Blog - The Purbottar

05 Aug

Chicago Becomes First US City to Ban Facial Recognition in Public Surveillance

Mohini BarmanInternational

The City Council of Chicago has passed a groundbreaking ordinance banning the use of facial recognition technology in public surveillance systems operated by law enforcement. Citing concerns over privacy, bias, and wrongful identification, the law has been welcomed by civil liberties groups across the USA. The law makes Chicago the first major American city to enforce such a sweeping digital rights measure. Exemptions are made for airport security and private businesses, but police departments must now rely on alternative tracking methods. Legal think tanks in India and Bangladesh, where facial recognition is expanding, are reviewing the implications. Experts suggest that…

05 Aug

Moon Mission Pushed to 2027 as Engineers Work on Safety Systems

Mohini BarmanNASA

NASA’s much-anticipated Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has been postponed from 2025 to 2027. The delay is due to ongoing concerns with the lunar lander system developed by SpaceX and spacesuit readiness. This mission is especially significant as it includes the first woman and person of color to set foot on the Moon. NASA officials said that the delay, while disappointing, is necessary to prioritize astronaut safety and mission success. Space enthusiasts and science students across South Asia—including from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh—have expressed continued excitement.…

05 Aug

Health Minister Ashok Singhal opens a dialysis facility at Bokakhat

Banasree SarkarAssam

Health Minister Ashok Singhal opened a dialysis unit at the Swahid Kamala Miri Civil Hospital, Bokakhat, on Monday as part of the Prime Minister National Dialysis Programme, marking a major advancement in the district's medical infrastructure. Atul Bora, Minister of Agriculture and Excise, accompanied the Health Minister at the inauguration ceremony. With the newest equipment, the three-bed dialysis unit with one recovery bed is staffed by two skilled technicians. The addition of the new dialysis unit will benefit and provide high-quality care for patients with kidney diseases at this hospital in the Bokakhat district. In addition to highlighting the government's…

04 Aug

Federal Bank’s net profit decrease 15% in the first quarter: NPAs rise, severe shortfall

editorBusiness, News

Mumbai, Federal Bank's net profit fell 15 percent to Rs 862 crore in the June quarter, as the core income was affected by the reduction in poverty and the rise in unemployment due to the rise in unemployment. The bank management said that the increase in loan growth and net interest rate in the second quarter of the financial year should also be emphasized. They attributed the industry-non-partners to the portfolio of microfinance in the performing societies. In the quarter under review, its core net interest income grew only 2 percent to Rs 2,337 crore. Other income rose 22 percent…

04 Aug

Managing diabetes requires a holistic approach that nurtures both body and mind

Business BureauBusiness

Living with diabetes means more than just checking your blood sugar — it’s about keeping it in a healthy range every day. It also requires being mindful of when and what you eat, and knowing what needs to be done in case the blood sugar levels fall. Over time these constant challenges can lead to a feeling of diabetes distress.With over 101 million people living with diabetes in India, diabetes distress or burnout typically affects 18% of those living with this condition[1]. For some, it manifests as irritability, frustration, or emotional fatigue. For others, it’s a quiet retreat—missing glucose checks,…

04 Aug

Bokakhat Assam Agitation veterans applaud eviction of encroachers from forest land

editorAssam

The Bokakhat sub-district committee of the Assam Agitation Veterans Forum met on Sunday and hailed the government's move to evict the dwellings and residences of suspected illegal occupants who had encroached on forest land, therefore freeing up the forest area. The gathering also encouraged the government to respect indigenous people's land rights. Arun Bora, a former active student leader of the Assam Agitation, presided over the conference, which requested that the government follow every condition of the Assam Accord and take stern measures to expel foreign immigrants in accordance with the accord's stipulations. Furthermore, the meeting passed a resolution urging…

04 Aug

Axis Bank Devalues Dining Delights With EazyDiner: New Terms Effective From August 1

Purbalee DuttaFinance

One of the often-overlooked perks of Axis Bank credit cards is the exclusive discounts through EazyDiner, available across all card variants. While discount rates vary from basic to premium cards, there’s something for every cardholder. Premium cards traditionally offered extra benefits like enhanced birthday discounts, Postcard Hotels vouchers, and complimentary EazyDiner memberships. Recently, Axis Bank revamped its Dining Delights program with EazyDiner, removing some discontinued cards and simplifying the structure. Notably, the Axis Magnus Credit Card has lost its premium status. It no longer qualifies for the high-net-worth individual (HNI) discount tier or birthday offers. Similarly, the Axis Bank Miles…

04 Aug

260 hectares of agricultural land in Demow are impacted by a drought-like condition

Banasree SarkarAssam

Assam is currently experiencing drought-like conditions due to insufficient rainfall, significantly affecting agricultural activities. In the Demow sub-division of Sivasagar district, approximately 260 hectares of farmland have been impacted, as per reports from the District Agriculture Office. This includes 152 hectares of general agricultural land and 108 hectares specifically designated for crops. An agriculture official stated that only 85 hectares of land were suitable for the transplantation of Sali paddy this season. Additionally, the crop area in the Nitaipukhuri region has suffered due to the dry conditions that set in after the initial transplantation phase, further exacerbating the crisis. The…

04 Aug

PM Modi releases ₹2,000 aid to 32,190 farmers in Sikkim

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

More than 32,190 farmers in Sikkim have received financial support under the 20th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The installment was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, as part of a nationwide disbursement of ₹20,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.53 crore eligible farmers.This direct financial transfer of ₹2,000 per farmer is part of the annual ₹6,000 assistance provided in three equal installments under the scheme. The money is meant to support basic farming needs such as purchasing seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs. In Sikkim, the number of farmers…

04 Aug

Renewable Power Milestone as 600 MW Plant Goes Live

Mohini BarmanBangladesh

Bangladesh has inaugurated South Asia’s largest solar power plant, a 600 MW facility in Gaibandha district, developed with support from Chinese firm Jinko Solar and the World Bank. The plant will provide electricity to over 2 million homes and offset nearly 1 million tons of CO₂ annually. This marks a major leap in Bangladesh’s target of achieving 25% renewable energy by 2030. The plant also includes agrivoltaic modules, allowing farming under solar panels to maximize land use. Policy advisors in West Bengal and Bihar are studying the agrivoltaic model, considering similar installations along river basins and rural belts. The development…