Bihu dhol

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to implement the decision to allow foreign investments in the multi-brand retail sector. Talking to reporters in Delhi after meeting Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, Gogoi said the FDI in retail sector move would help to bring in foreign investment, technologies and efficiencies. He said, "some states are opposing this, let them oppose. Those states who want, should not be deprived of this decision as it will help in improving agri economy. We hope that the government will take early decision on this”.

Despite overcast skies, star-gazers and scientists lined up at the venues across Assam on Wednesday morning to get a glimpse of Venus passing over the Sun. Venues in all the districts were teeming with sky gazers from early in the morning to watch the rare celestial event through special telescopes and other scientifically-approved equipment. The Guwahati planetarium and the Regional Science Centre pulled huge crowds where people were queuing up for their turn at the telescopes set up to ensure hassle-free observation of the celestial event. The sky was normal before 6-30 but overcast skies denied the people of the state from catching a clear glimpse of the 'planet of love' moving over...

Aaranyak...

Assam sees the first wave of flood rendering around 15,000 people homeless because of incessant rains in the last two days. According to officials sources, water levels of major rivers, including Brahmaputra and Barak, are on the rise. In Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts, iver 30 villages have been affected by the surging waters of Pisola river. At least 10 villages were hit in Baksa and Udalguri districts. The water levels in most of the major rivers Brahmaputra, Burhidehing, Subansiri, Pagladia and Barak are still rising.