Mohini Barman - The Purbottar

10 Oct

UK Signs £350 Million Missile Deal with India

Mohini BarmanInternational

The United Kingdom has inked a £350 million (≈ $468 million) contract to supply India with lightweight multirole missiles manufactured by Thales in Northern Ireland. The deal was announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to India and is seen as a cornerstone of an expanded defense-industrial partnership. It is expected to secure around 700 jobs in the Thales factory and underpin further arms cooperation between the two nations. In addition, the UK and India advanced a naval collaboration, signing a follow-on agreement for electric-powered ship engines, reflecting deepening military ties in the Indo-Pacific. Indian officials described the arrangement…

10 Oct

Assam BJP holds extended executive meeting in Dibrugarh to finalise 2026 poll strategy

Mohini BarmanAssam

The Assam BJP will continue discussions on Friday to finalise the strategy for the 2026 assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The extended executive committee of the party's state unit held discussions on the strategy for the next year's assembly elections during a meeting in Dibrugarh on Thursday, he said. The meeting was ''very constructive and we followed up on various issues'', Sarma said. The day-long deliberations included back-to-back meetings of the BJP’s core committee and office bearers, both focused on evaluating the party’s current position and preparing for the electoral battle ahead. During October 9th session, both…

09 Oct

G20’s Cross-Border Payments Goals Likely to Miss 2027 Target

Mohini BarmanInternational

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) stated that the G20’s goal to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more transparent by 2027 is likely to be missed. When first set in 2021, the targets included bringing average retail payment costs to 1% and ensuring 75% of payments are settled within an hour. But infrastructure complexity, regulatory differences, and coordination hurdles are hampering progress. Some improvements in settlement speed have occurred, but many users are still charged high fees and face opaque processes. The FSB report suggests the G20 may need to extend its deadline or set new benchmarks. Meanwhile, innovations like…

09 Oct

UN Cuts 25% of Peacekeeping Force Amid U.S. Budget Cuts

Mohini BarmanInternational

The United Nations has announced a dramatic 25 % reduction in its global peacekeeping presence, which will see 13,000–14,000 troops pulled from missions across more than 50 countries. This decision follows sharp cuts in U.S. funding—from $1 billion down to $680 million—as part of the Trump administration’s broader “America First” budget retrenchment. UN Secretary-General António Guterres defended the move, noting that peacekeeping has historically been one of the most cost-effective mechanisms for conflict prevention. However, several missions in Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, and Somalia will be impacted, and over 60 UN offices are slated for staffing cuts up to 20…

08 Oct

West Bengal Delivers Coordinated Diplomacy After Cross-Border Tragedy

Mohini BarmanWest Bengal

In the flood-stricken hills of North Bengal, authorities recovered the bodies of five Nepalese nationals and at least one Bhutanese citizen. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state’s Chief Secretary will coordinate with both the central government and the embassies of Nepal and Bhutan to ensure diplomatic assistance and repatriation. The victims were found in riverine and forested areas near Manebhanjan (for Nepalese) and Nagrakata (for Bhutanese connections). For Indian, Nepali, and Bhutanese media, this incident underscores shared vulnerabilities in cross-border flood zones and the importance of diplomatic cooperation and disaster preparedness across eastern Himalaya regions.

08 Oct

WTO Warns U.S. Tariffs Could Cut Goods Trade Expansion

Mohini BarmanInternational

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a stark warning that global goods trade growth will decelerate significantly in 2026, falling to just 0.5%, largely due to escalating tariffs imposed by the U.S. under the Trump administration. The jump in U.S. tariff rates—now nearing 17%, the highest since the 1930s—has created broad policy uncertainty. Many countries have refrained from retaliatory measures thus far, helping cushion the immediate blow. Still, the WTO projects that 2025 trade growth in goods will fare better at 2.4%, boosted by pre-tariff stockpiling in the U.S., robust AI-sector demand, and increased trade among emerging markets. While…

07 Oct

Historic Election Ushers New Era for Olympic Movement

Mohini BarmanInternational

Zimbabwean Olympian Kirsty Coventry has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and the first African to hold the post in the IOC’s 131-year history. Coventry, a decorated swimmer with multiple Olympic medals, won 49 of 97 votes at the IOC session in Greece, defeating candidates from Europe. She pledged to emphasize diversity, inclusion, and gender balance within the Olympic movement. Observers expect her tenure to involve reforms in host city selection and increased representation of underrepresented regions. For global sports coverage, her election is a landmark. For African media and sports communities, it’s…

07 Oct

Millions Starve as Aid Cuts and Climate Shocks Combine

Mohini BarmanInternational

Afghanistan is reeling under a severe hunger crisis, with over 22 million people—more than half the population—now facing acute food insecurity, according to the latest IPC (Integrated Food Security Classification) estimates. The crisis stems from a combination of economic collapse, sharp reductions in international aid, climate extremes, and mass displacement. Rural areas are hardest hit, with drought destroying crops and driving families to rely on unsafe coping strategies. UN agencies warn that malnutrition rates among children under five are soaring; around 3.5 million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition. Aid organizations say funding shortfalls are hampering relief; the World…

06 Oct

UAE Prepares Landmark Forum Amid Global Sustainable Investment Push

Mohini BarmanInternational

Sharjah is set to host the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF) 2025 on October 22–23 at the Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre. This edition is expected to be the largest yet, with over 10,000 delegates expected from 142 countries. In conjunction with the 29th World Investment Conference (WIC), the forum will focus heavily on sustainable development goals and bridging a global finance gap of USD 4.2 trillion needed by 2030. Key sessions will target smart manufacturing, clean energy, and green infrastructure. UAE officials have said the forum is part of the broader strategy to pivot the Gulf region from hydrocarbon…

06 Oct

Unseasonal Surge: Over 1,000 Hospitalized in a Day

Mohini BarmanBangladesh

Health authorities confirmed that the dengue fever death toll in 2025 has risen to 212, after nine more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours — the highest single-day fatality count this year. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said over 1,042 patients were admitted within a day, pushing the total number of dengue cases this season to nearly 49,907. The outbreak has lingered beyond the usual monsoon months, expanding into October, raising concerns about vector control and hospital capacity. In response, the government has stepped up anti-larval campaigns, intensified mosquito-breeding site inspections, and distributed insecticide nets in…