A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Jayalalithaa buried next to her mentor MGR in Chennai, Sasikala performs last rites: Leaders including Narendra Modi paid homage to the Tamil Nadu leader’s mortal remains at Rajaji Hall.
  2. RBI will soon issue new Rs 100 notes, but old ones will remain legal tender too: The central bank had recently said it would print new Rs 50 and Rs 20 currency, as well.
  3. Political analyst, journalist and actor Cho Ramaswamy dies in Chennai: The 82-year-old reportedly died of a cardiac arrest after suffering from several health problems over the past few years.
  4. At least 18 dead as earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hits Aceh province in Indonesia: Several people are feared to be trapped and dozens of buildings have been reduced to rubble. However, there is no tsunami alert.
  5. Justice JS Khehar will become the next chief justice of India on January 4: The 44th CJI will be the first Sikh to hold the post.
  6. German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls for burqa ban, says veil must be disallowed ‘wherever legally possible’: The country’s chancellor has faced criticism for her immigration policies by the populist right-wing AfD party.
  7. Jammu & Kashmir: Mehbooba Mufti criticises Farooq Abdullah for Hurriyat remarks: The National Conference leader had said his party was not against the separatist outfit and that it supported Kashmiris’ demands for their rights.
  8. West Bengal: 12 people injured after two coaches of Capital Express get derailed: Authorities have rescheduled the onward journey for the rest of the passengers, officials said.
  9. Sushma Swaraj will undergo kidney transplant at AIIMS this weekend: The external affairs minister, who was placed on dialysis in November, will be given an organ from a living donor not related to her.
  10. US Vice President Joe Biden hints at running for office in 2020: The 74-year-old political leader has made a presidential bid twice in the past.