Blog - The Purbottar

09 Jan

Winter flu and pneumonia cases rise: Doctors urge early testing and preventive care

Business BureauBusiness

As winter continues, doctors are reporting a surge in flu and pneumonia cases, with the cold weather making it easier for viruses to spread. Common symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, body aches and shortness of breath are being widely reported, and medical experts warn that timely diagnosis is key to preventing complications. Delhi-based paediatrician Dr. Arun Wadhwa said accurate diagnosis is essential during the winter illness peak. “With winter illnesses on the rise, getting the right diagnosis is key to recovery and avoiding complications. If you’re feeling unwell, don’t ignore it—consult a doctor early to stay safe…

09 Jan

Hotel Booking Trends in Kolkata highlight a Shift Toward Location-Led Stays

Business BureauBusiness

Bangalore, 09 January, 2026: Kolkata’s hospitality sector is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. As travel becomes more purpose-driven and time-sensitive, visitors to the city are increasingly choosing hotel locations based on connectivity, convenience, and value rather than traditional luxury alone. From corporate travellers and medical visitors to leisure tourists and short-stay guests, booking patterns reveal clear preferences across a few key regions. Industry observations from travel and hospitality aggregators and stay platforms indicate that demand for hotels in Kolkata is most concentrated in locations which have good connectivity to other places in the city . These areas stand out…

09 Jan

Textiles Committee and NEHHDC sign MoU on IIPR protection

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

The Textiles Committee and the North Eastern Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation (NEHHDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the North Eastern Region Conclave in Guwahati. This MoU aims to protect unique products from the North Eastern states through Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), specifically Geographical Indications (GI) registration, and to foster post-GI initiatives. Key aspects of the MoU include collaborative development to strengthen the textiles, handloom, handicrafts, and khadi sectors, as well as initiatives to enhance the global visibility of Northeastern products. This effort is expected to empower artisans and weavers by safeguarding their traditional knowledge and craftsmanship, while…

08 Jan

Aaranyak–SBIF Promote Beekeeping to Mitigate Human–Elephant Conflict in Assam

SonaliAssam

Leading biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, with support from the SBI Foundation (SBIF), has introduced community-based solutions to strengthen livelihoods while promoting peaceful coexistence between people and elephants in human–elephant conflict (HEC)-affected areas of Assam. As part of the initiative, Aaranyak distributed 20 bee boxes with live colonies to community members in No. 3 Bholatar, No. 2 Bamunjuli and No. 1 Tankibasti villages in Udalguri district. The programme aims to provide alternative and supplementary livelihood options for families facing repeated crop losses due to frequent elephant movement. In these villages, most households depend on paddy cultivation. However, recurring crop damage caused…

08 Jan

Wage Assurance Prompts Tea Workers to Withdraw Dharna in Alipurduar

editorAlipurduar

Tea workers of five Merico-run estates in Alipurduar withdrew their two-day sit-in late Tuesday night after the company issued a written schedule to clear unpaid wages. The workers had launched a protest near the Dooars Kanya collectorate on Monday evening, demanding formal assurance that their pending dues would be released. Administration officials and Trinamool Congress leaders intervened, pressing Merico to provide a written commitment. Deputy labour commissioner Gopal Biswas confirmed that the company submitted a detailed plan, promising to clear all arrears by January 31. The payment schedule includes the release of one fortnight’s wages on January 9 for workers…

08 Jan

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Launches “Youth Dialogue” Initiative

Mohini BarmanNational

In a major outreach program, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today hosted the first session of the "Youth Dialogue" at the Tyagaraj Stadium. The CM interacted with over 5,000 university students, outlining a new policy that creates a direct pipeline for graduates into urban planning and municipal management internships. Gupta announced that the city would fund 1,00,000 paid internships by December 2026, aimed at utilizing fresh talent to modernize the capital’s civic services and waste management infrastructure.

08 Jan

Airbnb Insights Reveals: How music-led experiences are shaping India’s Gen Z travel culture

Business BureauBusiness

Music has quietly become one of the most powerful forces shaping travel choices among young Indians. Airbnb’s new Experience-Led Travel Insights has revealed that Gen Z are increasingly planning trips around live concerts and festivals, turning gigs into gateways for discovering new cities, extending stays, and spending time exploring local neighborhoods well beyond the main event. For this generation, travel decisions are being driven less by calendars and more by culture. Live events and IRL experiences influence where they go, who they travel with and how deeply they engage with the destination. In 2026, music is set to play an…

08 Jan

India–Israel film co-produced in Assam makes it to Pune International Film Festival

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Indo–Israel feature film ‘Murders Too Close – Love Too Far’, co-directed by Assamese filmmaker Manju Borah and Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman, has been selected for screening at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) 2026 in the Global Cinema section on January 17 and 19. This selection is a landmark for Assamese cinema, being the first international co-production involving Assamese and foreign entities, supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through NFDC. The film was shot entirely in Assam with a local crew, highlighting the region's growing capabilities in cinema. Co-produced by Borah, Amir Gedalia, and Wolman, this 108-minute…

08 Jan

Gauhati High Court Bar Association takes to hunger strike over plan to shift Gauhati High Court

Banasree SarkarAssam

As resistance to the proposed judicial township in Rangmahal grew, members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) started a three-day hunger strike on January 8 in protest of the government's proposal to move the Gauhati High Court's principal seat to North Guwahati. The protest began at 10 a.m. in front of the former High Court building in Uzan Bazar and was set to last for six hours every day. It comes after a resolution that was approved earlier this week at the Bar Association's emergent extraordinary general meeting. The agitation is being led by K N Choudhury, president…

08 Jan

Shyam Steel appoints Indian Women’s Cricket Captain Harmanpreet Kaur as brand ambassador

Business BureauBusiness

Shyam Steel, one of India’s leading producers and manufacturers of primary TMT bars, has announced the appointment of Harmanpreet Kaur, Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, as its brand ambassador. The association marks a significant step for the brand, reinforcing its progressive outlook by aligning with one of India’s most respected women leaders in sport. With this partnership, Shyam Steel highlights its belief that strength today goes beyond infrastructure, it reflects mindset, inclusion, and shared responsibility. Guided by its core philosophy, “Maksad Toh Hai India Ko Banana Hamesha Ke Liye Strong”, the brand continues to evolve its narrative by…