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Indian Men’s Team Challenge in Archery Comes to an End

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Dhruv
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The Indian men’s archery team, featuring seasoned archer Tarundeep Rai alongside Dhiraj Bommadevara and Pravin Jadhav, faced a spirited young Turkish team and were defeated 2-6 in the Olympic quarterfinals on Monday.

India’s hopes largely rested on Tarundeep’s leadership and the ability of the young archers, Dhiraj and Pravin, to step up to the occasion. However, that did not materialize.

The final scores were 53-57, 52-55, 55-54, and 54-58.

India managed to win the third set after losing the first two, but Turkey sealed the victory with a dominant fourth set, scoring four 10s and two 9s for a total of 58 points, while India scored 54, including a disappointing shot that landed in the blue zone for just seven points.

Dharmendra Pradhan Talks in Rajya Sabha Over Death of UPSC Aspirants

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Dhruv
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“There was negligence,” Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated on Monday in Rajya Sabha while addressing a question about the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Delhi.

“Accountability must be fixed to find a solution… It is our responsibility to ensure such incidents do not recur,” the education minister added.

Earlier in Lok Sabha, leaders from various parties condemned the flooding of a coaching center in Delhi, which led to the deaths of three civil services aspirants on Saturday.

Congress MP KC Venugopal raised the issue during Question Hour, saying, “Without approved buildings and proper facilities, some coaching centers become mafias… Is the government going to take any action?”

Citing information provided by the ministry in an earlier written reply, Venugopal noted that between 2018 and 2022, around 80 students committed suicide in top-ranking institutions like IITs and IIMs, with caste discrimination being a major factor.

In response, Pradhan said, “The member has raised a question unrelated to today’s topic.”

“But I want to assure the House through you that this government is committed to the socio-psychological and mental protection of all students, whether they are in coaching centers, institutions, school education, or higher education,” he said.

The education minister informed the House that detailed guidelines on coaching centers were issued to all states in January 2024.

“Some states, like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Goa, have their own regulations to address these issues,” he added.

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to direct the government to provide ₹1 crore in compensation to the families of the deceased students and to fix responsibility and take strict action immediately.

Three civil services aspirants died on Saturday after the basement of a building housing a coaching center in central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area was flooded following heavy rains.

Supreme Court Sends Notice to Bihar Over Multiple Bridge Collapse

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Dhruv
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The Supreme Court on Monday requested a response from the Bihar government regarding a petition filed over multiple recent bridge collapses in the state.

The petition, submitted by advocate Brajesh Singh, called for the Nitish Kumar-led government to conduct the highest level of structural audit for all existing and under-construction bridges in the state.

A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, instructed the Bihar government and other concerned parties to reply to the petition, which seeks to demolish or retrofit weak structures based on feasibility.

The petitioner argued that the issue of bridge collapses in Bihar required urgent attention from the Supreme Court. He also called for maintaining a comprehensive database on the health of all existing bridges in the state.

“It is a matter of grave concern that in a state like Bihar, which is the most flood-prone state of India, the total flood-affected area is 68,800 sq km, accounting for 73.06 per cent of the state’s total geographical area. The frequent collapse of bridges in Bihar is particularly disastrous as it endangers many lives,” reported ANI, citing the petition.

The petition further emphasized the need for the Court’s urgent intervention to protect the lives of people living in uncertainty, noting that even under-construction bridges have collapsed. It also called for continuous monitoring of all existing and under-construction bridges in the state.

Over the past two years, there have been three major incidents of under-construction bridge collapses and several other bridge collapse incidents of varying scales in the districts of Araria, Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj, among others. These incidents resulted in fatalities and injuries. The petitioner attributed these incidents to government negligence and a corrupt nexus between contractors and concerned agencies.

Jaishankar States “Relationship with China Not Good”

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Dhruv
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the strained relations between India and China on Monday during a Quad meeting in Japan. He emphasized that New Delhi is “not looking to other countries to sort out” the situation. This statement came shortly after Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart, where both agreed to provide “strong guidance to finish disengagement.”

“We have views on China based on our experience. Our relations with China are not doing very well. The main reason for that is in 2020, during COVID, China brought very large forces to the border areas between India and China, violating our agreements and creating tensions that led to a clash, resulting in casualties on both sides,” he explained.

These remarks were made amid the ongoing border dispute in eastern Ladakh, now in its fifth year. Jaishankar insisted that it is up to the two neighboring countries to “talk it over and find a way” without third-party interference.

“Obviously, other countries in the world would have an interest in the matter because we are two big countries, and the state of our relationship impacts the rest of the world. But we are not looking to other countries to sort out what is really an issue between us,” he added.

Jaishankar and Wang Yi met last week in the Laotian capital during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings. They agreed on the need to provide strong guidance to complete the disengagement process following the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in May 2020.

India maintains that its ties with China cannot return to normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

Donald Trump Agrees For An FBI Interview

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Dhruv
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Former President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the FBI as part of an investigation into an attempted assassination in Pennsylvania earlier this month, a special agent disclosed on Monday. The gunman had previously researched mass attacks and explosive devices.

The upcoming interview with the 2024 Republican presidential nominee follows the FBI’s standard protocol of speaking with victims during criminal investigations. The FBI confirmed on Friday that Trump was struck by a bullet or a fragment during the July 13 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“We want to get his perspective on what he observed,” said Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office. “It is a standard victim interview like we would do for any other victim of crime, under any other circumstances.”

Through approximately 450 interviews, the FBI has built a profile of the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, depicting him as a “highly intelligent” but reclusive 20-year-old whose primary social circle was his family, with few friends and acquaintances, Rojek said.

The FBI has not determined a motive for targeting Trump, but investigators believe the shooting was the result of extensive planning. This included the recent purchase of chemical precursors for explosive devices found in his car and home, and the use of a drone near the rally site hours before the event.

Additionally, Rojek noted that Crooks had searched online for information about mass shootings, improvised explosive devices, power plants, and the attempted assassination in May of Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The FBI revealed that on July 6, the day Crooks registered to attend the Trump rally, he googled: “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” referencing Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

Crooks’ parents have been “extremely cooperative” with investigators, Rojek said, adding that the extensive planning for the shooting was done online. The parents have claimed no knowledge of Crooks’ plans, and investigators have no reason to doubt their statements, according to the FBI.

Obama Finally Endorses Kamala Harris During Call

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Dhruv
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On Friday, July 26, former United States President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, called Kamala Harris to endorse her presidential bid. The call, which lasted about a minute, was captured on video. This endorsement came nearly a week after Joe Biden withdrew from the election race against Republican Donald Trump, allowing Kamala Harris to step in.

“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Barack Obama said to Kamala Harris during the call. Michelle Obama expressed her pride in Kamala Harris, saying, “This is going to be historic.”

Barack Obama also tweeted his endorsement, emphasizing that Kamala Harris would make a “fantastic President.”

“Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in November. We hope you’ll join us,” he tweeted.

Michelle Obama added, “I’m so proud of my girl, Kamala. Barack and I are so excited to endorse her as the Democratic nominee because of her positivity, sense of humor, and ability to bring light and hope to people all across the country. We’ve got your back.”

Kamala Harris responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “It means so much to have your endorsements, @MichelleObama and @BarackObama. Let’s get to work.”

However, there were reports that Barack Obama had doubts about Kamala Harris’ ability to defeat Donald Trump. A source close to the Biden family told the New York Post that Obama was upset because he believed Kamala Harris “cannot win” against Trump. The source said, “Barack Obama’s very upset because he knows she can’t win,” and added, “Obama knows she’s just incompetent — the border czar who never visited the border, saying that all migrants should have health insurance. She cannot navigate the landmines that are ahead of her.”

UP Government Defends Yatra Order Before Supreme Court

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Dhruv
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On Friday, July 26, the Uttar Pradesh government defended its directive requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and staff. The Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government stated that the purpose of this rule is to ensure peace during the religious yatra by promoting transparency, avoiding potential confusion, and ensuring a peaceful event.

Before the Supreme Court, which was hearing petitions challenging the Kanwar Yatra order, the UP government mentioned that similar arrangements are made during Muharram and Eid, where the movement of pigs is also restricted.

“The State is obliged not to discriminate on religious grounds. Therefore, special attention is given during festivals of all communities, both majority and minority. For example, traffic restrictions are imposed across the State during Muharram and Eid, and arrangements are made for village fairs for the sale and purchase of goats during that period,” the government explained.

“Even the movement of pigs is restricted, as it would offend the religious sensibilities of the minority community, which generally considers pigs unclean and does not consume pig meat,” the government added.

The government also informed the Supreme Court that the directive was implemented following complaints from Kanwariyas, intending to help them make informed choices.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, told the bench that regulations under the Central Law Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006, mandate that every food seller, including ‘dhabas’, must display the names of the owners.

After hearing arguments from all sides, the Supreme Court extended its interim order, staying directives issued by the authorities of certain state governments that required eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of the owners outside their shops. The bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti granted time to the Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments to file their responses to the pleas.

Karnataka Passes Resolution to Drop NEET Exams

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Dhruv
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Raising its strong voice against the all-India medical entrance exam NEET, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government on Thursday passed a resolution in both houses of the state legislature, demanding the Centre allow Karnataka to revert to the earlier Common Entrance Test (CET) system for medical admissions.

Highlighting the flaws and recent irregularities in the NEET exam, the resolution urged the Union Government to exempt Karnataka from NEET and allow the state to admit students to medical colleges based on the CET conducted by the state government.

The resolution was moved by State Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, in the legislative assembly, and by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in the legislative council.

“The NEET examination system severely affects the medical education opportunities of poor rural students and deprives state governments of the right to admit students to state government medical colleges. Considering the repeated irregularities in the NEET examination, the Union Government should amend the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (Central Act 30 of 2019) to eliminate the NEET system nationally. Additionally, the Karnataka Legislative Council unanimously urges the Union government to immediately exempt Karnataka from the NEET examination and allow medical admissions based on the state-conducted CET,” the resolution stated.

“Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil has been consistently opposing the NEET exam by highlighting the massive irregularities and its adverse impact on the chances of underprivileged and rural students aspiring to enter the medical profession,” it added.

On Wednesday, the ruling TMC government in West Bengal moved a resolution in the West Bengal Assembly demanding the scrapping of NEET and the restoration of the previous system of individual state-conducted exams. The resolution was passed in the assembly.

Earlier on Tuesday, July 23, the Supreme Court declined to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam, recognizing that ordering a fresh NEET-UG for the current year would have serious consequences for over 24 lakh students who appeared for the exam.

The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking to recall the NEET-UG 2024 results and conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices during the test.

Oil Finally Ends Slump As US Inventories Drop

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Dhruv
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A Flint Hills Resources oil refinery stands in Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. Crude oil slid Thursday to the lowest level since December 2003 as turbulence in China, the worlds biggest energy consumer, prompted concerns about the strength of demand. Photographer: Eddie Seal/Bloomberg

Oil prices rose, recovering from a series of losses, after a government report revealed that US crude inventories had dropped to their lowest level since February.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude surpassed $77 a barrel, rebounding from a 5.5% decline since last Wednesday. The Energy Information Administration reported that US oil inventories fell by 3.74 million barrels last week, marking the fourth consecutive decline. However, price gains were limited as traders also monitored declines in equity markets.

The earlier selloff in crude was intensified by trend-following algorithms after futures broke key technical levels. On Tuesday, WTI entered oversold territory on the 9-day relative strength index, indicating an imminent rebound.

US gasoline inventories also saw their largest drop since March, as some refineries remain shut and the summer driving season pushed seasonal fuel demand on a four-week basis to its highest level since 2021. Although the driving season typically peaks in late July, there may still be room for prices to rally.

“It’s still summer driving season,” said Rob Thummel, a portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital Advisors. “There’s still vacation. There could still be some good demand numbers over the next several weeks.”

Oil’s recent weakness has been driven by concerns about reduced demand in China, the world’s largest crude importer, with technical traders adding to the downward pressure. Despite this, futures remain higher year-to-date, as OPEC continues with output cuts, and a Bloomberg tally showed Russian exports dropping to their lowest since December.

Russia plans to make additional crude output cuts in October and November, as well as between March and September next year, to compensate for earlier overproduction, the Energy Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, wildfires across Canada’s oil-producing regions are threatening almost 10% of the area’s oil production. In Alberta alone, 170 blazes are burning, with more than 50 out of control.

Barrack Obama Stays Away From Endorsing Kamala Harris

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Dhruv
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Former US President Barack Obama took to social media to praise President Joe Biden for his unwavering dedication to the American people. However, he did not mention endorsing Kamala Harris in his post.

On X, he wrote, “The sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us.” Joe Biden has stayed true to these words again and again over a lifetime of service to the American people. Thank you, @POTUS.”

A source close to the Biden family told the New York Post that Obama has not endorsed Kamala Harris because he believes she cannot defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election. “Obama’s very upset because he knows she can’t win,” the source told the New York Post.

Addressing the nation, US President Joe Biden explained why he decided to step back from the 2024 US presidential race, saying he is “passing the torch to a new generation.” He stated, “I revere this office. But I love my country more. I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation.”

Kamala Harris has not yet been declared the presidential candidate by the Democratic Party. She was endorsed by Biden as the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party when he announced his decision to step out of the race. However, an AP survey revealed that Harris has received support from former speaker Nancy Pelosi and other party members. The survey showed that on Monday, several state delegations, including Texas and California (Harris’s home state), affirmed their backing for Harris. By the end of the day, Harris had secured support from more than the 1,976 Democrat delegates required to secure victory on the first ballot, as reported by the AP. No other candidate received support from the delegates contacted.

Responding to the AP tally, Harris said, “I am grateful to President Biden and everyone in the Democratic Party who has already put their faith in me, and I look forward to taking our case directly to the American people.”

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