Researched and collated by: Vagda Galhotra
Presidential elections are round the corner
President Ram Nath Kovind’s term ends on July 24—and his replacement will be elected on July 18. The electoral college consists of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the state assemblies. Nominated members are not eligible to vote. This year, it will be a political battle to decide the winner—since the BJP-led NDA does not have a majority, and will need the support of other party members.
But the contest will also be a key test for the Opposition. “This is the only opportunity for the Opposition to flaunt its unity ahead of the 2024 general elections and for the Congress to keep its position as the lead Opposition party.” But Congress may find itself challenged by the newly energised AAP, headstrong Trinamool and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi which “does not want to be seen following the Congress.” The Telegraph and The Hindu have more details.
Nupur Sharma case: A flurry of FIRs
Delhi police have finally booked Nupur Sharma for hate speech—i.e. her remarks about the Prophet Muhammad that sparked a diplomatic outcry in the Mideast. But the police also filed a separate case against AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, monk Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati, the expelled Delhi BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal and a number of others—for their social media posts “inciting people on divisive lines.” But the FIR does not name any specific tweet or post. FYI: The decision to book Sharma coincided with Iran’s Foreign Minister’s first trip to India. He later said the two countries agree on the need to “respect divine religions”, “Islamic sanctities” and “avoid divisive statements.” (The Telegraph)
Coming soon to India: Volkswagen EV
The company plans to roll out “limited volumes” of its compact electric SUV ID.4. And this may just be the first step:
“We are formulating a three-step plan where we first bring in some fully built-up units (FBUs), then going in for local assembly through the parts and components route, and then full localisation. This whole plan is still under formulation.”
This is fairly typical when car companies want to test market sentiment. Mint has more details.
Thailand decriminalises cannabis
Thailand became the first country in Asia to make marijuana legal—but with a catch. You still can’t light up a joint:
“Under decriminalisation, it is no longer a crime to grow and trade marijuana and hemp products, or use parts of the plant to treat illnesses. Cafes and restaurants can also serve cannabis-infused food and drinks—but only if the products contain less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant's main psychoactive compound.”
And the government has a clear message to dope-chasing tourists: “if you… come to Thailand to smoke joints freely, that's wrong. Don't come.” (CNN)
The great resignation in India
According to the recruitment agency, Michael Page, a whopping 86% of employees plan to resign in the next six months. And another 61% are okay with a lower salary and giving up raises and promotions for better work-life balance, well-being and happiness. You can read the original report here. FYI, of the 12 countries included in the survey, India has the highest number of employees who want to quit—followed by Indonesia and Philippines. (Mint)
More bad news about microplastics
Scientists have detected microplastics in Antarctic sea ice and surface water—but for the very first time they have been found in freshly fallen Antarctic snow. They found 13 types of plastic. The most common type found: polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—the plastic used in making bottles and clothes—was found in 79% of the samples. Their most likely source is local scientific research stations—but “modelling shows their origin could have been up to 6,000km (3,700 miles) away.” (BBC News)
In better environmental news: A new report reveals that India invested a record $14.5 billion in its renewable energy sector in 2021-22—an increase of 125% from the last year. But researchers say we need at least $30-40 billion in yearly investments to reach our ambitious target of adding 450GW in renewable energy generation capacity by 2030. (Quartz)
Four things to see
One: Scientists have found a rare Galápagos species of tortoise long thought to be extinct. It is the first Chelonoidis phantasticus—also known as the “fantastic giant tortoise”—to be seen since 1906. This one is a 50-something female now named Fernanda. (The Guardian)
Two: Burger King in Austria tried an odd stunt to mark Pride Month—by creating burgers that have the same ‘ends.’ As in, one burger has the top, typically plumper halves both on the top and bottom. The other only has the flatter, bottom halves. Apparently, the two “equal buns” symbolise “equal love and rights.” Though many weren’t impressed by the queer sex joke. (Adweek)
Three: Taco Bell’s new “floating” restaurant called Defy consists solely of three drive-thru lanes—and a vertical lift that delivers their food. The restaurant claims it will cut the delivery process by half—to less than 2 minutes. See the promo video below. (CNN)
Four: Bangalore airport is getting new domestic and international lounges that promise to be super-duper luxurious. Named ‘080’ after the city’s dialling code, each lounge is 2,000 square feet. Amenities include cocktail bars, a library and spa. (The Hindu)