IMPHAL, Jan 20 ? Prominent theatre director Ratan Thiyam?s Chorus Repertory theatre, one of the premier theatre groups in North East India the firstever Asian Theatre Festival ? 2003. The theatre festival began from January 11 and featured a feast of plays performed by five internationally established theatre groups including the ?Black Tent Theatre? of Japan, ?Veitnam National Theatre? of Vietnam, ?Mebuyan Peace Project? of Philipines, ?Nandikar? of Kolkata and ?Chorus Repertory Theatre? of Manipur. The groups staged their plays at the Shrine, the playhouse of the Chorus.

Taking part in a...

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 ? Negotiations between the Government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) has run into a rough weather, with the Bodo militant outfit striking an adamant stand on reservation of seats for non-Bodos, forcing the Centre to extend the ceasefire pact for another month. The tension was writ large on the face of Bodo leaders as the peace negotiations with the Government is on the verge of collapse, with both Assam Government too refusing to budge from its stand on reservation of 10 seats for non-Bodos.

The tripartite talks among the BLT, Central and Assam Government was held...

GUWAHATI, Jan 20 ? The passengers of the 5960 Dn Dibrugarh-Guwahati-Howarah Kamrup Express had a close shave when suspected anti-talk UPDS ultras triggered a blast on the track between Diphu and Nailalung in Karbi Anglong at around 1-40 am today derailing the engine and three coaches of the train. The Chief Public Relation Officer (CRPO) of the NF Railway, Leena Sharma informed that nobody was injured in the mishap although the blast created a crater of 2 metre long, 1.5 metre wide and one metre deep on the track.

The passengers of the 19-coach train were saved because two of the coaches...

DIYUN (Changlang) Jan 20 : Arunachal?s minister for Information & Public Relations C.C. Singpho has inaugurated a Mahabodhi School at Diyun in Changlang district on January 14 last under the aegis of the Mahabodhi Society Bangalore. C.C. Singpho described the opening of the school as a historic occasion for the people of Diyun area for the school will not only impart general education but also spiritual education based on Buddhism. The Minister also donated 28 acres of land for permanent construction of the school campus. The school initially started upto class III will be upgrated in...

BISWANATH CHARIALI, Jan 20 ? The Gramin Krishi Unnayan Prakalpa launched by the Assam Branch of Indian Tea Association (ABITA) throughout the State has yielded good results in the current agricultural season. Through the project, the ABITA familiarised the farmers with modern and scientific methods of cultivation as also with the multiple cropping system.

The project was initiated in 2000 at Panery in Mangaldoi circle of ABITA. When it met with resounding success, its activities were extended and more centres were set up at Biswanath Chariali, Balipara, Mazbat, Koliabor, Bokakhat, Namrup...