Blog - The Purbottar

11 Jul

Seoul to Outlaw Dog Meat, Marking Cultural Shift in Animal Welfare

Mohini BarmanInternational

In a landmark animal rights move, South Korea has announced that the sale and consumption of dog meat will be banned by 2027. The bill, which passed overwhelmingly in parliament, includes financial support for dog meat farmers to transition to alternative livelihoods. The government cites changing public attitudes, with over 80% of citizens now supporting the ban. The decision also boosts South Korea's image on the global stage as it prepares to host future international events. The move is being welcomed across Asia, including in Bhutan and parts of India, where animal rights groups have pushed for similar regulations in…

11 Jul

Flying Cars in Sight: NYC Prepares for Electric Air Taxi Era

Mohini BarmanInternational

New York City has begun trials for electric air taxis, aiming to offer short-distance air transport by 2026. Backed by companies like Joby Aviation and Archer, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are being tested at key locations like the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. These air taxis promise zero emissions and will likely replace helicopter routes between airports and city centers. The initiative has attracted attention from global metro cities, including Mumbai and London, where traffic congestion and pollution are major concerns. Authorities say the service will initially cater to premium commuters, but expansion plans include affordable public options…

10 Jul

TCS Q1 earnings: Net profit upgrade 6%, revenue up 1.3%; company announces ₹11 per share dividend

editorBusiness, News

The country's largest information technology company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), on Thursday, July 10, reported a net profit of ₹12,760 crore in the first quarter of the current financial year, up 6% from ₹12,040 crore in the same period last year. On a sequential basis, TCS' net profit rose 4.38% from ₹12,224 crore. The profit figures were better than HSBC estimates as analysts at HSBC expected the country's third-largest company by market capitalisation to report a net profit of ₹11,925 crore. Its operating revenue rose 1.3% to ₹63,437 crore as against ₹62,613 crore in the same period a year ago.…

10 Jul

MoS Margherita’s Cambodia visit reinforces India’s cultural and strategic ties

Business BureauBusiness

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, is on an official visit to Cambodia and Malaysia to bolster India’s ties with ASEAN nations. Starting his Cambodia leg on July 6, the Minister paid homage to the Father of the Nation and interacted with ITEC and ICCR alumni, alongside Cambodian dignitaries. On July 7, MoS Margherita met with Cambodian Senate President H.E. Hun Sen and Prime Minister H.E. Hun Manet to discuss avenues for deepening the India-Cambodia development partnership. He also had a Royal Audience with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and conveyed greetings from India. “Reaffirmed…

10 Jul

‘Wellness is not an event, it’s a way of life’: Yasmin Karachiwala and Soha Ali Khan share parenting mantras on fitness and food

Business BureauBusiness

Bollywood fitness trainer Yasmin Karachiwala and actress Soha Ali Khan, despite hailing from different professional worlds, have found common ground when it comes to parenting. In a recent interaction, the duo opened up about how they are raising their children with wellness at the core of their family life. Their shared mantra — “Wellness is not an event; it’s a way of life” — forms the foundation of their approach to movement, nutrition, and daily rituals. Soha Ali Khan, known for her candid takes on motherhood, believes in making movement a joyful and daily habit. For her, it's not about…

10 Jul

Bandhan Mutual Fund unveils multi-factor equity scheme to navigate market cycles

Business BureauBusiness

Bandhan Mutual Fund has launched the Bandhan Multi-Factor Fund, a new open-ended equity scheme designed to leverage a dynamic multi-factor quantitative model. The fund integrates four proven investment factors—Momentum, Value, Quality, and Low Volatility—into one diversified portfolio, aiming to enhance risk-adjusted returns while adapting to changing market conditions. The New Fund Offer (NFO) opens on July 10 and closes on July 24, 2025. Investors can participate through registered distributors, online platforms, or directly via the Bandhan Mutual Fund website. Vishal Kapoor, CEO of Bandhan AMC, said, “Multi-factor investing has become a powerful strategy in today’s volatile markets. Each factor performs…

10 Jul

Due to landslides, train services on Lumding–Badarpur hill line suspended indefinitely

Banasree SarkarAssam

Mass landslides between Dihakho and Mupa stations at km 51/1–2 have resulted in the permanent suspension of train services on the Lumding–Badarpur hill route. Because of the dire circumstances, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials have decided to suspend operations on the route starting on Wednesday. When mud and boulders from a landslide obstructed the tracks between Dihakho and Mupa on July 3, services were temporarily suspended. This was the first disruption. Regular train travel is impossible in the Dima Hasao district due to recurrent landslides caused by the ongoing heavy rainfall, even though NFR quickly resumed operations within a day.…

10 Jul

Sikkim promotes women leaders from grassroots to government

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government has appointed 12 women leaders from Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Chairpersons and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) across various state departments. This bold initiative aims to deepen women’s participation in policymaking and administration while recognizing grassroots leadership. The announcement has been widely welcomed as a powerful signal of the state’s commitment to women's empowerment and local development. The appointments are expected to bring fresh community-driven perspectives into public administration and inspire more women across the state to pursue leadership roles. Expressing gratitude, the newly appointed women leaders collectively thanked Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for acknowledging…

10 Jul

Hindware expands retail footprint in Kolkata with new brand store

Business BureauBusiness

Hindware Limited, a leading name in India’s bathware industry, has expanded its footprint in eastern India with the launch of a new state-of-the-art Premiere Brand Store in Ichapore, Kolkata. Named ‘Tirupati Sales Corporation’, the store marks Hindware’s fourth outlet in the city and the 30th across West Bengal. The new store is designed to provide customers, architects, and interior designers with an immersive experience, showcasing Hindware’s full suite of products. This includes innovative sanitaryware, designer faucets, modern showers, intelligent toilets, and premium offerings from Queo and Hindware Italian Collection. Kolkata continues to emerge as a key market for bathware products,…

10 Jul

Etihad to launch A321LR flights to Kolkata from September 26

Business BureauBusiness

Etihad Airways will upgrade its Kolkata-Abu Dhabi route to the state-of-the-art Airbus A321LR starting September 26, 2025, delivering a premium travel experience across all cabin classes. The airline announced that the new aircraft will feature luxury First Suites, fully lie-flat Business Class seats, and next-generation Economy seating with 4K touchscreens and high-speed WiFi. With the A321LR, Etihad brings wide-body comfort to a single-aisle aircraft, underscoring its strong commitment to the Indian market. “India is a key market for Etihad, and we are delighted to elevate our Kolkata service with our latest A321LR aircraft,” said Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial…