DIMAPUR, Dec 11 ? World War II Museum will be the added attraction to the newly established ?Naga Heritage Village? at Kisama, situated some 12 Kms away from the state capital in between Phesama and Kigwema on the National Highway 39. ?The site, in a short span of time has been able to find a place in the tourist map of not only the country but of the whole world.

The success story of this year?s Hornbill Festival, which has, since last four years became an annual event in the calendar of Nagaland Government, organized at the site, has given it the desired recognition. ?Let it be in its...

GUWAHATI, Dec 11 ? At long last some respite seems to be in hand for the Deepar beel, a wetland of utmost importance for the city and a Ramsar site that has so far been only a victim of the wanton destruction perpetrated by humans on nature. The Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and the Kamrup district administration have embarked on an ambitious project aimed at injecting a fresh lease of life to the beel, where encroachment and heavy siltation have taken a heavy toll. Once spreading over a sprawling area of 41 sq km, the beel now covers just 4.14 sq km and its depth...

Silchar, Dec. 11: The Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC)-Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) combine has ruled out the possibility of aligning with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) even if it is offered a stake in the government. The statement follows reports about chief minister Zoramthanga toying with the idea of forming a coalition to lend stability to his government.

MPC president Lalhmingthanga said over phone last night from Aizawl that the priority of the combine was to consolidate the alliance and find a meeting ground with the Congress ?to stall further inroads by the MNF?.

Leaders of...

HAILAKANDI, Dec 11 ? The five-day long traditional Gaan-Ngai festival of Rongmei Naga people and subsequently the golden jubilee celebration of their settlement in Pantiluang village of Hailakandi concluded recently. Social Welfare Minister Gautam Roy inaugurated it in a colourful function. It may be mentioned that the Gaan-Ngai is the biggest festival of Rongmei Nagas, the Kindred tribe of Zeliangrong Nagas of assam, Manipur and Nagaland. Certain delightful legends surround the origin of the festival. Moreover the festival is characterized by the religious workshop, offering rites and rituals...

Dibrugarh, Dec. 11: Elephant menace is sending people in the rural areas of Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh scurrying for shelter. Altogether 22 families are taking shelter in Kathallbam L.P. School in Larua Mouza under Moran Assembly constituency to protect themselves from the wild elephants.

According to the villagers, the elephants have destroyed standing crops worth lakhs in 50 villages. The tuskers have come from the nearby Medela reserve forest. They said nearly 100 wild elephants, which have been destroying crops this year, have razed about 40 huts.

?We start preparing...