Shompo Y L Jami, IAS (Rtd), Chairman, Dimapur Lotha Hoho

Facts between figures T here is a need for serious look into how many employees are there under various government departments and also the series of alleged backdoor appointments made over several years. So far the only available figure was of 2013-14 where the figure of government employees rose to 1,25,309 after hundreds were appointed. According to official sources, the ratio between employees to population stood at 1:20 as on 2013-14. In other words it means that a little over 6% of the population of Nagaland are employed in the government .It is interesting to note that it was claimed in 2017 that the total number of government employees was 1,25,309 and which is remarkable. This shows there has not been any further appointment since 2104. In which sense, the spate of allegations of backdoor appointments since 2015 to 2019 would be rendered as baseless. It would also render the various statements of organisations such as– ACAU T Nagaland, NSF, ANCSU, or Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAA F). Even this year, the Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT) alleged that over 900 were recruited to the police department out of a total of 1200, without going through the recruitment rally. This allegation was also raised on the floor of the house by the opposition. In response, the government assured to look into the matter by constituting a committee to look into all appointments in the department. The government stopped short of assuring the house of revoking the alleged irregular appointments. Since appointments have been made and continue to be done even through backdoor, there is no denying that the number of government employees since 2013-14 should rise. It is also interesting to note that the total number of government employees was recorded at 1,10,000 in 2008-10. This figure rose to 1,25,000 by 2010-11, then to 1,30,000 by 2012-13. According to the latest figure, there are 1,40,000 government employees under the government’s roll which is a little over 7.1% of the state’s 19,80,602 population. The figure gives the ratio of 1:14 on the number of employees to the total population of the state. Nagaland has the highest percentage of government employees to population in the north east. Other states have figures of around 2% to 4% over the population whereas it is around 7% for Nagaland. It may be said that Nagaland, like any other state, particularly those which have not established a sound economic foundation, are facing a serious problem over the issue of providing jobs to the educated youth. If there had been over saturation as admitted officially on many occasions, then how has the figure continued to rise? According to official sources, the ‘excess’ number of employees in Nagaland is around 70,000; which is 50% of around 1,40,000 government employees. The figure of ‘excess’ employment is based on the recommendation of the 13th Finance Commission that the salary component ought to be well within 35% of the budget. At the present rate, salaries and maintenance expenditure eats up at least 60% of the budget approximately. It is time for the state government to think deeply on how to stop being a prisoner of its own making in looking at itself as existing to provide employment. One solution is to effect good governance and ensure that the outcome will spur economic evolution that will embrace progress at all levels.

Daily Devotion

Taking the Initiative Against Despair Rise, let us be going. —Matthew 26:46 In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him. There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, “Get up, and do the next thing.” If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption. Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.

The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002 was an Act of the Indian Parliament whereby banks and other financial institutions in India are allowed to auction residential or commercial properties of defaulters to recover loans. This act is an effective instrument for banks to recover defaulting loans and is definitely required in a growing economy like ours to create ample credit opportunities for upcoming entrepreneurs and young businessmen or industrialists of Nagaland. This act also ensures that the state develops in due earnestness with the growth of infrastructure including industries through financial institutions like banks. It is needless to say that without sound capital investments and loans through banks and financial institutions, no country or state can ever develop.

Though banks in Nagaland have been implementing the SARFAESI Act since 2002, due to a letter from the Law & Justice Department to the Finance Department caused the banks and other financial institutions to cease all kinds of financial operations whereby the public was given loan in lieu of land mortgages. The main reason behind this was the argument of the Law & Justice Department that the SARFAESI Act was in contravention of the Article 371A of the Indian Constitution which gives special privileges to the Nagas and also the Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulations (Amendment) Act 2002 which restricts transfer of land to a person other than the indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland.

The above turn of events have put the local inhabitants of Nagaland to a disadvantageous position whereby they are not able to take loans from the banks by mortgaging their land. This has also led to many individuals in Nagaland taking huge sums of money from unauthorized money-lenders who charge exorbitant rates of interests and when they are not able to repay on time they confiscate their property. This has left many families ruined and financially overburdened in the past few decades. Now, in the wake of such social dilemma in Nagaland, the government needs to rise to the call of the hour and think about the benefit of the general public especially the upcoming generation of young entrepreneurs and industrialists who have no options left but to depend on the financial facilities provided by the banks.

Presently, the hands of the banks are literally tied and they are not able to sanction any loans by mortgaging lands belonging to indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland. However, the fact remains that the banks have nothing to lose even if they do not invest or give out loans to people of a particular state as they can utilize the accrued capital in other branches out of Nagaland. In this way we are not only increasing the wealth accumulation of the banks but also promoting their business in Nagaland through our deposits without acquiring any major bank benefits from them. Even though the Banks in Nagaland prefer to give easier loans like car loans, loans against Fixed Deposits and to government employees alone where recovery is guaranteed through salaried accounts, what is the benefit of the common people in Nagaland if they are unable to mortgage even their own landed properties for taking loans from the banks? The ultimate benefit of all financial institutions like banks should go to the common people in general instead of some few individuals.

In light of the above, it becomes a prerogative of the Nagaland State Government to urgently discuss in the floor of the Assembly the implications of not continuing with the SARFAESI Act in Nagaland and to deliberate upon additional options so that the disadvantaged sections of the people are benefitted while at the same time not infringing upon the already existing Article 371A and the Nagaland Land Revenue Regulations (Amendment) Act 2002. One alternative which the government can mull upon is a request to the Central Government for amendments in the SARFAESI Act in context to the special provisions given to the people of Nagaland through Article 371A. The amendments can be made in such a way that in case an inhabitant of Nagaland is unable to repay his/her loan due to one or the other reasons, his/her land property kept as mortgage with the banking institution concerned may put up the same land in auction but such auction should be limited to only local indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland and not to any outsider so that the provisions of transfer of landed property as enshrined in the NLRRA 2002 remains unaffected. This will ensure that not only the banks are able to mortgage land in lieu of loans but in the wake of a default they can also liquidate the same by auctioning off the land to local inhabitants only, thereby following both the SARFAESI Act and the Article 371A in letter and spirit.

But ultimately all these can happen only when there is a strong and unbiased political will on the part of the State Government to bring about a much needed reformation for the benefit of the people.

The State Government should be ready at all times to table such important discussions on the floor of the house. Recently, there was a news item published in Nagaland Page about the unilateral decision taken by the Speaker of NLA to withdraw the SARFAESI Act from the lists of business in the State Assembly. Whereas, the issue should have been taken in a matured manner and decision related to the same should also have been taken up after consultations with experts and discussions with the stakeholders including all the parties and financial institutions, as the matter in question cannot be undermined for the development of the State and its people. Does this obstinacy on the part of some individuals mean that they are utilizing the loopholes in the SARFAESI Act for their own personal gains? Are they trying to discourage the people of Nagaland not to avail loans by mortgaging lands and thereby indirectly encouraging the illegal and unauthorized money lenders to thrive and monopolize?

There are numerous educated unemployed youths in Nagaland who are trying to venture into self employment opportunities by taking loans from the banks. The government should encourage the youths especially the upcoming entrepreneurs, business start-ups, industrialists, etc. by bringing in better financial opportunities through banks whereby the banks also can gain in return. We, as laymen may not be able to bring about legislations and major changes in state policies but those who are at the helm of affairs have both the power and the position to do so. Since we are a democracy, it is legitimate that the government should use its power and position only for the general welfare of its citizens. It should shed all personal vendettas and afflictions when it comes to development of the state as a whole. If the SARFAESI Act does not hinder the growth and development of the inhabitants of Nagaland, the government and the intellectuals of the state should not shy away from the issue but they should be matured enough to discuss the same at all levels.

While it remains for the general public to judge who has gone wrong and where, it is my humble suggestion that all the stakeholders including the financial institutions like banks should ponder on this issue and take a concrete step which will benefit the entire state and its population in the long run. At the same time the general public must also come up and voice their opinions and suggestions on any important issues instead of blindly accepting policies and later on making a hue and cry out of them. Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema C hildren today are facing taxing routine for selecting a distinguished route to hone their aptitude in work environments where they can generate increasing output without necessarily fitting in areas that are not instinctually inclined to their modem of nurtured epistemology or call it work skills, power ideas that have specified consumer gravity with or no effects, innovative and synergized down to earth capital maximizing ideas and subsistence prerequisites. Their challenges to find scope are further aggravated when system policies are centred in full conventional settings rather than moderating a new equations that has less circuit to only maximize big corps and ground singled capitalists, and are a product of unregulated socioeconomic mechanism. Behaviourial economists and evolutionary psychologists have demonstrated that most human decision are based on emotional reactions and heuristic shortcuts rather than on rational analysis, and that while emotions and heuristic perhaps may have been suitable for dealing with life in Stone Age, they are woefully inadequate in the Silicon Age.

The problems the children face today are there to stay for a complicated and self straining economic and sociopolicy tension. That this nature may appear more or less undetected and complacently underwhelmed, out of boundaries that are perceived to correct near tangible knots of output degeneration and market value loses, the risk has high devaluation of market and consumer returns that affects in large loss of production. In an era of increasing technology and artificial intelligence interlinking commercializing fiscal management, the growth sector demand new interactive rules set of engagement that are pragmatic and less bound to recursive educational and sociological foundering. One positive outlook is in embracing the linkages are predominant to the diversity of facets resources and pit walking the output from erstwhile or continuing conventional background environment to new applicable sources of developmental fairly assets and key demographics.

At the peak of the crisis period in 2009, the global youth unemployment rate saw its largest annual increase on record, rising from 11.8 per cent to 12.7 per cent between 2008 and 2009 – an unprecedented increase of 4.5 million unemployed youth worldwide.

The average increase of the pre-crisis period (1997-2007) was less than 100,000 persons per year. The report says the absolute number of unemployed youth fell slightly since its peak in 2009 – from 75.8 million to 75.1 million in late 2010, a drop of 12.7 per cent – in 2011, 12.6 per cent.

Growth is essential and children incorporation economy is a sector for a good start towards all stability and sustainable path. Our focus essentially may not be towards capitalizing a healthy economic lines to equipped the future of our children from different backgrounds and customary, generations and access to quality educational reforms, a little zest in the policy institutions with regularized wheil programs can lead onwards a steady job distribution and placement, ensuring subsistence and happiness for tomorrow’s generation.

It is only until now we are realizing the population index and resource scarcity can harm our own future if the power-that-be shows lack of specific concerns, the generation ahead need to adapt from more susceptible conditions that are showing worrying signs of emerging.

Kevi Naga Dimapur Town Sarfaesi Act 2002 and Article 371A Concerning children’s growth in straining economy

A conceptual guide to ‘Envisioning a new Nagaland’

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. Reader’s Post (From previous issue) T he issue is not because people are against technology but the problem lies in their belief system that needs to be tackled first. Random implementation of technology cannot bring development but wastages. Classical example of such is the Dimapur traffic light system, which was inaugurated jubilantly as the first of its kind in the region, but presently lies in utter waste. Peiro Gheddo aptly describes “development does not mean change but growth. Change, in its turn, means social, cultural, economic both qualitative and quantitative modifications.” In other words, substituting an ordinary type writer with computer or from ordinary office filing system to computer system is no progress because these are mere change of modes only. Progress implies creating conditions and avenues to attain the desired goal of better life environment.

The immediate and primary need for us to progress today is also not e-governance but urgent construction of good roads and other infrastructures in all the villages. Before connecting the villages with satellite, telephones, more airports or railways the primary need is good roads. It appears that we are more concern about roofing than foundation. Former Andhra Pradesh CM, Chandrababu, also nicknamed the ‘hightech chief minister’, failed to retain power, not because he was inefficient in implementing the IT technology but because what the common majority needed was not an IT revolution but revolution in food production and from destitution to a better standard of life of the general populace through investment in good roads and agriculture and its allied. 3. Concept of the dignity of man:

One of the vital factors of progress is the correct understanding of what man is in relation to nature. Genesis tells us, symbolically, that God, after creating man in his own image and likeness, commanded him to have dominance over all creatures and subdue it but, of course not to destroy it or to subdue over other men. God made man master and ruler of nature, which invariably means that man, is also the determiner of his own destiny.

In the west, man at the center of creation, thinking and acting, became the essential nucleus around which everything else revolves. On the contrary, in our case, as Etzioni Amitai, in his book, ‘The active society’ says, ‘the central concept of man is still that of a passive observer in a world not of his making and not under his control.’ Coupled with this passive mentality baptized by our wrong understanding of religion have made us slaves of nature. Man, not at the helm of creation, but at its bottom cannot be better than slaves and a slave has no dignity of life. A society at the mercy of nature will remain poor because his destiny is allowed to be governed by the caprice of natural phenomenon and not by his intellect.

Another important factor is that man is a social being. To be is to be social. Man is not unless he is social. This is the reason why no one can set himself free without extending the same liberty to ones fellow men because the transformation of self is deeply rooted in the joint act of a society transforming itself through the process of individual education for collective responsibilities. In other words, individualism has no place so also selfishness or greed that people tend to breed. These are nothing but diseases. A Greek motto describes it as, “An idiot is a man who is completely private.”

At this point, we may ask, ‘How other countries are progressing and why are we still impoverished in a land of plenty? Sauvy points out, “After many trials and errors, economists of every land, even of America, have come to the conclusion that the origin of development is not money, as was so long believed, not capital, but culture-men’s ability to know how to enjoy their natural riches.” How true this is! This means to say that the immediate need, for us, is education to have healthy mentality and right attitude to recognize our abilities to harness the resources we are blessed with to enjoy a fuller life. The fact about progress is that ‘Rome was not built in a day’ or for that matter, America did not become wealthy and powerful overnight or simply by the grace of God or through mere prayer and fasting but by declaring war on poverty and destitution of its citizens prayerfully. Studies tell us that the Americans organized countless programs in their struggle against poverty, illiteracy and famines to be what they are today.

In conclusion, we have discovered that belief plays a very powerful role in, both individual and societal level; therefore, one extremely important area that needs our urgent attention today is to rectify our understanding of Christianity itself. We find others drawing their strength from Christianity itself but for us it is a stumbling block both for individual and social growth, which means to suggest that we have a very wrong concept and understanding of this religion itself.

Christianity today has been reduced to mere personal and private property rendering it toothless for any social reformation and the worst is reducing it to some kind of cult system and Spittoons for public Sir,

There is need for spittoons at different locations around the town as one comes across spittle juice sprayed all over public buildings and even on the streets. The habit of chewing tobacco and paan is very common in our state but the decorum of spitting into a designated spittoon is lacking. It would be appropriate if public buildings put up spittoons with a notice so people can use that facility rather than spewing their spittle juice all over.

Khumbeno Tsopoe, Chumuokedima, Dimapur. soothsaying in the name of prophecies and the funniest and most unrealistic of all is whenever we are faced by social problems a prayer week or fasting month is announced instead of uniting our hearts and minds to solve the issues.

In our understanding of religion, we have also an unfounded conclusion that religion and politics are separate but at the same time are perplexed that these are not totally independent to each other. This is nothing but reduction of personality to schizophrenia. This means mental illness that causes the sufferer to act irrationally- a withdrawal from social relationships etc. In reality, as true human beings, we are duty bound to bring abundance of life by harmonizing moral and religious life to subsist as integral aspects and not as two opposites. The need today “is not love, sweet love but a stern and uncompromising change of heart-a metanaeio, a basic reordering of our values which would put people a head of personal, selfish possessions to the patriotism required to change our society” for a fuller life as Amitai rightly says.

Development cannot be limited to few individuals, as it is happening today, but it has to promote the good of everyman. As long as majority of the society is poor no rich person in that society can say that one is rich because the majority poor will sooner or later find that they had been abused and misused. Development besides having more, in its truest sense, means to be more human because man is more precious for what he is and not for what he has.

(Concluded) Jonas Yanthan

MUMBAI, FEB 18 (PTI): Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday assured the people that there is nothing to worry about Citizenship (Amendment) Act, saying CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) are two different issues.

On the National Population Register, Uddhav Thackeray said he will personally check the columns in the NPR and that there shouldn’t be any problem with the exercise, The Indian Express has reported. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, however, said he will not allow NRC to be implemented in the state.

“CAA and NRC are different and NPR is different. No one has to worry if CAA gets implemented. NRC is not there and will not be implemented in the state,” Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday. Addressing the media at Sindhudurg, Uddhav Thackeray said: “If NRC is implemented then it will affect not only Hindus or Muslims but also adivasis. Centre has not discussed NRC as of now. NPR is a census, and I don’t find that anyone will be affected as it happens every ten years.”

The alliance partners -- Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP -- having been talking in different voices on the NPR.

The Shiv Sena had also supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha but walked out during voting in Rajya Sabha. NCP firm in opposing CAA, will try to convince Uddhav: Pawar After Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said there is no need to worry if the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is implemented, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that the Shiv Sena chief was entitled to his view and that the alliance partners may discuss the issue.

He underlined that the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP’s) stand is clear over the new citizen ship law and it stands firm in opposing the CAA.

“Whatever Uddhav Thackeray said that is his view. He is the chief minister of Maharashtra, he has his own views. Yes, in Maharashtra we are in a coalition government and opinion and views of the parties on certain issues may differ, but we can sit and discuss on it as far as CAA is concerned,” said Pawar, whose party is a major alliance partner of Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government - an alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.

Pawar further stated that there can be a difference of opinions in a coalition government.

Many non-BJP state governments, including Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan have refused to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed NRC in their respective states. Uddhav Thackeray with Sharad Pawar (File photo PTI)

NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (AGENCEIS): T h e Delhi Police has filed its chargesheet in connection with the December 15 violence in and around Jamia Milia University and New Friends Colony in south Delhi, sources said on Tuesday.

According to sources, in its chargesheet, which was filed before Delhi’s Saket court on February 13, the Delhi Police has named 18 persons in connection with violence in Jamia Milia and New Friends Colony.

The 18 people, named in its chargesheet, have been charged with rioting, damage to public property and obstruction to the public servant.

Sharjeel Imam, a former JNU student, who had been arrested by the Delhi Police and booked in a sedition case earlier, has been named as the instigator behind the violence in Delhi Police files chargesheet in Jamia violence case Jamia University and the New Friends Colony on December 15 last year.

In its chargesheet, the Delhi Police also placed the CCTV footage, details of the call records and the statements of over 100 witnesses who were examined by it in connection with the case as evidence.

The investigation conducted by the Delhi Police revealed that empty bullet cartridges that were found during the violence belonged to .32 mm pistol. Delhi Police will also release more photographs for identification in the rioting. The chargesheet was filed before Delhi’s Saket court on February 13, the sources said.

So far, 17 arrests have been made in connection with the case - 9 from NFC and 8 from Jamia Milia University. According to Delhi Police, all of them are locals. Meanwhile, no Jamia University student has been chargesheeted in connection with the case. Sharjeel Imam being taken to court from the Delhi crime branch. (PTI file) ZPO (N) clarifies on ZTC formation (From p-1)

In a press release, ZPO president Ramdi Meru and general secretary Kiepeube Zehuny stated that the move has “apparent vested interest and political inclination which is divisive and adverse to peaceful and harmonious existence of the community.”

Therefore, ZPO stated that “whosoever is instrumental” in the formation of ZTC would be held solely accountable and answerable to the community.

ZPO declares: In a declaration, ZPO president Ramdi Meru and general secretary Kiepeube Zehuny stated that the Zeliang People’s Organisation (N), after thorough deliberation, had fully agreed to support the ongoing peace process between the NSCN/ GPRN and the Government of India. They said that the house also further agreed upon to uphold Naga Integration without any condition.

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Issued by DIPR DC-224 NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (AGENCEIS): The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has taken out an order through which all Central Government employees whose selection for appointment was finalized before January 1, 2004 but who joined service on or after 01.01.2004, can now opt to be covered under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 instead of the NPS (National Pension System).

Minister of Personnel Dr Jitendra Singh said that the order effectively gives those employees of the Government of India who were recruited before 2004 the option of either switch over to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 or continue to be covered under the National Pension System.

Dr Singh further added that the decision had been taken by the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare to address the longstanding demand of Central Government employees whose recruitment was finalized before January 1, 2004 but who had, for various reasons, joined the services on or after January 1, 2004.

However, he noted that the last date to exercise this option would be May 31, 2020, and those who fail to exercise the option by this stipulated date would continue to be covered by the National Pension System. “The Central Government by this order has rectified a long standing grievance of a huge number of employees whose recruitment (including written examination, interview and declaration of result) had been finalized on or before 01.01.2004 (which was the cut-off date for employees to be covered under the old Pension scheme) but whose joining was delayed on acNEW DELHI, FEB 18 (IANS): Saying that online child pornographic content is a big contributor to global trafficking of children, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Tuesday said that support of powerful countries like the US to end the menace is a huge challenge. “We are trying to bring a legally binding UN Convention to end circulation of online child pornographic content. This is possible only with the support of the powerful countries around the world,” Satyarthi said during an interaction at the IANS office. Online pornographic content contributes heavily to child prostitution and child trafficking, he contended. The Nobel laureate, however, noted that the technology platforms on which these content circulate and the data service providers have influential lobbies and making them responsible is a huge task. Satyarthi’s comments come barely a week ahead of US President Donald Trump’s India visit next week. Underlining that his works aimed at ending exploitation of children spans across 144 countries in the world, Satyarthi said he was also working towards bringing an European law to bring due diligence in the production and supply chain of European companies which are exploiting women and children.

“Moreover, there is a long list of tiers of suppliers and producers and value chains which are not controlled by anyone,” he added. Ending exploitation of children “requires collective effort”, said Satyarthi who has been running an NGO in India for the protection of child rights for about 40 years.

“I have already won the Nobel Peace Prize, so I cannot go beyond that. I cannot stop here because I strongly feel that this is just a comma in life. The full stop will come only when every child is free to be a child, free to laugh and cry, free to go to school and more importantly, free to dream,” he said. count of administrative reasons and such delay was beyond the control of such Government servants,” a statement from the Central government said.

This order is expected to give relief to several Central Government employees, some of whom were knocking the doors of the Courts in order to get covered under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 and will also substantially bring down the litigation on this subject matter.

The employees who exercise option to switch over to the pension scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, will be required to subscribe to the General Provident Fund (GPF). Centre changes pension rules of government employees Ending online child pornography huge challenge, says Satyarthi

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NEW DELHI/AURANGABAD, FEB 18 (AGENCIES): Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allayed fears of any price rise in short term due to supply disruption from China on account of Coronavirus outbreak.

The government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry, Finance Minister said on Tuesday.

The minister was addressing media after meeting representatives of the industry to review the situation following the outbreak of the deadly virus in China.

Sitharaman said she would hold a meeting with the secretaires of different ministries tomorrow and then announce steps to deal with the situation in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office.

“There are no concerns about price rise so far due to Coronavirus,” she said, adding it is too early to talk about the impact of Covid19 outbreak on the Make in India initiative.

She also said there were no reports of shortage of medicines or medical equipment, instead the pharma industry is asking Nirmala Sitharaman during a meeting with industry and other bodies in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI) for lifting of ban on exports of certain items.

However, there could be some disruptions in supplies and concerns have been expressed by the representative of pharma, solar and chemical industries, she said.

COVID-19 outbreak hits industries dependent on Chinese parts

The coronavirus outbreak has hit industries in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, a prominent manufacturing hub, with companies finding it difficult to procure substitutes for Chinese parts.

Companies have started sourcing products from other countries to continue their manufacturing without interruptions.

“Aurangabad has more than 4,000 companies and some of them source parts from China. The coronavirus outbreak in China has disturbed the supply chain of materials,” former chairman of Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) Prasad Kokil said.

The gap in the supply of raw materials can create problems, he said, adding that this is a chance to look for substitutes and decrease the dependency on Chinese parts.

The micro, small and medium enterprises can grab this opportunity, Kokil said.

Companies working in solar and energy sector have to import parts from China, solar and energy equipment manufacturer M P Sharma said.

“The production of solar items has been impacted, as the supply of raw materials from China has been disrupted. We have found new alternatives in Vietnam and Taiwan,” he said.

“Imported parts make 60 per cent of our products. We need to buy them even if they are 13 to 15 per cent costlier than Chinese imports,” he added.

One of the manufacturers who has invested Rs 3.5 crore in Chinese machines is unable to get his consignment, as he can’t send anyone to transport the equipment from there, industrialist Sunil Kirdak said.

When asked if local MSMEs can profit from this development, Confederation of Indian Industry’s zonal chairman Mukund Kulkarni said it would be highly unlikely as the parts will have to be delivered in a short span of time. “We can make quality parts, but we may not be able to meet the demands in a short span of time. Hence, imports will continue, only the countries we import from will change,” he said.

Maruti launches BSVI compliant Ignis NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (PTI): The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Tuesday launched BS-VI compliant version of its premium compact car Ignis priced between Rs 4.89-7.19 lakh (exshowroom Delhi).

The new Ignis is powered by 1.2 litre petrol engine and comes with manual and Auto Gear Shift (AGS) transmission options, the company said in a statement.

“We have recognised an increasing preference for feature loaded cars that have SUV-like high seating position and dominant road presence. We are confident that the all new IGNIS with its SUV design and spacious interiors will appeal to the customers,” MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said.

The model comes in four variants with manual transmission option priced in the range of Rs 4.89-6.73 lakh, while the AGS options are tagged between Rs 6.13- 7.19 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi), the company said. (From p-1)

Alleging that food items provided to the targeted beneficiaries by SNP suppliers were much below the nutritional norms prescribed by Government of India, the forum members said this could be found out from biscuits manufactured by reputed brands like Britannia, Parle, etc, mentioning protein content not more than 8-9 % on their packets. NPRAAF demanded that the department must enlist only firms that could manufacture and supply micronutrient fortified energy tense food (ready-to-eat food) in future.

Mentioning that it was mandatory for all food items prescribed by the Union women & child development ministry to have protein content 12% and above, the forum demanded that any item that had less than the prescribed norm should be excluded. It also demanded that the department carry out analytical test of protein and calories before accepting items for approval for supply so that the beneficiaries could improve their health after intake of the food items.

When NPRAAF sought details on Poshan Abhiyaan as about Rs 30 crore had been received from Union women & child development ministry, the department officials pointed out that details of the scheme’s implementation could be discussed in due course of time as the department had been recently taken over by a new team of officers.

The department assured the delegation that all flagship schemes would be implemented with total transparency and ensure that the targeted beneficiaries were reached and benefited.

Claiming that they were fully committed to serve the State, the officials assured that no stone would left unturned in providing services to the people. Thanking the delegation for having concern for people’s welfare and standing against corruption, they assured of seeking positive suggestions and cooperation from them to serve the State better. This was stated in a NPRAAF press release. Social welfare: NPRAAF demands proper implementation of schemes

NTUCT livid at... (From p-1)

While appreciating the assurance given by chief minister Neiphiu Rio that a committee would be set up to suggest measures for fair recruitment in the police, NTUCT expressed surprise that he had maintained an “eerie silence” over the backdoor appointments numbering around 1,000.

The union said it wanted to hear from him what his government planned to do with these illegal appointments and whether his government was willing to rectify the glaring illegality committed by one of his cabinet ministers, or it was simply going to condone the wrong. Urging Rio to constitute an independent probe panel true to his commitment made in the Assembly on February 15 at the earliest, the union demanded that until it was constituted and submit its report, no cadre (genuine or bogus) should be allowed to go for reporting and training at any cost. NTUCT also warned the police department of serious law and order problem if it forcibly tried to go ahead as planned without conforming to the public demand and also ignoring steps to be initiated by the chief minister, as assured in the House. This was stated in a press release by union’s president Lhousito Khro.

Hyundai holds mega service camp in Dimapur DIMAPUR, FEB 18 (NPN): In an effort to give maximum benefits to its customers on occasion of Valentine’s Day, the Hyundai conducted a Mega Service Camp at its Dealership Floyd Hyundai in Dimapur from February 14-18, 2020.

“Hyundai is giving a lot of Benefits to its customers in this camp which includes 10%-30% discount on Mechanical Labour Charges, 10%-30% discount on Value added Services, Free Top Dry Wash and these facilities are available at dealership near you,” a press release from the agency stated.

M a n y c u s t o m e r s availed these benefits by visiting Hyundai dealerships.

5 Crossword No. 9498

No. 4117

No. 3143

Yesterday’s solution No. 9497

Yesterday’s solution No. 4116

Yesterday’s solution No. 3142

Across 9. Concord (9) 10.Cricket stroke (6,3) 12.Bird of prey (4) 13.Writing desk (6) 14.Time-consuming business (7) 15.Large animals (9) 17.Forever (9) 18.Augment (7) 19.Type of beer (6) 20.Reject as false (4) 23.Logic (9) 25.Captivated (9) 26.Ready money (4) 27.Public speaker (6) 29.Motorcycle attachment (7) 32.Underwater swimmer (4-5) 34.Dangerous (9) 35.Less heavy (7) 36.Answerable (6) 37.Dread (4) 38.Expenditure (9) 39.Citrus fruit (9) Down 1. Fine soft wool (8) 2. Monarchs (7,5) 3. Successive order (8) 4. Emphasise (6) 5. Edible (8) 6. Additional part (10) 7. Extend (7) 8. Naively optimistic (6-4) 11.Polite (5) 16.Carriage (6) 19.Insect (3) 21.Reference work (12) 22.Roam (6) 23.Huss (4,6) 24.Disrespectful (10) 25.Do wrong (3) 28.Indefatigable (8) 29.Very hot (8) 30.Reticent (8) 31.Issue (7) 33.Piece of cast metal (5) 34.Vigorous and enthusiastic (6)

MUMBAI, FEB 18 (PTI): Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty settled with losses for the fourth straight session on Tuesday as the ongoing AGR issue weighed on telecom and financial stocks.

After trading in the deep red for a better part of the session, the BSE gauge Sensex reclaimed most of its lost ground towards the fag-end. At the closing bell, the index was down 161.31 points or 0.39 per cent at 40,894.38.

Intra-day, the Sensex fell over 444 points and touched the day’s low of 40,610.95.

The NSE barometer Nifty too staged a late recovery from the day’s low and settled at 11,992.50, showing a fall of 53.30 points or 0.44 per cent.

On the Sensex chart, Bharti Airtel was the biggest loser with nearly 3 per cent drop in its share price. It was followed by IndusInd Bank, Maruti Suzuki, HeroMoto Corp and Tata Steel.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop the telecom department from taking any coercive steps for recovery of dues from Vodafone Idea.

Shares of Vodafone Idea on Tuesday tanked more than 16 per cent in intra-day trade due to rating

MODERN DRIVING CENTER Near Secretariat Office, Kohima Admission Going On Contact: 7085190017 / 8132919208 K-403

JOB VACANCY Shreya Tele Media Pvt. Ltd. is recruiting 21 boys and 18 girls for various official permanent posts for expanding new branches in north east. Qualification : 8-graduate Age : 26 years Post : Office Staff, Asst. Manager and Branch Manager Salary : 8000-35000 Free : accommodation. Kohima - 8761874082/7628011437 Dimapur - 9774509918 Mokokchung- 9366112992 Tuensang - 9366528034 Wokha - 7005444084 Zunheboto - 8259937293,7627923295 Phek - 6909619435 K-454

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KATS COLLECTION WEDDING DRESSES Starts at Rs. 5000/- Upto 50% discount New arrivals in store now. #8974879718 / 8787501224 DP -1103(B)

LOST NOTICE I, Mhasisetuo Solo, am applying for duplicate copy of B.A Admit Card 1 st , 2 nd , 4 th , 5 th & 6 th Semester as I have lost it. F/Name: Lt. Perhielie Solo Regd. No. : 15530008 Roll. No. : AG15530008 K-473

LOST NOTICE I, Ms Thujongolu Vero, am applying for duplicate copy of Class 8 Registration Card as I have lost it. F/Name : Ketsovoyi Vero Regd No : 14427 of 2019 School : Lorna’s Hr. Sec. School Dimapur Nagaland

Contact No : 8837342982 DP-1278

LOST NOTICE I, Tikaram Bhattarai am applying for duplicate copy of Registration Card of B.Com as I have lost it. Name : Tikaram Bhattarai F/Name : Purna Bhattarai B.Com Roll No. C07151 Registration No. 31046021 College : Pubic College of Commerce Year : 2006-07

Contact : 7002386896 DP-1270

LOST/BURNT NOTICE I, Navneet Kumar Singh am applying for duplicate copy of Class 10, 12 and B.Com. Marksheet and Pass Certificate as I have lost them in a Fire. Name : Navneet Kumar Singh F/Name : Rama Kant Singh Class 10 Roll No : 3130199 Year : 2012 School : Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khatkhati Class 12 Roll No : 3627176 Year : 2014 School : Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khatkhati B.Com. Year : 2018 College : RDS college, Muzaffarpur Bhim Rao Ambedkar University Contact : 7002369045 DP-1260

downgrade on AGR dues and other issues of the company. Reliance Industries declined nearly 1 per cent after it announced consolidation of all its media and distribution businesses under flagship ‘Network18’.

The three group entities namely Hathway Cable & Datacom, Den Networks and TV18 Broadcast -- which would be merged into Network18 -- rose by 20 per cent, 9.98 per cent and 14.7 per cent, respectively.

“Market sentiment continued to be hit by Covid-19 after the issue of warning note from a key global MNC regarding the sales impact. Global weakness is expected to hurt domestic market as high valuation and low economic growth is not supportive,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services commented.

Also, the huge government dues to be paid by telecom sector will keep banking stocks volatile impacting the market performance, Nair added.

In contrast, SBI, Infosys, PowerGrid, Tech Mahindra and TCS featured among major gainers. Sectorally, BSE telecom index suffered the most by shedding over 4 per cent. Other top laggards included metal, auto and realty indices.

Become a Partner of ElectricianApp : Requirements : Electricians must be certified and have at least 2 years work experience. Contact # 69092 44355 69092 44344 DP-1274

CAR FOR SALE Alto K10 (Auto Gear Shift) VXi 2018 Sept. (NL) Metallic Grey Price: Rs 3.45 Lakhs Ph No: 9436062506, 8258996713 K-469

LAND FOR SALE Near Hope Academy School Naga United 3 Bighas. Any size available Genuine Buyers only Contact: 7005404211 / 9436067280 K-434

LAND FOR SALE (4 Lane touched) 4 mins drive from Showuba 10,000 sq. ft. (Twenty Five Lakhs) Contact No : 8794629096 7005185928 DP-1237(B)

LAND FOR SALE Dubagaon 2 (two) Bighas Rs. 120/- Sq. Ft. Contact No : 8974663082 DP-1279

LAND FOR SALE Near Green Park, 5 th Mile, Dimapur Any size of plot available @ Rs. 320/- per sq. ft. (Nego) Contact: 9612242850 8974020568 DP-1124

LAND FOR SALE SEITHEKIMA 'A' Near 4 Lane 110 sq. ft. Plot Available Ph. No.: 8974571416 9436402461 DP-1131

LAND FOR SALE 1. Padumpukhuri near Monday Bazaar towards Darogajan Main Road Size - 5300 sq. ft. 2. 100x200 new 4 Lane Road (Khughovi) Rs. 95/- per sq. ft. Fixed.

Contact No. 7005332436 9612836670 DP-1271

LAND FOR SALE Location : Kushiabill, near Highway (4.5 km from Zion Hospital) Area : Any size plot available Price : Rs. 160 per sq. ft. * Plots with drainage & approach road Contact : 8787777148 7005227608 DP-183(A)

AVAILABLE SUPPLY/ SERVICES SAND GRAVEL, BOULDER, RADHA (SIZE 6/6) AND EARTH- FILLING MUD CONTACT NO :- 8014471008 8962457135 DP-1275

SUPPLY OF BOULDERS 1. Boulders of different size/ any quantity 2. Sub-soil of any quantity Contact: 09436000386, 08731831570 K-471

LAND FOR SALE Land with 1 Storey Building at Purana Bazaar, Zion Hospital Price : 75 Lakhs (Nego) Owner : 6009532994 DP-1281

LAND FOR SALE 12 Pura Paddy Field @ Rs 15 Lakhs per pura at Khehoyi Village near Niuland Road. Genuine party only. Contact :- 6909846286 DP-1280

URGENT SALE

Maruti Suzuki Breeza – VDI – 2018

Contact No. 8787566231

LAND FOR SALE (Only for Tenyiphe) 1. Between D.T.O & New Dc Office 55x117, Rs. 14,75,000/- 2. Seitheke Basa, Behind Angami Church 9000 sq. ft., Rs. 11,50,000/- Contact No : 8974848301 DP-1237( A )

LAND FOR SALE Land 5 Puras hillock with 1300 rubber trees plantation for sale at Tzudikong - Tuli near Highway NH-02 (No brokers) for more details - call 8787501027. DP-1264

LAND FOR SALE Location: Bamunpukhuri-B (5 km from Zion Hospital) Near Govt. Middle School 70 x 50 : Rs. 4.8 Lakhs 70 x 70 : Rs. 6.73 Lakhs * Approach Road & Drainage Contact : 8119054477 DP-1117

BEIJING, FEB 18 (PTI): The head of a hospital in China’s coronavirus-hit Wuhan city died of the epidemic amid criticism that a number of medical staff were infected due to official attempts to conceal the key findings of humanto-human transmission of the virus, as the death toll from the disease on Tuesday soared to 1,868.

Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, from where the virus originated, continued to bear the brunt as 93 more people died on Monday while five deaths were reported from Henan, Hebei and Hunan provinces.

C h i n a ’s N a t i o n a l Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak climbed to 1,868 on Monday while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. A top Chinese health official said the daily COVID-19 death toll soars to over 1,800 In this Feb. 16, 2020 photo, a nurse prepares medicines for patients at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan China. (AP/PTI) death toll has come down below 100 for the first time since the virus outbreak came to light in January.

The daily number of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID19) reported across China Monday dropped to under 2,000 for the first time, Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission (NHC) said Tuesday. Monday also saw the new confirmed infections of COVID-19 outside Hubei reduced to a number lower than 100 for the first time, Mi told the media.. Comparing the statistics in the peak period, Mi said the first appearance of these noteworthy decreasing numbers demonstrate that the epidemic situation is improving. While officials claimed KABUL, FEB 18 (AFP): Ashraf Ghani has secured a second term as president of Afghanistan, according to final results of the September 28, 2019 poll released on Tuesday by the country’s election commission.

“The election commission... declares Mr Ashraf Ghani, who has won 50.64 per cent of the votes, as the president of Afghanistan,” election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani told a press conference in Kabul.

“May God help him in serving the people of Afghanistan... I also pray that peace comes to our country,” she added.

The results had been delayed for nearly five months after allegations of vote-rigging from Ghani’s main rival, Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, forced a recount. The delay left Afghanistan facing a political crisis just as the US seeks a Ghani secures 2nd term as Afghan pres that the virus is stabilising, one of Wuhan’s most senior doctors has died after contracting the coronavirus.

Dr Liu Zhiming, president of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital in Hubei province died of the novel coronavirus pneumonia despite medical efforts to revive him, the state-run CCTV reported, the latest fatality among medical workers as they rush to save tens of thousands of patients at the epicenter of the outbreak. Liu was a leading neurosurgeon in Wuhan. Last Friday, the NHC said that a total of 1,716 medical workers had been confirmed contracting the infection. As of February 11, six medical workers were killed while treating patients. This included the whistleblower ophthalmologist, Dr Li Wenliang who was reprimanded by police for alerting about the virus over the social media in December.

Hu Bijie, a member of China’s top expert mission for medical treatment for COVID-19, told Global Times that most of the infections among medical staff occurred in the early stage of the epidemic, when people did not know the virus can be transmitted during the incubation period, and cheap and efficient test kits were not commonly used.

A postgraduate student, who requested anonymity and has interned at Wuhanbased Tongji Hospital’s infections department told the paper that the infection of medical staff was caused by carelessness in the early stage and was aggravated by a lack of medical supplies such as N95 masks, protective outfits and goggles. China’s top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan confirmed the people-to-people transmission on January 20. deal with the Taliban which would allow it to withdraw troops in return for various security guarantees and a promise that the militants would hold peace talks with the Afghan government.

If all goes well, then Ghani is likely to be the man sitting across from the Taliban at the negotiating table in a bid to chart Afghanistan’s future. Earlier this week, Abdullah’s team said they would not accept fraudulent results. Current vice-president Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful Uzbek former warlord and Abdullah’s ally, has also threatened to form a parallel government if fraudulent election results are announced.

Abdullah lost to Ghani in 2014 in a divisive election that saw the US intervene to broker an awkward powersharing deal between the two rivals. Ashraf Ghani (File)

Died on : 16-02-2020 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

KARACHI, FEB 18 (PTI): A mysterious toxic gas has killed at least 14 people and sickened several others in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, police said on Tuesday.

Authorities were alerted to the incident when the residents of Karachi’s Keamari area began rushing to nearby hospitals with severe breathing problems on Sunday night.

The source of a toxic gas leak remained unclear on Tuesday. Officials said 14 people have been killed so far, Dawn newspaper reported.

Ziauddin Hospital spokesperson Amir Shehzad told the newspaper that nine deaths took place at the hospital’s Keamari Campus over the course of the past two days. According to the police, two other deaths were reported at the Kutiyana Hospital.

Dozens of others have been hospitalised in various medical facilities across the city. “We are still clueless about the possible cause of the incident,” Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said.

Residents of the area protested in Keamari’s Jackson Market, demanding answers from authorities on the deaths that have been caused from the mysterious gas. Memon said that senior police officers in coordination with the doctors are trying to determine the exact nature of the incident.

Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani said that a ship that was offloading soybean or a similar substance could be the probable cause of the toxic gas. “When offloading from this ship is halted, the smell too diminishes,” he reasoned.

Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi rubbished the report that it was caused by a soybean ship as the crew and the vessel were fine. Israeli PMs’ trial to start Mar 17 JERUSALEM, FEB 18 (AGENCIES): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial will start on March 17, two weeks after Israel holds its third national election in less than a year, the Justice Ministry said on Tuesday. Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be charged with a crime, has denied any wrongdoing in the three corruption cases against him.

In addition to his legal battle, Netanyahu, who heads the right-wing Likud party, is fighting for his political life in a March 2 election, after inconclusive ballots in April and September. In a statement, the ministry said Netanyahu, in power for the past decade and Israel’s longest-serving leader, will be required to attend the Jerusalem District Court for the first session to hear an indictment against him. A three-judge panel will hear the case. Mysterious toxic gas kills 14 people in Pakistan

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the bereaved family members of Late K. Toholi Assumi (Tsaphimi Village) would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all who helped and supported us physically, financially and spiritually during her illness and thereafter at her sad demise.

We may not be able to repay your act of love and kindness, but it is our earnest prayer that our Almighty God will shower His blessing abundantly upon your lives. We convey our special thanks to : 1. Tsaphimi Baptist Church/ Women/ Youth Dept. 2. Tsaphimi Union Dimapur. 3. Tsaphimi Union Kohima. 4. Tsaphimi Student’s Union. 5. G.M.S Staff Tsaphimi. 6. Asukika Baptist Church. 7. Kitami Baptist Church/ Youth Dept. 8. Asukika Tokukujo Totimi Kuqhakulu. 9. Asukika Tokukujo Lothemi Kuposhukulu. 10. Shesulimi Baptist Church. 11. Police Baptist Church Dimapur/ Youth Dept./Prayer Group. 12. Chekiye Village Block ‘5’ Dimapur. 13. Dr. Scato Wotsa & Doctors/ Nurses Faith Hospital Dimapur. 14. Dr. Victo Wotsa. 15. Mr. Bohoto Zhimo & Family. 16. Rev. Akhato Achumi. We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every one individually. It is our humble prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly. LATE K. TOHOLI ASSUMI Born : 1934 – Died : 07/02/2020

DP-1265

Loving Husband, Children, Grandchildren In-Laws and Relatives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

K. Viheli Sema Proprietor, Mary Medical, Dimapur Women are considered to be a strong pillar in the family. A house becomes a home only with the presence of a strong woman. Because it is we, women, who can either strengthen the bond in a family or break it completely.

And here we are deeply shattered by the sudden demise of such a woman whom we love to call "Mom".

She was compassionate and had an amazing heart that knew how to love and forgive at the same time.

Mummy, thank you so much for your love. We pray that may your soul rest in peace till we meet again. We convey our special thanks to :- 1. Doctors & Staff of Zion Hospital & Research Centre. 2. Church Staff & Congregation of Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Diphupar. 3. Tsutoho Ghami Kukhakulu, Dimapur. 4. Satoi Range Public Union, Dimapur. 5. Kerala Samajam, Dimapur. 6. Relatives, Friends & Well-wishers. DP-1282

Loving husband, children, grandchildren & relatives

Thank You

September 16, 1942 – February 12, 2020

The family of Late T. Tali would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who offered us sympathy and support in every possible way during his illness until his eventual passing. Your presence has been a great source of strength, your prayers a well of hope and your kind words a gentle rub on our backs. Thank you for being there during this difficult time and making us feel that we are not alone. We may not be able to thank each and every one of you individually in this acknowledgment but please know that your names are imprinted in our hearts. Special thanks to the following organizations :

• Kangtsung Reongsanger Putu • Kangtsung Senso Mungdang • Kangtsung Baptist Arogo • Kangtsung Laishir • Merangkong Putu • Asangma Putu • Molungyimsen Putu • Wameken Putu • Anaki Putu • Tuli Town Ward Union • Tuli Town Baptist Arogo • Watsu Telen, Tuli

• Tzudikong Adhoc Town Committee • DCC, Mokokchung • Kangtsung Senso Union, Tuli • Dimapur Kangtsung Senso • Dimapur Wameken Union • East Dimapur Ao Baptist Church • Ao Community, Purana Bazaar • Zion Hospital; Doctors, Nurses, Staff and Management • Nagaland Democratic Progressive Party • Rajeshwari Karuna School, Tuli

MYK C Through this column we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, neighbours, organisation, friends and well wishers who stood by us physically, financially, morally and spiritually at the demise of our beloved Lt. Shuzü Mathew Rume, S/o Pfuluo Rume on 14 th Feb 2020. We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every one individually. Yet it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Loving wife, daughter, father, brother, sister and relatives K-476

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The family of Late Ms. Redila Alinglari wishes to convey our sincere gratitude to the relatives, friends, neighbours and wellwishers for the love, encouragement and support extended towards us during this time of loss and bereavement of our beloved.

Indeed, it has been a comforting blessing to each of us. God bless you all.

Sisters, Nephews, Nieces & In-laws DP-1261

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

DIED ON : 07-02-2020 We, the bereaved family of Lt. NINGTHOU PAME, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by us physically, financially, materially and spiritually throughout the prolonged illness and thereafter at his sad demise.

We convey our special thanks to : 1. Zeme Baptist Church Jalukie Town (ZBC). 2. Jalukie Town Christian Baptist Church (CBC). 3. Jalukie Town Prayer Centre. 4. Jalukie Town, High School Colony, Ward No : 3. 5. Samziuram Baptist Church (ZBCC). 6. Samziuram Presbyterian Church. 7. Mhaikam Baptist Church. 8. Manipur Ketang Nbeukam Baptist Church. 9. Manipur Ketang Nbeukam Council. 10. Nagaland Ketang Luibua Me.

We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every one personally; it is our sincere prayers that the Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

With lots of thanks and appreciation.

(Loving family members and relatives) (21-10-1998 to 11-02-2020) With profound gratitude, we the parents and family members of Late VIPIYE V AWOMI, who left for his heavenly abode on 11-02-2020 after a prolonged illness, would like to thank each and every one who stood by us through prayers and help throughout his illness until his demise.

We would like to thank : 1. Doctors and Nurses of CIHSR, Dimapur and NEIGRIMS, Shillong; 2. Satami Union, Zunheboto, Kohima and Dimapur; 3. Sumi Baptist Church Eralibill, Dimapur; 4. SBCZ (Nito Mount) and Alahuto Prayer Fellowship; and 5. Students of Patkai Christian College, Sumi Students’ Union, PCC and the youth of Naharbari.

We deeply regret and apologise for our inability to thank each and every one of you individually, but we fervently pray that the Almighty God bless each and every one of you abundantly.

V. Unbeatable was crowned the Season 2 champion during Monday’s two-hour season finale after six weeks of competing against the 40 “greatest acts in the world,” as judge Simon Cowell said. V. Unbeatable, which is composed of 29 dancers from Mumbai, India, first appeared on “America’s Got Talent” in 2019, winning a Golden Buzzer from guest judge Dwyane Wade, the husband of former judge Gabrielle Union. The group came in fourth place last year, but this time around, V. Unbeatable hoisted the trophy in the end.

The acrobatic dance group has the superfans to thank. In the “Champions” format, a panel of pre-selected fans from 50 states vote to determine the winner.

According to host Terry Crews, the superfans represent “every aspect of America – young and old, East coast, West coast, from the plains to the mountains to the islands.”

When the votes were tallied, acrobats Duo Transcend finished in second place; violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa came in third; singer Marcelito Pomoy came in fourth place and acrobats Sandou Trio Russian Bar in fifth.

The Top 10 was rounded out by singer Angelina Jordan, shadow dance group Silhouettes, dog tricks act Alexa Lauenburger, dance group Boogie Storm and accordionist Hans, who finally made up with Cowell.

“Simon … I don’t want to leave on bad terms. Can I have a hug?” Hans

Ateam of scientists from the University of Minnesota have created a working dictionary of more than 1,500 unique dance moves used by bees to communicate with each other. The list was compiled as part of a larger study into how land managers might prepare natural habitats to be more accommodating to bees, whose populations have been in rapid decline in recent years.

The team, led by University of Minnesota’s Morgan Carr-Markell, brought two large bee colonies to two different sites in Minnesota where previously developed land had been reconverted into prairieland with a mix of native and non-native plants. Researchers in Minnesota observed two different colonies of bees using more than 1,500 different ‘waggle’ dance moves to communicate with each other while flying in formation

The team originally wanted to study how bees reacted to different types of pollen sources to help guide land managers to an 1,500 dance moves that bees use to communicate optimal mix of plants to support new bee populations.

As they observed the bees moving across the landscape they began to notice some unusual behavior, what the team described as ‘waggle dances,’ according to a report in Newsweek. These waggle dances were used when groups of bees were flying outside of the hive, typically in a figure-eight formation. The waggles were used to communicate with other members of the formation, indicating a range of information, including where to turn, the direction of the nearest pollen source, how far away it is, and how generally valuable to view the plant’s pollen. In all, the team cataloged 1,528 unique waggle dance motions, showing an unexpectedly complex and nuanced communication system among the two bee colonies.

The bees were able to communicate a range of information just by shaking their rears, including indicating when to turn, how far away a source of pollen was, and what general quality the pollen source would be ‘The thing I think is the most interesting about bees is their communication,’ Carr-Markell said.

‘So I wanted to be able to use that to help land managers who are interested in planting for bees, and give them on-theground information.’ By analyzing the bee’s communications, the team was able to show that the bees were most attracted to plants that were native to the surrounding Minnesota prairies.

By tracking the bees movements and communications, the team was able to demonstrate they preferred pollen sources that were native to the prairie and not newer non-native plant species.

They found the most highly prized pollen plants were indigenous to the prairies, including goldenrods and prairie clovers.

Meanwhile, areas of the prairie populated by non-indigenous plants tended to be evaluated as slightly lower priority targets by the bees.

‘Our results suggest that including certain native prairie [flowers] in reconstructed prairies may increase the chances that colonies will use those prairies as major food sources during the period of greatest colony growth and honey production,’ the study says. (Michael Thomsen for Dailymail.Com)

Billie Eilish has revealed that she has s t o p p e d r e a d i n g comments posted on her Instagram account. Speaking to the BBC in a new interview, the singer and brother Finneas O’Connell discussed how they crafted the new Bond theme ‘No Time To Die’.

When asked by presenter Louise Minchin if she “still reads everything on Instagram”, Eilish said she recently stopped reading comments on the social media site. “It was ruining my life once again”, she said. Finneas added: “I think you might see someone like a famous celebrity and you may think, ‘Sticks and stones, nothing I say is going to be potent to them… but it’s all very equal online.” When Minchin suggested that Instagram comments can still “hurt” despite overwhelming success, Eilish replied: “It’s worse, its way worse than it’s ever been right now.”

In the same interview, the pair revealed they wrote ‘No Time to Die’ in just three days while in the middle of a US tour.

“From real sort of, start of like, the first thing that actually ended up making it on the song, about three days,” Finneas said.

We wrote and recorded the Bond song on a tour bus in Texas. Once we were, sort of, really sitting down to write it, we did go re-listen to everything. He added: “We really wanted to make sure that we weren’t making something that just felt like we were copying other great songs.” Reviewing Eilish’s Bond effort, NME wrote: “Taking the understated road means that ‘No Time to Die’ is unlikely to be remembered as a top tier Bond theme in years to come; you also can’t help but wonder how an alternate version – channeling all of the artist’s unmistakable Eilish-isms – may have sounded.

(NME) Billie Eilish has stopped reading Instagram

said after his elimination. Cowell agreed and the two hugged out years of hilarious differences.

The two-hour season finale felt like a concert, with more than a dozen guest performances and post-competition duets of Top 10 and former competitors.

KISS opened the starstudded finale results show with a high-energy performance of “Rock & Roll All Nite,” which featured a good old-fashioned guitar smashing at the end.

V. Unbeatable delivered another high-energy performance filled with unbelievable flips and stunts as Blink-182’s Travis Barker played the drums behind them, while finalists Hans, Duo Transcend, Pomoy, Boogie Storm and Sandou Trio Russian Bar joined together for a performance to Queen’s “We Are The Champions.” (MSN)

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Famously Marilyn Monroe’s bedtime ensemble of choice, a new screen siren is flying the flag for Chanel’s No5: Marion Cotillard. It’s the first time the actor and icon of insouciant French chic has lent her face to a fragrance—and what a match they make.

Just like the perfume—itself an institution in the fragrance world and beyond—Cotillard is an award-winner, having scooped an Oscar and a Golden Globe over the course of a career that has seen her work with some of the industry’s most feted directors, from Christopher Nolan to Ridley Scott. Now, she will turn her talents to a new Chanel campaign, set to be unveiled later in the year.

“The perfect incarnation of French natural

beauty, Marion Cotillard has an irresistible ‘je ne sais quoi’ that’s all her own,” a spokesperson for the brand said. “She is bringing her elegance to the image of the iconic No5 fragrance.”

Having worn Chanel for many a red-carpet premiere—including that of the film that won her the Best Actress Oscar, La Vie en Rose—Cotillard’s new role marks the latest chapter in her Chanel story.

(Vogue)

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L O N D O N, F E B 1 8 (AGENCIES): Manchester United threw open the race for the final Champions League qualification spots in the Premier League by beating fourth-place Chelsea 2-0 thanks to headers by Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire on Monday.

With 12 games remaining, seven points separate Chelsea and 11th-place Burnley, with the team finishing fifth also set to earn a place in next season’s Champions League following UEFA’s decision to punish Man City for serious breaches of financial regulations by handing the English champions a twoyear European ban.

Martial glanced in a header off a right-wing cross by Aaron Wan-Bissaka to give United the lead in the 45th minute at Stamford Bridge, before Maguire planted home a corner from January signing Bruno Fernandes in the 66th.

Maguire, United’s captain, was perhaps fortunate to still be on the field, with the match officials opting not to punish the England defender for appearing to kick out at Michy Batshuayi after tumbling off the playing surface in front of the dugouts.

‘’I know I caught him but I felt like he was going to fall on me and the natural reaction was to straighten my leg so that if he was to fall on me, to hold him up,’’ Maguire said. ‘’It probably looks worse than it was.

‘’I did catch him ... but I knew at the time I had no intent to hurt him or kick him.’’

Chelsea was on the wrong end of two other decisions by VAR, firstly disallowing a volleyed goal by Kurt Zouma in the 56th because of a push by Cesar Azpilicueta on United left back Brandon Williams. Azpilicueta seemed to have been pushed a split-second earlier by Fred.

Then, with 13 minutes to go, substitute Olivier Giroud had a goal ruled out by VAR for a tight offside, leaving Chelsea manager Frank Lampard looking thoroughly glum as he sat in his technical area.

Chelsea has long been in fourth place, but has only won three of its last 11 games in the league to give a slew of rivals clubs hope of catching up.

One of them is United, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (C) reacts with Cesar Azpilicueta (R) during the EPL match at Stamford Bridge in London on Monday. (AP/PTI)

FATORDA, FEB 18 (IANS): Churchill Brothers will be taking on Real Kashmir with third place in mind, in the I-League at the Fatorda Stadium here on Wednesday.

Churchill Brothers are currently placed fifth on the I-League table with sixteen points, while Kashmir are a point behind in seventh position. A win for either side will see them rise to third place on the standings.

A stoppage-time victory over Aizawl has served as a huge boost in morale for Churchill, in stark contrast to their preceding outing against Chennai City where the two-time I-League champions were on the receiving end of a stoppage-time knockout at the hands of the reigning kingpins. This has been the story of Churchill’s season, with inconsistency costing them gravely on occasions.

“The team has been playing well, with good offensive football where we have managed to create many goal-scoring opportunities but unfortunately, we have also squandered a lot of chances and then the opponents have capitalised and gone on to score. This has been the story of our last few games,” said Bernardo Tavares, head coach, Churchill Brothers FC.

Real Kashmir, on the other hand, were on course to weave a victorious streak but their three-game winning run came to a screeching halt against fellow-title hopefuls Punjab FC, with the home side winning 1-0 in Ludhiana. I-League: Churchill, Real Kashmir face off with 3rd place on line

KOHIMA LOTHA NZONTSU SANRHYU

Tsüngon: 22 nd Nri (Feb) 2020 Yuta: 10:30 am Meta: Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho, AMK Building Near NSF Office.

FIRST SESSION Nsanpüvi 1. Shompo Y Patton, Hon’ble Dy. Chief Minister, Nagaland 2. Shompo Mmhonlumo Kikon, Hon’ble MLA & Advisor, Nagaland 3. Shompo Mhathung Yanthan, Hon’ble MLA & Advisor, Nagaland 4. Dr. Chumben Murry, Hon’ble MLA, Nagaland 5. Shompo M. Patton, IAS, Commissioner Nagaland 6. Er. Mhondamo Ovung, Chairman Lotha Hoho, Hq. Wokha. 7. Shompo Y L Jami, IAS (Rtd), Chairman, Dimapur Lotha Hoho. SECOND SESSION Nsanpüvi 1. Shompo T. Mhabemo Yanthan (IAS), Commissioner & Secy to Governor, Nagaland & President LOA 2. Shompo Y. Sacheo Ovung, Director, Economics & Statistics, Nagaland. 3. Dr. Apeni Lotha, Addl Director (HOD), Higher Education, Nagaland.

Lhishüp esae ethan mying chiang tüngsosüv Mmhaka randan : Rev. Mhathung Lotha, Sr. Pastor, KLBC

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which climbed to seventh place with this win - three points behind Chelsea and two adrift of fifth-place Tottenham.

‘’This season, we have been far too inconsistent,’’ Maguire said. ‘’We have won at Manchester City, beat Chelsea at home, got a point against Liverpool, but we have let ourselves down against the teams where the pressure is on to break them down.’’

Injury problems are starting to bite at Chelsea, too. Top scorer Tammy Abraham and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi missed the game because of injury, while central midfielder N’Golo Kante lasted 11 minutes before hobbling off. Center back Andreas Christensen didn’t come out for the second half after sustaining a knock to the head late in the first period, just before Martial beat the Denmark defender to a header for the first goal.

Lampard’s main gripe, though, was his team’s failure to finish off chances once again. Batshuayi was the biggest culprit, spurning two great chances in the first half in his first start in the league this season.

‘’We are fourth because of some of the good stuff we’ve done and because of the nature of the league, everyone taking points off each other,’’ Lampard said. DIMAPUR, FEB 18 (NPN): The second edition of Nagaland Premier Badminton League, 2020 would be held from at the Indoor Badminton Stadium, Officers’ Hill, Kohima from May 6-8, 2020.

Nagaland Badminton Club, Kohima has informed that in the first edition of the League held in 2019, six teams vied for the top honours with Shuttle Rockers emerging as the Champions and Kohima Smashers ending runners up.

The organizers have informed that registration of old and new teams was now open and interested parties/Clubs could make enquiries or register their teams by contacting the following persons:

J o s e p h S u m i (7005684949), Azo Solo (9436830111) and Seyiekrol (9089757939).

Sekrenyi Open Air Rifle Shooting

KO H I M A , F E B 1 8 (NPN): Third Sekrenyi Open Air Rifle Shooting Competition 2020 would take place on February 19 at 12noon at T. Khel Ground, Kohima Village. The event would be held under the aegis of Kohima Air Rifle Club and T.Khel Peli Union.

KUKUSU

(6th from L) DC Wokha Orenthung Patton along with college faculty members during launching of sports week at MTC.)

DIMAPUR, FEB 18 (NPN): The deputy commissioner (DC) Wokha, Orenthung Patton, who is also the chairman of advisory board of Mount Tiyi College (MTC) Wokha, launched the annual sports week of the college on January 29, 2020.

A press release from MTC sports committee assistant professor & convenor, Renthungo Patton stated that the three-day event was conducted on the theme “Play like a champion”. The sports week was held at the college campus which is equipped with necessary sports infrastructure facilities. The four houses, namely Rainbow Warriors, Scarlet Raptors, Sea Lions and Screaming Eagles competed in football, basketball, volleyball, penalty shootout, tug-of-war, table tennis, long jump, relay race, etc.

The closing ceremony was graced by Dr. P. Chanchibemo Shitio, press secretary to Y. Patton, deputy chief minister, Nagaland. Dr. Shitio distributed the prizes and certificates to the winners. The Rainbow Warriors bagged the overall championship. MTC sports committee observed an overall improvement in the performance of the players from the past years and plans to introduce additional games and sports activities in the days ahead.

UNGMA SENSO TELONGJEM, KOHIMA FELICITATION Ungma Senso Telongjem, Kohima proudly extends our sincere and deepest appreciation to the following under mentioned for bringing laurels to our village: 1. Dr. S.C. Jamir, former Chief Minister of Nagaland and former Governor of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Odisha for being awarded the Padma Bhushan 2020 for his contributions in Public Affairs. 2. Shri. Sharingain Longkumer on being elected as the Speaker of the 13 th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. 3. Mr. Talilepden Longkumer for clearing the Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination, 2019 conducted by UPSC. We wish you all success and greater achievements in your future endeavors. Sd/- Sd/- Kikamanen Jamir Nungshipokba President, USTK General Secretary, USTK K-472

KUQHAKULU LO KIHIKUSUMI KUMTSU AHOKULUSHI KUTUPOTSU PENIKA ALOKIVISHI KUSU ANI.

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TATA TRUSTS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (CoE) IN FOOTBALL, AIZAWL, MIZORAM TRIAL FOR SELECTION OF STUDENT ATHELETES IN COLLABORATION WITH NAGALAND FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (NFA) The Centre invites talented football players (boys) in Nagaland to come and participate in the trial for selection of students for its Centre of Excellence in Aizawl. The Centre is equipped with modern facilities and gives equal focus to academics and football. In a short period of one and half years the Centre has produced 4 players for the Indian National Camp in the U-16 age group. The residential programme will commence in the month of April 2020. Details of the trials to be held in Kohima are below: Trial date : February 28, 2020 Venue : Indira Gandhi Stadium, Meriema, Kohima, Nagaland Time : 9:00 am onwards Age Group : Under 15 (Born on 2006 & 2007) *Players are requested to bring their own boots, jerseys and shorts *Transportation and accommodation to be borne by the participants

Documents to bring to the trial: 1. Birth Certificate (Original and one photocopy) 2. Aadhaar Card (Optional) 3. School ID Card (Compulsory): Original and one photocopy For further information contact:

NEIDA | NBCC Office Building | First Floor (Road Level) Lower Bayavu | Kohima 797001 | Nagaland | India Contact Number: 0370 2260197 | 9378124909 (Between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm)

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ABOI DISTRICT DEMAND COMMITTEE MON : NAGALAND PRESS RELEASE The nominating committee of Aboi District Demand Committee (ADDC) elected its new office bearers for the session 2020-2023, during the consultative meeting as appended below:

1. Convenor : Shri C Manpon Konyak

2. Working Convenor : Shri Manlem Konyak 3. Co-Convenor (By Designation) : President KU Aboi Unit

4. General Secretary : Shri Maopong Konyak 5. Secretary : Shri Eshah Konyak

6. Secretary : Shri Bujok Konyak

7. Secretary : Shri Y Hongshai Konyak 8. Press Secretary : Shri W Langwang Angh

9. Finance Secretary : Shri S Manpong Konyak

10.Treasurer & Special Secretary to Convenor : Shri Wangka Konyak

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Sd/- (W Langwang Angh) Press Secretary

NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (IANS): The stage is set for the future stars of women’s football as the match schedule and host cities for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 were unveiled by FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Tuesday, alongside the Official Slogan for the tournament.

With only 258 days to go until the action gets underway, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Kolkata and Navi Mumbai have been confirmed as the five host cities for the tournament.

Sixteen teams featuring the rising stars of women’s football will compete across 32 matches to lift the coveted trophy in Navi Mumbai on November 21.

Following the launch of the Official Emblem in November 2019, the unveiling of the five host cities and the match schedule marks a major milestone for the tournament as fans in the host cities and across India prepare to welcome the future stars and heroes of women’s football.

Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs (I/C) Shri Kiren Rijiju said: “It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate the five cities hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020. As India prepares to host yet another FIFA event, I look forward to the support from the whole country in making this tournament a rousing success. Our Indian U-17 women’s team will be playing in a FIFA tournament for the first time. It is a proud moment for the nation and we will provide all possible support to ensure its success.”

In another significant announcement, the Official Slogan - Kick Off The Dream - was also unveiled in the national capital. Sarai Bareman, FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, said: “Today’s announcement of the match schedule, host cities and Official Slogan for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 represents a major moment for the tournament and football fans across India and around the world.”

Praful Patel, LOC Chairman and FIFA Council member, added: “The announcement of the match schedule is an important moment on the road to the tournament as we not only know which cities will host what number of matches, but fans too can start saving the dates for this November. I am confident that the five host cities will do a wonderful job hosting the best young footballers in this important tournament.”

Roberto Grassi, FIFA Head of Youth Tournaments, said: “With five host cities and 16 teams playing across 32 matches, the stage is set for the rising stars at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020. Tournament preparations are well underway and approaching their final stages, and we are excited to work closely with the LOC to bring the tournament to life.”

Roma Khanna, LOC Tournament Director added: “This is the first time that an Indian women’s team will take part in a FIFA World Cup. It is a significant moment for women’s sport in the country, and in recognition of the excitement, and the hope that this Tournament brings with itself, ‘Kick Off The Dream’ was the most fitting choice as the Slogan for us and we hope to kickstart the growth of women’s football in the nation and ask everyone to join us to realise this dream”.

Group-stage matches will be played in four host cities (Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati and Kolkata), with the knockout stages also taking place in four cities (Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Navi Mumbai). The winners will lift the trophy at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 21.

The key dates for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 include: Opening match - November 2; Quarter-finals - November 12 and 13; Semi-finals - November 17 and 3rd/4thplace playoff & final - November 21. Stage set for FIFA U-17 Women’s WC Correspondent KOHIMA, Feb 18 (NPN): Reigning champion Venuzo Dawhuo defeated former champion Vevohu Swuro in the final bout to retain the title of the 27th wrestling tournament of Chakhesang Wrestling Association at Phek Town on Tuesday.

The two-day wrestling meet was hosted by Phek Area Wrestling Association and managed by Losami Baptist Church.

Standing 5:10 feet tall and weighting 97 kg, the 24-year-old Dawhuo hails from Thenyizu village representing Chokri Area Wrestling Association (CAWA).

29-year-old Vevohu Swuro (CAWA) also from Thenyizu village stands 6:1 feet tall and weighting 110kg.

In the final, Venuzo Dawhuo won the first bout, however, Vevohu Swuro had to retire due to injury handing the title to Venuzo Dawhuo.

Pfüsato Tetseo representing CAWA in third position and Vekutho Soho representing Phek Area Wrestling Association in fourth position respectively. Vekutho Soho lost against Vevohu Swuro, while Pfusato Tetseo lost against Venuzo Dawhuo in the semifinal round. While former champion Vechita Khesoh lost against Vekutho Soho in the quarterfinal round.

The champion walked home with a cash prize of Rs.150,000 along with the champion belt wrestling introduced by the family members of Lt. Chosanyi Rose. The runner up received Rs. 1 lakh. The third and fourth position received Rs. 80,000 and Rs.50,000 respectively. The losing quarterfinalists were Reka Mero, Besuhveto Cümu, Vechita Khesoh, Hukhoneiyi Chuzho. Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the wrestling meet, NPF legislator Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu encouraged the wrestlers and said “Since (we) Nagas really love wrestling, the wrestlers should also lead an exemplary life and inspire the youngsters.”

Further, he encouraged the Naga wrestlers to venture out in the areas of Ultimate fighting Championship (UFC), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Arm Wrestling and others stating its scope and the rewards that can change a person’s life.

The Under-16 wrestling championship would be held on Wednesday. Dawhuo wins Chakhesang wrestling title Venuzo Dawhuo and the top three winners along with the organisers at Phek Town on Tuesday. (NP) Kiren Rijiju and others during the announcement and launch of official slogan for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI)

Sunil wins gold in Wrestling C’ships Tendulkar receives best Laureus sporting moment

BERLIN, FEB 18 (PTI): Batting great Sachin Tendulkar being carried on the shoulders of his teammates after India’s World Cup triumph at home in 2011 was voted the Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years.

With the backing of Indian cricket fans, Tendulkar got the maximum number of votes to emerge winner on Monday.

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Tendulkar after tennis legend Boris Becker announced the winner at a glittering ceremony.

“It’s incredible. The feeling of winning the world cup was beyond what words can express. How many times you get an event happening where there are no mixed opinions. Very rarely the entire country celebrates,” Tendulkar said after receiving the trophy. “And this is a reminder of how powerful a sport is and what magic it does to our lives. Even now when I watch that it has stayed with me.”

Tendulkar, competing NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (PTI): Sunil Kumar on Tuesday overpowered AzatSalidinov of Kyrgyzstan 5-0 in the 87kg summit bout to win India's first Greco-Roman gold medal in Asian Wrestling Championships in 27 years.

Entering the gold medal bout after a comefrom-behind victory in the semifinal, Kumar comprehensively defeated his opponent in the final of 87kg category at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium here.

Earlier, Kumar was down 1-8 in his semifinal bout against his Kazakh opponent AzamatKustubayev but made a great comeback, grabbing 11 points on the trot to win the bout at 12-8.

In 2019 also, Kumar had made it to the final and ended with a silver medal. Another Indian, ArjunHalakurki won a bronze in Greco-Roman 55kg, his first medal at his first senior international event.

Arjun was leading 7-1 against Iran's Naserpour but lost 7-8 in the semifinal.

Earlier in the day, Arjun Halakurki (55kg) lost his semi-final bout from a winning position as the scoreline read 7-8 against Iran’s Pouya Mohammad Naserpour. Arjun will now be playing against Korea’s Donghyeok won in the bronze medal playoff. Sunil Kumar celebrates after his win during the Asian Wrestling Championship 2020, in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI)

in his sixth and last World Cup, finally realised his long-cherished dream when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara out of the park for a winning six.

The charged-up Indian cricketers rushed to the ground at the Wankhede Stadium and soon they lifted Tendulkar on their shoulders and made a lap of honour, a moment etched in the minds of the fans.

Tendulkar put in perspective how important it was for him to hold that trophy when Becker asked him to share the emotions he felt at that time. “My journey started in 1983 when I was 10 years old. India had won the World Cup. I did not understand the significance and just because everybody was celebrating, I also joined the party,” he said.

“But somewhere I knew something special has happened to the country and I wanted to experience it one day and that’s how my journey began.

“It was the proudest moment of my life, holding that trophy which I chased for 22 years but I never lost hope. I was merely lifting that trophy on behalf of my countrymen.”

The 46-year-old Tendulkar, the highest rungetter in the cricket world, said holding the Laureus trophy has also given him great honour.

He also shared the impact the revolutionary South African leader Nelson Mandela had on him. Tendulkar met him when he was just 19 years old.

India skipper Virat Kohli, who was part of the 2011 World cup winning team, also congratulated Tendulkar.

“Congratulations Sachin paaji on being honoured with the prestigious Laureus Sporting Moment Award. A great achievement and a proud moment for our nation. @BCCI @ sachin_rt,” Kohli wrote on his twitter handle. Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar arrives for the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, Germany, Monday. (AP/PTI)

SYDNEY, FEB 18 (IANS): Australia’s Ash Barty remains at the top of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released on Tuesday, despite going down in the semifinals of the Australian Open last month.

After claiming the Adelaide International title in January, the 23-year-old was then knocked out of the final four in the Australian Open suffering a 7-6, 7-5 defeat against American Sofia Kenin who ultimately won the tournament.

Despite the loss, Barty has retained her number one status, while Sofia who went on to defeat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the final, surged up to seventh place.

Romania’s Simona Halep has held on to second spot, followed by Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. Canada’s Bianca Andreescu rounded out the top five places.

Meanwhile, former world number one from Japan Naomi Osaka dropped to 10th position, while 23- time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams is at the ninth spot. JAMSHEDPUR, FEB 18 (IANS): FC Goa have a shot at history when they take on Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League tie at the JRD Tata Sports Complex here on Wednesday.

Goa, who are three points clear at the top of the table, know that just a point against the Men of Steel is enough for them to clinch the top spot in the Indian Super League. If they manage to do that, Goa will become the first team from India to play in the group stages of the AFC Champions League. However, if they lose this match, ATK will have a chance of stealing the top spot by winning their final game against Bengaluru FC.

Clifford Miranda's team have been full value for their position in the table, scoring a massive 41 goals in 17 matches. If they can score two more goals, it will better their own league stage record from the 2017- 18 season when they scored 42 goals.

"From the beginning, the club had some objectives and one of them was to top the league. If we HC sets aside election of AICF office-bearers CHENNAI, FEB 18 (PTI): The Madras High Court on Tuesday set aside the election of five office-bearers of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and asked the Returning Officer (RO) to convene a Special General Body Meeting for conduct of fresh elections.

A Division Bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Krishnan Ramasamy gave its order on a petition filed by the P R Venketrama Raja faction against the rejection of their nomination papers for the elections for the Federation officer-bearers by the RO, former Supreme Court judge, Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla.

Kalifulla had on February 11 declared as elected Ajay Patel (President), Bharat Singh Chauhan (Secretary) and three others for various posts for the period 2020-2023.

The other three were Naresh Sharma (Treasurer), M Arun Singh (Joint Secretary) and Vipnesh Bharadwaj (Vice-President). Barty remains No. 1 despite loss at Aus Open One point separates Goa and history in Jamshedpur get a result from tomorrow's (Wednesday) game, one of our objectives will be achieved - to top the league and play in the AFC Champions League," said Miranda.

Despite the exit of Sergio Lobera, Goa have not lost their focus and have won both their games since. They will be supremely confident of another victory against a struggling Jamshedpur FC.

Ferran Corominas and Hugo Boumous have been integral to Goa's march to the top. The Spaniard has 13 goals to his name and will be looking to add more to his tally while Boumous has been the creative head. The French star has contributed seven assists along with nine goals and has set the league on fire.

Stopping the duo will be hard work for Jamshedpur FC's struggling defence which last kept a clean sheet 12 matches ago.

"Obviously it was the worst season. We have had problems. Football is about making fast decisions and fixing things. Hopefully, the learnings from this season will help the club to prepare better for the next season. Everyone must take responsibility and think for the betterment of the club," said Jamshedpur coach Antonio Iriondo.

The Spaniard's charges are on a five-game winless run and are mired in the eighth position with just 18 points from 17 games. The Men of Steel will be desperate to end the season on a positive note with a win. The likes of Sergio Castel and Noe Acosta have to be on top of their game upfront while the defence will have the onus of stopping a pacy Goa attack.

In what might come as a relief for Jamshedpur, midfielder Brandon Fernandes and right-back Seriton Fernandes are both suspended.

Iriondo will hope to make the most of the absence of two key players and recreate the defeat (1-0) they inflicted on Goa in the reverse fixture.

The main story though will be whether Goa can clinch that historic top spot on Wednesday night. FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC players in action during the Indian Super League. (File) Ash Barty