1. Protests in Delhi, Ranchi, Hyderabad, and other places after Friday prayers: Muslim congregations in several cities staged massive protests after their Friday prayers against controversial remarks made by BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal. In some places, they indulged in stone-pelting and arson. The administration in Ranchi imposed a curfew following violence by protestors.
2. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out search operations in multiple locations in TN and Puducherry: In February, NIA detained five men with alleged links to Islamic State (IS) in Mayiladuthruai. Now following the leads in the investigation, NIA searched nine locations in the state and its adjoining UT Puducherry. The agency sources said they recovered electronic devices like mobiles, laptops, hard disks, and pamphlets carrying IS messages during the raid.
3. President election on July 18: Lawmakers would vote for the next president on July 18, with counting slated on July 21. Apparently, the NDA is short of a majority. But it is likely to get the support of regional parties YSRCP and BJD to get its candidate elected.
4. India calls US environmental report ‘unfounded assumptions’: US-based Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022 has listed India at 180th spot, the bottom-most in the list. However, India slammed the report, calling the indicators used by the study unfounded assumptions and the method used unscientific.
5. Thailand legalizes growing and consuming Marijuana, although smoking weed is still banned: Thailand becomes the first Asian country to legalize growing Marijuana and consuming it through food and drinks. The move is aimed at attracting tourism and agriculture. However, smoking Marijuana is still banned.
6. Vietnam receives 12 guard boats from India: Under a credit line worth $100 million, India on Thursday, delivered 12 high-speed guard boats to Vietnam. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was present at the handing-over ceremony at Hong ha Shipyard.
7. China says the situation with India stabilizing: Rejecting US General A Flynn’s remarks on the Sino-Indian border issue as disgraceful, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said both the countries have the will and capabilities to resolve their issues.
8. MEA says some progress achieved with China: The Ministry of External Affairs said that the ongoing talks with China have been fruitful with some progress. The talks have resulted in disengagement in several parts of eastern Ladakh. The MEA also noted that it is carefully monitoring development across the sino-Indian border.
9. Sivakasi to test green fireworks: Following the Supreme Court’s order Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (Tanfama), and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR – NEERI) are planning to establish an emission testing laboratory at Sivakasi. It would test green crackers which are 20-30 percent less polluting.
10. Miscreants vandalize Hindu Temple in Karachi: While controversy and protests are happening over remarks on Prophet Muhammad by BJP spokespersons, a group of five men in motorcycles pelted stones at the temple idols and fled the scene. Following the incident, the MEA spokesperson registered a protest with Pakistan.