Blog - The Purbottar

27 Jan

Assam CM wishes the Dimasa-Kachari folk a joyous Busu Dima

Banasree SarkarAssamAssam CM

The Dimasa-Kachari community was wished a happy Busu Dima, a harvest celebration that honors agricultural achievement and cultural cohesion, by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Warm greetings to the Dimasa-Kachari community on Busu Dima," the Chief Minister said on social media. Assam's diverse culture is enhanced and the community is brought together by this joyous harvest festival. An important event that highlights the Dimasa community's strong agrarian roots and connection to the natural world is Busu Dima. In Dimasa, "Busu" means "harvest festival," and "Dima" stands for the identity of the community. Busu Dima, which is widely observed, marks…

27 Jan

CIA Concludes COVID-19 Likely Originated from Chinese Lab Leak

Deep EditorCOVID 19

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has shifted its stance, now supporting the theory that COVID-19 most likely originated from a laboratory leak in China. This "low confidence" assessment aligns the CIA with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Energy, both of which also favor the lab leak theory. The reassessment occurred shortly after John Ratcliffe was appointed as the new CIA director. Despite lacking substantial new evidence, this position contrasts with four other agencies and the National Intelligence Council, which continue to support the zoonotic theory, suggesting the virus mutated naturally from bats to humans, possibly…

27 Jan

Violent Stabbing on Bronx Subway Leaves Passenger Critically Injured

Deep EditorACCIDENT

A 25-year-old man was repeatedly stabbed aboard a northbound 5 train in the Bronx on Sunday morning. The attack occurred near Grand Concourse and East 149th Street, with the assailant fleeing the scene. The victim was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in critical but stable condition. The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion, last seen wearing a red sweatshirt, black vest, dark pants, and dark shoes. Authorities have yet to identify him, and the investigation is ongoing. This incident follows a particularly violent year for New York City's subway system, which saw 10 passengers murdered…

27 Jan

Tata AIA Life launches ‘Shubh Muhurat’ to help Indian families achieve dream weddings

Business BureauBusiness

In a move to address the growing financial burden associated with Indian weddings, Tata AIA Life Insurance, a leading life insurer, has introduced 'Shubh Muhurat,' a novel life insurance solution. This product is designed to assist parents in systematically saving for their children's dream weddings while also providing financial security in unforeseen circumstances. Traditionally, Indian families have relied on gold, fixed deposits, and other conventional saving methods to accumulate funds for weddings. However, these options often lack flexibility or the potential for substantial wealth growth over time. Shubh Muhurat emerges as a solution, promoting goal-based saving through life insurance. The…

27 Jan

Air India introduces AI-driven eZ booking for seamless reservations

Business BureauBusiness

Air India has launched its groundbreaking AI-powered eZ Booking feature, promising a faster and more intuitive reservation experience for Maharaja Club loyalty program members. The feature, available on Air India’s website, eliminates complex navigation, allowing users to book tickets effortlessly by speaking or typing their travel needs. The innovative eZ Booking employs ‘Agentic AI,’ mimicking human travel agents by understanding natural language inputs and generating customized itineraries. Users can modify or finalize their plans with minimal commands, making the process seamless. “eZ Booking showcases our commitment to enhancing customer experience with intelligent digital solutions,” said Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital…

27 Jan

Indian Oil Q3 Earnings Preview | Dramatic increase in profit expected after weak Q2

Priyanka RoyBusiness, News

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Ltd will announce its third quarter earnings for the financial year 2024-25 on January 27. Analysts expect a sharp jump in profits, mainly due to the weak performance in the previous quarter (Q2 FY25). What to expect Profit jump: IOC is expected to report a profit of ₹6,140 crore, a significant rise from just ₹180 crore in Q2 FY25. Revenue growth: Revenue is estimated to grow 11% to ₹1.92 lakh crore compared to ₹1.74 lakh crore in the previous quarter. EBITDA improvement: Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is estimated to increase from ₹3,772…

25 Jan

ICICI Bank Q3 results preview: Net profit may rise 10%, asset quality likely to remain stable

Priyanka RoyBusiness, News

ICICI Bank is set to announce its financial results for the October-December quarter (Q3FY25) on Saturday, January 25. Analysts expect the bank to report a healthy rise in profit on the back of strong loan growth and stable asset quality. According to a CNBC-TV18 poll, ICICI Bank's profit after tax (PAT) is expected to rise 10.3% to reach ₹11,332.7 crore compared to ₹10,271.6 crore in the same period last year. Meanwhile, the bank's net interest income (NII) is estimated to reach ₹20,461.4 crore from ₹18,678.6 crore in Q3FY24. The bank's asset quality is likely to remain stable. Brokerage firm Motilal…

24 Jan

Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma Reach $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement

Deep Editormedicine

The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma have reached a tentative agreement to pay a total of $7.4 billion to settle lawsuits related to their role in the U.S. opioid crisis. The Sacklers will contribute up to $6.5 billion, while Purdue Pharma will provide nearly $900 million. This settlement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a previous deal due to its provision granting the Sacklers immunity from future lawsuits. The funds will be distributed to states, local governments, and individuals affected by the opioid crisis, which claimed over 81,000 lives in 2023 alone. The Sacklers will pay the settlement over…

24 Jan

Severe Storms Batter South Burnett Region with Heavy Rain and Hail

Deep Editorweather

On Thursday afternoon, the South Burnett region in Queensland experienced severe storms that led to flash flooding, fallen trees, hail, strong winds, and intense lightning. The supercell storm began around 4:30 PM after a hot day, with Proston recording the heaviest rainfall—79mm in just one hour—and hailstones measuring up to 3cm. Over a 24-hour period, the area accumulated a total of 99mm of rain. Kingaroy experienced wind gusts reaching 67 km/h, while more than 280,000 lightning strikes were recorded around Nanango and 300,000 around Gayndah. The severe weather caused power outages affecting over 2,000 properties, with 245 in the South…

24 Jan

NHC Foods records 384% profit growth in Q3-FY25, eyes expansion

Business BureauBusiness

NHC Foods Limited, a leading exporter of spices and agricultural commodities, has reported a remarkable 384% growth in net profit for Q3-FY25, reaching ₹208.33 lakh compared to ₹43.03 lakh in the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter surged 58% to ₹7,352.97 lakh, driven by robust domestic and international demand. For the nine months ending December 31, 2024, net profit soared by 384% to ₹614.30 lakh, while revenue climbed 64% to ₹21,420 lakh, surpassing the company’s total FY24 profits. The performance underscores NHC Foods’ resilience and growth amid a challenging market landscape.To bolster growth, the company is investing in…