Breaking News: Allahabad HC urges PM, EC to consider postponing UP polls amid Omicron spread

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.

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• 23 Dec 2021, 11:56:50 PM IST

  Maharashtra to unveil new Covid-19 curbs on December 24 in view of Omicron

  The Maharashtra government would unveil new Covid-19 related restrictions in the state on Friday (December 24) in view of the upcoming festive season, the Covid-19 surge and the Omicron variant. 

  The decision was taken in the task force meeting headed by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday night.

  The decision was taken as there would be huge gatherings in hotels and restaurants due to Christmas and New year celebrations.

• 23 Dec 2021, 10:56:26 PM IST

  Allahabad HC urges PM Modi, ECI to consider postponing UP polls amid Omicron alert

  The Allahabad high court has appealed to PM Narendra Modi and Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider postponing UP elections by one to two months in view of the rising cases of Omicron Covid-19 variant in India.

• 23 Dec 2021, 10:19:04 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 08:57:09 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 08:20:42 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 08:10:48 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 08:03:09 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 07:43:19 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 07:28:45 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 07:21:00 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 07:10:45 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 06:43:54 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% of the vaccines from the manufacturers, to the states and UTs.

• 23 Dec 2021, 06:11:50 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 05:35:12 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 04:55:30 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 04:37:20 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 04:17:06 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 03:40:13 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 03:37:32 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 02:43:45 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 02:10:11 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 01:51:04 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 01:26:06 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 12:38:18 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 12:14:54 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 12:04:57 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

• 23 Dec 2021, 10:47:26 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 10:42:28 AM IST

  Over 60% 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% of eligible population fully vaccinated now," tweets Union Health Minstry.

• 23 Dec 2021, 09:02:21 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

• 23 Dec 2021, 07:58:47 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

• 23 Dec 2021, 07:10:05 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.

• 23 Dec 2021, 06:14:22 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.