Mohini Barman - The Purbottar

06 Nov

UK to Launch Mandatory Digital ID for Workers by End of Term

Mohini BarmanInternational

The United Kingdom government has revealed a plan to introduce a mandatory digital identity scheme for citizens and resident workers, aiming to make employment checks more robust and streamline access to public services. According to announcements, by the end of this parliamentary term the new system will require anyone working in the country to verify identity online via a government-approved digital ID. The move is described by ministers as a dual measure: tightening security, particularly in the labour market, and simplifying interactions with services like welfare, healthcare, and driver licensing. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scheme will “help ensure…

06 Nov

Modi, Shah, Sitharaman and Rajnath to visit Assam for major project launches

Mohini BarmanAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on November 6 that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit the state between November 7 and 9 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of major projects. According to the Chief Minister, Sitharaman will arrive in Guwahati on November 7 for a two-day visit. She is scheduled to inspect the new semiconductor plant in Jagiroad and inaugurate several key infrastructure projects. “Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will come tomorrow (November 7); she will inspect the new semiconductor plant at Jagiroad. She will inaugurate a new land water…

06 Nov

Assam State Chif Information Commissioner regingd from post

Mohini BarmanAssam

Assam’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta has resigned from his post following a series of Right to Information (RTI) petitions filed against his brother, entrepreneur and cultural organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta. According to sources, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had advised Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta to step down in light of the RTI applications seeking information related to his brother’s activities. Accepting the Chief Minister’s advice, Mahanta tendered his resignation from the post. Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, a former Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam, had assumed charge as the State Chief Information Commissioner earlier this year. Mahanta was an Assam-Meghalaya cadre…

04 Nov

Africa’s Largest Wind Farm to Power New Cross-Border Grid Project

Mohini BarmanInternational

Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power Project — already Africa’s largest — will expand its capacity by 25% to supply power to Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania through a regional energy grid. The project currently provides nearly 17% of Kenya’s total electricity. The expansion, funded by the African Development Bank and the EU, is expected to be completed by 2027. Kenyan President William Ruto stated, “Clean energy is no longer a luxury; it’s the backbone of our growth.” The initiative aligns with the African Union’s vision of a continent-wide renewable energy corridor. For India and South Asia, this development holds lessons in…

04 Nov

UK to Introduce ‘Digital Pound’ by 2028

Mohini BarmanInternational

The United Kingdom’s Treasury and the Bank of England have confirmed plans to launch a “digital pound” by 2028. The digital version of sterling will operate alongside physical cash, allowing citizens and businesses to make secure online payments directly with central bank money. Officials say the initiative will strengthen financial inclusion and support the modern economy in a rapidly digitising world. The Bank of England will begin public trials by 2026, focusing on privacy protection and cybersecurity. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said, “The digital pound will ensure the UK remains competitive in the global financial system.” However, critics warn that…

03 Nov

Bangladeshis illegally enter India in Assam’s Cachar-Karimganj, BSF confronted

Mohini BarmanAssam

A tense situation has unfolded along the India-Bangladesh border in the Sribhumi area, after a group of Bangladeshi nationals reportedly confronted with the Border Security Force (BSF) near the Bhanga–Harinagar sector. According to reports, the incident occurred along the border separating Assam’s Cachar and Karimganj districts from Bangladesh’s Sylhet district, particularly in the Rasulpur area under Ward No. 9 of the Manikpur Union, Jakiganj Upazila. Sources said Bangladeshi nationals had allegedly entered Indian territory to cultivate vegetables on land near the Surma River. A team from the 170th Battalion of the BSF after noticing their activity, they approached the area…

31 Oct

France Introduces New Visa Policy for Digital Nomads

Mohini BarmanInternational

France has launched a new “Digital Nomad Visa” designed to attract skilled remote professionals from around the world. The visa allows foreign freelancers, IT experts, and creative workers to live and work in France for up to two years. The move aims to boost France’s growing tech ecosystem, particularly in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux, where startup hubs are flourishing. Applicants must show stable income, proof of remote employment, and valid health insurance. French officials hope this will bring innovation and diversity to the national economy. The initiative mirrors similar programs in Portugal and Estonia, both of which have seen economic…

31 Oct

U.S. Senate Approves Major AI Regulation Bill

Mohini BarmanInternational

In a historic move, the U.S. Senate has passed a comprehensive bill to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), marking the first major federal legislation on the technology. The “AI Accountability and Safety Act” was approved with strong bipartisan support and is aimed at ensuring transparency, privacy protection, and responsible use of AI in public and private sectors. The bill mandates that companies developing AI systems disclose training data sources, prevent algorithmic bias, and ensure human oversight in critical decision-making. It also proposes the formation of a national AI ethics board. U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into…

31 Oct

Assam govt resshuffles senior police officers

Mohini BarmanAssam

The Assam government has announced a series of significant transfers affecting senior police officers across the state, marking another round of administrative changes within the force. Padmanabh Baruah, an IPS officer from the 2016 batch who was serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) in Guwahati, has been appointed as Senior Superintendent of Police for Udalguri district. The transfer, which partially modifies an earlier notification from October 17, 2025, takes effect immediately upon his assumption of charge, replacing Pushkin Jain who has been transferred. Meanwhile, Pushkin Jain, a 2017-batch IPS officer, moves from his position as SSP Udalguri to head…

30 Oct

CM rembers victims of Assam’s deadliest blast by terror outfit NDFB

Mohini BarmanAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday paid tribute to the victims of the 2008 serial bomb blasts across the state. A total of nine blasts were triggered by the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), claiming the lives of 88 people and injuring over 500. "30th Oct 2008 will always be a dark day in the history of Assam as it witnessed the most dastardly attack on its soil," Sarma said in a post on X. The NDFB's Ranjan Daimary faction had carried out the serial blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon. In September 2022, the Gauhati…