A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Supreme Court rejects Kapil Sibal’s request to defer Babri Masjid hearing to July 2019: The court adjourned the matter to February 8, 2018.
  2. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha detained briefly in Maharashtra’s Akola district during farmers’ protest: He was taken into custody with around 250 farmers, who were protesting outside the district collector’s office.   
  3. Election Commission rejects Deepa Jayakumar, actor Vishal’s nominations for the RK Nagar bye-poll: The poll panel reportedly said that Jayalalithaa’s niece’s form had several discrepancies.   
  4. UAE announces new alliance with Saudi Arabia, throws into doubt future of Gulf Cooperation Council: The announcement came as the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Kuwait for its annual summit.   
  5. India’s services sector declined in November for the first time in three months, shows data: The Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 48.5 in November from 51.7 in October.   
  6. Rahul Gandhi is the only valid candidate in the fray for the Congress presidential election, says EC: Narendra Modi had mocked the Opposition party’s poll process and criticised Gandhi’s impending elevation as the party’s president.   
  7. 21st Century Fox appoints Star India Chairperson and CEO Uday Shankar its Asia President: He will head the corporation’s video businesses across the region, including Star India and Fox Networks Group.  
  8. NSG commando ends life after shooting at wife, sister-in-law in Gurugram, says report: The reason for the jawan’s actions is unknown.   
  9. UN says ‘elements of genocide’ against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar cannot be ruled out: The campaign against Rohingya was a ‘textbook case of ethnic cleansing’, UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra‘ad al-Hussein said.   
  10. Austrian court legalises same-sex marriage, says existing laws are discriminatory: The repeal will come into effect on December 31, 2018, the country’s Constitutional Court said.