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Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam's arms license policy excludes inter-state border areas, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-state border areas of stated in X, 'There were some queries regarding whether the arms license policy would also apply to inter-state border areas such as those shared with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Let us clarify: Assam has always maintained that inter-state border issues are matters that can and should be resolved through mutual understanding and trust. We do not view these regions as vulnerable in the context of national security threats. Accordingly, the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-state border areas of Assam'.The Assam government on Wednesday announced that the government will give arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote" said that the Assam Cabinet has taken a very important decision to protect the interests of our Jati, Mati, Bheti ((community- land- base). Arms Licenses will be granted to Original Inhabitants and indigenous Indian people living in vulnerable areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile said that this decision is taken after reviewing the "demand" of the people living in these areas. 'Assam is a very different and sensitive state. Assamese people living in some areas have been feeling insecure and they have been demanding arms licences for a long time. The government will be lenient in giving licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and must belong to the indigenous community living in vulnerable and remote areas of the chief minister said that in Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon and South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara districts indigenous people are minority and they suffer from insecurity especially after the developments in neighbouring Bangladesh these people may be targeted from other side of border and even in their village they may be added, 'Indigenous people are a small number in these areas. So people from these areas if they seek a license, the government will liberally provide them. This will ensure protection for our people in Dhing, Rupohi and Lahorighat. And Indigenous people from these places will not have to sell their land to move to different places. This move will provide confidence to them.'He added, 'This demand has been there since Assam Agitation (1979-1985) however no government has courage to do this. Had we been given an arm license then several people would not have had to sell their land and move to different places. Lot of people in Darrang and Nagaon during my visit to these places during the campaign of Panchayat polls requested me to provide arms licence or they said they will have to move out of the area.'He said, 'Deputy commissioners will do due diligence like the person should not be a criminal and does not have past records of crimes or criminal cases.'Assam has an interstate border dispute with Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Parleys are on to resolve border disputes with these July 26, 2021, there were clashes along Assam-Mizoram border which resulted in the death of seven people and injuries to several others. The Union Home ministry had to intervene.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam government to give arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote" areas
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Assam government will give arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote" chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on wednesday said that the Assam Cabinet has taken a very important decision to protect the interests of our Jati, Mati, Bheti ((community- land- base). Arms Licenses will be granted to Original Inhabitants and indigenous Indian people living in vulnerable areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile said that this decision is taken after reviewing the "demand" of the people living in these areas. 'Assam is a very different and sensitive state. Assamese people living in some areas have been feeling insecure and they have been demanding arms licences for a long time. The government will be lenient in giving licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and must belong to the indigenous community living in vulnerable and remote areas of the chief minister said that in Dhubri Morigaon , Barpeta, Nagaon and South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara districts indigenous people are minority and they suffer from insecurity especially after the developments in neighbouring Bangladesh these people may be targeted from other side of border and even in their village they may be added, 'Indigenous people are a small number in these areas. So people from these areas if they seek a license, the government will liberally provide them. This will ensure protection for our people in Dhing, Rupohi and Lahorighat. And Indigenous people from these places will not have to sell their land to move to different places. This move will provide confidence to them.'He added, 'This demand has been there since Assam Agitation (1979-1985) however no government has courage to do this. Had we been given an arm license then several people would not have had to sell their land and move to different places. Lot of people in Darrang and Nagaon during my visit to these places during the campaign of Panchayat polls requested me to provide arms licence or they said they will have to move out of the area.'He said, 'Deputy commissioners will do due diligence like the person should not be a criminal and does not have past records of crimes or criminal cases.'
Times
25-04-2025
- Times
An expert guide to southeast Asia's best boutique hotels
I stay at a lot of luxury hotels, reviewing between 30 and 40 a year, mostly around Asia as I live in Hong Kong. This isn't something that I would ever complain about (I realise how fortunate I am to have a job I love) but if I did have a niggle, it's that a lot of the big luxury brands aren't terribly creative or original. They often have a formula that works — starchitect designers, inoffensive decor, a curated art collection, a restaurant run by a celebrity chef and an opulent spa — but it's a modus operandi that inevitably becomes familiar. And what is familiar inevitably becomes, well, sometimes a bit dull. There are exceptions, of course, but when I look back it tends to be the stays in boutique properties that I remember most vividly. The far-flung resort surrounded by rice fields on Sumba, Indonesia, built entirely from bamboo. That little place in Luang Prabang, Laos, which monks would stroll past unhindered by five-star security. The slick Kuala Lumpur boutique brought to life by a collective of like-minded creatives. The beach resort on the south central coast of Vietnam with way more verve than the £1,000-a-night joint down the road. The remote beachside yoga retreat in Bali that had a resident ghost (a benevolent policeman who would sing in the night). The stylish river retreat in rural Thailand with its own long tail boat and just the local village for neighbours, or Bangkok's most flamboyant hotel with its spicy opium den interiors. Without big brand budgets, independently owned properties often spread by word of mouth making it tricker for most people to find those wonderful small hotels that sing with authenticity. To help you find the best, here's our pick of the best 25 boutique hotels in the region — covering Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue Koh Russey forms part of an island chain in the south of Cambodia haloed by dazzling blue waters inhabited by tropical fish, seahorses and bioluminescent plankton. Having opened in March 2025, Jati takes full advantage of the wondrous location with a wealth of outdoor activities including a watersports centre, racketball courts, mini-golf, a Thai boxing ring, a kids' club and a beach club serving barbecue food and tiki cocktails for the more horizontally inclined. One and two-bedroom villas are brought to life with chunky bamboo furniture, rattan wall art and colourful Khmer fabrics — the best also have private B&B doubles from £126. Fly to Sihanoukville • Discover our full guide to Cambodia The Aviary is just steps away from trendy art galleries, independent boutiques, cool cafés and chic restaurants in rapidly evolving Siem Reap, the northern Cambodian gateway city to the ancient wonders of Angkor Wat. Guests are greeted with cold lemongrass-scented towels, glasses of chilled tamarind juice and a collection of specially commissioned artworks inspired by the area's rich birdlife. There are 43 bright, comfortable rooms decked out in teak and cream, most of which come with balconies where you can perch with a coffee and listen to birdsong. The front desk can arrange tickets to Angkor Wat and other tours. Guests also have access to two swimming pools (with one on the rooftop), as well as a gym and small B&B doubles from £85. Fly to Siem Reap Verdant gardens, ponds of purple lotus flowers and a choice of aquamarine swimming pools, all a stone's throw from the Royal Palace, the National Museum of Cambodia and the buzzy Street 240, give the Plantation the feel of a true urban escape. Rooms are split between a low-rise 1960s building and a modern block with city views. Start your day with breakfast by the pool and end with dinner at the fine-dining restaurant La Pergola, which blends Khmer flavours with French culinary techniques — try the goat's cheese salad made with dragonfruit and organic honeycomb, the spicy watermelon gazpacho and the sweet and sour slow-cooked pork Seven nights' room only from £599pp, including flights Operating as a boutique hotel and a hospitality training school, Maringi Sumba is one of Indonesia's most memorable stays. It's positioned in eight hectares of gardens and farmland a short drive from the airport and the jaw-dropping beauty of Mananga Aba beach. Tucked between casuarina and eucalyptus trees is a shared swimming pool and nine villas almost entirely fashioned from bamboo, with vaulted ceilings, big netted beds and open-air bathrooms. There's also a welcoming restaurant and above-average spa, while cultural highs include visits to indigenous villages and the chance to ride Sumba's sandalwood ponies along the Full-board doubles from £132, including laundry and airport transfers. Fly to Sumba via Denpasar or Jakarta One of Bali's must-do dining experiences is a visit to the El Bulli alumnus Will Goldfarb's restaurant Room4Dessert. Here you can fill up on 15 courses of savoury snacks and perfect puddings including mango mascarpone cones, lime chocolate bubbles and jamu stradale. What's even sweeter is that guests can now stay over in one of nine rooms, including family suites with bunk beds. It's on the rainforested edges of Ubud, a five-minute taxi ride from the centre of town, and its boho decor channels the 1970s French Riviera with bright blocks of colour, Picasso-esque murals and stripy yellow sunloungers. Shared spaces include a fully equipped kitchen, a library packed with cookery books and a lagoon-shaped swimming pool shaded by frangipani B&B doubles from £67. Fly to Denpasar • Best of Indonesia Tejakula's mist-kissed rainforest and black sand seafront are off the beaten track but if you make the six-hour journey from the airport — an overnight stay in Ubud helps — you'll find Bali at its most idyllic. This intimate yoga retreat is split between two resorts, one ringing with birdsong in the Abasan mountains, the other rolling onto Pantai beach. Both are welcoming, entirely unpretentious and donate all profits to supporting the local community. In between sun salutations and cut-price massages, you can visit the local shaman, swing by a gamelan music school, admire ancient sea temples and snorkel in crystalline coral Full-board doubles from £59. Fly to Denpasar • More great hotels in Bali Clustered off the coast of Lombok, the Gili Islands are Indonesia's coolest corner, although accommodation options were fairly grungy until recently. A shimmy from Gili Air's calico beaches and bright coral reefs, Slow has ten private pool villas that artfully mix whitewashed walls with thatched roofs, chunky rustic furniture and local arts and crafts. There's no restaurant but an in-villa breakfast is included in the rate. Scuba, snorkelling, golfing and cooking classes can all be arranged. The spa is great, with a good range of reasonably priced treatments (60-minute massages from £20).Details B&B doubles from £182. Fly to Denpasar then take the ferry to Gili Air The owner of this dreamy beach resort on the northwest coast of Lombok is one of the most prolific collectors of Indonesian art and antiquities in the country. Much of the collection has gone into Hotel Tugu, which is part hotel, part living museum: winged serpents soar along rooftops, Javanese puppets dance through the lobby and fantastical doorways lead to secret gardens. Each of its 35 rooms and villas is uniquely decorated but they all have reclaimed teak floors, carved wooden beds and a fabulous array of arts and crafts. Elsewhere there's a perfect white beach, a 200-year-old temple and a huge swimming pool, plus two rather romantic restaurants and a bar perfect for sunset Seven nights' B&B from £1,949pp, including flights, transfers and a massage ( Set on the hillside a mile outside of the Unesco world heritage town, this sprawling estate is part of a former royal residence built during colonial times. Wrapped inside wildflower gardens dotted with mossy Buddhist statues are 32 suites with bone-white walls, glossy teak floors, netted beds and balconies. The Tam Nan restaurant looks as if it's been pulled from the pages of Somerset Maugham, with its rattan chairs, shuttered windows and swirling ceiling fans. The spa is the place to be spoilt with floral baths and massages that incorporate Laotian herbs and Seven nights' B&B from £2,759pp, including flights, transfers and one night's B&B at the Siam, Bangkok ( On the riverside in the historic centre of Luang Prabang, the Burasari Heritage Hotel was meticulously converted from a 19th-century French colonial mansion into a 21-room hotel bursting with charm. The interiors never let you forget where you are, from the lobby with its cobblestone floors, iron candelabras, celadon plant pots and billiards table, to the teak-clad bedrooms, the best of which have balconies overlooking the Nam Khan River. You can also enjoy the view over drinks and meals on the restaurant deck. You're within strolling distance of the morning market, the stately National Museum and numerous gold-topped Six nights' B&B from £1,210pp, including flights Staying in the splendid 1930s Lee Rubber Building, you've got the historic Central Market, the Skittles-coloured Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (the oldest Hindu temple in town), Chinatown and one of KL's top food streets, Jalan Petaling, right on the doorstep. It's hip without feeling like it's trying too hard. Guests are greeted with a muted colour scheme, sunken living rooms, designer furniture and airy skylights. Each of the 49 rooms has chalky walls, warm parquet floors, slouchy sofas and a scattering of modern art. The mid-century-looking Raw bar and restaurant is a great place to hang out, as is the rooftop B&B doubles from £109. Fly to Kuala Lumpur • Read our full guide to Malaysia Now best known for its electrifying food scene, the island of Penang was once one of the world's most profitable trading ports, swapping everything from nutmeg and cloves to rubber and tin, to textiles and opium. This lavish 19th-century mansion was built by a Chinese merchant along feng shui principles using some of the most expensive materials of the day: geometric-print floor tiles from Stoke-on-Trent, Glaswegian cast iron, German stained glass and the prized Indian indigo paint that gave the building its unique stain. Five stone courtyards are surrounded by 18 individually designed rooms, suites and townhouses that delight at every turn, with high ceilings, elaborate Chinese woodworking, porcelain lamps and rosewood writing desks. Happily the food and service match up to the very special B&B doubles from £105. Fly to George Town This sleek spot on the up-and-coming edge of Kuala Lumpur delivers five-star style at three-star prices. Geometric lanterns and Malay art hang in the open-plan lobby which doubles as a popular bar and restaurant serving curried seabass, brussels sprout sambal, and mee goreng noodles laced with chicken and prawns. Upstairs, rooms have gentlemen's club vibes. Extras such as hair conditioner and body lotion have been cut back to focus on high-quality fixtures and fittings, including wooden beds, hand-knotted rugs, thick velvet curtains and powerful rain Room-only doubles from £48 (mrandmrssmith). Fly to Kuala Lumpur Stripy cabanas line the swimming pool at this brilliant beachside hotel on Boracay, an island surrounded by dozens of tiny uninhabited isles, crystalline coves and luminous blue lagoons. The 71 rooms keep it simple, but welcome touches include handwoven Mindanao fabrics, sculptural Bertoia chairs and plump white beds. Cha Cha's Café serves up exactly what you want at the beach — ceviche, grilled corn cobs, seafood platters overflowing with mussels, swimmer crab and king prawns dripping in sriracha cocktail sauce — as well as a hearty breakfast menu of fruit smoothie bowls, eggs benedict and fried chicken and waffles. Details Seven nights' B&B from £1,599pp, including flights and transfers ( • Discover our full guide to the Philippines This OTT spot on neon-strewn Yaowarat Road puts you in Chinatown's fat belly of food stalls, family-run diners and fashionable bars and restaurants. Walking into the atrium lobby of this 80-year-old building feels like walking onto the set of a Wong Kar-wai film — the bubbling koi pond, the colourful birdcage lanterns, the jewel-toned velvet furnishings. If anything, the rooms are even more camp in vibrant reds and purples with ornate Ming beds, carved screens, lotus flower lamps, and electric blue and lime green silks. There's no pool but there is a spa with singing bowl rituals, foot reflexology and massages. Details B&B doubles from £60. Fly to Bangkok • Fantastic hotels in Thailand Inside a row of converted 1950s shophouses on a corner near Khao San Road, this eight-room hotel appears unremarkable from the outside. But cross the threshold and it's a whole new world, one that pays tribute to the owners' history in publishing. Floating iron walkways flank the atrium lobby, which is filled with vintage magazines, printing presses, typewriters and aged leather chairs. A scissor lift transports guests upstairs to rooms that have been individually designed with antique furniture, kitschy artworks, tasselled lamps and wooden floors. At the end of a hard day's sightseeing, head to the rooftop to soak in the outdoor hot tub. Details B&B doubles from £200. Fly to Bangkok • Best of Thailand There are two ways to reach this family-run hotel perched above the Chao Phraya River, either by taking the Chao Phraya Express ferry or passing through the sacred grounds of Wat Pathumkongka temple. In a 100-year-old former godown, the hotel has one restaurant and six distinct colour-coded rooms, with original teak floors, antique furniture and wall murals. Some rooms have mesmerising views of the river, those that don't are just a few steps away from breezy verandas, where you can kick back with a glass of chilled lemongrass tea. Details B&B doubles from £91 ( Fly to Bangkok • Best affordable stays in Bangkok This hotel resembles a fantasy Thai village, with thatched roof salas, candy-coloured borsang parasols and a turquoise swimming pool between rice fields. Sitting in a lush valley on the edges of Mae Surin National Park west of Chiang Mai, there are just 21 wooden bungalows built in the local Shan hilltribe style, sparingly decorated with comfortable wooden beds and dressers. Hike, bike and birdwatch for green leafbirds, black-hooded orioles and great hornbills before flopping with a good book (there are no TVs). Food is hyper-local and prepared by Karen people from nearby villages. They make up most of the staff as part of the hotel's community-based tourism initiative. Details B&B doubles from £41. Fly to Mae Hong Son via Bangkok Ayutthaya, a 90-minute drive from Bangkok, was established as a royal summer retreat in the 17th century, before being destroyed by Burmese invaders and then rebuilt with a fairytale collection of red Chinese pagodas, purple Swiss-style chalets and bejewelled Thai mansions by King Rama IV in the mid-1800s. Just downriver, set between coconut palms and banana trees, Sala Bang Pa-In adds a modern spin with a range of chic white-on-white rooms, a pulse-slowing spa, a riverfront infinity pool and a Thai restaurant serving the best prawns in Thailand. Details B&B doubles from £92. Fly to Bangkok This stylish small hotel is a hit with Bangkok's 'hi-so' (high society), thanks to its farmhouse-style villas and location: on the feathery pampas grass skirts of Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand, where wild elephants roam. Stone paths lead through courtyards and tropical gardens to 12 clotted cream villas decorated with driftwood tables, raffia rugs, macrame cushions and huge bathtubs. All have outdoor space overlooking the rippling mountain scenery; most also have swimming pools. There's nowhere else to eat within walking distance but the restaurant won't disappoint with its selection of tasty Thai classics made from organic local ingredients. Details B&B doubles from £200. Fly to Bangkok Traditional Thai design has been pushed into the 21st century at this boutique hotel designed by the Bangkok-based studio Department of Architecture Co. Resting on the bamboo trimmed banks of the Ping River in Thailand's second city, the squat asymmetric building is clad in pearly wood shingles that shimmer like fish scales in the sun and appear to glow from within at night. There are just 14 futuristic rooms, decorated with delicate ceiling murals that refract onto mirrored walls, as well as monochrome tiled shower rooms and river view balconies. Fiery northern Thai cuisine is on the menu at Sip@Ping restaurant. If you need to cool down, there's a slimline outdoor swimming pool. Details B&B doubles from £85. Fly to Chiang Mai Ninh Binh in northern Vietnam is known as the 'Inland Halong Bay', thanks to its pretty puzzle of jagged limestone karsts laced with meandering tributaries of the Red River. Pleated into foothills, surrounded by rice fields, with barely a tourist in sight, Tam Coc Garden feels like a slice of paradise. Sixteen rooms are immaculately decorated with exposed brick walls, patterned floor tiles, pre-loved furniture and pots of wildflowers. Shared spaces include a banyan-shaded swimming pool, a mountain view spa and an alfresco restaurant serving excellent Vietnamese food. Details B&B doubles from £176. Fly to Hanoi or Thanh Hoa • Read our full guide to Vietnam Absorb Hoi An's eclectic history at this peaceful resort, equidistant from the beach and the historic old town. A reconditioned American Jeep whisks guests between the two or, if you're feeling more energetic, you can grab one of the hotel's fleet of free-to-borrow bikes. The 17 large rooms have a cheerful assortment of cooling tiled floors, carved wood panels and citrusy soft furnishings, as well as indoor-outdoor bathrooms with stone tubs and verandahs. The restaurant comes with rice-paddy views, as does the rooftop swimming pool. Details B&B doubles from £57. Fly to Danang The spacious private villas at Mia Resort punch well above their rates, mixing clean-lined contemporary styling with drystone walls, platform beds cocooned in muslin and terrazzo bathrooms stocked with fancy Thann toiletries. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors slide open onto pretty gardens, some with beach access, some with swimming pools, a few with both. Adding more value are complimentary yoga classes, tennis courts, a watersports centre and free shuttles into high-rise high-energy Nha Trang for shopping and B&B doubles from £109. Fly to Cam Ranh • Vietnam's best hotels Art deco buffs will adore this streamlined hotel built around the 1930s-era mansion that was once the residence of the French Resident Superieur. Reserve mornings for visiting photogenic dragonfruit farms, salt pans and mountain monasteries; afternoons are for lazing by the infinity pool, which overlooks three miles of white beach sweeping east towards Hon Ba Island's historic lighthouse. The 57 large suites and villas have soothing contemporary interiors warmed with blond woods, elegant indigenous prints and cosseting bathrooms with big tubs. A new highway means you're just a 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Details B&B doubles from £137. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City or Cam Ranh
Daily Express
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Tambunan lasses show beauty more than skin deep
Published on: Friday, April 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Apr 25, 2025 By: Johan Aziz Text Size: The 17 district-level finalists in a group photo at the Tambunan Community College. TAMBUNAN: Program Pembangunan Pesona Unduk Ngadau 2025 proves that beauty is not just skin deep. The contestants also put emphasis on identity, cultural understanding and confidence in being the voice of the community. Chairperson of the Tambunan Kaamatan Unduk Ngadau Committee, Puan Saldivilla, said the programme is part of the committee's ongoing efforts to increase the capacity and potential of Unduk Ngadau participants each year. 'We appreciate the close cooperation provided by the Tambunan Community College in making the programme a success. 'It also opens up new opportunities for the finalists to be better prepared not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of intellectual and cultural aspects,' she said at the two-day programme held at the Community College, here, recently. She said 17 finalists of the Tambunan District Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan have successfully completed the program themed 'Jati, Jiwa, Jelita' as a result of the collaboration between the Tambunan Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Committee and the Tambunan Community College through the Lifelong Learning Unit. Saldivilla said the programme aims to strengthen the finalists' confidence, public speaking and cultural understanding in preparation for the district-level Unduk Ngadau competition. 'Among the main contents of the programme include a Public Speaking Workshop in the Mother Tongue, and Introduction to Traditional Clothing of the Tambunan District session. 'The programme is conducted by a line-up of experienced speakers and facilitators, including Datuk Joanna Kitingan, Ts Jean Ivy Denis Gompion and Velter Jailih,' she said. The programme, which was also attended by the Deputy Director of Tambunan Community College, Safary Samat, was officiated by the Assistant District Officer (Development), Willibrod Datuk Martin Idang representing the District Officer Sobitun Makajil. Meanwhile, the Sodop Huminodun Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Tambunan, set to feature 17 finalists, will be held at 6pm on April 25. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
