editor - The Purbottar

21 Jan

Southern California Wildfires Intensify Due to Strong Santa Ana Winds

editorInternational

Southern California is grappling with devastating wildfires exacerbated by strong Santa Ana winds. The fires have destroyed thousands of homes and resulted in 27 fatalities. Firefighters, including inmate crews, are working tirelessly to contain the blazes. Climate change and urban expansion have contributed to the severity of the wildfires, raising concerns about future fire seasons. Residents have been forced to evacuate, and the region faces significant challenges in disaster response and recovery.

21 Jan

The World Economic Forum has started its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland

editorEconomy

The World Economic Forum (WEF) commenced its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together global leaders to discuss pressing economic challenges. Key topics include inflation, supply chain disruptions, and sustainable development. Notable sessions feature discussions on digital transformation and climate change mitigation strategies. The forum serves as a platform for policymakers and business leaders to collaborate on solutions to foster global economic stability and growth.

21 Jan

Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas Facilitates Hostage Releases and Aid Deliveries

editorInternational

On January 20, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, leading to the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Three Israeli women, including British-Israeli dual national Emily Damari, were freed after 471 days in captivity. Concurrently, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire has allowed for an influx of aid into Gaza, with 915 trucks delivering essential supplies. Despite the truce, tensions persist, exemplified by Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian villages in the West Bank, resulting in property damage and injuries. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely.

21 Jan

Zomato Q3 results: Net profit drops 57.2% to Rs 59 crore as against Rs 138 crore a year ago; shares fall

editorBusiness, News

Zomato Q3 results: Zomato on Monday reported a 57.24 per cent drop in its net profit to Rs 59 crore for the December 2024 quarter (Q3 FY25), according to a regulatory filing. Following this, its shares declined 7 per cent intra-day and closed at Rs 240.95 per share, down 3.14 per cent from the previous day.However, the food delivery platform's revenue grew 64 per cent to Rs 5,405 crore during October-December 2024 as against Rs 3,288 crore in the same period a year ago.Importantly, its quick commerce Blinkit, which had kept Zomato profitable in previous quarters, has reported an EBIT…

20 Jan

Havells India shares jump despite marginal drop in third quarter net profit

editorBusiness, News

Havells India Ltd shares jumped on January 20 despite the company reporting a marginal drop in net profit in the December quarter. The home appliance maker's profit fell to Rs 283 crore from Rs 288 crore a year ago in the quarter ended December 31. Havells' revenue from operations rose nearly 11% to Rs 4,883 crore, while total expenses rose 12.3% to Rs 4,564 crore. Havells India shares were trading 1.5% higher at Rs 1,598 per share at 1:35 pm on January 20. This performance reflected strong demand from its switchgear project business, but it suffered inventory de-stocking in wires…

20 Jan

CM Himanta invites South Korean industrialists to invest in Assam

editorAssam

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday pitched before industrialists in South Korea the locational, strategic and policy advantages of Assam, inviting them to invest here. He also emphasised the Centre's focus on the Northeast and the commitment of top business houses of the country to push for industrial growth in the region. "Advantage business ties! I began the day in Seoul by speaking to over 140 business leaders at the Advantage Assam roadshow, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in South Korea," Sarma posted on X.

20 Jan

Assam: Water supply to be disrupted in parts of Guwahati on Jan 20

editorAssam

The Guwahati Jal Board (GJB) informed that several areas, including Ambikagiri Nagar, Rodali Path, Bishnu Path, Jyoti Path, Naamghar Path, Jurani Path, Triveni Path, Sankardev Sishu Kunjalaya Path, Dhrubajyoti Path, Bhagadutta Path, Ananda Path, and Akashi Path, are set to experience water supply interruptions today, January 20. GJB also stated that the disruption is due to ongoing leakage rectification work at Agoli Path. Efforts are underway to resolve the issue promptly, and the supply is expected to resume once the repairs are completed. Consumers have been urged to make necessary arrangements during this period

20 Jan

Finance Commission chairman Arvind Panagariya meets Sikkim CM

editorSikkim

The full team of the 16th Finance Commission, led by its chairman Arvind Panagariya, met Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang at the state secretariat in Gangtok on Monday. Panagariya and his colleagues arrived in Sikkim on Sunday on a five-day visit for consultation with various stakeholders. "This morning, I had the distinct honor of meeting the Hon’ble Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, Prof. Arvind Panagariya Ji, along with the esteemed members and distinguished officials of the commission, at my office, Tashiling Secretariat," Tamang said in a social media post.

20 Jan

Terror group operative arrested from Assam’s Dhubri

editorAssam

A person, suspected to be a member of a fundamentalist terror group, was arrested in Assam’s Dhubri district, a police spokesperson said on Sunday. The arrest was made by the state police’s Special Task Force (STF) as part of ‘Operation Praghat’, an ongoing multi-state exercise against terrorists, fundamentalists and terror networks. The spokesperson said, "One Jaheer Ali, a ‘jehadi’, was apprehended from Khudigaon village under the Bilasipara police station limits."

20 Jan

A group of monks from Nepal put on a kung fu demonstration with sword techniques in front of an enthusiastic audience

editorSports

The Druk Amitabha nunnery in Nepal reopened to the public after a five-year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To mark the occasion, a group of nuns performed kung fu demonstrations, including sword techniques, before an enthusiastic audience. These nuns belong to the 1,000-year-old Drukpa lineage, which advocates for gender equality within the traditionally patriarchal Buddhist monastic system. The nunnery, established in 2009, now houses 300 members aged between six and 54, who receive kung fu training to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. Beyond their spiritual pursuits, the nuns engage in relief missions and environmental initiatives across the Himalayas.