Dibrugarh Today

02/02/2025

: India defeated England by 150 runs in the fifth T20I at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Abhishek Sharma scored a breathtaking century, hitting 135 runs off 54 balls, to help India post a total of 247/9.

England was bowled out for 97 runs in 10.3 overs, suffering their worst defeat in T20I cricket history. Mohammed Shami took two wickets, while Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube also chipped in with wickets.

The win marked India’s 4-1 series victory over England. Abhishek Sharma’s century was the highlight of the match, as he hit 10 sixes and five fours to propel India to a massive total. England’s batting lineup failed to cope with India’s bowling attack, leading to their dismal defeat.

02/02/2025

: Abhishek Sharma scored the second-fastest century in T20 international cricket for India, achieving the feat in 37 deliveries. He struck 10 sixes and five fours en route to the mark.

Abhishek’s 37-ball century is the second-fastest, behind Rohit Sharma’s record of 35 balls against Sri Lanka in December 2017. The record for the fastest hundred in T20Is is held by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who scored a 27-ball ton against Cyprus in June 2024.

Abhishek’s century is a notable achievement, and he is now among the top scorers in T20I cricket history. His score of 37 balls is the second-fastest hundred in T20I cricket history among Test-playing nations.

The top fastest hundreds in T20I cricket for India are:
Rohit Sharma – 35 balls
Abhishek Sharma – 37 balls
Sanju Samson – 40 balls
Tilak Varma – 41 balls
Suryakumar Yadav – 45 balls

02/02/2025

: Assam’s Goalpara district has seen a significant blow to the drug trade. 170 bighas of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed in two separate operations.

The police launched a search operation based on received information. They found the poppy cultivation along with other crops and vegetables near the river.

A tractor was seized and one person has been detained. Further investigations are underway to arrest more individuals involved in the cultivation.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mocked the cultivators as “Local Pablo Escobars”. He warned them to think of the Assam Police first when considering drugs.

The operation is part of the state’s intensified crackdown on drugs under the campaign.

02/02/2025

: The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated a significant amount for the development of the Northeast region. The Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) will receive Rs 5,915 crore, a 47% increase from the previous fiscal.

Assam will benefit from the Union Budget 2025-26. The state will get a gas-based urea plant in Namrup, which is expected to be a game-changer for the region’s agriculture sector.

The plant will have a capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes. Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has welcomed the project.

The state will also benefit from the expansion of the UDAN scheme, which will improve regional connectivity. The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana will also cover Assam, promoting crop diversification and irrigation.

02/02/2025

: After becoming an internet sensation, Indian teen Monalisa Bhosle is set to make her Bollywood debut.

Known for her striking beauty – especially her captivating eyes – Monalisa's journey from selling flowers in Maheshwar to starring in a major film is nothing short of remarkable.

The teen, who once faced harassment that forced her family to leave Prayagraj, has now secured the lead role in The Diary of Manipur, directed by Sanoj Mishra.

The film, which follows Mishra’s previous project The Diary of West Bengal, is expected to shine a spotlight on pressing socio-political issues.

Monalisa will star opposite Amit Rao, brother of Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao, who is also making his industry debut with this film. While details about the storyline remain under wraps, production is set to begin in February.

02/02/2025

: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said his government would bring a new law to allow buffalo fights in the state.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a bridge here, Sarma said the government will take the initiative to preserve the heritage of the state.

"The buffalo fight of Ahatguri is our tradition and heritage. Even the Supreme Court had recognised it as a traditional game. Following its guidelines, we will soon enact a law allowing traditional sports like buffalo fight," he said.

The state government will very soon introduce a bill in the assembly, seeking legal protection for the buffalo fight, he added.

Sarma said, "With the enactment of the law, people will be able to watch and enjoy the traditional buffalo fight." In December last year, the Gauhati High Court scrapped an Assam government SOP of 2023 which had allowed buffalo and bulbul bird fights during the Magh Bihu festivities in the month of January every year.

02/02/2025

: Coldplay singer Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson recently visited the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

In the video, Chris and his partner were seen taking a dip in the holy waters. Many people reacted to the video. A fan praised Chris for embracing Indian culture despite being British.

Another person joked that when you cannot go to a Coldplay concert, Coldplay comes to you. Many called it one of the best reels they had seen this year.

Meanwhile, Chris and Dakota were in Prayagraj on January 27. They wore saffron-colored clothes while sitting in a car.

02/02/2025

: Vodafone has made history by conducting the world's first satellite video call using a standard smartphone. The achievement marks a milestone in the company's mission to connect people, no matter where they are.

Vodafone Group CEO, Margherita Della Valle, shared the event, where she reflected on the importance of the moment.

Margherita described the video call as a "historic moment" and explained that the call was made using the only satellite service in the world that offers mobile broadband to everyone in the area.

The call was made possible through a satellite dish, which acts as a gateway connecting Vodafone's terrestrial network to the satellite network.

This single gateway can now serve the whole of the UK. Vodafone is using AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites. The video call was made from a remote mountain region in Wales, an area previously without mobile coverage.

Rowan Chesmer, a Future Technologies Researcher at Vodafone, made the call to Margherita using a standard smartphone.

01/02/2025

: East and Northeast India has recorded its second warmest January ever, with temperatures soaring above normal. The region’s average maximum temperature was 23.53 degrees Celsius, against the normal of 22.36 degrees.

The climate anomaly was most pronounced in East and Northeast India, with the average minimum temperature being 1.77 degrees higher than normal. This is the second highest average minimum temperature recorded in the region, after 1943.

The region recorded a rainfall deficit of 55% in January, with the Assam-Meghalaya sub division receiving only 8.3 mm of rainfall. The lack of rainfall contributed to the warmer temperatures.

February’s forecast is not looking good, with above-normal temperatures and scarce rainfall expected. The region’s temperature anomaly has been consistent since 2020, with average minimum and mean temperatures remaining above normal.

01/02/2025

01/02/2025

: The Union Budget for FY25 has introduced changes in customs duties. Medicines, EVs, and seafood will become cheaper, while electronics will cost more.

The government has exempted 36 life-saving drugs from Basic Customs Duty (BCD). Additionally, 12 critical minerals, including cobalt powder and lithium-ion battery waste, have been added to the duty exemption list.

The government has extended BCD exemptions to 35 new goods used in EV battery production and 28 items for mobile phone battery manufacturing. This will reduce input costs for these industries.

Flat panel displays will now be costlier due to an increase in BCD from 10% to 20%. The removal of the Social Welfare Surcharge exemption on 82 tariff lines will also lead to higher costs for specific imported goods.

These changes aim to support domestic industries, reduce reliance on imports, and promote self-sufficiency in key sectors. This aligns with the government’s broader economic vision.

01/02/2025

: Two female officers from the Indian Navy touched a new milestone on Thursday as they crossed Point Nemo - the most remote location on Earth - aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A, passed through Point Nemo at 12:30 am IST on Thursday during the third leg of their journey from Lyttelton, New Zealand, to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Notably, Point Nemo, located in the South Pacific, is the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility - the most remote location on Earth, situated approximately 2,688 kilometres from the nearest landmass.

This event marks a significant milestone in the Navika Sagar Parikrama II mission, a circumnavigation journey undertaken by the two officers as part of India's naval exploration initiative, the Indian Navy said in a statement, as per reports. " charts through the world's most isolated waters! Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa A cross Point Nemo - the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. A testament to resilience, courage & the spirit of adventure," the Indian Navy wrote on X.

During their passage, the two officers collected water samples from the area, which will be analysed by the National Institute of Oceanography. These samples are expected to provide valuable data on oceanic conditions, including marine biodiversity and the chemical composition of the water, contributing to ongoing oceanographic research, the Navy statement said.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II represents a continuation of India's efforts to support scientific exploration and collaboration. As the officers continue their journey, they will progress toward their next destination, Port Stanley, further advancing the objectives of the mission, it added.

The two officers from the Indian Navy embarked on a mission to circumnavigate the world on October 2, 2024. They began their journey aboard INVS Tarini from Goa. They reached Lyttelton Port in New Zealand on December 22, completing the second leg of the expedition. The crew then departed from Lyttelton earlier this month for the longest stretch of the journey, heading to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The distance of this leg is a

01/02/2025

: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the establishment of a new urea plant in Namrup, Assam, with an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons. The initiative is expected to enhance domestic fertilizer production, reduce import dependence, and support India's agricultural sector.

Additionally, three dormant fertilizer plants in the Eastern region have been revived, further boosting indigenous manufacturing. This move aligns with the government's commitment to self-sufficiency in fertilizer production and improving availability for farmers.

The revival of fertilizer plants is a part of India’s broader strategy to strengthen its agriculture and rural economy, ensuring timely and affordable supply of essential nutrients to farmers. The new Namrup plant, along with the reopened units, is expected to create employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth in the region.

The Finance Minister emphasized that these efforts would play a crucial role in achieving the government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) in fertilizer production.

01/02/2025

: IRCON International Limited has taken a significant step toward Mission 100% Electrification with the successful completion of a locomotive trial between Mariani, Simlaguri, Moranhat, and Dibrugarh in the Tinsukia Division of Northeast Frontier Railway. The trial, conducted on January 31, 2025, covered a stretch of 150 route kilometers (192 track kilometers) at the maximum sectional speed.

This achievement marks a major milestone in Indian Railways' drive toward sustainable and efficient rail operations by enabling trains to run on 25kV electric traction. The electrification of this crucial railway section is expected to enhance operational efficiency, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and significantly cut carbon emissions.

The successful loco trial reinforces IRCON’s commitment to modernizing railway infrastructure and aligns with India's broader vision of creating an eco-friendly and energy-efficient transport network. With this development, Indian Railways moves closer to achieving its ambitious goal of complete electrification, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

01/02/2025

: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman posed with the tablet containing the budget ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26 presentation in the Parliament.

She will present the Union Budget today at around 11 am. This will be Sitharaman's eighth consecutive Budget presentation in Parliament.

31/01/2025

: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 will present a record eighth consecutive budget that is expected to contain measures to shore up weakening economic growth and ease the burden on the middle class struggling with high prices and stagnant wage growth while being fiscally prudent.

This will take Sitharaman closer to the record of 10 budgets that were presented by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai over different time periods. Desai has presented a total of 6 budgets during his tenure as finance minister in 1959-1964 and 4 budgets between 1967-1969.

Former finance ministers P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee had presented nine and eight budgets, respectively, under different Prime Ministers. Sitharaman, however, will continue to hold the record of presenting the most budget on the trot, eight straight budgets under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She was in 2019 appointed as India's first full-time woman finance minister when Prime Minister Modi won a decisive second term. After Modi came back to power in 2024 for the third time, Sitharaman continued to retain her finance portfolio.

So far, she has presented a total of seven straight budgets, including an interim one in February 2024.

30/01/2025

: Shiksha Valley School (SVS) in Dibrugarh hosted its 3rd Annual Day Festival, 'Tejomay', with grandeur and enthusiasm.

The event was graced by the presence of Kautilya Pandit, the renowned 'Google Boy' and 'Wonder Boy', as its Chief Guest.

Pandit engaged in an interactive session with students and later, a vibrant cultural event showcased the talents of SVS students through dances, songs, and poems.

The students stole the show with their exceptional performances, including the traditional Sattriya dance of Assam and captivating role-play dramas, promoting peace and harmony.

30/01/2025

: The 63 Assam Battalion NCC successfully conducted a firing practice session at the S A Firing Range, Dibrugarh University, under the NCC Directorate North Eastern Region.

The main goal of this exercise was to improve the shooting skills of NCC cadets and make them more prepared for future challenges. The cadets received hands-on training in handling fi****ms with accuracy and discipline.

Such training sessions are important in shaping the cadets for future roles in national defense and security. It helps them gain confidence and develop essential skills needed for their service.