A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Indelible ink to be used on those exchanging demonetised cash at banks, says economic secretary: The Supreme Court refused to stay the government’s decision to discontinue Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, and the Opposition met to discuss their strategy regarding the issue for the Winter Session of Parliament.
  2. Donald Trump is pragmatic, not ideological, says Barack Obama: The president-elect will face a reality check on assuming the post as ‘this office has a way of waking you up’, he said.
  3. Number of Indian students in US universities went up by 25% in 2015-2016: The Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange said Indian students contribute more than $5.5 billion to the American economy.
  4. 2016 will be the hottest year on record, says World Meteorological Organisation: The United Nations body said the global temperature had set a new high for the third year in a row at 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
  5. India, Israel vow to fight against global challenge of terrorism: In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Narendra Modi said action must be taken against states that harbour militants. 
  6. China supports India-Japan nuclear deal, says all countries allowed ‘peaceful use’ of energy: A foreign ministry spokesperson said that cooperation between nations was necessary to ensure the effectiveness of international nuclear non-proliferation.
  7. Congress seeks clarity on agenda for special Punjab Assembly session on Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal: State party president Amarinder Singh asked the Badal government to ensure that any legislation passed would be approved by the Centre.
  8. Improving women’s participation in the workforce will boost India’s income by 27%, says IMF chief: Christine Lagarde emphasised on the key role governments can play by implementing initiatives to ensure women get a fair chance in the labour market.
  9. WhatsApp launches video calling service for iOS, Android and Windows users: The company said the call quality might vary depending on the connection.
  10. Cyrus Mistry backed by independent directors of Tata Motors: They stopped short of endorsing him but said that the ousted chairman had executed decisions made unanimously by the board.