India’s exports dip 8.8% to $33.88 billion

The country’s exports had contracted by 6.58 per cent to USD 32.91 billion in December 2022. In February 2022, the trade deficit was USD 18.75 billion. Last time, it was in January 2022 when the trade deficit touched USD 17.42 billion.

NEW

DELHI,

MAR 15

(PTI): Contracting for the third month in a row, India’s exports declined by 8.8 per cent to USD 33.88 billion in February due to slowdown in global demand, even as the trade deficit touched about a year low of USD 17.43 billion during the month, according to official data released on Wednesday. Imports also declined by 8.21 per cent to USD 51.31 billion as against USD

55.9 billion recorded in the corresponding month last year. Cumulatively, however during April-February this fiscal, the country’s overall merchandise exports rose by 7.5 per cent to USD 405.94 billion. Imports during the period increased by 18.82 per cent to USD 653.47 billion. The merchandise trade deficit for the April-February this fiscal stood at about USD 247.53 billion.

NPCC suggests party-less...

(From p-1)

NPCC said the meeting noted that Congress candidates fought for reasons they believed in and this was acknowledged and for those present expressed gratitude to all party workers, supporters and well-wishers who stood firm despite all adverse conditions. NPCC said it also expressed sincere regrets for shortcomings for those workers who had failed in their duties and even played negative roles.

NPCC said its candidates decided to remain united for promoting and strengthening the party and expressed the need to team together with positive thinkers. After being humbled by its defeat in the Assembly election, the meeting observed that Congress has lost moral authority to raise voice on issues of public interest. Furthermore, NPCC said it has also been silenced by the rejection of its election manifesto by the majority. In such a scenario, the meeting considered the opposition-less government as undemocratic as such an arrangement gave absolute power to corrupt with no questions where looters would openly demand commissions on all development projects, indulge in backdoor appointments and misuse public offices.

In this, NPCC said the party candidates recommended that the party should continue to act as a constructive opposition even though outside the Assembly. The meeting also appealed to elite section of the society and clergies to be more serious as it was time the elites understood the madness of the multitude over money and power that was endangering the existence of Nagaland.

Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said that going by the trend, India’s goods and services exports will cross USD 750 billion in 2022-23.

“We have kept the momentum despite the global headwinds. Exporters have kept the momentum. Services exports are doing extremely well. Trade deficit has really come down. Hopefully we will be doing better,” Barthwal told reporters here. He added that the ministry has started exercise to fix the target for the next fiscal also.

(From p-1) pointed out that reservation of office of the chairperson for women was “a deprivation to the rightful candidate.” Therefore, SH suggested and appeal to the government to amend such reservation so that the elected candidates should democratically choose the rightful candidate, be it a man or a woman, to be their chairperson.

The meeting was attended by Sümi Hoho president I Nikheto Jimomi, general secretary Dr. Vihuto Asumi, Sümi Kükami Hoho president KashitoYepthomi, general secretary Hetoho S. Zhimomi, ZAPO president Kakugha S. Rotokha, ZCCI president Kikheto Muru and ZTGBA chairman H. Shihoto Zhimomi.

KVC: Kohima Village Council (KVC) has opposed the notification that announced holding of election to urban local bodies (ULBs) on May 16, unless

New variant could be behind fresh spike

(From

It is also possible that XBB.1.16 may have originated in India,” the expert said, adding that XBB.1.16 could eventually dominate all other SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants. According to covSPECTRUM, a platform that accesses GISAID data and helps scientists identify variants of SARS-CoV-2, India currently has 48 sequenced samples of this sublineage. According to it, as many as 39 sequenced samples of the sublineage are from Maharashtra, eight are from Gujarat and one from UP. Dr Vipin M Vashishtha, the member of WHO’s Vaccine Safety Net who has been tracking new Covid variants during the pandemic, told TOI, “The previous XBB.1 descendant, XBB.1.5, had become dominant across the globe but not in India. But there is some worry about XBB.1.16 globally because it has certain mutations in the non-spike region of the virus: two ORF9b mutations. ORF9b has been implicated in efficient immune evasion.”

Infectious diseases expert Dr Sanjay Pujari, a member of India’s national Covid-19 task force, said, “Not much information is yet available on XBB.1.16’s relative immune escape properties and ability to cause severe illness as compared to other Omicron sub-lineages.”

Zeliang reviews road works ahead...

(From p-1) on the works manned by NHIDCL and assured that works would be completed within the stipulated target date. Some existing challenges were also deliberated. It was informed that the state government would remind the deputy commissioner of Kohima and Chümoukedima to take immediate follow-up action since the same were enforcement related issues. Contractors involved in construction works were informed to gear up and extend their fullest support and dedication so that targets were achieved on time.

two sections of Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA), 2001 were amended. Stating this, KVC chairman Helievi-o Solo also declared support to three bodies –AKMWP, DUCCF and AWUMT–who had earlier expressed opposition to ULB elections till two sections of the NMA were amended in the interest of Nagas.

He urged the government to immediately amend the two sections, viz, i) tax on land and building as it directly infringed Article 371A and publish the amendment notification in the Government Gazette and ii) 33% reservation of seats for women in ULBs, which was not a social practice in Naga society and infringed Article 371A.

The KVC chairman warned that in case the government failed to listen and address the genuine demand of the people and proceed with the election process, regardless of

Gold declines Rs 310; silver falls Rs 90

NEW DELHI, MAR 15 endangering or infringing Article 371A, then people of the land would resort to anything for protection and retention of their birth right.

(PTI): Gold prices declined by Rs 310 to Rs 57,070 per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday amid weak global trends, according to HDFC Securities.

The yellow metal had closed at Rs 57,380 per 10 grams in the previous trade.

Silver also fell by Rs 90 to Rs 66,535 per kg.

“Spot gold in the Delhi markets traded at Rs 57,070 per 10 grams, down Rs 310 per 10 grams,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior AnalystCommodities at HDFC Securities, said. In the overseas markets, gold was quoting lower at USD 1,891 per ounce and silver was flat at USD 21.61 per ounce. US dollar and bond yields traded higher post-US inflation data as increased expectations of a 25 basis points hike by the US Federal Reserve at the next meeting, Gandhi said.

He also appealed to all intending candidates not to file nominations till the matter was settled.

While declaring support for early ULB election, Solo however suggested that it would be wise for all stakeholders to look back and revisit ULB election history of the past, and subsequent events and aftermath of the same.

He recalled that the first ULB election in Nagaland was held smoothly and peacefully in 2004 without any women reservation in three municipal councils of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung and 20 town councils.

The tenures subsequently expired between December 19, 2009 and July 9, 2010. After this, ULB election could not be held due to conflict between the State Government and various civil society organisations over the government’s persuasive attitude to hold the ULB election with 33% women reservation which prolonged the matter.

Thereafter, the government had forcefully tried to conduct the ULB polls in 2016-2017 with 33% women reservation but this only ignited the fury of general mass and resulted in protests by various tribal bodies, spearheaded by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).

KVC said this also resulted in arson and damage to government buildings and properties besides two deaths and injury to several others. The government was compelled to withhold the ULB election by a Cabinet notification.

By observing the sequences of the past history, Solo hoped that every stakeholder had learnt their lessons.

“We have witnessed that forceful initiation by the government with suppressive intentions in this matter will never succeed. Let us learn from those past ugly events we have come across and refrain from repeating the same mistake again,” he appealed. The KVC chairman also conveyed warm greetings to all the newly-elected members of 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and welcomed the new council of ministers and advisers of the newlyformed government under the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio, described as a seasoned politician and a patriotic leader of the people who was elected as chief minister for fifth time.

Solo also expressed support to the chief minister and his government, hoping that there would be all-round development without any bias or partiality to any section of Nagas or area in the State.

Farmers advised to practice mulching

DIMAPUR, MAR 15

(NPN): With the onset of pre-monsoon season and temperature gradually rising in the state, the soil & water conservation and meteorology department has advised the farmers to practice mulching for moisture conservation for any kind of crop grown during this season.

Poultry farmers have been recommended to maintain strict sanitation for disease avoidance and administer vaccine for 4-5 days old chicks for renikhet disease.

In a press release,

lANd FOr SAle

S&WC joint director & state nodal officer for meteorology Rongsenlemzung stated that in the last 30 days, the average temperature of the State recorded an average maximum temperature of 23.0 ºC, while minimum temperature hovered at 12.9ºC and Relative humidity at 65.5% and total rainfall of 99.4mm.

State nodal officer informed that the meteorological observatory at Jalukie recorded the highest maximum temperature with 35.0ºC on March 15 and Zunheboto recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 5.8ºC is reported on February 20, 2023. He also informed that highest rainfall of 34.0mm was recorded from Sechu Observatory on March 15, 2023.

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Floods kill 14 in Turkish earthquakebattered provinces

ANKARA, MAR 15

(AP): Floods caused by torrential rains hit two Turkish provinces that were devastated by last month’s catastrophic earthquake, killing at least 14 people and increasing the misery for thousands who were left homeless, officials said Wednesday. Rescue teams were still searching for five people reported missing in three locations, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. Soylu said 12 people were killed by the floods in the southeastern Sanliurfa province while two others died in neighbouring Adiyaman province. In Adiyaman, victims drowned after surging waters swept away a container home sheltering a family of earthquake survivors, HaberTurk television reported. The victims in Sanliurfa included five Syrian nationals whose bodies were found inside a flooded basement apartment and two other people who died inside a van that was trapped at an underpass.

2 killed, 4 missing after landslides strike town near Jakarta

JAKARTA, MAR 15

(IANS): Two people were killed and four others went missing after landslides hit Bogor town near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, a disaster management official said on Wednesday. Eleven people survived the incident striking the town at 11.49 p.m. on Tuesday, several of them suffered serious wounds, the official told Xinhua news agency. “Heavy downpours triggered the landslides, six houses and one mosque were destroyed,” he said. The incident also disturbed train transportation from Bogor to the Sukabumi district of West Java province, according to him.

2 killed, 8 injured in Pak bomb explosion

ISLAMABAD, MAR 15

(IANS): Two people were killed and eight others injured when a bomb went off in Khuzdar district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, the police said on Wednesday.

A vehicle carrying a trader was targeted by explosives in the market area of Khuzdar on Tuesday, Fahad Khosa, Senior Superintendent of Khuzdar police, told media. He added that a heavy contingent of police had reached the site, and an investigation into the incident was underway, reports Xinhua news agency. The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital. No group has claimed the attack yet.

Criminal ring attacks

14 cities in Brazil

BRASILIA, MAR 15

(IANS): At least 14 cities in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte state suffered shooting or arson attacks that left one person dead, local authorities said. An organised crime ring known as the Crime Syndicate, which operates widely in the state, were allegedly behind the attacks, according to police reports. The victim died in a clash with security forces, the police said, adding that the attacks occurred in the state capital Natal, and more than 10 other cities in the state, reports Xinhua news agency. The state’s security forces jointly responded to the attacks on a court of law, two military police stations, a city hall and a bank. Police also reported damage to a motorcycle shop, and vehicles parked on the street and in public lots.