Five must-read stories—December 29

Army, BSNL, Cisco allegedly partner in ₹2,000-crore scam

Trouble could be brewing for the Narendra Modi government in the form of a ₹2,000 crore scam involving the purchase of IP-MPLS equipment for the Network for Spectrum (NFS) project from the American multinational Cisco via the public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). Documents in the possession of The Quint reveal that BSNL’s tender was manipulated in a way that favoured Cisco, much in the same way as was done in the recent helicopter scam involving AgustaWestland.

NSE files for ₹10,000-crore offer, largest in 6 years

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) filed on Wednesday the draft prospectus with the markets regulator to go public through an IPO that could be worth about ₹10,000 crore. This will be the largest IPO in India in the last six years since the ₹15,400-crore Coal India offer, reports The Times of India.

Anil Baijal to succeed Jung as Delhi lieutenant governor

Former Union home secretary Anil Baijal was on Wednesday appointed the new lieutenant governor of Delhi in place of Najeeb Jung who resigned recently. President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the Centre's recommendation naming Baijal, reports The Times of India.

Two-state solution to Middle East conflict in serious jeopardy: Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned on Wednesday that the future of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict was in jeopardy, saying the United States could not stay silent as violence and Israeli settlement building risked undermining peace. A Reuters report in The Hindu.

Iconic actress Debbie Reynolds dies, a day after daughter Carrie Fisher

Legendary Hollywood actress Debbie Reynolds died of a stroke Wednesday, just one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher. She suffered a stroke on Wednesday while at the Beverly Hills home of her son Todd Fisher, reports The Washington Times.