GUWAHATI, Feb 14 — Felling of nesting trees and wanton destruction of mixed forests have been causing rapid shrinkage to natural breeding habitat of the endangered greater Adjutant Stork (called hargila in Assam) which have largest concentration of about 600 in Brahmaputra Valley. Earlier, widely distributed in South East Asia, this stork now has been confined only to India and Cambodia. In India, greater adjutant storks have been found in Assam, Orissa, Rajasthan, Nepal Terai and Gangetic plains, but it has now disappeared or become extremely rare in the whole of its distributional range...

BORDUMSA (Arunachal), Feb 14 – Hkap Tau La Ga Ai, announced the welcome arch at the public playground here. The meaning of this Singpho phrase is, ‘we wish you a hearty welcome’. This gesture by itself was more than welcome, after the end of a 40 kilometre back-breaking journey from Margherita, through dense forests and dacoit-infested treacherous stretches. The eighteenth Shapang Yawng Manau Poi, or the dance festival of the Singpho community began here today to all the entrapments of merry-making as is linked to any tribal society of the North East.

The festival is named after the...

GUWAHATI, Feb 14 ? The introduction of international flights from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport to Bangkok from April will give a big boost to the overall development of the North-Eastern region, said the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain. Addressing a Press conference here today, the Union Minister said that the introduction of the North-East in the international air map would definitely give a big boost to tourism in the region and the hotel industry will also be developed. He pointed out that apart from other places of tourist attraction, the golf courses...

Imphal, February 14: Polling in the first phase today was marked by police firing, ballot box snatching and booth capturing. Several persons including a presiding officer were assaulted in separate incidents. Following incidents of booth capturing and rigging, the CEO has recommended repoll in 18 booths. Repoll has been recommended in one booth in Thoubal AC, 10 in Sugnu AC, one in Lamlai AC, two in Andro AC, one in Khangabok AC, 1 in Heirok AC and 2 in Wangkhem AC. A fierce encounter followed after unidentified gunmen attacked the residence of Congress candidate, Suresh in Wangling Tentha at...

Imphal, February 14: Over eighty percent polling was recorded in the first phase polling in 40 valley constituencies in four districts today. The polling was by and large peaceful with no major poll related incidents of the violence being reported. The highest voter turnout of a staggering 97.42 percent was reported from 19-Patsoi Assembly constituency. As many as 18 constituencies reported above 90 percent. The lowest percentage of 58.40 percent was reported from Thangmeiband A/c followed by Lamlai A/c with 59%. The total number of registered voters in the 40 constituencies is 8, 89,231...