- Breaking news updates December 23, 2021: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour.

Updated on Dec 23, 2021 10:20 PM IST
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Dec 23, 2021 10:19 PM IST
2 new Omicron cases confirmed in Odisha, both patients are children
Odisha reports two new Omicron cases, taking the state tally to four. The new detections have been confirmed in two children aged 11 and 15, with a travel history to Nigeria.
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Dec 23, 2021 08:57 PM IST
FIR filed against unknown person in connection or Ludhiana blast
An FIR has been lodged against an unknown person in connection with the explosion that occurred at the Ludhiana court complex earlier in the day, ANI reported.
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Dec 23, 2021 08:20 PM IST
Maharashtra CM to hold Covid review meet tonight as Omicron continues to increase in state
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray will hold a Covid-19 review meeting later at 10pm with the state task force as the state continues to report higher numbers of Omicron cases, an official statement from the CMO read.
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Dec 23, 2021 08:10 PM IST
Gujarat detects 7 more Omicron cases, tally rises to 30
Gujarat on Thursday confirmed seven more cases of Omicron variant, thereby taking the tally to 30. Of the total Omicron cases, as many as 25 are active, ANI reported.
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Dec 23, 2021 08:03 PM IST
Maharashtra reports 23 more Omicron cases, state’s tally reaches 88
Maharashtra on Thursday reported 23 fresh Omicron cases, taking the state’s tally to 88. Of these, 13 were found in Pune, five in Mumbai, two in Osmanabad and one each in Thane, Nagpur and Mira-Bhayander area.
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Dec 23, 2021 07:43 PM IST
MP imposes night curfew from 11pm to 5am as Omicron spreads
Madhya Pradesh imposes night curfew from 11pm to 5am amid the spread of Omicron variant of Covid-19.
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Dec 23, 2021 07:28 PM IST
Blast reported at pharma unit in Maharashtra
A blast has been reported at a pharma unit in Maharashtra’s Tarapur town, fire brigade is currently at spot.
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Dec 23, 2021 07:21 PM IST
PM chairs Covid-19 review meeting as Omicron variant spreads alarm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs Covid-19 review meeting as Omicron variant spreads alarm across country.
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Dec 23, 2021 07:10 PM IST
CJI Ramana expresses deep shock over Ludhiana court blast case
Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana expressed “deep shock” at the Ludhiana district court complex blast incident earlier in the day, ANI reported citing an official statement. He also asked the CJ of Punjab and Haryana high court to enquire about the developments.
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Dec 23, 2021 06:43 PM IST
Centre spent over ₹19 crore to procure Covid vaccines for free supply to states, UTs: Govt data
The central government has spent ₹19,675 crore to procure Covid-19 vaccines free-of-cost to supply to states and Union territories (UTs), PTI reported citing government data. The new phase of the universalisation of Covid-19 vaccination drive was started in June this year. Under this, the Centre will obtain and supply (free-of-cost) 75{a78e43caf781a4748142ac77894e52b42fd2247cba0219deedaee5032d61bfc9} of the vaccines from the manufacturers, to the states and UTs.
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Dec 23, 2021 06:11 PM IST
Conjoined twins get job in Punjab state power corp ltd
Conjoined twins, Sohna and Mohna, get a job in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), news agency ANI reported. “We’re very glad about the job and have joined on December 20. We thank the Punjab govt and the Pingalwara institution, which schooled us, for the opportunity,” they told ANI.
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Dec 23, 2021 05:35 PM IST
Karnataka Assembly passes anti-conversion bill
Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 (anti-conversion bill), ANI reported.
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Dec 23, 2021 04:55 PM IST
Man nabbed at Delhi metro station after bullets found in luggage
A 21-year-old man was nabbed by the CISF at Delhi’s Khan Market metro station on Thursday after he was found carrying four bullets in his luggage, PTI reported citing officials.
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Dec 23, 2021 04:37 PM IST
Sonia Gandhi to meet LS MPs from Punjab at her Delhi residence today
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will meet Lok Sabha MPs from Punjab at her residence in Delhi later today at 6.30pm, news agency ANI reported.
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Dec 23, 2021 04:17 PM IST
Kerala reports five new Omicron cases
Kerala on Thursday reported five new Omicron cases, taking the state’s tally to 29, state health minister Veene George said.
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Dec 23, 2021 03:40 PM IST
Karnataka reports 12 new Omicron cases, tally rises to 31
Karnataka on Thursday detected as many as12 fresh cases of Omicron Covid-19 variant, health minister Dr K Sudhakar announced on Twitter. With this, the southern state’s Omicron tally has climbed to 31.
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Dec 23, 2021 03:37 PM IST
DDMA allows religious places to stay open amid ban on gathering for New Year, Christmas
DDMA allows religious places to stay open amid ban on gatherings for New Year and Christmas. In an order, the DDMA said that social distancing and Covid-appropriate behaviour must be adhered to.
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Dec 23, 2021 02:43 PM IST
Firhad Hakim to remain Kolkata mayor
Firhad Hakim will continue in his role as a mayor of Kolkata, TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta announced on Twitter. Meanwhile, TMC MP Mala Roy has been named chairman of KMC, PTI reported.
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Dec 23, 2021 02:10 PM IST
PM lays foundation stone of Banas Dairy Kashi Sankul and Biogas Plant in UP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Banas Dairy Kashi Sankul and Biogas Plant in Varanasi. He also launched dairy mark and digital portal.
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Dec 23, 2021 01:51 PM IST
Punjab CM to visit Ludhiana after explosion hits district court
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi says he will visit Ludhiana to take stock of situation after explosion in district court complex.
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Dec 23, 2021 01:26 PM IST
Western disturbance to increase minimum temperature in North India
A fresh intensity of western disturbance and its induced cyclonic circulation is likely to influence northwest India from December 26 and central India from December 27, according to IMD forecast. The cyclonic circulation will increase the minimum temperature in the northwest, east and central India.
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Dec 23, 2021 12:38 PM IST
Explosion inside Ludhiana district court complex; 2 dead, 5 injured
At least two people were dead in an explosion reported from a district court complex of Ludhiana, located near the police commissionerate office, while five were injured. The explosion took place in the washroom on the second floor at around 12.22pm.
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Dec 23, 2021 12:14 PM IST
Delhi CM holds high-level meeting as Omicron cases rise
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal holds a high-level meeting as Delhi reports 64 Omicron cases (as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) and to strengthen home isolation managment for Covid-19 patients.
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Dec 23, 2021 12:04 PM IST
Movement of 280 trains affected in Firozpur division: CPRO
In the last 24 hours, the movement of more than 280 trains has been affected due to protest demonstration by farmers in the Firozpur Division of the Northern Railway. While more than 400 trains have been affected in the last four days of protest: CPRO, Northern Railway
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Dec 23, 2021 10:47 AM IST
PM Modi to chair Covid-19 review meeting at 6:30pm today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chair the Covid-19 review meeting at 6:30 pm today.
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Dec 23, 2021 10:42 AM IST
Over 60{a78e43caf781a4748142ac77894e52b42fd2247cba0219deedaee5032d61bfc9} of eligible population in India is fully vaccinated now
“Accomplishing more new feats! Congratulations India. Aided by public participation & dedicated efforts of our health workers,over 60{a78e43caf781a4748142ac77894e52b42fd2247cba0219deedaee5032d61bfc9} of eligible population fully vaccinated now,” tweets Union Health Minstry.
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Dec 23, 2021 09:02 AM IST
Omicron scare from Delhi to Mumbai: Curbs put in place by states
Amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, said to be highly infectious and capable of undergoing frequent mutations, multiple states and Union territories across India have reimposed fresh restrictions in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Read More
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Dec 23, 2021 07:58 AM IST
Mamata Banerjee ‘unhappy’ over not getting a chance to speak at PM’s meeting
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is unhappy for not been given a chance to speak at a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. According to news agency PTI, the development has anguished the entire state administration. Read More
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Dec 23, 2021 07:10 AM IST
Hong Kong university dismantles Tiananmen statue
Hong Kong’s oldest university launched an overnight operation Thursday to dismantle a statue commemorating those killed in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in the latest blow to academic freedoms as China cracks down.
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Dec 23, 2021 06:14 AM IST
PM Modi to launch projects worth over ₹2,000 crore in Varanasi today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on Thursday and launch multiple projects and schemes worth over ₹2,095 crore, his office said on Wednesday.
Ludhiana court blast: Sidhu asks why violence ahead of polls, cites Bengal
- Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said the party will give a “befitting reply” to those wanting to divide it and said the politics of “hope and unity” must replace that of “fear and division”.
Published on Dec 23, 2021 10:06 PM IST
Written by Sharangee Dutta | Edited by Sohini Goswami, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Meghalaya Speaker recognises merger of 12 Congress MLAs with Trinamool
Congress had, however, challenged the merger and sought disqualification of the MLAs. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh had, on November 29, filed 10 petitions with the Speaker seeking disqualification of the 12 defected legislators. She filed two more similar petitions earlier this month.
Published on Dec 23, 2021 09:18 PM IST
Ludhiana court blast: CM Channi announces free treatment for injured persons
- Soon after the blast was reported, Punjab CM Charanjit SIngh Channi said some “anti-national elements” are behind such acts in the state as election is due early next year.
Published on Dec 23, 2021 08:41 PM IST
Written by Sharangee Dutta | Edited by Sohini Goswami, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Kerala twin murders: Prime accused still at large says top cop
Two state-level functionaries of the BJP and SDPI, Renjith Sreenivas and K S Shan, were murdered in Alappuzha on Saturday and Sunday within a span of 12 hours shocking the state. Police later admitted that both were retaliatory killings.
Updated on Dec 23, 2021 08:05 PM IST
HT This Day: Dec 24, 1998 – JP awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously
Veteran Freedom fighter and socialist leader Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan has been posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour
Published on Dec 23, 2021 07:42 PM IST
, New Delhi
HT CorrespondentIndia tests Pralay missile second time in 2 days
The twin flight tests came days after India tested an advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island test facility on December 18.
Published on Dec 23, 2021 07:11 PM IST
The idea and the criticism of raising the marriageable age of women
- The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, once enacted, will apply to all communities and will amend all existing personal laws across faiths
Updated on Dec 23, 2021 06:35 PM IST
First sacrilege, now blast: Kejriwal slams ‘pre-poll conspiracies’ in Punjab
A man died while five others were injured in the explosion that happened inside the washroom on the second floor of the Ludhiana district court around 12.22pm.
Updated on Dec 23, 2021 06:35 PM IST
Written by Harshit Sabarwal | Edited by Sohini Goswami, New Delhi
PIL in Gauhati High Court seeks independent probe into Assam fake encounters
Besides the state government, Assam Police, the department of law and justice, NHRC and the Assam human rights commission have been named as respondents in the petition. The HC had admitted the petition but is yet to list any date of hearing.
Published on Dec 23, 2021 06:31 PM IST
Explainer: Jharkhand’s anti-mob lynching bill
- HT looks at the law, the opposition to it by the BJP, and how it differs from the laws in the other two states.
Published on Dec 23, 2021 06:22 PM IST
Karnataka assembly passes contentious anti-conversion bill amid din
The Basavaraj Bommai government said the legislation had been initiated by the grand old party with Siddaramaiah in the chief minister’s chair. The ruling camp also placed documents to support its claim before the House.
Updated on Dec 23, 2021 06:23 PM IST