IMPHAL, March 16: Lack of insight, eloquence particularly in English and talent and want of physical elegance are some of the setbacks before the participants from Manipur in beauty contests held outside the state. This was admitted by the new Miss Manipur (Kangleipak Chanu), Rajkumari Mandakini Devi, while speaking to the IFP days after she was crowned Miss Manipur 2001. A second year BE (Computer Science) student in the Govt College of Technology, Imphal, Mandakini, 19, with 34-27-351/2 and 5'7" vital statistics outshone 4 other contestants on March 9 in the final round of the Miss Manipur...

GUWAHATI, March 16: "It was the master craftmen of the Northeastern region who taught us what bamboo is all about and its enormous potential as a material for future industrialisation," said MP Ranjan of National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Ranjan who has been associated with research on bamboo for the last 20 years or so, was speaking at the inauguration of "Bamboo Boards and Beyond", an exhibition being organised at Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre here. He said bamboo had enormous potential as an industrial material in the Northeast region and called for a change in the mindest to...

SEIJOSA (Arunachal Pradesh), March 16: The three-day training on 'Van Rakshak' for the State forest officials concluded here on Friday. Experts from the Wildlife Trust of India and resource persons from Guwahati provided training to the forest officials on conservation and protection of wildlife and framing of cases against the poachers, reports UNI. Speaking as the chief guest, State Horticulture Minister Japu Dera appealed to the villagers to cooperate with the Government in preservation and protection of forest resources of the State. He expressed happiness that people had realised the...

GUWAHATI, March 16: The Gauhati High Court today stayed the operation of the Assam Government's order for holding election to the post of Chairman of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) slated for March 19. The Assam Government, in view of the 'allegations of corruption' against the executive committee of the Autonomous Council headed by Mojari Hanse and allegations of 'irregularities' on counting of votes on the no-confidence motion against the executive committee on February 8, directed the Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner yesterday to hold the election to the post of Autonomous...

KOHIMA, March 16: The frequent absence of ministers in the Nagaland Assembly Thursday attracted the ire of the Speaker, Z Lohe, who expressed serious concern over the practice, reports PTI. Immediately after the conclusion of discussion on the Governor's address to the House, the Speaker ruled that the ministers concerned should attend the proceedings when members raised important issues. Earlier, during question hours and debates on the Governor's address, several members drew attention of the government towards continuous absence of certain ministers in their offices.