SHILLONG, April 20: No fresh firing was reported on Friday on the international border with Bangladesh from Meghalaya to Assam since the Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles struck truce at Thursday flag meeting at Dawki in Meghalaya, reports PTI. R C Silkoti, Commandant of BSF head quarters here told PTI there was no report of exchange of fire between BSF and BDR at Pyrdiwah in Meghalaya and Mankachar area in Assam with both sides agreeing to maintain status quo. He said everything is peaceful there' and Bangladesh would on Friday return the bodies of the BSF, jawans killed by BDR at...

IMPHAL, April 20: The Orchid Preservation Centre put up at Khongampat with the primary objective of rearing orchids found abundantly in the hills is now in a sorry state of affairs thanks to Government apathy and lack of patronage. Official of the centre said the number and variety of orchids at the moment is only 195. With no Government aid forthcoming the centre has not been able to rear and preserve a number of orchids. The centre was set up by the State Forest Department in 1976 and stands on a 50 hectare campus. Its primary objective is to rear and preserve the rare orchids found in hills...

JORHAT, April 20: The influence of the Brahmaputra on the Kaziranga National Park is all-pervading. Apart from inundating the park during the monsoon, the river spells misery for wildlife by spewing loads of sand during the dry season. Siltation due to recurrence of floods has made the ecologically-sensitive beels (natural water reserves) inside the park shallow. This has threatened big animals like elephants and rhinos, who often wallow in the beels, especially to cool off in summer. The beels are also the main source of drinking water for the animals. "Siltation from the Brahmaputra is...

IMPHAL, April 20: In order to boost Indo-Myanmar trade, the State authority has urged the Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Murasoli Maran to provide permission for Indian registered vehicles for its entry into Myanmar territory. The member of the Parliament from this tiny state representing half of the population, Holkhomang Haokip had apprised the matter by submitting an official letter to the Union Commerce minister-recently. Elaborating the steps which are being taken up by the MP in connection with the upgradation of the Indo-Myanmar trade agreement, which was formally signed in...

GUWAHATI, April 20: The United People's Front (UPF), a joint platform of six ethnic organisations, has decided to field 12 candidates in the ensuing Assembly election of the State. The central executive committee meeting of the UPF, held at the Tribal Rest House here today, nominated its president Tulsi Bardoloi for Morigaon Constituency, Maneswar Kathar for Dispur, Ratan Rabha for Paneri, Biren Rabha for Kalaigaon, Rabi Rabha for Goalpara (West), Sabita Rabha for Goalpara (East), Janardan Rabha for Dudhnoi, Bijan Rabha for Chaygaon, Ramsingha Diya for Palasbari, Premilata Pator for Jalukbari...