December 16: Top news at noon

Last day of Winter Session of Parliament

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon on the last day of Parliament’s Winter Session, 2016. Business pending before the lower house includes the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016, the Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016, the Maternity Benefit (Amendment), besides discussion on demonetisation of currency notes under Rule 193. The Winter Session in the Rajya Sabha was a virtual washout, as the Upper House was adjourned sine die on Friday by Chairman Hamid Ansari. The HIV-AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014, the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the whittled down Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 remain pending in the Upper House. The session has been dominated by clashed between treasury and Opposition benches over sudden demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016.

Supreme Court indicates it may pass order on use of old notes

The Supreme Court has said it may pass some orders on Friday on a plea seeking that demonetised ₹500 currency notes be allowed to be used for some more time. The petitioners have sought extension of exemptions on the use of old notes at chemists, government hospitals and toll plazas, among others.

President Obama warns Russia of retaliation over hacking in US elections

In an interview on National Public Radio, President Barack Obama has warned that the US will retaliate against Russia "At a time and a place of our own choosing” for launching cyber attacks during the presidential election, after the White House accused senior-most Russian officials of direct involvement in hacking. The outgoing US president said he was waiting for a final report he has ordered into a range of Russian hacking attacks that may have swayed last month's tight election in which Republican candidate Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Woman raped in Delhi after being offered lift in car bearing MHA sticker

A 20-year-old-woman was allegedly raped in south Delhi's Moti Bagh area after the attacker offered her a lift to Noida, police said today. The woman from Noida had come to Delhi looking for a job and while she was waiting for a bus near AIIMS, the accused offered her a lift last evening, police said. The accused stopped the car in Moti Bagh and allegedly sexually assaulted her. She managed to escape from there and informed the police. The accused was arrested last night. He was driving a car that had a Home Ministry sticker but police said that he is not a government employee.

Congress presents memorandum of farmer’s demands to PM

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and top party leaders meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and handed over a memorandum on farmers' demands including loan waiver, minimum support price and problems being faced due to demonetisation. Captain Amarinder Singh said after the meeting that the PM promised to look into all issues.