Morning Digest | Lok Sabha passes Telecom Bill 2023, to replace 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act; India will ‘definitely look into’ any information on alleged Pannun assassination attempt, says PM Modi, and more
The Hindu
The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on December 21, 2023
Parliament proceedings | Lok Sabha passes Bills to replace British-era criminal laws
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed three amended Bills that seek to repeal and replace criminal laws which date back to colonial times. This criminal law reform brings terrorism offences into a general crime law for the first time, drops the crime of sedition, and makes mob lynching punishable by death.
New criminal Bills have provisions for time-bound investigation and trial: Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that after the implementation of the three new criminal Bills there would be a uniform justice system throughout the country. He said the proposed laws were victim-centred and fixed the accountability of the police. He said an independent Director of Prosecution would be appointed at the district and State levels, where the role of the police would only be advisory.
Government issues COVID-19 alert, says no clustering of JN.1 cases
Admitting that India has registered a rise in the daily COVID-19 positivity rate in some States, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Karnataka, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday, while issuing an alert, said that no clustering of cases had been reported in the new JN.1 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
INDIA parties may move court to challenge criminal code Bill
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan granted bail in graft case, but remains in prison with multiple charges pending.
Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament to ban children younger than 16 from social media.
Florida man arrested for plotting to bomb New York Stock Exchange to "reboot" U.S. government, detained for trial.
Apple asked a federal judge to dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against the iPhone maker.
The Sri Lankan parliamentary elections have, more or less, cleansed the 225-member Parliament, purging the country’s arrogant old guard
Trump appoints Whitaker as NATO ambassador despite lack of foreign policy experience, raising concerns about U.S. representation within alliance.
Trump appoints Whitaker as NATO ambassador despite lack of foreign policy experience, raising concerns about U.S. representation within alliance.
U.N. Security Council votes 14-1 for ceasefire resolution, U.S. veto prevents adoption due to hostage release demand.
Bangladesh interim government cancels passports of 22 security officials under investigation for abductions during previous presidency.
U.S. policy shift allowing Kyiv to use ATACMS missiles sparks furious response from Moscow, risking major war.
Taliban authorities are removing "un-Islamic" and anti-government literature from circulation by checking imported books and distributing lists of banned titles.