A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Stand up to the demonetisation onslaught, Mamata Banerjee tells RBI Governor Urjit Patel: The West Bengal chief minister said the Reserve Bank of India should not be used for political gains.
  2. Evacuation begins after second ceasefire deal between rebels, Assad government in Aleppo: ‘They have crossed the front line and are on their way to rural parts of western Aleppo,’ a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
  3. India well-positioned to absorb US Federal Reserve’s rate hike impact, says chief economic adviser: Arvind Subramanian said the Reserve Bank of India had also accounted for an increase in its decision to leave its policy rate unchanged.
  4. Four security personnel killed as militants ambush police team in Manipur’s Chandel: The first attack took place at Lokchao and the second one in the Bongyang area in the same district.  
  5. Digital transactions are a parallel mechanism, not a substitute for cash payments, says Arun Jaitley: The Union minister said ‘cashless economy is actually a less-cash economy as no economy can be fully cashless’.
  6. I-T raid finds Rs 60 crore in 20 fake accounts at an Axis Bank branch in Noida: The accounts, which were opened in the names of low-income workers and labourers, were reportedly being used by companies to cover up black money.
  7. Air Force personnel cannot sport beard even on religious basis, says Supreme Court: The apex court upheld the IAF’s decision to sack a Muslim man who refused to shave off his beard.
  8. MK Stalin demands report on Jayalalithaa’s death from Tamil Nadu government: The DMK leader also sought a detailed report from the Centre on the treatment given to the former state chief minister, who died on December 5.
  9. Niti Aayog announces awards of up to Rs 1 crore to promote cashless transaction: The National Payments Corporation of India will also give away Rs 1,000 each to 15,000 winners for the next 100 days, and 7,000 weekly awards for merchants.
  10. BCCI chief Anurag Thakur lied to Supreme Court under oath, says amicus curiae: Senior lawyer Gopal Subramanian said the board chief tried to obstruct reforms to the body suggested by the Justice Lodha panel.