Blog

14 Jan

Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival 2024 Concludes Successfully

editorEducation

The Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival 2024 concluded on a high note at the Madhavdev International Auditorium in Guwahati. The three-day event celebrated literature, culture, and intellectual discourse, featuring prominent authors, poets, and scholars from across the region. Nepali author Bidyapati Dahal was honored with the Pragjyotishpur Literature Award 2024 for his significant contributions to literature. The festival included panel discussions, book launches, and cultural performances, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and promoting regional literary traditions. Organizers expressed satisfaction with the enthusiastic participation and aim to make the festival an annual fixture to further enrich the literary landscape.

14 Jan

A candlelight vigil in Tawang to honor earthquake victims in Tibet

Banasree SarkarArunachal PradeshTawang

Thousands of lamas, students, and locals came to Tawang for a candlelight march in support of the victims of the devastating earthquake in Tibet. At least 126 people had been killed and over 100 injured in the January 7 earthquake, which also caused tremors in Nepal, Bhutan, and some areas of northern India. Namgey Tsering, the Tawang MLA who organized the march, stated that he wished to honor the victims and raise awareness of the tragedy. Together with the abbot of Galden Namgyal Lhatse monastery, Shedling Tulku Thupten Tendar Rinpche, Tsering visited the families of the deceased to offer their…

13 Jan

Paytm shares decay 6%, down over 20% in five sessions

Business CorrespondentBusiness, News

Shares of One97 Communications, the parent company of fintech major Paytm, continued to decline for the fourth consecutive session on January 13. The shares fell to Rs 796.1, marking a decline of over 6 percent. Earlier, UBS had released a report citing NPCI data, which mentioned that Paytm did not gain any UPI market share in December. In October, Paytm received approval to add customers. Nevertheless, its share of the UPI market almost halved, falling from 10 per cent at the start of 2024 to 5.5 per cent by the end of the year. During the October-November period, Paytm's market…

13 Jan

Former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala Passes Away

editorLatest

Om Prakash Chautala, veteran Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader and former Chief Minister of Haryana, passed away at the age of 89. Chautala, a prominent figure in Haryana politics, served as the state's Chief Minister multiple times. He was known for his contributions to the state's agricultural and educational sectors. His political career was marked by both achievements and controversies, including a conviction in a teacher recruitment scam. Leaders across the political spectrum have expressed condolences, acknowledging his impact on Haryana's political landscape. His passing marks the end of an era in the state's politics.

13 Jan

Deputy CM of Arunachal reviews Dibang hydropower project, 2,880 MW

Banasree SarkarArunachal PradeshArunachal Deputy CM

Chowna Mein, the deputy chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, examined the 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project on Sunday and emphasized how it could greatly improve the state's infrastructure and energy supplies in addition to spurring economic growth. According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the project would make use of the vast hydropower potential in the state. Mein stated that the state administration has effectively restarted a number of stalled electricity projects under the direction of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, transferring them to a number of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) for comprehensive and expedited development. The project's advancement was…

13 Jan

Mizoram sees 71 drug deaths in 2024

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Mizoram recorded 71 drug-related deaths in 2024, including 11 women, according to the Excise and Narcotics Department. This marks a slight decline from 74 fatalities in 2023, but heroin abuse remains the leading cause, spokesperson Peter Zohmingthanga stated on Sunday. Since the first recorded drug-related death in 1984, Mizoram has documented 1,881 fatalities, with 230 being women. The year 2004 witnessed the highest annual toll of 143 deaths. Over the last decade, 564 individuals have succumbed to drug abuse, underscoring the persistent crisis. Mizoram’s strategic location, sharing an 828-km border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, makes it a hotspot for narcotics…

13 Jan

IAS Officer Pradeep K accused of dowry harassment and abuse

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Pradeep K, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer serving as the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Belonia Sub-division in Tripura's South District, has been accused by his wife, M.J. Difi, of dowry harassment, abuse, and physical assault. Difi, an MBBS graduate, alleged that Pradeep K and his family demanded dowry shortly after their marriage in March 2022. She claimed her father provided financial support, including purchasing land, but the demands continued. In a press conference, she recounted an October 2023 incident in Tamil Nadu where her belongings were thrown out, and a recent confrontation on January 8, 2025, in Belonia,…

11 Jan

Illegal Areca nuts worth Rs 88 lakh recovered from Mizoram’s Champai

editorMizoram

Assam Rifles on Friday recovered 12,620 kgs of illegal Areca Nuts worth Rs 88.34 lakhs in Mualkawi in Champhai district of Mizoram, a release said.The entire consignment has been handed over to the Customs Preventive Force, Champhai for further legal proceedings. Earlier in the day, Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Police and Tripura Forest Service, have destroyed large areas of ganja plantation spread over 16.2 hectares in the general area in Boxanagar Forest Range und Sonamura sub-division. The operation led to the eradication of 16,500 cannabis plants, valued at approximately Rs 70 lakh, said Assam Rifles in a…

11 Jan

In Tripura, MSMEs and startups are urged to use bamboo and rubber

Banasree SarkarTripuraTripura

The state's Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups in Tripura have been instructed to concentrate on producing goods required for the defense industry utilizing rubber and bamboo. At a one-day awareness event held in Agartala by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce (BCC), a Kolkata-based organization, speakers claimed that the northeastern state produces an abundance of the raw materials, rubber and bamboo. Expert in aerospace and defense Balpreet Singh emphasized Tripura's potential that MSME and startup companies may utilize. According to him, rubber may also be utilized to make tires, tubes, gloves, uniforms, and other items used…

11 Jan

Mizoram to develop inland water transport infrastructure with Central support

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Mizoram Transport Minister Vanlalhlana has emphasized the transformative potential of inland water transport (IWT) in addressing the state's long-standing transportation challenges. Speaking at the Inland Waterway Development Council (IWDC) meeting in Kaziranga, Assam, on January 10, the minister outlined the strategic importance of utilizing waterways to improve connectivity and support economic development. Vanlalhlana noted that Mizoram's hilly terrain poses significant logistical difficulties for the movement of people and goods. "While Mizoram lacks large navigable rivers, effective use of existing waterways can alleviate the transportation burden and enhance connectivity," he said. Chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda…