editor - The Purbottar

29 Jan

BHEL Q3 results | Net profit upgrade 124% on revenue growth

editorBusiness, News

State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) on Tuesday (January 28) reported a 123.5% jump in net profit to ₹134.7 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2024, mainly on account of higher revenue. In the year-ago quarter, BHEL had reported a net profit of ₹60.3 crore. The company's revenue from operations grew 32.2% to ₹7,277.1 crore as against ₹5,503.8 crore in the same quarter last year. At the operating level, EBITDA grew 40.6% to ₹304.3 crore in the third quarter as against ₹216.5 crore in the same quarter in FY24. EBITDA margin stood at 4.2% in the reporting quarter…

28 Jan

Significant number of devotees from Northeast to take part in Maha Kumbh

editorNorth East

For the first time in the history of the Maha Kumbh, a special camp dedicated to the Northeast has been set up, attracting a significant number of devotees from the region. Over 20 saints and ascetics from remote parts of the Northeast will join the akharas to take part in the 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya' on Wednesday. At the "Pragjyotish Kshetra" camp in Sector 7, Mahant Keshav Das Ji Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar of the Nirvani Ani Akhara, told reporters, "On Mauni Amavasya, 22 saints from the Northeast will take part in the Amrit Snan with the akharas.…

28 Jan

Citigroup Restructures Private Banking Leadership Following Ida Liu’s Departure

editorUK

Citigroup has overhauled its private banking senior leadership after the departure of global head Ida Liu. Andy Sieg, head of Citi Wealth, announced changes to simplify the structure and elevate key regions. James Holder has been appointed as the head of Citi Private Bank for the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. Antonio Gonzales and Steven Lo will lead the Latin America and Asia South private banking businesses, respectively, while Cayman Wills has been promoted to interim head of North America. Christian Zeinler has been recruited from UBS as head of strategy for Citi Wealth and business execution. These leaders…

28 Jan

Tasmanian Government Nears Decision on Spirit of Tasmania IV Ferry

editorTasmanian

The Tasmanian state government is approaching a decision on whether to return the Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry to the state. Currently, efforts are underway to lease the vessel in the northern hemisphere until Devonport's berthing infrastructure is prepared. Labor has criticized the government for spending over $1 million on berthing and associated costs in Scotland. Premier Jeremy Rockliff emphasized the importance of due diligence to ensure value for taxpayers. Transport Minister Eric Abetz noted that crewing costs for the completed ship are $380,000 per month, with additional storage expenses. To mitigate the tourism industry's annual revenue loss of $500…

28 Jan

Assam DGP GP Singh released from state, to become CRPF DG

editorAssam

After a two-year stint as the DGP of Assam, Gyanendra Pratap Singh was on Monday released from state services to join the Central Reserve Police Force as Director General, according to an official order. The 1991-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer has been the Director General of Assam Police since February 1, 2023. "The officer is hereby released from the date of handing over of charges," the Home and Political Commissioner & Secretary, Biswajit Pegu, said in a notification.

28 Jan

Assam’s Bodo Council seeks inclusion in Article 280 for more funds

editorAssam

The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), an autonomous administrative authority in Assam's Bodo tribal areas, has demanded its inclusion in Article 280 of the Constitution to get more funds for the development of some remote districts that suffered decades of insurgency and are now on a peace path. Pramod Boro, the chief executive member of the BTR's governing body Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), told a group of journalists here that he was "trying to sustain" the peace that was achieved after four decades of instability, fear, uncertainty and threat. Monday marked the successful five years of the tripartite Bodo Peace Accord…

28 Jan

ICICI Bank shares rose 2% on strong third quarter earnings

editorBusiness, News

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) ICICI Bank shares rose over 2 per cent in early trade on Monday after the private sector bank reported a 15 per cent rise in standalone net profit to Rs 11,792 crore for the quarter ended December, driven by a rise in core income. The company's shares rose 2.09 per cent to Rs 1,234.50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). On the BSE, it rose 2.03 per cent to Rs 1,234 per share. Markets were trading in the negative zone. In early trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex fell 694.95 points, or 0.91 per cent, to…

27 Jan

Riyan Parag to lead Assam in Ranji Trophy

editorAssam

Riyan Parag has been declared fit to return to cricket in the seventh round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, which begins on January 30. Parag will lead Assam in their final league match against Saurashtra in Rajkot. Parag's last competitive appearance was in the third T201 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in October last year. He subsequently missed the T201 series against South Africa and the ongoing series against England due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. While he was also absent from India's Champions Trophy squad, this return to match action could help him regain match fitness should…

27 Jan

Assam to have Dibrugarh as second capital

editorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the district headquarters of Dibrugarh will be developed as the second capital of the state within the next three years. Unfurling the national flag here on the occasion of Republic Day, Sarma said the government will construct a permanent building of the assembly in this city on the southern bank of Brahmaputra in Upper Assam. "Today is an important day in Dibrugarh's journey to become the second capital of Assam. For the first time, state celebrations are taking place in this historical city," he said.

27 Jan

CIA Concludes COVID-19 Likely Originated from Chinese Lab Leak

editorCOVID 19

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has shifted its stance, now supporting the theory that COVID-19 most likely originated from a laboratory leak in China. This "low confidence" assessment aligns the CIA with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Energy, both of which also favor the lab leak theory. The reassessment occurred shortly after John Ratcliffe was appointed as the new CIA director. Despite lacking substantial new evidence, this position contrasts with four other agencies and the National Intelligence Council, which continue to support the zoonotic theory, suggesting the virus mutated naturally from bats to humans, possibly…