editor - The Purbottar

23 Jan

Ratcliffe’s move includes raising ticket prices despite the club’s ongoing struggles

editorSports

Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, has implemented cost-cutting measures including a 27.7% pay cut for club ambassadors, affecting former players like Denis Irwin, Bryan Robson, and Andy Cole. Legends who earn up to £200,000 annually are among those impacted, following a £113 million loss last year. The cost-cutting efforts have already resulted in the elimination of 250 non-playing roles and Sir Alex Ferguson being axed from his £2 million-a-year ambassador role. Ratcliffe's measures include raising ticket prices despite the club's ongoing struggles, with the team currently in the lower half of the Premier League. New boss Ruben Amorim criticized…

23 Jan

The fast-moving Hughes Fire has consumed nearly 10,000 acres north of Los Angeles

editorENVIORMENT

The Hughes Fire, a fast-moving wildfire north of Los Angeles, has consumed nearly 10,000 acres since it broke out on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 30,000 residents. With especially dangerous conditions due to high winds and dry weather, the fire rapidly spread from 50 acres to over 10,000 acres in a matter of hours. It threatened areas near Castaic, resulting in evacuation orders and warnings affecting over 50,000 people in total. Around 4,000 firefighters are responding under challenging conditions, and while no structures have been damaged, the fire remains at 0% containment. Authorities have also evacuated a nearby…

23 Jan

The proposed $450 million contract includes 4.5% annual salary increases for the next four years

editorCover Stories

The Victorian government's new offer aims to resolve a longstanding police pay dispute. The proposed $450 million deal includes a 4.5% annual pay increase for the next four years, an additional 0.5% increase for frontline police, and no requirement to "kit up" outside of shift times. This offer, which would cost around $456 million, is a compromise from the 6% annual increase the police union initially sought. It would also remove a costly "golden handshake" clause, potentially saving up to $50 million annually. The Police Association has welcomed the offer, and a formal vote by members is pending. If accepted,…

23 Jan

Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants

editorBreaking News

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian militants, Mohammed Nazzal and Katiba al-Shalabi, who were responsible for a deadly bus attack in the West Bank earlier this month. The militants exchanged fire with Israeli troops in the village of Burqin before being killed, and an Israeli soldier was moderately wounded. Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas claimed ties to the militants and praised the bus attack. In related news, talks between the U.S. and Israel are ongoing regarding Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, with a ceasefire deadline approaching. Additionally, Al Jazeera reported that the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters, while Israel…

23 Jan

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma meets Japan’s State Minister of Justice in Tokyo

editorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday met Japan's State Minister of Justice Komura Masahiro and discussed about the Assam government's plans to establish an industrial park dedicated to Japanese companies in the state. The duo also had a conversation on the shared values and ethos that tie India and Japan. Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "It was a privilege to meet H.E. Mr. Komura Masahiro, Japan's State Minister of Justice. We had an insightful conversation on the shared values and ethos that tie India and Japan, and particularly how ideals of Buddha form a spiritual brid between…

23 Jan

Budget Session in Assam to begin on Feb 17

editorAssam

The Assam Assembly’s budget session will be held from February 17 to March 25, an official said on Thursday. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the session's inaugural day will take place in Kokrajhar, the official added. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya will deliver the opening address. Following a one-day break, the rest of the session will be held at the Assam Assembly complex here from February 19.

23 Jan

Assam: 354 Tea Garden Hospitals to be upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs

editorAssam

In a landmark initiative to strengthen healthcare services in Assam's tea Garden areas, the National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday to upgrade 354 tea garden hospitals into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. This transformative step aims to provide quality healthcare to tea garden workers and their families. The event was attended by Ashok Singhal, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Irrigation, Government of Assam, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Ministers Pijush Hazarika, Prashanta Phukan, Rupesh Gowala and Krishnendu Paul, along with several MLAs representing various constituencies across the state. Speaking at the…

22 Jan

Manchester United Legends Face Salary Cuts Amid Cost-Cutting Measures

editorSports

Manchester United, driven by new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, has initiated a series of significant cost-cutting measures affecting club ambassadors, including legends like Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin, and Andy Cole. These changes include substantial salary reductions for these former players, who perform ambassadorial duties for the club, ranging from £500 to £1,000 per matchday. Additionally, 250 non-playing staff have been made redundant, Christmas bonuses have been slashed, and the annual donation to the Association of Former Manchester United Players has been cut. Moreover, the Manchester United charity Foundation is also facing funding cuts, and ticket prices for children…

22 Jan

ANZ’s recent financial performance has lagged its peers

editorNorth East

Fund managers are urging ANZ to address its governance and compliance issues, especially within its retail banking sector, amid regulatory investigations that may result in fines and increased capital requirements. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is probing allegations that ANZ miscalculated interest on customer savings and deposit accounts and has encountered issues with customer hardship provisions and fees charged to deceased customers' accounts. Furthermore, ASIC is investigating ANZ's markets team for activities related to a 2023 government bond issuance. Fund managers highlight the severity of such basic errors and warn that these governance failures could attract significant regulatory…

22 Jan

Trump Administration Directs All Federal DEI Staff to Be Put on Leave

editorPresident Trump

On his first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to dismantle federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, placing all DEI staff on leave. He pardoned Jan. 6 rioters and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. Trump's meeting with GOP leaders focused on tax cuts, regulatory reforms, and upcoming budget talks. He emphasized plans for AI infrastructure investment and expressed intentions to visit states hit by disasters. Trump also fired John Bolton's Secret Service detail and announced new tariffs on Canada and Mexico to address immigration and drug issues. Controversial actions included revoking birthright citizenship and…