Assam bypoll: BJPs Devasish Sharma vs Cong Sibamoni Bora sets up tussle between ex-bureaucrats
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 15 (IANS) The Congress has fielded former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora for the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, setting up a high-stakes contest against BJP nominee Devasish Sharma, a former IAS officer and former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner. The contest is shaping up as a direct political battle between two candidates with administrative backgrounds but sharply different electoral journeys. Bora, a former Block Development Officer, entered electoral politics in the 2021 Assam Assembly elections and emerged as one of Congress' prominent winners. Contesting from Batadroba, she defeated sitting BJP MLA and actor-turned-politician Angoorlata Deka by 32,820 votes, polling 84,278 votes and securing nearly 60 per cent of the votes. Her victory gave Congress a significant foothold in a constituency that had earlier been represented by the BJP. Bora also carries a considerable political legacy. She is the daughter of former Batadroba MLA Kiran Bora and a daughter-in-law of Golap Borbora, Assam's first non-Congress Chief Minister. While her family background provides an established political network, her 2021 victory demonstrated her ability to convert that legacy into an electoral mandate. The constituency, however, has undergone major political and geographical transformations since then. The 2023 delimitation exercise abolished the Batadroba Assembly seat and incorporated the area into the Nagaon-Batadraba constituency. Bora's return to electoral politics, therefore, comes in a substantially altered political landscape. The BJP, meanwhile, has placed its bet on Devasish Sharma, a former IAS officer who served as Nagaon's Deputy Commissioner before taking voluntary retirement to enter politics. His administrative tenure could give him familiarity among voters, local officials and political networks, while his candidature represents the BJP's continuing effort to leverage governance credentials in electoral contests. The bypoll became necessary after Congress' Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat and joined the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Bordoloi, who had also won Nagaon in 2019, subsequently contested and won the Dispur Assembly seat. The result will therefore carry significance beyond the individual candidates. For Congress, retaining a seat it won in 2019 and 2024 would provide a crucial political boost. For the BJP, capturing Nagaon would underline the party's expanding electoral strength in Assam and convert Bordoloi's defection into a decisive parliamentary gain. Voting will take place on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.
No charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000; govt yet to decide on MDR for higher-value payments
New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) The government has directed banks and payment system providers not to levy charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to Rs 2,000 or on payments made through RuPay debit cards. However, the government has not specified whether charges would be applicable to transactions above Rs 2,000, to be paid by merchants. So far, there has been no charge on UPI transactions, irrespective of the amount. As per a gazette notification dated September 14, no bank or system provider would impose, whether directly or indirectly, any charge on a person making or receiving a
US judge blocks Trump limits on how long foreign students, journalists can stay
BOSTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) A federal judge on Monday blocked U.S. President Donald Trumps administration from implementing a new rule that would limit how long foreign students and journalists can remain in the U.S. without applying for extensions. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor in Boston in favor of a coalition of unions and higher education advocacy groups a day before the Department of Homeland Securitys rule was set to take effect. Saylor said DHS adopted the policy based on exceptionally weak rationales. The agency had cited national security and the need to prevent fraud in the visa program,
Rupee falls 30 paise to 95.84 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai, Sep 15 (PTI) The rupee depreciated 30 paise to 95.84 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday on elevated Brent crude oil prices and heightened Middle East tensions. With Brent crude touching USD 106 per barrel, increased dollar demand from oil importers raised concerns over Indias external balance and inflation, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.84 against the US dollar, registering a loss of 30 paise from its previous close. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 95.54 against the American currency. Forex and equity markets were closed on
Meta agrees to report child sexual abuse cases to law enforcement agencies: Govt sources
New Delhi, Sept 15 (PTI) Meta has agreed to report child safety-related matters to appropriate law enforcement agencies, government sources said on Tuesday, asserting that online safety of children is a fundamental principle for any social media platform operating in India and absolutely non-negotiable. The government will take action against platforms that fail to take proactive steps to ensure childrens safety online, the sources said, underlining its tough stance on platforms responsibility to protect minors from harmful content and activity. The government also remains engaged with other online platforms to ensure that they proactively identify and remove such content, the
Weeks after the Nepal flood disaster, families of the missing hold out hope
NEW DELHI/BEIJING, Sept 15 (Reuters) Every day since a torrent of mud and rocks destroyed a Nepal-China border crossing high up in the Himalayas last month, Arushi Guptas parents have called and messaged their missing daughter hoping she somehow survived. The last photo she sent on the day of the flood was the facade of the Gyirong Port immigration post. But the calls and messages from her parents, who are among many families in Nepal and abroad awaiting news of loved ones, have gone unanswered. 15 minutes walk to the border, the 33-year-old wrote on WhatsApp to her father
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Congress names Sibamoni Bora as candidate for Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved Sibamoni Bora as the party candidate. She will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election from Assam's Nagaon constituency. The Nagaon seat became vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi moved to the Assam Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party named Debashis Sarma as its candidate for this by-election. The All India Trinamool Congress announced Abdul Salam as their chosen candidate.
Books find unlikely homes in Guwahati cafes & police station for young minds
Cong picks Bora for Nagaon bypoll, 3-way contest takes shape
BJP is bringing UCC to target Muslims, says Asaduddin Owaisi
Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Sep 14 (IANS) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi said on Monday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is bringing Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the states where it is in power to target the 18 crore Muslims across the country. Reacting to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that all 21 NDA-ruled states will implement UCC before 2029 Lok Sabha elections, Owaisi said that BJP is not bringing the UCC for equality but only to target Muslims. The BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are doing this against Articles 25 which guarantees freedom of religion, Article 14 which guarantees the right to equality, and Articles 26 and 29 of the Constitution, the Hyderabad MP told media persons. So, the first thing we need to understand is that the BJP is not doing this for equality. It is only to target Muslims. The second thing you need to understand is that the soul of this country is pluralism. The third point is that Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP and the RSS are trying to impose Hindu laws on non-Hindus. The fourth point is that the Law Commission, which was constituted by the Narendra Modi government, said in its report that a UCC is neither necessary nor desirable for India, Owaisi said. Fifthly, we want to ask: Why do you have the 'Disturbed Area Act' in your states, under which a Hindu cannot sell his property to a Muslim. And why do you have laws regarding Love Jihad? The AIMIM Chief challenged Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP, and the RSS to go ahead and implement the UCC there. If Amit Shah talks about 'understanding the chronology', then let me tell youstand in Goa and declare that you will implement the same UCC law there that you introduced in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam, Owaisi said. The Hyderabad MP added that those who are against Muslims say that Goa has the UCC. They are fooling themselves and trying to mislead the world. In Goa, if a Hindu marriage takes place according to Hindu religious customs, and after the marriage, if a Hindu woman does not have a child by the age of 25, her Hindu husband can take a second wife. There is also a provision that if, by the age of 30, she does not give birth to a male child, he can marry again. This provision exists in Goa. The third point is that there is an exemption for Catholics. What is the exemption? Their marriage registration can be done through a Catholic priest rather than through the government, Owaisi said. The Hyderabad MP criticised the West Bengal government's order to close 252 madrassas across the state, saying this was being done out of BJP's hatred towards Muslims and Islam. He said that they were shutting down madrassas because Muslims who study there receive Quranic education according to their religion. He termed this as a clear violation of Article 30 of the Constitution, saying minorities have the right to establish institutions of their choice. On row over food served at BRICS Summit 2026, Owaisi said that India's diversity includes different cultures, religions, languages and food habits. According to the AIMIM Chief, around 20 per cent of minorities in India are vegetarian. We do not know what discussions took place with China, what will happen to the land occupied by China where we used to patrol, Owaisi said. Why are you playing with them, the AIMIM Chief asked on Indian women's cricket refusing to accept the Women's Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council President and Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Mohsin Naqvi. When the Indus Water Treaty has been put on abeyance, how is the ICC contract an obligation? You are allowing the BCCI to make money through TV rights. Why doesn't the government have empathy towards the people whose family members were butchered by the terrorists in Pahalgam, Owaisi asked and claimed that even the recent Red Fort suicide blast was again sponsored by Pakistan.
Assam Police Rescue 82 Cattle from Smuggling Operation, Seize Two Vehicles
Assam Police rescued 82 cattle from illegal smuggling in Bongaigaon, seizing two vehicles in a significant operation. Assam Police Rescue 82 Cattle from Smuggling Operation, Seize Two Vehicles
Congress Names Sibamoni Bora as Candidate for Assams Nagaon By-Election
Congress has officially nominated Sibamoni Bora for the Nagaon by-election, set for October 6, following the resignation of Pradyut Bordoloi. Congress Names Sibamoni Bora as Candidate for Assams Nagaon By-Election
Youth Cong attacks Khandu over PLA activity
From Varanasi to Vadnagar, BJYM plans 21-Day youth 'seva yatra' across 10 states
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Sep 14 (IANS) More than 1,000 young volunteers from across the country will take part in a 21-day Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Seva Yatra connecting Prime Minister Narendra Modis childhood home town of Vadnagar in Gujarat with his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, organisers said on Monday. The Varanasi to Vadnagar Seva Yatra will begin on September 17 and continue until October 7, with participants travelling simultaneously in two directions from Vadnagar to Varanasi and from Varanasi to Vadnagar. The campaign is being organised to mark and draw inspiration from 25 years of PM Modis public life and his emphasis on public service and nation-building. BJYM national president and Vadodara Lok Sabha MP Hemang Joshi said the programme would not be limited to a motorcycle journey, but would seek to involve young people in community service activities along the routes. Prime Minister Narendra Modis 25 years of public life represent an inspiring journey of service, dedication and putting the nation first for the youth of India. This Seva Yatra from Varanasi to Vadnagar is an effort to transform that philosophy of life into a resolve of the nations youth, Joshi said. Our objective is to ensure that the youth of India are not merely spectators of change, but active participants in nation-building, he added. The participants, or Seva Yatris, will come from several parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Bihar and the Northeast. The organisers said the participation of young people from different regions, languages and cultures was intended to reinforce the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. The Yatra will cover 20 routes named after sacred Indian rivers and pass through 10 states, 193 districts, 773 tehsils and 1,159 villages. At each halt, the participants will undertake service-oriented activities. Nearly 25 types of initiatives have been planned, including tree plantation and the creation of Seva Vatikas, cleanliness drives, Nasha Mukt Bharat and TB Mukt Bharat campaigns, water conservation and awareness programmes for a plastic-free India. The programme will also include the honouring of saints and seers and felicitations for sanitation workers. Joshi said the organisers would avoid traditional receptions for the participants and instead focus on cleanliness and community service. Under the Swachhta Se Swagat initiative, local BJYM workers will conduct cleanliness drives at each destination two days before the Seva Yatris arrive, he added. The Yatra will also establish a symbolic connection between Vadnagar and Varanasi through river water. Participants travelling from Vadnagar to Varanasi will carry sacred water from rivers in Gujarat for Jalabhishek at Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Those travelling in the opposite direction will carry sacred water from rivers in Uttar Pradesh for Jalabhishek at Shri Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar. Joshi said rivers were central to Indias civilisation, culture and faith and that using river water as a symbol of the Yatra was intended to represent cultural unity and a shared commitment to service. Nation-building is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is the responsibility of every citizen, and particularly of the youth. Inspired by PM Modi, we want every young Indian to make seva a part of their life in their respective communities and contribute to the building of a Viksit Bharat, he asserted. The Yatra will therefore seek to link Vadnagar, associated with PM Modis childhood and formative years, with Varanasi, where he has represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha and continued his public life.
Assam: BJP-Congress contest in Nagaon bypoll will test politics of fear, says Gaurav Gogoi
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 14 (IANS) Assam Congress president and Jorhat Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday said that the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election would essentially be a direct political contest between the BJP and the Congress and described the poll as a test of whether the ruling partys alleged politics of fear would prevail or voters would demonstrate the courage to oppose it. Speaking to IANS, Gogoi said, The main political contest will be between the BJP and the Congress. This election will be an examination of whether the BJP's politics of fear wins, or whether the courage among people against the BJP ultimately translates into a victory for the people. He said the Congress was confident that voters in Nagaon would reject what he described as an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Our full belief is that the people of Nagaon will uproot the atmosphere of fear that the BJP is creating. Today, people are demanding their rights from the government as citizens. They are demanding respect as citizens. People will reject this politics of fear and intimidation, Gogoi said. The bypoll has assumed significance for both the BJP and the Congress after the constituency was vacated by former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi. A two-time Congress MP from Nagaon, Bordoloi resigned from the party and the Lok Sabha earlier this year before joining the BJP ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. He subsequently contested from Dispur on a BJP ticket and won, leaving the Nagaon parliamentary seat vacant. The BJP has now fielded former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner and IAS officer Devasish Sharma for the bypoll. Sharma took voluntary retirement from government service on September 3, joined the BJP on September 8 and was named the partys candidate on September 11, within days of leaving the bureaucracy. His candidature has become another major flashpoint in the campaign. The Congress has questioned the timing of his retirement and political entry, pointing out that Sharma had served as Nagaons District Commissioner as well as District Election Officer before entering electoral politics. Congress MP Rakibul Hussain has approached election authorities seeking scrutiny of decisions taken during Sharmas tenure. The BJP, however, has defended Sharmas candidature, maintaining that there was nothing improper about a government officer entering politics after his voluntary retirement was accepted. The Nagaon contest is particularly important for the Congress as the party seeks to retain a constituency it held in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections under Bordoloi. In the 2024 election, Bordoloi defeated BJP candidate Suresh Bora, while the AIUDF also polled a significant number of votes. The by-election will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. With the BJP seeking to convert Bordolois switch and Sharmas local administrative profile into electoral advantage, the Congress is attempting to turn the contest into a referendum on the BJP governments style of politics. For Gogoi, therefore, the Nagaon bypoll is more than a fight for a vacant Lok Sabha seat. He has framed it as a choice between what he calls the BJPs fear and intimidation and the courage of voters to demand rights, dignity and accountability from those in power.
UCC debate intensifies after HM Amit Shahs 2029 implementation push (Lead)
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) The debate over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) intensified on Monday, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that it would be implemented in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029, with BJP leaders and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) backing the move while some NDA partners and Muslim organisations called for wider consultations. BJP leaders strongly endorsed Shah's announcement, arguing that a common set of laws was necessary for national unity and social reform. BJP MP Naresh Bansal said Uttarakhand, his home state and the first in the country to enact a UCC law, had shown the way for other states. He described the legislation as necessary for the country and said it would help safeguard demographic balance. BJP West Bengal President Samik Bhattacharya said the party had consistently supported a UCC and asserted that there should be one law in one country. State Minister Dilip Ghosh also backed implementation, saying the process should begin in Bengal and subsequently extend to other states. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Shah's announcement was in line with Article 44 of the Constitution, which directs the state to endeavour towards securing a Uniform Civil Code for citizens. Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav also welcomed the move, saying the UCC should be implemented in BJP-ruled states before 2029. The VHP welcomed Shah's announcement, with spokesperson Vinod Bansal saying implementation would be a milestone for women's and children's rights by addressing gender inequality and discrimination. He also appealed to non-BJP-ruled states to initiate the process. However, the announcement has also exposed differing views within the NDA. Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas leader Chirag Paswan called for the proposed UCC draft to first be made public and sought extensive consultations, pointing to India's diverse customs, traditions and constitutional protections for tribal communities and special-category regions. Meanwhile, opposition-ruled Jharkhand Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav too adopted a cautious approach, saying the state government would examine all aspects and there was no need to rush to conclusions. Opposition to the UCC also emerged from Muslim organisations. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board opposed the proposed legislation, with Bhopal Shahar Qazi Mushtaq Ali Nadvi questioning its necessity in view of constitutional guarantees on religious freedom and minority rights. He appealed to people to participate in a September 17 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari criticised the BJP, alleging that the UCC was being used to divert attention from economic and social issues. The UCC seeks to establish a common framework governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption irrespective of religious affiliation. Bills have been passed in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh, though the law is currently in force only in Uttarakhand.
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The News Mill
BRICS nod to Guwahati Declaration puts Assam's anti-drug fight on global stage: CM Sarma
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 14 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday welcomed the inclusion of the Guwahati Declaration in the BRICS New Delhi Declaration, describing it as a significant boost to international cooperation against narcotics trafficking. The Guwahati Declaration, adopted by the Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies of BRICS member countries, has now received formal recognition through its reference in the declaration adopted at the BRICS summit. Chief Minister Sarma said the development would give greater international visibility to Assam's efforts in combating the narcotics trade and highlighted the strategic importance of the state in the fight against drug trafficking. From our position in Northeast India, we are strengthening our role in building a safer and more secure region, the Chief Minister added. He said that Assam's geographical location places it along a critical trafficking corridor in the Northeast, making the state an important frontline in efforts to disrupt networks involved in the movement of narcotics. According to CM Sarma, Assam's role extends beyond enforcement within its own territory, with the state having an important part to play in intelligence-sharing, coordinated operations and strengthening mechanisms to counter organised drug trafficking networks. The Chief Minister also welcomed the increased emphasis within BRICS on operational and technical cooperation among member countries. He said that stronger coordination between agencies would help countries develop more effective ways to identify and dismantle narcotics networks. Chief Minister Sarma stressed that international cooperation was particularly important in addressing the growing threat posed by drug trafficking and in protecting young people from the consequences of narcotics abuse. The recognition of the Guwahati Declaration, the Chief Minister said, also demonstrated Assam's ability to contribute to international discussions on issues that extend well beyond the state's geographical boundaries. For Guwahati and Assam, the development represents an acknowledgement of the role played by the region in the wider fight against narcotics, CM Sarma added. Calling the recognition a proud moment for the state, the Chief Minister said that Assam's local efforts against the drug trade were now receiving attention on a global platform. He added that the development would further strengthen the state government's resolve to build a safer and more secure Assam while contributing to regional and international efforts against narcotics trafficking. The Guwahati Declaration was adopted at the meeting of the Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies of BRICS member countries earlier held in Guwahati. It focuses on strengthening international cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking, dismantle transnational narcotics networks and improve coordination among enforcement agencies. The declaration also emphasises intelligence-sharing, operational and technical cooperation, and coordinated action against emerging threats linked to the global drug trade. Its subsequent recognition in the BRICS New Delhi Declaration has given the Guwahati initiative wider international significance.
Fresh UCC debate in MP as Muslim leaders oppose Bill, appeal for Delhi protest on Sep 17
Digital Desk | Bhopal, Sep 14 (IANS) A fresh debate over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has begun in Madhya Pradesh, with Muslim leaders opposing the proposed common personal law framework and appealing to the community to participate in a September 17 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. It has been nearly two months after the Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed the UCC Bill on July 21. The legislation has been sent to the President for assent and is yet to come into force in the state. Members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) held a meeting at its Khanugaon campus in Bhopal on Monday to discuss the UCC. After the meeting, Bhopal City Qazi Mushtaq Ali Nadvi and Congress leader Arif Masood, an executive committee member of the AIMPLB, addressed a press conference and opposed the proposed law. Nadvi said the Muslim community did not accept the UCC and questioned its necessity in view of constitutional guarantees on religious freedom and minority rights. The Constitution guarantees religious freedom and the rights of minorities, so the necessity and impact of the UCC need to be seriously considered, the Bhopal City Qazi said. He also referred to a 1972 speech by former RSS Chief late M S Golwalkar, claiming that Golwalkar had said a civil code was not essential for national unity. Nadvi said matters related to Muslim personal law should be addressed by members of the community and those having knowledge of it. He also rejected arguments that Muslim personal law was inadequate on women's rights, saying Islam had granted women rights as mothers, daughters and wives, including rights in property. He appealed to the Muslims and secular citizens to join the September 17 programme at Jantar Mantar, saying the community would follow further directions issued by the AIMPLB. Masood said the Board had taken its position after consultations with people and organisations across the country. Five members associated with the Board in Madhya Pradesh deliberated on the issue and, with the Board's approval, we are appealing to people of the state to join the movement at Jantar Mantar on September 17, the Congress leader told IANS. The issue has acquired greater political significance after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the UCC would be introduced in all 21 states and Union Territories governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The UCC Bills have already been passed in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh, though the law is currently in force only in Uttarakhand. Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh are awaiting the President's assent and subsequent notification. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari also criticised the BJP over the UCC, alleging that the issue was being used to divert public attention from pressing economic and social concerns. UCC is a tool in the hands of the BJP to mislead the country and spread hatred, Patwari told IANS.
Chhatron Ki Goonj Opportunity for Those Tormented by Education System To Usher Change: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said his Chhatron Ki Goonj initiative is an opportunity for those students who are tormented by the education system to bring about a change in it. Im coming to Indore on 19 September to meet students, to hear you, to talk to you. If you or your loved ones are tormented by the education system and want these conditions to change, you know Chhatron Ki Goonj is your collective voice, an opportunity to start the change, Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. 19
Mega dam, warming Himalayas: Chinas Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower project faces renewed scrutiny
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) Chinas mega hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet has brought renewed scrutiny to the sustainability of large-scale infrastructure in the ecologically fragile and seismically active Himalayan region, a report has stated. Farther east, Beijing began construction in July 2025 on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower cascade near Medog, dubbed the project of the century. With an estimated cost of around 1.2 trillion yuan, the project is expected to generate roughly three times the power produced by the Three Gorges Dam. The river plunges nearly 2,000 metres through a short, seismically active gorge before flowing into India as the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and eventually the Brahmaputra in Assam, according to a report in 'One World Outlook'. Whatever ones view of the geopolitics, the sustainability question is narrower and harder: What does it mean to pin the energy future of a continent to tunnels and powerhouses in one of the least stable mountain syntaxis on Earth, upstream of tens of millions of people, at the same moment that permafrost, glaciers and monsoon extremes are all moving in the wrong direction? the report stated. A 2022 paper in Nature Geoscience put the problem in the language engineers prefer. Warming is destabilizing rock and ice across High Mountain Asia. Sediment loads are rising. Reservoirs silt. Dams designed for a 20th-century rain flood can be overtopped by a 21st-century ice-and-rock cascade. Two-thirds of Himalayan hydropower projects, the authors noted, sit on potential outburst-flood pathways. That was four years and several wrecked plants ago, it added. Nepals disaster authority has so far recorded nearly 1400 deaths with over 5,000 people still missing in the aftermath of the devastating floods along the Nepal-China border on August 26. Hundreds of foreign pilgrims, trekkers and over 600 children are among those unaccounted for in two districts of the Himalayan nation. Chinese authorities have also confirmed several deaths and reported hundreds missing in Gyirong County, where rescue teams were still searching underground powerhouses. This is not a natural disaster in the old sense. It is a compound event: a warming cryosphere, a young mountain chain, and a development model that treats the worlds highest range as a construction site on the plains, One World Outlook mentioned. The report noted that the Himalayas perform a vital function no dam can replicate, storing winter water as ice and releasing it in spring. It helps sustain the monsoon and prevents vast quantities of soil from being washed into the Bay of Bengal within a single season, with nearly two billion people living with the consequences. If the range is developed as a corridor of concrete and blasting powder, the bill will not be itemized as climate. It will arrive as it did on August 26: suddenly, from upstream, and faster than anyone can run. The question the latest flood asks is not whether the mountains are fragile. They have always been fragile. The question is why we keep staking lives and capital on the pretense that they are not, the report added.
Who should own the knowledge that underpins AI technology?
September 14, 2026 (Conversation) Russian mathematician Yurii Nesterov was recently awarded the Gauss Prize for outstanding mathematical contributions for his groundbreaking work on optimisation. The award cited his work on gradient descent methods and in particular, the efficiency gains [they] provide to AI technologies. Everyone using large language model (LLM) chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini for any purpose depends on Nesterovs methods. They may speak like humans and be personified with names, but under the bonnet, LLMs are computer programs that work via optimisation of billions of parameters known as neural networks for their similarity
82 Cattle Rescued, Two Vehicles Seized In Assam
GUWAHATI, Sep 14: Assam Police rescued 82 cows and seized two vehicles during an anti-smuggling operation in Bongaigaon district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday. Sarma stated that the operation was carried out in Abhayapuri following secret intelligence inputs. While most of the cattle were safely recovered, two were found dead. He did... The post 82 Cattle Rescued, Two Vehicles Seized In Assams Bongaigaon first appeared on Northeast Today .
Over 70 passports under scanner, MP STF widens fake passport probe
Digital Desk | Bhopal, Sep 14 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has widened its probe into a suspected fake passport racket, with more than 70 passports under scrutiny and four persons arrested so far. The investigation has spread to Bhopal, Gwalior, Betul, Chhindwara and Pandhurna, where investigators are examining passport applications, addresses and documents allegedly used to obtain the travel documents. STF Deputy Inspector General Rahul Lodha on Monday told IANS that the agency was also examining a passport of an accused arrested in Nagpur, which was found to have been issued in Gujarat. So far, a total of 70 passports are under investigation in connection with the fake passport case. We have also included another passport of an accused arrested from Nagpur, which was found to have been issued in Gujarat. The investigation is still underway, Lodha said. The four arrested accused are from the Northeast, including Assam, and their identities and other details are being verified, he said. The investigation has revealed that several passport applications were allegedly made using the same or suspicious addresses, raising the possibility of an organised network. In Madhya Pradesh, fake passports have been issued from four to five districts. In Gwalior, 17 passports were fraudulently applied for from the same location in Semariya Tal area of Dabra. In Bhopal, 40 passports were issued using an address in Anna Nagar, Lodha said. The STF is examining the Bhopal cases in which 40 passports were allegedly issued using the address of a math in Anna Nagar under the Govindpura police station area. Investigators are verifying the documents and addresses submitted with the applications to establish how the passports were obtained and whether local facilitators or agents were involved. The STF is also examining the suspected inter-state links of the network and checking whether the passports under scrutiny are connected. The officer also shared that further action, including arrests, would follow if the ongoing investigation establishes the involvement of more persons or uncovers additional fraudulent passport applications. The probe is being extended to other locations to determine the full extent of the suspected racket, he added.
Assam Police rescues 82 cattle in smuggling crackdown, two vehicles seized
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 14 (IANS) Assam Police rescued 82 heads of cattle allegedly being illegally smuggled in Abhayapuri locality in the Bongaigaon district following a tip-off, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday. In a post on X, Sarma said the operation was carried out on the basis of secret information and reiterated that attempts to evade the law would not succeed. Trying to escape the law is futile, the Chief Minister said, while highlighting the action taken by Assam Police against the alleged cattle smuggling operation. According to Sarma, police personnel intercepted the suspected smuggling operation in Abhayapuri and rescued 82 cattle. Two vehicles allegedly being used to transport the animals were also seized during the operation. The operation also revealed that two of the cattle being transported were found dead. The circumstances surrounding their deaths and the conditions in which the animals were being transported are expected to form part of the investigation. Sarma said instructions had been issued to identify all individuals involved in the alleged illegal animal smuggling operation and ensure strict legal action against them. The Chief Minister's statement comes as Assam authorities continue to emphasise action against organised networks involved in the illegal transportation of cattle and other animals. Police operations based on intelligence inputs have been stepped up in different parts of the state to intercept vehicles suspected of being involved in unlawful animal transportation. The seizure of the two vehicles is expected to assist investigators in establishing the logistics and network behind the alleged smuggling operation. Police will also investigate the ownership of the vehicles and identify those responsible for arranging and transporting the cattle. The rescued cattle are likely to be dealt with in accordance with the applicable legal and administrative procedures governing the handling of animals recovered from suspected illegal transportation. The Assam government has repeatedly maintained that those involved in illegal animal transportation will face action under the law. Monday's operation in Abhayapuri reinforces the administration's focus on disrupting such activities and identifying the wider network behind them. Further investigation is expected to establish the identities of all those allegedly involved and determine the circumstances leading to the deaths of the two cattle found during the operation.
PM Modi speaking Hindi globally fills us with pride: CM Fadnavis
Digital Desk | Navi Mumbai, Sep 14 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis commitment to Indian languages, stating that hearing the Prime Minister speak Hindi on global platforms fills the nation with pride. He was speaking at the Hindi Diwas celebration and the 6th All India Official Language Conference organised in Navi Mumbai, an event attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing the gathering, CM Fadnavis apologised for his late arrival before highlighting the significance of hosting the national convention in Maharashtra. He noted that while such conferences were once mere formalities, Home Minister Amit Shah spearheaded the effort to rotate them across different states. Reflecting on language policy history, Fadnavis pointed out that Hindi was widely used for official work during the British era before both Hindi and English were designated as official languages in 1963. He stated that since PM Modi assumed office, mother tongues and official regional languages have received unprecedented respect across the country. You must learn your mother tongue, and the New Education Policy (NEP) ensures this by promoting education in local languages alongside additional Indian languages, CM Fadnavis said. Recalling history, he noted that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then an opposition leader, was among the first to address the United Nations in Hindi. He added that writer Munshi Premchand played a pivotal role in making conversational Hindi acceptable for official work. Addressing the conference, Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the importance of regional languages, asserting that Marathi deserves deep respect. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration granted classical language status to Marathi. HM Shah praised Maharashtra's diversity, describing it as the most multilingual state in India. Quoting freedom fighter and social reformer Vinoba Bhave, he noted, If I had not used Hindi, I could not have reached every village in Kashmir, Assam, and Kerala with the revolutionary message of Bhoodan and Gramdan. It was the official language that enabled me to communicate with people across the nation. Reiterating the central government's focus on language preservation through the New Education Policy, the Home Minister emphasised that foundational learning in one's mother tongue is essential for a child's holistic growth. Describing Maharashtra as the land of Veer Savarkar, he emphasised that Savarkar was not only a freedom fighter and social reformer but also one of the most learned linguists of his time. He built upon Lokmanya Tilaks call for the purification of the Marathi language and coined numerous words that were previously absent in Indian languageswords that found natural acceptance in Marathi and other national languages. HM Shah added that the Ministry of Home Affairs honoured Savarkar's linguistic legacy in Hindi through the 'Shabd Sindhu' initiative.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar begins Bhutan visit to promote democracy, poll management
Digital Desk | Thimphu, Sep 14 (IANS) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday kicked off a three-day visit to Bhutan during which he will meet the King and also join celebrations of the hill nations National Voters Day, an official said. The visit will further strengthen the close institutional cooperation between the Election Commission of India and the Election Commission of Bhutan, building on their continued engagement, said an official statement. During the visit, CEC Gyanesh Kumar will meet the King of Bhutan in Thimphu, the statement said. A key engagement during the visit will be the celebration of Bhutans National Voters Day at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, Paro, on Tuesday, where the CEC would be the Chief Guest, it said. On Wednesday, Gyanesh Kumar will call on Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, in Thimphu. He will also hold an interaction with senior civil servants of Bhutan, the statement said. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has regularly engaged with other nations to promote democratic practices and election management. Earlier, delegates of the International Election Visitors' Programme 2026 (IEVP 2026) were given a live demonstration of EVMs and a mock poll in New Delhi, gaining hands-on understanding of Indias robust, tech-driven, and transparent electoral process, an official said. A live demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) for international delegates to IEVP 2026, the statement said. Addressing the delegates, IIIDEM Director General Rakesh Kumar Verma highlighted Indias enduring commitment to electoral integrity, inclusivity and institutional excellence. The live demonstration also offered delegates an insightful engagement, showcasing Indias secure, transparent, and technology-driven electoral framework, the statement said. Under the IEVP, 43 delegates from 23 countries, including representatives from five Foreign Missions in Delhi, earlier participated in the first phase of the programme and visited Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on April 8-9 to witness polling, the statement said.
Big AI wants to slow down AI research. Is it a safety pause or a strategic retreat?
September 14, 2026 (Conversation) Over the weekend, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei called for artificial intelligence (AI) companies, including his own, to slow down their work. Sam Altman and Elon Musk, heads of rivals OpenAI and xAI respectively, agreed. The move reflects concern across the AI industry and more broadly about the dangers of new, rapidly improving systems. Recent high-profile incidents such as OpenAI AI agents hacking another company and hijacking a public website have shown current systems can break out of safety confines and even more capable systems are in development. Further complicating AI safety is the tension
Tripura CM seeks unified mechanism for border info-sharing
Assam: Four-month-old elephant calf found dead in Kamrup
Guwahati: The carcass of a four-month-old wild elephant calf was recovered from Roumari under the Singra Forest Range in Assams Kamrup district on Sunday, with forest officials using a drone to locate the carcass before carrying out the recovery operation amid the presence of the calfs reportedly aggressive mother. A herd of wild elephants has [] The post Assam: Four-month-old elephant calf found dead in Kamrups Singra forest range appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Retail inflation rises to 4.82 pc in August
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Retail inflation increased to 4.82 per cent in August, largely driven by higher food prices, according to government data released on Monday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation was 4.45 per cent in July. Food inflation in August increased to 5.95 per cent compared to 5.52 in the preceding month, according to CPI data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). Reserve Bank has projected the CPI inflation for 2026-27 at 5 per cent, with Q2 at 4.7 per cent, Q3 at 5.9 per cent, and Q4 at 5.5 per cent. The Reserve Bank
Assam Government to Enhance Vehicle Scrapping Ecosystem with New Industrial Framework
Assams Chief Minister announces plans to integrate registered vehicle scrapping facilities into the states industrial framework for better vehicle disposal. Assam Government to Enhance Vehicle Scrapping Ecosystem with New Industrial Framework
Old age and hearing loss: lack of screening ends up being costly
THE ESSENTIALS Hearing loss, which occurs with age, remains insufficiently detected and treated. However, the data clearly shows that wearing hearing aids prevents falls as well as cognitive decline. Failing to adequately address the issue of hearing in policies for the elderly has a health cost, but also an economic one. Long relegated to the status of a minor ailment of aging, hearing loss is still too often perceived as an unavoidable inconvenience. Yet, in older people, its effects go far beyond mere difficulty hearing: it can compromise independence, undermine daily safety, and impair the quality of care. And, as
NRC will be 100 times worse, has caused immense trouble to minorities, migrants: AIMIM chief Owaisi
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated a nationwide NRC would be 100 times worse. He cited the Assam NRC's immense trouble for minorities and vulnerable groups. Owaisi questioned the practicality of forcing citizens to prove their nationality. He also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah's role in the 2019 anti-CAA/NRC movement. The Union Minister mentioned implementing NRC in Manipur before elections.
Assam man accused of wifes beheading dies after jumping from police vehicle
Ramanuj Goswami was put under arrest after he surrendered last week and confessed to killing his wife Riya Talukdar in a fit of rage over her alleged extra-marital affair
Assam to send seven-member MLA team to study monkey control in Himachal Pradesh
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What are statins? And can healthy people use them to prevent heart disease and dementia?
September 14, 2026 (Conversation) Every month, around 2.7 million Australians have a statin dispensed to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke. Statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the collective term for conditions involving the heart and blood vessels. Now, two recent studies have investigated if statins could be used preventatively in healthy people to protect against dementia and promote healthier ageing. Lets take a look at the evidence. What are statins? Statins have been used for decades to reduce the amount of cholesterol the liver produces. This lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood, sometimes called
Gurugram Biker Accident | My Friend Kalyan Was Driving: Owner Of Car That Hit Woman Biker
The owner of the car that hit a woman biker in Gurugram and threw her off her bike was not behind the wheel. I was not driving the car, said Manish, the owner of the car. A woman biker, identified as Sia, was riding her sports bike, an Aprilia RS 457, when a car hit her. In a video posted on Instagram, Sia said that the incident took place on Sunday when she was riding with members of her group on Golf Course Road in Gurugram. The incident was recorded on an action camera mounted on Sia's motorcycle. NDTV has accessed the details of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz involved in the accident. The vehicle is registered in the name of Manish, a resident of Palwal in Haryana. The vehicle carries registration number 'HR30Y4949'. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Manish claimed that he was not driving the car. I serve in the Army and I am currently on duty in Assam, he said.
Assam man who beheaded wife, vowed to kill her 'sugar daddy', dies
Ramanuj Goswami, who beheaded his wife Riya Talukdar, died from a head injury. He sustained this injury after jumping from a moving police vehicle on Monday. Goswami was being transported for a medical examination to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. He had previously expressed no regret for his crime and threatened another individual. The accused had a history of substance abuse and had undergone treatment.
Manipur: 4 Killed, 6-Year-Old Injured After Twin Attacks In Naga-Majority Districts
Four people from the Kuki community were killed in two separate attacks in Manipur on Sunday, while a six-year-old child sustained bullet injuries. The first attack took place at L Tollen village in Tamenglong district, where a woman was shot dead and her husband later succumbed to his injuries. Their six-year-old son was injured and is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College in Assam in stable condition. The second attack took place around 3 pm at Longpi village in Noney district, where a man and a woman were killed. Village authorities alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K cadres, though police said no group has claimed responsibility and a probe is underway. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killings. The attacks come amid renewed Kuki-Naga tensions and coincided with the Kuki communitys Black Day.
Assam Police Seize Narcotics Worth
Guwahati, Sept 14: Assam Police seized narcotics worth approximately 14 crore in two separate operations in Cachar district on Sunday, leading to the arrest of two alleged drug peddlers. In the first operation, police intercepted a truck near Sangai Hotel in the Ramnagar Bypass area under Silchar police station. Acting on specific intelligence, officers discovered... The post Assam Police Seize Narcotics Worth 14 Crore In Two Cachar Operations first appeared on Northeast Today .
Trump downplays the need to check AI development and says he doesn
DUBLIN, September 14, 2026 (AP) President Donald Trump on Sunday played down the need for his administration to check the development of artificial intelligence, saying he worried about ceding Americas edge over China in a global competition and that winning would help address the risks from the advancing technology. While acknowledging the need for some regulation, Trump provided no specifics about potential rules and attributed warnings about the technology moving too quickly and with little oversight to negative forces he did not identify, though industry pioneers have raised such concerns. We can put guardrails, we can do this and
Assam: Narcotics worth Rs 14 crore seized in two separate operations in Cachar
Cachar police seized narcotics valued at approximately fourteen crore rupees on Sunday. Two separate operations led to the apprehension of two alleged drug peddlers. Police recovered 2.2 kilograms of heroin from a truck originating in Mizoram. Additionally, ten thousand Yaba tablets were seized from another individual in Gumrah Bazar. Legal actions have been initiated following these significant drug seizures.
New warnings about the risks of AI to humanity revive a long-running debate
LOS ANGELES, September 14, 2026 (AP) New warnings from within the artificial intelligence industry have revived a long-running debate over whether advanced AI could escape human control and ultimately threaten humanitys survival, and whether the companies developing the technology are doing enough to prevent such a scenario. The CEO of Anthropic, the San Francisco company behind Claude, said he thought the industry needed to reduce the speed of its work, cautioning Saturday that a swarm of AI agents might be able to take over the internet in six months to a year unless companies devoted more time to putting
Woman killed, two injured in armed attack along NH-37 in Tamenglong on Kuki community's Black Day
An armed attack in Tamenglong district killed one woman and injured two others. The incident occurred early Sunday morning along National Highway-37 in Tollen village. Assam Rifles personnel evacuated the injured father and son from the scene. The Kuki Youth Organisation condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation. Village authorities expressed concern over potential community divisions and urged restraint.
Assam CM Dedicates Four Projects Worth
Jorhat, Sept 14: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday inaugurated four major development projects worth approximately Rs. 122 crore, describing them as an important addition to the states modern infrastructure. The Chief Minister dedicated the newly constructed Integrated Office Building of the District Commissioner, Jorhat, built at a cost of Rs. 49.62 crore,... The post Assam CM Dedicates Four Projects Worth 122 Crore In Jorhat, Sivasagar first appeared on Northeast Today .
Data from more than 600 people shows resting heart rates have their own secret rhythm
September 14, 2026 (Conversation) Youre likely familiar with the idea of a circadian rhythm your bodys 24-hour cycle that governs sleep and wakefulness. It turns out that resting heart rate also follows mysterious, long rhythms that run independently of the outside world. Resting heart rate is measured by how many beats per minute your heart makes while youre calm and inactive. This measure is linked to stress, fatigue and fitness. Our new study, published in EBioMedicine, looked at years of smartwatch data from hundreds of young adults, and found that for 70% of the participants, their resting heart rate
Police seize Rs 14 crore narcotics in two operations in Assam
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Kolkata: TMC Loyal Faction Fields Candidates for WB, Assam Bypolls
The Election Commission has directed the two factions to appear on September 16 and 17.
Woman found dead in hotel room, boyfriend held
TIPRA Motha wins 1,548, BJP bags 82 seats uncontested in Tripura village committee polls
CM inaugurates Rs 49.22cr DC office in Jorhat, says Assam moving beyond colonial legacy
Four held in Sivasagar in ATM fraud case; 35 ATM cards, Rs 1.54 lakh seized
Migrant workers contribute significantly to Meghalayas economy: Minister
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9 dead in 3 days after consuming spurious liquor in Nagaland
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Manipur govt ask protesters to give peace a chance, urges to end protest over NRC
Two women among four killed in suspected militant attacks in Manipur
Digital Desk | Imphal, Sep 13 (IANS) At least four Kuki community people, including two women, were killed in separate suspected militant attacks in Manipur's Tamenglong and Noney districts on Sunday, police said. Two persons, including a woman, were killed in an attack at Tollen Kuki village under Kaimai Police Station in Tamenglong district, while two others, including a woman, were shot dead at Longpi village under Nungba Police Station in Noney district, police officials said. At Tollen village, a woman, identified as Lhingngai Singsit, was killed when suspected militants attacked her residence. The victims husband, Seineih Singsit, and their infant son were injured in the attack. Seineih later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to a hospital in neighbouring Silchar in southern Assam. Security forces rushed to the village following the attack and provided medical assistance to the injured, police said. In the second incident, armed militants allegedly opened fire at Longpi village, killing Julie Gangte and R Gangte, police said. The four victims were members of the Kuki tribal community, officials said. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and expressed deep anguish over the loss of innocent lives. Such cowardly acts of violence against innocent civilians are unacceptable and have no place in our society, the Chief Minister said in a statement issued by his office. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for strength to them and a speedy recovery for those injured. Many organisations, MLAs and leaders, including the Kaimai Village Authority, condemned the Tollen attack, describing it as a deliberate and malicious attempt to create disharmony and division among communities. It urged the authorities to conduct an impartial investigation, identify those responsible and bring them to justice. Earlier, BJP leader and former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also condemned the Tollen attack, describing it as deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. The former Chief Minister said in a post on X: The tragic incident at Tollen Kuki Village, where Mrs Lhingjangai Singsit was killed, and her husband and young son sustained gunshot injuries, is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved family, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. He said: The safety and security of innocent civilians must remain our foremost concern. Such violence only adds to the suffering of ordinary people and further undermines the fragile path towards peace. Several Kuki and Naga MLAs separately condemned the killings. Naga Peoples' Front legislator Awangbou Newmai condemned the killings, saying that targeting unarmed men, women and children was a cowardly act with no place in a civilised society. The killings coincided with Sahnit Ni, or Black Day, observed annually on September 13 by the Kuki community in Manipur to remember those killed during the Kuki-Naga conflict in the 1990s. The latest violence comes amid continuing efforts to restore peace in Manipur, where ethnic clashes between the non-tribal Meitei and hill-based Kuki tribal communities since May 2023 have claimed at least 306 lives. Forty-nine people remain missing, and thousands have been displaced by the ethnic violence.
Assams Cultural Diversity Embodies Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Initiative, Says Governor Acharya
Assams Governor highlights the states role in promoting unity through diversity during a meeting with a media delegation from Uttar Pradesh. Assams Cultural Diversity Embodies Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Initiative, Says Governor Acharya
Years on, 3,558 bighas of core area of Assam
Guwahati: 3,558.32 bighas of land forming part of the core area of Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has remained under illegal occupation for years despite repeated communications from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to the Assam government and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) seeking its transfer to the park [] The post Years on, 3,558 bighas of core area of Assams Manas National Park remain encroached appeared first on NorthEast Now .
'Laughable advice': Assam BJP hits back at Bhupesh Baghel over flood, price rise remarks
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 13 (IANS) The Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit back at Congress General Secretary In-charge of Assam and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over his criticism of the state government's handling of floods and rising prices, calling his remarks laughable and questioning his own record in office. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Guwahati, party spokesperson Brojen Mahanta said Baghel was not in a position to lecture Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on governance, pointing to the Congress' defeat in the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The BJP's response came a day after Baghel, during his visit to the state, urged CM Sarma to focus on flood relief and rising prices in Assam instead of commenting on the 2028 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. Baghel had said CM Sarma should be concerned about flood-affected people who, according to him, were not receiving adequate relief despite the state having a double-engine government. He also criticised the Assam government over the rising prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and sugar. Turning the criticism back on the Congress leader, Mahanta cited the party's electoral reversal in Chhattisgarh. He said that Congress had won 68 of the 90 Assembly seats in the 2018 election and formed the government, but was voted out of power in 2023 as the BJP returned to power. The BJP spokesperson also brought up allegations of corruption and irregularities associated with the previous Congress government in Chhattisgarh, including allegations relating to a liquor scam, an alleged excise syndicate, the Mahadev betting app case, a coal levy racket and alleged irregularities in the state Public Service Commission recruitment process. Mahanta also attacked the Congress over its criticism of the BJP on democracy, invoking the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975. He said that Congress leaders should remember the political arrests during the Emergency before questioning the BJP's democratic credentials. The BJP spokesperson also accused the Congress of pursuing vote-bank politics on the issue of Assam's indigenous population and alleged that the party had provided political protection and privileges to illegal migrants from Bangladesh. The sharp exchange comes as the Congress and BJP intensify their political confrontation in Assam, with the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election adding another layer to the political contest. Baghel has said Congress and its alliance partners are working on a joint strategy for the upcoming Assembly bypoll, including issues such as floods and illegal mining. The latest war of words reflects a broader battle over governance, with Congress targeting the Assam government on flood management and inflation, while the BJP has chosen to counter by questioning Baghel's record as Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and the Congress' political legacy. With both sides sharpening their attacks, the flood situation, price rise and governance are increasingly emerging as key political flashpoints in Assam.
Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurates four Assam projects worth Rs 122 crore
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West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee's TMC announces candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has announced its candidates for the upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar bye-elections. The AITC named Sanchita Pradhan as its candidate for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar bypolls. The bypoll in West Bengal along with other assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and a Parliamentary seat in Assam would be held on October 6, while the results would be declared on October 9.
Assam Congress leader questions BRICS outcome, raises India-China ties
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 13 (IANS) Assam Congress leader Aminul Islam on Sunday questioned the outcome of the BRICS Summit for India, asking whether the high-level meeting had addressed key strategic concerns, including India-China relations, the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters here, Islam said the Union government should clarify whether the summit had produced any tangible outcomes on issues directly affecting India's national and strategic interests. The Congress leader questioned whether there had been any substantive discussion on the current state of India-China relations and whether concerns arising from the Galwan Valley clash had figured in the deliberations. Are there any better situations in Indo-China relations? Is there any discussion on the Galwan situation, or how the water level in the Brahmaputra has dropped by 40 per cent since 2022? Islam said. He also raised the issue of the Brahmaputra river, claiming that its water level had declined by 40 per cent since 2022. He linked the concern to India's wider strategic challenges involving China and questioned whether such matters received adequate attention during the summit. Islam said that discussions at the BRICS Summit should go beyond broad declarations and focus on issues that have a direct bearing on India's security, economy and strategic interests. Referring to the participation of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the summit, the Congress leader also questioned whether India had held substantive discussions with Tehran on developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy and shipping route, and developments in the region can have wider implications for energy supplies and international trade. Islam used the occasion to launch a broader attack on the Union government's foreign policy, alleging that India's international relations had weakened in recent years. Our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is just taking photos. India's international relations are basically very bad now. Foreign policy is gradually deteriorating, he said. The Congress leader questioned whether the BRICS Summit would ultimately deliver concrete benefits for India and called for greater clarity from the Union government on the outcomes of the meeting. That is why the question is whether the BRICS Summit brings something positive for India or not. That should be made clear first, Islam said. His remarks came after the BRICS Summit, hosted by India, brought together leaders of the expanded grouping amid a complex geopolitical environment and discussions on global economic and strategic issues. Islam's comments focused on whether the summit's broader diplomatic engagements translated into concrete progress on matters he described as central to India's national interests.
UCC In All 21 NDA-Ruled States By 2029: Amit Shahs BIG Announcement On Uniform Civil Code
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed confidence that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in all 21 BJP and NDA-led states before 2029. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Shah said several states have already introduced the UCC. Madhya Pradesh recently approved the code in a special cabinet meeting, while Uttarakhand became the first state to pass a UCC law in February 2024. Gujarat and Assam have also passed UCC legislation, though they are awaiting presidential assent and notification. Uttarakhand has been enforcing the code since January 2025. Maharashtra, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have formed drafting committees. Shah also highlighted the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, saying conviction rates rose in several states. He further claimed the NDA government had ended five decades of Naxalism and signed over 14 peace agreements in the Northeast.
Scissors, screwdriver on bed: Man killed lover in Assam hotel
A woman was discovered deceased in a Rangia hotel room with throat injuries. Police arrested a man who had booked the room and was found inside. The victim was identified as Malini Guria from Sonitpur district. Preliminary inquiry suggests the crime may be linked to a love affair. The accused has confessed to the murder before the police.
Gujarat Police arrest Assam man in cybercrime, secure remand
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