REGIONAL

GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the state’s partnership with the European Union (EU) reflects a shared vision of building resilient, sustainable, and innovation-driven economies that create opportunities for people, while strengthening the India-Europe cooperation. Addressing a press conference here on the final day of the EU delegation’s two-day visit to the state, Sarma said that India and the European Union have established an ambitious roadmap in areas including trade, investment, technology, innovation, connectivity and security. He said this was possible due to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that ”Assam stands to tremendously benefit from it”. There is immense potential for collaboration across strategic sectors like semiconductors and electronics, defence and aviation, tea, agarwood, organic foods, natural fragrances and flavours, and AYUSH-based wellness products, where Assam and the wider northeast region possess unique strengths and global market opportunities, the CM said. ”Assam also looks forward to leverage European cooperation in sunrise and other emerging sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, manufacturing, AI, biotechnology, etc, to create high-quality opportunities for our youth and to cater to the growing domestic demand for these avenues,” he said. The chief minister said that the launch of the ‘Blue Valley Cluster’ project is a landmark India-EU cooperation, which will directly benefit local farmers. ”Through initiatives such as the Blue Valleys platform, we aim to connect thousands of farmers, women-led self-help groups, startups, researchers, and industries with international value chains, enabling inclusive growth, technology transfer, quality employment, and sustainable prosperity across Assam and the northeast,” he said. The initiative opens immense avenues for European companies to process state-grown products, successfully positioning Assam on the global trade map, Sarma asserted. The Blue Valley initiative is a key outcome of Advantage Assam Investment Summit 2.0 and is a new chapter in the Assam-Europe partnership, he said. “The Blue Valley initiative translates this global strategic cooperation into local opportunities, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable growth,” he said. India and the EU have established an ambitious roadmap for cooperation across diverse sectors with the adoption of the ‘Towards 2030 agenda’, Sarma said. “Assam is rapidly emerging as the gateway connecting India with Southeast Asia and the initiative seeks to link Assam’s natural strengths with global value chains, creating new avenues for growth, innovation and investment,” he said. Sarma also said that the achievement of the state government during the last five years was only the beginning. “With a strong economic momentum and growing investor confidence, Assam is steadily emerging as one of India’s most sought after destinations for investment,” he added. (Source: PTI)    

KOHIMA : The Nagaland Department of Youth Resources and Sports on Tuesday launched two initiatives aimed at equipping young athletes with life skills, career guidance and economic opportunities beyond their sporting careers. The Mentorship Programme for Holistic Development of Student Athletes and the Skill-Based Economic Sustenance Programme for Athletes were launched at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here by Youth Resources and Sports Secretary Anthony Ngullie. The programmes, designed for athletes of the Indira Gandhi Academy, seek to address a long-standing challenge faced by young sportspersons — preparing for life after sports while balancing education, personal growth and future employment prospects. Speaking at the launch, department officials said the initiatives reflect a broader vision of athlete welfare, recognising that sporting excellence alone cannot guarantee long-term security and success. Under the mentorship programme, 11 officers of the department, including the Secretary himself, will serve as mentors to approximately 140 athletes. Each mentor will guide 12 to 13 athletes through regular interactions focused on academics, physical and mental well-being, discipline, life skills and career planning. The programme, which will run until March next year, is expected to create a structured support system where athletes can receive individual guidance beyond the training ground. In his address, Ngullie said that while coaches will continue to oversee sporting performance, mentors will help athletes navigate personal and educational challenges, encouraging a more balanced and holistic development model. The launch marks one of the first structured attempts by the state government to integrate sports development with career mentorship and livelihood creation, he said. He expressed confidence that the twin initiatives would create a lasting impact on the lives of young athletes by expanding their opportunities both on and off the field, reinforcing the message that sporting success and economic empowerment can go hand in hand. Alongside mentorship, the department also launched a skill development initiative aimed at strengthening the economic resilience of athletes. Targeting athletes aged 15 years and above, the Skill-Based Economic Sustenance Programme will commence on Thursday and continue until October, YRS Officer Naroenla said. Participants will receive training in practical vocational trades including mobile phone repairing, crochet, pickle making and food processing, baking and confectionery, and floristry, she said. The programme has been designed around the idea that athletes should possess alternative skills that can generate income, support entrepreneurship and provide economic security after their competitive careers, she said. Each training module will span one month, comprising two weeks of expert-led instruction followed by two weeks of guided practical work. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Legendary American hard rock band ‘Guns N’ Roses’ will perform here on November 17, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday. This will be the second international concert in the city after Post Malone’s performance here in December last. ”Delighted to welcome the legendary Guns N’ Roses to Guwahati on November 17, 2026, bringing one of the world’s most iconic rock bands to Assam”, the CM posted on ‘X’. ”Following the historic success of Post Malone’s concert, Assam’s rise as a global live entertainment destination continues to gather momentum”, he said. Sarma said as fans travel from across India and beyond, they will experience Assam’s hospitality, culture and vibrancy, while creating new opportunities for tourism and the local economy. The concert will be held at the Veterinary Ground at Khanapara. This will be ‘Guns N’ Roses’ third visit to the country after their performance in Mumbai last year, and also in 2012 at the same venue along with Bengaluru. Besides Guwahati, the band will also perform in Bengaluru on November 14 as part of the Asia leg of their ongoing world tour. The Assam government had approved a new policy in May last year for promoting ‘concert tourism’ with Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Jorhat as hubs and also joined hands with Bigtree Entertainment, which operates online ticketing platform BookMyShow, to organise various national and international musical concerts in the state. (Source: PTI)    

IMPHAL : Thousands of people took out a rally demanding NRC updation in Manipur before the conduct of the Census in the state. The rally, organised by 14 civil society organisations, started from Tiddim Ground and covered a distance of 5 km before concluding at Thau Ground, both in Imphal. Tight security was ensured to prevent any untoward incident. The rallyists held placards that read ‘Do not neglect Manipur’ and ‘No NRC update, no Census’ and raised slogans demanding that illegal immigrants be identified and deported. The agitators’ spokesperson, Shanta Nahakpam, said, “The BJP raised the issue of illegal immigrants during election campaigns in Assam and West Bengal. Manipur, too, has several issues, including illegal immigration and border fencing.” “We feel there is no desire on the part of the Centre to conduct NRC (National Register of Citizens) in Manipur. We want NRC updation and subsequent delimitation of assembly seats,” Nahakpam added. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had in March said the state government is making all efforts to ensure a fair Census. The Manipur government had earlier announced that house listing operations for Census 2027 will be conducted in the state between September 1 and 30, with an option for self-enumeration from August 17-31. Elections to the 60-member assembly are likely to be held early next year. (Source: PTI)    

DIMAPUR : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday inaugurated four incubation and food processing centres across the state under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2024–25, aimed at strengthening market linkages for farmers and entrepreneurs while creating employment opportunities for the youth. After inaugurating the Food Processing Centre at the State Industrial Area, Toluvi, Dimapur, Rio virtually launched three other projects — the Incubation Centre for Entrepreneurs and Infrastructure Development at the Industrial Growth Centre, Ganeshnagar under Chümoukedima, the Incubation Centre for Food Processing at Tuensang, and the Modern Aggregation Centre at Longnak in Mokokchung. Addressing the gathering, Rio said small-scale industries, particularly food processing, offer the most viable path for Nagaland’s economic growth. He said the incubation units are aligned with the Government of India’s vision of building a “Viksit Bharat” and can serve as catalysts for rural entrepreneurship and value addition. Rio noted that there is strong demand for such initiatives from both farmers and the state government. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s target of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, he stressed the need for collective efforts to ensure Nagaland is not left behind in the country’s growth trajectory. He said the benefits of the centres would directly reach farmers once the units become fully operational, and added that the government plans to replicate the model across all districts. Such expansion, he said, would enable each region to identify and process crops best suited to its local conditions, thereby enhancing productivity and income generation. Expressing confidence in the state’s youth, Rio said Nagaland possesses abundant talent and rich natural resources. He urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities created through the new facilities and contribute to sustainable economic growth by combining traditional knowledge with innovation. MLA and Advisor for Industries and Commerce Hekani Jakhalu described the four centres as pilot projects developed after extensive study and planning based on local potential. She said the department aims to replicate the model across the state and ensure that every district has an independent processing centre by 2028. Emphasising the importance of value addition, Jakhalu said food processing is not merely about installing machinery but about creating an integrated value chain linking farms, factories and markets. She described the sector as a critical bridge between agriculture and manufacturing. Advisor for SCERT and Food Processing Achumbemo Kikon said the department would be guided by six key pillars — Production, Processing, Preservation, Packaging, Pricing and Patenting — to advance the sector in mission mode. He stressed that processing infrastructure would be effective only if supported by adequate production and called for cooperation from farmers, villages and stakeholders to strengthen the state’s economy. Among those present were Minister for Rural Development Metsübo Jamir, Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Zhaleo Rio, Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan, Advisor for Science and Technology Kuzholuzo Nienu, Advisor for Sericulture and Minority Affairs Imkong L. Imchen, and MLA Dr Sukhato A. Sema. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday allocated portfolios to 12 newly inducted ministers. The chief minister retained Home and Political, PWD, Power, Information and Public Relations, and departments not allotted to any other minister. Among the senior ministers Ranoj Pegu retained the Education Department, Ashok Singhal has been allocated his previous Health & Family Welfare, and Medical Education & Research, while Bimal Borah has been given Cultural Affairs and Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprises, and Act East Policy Affairs. The Finance Ministry has been given to Sarma’s close associate Jayanta Malla Baruah. “With the approval of the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, I am pleased to announce the allocation of portfolios amongst the members of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Assam,” Sarma posted on X. The 12 ministers were sworn in on June 5, while four other ministers were administered the oath of office on May 12 along with the chief minister. The portfolios of the four ministers were announced earlier. (Source: PTI)  

  NEW DELHI :  Domestic cooking gas LPG price has been raised by Rs 29 per cylinder, marking the second increase in three months as state-owned fuel retailers continue to grapple with elevated global energy costs. The price of a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder in Delhi will rise to Rs 942 from Rs 913 with effect from June 7, according to industry sources. The increase follows a Rs 60-per-cylinder hike on March 7 after the conflict in West Asia disrupted global energy supplies and drove up international fuel prices. Industry sources said that the increase had only partly offset losses incurred on domestic LPG sales. State-run oil marketing companies were estimated to be losing about Rs 703 on every LPG cylinder sold before the latest revision, the sources said. The LPG price hike comes amid a broader round of fuel price increases. Petrol and diesel prices have been raised by a cumulative Rs 7.50 per litre since mid-May, while compressed natural gas (CNG) rates have increased by about Rs 6 per kg. Despite the recent increases, oil companies continue to sell petrol and diesel below cost, incurring losses of around Rs 11 per litre on petrol and Rs 33.6 per litre on diesel, according to industry sources. The government has so far avoided a full pass-through of higher international energy prices to consumers, absorbing part of the increase through state-owned fuel retailers as global crude oil and fuel markets remain volatile. (Source: PTI)

IMPHAL : Security forces have asked village authorities and civil society in Manipur’s Ukhrul to sensitise youths to not get carried away by violent incidents in other districts, as they carried out a combing operation a day after three people were killed in a gun attack in Kangpokpi. “To prevent any spillover of recent violence in Kotlen, security forces undertook a combing operation on Saturday in areas around Litan, Mahadev and Sinakeithel” and highway areas in Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district which shares boundaries with Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district,” police said in a statement. The development came in the wake of the killing of three civilians in a gun attack at Loibol Khullen village in Kangpokpi district on Friday. Police said villages of both communities were patrolled jointly, and bunkers were traced and dismantled. “Village authorities and civil society organisations were approached for their essential support and were assured of the presence of security forces in the area to ward off any threats”, it said. “They were also requested to sensitise their youths not to get carried away by incidents in other areas and indulge in violence near their villages,” police said. (Source: PTI)    

PYNURSLA :  Residents of a village along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya held a demonstration on Sunday demanding that the fencing be done along the zero line, else they would get isolated from the rest of the country. Located virtually on the zero line in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, Lyngkhong is one of the few villages where homes stand just metres from a settlement in Bangladesh. According to international convention, fencing has to be at least 150 yards from the zero line. Locals say the village had been separated from Bangladesh largely by a bamboo fence erected by villagers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nothing has changed much. On Sunday, they staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to the sub-divisional officer of Pynursla, seeking an immediate halt to the ongoing fencing work. “We are not against border fencing, but we want the fence to be erected at the zero line so that our village remains inside India and within the fenced area,” village head Ramu told PTI. He said the proposed alignment would leave Lyngkhong outside the security barrier, raising concerns about access, security and the future of the settlement. Echoing similar concerns, Rima Khongsdir, a local, said, “If the fence comes up in its present alignment, our village will be left outside. We are worried about our future and want the state government to listen to our concerns and take them up with the Government of India.” Officials said construction of the border fence is continuing as part of efforts to secure the India-Bangladesh frontier. Meghalaya has a 444 km border with Bangladesh, less than 80 km of which remains unfenced due to local issues and difficult terrain. A senior official of the Border Security Force said an outpost has already been established in Lyngkhong to provide security and assistance to residents. “The BSF has a presence in the village and all necessary security measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the residents,” he said. A senior Home Department official said India has taken up with Bangladesh the issue of constructing a single-row fence along the zero line in areas where human settlements are likely to be affected. “Talks have been initiated on the proposal to erect a single-line fence at the zero line. However, the new government in Bangladesh is yet to take a decision on the matter,” the official said. (Source: PTI)  

GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced the allocations of ‘Guardian Districts’ to his 16 cabinet colleagues to look after the developmental works in association with local administration. As ‘Guardian Minister’, they will be responsible for the smooth implementation of all schemes and programmes in their respective districts. “I am pleased to announce the allocations of Guardian Districts to the Hon’ble Ministers of the Government of Assam… I am confident that the Hon’ble Ministers will work closely with the district administrations to further accelerate our journey towards progress and prosperity,” Sarma said in a post on X. Accordingly, Rameswar Teli has been given the charge of Tinsukia and Jorhat, while Kamrup Metropolitan and Dhemaji are assigned to Atul Bora. Kokrajhar, Baksa and Chirang are allotted to Charan Boro, Morigaon and Kamrup to Ajanta Neog, Bongaigaon and Barpeta to Ashwini Ray Sarkar, Darrang and Dhubri to Ashok Singhal, Sivasagar and Charaideo to Bimal Bora, and Nalbari and Sonitpur to Biswajit Daimary. Sarma said Jayanta Mallabaruah have been given Tamulpur and Goalpara, while Sribhumi and Hailakandi have been allocated to Kaushik Rai, South Salmara-Mankachar and North Lakhimpur to Keshab Mahanta, and Dima Hasao and Cachar to Krishnendu Paul. Nilima Devi will look after Bajali and Udalguri, while Biswanath and Golaghat have been assigned to Ranoj Pegu and Majuli and Dibrugarh to Susanta Borgohain. Pijush Hazarika will be the Guardian Minister for Nagaon, Hojai, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts. (Source: PTI)