The big news: SC rejects request to defer Ayodhya hearing to 2019, and nine other top stories
Other headlines: Yashwant Sinha was detained during a protest, and the poll monitor rejected the nomination of Jayalalithaa’s niece for the RK Nagar bye-poll.
A look at the headlines right now:
- Supreme Court rejects Kapil Sibal’s request to defer Babri Masjid hearing to July 2019: The court adjourned the matter to February 8, 2018.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- NSG commando ends life after shooting at wife, sister-in-law in Gurugram, says report: The reason for the jawan’s actions is unknown.
- 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.
- 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.