Added on Regional

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reveals the star-studded list for the 2025 Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the lineup for the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025, taking place on November 14 and 15 at Polo Ground and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The festival features international performers including Irish rock band The Script, pop and R&B star Jason Derulo, DJ Diplo, pop band Aqua, American rapper Tyga, and Bollywood performer Nora Fatehi. A special tribute to singer Zubeen Garg will be presented by local artists on the second day. Alongside global stars, local performers such as Meba Ofilia, Girish and the Chronicles, and Arius will entertain festival-goers.

The event will host various activities including the Mr. and Ms. Cherry Blossom competition, cosplay, arm wrestling, and multiple festival zones across Shillong. Organizers expect over 50,000 visitors. Tickets are available online and at box offices in Shillong. The festival has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Golden Banyan Award for Best Cultural Music & Dance and two Gold Awards at the WOW Awards Asia 2025, cementing its status as a premier cultural event in Northeast India.​

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Added on International

Despite Sheikh Hasina’s refusal to attack the US, Bangladesh NSA Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on November 19.

Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman will visit New Delhi on November 19 at the invitation of India’s NSA Ajit Doval to attend the seventh Colombo Security Conclave. His visit comes amid political uncertainty in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024. The discussions are expected to cover regional security cooperation, political developments in Dhaka, and India’s concerns over Pakistan’s growing military engagement with Bangladesh. Rahman’s past initiatives on the Rohingya humanitarian corridor and tensions with the Bangladeshi military are also likely to feature during his meetings.

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Added on State

Adani Group would invest Rs 63,000 crore in two significant power projects in Assam.

The Adani Group has received Letters of Award from the Assam government for two transformative power projects worth a combined Rs 63,000 crore. Adani Power Ltd will invest Rs 48,000 crore to set up a 3,200 MW greenfield ultra-supercritical thermal power plant under the Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) model. Separately, Adani Green Energy Ltd will invest Rs 15,000 crore to establish two Pumped Storage Plants with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW, including 500 MW of energy storage capacity. These projects, expected to create 20,000 to 25,000 jobs during construction and approximately 3,500 jobs once operational, will be commissioned in phases starting December 2030. They signify the largest private sector investment in the region, enhancing Assam’s energy security, industrial development, and job creation, while supporting the integration of renewable energy and grid stability in the northeastern region.​

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According to the most recent BMI measurement, just 2% of Assam Police officers were fat.

“The Assam Police has recorded a further decline in obesity levels among its personnel, with just 2.06% of the force classified as obese in the latest annual Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment, conducted for the third consecutive year. The BMI test, introduced in 2023 to promote fitness and operational readiness, has shown consistent improvement, with the force becoming ‘leaner, quicker, and mission-ready.’ Out of 73,317 personnel screened this year, only a small fraction fell in the obese category, marking a steady drop compared to earlier years. The initiative aims to enhance the physical fitness of the police, ensuring better health, appearance, performance, and overall readiness for duty.”

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A Supreme Court panel requests a response from the Assam government regarding a trash factory close to Kaziranga National Park.

“The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the Assam government to submit its response within four weeks regarding the controversial waste management site near Kaziranga National Park. This follows a petition challenging the construction of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) at Latabari in Bokakhat, raising concerns that the project could threaten the park’s fragile ecosystem. Environmentalist Rohit Choudhury warned that the site, located just 60 to 70 metres from the Difaloo River—a key water source flowing through Kaziranga—poses serious risks of contamination and ecological damage. Despite earlier environmental clearance with conditions to prevent pollution, an inspection found the facility non-operational and its environmental impact unassessed. The CEC has given the Assam government four weeks to justify the project or propose an alternative, with upcoming hearings to decide if the facility should be relocated away from the eco-sensitive zone.”​

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The Assam government has four weeks to respond to the CEC on the trash facility close to Kaziranga.

“A factual report submitted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change stated that the Bokakhat Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) site lies around 2.3 km from Kaziranga National Park and 4 km from the Panbari Animal Corridor. The report warned that leachate or runoff from the plant could potentially contaminate the Difaloo River, a vital water source flowing through the park. The Assam Pollution Control Board confirmed that the Bokakhat Municipal Board had obtained necessary environmental clearances for the FSTP and associated Material Recovery Facility earlier in 2025. The units are designed to process 10 kilolitres of faecal sludge daily, with treated water intended for reuse within the facility.

However, a recent inspection on October 25 found the plant non-operational, indicating that its environmental impacts have yet to be assessed. In response to public concern and petitions from environmental groups, the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the Assam government to respond within four weeks to justify the project or propose alternatives. The committee emphasized the importance of safeguarding Kaziranga’s ecological balance, calling it a global heritage deserving protection from development pressures. The next hearing will decide whether the waste facility will continue operating near the park or be relocated further away from the sensitive zone.”

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Added on Regional

25 acres of illegal poppy farming in Manipur are destroyed by security personnel.

“Security forces in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district successfully destroyed approximately 25 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, targeting fields in the hilly Awlmun area. The coordinated operation involved Assam Rifles, CRPF, and Manipur Police and included the demolition of eight makeshift huts used for processing and storing the narcotic crop. Officials estimated the destroyed poppy could have yielded around 190 kilograms of opium, valued at several crores of rupees. Conducted despite challenging terrain and adverse weather, this day-long exercise underscores the determination of security forces to dismantle drug production and financial networks linked to insurgent activities. This operation forms part of the state government’s ongoing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, which has significantly reduced poppy cultivation across Manipur in recent years.”

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Added on International

On November 17, a Bangladeshi tribunal will render a decision against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) has announced it will deliver the verdict against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two former top aides on Monday, November 17, 2025. The case pertains to alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising, which led to widespread violence and political unrest ending the Awami League government in August 2024.

Hasina, 78, along with former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, were tried in absentia and declared fugitives, while former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun appeared in person and later became a state witness. The tribunal concluded its hearings on October 23 after 28 working days and testimony from 54 witnesses.

The charges against Hasina include ordering a deadly crackdown, mass killings, use of lethal weapons against protesters, and inflammatory remarks during the protests. Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has demanded the death penalty, alleging Hasina was the mastermind behind these crimes. Security has been significantly tightened in Dhaka ahead of the verdict amid political tensions and calls for protests by the Awami League.”

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Paddy fields are devastated, and the threat of monkeys exacerbates farmers’ problems in Bokakhat in Assam.

“Farmers in Bokakhat are facing severe distress as the monkey population has surged, resulting in extensive damage to paddy fields nearing harvest. Hundreds of monkeys have been invading farmlands, destroying crops and causing significant economic losses to the local community. Without any substantial official intervention, villagers have resorted to chasing the monkeys away using sticks, loud noises, and burning chilies to protect their crops. The relentless monkey raids have left farmers both mentally and financially distressed, fearing their months of hard work may be wiped out. This issue is further compounded by ongoing challenges from wild elephant incursions, which also damage crops and threaten livelihoods. Residents have appealed to government authorities and forest departments to take urgent and effective measures to control the growing monkey population and protect agricultural fields.”​

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278 schools in Assam are being converted to mother tongue instruction.

“The Assam government has announced that 278 Lower Primary schools across the state will operate as Dimasa Medium Lower Primary Schools from the 2025–26 academic session, marking a major step toward protecting and promoting the Dimasa language. The official notification, issued by the Department of School Education (E.No. 632888/79), confirmed that the listed schools will adopt Dimasa as the medium of instruction at the foundational level. The move aims to ensure that children from the Dimasa community can study in their mother tongue during their formative years. The order states that ‘in the interest of the public in general and for preserving and promoting the Dimasa language,’ the government is pleased to introduce Dimasa as the official medium of instruction in these 278 schools.

The decision applies to schools under the administrative control of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) with plans to potentially expand to other areas with significant Dimasa-speaking populations. Officials, including the Director of Elementary Education, the Director of SCERT, and the Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha Assam, have been tasked with overseeing the smooth implementation of this transition. Education experts have welcomed the initiative as a significant measure for linguistic inclusion and cultural preservation in Assam, reflecting the government’s commitment to promoting education in indigenous languages.”

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Barak Bolchhe!

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES DISTRIBUTES ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN  MANIPUR

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES CONDUCTS MEDICAL AND OUTREACH CAMP

Regional

Over the following two years, 150 Northeast goods will be GI-tagged.

State

Over 1.46 lakh people visited Kaziranga National Park in the 2025–2026 season, indicating an increase in tourism in Assam.

State

“Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir,” the largest auditorium in NE, opens in Guwahati.

State

42 new train stops are added by Northeast Frontier Railway throughout Assam and West Bengal.

State

Four people were detained for damaging Christmas decorations at St. Mary’s School in Nalbari in Assam.

State

Due to the NH-715 diversion proposal, locals block the Kaliabor–Jakhalabandha road in Assam.

State

Dima Hasao tourism may suffer as Vistadome Express will be permanently discontinued on January 1 in Assam.

State

Assam CM: 18 foreigners who tried to enter illegally were returned

Regional

In an interstate operation, Tripura police find 24 missing young people from Siang, Arunachal.

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES SEIZES HEROIN WORTH ₹14 CRORES IN CACHAR DISTRICT, ASSAM

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES RECOVERS HUGE QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVES ON JIRIBAM-TIPAIMUKH ROAD, MANIPUR

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES NATIONAL INTEGRATION TOUR FOR JIRI IMA MEIRA PAIBI APUNBA LUP (JIMPAL) REACHES GUWAHATI

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES NATIONAL INTEGRATION TOUR FOR JIRI IMA MEIRA PAIBI APUNBA LUP (JIMPAL) REACHES KOLKATA

Local

ASSAM RIFLES AND DRI SEIZES YABA TABLETS WORTH ₹39 CRORES IN CACHAR DISTRICT, ASSAM