Blog - The Purbottar

23 Jan

The fast-moving Hughes Fire has consumed nearly 10,000 acres north of Los Angeles

Deep EditorENVIORMENT

The Hughes Fire, a fast-moving wildfire north of Los Angeles, has consumed nearly 10,000 acres since it broke out on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 30,000 residents. With especially dangerous conditions due to high winds and dry weather, the fire rapidly spread from 50 acres to over 10,000 acres in a matter of hours. It threatened areas near Castaic, resulting in evacuation orders and warnings affecting over 50,000 people in total. Around 4,000 firefighters are responding under challenging conditions, and while no structures have been damaged, the fire remains at 0% containment. Authorities have also evacuated a nearby…

23 Jan

The proposed $450 million contract includes 4.5% annual salary increases for the next four years

Deep EditorCover Stories

The Victorian government's new offer aims to resolve a longstanding police pay dispute. The proposed $450 million deal includes a 4.5% annual pay increase for the next four years, an additional 0.5% increase for frontline police, and no requirement to "kit up" outside of shift times. This offer, which would cost around $456 million, is a compromise from the 6% annual increase the police union initially sought. It would also remove a costly "golden handshake" clause, potentially saving up to $50 million annually. The Police Association has welcomed the offer, and a formal vote by members is pending. If accepted,…

23 Jan

Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants

Deep EditorBreaking News

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian militants, Mohammed Nazzal and Katiba al-Shalabi, who were responsible for a deadly bus attack in the West Bank earlier this month. The militants exchanged fire with Israeli troops in the village of Burqin before being killed, and an Israeli soldier was moderately wounded. Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas claimed ties to the militants and praised the bus attack. In related news, talks between the U.S. and Israel are ongoing regarding Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, with a ceasefire deadline approaching. Additionally, Al Jazeera reported that the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters, while Israel…

23 Jan

Truecaller rolls out real-time caller ID for iPhone users

Business BureauBusiness

Truecaller has unveiled its most significant update for iPhone users, bringing real-time caller ID and spam blocking to iOS 18.2 and newer versions. This development aligns Truecaller’s iOS experience with its Android counterpart, leveraging Apple’s Live Caller ID Lookup framework. This breakthrough, powered by homomorphic encryption, allows Truecaller to provide live caller identification while maintaining user privacy. Truecaller CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala remarked, “We are excited to bring the full power of Truecaller to iPhone. This update fulfills our iPhone users’ long-standing request for parity with Android while preserving privacy.” Key features include automatic spam call blocking, searching through up to…

23 Jan

Assam CM discusses tourism opportunities with Japan’s tourism minister

Banasree SarkarAssamAssam CM

Furukawa Yasushi, Japan's State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to talk about increasing travel between Assam and Japan. CM Sarma emphasized Assam's unrealized tourism potential during the meeting by highlighting the state's Bagans and golf courses, Charaideo Moidams, and Kaziranga National Park. He discussed how Japanese tourists might have great prospects at these unusual locations. Strengthening tourist links and opening up new channels for Assamese and Japanese cultural and economic contacts were the main topics of discussion. It is anticipated that the conference would open the door to further cooperation,…

23 Jan

Care Health Insurance launches ‘Ultimate Care’; a new era of health coverage

Business BureauBusiness

Care Health Insurance has launched Ultimate Care, a groundbreaking health insurance plan that sets a new benchmark in the industry by offering innovative features aimed at maximizing value for policyholders. The plan introduces several consumer-centric benefits designed to address unforeseen medical emergencies while rewarding policyholders for staying healthy. Ultimate Care combines extensive health coverage with a range of unique features. The MoneyBack feature offers policyholders a refund of their first year’s base premium after every five claim-free years. The Loyalty Boost adds an extra Sum Insured (SI) equivalent to the first policy year’s SI after seven claim-free years. Additionally, the…

23 Jan

SC disapproves of Assam’s ‘defective’ affidavit on foreign detainees

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed sharp disapproval of the Assam government for submitting what it called a "defective" affidavit concerning the detention of 270 foreigners at the Matia transit camp. The court observed that the affidavit failed to provide adequate reasons for the detentions and lacked details on steps taken for their deportation. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh directed Assam’s Chief Secretary to appear via video-conferencing at the next hearing to explain the non-compliance. On December 9, the court had granted six weeks for the state to file a comprehensive affidavit. It had…

23 Jan

Minister Pabitra Margarita’s historic visit strengthens Indo-Pacific ties

Business BureauBusiness

Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margarita concluded an eight-day diplomatic tour across the Philippines, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), marking a significant step in India's Indo-Pacific engagement. The visit, which began on January 14, included high-level discussions with the leadership of all three nations. In a landmark achievement, Margarita became the first Indian minister to visit Micronesia, where he met President Wesley W. Simina and Vice President Aren B. Palik. They explored avenues to bolster bilateral relations and discussed issues of mutual interest with Foreign Secretary Lorin S. Robert. In Palau, Margarita…

23 Jan

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma meets Japan’s State Minister of Justice in Tokyo

Deep EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday met Japan's State Minister of Justice Komura Masahiro and discussed about the Assam government's plans to establish an industrial park dedicated to Japanese companies in the state. The duo also had a conversation on the shared values and ethos that tie India and Japan. Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "It was a privilege to meet H.E. Mr. Komura Masahiro, Japan's State Minister of Justice. We had an insightful conversation on the shared values and ethos that tie India and Japan, and particularly how ideals of Buddha form a spiritual brid between…

23 Jan

Kailash Kher praises Sikkim CM Tamang’s role in promoting cultural unity

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Renowned singer and Padma Shri awardee Kailash Kher praised Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for his visionary leadership in elevating the Jorethang Maghey Sankranti Mela to national and international prominence. Kher, performing at the festival's grand closing ceremony, lauded CM Tamang's dedication to showcasing Sikkim's cultural richness on a global platform.“CM Tamang is like my brother, and his efforts to transform the Jorethang Maghey Mela are truly commendable,” Kher said, emphasizing the festival's potential to rival India's most celebrated cultural events. The artist expressed his commitment to supporting Sikkim's cultural initiatives, adding, “I will always stand with Sikkim and…