Blog - The Purbottar

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

HUL Ice Cream business demerger!

Purbalee DuttaBreaking News

Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) announced that it has received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to demerge its ice-cream business into a separate entity, Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd (KWIL). The Mumbai bench of NCLT approved the Scheme of Arrangement under Sections 230–232 of the Companies Act. This restructuring aligns with Unilever’s global Growth Action Plan (GAP), which aims to spin off its ice-cream division globally. As part of the plan, HUL will transfer all its ice-cream brands—Kwality Wall’s, Cornetto, Magnum, Feast, and Creamy Delight—to KWIL. HUL shareholders will receive one share of Kwality Wall’s for every HUL share…

31 Oct

Kotak811 unveils 3-in-1 Super Account, partners with super.money to offer seamless saving, spending and borrowing experience

Business BureauBusiness

Kotak811, India’s leading digital banking platform, has launched its innovative 3-in-1 Super Account, combining a savings account, fixed deposit, and secured credit card in one digital solution. The offering, developed in partnership with super.money, aims to simplify financial management for “Core India” — a growing segment of salaried individuals, students, and first-jobbers seeking digital-first financial tools. Highlighting the product’s simplicity, Manish Agarwal, Head of Kotak811, said, “The 3-in-1 Super Account brings saving, spending, and borrowing together in one place. It’s simple, secure, and designed for everyday use.” The account allows users to start with just ₹1,000, earn interest and cashback,…

31 Oct

India’s retirement preparedness improves: Axis Max Life IRIS 5.0 shows rising awareness and early planning trends

Business BureauBusiness

India’s retirement readiness has seen steady improvement, with the India Retirement Index Study (IRIS) 5.0 by Axis Max Life Insurance revealing a rise in the national index score from 44 to 48 over four years. Conducted in partnership with Kantar, the study highlights increasing awareness and early financial planning among urban Indians, with half believing that retirement planning should begin as soon as one starts earning. The report shows growing health awareness and fitness habits, as 81% of respondents engage in regular physical activity and 50% now own health insurance. However, financial sufficiency remains low, with 63% saying their savings…

31 Oct

Huma Qureshi Shines, But Single Salma’s Writing Trips Over Its Own Wedding Saree

editorEntertainment

Single Salma is a coming-of-age story about a 30-something woman from a conservative Muslim family in Lucknow who embraces self-love and independence. Starring Huma Qureshi, the film explores themes of feminism and individuality while challenging societal pressures around marriage. Single Salma centers on an unconventional woman in India, addressing self-love, freedom of choice, and resisting societal marriage pressure. While the themes are commendable, the film's execution is lacking, as the storytelling tends to be didactic and mediocre, ultimately leading to an underwhelming outcome despite the team's efforts. Hindi cinema has previously addressed similar themes. Salma, a 33-year-old engineer in Lucknow’s…

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…

31 Oct

Sikkim wants cleaner restrooms and improved public facilities while cracking down on gas stations

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

In a major step towards improving public hygiene and travel convenience, the Government of Sikkim has directed all petrol pumps in the state to immediately upgrade customer facilities. The order focuses on clean toilets, safe drinking water, and other basic services for motorists and the general public. The directive was issued by the Food and Civil Supplies Department through the Legal Metrology Unit and Consumer Protection Cell. Officials stated that despite earlier instructions, many stations failed to maintain proper sanitation standards, leading to frequent complaints from citizens and travellers. This time, the government has taken a strict position and made…

31 Oct

There will be a historic air show in Guwahati when 150 IAF planes, including Rafales, thunder over Brahmaputra

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Guwahati is preparing for one of the most spectacular defence events ever witnessed in the Northeast, as the Indian Air Force will stage a mega air show on November 9 at Lachit Ghat along the Brahmaputra riverfront. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the event, which will feature around 150 aircraft, including cutting-edge Rafales, Sukhoi-30 MKIs, and MiG series fighter jets, making it one of the largest aerial demonstrations the region has seen. Announcing the event, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the show will highlight the strength and precision of the Indian Air Force. “On November 9,…

30 Oct

Galaxy AI expands support to 22 languages worldwide

Business BureauBusiness

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the upcoming expansion of two new languages for Galaxy AI: Filipino and Gujarati. This expanded language support began rolling out from October 29. With this new update, Galaxy AI will support a total of 2 languages, strengthening Samsung’s ongoing commitment to lowering language barriers and bringing meaningful mobile AI experiences to more people. As Galaxy AI continues to evolve, users in even more regions can now access its suite of intelligent features designed to make communication and productivity easier and more intuitive in everyday life. With Live Translate’s real-time, two-way voice and text translations,…