6 Stories You May Have Missed Amid Phase 2 of Lok Sabha Polls

From the latest Facebook controversy to the Jet Airways crisis, here are important stories you might have missed.

Here is a list of stories you probably missed amidst the Lok Sabha elections fever on Thursday, 18 April.

(Photo: The Quint)

Have you been flooded with news on the second phase of Lok Sabha elections that took place on Thursday, 18 April?

Do you feel you may have missed out on other news? Or do you want to know what else made headlines? Then look no further – here’s a list of stories that went likely unnoticed on voting day.

1. India Slips Two Places on World Press Freedom Index

At least six journalists were killed in India in 2018.(Photo: The Quint/Erum Gaur)

The Reporters without Borders on Thursday, 18 April released the World Press Freedom Index where India slipped two places to rank 140 out of 180 countries.

At least six journalists were killed in India in 2018, the report said, adding that “threats, insults and attacks” are not part of occupational hazard for journalists in the region.

Coordinated hate-campaigning and difficulty for foreign reporters in Kashmir have been reported as major reasons behind this drop.

Read the full story here.

2. Bombay HC Revokes FIR Against Journalist for Suicide of Jawan

FIR that was registered against her for abetment of suicide of a Jawan who was interviewed by her in a sting video that was published in 2019.(Photo Credits: The Quint)

In a relief to journalist Poonam Agarwal, Associate Editor of The Quint, the Bombay High Court on Thursday, 18 April, quashed the FIR registered against her for abetment of suicide of a jawan who was interviewed by her in a sting video.

Agarwal had conducted a sting operation with the assistance of an ex-military man and Kargil war veteran Deepchand Singh to show that the 'sahayak system' of engaging subordinate officers for menial work for seniors was being followed in army camps, despite its ban by the army as per circular dated 19 January 2017.

Read the full story here.

3. Facebook Inc ‘Unintentionally Uploaded’ 1.5 Million Email IDs of New Users

Security-related controversies have been rife with Facebook lately.(Photo: iStockphotos)

In the latest Facebook controversy, it “unintentionally uploaded” the email contact of 1.5 million new users since May 2016, a Reuters report, citing Business Insider said.

This revelation comes a result of an incident that was reported last month wherein Facebook was found asking for email passwords from its users while logging in. The company also told Business Insider that it was ‘unintentional,’ adding that they never meant to do it in the first place.

However, the social networking giant has confirmed that it will be notifying the affected 1.5 million users over the following days regarding the breach and will take remedial measures such as deleting details from the company’s system.

Read the full story here.

4. Jet Airways’ Employees Stage Protest in Delhi, Mumbai

An employee of Jet Airways cries as she joins colleagues in a gathering to appeal to the government to save their company in New Delhi.(Photo: AP)

On Thursday, 18 April, the employees of debt-laden Jet Airways turned up outside the Mumbai headquarters of the carrier, to seek answers regarding their salaries. In light of the complete suspension of operations, disgruntled Jet Airways employees protested at Jantar Mantar in new Delhi.

Once the biggest private airline, Jet Airways which has been on a wing and prayer since January, has grounded all operations, domestic and international flights – at least temporarily, in light of a rejection of Rs 400 crore from lenders.

The last Jet Airways flight flew on Wednesday, from Mumbai to Amritsar at 10:30 pm.

5. Kim Jong-un To Meet Vladimir Putin in Russia In Late April

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia later this month for his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: AP)

The US special envoy for North Korea was due in Moscow on Wednesday as the Kremlin said that it was preparing for possible talk between Vladmir Putin and Kim Jong Un, reported AFP.

“Active preparations for a potential meeting are underway,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said in comments reported by news agencies.

Speculations were on about Kim's likely visit to a long-time ally after he failed to get any sanctions relief in his last nuclear talks with US President Donald Trump in February.

Russian, South Korean and Japanese media also reported that Kim and Putin were set to meet in Russia's Far East, though Ushakov would not be drawn on the location or date of a potential summit.

Read the full story here.

6. India to Stop Cross-LoC Trade With Pakistan at 2 Points from Friday

Trucks carrying goods from PoK as part of the cross LoC trade in Uri Kashmir. (Photo: Aabid Shafi/The Quint)

A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official statement said on Thursday that the government has shut down cross-LoC trade at two points starting from Friday, 19 April in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MHA added that the action has been taken as the government has been receiving reports of cross-LoC trade routes being misused by Pakistan-based elements for channelising illegal weapons, narcotics as well as fake currency.

Read the full story here.

7. Trump ‘Tried to Control’ Mueller Probe, But No Criminal Charges

Robert Mueller and Donald Trump. (Photo: AP)

Public at last, special counsel Robert Mueller’s report revealed to a waiting nation Thursday that President Donald Trump had tried to seize control of the Russia probe and force Mueller’s removal to stop him from investigating potential obstruction of justice by the president.

Read the full story here.