IMPHAL, Oct 20 ? Manipur Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh, known to have an uncanny instinct for smelling political trouble in advance, has anointed soothing balm to the hurt feelings of the dissident Naga MLAs.

Ibobi, to blunt the voice of dissent raised against him, has made political chicanery with the promise that tainted and non-performing Ministers under his ministry will be dropped by the end of this year after assessing their performances and investigating a scam which was raised by the Opposition People?s Democratic Alliance in the state. The Chief Minister is...

DIMAPUR, Oct 20: Just ahead of the submission of its first report by the State Government constituted inquiry committee, the NSCN-K has claimed ?Al Qaeda footprints? in the October 2 Dimapur terror blasts case. The NSCN-K made the revelation through a release issued by Kughalu Mulatonu, a member of its Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB).

He said that none but only terrorists could do such ?an evil act?. Whatever may be the truth, but the NSCN-K?s new statement is a clear indication that it no longer believes that its rival, NSCN-IM were involved in the blasts in any way.

Earlier, the same...

JORHAT, Oct 20: As recurring floods continue to shatter the State?s economy with alarming regularity, a book on the genesis of the problem has lately drawn Dr APJ Abdul Kalam?s attention.

Despatching a letter dated August 10 from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Editor of the anthology Dr Prabhat Chandra Sabhapandit at his Nehru Park residence here, the missile man-turned President of India wrote: ?Thank you for sending me a copy of the book titled Flood problem of Assam: Cause and remedies.

Having gone through the volume, I liked chapters 11 and 12 in particular, where some good solutions to...

GUWAHATI, Oct 20 ? The joint task force constituted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) has suggested a slew of measures for enhancing bilateral trade between India and Myanmar.

The 30-page recommendations prepared after a detailed study in various areas will be presented before the Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath and Aung Thaung, Ministry of Industry, Government of the Union of Myanmar on October 25 in New Delhi. The North East has been identified as a major trade point with Myanmar in which the...

GUWAHATI, Oct 20 ? The Sanmilita Jana-Gosthiya Sangram Samity (SJSS), which has been in the forefront in opposing the last Bodo peace accord, has once again demanded that the government?s talks with the banned NDFB, if it were to take place, should include representatives of all ethnic groups and political parties.

The SJSS has decided to stage a sit-in demonstration at the Dispur Last Gate on November 1 to press this demand, said deputy chief convenor Brajen Mahanta during a press conference here today. He said that including the non-Bodo people in the talks is of utmost importance to ensure...