A select list of stories to read before you start your day.
CJI appears before panel probing sexual harassment charge
In an unprecedented development, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has appeared before the Justice S.A. Bobde in-house inquiry committee examining sexual harassment allegations levelled against the top judge by a former apex court employee. A letter of request was issued to the Chief Justice of India and he responded to it and met the panel, a highly-placed source told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Odisha, Andhra Pradesh brace for ‘Fani’ landfall
Defence forces are on high alert, educational institutions ordered shut and over 8 lakh people in coastal districts are being evacuated as Odisha braces for cyclone ‘Fani’, the extremely severe cyclonic storm likely to make landfall near Puri on Friday, officials said.
Gadchiroli naxal attack: Ambushed jawans ignored protocol
The Gadchiroli police have come under criticism for their failure to enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) which would have prevented the killing of 15 men of the Quick Response Team in a Maoist ambush on Wednesday. The men travelling in a private Mahindra mini truck were ambushed and killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast.
UK Defence Secretary fired over Huawei leaks
British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was summarily fired on Wednesday after an investigation into leaks from a secret government meeting about Chinese telecoms firm Huawei. In a letter to Mr. Williamson, Prime Minister Theresa May said she “can no longer have full confidence” in him in the wake of the investigation.
Analysis| In allowing Azhar’s listing, China’s leadership may want to deepen bonds with India
China’s decision to drop its resistance on declaring Masood Azhar as a global terrorist appears to be a well-rounded exercise aimed at encouraging New Delhi to bond with Eurasia instead of the Indo-Pacific and could even be seen as reinforcing personal ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 to be launched in July
India’s much-delayed second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, has got yet another launch window. The mission is now set to be launched any time between July 5 and July 16 this year. The moon landing is likely to be around September 6, 2019, nearly two months after the launch, ISRO said.
Jet collapse: pilots ask PM to probe Etihad’s ‘role’
The Jet Airways pilots’ union has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order a probe if Etihad Airways, the strategic investor in Jet Airways, and another private Indian carrier had any role in the collapse of the airline. This is the first time that Etihad’s role has come under question.Editorial| Power shift: on tussle between Puducherry Lt. Governor and Chief Minister
The Madras High Court verdict that the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry should not interfere in the day-to-day administration of the Union Territory is a serious setback to the incumbent Administrator, Kiran Bedi. She has been locked in a prolonged dispute over the extent of her powers with Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, who says she has been disregarding the elected regime and seeking to run the Union Territory on her own.