A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Delhi High Court asks North Indian states about steps being taken against crop burning: Earlier, the Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency in Delhi as smog enveloped the city.
  2. The next generation will look at demonetisation with great pride, says Arun Jaitley: Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the note ban and GST were ‘twin blows’ for India’s economy and small businesses.
  3. Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on corruption sends oil prices soaring to highest since July 2015: Banks have begun to freeze accounts of several suspects, and private jets were not allowed to take off from some airports, local reports said.    
  4. JeM chief Masood Azhar’s nephew among three militants killed in Pulwama encounter: The M4 rifle found the site of the shootout in Aglar Kandi proved that militants were getting help from across the border, the Indian Army chief said.  
  5. Demonetisation, GST were ‘twin blows’ for India’s economy and small businesses, says Manmohan Singh: Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi promised to overhaul Goods and Services Tax if Congress is voted to power in 2019.  
  6. Don’t speak to media without authorisation, I&B Ministry tells its officials: In a circular, the ministry asked the bureaucrats to direct the journalists to the Press Information Bureau.  
  7. United States Air Force admits to error that let Texas church gunman buy weapons: The armed force said it should have entered the domestic violence record of Devin P Kelley in a database that licensed gun sellers use to run background checks.  
  8. Supreme Court stays HC bail order granted to former OP Jindal university students in rape case: A woman had alleged that her fellow students had blackmailed her into having sex with them.  
  9. 21st Century Fox’s shares surge after reports say that it held merger talks with Disney: If the deal goes through, the media giant will reportedly sell its movie studio, television production unit and networks to its rival company.  
  10. Two arrested in Bihar for allegedly beating up and robbing British tourist couple: Matthew and Jessica Kidd were in their tent on an island near Pandarak when they were attacked by two miscreants.