The top stories of the day in India on December 24, 2023, include:

Political News:

• Congress reshuffle: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been relieved of her charge as the party general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh. Avinash Pande will take over as the new General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh. Sachin Pilot has been given a key role in the party, but the details are still not clear.
• Putin signals openness to the ceasefire: Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly signalled that he is open to a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, there are no concrete details about the terms of any potential agreement.
• No order issued yet to lift hijab ban: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that no order has been issued yet to lift the ban on wearing hijabs in educational institutions.

National Security

• Drone attack on ship: A suspected drone attack has hit a merchant ship carrying 21 Indians off the coast of Gujarat. The Navy and Coast Guard have rushed to assist the ship.
• Jammu and Kashmir: Three civilians were killed in an encounter between security forces and terrorists near Poonch. Mobile internet has been suspended in Poonch and Rajouri following the incident.

Health:

• COVID-19: India has reported 640 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 2,997. One death was also reported. However, Niti Aayog member VK Paul has advised people not to panic as the symptoms are mild.
• AIIMS opens post-mortem facility: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has opened a new post-mortem facility. Hence, it will bring relief to relatives of deceased patients.

Other news:

• Air quality worsens: The air quality in Delhi and other parts of North India has worsened due to fog. This has led to the cancellation of some flights.
• Another big layoff at Google? There are rumours that Google is planning another round of layoffs. However, the company has not confirmed this.
• US Engine Maker Faces Penalty: Cummins Inc., a US engine maker, is facing the largest Clean Air Act penalty ever issued for allegedly cheating on emissions tests.
• Salaar box office collection: The Prabhas-starrer Salaar has collected over ₹148 crore in India on its second day of release.
• Mike Williams Dies: Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams has died at the age of 36 from dental-related sepsis.
• Air India’s first Airbus A350 aircraft arrives: Air India’s first Airbus A350 aircraft has arrived in India. Moreover, it will enter commercial service in January 2024.

These are just some of the top stories of the day. For more information, you can check out the Information Site or other news websites. Subscribe to our newsletter for top stories directly in your email box.