Mohini Barman - The Purbottar

14 Oct

Assam govt issues eviction notice to 1,200 family in Hojai Forest Division

Mohini BarmanAssam

The Hojai Forest Division is planning a major eviction operation in the Jamuna–Moudenga Reserved Forest under Doboka, targeting longstanding encroachments on forest land. The move comes after the department issued formal notices to residents living within the protected area. According to officials, approximately 1,258 families who have constructed homes and settlements on the forest land have been served eviction notices. Occupants have been given a 15-day window to vacate the area voluntarily before the operation commences. The eviction drive is expected to cover several key locations, including Udmari, Jamunagaon, Nigam, and other adjoining villages within the reserved forest belt. Forest…

13 Oct

Beijing Hosts High-Level Meeting to Mark 30 Years Since 1995 Conference

Mohini BarmanInternational

China and UN Women will co-host the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, bringing together heads of state, ministers, and senior representatives to reflect on 30 years since the 1995 Beijing Declaration. The summit aims to galvanize renewed global commitment toward gender equality, address structural challenges, and set an agenda for the coming decade. Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote address. Agenda topics include women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence, political representation, health access, and intersectional justice. The event emphasizes that while progress has been made, many goals remain unmet or backsliding under rising secular and authoritarian trends. For Chinese…

13 Oct

Coral Reefs Face Widespread Dieback as Warming Crosses 1.2 °C Threshold

Mohini BarmanIndia

A major report led by scientists from the University of Exeter, involving 160 experts globally, asserts that the Earth has passed its first catastrophic climate tipping point: extensive dieback of warm-water coral reefs. The report warns that reefs, vital for marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods, are now exposed to conditions beyond their resilience. The global mean temperature has already hit around 1.4 °C above preindustrial levels—well past the 1.2 °C threshold identified for reef collapse. Other ecosystems are also nearing tipping points, such as the Amazon rainforest, polar ice sheets, and major ocean current patterns. The findings emphasize that the…

11 Oct

Historic Near-Earth Passage Observed Over South Pole

Mohini BarmanInternational

October 2025, the meter-sized asteroid 2025 TF passed just 428±7 km above the surface of Antarctica — one of the closest near-Earth flybys ever recorded. Though it posed no danger, the event offers scientists a rare opportunity to study asteroid dynamics at close range. Observatories and radar stations in the Southern Hemisphere mobilized to collect data. The event was part of ongoing research into near-Earth objects (NEOs) and planetary defense. It underscores how even small space objects can come astonishingly close to Earth. For science media worldwide, the story is a compelling space event. For South Asian science outlets (Nepal,…

11 Oct

New Delhi to Host Second WHO Traditional Medicine Summit in December

Mohini BarmanIndia

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-host the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from December 17 to 19, 2025. The summit aims to bring together global experts, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to scale integration of traditional medicine into health systems, promote evidence-based practices, and explore harmonization frameworks. The MoU was signed in the presence of India's Minister of AYUSH and senior WHO officials. India has positioned itself as a leader in traditional health care, combining Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha systems with modern medicine.…

10 Oct

Bangladesh Parties Agree to Referendum Over Reform Charter

Mohini BarmanBangladesh

Bangladesh’s major political parties have collectively endorsed holding a nationwide referendum on a proposed reform charter, but disagreement remains over when it should occur. The 28-page "July Charter" includes sweeping changes such as term limits for prime ministers, stronger checks and balances, and recognition of Bangladesh as multiethnic and multi-religious. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus supports rapid implementation, while some groups argue for holding the referendum only after parliamentary elections in early 2026. The charter is viewed as a response to last year’s mass protests that deposed Sheikh Hasina amid frustrations over corruption and authoritarianism. For Bangladeshi media, this is a…

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…