongst the players in the pitch and those who watch the match sitting in the stands of the stadium. One can observe from their body language a mix of tempers surfacing in the air as if two countries are at war. Spectators go frenzy often.

In the recently concluded World Cup @ Qatar, in the national teams of Europe and North America there were a mix of races especially players by and large originating from Afro-Arab race. Notably, there are many who play for European and North American countries for professional clubs as well. The players and the spectators keep raising their tempers whenever something happens to their team that they support. It is thus visible that the supporters carry their national flags, wear jerseys of their national team and occupy a portion in a stadium.

Teams that are qualified after successful completion of preliminaries qualify to play in the FIFA’s World Cup. 32 countries coming together to play and people of many

more countries to watch and support their favored and fancied teams for a mega sporting spectacle. However, at the overt level we keep hearing that “Football Unites”, while on the other, covertly in a game like football and cricket nationalism to a large extent collide on and off the pitch. For instance, World Cup 2022 at Qatar, soon after having scored a goal for Switzerland against Cameron, Breel Embolo, who was born in Cameron, the Cameroonian fans stormed his father’s home in the village of Yaoundé, threatened him with dire consequences.

Breel grew up in Basel and in due course of time has been selected to play for the Swiss national team barely a few months prior to the World Cup at Qatar. When he scored that goal or after scoring that goal, a thought might have flashed in his mind, whether to feel happy since he scored a goal for his adopted country or feel guilty for having scored against the country where he was born. A thought such as ‘nationalism’ may have triggered. He must have been perplexed with ‘nationalism’—an ambiguous term. To be precise, more than 130 players from Turkey, Nigeria, Congo, South Korea and other countries play for their naturalized countries probably be facing similar dilemma. When they play against the countries in which they were born they do face or undergo some kind of dilemma or feel bad or guilty. It is not only players, even the millions of North Africans in France might have been torn between naturalized country and countries in which they were born before semi-final match – between France and Moracco.

Football in particular while playing for countries creates sharp divides to one’s personal loyalty and national allegiance. It happens whenever ‘nationalism’ is mixed with’ patriotism’ In order to bring clarity, Sydney J. Harris expounds “The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it

does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the send a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.” Whereas Geor Orwell views, “The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”

On similar tone, Rabindranath Tagore succinctly describes that “Nationalism is fundamentally rooted in what it means to be human.” Whereas Albert Einstein says, “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” Daniel Fried describes “Nationalism is a cheap alcohol. First it makes you drunk, then it makes you blind, then it kills you.” The Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi comprehensively defines: “My nationalism, fierce though it is, is not exclusive, is not devised to harm any nation or individual.” When playing for countries, take cricket or hockey or any sport it creates divides between personal loyalty to one allegiance and the country he/she represents. If a Muslim or a Christian fail to convert a penalty shoot or fails to score a goal when a ball is within a close proximity labelled as traitor and even booed.

Skewed nationalism is premised on this logic which resonates as Karim Benzema famously lamented a few years ago, “If I score, I’m French, If I don’t, I’m Arab.” Such binaries or juxtapositions are neither good for players nor for audience. For instance, Hitler very efficiently and effectively used sports -- (Olympics – 1936) to advance his nationalists agenda his idea boomeranged. Afro-American Jessie Owens out-performed white athletes with four gold medals and put a spike through his superior Aryan race theory. Since then, international sports and games came into closer proximity to political activism. Dissents and assertions have vividly been expressed in varied ways -- black power salute of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics brought to the

fore their private grievance to the public.

Half a century later, American football players furthered their resistance symbolically ‘take a knee’ against racism before the games. Later, Naomi Osaka carried out a message ‘Black Lives Matter’ into tennis though her headband. Even FIFA World Cup saw teams with arms bands in support of LGBTQ community. In addition, Iranian players voiced their support to pro-rights protests that are gaining momentum in Iran. More and more countries are turning into far-right ideology and people by and large gets confused with patriotism and nationalism.

It is interesting to note that a BBC reporter asked a French man about the finals in which Frace lost to Argentina. He said that though both the teams played well, he said he was delighted that France defeated England – a classic case of skewed nationalism. We live in a world of ascending of nationalism and gradual descendance of rationalism. Perverse nationalism looms at large in football, cricket, hocky, rugby and also in other sports as well. Increasingly we see skewed nationalism is being manifested in the forms of riots, beer brawls, racist threats and monkey chants. Inside as well as outside one can experience toxic atmosphere as the audience or the supporters of both the teams venting their anger, screaming and outbursts.

Often the body language eventually leading to fist fights, banana-tossing taunts between groups. The pitch or ground looks like ‘war fields’ where one can see beer bottles and cans, sticks and iron rods and many others thrown around. In the melee, tens and hundreds of people would have injured due to stampede and a few might have been dead. Football or any game could perhaps be a unifying medium, but we will have to be cautious that given the presence of skewed nationalism, it emits hatred, anger and violence. Therefore, if patriotism is twisted or overplayed, the outcomes are devastating.

Dr. John Mohan Razu

the concerned authorities of the GoI in New Delhi. Quote: Resolution – 4, “While Parliamentary Committee is not a party to the Naga political negotiations, it is playing the role of facilitator, representing and reflecting the voice of the people; and this role will continue to be pursued in a serious manner. We stand by the commitments of the constituent political parties as reflected in their respective manifestoes to pave way in the event of political solution being arrived at”.

The ball for settlement of the protracted Naga political issue before Election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2023 which is the long cherished dream of the Naga populace in general and the Negotiating parties of the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) in particular is in the court of the GoI now.

This is the time to test the trustworthiness and sincerity of the GoI towards the people of Nagaland.

The NTC cannot tolerate to see the hard

earned works for resolution of the Naga Political issues as has been done and submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, GoI, vide Report No. 213, and that of the very recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee which is overdue are shelved.

Therefore, reposing faith on the dynamic leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister, GoI for his sincere determination to resolve the decades old Naga Political issue, the NTC once again urges upon the highest authority of this great country to have “Political Will” and ink the agreement before the General Election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2023 so as to strengthen the confidence between the people of Nagaland and the GoI, and usher in lasting peace and progress that will go a long way in building a permanent peace in the North Eastern Region of India.

Issued by:Media Cell, NTC

12th January is National Youth Day Viksit Yuva Viksit Bharat

Youths are the power house of any society. Young people can do many things either in a positive way or negative way. It depends on how young people are being mentored in their family or in academic institutions or in society. There is confusion amongst us when we use the word ‘youth’. Well, the definition of youth may vary from country to country. According to the United Nations youth means young people in between the age group of 15 to 24. According to the National Youth Policy (NYP), a young person up to the age of 29 is a youth in India.

The NYP 2021 draws a detailed roadmap towards the vision outlined for the youth in the coming decade and delineates the actions within each priority area. One of the important days for the young people of India is the celebration of the National Youth Day (NYD). NYD, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is celebrated on 12th January, being the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. In 1984 the Government of India declared this day as NYD and since 1985 the event has been celebrated in India every year. We should not be in confusion as 12th August is observed as the International Youth Day around the world. Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and quotes have always been a source of inspiration for the youth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the National Youth Festival in Karnataka on January 12, 2023. This would be the 26th National Youth Festival of India.

The festival will be kicked off by PM Modi in Hubbali district of the Southern State. Apart from this, schools and colleges from across India conduct different competitions, conferences, seminars, etc .

Press Information Bureau’s press release dated 10th January reads, “The National Youth Festival is held every year to provide exposure to our talented youth at the national level, along with galvanising them towards nation building. It brings diverse cultures from all parts of the country on a common platform and unites the participants in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. This year,

the Festival is being held in Hubballi-Dharwad in Karnataka from 12th to 16th of January, with the theme being “Viksit Yuva - Viksit Bharat”.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organizing ‘Y Talks’ throughout the country for Y(Youth)-20 activities of G-20. The National Youth Festival will set pace for Y-20 engagement across the country by sensitizing the youth about the themes of Y-20. This year the NYF is being celebrated as Green Youth Festival where only re-usable cutlery, napkins etc are being used. All the mementos, medals, stationery are of reusable material. Water refilling stations are set up to reduce use of disposables. This year’s theme ‘Viksit Yuva Viksit Bharat’ means developed youth means developed India and to make our youths developed we have to take up different activities on a regular basis . Indian youths can do wonder and lead the world in many aspects provided if they are mentored positively. Our youths are always pro active and they need proper mentoring and guidance at the right time. If the energy of youths are used for destructive activities then India cannot develop easily.

Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved when youth take part in different civic action programmes and volunteer activities apart from their studies and profession. Skill development is must for all youths of the country to make India a superpower in the years to come. Let us learn from the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and all others who have done many activities for the welfare of youths. Together we can make healthy and developed nations and let us take up the challenge to be a change maker and bring positive social transformation in the society. Let us not forget that youths are not ‘use less but they are used less’, so let us use youths in different activities to make a developed country.

(The writer is a recipient of National Youth Award in the year 2014 from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India for his outstanding services to the community)

Ranjan K Baruah

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.

“Failure is not the opposite of success: it’s part of success.”

President,

Party

during his official visit to the State

Nagaland on

SNIPPETS

No change of guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): There will be no change of guard ceremony between January 14 and 28 due to the rehearsals of Republic Day parade and the Beating Retreat ceremony, according to an officials statement. The change of guard ceremony is a military tradition that is held every week to enable a fresh group of the President’s Bodyguards to take charge. “The change of guard ceremony will not take place between January 14 and 28, 2023 (i.e. January 14, 21 and 28) due to rehearsals of Republic Day parade and Beating Retreat ceremony,” said the statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

NIA nabs two IS operatives in K’taka

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): Two alleged operatives of global terror group Islamic State were arrested from Karnataka, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said on Wednesday. Mazin Abdul Rahman of Dakshina Kannada and Nadeem Ahmed K A of Davanagere were arrested on Tuesday in a case related to a conspiracy by some people to further the terror activities of Islamic State (IS) in India, a spokesperson of the federal agency said.

Man, daughter shot dead in Haryana CHANDIGARH, JAN 11 (PTI): A 44-year-old man and his 14-year-old daughter were shot dead by unidentified assailants at their house in Bohar village in Rohtak district of Haryana on Wednesday, police said. Urban Estate Police Station SHO Dilbagh Singh said the man’s 85-year-old mother was also at home during the incident. Surender and his 14-year-old daughter died on the spot after being shot by the assailants, he said.

FCI ‘corruption’: CBI searches 50 locations

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): The CBI on Wednesday launched a crackdown on alleged corruption in the Food Corporation of India, conducting searches at 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi after arresting a DGMranked officer, officials said. The role of officials from technical assistants to executive directors in the FCI are under the agency’s scanner, they said. The searches were started after the arrest of a DGM in the FCI while taking a bribe of Rs 50,000, they said.

3 stabbed in Delhi over Instagram post

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): Three people were allegedly stabbed following a quarrel between two groups in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri over posting abusive comments on social media, police said on Wednesday. Eight people, mostly minors, have been apprehended in the case. According to police, they received information about the incident on Tuesday. During an inquiry, it was found that two groups of minor boys argued over posting some abusive content on their Instagram accounts and the argument later turned violent, she said.

Man, woman’s body found in Delhi hotel

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): Bodies of two persons have been found at a hotel in northwest Delhi’s Bawana area with police suspecting that the man killed the woman before ending his life by consuming sulphas tablets. According to police, the hotel owner informed police about the two bodies in one of the rooms. The woman had an injury on the neck while foam marks and a foul smell were noticed in the mouth of the man.

Air India mid-air urination incident

NEW DE LHI, JAN 11 (PTI): A Delhi court on Wednesday denied bail to Shankar Mishra, accused of urinating on an elderly woman co-passenger on an Air India flight, calling the act “utterly disgusting and repulsive”.

Metropolitan Magistrate Komal Garg said the act has shocked the civic consciousness of people and needed to be deprecated.

“The alleged act of accused of relieving himself upon the complainant is utterly disgusting and repulsive. The alleged act in itself is sufficient to outrage the modesty of any woman. Egregious conduct of the accused has shocked the civic consciousness and needs to be deprecated,” the judge said. The alleged act in itself prima facie reflects the intention of the accused, she said, while declining the relief to Mishra, who is lodged in jail.

The judge noted that as per the record, the accused had failed to join the investigation even after a notice was issued to him under

section 41A CrPC and his presence could be secured only upon the execution of the non-bailable warrant.

“Therefore, the conduct of the accused does not inspire confidence. It has also come on record that accused has tried contacting the victim and the possibility of accused influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out,” the judge noted.

Further, as per the report of the investigating officer, other witnesses are yet to be examined and the probe is at a very initial stage, the judge noted.

“Considering the above facts and circumstances, this Court does not deem it

appropriate to release the accused on bail at this stage. Accordingly, the present application stands dismissed,” the judge said in the order. The alleged incident had occurred on November 26 last year when a drunk Mishra walked up to the woman’s seat in the business class on an Air India New YorkNew Delhi flight, exposed himself and urinated on her.

Earlier during the arguments, Mishra’s counsel said his act was not driven by sexual desire nor aimed at outraging the complainant’s modesty. The complainant’s counsel, however, opposed Mishra’s bail application, claiming she was being

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has invited leaders of 21 likeminded parties to join the concluding function of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on January 30, saying their presence would strengthen the march’s message of truth, compassion and non-violence.

In a letter to the heads of the parties, he said from the beginning of the yatra, the Congress has sought the participation of every likeminded party and on the invitation of Rahul Gandhi, MPs of several political parties joined it at different stages. “I now invite you to personally join the concluding function of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to be held in Srinagar on January 30 at noon. The function is dedicated to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who lost his life on this day in his tireless struggle against the ideology of hatred and violence,” Kharge wrote.

Among the opposition parties which have been invited are Trinamool Congress (TMC), JDU, Shiv Sena, TDP, National Conference, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, DMK,

CPI, CPI-M and the JMM. The RJD, RLSP, HAM, PDP, NCP, MDMK, VCK, IUML, KSM and RSP have also been invited.

Among the leaders invited by the Congress are Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of the NC, and former parliamentarian Sharad Yadav. The Bharat Jodo Yatra started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 and will conclude in Srinagar on January 30, with Rahul Gandhi hoisting the national flag there. The march has so far covered more than 3,300 km passing through Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and is now in Punjab. The yatra will cover a total distance of 3,570 km during its entire journey. Kharge said, “Today, India faces an economic, social and political crisis. At this time, when the Opposition’s voice is being suppressed in Parliament and the media, the yatra is connecting directly with lakhs of people.”

threatened.

“Nobody should have to go through something like that. It was revolting. I feel bad for the poor lady. It was appalling… However, was the unzipping aimed by sexual desire? No. Was any of this act aimed at outraging her modesty? No,” the counsel for the accused said.

“He has already suffered. He’s sacked from job. He is not a flight risk (at risk of fleeing)… No allegation that I was some kind of menace running around with a knife,” he said.

The complainant’s counsel, however, claimed she was being threatened by those close to the accused.

“I’m regularly receiving messages, threatening me. Accused’s father sent me a message and said ‘karma will hit you’ and then deleted the message. They’re sending me messages and deleting it. This needs to stop... Air India instead of separating the accused and complainant, tried to mediate the crime,” her counsel said.

Armed revolution in freedom struggle not given due recognition: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (PTI): The fire of patriotism ignited by armed revolution helped the Congress-run freedom movement succeed but these efforts were unfortunately not given due recognition in history books, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday.

Shah was speaking at the launch of “Revolutionaries: The other story of how India won its freedom”, a book by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economy Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“There are people like me who believe that it was because of the fire of patriotism ignited by the armed revolution that helped the Congress-run freedom movement succeed. I believe this and I can even prove this, that if it weren’t for the parallel stream of the armed movement it would have taken a few more decades to attain independence,” he said. “It is unfortunate that these efforts, these contributions of the armed revolution have not been given due credit by

historians,”

result of their collective efforts,” the senior BJP leader said.

However, he added, only one type of narrative of nonviolent movement has been “forced through education, history and legends”.

“I do not say that nonviolent movement had no contribution in India’s freedom, or it is not a part of the history. The non-violent movement played a great part, it had major contribution to independence. But it is not correct to say that nobody else had any contribution,” Shah said. He blamed those “who were responsible to tell the history from India’s perspective” for having made mistakes.

Talking about the freedom struggle, Shah said India’s independence was the result of efforts put in by a wide number of individuals and organisations.

“If we analyse India’s freedom movement, we see a great number of people, a great number of ideologies and organisations were putting in efforts to reach the same destination. It is the

“Those who were responsible to tell the story of India’s freedom struggle from an Indian perspective, I believe they made some mistakes. The British went away but they left behind ‘angrejiyat’. And the history was written through those glasses of ‘angrejiyat’, which ultimately created this entire confusion,” Shah said.

G20 leaders discuss financial inclusion at 3-day Kolkata meeting

KOLKATA, JAN 11 (PTI):

G20 leaders are understood to have discussed a wide range of issues on digital financial inclusion, remittances and availability of finance for SMEs during a three-day meeting in Kolkata, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Delegates of member and invitee countries and officials of international organisations deliberated upon leveraging digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion and productiv-

ity gains, he said.

“Discussions took place on the progress towards reducing cost of remittances and innovative payment services to bring down the rates,” said Chanchal Sarkar, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs.

The G20 leaders also delved into SME best practices and innovative instruments to overcome common constraints in small and medium-sized enterprises’

6 Cobra bn personnel injured in IED blast

CHAIBASA (JHARKHAND), JAN 11 (PTI): Six personnel of CRPF’s elite COBRA battalion were injured on Wednesday in a bomb blast after an encounter with the outlawed CPI(Maoist) at Tumbahaka forest in Jharkhand’s naxal-affected West Singhbhum district, a senior police official said here.

However, none of them were injured seriously and they were airlifted to a Ranchi hospital, West Singhbhum superintendent of police Ashutosh Shekhar told PTI.

The left wing extrem-

ists triggered the blast when personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), Jharkhand Jaguar of the state police and the district armed police were conducting an anti-naxal operation in the forest, he said.

The LWEs opened fire at the security forces when they advanced toward them. This prompted the security forces to retaliate and the naxals, forced to retreat triggered the blast.

A massive search operation is on to track down the extremists, the SP added.

The West Singhbhum

Owaisi slams Mohan Bhagwat over remarks

the core Hindu sense was forgotten.

“The simple truth is this – Hindusthan should remain Hindusthan. There is no harm to the Muslims

HYDERABAD, JAN 11

(PTI): AIMIM president

Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday attacked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remark that Muslims have nothing to fear in India, but they must abandon their “boisterous rhetoric of supremacy”, and asked who is he to give Muslims “permission” to live in India and how dare he put “conditions” on their citizenship.

“Who is Mohan to give Muslims “permission” to live in India or follow our faith? We’re Indians because Allah willed it. How dare he put “conditions” on our citizenship? We’re not here to “adjust” our faith or please a bunch of alleged celibates in Nagpur,” Owaisi tweeted.

In a series of tweets, the Hyderabad MP further said no decent society can tolerate such hatred and radicalism in the name of religion. “Who elected Mohan as the representative

of Hindus? Fighting elections in 2024? Welcome,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, Owaisi said: “There are enough Hindus who feel the Boisterous Rhetoric of Supremacy of RSS, leave alone how every minority feels. You can’t say Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam for the world if you’re busy building divides in your own country”.

“Why this “chori” for China & “seenazori” for fellow citizens? If we’re indeed at war, has Swayamsevak sarkar been sleeping for 8+ years? RSS’s ideology is a threat to India’s future. The sooner Indians recognise the real “internal enemies,” the better it will be,” Owaisi tweeted. In an interview to Organiser and Panchjanya, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said India has been undivided (akhand) from the earliest times of recorded history, but was divided whenever

living today in Bharat… Islam has nothing to fear. But at the same time, Muslims must abandon their boisterous rhetoric of supremacy...” he said

district police is carrying out an intensified operation against LWEs for the past several weeks in naxal-dominated areas which forced a number of them to lay down arms, Shekhar said.

Among those who surrendered to the police were eight extremists considered to be close to top Maoist leader Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of Rupees one crore on his head.

The police have appealed to the youths who have joined the LWEs to take advantage of the government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy and lay down their arms.

the G20, which got underway on January 9. The member and invitee countries shared updates on the progress made on the Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) 2020 and the road ahead for the FIAP 2023, the official said.

The three-day event also featured symposiums, exhibitions and a domestic outreach programme on digital financial literacy involving over 1,800 students from various schools, Sarkar said.

TN Gov’s

‘guest’

recorded Assembly proceedings: DMK

CHENNAI, JAN 11 (PTI):

In the Assembly, ruling

DMK legislator TRB Rajaa on Wednesday raised a question involving breach of privilege as a ‘guest’ of Governor R N Ravi recorded Assembly proceedings using his mobile phone in contravention of House rules.

Speaker M Appavu referred the matter to the Committee of Privileges for its consideration. Following the question hour, Rajaa said on January 9 a ‘guest’ of Governor Ravi recorded from the visitor’s gallery, House proceedings using

his mobile phone. That day, Ravi was in the Assembly to make his customary address of the year to the House.

Rajaa said mobile phones are not allowed inside the House and recording proceedings went against rules. After noticing it, the ruling party MLA said he took up the matter with Assembly authorities.

The legislator said he has provided a notice on the matter as it involved breach of privilege of the House. Rajaa urged Speaker Appavu to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges.

for verification.

(b) Applicants with tempered Admit Card or without their Admit Card and or without/ incomplete original documents shall not be allowed to appear the Driving test/ Interview.

(c) Total marks will be of 100 marks (a). Driving test = 60 marks (b). Interview = 40 marks.

(d) No separate calling letters shall be issued individually to the applicant(s) for the said Driving test as well as the Interview.

Sd/(Azenuo Pienyu) Director,

Rural Development Blocks, Nagaland, Kohima

he added.

The book tells the stories of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, V D Savarkar, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rashbehari Bose, Bagha Jatin, Sachindra Nath Sanyal and Subhas Chandra Bose in a collective manner.

DELHI COURT DENIES BAIL TO ACCUSED, SAYS ACT WAS ‘UTTERLY DISGUSTING’

Amit Shah

Cong invites 21 like-minded parties to join BJY in Srinagar

financing, he told reporters on the concluding day of the first Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion meeting of

Meeting of G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion concluded in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Asaduddin Owaisi Mohan Bhagwat

Auto Expo 2023 kicks off in style in Noida

UNVEIL AMBITIOUS VEHICLES

Greaves Cotton, meanwhile, unveiled its range of electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles at the event. In total, three two-wheelers under Ampere brand series — Ampere Primus, Ampere NXG and a multi-utility scooter Ampere NXU which can be also used for deliveries — were unveiled by Greaves Cotton on the occasion.

GREATER NOIDA, JAN 11 (AGENCIES): Auto Expo 2023, India’s largest automotive event, kicked off in Greater Noida on Wednesday. On the first day of the event, automobile giant Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) unveiled the concept of its ambitious electric SUV ‘eVX’, which is slated to hit the market by 2025.

According to news agency PTI, the eVX is a mid-size electric SUV concept designed and developed by SMC, Japan. It will

be powered by a 60 kWh battery pack offering up to 550 km of driving range on a single charge.

As per reports, Maruti Suzuki is planning to showcase a total of 16 vehicles at the Expo, including the Grand Vitara, XL6, Ciaz, Ertiga, Brezza, WagonR Flex Fuel, Baleno, and Swift among others.

Hyundai Motor India was next in line to make a massive launch and it unveiled its all-electric model Ioniq 5, priced at Rs 44.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The

model is reportedly based on the company’s dedicated battery electric vehicle platform E-GMP. Ioniq 5 comes with a range of 631 kilometres per full charge, the company said.

PTI reported that the company is planning to roll out a mix of models based on its existing range as well as completely new vehicles based on its global platform E-GMP over the next few years.

On the occasion, MG Motor India announced the prices for its next-gen

Forever 21 store opens in Dimapur

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): Fast fashion retailer giant, Forever 21 officially launched its first store at Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur on Wednesday.

Located at Clock Tower area, the brand offers clothing and accessories for women, men and kids. The US-based brand was founded in 1984 and has over 550 stores in 27 countries across the globe. In the Northeast, it has opened outlets in five cities—Aizawl, Imphal, Itanagar, Guwahati and Dimapur. Boba Nan -

Crucial meeting of NPAC, apex hohos today

(From p-1)

to demand what has been promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party (BJP) to solve the Naga issue in 2018 with the slogan “Election for Solution”. “We cannot point our fingers only at the Central government. The Naga Political Groups are equally responsible to hear the people’s cry for a peaceful Nagaland. We have had enough,” he stated. Therefore, the CSO leader appealed to all the apex tribal hoho leaders to leave aside any kind of differences and attend the January 12 meeting with an open mind and deliberate on how to arrive at a consensus decision to give a final push to ensure that Naga political settlement is achieved this time.

Hector, ranging between Rs 14.72-22.42 lakh (ex-showroom). Hector is currently available in five variants — Style, Smart, Smart Pro, Sharp Pro and Savvy Pro. The company stated that the SUV would be available in five, six, and seven-seater configurations.

MG Motor India also showcased its vision for future mobility – ‘Drive Ahead’ – at the Expo and unveiled a line-up of 14 production-ready vehicles from its portfolio.

Engineering company

In the commercial three-wheeler segment, the company unveiled an electric passenger vehicle Greaves ELP, cargo EV Greaves ELC and a futuristic cargo concept Greaves Aero Vision, PTI reported.

Subsequently, JBM Auto launched its first selfdesigned and self-manufactured electric luxury coach ‘Galaxy’ at the Expo. The company also showcased its new series of e-buses, including city buses, staff buses and school buses.

The Galaxy’s 12-metre high coach is reportedly equipped with the latest technology and has a seating capacity of 45 passengers.

VE Commercial Ve -

‘Formidable’ alliance on the cards

(From p-1)

being announced or the imposition of President’s Rule in Nagaland. The meeting also appraised the mood of the people of the state and the prospects of the upcoming elections. At the meeting, Therie said that the ground reality of Nagaland was that the people were not in favour of election. Voters want implementation of the agreed political solutions, he said. “However, if BJP and NDPP want to go against the wishes of the people and have elections, then come what may, the state Congress is prepared to fight all out,” he told the AICC delegation.

Taking note of the CBSE exams, commencing from February 15, Therie said that if elections were announced, the Election Commission may have to complete the poll process before February 15 leaving hardly 35 days. Therefore, irrespec-

tive of whether elections are announced or PR imposed, Therie stated the Congress was prepared to meet the challenges. On forming a ‘secular front’, the NPCC leaders said that if elections were announced they would chalk out the strategy with like-minded parties. If not, NPCC said the party may have to fight all the 60 assembly constituencies alone. The AICC delegation assured full support to the state Congress in the event of elections, “to fight and dethrone the 20year misrule of BJP alliance with regionals.”

Stars campaigners: The meeting also discussed the possibility of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Lok Sbaha MP Shashi Tharoor to visit Nagaland as star campaigners in the event elections are announced.

hicles (VECV), meanwhile, unveiled a range of vehicles, including an intercity bus that can travel up to 500 kilometres with a mix of depot and 30-40 minute opportunity charging during a journey. VECV unveiled 13.5-metre long electric intercity coach, Eicher Pro 2049 electric 4.9 T GVW Truck, which it claims to be the longest EV in the segment.

According to NewsVoir, Tata Motors is planning to display a variety of SUVs and EVs at the Expo. The corporation is also likely to showcase the upgraded models of its current SUVs, such as the Harrier and the Safari.

Major manufacturers such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Skoda, Volkswagen and Nissan, along with luxury car makers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, are not participating in this edition, PTI reported.

This edition of the expo kicks off with press days on January 11-12 followed by general public days from January 13-18.

SBI Lerie branch settles death claim under PMJJBY

DIMAPUR: SBI Lerie branch, Kohima handed over death claim settlement of Rs. 2 lakh under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) to Nothukienu Venuh, wife of late Rhangopu Venuhm who passed away on December 12.

A press release by SBI Lerie branch, chief manager Thungdemo C Murry, stated that late Rhangopu had registered under the said

scheme in June 2022. It may be noted that PMJJBY is a one-year insurance scheme renewable every year and offers insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh on death of the insured member for any reason which is payable to the nominee. Savings bank account holders of participating aged between 18 and 50 years of age are eligible to apply for the scheme at an annual premium of Rs. 436.

AUTOMOBILE GIANTS SUZUKI, HYUNDAI AND OTHERS

Maruti Suzuki officials unveil Maruti Suzuki’s concept car ‘EVX’ at the Auto Expo 2023. (PTI)

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan poses next to Hyundai’s all-electric SUV ‘IONIQ 5’ during its launch. (PTI)

Chief manager SBI Lerie branch handing over the money to Nothukienu Venuh.

deibam is the proprietor for the stores in Dimapur and Imphal.

Forever 21’s India business is run as a franchisee operation by Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.

Forever 21, a trendy

and affordable fashion brand, competes with international fashion labels such as H&M and Zara globally and in India. There are about 10 Forever 21 stores across India.

SNIPPETS

Severe winter storms in California leave 16

dead

SAN FRANCISCO, JAN 11 (IANS): At least 16 people have died in a barrage of severe winter storms in California as the most populous state in the US braces for more floods and mudslides.

The death toll reached on 16 Tuesday after two motorists died in a crash earlier in the day on Highway 99 in Tulare county when a tree that had been struck by lightning fell on the road, Xinhua news agency reported.

This toll is higher than the lives lost in wildfires in the past two years combined.

Explosion near Foreign Ministry in Kabul kills 5

KABUL, JAN 11 (AP): An explosion near the Foreign Ministry in the Afghan capital on Wednesday killed five people and wounded several others, a Taliban police spokesman said, the second prominent attack in Kabul so far in 2023.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group — known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province — has increased its assaults since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Targets have included Taliban patrols and members of the country’s Shiite minority.

The mid-afternoon explosion was followed by peals of sirens. Taliban security forces prevented journalists from getting close to the site, threatening them with guns and telling them to leave.

Aus Cardinal convicted of child abuse dies

CANBERRA, JAN 11

(IANS): Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction on child abuse charges shocked the Catholic Church before being quashed, has died of heart complications after hip surgery, officials said on Wednesday. He was 81.

The former Vatican treasurer is Australia’s highest ranking Catholic cleric, and the most senior Church figure ever jailed for such offences, reports the BBC.

Cardinal Pell served as Archbishop of both Melbourne and Sydney before becoming one of the Pope’s top aides.

He was summoned to Rome in 2014 to clean up the Vatican’s finances, and was often described as the Church’s thirdranked official.

But the cleric left his post in 2017, returning to Australia to face trial on child sex abuse charges.

A jury in 2018 found he had abused two boys while Archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s.

Last king Constantine II of Greece passes away

ATHENS, JAN 11

(IANS): King Constantine II of Greece, who reigned from 1964 until 1973 when monarchy was abolished in the country, passed away in Athens at the age of 82.

The last monarch of Greece had been hospitalized for several days in a local hospital where he died on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency quoted Greek national broadcaster ERT as saying in a report.

Constantine II became king in 1964, but was forced into exile after a failed counter-coup against the military dictatorship which took over in 1967.The military junta abolished the Greek monarchy in 1973.

FAA lifts ground stop after thousands of flights grounded in United States

WASHINGTON, JAN 11 (PTI): Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the US on Wednesday following a technical failure of a key pilot notification system that resulted in the grounding of thousands of flights for several hours.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced earlier in the morning that it suffered an outage of its Notice to Air Missions or NOTAMs, which alerts pilots and other personnel about airborne issues.

The FAA ordered airlines to delay all domestic departures early Wednesday morning, but lifted the ground stop just before 9 a.m. Eastern after several hours. “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the US following an overnight outage to the Notice to Air Missions system that provides safety info to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted. We continue to look into the cause of the initial problem,” FAA said

in a tweet. According to FlightAware, a flight tracking company, more than 3,700 flights within, into or out of the US were delayed and more than 600 were cancelled due to the system failure.

More than 21,000 flights were scheduled to take off in the US on Wednesday, mostly domestic trips, and about 1,840 international flights expected to fly to the US, AP reported, citing aviation data firm Cirium.

The FAA earlier said it is making progress in restoring its Notice to Air

Missions system and departures are resuming at the Newark Liberty International Airport and Atlanta International Airport due to air traffic congestion in those areas.

“We expect departures to resume at other airports at 9 a.m. ET,” it said. “All flights currently in the sky are safe to land. Pilots check the NOTAM system before they fly. A Notice to Air Missions alerts pilots about closed runways, equipment outages, and other potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could

Sri Lanka summons Canadian diplomat over sanctions on Rajapaksa brothers

COLOMBO, JAN 11

(PTI): Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned Canada’s top diplomat here and expressed its displeasure over his country’s decision to impose “unilateral sanctions” on its four citizens, including two former presidents.

Canada on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankans, including former presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa, for committing what it called “gross and systematic violations of human rights” during the country’s civil war.

Sanctions were also imposed on Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Lt Commander Chandana P Hettiarachchithe.

Reacting to the sanctions, the foreign ministry summoned Canada’s Acting High Commissioner in Colombo and expressed the government’s displeasure

over the move.

“Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned the Canadian Acting High Commissioner Daniel Bood to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..., and expressed the deep regret of the Government on the announcement of unilateral sanctions brought against four individuals including two former Presidents of Sri Lanka by the Government of Canada based on unsubstantiated allegations,” the foreign ministry said in a tweet. Earlier, State Minis-

ter of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said that the sanctioning of former presidents was “untimely” and was intended to pacify domestic elements in Canada. He said Canada’s decision to impose sanctions on the Rajapaksa brothers came at a time when Sri Lanka was attempting to take forward the post-war reconciliation process.

“This shows who our friends really are and who are not,” he was quoted as saying by the Colombo Gazette newspaper.

China renews threat against Taiwan as island holds drills

affect the flight,” FAA said.

It earlier said that operations across the National Airspace System are affected. President Joe Biden was briefed by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on the FAA system outage.

“There is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point, but the President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a tweet.

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg said that he is in touch with the FAA and monitoring the situation.

“I have been in touch with FAA this morning about an outage affecting a key system for providing safety information to pilots. FAA is working to resolve this issue swiftly and safely so that air traffic can resume normal operations, and will continue to provide updates,” he said in a tweet.

90% pledges by int’l community at Geneva conference in form of ‘loans’: Pak minister

ISLAMABAD, JAN 11 (PTI): Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that almost 90 per cent of pledges made by the international community for the flood-hit country were project loans that will be rolled out over the next three years.

His remarks came two days after the international community at a donors’ conference in Geneva pledged more than USD 10 billion to help the cashstrapped country rebuild in a climate-resilient manner after last year’s ravaging floods.

Officials from some 40 countries as well as private donors and international financial institutions had gathered for the daylong meeting, co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Nations in Geneva on Monday.

There was confusion about the nature of monetary support and Dar had to clarify that USD 8.7 billion of the pledges were loans. He did not reveal what the terms of these loans were.

Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the cash-strapped country “expects the terms to be lenient”, adding that the promised amount will be rolled out over the next three years.

The finance minister said that project loan financing had already crossed USD 8 billion, including pledges by the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the World Bank.

“I am not incorporating the pledge made by the Saudi Development Bank on purpose here because it is not clear whether their announcement of USD 1 billion pertains to programme lending or project loan,” Dar said.

Earlier, the prime minister at the start of the briefing, declaring the Geneva conference as a success, promised that money provided by the international community would be spent for the welfare of the floodhit people.

The devastating floods in Pakistan last year killed 1,739 people and affected 33 million people.

Sharif said the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) held a major share of USD 4.2 billion of the total financial commitments, adding further that Saudi Arabia committed USD 1 billi on followed by China USD 100 million, Qatar USD 25 million, Canada USD 18.6 million, Denmark USD 3.8 million, European Union 87 million euros, France 380 million euros, Germany 84 million euros, Italy 23 million euros, and Azerbaijan USD 2 million.

“Every penny will be spent in a very transparent manner and a third-party audit will be conducted to ensure transparency,” he said.

6 stabbed in Paris train stn, attacker shot by police

PARIS, JAN 11 (AP): An attacker wounded six people in an unprovoked blade attack in Paris’ busy Gare du Nord train station on Wednesday morning before being shot and wounded by police, France’s interior minister said, praising the swift intervention of police for helping prevent any fatalities.

The suspect attacked several people, including a police officer, with a “bladed weapon” during the morning rush hour, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told r eporters at the scene, flanked by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

He said the unnamed assailant was currently “between life and death” in hospital after being shot in the chest, according to French media. Darmanin thanked the police “for their effective and courageous reaction”.

“Without the extremely rapid intervention, there would surely be deaths,” he said, detailing how the suspect was neu-

tralized within one minute of attacking his first victim.

“At 6.42, the first acts were described. At 6.43, the police used their administrative weapon after his passage of violence,” he said. Darmanin said the attacker’s weapon was “not a knife” but likely a homemade weapon. He said the suspect was reported not to have said anything during the assault and that investi-

gators have not discovered any extremist links.

According to French media reports, the suspect first threw himself upon a man in front of the train station, stabbing him 15 times and seriously wounding him. The assailant then entered the station and attacked four civilians and a police officer, the media reports said.

Screams alerted two

other police officers who intervened while the suspect was attacking the officer. The officer for France’s border guard was stabbed in the back but not seriously wounded because of a bulletproof vest, Darmanin said. The man stabbed outside the station was the only person who sustained serious wounds in the attack, officials said.

Biden ‘surprised’ to learn classified documents taken to his private office

KAMPALA (UGANDA), JAN 11 (AP): Uganda’s latest outbreak of the Ebola virus is over, the government and the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.

Health Minister Ruth Aceng told journalists that no new cases had been registered in the past 42 days.

WASHINGTON, JAN 11 (IANS): US President Joe Biden said he was “surprised” that classified documents from when he was Vice President in the former Barack Obama administration, were taken to one of his former private offices.

BEIJING, JAN 11 (AP):

China renewed its threats Wednesday to attack Taiwan and warned that foreign politicians who interact with the self-governing island are “playing with fire.”

A spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said the country was recommitted in the new year to “safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity” and “smashing plots for Taiwan independence” on the selfgoverning democracy that separated from mainland China in 1949. “The malicious support for Taiwan independence among antiChina elements in a few foreign countries are a deliberate provocation,” Ma Xiaoguang said at a biweekly news conference.

China views Taiwan as a Chinese territory that must be brought under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary. A string of visits in re-

cent months by foreign politicians to Taiwan, including by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and numerous politicians from the European Union, spurred displays of military might from both sides. This week, Taiwan’s military is staging drills intended to reassure the public of its ability to counter China’s threats ahead of this month’s Lunar New Year holiday.

“The most important thing is to maintain the safety of our airspace and national security,” air force Lt. Col. Wu Bong-yeng told reporters at Hsinchu Air Base just south of the capital, Taipei. The drills coincide with a visit from German and Lithuanian lawmakers — the latter Baltic state being a particular target of Chinese ire for upgrading its ties with Taiwan.

“We call on the relevant countries to … cease send-

ing the wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces and cease playing with fire on the question of Taiwan,” Ma said.

China has responded to foreign visits by holding large-scale military exercises seen by some as a rehearsal for a blockade or invasion.

Beijing sends airplanes and warships toward Taiwan on a near-daily basis, often crossing the midline of the 160 kilometer (100 miles) Taiwan Strait dividing the sides. At the end of December, China sent a record 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan — the largest such scale exercise in 2022.

China’s efforts to isolate the island diplomatically have left Taiwan with just 14 official diplomatic partners, although it retains robust unofficial relations with key ally the U.S. and more than 100 nations around the world.

This outbreak was the first in a decade of the less common Sudan strain which, unlike the Zaire strain that has caused outbreaks in neighbouring Congo in recent years, has no proven vaccine or therapeutics.

Uganda had recorded 142 cases including 56 deaths since the outbreak was announced in September. Ebola, which can sometimes manifest as a hemorrhagic fever, spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.

“With no vaccines and therapeutics, this was one of the most challenging Ebola outbreaks in the past five years,” WHO Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said. “Two months ago, it looked as if Ebola would cast a dark shadow over the country well into 2023 as the outbreak reached major cities such as Kampala and Jinja, but this win starts off the year on a note of great hope for Africa.”

“I was surprised to learn there were any government records that were taken there to that office,” Xinhua news agency quoted Biden as saying reporters in Mexico City where he had a trilateral summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. The President said he doesn’t know “what’s in the documents” that were found in a locked closet when his attorneys were vacating office space at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C.

The Penn Biden Center is a think tank about a mile away the White House, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and named for Biden who had served as the Vice President from January 2009 to January 2017.

White House special counsel Richard Sauber issued a statement on Monday, saying that Biden periodically used this space from mid-2017 until the start of his 2020 presidential campaign.

This discovery of “what appears to be ObamaBiden Administration records, including a small

number of documents with classified markings” was made in early November of 2022, according to the statement. “They found some documents in a box in a locked cabinet, or at least a closet. And as soon as they did, they realised there were several classified documents in that box,” Biden said on Tuesday.

The attorneys “did what they should have done” by immediately call-

ing the National Archives, he added.

The classified documents found inside the Penn Biden Center closet are reportedly US intelligence memos and briefing materials that covered topics including Ukraine, Iran and Britain. Attorney General Merrick Garland is said to have tasked the Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch Jr. with reviewing the matter.

Lausch was appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2017 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. Congressman James Comer, a Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, told CNN that he plans to press the National Archives, which his committee oversees, for information about the classified documents.

Felicitation

The Rengma Union Jalukie with immense joy and thanks giving to God convey our heartiest congratulations to MR. SU loni S e MY on being promoted to the post of Assistant Sericulture Officer in the Department of Sericulture.

Furthermore, the Rengma Union Jalukie extends its best wishes in his future endeavours.

Joe Biden

Saul Kemp, Secretary Rengma Union Jalukie

Uganda’s latest Ebola outbreak is over: WHO officials

Ishaq Dar

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa

Security personnel at the Gare du Nord train station after the incident.

Representational image.

India is all set to bring in the Golden Globe 2023 home as the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus ‘RRR’ won the Best Original Song, Motion Picture at the 80th Golden Globes.

‘Naatu Naatu’ was in competition with ‘Carolina’ from “Where the Crawdads Sing”, “Ciao Papa” from “Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio”, “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”.

To receive the honour was music composer M. M. Keeravani, who was accompanied with his wife Srivalli.

He dedicated the award to Rajamouli and the actors Ram Charan and NTR Jr.

While accepting the award, he said: “Thank you very much for this prestigious award: “This award belongs to SS Rajamouli for his vision, I thank him for constantly believe and supporting my work. N.T. Rama Rao and Ram Charan who danced with full stamina.”

‘RRR’ stars NTR Jr.,

Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody and Olivia Morris.

Honour has made every Indian very proud: PM on Golden Globe win for ‘RRR’ track

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the “RRR” team after its hit track “Naatu Naatu” won a Golden Globe award and said the prestigious honour had made every Indian proud.

The song from the blockbuster film bagged the ‘best original song-motion picture’ trophy. It is the first Indian production to win a Golden Globe.

“A very special accomplishment! Compliments to @mmkeeravaani, Prem Rakshith, Kaala Bhairava, Chandrabose, @ Rahulsipligunj. I also congratulate @ssrajamouli, @ tarak9999, @AlwaysRamCharan and the entire team of @RRRMovie. This prestigious honour has made every Indian very proud,” the prime minister tweeted.

Replying to the PM’s post, film’s director SS Rajamouli said: “We are

honoured Sir… Thank you very much.”

Composed by veteran music director MM Keeravaani, “Naatu Naatu” has been a rage ever since the release of the Ram Charan and Jr NTR-fronted “RRR” last March.

Keeravaani said it was a proud moment for the team to be felicitated by the prime minister after the Golden Globe win.

(IANS/PTI)

Ex-Vice Prez, film personalities greet team ‘RRR’ over Golden Globes win

Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu,

PM Modi, Big B, Anand Mahindra voice the joy of the people

Telugu star Chiranjeevi and several other celebrities on Wednesday congratulated musician M M Keeravani and other team members of the blockbuster movie ‘RRR’ for clinching the Golden Globes award in the best original song category for the track ‘Naatu Naatu’. Taking to twitter to congratulate the team over its win, Naidu said, “Every Indian is proud of the global recognition for #NaatuNaatu song from #RRRMovie Heartiest congratulations to ace music composer, Keeravani Garu & RRR team for bagging the #GoldenGlobes2023

Award for the best original song!”Chiranjeevi, whose son Ram Charan played the lead role alongside Jr NTR in ‘RRR’, described the global recognition of the film as a ‘historic achievement.’

“What a Phenomenal, Historic Achievement!!!! Golden Globes Best Original Song - Motion Picture Award to @mmkeeravaani garu!! Take a Bow,” he tweeted.

“Heartiest Congratulations Team @RRRMovie & @ssrajamouli!! India is proud of you!,” Chiranjeevi said.

Top Telugu star Nagarjuna also congratulated Keeravani and his team for the feat. “Congratulations to @mmkeeravaani garu and his team on winning the #GoldenGlobes2023 for #NatuNatu song in #RRR on the way to the oscars now,” Nagarjuna said on twitter.

Ace film director S S Rajamouli’s “RRR” was also nominated for the ‘best picture-non English’ at the ceremony. The Telugu number “Naatu Naatu” is composed by Keeravaani and sung by Kala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj.

‘Hawkeye’ star Jeremy Renner’s family is said to be “so thrilled with his progress” following his horror snow plough accident on New Year’s Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated music composer M.M. Keeravaani and Team ‘RRR’ for their win at the Golden Globes. He tweeted: “A very special accomplishment! Compliments to @mmkeeravaani, Prem Rakshith, Kaala Bhairava, Chandrabose, @Rahulsipligunj. I also congratulate @ ssrajamouli, @tarak9999, @ AlwaysRamCharan and the entire team of @RRRMovie. This prestigious honour has made every Indian very proud.”

Describing the win as a “most well-deserving achievement”, mega star Amitabh Bachchan complimented the team in

Telugu as well:

cesaru (Congratulations on you win, ‘RRR’! You have brought honour to your country.)” Conveying his reaction, industrialist Anand Mahindra tweeted: “Dance and the world dances with you. Thank you #RRR, thank you #NaatuNaatu for winning at the #GoldenGlobes and showing us what India’s global brand should be: A country that can make people sing & dance together. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”

Mahesh Babu, who is set to work with S.S. Rajamouli on his next movie, wrote: “Watching the world

cheer for an Indian film is a dream come true!! This year couldn’t have started on a better note! Congratulations @mmkeeravaani garu, @ ssrajamouli sir, @tarak9999, @AlwaysRamCharan & the entire team of #RRR... Many more to come!!”

Anupam Kher also joined in the celebrations by tweeting: “What a moment for #IndianCinema! Congratulations to the entire team of @RRRMovie! Specially to the masters @ mmkeeravaani & @ssrajamouli! And to our friends @AlwaysRamCharan & #JrNTR! They literally danced into the hearts of audiences worldwide! Jai Ho!” (IANS)

Renner has been in intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Centre since the shocking incident outside his home in Reno, Nevada, where he was helping a family member free a car from heavy snow when he was accidentally run over by his own six-tonne ploughing machine, reports ‘The Mirror’.

Officials have said Jeremy had tried to get back in the driver’s seat when he was crushed. He was airlifted to hospital after suffering “blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries”, according to his publicist.

Jeremy spent his 52nd birthday, which was last Saturday, in hospital and has been providing updates on social media to his adoring fans as he recovers from the serious injuries he sustained 10 days ago.

Recently, his sister

‘Mirror’ further states after undergoing emergency surgery, Renner took to Instagram on January 3 to thank everyone for their messages. (IANS)

NASA mission spots 2nd Earth-size world within ‘habitable zone’

NASA mission has discovered a second Earth-sized, rocky planet within the habitable zone of its star -- the range of distances where liquid water could occur on a planet’s surface.

Using data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the astronomers found “TOI 700 e” which is one of only a few systems with multiple, small, habitable-zone plan-

ets that we know of.

Astronomers previously discovered three planets in this system, called TOI 700 b, c, and d.

Planet d also orbits in the habitable zone, but

the scientists needed an additional year of TESS observations to discover TOI 700 e.

“That makes the TOI 700 system an exciting prospect for additional follow up. Planet e is about 10 per cent smaller than planet d, so the system also shows how additional TESS observations help us find smaller and smaller worlds,” said Emily Gilbert, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Jet

Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California who led the work.

TOI 700 is a small, cool M dwarf star located around 100 light-years away in the southern constellation Dorado. In 2020, Gilbert and others announced the discovery of the Earth-size, habitable-zone planet d, which is on a 37-day orbit, along with two other worlds.

The innermost planet, TOI 700 b, is about 90 per

cent Earth’s size and orbits the star every 10 days. TOI 700 c is over 2.5 times bigger than Earth and completes an orbit every 16 days.

“The planets are probably tidally locked, which means they spin only once per orbit such that one side always faces the star, just as one side of the Moon is always turned toward Earth,” the US space agency said in a statement late on Tuesday.

(IANS)

Full list of winners

Best Motion Picture – Drama: The Fabelmans (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Cate Blanchett, Tár (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Austin Butler, Elvis (Winner)

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: The Banshees of Inisherin (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin (Winner)

Best Motion Picture – Animated: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Winner)

Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language: Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once (Winner)

Best Director — Motion Picture: Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans (Winner)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture: Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin (Winner)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture: Justin Hurwitz, Babylon (Winner)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture: “Naatu Naatu,” Kala Bhairava, M.M. Keeravani, Rahul Sipligunj (RRR) (Winner)

Best Television Series – Drama: House of the Dragon (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama: Zendaya, Euphoria (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama: Kevin Costner, Yellowstone (Winner)

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Abbott Elementary (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear (Winner)

Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: The White Lotus (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television: Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television: Evan Peters, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical-Comedy or Drama Television Series: Julia Garner, Ozark (Winner)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical-Comedy or Drama Television Series: Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary (Winner)

Netflix to livestream Screen Actors Guild Awards

Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) will live-stream the annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards beginning in 2024, as it explores bringing live programming to its service.

The streaming giant stepped in to carry the SAG Awards, which had lost its broadcast home on cable networks TNT and TBS. Netflix will stream this year’s ceremony on its YouTube Channel and, next year, stream the awards show to subscribers via Netflix’s service. “The SAG Awards are beloved by the creative community and viewers alike, and now even more fans around the world will be able to celebrate these talented actors,” Netflix head of global TV Bela Bajaria said in a statement.

Nominees will be announced at 7 a.m. Pacific time on Wednesday and the 29th Annual SAG awards take place on Feb. 26.

Netflix is in the early days of testing live broadcasts, as it contemplates bringing live sports to the platform. Its first live event will be a Chris Rock comedy special on March 4.(Reuters)

M.M. Keeravani with the award for best original song, motion picture for “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”. (AP/PTI)

“Vijayniki abhinandanalu RRR, miru bharatadesarn garvapadela

Kym Renner spoke about how the Marvel Cinematic Universe actor is a “fighter” and is “crushing all the progress goals”. She told aPeople’: “We are so thrilled with his progress. If anyone knows Jeremy, he is a fighter and doesn’t mess around. He is crushing all the progress goals. We couldn’t feel more positive about the road ahead.”

Jeremy Renner’s family pleased with his recovery

Games & sports no longer pastime, but issue of professionalism: Jacob

government job but also seek alternative avenues for sustainability. The minister also encouraged the youth not to be dependent on their parents but to come out of their comfort zone.

At the programme, invocation prayer was offered by AACLF chairman Rev. Viyeto Chishi, welcome address was delivered by GB Vekuto Swu, cultural presentation by Shokhuvi Baptist Church Youth ministry and special song by SBC associate pastor Julika.

Injury forces Marin Cilic to withdraw from Aus Open

NEW DELHI, JAN 11 (IANS): Marin Cilic of Croatia announced his withdrawal from the year’s first Grand Slam on Wednesday, due to his knee injury that ended his run of seven consecutive Australian Open appearances.

Inter come from behind to reach Coppa Italia quarter-finals

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 11

(NPN): PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi said that the state government was keen and serious about promotion of sports in the state, as games and sports were no longer just pastime but an issue of professionalism.

He was speaking at

the inaugural ceremony of the six-day 24th MBE Zhuikhe memorial gold cup as the special guest on Wednesday, at Shokhuvi village.

The event is also part of the Western Sumi Sports Association (WSSA) prejubilee celebration.

The special guest said that there were many upcoming Naga youths,

who have the potentials to achieve, but they needed to put more efforts in order to succeed. On the unemployment sector, the minister mentioned that government employee is overly saturated and it is not possible for the state government to provide job to every unemployed youth. In this regard, he encouraged the youth to not only seek for

Chelsea sign forward Joao Felix on loan from Atletico

and was substituted after 73 minutes.

“Chelsea is one of the great teams in the world and I hope to help the team reach their objectives, so I am very, very happy to be here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge,” Felix said in a club statement.

Felix became the fourth most expensive player of all time when he joined Atletico for 126 million euros from Benfica in 2019 as a teenager.

A versatile forward, Felix can play as a striker, attacking midfielder or on the flanks but has struggled to live up to his price tag since moving to Spain. He has scored 34 goals in 131 appearances for Atletico and won the 2020-21 league title.

Pre-jubilee greetings was delivered by jubilee convenor Huska Zhimo, dedicatory prayer for jubilee committee was offered by WSBAK executive secretary Rev. Dr. Phughoto Aye and donor’s speech by secretariat assistant (IPR) Kohima, Viloto Zhimomi and oath was administered by WSSA games secretary.

Later, the minister also declared the event open. The event will include football match, man volleyball and women volleyball. The event will culminate on January 16.

Former world no 3 sustained a knee injury last week during a warm-up ahead of his quarterfinal match at the Tata Open Maharashtra, where he was competing as a top-seed player. “Not a great start to 2023 and few tough days in Melbourne. Devastated I can’t play this year at @AustralianOpen but health comes first. See you next year Melbourne!” Cilic tweeted. The 2014 US Open champion, Cilic, is the new name on the list of players, who will miss the first Major of the year. Earlier, World No. 1 men’s singles player Carlos Alcaraz of Spain has opted out of the 2023 season’s first major after picking up an injury while training. Hours after Alcaraz announced his withdrawal, seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams of the United States, too, pulled out of the Australian Open.

MILAN, JAN 11 (AGENCIES): Inter Milan came back from a goal down to beat Serie B side Parma 2-1 after extra time in their Coppa Italia last-16 clash on Tuesday, as Simone Inzaghi’s team began the defence of their trophy.

Parma stunned the San Siro minutes before halftime when substitute midfielder Stanko Juric curled a beautiful longrange shot into keeper Andre Onana’s top-right corner.

Inter, who beat Juventus 4-2 after extra time to

lift the trophy in May last year, controlled possession but failed to muster a single shot on target until striker Lautaro Martinez levelled in the 88th minute.

The Argentine collected a rebound on the edge of the box and lashed the ball inside goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s right post.

Defender Francesco Acerbi grabbed the winner for Inter with a header five minutes into the second half of extra time, having collected the ball from Buffon, who parried an earlier attempt by Federico

Dimarco.

Parma, who beat Salernitana and Bari to reach the last 16, saw their goalkeeper Buffon return from a lengthy thigh injury to make his 50th, and likely last career appearance at the San Siro, 25 years after making his competition debut.

Inter’s local rivals AC Milan host Torino in their last-16 clash on Wednesday, while Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma take on Genoa on Thursday. Fiorentina play Sampdoria earlier that day.

Rublev goes down in Adelaide, Ruud knocked out in Auckland

ADELAIDE, JAN 11

(AGENCIES): Top seed Andrey Rublev crashed out in the second round of the Adelaide International 2 after losing 6-4 3-6 6-3 to local defending champion Thanasi Kokkinakis on Wednesday.

Cheered on by the home support, Kokkinakis wrapped up the match in just under two hours, hitting 35 winners and sending down 17 aces.

World number six Rublev struggled to find his form against Kokkinakis, who served incredibly well.

At the Auckland Open, top seed Casper Ruud of Norway was knocked out following a 3-6 6-3 7-6(3) defeat by Laslo Djere in the evening session.

Djere was dominant from the baseline and brilliant with his serve before he

LONDON, JAN 11

(AGENCIES): Chelsea have signed Portugal forward Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on a loan deal until the end of the season, both clubs said on Wednesday.

British media reported Chelsea will pay around 10 million euros ($10.75 million) for Felix.

The 23-year-old has

struggled for consistency this season and started seven of Atletico’s 16 league games. He has five goals and three assists in 20 games in all competitions.

Felix scored once in five World Cup appearances as Portugal exited at the quarter-final stage. He started in Atletico’s 1-0 home loss to LaLiga leaders Barcelona on Sunday

Chelsea have already been active in the January transfer window, bringing in Benoit Badiashile , David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos .

Felix will further bolster their injury-hit squad as well as strengthen their options in attack, with Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all sidelined.

came on top in the third set tie-break to record his first victory against a top-five player.

Current British number one Cameron Norrie had a less straightforward day, needing nearly six hours to reach the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3 win over Jiri Lehecka.

Much of that time was spent in the dressing room waiting for the wet weather to pass and the match was concluded indoors when the rain persisted.

Play had returned to the outside courts at the Auckland Open on Wednesday after being moved indoors with no crowds on Tuesday because of Cyclone Hale.

The rain was not the only problem Norrie faced and he had to dig deep to subdue the Czech after

showcourt

with a leg injury. Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem also got his first win at Kooyong, beating American world number 17 Francis Tiafoe 7-6(4) 6-2.

Earlier, five-times Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray finally got his first victory of the year with a 2-6 6-3 10-2 super tiebreaker win over Zhang Zhizen at the Kooyong Classic exhibition event.

The 35-year-old twice Wimbledon champion was ousted in the opening round of the Adelaide International warm-up event last week and looked to be heading for another defeat when he went a set down to the Chinese world number 97. The Briton rallied to level up the contest, however, and raced away with the super tiebreaker to seal the win in just over an hour.

Chiephobozou Town 4th inter ward tournament kicks off

DIMAPUR, JAN 10 (NPN): The 4th edition of Chiephobozou Town inter-ward tournament organised by Chiephobozou Town Youth Organisation (CTYO) commenced at Chiephobozou local ground.

The tournament has been initially started with a vision to help the youths stay in shape, to boost friendships and to build relationships with their peers.

Valarivan, who won bronze, was fifth in qualifying with 629.3. In the top eights, both Narmada and Mehuli finished with the same scores of 264.2 to finish on top of the pile and set up the gold medal clash.

In the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol trial 2, Ankur took a similar path to gold when he finished fourth in qualifying with a score of 580. Here too, eventual silver me dallist Bhavesh topped with 585.

Bronze medallist Vijayveer was also fifth in qualifying with 580, but with lesser inner 10s than Bhavesh.

Bhavesh and Vijayveer then finished 1-2 in the first semi-finals to join Ankur and Anhad Jawanda who were the 1-2 in the second semifinals.

Mehuli emerged a dominant 17-9 winner over

hits to the latter’s 25.

Narmada had topped qualification with a quality 633.5 after 60 shots while Mehuli had logged 631.2. Olympian Elaveni

Among the juniors, Delhi’s Agneya Kaushik and Madhya Pradesh’s Gautami Bhanot won the men’s rapid-fire pistol trial two and women’s air rifle trial one respectively.

in Chiephobozou Town.

CDCA informs on U-19 trials

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN): Chumoukedima District Cricket Association (CDCA) has informed all U-19 boys that the trials for late G. Rio memorial U-19 boys interdistrict tournament will be held on January 16 and 17. Players born on or after 01.09.2004 have been asked to report to Chumoukedima District Cricket Association. For further information, one may contact at 8837419167.

DIMAPUR, JAN 10 (NPN): The second edition of the three-day Nsong Area Sports Association (NASA) tournament at Nzauna village began on January 10 with BDO, RD block Tening, Kiengau Nda as special guest.

Altogether, 14 teams are participating in the area tournament, with 10 teams for men football and 4 teams for women volley team. The tournament will culminate on January 12. The special guest encouraged the youths and young players to be professional in their respective field not just to win the game. Highlighting the history of FIFA and history of football, he reminded that football players get more respect, fame and popularity than prime minister or

president of any country. “To be a professional player, one must be persistency and consistency to be fit and never indulge or influence by drugs and alcohol’, He stated. He encouraged the NASA team to give their best for the community upliftment and promote the youngster to the next level of sportsmanship.

He was of the opinion that office of NASA will carry on the good work without any defunct or hiccup and believed that NASA will create such platform for the budding players and bring professional players.

The welcome note was delivered by NASA president, Nzokam Riame while cultural dance was performed by the women society.

A short speech was delivered by EAC, Ruokuoseto Tetso, SDO (PWD), Zhapuvizo Tetso. In his speech, R. Tetso voiced out that the prosperity in locality and society can only be brought through cooperation and unity among the people.

While Z. Tetso committed to help any of the competitive aspirants if they seek his limited knowledge and urged the youths to set a goal,

commit and dedicate themselves to accomplish the goal they set.

The programme was chaired by secretary CTYO, Kevimezo Kezieo, welcome address was delivered by CTYO president, Nouvilie Rülho, pastor CRC Chiephobozou, Pavi Pao offered the invocation, special number was presented by Viketounuo Kerhüo and Seyieselie Rülho followed by oath taking.

MUMBAI, JAN 11

(IANS): Arya Chandorkar won the CSN Children II category at the National Show Jumping here at Amateur Rider’s Club.

Riding on horse Winston, Arya finished her rounds in 57 seconds without any penalties in the CSN Children II category of Show jumping of .80 CMS.

M Krishna Sahithi secured the second and third positions respectively while riding two different horses KENIA and ASCA

IX -Z. Sahithi finished the rounds in 59 and 80 seconds respectively without any penalties.

The competition organised across CSN1/ CSN3/Grade II/ Grade III & JNEC category (CSN) categories, under the aegis of International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) and Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), will conclude on January 14.

“It was a wonderful experience participating in the CNS event. I got an opportunity to perform in

front of a very talented international panel of judges and was happy performing at the event. I started learning horse riding at ARC in Nov 2021.

With great coaches and guidance from various experienced and talented people at ARC, I was able to improve my riding skills. My parents took me to the riding sessions every day, which helps me to improve my skills and keep continuing learning from the other riders,” Arya said after the win.

Inter Milan teammates celebrates after winning against Parma.

Jacob Zhimomi declaring the tournament open on Wednesday. (NP)

Joao Felix

the 21-year-old had played sublime tennis to win the second set on a tiebreak. The opening second round match on the main

had lasted only one set before Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who was trailing 6-1 to American Jenson Brooksby, withdrew

Chairman Chiephobozou Town Council, Neichütuo Rio, graced the occasion as the special guest. Rio said participating in youth sports could lead to immediate and long-term benefits for youth, their families and communities. Rio emphasized on the youths to give more efforts in bringing unity and integrity

NEW DELHI, JAN 11

(PTI): Mehuli Ghosh of West Bengal and Uttarakhand’s Ankur Goel won the national shooting women’s 10m air rifle trial one and men’s 25m rapid fire pistol trial two in Group A here on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu’s R. Narmada Nithin in the gold medal round while Ankur edged out Rajasthan’s Bhavesh Shekhawat with 29

Arya Chandorkar in action at the National Show Jumping.

Mehuli Ghosh

Casper Ruud Andrey Rublev

Malaysia Open: Prannoy, Satwik-Chirag advance

KUALA LUMPUR, JAN

11 (IANS): Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu couldn’t manage to get the winning start in 2023 as she suffered a loss at the hands of familiar foe Rio 2016 champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the opening round of Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament, here on Wednesday.

Coming back to action after a five-month-long injury layoff, Sindhu lost 12-21, 21-10, 15-21 in her first match since the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal win.

It was the first meeting between the Rio 2016 finalists since Marin beat Sindhu at the Swiss Open final in 2021.

The Spaniard dominated the opening game right from the start and clinched it easily 21-12. But the Indian ace bounced back in the second game with a healthy 11-5 lead at the time of the interval and quickly raced to 21-10 to force the decider. In the de-

ciding game, Marin restored her momentum and headed into the break with an early lead and wrapped up the match with ease after the change of sides.

On the other hand, HS Prannoy and the world championships bronze medallist men’s pair of Chirag

Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy sailed into the round of 16.

In men’s singles, Prannoy overcame Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen in three games, 22-24, 21-12, 21-18 in the first round. The men’s doubles pair Satwik and Chirag

Adelaide International 2: Badosa, Kasatkina seal quarterfinal slots

used heavy, deep returns to reclaim her break and lead 6-5, where she successfully served out the win on the second time of asking.

Badosa will next meet No.11 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who defeated another lucky loser, Amanda Anisimova, earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, No.5 seed Daria Kasatkina also moved into the quarterfinals with a win on Wednesday. Kasatkina knocked out former Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 7-5 to clinch her spot in the elite eight.

trounced the world No. 9 Korean combination of Choi Sol Gyu and Kim Won Ho to win 21-16, 21-13.

After losing the closely fought opening game, Prannoy took the second game and was trailing 2-7 in the decider before scripting a comeback to clinch the

match in one hour and 15 minutes.

Prannoy, the only Indian left in the fray in the singles event, will take on Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo to set up a potential quarterfinal clash with second-seed local player Lee Zii Jia. Sindhu’s loss ended India’s challenge in the women’s singles category as Malvika Bansod lost world No. 2 Korean An Se Young 9-21, 13-21.

Earlier on Tuesday, Saina Nehwal went down fighting 12-21, 21-17, 12-21 to Han Yue of China in the first round and Aakarshi Kashyap too suffered defeat in her first round at the hands of Wen Chi Hsu of Chinese Taipei 10-21, 8-21.

Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze medallist women’s doubles pair Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly progressed in the pre-quarterfinals and the Kidambi Srikanth suffered a first-round exit with a 19-21, 14-21 loss to world No. 17 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan on Tuesday.

Table tennis: Olympic champ Ma Long stunned in WTTC Asia Continental Stage

DOHA (QATAR), JAN 11 (IANS): World No. 2 Ma Long of China swallowed a full-set defeat at the hands of Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura in the second-round group match at the WTTC Asia Continental Stage here on Tuesday.

After sharing the spoils with Yoshimura in the first six sets, Ma slipped away 11-3 in the deciding set. The legendary Chinese paddler will compete in position games on Wednesday to vie for a World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals spot.

Despite Ma’s shock defeat, China has secured four men’s and five women’s singles berths at the World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals.

Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong all claimed straight-sets victories in the women’s singles, while their fellow Chinese teammate Wang Manyu rallied past Choi Hyo-Joo of South Ko-

rea 4-1, reports news agency Xinhua. Wang Manyu admitted that she had many unforced errors in the first set. “My opponent played with aggressiveness. Down 3-7 in the second set, I felt huge pressure but managed to fight back, and then I felt a bit relieved,” she commented.

Other action saw men’s singles world No. 1 Fan Zhendong sweep Harmeet Desai of India in straight sets. Wang Chuqin got past Iranian Noshad Alamiyan 4-1, and Liang Jingkun defeated Ho Kwan Kit of Hong Kong, China 4-2.

Wang revealed that

Xiang Peng, the only Chinese player who needed to start from the first round, beat Amir Hossein Hodaei of Iran 4-1.

China secured the full quota in the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events of the worlds on Monday. The 2023 WTTC Finals will take place in Durban, South Africa from May 20 to 28.

Rashford double helps Man United reach League Cup last four

Burn and Joelinton fireNewcastleintosemis

ADELAIDE, JAN 11

(IANS): Paula Badosa of Spain bolstered her start to the season by sealing a spot in the Adelaide International 2 quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-5 win over lucky loser Kaia Kanepi, here on Wednesday.

With her 1-hour and 23-minute victory over seven-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Kanepi, No.9 seed Badosa has defeated the two Estonians ranked inside the Top 40 back-to-back this week. She ousted Estonian No.1 Anett Kontaveit in the first round.

Former World No.2 Badosa survived 27 win-

ners from big-hitting Kanepi to level their rivalry at one win apiece. Badosa had 22 winners and just eight unforced errors in the match.

The Spaniard eased through the first set before Kanepi made a much tougher test of things in the second set. However, a backhand volley winner in the 4-4 game gave Badosa a breakpoint, which she converted after a wide rally backhand by Kanepi.

Kanepi, though, returned to level footing immediately, as Badosa double faulted the next game away when serving for the match. But Badosa

World No.8 Kasatkina took an hour and a half to notch the victory and level her head-to-head record against Krejcikova at 1-1. Kasatkina hit six aces and converted four of her seven break points en route to her first win of the 2023 season.

Kasatkina will take on another Grand Slam champion in the quarterfinals when she faces two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Thursday. In their only prior meeting, Kvitova dismissed Kasatkina 6-4, 6-0 in the 2018 Madrid quarterfinals.

MANCHESTER/ NEWCASTLE, JAN 11 (AGENCIES): Marcus

Rashford was on target for the sixth successive match in all competitions as his late double helped Manchester United beat thirdtier Charlton Athletic 3-0 to reach the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

A much-changed United had the better of the early openings and deservedly took the lead in 21st minute as Brazilian forward Antony curled a stunning strike into far corner.

Antony’s fellow countryman Fred then

curled a sensational effort towards goal from a free kick, but saw his rasping shot come out off the inside of the post.

United had further chances to add a gameclinching second before Rashford stepped off the bench to fire two late goals to put the seal on an eighth victory in a row in all competitions for the home side.

Rashford has now scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, having mustered just five last term, and has found the net in eight straight matches at Old Trafford.

Second-half goals from defender Dan Burn and Brazilian Joelinton helped Newcastle United beat Leicester City 2-0 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the League Cup semifinals.

Missed chances have plagued Newcastle’s recent form and again they were wasteful in front of goal in the first half against Leicester, mustering 12 shots without finding the net, with Sean Longstaff

the guilty party on two occasions.

The hosts almost edged in front immediately after the restart, but Joelinton’s prodded effort came out off the post, via a Marc Albrighton intervention.

It was left to Burn to finally break Leicester down, with the Newcastleborn fullback finishing well on the hour mark to raise the roof at St James’ Park.

The home support -

ers did not have to wait long for a game-clinching second, as Joelinton made one count to make sure of the win and keep Newcastle in the hunt for their first major domestic trophy since 1955.

Leicester arrested a run of three successive defeats with victory over fourth-tier Gillingham in the FA Cup at the weekend, but they never looked like making it successive wins.

LUSAIL (QATAR), JAN 11 (PTI): Birmingham Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medallist Sreeja Akula, table tennis stalwart Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra qualified for the singles events of the Durban World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals in May, overcoming strong challenges in the Round-of-16 matches of the Asian WTTC Continental Stage 2023 tournament here on Tuesday.

Sreeja defeated world No. 21 Chen Szu-Yu of Chinese Taipei 4-3 (11-2, 5-11, 2-11, 5-11, 13-11, 119, 11-8) to qualify for the WTTC Finals, scheduled to commence on May 20, while world No. 47 Sharath Kamal overcame Iran’s Ahmadian Amin 13-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6 to book a place in the showpiece event.

Manika Batra, the top-ranked Indian in the world at 35, thumped Zhu Chengzhu of Hong Kong 13-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 in the pre-quarterfinals to seal her spot.

Manika and G. Sathiyan also sealed their place

in the mixed doubles event of the WTTC Finals with the No. 5 ranked pair in the world beating Hiroto Shinozuka and Miyuu of Japan 11-9, 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7 in the pre-quarters.

The pair of Sathiyan and Sharath Kamal also made the WTTC Finals grade beating Qatar’s Mohammed Abdulwahab and Khalil Al-Mohannandi 11-5, 11-0, 11-9, 11-8 in the men’s doubles positions matches.

The Indian duo had

earlier played a marathon match against the top Chinese pair of Ma Long and Yuan Licen before squandering a 3-1 lead to lose 114, 12-10, 5-11, 15-13, 7-11, 2-11, 5-11 in the Round of 16 on Monday night. However, they sealed their qualification spot on Tuesday following their win against the Qatari pair.

Sreeja, ranked 72 in the world, seemed down and out when she trailed 1-3 against Chen Szu-Yu, but the Indian’s confidence

soared after she won the fifth game 13-11. It was a tricky game, and the Hyderabad player fought intensely to take a big step before shutting out her Chinese-Taipei opponent in the last two games.

G. Sathiyan failed to make the grade in singles for the WTTC Finals but he can still qualify based on his world ranking. The world No. 39 Indian will have to wait for the announcement.

The women’s doubles

pair of Reeth Rishya and Sreeja beat Singapore’s Goi Rui Xuan and Wong Xin Ru 11-6, 12-10, 13-11, 11-7 to secure one of the last-four slots in the category for the WTTC Finals. However, Reeth’s place is still doubtful as she has failed to seal a singles spot.

Manika and Archana Kamath have a better chance of making the cut due to their world rankings.

As per the WTTC Finals format, the Asian WTTC Continental Stage 2023 tournament offers 25 slots in men’s singles, 28 in women’s singles, 14 berths in men’s doubles, 12 in women’s doubles, and eight in mixed doubles. However, only four men and women entries per country are allowed in the WTTC Finals.

In singles, players who make it to the Round of 16 qualify directly, while the remaining slots are filled via the position’s knockout matches.

In doubles, however, only those who reach the quarter-finals qualify, while the rest qualify through the other knockout rounds.

DIMAPUR, JAN 11 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio will ceremonially flag off the Round 4 of Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2022 rally at Hockey Ground, Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima on January 12 at 3:30 pm.

Organised by Federation of Motor Sports Council of India (FMSCI) with Blueband Sports as the promoter, 80 drivers and co-drivers from across the country will participate in the event.

Altogether, 80 drivers and co-drivers have reached Kohima to compete in the rally hosted by Nagaland Adventure Club (NAC) in partnership with the Government of Nagaland from January 12 to 14.

The championship will be held in two routes in Kohima covering a route of 120 Kms - Jotsoma to Dzülekie NEC road on January 13 and Kohima bye-pass road connecting IG stadium on January 14. The rally will commence at 6 am on both days. Some of the prominent riders - Gaurav Gill, Karna Kadur, Aditya Thakur, Fabid Ahmer and Chetan Shivram would also be participating in the championship.

NAC president Burakum Ao informed that for spectators to witness the event, ticketing is fixed at Rs. 2000 per car and they will be allocated particular space as the rally goes on the said routes.

Burakum informed

that NAC was established in the year 2010 with the objective of promoting adventure and motor sports in the State. He said, over the years, the club has dedicatedly worked in achieving its objective through its annual event popularly known by all as the HorsePower challenge.

“The club feels elated today in achieving one of its dreams of being the first club in the state to bring a national event of the scale of National Rally Championship to the state which will be first of its kind for the people to witness, he said.

Meanwhile, the podium ceremony will be held on January 14 at 4 pm at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.

“I’ve been healthy the last seven months. I’m not awakening with aches

pains like in the last few years,” BBC quoted Murray. “As long as the body holds up well and I’m training properly and performing to a level I’m enjoying, then I will keep going. But I don’t have a timeframe (for retirement)”

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India’s H. S. Prannoy plays a shot against compatriot Lakshya Sen during their men’s singles match at the Malaysia Open badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur. (AP/PTI)

Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the League Cup quarter final match. (AP/PTI)

Match in action between Newcastle United and Leicester City.

before the match he had consulted teammate Lin Gaoyuan about his experience of playing against Alamiyan, who shocked Lin 4-2 in the first round of the 2022 Table Tennis Asian Cup.

MELBOURNE, JAN 11 (IANS): The three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray registered his first win of the 2023 season at Kooyong Classic, beating Zhang Zhizen 2-6, 6-3 (10-2) in a tiebreaker here on Wednesday. The 35-year-old was trailing by a set against Zhang but bounced back to level up the match before sailing through the tiebreaker. The Briton is named in the main draw of the Australian Open, starting

on January 16. Murray, ranked 49 in the world, had hip surgery in 2018 and has been troubled by injuries since then.

and

Kooyong Classic: Murray picks up season’s 1st win

Ma Long

Paula Badosa

Sreeja Akula

Achanta Sharath Kamal Manika Batra

Daria Kasatkina