Blog - The Purbottar

09 Feb

Assam journalists begin five-day media tour to Kochi

Paromita EditorAssam

The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati, has organised a five-day media tour to Kochi, Kerala, for a group of 11 journalists from various media organisations in Assam. The tour, which commenced today, aims to provide media professionals with an in-depth, first-hand understanding of Kochi’s vibrant shipping industry, rich cultural heritage, scenic landscapes and significant developmental initiatives.The media delegation includes journalists from prominent organisations in Assam. The team is led by Barnali Mahanta, Media and Communication Officer, PIB Guwahati.A major highlight of the tour is a visit to Cochin Shipyard Limited, one of India’s leading shipbuilding and ship maintenance facilities, where…

09 Feb

PIL against Himanta Biswa Sarma in SC over alleged hate speech, shooting video

Paromita EditorAssam

A group of 10 citizens has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, flagging the speeches by the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and other constitutional functionaries as "derogatory and exclusionary."The petitioners have referred to the recent comments of Assam CM on 'Miya Muslims' and a now-deleted video generated by artificial intelligence and shared by the BJP in Assam, which showed Sarma, appearing to shoot at an image of Muslims.It is stated that the CM has previously termed citizens belonging to one community as responsible for rising prices of vegetables, causing "love jihad' and even 'flood…

09 Feb

Elanpro certifies 37 technicians under ‘Cool Skills, Bright Future’ initiative in West Bengal

Business BureauBusiness

Strengthening the commercial refrigeration workforce in Eastern India, Elanpro has successfully completed the West Bengal phase of its “Cool Skills, Bright Future” initiative, certifying 37 service technicians after a six-week specialised training programme. The certification ceremony was held today at the Ramakrishna Mission Industrial Training Centre in Kolkata. Conducted in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Sarthak, the programme trained young aspirants from several districts across West Bengal in installation, servicing, and maintenance of commercial refrigeration equipment such as chest freezers and visi coolers. The training combined classroom sessions, practical demonstrations, and performance assessments, preparing participants for employment opportunities in the…

09 Feb

MATECIA Exhibition surfaces reporter architecture event draw strong response in Kolkata

Business BureauBusiness

The MATECIA Exhibition—Materials & Products for Construction, Interiors & Architecture—held alongside the Surfaces Reporter Architecture Event, concluded a successful three-day run at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan here on February 1. The event brought together architects, interior designers, developers, and building material manufacturers, creating a platform for networking, product showcases, and industry interaction focused on East and Northeast India. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of industry leaders and senior architects, with Ashish Vidyarthi, National Award–winning actor and Founder of Ashish Vidyarthi & Associates, attending as chief guest. Day two featured a keynote address by Keshav Bhajanka, Executive Director of…

09 Feb

On His Birthday, Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde Seeks Blessings at Kamakhya TempleA

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde celebrated his 62nd birthday on February 9, 2023, by offering prayers at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. Born in Dare village, Satara district, Shinde has deep respect for the temple, having visited it with 39 rebel MLAs over three years ago to seek blessings during a revolt against the previous Shiv Sena leadership. While in Guwahati, Shinde met with Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to discuss enhancing economic and cultural ties between Assam and Maharashtra, during which Sarma conveyed warm birthday wishes to Shinde.

09 Feb

HMSI marks 5 years of road safety training in Guwahati, over 1 lakh people benefited

Business BureauBusiness

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Safety Driving Education Centre (SDEC) in Guwahati, reaffirming its commitment to promoting safer road habits across the country. The event was attended by District Transport Officer Gautam Das and other dignitaries, who acknowledged the centre’s role in strengthening awareness of safe riding practices. Established in February 2021 in association with the Assam Transport Department, the Guwahati SDEC has trained more than 1,00,000 individuals, including school students, college youth and working professionals, through classroom sessions and hands-on riding modules. The anniversary programme included a ceremonial cake-cutting and special safety…

09 Feb

India’s Largest Refiner Buys Non-Russian Crude as Trade Talks Loom

editorBusiness

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has purchased around six million barrels of crude oil from West Africa and the Middle East through spot tenders issued last week, traders said.The deals are for April delivery and reflect a shift away from Russian crude as India recalibrates its energy sourcing amid ongoing trade discussions with the United States. In addition to the six million barrels, IOC also bought two million barrels of Upper Zakum crude from trading firm Mercuria. Upper Zakum is produced in the United Arab Emirates.Indian refiners and trading firms typically do not comment on spot market purchases due to confidentiality…

09 Feb

Sarbananda Sonowal: The work culture of Assamese youths is the best defense against infiltration

Banasree SarkarAssam

In order to strengthen the continuous battle against infiltration and protect the state's identity, culture, and national security, the Assamese young must prioritize a strong work culture, according to Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW). Speaking at a youth convention held at the constituency level in the Tingkhong Assembly sector by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Dibrugarh district unit, Sonowal claimed that when young were directed with discipline and purpose, their combined strength could change the course of history. According to Sonowal, "energy is generated when the qualities within the youth are brought together, and from…

09 Feb

Bajali Scientist Appointed to Key Post in American Physical Society

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Jugal Talukdar, hailing from Bajali district in Lower Assam, has achieved a notable milestone by being appointed Chairman of the Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (FGS) of the American Physical Society (APS), marking him as the first Assamese to achieve this prestigious role. A graduate of Bajali College and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, he earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 2017 and subsequently pursued a PhD at the University of Oklahoma. Talukdar's postdoctoral work in Quantum Information Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) involved collaboration with Nobel laureate Professor H.…

09 Feb

Drones Emerge as New Tool in Northeast Insurgent Groups’ Arsenal

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Insurgent groups in Northeast India are increasingly employing advanced technologies such as drones for surveillance and logistics, causing rising concerns among security agencies and prompting a reassessment of defense capabilities. A Naga insurgent group is reportedly using several surveillance drones, including quadcopters and hexacopters, believed to be sourced through networks in Myanmar’s Kachin region with alleged connections to Chinese suppliers. While these drones are mainly for reconnaissance, officials worry they could be repurposed for offensive actions. Kuki militant groups have also been noted for similar technological advancements, with prior reports indicating experimentation with weaponized drones. A recent incident involved the…