KOHIMA, Jan 30 ? Incidence of HIV infection among intravenous drug users (IVDU) has registered a declining trend but the ante-natal cases and the spread of the dreaded disease through sex is on the rise in Nagaland, the sixth most-affected state by HIV/AIDS in the country. The incidence of HIV infection among drug users appears to be reducing due to greater awareness and targeted intervention projects carried out by NGOs and Nagaland AIDS Control Society, state chapter of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for the past couple of years, according to official sources here.

Although...

DHAKA, Jan 30 ? Amid allegation by Bangladesh that India has amassed hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims at the border to push them into its territory, Dhaka has proposed a meeting between border security officials of the two countries to reduce tensions and sounded a red alert on its side, reports PTI.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) proposed a flag meeting with Border Security force (BSF) officials yesterday and were awaiting the Indian response, official sources said, adding BDR has been instructed to be on high alert. Bangladesh Government has also asked India ?to take necessary steps at the...

GUWAHATI, Jan 30 ? The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will create 2.5 lakh jobs for the people of the NE region in the Tenth Five Year Plan period, its chairman Dr Mahesh Sharma said here today. Dr Sharma, straight from the two-day 513th meeting of the KVIC that ended at Itanagar yesterday, addressing a press conference. Most of these jobs targeted at, will be created in the village industry sector, he said, adding, the Commission has earmarked a fund of Rs 550 crore for the purpose. However, the accomplishment of the task will need an amount of Rs 1,000 crore, according to a...

NEW DELHI, Jan 30 ? Amidst mixed reactions over his appointment as the Union Minister in-charge for Department of Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER), Dr CP Thakur has offered his services to mediate with the underground outfits, even as he emphasized the need to complete ongoing projects in the Region.

The unexpected shifting of Arun Shourie from DONER and his replacement by Dr Thakur has caught all by surprise here. Sri Shourie?s understanding of the complex problems facing the region and a close rapport with all section of the political leadership were among many advantages...

GUWAHATI, Jan 30? The All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani and the All Koch Rajbongshi Students? Union have called upon the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to take immediate steps to include Kochi Rajbongshi community in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Sanmilani and the Students? Union said that the Koch Rajbongshi community fulfils all the criteria required for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes but unfortunately, the community was not included in the Comprehensive Revision Bill for SC and ST, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August...