29 Jan 2023

Nagaland Post

At least 8 killed, 10 injured in Jerusalem terror attack

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Sabalenka wins maiden Grand Slam

NDPP agrees to part with 4 urban seats to BJP ‘Deadly’ for democracy: Ex-SC judge slams Rijiju’s remark against collegium system

KOHIMA, JAN 28 (PTI): The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has agreed to part with four urban seats for the coming Nagaland Assembly elections to its ally BJP as part of the seatsharing deal during a meeting in New Delhi, sources said here on Saturday.

NDPP and the BJP had contested the 2018 elections with a 40:20 seat-sharing formula and the alliance partners have decided to continue with it, though a number of leaders from both parties demanded a change in that.

NDPP sources said that the BJP sought four urban seats- Kohima Town, Mon Town, Tuensang Sadar-II and Wokha- in its share of 20, which chief minister Neiphiu Rio accepted making the deal final. State BJP leaders confirmed the development.

In the 2018 polls,

Modi cautions against attempts to create divisions

NEW DELHI, JAN 28 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday cautioned against attempts to sow differences and create divisions in the country but asserted that such efforts will not succeed.

Addressing a rally of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at the Cariappa Ground in Delhi Cantonment, Modi said the mantra of unity was the only way for India to achieve grandeur. He said that the entire world was looking towards India because of the youth of the country.

“This is the time of new opportunities for the youth of India. Everywhere it is evident that India’s time has arrived,” Modi said addressing the NCC cadets who took part in the Republic Day celebrations.

At the same time, the prime minister urged caution against attempts to divide the country.

“Several pretexts are being raised to break the country. Several issues are raked up to create divisions among the children of Mother India),” Modi said.

“Despite such efforts, there will never be differences among the people of India,” he said.

Modi’s remarks came against the backdrop of the raging controversy over a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots that has been banned in India.

(Read more on p-7)

This is it!

NDPP candidate Dr Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire won from Kohima Town.

However, the alliance lost the other three seats to NPF contestants. According to PTI report, party insiders said that Kire is unwilling to leave the seat while talks are on to convince him.

Details of other constituencies shared between the two could not be known immediately.

NPN Adds: Meanwhile, BJP State Election Committee held a closeddoor meeting on Saturday

GUWAHATI, JAN 28

(AGENCIES): Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa

Sarma on Saturday said that thousands of husbands will be arrested in the next fivesix months as the state cracks down on men who have married underage women. The comments come after the Assam cabinet’s Monday decision to book men marrying girls below 14 years of age under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Men married to girls between 14-18 years of age will be tried under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

“Thousands of hus -

BJP sources said that though the 40 (NDPP): 20(BJP) agreement was final, the BJP central election committee will take the final call on the constituencies the party would be fielding its candidates.

Once this is final, the tickets will be issued accord-

for the ensuing assembly election.

Taking to Twitter (@ BJP4Nagaland), the party said that the meeting was chaired by State president Temjen Imna Along and attended by deputy chief minister Y. Patton, national BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli, BJP legislators-- S. Pangnyu Phom, Jacob Zhimomi and Mmhonlumo Kikon, Rajya Sabha MP S. Phangnon Konyak, BJP secretary (Org) for Nagaland Abhay Giri, and party functionaries Eduzu Theluo and Khevishe Achumi

ingly within this week, sources said.

It may be recalled that both NDPP and BJP, amidst discontentment over ticket distribution, had categorically reaffirmed that there was no question of reviewing the 40(NDPP):20 (BJP) seat sharing deal.

BJP intending candidates to hold dharna

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 28 (NPN): Despite the Central BJP and NDPP leaders’ firm decision to stick to the 40(NDPP):20 (BJP) seat sharing agreement, a forum of BJP intending candidates have decided to stage another dharna on January 30 in Dimapur to express their resentment against the seat sharing pact.

According to the forum leaders, the decision was made after a closed-door meeting of the intending candidates held here on Saturday.

The proposed dharna is expected to be held at Naga Shopping Arcade area.

The forum leaders said that the intention to hold the dharna was to express resentment against seat sharing and to convey the message to the party high command to reconsider its decision and increase the seat sharing, before crucial meeting of the BJP to be held on January 30.

to book. “Many (men who marry girls) could face life imprisonment,” Sarma said.

bands will be arrested in the next five-six months as it is a crime to have sexual relations with a girl below 14 years of age, even if he is her legally wed husband,” Sarma was quoted as saying by PTI. The legal marriage age for women is 18 years. People who marry girls that are younger will also be brought

Sarma also said that women should embrace motherhood at the “appropriate age” as it otherwise leads to medical complications. The Assam CM iterated the state government’s commitment to stopping underage marriages and motherhood at the event in capital Guwahati.

“Women should not wait too long to become mothers as it leads to complications. The appropriate age for motherhood is 22 years to 30 years,” Sarma said, adding with a smile that women who haven’t married

yet should do so soon.

“We have been speaking against early motherhood. But at the same time, women should not wait too long either as many do ... God has created our bodies in a manner that there is an appropriate age for everything,” Sarma added.

The move by the Assam government aims to check high maternal and infant mortality rate in the state with the primary cause being child marriage, CM Sarma had said post the cabinet meeting. He had informed that around 31 percent of marriages in Assam on average are in the prohibited age group.

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): Former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Fali Nariman slammed Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju for his “diatribe” against the collegium system for appointment of judges, and said the government sitting on the names of judges recommended by the collegium was “deadly” for democracy. Nariman also said that if the last bastion of independent judiciary falls, then the country would enter the “abyss of a new dark age”. What is the independence of the judiciary if independent and fearless judges are not being appointed, he said. He was speaking on Friday at the Mumbai University while delivering the seventh Chief Justice M C Chagla Memorial Lecture. The former apex court judge also called for a special five-judge bench to be formed and for it to

pass a judgment that once a name is sent by the collegium to the government and if the latter has nothing to say within a period of 30 days, then it will be taken as it has nothing to say.

“This sitting on names is a very deadly thing against democracy of this country. Because what you are merely doing is you are waiting for a particular collegium and hoping that the next collegium changes its mind. Appointment must be done within a reasonable time period,” Nariman said. “It is how a constitution works.

If you don’t have fearless and independent judges say goodbye...There is nothing left...As a matter of fact, according to me if finally this last bastion falls or was to fall we would enter the abyss of a new dark age, in which R K Laxman’s Common Man will ask himself only one question: if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith will shall it be salted?...” he said.

Nariman was part of the Supreme Court collegium till he retired in August 2021.

Rijiju has time and again questioned the collegium system of appointment of judges, noting that it was “opaque and not transparent”. Recently, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said that the striking down of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act by the Supreme Court was a severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty.

Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Mughal Gardens renamed Amrit Udyan

NEW DELHI, JAN 28 (AGENCIES): Centre on Saturday renamed the Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan as “Amrit Udyan”. The new name has been given by President Draupadi Murmu as part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” festivities, to mark 75 years of India’s independence.

Amrit Udayan will be inaugurated by President Murmu on 29 January. “This time the Gardens (Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden, Central Lawn, Long Garden and Circular Garden) will be open for about two months. The Gardens will open for general public on 31 January 2023 and will remain open till 26 March

Dedicatory programme of foothills road 2-lane bridge

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 28 (NPN): A dedicatory programme of the historic twolane RCC bridge over river Doyang at Governor’s camp, Liphanyan under Wokha district was held on Saturday, organized by Nagaland Foothill Road Co-ordination Committee (NFHRCC).

Christian Forum Dimapur chairman, Rev Moses Murry dedicated the bridge which was initiated by Ao, Chang, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimkhiung and Zeliang tribes. The bridge is considered to be the longest

bridge in the State spanning 134.8 metres (442.25 feet) in length.

Speaking at the programme, NFHRCC convener Supu Jamir clarified that even though the bridge was virtually inaugurated

by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on January 6, the dedicatory programme was organized since the project was initiated based on the strength of prayer and fasting held on August 14, 2013. “The project would

have died long back if God Almighty was not with the Nagas,” Supu said and maintained that the committee was obligated to hold the dedicatory programme.

He said the project was based on the proverb “Where there is a will there is a way”.

Speaking on the formation of the committee, Supu said the Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur had initially proposed for the construction of foothill road in 2013 and after which, under the aegis of 12 tribal organizations, NFHRCC was constituted. The leaders of the tribal bodies were committed right from the

beginning, he added. On the allegations of misappropriation of Rs. 36.56 lakhs donated by Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) towards the project, Supu said God was the witness and that the committee never touched or even received the amount. He clarified that since the committee was a pressure group, the amount was donated to the state government by ABAM, which was later returned to ABAM.

Supu recalled that during the course the project carried out by the committee, they had come across many untoward situations,

2-day Nagaland Prayer festival commences at Agri Expo

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 28

day, 4 pm at the Agri Expo in Chümoukedima.

Him with all their burdens and brokenness.

“There’s no issue in this election,since no opposition. The only issue is seat sharing between NDPP and BJP.”

(NPN): The two-day ‘Nagaland Prayer Festival’ hosted by Chenna-based Jesus Calls ministry and co-hosted by Western Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) commenced on Satur-

In his message, Dr. Paul Dhinakaran said the Dhinakaran family did not come to Nagaland to tell them what to do but to ask them (congregation) to listen to the call of Jesus for deliverance and come to

Dr. Dhinakaran spoke from the gospel of Matthew chapter 15 where Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw that the multitude that had gathered to hear him were sick, lonely and without hope.

Dr. Dhinakaran also pronounced a special prayer for Nagaland, the forthcoming election next month, absolute unity in the government, and for “all projects to come through.” He said people also need to pray for their rulers so that they can live in peace.

Earlier, chief minister Neiphiu Rio in his address, made an appeal to the gathering to pray for a peaceful and free and fair election, slated to be held on February 27, to pray for one another, and submit to the will and purpose of God. The inaugural session on Saturday was attended by wife of Paul Dhinakaran, Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran; his childrenSamuel Dhinakaran and Stella Ramola. Those present included chief minister’s wife Kaisa Rio; Azheto Zhimomi, MLA and other prominent church leaders. The prayer festival will culminate on January 29.

2023 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days and on 8 March on account of Holi),” the president’s secretariat said in a statement. It will be exclusively open for special categories, which include farmers, differently-abled persons, defence and paramilitary forces, and Delhi police personnel from 28-31 January. Visitors will be allowed to visit in six hourly slots between 10 am and 4 pm. “Spread over a vast expanse of 15 acres, Amrit Udyan has often been portrayed, and deservedly so, as the soul of the presidential palace.

ZLSU red flags drug trafficking

DIMAPUR, JAN 28 (NPN): Zeliang Students’ Union (ZLSU) has red flagged the issue of rampant inter-state drug trafficking.

In a press note, ZLSU through its media cell, while acknowledging the positive development taking place in the improvement of interstate road connectivity between Nagaland and Manipur via Peren district, however, expressed concern of illicit drugs beign trafficked through the district.

ZLSU said it was extremely distressed about such anti-social activities and appealed to the department concerned to take appropriate action to curb

such menace. “If the same trend continues it will ruin our students’ community and youths, and ultimately damage our community,” ZLSU stated. The union also urged upon the law enforcement agencies to swiftly act by deploying police personnel and other agencies at every entry and exit point. The union assured all cooperation with the law enforcement agencies to stop the menace.

Meanwhile, the union has warned drug peddlers/ smugglers and users that it would impose punitive actions against such perpetrators if caught.

Need to increase conviction rate in India, says Amit Shah

DHARWAD, JAN 28 (PTI):

Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday stressed on the need to increase conviction rate in the country and to integrate the criminal justice system with forensic science-based investigation, in order to set right the law and order situation in India.

Highlighting that the country has been making strides in the field of forensic science, he said India will have the largest number of forensic science experts in five years. “I can tell the countrymen that, if any country in the whole world will have the largest number

of forensic science experts in five years, it will be in India. Because India’s National Forensic Sciences University is the first such unique university in the world,” Shah said.

Speaking after laying the foundation for an offcampus facility of National Forensic Sciences University here, he said the crime world is changing at a fast pace and that criminals have gone far ahead than the police.

“Unless police are two steps ahead of the criminals, prevention of crime is impossible... we have to increase the conviction ratio,” Shah said.

‘Thousands of husbands will be arrested as…’: Assam CM

View of Mughal gardens (Narendra Bisht courtesy Sahapedia.org)

An aerial view of the 2-lane RCC bridge over Doyang river, Saturday.

(L-R) Section of the congregation at the prayer festival and Dr. Paul Dhinakaran and family along with Neiphiu Rio and others. (NP)

Retired Justice R Nariman

Himanta Biswa Sarma (Cont’d on p-7)

BJP state election committee members during the meeting (BJP4Nagaland)

Training, meetings & information for ensuing general election

DIMAPUR: In view of the ensuing general election to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), various trainings and meetings are being held and information disseminated for peaceful and smooth conduct of the election.

Training for sector magistrates in Kiphire

EAC

the master trainers and sector magistrates at the training at the DC’s conference hall on January 27. (DIPR)

In connection with the forthcoming election, training for the sector magistrates was organised on January 27 at the Conference Hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kiphire, which was chaired by Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) Hq, Ane Khieya. The training was imparted

by master trainer, assistant professor ZPC Kiphire, I. Temjen Ozukum on the preparation of sector maps, vulnerability mappings, prepoll responsibility, poll-day and poll-eve responsibilities while Hotingkyu Sangtam imparted training on EVM/ VV Pay and facilitator, Selila on the postal ballot.

No leave for govt. employees

In view of the ensuing general election, Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Election Officer (DEO) Kohima, Shanavas C has directed all the heads of offices under Kohima district to remain in station till the election process was over. Further, DC and DEO stated that no leave should be granted to the subordinate officers/ staff who have already been requisitioned/drafted for election duty without proper consultation with DC and DEO Kohima.

National girl child celebrated at Longleng

DIMAPUR: District administration, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao&Sakhi One Stop center Longleng celebrated National Girl Child Day from January 21 to 24, 2023 under the theme “She is our Tomorrow” at Bautung Government

Higher Secondary School compound Longleng.

On January 21, the OSC team along with the district administration organized plantation drives and planted around 50 tree saplings at different wards of Longleng.

“Trees for Daughters” were planted signifying and promoting awareness of the rights and importance of girl child, DIPR reported.

On January 22, a slogan competition was organized with 11 wards youth followed by two days Inter Ward Girls Volleyball Competition.

Theme song of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao was presented by Nyenching Ward youth and keynote address was delivered by SDO (Civil) Longleng, Trongdiba Tongpi.

EAC HQ, Longleng Chingmei spoke on the theme “She is our Tomorrow”. She encouraged the girl child to participate in all the activities to gain more knowledge and experiences and to improve and empower themselves.

Meanwhile, the Inter Ward Girls Volleyball competition was organized with participation from nine wards under Longleng. The first place was won by Medical Ward, second by Agri Ward and third by PPC Ward.

IMFL worth Rs.2.5L destroyed in Kiphire

DIMAPUR: Pre-Trial Destruction Committee members as per the directive of Chief Judicial Magistrate Kiphire PhuletoYeptho destroyed seized Indian Made Foreign Liquors (IMFL) worth around Rs. 250,000 on January 23 in Kiphire.

The task was executed in the presence of ‘PreTrial Destruction Committee members’- EAC, SDPO, APP, OC/P.S, P. I and DPRO Kiphire, and GB forest colony Yangkimong, DIPR reported.

NPF minority wing central & divisions hold coordination meet

Frolic Club celebrates silver jubilee

In connection with the ensuing general election, a District Contact Centre with tollfree number 1950 and 24X7 Control Room has been set up at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Election Officer (DEO) Kohima. A DIPR report has informed the following: officer in charge –Ruoguolie PS to ADC, Kohima; district contact centre toll-free no – 1950 and 24x7 Control Room No – 03702290148/03702290178.

Further, for any issues relating to the forthcoming state assembly election, 2023, any individual has been asked to contact the provided contact details.

DC Mokokchung on vehicle requisition

DIMAPUR: Frolic Club celebrated silver jubilee January 28 at Local ground, Medziphema with Chakhroma Public Organization (CPO) president, Zhato Kimho as the special guest.

A press release by the club’s media cell informed that the club strives for unity and equal opportunity under the theme, “achieve greater heights”.

Speaking on the occasion, the special guest challenged the people of Medziphema to do away with tribalism and work towards the social and economic upliftment of the area.

Members of NPF minority wing with party president, Dr Shurhozelie. Naga Peoples Front (NPF) minority wing central and divisions on January 25 held a pre-election coordination meeting with members in-charge from its parent body at its Dimapur party office.

A press release by NPF minority wing informed that

chairperson of the meeting, NPF minority wing central president, Bishnu Bhattacharjee requested all party worker and well-wishers to stand united and work together for the NPF, the oldest regional party of north east and be a part of “good governance” in the state.

After the coordination meeting, the wings members and officials had a tour at central office, Kohima and also interacted with party president, Dr Shurhozelie and leader, Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu on January 26 and January 27 respectively.

License holders asked to deposit arms

In view of the general election and to ensure peaceful atmosphere in Noklak district, Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Election Officer (DEO) Noklak, K. Mhathung Tsanglao has informed all arms license holders under Noklak district to deposit their arms along with license at the nearest Police Station between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., latest by January 31. The DC and DEO has cautioned that failure to do as ordered would invite necessary action against the offender in accordance with

the provision of law. The DC and DEO has also informed that issue of arms license and renewal would be banned/ suspended till the completion of election process. The DC and DEO said carrying of licensed arms was banned till the completion of election process except by those persons who are entitled. Further, the DC and DEO has directed all the administrative officers to oversee that arm licence holders of all types of weapons are deposited in the police station.

Acknowledg e ment

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

DC and DEO Mokokchung has directed all Head of Department /offices under Mokokchung district to submit their official /attached vehicles along with the attached driver at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on February 4 at 10am for vehicle inspection and for requisition of the same in connection with the conduct of Nagaland Legislative Assembly election 2023. The order further stated that failure to comply with this order will invite prosecution under section 167 of the Representation of People’s Act 1951.

Lamenting the slow development of Medziphema, he challenged the people to be open minded and encourage infrastructural investment while urging the landowners to be more hospitable.

The jubilee souvenir was dedicated by Rev. Megovoto Kuotsu; Rev. H Minlen blessed the programme; Acü Seyie from Medziphema Village Council and Akhoto Miasalhou, president, Medziphema Town Mechu Krotho exhorted the gathering, and special numbers were presented by Vimeno Dolie, Neilhoukholie Kuotsu and Neitsolewe Koza.

OBITUARY

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away (Job 1: 21)

We, the family of Late Hezheli Assumi (Wokhami) , would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation towards each and every individual who stood by us. May the Lord graciously requite your service rendered upon our family.

We sincerely acknowledge the following few,

1. Maromi Baptist Church

2. Sumi Baptist Church, Naharbari, Dimapur

3. Maromi Union, Dimapur

4. VK Area GB’s & DB’s and VK Area

5. Former Minister, Shri Kheto Kinimi & Family

6. Advisor CAWD/NSDMA, Shri Kazheto Kinimi

7. VK, EAC

8. Inazhe Assumi & Family, Darogapathar

9. Dr Veto & Family, Eden Hospital

10. Mulato Achumi GB, Padumpukhuri Village, Dimapur

11. Hekhevi Yeptho VK, Town

12. Friends & Relatives

Mosa Lotha

1944 – Jan 29, 2022

Dearest Apo, Even after a year, the grief remains acute. You are always in our hearts. Rest well Miss you million times a day Your Beloved’s dC-104/23

Lt. Yanbani Ngullie

Born : 25/08/1942 – Died : 21/01/2023

We the bereaved family extend our heartfelt gratitude for all the kindness and support afforded to us during the demise of our beloved Mrs. Yanbani Ngullie Loving, Husband, Children and Grandchildren.

db-117/23

LATE HEZHELI ASSUMI(WOKHAMI) (Born on 1940 & Died on 24-01-2023)

Kiphire, Ane Khieya with

Zhato Kimho

Q.: Is the state govt doing enough to ensure free and fair polls?

Bishu mini hornbill festival culminates

NEXT POLL

Q: Will the union budget to be a pre-election budget for

WEATHER FORECAST

JANUARY 29

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 28

(NPN): The two-day, 16th Bishu (post- harvest festival of Kachari) Mini Hornbill Festival of the Kachari community concluded at Kachari Community Playground, Darogajan-Kushiabill with cultural presentation by various troupes.

The festival was organised by Dimasa Public Organisation Nagaland (DPON) in collaboration with department of Tourism, Nagaland.

Various stalls were displaying cultural items and ethnic food were also set up.

Dimasa Hasao Autono-

mous Council executive member Biswajit Daulagupu graced the event. In his speech, he stressed on the importance of unity amongst each other and with other communities. He appealed to the community to not sell their private lands instead learn to protect for the community as well as for the upcoming generation.

Biswajit further said that community should not be disheartened by being a minority community, but be proud of their rich culture.

Short speech was also delivered by Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) president Ramesh Hasnu, DHAC executive member

Awareness on ‘financial literacy’ for students

DIMAPUR: North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), Chümoukedima in collaboration with State Bank of India (SBI), Regional Business Office, Dimapur conducted awareness programme on “Financial Literacy for Students of Social Work” on January 28. The programme was sponsored by SBI, Regional Business Office.

Nojit Kemprai and DHAC member of autonomous council Manjit Naiding.

At the programme

Bishnu prayer was offered by GB Dhansiripar village Debolal Jigdung, and welcome address by Dimasa public organisation, Nagaland president Ditush Naben.

Bishnu greetings was delivered by Darogajan Village Council chairman PM Thaosen.

Cultural presentations were showcased by Darogajan cultural troupe, Amaluma cultural troupe, Doyapur cultural troupe and Karbi cultural troupe. It was followed by traditional games.

ACWA holds folk song competition

According to NEISSR Desk, Chief manager (Financial Inclusion), Ksh Rameshwar Singh and Manager SBD, Kenedy Ningthoujam both from SBI, Regional Business Office Dimapur, were resource persons. Rameshwar spoke on Financial Literacy for Youth and enhanced students on various social security schemes, as part of financial inclusion, implemented by the Government of India through linkages with Banks. Kenedy Ningthoujam spoke on the importance of digital banking skills where one need to enhance digital banking skills. He imparted functions and application of YONO app and YONO cash. He challenged the students to explore on various digital apps available and informed how WhatsApp can also be used as a financial tool.

PBCC youth holds convention-cum-music fest

hema Baptist Church pastor, Rev. Vilanyü Üsou reminded the congregation that the youth are the greatest armour of God. He challenged them to encourage one another spiritually and make the convention and music fest, a time to re-commit their life to Christ.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JAN 28 (NPN):

The second-day of the 23rd Angami Catholic Women Association (ACWA) convention witnessed folk song compeition among the churches at Zhadima village ground hosted by Sts. Peter and Paul church on Saturday.

15 out of 47 churches registered for the convention competed. Earlier, the day began with the celebration of the holy Eucharist by Rev. Fr. Joyal, VC, parish i/c Sts Peter and Paul Church Zhadima.

Speaking on the theme “One Lord, one faith, one baptism”, Rev Fr Dr George

Pezalhoukho Rino, asked the believers to ponder if teachings of God, the creator of all things, were being followed. He urged the people to do their best to be God’s disciples. He said that Catholics should proudly profess the faith of the universal church which teaches one faith. Citing biblical references of the Catholic Church, he enlightened the gathering about why the it believes in ‘one baptism’ pronounced by a priest in the “name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. In his references to the teachings of the Church, he also highlighted about the importance of ‘infant baptism’ among Catholics.

The session was chaired by Nekeduonuo Susana (NACWA), invocation by Neipusaü Lydia (WACWA), Bible reading by SACWA general secretary Vikeyieno Elizabeth and final prayer by Tsühi-ü Mary (CACWA). Viswema CWA was the choir of the session. St Francis De Sales Church Kohima Town emerged as the winner of the competition while St Stephen’s church Rüsoma and St Michael’s Church Kigwema secured the second and third positions respectively. A new team of ACWA office bearers headed by president elect Visazhünuo Carmilla was elected.

Chozubami citizens’ day celebrated

the glory of God. She challenged the youth to keep their faith strong and reminded them that were prime stage to serve God, although the mission calling doesn’t have an age bar.

Correspondent

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA,

JAN 28 (NPN): Pesocha Baptist Church Council (PBCC) Khriesarüü Krotho (youth) 44th convention cum music fest under the theme, “You are my witness” (Isaiah 43:10) hosted by Nerhema Baptist Church, Kohima district commenced on January 27.

A press release by PBCC youth informed that during the inaugu -

196

ral, PBCC president, Rev Neivilie Zuyie hoisted the convention flag and dedicated the tabernacle.

The programme was led by finance secretary PBCC youth, Kelhouvilie Kense while male voice of Khedi Baptist Church presented a song and Chedema Baptist Church blew the trumpet to herald the convergence.

Later in the vesper, speaker, youth director, Angami Baptist Church Council, Kevilhouleü S.

Kehie underlined the need for understanding the purpose and call of God by heeding to the call with unreserved heart. Kehie warned that the heart could mislead when it was not rule by God and unbelieving.

The speaker also exhorted the youth to get rid of evils and introspect oneself and discover oneself to follow Christ with dedication and commitment.

In his greetings, Ner-

pass out from ARTC&S

During the service, Khrietseituonuo Chase read out the scripture, choral were presented by Botsa Baptist Church and Meriema Baptist Church, “memory verse” by Kijumetouma Baptist Church and a song was also presented by Tsiemekhuma Baptist Church. The programme was led by Shurhovotuo Rulho and the theme song was presented by PBCC youth officer bearers while praise and worship was led by Nagabazar Baptist Church Youth.

On the second day, on Saturday, in the morning service, Khrienuo Moa, managing director, G. Rio School, Kohima was the speaker. She preached about the grace of God through the redemption of Jesus Christ on the cross despite mankind falling short from

The programme was led by Ruokuosienuo Suohu and Koinonia Baptist Church presented a choral piece while special songs were presented by Teichüma BKK and Tsiemekhu Basa BKK and scripture were read out by Thepfuchatuo Mere and Mercy Thepa.

In the evening service, Mengusielie Kesiyie Youth Director, Pesocha Baptist Church Council was the speaker. He called upon the youth to re-commit their lives to Christ by obeying, fearing and living for Him and live in the likeness of Christ.

The programme was led by Keneingulie Rüpreo, Choral piece was presented by Khedi Baptist Church, special songs were presented by Nerhe Phezha BKK and Viphoma BKK and scripture were read out by Viphrezo Theünuo and Rüdivinuo Kense.

KOHIMA, JAN 28 (NPN): Chozubami Citizens’ Day was organized under the umbrella of Chozubami Razüve Hoho on January 27 and 28, 2023 at Chozuba Village Ground.

The two-day mega event, a conglomeration of census data collection and cultural display, was attended by all the Chozubami residing within and outside village. The celebration filled

with traditional display of folk dances, songs and games.

The introductory service was graced by NBCC general secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, as the main speaker, wherein he spoke on knowing God and a contented life in God.

Commissioner and Secretary, Rural Development, Neposo Thelüo was the special guest of the cultural day.

In his speech he en-

ATMA blocks conduct demonstrations & trainings

DIMAPUR: With an objective to empower and skill farmers, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) blocks conducted various demonstrations and trainings across the state.

Suruhuto block: ATMA Zunheboto, Suruhuto Block conducted demonstration programmes on January 27-28 at Zhekuto and Sapoti village. The farmers were shown a hands-on demonstration on “soil conservation measures on jhum (brushwood check dam)” was shown by ATM, Kaoto Sema, using locally available resources dissipating the energy of runoff and to keep the gully stable.

DIMAPUR: After 44 weeks of military training, 196 recruits, both boys and girls passed out from the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School (ARTC&S) at Shokhuvi on January 28.

According to PRO (defence), the attestation parade was reviewed by Brigadier S K Sheoran,

Deputy Inspector General, Assam Rifles Training Centre & School in the presence of parents and guardians.

Addressing the recruits, the Reviewing Officer highlighted the rich history of the Assam Rifles as the oldest paramilitary force of the country and its diversified role in North

East, across the country and overseas. He congratulated the recruits and their proud parents on successful completion of training and wished them success and happiness in all their endeavors. The Rifleman and Riflewomen will join their respective units to serve the country.

ATM, Moanenla Jamir illustrated compost making using Berkeley method and highlighted the importance of the hot composting method as it produces compost in just 18 days as compared to other conventional method of composting which takes about 30 -40 days. Further, the farmers were also trained on “cultivation of mushroom” in collaboration with FOCUS-IFAD, Zunheboto. Altogether 16 farmers along with ATMA staffs attended

the training programme.

Kobulong block: ATMA Mokokchung Kobulong block conducted a demonstration on “improved cultivation practices of chilli” on January 28 at Molongkong, Mopungchuket village. Resource person, block technology manager, ATMA, C. Amongla Jamir deliberated on nursery bed preparation, land preparation, application of manures, sowing time transplanting, intercultural operation, pest and disease management and harvesting and encouraged the farmers to engage in organic farming.

She also highlighted the farmers on the uses of neem oil, pheromone trap and yellow sticky trap Later, preparation of raised nursery

bed and spacing to maintain while planting were demonstrated to the farmers. Altogether 11 farmers attended the programme.

Tuli block: ATMA Mokokchung Tuli block conducted demonstration on “oyster mushroom cultivation” and “performance of chilli var. Aviva1816” on January 27 at Tuli Town and Aopenzu village. The resource person ATM, Imlipokim Pongener deliberated on the benefits of mushroom cultivation and its contribution in elevating the economic status. He briefed the farmers on the raw materials and equipment required for cultivation and precautionary measures a cultivator should follow during the process. He further demonstrated step wise

cultivation procedures to the farmers.

Resource person, ATM, Lanusanen, gave demonstration on “performance of chilli var. Aviva 1816” and gave a demonstration on nursery bed preparation and its management.

couraged the community to preserve their culture.

Thüluo said villages were the base of Naga society where the people could find their true identity.

The day was marked with various cultural items including, games, dances and songs and a common feast.

ATMA Kobulong block

Cultural presentation by women folk at the Bishu celebration on Saturday.

Women folk participants at the song competition on the second day of the Angami Catholic Women Association on Saturday. (NP)

Members of host Church Nerhema Baptist Church on Saturday. (NP)

Menfolk presenting a cultural dance at the occasion. (NP)

The newly recruits at the passing out parade on Saturday.

BJP

calls Mamata a ‘proBangladeshi’, ‘outsider’

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 28: The BJP, which is aggressively campaigning in Meghalaya for the upcoming Assembly elections, took a pot-shot at the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) and described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a “pro-Bangladeshi” and an “outsider” in Meghalaya politics.

“Mamata Banerjee has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an outsider because she is pro-Bangladeshi and supports only Bangladeshis. TMC is based only in West Bengal. Therefore, people of Meghalaya would not accept the party,” Meghalaya BJP President, Ernest Mawrie said.

Dubbing the West Bengal government as the “most corrupt in India”, Mawrie said West Bengal’s law and

Cong allots ticket to Agatha Sangma’s brother-in-law

Correspondent

Tripura assembly polls: BJP to contest in 55 seats, ally IPFT in 5

ments about We and MYE cards. They are promising to implement it if they come to power. It means that they are offering money indirectly,” Mawrie said.

The TMC’s We card is a monthly direct money transfer of Rs. 1000 to each woman of a household.

order is deteriorating every day and it’s the most corrupt government in the country.

“The West Bengal government is the most corrupt government in the country,” the BJP leader claimed.

Meanwhile, the BJP has filed a complaint before the Election Commission of India on “buying of votes” by the TMC and putting up front page advertisements about its We card and MYE cards. “We have raised an objection before the ECI against the TMC for publishing front page advertise-

G P Singh to be next DGP of Assam

retiring on January 31, the notification, signed by Principal Secretary, Home and Political department, Niraj Verma said.

Singh, expressing his gratitude for the appointment, said he will continue to give his best for the state.

Similarly, the MYE card is a monthly transfer of Rs. 1000 to every unemployed youth of the state in the age group of 21-40 years.

Mawrie said he has raised complaints against the NPP regarding the Focus scheme. This scheme was implemented just months before the election date was announced by the NPP-led MDA government. Under the scheme, a farmers group is being provided Rs. 5000 to upscale their production and piglets too are being distributed, Mawrie said.

SHILLONG, JAN 28: The Congress on Saturday declared its final list of five candidates for the Meghalaya Assembly elections, fielding Chireng Peter R Marak, the brother-in-law of lone National People’s Party (NPP) Lok Sabha member Agatha Sangma from Kharkutta assembly constituency.

The Congress have denied party ticket to former Chief Minister Salseng C. Marak’s son, Silman Sangma in favour of a former Nationalist Congress Party leader Dr. Tweel K. Marak from Resubelpara assembly seat. Sources said that the former Chief Minister is unhappy with the Congress leadership denying party ticket to his son Silman, who have been associated with the Congress for many years now. “We will be meeting in a couple of days to dis-

cuss about this development (:denying party ticket ) and we will take our stand accordingly,” sources closes to Chief Minster’s family said.

Among the candidates named in the second list include Carla R. Sangma from Rajabala assembly constituency in West Garo Hills district, Arbiangkam Khar Sohmat from Amlarem assembly seat in West Jaintia Hills district and Jhanika Siangshai from Khliehriat assembly seat in East Jaiñtia Hills district.

With the declaration of the second list, the Congress has fielded all its candidates in all the 60 assembly constituencies.

The Congress which was the the single-largest party with 21 seats in the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly elections was reduced ti 17 in the 60 member State Assembly following the demise of the Congress MLAs and resignation of one party MLA .

NGT refrains from imposing Rs 1,000 cr fine on Assam, notes state’s undertaking

norms.

GUWA HATI, JAN 28

(PTI): Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer

Gyanendra Pratap Singh will be the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

Singh, currently the Special DGP (Law and Order), will take over from Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who retires at the end of this month.

Sarma mentioned Singh as the next DGP during a speech at a government function here.

A notification was also issued by the Home Department on Saturday naming Singh as the new DGP.

Singh’s appointment will come into effect from February one with Mahanta

“We will continue to work to maintain the momentum the state has gained in the last couple of years, especially in the past oneand-half-years under the current chief minister,” he said.

Taking to Twitter, the senior IPS officer wrote: “With the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, I look forward to the opportunity of serving the people of Assam. Gratitude to the honourable chief minister of Assam for reposing trust in me to lead the glorious Assam Police.”

Singh, a 1991-batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre had returned to Assam as the Additional DGP (law and order) in December 2019 from his Central deputation during the peak antiCAA protests in the state.

He had earlier worked in the National Investigation Agency and the Special Protection Group (SPG).

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): The National Green Tribunal has, for the time being, refrained from imposing a fine of Rs 1,000 crore on Assam for improper management of solid and liquid waste.

The NGT withheld the environmental compensation after noting the state has committed more than Rs 1,000 crore for the management of solid waste, legacy and liquid waste.

A bench chaired by Justice A K Goel, the chairperson of the green tribunal, noted the data presented by Assam’s chief secretary and said there were gaps in the management of waste.

The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad said it was the constitutional responsibility of the state and the local bodies to provide a pollution-free environment.

There is no time for leisure, as reflected in the timelines proposed for bridging the acknowledged gaps, the bench said adding,

compliance with environmental norms on waste management has to be a high priority.

“We hope in the light of interaction with the Chief Secretary, the state of Assam will take further measures in the matter by an innovative approach and stringent monitoring, ensuring that gaps in solid (unprocessed 752 tonnes per day and 33 lakh tonnes of legacy waste) and liquid waste (435 million litres per day) generation and treatment are bridged at the earliest, shortening the proposed timelines, adopting alternative or interim measures to the extent and wherever found viable,” the bench said.

Restoration plans need to be executed at the earliest simultaneously in all districts, cities, towns and villages in a time-bound manner immediately and the district magistrates monitor sewage and solid waste management, it said.

The NGT said the chief secretary must ensure overall compliance with the

War on drugs excludes drug lords: Manipur Congress

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 28: Strongly reacting to the FIR lodged against MPCC president and sitting MLA K Meghachandra, the opposition Congress on Saturday took on the BJP government and accused the incumbent government of “trampling free speech”.

The opposition also alleged that the ongoing war on drugs campaign did not include war against drug lords while stating that the FIR was lodged for demanding a CBI inquiry into the drug haul cases including recent multi-crore rupees drug seizure involving personnel of the state police department.

“Here in Manipur, there is no democracy.

There is a dictatorial rule in the state,” MPCC spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said, while strongly reacting to the FIR case against the MPCC chief.

Kakching police station of Kakching district had earlier registered a FIR against the MPCC president and MLA K Meghachandra and Th Kennedy, a Congress candidate in the last Assembly elections from Kakching AC.

The sitting MLA and his companion were accused of “obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, criminal trespass with common intentionpunishable under section 186/447/34 IPC”.

The case was related with the visit of the MLA to the office of the Kakch-

ing SP on the day the huge consignment of drugs was seized on January 16.

The FIR lodged in the backdrop of Congress’s demand for handing over drug related cases to the CBI or an independent Central investigative agency was to suppress the freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of movement, the MPCC spokesperson told the reporters at a press conference held in Imphal’s Congress Bhavan today evening.

Under the BJP regime, freedom of speech and expression are being suppressed. Anyone who voiced out against the incumbent government is being pulled up, he alleged.

He said that the FIR against the MPCC president itself shows that the freedom of speech and expression is being suppressed in the state under the BJP rule

It was not the first time.

There were instances of pulling up senior editors, university and college professors, journalists, blockers and many young people for

talking against the policy and programme of the government. Some of them were even slapped with NSA (National Security Act), he added.

Democracy in the state was in distress under the BJP regime. Even if the government continues to pull up, the Congress will always stand for democracy and fight for safeguarding the right to free speech and expression, he said.

“We will unitedly fight for democracy and save our people and our state from being converted into a regime of dictatorship,” the MPCC spokesperson said.

Alleging that the MPCC president was victimized for the party’s demand for handing over the drug haul cases in the state to the CBI, he said that the ongoing war on drugs campaign of the BJP government excluded war against drug lords.

Under the war on drugs campaign of the present government, many drug peddlers have been arrested and recovered drugs worth

Determining the quantum of compensation, the green panel said in normal circumstances, the state was liable to pay a compensation of around Rs 1,000 crore. But the state had submitted an undertaking that Rs 1,043 crore would be soon credited to a separate ring-fenced account for the management of solid and liquid waste, the tribunal said.

“In view of the undertaking given, we refrain from levying environmental compensation (EC) on the state of Assam for time being and the ring-fenced account will be non-lapsable,” the it said.

The tribunal directed the chief secretary to file six-monthly progress reports with verifiable progress. The NGT is monitoring compliance with Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and other environmental issues by states and union territories.

crores of rupees. However, so far, there was no instance of arrest of a drug lord or owner of the seized drugs.

“The war on drugs is going on but in the absence of war against drug lords. We would like to know who the real owners of the seized drugs are”, he said.

The spokesperson said that contraband drugs were seized almost every day in the state under the war on drugs.

“Unfortunately there is no war on drug lords and why there is no war on drug lords, we will like to know,” he asked.

Everybody would like to know the real owner(s) of the recent case of seizure of a huge consignment of drugs transported by five personnel of the state police. The Congress also would like to know the real owner(s).

The huge drug consignment was seized by state police from its own personnel and the police department itself was investigating the case.

“Here, the Congress would like to question how a fair investigation can be done by the police against its personnel. The Congress wants a fair investigation. That is why the party is demanding handing over the case to the CBI,” he said.

It was after the Congress demanded handing over the case to CBI, the FIR against the MPCC president and sitting MLA K Meghachandra was lodged, he alleged.

AGARTALA, JAN 28

(PTI): The Tripura BJP has finalised the seat-sharing deal with old ally IPFT for the February 16 assembly election, giving the junior partner in the coalition five constituencies, four less than what it got in the 2018 polls.

Announcing that, Chief Minister Manik Saha told a press conference here that the BJP will contest in 55 constituencies. The CM will contest from Town Bardowali, the constituency he won in a by-poll last year.

Earlier in the day in New Delhi, the saffron party released the party’s first list of 48 candidates for the Tripura Assembly polls, fielding 11 women including Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik. Saha said the names of the remaining seven nominees will be announced later. The list was announced on Saturday, when only two days are left for filing

Shringla on Aizawl visit for G20 meeting

AIZAWL,

JAN 28 (PTI):

G20 chief coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla is on a two-day visit to Aizawl to review the preparedness to host an upcoming G20 meeting, scheduled on March 2, officials said.

He arrived at Lengpui airport on Friday and was received by state Tourism Secretary Manisha Saxena.

Upon his arrival, he inspected the airport and then visited an auditorium of Mizoram University in Tanhril area on the outskirts of Aizawl where the meeting will be held, they said. He also held a meeting with members of a core team and various sub-committees constituted by the state government to oversee the preparedness to host the meeting. On Saturday, Shringla will meet Chief Minister Zoramthanga before leaving for Delhi, officials said. Shringla was accompanied by Ministry of External Affairs Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor Vibhu Nayar and several other officials from the Centre.

Budget session of Mizoram Assembly from Feb 7

AIZAWL, JAN 28 (PTI):

The Budget session of Mizoram Assembly will be held from February 7 to March 13, Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo said on Saturday.

The budget session will start with the customary address by Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on February 7.

Sailo told PTI that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) decided that Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who also holds the Finance portfolio will present the state annual budget on February 13.

Election to the post of Deputy Speaker will be held on the second day after deliberation of motion of thanks on the governor’s address, he said.

Election of deputy speaker was necessitated by the resignation of Lalrinawma as deputy speaker and his subsequent induction as a minister in Zoramthanga’s cabinet in December last year.

According to Sailo, the assembly secretariat has so far received more than 800 starred questions, 200 unstarred questions, a government bill and several papers to be tabled during the budget session.

When asked about former minister and sitting MLA Dr K Beichhua, who was recently expelled from the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Sailo said he would discuss with the MLA on his choice of bench where he will sit.

nominations. The saffron party contested the 2018 assembly election together with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the alliance partners fielded candidates in 48 and 12 seats respectively. The BJP-IPFT combine swept to power in the state replacing the 25-year-old Left Front regime winning 43 seats in the 60-member assembly. The BJP bagged 35 seats and the IPFT eight.

Pratima Bhoumik lost the 2018 election to fourtime Chief Minister Manik Sarkar from the Dhanpur seat which has a sizeable number of minority community voters. A year later, she became a Lok Sabha MP and the minister of state for social justice and social empowerment. Bhoumik will again contest from Dhanpur. Four sitting MLAs were dropped to pave the way for newcomers.

Former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, now a Rajya Sabha MP, did not feature in the list, and BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee will contest from Town Bardowali, the constituency held by the former.

The BJP replaced Deb with Manik Saha as the chief minister in May last year. The ex-CM later became a member of the Rajya Sabha.

State president Rajib Bhattacharjee said, “The tickets were given by the party’s parliamentary board after analysing the performance of the ministers, MLAs and leaders. The party’s state leadership has no hand in the process.”

On dropping four MLAs - Mimi Majumder, Biplab Ghosh, Arun Chandra Bhowmik and Parimal Debbarma, Chief Minister Manik Saha said, “It happens every time and it is not a big issue”.

Special Observers review poll preparedness in M’laya

SHILLONG, JAN 28

(PTI): The Election Commission of India appointed Special Observers on Saturday held a meeting with senior Meghalaya government officials and reviewed the election preparedness in the state, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) F R Kharkongor said. Election to the 60 member Meghalaya Assembly is scheduled for February 27. The last date for filing nomination is February 7 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is February 10.

Special General Observer Y Tripathi, Special Police Observer V Johri and Special Expenditure Observer B Murli Kumar conducted a detailed review of the election preparedness with the CEO, chief secretary, DGP, state police nodal officer, deputy commissioner and SPs of all the 12 districts and other officials, he said.

Tripathi instructed the officials to strictly adhere to the Election Commission’s timelines to complete the various activities dur -

ing the election process, Kharkongor said. The Special Expenditure Observer stressed on proper coordination amongst various enforcement agencies.

Kumar also instructed for activation of the number of flying and static surveillance teams deployed and to generate enhanced awareness of C-Vigil apps among voters, improve coordination mechanism with BSF along the International border, enable GPS tracking on flying squad team vehicles and ensure that all banks submit daily reports on suspicious transactions to DEO and Income Tax. According to the CEO, at least 34 constituencies are ‘expenditure’ sensitive and necessary preparations are in place in these segments. A separate state level review was held on the monitoring the expenditure with the nodal officers of Income Tax, CGST, ED, NCB, DRI, CBIC, SLBC, RBI, Airport Director and State Police, Excise, Forest, and State GST Commissioners, the CEO said.

Women should embrace motherhood at appropriate age : Himanta Sarma

GUWAHAT I, JAN 28 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Saturday said women should embrace motherhood at the “appropriate age” between 22 and 30 years as it otherwise leads to medical complications.

Speaking at a government function here, Sarma iterated his government’s commitment to stop underage marriages and motherhood. His comments come in the backdrop of the state government deciding to bring stringent laws and evoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to check child marriages and underage motherhood.

“Thousands of husbands will be arrested in the next five-six months as it is a crime to have sexual relations with a girl below 14 years of age, even if he is her legally wed husband,” Sarma said.

The legal age for the marriage of a woman is 18 years and those who marry younger girls will also be brought to book. “Many (men who marry girls) could face life imprisonment,” he said.

Speaking about motherhood, Sarma said, “Women should not wait too long to become mothers as it leads to complications. The appropriate age for motherhood is 22 years to 30 years”.

Women who have not married y et should do it

soon, he said with a smile.

“We have been speaking against early motherhood. But at the same time, women should not wait too long either as many do ...

God has created our bodies in a manner that there is an appropriate age for everything,” he added.

The Assam cabinet on Monday decided to book men who marry girls below 14 years of age under the POCSO Act. Those who

marry girls in the age group of 14-18 years will be tried under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The decision was taken to curb the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in the state, whose primary cause is child marriage, Sarma had said after the cabinet meeting. An average of 31 per cent of the marriages in the state are in the prohibited age group, he said.

Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma presenting an appointment letter to a candidate at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakhetra. (ANI)

MPCC spokesperson addressing a press conference against lodging FIR case its chief in Imphal.

Gyanendra Pratap Singh

Ernest Mawrie

SNIPPETS

Delhi govt to repair

1,400 km roads

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): Delhi government will repair 1,400 kilometre roads that come under the PWD, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Saturday.

The government will repair 1,400 kilometre roads that are broader than 45 feet and fall under the Public Works Department, he said at a press conference.

“The repair work will comprise repairing of the footpath, replacing kerbstones,” he said.

The chief minister said that the government will be hiring 150 sprinklers that will wash the roads every day and also the plants and trees on the roadside.

Apart from these, another 250 sprinklers will be hired that will wash the roads in the 250 wards of MCD.

He said that the work will be monitored by a third party, which will deploy vehicles with cameras to see whether the work is being carried out properly.

Batla House encounter convict dies

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): A convict serving life sentence in the Batla House encounter died on Saturday morning at AIIMS hospital during treatment for pancreatitis, officials said. A resident of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Shehzad Ahmed alias Pappu (33) was admitted in Tihar Jail on February 6, 2010. He was transferred to central jail number 15 in Mandoli on July 7, 2022, from central jail number 8/9 in Tihar, they said. He was serving life sentence in the 2008 Batla House encounter in which one inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was killed, officials said.

Ahmed was facing trials in six other cases, one of which was registered in Bengaluru, they said. “The convict was admitted to GTB hospital on December 8, 2022, for diagnosis of gallbladder stone-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis with modified CTSI and referred to Safdarjung hospital on December 27,” an official said.

Thereafter, he was referred to AIIMS hospital on January 11. On Saturday, the authorities informed that Ahmed has died at AIIMS hospital at 7.42 am, the officials added. Special cell Inspector Sharma was killed during the encounter between the police and alleged terrorists in South Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, following serial bomb blasts in the national capital in which 39 people were killed and 159 were injured.

Man arrested for vandalising

Ambedkar statue

BALLIA (UP), JAN 28 (PTI): A man was arrested for allegedly damaging a statue of BR Ambedkar in Chaube Chapra village, police said on Saturday.

“We have arrested one Chandrashekar Singh for damaging an Ambedkar statue. The incident occurred on Friday night and locals informed police about it on Saturday morning,” Additional Superintendent of Police Durga Prasad Tiwari said.

On the complaint of the locals, an FIR has been filed under relevant sections at Reoti Police Station.

According to the complaint, the man allegedly damaged the hand of the statue, located at a Bodh Math in the village.

“The damaged portion of the statue was fixed in the morning. The situation in the village is peaceful,” said the officer.

Govt working for section of society : PM

JAIPUR, JAN 28 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government is working to empower every section of society that has faced deprivation and neglect, and is moving ahead with the mantra of “Vanchit ko Variyata (preference to the underprivileged)”.

Modi is on a visit to Bhilwara district in Rajasthan on the 1111th incarnation festival of folk deity Lord Shri Devnarayan, revered by people of the Gurjar community.

Addressing a gathering at Malaseri Dungri village after taking part in a ritual to mark the occasion, the prime minister said the world now looks at India with high hopes and the country has shown its strength and power.

Today, India asserts itself on global platforms and is reducing its dependency on other countries, he added.

Highlighting the contribution of the people of the Gurjar community in the freedom struggle and other movements, the prime minister said it is the misfortune

Narendra Modi being presented a memento during the commemoration of 1111th Avataran Mahotsav. (PTI) of the country that such personalities did not get the place in history which they deserved.

However, Modi said, the new India is correcting the mistakes done in the past.

Many attempts were made to break India ideologically but no power has succeeded, he said, adding, “India is not just a landmass, but an expression of our civilisation, culture, harmony, and potential.”

“People should stay away from any thing which is against the unity of the nation,” he added.

For the last eight-nine years, the country has been

trying to empower every section of society that has been neglected and deprived, Modi said. “We are moving with the mantra of giving preference to the underprivileged.”

He said social power has played a huge role in India’s journey of thousands of years. “Let us take pride in our heritage, get out of the slavery mindset and remember our duties towards the country,” the prime minister added.

Lord Devnarayan always gave priority to social service and public welfare, and put all his energy towards the welfare of the people, he said.

Ladakhi innovator Sonam

Wangchuk on 5-day hunger-strike

Highlighting the schemes and programmes of the central government, the prime minister said, “Earlier, the poor used to worry about rations but today, they get full and free rations. Ayushman Bharat has removed the worries of medical treatment.”

“Facilities of banking transactions were available to limited people in the past, but today, the doors of the banks have opened for all, water through pipes is reaching more than 11 crore households and farmers are being benefited with PM Kisan Samman Nidhi,” Modi added.

In Rajasthan, assistance of more than Rs 15,000 crore has been given to farmers under the PM Kisan Kisan Samman Nidhi and welfare of livestock and cattle rearers is also being done, he said.

Modi further said that Lord Devnarayan manifested himself on a lotus, which is also the logo of India’s Presidency of the G20.

He added that he too has been associated with the ‘lotus’, a possible reference to the BJP’s election symbol.

LEH, JAN 28 (PTI): Sonam

Wangchuk, a prominent engineer whose life inspired a character in Bollywood blockbuster “3 Idiots”, has claimed that he placed under house arrest at his institute here, a charge denied by the police which said he was only prevented from observing a five-day-long fast at Khardung La top. The Ladakh-based innovator had announced a five-day long hunger strike at 18,380 feet high Khardung La from January 26 to invite attention of the BJP-led Centre to the demands of the people of Ladakh, including extension of sixth schedule of the Constitution and environmental protection form unchecked industrial and commercial expansion. Barring BJP, almost all major political parties, social and religious groups and student organisations have come together in both Leh and Kargil districts in support of the demands, including statehood and constitutional safeguards after the region was given a Union Territory status in August 2019 after

being carved out of J&K.

“He (Wangchuk) was not given permission by the administration to hold a five-day fast at Khardung La pass as the temperatures fall below minus 40 degrees Celsius there. “It was high risk for him and his followers to move to the place and accordingly, he was requested to observe the fast at his Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) campus,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Leh, P D Nitya said. She said police intercepted him when he tried to move towards Khardug La pass and requested him to return but he showed resistance and was brought back under lawful action to

his institute.

“He has signed a bond and police was deployed as a precautionary measure as he did not cooperate with the police,” the officer said. However, Wangchuk said “he was under house arrest, actually worse than the house arrest at the institute where he had started the five-day fast coinciding the Republic Day.” “I have announced a five-day climate fast to save and safeguard the Himalayas, the glaciers, Ladakh and its people under the sixth schedule of Article 244 of the Indian Constitution. I was initially told that the policemen are deployed for my safety and I did not take it otherwise,” he said.

Ragas, mega drone show to be flavour of Beating Retreat

LUCKNOW JAN 28 (PTI):

BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday said the central government should clear the air over financial irregularities allegations levelled by Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group.

Hindenburg Research, a US-based investment research firm that specialises in activist short-selling, has alleged that Adani Group was “engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud”, a charge the conglomerate described as malicious, unsubstantiated, one-sided and having done with malafide intention to ruin its share-sale.

Mayawati said, “For the past two days, a negative report of American firm Hindenburg in relation to Adani Group and its effects

AWANTIPORA (KASHMIR), JAN 28 (PTI): Se-

nior Congress leader Jairam

Ramesh on Saturday said he never thought former party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad would turn out to be a “Mir Jafar” and alleged that he had been propped up by the BJP to cut the Congress’ votes in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking with PTI, while walking in the Bharat Jodo Yatra that is in its final leg in Kashmir and is set to conclude on January 31, Ramesh said the most important thing right now is that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood be restored and elections be held besides bringing in Ladakh under Schedule VI of the Constitution so that it is governed by elected representatives and

on stock market etc is in discussions more than the Republic Day. The hardearned money of crores of people of the country is involved but the government is silent.” “After the allegation of cheating etc in shares, Adani’s property and world ranking has decreased, but people are more worried about what will happen to the huge investment made by the government in his group. What will happen to the economy? Restlessness

not bureaucrats.

He listed Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief and former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad as part of BJP’s plan to divide votes with others in the list being All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Asaduddin Owaisi and the Aam Admi Party (AAP).

“His going from the Congress was part of a Modi-Shah game-plan to cut votes. There are three votecutters in India – Asaduddin Owaisi put up by the BJP, AAP put up by the BJP and Azad put up in J-K to cut Congress’ votes. I do not think it is going to happen,” Ramesh said.

On whether Azad would dent the Congress’ prospects with his DAP, Ramesh pointed out that most

and worry is natural. The solution is needed,” she said in a series of tweets. The BSP chief asked the government to clear the air by issuing a statement to “address the worries of the people”.

“At the beginning of the budget session of Parliament starting from January 31, the government should issue a detailed statement on this matter in both the Houses so that the restlessness, especially among the urban middle class, is reduced,” she added.

Hindenburg said its two-year investigation reveals that “the Rs 17.8 trillion (USD 218 billion) Indian conglomerate Adani Group has engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades.”

NEW DELHI, JAN 28 (PTI): Tunes based on Indian classical music will be the flavour of the Beating Retreat ceremony which will also include the country’s “biggest drone show” comprising 3,500 indigenous drones, officials said on Saturday.

For the first time, a 3-D anamorphic projection will be done on the facade of North Block and South Block during the grand event at Vijay Chowk on Sunday, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The Beating Retreat ceremony marks the formal end of Republic Day celebrations. “Tunes based on Indian classical ragas will be the flavour of Beating the Retreat ceremony this year,” the ministry said.

The ceremony will be graced by President Droupadi Murmu. The president

identity for almost 50 years, gave him every conceivable position in the party and in the government, including chief minister, Union minister, Leader of Opposition, but I never thought he would be Mir Jafar, never.”

of national figures, events through smooth synchronisation.

“It will depict the success of start-up ecosystem, technological prowess of the country’s youth and pave the way for future path-breaking trends,” it said.

Congress workers and leaders who left with Azad have returned to the party fold. Asked if Azad can ever make a comeback into the Congress like some of his newly formed party colleagues have, Ramesh said, “I have no idea what Mr. Azad’s plans are. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that he would actually abandon the Congress. It is the party that gave him

Mir Jafar served as the commander of the Bengal army under Siraj udDaulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and betrayed him during the Battle of Plassey, paving the way for British rule in India.

Admitting that he was never a close associate of Azad, the Congress general secretary said he still “cannot reconcile with the manner of his leaving, the letter that he wrote diminished him in the eyes of every Congress person, particularly after getting all the

Two dead as car hits scooter, drags rider for 350 metres

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): A car collided headon with a scooter in Delhi’s Keshav Puram and drove on, dragging along for a distance one of its two riders, whose head got stuck between its mangled bonnet and the windshield. Both the riders died of injuries.

The incident took place around 3 am on Friday when the victims were returning home on the twowheeler after watching a movie, police officials said.

This comes weeks after a 20-year-old woman was killed in the early hours of the New Year after her scooter was hit by a car, which dragged her for 12 km from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala in the national capital.

In Friday’s accident, the Tata Zest car dragging the rider stuck on its bonnet and the scooter under its bumper was intercepted by police around 350 metres from the spot of the accident as it accelerated towards Inderlok in a bid to flee, the officials said.

Two of the car’s five occupants were held, while the rest managed to flee but were apprehended later, a senior police official said, adding that all of them are students and were driving around after attending a wedding.

Police said all five were under the influence of alcohol. They said the impact of the collision had flung the pillion rider of the scoot-

er to the roof of the car and then he fell on the road.

Both the injured riders, Kailash Bhatnagar (41) of Shastri Nagar and Sumit Khari (21) of Loni in Ghaziabad, were rushed to a hospital. Bhatnagar was declared brought dead at the hospital, while Khari died during treatment, police said. The victims used to work at a jeans manufacturing unit.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said a police control room (PCR) van saw the incident and chased the offending vehicle down. It was intercepted at a distance of about 350 metres from the spot within 11 seconds and its driver Parveen Nagar alias Silli (20) of Trinagar

and Diviansh Puri (20) of Shalimar Bagh were apprehended.

The other occupants of the car, Om Bhardwaj (19), Harsh Mudgal (19), and Devansh (19), were nabbed later, police said. A case under IPC sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 304A (causing death by negligence), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 34 (common intension), and provisions of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules and the Motor Vehicles Act was registered at the Keshav Puram police station, the DCP said.

Ramesh

benefits from the Congress in the last 50 years.”

Asked how he sees the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its impact, Ramesh pointed to the Congress resolution of August 6, 2019, and said the party wants restoration of the democratic process, restoration of fullstatehood and Ladakh to get its Schedule VI status in the Constitution and not be a Union Territory governed by bureaucrats getting orders from New Delhi.

“So it is a long drawn out process. But I do want to say that one should not forget that the Indian Constitution has Article 371 A-J, which has special provisions for Nagaland, Sikkim, Goa Arunachal Pradesh, parts of Assam”.

be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It will also witness the country’s biggest drone show, comprising 3,500 indigenous drones, the statement added.

“The magnificent drone show will light up the evening sky over the Raisina Hill, weaving myriad forms

Tri-services bands perform during full dress rehearsal for the Beating Retreat ceremony, at Vijay Chowk. (PTI) is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. “As many as 29 captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes will be played by the music bands of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the State Police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF),” the statement said. The ceremony will also

The ceremony will begin with the massed band’s “Agniveer” tune which will be followed by the enthralling tunes like “Almora”, “Kedar Nath”, “Sangam Dur”, “Queen of Satpura”, “Bhagirathi”, “Konkan Sundari” by pipes and drums band, the defence ministry statement said.

Indian Air Force’s band will play “Aprajey Arjun”, “Charkha”, “Vayu Shakti”, “Swadeshi”, while fascinating “Ekla Cholo Re”, “Hum Taiyyar Hai”, and “Jai Bharati” will be played by the band of Indian Navy.

India holds key to world peace and prosperity: Japanese ambassador

holding the presidency of G20 and Japan being the chair of G7 for this year.

“India holds the key to securing peace and prosperity for the entire world. India this year holds the presidency of G20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the G20 summit in September.

Hiroshi Suzuki

AHMEDABAD, JAN 28

(PTI): India holds the key to securing peace and prosperity for the entire world, Ambassador of Japan to India Hiroshi Suzuki said here on Saturday.

He also said the “close synergy” between the two countries is more important than ever” in view of India

(Japanese) Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is the chair of G7. So, the close synergy between India and Japan is more important than ever,” Suzuki said.

Speaking after inaugurating the 11th Japan Festival at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA), Suzuki stressed the need for a people-to-people exchange to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Govt must clear air over allegations against Adani Group, says Mayawati

Azad is ‘Mir Jafar’ and ‘vote-cutter’ propped by BJP: Jairam

Sonam Wangchuk

Mayawati

Jairam Ramesh

Assam Christians under watch

People of Assam and north east states share a common historical bond as they were all under the same administrative umbrella before the states were carved out of Assam. The people were drawn from various cultural history and religious faith and had no problem with regard to race of religion except in later years, the issue of exodus of illegal immigrants. A circular issued on December 16,2022 by Saurav Jyoti Saika APS and SP, SB(E/Z) shocked many especially the Christians in Assam. The memorandum requested DCs and SPs of districts in Assam to provide information regarding instances and pattern of religious conversion in Assam. The SP said the circular stated that this as per discussion held at SP’s Conference at Staff College on November 2,2022. The Assam Police memorandum sought information on -number of new churches established during the last one year and other data such as details of allotted land for construction and the key persons associated with the church; instances of conversion in the last six years; list of existing churches functioning in every district; community, area and other patterns associated with religious conversion or by means of inducement; prime factors responsible for religious conversion and suggestion on counter measures/ mechanism to address this issue with a long term solution/ perspective. The memorandum asked all the DCs and SPs to forward their respective reports to the Assam Police Headquarter on or before December 22,2022. Further, the SP impressed upon treating the memorandum as confidential. Then on December 24,2022 when media persons drew the attention of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on this matter, he simply distanced himself from the official letter that sought information from all SPs and DCs in the State on religious conversion and the number of churches established in their respective districts in the past one year. He insisted the Assam government has not issued any instruction for such an exercise that “might hurt the sentiments of a particular religious community”. The chief minister further informed that he had asked the Director General of Police (DGP) “to conduct an investigation after receiving a copy of the letter. Probably chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma may not have remembered about the police memorandum or may have been unaware of it since it may have been considered as a routine instruction that should have had the concurrence the ruling party’s ideology. If Mahanta was truly ignorant about the issue by asking his DGP to update him on the matter, a representation addressed to him by the United Christian Forum under Golaghat district should have served as a strong reminder. According to the UCF president Jiden Aind and secretary Leander Toppo christian community in Golaghat district were being asked to provide a whole range of information buy Police of Golaghat district. The queries were the same that were mentioned in the memorandum issued to all DCs and SPs by the SP, Special Branch Headquarters of Assam from Police at Kahilipara Guwahati. The UCF informed that the Golaghat police had begun their task of monitoring activities of Christians since January 2,2023. The UCF urged upon Mahanta to intervene in the matter since the community members are being harassed by the police and which has caused fear among them. So far after the news was published in this newspaper on January 25, there has been no reaction from the church organisations of Nagaland or its government.

DailyDevotion

How Could Someone So Persecute Jesus!

Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? —Acts 26:14

Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.

Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.

Quotes

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.

Confucius

‘Exercise your franchise judiciously’

Democracy thrives on the will of the people and Article 326 of the Constitution of India provides for the process of adult suffrage to implement the same. The composition of 60 members in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, allowed by Clause (1) of Article 170 of the Constitution of India, is the result of exercising the franchise.

The fulcrum of democracy is the electoral process. The ultimate tool at the disposal of every citizen irrespective of one’s religion, race, caste and sex is his/her ‘vote’ to determine the governing system of the State. If the integrity of the process is compromised then the notion of representation becomes vacuous.

The trite of “Government of the people, by the people and for the people” is indispensible. The principle of one man one vote is the basis of true democracy and

it should be the fundamental duty of every voter to exercise his/her franchise responsibly.

Every citizen should be election literate. As election awareness will not only safeguard the interest of the voter but also enable the voter to deal with the abuse of the process by others. Amongst many, few basic essentials are:

Undue influence and Proxy Voting: Interference or attempts to interfere with free exercise of electoral rights and personation at election is punishable office under Section 171C and 171D of the Indian Penal Code. The defaulters shall be punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend to 1 year or with fine or with both.

Booth capturing: Under Section 135A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the defaulter shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term

Psalm 133 is a short but candid description of celebrating unity among human relationship. In this psalm the word ‘unity’ encompasses God’s dwelling that will transcend human differences. It calls us to stay united, to stay connected and to stay stronger together. This psalm proclaims the spirit of unity among brothers. It accentuates the spirit of unity and the possibilityto foster sanctification, righteousness that can refresh our lives on earth. Let me relate this psalm with the estranged relationship between the Southern Angami and the Mao community.

Ps 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! This unity is not about living together in one locality, under one political jurisdiction or one state. The Jews were scattered all over the world and for several reasons, they come to Jerusalem for feasts and celebrations, for religious duties and requirements. During these feasts and pilgrimage they come and celebrate their common heritage: redemption from Egypt and encampment around the tabernacle in the desert (cf. Num 2).

Thus, the Psalmist here pronounces blessing on those who live in unity, regardless of their situation, location and vocation. Their cohesion was in conformation with the regulations for

which shall not be less than 1 year but which may extend to 3 years and with fine. Such offence committed by a person in the service of the Government shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 3 years but which may extend to 5 years and with fine.

Election Expenses: Article 324 of the Constitution of India empowers the Election Commission of India for superintendence, direction and control of elections throughout India. Expenditure Observers has been appointed, inter alia, to exclusively monitor the election expenditure of the contesting candidates. Amount limitation has been framed by the Election Commission of India. Therefore, candidates are bound not to exceed the limitation.

Golden Triangle: Equality, fundamental freedoms and protection

of life & personal liberty under Articles 14, 19 and 21 constitute as the Golden Triangle of the Constitution of India. As envisaged, citizens cannot be denied/barred from exercising their constitutional/statutory rights nor can they be restrained/ compelled/excommunicated for exercising their constitutional/statutory rights or privileges. Free and fair election is founded in the doctrine of basic structure. The right of an elector to cast vote without fear of reprisal, duress or coercion is fundamental which ushers good governance.

Royalties from candidates against the valuable vote has proved to be the most profound show of negligence and mockery to the democratic process. Every 5 years, democracy is strangled at the altar of greed. The incompetence or short sightedness of fellow voters to emphasis on the

‘Brothers in Unity’

the three annual feasts Pesach (Passover), Shavout (weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). They all come to fulfill one purpose, to proclaim God’s faithfulness.

We say we are siblings, having one common identity originated from Makhel. Unfortunately, we are separated by political boundary. The imagery boundary created by the aggressors, trying to break our solidarity and brotherhood by renaming places, imposing 144 CrPC, and setting military posts in our landare like a thorn in the flesh. Our dialect may differ from village to village, but our common heritage of land holdings is same.

We all have used the resources from the Kezol-tsa (a virgin forest primarily covered with thick forest, it comprises of three mountain ranges; Mt. Tempü, Khronyhü range and Tevuthwe range). This was a common heritage for our livelihood and today, it has become part of our identity from our ancestor’s time. Due to its rich resources in flora and fauna, people living nearby have accessed the forests for several reasons. For us it was cane, for some it was banana leaves (for traditional rites), traditional gates, rice pounders andpersonal use.

Ps 133:2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the

collar of his robes. When God’s people come together there is power and exuberance emitted in our gathering. And when this gathering has a common object and purpose, it’slike Christians fellowshipping to glorify and worship God.

The Psalmist compares the expression of harmonious unity to the special, fragrant oil used by the priests (cf. Ex 30:22-33). Only the high priest and the other priests could be anointed with this oil. Aaron as the “head” of the priestly clan is representative of all the priests.

Our ancestors have acknowledged each other’s presence by paying royalty and homage to elders and traditional owners of the Kezol-Tsa, in the form of giving shawl made of nettle plant, salt and banana leaves. Ownership doesn’tmean exploitation and dominance but for reverence and continuity.

Fellowshipping is to acknowledge each other’s presence in honor of the Creator and sustainer of the all human beings. Like the oneness of God is celebrated through the diversity of the Godhead: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Sadly, due to our human ego and bad precedence, we are trying to disengage instead of coming together. We are trying to feed each other with snakes when one is asking for fish. There could be diversity

importance of right representation instead of ‘community, clan and tribe’ has become a tradition which is being blindly adhered to for decades. The irony is that the motto of the State of Nagaland is ‘Unity’ while the veracity is on the contrary. It would not be wrong to admit that the understanding of an established Government is badly misplaced. A welfare society cannot be manufactured mechanically and it is time that we acknowledge the grim reality of our State and be mindful of whom we choose to be our voice in the coming Legislative Assembly. In our struggle for a better Nagaland, exercising our franchise judiciously is a step closer to the desired State. Complaining and denouncing the leaders of the day are traits which modern people must refrain and act through politics. The

in oral traditions; there could be divisiveness in political aspirations due to geo-political dislocation. But when diversity arises to challenge preferences like political and economic advantage, there is connection rather than separation. There is solidarity in displacement, dislocation and separation.

Ps 133:3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.Because of its high altitude and abundant precipitation of rain, snow, and dew, Mount Hermon was well-known for lush greenery even during the summer months (cf. 89:12) and for its dew that sustained the vegetation. The experience of the pilgrims is like that of the refreshing dew of Hermon. During the summer months virtually no precipitation falls on Jerusalem. Regardless of how harsh the conditions of the pilgrimage takes, the fellowship of the brotherhood of God’s people was refreshing.

How I wish Kezol-tsabecomes Hermon for all India. If all Christians live like Christ and do what God wants us to do, this imagery is not far from reality.

To make this imagery a reality, I want to extol Christian stewardship towards our environment. Instead of fighting for ownership and dragging the powers that be into this family issue, why

answer lies in politics by way of ballot box as a vote is best invested when it is commissioned for overall advancement of society.

India, the largest sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and republic nation in the world, is the home to many tongues and culture. Such accommodation justly represents the truest form of unity in diversity. Nagaland being the 16th son of the motherland should not be left astray in the course of achieving its potential. This quest for a just welfare State can only be attained when all the eligible denizens of Nagaland competently exercise their franchise. It is only then a new dawn on Nagaland can be witnessed. Now, the ball is in the court of the citizens of Nagaland.

C. Talimoa Chief Advisor, Nagaland Law Students’ Federation ctalimoa7777@gmail.com B.A. (Hons.), LL.B.

not acknowledge the traditional ownership and oppose developments that could deplete forests resources like flora and fauna. Instead of banning the other, why not we together banned logging, hunting and burning of the forests surroundings. Let us burn our ego by trying to understand each other’s point of view. Let us bring our selfishness and dishonesty before the Lord. God has located us to be custodians of our humble dwellings (villages), let us not turn it into the devil’s den. The dews of Kezol-tsawill nourish and replenish this country and neighboring countries, only when we take our responsibility towards our environment seriously. Why not promote ecotourism together? Why not exert that traditional boundary exists, and thatimagery political boundaries cannot override it? Why don’t we show that brotherhood transcendstemporary political friends? Why not we talk our differences openly and embrace each other like our ancestors had done before. Reinhold Niebuhr said; “It’s always wise to seek the truth in our opponents’ error, and the error in our own truth.” May God, help us find out the error in our truth as soon as possible. We must come together and find amiable ways to heal our hurts and talk like brothers.

Villo Naleo villonaleo@gmail.com

The Indo-Pacific and ASEAN: The evolving convolution

The Indo-Pacific region encompassing the marine space between the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean is undergoing a major strategic shift that might affect Southeast Asia’s regional architecture in the future. It is a multipolar zone that accounts for over half of the global GDP and population. The thriving Indo-Pacific ‘Sea Lanes of Communication’ (SLOC) has spawned competition, collaboration, and problems, with Southeast Asia serving as the fulcrum.

The southeast Asian region defines the maritime age since it serves as a transit or link between many sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region. Multiple Asian nations are re-emerging in this region, particularly in terms of geoeconomics.

The region is extremely diverse in terms of economic size and development, with major variances in security institutions and resources. It also faces difficult economic, security, and environmental difficulties.

The geo-economic goals and cooperation of nations within the Indo-Pacific might serve the need for restructuring the globalization process with Southeast Asia being at the Centre.

Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), which was established on August 8, 1967, is a decades-old regional association for the political and economic development of the Southeast Asian region. The main objective of ASEAN was to encourage cooperation within the member states for peace and security and to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation. Initially, ASEAN was formed for political reasons in the wake of the 1960’s insurgencies in the region and turned into a security organization through initiatives such as ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and later it has emerged as an economic platform with ASEAN Free Trade Agreements (AFTA) in the early 1990s. ASEAN has embraced a few stages in its evolutionary phases, such as the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Dialogue (ADMM), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defense Minister’s Meeting (ADMM), and ASEAN Defense Minister’s Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

In a globalized world, several regions have grown

more integrated, allowing states to progress towards their desired goals.

The Indo-Pacific brought together several regions whose interdependence is based mostly on marine channels of communication. At least 38 countries make up the region, which accounts for 44% of global surface area and 65% of the global population, as well as 62% of global GDP and 46% of global commercial trade. The Indo-Pacific maritime realm would demand states to digitally equip and upgrade their fleet to secure the common interest of the region at the same time control future war. Several challenges are surfacing in the IndoPacific region, including human trafficking, piracy, terrorism, humanitarian aid, and drug trafficking, to name a few. To secure its interest in the Indo-Pacific region, ASEAN has been working closely with several countries within and outside the region through several mechanisms of ASEAN to expand and implement its goals and objectives.

ASEAN has been emphasizing the importance of bringing “peace and stability” to the region’s organizational spirit. The

magnetism of ASEAN with partner countries such as the United States, France, Australia, India, and Japan, among others, has elevated its relations to a strategic level.

The emergence of China and, to a lesser extent, India, can be understood as a geopolitical shift from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific. China is considered a regional security threat by ASEAN, as evidenced by the Scarborough Shoal and the South China Sea.

Even though China’s massive economic cloud has captured several ASEAN members, including other Indo-Pacific states. Despite this ASEAN members have never hesitated to work for peace and prosperity with other states in the region and across Indo-Pacific including India. Maritime cooperation frameworks like India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) supplement regional multilateral forums. India has insisted that connectivity with ASEAN is at the heart of its Act East Policy, and it has framed its connectivity agenda around the realization of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 in its larger

Indo-Pacific strategy. The “Belt and Road Initiative” of China; The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – (TTIP) which is a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the United States and the European Union; The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was signed by 11 countries representing 13% of global GDP, went into force on December 30, 2018; the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) went into force on January 1, 2022, becoming the world’s largest free-trade zone in terms of trade volume, bringing together 15 Asia-Pacific countries that account for about a third of the global economy have become contending factor for the future of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region. For collaboration and advancement in the Indo-Pacific, states’ geostrategies require a mix of strong political, social, and economic ties. Due to its inclusiveness, ASEAN’s objective is significant: “an open sea for all states”. ASEAN must restructure to be able to withstand the threats to

its existence posed by the aforementioned initiatives, which may result in eroding cohesion about Southeast Asia-centric geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific future. The geopolitics and geostrategies being played between states in the IndoPacific may have resurrected the new Cold War, the anarchic world. Thus, the powerful states plan either through coercion or persuasion to lesser states in the process of resurrecting or constructing old civilization links to achieve current strategic aims. To architect the Indo-Pacific region, the US has been cementing ties with old and new allies. The United States Indo-Pacific document advocates for free and open linkages within and outside the area to promote development while also bolstering security and resilience in the face of 21st-century transnational challenges. The futurve will be influenced not only by the U.S and China but also by the policy decisions made by the ASEAN and other regional players in the Indo-Pacific.

Douminlal Kipgen

M.A Geopolitics and International Relations Kipgendouminlal@ gmail.com

SNIPPETS

Man kills wife, self

MANGALURU, JAN 28

(PTI): A 65-year-old man killed his bedridden wife before hanging himself in their apartment here on Saturday, police said. The deceased have been identified as Dinesh Rao (65) and Shailaja (64). Rao had been a retired manager of a bank. The police said the woman had been bedridden due to illness for the last six to eight years. A nurse had been employed to take care after the couple in their flat. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar, who visited the scene, told reporters that the two had been found dead. The incident came to light when the nurse came in this morning. Rao had been worried over the health of his wife. The couple has two daughters, one stays in Mysuru while the other in the US. Further details on the deaths would be known after a forensic examination, Kumar said.

AAP appoints Vasava as party leader

AHMEDABAD, JAN 28 (PTI): The Aam Aadmi

Party on Saturday appointed tribal MLA Chaitar Vasava as its legislature party leader in Gujarat and Hemant Khava as the deputy leader, it said in a release. Vasava represents the reserved Dediapada assembly constituency in Narmada district, while Khavais is an MLA from Jamjodhpur in Jamnagar district. A legislature party comprises the members of a particular party in the House. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party had contested in 181 of Gujarat’s 182 constituencies in last year’s assembly elections but could win only five seats despite claiming to be the main contender to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP, on the other hand, registered a historic victory by winning a record 156 seats. Despite the defeat of its top leadership, the AAP polled 12.6 per cent votes. Four of its candidates won seats in the Saurashtra region, and one in a tribal seat of south Gujarat.

Seer announces bounty on SP leader

AYODHYA (UP), JAN 28 (PTI): An Ayodhya seer on Saturday announced “a bounty of Rs 500” on senior Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya for allegedly disrespecting the Ramcharitmanas. Tapasvi Chhavni Temple chief priest Mahant Paramhans Das told PTI, “I will give a reward of Rs 500 to the person who will behead Maurya who had recently shown disrespect to Ramcharitmanas.”

1 dead, 15 injured in truck accident

INDORE, JAN 28 (PTI): One person was killed and 15 seriously injured after their truck overturned near Indore in Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Saturday. The incident took place on Friday night in Bheirughat when the truck was on its way from Kaisoor in Dhar district to Omkareshwar, said Simrol police station in charge RS Bhadoriya. “There were 37 persons in the truck and they were going to take a dip in the Narmada river at Omkareshwar. The driver apparently lost control at a sharp turn and the truck overturned after colliding with a divider on a bridge,” he said. “One person died on the spot, while 15 persons sustained serious injuries and have been admitted in the MY Hospital in Indore.

Another 20 occupants received minor bruises requiring first aid,” Bhadoriya said.

Sukhoi, Mirage jets collide in MP; 1 pilot killed

NEW DELHI/MORENA/ BHARATPUR, JAN

28 (PTI): In a rare and tragic accident, two frontline combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during a training mission in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district on Saturday, resulting in the death of a wing commander while two other pilots ejected safely.

Defence experts said it is probable that the Russiandesigned Sukhoi-30MKI jet and the French Mirage-2000 had a mid-air collision, but there was no official comment on it from the IAF.

The deceased pilot of the Mirage aircraft was identified as Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi, officials said, adding that a high-level probe has been ordered into the accident.

The two pilots of the Sukhoi aircraft managed to eject and were taken to a military hospital, they said. The Mirage-2000, which is a single-seater jet, was flown by Sarathi.

“Two fighter aircraft of IAF were involved in an accident near Gwalior today morning. The aircraft were

on routine operational flying training mission,” the IAF said in a brief statement.

“One of the three pilots involved sustained fatal injuries. An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident,” it said.

The accident came nearly four years after two Hawk aircraft of the IAF’s aerobatic team, Surya Kiran, crashed in Bengaluru after a mid-air collision. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the crash.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of brave air warrior, Wg Cdr Hanumanth Rao Sarathi, who suffered fatal

injuries during an accident near Gwalior. My deepest condolences to his bereaved family. We stand by his family in this difficult hour,” the defence minister said on Twitter. The officials said the recovery of the flight data recorders of the two aircraft would throw some light on what led to the crash.

Morena Collector Ankit Asthana said the debris of both the aircraft fell in the Pahargarh area of the district. Some debris also fell in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, which borders Madhya Pradesh, he added.

Two pilots survived the crash, Asthana said, adding that the body parts of

UN General Assembly president’s 3-day India visit begins today

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Csaba

Korosi will arrive in India on a three-day visit on Sunday, during which he is expected to discuss with his Indian interlocutors ways to deal with various challenges facing the globe.

Korosi is scheduled to witness the “Beating the Retreat” ceremony at the historic Vijay Chowk in the heart of New Delhi.

The president of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (PGA) will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on key

Csaba Korosi

multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

“The PGA’s visit to India will be an opportunity to exchange views on global challenges that the United Nations is currently seized with,” the MEA said in a statement.

“It would help reinforce India’s abiding com-

mitment to multilateralism, including through its ongoing G20 Presidency, and how it would address these global challenges meaningfully for a better future for the Global South,” it added.

Korosi has already outlined five priorities for his UNGA presidency, which include standing firm on basic principles of the UN charter, making significant and measurable progress in sustainability transformation, enhancing the role of science in decision making and increasing solidarity to better endure new chapters of crises facing the world.

another were found in the Pahargarh area.

Earlier in the day, Bharatpur Superintendent of Police Shyam Singh had said an aircraft crashed in an open field in the Ucchain area. Locals were the first to reach the site where the debris from one of the aircraft fell, police in Bharatpur had said. According to an aviation expert, it was the first Mirage 2000 as well as Sukhoi-30MKI that the IAF lost in a mid-air collision. The SU-30MKI is a twin-seater combat jet, while the Mirage 2000, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, is a single-seater aircraft. Both the jets took off from the Gwalior Air Force station. The base has squadrons of both Sukhoi-30MKIs and the Mirage 2000 jets. Aviation historian Anchit Gupta tweeted that midair collisions (MAC) are not that uncommon and at least 64 aircraft and 39 pilots have been lost in MAC in the last more than 70 years in India.

He said the country lost 11 Mig-21 aircraft in MAC, while the numbers for the

Hunter and Jaguar aircraft are eight and five respectively. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in a tweet, said: “The news of the crash of Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 aircraft of the Air Force near Kolaras in Morena is very sad.”

“I have instructed the local administration to cooperate with the Air Force in quick rescue and relief work. I pray to God that the pilots of the planes are safe,” he added. Two pilots of the IAF were killed in July last year when their twin-seater Mig-21 trainer aircraft crashed during a training sortie near Rajasthan’s Barmer.

In March last year, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhat told the Rajya Sabha that 42 defence personnel were killed in accidents involving aircraft and helicopters of the three services in the last five years.

In October last year, a weapon system integrated version of an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of the Indian Army crashed near Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh.

PUNE, JANUARY 28

(PTI): The students’ association of the Film and Television Institute of India screened the controversial BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots on the campus of the premier acting school here, said the student body on Saturday.

“On 26/01/23, we screened the banned BBC documentary ‘The Modi Question’ at FTII,” said a statement issued by the FTII Students’ Association.

The Centre had last week directed social media platforms Twitter and YouTube to block links to the documentary “India: The Modi Question”. The Ministry of External Affairs has trashed the documentary as a “propaganda piece” that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset.

Throughout history, the association’s statement said, the banning of literature, music, and in recent times, media, has been a sign of a crumbling society.

“The act of scrutiny should be welcomed by

our elected representatives. Instead, they quickly tag it as false propaganda and try to shove it under the rug. They should know that the sure-fire way for something to be watched is to ban it.

“However, the BBC documentary barely scratches the surface of the kind of violence that has been perpetuated throughout the country for a dedicated, singular, vicious purpose. It would be startling to us if anyone in India was surprised by the happenings in this documentary,” said the students’ association.

FTII Registrar Sayyid Rabeehashmi said, “It is being reported that a group of students screened the documentary. The matter will be looked into.”

Amit Shah takes part in road show in Karnataka

KUNDGOL (K’TAKA), JAN 28 (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday took part in a road show here, as part of Karnataka BJP’s ‘Vijaya Sankalp Abhiyan’, in the run-up to the Assembly polls in the state, due by May.

Targeting the opposition Congress and JD(S) and accusing them of dynasty politics and corruption, he sought support for the BJP to form a government with full majority in Karnataka. Shah took part in the road show on a specially decorated open vehicle, for over a km distance from Basavanna Devara Matha to Gali Mariyamma temple here, amid loud cheers and waving of BJP flags by large number of

party supporters and workers gathered.

Shah was accompanied by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad

Joshi, senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, party’s General secretary in-charge Arun Singh, state President Nalin Kumar Kateel, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar,

along the road show.

People gathered along the stretch showered flower petals at the vehicle carrying the leaders at various places, as sound of beating of the drums, chants of “Modi Modi”, “Bharat Mata ki Jai” slogans reverberated.

Shah made a short address to the gathering at the end of the road show, during

which he targeted opposition Congress and JD(S) for dynasty politics and corruption, and asked them to vote for BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Listing out various “pro-people” programmes of the BJP government, he said, “Congress only does aarti of Gandhi family, and in JD(S) grandfather, son, grandson, their wives, grandson’s son everyone wants to contest polls...youths should tell, do they have a place in that party?”

Claiming that youth has a place only in BJP under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, he said, BJP government under Modi has taken the country’s pride to heights at the global level.

Dedicatory programme of foothills road 2-lane bridge

(From p-1) even to the extent of humiliation, accusation and mockery, with no fault of the committee, by those who had little or no knowledge at all of what was going on. He also said that the project was cemented on the principles that under no circumstances the project would be politicized.

Supu acknowledged the chief minister and the department concern for reposing their faith in the committee for the project. He also acknowledged the landowners for sacrificing their lands without seeking any compensation, and also

thanked all Naga Political groups for not levying any tax for the said project. With regard to the delay in inaugurating the bridge, which was completed in November 2022, Supu said the chief minister was requested to inaugurate the bridge on December 12, keeping in mind the Hornbill festival.

However, owing to chief minister’s busy schedule, the inaugural was further postponed. NFHRCC then again wrote to the CM’s office requesting that the inaugural programme be held before December 20 as a Christmas gift to

Nagas, but received no positive response.

However, he said the committee was shocked on hearing the news that the bridge was to be virtually inaugurated on January 6 by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, without prior information to the committee.

Leaving aside all these issues, Supu expressed hope that the bridge would act and resemble as a sign of unity amongst all Nagas and the 12 tribes in particular.

In his brief speech, contractor of the project (M/s Phukhato Shohe &

Modi cautions against attempts to create divisions in the country

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday cautioned against attempts to sow differences and create divisions in the country but asserted that such efforts will not succeed.

Addressing a rally of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at the Cariappa Ground in Delhi Cantonment, Modi said the mantra of unity was the only way for India to achieve grandeur. He said that the entire world was looking towards India because of the youth of the country.

“This is the time of new opportunities for the youth of India. Everywhere it is evident that India’s time has arrived,” Modi said addressing the NCC cadets who took part in the Republic Day celebrations.

At the same time, the prime minister urged caution against attempts to divide the country. “Desh ko todne ke kai bahane dhoonde jaate hai.

Bhaanti, bhaanti ki baatein nikaal kar, Maa Bharti ki santaano ke beech main doodh mein daraar karne ki koshishe ho rahi hein (Several pretexts are being raised to break the country. Several issues are raked up to create divisions among the children of Mother India),” Modi said.

“Despite such efforts, there will never be differences among the people of India,” he said.

“For this, the mantra of unity is the ultimate antidote. The mantra of unity is a pledge as well as India’s strength. This is the only way India will achieve grandeur,” the prime minister said.

Modi’s remarks came against the backdrop of the raging controversy over a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots that has been banned in India.

Modi lauded the NCC cadets who participated in the Republic Day celebration and said the priority for

the country would always be the young people who are brimming with energy and enthusiasm.

sons) Abel P Shohe said that the work order was issued in 2014, however, the work got delayed owing several factors like border dispute between Adivasis and the Lotha tribe, obstruction due to release of water from the 75 MW dam upstream, ULB election issue in 2015, demonetization in 2016, implementation of GST bill in 2017, discontinuation of SPA funding, COVID-19 lockdown etc.

He expressed regret that some section had hurled accusations without knowing the real picture, without approaching the concerned authorities to get

the clear picture. The contractor thanked people of the area, PWD (R&B) Dimapur, CE’s (R&B) office for their support and cooperation and also the chief minister and the state government for making this project a reality. Shohe also thanked the tireless effort of the committee, without which the project could not have been a success story.

Short speeches were also delivered by Central Nagaland Tribes Council president Lanu Imchen, Young Naga Action Committee on Foothill Road president Sunep. Vic e

Needs MatheMatics teacher, with love for children and a passion for teaching for Primary& elementary classes (Preferably with Math Major) at Great commission higher secondary school, Naga United Village, chumoukedima

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Aoyimti, 2 ½ Mile, Dimapur

All Alumni, Former Faculty and Staff are invited to join the celebration of 25 years - Silver Jubilee of our school.

Date - 31st January, 2023

Time - 10: 00 A.M

Venue - CMHSS Campus

dr. S.C Jamir, padma bhushan, Former Chief Minister of Nagaland and Former Governor has consented to be the Chief Guest.

president Chang Khulei Setshang also spoke on behalf of Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization. All speakers acknowledged the landowners for their contribution and also expressed hope that the bridge would act as the bridge that would unify all Nagas and the 12 tribes in particular. They further assured support and cooperation to NFHRCC in matters regarding the construction.

Earlier, the prgramme was chaired by NFHRCC co-convener Hokiye Yepthomi, invocation by associate pastor LBC, pastor Yanbemo Ovung, and keynote address by general secretary, NFHRCC, W Lemba Chang. Vote of thanks was offered by NFHRCC asst. general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe and benediction pronounced by former NFHRCC member Rev Among Phom.

People gather near the wreckage of a crashed aircraft in Bharatpur district, Saturday. (PTI)

Amit Shah with Pralhad Joshi, Basavaraj Bommai and B.S. Yediyurappa during a road show in Dharwad district. (PTI)

$2.5 bn share sale on track: Adani Group

MUMBAI, JAN 28 (AGENCIES): A $2.5 billion share sale by India’s Adani Enterprises (ADEL. NS) remains on schedule at the planned issue price, the company told Reuters on Saturday, while sources said bankers were considering changes due to a market rout in the group’s shares, reports Reuters. Bankers on the deal were considering extending the sale or cutting the issue price after shares of Adani plunged following a report from a U.S. short seller, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday. Adani Group in a statement said: “There is no change in either the schedule or the issue price.”

“All our stakeholders including bankers and investors have full faith in the FPO (Follow on Public

Offer). We are extremely confident about the success of the FPO,” it said.

Seven listed companies of the conglomerate controlled by one of the world’s richest men, Gautam Adani, have lost a combined $48 billion in market value since Hindenburg Research on Tuesday flagged concerns about debt levels and their use of tax havens.

The Adani Group has called the report baseless and said it was considering taking action against Hindenburg. Sources had said that among the options the bankers were considering included extending the Tuesday subscription closing date by four days.

Friday’s 20% fall in shares of group flagship Adani Enterprises dragged it 11% below the minimum offer price of the secondary sale. On the first day of retail bidding on Friday, the issue attracted around 1% of its targeted number of subscribers, raising concerns over whether it would be able to proceed.

Investors, mostly retail, had bid for around 470,160 of the 45.5 million shares on offer, stock exchange data showed. “Everyone was shocked. They did not expect such a poor response,” one source said. The other option being considered by bankers is lowering the price, the

Piyush Goyal calls for creation of network to strengthen global startup ecosystem

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(IANS): Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal on Saturday called for creation of an international network of mentors, investors and entrepreneurs to strengthen the global startup ecosystem. The Minister said that this network must support and inspire startups, act as a team to facilitate exchange of ideas, best practices and funding mechanisms and promote collaborations in Research and Development.

The Union Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the Inception Meeting of the Startup 20 Engagement Group of G20 in Hyderabad. He said that it is not just the role of individual nations to support innovation and added that it will have to be the collec-

tive responsibility of world nations to nurture a global effort to incubate startup ecosystems in all parts of the world, thus creating a global startup ecosystem that is inclusive, supportive and sustainable to address global challenges.

Goyal said that India was proud to highlight the progress and potential of the global startup ecosystem as the host nation of G20. He noted that the Startup20

Group had been established under India’s G20 Presidency for the first time, as part of India’s special focus on innovation.

The Minister expressed confidence that innovation would be the strongest pillar that would help build a developed India in the Amritkaal. He said that innovation has been a catalytic force for the economy and social and public good. “Innovation in today’s world goes beyond achieving mere economic objectives as it also considers societal inclusion and environmental sustainability,” he said. Goyal noted that the world is facing a multitude of global challenges, from climate change to poverty and inequality. He expressed his firm belief that innovation can lead the way in solving these problems.

sources said, with one saying it could be cut by as much as 10%. Adani had set a floor price of 3,112 rupees ($38.22) per share and a cap of 3,276 rupees - well above their close at 2,761.45 rupees on Friday.

A decision was expected on Monday, the sources said.

“Revision in price band or time extension of public

‘Election Budget’ to focus on

job

issue can technically be undertaken with a newspaper advertisement and issuing an addendum,” said Sumit Agrawal, managing partner at Regstreet Law Advisors and a former officer of the Indian capital markets regulator. The sale is being managed by Jefferies, India’s SBI Capital Markets, and ICICI Securities, among others.

MSCI seeks feedback on Adani GroupoverHindenburgreport

Index provider Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) said on Saturday it is seeking feedback on Adani Group and associated securities and is aware of a report issued by short-seller Hindenburg Research.

The U.S. short-seller said on Wednesday it held short positions in the Indian conglomerate, accusing it of improper use of offshore tax havens and flagging concerns about high debt, leading to a massive sell-off of India-listed shares of the conglomerate’s companies.

“MSCI is closely monitoring publicly available information regarding the situation and the factors that may impact the eligibility of those relevant securities for the MSCI Global Investable Market Indexes,” it said in a statement.

All Adani group stocks barring Adani Wilmar are in the MSCI Global Standard Index and also FTSE Indices. Adani Ent, Adani Ports, Adani Trans, Adani Total Gas, Adani Power, ACC, Ambuja & Adani Green are present in MSCI Standard Index & FTSE World Indices

creation, farm sector and rural growth

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(IANS): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is going to present the last full budget of the second term of the Narendra Modi government in Parliament on February 1.

As this will be the last full budget of the Modi government before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it is being said that the election glimpse will be apparent in the budget.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties are expected to make the budget an issue in the elections.

Looking at the preparations and record of the government regarding the budget, it is being said that the Modi government can majorly increase the total amount allocated to welfare schemes. The BJP government, which has been facing constant attacks from the opposition parties on the issue of unemployment, will be focusing on increasing

employment opportunities in its upcoming budget.

More emphasis will be placed on increasing employment opportunities in urban and rural areas. For this, along with basic infrastructure, a special announcement can be made for small and medium industries. The funds allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the biggest source of employment in rural areas, will also be increased this year.

Along with farming, special announcements for agriculture and other areas

related to it are expected.

The government will increase its expenditure to ensure that along with the increase in employment in rural areas, the income of the people also increases, which will boost the economy. The government can make important announcements in the budget to provide relief to the people from inflation. Giving great relief to the taxpayers, along with announcing a reduction in income tax rates, the government can make a big announcement on the GST front in this budget.

HML plans for avenues on rubber plantation and fruits from Nagaland

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 28

(NPN): Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) a plantation company based in Kerala plans to seek avenues on rubber plantation and fruits from Nagaland.

Addressing a press conference, held on Saturday. HML Kochi Kerala limited, head rubber business vice president Biju Panicker said that HML was looking to explore possibilities of venturing into buying and selling different grades of processed Rubber including Ribbed Smoked Sheets (RSS), Indian Standard Natural Rubber (ISNR) etc. He stated that HML is aiming at sourcing the material from small farmers and that the company expect to set in motion a chain reaction where a farmer will be able to produce the best quality rubber using scientif-

ic and progressive methods from their farm and also get a market to sell the produce at their door step thereby giving them a consistent and fair income throughout the year, he added. The company was also planning to set to get into the fruit business and possibility of exploring into the fruit cultivation in Nagaland especially pineapple. On the briefing of the company, Panicker mentioned that the company has its core business in tea, rubber and some minor

crops such as pineapple and pepper. HML’s tea and rubber plantations measuring about 23000 Ha is spread across the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is the second largest producer of tea in South India and Single largest producer of Natural Rubber in India. He mentioned that the company was introduced to the North East by the Rubber Board for looking at possibilities in Natural Rubber processing and trading business. In Nagaland, the company was introduced

GAC to look into complaints against social media firms

NEW DELHI, JAN 28 (PTI): The Centre has notified three grievances appellate committees that will address users’ complaints against social media and other internet-based platforms.

According to the notification, each of the three GACs (grievances appellate committees) will have a chairperson, two wholetime members from different government entities and retired senior executives from the industry for a term of three years from the date of assumption of office.

to Kathi Chishi, Managing Director of TOKA MultiPurpose Co-Operative Society by the officials of The Rubber Board.

Panicker also talked on the drawbacks of rubber farmers in Nagaland, he lamented that the biggest problem faced by the farmers is finding the right market and that the company would try to provide a farmer friendly market in the State.

Asserting quality of rubber to be the most important, Panicker expressed that today the awareness of quality in the state was very poor and therefore, the company assures to put more emphasis in quality so that it can be easily sold in the market.

He added that, from the data that received there are about 86 lakh trees but only 25 % are tapped as per the rubber and land resource

department. If these trees are to be tapped and come into market there is a huge gold mine seating on. On asked whether the government will be involved, the VP informed that the company being a private organization, have reached out only to TOKA, however, any kind help from the government would be very welcome.

Panicker also informed the gathering that the modalities are yet to be worked on and that Nagaland is the first North-eastern state they are operating in. He also stated that HML is planning to take the first step of cultivating pineapple in the state. The conference was also attended by HML rubber marketing and processing senior manager Vishnudas MP, cultivators and entrepreneurs from Kerala Biji Manjakunnel and Xavier KP.

Biju Panicker with others during the conference. (NP)

Piyush Goyal

Another branch of the Reliance Smart Point was opened at Duncan basti on Saturday. The store was inaugurated by Imnanungsang Yaden, who is also the owner of the complex.

3 dead, 1 missing as rain pounds NZ

WELLINGTON, JAN

28 (AP): Authorities said Saturday that three people had died and at least one was missing after record levels of rainfall pounded New Zealand’s largest city, causing widespread disruption. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins flew to Auckland on a military plane after a state of emergency was declared in the region.

Peruvian prez urges Congress on

early polls

LIMA, JAN 28 (IANS): Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has urged Congress to move general elections forward to December 2023, in order to get the country out of the “quagmire” with near-daily protests. The government initially proposed holding the elections in April 2024, rather than a previously scheduled date in 2026, reports Xinhua news agency.

US, India to hold diplomatic talks

NEW YORK, JAN 28

(IANS): The US diplomat in charge of political affairs is visiting India for consultations with the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi, according to the State Department. During her visit, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will lead the US delegation to the annual foreign office consultations “which cover the full range of bilateral, regional, and global issues”, the Department said on Friday. She is also scheduled to meet young tech leaders, it added. Her visit to India will be a part of a week-long swing through Asia that starts on Saturday and take her also to Nepal, Sri Lanka and Qatar.

Retired Gen. Pavel becomes new Czech prez

PRAGUE, JAN 28 (AP): Retired army General Petr Pavel defeated populist billionaire Andrej Babis in a runoff vote on Saturday to become the new Czech president.

Pavel, 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial but prestigious post. Pavel is a former chairman of NATO’s military committee, the alliance’s highest military body.

At least 8 killed, 10 injured in Jerusalem terror attack

Tunisia faces issue of getting voters to show up

TUNISIA, JAN 28 (AP): Tunisia was once the Arab world’s hope for a new era of democracy. Now it’s in the midst of an election that’s more of an embarrassment than a model. Barely 11% of voters turned out in the first round of parliamentary elections last month, boycotted by opposition Islamists and ignored by many Tunisians disillusioned with their leaders. Ten candidates secured seats in the legislature even though not a single voter cast a ballot for them, simply because they ran unopposed. In seven constituencies, not even one candidate bothered to run.

Protests in US after footage releases of Black man being beaten by police

JERUSALEM, JAN 28

(AGENCIES): At least 8 people have been killed in a deadly terror attack in a synagogue in Jerusalem on Friday, Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement, reports ANI.

According to the official statement, 10 people have been injured in the gun attack that occurred around 8:15 pm (local time), near a synagogue on Neve Yaakov Street. The paramedics reached the incident site right after the attack took place.

“8 killed, 10 injured in synagogue in #Jerusalem terror attack Paramedics have arrived onto the scene and began providing treatment to those injured,” the official Twitter handle of Israel’s foreign ministry

tweeted.

The alleged shooter was also later killed by police forces, according to police.

The incident followed the deadly clashes in the refugee camp of Jenin on Thursday in which nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, were killed by Israeli forces.

The raid that took place in the West Bank city took the overall toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces to 29 this year, according to CNN.

Moreover, Israel also launched a series of bombing raids in the central Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks from Gazan terrorists and said that the raids will lead to “significant harm to Hamas efforts” in

North Korea slams US for pledging tanks to Ukraine

SEOUL, JAN 28 (AGEN-

CIES): North Korea on Saturday denounced U.S. pledges of battle tanks to Ukraine, claiming Washington was “further crossing the red line” to win hegemony by proxy war, state media KCNA reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, made the remarks in a statement carried by KCNA, saying that North Korea will “stand in the same trench” as Russia against the United States.

The United States said this week it would supply Ukraine with 31 of its most advanced battle tanks after Germany made a similar announcement. This scrapped a taboo in Western support for Ukraine’s battle against Russia’s invasion by pledging arms that have a mainly offensive purpose.

“I express serious con-

Kim Yo Jong

cern over the U.S. escalating the war situation by providing Ukraine with military hardware for ground offensive,” Kim Yo Jong said in the statement.

The United States and Western countries “have neither right nor justification to slander sovereign states’ exercise of the right to self-defence.”

Nuclear-armed North Korea launched an unprecedented number of missiles last year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

Vihoshe Awomi NDPP Dimapur Region President Warns Silent Defectors of the Party

building up its arms, The Times of Israel reported on Friday.

The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said that they targeted Bottom of Form, an underground facility where rockets are manufactured in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

“The attack will lead to significant harm to Hamas’ efforts to build up its arms,” the IDF said in a statement, according to The Times of Israel. Footage published on social media showed several large explosions from the airstrikes in Gaza.

Separately on Thursday afternoon, a Palestinian man was killed in clashes with Israeli troops in the town of a-Ram, north of Jerusalem, the PA Health Ministry said.

President Kais Saied is pinning his hopes on Sunday’s second round of voting, which will wrap up his sweeping redesign of Tunisian politics that began when he suspended the previous Parliament in 2021. The new body will have fewer powers than its predecessor and risks being little more than a rubber stamp for Saied. The president and many Tunisians blamed the previous parliament, led by the Islamist party Ennahdha, for political deadlock seen as worsening the country’s protracted economic and social crises. Some Ennahdha officials have been jailed and the party is refusing to take part in the parliamentary elections, and has held repeated protests.

WASHINGTON, JAN 28

(IANS): Protests erupted across the US after the release of a footage which showed five former police officers in Memphis brutally beating an AfricanAmerican man who died three days later after the gruesome incident.

The police officers, who are all Black and charged with murder, are seen taking turns to kick and punch the 29-year-old victim Tyre Nichols on January 7 as he screamed for his mother during the incident at a traffic stop, the BBC reported.

On Friday, the Memphis Police Department released four graphic videos, totalling more than an hour of footage.

The first video shows officers pulling Nichols out of his vehicle and shouting at him to get on the ground.

“I didn’t do anything!”

Climate activists block main road into Hague, Netherlands

HAGUE, JAN 28 (AP):

Hundreds of climate activists blocked one of the main roads into The Hague on Saturday, defying attempts to prevent their protest that have sparked concerns about restrictions on the right to demonstrate in the Netherlands.

The protesters, many waving colored flags with the symbol of environmental group Extinction Rebellion and one holding a sign saying, in Dutch, “This is a dead end road,” gathered on the A12 road near the temporary home of the Dutch parliament. Police and hun-

dreds more demonstrators looked on. Protesters who ignored police orders to leave the road were picked up and carried away one by one to waiting buses and driven away. Hours after the demonstration began it was unclear how many people had been detained. Police said in a tweet that many of the activists left voluntarily when told to by officers.

Earlier this week, six Extinction Rebellion activists were detained by authorities on suspicion of sedition linked to calls to stage the protest.

A judge on Friday up-

held an order banning another activist from the area for 90 days. Extinction Rebellion said that he ignored the order and attended the protest. A lawyer for the group said the order was a way of “taking away the right of climate activists to demonstrate.” The arrests and exclusion order sparked unrest among activists who argue it infringes their right to peaceful protest. Prosecutors defended their action, saying the suspects were calling for supporters to take part in the “dangerous and disruptive blockade” of the road.

Chakhroma Baptist Chur C h Coun C il m ission Centre, m edziphema – 797106 d istri C t Chümoukedima : n agaland

p ress n ote

The 41 churches under Chakhroma Baptist Church Council (CBCC) is organising a prayer walk on National Highway starting from Purana Bazaar to Piphema on 30th January, 2023 from 6:30 am to 7:30 am. Mr. Keneitsolie Keyho, Executive Secretary CBCC said the proposed walk is to have special prayer for all the vehicles plying on the Highway, the Drivers Highway Construction Workers and to have a thanksgiving prayer. The Executive Secretary invites all believers to join in the prayer walk to pray for God’s protection and blessings.

keneitsolie keyho executive secretary, CBCC

he says. Officers demand that he lie down flat.

Within seconds, one of the officers fires a Taser at the victim, who leaps up and manages to run away.

A separate video, from a CCTV camera mounted on a utility pole, shows officers beating Nichols after catching up with him in a residential area.

Two officers are seen holding him down while others take turns kicking and punching him and striking him with an expandable baton.

They drag him across the ground and prop him sitting up against a squad car.

The five officers -Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith -- were fired last week and were taken into custody on Thursday, the BBC reported.

Each faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

Four of the five posted bail and were released from custody by Friday morning, according to jail records.

Shortly after the footage was released, protests erupted in New York and Memphis. Rallies and demonstrations were also planned to be held in Washington, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta and Portland.

President Joe Biden, who has called for demonstrations to remain peaceful, said in a statement: “Like so many, I was outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death.”

MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE

NAAC Accredited Grade ‘B’ POST BOX NO 491

DAKLANE : KOHIMA: 797001 - NAGALAND FELICITATION

The Fraternity of Mount Olive College, Kohima conveys its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Lipoktoshi , Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce for being awarded the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) in Commerce on the topic: “Rural Entrepreneurship in Nagaland: Problems and Prospects”, under the Supervision of Dr. Amrendra Kumar, Department of Commerce, Nagaland University.

May God continue to bless you and help you to achieve more in life as you journey forward.

Mrs. Tokheni Sema Chairperson & MD Mount Olive College, Kohima

The office bearers of Ndpp dimapur Region under the able guidance of Region president Shri Vihoshe Awomi toured dimapur 3 Assembly Constituency with his esteemed colleagues.

Shri Ahuto Zhimomi A/C president in his welcome address shared that Ndpp party dimapur 3 is in excellent & undeniable strength under Ndpp MLA Azheto Zhimomi.

Short speeches were delivered by party functionaries of Region and A/C.

Shri Vihoshe Awomi in his presidential Speech spoke widely on how to strengthen and boost the position of the party.

He encouraged the party workers to be leaders in their own capacity and work hard in their respective fields for better result of the poll. party workers taking side against the sitting Ndpp MLA will be dealt sternly.

He also mentioned that the blessings of our Honourable Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio is with the people of dimapur 3 A/C and Honourable MLA Shri Azheto Zhimomi and so the party workers and the electoral voters were reminded not be swayed or doubt the progress and position of Ndpp party and sitting Ndpp MLA.

dp-433/23

The village councils of Lirmen, Tsuremmen, Akumen (A,B,C) with immense pride and honour take this opportunity to congratulate mr. lanutoshi aier, S/o Mr. I Kadang Aier & Mrs. Angangla Longkumer for being nominated the President of Ao Students Conference (AKM) held at Akhoya Village for the tenure 2023-2026. The village councils sincerely would like to acknowledge the Ao Students Conference (AKM), Seniors, Japukong Students Conference (JKM) and the remaining five ranges of Ao Students Conference (AKM) for the moral support towards this journey. We give all glory to God Almighty for this achievement which has brought laurels to Lirmen Village in particular. May you serve, guide and lead the people with wisdom towards greater heights. Wishing you good health and success for your future endeavours.

Kuknalim

ffi C e of the l irmen Yim a sem ( a.B.C) Village Coun C il

Police forces at incident site of deadly terror attack in a synagogue in Jerusalem. (Reuters)

Protestors gather in US cities of Memphis and New York.

A mummy unearthed in Egypt wrapped in ‘layers of gold’ may be the oldest ever discovered

at the royal palace, and Khnum-djed-ef, a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas. Numerous statues of deities, amulets, tools for daily life, and stone vessels were also uncovered.

“This discovery is so important as it connects the kings with the people living around them,” Ali Abu Deshish, another archaeologist on the excavation team, said, according to BBC News.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan” took its total worldwide gross collection to Rs 313 crore as the film continued to perform outstandingly at the ticket window.

Ateam of archaeologists unearthed what could be the “oldest” and “most complete” mummy ever discovered in Egypt, the leader of the excavation announced on Thursday. Thought to be the remains of a man named Hekashepes, archaeologists found the 4,300-year-old mummy in an ancient tomb near Cairo from the country’s fifth and sixth dynasty

— which spanned from the years 2500 BC to 2100 BC, Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s former minister of antiquities, said in a statement. “I put my head inside to see what was inside the sarcophagus: A beautiful mummy of a man completely covered in layers of gold,” Hawass told reporters at the site of the excavation.

The centuries-old mummy was found at the

bottom of a 15-meter shaft near the Step Pyramid at the Necropolis of Saqqara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saqqara, a “great masterpiece of architectural design,” is located in Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt. Several other “important archaeological discoveries” were made, Hawass s aid, including tombs belonging to Meri, a “keeper of the secrets”

Brendan Fraser’s ‘The Whale’ to release in India on Feb 3

Indian audiences will get

to see Brendan Fraser’s

Oscar nominated performance in “The Whale” on big screen on February 3.

Impact Films is leading the distribution for the Darren Aronofsky-directed film in the country.

“The Whale” is the story of a reclusive English teacher Charlie (Fraser) living with severe obesity who tries to connect with her estranged daughter for one last chance at redemption.

It’s based on a famous play by Samuel D hunter and also stars Hong Chau and Sadie Sink.

“We had been waiting for this moment and I am pretty sure Brendan’s fans in India are going to love his comeback film on big screens” Ashwani Sharma, founder of Impact Films, said in a statement.

“The Whale” premiered at Venice Film

Festival last year. At the Oscars 2023, the film has scored three nominations -- Best Actor for Fraser, Best Supporting Actress for Chau and Best Make Up and Hair Styling. Fraser has already won the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor for his performance in the movie.

Sharma also announced that Impact Films will soon release Ruben Ostlund’s Palme D’ Or winner feature “Triangle of Sadness”. Starring Charlbi Dean, Harris Dickinson and Woody Harrelson, the satirical black comedy is nominated for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards. (PTI)

This comes only a day after a different team of archaeologists discovered ruins of another ancient city called Luxor, south of Cairo. Earlier this week, scientists “digitally unwrapped” the 2,300-yearold “golden boy” mummy using CT scans. The scans revealed new insights into how ancient embalmers used precious amulets to protect the dead.

There has been a string of major archaeological discoveries across Egypt in recent years, highlighted as part of a growing push to promote the country’s tourism industry.

The industry has suffered since the risen political unrest in the country since 2011, as well as travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Business Insider)

According to Yash Raj Films (YRF), the SRKDeepika Padukone starrer raised Rs 38 crore nett in Hindi format, while dubbed formats earned Rs 1.25 crore nett on the third day. “Pathaan” was also released in Tamil and Telugu on January 25.

“The total India collection on day three was Rs 39.25 crore nett (Rs 47 crore gross).

Meanwhile, overseas collection was also astronomical as it collected Rs 43 crore gross. The total worldwide collection on day three was an insane Rs 90 crore worldwide gross box office,” the studio said in a press note.

“Pathaan”, which is Shah Rukh’s first big screen release in over four years, had raised Rs 106 crore globally on its opening day, followed by Rs 113.6 crore on day two. The total India gross box office collection after three days stands at Rs 201 crore gross and total overseas collection is at Rs 112 crore gross. (PTI)

Anoushka Shankar to perform at premiere of 65th annual Grammys

Kicking off the proceedings for the 65th annual Grammy Awards, Awards Premiere Ceremony, Anoushka Shankar will be seen making her third performance at the event. The ceremony will return to the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on 5 February. The masterful sitar player, producer, film composer, activist and ninetime Grammy Award nominee will perform alongside vocalist Arooj Aftab on their nominated track ‘Ud-

hero Na’ from Arooj’s new album, ‘Vulture Prince’. Anoushka enjoys an extensive Grammy history; she was the first Indian woman ever nominated and youngest-ever nominee in

the World Music Category for her album Live At Carnegie Hall in 2002, and then went on to become the first Indian musician to perform at the ceremony in 2005, serve as presenter in 2016 and perform for the second time in 2021.

In addition to her fresh eighth and ninth nominations, Anoushka’s previous works Live At Carnegie Hall, Rise, Traveller, Traces Of You, Home, Land Of Gold and Love Letters have all been Grammy nominated. (IANS)

New blood test can detect Alzheimer’s 3.5 years before diagnosis

Scientists have developed a blood-based test that could be used to predict the risk of Alzheimer’s disease up to 3.5 years before clinical diagnosis. The research, published in the journal Brain, supports the idea that components in the human blood can modulate the formation of new brain cells, a process termed neurogenesis. Neurogenesis occurs in an important part of the brain called the hippocampus that is involved in learning and memory.

While Alzheimer’s disease affects the formation of new brain cells in the hippocampus during the early stages of the disease, previous studies have only been able to study neurogenesis in its later stages through autopsies. To understand the early changes, researchers collected blood samples over several years from 56 individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition where someone

will begin to experience a worsening of their memory or cognitive ability. While not everyone experiencing MCI goes on to develop Alzheimer’s disease, those with the condition progress to a diagnosis at a much higher rate than the wider population.

Of the 56 participants in the study, 36 went on to receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “In our study, we treated brain cells with blood taken from people with MCI, exploring how those cells changed in response to blood as Alzheimer’s disease pro -

gressed,” said Aleksandra Maruszak, one of the study’s joint first authors from King’s College London. In studying how blood affected the brain cells, the researchers made several key discoveries.

The blood samples collected from participants over the years who subsequently deteriorated and developed Alzheimer’s disease promoted a decrease in cell growth and division and an increase in apoptotic cell death -- the process by which cells are programmed to die. However, the researchers noted that these samples

How to improve your circulation

Why You Need Good Blood Flow

It’s hard to believe, but your body holds about 60,000 miles of blood vessels. Along with your heart and other muscles, they make up your circulatory system. This network of roadways carries blood to every corner of your body.

But when your circulation is poor, it slows or blocks the blood flow. That means the cells in your body can’t get all the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Signs of Poor Circulation

When your limbs can’t get enough blood, your hands or feet may feel cold or numb. If you’re light-skinned, your legs might get a blue tinge. Poor circulation also can dry your skin, turn your nails brittle, and make your hair fall out, especially on your feet and legs. Some men may have trouble getting or keeping an erection. And if you have diabetes, your scrapes, sores, or wounds tend to heal slower.

Snuff Out Tobacco

Nicotine is the active ingredient in cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and

smokeless tobacco. It harms the walls of your arteries and thickens your blood so much, it can’t get through. If you smoke, quit. It can be hard to stick with it, but your pharmacy or doctor’s office can help.

Control Your Blood Pressure

If it’s too high, it can cause arteriosclerosis, a condition that hardens your arteries and can help choke off blood flow. Aim for 120 mmHg over 80 mmHg or less, but ask your doctor about the best numbers for your age and health. Check your reading at least once a month. You can buy a home blood pressure monitor or use a kiosk at your pharmacy.

Gulp It Down

Blood is about half water. So you need to stay hydrated to keep it moving. Aim for 8 glasses of water a day. You’ll need to drink more if you exercise or if it’s hot outside.

Stand Up at Your Desk

Sitting for hours at a time isn’t great for your circulation or your back.

It weakens leg muscles and slows the blood flow in your legs, which could

cause a clot. If you’re a desk jockey at work, consider a standing desk instead. It may take a little while to get used to, but getting on your feet works the valves in your leg veins, sending blood up to your heart.

Relax and Twist Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can jumpstart your blood flow. When you move, it brings oxygen to your cells. When you twist, it sends blood to your organs. And upsidedown positions shift blood from the bottom half of your body up to your heart and brain.

Hit the Wall (in a Good Way)

Not a yogi? When

your ankles or feet swell, try the legs-up-the-wall yoga pose. Also called viparita karani, it’s an easy way to send your blood in the other direction. Lie on the floor or on a yoga mat, with your left or right shoulder close to the wall. Turn your body so you can put your feet up, and scooch your bottom against the wall. Stretch your arms out on the floor with palms down for balance.

Pump It Up Aerobic means “with oxygen.” So when you run, bike, walk, swim, and do similar exercises, you take in more oxygen and move it to your muscles. This gets your blood pumping,

makes your heart stronger, and lowers your blood pressure. Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes, 5 to 7 days a week. Break it up into small chunks if needed. If you walk, know that moderate to intense speeds -- at least 3 miles an hour -- offer the best health benefits.

Cop A Squat This form of strength training not only gets your blood pumping, it also helps lower your blood sugar and helps with back pain. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides. Now slowly bend at your hips and knees, but keep your back straight, like you’re sitting in a chair. As you return to the starting position, bend your arms for balance.

Compress Your Socks

Put your wardrobe to work. Compression socks put a bit of squeeze on your legs so your blood doesn’t hang around too long. Instead, it’ll move back up to your heart. Ask your doctor which length and amount of pressure are best for you. Eat More Plants and

Let’s face it: There’s no downside to a balanced diet. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Stay away from saturated fats that can be found in red meat, chicken, cheese, and other animal sources. Steer clear of too much salt. That will help keep your weight in a healthy range and your cholesterol and blood pressure in check -- and your arteries clear.

Brush Your Body, Not Just Your Hair

Sweep your blood in the right direction. Take a body brush with stiff, flat bristles and stroke on your dry skin. Start with your feet and work your way up, using long motions on your legs and arms. Make circles on your belly and lower back. Dry brushing also gets rid of dry skin. Do it every day, right before your shower.

Sip or Soak

It’s a temporary fix, but a bath is a great way to kick-start your circulation. Warm water makes your arteries and veins open a bit wider, letting more blood through. Hot water or tea does the trick as well.

also increased the conversion of immature brain cells to hippocampal neurons.

While the underlying reasons for the increased neurogenesis remain unclear, the researchers theorise that it may be an early compensating mechanism for the neurodegeneration or loss of brain cells experienced by those developing Alzheimer’s disease.

“Previous studies have shown that blood from young mice can have a rejuvenating effect on the cognition of older mice by improving hippocampal neurogenesis,” said Professor Sandrine Thuret, the study’s lead author from King’s College London.

“This gave us the idea of modeling the process of neurogenesis in a dish using human brain cells and human blood,” Thuret said.

The researchers aimed to use this model to understand the process of neurogenesis and to use changes in this process to predict Alzheimer’s disease.

They found the first evidence in humans that the body’s circulatory system can have an effect on the brain’s ability to form new cells. When the researchers used only the blood samples collected furthest away from when the participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, they found that the changes in neurogenesis occurred 3.5 years prior to a clinical diagnosis.

“Our findings are extremely important, potentially allowing us to predict onset of Alzheimer’s early in a non-invasive fashion,” said Edina Silajdzic, the study’s joint first author said. (PTI)

The Office of the Nagaland Parents’ Association for the Disabled (NAPAD) would like to convey our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Tongpang L Jamir, S/o Lt. Mr. C Lipok and Mrs. Achila Imsong who is an esteemed member of NAPAD for being appointed as Vice President of PARIVAAR which is a National Confederation of Parents’ Organizations for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. PARIVAAR is the largest Parents’ Confederation of India.

The NAPAD wishes you the very best in your future endeavours and prays that our Almighty God continue to guide and lead you for many more such achievements.

Dr. Tali Imsong Ms. Mary Lotha President, NAPAD General Secretary, NAPAD

A view inside the recently discovered tomb at the Saqqara archaeological site. (Getty Images)

‘Pathaan’ continues dream run at global BO

Colored Keys on Saturday released a music video titled ‘Chürienuo Mevi’, composed and written by late R. Kevichusa. Produced and directed by V. Ate Kevichusa and director of photography Toshi Longchar, Ozuki Studio, the song is from the album-- “Songs of R. Kevichusa: The Tenyidie Collection”.

Union Berlin stays 2nd in Bundesliga

BERLIN, JAN 28 (AGENCIES): Union Berlin fans brought fire to the city derby as their team consolidated second place in the Bundesliga by beating Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Saturday.

Goals either side of halftime from Danilho

Doekhi and Paul Seguin earned Union its fourth consecutive league win over its old rival and left Hertha mired at second-from-last at the season’s midpoint. The second half commenced with a spectacular pyrotechnics display from

Union fans, who ignored the stadium announcer’s pleas for them to stop. Many of the supporters seemed to be delayed getting to the game – particularly those carrying flags – but they made up for their lateness after the break.

Shiffrin moves to one win away from Stenmark’s record

PRAGUE, JAN 28

(AGENCIES): Mikaela

Shiffrin is now one World Cup win away from equalling Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s decades-old record of 86 after a slalom victory in the Czech resort of Spindleruv Mlyn on Saturday.

The 27-year-old’s 85th career victory further extended the women’s record she set this week and the American can equal Stenmark’s absolute tally, completed in 1989, with another slalom on the same slope on Sunday.

The outright record will have to wait until after the world championships on French snow in Courchevel and Meribel from Feb. 6-18. Shiffrin clocked 48.19 seconds in the first run, 0.29 faster than Germany’s Lena Duerr and 0.46 quicker than Slovak rival and 2022 Olympic slalom champion Petra Vlhova.

She powered down with the second-fastest

time in the decisive run, ending up 0.60 ahead of Duerr with Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener moving onto the podium as Vlhova dropped to fourth.

“I knew it would take some risk. There’s a chance I don’t finish at all but I have to do my best turns if I want to have a chance because these women are so strong,” gasped Shiffrin in the finish area. “I could hear you all so loud, thank

you for cheering,” she told the crowd, despite many of them clearly rooting for the local favourite Vlhova.

“I know there’s a lot of Slovakian fans out here,” added the American. “You make our sport better, so thank you.”

Shiffrin last Tuesday broke the women’s record of 82 wins she shared with compatriot Lindsey Vonn in a giant slalom in the Italian resort of Kronplatz.

After losing both of its opening games in 2023, Hertha pushed forward more and was initially met only by stiff resistance as the game settled into a toughtackling midfield battle. Union started to threaten only toward the end of the

BCCI invites bids for WPL title sponsorship rights

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(IANS): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday invited bids for the title sponsorship rights of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for five years from 2023 to 2027. The development comes three days after the board announced the successful bidders to acquire the right to own and operate five franchises in the WPL.

Adani Group, through Adani Sportsline Pvt. Ltd got the Ahmedabad franchise with the highest bid of INR 1289 crore, while Indiawin Sports Pvt. Ltd acquired the Mumbai franchise with a bid of INR 912.99 crore. Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd, JSW GMR Cricket Pvt. Ltd and Capri Global Holdings Pvt. Ltd won the rights to operate Bangalore, Delhi and Lucknow teams for INR 901 crore, 810 crore and 757 crore respectively.

first half. It was enough to seize the lead in the 44th minute when Doekhi headed in a free kick from captain Christopher Trimmel. It was the Dutch defender’s third goal in three games for Union, all set up in similar fashion by Trimmel. Seguin scored in the 67th after the smoke cleared from the fans’ fireworks show, tapping into an empty net after Sheraldo Becker crossed to finish off a counterattack. Union keeper Frederik Rönnow produced an outstanding save to deny Lucas Tousart a response. Freiburg moved to fourth with a 3-1 win at home over Augsburg, Werder Bremen defeated Wolfsburg 2-1 to bounce back from two demoralizing defeats, and American defender John Brooks made his Hoffenheim debut but couldn’t prevent his new team losing at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1. Also, Mainz enjoyed a 5-2 win at home over Bochum. League leader Bayern Munich hosted Eintracht Frankfurt in the late game.

Sports meet of 55th Centre Chakhesang Sports Association

KOHIMA, JAN 28 (NPN): The six-day sports meet of 55th Centre Chakhesang Sports Association (CCSA) concluded at Upper Khomi under Phek district on Saturday.

The meet was hosted by Upper Khomi Youth Organization on the theme “Excellence in sports through unity.”

In men’s football, Upper Khomi defeated Sakrama 2-1 in the final match to lift the Late Poduyi Dzüdo

trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000.

In the women’s football final, Middle Khomi defeated Porba to take Late Velakholü Khesoh Trophy along with Rs. 20,000.

In arm wrestling competition, Huluyi D Vadeo emerged as champion while in women’s arm wrestling, Nuculu Dzudo took the first position.

In individual category, Mutsizo Lohe and Vetalu Vezuh emerged as men best

athlete and women best athlete respectively. The group champion went to Porba village. Phek District Sports Association (PDSA) president Nezosa Tetseo graced the closing ceremony as the valedictory guest. A total of seven units under CCSA; Gidemi, Lower Khomi, Middle Khomi, Pholami, Porba, Sakraba and Upper Khomi completed in various sporting disciplines.

U19 Women’s T20 WC: India eye coveted title

POTCHEFSTROOM, JAN 28 (IANS): When word spread about the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in South Africa in January 2023, many in the cricketing ecosystem were extremely excited about the first-ofits-kind tournament giving a stage for young players to showcase their talent and chase their dreams of playing at the international level.

In the current era in which the visibility of women’s cricket has seen swift growth, the tournament has done its job of putting the future stars of the game in the spotlight. Now, after two weeks of action that has seen 16 teams participate in the competition, it is set up for an exciting finale with Sunday’s title between India and England to be held in the JB Marks Oval at Potchefstroom on Sunday.

While India stormed into the final with comprehensive wins, barring a blip against Australia in the Super Sixes, England are yet to lose a match and have

Tata Steel chess: Praggnanandhaa loses again; Arjun-Gukesh play out draw

NEW DELHI, JAN 28 (AGENCIES):

R Praggnanandhaa’s sudden drop in form continued when he suffered his third loss in four rounds after running into Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo in the only decisive game of the Masters section in the 11th round of the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, near Amsterdam, on Friday.

Iranian chess referee spars with governing body over women’s solidarity

A blunder on the 24th move pushed the youngster down and he eventually resigned in

R Praggnanandhaa

Sprinting great Usain Bolt loses

$12.7

million from Jamaican account

now in its 50th year. “I will leave the matter in my lawyer’s hands and focus on my family, try not to think too much about it because it’s a stressful situation,” the 11time world champion added.

52 moves to remain on five points.

In another encounter featuring two Indians, Arjun Erigaisi (4) and Gukesh (4.5) played out a draw in 45 moves. The standings remained unchanged at the top with Nodirbek Abdusattorov (7.5) retaining his half-point lead over Anish Giri (7) after their clash ended in just 29 moves. Two more rounds remain.

In the challenger section, B. Adhiban (6) stayed in the tied fourth spot after drawing with USA’s Abhimanyu Mishra. R. Vaishali (4.5) drew with Erwin L’Ami.

Acknowledgement

registered thumping victories too. They also showed in their incredible three-run win over Australia in the second semifinal that they can withstand pressure and hold their nerve in tough situations on-field.

For India, Sunday presents a golden opportunity to clinch their first global trophy in their history of featuring in women’s cricket. In a country where India first made the final of a Women’s World Cup, 18 years ago (2005 ODI World Cup final), Shafali Verma & Co have a chance to make his-

tory and set the ball rolling for even greater participation of females back home in cricket. Both India and England have strong openers in vice-captain Shweta Sehrawat and captain Grace Scrivens respectively. Shweta has been India’s mainstay with the bat, impressing everyone with her strokeplay and calmness while making 231 runs at an average of 115.50, and has been dismissed only twice in the competition.

Grace, on the other hand, has been consistent at

the top with the bat and is the leading run-scorer with 269 runs at an average of 53.80, and also picked six wickets with her off-spin at an average of 7.16. In Parshavi Chopra and Hannah Baker, India and England have quality leg-spinners who can apply brakes on the smooth sailing of the batters.

Squads: India (from): Shafali Verma (captain), Shweta Sehrawat (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G Trisha, Soumya Tiwari, Sonia Mehdiya, S Yashashree, Hrishita Basu (wicketkeeper), Sonam Yadav, Mannat Kashyap, Archana Devi, Parshavi Chopra, Titas Sadhu, Falak Naz and Shabnam MD

England (from): Ellie Anderson, Hannah Baker, Josie Groves, Liberty Heap, Niamh Holland, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Emma Marlow, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Lizzie Scott, Grace Scrivens (captain), Sophia Smale, Seren Smale, Alexa Stonehouse and Maddie Ward.

KINGSTON, JAN 28

(AGENCIES): World 100 and 200 metres record holder Usain Bolt said on Friday that it was a “stressful situation” trying to recover more than $12.7 million that has disappeared from his account with a Jamaican investment firm.

The 36-year-old Bolt earlier this month was informed that his account balance at Kingston-based Stocks and Securities Ltd

(SSL) had inexplicably dwindled to just $12,000, lawyer Linton Gordon told Reuters on Jan. 17.

“It’s tough you know, but I think through the years I’ve competed it has helped me to understand and focus on what matters,” Bolt told reporters on Friday.

He was speaking at the Gibson McCook Relays launch in Kingston where he was unveiled as the ambassador of the athletics meet,

SSL said in a Jan. 12 statement that it had become aware of fraudulent activity by a former employee and had referred the matter to law enforcement, adding it had taken steps to secure assets and strengthen protocols.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force said its fraud and financial investigation teams were probing “alleged fraudulent activities at (SSL) which are said to have affected the accounts of Mr. Usain Bolt among other individuals.” Bolt’s account was intended to serve as a pension for the eight-time Olympic champion and for his parents, Gordon said.

Dievi-ü Rio

06.07.1931 – 24.01.2023

My home is in Heaven.

I’m just passing through this world. -Billy Graham

We, the family members of Late Dievi-U Rio, W/o Late L. Sie-O Rio with open arms thank all the individuals, friends, well-wishers, groups, unions, associations, organizations, churches and various councils for your unconditional and unceasing support during her illness till the day she left for her eternal home.

All of your kind visits, messages, sweetest words, materials and monetary contributions are greatly appreciated and humbly accepted. We, in return have nothing to offer but from the heart’s core say a big “THANK YOU” to each and everyone who came from near and far and paid rich tributes during the home going service of the departed soul.

dp-431/23

With Gratitude from Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and In-laws

Upper Khomi men’s football champion after the sporting meet on Saturday.

Usain Bolt

Team India led by Shafali Verma will be playing the Final of U19 Women’s T20 World Cup against England.

Mikaela Shiffrin

Hertha’s Agustin Rogel (L) jumps against Union’s Robin Knoche during the German Bundesliga match on Saturday.

Sabalenka wins maiden Grand Slam

MELBOURNE, JAN 28 (AGENCIES): Aryna Sabalenka bludgeoned her way to a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Kazakh 22nd seed Elena Rybakina on Saturday in a thrilling final between two of the most exciting power-hitters in the women’s game.

Sabalenka’s 11th straight win of the year will propel the Belarusian back to her career-high ranking of number two behind Iga Swiatek as she reaps the rewards of her improved mental stability.

With Russian and Belarusian players only allowed to compete as individual athletes without national affiliation at Melbourne Park due Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, fifth seed Sabalenka also becomes the first neutral athlete to win a major.

Success has followed a period of introspection and change for Sabalenka, who had often appeared to let her emotions halt her progress on the big stage, as she dropped her sports psychologist in pre-season.

Sabalenka also worked with a biomechanics trainer to improve her cannonball serve, which

tended to fail her in big moments in the past, and the results were evident before the year’s first Grand Slam as she won the Adelaide International 1 title.

After finally securing her first Grand Slam on Saturday, she dropped to the floor in delight and then walked up to Rybaki-

US to host Copa America 2024

WASHINGTON, JAN 28

(AGENCIES):

The United States will host the 2024 Copa America, which will feature 10 teams from South America and six from North and Central America and the Caribbean. It will be the second time the Copa America has been hosted outside of South America. Ecuador was originally scheduled to host the tournament but its government said in November it would be unable to. The 2021 tournament took place in Brazil and was won by Argentina. The Copa America

typically includes the 10 Conmebol teams but this time will expand to include a further six from North and Central America and the Caribbean, who must qualify through the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League. That means the US, who were knocked out by the Netherlands in the round of 16 in Qatar, are not guaranteed a place at the tournament despite hosting it. The US, who held the tournament in 2016 for a special centenary edition, are also the joint hosts for the 2026 World Cup with Mexico.

na’s side of the court to hug her before embracing her emotional entourage in the players’ box. Her coach Anton Dubrov was seen crying with joy at one point. Rybakina, who triumphed at Wimbledon last year, came into the final high on confidence

as the first woman since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to beat three Grand Slam winners along the way after toppling Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka.

The Russian-born Kazakh went up 3-1 with a comfortable hold after Sabalenka dropped her serve

Hockey World Cup 2023: India finishes 9th, tied with Argentina

ing on to seal the set with a big serve the Belarusian returned into the net. It was the first time that Sabalenka had dropped a set in 11 matches in 2023 year and the nerves began to show a bit, before the 24-yearold composed herself and saved two breakpoints in the opening game of the next set. Sabalenka then found a bit of consistency to break but had to overcome a wobble to grab a 4-1 lead after which she let out a huge roar and levelled the match with her 11th and 12th aces to take the contest to a third set.

with a double fault and sent a forehand long, but then she came under pressure and allowed her opponent to level the opening set at 4-4. Rybakina hit back immediately in gusty conditions at Rod Laver Arena to grab another break as Sabalenka double-faulted for a fifth time, before go-

Sabalenka served with venom and hammered deep returns in the decider to punch holes through Rybakina’s defence to take a 5-3 lead. She then doublefaulted on one matchpoint and squandered two more to draw gasps from the crowd. “I kept telling myself that nobody said it was going to be easy. She was going to fight for it... I told myself, ‘Work for it, take deep breaths, just work’,” Sabalenka told host broadcaster Channel Nine. She took a few deep breaths and tried again, finally closing out the contest to claim the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.

ROURKELA, JAN 28 (AGENCIES): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced on Saturday that India will tie for ninth place with Argentina after its win against South Africa. According to the FIH, there will not be 10th, 12th, 14th or 16th places but two teams will tie for the 9th, 11th, 13th and 15th positions.

The Men in Blue defeated the African team 5-2 in the 9-11 position match at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Saturday. Indian captain

Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored the goals for India. India had beaten Japan 8-0 in their previous classification match after losing to New Zealand in the crossovers for the quarter-finals.

Earlier, Argentina thrashed Wales 6-0 in the other 9-11 classification match. Malaysia prevailed over Japan 3-2 in a contest between two Asian teams and France defeated Chile 4-2 in playoff matches.

ISL: Bengaluru FC storm into top six with 3-1 win against Chennaiyin FC

BENGALURU, JAN 28

(AGENCIES): Bengaluru FC continued its climb up the ISL table with a 3-1 win over Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. It was the home side’s fourth win on the trot, a streak that has lifted spirits after a forgettable first half of the season.

Whether it will eventually help seal a playoff spot – BFC is currently on 22 points from 16 games –remains to be seen, for all four remaining matches are against sides that are above.

On the day, BFC wasn’t really convincing, but was helped by a horrendous CFC display in the first half hour. Roy

Krishna helped the host take the lead in the 15th minute when he released N. Sivasakthi with a splendid long-ball from deep

inside his own half and saw the in-form youngster calmly slot it home for his third goal of the campaign. Then, the CFC mid-field

NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo pours in 41 in Bucks’ win

SAN FRANCISCO, JAN

28 (AGENCIES): Gi -

annis Antetokounmpo

scored 41 points and tacked 12 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks clinched a 141-131 win over host Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Friday night.

In a scoring effort for Milwaukee, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton complemented Antetokounmpo with 23 and 17 points, respectively. Seven Bucks players scored in double figures, including Brook Lopez (15), Pat Connaughton (14), Jevon Carter (12) and Grayson Allen (13).

Myles Turner led In-

diana with 24 points, closely followed by Buddy Hield with 22 points. Rookie Bennedict Mathurin also

contributed 21 while TJ McConnell added 19. The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton for the ninth

straight game. Hield, the NBA leader in 3-point shots, led all players with 5-for-9 shots from beyond the arc.

Timber Wolves 111, Grizzlies 100

Anthony Edwards amassed 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead Minnesota to a win over the tumbling Memphis in Minneapolis. Kyle Anderson had a season-high 23 points on 9-of-16 shots from the floor, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. D’Angelo Russell recorded 19 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals for the Timberwolves, who have won 10 of their last

14 games to go a game over .500 in the season. Minnesota opened its sixgame home grandstand by recording its eighth win in its last nine games at the Target Center. Memphis native Ja Morant contributed 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to his fourth triple-double of the season. He has eclipsed the 20-point platoon in 12 straight games. Dillon Brooks scored 17 points, Brandon Clarke added 15, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 14 for the Grizzlies. However, Memphis committed 21 turnovers en route to extending its losing streak to five games in the season.

duo of Jiteshwor Singh and Julius Duker made terrible mistakes, losing the ball under pressure close to their goal, and were duly

picked off by Sivasakthi and Rohit Kumar.

CFC coach Tomas Brdaric rang in the changes during half-time, which included the substitution of captain Anirudh Thapa. The away side seemed transformed, with sub Edwin Vanspaul curling one from the right flank to reduce the deficit.

It could have been a different story if striker Peter Sliskovic and Vanspaul had hit the target from promising positions and Ninthoi Meetei was not thwarted by a fine closerange save from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

But BFC held on, managing the game well towards the end to leave CFC in a lowly eighth

place (17 points from 15 matches), severely denting the two-time champion’s top-six chances.

ATKMB beat Odisha FC: ATK Mohun Bagan defeated Odisha FC 2-0 in Kolkata on Satruday. ATKMB regains momentum following losses and draws in their previous two games. The victory gives them renewed hope for the ISL Playoffs. With this defeat, OFC will drop to the bottom half of the standings. Dimitri Petratos gave ATKMB an early advantage in the match, and the score was tied at the half. In the 80th minute, he added a second goal on an inch-perfect cross from Asish Rai to give his team the victory.

Indonesia Masters: Christie, Carolina Marin storm into final

Jonatan Christie

JAKARTA, JAN 28 (AGENCIES): Fourth seed

Jonatan Christie reached his first final in almost a year as he prevailed over Shi Yuqi of China 21-13, 15-21, 21-19 in an hour and 13 minutes in the men’s singles semifinal of the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta on Saturday.

FA Cup: Iheanacho goal sends Leicester to fifth round, Leeds also win

Carolina Marin

Christie, who beat Lakshya Sen in the quarterfinals, will face fellow Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in the final on Sunday. Wardoyo defeated Ng Ka Long Angus in the second semifinal. The world no. 3 Christie last played a final at the Asian Badminton Championship

in May last year when he lost to Lee Zii Jia. The Indonesian last won a BWF World Tour title at the Swiss Open in March 2022. Meanwhile, seventh seed Carolina Marin stormed into the women’s singles final with a thumping victory. The Spaniard thrashed Han Yue of China 21-15, 21-14 in 41 minutes. She will take on world no. 2 An Se Young, who prevailed over Wang Zhiyi 21-9, 10-21, 21-16, in the final in quest of her first BWF World Tour title in two years. Marin won the Swiss Open Super 300 in March 2021.

WALSALL, JAN 28 (AGENCIES):

Kelechi

Iheanacho spared Leicester City from a potential FA Cup giant-killing once again as his second-half goal saw the Foxes beat fourth-tier Walsall 1-0 and progress to the fifth round on Saturday.

Leicester, who beat fourth-tier strugglers Gillingham by a single Iheanacho goal last time out, faced a stern test from a hard-working, high-energy Walsall side eager to shut out their top-flight opposition.

It took 30 minutes for the Foxes to get a shot on target, and a frustrating afternoon was made worse as Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans’ powerful ef -

fort from the penalty spot struck the post after Patson Daka was fouled inside the box.

But second-half substitute Iheanacho rescued Leicester’s afternoon when his effort from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off the back of Walsall defender Brandon Comley, turning it into a curling, dipping ball that proved too much for the goalkeeper to handle.

Fellow Premier League side Leeds United beat lower-division opposition in Saturday’s other early game as they triumphed 3-1 over Accrington Stanley to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2016.

Goals from Junior Firpo and Luis Sinesterra after

a stellar first-half Jack Harrison strike from distance saw Jesse Marsch’s topflight strugglers ease past League One Accrington, despite the hosts pulling one back late on through Leslie Adekoya.

Meanwhile, Leeds beat Accrington Stanley 3-1 to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in seven years as Leicester also avoided a shock with a 1-0 win at Walsall on Saturday.

Wrestlers opt out of IOA panel meeting on harassment issue

NEW DELHI, JAN 28

(AGENCIES): Eight days after five top Indian wrestlers had written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and sought the appointment of a committee to investigate into complaints of sexual harassment made against the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, none of them have appeared in front of a committee that was appointed by the IOA for the same. As a reason, the wrestlers have cited the formation of a parallel committee appointed by the Sports Ministry which features some of the same members as the IOA. The wrestlers pointed out the fact that one

of the members of the IOA committee mentioning the possibility of the allegations by the wrestlers being fake. They have also suggested that the committee appointed by the sports ministry could itself be reconstituted The IOA committee was formed on January 21st after Olympic medallists Ravi Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik as well as world medallists Vinesh Phogat and Deepak Punia jointly signed a letter addressed to the IOA which listed out complaints of sexual harassment, financial misappropriation and mental torture made against the WFI and WFI president.

Aryna Sabalenka holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday.

Indian players celebrate win against South Africa on Saturday.

Players of Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC in action during ISL match in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho shoots at goal during FA Cup match at Bescot Stadium, Walsall, Britain on Saturday.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots the ball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday.