editor - The Purbottar

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…

22 Jan

Retaliatory actions included denial of employment and attempts to terminate his position

editorLatest

Travis Dawson, a former senior policy adviser to ex-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, has had his damages claim against the state government struck out for the fifth time. Dawson alleges reprisals were taken against him by several top advisers after he disclosed information under the Public Interest Disclosure Act concerning David Barbagallo, Palaszczuk's ex-chief of staff. The reprisals allegedly included denial of employment and attempts to terminate his position. The Crime and Corruption Commission had previously cleared Barbagallo of corrupt conduct but noted a breach in the code of conduct for not disclosing his directorship. Justice Glenn Martin has ordered Dawson to…

22 Jan

Pete Hegseth’s Ex-Wife Feared for Her Safety, Says Former Sister-in-Law

editorLatest

Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, is facing serious allegations of abusive behavior towards his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth. Danielle Hegseth, his former sister-in-law, provided a sworn statement claiming that Pete exhibited "erratic and aggressive" behavior, causing Samantha to fear for her safety. Additional allegations against Hegseth include rape, excessive drinking, and misuse of public funds, all of which he has denied. Despite these claims, the Senate Armed Services Committee narrowly approved his nomination, moving it to a full Senate vote. Democrats have criticized the incomplete FBI background check on Hegseth, arguing it failed to thoroughly investigate the…

22 Jan

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pays homage at Gandhi statue in Tokyo

editorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, continuing his international outreach, paid homage to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Tokyo earlier this week. This visit marks another step in strengthening the relationship between India and Japan, rooted in deep historical, cultural, and civilizational ties. The Chief Minister's visit to Tokyo is seen as part of India's broader strategic outreach to Japan, with the two countries sharing a "Special Strategic and Global Partnership." Japan-India relations are based on a rich history, intertwined through hcultural exchanges and historical connections. These ties date back to 752 AD, with Indian monk Bodhisena's contribution to…

22 Jan

HDFC Bank Q3 results: Profit may rise up to 3%, NII 6-8%; know what to watch out for

editorBusiness, News

HDFC Bank Q3 results: The largest private lender is likely to report a 0-3 percent rise in net profit for the December quarter, while net interest income (NII) will grow 6-8 percent. Provisions may rise sequentially, but decline on a year-on-year (YoY) basis. Net interest margin (NIM) may remain stable, banking analysts said, adding that management commentary on loan growth will be closely watched later today. Axis Securities expects HDFC Bank to report a 2.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in net profit at Rs 16,737 crore for the December quarter, as against Rs 16,373 crore in the same quarter…