ANI reports: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu and six others have been placed under suspension temporarily from the primary membership of People's Party of Arunachal.

DD News reports: Mine collapses in Jharkhand's Lalmatia; 40 workers trapped underground.

David Cameron has emerged as a frontrunner to be the next secretary general of Nato after reports he will be nominated by Theresa May, reports the Independent. The former prime minister is reportedly being lined up by the UK government as a candidate to replace the current secretary general, former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, when he steps down in 2018 or 2019.

Admiral Sunil Lanba appointed Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, he takes charge from IAF Chief Arup Raha who retires on December 31.

Abhay Singh Chautala ready to relinquish IOA Life President's post, if IOC has reservations over it.


Abhay Singh Chautala had remained defiant and on Wednesday declined to step down as Indian Olympic Association (IOA) life president. Earlier, in the day, Suresh Kalamadi decided to refuse the post of life president with the apex sports body after a notice from the Sports Ministry to the IOA."This is a conspiracy to defame sports, will not step down as IOA life president before I clarify," Chautala said.


On Tuesday, former IOA presidents Kalmadi and Chautala were appointed life presidents of the apex sports body in the country.
Kalmadi remained the president of IOA for 15 long years before his alleged misdeeds in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games were exposed. He was forced to step down and was arrested for misappropriation of funds before he was released on bail.

With Mulayam Singh Yadav's public snub to his son in announcement of candidates' list for UP polls leaving bitterness in the ruling camp, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today spoke to the Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo to convey his displeasure over the choice of names.


The factional feud in the SP was again in the open, a day after Mulayam Singh Yadav declared candidates for 325 of the 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh and ruled out projecting Akhilesh as the chief ministerial candidate.


A clearly upset Akhilesh today met his supporters at his 5-Kalidas Marg residence here and later spoke to his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh to convey his displeasure over the list of candidates from which names of his close confidants were missing, party sources said.


Hectic political activities began right from the morning with party leaders gathering outside the residences of Akhilesh and Mulayam. A big crowd also assembled outside Shivpals residence.

Party sources said the Chief Minister, before meeting Mulayam, met legislators and office bearers who do not figure in the list of nominees.

The list, which includes 176 sitting MLAs, announced by Mulayam and Shivpal in the absence of Akhilesh, has left out several pro-Akhilesh ministers, including Ram Govind Chaudhary, Pawan Pandey and Arvind Singh Gope, and does not carry names of over 50 sitting MLAs.

Besides, 10 ministers, including Shivpal, sacked by the chief minister over the past few months have got tickets. These former ministers were in open defiance of Akhilesh and it paid off.

Within hours after release of the list, which clearly bore the stamp of Mulayam and Shivpal, Akhilesh who was away in Bundelkhand yesterday, had said he would take up the choice of candidates with the party chief.

The list does not include names of certain candidates who are sure to win. I will take it up with the SP chief and tell him that some of them have done really good work and they should be given tickets, an upset Akhilesh had said last night.

Fifty days after the government announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes would cease to be legal tender, the Reserve Bank of India feels that the reasons behind the sudden announcement cannot be made public.


The monetary policy regulator also refused to give any details about the time it will take to replenish the currency notes.


"The query is in the nature of seeking future date of an event which is not defined as information as per Section 2(f) of the RTI Act," RBI said in response to an RTI query.


The Bankers' Bank refused to disclose reasons behind the demonetisation of about Rs 20 lakh crore of currency in the country citing Section 8(1)(a) of the Right to Information Act.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley's year-end thanksgiving for supporting demonetisation. PM Modi's 50-day period for the economy to get back on its feet ends tomorrow. Highlights of the speech.


--Remonetisation has substantially advanced; not a single incident of unrest reported.

-- RBI has very large currency available; large part of currency replaced and more notes of Rs 500 being released.

-- More currency being re-circulated and ability of banks to lend has increased.

-- Till December 19, direct tax mop-up has risen 14.4 per cent, indirect tax grows 26.2 per cent; central excise up 43.3 per cent and Customs rose 6 per cent.

-- Life insurance business up, petroleum consumption increased and so are tourism and investments in mutual funds.

-- We are extremely grateful to the people of India who supported demonetisation move.

-- The net increase seen on direct taxes is 13.6 per cent.

-- The Rabi crop sowing is 6.3 per cent higher as compared to last year.

-- Large benefits of demonetisation are visible, what is in banks is identifiable impact on tax collection already visible.

-- Notwithstanding what critiques predicted, in all segments there has been significant increase in indirect taxes.

-- Critical part of remonetisation is now behind us, it will be much better, going forward.

-- Critics proved wrong. There could have been adverse impact of demonetisation on GDP for quarter or so, but it is not as bad as predicted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the notes ban on Saturday, December 31, at 7.30 pm, say reports.

In a televised address on November 8, he had suddenly banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, a move aimed at eliminating corruption and black or undeclared money.


A deadline for depositing old notes in bank accounts ends tomorrow, December 30.


Sources say, PM Modi may speak about the steps likely to be taken to ease cash flow that has been a major problem since notes ban was announced. He may also speak on the steps to deal with the problems the economy faces after the government's move.


All ministers have been asked to visit at least 10 places and hold rallies/mass contact event on demonetisation. The event will begin after the PM's speech. A document of around 60 pages has been distributed to all ministers by the finance ministry describing each aspect of demonetisation point by point.

Assembly elections: Likely to be held in February, UP may witness voting in 6-7 phases. 

Demonetisation did not take the sheen away from India's fast-growing inbound tourism sector. Foreign tourist arrivals in November grew nine per cent (year-on-year) to 0.89 million visitors, the highest for any month in 2016.


The growth is much better than last November's increase of 6.5 per cent. The number of travellers from the US and the UK has shown strong growth. The biggest source for the month -- the US -- grew 7.7 per cent to 138,300 visitors. The UK, another major source market, grew 11.4 per cent, to 99,000 visitors last month.


At 890,000 international visitors, November is the best performing month of the year so far. The period between October and March are strong growth months for foreign tourist arrivals in the country, which does not include non-resident Indians while counting the tourist arrivals from overseas.


According to industry experts, since these are high-value travels, foreign tourists prefer to make plans two or three months before the travel date. Therefore, the impact, if any, will not be immediate.


"International guests secure their air and flight bookings well in advance. In the short term, their arrivals will not show any impact. We'll have to wait for another couple of months to see any change in pattern,' said Raj Rana, chief executive officer (south Asia) at international hotel company Carlson Rezidor, which operates 82 hotels in India under Radisson and Park Plaza brands.


Ajay Modi/Business Standard

It was a morning of high decibel emotion in the wake of the AIADMK meet where a resolution was passed to appoint Sasikala Natarajan as the party's next general secretary. At the Poes Garden residence, which was the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's official residence, Sasikala Natarajan accepted the resolution of the AIADMK to be the party's next general secretary.


Sasikala, who was a long-time aide to the late CM, broke down as chief minister O Panneerselvam handed her a resolution passed by the general council of the party nominating her to the party's most powerful post.


Sasikala first offered tributes in front of a garlanded portrait of Jayalalithaa as party members stood with their hands bowed. Some of them were also heard raising slogans for 'Chinnamma' (little mother) as Sasikala is popularly known among the party cadres.


Later, Panneerselvam handed her the party's adopted resolution paving way for Sasikala to be elected as the party chief, a post held by Jayalalithaa for three decades.

M Thambidurai, the Lok Sabha deputy speaker and senior leader of the party, was seen exhorting Sasikala to lead the party just like Jayalalithaa.


After acknowledging the leaders, Sasikala walked into the residence. Posters also sprung up all over Chennai hailing the party decision and congratulating Sasikala on being nominated the general secretary of AIADMK.

The Lakshadweep islands will soon become a 100 per cent cashless society as part of the Centre's Digital India initiative, the Union Territory Administrator Farooq Khan said.


He also said, steps are underway to achieve this goal and they are hopeful of reaching it soon.


"Because of communication problems, we have certain issues. But the government of India is attending to those issues,' he told reporters here on the sidelines of the valedictory of two-day national Minicoy festival last evening.


"Very soon all the shops in the islands would have digital money transaction facilities.Other mechanisms like USST are also being ensured now,' he said. Our UT will soon become a 100 per cent cashless society, he added.


On the impact of demonetisation, he said the move had caused no difficulties to the islands and had not triggered any panic among the locals.


"Our officers were up to the task of taking the challenge head on.They were able to manage the situation in a manner that there were no long queues seen before ATMs' banks functioned absolutely normally.. and no point of any shortage of money was reported from any side,' the administrator said. Senior central government observers were also here to monitor the situation.

Lucknow: CM Akhilesh Yadav arrives to meet Mulayam Singh Yadav

The Madras High Court raises questions on former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa's death and asks why her body could not be exhumed.

"What was the cause of Jaya's death? Was Jaya in her senses when thumb the impression was made? asks Justice Vaidyalingam hearing a petition demanding an enquiry into former TN CM Jayalalithaa's death in the Madras High Court.

"Media has raised a lot of doubts, personally I also have doubts in Jayalalithaa's death. When she was admitted to hospital, it was said that she was on proper diet. At least after her death now, truth should be revealed," he observed.

Expelled AIADMK Rajya Sabha member Sasikala Pushpa has also moved the Supreme Court seeking an investigation into the "mysterious death" of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa by an independent agency like the CBI or a judicial committee.

In her writ petition, Pushpa claimed that "more than 280 people lost their lives due to shock following the death of Jayalalithaa and the said lives have been lost only due to the arbitrary manner in which her deteriorating health was hidden from the public at large".

Among the several questions posed in the writ petition, Pushpa asked, "Why are there embalming marks on her (Jayalalithaa's) cheeks as is clear from the funeral photographs? Does it mean she died long back? If yes, what was the reason that the news was kept as a secret?"

With the 50-day period for depositing of demonetised notes expiring tomorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation before the dawn of the New Year.

Just in: The Madras High Court raises questions on Jayalalithaa's death and asks why her body could not be exhumed.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has convened a meeting of his party leaders today following the announcement of list of 325 candidates by his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.


Akhilesh had yesterday expressed his ire over the list released by his father and told the media in Bundelkhand that he would take it up with the party chief and tell him that some of them have done really good work and should be given tickets.


In the list announced by him, Mulayam clearly ignored the objections of Akhilesh to certain names like Gayatri Prajapati, Rampal Yadav, Sigbatullah Ansari - the brother of jailed gangster Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmed, who faces over 40 criminal cases.


The list, which includes 176 sitting MLAs, does not mention the names of several pro-Akhilesh ministers and MLAs including Ram Govind Chaudhary, Pawan Pandey and Arvind Singh Gope.

Out with the old, in with the new. Moments after the AIADMK passed a resolution appointing Sasikala Natarajan as the party's interim general secretary, large posters of her replaced the ones of Jayalalithaa on the road outside the venue. Clearly, the party is trying to move on.  Photo credit: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com

Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam reaches Poes Garden to hand over the resolutions made at the party general meeting to Sasikala Natarajan. Sasikala takes over as AIADMK's interim general secretary after the party adopted a resolution to work under her leadership. She will take over on January 2.

Just in: President Mukherjee clears the wages ordinance. Ordinance will help pay wages to workers through direct transfer or cheque. 

The AIADMK general body meeting ends. A resolution affirming allegiance to Sasikala was among the 14 resolutions passed at the meet. The resolution calls on party workers to "remember the guidance of Amma and take a pledge to work loyally under the stewardship of Chinnamma (Sasikala)." Another resolution, to be adopted enjoins party workers to take a pledge every year on her death anniversary to strive for the growth of the party by "working unitedly."


Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai, veteran leader Panruti S Ramachandran, State Ministers, party MLAs and MPs are among those attending the meeting.


Pic: One of the gates to the venue with pictures of the party founders MGR, Anna Durai and Periyar EV Ramasamy.

AIADMK passes a resolution to confer former TN CM Jayalalithaa with the Magsaysay Award and the Nobel Peace prize. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam left the venue after the general body meeting paid homage to Jaya. 

14 resolutions passed in AIADMK gen body meet; resolution demanding Jayalalithaa's birthday be celebrated as 'National Farmers Day' also adopted. AIADMK also adopts a resolution to work under the leadership of Sasikala Natarajan in the party general body meeting. The AIADMK general body meeting began after paying homage paid to Jayalalithaa. An empty chair with Amma's portrait bedecked with flowers on the dais.

The general body meeting of the AIADMK, which is being held at a marriage hall in Vaanagaram on the outskirts of Chennai (and not at the party office) has begun. On the way to the venue it's Amma all the way, reports A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com.  All eyes are on this meeting, as it is expected that V K. Sasikala, the close friend and confidante of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, will be elected as the next general secretary.

Senior leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, have backed Sasikala for the post.

All district and lower level party units and various mass organisations affiliated to the AIADMK have urged her to become the general secretary.

However, she has still not given her consent. A party cadre, this reporter spotted, replaced a photo of Amma in his pocket with one of Amma and Chinnamma (as Sasikala is referred to) thus setting the tone for today's general body meeting. Heavy deployment of police at the party headquarters.


Pic: Hoardings of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa line up the route to the venue of the AIADMK general council meeting.  Photo Credit: A Ganesh Nadar

And this is why we don't need a Bullet Train.

Five coaches of the Kurla-Ambernath local train derailed this morning between Kalyan and Vitthalwadi stations in Thane district, officials said. No one was injured in the mishap that took place at 5:53 am. Services were disrupted on the Central Line of Mumbai suburban railway, while they were suspended on the Kalyan-Karjat line, they said. The incident comes a day after the Ajmer-Sealdah express derailed while it was crossing a bridge near Rura Railway Station in Kanpur Rural district of Uttar Pradesh, leaving 62 passengers injured.

Employees of Salboni currency printing press have stopped working overtime, citing health reasons, which is likely to reduce the number of notes printed daily by 6 million. 

As AIADMK cadre make their way to the party headquarter where it is likely that VK Sasikala will be elected to lead the party, it was seen that one of the members had a photo of Amma and 'Chinamma' -- as Sasikala is fondly called -- thus setting the tone for the general body meeting. 

AIADMK's Sasikala Pushpa's husband has been arrested, reports CNNNews18. 

To encourage consumers to make digital payments, the government rolled out its incentive schemes, the Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana, on Christmas day.