10 june

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 184

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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Lockdown till June 18 with more relaxations Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUN 9 (NPN): Current total Lockdown in Nagaland which was to end on June 11 has been further extended till June 18 by the state’s High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19, which met Wednesday at the CM’s Residential Office.

Informing this, HPC spokesperson and minister planning, Neiba Kronu said the HPC headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio took the decision after considering all inputs from the District Task Forces (DTFs) including the Health (H&FW) department.

It may be recalled that Nagaland Post, had earlier in its reports, indicated that the lockdown was most likely going to be extended as it brought a decline in new Covid cases and also fears that the situation could be uncontrollable if the virus spread to rural areas where health facilities were inadequate to meet the challenges.

The report also cited opinions of medical experts in the state, who felt that community transmission has already taken place and that the only way tostop

NEW LOCKDOWN GUIDELINES FROM JUN 12-18

the virus was vaccination and lockdown. Community transmission implies that the virus is now circulating in the community, and can infect people with no history of travel to or contact with affected people and areas. At this stage, it is theoretically possible for everyone in a community or country to catch the infection.

Also the newspaper reported that the Health department would be presenting its report to the HPC

after holding consultations with representatives of all the districts. Except two districts, the rest of the district representatives-- including Dimapur and Kohima, favoured continuation of the lockdown.

Though lockdown has been extended, yet some relaxations were decided by the HPC to allow shops/ business establishments to open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(See Infographic) HPC also held a video

conferencing with all DTFs, where health & family welfare (H&FW) department officials also presented an overall ground reports obtained from across the State and their observations.

During the video conferencing, Kronu said that the views of all were taken into consideration, where there was consensus to continue the lockdown with more relaxations. It may be recalled that the government had imposed a seven-day

State reports 186 fresh Covid cases, 3 deaths

India logs over 92k fresh Covid cases

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): COVID-19 STATUS AS ON June 9, 2021 Nagaland’s Covid-19 caseACTIVE CASES load rose to 23237 on Symptomatic Non Covid Deaths MiAsSevere Wednesday after 186 fresh ModRecovTotal District ympDeath with graterate ICU ICU ered Cases cases were reported while On Covid 19 ed tom- Mild On (without (On Positivity three more patients sucatic Oxy- Oxy- ventila- ventigen gen tor) lator cumbed to the infection.

Mokokchung district Dimapur 1958 102 30 18 13 10 9013 286 10 479 11918 6 Kiphire 25 5 0 0 0 103 4 0 1 143 saw another single-day surge Kohima 642 23 3 7 0 3 6191 71 0 98 7038 of 92 Covid cases followed 0 0 87 0 2 10 128

by Kohima-34, Dimapur-28, Longleng 8 17 3 1 0 0 431 22 0 30 975 Zunheboto-11, six in Mon, Mokokchung 475 8 2 7 Mon 75 2 2 0 0 0 805 6 2 15 907 five in Phek, three each in Peren 13 0 0 0 0 0 561 0 0 2 576 Wokha and Longleng, two Phek 58 0 5 1 1 0 236 13 0 2 316 in Tuensang and one each Tuensang 188 12 6 0 0 0 454 4 0 2 666 in Peren and Kiphire.

Wokha 79 1 3 1 0 0 91 3 0 4 183 The recent surge in Zunheboto 65 10 5 0 0 0 289 12 0 5 387 cases Mokockung is not Total 3586 181 64 35 14 13 18261 421 14 648 23237 only confined to MokokcFollowing the death number of deaths has risen hung town area. Significant number of fresh cases were of three more patients-- one to 435 (including 14 nonbeing reported from rural each in Kohima, Mokokc- Covid deaths but with Covid areas, health officials said. hung and Phek, the total positivity).

CM to launch COVID info app

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): State chief minister Neiphiu Rio would launch the Nagaland COVID-19 Info App on June 10, 2021 at 10:30am at the War Room, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima.

The objective of the App is to provide Covid information including hospital bed status etc. Contact information at all levels of management of COVID-19 in the State would also be provided to assist the citizens during emergencies.

This is it!

“We cannot afford face masks. That’s why we felt it was best to be here and avoid people.”

K Y M C

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): India reported 92,596 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally to 2,90,89,069, while the number of active cases dropped to 12,31,415, according to the Health Ministry stated. The daily infections remained below one lakh for the second straight day.

The death toll due to COVID-19 reached 3,53,528 with 2,219 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of active cases has reduced to 12,31,415, comprising 4.23% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 94.55%.

lockdown from May 14 to contain spread of Covid-19 and subsequently extended it till May 31, and then further up to June 11. This will be the third extension of the lockdown in the State.

Meanwhile, chief secretary J Alam has issued fresh Lockdown guidelines to remain in effect between June 12 and June 18. It was also learnt that the DTFs will issue orders for activities to be carried out in their respective districts as per the ground situation. In the order, Alam stated that the Covid situation in the State was reviewed where it was observed that there was a declining trend in the number of daily Covid-19 positive cases. He also informed that spread of Covid-19 cases in rural and peri-urban areas were also being continuously monitored.

Alam however noted that the number of active Covid-19 positive cases in the State was still a matter of concern. After taking into consideration views of the H&FW department and various DTFs, Alam said the State government was satisfied that the lockdown measures should be continued for some more time.

Auckland adjudged world’s most liveable city international, Page 9

ISRO to assist dev projects in NE through space technology Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (NPN): Union Minister of State (I/C) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh Wednesday said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would assist development projects in the Northeast through Space Technology.

Chairing a high-level meeting with senior officers of DoNER ministry and ISRO scientists, Dr. Singh said the space agency would contribute by offering optimum utilization of Satellite Imaging and other Space Technology applications for better accomplishment of infrastructural projects in all the eight States of the North Eastern region.

He said that six out of the eight States of Northeast have already sent their specific proposals for execution

by ISRO, while the remaining two States of Sikkim and Assam would send their proposals soon.

Dr. Singh informed that ISRO was already mon-

Dr. Jitendra Singh chairing a high level meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday.

itoring and Geo-tagging 67 projects at 221 sites in all the eight States funded by DoNER Ministry/North East Council. He said this was first of its kind in the whole country, where there was an institutionalised involvement of ISRO in mapping and sharing of data for developmental projects. Which could become a model for other States also.

He said that ISRO was no longer confined mainly to the launching of satellites, but it has been constantly enlarging its role in development activities. North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) at Shillong has received a number of proposals from North Eastern states.

It would be discussing the feasibility and desirability of all such projects,

Nagaland gets `379.75 cr PDRD grant Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (NPN): The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance on Tuesday released the third monthly instalment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) grant of Rs. 9,871 crore for the year 2021-22 to 17 States.

With the release of third instalment, a total amount of Rs. 29, 613 crore has been released in the first three months of the current financial year as PDRD grant to the states.

As per the state-wise details of the grant released, Nagaland has received Rs.379.75 crore in June 2021 as third instalment

and total amount received in 2021-22 (April -June 2021) was Rs.1139.25 crore.

The Centre provides the PDRD Grant to the States under Article 275 of the Constitution. The grants are released as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission in monthly instalments to meet the gap in Revenue Accounts of the States post devolution. The 15th Finance Commission has recommended PDRD grants to 17 States.

The States recommended for PDRD grant include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mi-

zoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

The eligibility of States to receive this grant and the quantum of grant was decided by the Commission based on the gap between assessment of revenue and expenditure of the State.

Assessed devolution for the financial year 2021-22 was also taken into account by the Commission.

The 15th Finance Commission has recommended a total PDRD grant of Rs. 1,18,452 crore to 17 States in the financial year 202122. The grant is released to the States in 12 monthly instalments.

one by one with each of the States in the next fortnight.

Once identified, all such projects were likely to be funded jointly by respective States and NESAC. Dr Singh said that in North Eastern Region, space technology was now being used in diverse sectors including agriculture, railways, roads and bridges, medical management/ telemedicine, procurement of timely Utilization Certificates, disaster forecast and management, weather/ rain/flood forecast, etc.

NESAC is an autonomous organisation under Department of Space at Shillong and provides dedicated service to the Region.

The Centre was set up with a vision to play the catalytic role in holistic development of the Region.

Fuel prices at record high DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Wednesday increased price of petrol by 25 paise and diesel by 25 paise after a day’s pause taking the prices of two auto fuels to record highs across the country.

With the latest increase, petrol price in Dimapur climbed to Rs. 94.28 per litre and diesel price rose to Rs. 88.58 per litre. In the state capital Kohima, prices of petrol and diesel climbed to Rs.95.23 per litre and Rs.89.34 per litre respectively.

The hike on Wednesday was the 22nd increase in prices since May 4.

NPFLP dares PDA to answer questions RH backs RNPC demand for autonomous dist Govt issues guidelines

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP) has repeated its challenge on the ruling PDA coalition government, to respond to ten pertinent questions it has raised over alleged financial irregularities for Covid-19 management in the State.

NPFLP spokesperson Imkong L. Imchen slammed the PDA for describing the opposition’s posers on financial irregularities as attempt to get

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): Rengma Hoho (RH) has strongly supported the demand of the Rengma Naga People’s Council (RNPC) for creation of Rengma Hills Autonomous District (RHAD) in Assam.

RH president Pollem Tep and general secretary Sinhilo Thongseb said historical records point out that Rengmas, living in the Rengma Hills of Assam (now Karbi Anglong), were distinctly documented even (Full text on p-6) before the advent of Brit-

media attention and create sensationalism besides asking it (NPF) to filed RTI for facts and also check with the H&FW department for answers.

Imkong said the PDA government should answer questions it raised by making them public, if it claimed to be running a transparent administration because since even NITI Aayog had bracketed Nagaland as the “worst performing state in India on June 5.”

ishers in the area. On the proposed move of the Centre and Assam government for creation of KAATC in Karbi Anglong, RH said it denounced any peace deal without the consent, consultation and consideration of the legitimate historical facts and rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the land.

RH said if the government cannot provide basic human needs to the Rengma inhabitants of the Rengma Hill territories in Assam why impose a pseudo ad-

ministration only to aggravate their sufferings?

R H s a i d Re n g m a s survived on their own for centuries, however, their existence was now being threatened and endangered partly due to the apathy of the government. It therefore, appealed to Centre to show human compassion towards the plights of Rengmas of Assam and consider their demand for autonomous district, submitted several times to the government for permanent settlement.

Covid more likely to spread indoors through maskless interaction WASHINGTON, JUN 9 Why should you wear a mask?

(PTI): Speaking in indoor When a COVID-19 carrier coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets carrying the virus are expelled into the air and could infect others. Asymptomatic people can also transmit infection. spaces without wearing a Infected with You COVID-19 mask poses the greatest risk of spreading Covid-19 to others, a study has found.

1 meter The research, published in the Journal of InLEVEL OF PROTECTION LEVEL OF PROTECTION LOW NONE ternal Medicine, describes how different sized respiratory droplets emitted while speaking have a range of sizes, and can carry different amounts of virus.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION LEVEL OF PROTECTION According to the reMODERATE HIGH searchers of the study, the Source: AFP that remain suspended droplets can be transported most concerning droplets size CGTN are those of intermediate in air for minutes. These over considerable distanc-

es by air currents, they noted.

“We’ve all seen some spit droplets flying when people talk but there are thousands more, too small to be seen by the naked eye,” said Adriaan Bax, of the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “ W h e n t h e wa t e r evaporates from such speech-generated, potentially virus-rich droplets, they float in the air for minutes, like smoke, thus putting others at risk,”

said Bax, senior author of the study. The researchers reviewed many studies on the physical and medical aspects of aerosol droplets in virus transmission that have appeared since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They concluded that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is not only the dominant pathway for transmitting Covid-19, but unmasked speech in confined spaces represents the activity that poses the greatest risk to others.

on COVID in children

Suggests rational use of CT scan; Remdesivir not recommended NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): Centre has come out with comprehensive guidelines for the management of COVID-19 among children in which Remdesivir has not been recommended and rational use of HRCT imaging has been suggested.

The guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the health ministry also said that steroids are harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of infection.

DGHS recommended steroids only in hospitalised moderately severe and critically ill COVID-19 cases under strict supervision.

“Steroids should be used at the right time, in the right dose and for the right duration ,” it said. The guidelines also said Remdesivir (an emergency use authorization drug) is not recommended in children. “There is lack of sufficient safety and efficacy

data with respect to Remdesivir in children below 18 years of age,” it said.

The guidelines suggested rational use of High-resolution CT (HRCT) for seeing the extent and nature of lung involvement in patients with COVID-19. “However, any additional information gained from HRCT scan of the chest often has little impact on treatment decisions, which are based almost entirely on clinical severity and physiological impairment. “Therefore, treating physicians should be highly selective in ordering HRCT imaging of the chest in COVID-19 patients,” it said.

They said COVID-19 is a viral infection, and antimicrobials have no role in the prevention or treatment of uncomplicated COVID-19 infection. For asymptomatic and mild cases, the guidelines said antimicrobials are not recommended for therapy or prophylaxis while for moderate and severe cases antimicrobials should not be prescribed unless there is clinical suspicion of a superadded infection.

(Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C

2

state

Tongpang reviews COVID situation in Mkg

Tongpang Ozukum with medical staff of Longmisa village and others.

DIMAPUR: Minister for PWD (mechanical and housing) and chairman, Mokokchung DPDB, Tongpang Ozukum’s visit to health centres in Angetyongpang Assembly Constituency, to take stock of the COVID situation culminated on Wednesday.

Tongpang visited all the health and wellness cen-

tres, sub-centres and interacted with the staff to take stock of the preparedness for COVID-19 pandemic.

He interacted with the respective task force teams of all villages and town units. The minister also visited the ongoing construction of EAC residence Chuchuyimlang town and expressed satisfaction with

the works done by the contractor though there was delay in funding and hoped that the responsible department would look into the matter so that the construction would finish on time.

Earlier, the minister visited the PSA oxygen plant at IMDH on June 6. He also visited and inspected some locations near

Mokokchung town as austerity measures with regard to COVID-19 preparedness in the district.

Later, he attended the Mokokchung District Task Force COVID-19 meeting on June 7 and assured all possible help to the district task force from funds made available under DPDB common pool.

Jun 7 vandalism: KCCI demands thorough probe DIMAPUR: Vehemently condemning the “dastardly act” of vandalism at Eklippz beauty parlour, MK market complex, Razhü point main town Kohima by unknown miscreant(s) on June 7, the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) has demanded that the “this type of crime” should be investigated thoroughly.

In a condemnation note, KCCI through its secretary, information & publicity, Kaihrii Henry Chisiite stated that all efforts should be made to bring the perpetrator(s) to book.

KCCI said that it was incomprehensible that such act was being committed when the state was observing a lockdown and the business community in particular were facing their “worst times.”

Further, it appealed to every right thinking citizen to condemn such crimes.

It further urged the responsible authority and the law enforcing agency to arrest the perpetrator(s) at the earliest.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Mhathung tours Sanis sub-division

Mhathung Yanthan along with medical staff and others during his visit. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR: Advisor for horticulture & border affairs, Mhathung Yanthan toured 39 Sanis assembly constituency to ascertain on the COVID-19 preparedness, on June 8.

According to DIPR report, while inspecting Sungro PHC, Lakhuti PHC, Sanis CHC and Molian PHC, Mhathung expressed his appreciation to the Sanis Block Task Force (BTF) led by Chairman & ADC Sanis, administration, doctors, health care workers,

frontline workers, police, churches, civil societies and all others involved for their service for the safety of the people during the pandemic.

He also informed them that the government was doing its best to provide better healthcare service through various health care centres and urged the churches to create an awareness to do away with the social stigma. Mhathung urged the youth of the state to rise up and meet the challenges

to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. He also added that the state has been depending on others for too long and to overcome this deficiency, the state government had constituted a high power steering committee to improve the agriculture production. As agriculture was the mainstay of Nagaland, the state government has also launched various programmes and schemes, and in this regard, he urged the youth to avail the opportunity for self-reliance.

Organisations condemn assault on school administrator in Mon DIMAPUR: Various organisations have strongly condemned the alleged assault meted out by a youth on the administrator of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Mon, on June 8 at the school centre.

CEDOK: Commissioner for Education Diocese of Kohima (CEDOK) has expressed shock at the inhuman act of physical violence meted out to the administrator.

In a condemnation note, CEDOK secretary Rev. Dr. Jacob Charalel said that the assault on a simple and unassuming educationist like the administrator was not only attack on a person but on the very institution in total disregard for the values of society CEDOK stated that the incident has caused “a non erasable stain on the educational history of Mon”.

While appreciating the statements and actions by the student unions of Mon and Wakching and others, the CEDOK condemned the incident and hoped that the concerned authorities would ensure that justice was done and

no such incident would occur to any educationist in the future.

KBBB: Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjüm (KBBB) as a representative of all the Konyak Baptist Churches has strongly condemned the incident.

In a condemnation note, KBBB executive secretary Rev. M. Chemyuh Konyak stated that “the use of violence, harassment, demand by force, assault on individual or institution and any sort of anti-social elements” were not acceptable for a peaceful coexistence.

It stated that “it is a disgraceful state of affairs that despite the sacrifices made by Fr. Sam in particular and DBHSS, Mon in general in the field of education for our Konyak people, some are still resorting to violence”.

Further, KBBB has appealed to all concerned to discourage such kind of behaviour and activities in the society.

ANPSA: All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA), central body has vehemently condemned the “barbarous assault”.

In a condemnation

note, ANPSA president Nini Sekhose and general secretary P.J Nathan stated that in this stressful time when educators, parents and students were trying to make learning happen against all odds, it was shocking that such an atrocity should happen. “ Te a c h e r s c a n n o t

work competently under such hovering threats to life and liberty”, it stated.

Further, while extending its solidarity with the teaching community of Mon district and the DBHSS, Mon in particular, it requested the district administration of all the districts in Nagaland to

ensure the safety of the teachers and preserve the sanctity and dignity of the institutions of learning.

MTSU: Mon Town Students’ Union (MTSU) has condemned the incident.

In a condemnation note, MTSU president T. Chingmei Konyak and

general secretary Amos Naka has appealed to the law enforcing authority to investigate and give the culprit a befitting punishment as per the law.

Further, the student union has warned all the individuals or any groups that any kind of inhuman or illegal act within its

jurisdiction would not be tolerated at any case.

WTSU: Wakching Town Students’ Union (WTSU) has vehemently condemned the physical assault.

In a condemnation note, WTSU president Yonglong Chemshe and general secretary Phuhnyei

Nyanpai said that the “barbaric act” was beyond the pale in a civilized society and the same should be condemned by all the right thinking citizens.

Further, the union demanded that the law enforcing agencies book the culprit under relevant section of the law.

17-03-1968 To 14-05-2021 Through this column, We the bereaved family members of our beloved Lt. P. Tokugha Zhimo of Zungti Village would like to extend our profound gratitute to each and every individual and organisations who stood by us and supported through financially, physically, and your prayers at the sudden demise of our father who left us for his heavenly abode on 14th May 2021.

We would like to express from the depth of our hearts that your prayers, presence, and assistance have been an unmeasurable source of comfortably help and support in this difficult hour.

We convey our special thanks to:1.

Shri. G. Kaito Aye Honourable Minister, Nagaland.

2.

Shri. I. Nikheto Zhimomi, General Secretary, Sumi Hoho.

3.

Shri. Toshiho Naga. Atokukau, and family, Xuivi Village.

4.

L.K.T. Kukamiqo (G/Bs) and Friends.

5.

Pastor, Zungti Baptist Akukuhou,(ZBC) 6.

Zungti Baptist Akukuhou, VCC/ VDB Zungti.

7.

Rev. Pikuto Yepthomi, Aizuto.

8.

Shri. Mughaho Zhimo. Music Director, Zunheboto BC. 9.

Shri. Ghutoi Swu. Ghukiye.

10.

Athikuzumi qo.

Praying that Almighty God blesses you abundantly.

Loving Wife, Children, Grandchildren, In-laws and Family members DP-2715 K Y M C

DC-485

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

K Y M C

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Should other shops also reopen with certain restrictions?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

3

State/northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

COVID-19: Containment measures, activities, advisories

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A

B

C

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

84% 15% 1%

Next poll

Q: Was the DNA of the

original coronavirus altered in a laboratory?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST June 10

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Mostly cloudy with a t-storm 30 26 Aizawl

An afternoon t-storm or two

27 21

Guwahati Some rain and a thunderstorm 33 25 Imphal

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm 28 21

Itanagar A t-storm around in the p.m.

31 22

Shillong Rather cloudy with a t-storm 23 18

A couple of thunderstorms

25 18

Dimapur Strong afternoon t-storms

31 24

A couple of thunderstorms

28 19

Kohima Mkg

Tuensang A thunderstorm in spots Wokha

21 15

A stray morning thunderstorm 27 21

Zunheboto A thunderstorm or two

25 17

An elderly man being administered with the vaccine at DTF Longleng conducting the sensitisation programme at Tamlu sub-division on Kiphire on Wednesday. (NP) June 8.

DIMAPUR: The state government departments and district administrations have issued various advisories for the public and government employees in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Vaccination drives are also being consistently undertaken, in order to ensure that all the citizens stay protected.

Special vaccination drive in Kiphire: Special vaccination drive on COVID-19 vaccine commenced at Government Higher Secondary School Kiphire.

On the first day of vaccination, 91 beneficia-

ries of 45 years and above and 19 beneficiaries of 18 years and above received the jab.

The vaccination drive was also continued in other towns in the district. Along with medical staffs, members from district task force Kiphire, district administration, USLP, ESH, student leaders and women organisation assisted in the special drive.

Meanwhile, political leaders, tribal leaders and church leaders also took the initiative to share awareness video clips on social media to educate the people on the advantages and benefits of getting the

vaccine. (Correspondent) DTF Longleng organises sensitisation campaign: District Task Force, Longleng lead by the district administration, police, medical department and village guard organised a sensitisation campaign on June 8, at Yongnyah & Namsang Area under Tamlu Sub-division of Longleng.

Vaccination drive, formation of Village Task Force and Community Care Centre was carried out as part of the sensitisation program.

Kazheto Kinimi visits Akuluto: Advisor NSDMA and CAWD,

Kazheto Kinimi visited Akuluto on June 6 and interacted with SDTF Akuluto, Zunheboto, regarding its preparedness against COVID-19 pandemic under its jurisdiction.

According to DIPR, the advisor assured the SDTF of TrueNat testing facility and oxygen concentrators at Akuluto PHC at the nearest possible time.

Kazheto also provided assistance to SDTF and made an appeal to remain sincere in the fight against the pandemic.

DC Wokha issues advisory: Deputy Commissioner & Chairman

Assam Rifles conduct various activities

According to PRO HQ IGAR (N), the team organised a campaign focused on creating awareness about the precautions to be undertaken in the wake of the surge in COVID19 cases.

The team emphasised on the use of face masks, maintaining social distancing and

use of hand sanitisers among other precautions.

Altogether, seven staff and 27 children benefitted from the awareness lectures.

Meanwhile, Mokokchung battalion of Assam Rifles assisted the district hospital, Mokokchung in establishing a COVID care center (CCC)

More O2 concentrators arrive

Oxygen concentrators being loaded on to a truck, Wednesday.

DIMAPUR: Nagaland on Wednesday received another batch of 600 oxygen concentrators (10 litres per minute) from Kolkata. The con-

signment, weighing around 20000 kgs was flown in by the Indian Air Force C-130 special flight. The consignment, which was procured

under NHP, were received by the state government officials at Dimapur airport, and transported by trucks to the facility.

CTPO flays vehicle lifters DIMAPUR: Chukitong Town Public Organisation (CTPO) has condemned the acts of three individuals Nzubemo, Myanthung and Nchumbemo from Chukitong, Wokha district, who were recently arrested by Mokokchung police along with five others in connection with the theft of vehicles.

In a press statement, CTPO chairman Mhonthung Patton and general K Y M C

secretary Yanpvuo Humtsoe lauded the efforts of the police in nabbing the accused and appealed to the law enforcing agencies to award them befitting punishment as per the law of the land.

Further, CTPO warned that it would not tolerate any anti-social elements and activities in its area, adding that the general public would initiate own course of action in such cases.

on June 8.

The initiative was aimed at shouldering the responsibilities of district administration in facilitating the people with optimal patient care and necessary medical aid.

The battalion provided temporary waiting tents and potable water for the patients.

Arunachal villagers lap up offer of free rice in return for Covid jabs Itanagar, Jun 9 (PTI): Free rice in return for a COVID-19 jab, and as much as 20 kg. The prospect turned out to be lucrative enough to dispel rumours around vaccination among villagers of an administrative circle in Arunachal Pradesh, as over 80 of them turned up on foot for the inoculation within days of the announcement of the sop.

The brainchild of Circle Officer Tashi Wangchuk Thongdok of Yazali in Lower Subansiri district, the offer of free rice for those getting vaccinated in the 45-plus age group was launched on Monday and is valid till Wednesday.

“We are constantly trying to work out strategies to improve vaccination coverage in the circle and in the district.

“Till today noon, 80 people have come to receive the jabs. Our aim is to achieve 100 per cent inoculation in the circle by June 20,” Thongdok, a 2016batch APCS officer, said.

There are 1,399 people above the age of 45 in the Yazali Circle, officials said.

Many of those who came to get themselves vaccinated came on foot from far-flung villages, braving inclement weather, Thongdok said.

He said the administration is chalking out a roadmap for taking the vaccination drive to every village of the circle.

“We are planning door-to-door visits on Friday and Saturday to administer vaccines to people above 45 years of age.

Our offer will continue but the quantity of rice will be 10 kg instead of 20 kg,” Thongdok said.

secretary’s residence.

The ADC has also requested differently abled people to contact health workers in their respective areas for special priority for vaccination. All the ward chairmen have been asked to mobilise their respective Ward Task Force to extend all possible assistance for smooth conduct of the vaccination drive.

The beneficiaries have also been requested to maintain COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

House sealed at Aboi: In order to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, ADC Aboi, Chumlamo Humstoe has ordered the sealing of a house at Khendinyu field, Ngangching Village with boundaries as follows: North: Block Institute of Teachers Education (BITC); East: Border Roads; West: Forest; South: Khendinyu. The ADC has informed that the house was to remain sealed till further orders. Any person violating the containment measures would be liable to be proceeded against as per the provision of Sections 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act 2005 besides legal action under IPC Section 188 and other legal provisions as applicable.

NSCN (I-M) mourns member’s demise

Assam Rifles personnel delivering a lecture on COVID- Mokokchung battalion HQ IGAR (N) setting up tents at the district 19 at an orphanage home. hospital on June 8.

DIMAPUR: Jalukie battalion of HQ IGAR (N) under the aegis of Spear Corps organised a COVID-19 awareness drive for the children and staff of Zeme Women Organisation Children’s Home and Christian Servanthood Ministry Orphanage Home, Peren town on Wednesday.

District Task Force for COVID-19 Wokha, Orenthung Lotha has informed that in view of the detection of COVID-19 positive case at SBI main branch, Wokha, all customers who have visited the bank with effect from June 4 have been advised remain home quarantined for 10 days with self monitoring of their health by wearing mask, social distancing and frequently hand washing.

During the quarantine period, should any of the symptoms, fever, cough and difficulty in breathing develops, DC has requested them to isolate and contact

the district helpline numbers at 9863663885 (war room) and 70859885597 or 7628832000 (district hospital) for any assistance and information.

Vaccination to be held Peren town hall: ADC of Peren, K. Mhathung Tsanglao has notified that due to various difficulties at the present vaccination site at district hospital, Peren, the ongoing vaccination for COVID-19 would be temporarily carried out at Town Hall, Peren Town from June 8 till July 8.

Meanwhile, the ADC also notified that the intensified vaccination drive from June 8-18 for all eligible beneficiaries of 18-44 years and 45 years and above, on-site registration and vaccination would be carried out in all the wards under Peren town as per the scheduled listed: June 10; team I would be ward no 3- Ndining, dressing room, Local Ground; team II; ward no 4- Duiring, chairman’s residence, On June 11: team I; ward no 5- Nsetning, Anganwadi Centre, team II; ward no 6- Mdipuiram, chairman’s residence; June 12: team I; ward no 7- Beilikui, ward council hall; team II; ward no 8- Bana, Ban GPS, June 14: team I; ward no 9- Nkozai, ward council

DIMAPUR: NSCN (I-M) chairman, Q Tuccu has expressed grief over the demise of steering committee member Thrunyicho Sangtam, under United Sangtam Region (USR) NSCN. In a condolence note, Tuccu said that it was a profound loss not only for his family and Sangtam community but for the NSCN in general.

Describing him as a stalwart “national worker” who never failed in his assigned duties, the NSCN (I-M) chairman said that he was reminded of Thrunyicho’s determined contribution over many decades to the struggle for freedom.

Tuccu said that late Thrunyicho was a man with great principle, who was committed to the cause of freedom of Nagalim and that he served the “nation” wholeheartedly without any reservation.

He said that NSCN had lost a “beloved son and an outstanding patriot” and prayed that the bereaved family members would be able to draw some comfort from the many

heartfelt tributes that have been paid to the departed soul.

NSCN (I-M) steering committee: NSCN (I-M) steering committee convenor Ashiho Asoumai has expressed sadness over the demise of Thrunyicho Sangtam.

In a condolence note, steering committee convenor described Thrunyicho as a dedicated man who loved the Naga nation and displayed patriotic spirit till his last. “He gave his service for the Naga nation from the year 2008 and served the nation till the last moment of his life”, Asoumai said.

NSCN (I-M) steering committee extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and his close friends and prayed that God would take care of them and comfort them at this hour of grief.

ENNWU: Mourning the demise of Thrunyicho Sangtam, the Eastern Naga National Workers Union (ENNWU) said that in his demise, they have lost a great leader,

who was always ready to sacrifice for the cause of “Naga nation”.

It said that during his service to the “Naga nation”, he trusted the leadership of the NSCN till his last breath and that the void created by his departure would be hard to fill.

Further, the ENNWU conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.

NSCN (I-M) USR: The United Sangtam Region (USR) of the NSCN (I-M) has expressed grief over the demise of its leader, Thrunyicho Sangtam.

In a condolence note, CAO, USR, Thronglise Sangtam said that he was a true patriot and a man of word, who was true to his word.

In his demise, the USR said it has lost a capable and God-fearing leader, adding that the void left by his demise would be difficult to fill.

Further, the USR conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members.

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Trapped coal miners in M’laya yet to be traced

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JUN 9: The five miners, who are feared trapped inside a 500-feet flooded coal mine at Umpleng village in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya for ten days now are yet to be traced despite ongoing efforts to ‘rescue’ them, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said on Wednesday.

“We have not come out with positive results as of now but the rescue teams are trying their best to rescue the trapped miners,” Sangma said. “We have asked the district administration as well as other agencies, including NDRF to also pitch in but the conditions are very difficult out there,” he

informed.

The five migrant miners, including four from Assam and one from Tripura, have been trapped inside a 500-feet coal mine since May 30 after the abandoned pit got flooded following a dynamite explosion. Police have arrested Shining Langstang, the current owner of the illegal coal mine and booked him for violating the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.

The former owner of the mine, K. Chyrmang, who was detained and is currently in quarantine after he tested positive for COVID-19 infection, while one Nizam Uddin, the manager of

the illegal coal mine is absconded following the incident, even as the Meghalaya police have issued a lookout notice for him.

East Jaintia Hills district officials said that the National and State Disaster Response Forces confirmed that the level of the water inside the main shaft of the coal pit receded to about 30 feet and 4.50 lakh litre of water has been pumped out from the main shaft and 2.16 lakh litres of water from the second shaft as on date. “Additional water pumps have been installed in the main shaft and de-watering of the mine is in full swing,” an official, overseeing the rescue operations, said.

Registration mandatory for visitors to Meghalaya

Correspondent

Shillong, Jun 9: The Meghalaya Government has made it mandatory for all people entering the state to register themselves prior to their travel to the State.

“RT-PCR testing at Entry Points is mandatory for visiting the State irrespective of any other COVID-negative test reports.

Sample for RT-PCR testing shall be taken at the entry point on payment basis. Such persons shall proceed to their residence or place of stay and shall undergo home quarantine or paid quarantine for seven days from the date of their arrival regardless of their

test results,” a revised notification issued by the principal secretary, health and family welfare department, Sampath Kumar said on Wednesday.

“Persons exiting the State on the same day shall also be tested for RT-PCR and the result shall be communicated to them. On entry, they shall strictly confine to their place of work and exit on the same day,” the notification said, adding that visitors should register themselves at: http://meghalayaonline.gov. in/covid/testing.htm, and to download the Arogya Setu App and the Behavioural Change Management App of Meghalaya from Google play store.

However, persons with valid final certificates of vaccination will be exempted from testing, but would have to undergo test if they show symptoms on arrival, the notification said, adding that government officials, technical staff, logistics experts who are engaged to perform duties related to projects pertaining to the Health and Family Welfare, Power Department, Telecommunications and other agencies providing essential services to the State would be exempted from testing at the Entry Points on production of RAT negative certificate or certificate of full vaccination K Y M C

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M’laya to provide 100 pc budgetary support to MeECL

Correspondent

Shillong, June 9: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Wednesday approved to provide 100 percent budgetary support to the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for repaying the Rs 1,345 crore ‘Atma Nirbhar’ loan, provided that certain targets are phasewise met.

The cabinet took this decision based on the request and assurance given by the power department and MeECL management to initiate fiscal reforms in the cash-strapped corporation.

There was also strong opposition from several quarters, including cabinet ministers and opposition Congress against the move to lease out the distribution circles of the MeECL to the Rural Electrification Corporation Power Distribution Company (REC PDCL) for a period of 25 years.

The MeECL is trying to clear some of the outstanding bills it owes to central power distribution companies, such the NEEPCO and the NTPC and others through the ‘Atma Nirbhar’ loan “We decided that we will be giving a chance to

the MeECL and to the power department with 100 percent budgetary support for the ‘Atma Nirbhar’, loan but this support will come along with certain targets that need to be met in a time-bound manner,” chief minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after the meeting.

“The other condition being put in was that there has to be some kind of a security in terms of mortgage of MeECL assets to the government of Meghalaya to ensure that there is safety and security for the state government also,” he said.

The Finance and Power departments have been asked to work out details of the different targets which the MeECL has to achieve, he said, adding that the REC and Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) would be informed that 100 percent budgetary support will be given by the state government. The power department also spelt out measures to reduce the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, the chief minister saidThe REC and PFC had put conditions on the government of Meghalaya and MeECL while disbursing the loan.

“We have received the first tranche of the loan and before releasing the second tranche which again is Rs 600 crore plus, the REC and PFC have stressed on two options,” the Chief Minister said.

“The first option is that government of Meghalaya give full budgetary support for the repayment of this loan along with interest which will amount to close to Rs 2,000 crore in the next 10 years or give a partial budgetary support along with certain restructuring within the MeECL which would be in the form of giving Distribution Franchisees (DFs) to REC and PFC,” Sangma spelt out and maintained that there was no risk for the state government in giving full budgetary support to MeECL. Stating that there is no risk for the state government in giving full budgetary support to MeECL, the Chief Minister said, “As I said government has anyway decided to give budgetary provision of 75 percent which comes to around Rs. 1,600 crore in the next 10 years, 25 per cent would mean another Rs. 560 crore – now, the important thing

Dehing-Patkai becomes Assam’s 7th National Park

Dehing-Patkai G U WA H AT I , J U N 9 The state now has the (PTI): Assam got its seventh second highest number of national park, two within a national parks in the counweek, with a notification try. declaring Dehing-Patkai Madhya Pradesh and as so on Wednesday, state Andaman and Nicobar IsEnvironment and Forest lands have nine national Minister Parimal Sukla- parks each, the minister said baidya said. in a statement.

The Raimona National “The newly created naPark in the Bodoland Ter- tional parks will help boost ritorial Region (BTR) was conservation efforts and also notified as the sixth such provide fillip to tourism and park on the occasion of agriculture sectors,” SuklaWorld Environment Day baidya said. on June 5.

The newest national

Tripura govt starts paddy procurement from farmers.

Agartala, Jun 9 (PTI): The Tripura government has started the second phase of paddy procurement with a minimum support price of Rs 18.68 per kg with a target of buying 20,000 metric tonne (MT), Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said. In this ‘Rabi season’, a total of 29 centres have been opened in eight districts of the state on Tuesday and the farmers have started selling paddy, he said.

Deb in Facebook post in Bengali said that no such facility was available for purchasing paddy directly from the farmers at MSP in the state before the BJP-IPFT government came to power.

“The Tripura government is buying paddy from farmers at Rs 1,868 per quintal. The state government will spend Rs 37.36 crore on this. In addition, the accessory cost will be another Rs 6.87 crore,” Deb said. He also urged the farmers across the state to sell their paddy at the nearest agriculture department or sub-divisional magistrate’s office and avail the minimum support price.

Meanwhile, Food and Civil Supplies minister Manoj Kanti Deb said, after the BJP-IPFT government came to power three years ago the paddy procurement with minimum support price had started and in the last three years 60,000 MT paddy was procured from the farmers, which benefitted them economically.

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park, popularly known as Dehing Patkai Rain Forest, has unique floral and faunal diversity, which was recognized by the state government in 2004, when 111.19 square kilometres of the area was notified as Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Forest and wildlife conservation have now been further strengthened as another 123.07 sq km has been added to the original sanctuary area, the minister said.

The area is home to hoolock gibbon, elephant, slow loris, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, fishing cat, marble cat, sambar, hog deer, sloth bear, and several bird species including the endangered state bird, the white- winged wood duck.

Till date, 47 mammal species, 47 reptile species and 310 butterfly species have been recorded.

to note is if MeECL pays, then it does not comes on the state government but if MeECL is not able to pay then the state government will have to pay.”

Sangma, who also handles the Finance portfolio, further informed that roughly the annual amount which has to be kept by the state government may come up to Rs 150 – Rs 200 crore as budgetary provision for repayment of the loan.

On concerns of “Distribution Franchise” (DF) being raised by different section, Sangma informed that the power department led by the power minister himself and the chairman of MeECL have shown different aspects of power and also different steps that they will take to ensure that the reforms take place to achieve the overall revenue that is expected and also to reduce the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses if given a chance, and stressed that the distribution franchises (DFs) option should not be taken.

He, however, said that a large number of DF are there across the State for quite some time and it was not a new concept.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

10 commando NE REGION COVID-19 STATUS UPDATE battalions to fight Tripura logs 700 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths crime in Assam Aga rtala , J un 9 samples have been tested (AGMC). “Late diagnosis

Himanta Biswa Sarma

G U WA H AT I , J U N 9 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that 10 professional commando battalions will be formed to deal sternly with the new emerging forms of crimes in the state.

Addressing the daylong conference of the Superintendents of Police at Kaziranga, the chief minister said that the deliberations were held to discuss ways of modernising the police force in the wake of new types of crimes detected by the police. “For this purpose 10 professional commando battalions will be formed to deal sternly with these emerging crimes and 23,000 civil police personnel and 12,000 commando police personnel will be added to the system”, he added.

Miscreants attack AMSU office in Imphal

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JUN 9: Suspected militants hurled a hand grenade at the office premise of All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) in Imphal on Tuesday night. There was no casualty in the explosion inside the office premises of AMSU located inside DM University campus in the heart of the capital city last night, around 7.20 pm.

Around five executive members of the student pressure group were in the office at the time of triggering the blast.

AMSU that came into existence in 1965 is one of the oldest student bodies not only in the state and also in the entire northeast.

As seen in the CCTV footage, an Activa scooter borne masked youth hurled the hand grenade. After the blast, the unknown youth was seen leaving the spot in the same scooter.

Soon after the blast, a police team rushed to the

IMPHAL, JUN 9: A policeman was injured when a group of armed cadres attacked a police commando party on patrolling duty along NH-37 in Manipur’s Noney district Wednesday evening. The ambush was reportedly laid at a place between Rengpang and Khongshang.

The injured policeman, identified as Thokchom Sachi of 2nd IRB who sustained bullet injury in his abdomen in the attack, has been rushed to a hospital in Imphal, reports said.

He sustained injuries when a group of armed cadres suspected to be belonging to NSCN(I-M) laid an ambush to the police commando party on patrolling along NH-37 around 3.30 pm on Wednesday.

The police commandos facing the ambush were stationed at Nungba police station of Noney district, the reports said. With additional security forces, the state police have launched an operation to hunt down the attackers. The operation was in progress till the time of filing this report. In another unrelated incident, a combined team of Ma-

nipur police commandos and troops of 15 Assam Rifles have arrested a cadre of PREPAK(Pro) allegedly involved in a recent bomb attack at a camp of Assam Rifles in Thoubal district.

Md Mobinur Rehman (19) of Lilong Litan Thong was arrested by the combined team from Lilong Arapti in Imphal East district around 4.30 pm on Tuesday. He was allegedly involved in a bomb attack at 16 Assam Rifles camp located adjacent to Lilong police station on May 26 last, around 8.30 pm.

A high explosive hand grenade and one detona-

Microsoft offers package of Rs 43.5 lakh to NIT Manipur students

File photo of students.

IMPHAL, JUN 9 ( AGEN- Manipur were made by CIES): Microsoft has offered Microsoft and Intuit (42.5 the season’s best placement lakhs and 33 lakhs) per anpackage at the premier Na- num respectively. tional Institute of TechnolMicrosoft offered its ogy (NIT) here: a whopping highest package to Rachit sum of Rs. 43.5 lakh per Kumar Tiwari and Sushmita annum, reports inside NE. Dhal. On the other, Avichal The highest international Srivastava got an offer of offers at the National Insti- Rs 33 lakhs per annum tute of Technology (NIT), from Intuit. The average pay

package offered to the NIT Manipur students is Rs. 8.21 lakhs per annum. Despite the global pandemic and the resulting economic downturn, 58 final-year students received job offers during campus placement.

Renowned companies like Microsoft, Intuit, 314e, Infoedge, Click Labs, Publicis Sapient, TCS, Accenture, LTI Advance, Delivery, C-DAC, Delloite, MAQ Software, Capgemini, LNT, TATA Power, Naggaro, LTI, NTT DATA, Virtusa, Cavision, Infosys(SES), KEC, Infosys, Perfect VIP, Pure Software, S2Tech, and Pie Infocomm took part in the placements.

so far for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, health experts said 50-60 per cent of the COVID-19 patients in the second wave in the state are infected by the double mutant variant of coronavirus or Delta variant.

“Like some other states, the infection of Delta strain in Tripura is high -around 50 to 60 per cent.

The double mutant variant is infecting young people, even children as well. It is a matter of concern”, said Dr Tapan Majumder, head of the Microbiology department of Agartala Government Medical College

and less immunity power of the infected persons are also the reasons behind such deaths. Some people after developing symptoms, are avoiding tests. In that case, by the time the patients start suffering from breathing problems and reach the hospital, the infection reaches a high level,” he said.

Majumder said that as young people have the capacity to tolerate heavy hypoxia, sometimes they don’t realise the breathing problem even if the oxygen saturation level comes down to 80 unless they monitor it by a pulse Oximeter.

Sikkim registers 231 new COVID-19 cases, one fresh fatality Gangtok, Jun 9 (PTI): Sikkims COVID-19 tally rose to 17,656 on Wednesday as 231 more people tested positive for the infection, while one fatality pushed the states coronavirus death toll to 276, a health bulletin said.

East Sikkim recorded the highest number of new cases at 140, followed by South Sikkim (55), West Sikkim (34), and

North Sikkim (2) Sikkim now has 3,869 active cases, while 246 others have migrated to other states and 13,265 patients have recovered from the disease.

The Himalayan state has tested 1,41,685 samples thus far, including 2135 in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate stands at 10.8 per cent and the recovery rate is 75.1 per cent.

Meghalaya reports 448 new COVID-19 cases, 16 more fatalities

Shillong, Jun 9 (PTI): Meghalaya on Wednesday reported 448 new COVID19 cases, pushing the coronavirus tally to 39,983, a senior health department official said.

The COVID-19 death toll jumped to 694 as 16 more people succumbed to the infection, Health Services Director, Aman

War said. Of the 16 new COVID-19 deaths, nine were reported from East Khasi Hills district, five from West Khasi Hills and one each from West Garo Hills and North Garo Hills district, he said.

The state now has 4,849 active COVID-19 cases, War said. The Health services Director said 507

persons recovered from the viral infection, taking the total number of recoveries to 34,440.

The state has so far tested over 6.04 lakh samples for COVID-19, he said.

A total of 4.79 lakh people have been inoculated in the state so far, War said.

spot and took stock of the situation. The police have registered a case and investigations were on to nab the perpetrator.

The AMSU termed the attack at its office as an act of “terrorists” while strongly condemning the attack. Addressing a news conference at its office today, AMSU president H Chalamba said “It is an act of terrorists,” and demanded booking of the perpetrator(s) at the earliest. He said that targeting the office of a students’ organisation working for the welfare of the student community of the state was unwarranted.

“Even if we have hurt the interest of any other organisation while working for the betterment of the students and society, we should be given a chance to rectify,” he said.

The president demanded clarification with reasons if any of the armed underground groups was behind the attack.

The flood affected villages are also facing food scarcity.

Biswanath villages under water, people say no food to eat

Policeman injured in militant attack in Manipur

Correspondent

(PTI): Tripura’s COVID19 tally rose to 56,169 as 700 more people tested positive for the virus, while five new fatalities pushed the coronavirus death toll to 574, a health official said on Wednesday.

The state currently has 5,152 active COVID-19 cases, the official said.

At least 563 more people recuperated since Tuesday, taking the total number of COVID-19 recoveries to 50,380.

The COVID-19 recovery rate now is 89.79 per cent.

Altogether, 10,72,002

tor were recovered from his possession, the police said.

Troops of 33 Assam Rifles have also arrested a cadre of NSCN(I-M) from near Don Bosco College, Maram under Mao police station of Senapati district and handed over to the police. The troops arrested him in around 1 am and handed him over to the Sekmai police station early Wednesdaymorning, a police source said.

The Assam Rifles alleged he was involved in the extortion of money from the truckers on NH-2, the police said.

BISWANATH, JUN 9 (AGENCIES): Amidst the corona pandemic scare, the first spell of floods of this year has created havoc in some parts of Biswanath district in Assam, reports The Sentinel Assam.

Incessant rains have resulted in the swelling up of the river Diring and the excessive waters have submerged a huge tract of land in the Barpathar area, compelling the people to take shelter in safe places, the flood waters have swept away the connecting road of the Majuligarh and Barpathar, causing enormous difficulty and misery for the local populace. Local people informed that the flood waters from the swollen river

inundated the village area during night time. The affected people hurriedly left their homes for safe places at night. Some flood-affected people said that they are now facing food scarcity and demanded the administration to take urgent steps for supplying food articles to them. The Barpathar area is a flood-prone area and the people of the area has to fight against the natural disaster every year.

“Because of the curfew, shops barely open for few hours. And even if they open, we do not have money to buy rice or dal. I have no dal in my house but as I have not got any work due to lockdown, I have no money to buy stuff. For how

long will shops give us stuff on credit? We are already facing a lot of problems due to COVID and now it is the floods. The administration is not doing anything,” one of the villagers affected by floods said.

The current first wave of the flood has affected lots of people in some districts of the state. The water levels of the Brahmaputra and some of its tributaries is rising, creating fear in the minds of the people.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has already disbursed funds, shared SOP and briefed the district administrations about the steps that need to be taken to help flood-affected people

HOLLOTOLI SCHOOL REGISTRATION OPEN FOR SESSION 2021 – 22 Class XI Arts, Science and Commerce  Registration form can be downloaded from www.hollotolischool.org and submitted to hollotolioffice@gmail.com.  Last date of registration: 19th June, 2021.  Students have to submit internal grade marks for class IX and X.  Admission will be on provisional basis.  Boarding facility for boys and girls.  Remedial for boarders.  For more information, kindly contact +91-8415924391 (09:00 AM – 01:00 PM) DC-484

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national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Agri Minister Narendra Tomar says Aiming to remove Modi govt: Mamata govt ready to talk with farmer unions Promises to rally opposition-ruled states behind agitating farmers

KOLKATA, JUN 9 (PTI): In a move that may take her political battle against the BJP into the Hindi heartland, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday promised to rally opposition-ruled states in support of the agitating farmers, and said she aims to “remove the Narendra Modi government from power”.

At a meeting with farmer leaders led by Rakesh Tikait and Yudhvir Singh here during the day, the TMC chief said that there should be a platform where states could converse on policy issues.

“Bulldozing states is not good for the federal structure,” she said.

The farmer leaders had come to elicit her support for their agitation against the farm laws passed by the BJP-led central government and in favour of a nationwide law bringing in a guaranteed Minimum Support Price for agricultural crops.

Banerjee’s support for the north India-based farmers’ unions comes within

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait meets West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in Kolkata, June 9.TMC leader Yashwant Sinha also seen. (PTI)

days of the Trinamool Congress announcing that the party would spread its footprints outside West Bengal’s geographical boundaries.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union led by Tikait and Singh had supported the ‘No vote for BJP’ campaign ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections and have plans to extend that in other upcoming state elections as well, including in Uttar Pradesh which the saffron party rules in alliance with smaller parties.

Banerjee announced after the meeting that her “support for the farmers’ movement will be there” and added in an obvious jibe at the Centre that “India is

Govt hikes paddy MSP by Rs 72/qtl to Rs 1,940 for 2021-22

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): The government on Wednesday raised the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy marginally by Rs 72 per quintal to Rs 1,940 per quintal for the 2021-22 crop year, while the rates of other kharif crops were also hiked.

Paddy is the main kharif crop, the sowing of which has begun with the onset of the Southwest monsoon. The Met Department has projected a normal monsoon for the June-September period.

The decision taken by the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help farmers take a call on which kharif (summer) crop to grow as sowing

picks with the spread of the Southwest monsoon.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar again dispelled apprehensions about MSP saying, “MSP (on farm crops) is there, is being hiked and will continue in future as well”.

The Cabinet has approved an increase in the MSP of paddy (common variety) to Rs 1,940 per quintal for the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) from Rs 1,868 per quintal in the year-ago period. Similarly, the MSP of Bajra has been increased to Rs 2,250 per quintal for the current year from Rs 2,150 per quintal last year, he said.

hungrily waiting for policies which help in fighting COVID-19, assist farmers and industry.”

The chief minister rhetorically asked, “...why is it so difficult to talk to the farmers?”

She was referring to the breakdown in communication between the Centre and the farmers who have been camping at Delhi’s borders for over six months against three farm laws passed by the Parliament.

The agitators feel the new laws will commercialise agriculture without adequate protection to small farmers from exploitation by large retail chains and industry.

“The BJP rule has been disastrous for all sectors from healthcare to farmers to industry. India is suffering...we are facing both natural and political disasters,” said Banerjee, who has been reaching out to other opposition-led states in trying to forge a united front against her perceived grievances against the Centre.

The chief minister said that the agriculturist leaders have requested her to talk to other state leaders on the farmers’ issue and organise a dialogue with farmers’ unions.

“The farmers’ movement is not just for Punjab, Haryana or Uttar Pradesh.

It is for the whole country,”

she said.

TMC vice president and former Union finance minister Yashwant Singh, who was also present at the meeting, said, “It is necessary to stop the trend towards commercialisation of farming. We are with the farmers...we want the three laws to be withdrawn and a new law on MSP brought in.”

Banerjee’s support for the agitation which has drawn on the farming community in rural north India, is being viewed as a potential boost for the stir which has been flagging in recent weeks.

Yudhvir Singh, general secretary of the BKU, told PTI ahead of the meeting, “We want to congratulate Mamata Banerjee for her electoral victory and to elicit her support for the move to give farmers a fair MSP for their crops.”

Singh said he wants states to come up MSP for fruits, vegetables and milk products. The lack of a specified MSP and glut in produce often leads to farmers suffering from extremely low prices which results in huge losses, often leading to farmer suicides in many parts of the country.

Asks them to share objection on farm laws NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said the government is ready to resume talks with protesting farmers but asked the unions to point out their objections to the provisions of the three farm laws with sound logic.

The government and unions have held 11 rounds of talks, the last being on January 22, to break the deadlock and end the farmers’ protest. Talks have not resumed following widespread violence during a tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western UP, have been camping at Delhi’s borders for more than six months in protest against the three laws that they say will end state procurement of crops at MSP. The Supreme Court has put on hold the implementation of the three laws till further orders and set up a committee to find solutions.

“All political parties of the country wanted to

Narendra Singh Tomar

bring the farm laws, but they could not gather courage to bring them. Modi government took this big step in the interest of farmers and brought reforms. Farmers got benefit of that in several parts of the country. But in the meantime farmers agitation started,” Tomar said at a Cabinet briefing.

He said the government held 11 rounds of talks with farmers and Unions were asked about their objections in the laws and which provisions they think were against farmers. “But neither leader of any political party gave its answer in the House (Parliament) nor any farmers’ leader, and the talks did not move forward”.

The minister said that the government is committed towards farmers and it also respects farmers.

“So, whenever farmers want discussions, Government of India will be ready for discussion. But we have repeatedly asked them to tell the objections in the provisions with logic. We will listen and find a solution,” Tomar said.

Three union ministers, including Tomar and Food Minister Piyush Goyal, held 11 rounds of talks with the protesting farmer unions.

In the last meeting on January 22, the government’s negotiations with 41 farmer groups hit a roadblock as the unions squarely rejected the Centre’s proposal of putting the laws on suspension. During the 10th round of talks held on January 20, the Centre had offered to suspend the laws for 1-1.5 years and form a joint committee to find solutions, in return for protesting farmers going back to their respective homes from Delhi’s borders.

Farmer groups have alleged that these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

India, Thailand navies begin 3-day coordinated patrol Suvendu Adhikari apprises PM

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): The Indian and Thai navies on Wednesday kicked off a three-day coordinated patrol in the Andaman Sea in the backdrop of growing concern over China’s increasing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean region.

The Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Saryu and Thai ship Krabi along with Dornier maritime patrol aircraft from both navies are participating in the 31st edition of the India-Thailand coordinated patrol (CORPAT), officials said.

The two navies have been bi-annually undertaking CORPAT along their inter national maritime boundary line (IMBL) since 2005 with an aim to keep the vital part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure for global trade, Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

“The CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like illegal unreported unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery

Modi about situation in Bengal

INS Saryu and His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Krabi, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both Navies participate in the 31st Indo-Thai CORPAT, Delhi. (PTI)

and piracy,” he said.

“It further helps enhance the operational synergy by exchange of information for prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and for conduct of search and rescue operations at sea,” he added.

In sync with the government’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with the countries in the Indian Ocean Region towards enhancing regional maritime security.

“The 31st Indo-Thai

CORPAT will contribute towards Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate interoperability and forge strong bonds of friendship with Royal Thai Navy,” Madhwal said.

The Indian Navy has been gradually expanding its presence in the Indian Ocean region in the last few years.

Notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Navy participated in maritime exercises in the last few months with a number of countries.

In November last, India held the Malabar exer-

cise. India invited Australia for the exercise effectively making it a drill by all the Quad member nations.

The Quad, comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan, is aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, a region that witnessed increasing Chinese military assertiveness in recent years.

China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the annual war game is an effort to contain its influence in the IndoPacific region.

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (IANS): The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, met PM Narendra Modi here on Wednesday and discussed the political situation in the state along with other issues.

It is believed that the meeting lasted for around 45 minutes, during which Adhikari had a detailed discussion with the PM on the political situation in the eastern state, including the latest developments, among other issues, sources said.

As per the sources, Adhikari briefed the Prime Minister about the violence ‘unleashed’ against the BJP workers and the ‘atmosphere of fear’ created for the saffron cadre in West Bengal.

On Tuesday, Adhikari had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda in the national capital. Sources said that Adhikari had apprised Shah and Nadda about the sentiments prevailing in the saffron cadre after the unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the Assembly polls conducted in March-

Suvendu Adhikari

April this year.

The BJP’s central leadership had called Adhikari to Delhi following which he had reached the national capital on Monday night.

After the meeting with Shah, Adhikari had tweeted: “Discussed several matters and sought blessings for Bengal. Honourable HM assured, he was and he will be there for Bengal always.”

Later on Tuesday evening, Adhikari met Nadda at his residence.

“Glad to meet the Honourable National President of BJP JP Nadda Ji. Discussed critical issues of Bengal and there solutions. Be rest assured that the party is beside each and every karyakarta all the time,” he had tweeted after the meeting.

Agra hospital ‘mock drill’: Priyanka ‘Maha govt will amend agri law Dominica HC adjourns Mehul Gandhi slams Uttar Pradesh govt to protect interest of farmers’ Choksi’s bail hearing till June 11

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday attacked the Yogi Adityanath dispensation over the reported “mock drill” at a private hospital in Agra in which oxygen supply was allegedly cut off for five minutes, and asked if the Uttar Pradesh government will bring out the truth and punish those guilty.

The Agra administration on Tuesday ordered a probe after a video clip surfaced in which the owner of a private hospital there was purportedly heard saying that he conducted a “mock drill” in which oxygen supply was cut off for Covid patients for five minutes.

In the video which went viral on social media, the owner of the hospital is also heard saying that bodies of some patients started turning blue after the oxygen supply was cut off.

Tagging media reports on the incident, Gandhi tweeted, “Amidst severe shortage of oxygen, the Uttar Pradesh government kept on saying ‘there is no

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

shortage’. People across the state struggled and lost their lives. The administration in Agra is also saying ‘there was no shortage of oxygen’.”

Will the state government bring out the truth of the “Agra mock drill” and punish the guilty, the Congress general secretary in-charge Uttar Pradesh asked.

Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh had told reporters that action will be taken against the owner of the hospital under the Pandemic Act. In the April video, Dr Arinjay Jain allegedly claims that there was acute oxygen shortage at the hospital during the second

wave of coronavirus.

“We talked with families of the patients but no one was ready to discharge their patients. So we decided to conduct a mock drill so that we could segregate the critically ill patients. After shutting off oxygen supply for five minutes, bodies of 22 patients started turning blue,” Jain had said.

He said that families of the remaining 74 COVID patients were asked to arrange for oxygen cylinders.

However, the district magistrate has said there was no scarcity of oxygen at the hospital and that no patient died due to oxygen shortage at the hospital.

MUMBAI, JUN 9 (PTI): The Maharashtra government will amend its agriculture law to protect farmers and APMCs as the three Central farm laws are not in the interest of agriculturists, state Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said on Wednesday. He said the draft law will be introduced in the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature beginning July 5.

“We want to amend the state agriculture law as we feel that the Union government’s agriculture laws are not in the interest of farmers. The proposed amendments will ensure the protection of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), redressal of grievances of farmers and protection of the interests of agriculturists during the crop trade among others.

We will also insert a provision mandating license for traders which was not there in the Central laws,” Thorat told reporters after meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence here.

Thorat, a senior Congress leader, along with state Cooperation Minister Balasaheb Patil, Agricul-

Balasaheb Thorat

ture Minister Dada Bhuse and MoS Agriculture and Cooperation Vishwajeet Kadam met Pawar to discuss the draft law. “We also discussed the Centre’s new law on cooperative banking which we feel will hurt the cooperative sector,” Thorat added.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the Delhi border points --Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur --- since November 2020, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the MSP for their crops. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and farmers’ bodies have failed to resolve the deadlock.

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): The Dominica High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi till June 11, local media reports stated. Choksi had approached the high court after the magistrate rejected his bail petition.

The bail hearing took place before high court judge Wynante Adrien-Roberts through video-conferencing on the plea of Choksi’s local legal team comprising Julien Prevost, Wayne Norde, Wayne Marsh and Cara Shillingford-Marsh.

The government side represented by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple “strongly objected” to Choksi’s plea calling him a flight risk, Dominica News Online

Mehul Choksi

reported. The judge adjourned the matter till June 11, it said.

The high court is also hearing a separate matter of habeas corpus filed by Choksi’s team in which the hearing has also been adjourned.

Choksi had mysteriously gone missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda,

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where he has been staying since 2018 as a citizen.

He was detained in neighbouring island country Dominica for illegal entry after a possible romantic escapade with his rumoured girlfriend. His lawyers alleged that he was kidnapped from Jolly Harbour in Antigua by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and brought to Dominica on a boat.

The businessman was also brought before a Roseau magistrate on the orders of high court judge Bernie Stephenson, hearing the habeas corpus matter, to answer charges of illegal entry where he pleaded not guilty but was denied bail.

6

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 184 Dimapur, THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Money to save lives

A

s per figures made available at various months since the covid-19 pandemic from April 2020, Nagaland has spent approximately around Rs.245 crore in all the 14 months, till June 2021. This figure could be more but is indicative of how much has been spent. Statistically, it can be assumed that an amount of Rs.17.5 crore was spent each month on covid preparedness. Again, statistically, it may again be assumed that each day, the state has spent around Rs. 58,33,333 to tackle the raging coronavirus.

In addition, the state also received PPEs, medicines, vaccines, laboratory equipment, oxygen concentrators and several crucial medical items from the government of India to tackle the coronavirus. Earlier, in 2020 when nationwide lockdown was hurriedly announced by prime minister Narendra Modi, all of India was not prepared. Due to the emergency-like situation, time was a factor since those infected with covid-19 needed to be treated immediately in order to prevent fatality. Therefore, there was need to ensure preparedness throughout the state by purchasing medical equipment, medicines including construction of three BSL facilities. That was understandable since in 2020, very little was known then about the virus which spread rapidly from Wuhan in China.

Emergency purchases may not be a crime if a proper procedures were followed and that all the equipment supplied like PPEs, surgical kits and other items were of desired quality. However, noted personalities who filed RTI with the health and family department in 2020, observed highly questionable decisions or lack of transparency in the entire ‘preparedness’ involving ‘lightning’ or ‘emergency’ purchases which they highlighted in press statements. Since the H&FW department failed to satisfy or meet the demands for valid explanations, the RTI applicants then filed two separate PILs with the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court. They sought the court’s intervention on alleged irregularities in the entire processes including acceptance of sub-standard equipment. The PILs also stated that items supplied were damaged or substandard. It was reported that even doctors and medical staff in hospitals had refused to accept them as they would not be able to offer protection against covid.

Emergency purchases do not mean that substandard materials can be accepted or that procedures waived off in order to facilitate or award contracts to those ‘selected’ or ‘chosen’ firms etc. Recently, the opposition NPF has raised several questions on the ruling PDA coalition government and demanded answers on how budgeted funds passed by the assembly, were diverted from various heads for covid-related expenditure. Merely raising these issues does not place the NPF in a high moral pedestal since many irregularities also happened during its tenures. However, the questions raised by the NPF cannot be wished away. The government of the day must answer if it has nothing to hide. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed so many precious lives, especially during the second wave. In Nagaland, the health infrastructure especially in nine districts excluding Kohima, Dimapur and to some extent Mokokchung, are woefully inadequate to face such health crisis. The most important lesson is that the government should not attempt to siphon off or misuse funds meant for caring and saving the lives of people.

DailyDevotion Then What’s Next To Do? Everyone who asks receives… —Luke 11:10 Ask if you have not received. There is nothing more difficult than asking. We will have yearnings and desires for certain things, and even suffer as a result of their going unfulfilled, but not until we are at the limit of desperation will we ask. It is the sense of not being spiritually real that causes us to ask. Have you ever asked out of the depths of your total insufficiency and poverty? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…” (James 1:5), but be sure that you do lack wisdom before you ask. You cannot bring yourself to the point of spiritual reality anytime you choose. The best thing to do, once you realize you are not spiritually real, is to ask God for the Holy Spirit, basing your request on the promise of Jesus Christ (see Luke 11:13). The Holy Spirit is the one who makes everything that Jesus did for you real in your life.

“Everyone who asks receives….” This does not mean that you will not get if you do not ask, but it means that until you come to the point of asking, you will not receive from God (see Matthew 5:45).

To be able to receive means that you have to come into the relationship of a child of God, and then you comprehend and appreciate mentally, morally, and with spiritual understanding, that these things come from God. “If any of you lacks wisdom….” If you realize that you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality— do not put the blinders of reason on again. The word ask actually means “beg.” Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are poor enough spiritually to show our interest. Yet we will never receive if we ask with a certain result in mind, because we are asking out of our lust, not out of our poverty. A pauper does not ask out of any reason other than the completely hopeless and painful condition of his poverty. He is not ashamed to beg— blessed are the paupers in spirit (see Matthew 5:3).

Quotes

Life is a long lesson in humility. ~ James M. Barrie

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Post-mortem

How to protect human rights in the digital era T wo very critical human rights events occurred recently.

The Supreme Court of India (SC) further warned against any “clampdown” on “free speech”. And the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Special Rappor teur Irene Khan submitted her report on “‘Disinformation and Freedom of Opinion and Expression”, which is slated for discussion between June 21 and July 9.

Justices Dhananjay Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat declared that any “clampdown on information on social media or harassment caused to individuals seeking/ delivering help on any platform will attract a coercive exercise of jurisdiction by this Court”.

The SC mandated not just the registrar (judicial) to place this “order before all district magistrates in the country” but also directed the central and state governments to notify “all chief secretaries/director generals of police/commissioners of police”.

Suo motu “coercive action” action for contempt of the court may also spill over to other types of criminal proceedings.

Although tethered to the Covid-19 context, the SC reinforces past precedents enshrining the principle that abuse of public power may not unreasonably or

arbitrarily curb the freedom of speech, press, and media platforms.

The UNHRC report specifically speaks of “information disorder” that arises from disinformation which is “politically polarising, hinders people from meaningfully exercising their human rights, and destroys their trust in governments and institutions”. Human rights provide a “powerful and appropriate framework” to “challenge falsehoods and present alternative viewpoints”. It justifies utilitarianism of human rights: Because freedom of opinion and expression enables governance and development; further, “civil society, journalists and others are able to challenge falsehoods and present alternative viewpoints”. Human rights friendly governance is both possible and doable; it is also desirable, as it protects political power against itself.

Recalling the UNHRC’s condemnation of inherently “disproportionate” and “blanket” internet shutdowns, the report asserts that “reactive content moderation efforts” are unlikely to make any worthwhile difference in the “absence of a serious review of the business model that underpins much of the drivers of disinformation and misinformation”. Problems of “inconsistent applica-

tion of companies’ terms of service, inadequate redress mechanisms and a lack of transparency and access to data” re-emerge constantly. Furthermore, “although the platforms are global businesses, they do not appear to apply their policies consistently across all geographical areas or to uphold human rights in all jurisdictions to the same extent”.

Internet shutdowns do “not curb disinformation but, rather, hamper factfinding and are likely to encourage rumours”, and are manifestly contrary to rights against discrimination when “aimed at silencing minority voices and depriving them of access to vital information”.

The report unequivocally maintains that disinformation “endangers the right to freedom of opinion and expression”.

It “poses a threat not only to the safety of journalists but also to the media ecosystem in which they operate” and forces the “legacy media to divert precious resources from reporting to dispelling and debunking lies”. Bemoaning the lack of legislative and judicial clarity on the twin concepts of “disinformation” and “misinformation”, it emphasises that the intention to harm is decisive to the former.

“Disinformation” is “false information disseminated intentionally to cause se-

NPFLP demands answers from PDA govt

T

he NPF Legislature Party having 25 elected MLAs, the single largest party in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and as the principal Opposition Party to the incumbent Govt. People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) has been watching the Govt. with constructive attitude and posture for the last three (3) years with the hope that the PDA conglomerate and opportunistic alliance will come to better senses in the art of Governance of the State. Even in the present COVID-19 pandemic we have agreed ourselves to be included in the so called District Task Force Committee last year 2020, even though our Hon’ble Members tolerated the insult and humiliation inflicted upon us for not even inviting to the District Force meetings for seeking consultation and opinions and yet the NPF Legislature Party has never ever uttered a voice of dissent in the public domain. Thus far the NPF party has tolerated.

Till today we have not even inquired to the Chief Minister about the Fund Releases from various Ministries under GOI to the State Govt. to meet the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, even though we were alive with all these fund releases.

If the PDA Govt. think that the official utterances from the Principal Opposition Party to the ruling dispensation is only “to merely get media attention” and “for creation of sensationalism” and asking us to substantiate the allegation made so far claiming that the PDA Govt. is running a “transparent Govt.” Further the PDA press release has advised us to file RTI application and to check the different Department’s websites.

Under the given above stated position taken by the PDA Govt. on its official Press Release on 7th June 2021, the following questions be answered immediately and lay on the table of the public domain if at all they are running a transparent Govt. inorder to establish the accountability of their claim of transparency because even the NITTI Aayog New Delhi has bracketed Nagaland the Worst Performing state in India as per 5th June 2021.

Question number 1:- When and on what mandate these HPC was conferred plenipotentiary authority to take decision even to divert Voted Moneyfor COVID-19 pandemic? According to Home Department Notification NO.GAB/COM/Gen-1/2020 dated Kohima the 1st June 2020 which is confined only for COVID-19 related matters, in these Notification there is no mention of conferring plenipotentiary authority to the HPC. Question number 2:- Under what

mandate the HPC was conferred to deduct and divert 25% from LADP to fight the COVID-19 pandemic without even consulting the opinion of the Leader of Opposition (LOP)?

Question number 3:- Under what mandate the HPC has authority to supersede the State Planning Board which is a Statutory body?

Question number 4:- Under what mandatethe HPC has granted Rs. 30 crores for 176 bedded Hospital at CIHSR (Private Hospital) from out of the pro-rata cut 2021-22 savings?

Question number 5:- When did the Govt. of Nagaland take over the CIHSR from Private Institutions?

Question number 6:- What is the legal status of the MOU entered on 25th Jan 2005 and 27thMay 2005 between Govt. of Nagaland, Emmanuel Hospital Association and Christian Medical College & Hospital Vellore respectively?

Question number 7:- After having established 176 bedded hospital who will man the Hospital (staff, medical officers, nurses and ministerial staffs etc)? If it has to be the Second Party (Govt. of Nagaland) from which fund this establishment cost (salary & pension) will be borne?

Question number 8:-Whether any Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) was floated in the public domain for the construction of 176 bedded Hospital at CIHSR? Question number 9:- Are all the District Hospitals equipped with (1) CT-Scan and X-ray machines (2) COVID-19 testing machine Truenat, testing kits etc? And are they all functioning?

Question number 10:- Whether the PDA Govt. has allotted any funds to the Town Ward/Colony authorities and Village Councils of the State? Because they are the main Frontline workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NPF Legislature Party and its Organizational Wing as the Principal Opposition Party put forward the above mentioned questions to the Ruling dispensation of Nagaland to immediately lay with specific and detailed answers on the table of public domain for proper scrutiny and further necessary action in the larger interest of Public Service.

The PDA Media Cell is reminded that proper obligation of mind is immediately required as you have claimed that you are also in public service and at the sametime judge yourself that whether the above stated questions are going to be treated as another “media sensationalism and drawing media attention only”.

Imkong L.Imchen, Spokesman, NPF Legislature Party

rious social harm”. In contrast, misinformation consists in “the dissemination of false information unknowingly”. Nor are these terms to be used interchangeably.

Acknowledging the brute fact that “extremist or terrorist groups” frequently engage in the dissemination of “false news and narratives as part of their propaganda to radicalise and recruit members”, the report disfavours any sledgehammer state response that adds to “human rights concerns”.

However, the growth of disinformation in recent times cannot be attributed solely to technology or malicious actors, according to the report. Other factors such as digital transformation and competition from online platforms, state pressure, the absence of robust public information regimes, and digital and media literacy among the general public also matter. Moreover, disinformation mongers enhance the “frustrations and grievances of a growing number of people”, “decades of economic deprivation, market failures, political disenfranchisement, and social inequalities”. Disinformation is thus not the “cause but the consequence of societal crises and the breakdown of public trust in institutions”. Strategies to “address disinformation” will

succeed only when these underlying factors are tackled.

All this makes for elegant and substantially accurate reading. But are states, governments and political parties, encased already within what Shoshana Zuboff describes as surveillance capitalism, an integral aspect of information civilisation?

A 2020 Oxford study of “Industrialised Disinformation” mentions that as many as “81 governments” use “social media to spread computational propaganda and disinformation about politics”.

Despite Facebook and Twitter recently removing more than 3,17,000 accounts and pages, the “cyber troops” often act as “agents” of political parties and a tool of geopolitical influence. Some “authoritarian countries like Russia, China and Iran capitalised on coronavirus disinformation to amplify anti-democratic narratives designed to undermine trust in health officials and government administrators”. Cyber troops remain available for “pro-government or pro-party propaganda”, to attack “the opposition”, or mount “smear campaigns”, “suppressing participation through trolling or harassment”, and manufacture “narratives that drive division and polarise citizens”. Online disinformation also

results in offline practices of violent social excursion on actually existing individuals and communities such as ethnic, gender, migrant, sexual minorities. Nor are the offline experiences of the social perils of cyberwar to be ignored.

How does one decide on a sustainable mix of regulatory with penal regimes? How may these yield to the new criminological approach stressing the three Ds — decriminalisation, depenalisation and deinstitutionalisation?

Re a c t i ve c o n t e n t moderation efforts are simply inadequate without a “serious review of the business model that underpins much of the drivers of disinformation and misinformation”. No doubt, the platforms are global businesses, but do they “apply their policies consistently” or “uphold human rights in all jurisdictions to the same extent”? Will future itineraries of human rights in the digital era repeat past mistakes? The report offers grist to the mill for profound thought and conscientious action.

Upendra Baxi (This column first appeared in the print edition of Indian Express on June 9, 2021.

The writer is professor of law, University of Warwick, and former vice chancellor of Universities of South Gujarat and Delhi.)

Covid-19: Not just an acute infection

T

he world is facing the biggest pandemic of the 21st century as the second wave of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to infect almost 170 million people across the globe, with numbers still counting. As the second wave of the deadly virus is beginning to recede, new post Covid-19 sequelae are coming into play.

The post-Covid complications are proving as detrimental to the population as the acute Covid19 illness does. The postCovid sequelae may occur as a result of the side effect of the medications used during Covid-19 infection or due to severe immunity compromise and lung damage occurring as a result of the infection. Even the patients with asymptomatic acute Covid-19 illness can have highly complicated post-Covid repercussions.

However, no strict risk factors have been defined for post covid sequelae so far as this condition is still very new and under investigation.

In the previous wave of Covid-19, children presented with a Kawasaki-like illness (high-grade fever, rash, conjunctivitis, swelling, lymph node enlargement) within four weeks of Covid19 infection with multisystemic complications, that came to be known as post-Covid multi systemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). A similar pre-

sentation is seen in adults during the second wave with varied presentations still under research.

Even after 14 days of illness, many patients are experiencing severe lethargy, joint pains, chest heaviness, breathing difficulty. These are caused by serious damage to the immunity and lungs during the acute illness and need good nutrition, breathing exercises, chest physiotherapy etc., for relief and recovery. These symptoms are very common and can take upto three months for complete remission.

Post-Covid illness needing medical attention presents itself as generalised fatigue not improving with rest, continuous cough, dyspnea, palpitations, maculopapularrashes, arthralgia, high grade fever upto 4-12 weeks post acute Covid-19 illness. The condition can also present as a highly fatal illness causing pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction,viral myocarditis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, pancreatitis, hepatitis,etc.

Such patients need to see a doctor immediately if they are experiencing any of the above symptoms.

Any delay in treatment can cause severe complications and even death.

Mucormycosis, more commonly known as black fungus, is one of the recent complications encountered

in the patients recovering or recovered from Covid-19.

It is a non-communicable fungal infection seen predominantly in patients taking high dose ill regulated steroids, using industrial oxygen for inhalation and having poorly controlled diabetes. Other risk factors are still under research as we are encountering almost 100 patients of mucormycosis everyday at AIIMS, New Delhi. Early signs of the infection include facial swelling, dental pain, blurring of vision/ double vision,discoloration of nose. Early identification of symptoms is very crucial for early diagnosis and initiation of treatment. If left untreated it can spread to vital organs like lungs and brain leading to increased complications that are very difficult to treat.

Apart from all these varied symptoms, patients are also presenting side effects of high dose corticosteroids like hyperglycemia, severe bradycardia, gastritis and superadded bacterial infections. These signs need corticosteroid tapering and can not be regarded as post covid sequelae.

Henceforth, early recognition of the signs and symptoms is extremely important to unfold this mysterious illness that is still under investigation.

Dr. Anupam Kumar Ranjan, Senior resident, emergency medicine at AIIMS New Delhi

Reader’s Post Sir,

Take care of nature

We have been using natural resources lavishly. Deforestation is practiced more than afforestation and dust pollution has become a daily occurrence especially in places like Dimapur. Instead of being grateful and giving back to the Earth, we take Mother Nature for granted at all times. We are living on this planet as if we have another substitute one to go to in case things take a turn for the worst. What we should know is that the climate crisis and global warming are very real and all of us will suffer right after the pandemic era if we do not act wisely. Therefore, let us all take care of nature and Earth without any hesitation.

Atula Ao, Dimapur

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

7

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

officer Anup Chandra Pandey Rahul loyalist Jitin Prasada joins BJP Ex-IAS joins as Election Commissioner

BJP National President JP Nadda greets Jitin Prasada after he joined BJP, at his residence in New Delhi, June 9. (PTI)

“If there is any political party or a leader standing for the interests of the nation today it is BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Prasad said. He said he was joining the BJP that it was the only national party that worked in an institutional way, while others were all about a few people or confined to specific regions.

“The BJP is the only party that is truly a national party, other parties are

mostly regional or individual based/oriented,” he said.

Pointing that politics is for public service, Prasada said he realised he cannot do it in Congress. “If we cannot help people, protect their interests, there is no point being in politics. I was not being able to serve people (in Congress)”, said the 47-year-old former Union minister who comes from a well-known Brahmin family of UP. His father Jitendra

Prasada was a noted Congress leader.

“This is a new chapter of my life. I have been associated with three generations of Congress. I have taken the decision after a lot of consideration. The question is not which party I am leaving but the party I am joining. Only BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can take the country forward and I want to be part of the new India PM Modi is trying to build,” he said.

With the Congress in the doldrums in UP, his decision to join the BJP may help him politically at a time when the saffron party is trying to ramp up resources to keep together all sections of the society. Apart from “mismanagement” during the second wave of Covid-19 and anti-incumbency, Yogi Adityanath is also facing allegations of “favouring” the Thakur community at the cost of Brahmins. Prasada’s inclusion is expected to as-

suage some of such feelings.

While it remains to be seen what he brings to the table, politically, (he had lost the Lok Sabha polls) observers say it is “more about perceptions”. Last year he had launched the ‘Brahmin Chetna Parishad’ to give voice to the community.

However, for Prasada, who stuck his neck out by aligning with what is known as ‘G-23’, it may be a win-win situation. He has been trying to resurrect his career and already there are speculations of a “settlement” for him in the Adityanath government.

For Congress, the development comes as another blow. The party appears to be struggling to stop promising young leaders from leaving it. Prasada follows JyotiradityaScindia and sources claim many prominent leaders from other parties are in line to join the BJP in the run-up to Assembly elections, next year.

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (IANS): Retired IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey on Wednesday took office as Election Commissioner, returning the three member body, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, to full strength.

President Ram Nath Kovind had appointed Pandey as Election Commissioner on Tuesday. He fills the vacancy arising after Sushil Chandra succeeded CEC Sunil Arora, who retired on April 12.

The poll panel has to oversee the next set of crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand next year.

The 62-year-old will demit office in February 2024 on attaining the age of 65 years, according to the age criteria for Election Commissioners, just ahead of the likely announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Born on February 15, 1959, Pandey was a 1984 batch, UP cadre Indian Administrative Service officer.

During his 37 year service, he has held key posts at both the Centre and the state level. Prior to joining the Election Commission, Pandey was serving as a member of the National Green Tribunal Oversight Committee, Uttar Pradesh.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla with Daniel B Smith.

Pandey was handpicked NEW DELHI, JUN 9 gional issues & cooperation by Uttar Pradesh Chief (PTI): Foreign Secretary in the UN; also discussed Minister Yogi Adityanath to Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Covid situation, supply of Wednesday held talks with vaccines & cooperation in US Charge D’Affaires Dan- combating the pandemic,” iel B Smith focusing on ways he tweeted. The meeting to combat the coronavirus came days after US Vice pandemic including supply President Kamala Harris of COVID vaccines. called up PM Modi and apExternal Affairs Minis- prised him about the Biden try Spokesperson Arindam administration’s plans to L U C K N OW, J U N 9 Bagchi said regional issues, make Covid vaccines avail- (PTI): Bahujan Samaj Parand cooperation in the Unit- able to India and several ty supremo Mayawati on ed Nations also figured in other countries. Following Wednesday welcomed the the “productive meeting”. phone conversation, the Centre’s announcement on “Foreign Secretary @ MEA said the two leaders free vaccines to all above 18 harshvshringla had a produc- discussed ongoing efforts to years of age, but called it a tive meeting today with US strengthen the health supply “delayed decision”.

She asked the central Acting Ambassador Daniel chain between the US and B. Smith @USAmbIndia India, including in the area government to stay away from politics and focus about India-US relations, re- of vaccine manufacturing. on vaccinating the public against coronavirus.

“After the second wave of coronavirus proved to be very lethal, the Centre’s possible, but it has decided waiting for the Centre’s nod decision of ‘free’ vaccinato start “near to home” vac- to start door-to-door vaccination centres. cination when other states tion for all from June 21 is On Wednesday, the HC in the north, south and east a late but appropriate step. pointed out examples of the have started it already with- The BSP has been demanding it from the beginning. door-to-door vaccination out any nod. programmes started by Ker“Why is only the west Now this work needs to be ala, Jammu and Kashmir, waiting?” Chief Justice Dat- done with great diligence,” Mayawati said in a tweet Bihar and Odisha and also a ta asked. few municipal corporations The bench noted that in Hindi.

She said intensive vaclike Vasai-Virar in Maha- even the BMC had failed to rashtra. live up to the court’s expec- cination is the only so“Why should the same tations by saying it was will- lution to the COVID-19 not be encouraged in other ing to start door-to-door vac- pandemic.

“Denial and neglistates across the country? cination only if the Union gence from this is unjustiThe central government can- government permits. not clip the wings of those “We always praise the fied and can be fatal. Stay state governments and civic BMC and have been say- away from politics, accubodies who wish to do it ing it is a model for other sations, taking credit and work promptly towards (door-to-door vaccination) states,” the court said. but are waiting for the CenThe HC also ques- vaccinating people. Now tre’s nod,” the court said. tioned the BMC as to how at without wasting time, it is It further asked why the beginning of the vaccina- necessary to pay attention only Maharashtra and the tion drive a senior politician to this by rising above party Brihanmumbai Municipal got his dose at his residence politics,” the BSP chief Corporation (BMC) were in Mumbai. tweeted.

15 days special casual leave for govt Foreign secy holds meeting employees whose parents test Covid +ve with US Charge D’ Affaires NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (PTI): All central government employees will be able to get 15 days of special casual leave (SCL) in case their parents or any dependent family members test COVID-19 positive, according to an order issued by the personnel ministry.

“In case of active hospitalisation of any of the family members/parents even after 15 days of the expiry of SCL, the government servants may be granted leave of any kind due and admissible beyond 15 days of SCL till their discharge from hospital,” it said.

The ministry has come out with the detailed order on treatment, regularisation of hospitalization or quarantine period during COVID-19 pandemic after it received several queries related to it and keeping in view the “hardships

faced by the government servants”.

A government servant shall be granted commuted leave up to 20 days when he or she is COVID positive and is in home isolation/ quarantine, the order said.

In case of a government servant testing COVID-19 positive and is in home isolation and has also been hospitalised, he or she shall be granted commuted leave/SCL/earned leave (EL) for a period up to 20 days starting from the time having tested positive, it said.

“In case of hospitalization beyond the 20th day from his testing COVID positive, he shall be granted commuted leave, on production of documentary proof of hospitalization,” said the order issued to all central government ministries.

A government servant

shall be granted special casual leave of 15 days in case a dependent family member or parents (whether dependent or not, living with him) are COVID positive, it said.

In case the government servant comes into direct contact with a COVID positive person and remains in home quarantine, “he shall be treated as on duty/work from home for a period of 7 days”, the ministry said in its order dated June 7.

It said that the period of quarantine spent by government servant, as a precautionary measure, residing in the containment zone “shall be treated as on duty/work from home till the containment zone is de-notified”.

These orders shall be applicable with effect from March 25, 2020 until further orders.

Free vaccination appropriate but late: Mayawati

Carry out ‘surgical strike’ on coronavirus: HC to Centre MUMBAI, JUN 9 (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said the Centre’s approach against coronavirus, which is the society’s biggest enemy at present, should be “like a surgical strike” instead of standing at the borders waiting for the virus to come out.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni said the Union government’s new “near to home” vaccination programme was like waiting for the virus carrier to come to the Centre.

“Coronavirus is our biggest enemy. We need to strike it down. The enemy is residing in certain areas and in some people who are unable to come out. Your (government) approach should be like a surgical strike. You

are standing at the borders waiting for the virus carrier to come to you. You are not entering the enemy territory,” Chief Justice Datta said.

The bench said the government was taking decisions for the welfare of the public at large, but they were delayed which has resulted in the loss of several lives.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation

filed by two advocates Dhruti Kapadia and Kunal Tiwari - seeking a direction to the government to start a door-to-door vaccination programme for senior citizens above the age of 75, specially- abled persons and those who are wheelchairbound or bed-ridden.

The Union government on Tuesday told the court that currently doorto-door vaccination was not

CBI books Gautam Thapar in Yes Bank fraud case

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against industrialist Gautam Thapar of Avantha Realty and Oyster Buildwell Pvt Ltd among several others for allegedly cheating Yes Bank to the tune of Rs 466 crore. The CBI officials said that the agency sleuths were also carrying out searches at 14 locations including at Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Secunderabad and Kolkata which has led to the recovery of incriminating documents and digital evidence.

A CBI official said that the agency has filed a case against Thapar, Avantha Realty Limited, Oyster Buildwell Pvt Ltd, Raghubir Kumar Sharma, Rajendra Kumar Mangal, Tapsi Mahajan unknown officials of

Gautam Thapar

Jhabua Power Investment Limited, unknown officials of Jhabua Power Limited, unknown officials of Avantha Holdings Limited, unknown officials of Avantha Power and Infrastructure Limited and unknown public servants and private persons for the Yes Bank fraud.

The CBI registered a case on June 1 this year on the complaint of Yes Bank.

The official said that it was alleged that the private

company based at Gurugram and Delhi had availed a term loan facility of Rs 515 crore from Yes Bank Limited in December, 2017. The loan amount was declared as NPA on October 30, 2019.

Further, the borrower was allegedly declared a ‘Red Flagged Account’ on March 6, 2020 on the basis of Early Warning Signals, he said.

The complaint alleged criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery for diversion or misappropriation of the public money during the period from 2017 to 2019, thereby causing a loss of Rs 466.5 crore to Yes Bank.

In March last year, the CBI had booked Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and his wife Bindu Kapoor for purchase of a marquee property in Delhi’s prestigious

Amrita Shergill Marg from its owner Avantha Realty promoter Gautam Thapar.

The CBI in its FIR alleged that Kapoor obtained illegal gratification in the form of a property in a prime location in New Delhi at much less than the realisable market value belonging to Avantha Realty Limited (ARL), for a loan taken by it from Yes Bank for extending concessions in the already existing credits provided to the Avantha Group and for advancing additional loans.

The CBI further alleged that Kapoor, his wife Bindu, also a director of Bliss Abode Private Limited (BAPL) and Thapar, promoter of Avantha Group companies, entered into a criminal conspiracy for the purpose of obtaining the “illegal gratification”.

FELICITATION

We, the Longjang Jamir Telongjem, Mokokchung with immense joy would like to congratulate Miss Tsukjemchila Jamir, daughter of Mr. Bendang T Jamir and Mrs. Yashikala Pongen (Longmisa) residing at Alongmen Ward Mokokchung on her being promoted to Chief Manager State Bank of India, Mokokchung.

We are so proud of you. Your persistence and skill have rewarded you. We hope and pray that as you continue to serve the public, may the good Lord always guide you to perform your duty to the best of your ability.

Sd/Along Jamir MKC-156 Secretary, LJTM IN THE COURT OF

DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE ZUNHEBOTO : NAGALAND

No. JUD/SUCC-34/19-20/41

Dated Zbto. the 20-05-2021

Notice Calling Objection for the issue of Succession Certificate Whereas application has received from Smti. Amekali Swu U/S 372 of the Indian Succession Act, resident of South Point (E) Zunheboto for Succession of SBI A/C No - 20147043765, GIS, GPF, Leave Encashment, gratuity, Service & Pension benefits, debts & securities of Late Sai K. Sema.

Notice is hereby issued for filling objections to all who has interest in the said claim(s) within 45 (forty five) days from the date of publication to this notice.

District & Sessions Judge Zunheboto : Nagaland DP-2733

CEC Sushil Chandra greets newly Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey, in New Delhi, June 9. (PTI)

head the state bureaucracy as Chief Secretary on June 28, 2018, and retired in August 2019. Under his watch, the state organised the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, and the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas at Varanasi in 2019.

Earlier, Pandey served as Industrial Development Commissioner and successfully organised a mega Investors Summit at Lucknow in 2018. He also introduced various policy reforms in the industries and business sector, including single window Nivesh Mitra Portal.

As the state’s Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, he oversaw the successful designing, planning and implementation of the state’s Farm Loan Waiver Scheme.

Pandey has held diverse portfolios during his deputation at the Centre, serving as Additional Secretary, Defence, and Joint Secretary, Labour and Em-

ployment.

He also represented the country at various international forums like G20 and International Labour Organisation. He was also Director in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Punjab Engineering College and a master’s degree in Materials Management from the Panjab University, Pandey, who has had a keen interest in study of history, also holds a Ph.D in Ancient Indian History from the Magadh University.

Pandey has a keen interest in writing and has authored a book titled “Governance in Ancient India”, exploring the evolution, nature, scope, functions and related aspects of Indian civil service from the Rig Vedic period to 650 AD.

4k evacuated from Yaas-hit WB islands after high tide warning

KOLKATA, JUN 9 (PTI): More than 4,000 inhabitants of cyclone Yaas-hit Mousuni and Ghoramara islands in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district have been evacuated to safety following warning of new moon high tides on June 11 and June 26, a state minister said on Wednesday. Around 3,000 people from Mousuni Island and 1,100inhabitants of Ghoramara have been shifted to different flood centres in the district, Sunderbans Development Minister Bankim Hazra said.

“So far, we have evacuated over 4,000 people from these two islands but more people need to be moved as per Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s direction. Over 1,100families live in Ghoramara and 3,200 in Mousuni,” he told PTI. Banerjee had directed the district administration to evacuate residents of the two islands where embankments were ravaged by cyclone Yaas on May 26 and repairs would not be completed before June-end. “The Irrigation

Department is trying to complete the repair work,” he said.

Hazra expressed hope that high tide waters will not enter coastal areas like Dhobal and Shibpur but may inundate parts of Gosaba, Kultuli, Patharpratima, Frazerganj, Noapukuria, Iswaripur and Narayanpur on June 11 as repairing of embankments are yet to be completed in those areas.

“I will be holding a meeting with senior officials of the Irrigation and Panchayat departments and SDOs, BDOs and the police administration to chalk out a plan,” he said. Banerjee had earlier said that there have beenbreaches at river embankments at 317 places, most of whichwill be repaired by June 21 barring a few in Sagar and Mousuni islands, work for which will be completed only by June 31.

Hence, nearly 20,000 people will have to be evacuated before the coming high tides, she had said.

OFFICE OF THE

KUBZA VILLAGE COUNCIL MOKOKCHUNG : NAGALAND

APPRECIATION The Kubza Village Council would like to bring forth our sincere gratitude and appreciation on behalf of all the citizens of Kubza Village to Shri. Sharingain Longkumer Hon’ble Speaker of Nagaland who has been extending all necessary needs during the pandemic besides numerous infrastructure developments in the village. And the ongoing black topping and road widening from CTC junction to Kubza Village.

The Kubza Village Council especially would like to thank our Leader for the huge consignment of Medical related items which is extremely needed by all during this time of lockdown due to pandemic, where every effort is made to stop community transmission and to stop the virus from spreading to rural areas. The consignment which was received by the Village Council and staff of the Govt.

Primary Sub Health Centre Kubza on 5th June 2021 includes 5 nos. of PPE suits, 500 nos of N95 masks, Nebulizer 1 no, Gloves 2 boxes, Pulse Oximeter 2 nos, Thermometer 1, Rapid Antigen 1 box.

The generous donation by our Hon’ble Speaker Govt. of Nagaland and his family for the welfare of the people of Kubza Village and his numerous substantial contributions in the constituency stands true as a gesture of his benevolence for the people. May our Almighty God continue to bless you and your family abundantly.

T. Akok Imchen N. Recha Longkumer Chairman Secretary

MKC-157

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (AGENCIES): In a major setback to the Congress party, a prominent face from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, JitinPrasada, joined the BJP giving the saffron party on Wednesday a leg-up in caste equations while it prepares for Assembly elections next year.

Welcoming him into the saffron fold in the presence of Union minister Piyush Goyal, BJP’s chief spokesperson, and MP Anil Baluni said Prasada was joining the party as he was “impressed” with the working style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Goyal too heaped praises on Prasada, lauding him as a leader of stature whose induction will boost the BJP and help him serve the society.

In his first statement from the BJP podium, Prasada applauded Prime Minister Modi and called Home Minister Amit Shah ‘karmyogi’.

El Salvador makes Bitcoin a legal tender

San Salvador, Jun 9 (IANS): El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Wednesday announced that the country has approved the bill to make Bitcoin cryptocurrency a legal tender in the Central American country.

The Central American country is now the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender.

“The #BitcoinLaw has been approved by a supermajority in the Salvadoran Congress. 62 out of 84 votes!

History!,” tweeted Bukele.

Bukele on June 5 announced the move in a prerecorded message played at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida, during a presentation hosted by Jack Mallers, founder digital wallet company Strike.

“In the short term this will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion to thousands outside the formal economy,” the President had said.

Mallers said he has been working with Bukele

to determine the logistics of the move.

“Over 70 per cent of the active population of El Salvador doesn’t have a bank account. They’re not in the financial system,” Mallers said during the presentation.

“They asked me to help write a bill and that they viewed bitcoin as a worldclass currency and that we needed to put together a bitcoin plan to help these people.”

According to Shivam Thakral, CEO of, BuyUcoin. EI Salvador’s decision to make Bitcoin a legal tender will boost financial inclusion in their country as

the majority of the population does not have access to formal banking channels.

“In India, our approach towards crypto is different.

We don’t see it as a legal tender but as an asset class.

Indian investors have shown their faith in crypto even during the massive price fluctuations because they have an investment horizon of 2-3 years,” Thakral said in a statement.

“We are eagerly waiting for CBDC (central bank digital currency) in India which will open up new avenues of growth for the digital asset industry,” he added.

business

Rupee falls for 2nd day, settles Exports, ethanol to boost sugar mill margins Delhi, Jun 9 “Also, the recent an- Crisil-rated integrated mills 8 paise down at 72.97/USD New (IANS): High sugar exports, nouncement by the govern- this fiscal.”

Mumbai, Jun 9 (PTI): The r upee declined by 8 paise to end at 72.97 against the US currency on Wednesday in its second straight day of losses amid a lacklustre trend in domestic equities.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened on a negative note at 72.90 per dollar as against its previous close of 72.89. It hovered in the range of 72.88 to 73.02 per dollar during the day before ending at 72.97.

The domestic currency has lost 17 paise in the two trading sessions to Wednesday. The local unit traded in a narrow range amid lack of any major data on Wednesday in the domestic and the international markets, traders said.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.09 per cent to 89.99.

“The USDINR spot is hovering around 73 zone, whether it will bounce or not depends on US CPI. The forex traders await some guidance from Thurs-

day’s CPI data and ECB policy,” said Rahul Gupta, Head Of Research- Currency, Emkay Global Financial Services. Gupta further noted that “an upbeat CPI data won’t provide an excuse for the Fed to defer the tapering debate a little longer but all will be revealed at the June 16th FOMC meeting.

Until then in USDINR spot, 73.25-73.30 is a crucial resistance, a consistent above that can push prices towards 73.60-73.75 zone while 72.75-72.50 will act as a crucial support.”

On the domestic equity market front, the BSE Sensex ended 333.93 points, or 0.64 per cent lower at 51,941.64, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 104.75 points or 0.67 per cent to close at 15,635.35.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.35 per cent to USD 72.47 per barrel.

Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital market on Tuesday as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,422.71 crore, as per exchange data.

Patanjali’s Coronil lands in row in Nepal, faces distribution ban Kathmandu, Jun 8 (IANS): Coronil, the socalled immunity booster kit manufactured by yoga guru Ramdevs Patanjali group in India, has landed in a controversy in Nepal after the Himalayan nations Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine imposed a ban on its distribution.

The Health Ministry of Nepal, however, has remained silent over the ongoing controversy regarding the distribution of Coronil kits, which have also landed in controversy in India and Bhutan.

The controversy erupted in Nepal after the Patanjai Yoghpeeth on last Thursday handed over Coronil kits, sanitisers, masks and other immunity booster medicines worth crores of rupees to

outgoing Health Minister, Hrydesh Tripathi.

The day after he received the support from local officials of the Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal, Tripathi was removed as the Health Minister.

“The Coronil kits provided by the Patanjali Yogpeeth did not receive permission from the Department of Drug Administra-

Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

tion, so we have decided not to distribute it,” Basudev Upadhyay, the Director General of the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine, said in a press conference.

“The Coronil kit could be beneficial for the treatment of respiratory disorders, but it has not taken permission from the Department of Drug Administra-

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

tion, so we cannot distribute it,” Upadhyay added.

As per the Nepali law, any drug can be imported only after obtaining permission from the DDA. Meanwhile, the spokesperson at Nepal’s Health Ministry, Krishna Poudel, told IANS that he is not aware about the distribution of Coronil kits in Nepal.

“We do not know if the outgoing Health Minister Tripathi accepted the support. We have heard that it is yet to get permission from the DDA,” said Poudel.

“Coronil is not registered with the DDA and it cannot be distributed or sold out without registration,” DDA spokesperson Santosh K.C. told IANS. “We have not received any document for its registration as well as seeking

permission for selling out in Nepal. We do not know how the former Health Minister accepted the donation. We have not received any letter from the Health Ministry to grant permission for its distribution,” he said.

Meanwhile, Patanjai Yogpeeth said that the consignment of 1,500 Coronil kits was provided upon the request from the government of Nepal.

Officials at Nepal’s Health Ministry said that officials from Patanjali Yogpeeth in Nepal and India had approached former Health Minister Tripathi directly, handing over some documents that received permission from the government of India for its distribution and provision of selling for the general public as an immunity booster.

No. 9942 Yesterday’s solution No. 9941

No. 4562 Yesterday’s solution No. 4561

No. 3586 Yesterday’s solution No. 3585

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coupled with increased supplies of ethanol, will improve the operating profitability of integrated sugar mills this fiscal, a Crisil Ratings analysis showed.

“High sugar exports for the second sugar season in a row, coupled with increased supplies of ethanol - and at remunerative prices - for blending with petrol, will improve the operating profitability of integrated sugar mills by 75-100 basis points (bps) to 13-14 per cent this fiscal,” the analysis report said.

ment to advance the ethanol-petrol blending target of 20 per cent by two years to 2023, could help sustain this momentum over the medium term.”

Besides, the report cited that sugar closing stocks are expected to decline to their lowest levels in the past four seasons to 9-9.5 million tonne (MT) in 2020-21, resulting in lower working capital borrowings.

“The improvement in profitability and controlled debt levels will, in turn, bolster the credit profiles of

Furthermore, the report said that credit outlook of non-integrated ones, at the other end, will remain largely stable.

“The improvement in profitability of integrated sugar mills will be supported by higher sugar exports, with remunerative prices and increasing proportion of more profitable ethanol, which will offset impact of lower profitability in domestic sugar sales, and subdued returns from co-generation of power,” Crisil’s Senior Director Anuj Sethi said.

Euro firms increasing investment in China

Washington, Jun 9 (IANS): European businesses have seen higher margin in China than globally and are increasing investment in the country following its quick recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic last year, according to a report.

The proportion of European companies planning to expand China operations in 2021 jumped to nearly 60 per cent from 51 per cent last year, as per the report on Tuesday, citing a survey by the European Chamber of Commerce.

About half of the 585 surveyed respondents reported higher profit margins in China than their global average, while the

proportion was 38 per cent last year, Xinhua reported. Additionally, 73 per cent of the respondents reported a profit last year, with another 14 per cent breaking even.

The figures were about the same level as in previous years despite the pandemic disruption, reflecting the speedy recovery of the Chinese economy, the report observed.

“The resilience of China’s market provided much-needed shelter for European companies amidst the storm of the Covid19 pandemic,” the survey said.

Meanwhile, a quarter of the surveyed businesses are “onshoring” their supply chains in China, the report added.

Bajaj Allianz Life declares Rs 1,156 crore bonus Pune, Jun 9 (IANS): Private life insurer Bajaj Allianz Life has declared bonuses amounting to Rs 1,156 crore to its policyholders. This includes a special one-time bonus of Rs 315 crore, which is over and above the regular bonus.

The company aims to ensure there is adequate support, in these unprecedented times, to its customers in achieving their life goals, the insurer said in a statement.

These bonuses are funded from the profits generated by the company’s participating policyholders’ funds for the year FY 202021. This move is expected

to benefit nearly 12 lakh (11,99,612) policyholders, who have stayed invested and entrusted their faith in the company.

This is the 20th consecutive year the Company has declared a bonus and delivered long term value to policyholders.

The bonus declared by the company is for the policies of all par products, which are in-force for full sum assured as on March 31, 2021, and for which customers are paying premiums regularly. The oneoff special bonus and the regular reversionary bonus are payable at the time of maturity or death of the policyholder.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tarun Chugh said: “Our employees and our customers’ Life Goals continue to be our key priorities as we collectively move ahead in these tough times. We want to assure each of them, especially our customers that we will stay by their side, and assure the best of our services and unwavering support towards keeping their Life Goals on track.

We are sure that this oneoff special bonus will not only make our customers happy, but will encourage several of our customers to stay invested in their Life Goals.”

Sensex tumbles 334 pts; Nifty drops below 15,650

Mumbai, Jun 9 (PTI): Equity benchmark Sensex tanked 334 points on Wednesday, tracking heavy losses in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and L&T amid a weak trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE index ended 333.93 points or 0.64 per cent lower at 51,941.64. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slumped 104.75 points or 0.67 per cent to 15,635.35.

L&T was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 2 per cent, followed

by Reliance Industries, Bajaj Finserv, In-

dusInd Bank, SBI, Maruti, Axis Bank and Bajaj Auto. On the other hand, PowerGrid, NTPC, Titan, HCL Tech and Asian Paints were among the gainers.

“Domestic equities fell sharply as selling pressure in financials, auto and RIL dragged indices down,” said Binod Modi, Head - Strategy at Reliance Securities.

This was the steepest correction after May 12, he said, adding that all key sectoral indices witnessed selling pressure as investors preferred to book some amount of profit ahead of crucial CPI data in the US.

Govt issues guidelines on COVID in children

(From p-1)

Hospital admission increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections with multidrug-resistant organisms.

For asymptomatic infection among children, the guidelines recommended no specific medication and promoted COVID-appropriate behaviour (mask, strict hand hygiene, physical distancing) and suggested giving nutritious diet.

The guidelines said that for mild infection paracetamol 10-15mg/kg/dose may be given every 4-6 hours for fever and throat soothing agents and warm saline gargles in older children

and adolescents have been recommended for cough.

In case of moderate infection, the guidelines suggested initiating immediate oxygen therapy.

“Corticosteroids are not required in all children with moderate illness; they may be administered in rapidly progressive disease and anticoagulants may also be indicated,” the guidelines said.

For severe COVID-19 among children, the guidelines said if Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) develops, necessary management to be initiated.

“In case shock develops, necessary management

Infosys regrets glitches: Nilekani to FM

New Delhi, Jun 9 (IANS): Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani responding to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans public comments on glitches on the new Income Tax filing portal said Infosys regrets the glitches.

“The new e-filing portal will ease the filing process and enhance end user experience @nsitharamanji, we have observed some technical issues on day one, and are working to resolve them.@Infosys regrets these

initial glitches and expects the system to stabilise during the week,” Nilekani tweeted after Sitharaman had made public comments on twitter calling out Infosys for the problems with the new Income Tax portal.

The Finance Minister had pointed out these snags with the system and asked Infosys to fix it on Tuesday.“The much awaited e-filing portal 2.0 was launched last night 20:45hrs.

I see in my TL grievances and glitches.

should be initiated. Antimicrobials to be administered if there is evidence/strong suspicion of superadded bacterial infection. May need organ support in case of organ dysfunction, e.g. renal replacement therapy,” it said.

The guidelines also recommended a six-minute walk test for children above 12 years under the supervision of parents/guardians “It is a simple clinical test to assess cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance and is used to unmask hypoxia.

Attach a pulse oximeter to his/her finger and ask the child to walk in the confines of their room for six minutes continuously,” it said.

Urgently required U.S/U.K experience voice agents/ closures M/F with fluency in English 15k - 30k basic salary + incentive + accommodation.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Auckland adjudged world’s most liveable city

Auckland city

LONDON, JUN 9 (AFP): The pandemic has shaken up the rankings of the world’s most liveable cities, a study released on Wednesday showed, with metropolises in Australia, Japan and New Zealand leaping ahead of those in Europe.

Auckland tops the Economist’s annual survey of the world’s most liveable cities in 2021 followed by Osaka and Tokyo in Japan, Adelaide in Australia and Wellington in New Zealand, all of which had a swift response to the COVID pan-

demic. “Auckland rose to the top of the ranking owing to its successful approach in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed its society to remain open and the city to score strongly,” the Economist Intelligence Unit said.

In contrast, “European cities fared particularly poorly in this year’s edition.” “Vienna, previously the world’s most liveable city between 2018-20, fell to 12th. Eight of the top ten biggest falls in the rankings are European cities,” according to the

study. The biggest fall overall among the European cities was the port city of Hamburg in northern Germany, which fell 34 places to 47th.

The trend was motivated by a “stress on hospital resources” which the study said increased for most German and French cities and resulted in a “deteriorated healthcare score”. Pressure on European health systems also had a knock-on effect on culture and overall liveability because of restrictions on movement, the Economist said.

9

international

Russia expected to outlaw US mounts pressure on Pak for access Alexei Navalny’s groups to military bases after Afghan withdrawal

MOSCOW, JUN 9 (AP): A Moscow court is expected on Wednesday to outlaw the organizations founded by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, part of authorities’ efforts to muzzle critics ahead of a crucial parliamentary election in September.

Prosecutors have asked the Moscow City court to designate Navalny’s Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his sprawling network of regional offices across Russia as extremist organizations.

In conjunction with a new law, the ruling would bar people associated with the groups from running for public office, derailing the hopes of Navalny’s allies of seeking parliamentary seats.

The extremism label would also mean that activists who have worked with the organizations, anyone who donated to them, and even those who simply shared the groups’ materials could be prosecuted and receive lengthy prison terms.

Navalny, the most adamant political foe of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested in January upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months convalescing

Alexei Navalny

after a nerve agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin - accusations that Russian officials reject.

In February, Navalny was given a 2 1/2-year prison term for violating the terms of a suspended sentence from a 2014 embezzlement conviction that he dismissed as politically driven.

The court hearing on his organizations was held behind closed doors on the grounds that classified materials would be discussed.

I va n Pav l ov, w h o heads a team of defence lawyers in the case, said the court is expected to issue its verdict on Wednesday. The judge has rejected a defence appeal to allow Navalny to take part in the hearings via a video link from prison and dismissed other motions by the defence. “There is no talk about the equal representation of the parties in the case,” he said.

Islamabad, Jun 9 (IANS): As the US gears up to end its longest fought war in Afghanistan and withdraw its troops from the country, the Joe Biden administration is in deliberations with Pakistan to provide the US access to its airspace and a drone base, which would be used to keep an eye on the situation in Afghanistan after the troops withdrawal and also to make sure that it does turn into a terrorist base again.

However, Pakistan does not seem to be ready to facilitate the US to station itself in Pakistani bases to operate drones, like it did previously.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has clearly refused to facilitate the US with any airbase to operate from Pakistani soil.

While Islamabad seems to be sticking to its position of not allowing the US to operate from any of its bases, US’ demand continues to assert the Pakistani military, intelligence and diplomatic channels to give access to airspace and airbases, insisting that

Indonesia mulls to inoculate Banned Pak journo apologizes for remarks against Pak army one million people per day J a k a r t a , J un 9 (IANS): Indonesia is planning to vaccinate 1 million people per day by July, President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday.

Widodo made the remarks after observing a mass Covid-19 vaccination held at a university’s hospital in West Java province, Xinhua reported.

Widodo urged authorities to accelerate the mass vaccinations across the country in order to hit the government’s current target of 700,000 injections per day.

“We hope that in June the target for vaccinations per day of 700,000 can really be achieved so that in

July we will have entered the target of vaccinations per day of 1 million,” he said at the event which the country’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil also attended.

The government aims to vaccinate 181.5 million people by next year and so far more than 11 million people in the country have received two shots of vaccine.

Indonesia currently has approximately 76.2 million doses of ready-touse vaccines. The world’s fourth most populous country has so far recorded 1.87 million coronavirus infections and 52,162 deaths.

CONDOLENCE NOTE As Oft-quoted in Ecclesiasters 9:12vs, "for man knoweth not his time, (KJV)". Likewise the unexpected demise of respected Dr. P. S. Lorin, Rengma, the founder and Director-Principal of the Tetso College Dimapur is a shocking and anguished in the hearts of fellow Phiro Village. We express our sorrow, mingled with gratitude for his success initiative for the "50 years Peace Treaty" between Phiro and Phenshenyu Villages (PKR). Dr. Lorin was a giant visionary and a great father of education for irrespective of tribes or border distinction. He walked uprightly in fear of God and served as the President of the Rengma Baptist Churches Council for divine reward is reverential. Physically parted is painful but the milestone of his good work done for the people on picture shall abide in the minds of Phiro Village. This humble Tribute carries our deepest prayers and wish for his soul to rest in peace with the Lord.

We join the agonized bereaved family and pray for solace from our loving Lord, Amen.

DP-2722

CHAIRMAN Phiro Village Treaty Friends

Hamid Mir

Islamabad, Jun 9 (PTI): A prominent Pakistani journalist, who was taken off air indefinitely for making hard-hitting remarks against the country’s powerful military establishment in the wake of an attack on a fellow scribe, has apologised and said he had no intention to defame the Army.

Hamid Mir, the popular host of political talk

show ‘Capital Talk’ of Geo News channel, on May 28 delivered a fiery speech at a protest staged by scribes against an attack by three “unknown” persons on journalist and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor in Islamabad.

Mir demanded accountability for the attack, which was a series of such assaults on media persons who are critical of the country’s military. Following his speech, he was taken off air on May 30.

A joint statement issued by a committee formed by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), the National Press Club and Mir on Tuesday said he had no intention to defame the Army and respect it “as an institution

ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 70 plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy. However, the military has denied meddling in the country’s politics.

LATE K. KHOMO KHIAMNIUNGAN Born: 06/02/1969 - Died: 02/06/2021 With profound gratitude, we the family of Late K. Khomo Khiamniungan convey our deepest appreciation to all the individuals and organizations who stood by us financially, physically and in prayers at his demise. It is our prayer that God Almighty bless you all.

Loving wife, children and relatives K-1029

Through this column, we the bereaved family members of Late Lhogholi Awomi, W/o Late Nikhahe Awomi would like to convey our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all who stood by us and supported us morally, physically, financially and unceasing prayers during a brief illness and demise of our loving mother.

We also convey our special thanks to: 1. Xelhozhe Ghami Baptist Akukuhou 2. Youth Department Xelhozhe Ghami 3. Women Department Xelhozhe Ghami 4. S.T.H Xelhozhe Ghami 5. Chilisami Xelhozhe Ghami 6. G.Bs Xelhozhe Ghami 7. Sumi Baptist Chruch Diphupar 8. Shri. Visheto Yeptho, Kilonser NSCN (IM) Diphupar 9. Er. Inaka Assumi, J.E (Electrical) Born in 1937 Chumukedima Division, Diphupar Died on 3rd June 2021 10. Shri. Hekishe Awomi, Xelhozhe Ghami We regret for our inability to thank each and every one of you individually, but we humbly pray to Almighty God to shower his blessing to you all and we shall always remain indebted for your prayers and support.

Children, In-laws & Grandchildren DP-2726

said. “What I will say, we are talking to a wide range of countries about how we build effective over the horizon capacity both from intelligence and defense prospective to be able to suppress terrorism threat in Afghanistan,” he added.

The US has been working on exploring options to maintain military and intelligence footprint in the region to tackle a possible terrorist resurgence in Afghanistan.

It is for this that the US is seeking bases in neighboring countries of Afghanistan where it can ensure surveillance and can also target terrorists through drones.

But Pakistani government officials have said that since the US does not enjoy the kind of leverage it did in the past, it cannot force Pakistan.

“The US has long suspended military and security assistance as well as the Coalition Support Fund (CSP). In the past, the US did use this as a bargaining chip. Now, the US is left with fewer options such as keeping Pakistan in the FATF grey list. Rest it has no option,” a Pakistan government official said.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"

ll Timothy 4:7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“For this God is our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death” Psalm 48:14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“Say not in grief ‘he is no more' but in thankfulness that he was."

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

K Y M C

from the core of his heart”.

“The purpose of my speech was not at all to hurt the feelings and sentiments of others but still I sincerely apologise if my words lacerated the sentiments of someone,” Mir said.

The Army, which has

they would be used for surveillance purposes in Afghanistan only.

Pentagon was the first to announce that Pakistan had allowed the US troops to station there and use its airspace to operate surveillance drones, a claim that has been categorically rejected by the Pakistani government.

In a latest development, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed that he had detailed discussions with Pakistan in the military, intelligence and diplomatic channels to make sure that Afghanistan never again becomes a base from which terrorist groups could attack the US. “ We ’ve h a d c o n structive discussions in military, intelligence and diplomatic channels with Pakistan about the future of America’s capabilities to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a base from which al-Qaeda, ISIS or any other terrorist group can attack the United States. But in terms of the specifics, what that would look like will have to remain in those private channels as we work through them,” Sullivan

Lt. Mozolie Angami 25/12/1975 – 01/06/2021 The bereaved family of Lt. Mozolie Angami would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, various organizations, churches, neighbours, relatives and well wishers who stood by us physically, financially and spiritually upholding us in prayers and support at the sudden demise of our beloved.

Special thanks to: 1. Shri. Neiphiu Rio, Honourable Chief Minister Nagaland 2. Deputy CM of Nagaland. Y. Patton 3. Sr. SP and all ranks of DEF Kohima 4. OC and staff Chiephobozou PS 5. Chiechama Village Council 6. Angami Krotho DEF Kohima 7. Tenyimia Union NPS Kohima 8. Gariphema Miapuonuo Krotho Kohima 9. Gariphepfü Kecha Krotho Kohima 10. NCRC Gariphema 11. CCRC Kohima 12. Metsüdi Chienuo Gariphema 13. Pheluo Colony Gariphema 14. Sogotsu Colony Chiephobozou Loving wife, children and relatives K-1030

LT. PUDÜKHOL NEIKHA 10.02.1963 – 21.05.2021 We, the bereaved family of Lt. Pudükhol Neikha would like to acknowledge and express our heartfelt gratitude to every individual, families, churches, societies, neighbors and well wishers who stood by us through prayers, financially and physically during his prolonged illness and sudden demise.

We regret our inability to thank each one of you personally but it is our fervent prayers that the good Lord blesses you all abundantly.

K-1031

Loving wife, children and family members

OBITUARY

TRIBUTE

Our beloved Lt. Medochol Sothu, the Associate Pastor of NCRC, P. R. Hill went to be with the Lord on 25th of May, 2021. He was one of the pioneers of the church ever since its inception in 1978. He stood with the Church through thick and thin with his active leadership and wise counsel. He served as the Associate pastor of the Church from 01-01-2005 until his last breath. The Church has lost a dedicated and prayerful leader and an elderly mentor who was of invaluable asset to the Church. May his prayers and good works shower upon the Church and the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace and we all find solace in the Lord Jesus our Savior.

Nagaland Christian Revival Church, P.R. Hill, Kohima, Nagaland K-1028

28/11/1970 – 08/06/21 Shri Tiasashi Aier of Mopungchuket Village died on June 8, 2021 after a short battle with covid-19 at Faith Hospital, Dimapur. Until then he was serving as a G/T in G.M.S, Chumukedima. He was not only a teacher but a loving and faithful father, husband, grandfather and a friend to everyone. He was not only the best role model but he volunteered in his free time to serve the ailing and sick with the healing gift God has given him through which he started the Grace Gift Healing Ministry, Chumukedima near Khuva Nullah to serve the poor and downtrodden with human and divine love. He had to do it, as he said: “I see Christ in every person I touch”. The whole of his philosophy was enshrined to help the sick and needy people not only in Nagaland but many states in India too.

We convey our sincere gratitude to the Doctors and Nurses of Faith Hospital, friends and relatives who supported us physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually which cannot be quantified in words alone.

Beloved mother, wife, sons and host of relatives DP-2725 K Y M C

Infotainment

10

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Tiny creature back to life after Tom Hiddleston: Have always felt an affection for Loki 24,000 years in Siberian deep freeze A microscopic organism has wriggled back to life and reproduced asexually after lying frozen in the vast permafrost lands of northeastern Siberia for 24,000 years, Al Jazeera report stated.

Ru s s i a n s c i e n t i s t s found the tiny ancient animal, called the bdelloid rotifer, in soil taken from the river Alazeya in Russia’s region of Yakutia in the far north.

The bdelloid rotifer, a multicellular organism found in freshwater habitats across the world, is known to be able to withstand extreme cold.

Previous research suggested it could survive for a decade when frozen at -20

A bdelloid rotifer feeding on algae and other microorganisms, seen under a microscope.

degrees Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit).

This new case, which was detailed in a study in the journal Current Biology, is by far the creature’s longest recorded survival period in a frozen state.

“Our report is the hardest proof as of today that multicellular animals could withstand tens of thousands of years in cryptobiosis, the state of almost completely arrested metabolism,” said Stas Malavin of the Soil

Cryology Laboratory at Pushchino’s Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science.

The lab specialises in isolating microscopic organisms from the ancient permafrost in Siberia.

To collect samples, a drilling rig is used in the most remote Arctic locations.

The organism was recovered from samples taken 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) below ground. The material was dated from between 23,960 and 24,485 years ago, the study said.

Land encased in permafrost – where the ground is frozen all year round – has for years thrown up startling scientific discoveries.

Scientists earlier revived microscopic worms called nematodes from sediment in two places in northern Siberia that were dated more than 30,000 years old.

“The takeaway is that a multicellular organism can be frozen and stored as such for thousands of years and then return back to life – a dream of many fiction writers,” Malavin said.

“Of course, the more complex the organism, the trickier it is to preserve it alive frozen and, for mammals, it’s not currently possible. Yet, moving from a single-celled organism to an organism with a gut and brain, though microscopic, is a big step forward.”

(AGENCIES)

Money Heist 5 gets its new villain in Jose Manuel Seda?

M

oney Heist 5 will have a new face opposing the gang in red jumpsuits.

Actor José Manuel Seda, who was rumoured to have joined the Spanish crime drama in its upcoming season five, has finally made his first appearance as a cast member.

The makers on Tuesday teased fans with the first look of José from the show.

Netflix and the show’s production banner, Vancouver Media, made the big reveal at the streaming giant’s fan event Geeked. Taking to their social media handles, they released a brand new still from Money Heist season 5, where José is dressed in uniform, standing next to an army vehicle.

While Vancouver Media wrote in its Instagram post, “Who is this guy?” Netflix India captioned the image as, “We’re sensing another villain this season.” Co-director

Actor José Manuel Seda’s still has left fans wondering whether his character will hamper the gang’s plan inside the Bank of Spain. (Photos: Netflix)

Koldo Serra also shared the same still and teased the fans by writing, “We have a new guy in the office … Although he doesn’t come to make friends.”

Netflix shared two other new stills from the fresh season, one with Palermo, Bogota and Rio next to a bunker of sorts, ready to fire with bazookas, while the other

one is a solo of Rio in action with a machine gun.

As fans wait for more details on José’s role, the still suggests that he might be with the army, which is set to storm the Bank of Spain and take down the robbers. The gang, meanwhile, has vowed to avenge the killing of Nairobi and Rio’s torture during his illegal detention.

José Manuel Seda joined La Casa De Papel or Money Heist a few months ago. Apart from him, actors Patrick Criado and Miguel Ángel Silvestre will also be the new additions this time.

Several behind-the-scenes photos and videos of Patrick Criado and Miguel Ángel Silvestre have already made the rounds of fan pages. Patrick Criado has been clicked with actor Pedro Alonso, hinting that he might appear in flashbacks in Berlin’s track.

Netflix had revealed the first set of exclusive stills from Money Heist 5 last week, which immediately went viral. The pictures suggest that a lot of action and drama is lined up for the audience in the next season. Money Heist season 5 will release in two parts. Its part one will premiere on Netflix on September 3 and its part two will arrive on December 3. (Indian Express)

A

c t o r To m H i d dleston has opened up about what makes his character, Loki, the God of Mischief, the most fun character to portray.

Hiddleston also shared that he always felt an affection for Loki and for his vulnerability.

“Having played Loki for such a long time and having had the privilege of inhabiting him at the outset, I’ve always felt an affection for him and for his vulnerability,” Hiddleston said.

“But I’ve been aware through the course of my experience in the Marvel Studios’ movies in the first ten years that Loki has a role to play and that as Loki I had to play the villain. Then I had to play the antihero,” he added.

The actor says this is

the first chance that he had to see if the mold can be broken and change Loki.

“And this time around is the first chance, perhaps for a while, that I’ve had to see if we can really break the mold and change him, and retain all the best aspects of him. But, as I’ve said, try to get underneath all of his defenses: the defense of his charisma, the defense of his keeping people at arm’s length.

And I think that that is a really interesting kernel of an idea inside the story,” Hiddleston said.

He added: “Can Loki ever change? Is Loki capable of change? If he does change, will other people

allow him to change? Can Loki get out of his own way? Can Loki make different choices? And if he does make those choices, where does he go next?”

Hiddleston shared that it has been really exciting to find a way of striking the balance between respecting what’s come before and inventing something new.

The actor is joined

by Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant.

Directed by Kate Herron and written by Michael Waldron, the series titled “Loki” will air on Disney+ Hotstar Premium.

(IANS)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We, the bereaved family of our beloved Late Longritsülak Jamir (Changki), would like to convey our extreme gratitude to each and every individual for your manifold help rendered to us during his prolonged illness, and in time of our bereavement.

It is our humble prayer that the Almighty God bless you all for the kindness you have shown to us.

DP-2721

Loving Wife, Children, Grandchildren and Relatives

Born: 01-07-1936 Died: 05-06-2021

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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DP-2724

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

1 st DEATH ANNIVERSARY Ode to Apa Remembering your loving smile and gentle looks, Your quiet love, full of kindness, Your hugs when I was feeling blue, Sharing stories and dreams, So rare, a dad like you.

Lt. OPANG PONGEN

Born : 31/05/1943 – Died : 29/05/2021

Late Dr. Talitoba Ozukum Died : 10.06.2020

K Y M C

Loving wife, children and relatives

Dear Oba, “To us you were so dear, no matter when we needed you We always found you near. You gave us all you had to give.

The greatest gift of all is that, you gave us your love.”

You are sadly missed and deeply remembered

DP-2723

In the shadows of our sorrow, Past the whisper of goodbye.

Your legacy of love, gentleness and care, Will light the way for us Until we meet in eternity.

Through this column, we the family of Lt. OPANG PONGEN would sincerely like to thank each and every individual who stood by us during his illness and sympathized with us through physically, morally, with prayers and financially till his last rituals.

We deeply appreciate staff and paramedics of ZHRC, Pastor and colleagues of East Dimapur Ao Baptist Church and relatives for their endless support.

We are unable to thank everyone individually, but with our humble prayers, may our good lord bless you all immensely.

DP-2729

Loving wife, children and in-law K Y M C

11

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

Brazil score early and late to defeat Paraguay 2-0 Nagar allotted Paralympic Games quota place

A S U N C I O N, J U N 9 (AGENCIES): An early goal from Neymar and a late second from Lucas Paqueta gave Brazil a 2-0 win against Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier in Asuncion on Tuesday, giving them a sixth straight victory in South America’s preliminaries.

Brazil had not beaten Paraguay away from home since 1985 but that record looked in danger as early as the third minute when Neymar controlled an awkward cross from Gabriel Jesus and side-footed home from eight meters out.

The Paris St Germain striker came into the match with four goals and three assists in their five qualifying games so far, the best haul in the tournament, and the goal was his 66th in 105 games for Brazil.

“It was a game where we scored early in the first half and that really settled us down and allowed us

Brazil’s Neymar celebrates scoring their first goal during the World Cup-South American qualifying match against Paraguay. (Reuters)

to play the ball about and Paraguay had to chase the game and we killed it right at the end,” said defender Marquinhos.

Wearing their change blue strips, Brazil were on top throughout and should

have added to their total before the fourth minute of injury time when Paqueta scored with a splendid leftfoot shot into the bottom corner. Paraguay were unbeaten in five games in the South American qualifiers

but rarely threatened the visitors, and even when they did they found Ederson, a surprise choice to replace Alisson Becker in goal, equal to their efforts, with one flying save from Omar Alderete right out the top

drawer. The clean sheet was Brazil’s fifth in their six games and they are off to their best start to a World Cup qualifying campaign since 1969, when they also won their first six games.

The result leaves them top of the South American qualifying group for Qatar 2022 with a maximum 18 points. The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar and the fifth-place side go into an intercontinental play-off.

In the last of the day’s five games, Chile drew 1-1 with Bolivia in Santiago.

The home side went 1-0 up thanks to a 69th minute goal from Erick Pulgar but Marcelo Martins scored from the penalty spot, his third goal in two games, to equalise with eight minutes remaining.

The result leaves Chile seventh in the table, one spot above Bolivia. Venezuela and Peru are joint bottom.

NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (IANS): Krishna Nagar, a para badminton player from Jaipur in Rajasthan, was allotted Paralympic Games quota place in men’s singles short stature 6 (MS SH 6) category on Monday by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

“It is a big achievement for me. I have been training hard for the past one year and earning a ticket for the Tokyo Paralympic Games is like a dream come true,” the 22-year-old Nagar told IANS from Lucknow.

N a g a r, w i n n e r o f bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games, said he will continue to train hard to achieve good results in Japan.

“I am attending a camp in Lucknow. The facilities

Krishna Nagar

are good in the camp and I hope rigorous training sessions in coming weeks would further polish my skills,” he said.

Para-badminton players Tarun (SL 4) and Pramod Bhagat (SL 3) have also qualified for Paralympics in their respective groups.

Last month, para-badminton player Palak Kohli had also qualified for Tokyo Paralympics Games starting August 24. Palak, 18, will pair with veteran badminton player Parul Parmar in women’s doubles event SL3-SU5 category for the Paralympic Games.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Buttler, Morgan under investigation for India have better record than alleged racist remarks against Indians NZ away from home in WTC LONDON, JUN 9 (PTI): England’s white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan and wicketkeeper batsman Jos Buttler are under investigation by the country’s cricket board after their alleged racist tweets, mocking Indians, surfaced on the social media.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has promised “relevant and appropriate action”, saying each case will be considered on an individual basis.

The posts, in which Buttler and Morgan used the word ‘sir’ to mock the Indians, started doing the rounds on social media after the ECB suspended pacer

Ollie Robinson for some of his offensive tweets dating back to 2012-13.

“Screenshots have also been shared of a message by Buttler in which he says ‘I always reply sir no1 else like me like you like me’ and, separately, Morgan includes Buttler in a message which says, ‘Sir you’re my favourite batsman’,” according to a report in the Telegraph. co.uk. Buttler and Morgan both feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the former playing for the Rajasthan Royals and the latter leading the Kolkata Knight Riders.

“Although there are questions over the precise

context of the tweets, they were written at a time when Buttler and Morgan were established England players and have caused offence on social media,” the report added. The ECB said the matter will be dealt in an appropriate manner.

“Since we were alerted to offensive tweets last week, a number of historical social media posts by other individuals have been questioned publicly as well,” an ECB spokesperson said on Tuesday.

“There is no place for discrimination in our sport, and we are committed to taking relevant and appropriate action where required.

SOUTHAMPTON, JUN 9 (IANS): India and New Zealand may be playing at a neutral venue, but it is Virat Kohli’s side that has shown dominance away from home winning two out of the three series they have played overseas in the run-up to World Test Championship (WTC) final. In contrast, New Zealand’s run comprises only series wins at home with both their overseas tours in the run-up to WTC final yielding no success for them.

The Kiwis have played five series in the 2019-2021 WTC period and won three series at home against India, Pakistan and West Indies which saw them enter the final on the basis of percentage of

points. However, the secondplaced team on WTC points table had started the WTC campaign on a poor note.

The Kane Williamson-led side was held to a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka in 2019 while they were thrashed 0-3 in Australia during the 2019-20 season. India, on the other hand, began their WTC final campaign in 2019 on a rousing note, thrashing West Indies in the Caribbean and earning 100 percent of the points available. They then swept series against touring South Africans and Sri Lankans at home the same year, beating the Proteas 3-0 and Bangladesh 2-0 while earning 100 percent of points available in both the series.

Late D. Pheiküp Phom Born : 1922 Died : 24-05-2021 Words are insufficient to acknowledge the many expressions of sympathy and gestures of kindness extended to us physically, financially, materially and through prayers by well wishers, relatives, in-laws, friends from far and near as our beloved father Late D. Pheiküp Phom responded to the call of the Lord on the 24th May, 2021. He is survived by his wife, 4 children, 17 grand children and 8 great grand children. Late D. Pheiküp Phom lived his life to the fullest, fulfilling the role of a husband, father, grand and great grandfather. He was one of the pioneer in the establishment of Tamlu Town and has rendered his selfless services to the Phom community in various capacities. He was a mentor, path finder and an exemplary leader. The legacy he left behind will be cherished forever.

We regret our inability to thank each and everyone individually but we pray for God’s abundance of blessings upon your lives.

Loving Wife, Children, In-laws, Grand & Great Grand Children

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

ER. KEVISEKHO KRUSE 24-07-1960 to 04-06-2021

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

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Through this column, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude who stood by us in prayers, in words and in deeds during the painful moment of our greatest loss. Nothing we say or do can ever repay you but only through prayers we earnestly plead the good Lord to bless you.

We convey our sincere gratitude to : 1. Shri. Neiphiu Rio, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland.

2. Shri. Tongpang Oziikum, Hon’ble Minister, PWD (H) & Mech, Nagaland.

3. Shri. Neiba Kronu, Hon’ble Minister, Planning & 35.

Co-ordination, Land Revenue, Parliamentary Affairs, Nagaland.

36.

Shri Jacob Zhimomi, Hon’ble Minister, PHED. Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, Hon’ble Advisor, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.

Shri Medo Yhokha, Hon’ble Advisor, Technical Education and Elections.

Shri. Keneizhakho Nakhro, MLA, 8th Western Angami Constituency Assembly.

Mr & Mrs Vilelie Khamo.

Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao & Staff, K.P Bethesda Hospital Kohima.

Dr. Vikethonyü Kesiezie & Staff, Oking Hospital Kohima.

Union Baptist Church, Chümoukedima.

Ministers Hill Baptist Church, Kohima.

MHBC Thepfüko Krotho.

UBC Thenupfüko Krotho Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC).

Chakhroma Baptist Church Council (CBCC) & Mission Department.

CRC Khonoma.

Peducha Baptist Church.

Khonoma Baptist Krotho Kohima.

Khonoma Rüfüno Nagaland.

Khonoma Rüfüno Kohima Khonoma Rüfüno Dimapur.

Khonoma Rüfüno Khonoma.

Khonoma Public Commission.

Rüfüno Nagaland Development Society.

The Phizo Memorial Park Trust.

ARÜ Kikramiako Khonoma.

Pfüphe Yiemia Union Nagaland.

Khami-Thevo Seyie Krotho.

Thevomiapfü Krotho Chakhro.

Thevoma Union Nagaland.

Krusenoko Mechü Krotho.

Lerie Colony Panchayat.

Ward 10, Chairman and Colleagues, Chümoukedima.

NDPP Kohima.

NDPP Youth Wing, Kohima Region.

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NDPP Chümoukedima HQ. NDPP 8th Western Youth Wing.

NDPP Unit Sechü Zubza.

NDPP Unit, Hospital colony.

NDPP Unit, Mezoma.

NDPP Unit, Kiruphema.

8th Western Constituency Village Councils, Colonies & Party Workers.

Naga Mothers Association.

Angami Public Organization.

Angami Gazetted Officers Krotho.

Khonoma Gazetted Officers Union.

Angami Women Organization.

Western Angami Women Organization.

Western Angami Youth Organization.

Western Angami D-group Sports Association.

Western Angami Public Organization.

Chakhroma Public Organization.

Chakhroma Women Organization.

Southern Angami Women Organization.

Sechüma Village Council.

Kiruphema General Council.

Kiruphema Basa Council.

North East Christian University.

All Nagaland Private Schools Association.

North Town Hr. Sec. School Principal and Staff.

G. Rio School, Kohima.

ALTRURA Society.

Chümoukedima Timber Traders Association.

Friends and Neighbours.

“You fought the good fight of faith and finished your race well. Your legacy etched in our hearts will live through us and the people that you touched” -In God we trust, Fare thee wellLoving wife Mrs Salhoutuonuo Kruse, children & family

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sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

French Open: Tsitsipas beats Medvedev to enters SFs Gidey breaks 10,000m world record Krejcikova sees off Coco Gauff to reach semi-final

Stefanos Tsitsipas PARIS, JUN 9 (IANS): Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, to enter semi-finals of the French Open here in a late match on Tuesday.

This was Greek Tsitsipas’s only second win over the Russian who was looking to get to world No. 1 position. Medvedev could have become No. 1 had he won the title or even by reaching the final without current No. 1 Djokovic reaching there.

The two-hour-21-minute battle saw Tsitsipas enter his third consecutive Grand Slam semi-final. He had also entered the semifinal at last year’s French Open where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

O n Tu e s d ay, t h e Greek star tennis player 73 percent of first service

points and 77 percent of second service points. He also converted four out of the seven break-points he got.

Medvedev, however, could convert only two out of the eight break-points he got and won 60 percent points on his first and second serves.

Tsitsipas, who won 43 receiving points against just 23 by Medvedev, will now face world No. 6 Alexander Zverev who had earlier on Tuesday defeated Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

This was Zverev’s first entry into semi-finals of French Open.

Tsitsipas, who put Medvedev under pressure in the quarter-finals right from the start, will start favourite due to better headto-head record (5-2).

Czech Barbora Krejcikova is into her first Grand Slam semi-final after seeing off American teenager Coco Gauff in a nervy French Open encounter.

Gauff, 17, let five set points slip as Krejcikova took the opener on a tiebreak before sealing a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 victory on her sixth match point.

The 25-year-old eventually wrapped up an intriguing quarter-final battle in one hour and 50 minutes in Paris.

Barbora Krejcikova The world number 33 will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari for a place in the final at Roland Garros.

Gauff made the perfect start to her first Grand

Slam quarter-final, eventually seizing her fourth break point in Krejcikova’s opening service game as she opened a 3-0 lead on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Defending champion Swiatek crashes out in quarter-finals

Maria Sakkari The curse of French Open defending champions continued as Iga Swiatek was knocked out 6-4 6-4 by Greek Maria Sakkari in the French Open quarter-finals, leaving the

women’s draw wide open on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old Pole, who took an off-court medical timeout early in the second set, was overwhelmed by Sakkari’s

power and pace on court Philippe Chatrier with almost 5,000 spectators now allowed to attend.

World number nine Swiatek, bidding to become the first woman to retain her title since Justine Henin in 2007, got off to a confident start but lacked her usual poise against Sakkari, who dictated most of the points and was greatly helped by her opponent’s unforced errors.

Sakkari, the world number 18, will take on Czech BarboraKrejcikova for a place in Saturday’s final.

HENGELO (THE NETHERLANDS), JUN 9 (IANS): Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey clocked 29 minutes 01.3 seconds to break the women’s 10,000metre world record by five seconds during the Ethiopian athletics trials here on Tuesday night.

“I expected to run a world record. I would like to try to break the 29-minute [barrier] in 10,000m in future,” the 23 years old said in the post-race interaction.

Last year, Letesenbet set a world 5000m record of 14 minutes 06.62 seconds.

The Ethiopian is the first woman to hold both the 5000m and 10,000m world records since Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen who held both the records from 1986 to 1993.

On Sunday, Dutch distance star Sifan Hassan had clocked a world 10,000m record of 29:06.82 on the same track in Hengelo.

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation is holding national selection trials in the Netherlands to select a team for the Tokyo Olympic Games starting July 23.

Trials were held in distances ranging from 800m to 10,000m, including the steeplechase.

B u t t h e w o m e n’s 10,000m race was the highlight of the selection trials. Letesenbet set out at

Letesenbet Gidey scorching pace passing the first 2000m in 5 minutes 54 seconds and 3000m in 8 minutes 50 seconds. She reached the half-way mark in about 14 minutes and 42 seconds.

She pushed the pace further in the next five laps to clock 20 minutes 32 seconds for 7000m. At the bell, she was a couple of seconds inside 28 minutes, and ran a final lap of about 68 seconds to set a world record of 29 minutes 01.03 seconds.

TsigieGebreselama, who clocked 30 minutes 06.01 seconds, was second

while TsehayGemechu was third in 30 minutes 19.29 seconds.

The women’s 5,000m was won by GudafTsegay in 14 minutes 13.32 seconds.

Steeplechase specialist Getnet Wale won the men’s 5,000m event in 12:53.28 while SelemonBarega won a close men’s 10,000m, clocking 26 minutes 49.51 seconds against 26 minutes 49.73 seconds by YomifKejelcha.

Freweyni Hailu won the women’s 1500m in a world-leading time of 3 minutes 57.33 seconds.

Brazil soccer players criticise ICC Test rankings: 3 Indians in top 10; Conway enters at 77th handling of Copa America switch

A man adjusts a protest banner reading “we don’t want the Cup, we want vaccine! Out Bolsonaro” outside the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 2. (Reuters)

Rio de Janeiro, JUN 9 (AGENCIES): The Brazilian soccer team criticised the last-minute decision to switch the Copa America to Brazil from Argentina amid a surge in novel coronavirus infections but said they would play in the 10nation tournament which kicks off in Brasilia on Sunday.

B r a z i l wa s u n ex pectedly chosen to stage the Copa America after co-hosts Colombia were removed amid ongoing civil unrest and Argentina withdrew due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Multiple news reports in Brazil had said the play-

ers were upset at not being consulted about the decision as well as the possible public health consequences, with some players reportedly reluctant to take part.

In a statement posted online early on Wednesday, the Brazil players said they were “not satisfied” with the way the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) handled the decision.

“For different reasons, be they humanitarian or professional, we are not satisfied with the way the Copa America has been handled by CONMEBOL,” the players said.

“All the recent facts lead us to believe in an inadequate process in realising (the tournament).”

They added that they did not want to make their opposition a political issue and said they had never considered a boycott.

“We are against the organisation of the Copa America but we will never say no to playing for Brazil.”

The statement came soon after Brazil defeated Paraguay 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Asuncion, a result that leaves them in pole position to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

The decision by Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro to green light the hosting of the tournament was met with surprise, given the country has recorded more than 476,000 deaths from COVID-19, more than any other country outside the United States.

Brazil are due to kick off the tournament against Venezuela on June 13.

Matches will be played in four cities, before culminating with the final in Rio de Janeiro on July 10.

DUBAI, JUN 9 (IANS): New Zealand’s double centration Test debutant Conway has entered the latest men’s Test batting rankings at 77th position while three Indians -- skipper Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma -continue to be in the top 10.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson leads the table with 895 rating points.

Kohli, who will lead India in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand from June 18 and the five-match Test series against England, is fifth with 814 points behind England skipper Joe Root.

Pant and Sharma are joint sixth with 747 rating points each. Sharma, who was placed eighth in the previous cycle, has moved one spot past New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls, who is now in eighth spot.

Conway, is the latest to enter the ICC Test rankings after his double century against England in the drawn first Test at Lord’s that ended earlier this week. He is placed 77th with 447 rating points, the highest for a New Zealand batsman on debut and the Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli third highest ever on derankings, India spinner, hold the No. 2 position but.

In the Test bowling R. Ashwin continues to (850 rating points), behind

Wolves appoint former Benfica boss Bruno Lage as new manager WOLVERHAMPTON, JUN 9 (AGENCIES):Wolves have appointed former Benfica boss Bruno Lage as their new manager.

Lage was previously assistant to Carlos Carvalhal at Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea before joining Benfica, where he won the Portuguese title in 2019.

The 45-year-old succeeds fellow Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo, who left Wolves at the end of the season after four years at Molineux.

“I’m happy, excited, with a

Bruno Lage

Embiid helps 76ers beat Hawks as Nikola Jokic wins MVP

Philadelphia, JUN 9 (AGENCIES): Joel Embiid had a play-off career-high 40 points as the Philadelphia 76ers levelled their Eastern Conference semi-final series with the Atlanta Hawks.

The 76ers won 118102 at home to make it 1-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Earlier on Tuesday, Embiid came second to Nikola Jokic in voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for 2020-21.

And the Utah Jazz, the number one seed for the play-offs, opened their Western Conference semifinal by edging a 112-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Embiid (meniscus) was again a doubt heading into Tuesday’s game with the Hawks but the Sixers centre added 13 rebounds to his game-high 40 points.

The Hawks, for whom Trae Young and Danilo

Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) reacts after a foul was called against him during the first half of Game against the Atlanta Hawks, June 8in Philadelphia. (AP)

Gallinari scored 21 points, and took their first lead trailed 57-55 at half-time at 80-79 late in the third

Australian pace bowler Pat Cummins, who has 908 points. Ashwin is the only Indian in the top 10.

The top position in the Test all-rounder rankings continues to be held by West Indies’ Jason Holder, who is part of the squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa beginning in St.Lucia on June 10.

Indian all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja (386 points) and Ashwin (353) are second and fourth, respectively. Jadeja has moved up one place, displacing England all-rounder Ben Stokes.

quarter.

But the Sixers led 9184 by the end of the third and opened the fourth with an 11-0 spurt which put them beyond reach.

In the Western Conference, the Clippers got off to a strong start to lead 60-47 at half-time in Salt Lake City, but the topranked Jazz outscored the visitors 65-49 in the second half.

Despite trailing by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter, the Clippers could have tied it on the final possession and sent the game into overtime, but Marcus Morris’ shot was blocked by Rudy Gobert.

Donovan Mitchell scored 45 points for the Clippers while Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 23 for the Jazz.

The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic became the lowest-drafted MVP in NBA history and the first player in franchise history

to win the award.

The Serbian centre started all 72 games for the Nuggets and averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per contest - all setting or matching career highs.

The 26-year-old was drafted 41st overall in 2014 and is only the second second-round draft pick to become an MVP after Willis Reed (1970), who was the eighth pick in 1964 when there were just nine teams in the league.

An All-Star for the third straight year, Jokic is the third European to be named the NBA’s MVP after Dirk Nowitzki and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won the award the last two seasons.

Jokic earned 91 of 101 first-place votes for a total of 971 points, with Embiid second with 586 points and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry third with 453.

big ambition to do great things for this club,” said Lage.

Nuno, who took charge at Wolves in 2017, won the Championship in his first season before guiding the club to successive seventh-placed finishes in the Premier League.

He stepped down last month after the club finished 13th despite only signing a three-year contract extension to 2023 in September.

Lage has been out of work since leaving Benfica last June after 18 months in charge.

He took over the Lisbon club at the start of January 2019 and they ended the season as champions. However, the following campaign was not as good and Lage was dismissed in June 2020.

Lage never played football professionally and began his coaching career at Vitoria Setubal’s academy at the age of just 21 in 1997.

Spells at Estrela VendasNovas and Sintrense followed before he joined Benfica in 2004, where he managed at every youth level.

Minor injury forces wrestler Punia to pull out of Poland Open NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (IANS): Olympic Games bound freestyle wrestler Deepak Punia has pulled out of Poland Open Ranking Series in Warsaw due to minor injury that resurfaced prior to his bout, said a Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) official on Wednesday.

Punia was directly seeded into quarterfinals was scheduled to face Zahid Valencia of America.

“Punia who was carrying a niggle in the left hand withdrew from the men’s 86kg freestyle event at the eleventh hour as there was possibility of injury being aggravating during the bout,” WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told IANS. “Team coach Jagminder Singh was of the opinion that it wouldn’t be wise to compete with

Deepak Punia injury in the ranking series as the Olympics are around the corner,” he said.

The Poland Ranking Series got underway on Monday and will conclude on Sunday.

Ravi Kumar Dahiya, who has qualified for the Olympics in the men’s 57kg freestyle, defeated AbdullaevGulomjon of Uzbekistan 10-1 in the first round

of the 61kg. He will face AsharovAdian of Kazakhstan in the second round.

India’s Anshu Malik (57 kg) and VineshPhogat (53 kg) will compete in the women’s freestyle event.

After the ranking series, Indian team will also attend a coaching camp in Warsaw. The Indian team would return in the first week of July.

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