Jharkhand PSC Protesters Ready for Talks with Govt

Jharkhand PSC Protesters Ready for Talks with Govt Students protesting over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand PSC and other recruitment exams are ready to hold talks with the government. However they have two conditions. They want Chief Minister Hemant Soren to join the meeting and they want at least two media representatives present for transparency. The protest has entered its 13th day in Ranchi. Six students are on an indefinite hunger strike. They are demanding a CBI and ED investigation into the recruitment issue. Meanwhile the CID has arrested five more accused. A total of 19 people have been arrested so far. ------ Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Opposition Uproar The Lok Sabha witnessed noisy scenes again on Thursday during the Monsoon Session. The House was adjourned till 2 p.m. just minutes after it began. Speaker Om Birla said the Oppositions behaviour was not appropriate and urged members to let the House function. He said the country wants to hear the governments response. Later today Parliament is expected to discuss the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill. According to sources Home Minister Amit Shah may reply to the debate. The law regulates how NGOs and trusts receive and use foreign funds. ------ BJD Opposes Private Nuclear Power Plant Proposal in Odisha The Biju Janata Dal or BJD has opposed a reported proposal to set up a private nuclear power plant in Odisha. The party says public safety should never be compromised for corporate interests. BJD leader Lekhashri Samantsinghar claimed that a private company wants to build a 3000-megawatt nuclear power plant in the state. She said past nuclear accidents show the risks of such projects and that strategic sectors should not be handed to private companies. The BJD has asked the government to withdraw the proposal and warned of a statewide protest. The government has not yet responded. ------ Former Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal Convicted Rape Case The Bombay High Courts Goa Bench has convicted former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case. The court overturned a trial court judgment that had acquitted him in May 2021. The Goa government had challenged the acquittal by filing an appeal. A division bench of Justices Dr. Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamdar delivered the verdict after completing the final hearing. The judges had reserved their decision on July 30. Tejpal was present in court when the judgment was announced. The case is based on allegations made by a former woman journalist in 2013. ------- Pakistan Faces Rising Rebellion in Two Provinces Pakistan is facing growing security challenges in two of its four provinces. In Balochistan the separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army or BLA has stepped up its attacks against the government. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the influence of the Afghan Taliban has increased. Frequent militant attacks have put heavy pressure on Pakistans army and security forces. These developments have weakened the governments control in both provinces. The rising violence has raised concerns about Pakistans internal security and political stability. Authorities continue operations but the situation remains tense and challenging. ------- Sheikh Hasina Says She Will Return to Bangladesh Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the public through a virtual speech for the first time in two years. Her camera remained off during the 25-minute speech. She said she plans to return to Bangladesh in December despite legal cases and security threats. Hasina said she is not afraid of prison or even death and called the cases against her illegal and politically motivated. The Bangladesh government strongly criticized her speech saying she spread hatred while staying in New Delhi. The situation has increased political tension in Bangladesh. ----- Sensex Up 150 Points Nifty Trades Lower The Indian stock market showed mixed trends on Thursday. The Sensex rose 150 points to reach 78700. The Nifty fell 10 points and traded at 24600. IT stocks were among the top losers as investors sold shares in the sector. Auto stocks performed better and attracted fresh buying. Market experts said investors are watching global markets company earnings and economic data. Trading remained cautious during the session. Analysts expect the market to stay volatile as investors react to both domestic and international developments in the coming days. ------ BCCI Makes Fitness Test Tougher for Indian Cricketers The BCCI has made the fitness test tougher for Indian cricket players. According to a Times of India report players must now complete the Bronco fitness test in 5 minutes and 20 seconds instead of the earlier 6 minutes. The test includes a 1200-meter running challenge. The board has reduced the time limit by about 40 seconds to improve player fitness and reduce injuries. The new rule is expected to help players stay in better shape and maintain high performance in international cricket. ------- Heavy Rains Cause Floods and Death Across India Heavy monsoon rains continue to affect many parts of India. In Uttar Pradesh floodwater has entered 40 government schools and many villages. In Pratapgarh a 100-year-old house collapsed killing six members of one family. In Uttarakhand landslides blocked the Kedarnath Highway trapping several vehicles under mud and rocks. Schools up to Class 12 were closed in several districts due to bad weather. In Assam floods remain severe. Six more people died in the last 24 hours. More than 160000 people in 563 villages are affected by flooding. -----