He would be arriving at Umroi airport at 1200 hours from Gangtok, the state capital of Sikkim, and then proceed to the North Eastern Hill University to interact with the students there.
On the same day, he will fly to Aizwal, the state capital of Mizoram.
''Rahul will interact with students on various issues faced by the students in the region. The issues ranged from corruption, price rise and insurgency,'' Rahul Gandhi's programme coordinator G Krishnan said.
These apart, Rahul would also seek the opinion of the students' community on India's future, Mr Krishnan said.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth visit of the Congress leader.
''We have beefed up security,'' Superintendent of Police (Shillong) M Kharkrang said.
He said a Special Protection Group (SPG) team reached Shillong and reviewed security arrangements.-UNI
On the same day, he will fly to Aizwal, the state capital of Mizoram.
''Rahul will interact with students on various issues faced by the students in the region. The issues ranged from corruption, price rise and insurgency,'' Rahul Gandhi's programme coordinator G Krishnan said.
These apart, Rahul would also seek the opinion of the students' community on India's future, Mr Krishnan said.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth visit of the Congress leader.
''We have beefed up security,'' Superintendent of Police (Shillong) M Kharkrang said.
He said a Special Protection Group (SPG) team reached Shillong and reviewed security arrangements.-UNI
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) doesn't meet often, but it's picked a tetchy time to do so. Ethnic tensions have run high in Central Asia, and there's also the small issue of WikiLeaks.When OSCE leaders convene on Wednesday, December 1 in Astana, Kazakhstan for their first summit since 1999, the initial mood is likely to be a bit guarded. Especially toward US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The gathering of the 56 member states has been overshadowed by the release of confidential cables by American diplomats, many of which characterize foreign leaders in decidedly unflattering terms. They were made public by the website WikiLeaks late last week.
"Obviously this is a matter of great concern because we don't want anyone in any of the countries that could be affected by these alleged leaks to have any doubts about our intentions and about our commitments," Clinton told reporters before leaving for Astana on Monday, November 29.
Among those who were criticized by US diplomats were Kazakh elites, who were described as leading overly lavish lifestyles and, in at least one case, having an excessive fondness for alcoholic beverages.
And that's not been the only criticism of leaders from the host country, as many of the world's most powerful nations sit down to discuss issues ranging from terrorism, drug trafficking and the drawn-out conflicts in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Controversial hosts
Along with criticism of Kazakhstan's less-than-stellar human-rights record, experts are divided as to whether the oil-rich nation plays a positive role in a region ridden with ethnic and economic conflict.
In June of this year, for example, clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in Southern Kyrgyzstan left around 2,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.
An ethnic Uzbek woman and her relative wait to to board a plane for Bishkek at the airport in the southern Kyrgyz city of Jalal-AbadBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: This has not been a good year for peace in Central Asia
But others say that Kazakhstan's relative affluence is in itself a source of regional instability
“Social inequalities between the nations of Central Asia bring with them great potential for conflict among the ethnic peoples of Central Asia,” Michael Laubsch, the director of the Eurasian Transition Group, told Deutsche Welle.
The very fact that the summit is being held in Astana is designed to underscore the claims of Kazakhstan and its president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to major-player status.
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Dmitry MedvedevBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Nazarbayev, m, hopes to lift his international profile
"First and foremost, the OSCE summit is a foreign policy advertisement project and President Nazarbayev's personal public relations project," Kazakh political analyst Dosym Satpayev told the Reuters news agency. "He is very ambitious and is keen to position himself not as a regional but, rather, a world leader."
If Nazarbayev could broker a breakthrough on one of the major issues under discussion, for instance the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorny-Karabakh region, it would certainly be a publicity coup.
But that won't be easy, especially as the usefulness of the OSCE itself is coming under scrutiny.
Past its prime?
An Sarajevan casting his ballot at a polling stationBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The OSCE oversaw the elections that brought a measure of peace to the Balkans
The organization that became the OSCE was founded in 1975 as a non-binding pact intended to further stability throughout the northern hemisphere and to serve as a forum for dialogue between East and West during the Cold War. Its high point came in the mid- and late-1990s, when it played a major role in bringing the Balkan Wars to an end.
But the OSCE's budget and influence has declined in the new millennium, and critics say the organization's structure is too cumbersome to prevent and resolve conflicts like those in Central Asia this summer.
“During and immediately following the violent uprising in Kyrgyzstan, it was unable to react quickly, stop the massacre and bring the situation under control,” Laubsch said.
But the OSCE has also received some important public backing. Russia, which has often criticized what it sees as a pro-Western bias within the organization, has indicated it thinks the OSCE does indeed have a future.
“The OSCE's potential has not been exhausted,” Kremlin foreign policy advisor Sergei Prikhodko told reporters in advance of the summit.
At an informal OSCE summit this summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took much the same line.
“Our organization is capable of responding to crises," Lavrov told reporters last July.
Russia was characterized in one of the leaked cables as "an oligarchy run by the security services." Lavrov played down the importance of the embarrassing memos ahead of the summit, calling them an “amusing read.”
It remains to be seen, however, how many of the leaders can put hurt feelings behind them as they strive to define a new role for the OSCE in the 21st century - and perhaps make progress on the odd political crisis or two.
Author: Jefferson Chase
Editor: Chuck Penfold
Langurs are a common type of monkey in south Asia, and because they are large and fierce they are often used in India to keep other monkeys in check in public places.
The New Delhi Municipal Council said it will immediately put 10 langurs on duty outside several venues, but that number will increase in the days leading up to Sunday's opening ceremony.
Monkey around: Langurs are being used as security guards for the Commonwealth Games, which begin on Sunday
Monkey around: Langurs are being used as guards for the Commonwealth Games, which begin on Sunday
'The additional langurs will take care of the games venues and other important areas,' a council spokesman said.
Spotting monkeys in Delhi is not uncommon. The animals roam through buildings throughout the city, often causing havoc as they scamper through hospitals and government offices.
In 2007, the deputy mayor of New Delhi was killed when he fell from his balcony during an attack by wild monkeys, while 25 other people were wounded when a monkey went on a rampage in the city.
Keeping watch: The Monkeys will be in place in all of the mayor venues in New Delhi for the Games
Besides the stray dogs that run rampant on the streets, a four-foot cobra was found at the tennis venue and another snake was caught in a room at the athletes' village.
Sacred cows also roam unimpeded in the capital city.
Security remains a high priority in New Delhi with thousands of heavily armed police and military personnel scattered throughout the city.
England women's field hockey captain Kate Walsh said: 'To me, it's great. It's what we want at every games. It's definitely reassuring. I'm sure for all the girls, it's the same.'
Besides the usual problems facing organisers as the Games, which run from October 3 to 14, draw near, the games were dealt another blow when South African runner Caster Semenya pulled out of the competition because of a back injury.
Semenya, who won the 800-metre world title last year in Berlin, had been the biggest star still left in the games after the withdrawal of several other high-profile athletes, including Usain Bolt, David Rudisha, Jessica Ennis and Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy.
Go bananas: 'The additional langurs will take care of the games venues and other important areas,' an official said
Go bananas: 'The additional langurs will take care of the games venues and other important areas'
The Commonwealth Games have been plagued by problems for weeks, most significantly at the athletes' village, which was described as uninhabitable last week. But after an urgent clean-up operation, competitors have been moving in by the hundreds as the opening ceremony nears.
'The village is fantastic. The rooms are brilliant,' Walsh said. 'The lounges are the most spacious I think we've probably ever had in a world sports games. We've settled in and made it our home for the next two weeks.'
In a continued focus on security at the event, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that it continues to receive reports of possible terrorist threats in India and issued an updated warning to travellers heading to the games.
'There is a high risk of terrorist attack in New Delhi,' the department said on its website.
'Since 2000, there have been at least 14 major terrorist attacks in New Delhi on locations such as markets, train stations and other public places. These attacks have caused hundreds of deaths and injuries...
'You should pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.'
