DHAKA, July 28: In a major policy decision, the Sheikh Hasina government on Wednesday approved in principle to examine the issue of transportation of Indian goods through Bangladesh. A brief official announcement said the Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, granted the approval. India has long been pressing for a transit route to transport its goods to the seven north-eastern states through Bangladesh. The Indian proposal had sparked off widespread controversy and protests in political circles. Opposition parties said that providing transit facilities to India would...

KOHIMA, July 28: The government of Nagaland has segregated the judiciary from the executive in the state through a notification, placing all judicial officers under the administrative control of the Gauhati High Court. Declaring this at a function here on Tuesday Chief Justice Brajesh Kumar asserted that the rule of law, which was the essence of democracy, could be maintained only when the judiciary was independent. Independent functioning of judiciary was necessary as it was the institute to give safeguard to the Constitution and to dispose of justice to the citizens.

UNDATED, July 28: Home ministry officials from India and Burma began their three-day talks on issues of concern to both countries in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Indian side is led by home secretary Kamal Pandey while the Burmese delegation is led by deputy home minister Brig. General Thura Myint Maung. The two sides will discuss various issues ranging from insurgency problems in the Northeast, drug trafficking and border trade. According to Indian home ministry sources, the two governments will work on ways to cooperate with each other in tackling insurgency along the international border...

AIZAWL, July 28: The Mizoram government will set up more police posts to prevent Myanmarese rebels from entering the state from across the border, the state home minister, Tawnluia, told the Assembly on Tuesday. He said the state government was aware that Myanmarese Army personnel while chasing the rebels have on occasions illegally entered Mizoram. Tawnluia said the police and Assam Rifles personnel, on receiving reports of such cross-overs, repeatedly pushed back both the Myanmarese armymen and rebels. The Myanmar Army, while in hot pursuit of the rebels fighting against the military junta...

GUWAHATI, July 27: At least six persons, including five policemen, were killed and five others received bullet injuries when a group of unidentified extremists ambushed a police party at Lalongdisha near Diphu in Karbi Anglong District early Tuesday morning. Though the identity of the extremists involved in the incident is yet to be ascertained, police suspect that it was a joint operation of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and the Dima Halong Daogah (DHD). Police sources here said a police team headed by the additional superintendent of police of Karbi Anglong and deputy...