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1. Opposition unites for Presidential election: 17 Opposition parties have decided to field a joint candidate to fight NDA candidature in the upcoming presidential election. However, the ruling BJP is approaching opposition leaders for a consensus candidate. Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, deputed with the task, spoke to Mallikarjun Karge, Mamta Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday.

2. Vijaya Kumar’s killer shot dead: The terrorist who shot dead bank manager Vijaya Kumar was killed in a Shopian encounter on Wednesday. The security forces have also zeroed in on the terrorist who gunned down teacher Rajni Bala during an operation in the Kulgam area. The slain terrorists are Jan Mohammad Lone and Tufali Gunai of the Lakshar-e-Taiba. 

3. Congress leader faces charges for objectionable comment on PM Modi: Maharashtra Congress leader Sheikh Hussain during a protest against ED summons to Rahul Gandhi, wished the prime minister ‘a dog’s death.’ Following his objectionable comment, Nagpur police have filed an FIR against the Congress leader. 

4. SC to take up plea from Muslim body against UP government’s demolition drive: The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear a petition from the Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind. The Islamic group wants the top court to direct the Yogi Adityanath’s government to stop demolishing the houses of people arrested for violence during the protest against remarks on Prophet Mohammed. 

5. NSA Ajit Doval calls for BRICS cooperation against terrorism: On Wednesday, India’s Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, took part in a virtual meeting hosted by Chinese NSA Yang Jiechi for NSAs of the BRICS nations. Addressing his counterparts on the issue of terrorism, Doval said there should be cooperation among them against terrorism without any reservation. 

6. I2U2 virtual summit in July: India, Israel, UAE, and the US are coming together to join a new group called I2U2. The group will look into several areas of cooperation, including food security. The leaders of these nations would hold a first-of-its-kind virtual summit next month, between July 13-16, when US President Joe Biden visits the Middle East.

7. Agniveers to bring down the age of armed forces: Speaking to a leading News Daily, Lt-Gen B. S. Raju said that over time ‘Agniveers’ will constitute 50% of the nation’s security force. He added that the best among the best, 25% of them, will be absorbed as regular cadre soldiers on completion of their four-year tenure as Agniveers. 

8. Girl 18, dies of Void in Tamil Nadu: A double vaccinated 18-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu with no comorbid conditions died after contracting a covid infection. It is the first covid fatality in the state after 90 days. She had complained of a persistent cough and was diagnosed with a severe lung infection.  

9. India’s 5G auction from July: The 5G auction in the country has finally got cabinet approval. The bidding process will begin on July 26, in which 72,000 MHz of mobile network waves will be on sale at a total value of Rs.4.3 lakh crores.  

10. When drinking tea gives stress: Pakistan has asked its citizens to reduce their tea intake by 1-2 cups to reduce the burden on import bills. Pakistanis consumed nearly $400 million worth of tea during the fiscal year ending 2022, stressing the country’s cash-strapped foreign exchange reserves even further.