Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Department of Information and Communication Technology to launch a computer literacy programme in North East.

The MoU was signed by these agencies and the representatives of the North-Eastern states, an IGNOU release said.

Atul Sinha, Secretary, Department of Development of North-East Region, Pankaj Agarwal, joint secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Prof H P Dikshit, vice chancellor, IGNOU were among those present on the occasion.

As per the MoU, IGNOU will be responsible for the development of the course content and delivery of the programme to the registerd students in Nort Eastern states and Sikkim through community information centres of Department of IT.

Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com, April 28, 2003

The British government has simplified the procedure of giving visas to Indian citizens who want to go to the UK, the country's High Commissioner to India Sir Bob Young said.

Young told media persons in Aizawl on Thursday that getting visas from different places in India now usually took less than 24 hours and more than two lakh Indian were given visas to go to UK last year.

Around 11,000 Indian students were now studying in UK, many of them through scholarships granted by the British government.

He urged more students from Mizoram and other North-Eastern states to come forward to avail the scholarships.

Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com, April 25, 2003

Issues related to bilateral military cooperation will be discussed during parleys between visiting Chief of Army Staff General NC Vij and Nepalese leaders and senior Army officers.

Vij, who arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday morning on an invitation of Royal Nepalese Army Chief General Pyar Jung Thapa, will call on King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, besides his Nepalese counterpart and other senior army officials during the four-day goodwill visit.

"This is a routine goodwill visit by Indian Army Chief to Nepal. The visit signifies traditional ties between the Nepalese Army and Indian Army," spokesperson of the Royal Nepal Army Lt Col Deepak Gurung told reporters at the Army Headquarters this morning.

Vij, who is heading a six-member Army team, would be made an honorary general of Royal Nepalese Army in an investiture ceremony at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on Wednesday, the spokesperson said.

He will hold discussions with senior army officers on issues of bilateral military cooperation at the Army headquarters here.

India is providing security related assistance to Nepal and we hope that it will continue in future, Gurung said.

Vij, accompanied by wife Rita Vij, will also visit pension camps of Indian Army ex-servicemen in Pokhara in west Nepal and Dharan in east Nepal. He will also visit various establishments of the Royal Nepalese Army.

Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com, April 23, 2003