Times of India

Protests intensify across Bihar demanding cancellation of BPSC prelims, alleging corruption. Demonstrators halt trains and block roads, with political parties and student groups joining in. Chief secretary meets aspirants, but no official statement yet from CM. Police action criticized by political leaders; support offered by various political figures. Protests continue with threats of indefinite hunger strike.

The loco pilot of the Secunderabad-Pune Express train narrowly avoided a disaster by spotting and stopping before hitting a 4kg LPG cylinder placed on the tracks at Uruli Kanchan. Authorities suspect the cylinder was intended to cause harm to the train and its passengers. Police and railway protection units are investigating the incident to find the responsible individuals.

A debate about H-1B visas involving Indian immigrants divides Trump's supporters. While tech figures like Elon Musk support these visas, critics argue against them. Aravind Srinivas emphasizes that illegal immigration is the real concern and that H-1B visa holders aren't the ones causing job losses.

Despite reaching record highs in 2024, Sensex and Nifty are now about 10% off peak levels due to global and domestic factors. Advisers recommend a focus on large-cap, flexi-cap, and debt-oriented balanced advantage funds, while continuing SIPs to benefit from possible future rallies amid market volatility.

Former US President Jimmy Carter's visit to Daulatpur Nasirabad in 1978 connected the village's identity with him, leading to it being renamed Carterpuri. His visit brought temporary fame and nostalgia among the villagers but did not result in long-term development or significant changes in the village's fortunes.

A local court in Ahmedabad acquitted five individuals charged with cow slaughter and attempting to sell beef due to insufficient evidence. Critical meat samples were not sent for forensic analysis, as required by the Gujarat Animal Preservation Rule. The court also noted the absence of the FSL officer who failed to testify, despite multiple summons.

LG VK Saxena criticizes AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for calling Atishi a 'temporary chief minister,' deeming it undemocratic. Atishi rebukes LG, urging him to not act as BJP's proxy and focus on Delhi’s welfare. She highlights the Delhi government's achievements despite governmental hurdles.

Reflecting on significant global events of 2024: a devastating tsunami hit Japan, the EU approved an AI regulation, Narendra Modi secured a third term, Donald Trump returned to the White House despite assassination attempts, Syrian rebels ended Bashar al-Assad's rule, and the UK saw Labour topple Conservatives.

The Centre has declared the Wayanad landslides in Kerala, which occurred on July 30, as a disaster of severe nature. The catastrophic event claimed over 200 lives, injured many, and caused significant displacement. The Union home ministry has assured additional assistance through the National Disaster Response Fund.

Elon Musk moderated his support for H-1B visas, admitting the program needs reform due to backlash from MAGA hardliners. Musk suggested raising the minimum salary to fix the system, which critics claim favors lower-wage IT workers. MAGA supporters argue that the program undermines American jobs and favors foreign workers.

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, overcoming legal challenges, an assassination attempt, and a divided Republican Party. His victory, despite various controversies and a struggling Democratic campaign led by Kamala Harris, marked a significant political resurgence and prompted global speculation about his second term.

A recent study has shown that smoking a single cigarette cuts 17 minutes off a man's life and 22 minutes off a woman’s. Smokers lose 10-11 years of life expectancy on average compared to non-smokers. Researchers stress the critical importance of quitting, as smoking causes significant harm throughout life and the healthiest option is complete cessation.

A former local corporator discovered a cleaning staff member conducting an ECG on a patient at a BMC-run hospital in Mumbai. The hospital acknowledged it due to a lack of technicians and claimed the individual was trained and supervised. The incident highlights the broader manpower shortage at peripheral hospitals.

India neared joining nations with space-docking technology as Isro launched the SpaDeX mission, putting two satellites in space for docking attempts. The mission, crucial for Chandrayaan-4 and Bhartiya Antriksh Station, also included astrobiology experiments and payloads from private sector startups and educational institutions onboard POEM.

Gen Z's slang in 2024 saw terms like 'brain rot,' 'demure,' and 'manifest' become increasingly popular. Dictionaries highlighted these words, reflecting digital media's impact, societal trends, and polarisation. Notable mentions include 'brat,' 'rawdogging,' and 'kakistocracy,' capturing cultural shifts and anxieties, while 'lavender marriage' emerged as a unique relationship concept.

Parents were outraged after discovering that Wulidianzi School in Liaoning province served students food stored in containers previously used for dog food. Younger students ate leftovers collected from older students, leading to illness. Local authorities are investigating. The incident sparked heavy criticism on social media, calling for strict punishment and better surveillance to prevent such incidents in the future.

A 23-year-old unemployed graduate in Meerut, suffering from depression after his father's death and mother's remarriage, was arrested for slapping pedestrians, including a woman and a retired officer, seeking dopamine rush. Police are investigating his background for possible medical conditions.

Congress criticises PM Modi for his silence on the rupee's depreciation against the US dollar, contrasting it with his previous attacks on former PM Manmohan Singh over similar issues. The rupee has reached an all-time low of 85.27 per USD. Questions arise about the RBI's currency stabilization efforts despite significant interventions.