New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 PM NATION PAR9 LS-3RDLD SINE DIE

Winter Session of Lok Sabha ends; key bills passed, debates see politically-charged attacks New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, drawing curtains on the 19-day-long Winter Session of Parliament, which saw the passage of crucial bills, including one to repeal the 20-year-old MNREGA and another on opening up the civil nuclear sector for private participation.

DEL26 CONG-PAR-SESSION (2.45 PM)

Session started with govt insulting Tagore, ended with insult of Gandhi: Congress New Delhi: With Parliament's Winter Session drawing to a close, the Congress on Friday alleged that the session began with the government "insulting" Rabindranath Tagore and ended with the "insult" of Mahatma Gandhi.

DEL27 MHA-PORT-LD SECURITY (2.59 PM)

Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security New Delhi: To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.

MDS7 TL-PRESIDENT-LD PSC (2.06 PM)

PSCs need to anticipate emerging challenges in tech, focus on transparency: President Murmu Hyderabad: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said Public Service Commissions need to anticipate emerging challenges in technology and also focus on strengthening transparency and developing globally comparable teams of civil servants.

DEL43 ED-BETTING-ATTACH (4.55 PM)

ED attaches assets of Yuvraj Singh, Sonu Sood, others in betting case New Delhi: Assets of former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa apart from that of ex TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty and actor Sonu Sood have been attached by the ED in an "illegal" betting app linked money laundering case estimated to be worth more than Rs 1,000 crore, official sources said Friday.

DEL42 DEF-ICG-VESSEL (4.35 PM)

Fast patrol vessel 'Amulya' commissioned into Indian Coast Guard New Delhi: Indian Coast Guard ship Amulya, the third vessel in the new-generation Adamya class fast patrol vessels, has been commissioned, officials said on Friday.

MDS6 KA-ASSEMBLY-LEADERSHIP-CM (1.27 PM)

Will serve full five-year term, says CM Siddaramaiah, rejects power-sharing talk Belagavi (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday affirmed that he would remain in office for his full five-year term, expressing confidence in the Congress high command's support.

LEGAL LGD10 DL-COURT-BLAST (3.26 PM)

Red Fort blast: NIA to grill Naseer Bilal for 7 more days; Soyab remanded to 5-day judicial custody New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday extended by seven days the NIA custody of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, an accused in the Red Fort blast case.

LGD9 SC-LAWYER-POLICE (1.41 PM)

SC issues notice on woman lawyer's plea alleging custodial sexual assault at Noida police station New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government and others on a plea filed by a woman advocate alleging illegal detention and custodial sexual assault at a police station in Noida.

BUSINESS DEL37 BIZ-TAX-LD COLLECTION (3.54 PM)

Net direct tax mop up grows 8 pc to Rs 17 lakh cr on slower refunds, higher corp advance tax New Delhi: Net direct tax collection grew 8 per cent to over Rs 17.04 lakh crore this fiscal till December 17 on slower refunds and higher advance taxes from corporates, the income tax department data showed on Friday.

DEL38 BIZ-CCI-INDIGO (3.54 PM)

Decision to look into IndiGo issue taken after initial assessment: CCI chief Ravneet Kaur New Delhi: Competition Commission Chairperson Ravneet Kaur on Friday said that based on the initial assessment, the fair trade regulator has decided to look into IndiGo operations after recent flight disruptions, which severely impacted passengers across the country.

FOREIGN FGN40 BANGLA-HINDU (4.50 PM)

Hindu man lynched to death in Bangladesh over alleged blasphemy Dhaka/New Delhi: A Hindu man was lynched to death and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Bangladesh, in the latest incident of violence against the religious minority in the country.

FGN33 US-DEFENCE-LD INDIA (1.02 PM)

Trump signs into law defence policy bill backing deeper engagement with India including via Quad New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed into law an annual defence policy bill that highlights broadening America’s engagement with India, including through the Quad to advance the shared objective of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and address the challenge posed by China. By Yoshita Singh

FGN38 BANGLA-SITUATION-GOVT (4.29 PM)

B'desh interim govt urges people to resist all forms of mob violence Dhaka: The interim government on Friday urged Bangladeshi citizens to resist all forms of mob violence committed by "a few fringe elements" following the death of a prominent July Uprising leader six days after he was shot by masked gunmen in the national capital.

PTI APL

Net direct tax collections rose 8% to Rs 17.04 lakh crore; assets linked to illegal betting money laundering probe attached. Net direct tax receipts rose 8% to about Rs 17.04 lakh crore due to slower refunds and higher corporate advance tax payments. The publication reports attachment of assets in a large illegal betting linked money laundering investigation, reflecting deployment of asset seizure and anti money laundering measures. It also notes judicial scrutiny of a custodial sexual assault allegation and extended investigative custody in a terrorism related case, underscoring use of investigative custody and judicial oversight in serious criminal probes.