Feb. 26: Life expectancy at birth in Assam is below the national average and is one of the lowest among major Indian states. This is only a fragment of the dismal picture that was brought out in the first-ever human development report of Assam, which was released today.

The report also says a high proportion of persons over 60 years continues to participate in the workforce. Two out of every three men over the age of 60 years have to work. ?This reflects society?s inability to allow people, specially the poor, to retire. Low incomes and no savings for many people mean that they have to...

Shillong, Feb. 26: A Meghalaya customs official, released from militant custody recently, has provided police with valuable information on links between rebels of the Northeast and Bangladesh army personnel.

L.H. Faihrem, who was released by the banned Achik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) on February 19 after months in captivity, said during interrogation that the militants had kept him in a hideout in Bangladesh, senior police officials said.

A senior police official, in charge of investigating the case, said Faihrem had also...

Touphema, Feb. 26: She came to buy jewellery all the way from Austria ? only to find the better bargain is back home. Brigitta Prokoff, a jewellery collector from Vienna, has always taken a special interest in the gem-studded ornaments of Nagaland.

However, only when she and her friends visited the state in the hope of finding exquisite and original Naga jewellery, they realised that the best of the genre is available back home.

?I found that the best and the original has been taken away by the dealers to either Delhi or Austria,? she said. Naga jewellery, a typical combination of gems and...

Kohima/Dimapur, Feb. 26: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is once again on the verge of skidding on an oil slick of controversy in Nagaland. A powerful tribal organisation has put its foot down on exploration plans by the oil and gas major, accusing it of deception.

The Lotha Hoho, representing the Lotha tribe that dominates Wokha district, said the company had not fulfilled its promises and so would not be allowed to set foot in the district, said to have substantial oil reserves. ONGC had earlier carried out exploration in Wokha.

?The ONGC did not live up to its word,? Hoho...

New Delhi, Feb. 25: Purno A. Sangma has finally cleared the air on his links with militants. The Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker came out strongly last night against allegations that sought to identify him closely with the banned Garo organisation.

The A?chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) had openly declared its support to the Tura MP, reportedly asking people to vote for him, and lauded his ability as a political leader. ?There is no verification of the statements issued by the ANVC. That it has asked the people to vote in my favour has not been verified...