Top news of December 17: Lt General Bipin Rawat appointed as new ArmyChief

Twitter is buzzing with News alerts from India and rest of the world. Here are the latest updates from the micro-blogging site in one scroll. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that media reports on alleged privilege to political parties are false and misleading. Jaitley further cleared the air saying that, "I reiterate that government has not made any change regarding the regime and has not contemplated on the same".

#11:10 P.M.

Andhra Pradesh Anti Corruption Department conducts raid at premises related to K Lakshman Bhaskar, Additional Excise Commissioner

#10:08 P.M.

 3 elephants killed as train engine hits them in Nagaon district in Assam

#9:55 P.M.

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in New Delhi (ANI)

#9: 15 P.M.

India's PV Sindhu bows out in the semi-final of the BWF Super Series Championship in Dubai (ANI)

#9:05 P.M.

Lt General Bipin Rawat appointed as new Army Chief (PTI)

#8:55 P.M.

Lt Gen. Bipin Rawat to be New chief of Army Staff. Air Marshal B. S. Dhanoa to be New chief of Air Staff (ANI)

#8: 10 P.M

Media reports on the alleged privilege to political parties are false & misleading: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (ANI)

#7: 44 P.M.

India sends fresh request to Denmark seeking extradition of Kim Davy in 1995  Purulia Arms Drop case (PTI)

#7:30 P.M.

Rs 1 cr credited in dormant Bank Of India a/c of labourer in MP's Hoshangabad after demonetisation; bank says it's a clerical mistake (PTI)

#7:17 P.M.

Prime Minister of Tibetan govt in-exile Lobsang Sangay slams China for objecting to Dalai Lama's meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee (PTI)

# 7:04 P.M.

#NIA & local police arrest a 23-year-old Bengaluru resident with alleged #ISIS links from #Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. (PTI)

#7:00 P.M.

Rajiv Jain to be the next #IB Chief. Anil Dhasmana to be the new #RAW chief (PTI)

#6:58 P.M.

ED seized Rs 30 lakh, Rs 18 lakh in new notes, with 2.5 kg gold from premises of tailor in Mohali and Chandigarh (ANI)

#6:40 P.M.

Enough provisions in Income Tax Act to scrutinise accounts of political parties even though their income is tax exempt: CBDT (PTI)

#6:22 P.M.

Govt forms inter-ministerial task force to look into all strategic aspects of Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan (PTI)

#6:00 P.M.

We will organize a big rally against note ban, will also talk to other parties in Delhi about it, Lalu Prasad Yadav (ANI)

#5:52 P.M.

Veteran politician Sharad Pawar steps down from president's post of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)

#5:35 P.M.

AllahabadHC asks ECI to provide info about the dates of upcoming Assembly elections in UP by Dec 22 after a PIL was filed earlier. (ANI)

#5:30 P.M.

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati enters into pact with Tajikistan's Committee on TV & Radio for cooperation in field of broadcasting (PTI)

#5: 25 P.M.

Financer Kishore Bhajiawala 's premises raided by I-T dpt Assets worth Rs400crore (appx) in cash, bullion,jewellery & property papers found

#5:10 P.M.

FinanceMinistry clarifies exemption frm Incometax given to only registered pol parties subject to conditions mentioned in Sec13A of IT Act (ANI)

#4:55 P.M.

CBI arrests Senior Special Assistant & Special Assistant of Cash Dept, RBI, Bangalore in a matter relating to unauthorised exchange of demonetised notes

#4:54 P.M.

Tsunami alert issued after 8.0-magnitude in Papua New Guinea quake: PTWC (AFP)

#4:50 PM

3 soldiers lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Pampore (J&K), search operation underway (ANI)

# 4:35 P.M.

IndvsEng 5th test: At stumps India at 60/0, trail by 417 runs (ANI)

#4:03 P.M.

As we say man-made disaster in English, similarly #DeMonetisation is Modi made disaster: #RahulGandhi in Belgaum (ANI)

# 3: 20 P.M.

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists attack security forces at Pampore in Pulwama district; More details awaited. (ANI)

# 3: 15 P.M.

Kerala : IT Department seizes Rs 70 lakh from the trust office of Karuna Medical College in Palakkad: ANI

# 2:55 P.M.

India and Tajikistan hold delegation level talks in Delhi: ANI

# 2: 53 P.M.

Agusta Westland: PatialaHouseCourt to hear bail matter on December 21:ANI

# 2:43 P.M.

Under smog alert, #Beijing orders factories to shut or cut output: Reuters India

# 2:39 P.M.

Manipur: NSCN-IM attacked 7 IRB post in Nungkao Village of Imphal & took away 4 arms. Gunfight underway. More details awaited: ANI

# 2:38 P.M.

We appreciate Tajikistan's role in central-Asian region as a mainstay against the forces of extremism, radicalism & terrorism: PM Modi: ANI

# 2:37 P.M.

We (India and Tajikistan) will work on trade and transit linkages through Chabahar Port in Iran: PM Modi: ANI

# 2:37 P.M.

India and Tajikistan enjoy a rewarding partnership in capacity and institution-building: PM Modi: ANI

# 2:34 P.M.

President and I agreed that peace in #Afghanistan is very important for the region: PM NarendraModi: ANI

# 2:32 P.M. 

President and I agreed on need to increase scope and scale of our economic engagement especially trade and investment traffic: PM Modi: ANI

# 2:30 P.M.

President Rahmon and I had fruitful discussions earlier today: PM Narendra Modi: ANI

# 2:29 P.M.

Police seize Rs 37 lakh in 2,000 rupee notes while checking car in Tamil Nadu's Erode, 5 arrested: ANI

# 2:27 P.M.

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon & PM Narendra Modi issue joint statement in Delhi: ANI

# 2:24 P.M.

Rahul Baba you shouldn't ask us questions. You keep on making mistakes and it's you who's the ultimate loser: AmitShah in Shahjahanpur: : ANI

# 2:18 P.M.

You ruled for 5 years with majority, now you have to answer people of UP. Don't try to distract them through demonetisation: Amit Shah

# 2:12 P.M.

Opposition wasted complete winter session by shouting, they did not want to hold any kind of discussion: Amit Shah in Shahjahanpur: ANI

#1:59 P.M.

Gunmen shoot dead five female airport workers and their driver in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province: AFP

#1:58 P.M.

US President-elect Donald Trump thanks Indian Americans for their contribution in his electoral triumph: PTI

# 1:56 P.M.

BJP President Amit Shah addressing Parivartan rally in Shahjahanpur: ANI

# 1:52 P.M.

Madhya Pradesh: #CBI raids residence of BSNL GM, CL Yadav in Bhopal after getting information about hoarding of disproportionate assets: ANI

# 1:50 P.M.

Trivandrum additional sessions court postponed announcement of quantum of punishment in DYFI leader Vishnu murder case of 2008 to 19 Dec: ANI

# 1:45 P.M.

Turkish army says 13 soldiers killed, 48 wounded in #Kayseri bombing: AFP

# 1:30 P.M.

We didn't have propagandist PM who packaged & marketed himself. Its our failure we couldn't tell India what we had done- Anand Sharma, Cong: ANI

# 1: 20 P.M.

SashastraSeemaBal has caught fake Indian currency notes worth Rs 6.45 lakh since demonitisation: DG SSB Archana Ramasundaram: ANI

# 1:05 P.M.

If a common man buys huge property action is inevitable, he must present himself before ED: Arjun Meghwal, MoS Finance on Robert Vadra: ANI

# 12:55 P.M.

College has 2 faculty members in Perumbavoor assisting families to handle procedures & do whatever is possible: Principal John Varghese: ANI

# 12:54 P.M.3 students & parent of 1 of our students passed away in accident in river Periyar: Principal John Varghese, St Stephen's College Kerala: ANI

# 12:53 P.M.

Andhra Pradesh: Police constable David Raju, posted at Gannavaram police station, allegedly commits suicide with his service gun: ANI

# 12:52 P.M.

Police has recovered Rs 34 lakhs (Rs 13 lakh in new Rs 2000 denomination notes rest Rs 100 notes) from SI & others, further probe on: ANI

# 12:50 P.M.

Medak: Telangana police arrest five persons including a sub inspector for allegedly looting Rs 91 lakh from a businessman: ANI

# 12:48 P.M.

Hyderabad police arrest four persons with Rs 12 lakhs in new Rs 2000 denomination, four mobile phones also seized: ANI

# 12:45 P.M.

Nothing wrong done during my tenure, this is just political vendetta and witch hunting: BS Hooda on AJL case CBI probe: ANI

# 12:42 P.M.

This is their modus operandi, in other cases also they have adopted the same method: BS Hooda, Former Haryana CM on AJL case CBI probe: ANI

# 12:38 P.M.

Syria's Assad, Russia and Iran have blood on hands, says Obama; calls for an observer force in Aleppo to coordinate evacuation: PTI

# 12:35 P.M.

ED seizes Rs 30 lakh, including 18 lakh in new notes, along with 2.5 kg gold from premises of tailor in Mohali and Chandigarh: PTI

# 12: 32 P.M.

Delhi: Tajikistan President EmomaliRahmon meets PM NarendraModi at Hyderabad House: ANI

# 12: 28 P.M.

Demonetisation will undergo the same fate as Congress's sterilization drive: Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD chief: ANI

# 12:25 P.M.

(continued) with new notes of Rs 2000 & legal tender of Rs 100 notes at booking Counter at CST Mumbai & Kalyan, Thane. Searches being done: ANI

#12: 22 P.M.

It's alleged that Bhoyar, while working as Asst Comm Mgr (Coaching), Central Rail, CST exchanged demonetised Notes of Rs 8.22 lakhs (approx):ANI

# 12: 18 P.M.

Several wounded in blast in central Turkish city of Kayseri: AFP

# 12: 13 P.M.

Congress came to conclusion that there was something wrong with Agusta & ordered CBI enquiry. BJP is just fooling the country- GN Azad: ANI

# 12:10 P.M.

CBI registers case against K L Bhoyar, Asstt Commercial Mgr, Central Railway, CST Mumbai for offences punishable U/S 13(2)r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act : ANI

12:05 P.M.

Whenever there is an attack on BJP they divert attention and say things. Enquiry is on nothing has been found: Ghulam Nabi Azad on Robert Vadra: ANI

#11:59 A.M.

Pakistan says won't accept any modifications in Indus Waters Treaty after India strongly pitched for bilateral redressal of differences: PTI

# 11:59 A.M.

ED decided to freeze bank accounts containing Rs 120 Cr belonging to these 4 bullion traders: ANI

#11:58 A.M.

I wanted to personally wish him a speedy recovery, happy to see that he is doing well: Rahul Gandhi after meeting ailing Karunanidhi: ANI

# 11:55 A.M.

Russia behind cyberattacks during polls, says Barack Obama; urges Donald Trump to ensure election not under foreign influence: PTI

#11:42 A.M.

Mumbai: ED raided 4 bullion traders yesterday due to suspicious transactions, they deposited Rs 69 Cr in old notes after Demonetisation: ANI

# 11:41 A.M.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal seeks setting up of commission to investigate source of funding of political parties: PTI

# 11:40 A.M.

China seizes U.S. underwater drone in South China Sea: Reuters# 11:34 A.M.Madhya Pradesh: 15 member team of Income Tax department from Jabalpur raids Shere Punjab Jewellers in Satna: ANI

# 11:32 A.M.

Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi reaches Chennai to meet ailing DMK Chief Karunanidhi admitted in Kauvery hospital: ANI

#11: 31 A.M.

Nine Congress and two TDP MLAs suspended for the day from Telangana assembly for creating ruckus: ANI

# 11: 20 A.M.

He (PM Modi) is so much in love with himself, he doesn't look at the advice coming from the economists: Manoj Jha, RJD #Demonetisation: ANI

# 11: 16 A.M.

Delhi: Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon with PM Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee at the President House: ANI

# 11:13 A.M.

DMK's general body meeting scheduled to take place on December 20 indefinitely postponed due to party chief Karunanidhi’s health: ANI

#11:05 A.M.

ED registers case against fake accounts holders in Axis Bank(Noida Sec 51) under PMLA. ED will question bank officials regarding it: ANI

# 11:00 A.M.

Ideally, GST should start from Apr 1, 2017; constitutional necessity for it to come into force between Apr 1 & Sep 16: FM Jaitley: ANI

# 10:59 A.M.

As far as the decision with regard to currency is concerned, I think it marks a very important beginning: FM Demonetization:ANI

# 10: 59 A.M.

On 16 Sept 2017, as far as current mode of taxation is concerned, the curtains will be down: FM Arun Jaitley: ANI

# 10: 59 A.M.

The process of Remonetisation is not going to take a lot of time: FM Arun Jaitley at FICCI's 89th Annual General Meeting: ANI

# 10:58 A.M.

I don't see any major difficulty in those legislations being finally approved: FM ArunJaitley GST: ANI

# 10:57 A.M.

Legislations which have to be passed by Parliament under constitutional amendment & state legislatures are currently in process of being drafted: FM: ANI

# 10: 53 A.M.

There are about 10 important decisions which have already been taken with consensus: FM Arun Jaitley GST: ANI

# 10:52 A.M.

Special cell of Delhi Police has arrested 2 persons and recovered 43 pistols from them: ANI

# 10: 51 A.M.

Having passed the constitutional amendment, there are several decisions which the GST Council has to take: FM Arun Jaitley: ANI

# 10: 50 A.M.

Brexit-vote surprised a lot of ppl, many felt that one of the world's most matured democracy will not vote the way it did: FM Jaitley: ANI

#10:48 A.M. 

Amongst emerging economies, if we look at India, I think its a refreshing change from whats happening in rest of the world: FM Jaitley: ANI

# 10: 30 A.M.

Delhi: FM ArunJaitley speaking at FICCI's 89th Annual General Meeting: ANI# 10: 20 A.M.Man charged with murder in October death of US Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay's daughter Trinity: AFP

# 10: 15 A.M.

Big case of corruption, and there is absolutely no way for escape. CBI probe will tell what is ahead: Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Associated Journals Limited: ANI

# 10: 10 A.M.

Cold wave severely hits locals including the school children in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. Water bodies freeze in higher reaches: ANI

# 10:00 A.M.

Cold wave, dense fog conditions continue to prevail in Jammu. Locals light fire to battle cold wave: ANI

# 9: 32 A.M.

INS Sutlej, a survey ship, rescued a fishing vessel Judan whose 7 crew members were in distress. The vessel was towed back to Kanyakumari safely: ANI

# 9:27 A.M.

All PCS officers of Lucknow go on indefinite strike: News Nation

# 9:22 A.M.

There was no separate queue for the elderly, all were in the same line: 80-year-old retired army man, Nand Lal who missed his spot in the queue: ANI

# 9: 15 A.M.

I had gone to fill a form, people stopped me when I came back: 80-year-old retired army man Nand Lal at a Gurgaon bank: ANI

# 9:10 A.M.

Fire broke out at a godown on Saturday morning in Vishwakarma Industrial Area, Jaipur, which was doused by 12 fire tenders: ANI

# 9:05 A.M.

Macedonia’s election commission orders re-run in one polling station: Reuters India

# 9:00 A.M.

Italy's top court orders retrial of ex-Finmeccanica executives in India bribery case: Reuters India

# 8: 56 A.M.

Foggy weather disrupts train operations in Allahabad. Various trains get delayed and cancelled due to the weather: ANI

# 8:54 A.M.

US President-elect Donald Trump picks South Carolina GOP Rep. Mick Mulvaney to head White House budget office: Reuters India

# 8:52 A.M.

Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Chennai on Saturday to meet ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi who was readmitted with breathing difficulty due to throat and lung infection: ANI

# 8:50 A.M.

Policemen who fired at a wedding in Muzaffarpur, Bihar were later on suspended for the act: ANI

# 8:48 A.M.

Demonetization was not an easy decision. Could any ordinary PM take such a decision? PM Modi thinks for the country's prosperity: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan: ANI

# 8:44 A.M. 

Often leaders have apprehensions about effect on the votes while making big decisions: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan: ANI

#8:42 A.M.

Madhya Pradesh has taken strong steps for women empowerment. Further, one of the campaigns under Narmada Seva Yatra is 'Beti Bachao': MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan: ANI

# 8:40 A.M.

Narmada is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and its biggest source of water: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan:ANI

# 8:35 A.M.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said that probe in the issue of allotment of Panchkula plot to AJL has been handed over to CBI: ANI

# 8:30 A.M.

Fog and cold wave conditions prevail in Lucknow: ANI

# 8:25 A.M.

Fog and cold wave conditions prevail in Moradabad: ANI

# 8:20 A.M.

Two dead, more than 12 shanties gutted in fire that broke out in early morning hours in Kolkata after a cylinder blast: ANI

# 8:15 A.M.

A tempo with milk packets overturned near Matunga Z Bridge, Mumbai on Friday night injuring one person: ANI

# 7:45 A.M.

4 people detained by police in Mumbai with new Rs 2000 notes worth Rs 1 crore 40 lakhs near Andheri on Friday night, I-T department informed.: ANI

#7:40 A.M.

Gujarat: Surat diamond workers, traders rue #demonetization, say the move has adversely hit their market: ANI

#7:30 A.M.

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will hold delegation level talks on Saturday: ANI

#7:24 A.M. 

Augusta Westland case: Former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi and other accused people will be produced before Patiala House court today as their CBI custody ends: ANI

#7:15 A.M.

52 trains delayed (Arriving late in Delhi area), 12 rescheduled due to prevailing fog conditions: ANI