US President-elect Donald Trump picks Jared Isaacman to head Nasa. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde to be Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, according to media reports. An encounter broke out between security personnel and Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Wednesday, a senior police official said. The gunfight erupted around 1 pm in the forest of Abujhmad area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, he said. Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts, and the Border Security Force (BSF) are involved in the operation that began on Tuesday, he said. The intermittent exchange of fire was still underway, he said, adding that further details are awaited.
Devendra Fadnavis was on Wednesday unanimously elected as Maharashtra BJP legislature party's leader, paving the way for his swearing-in as the chief minister for a third time. More than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed for security during the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra's new chief minister scheduled here on Thursday evening, officials said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was stopped at the Ghazipur border on his way to violence-hit Sambhal on Wednesday. "We will not permit Rahul Gandhi to Sambhal as prohibitory orders have been issued by the administration there. Police will stop Gandhi at UP gate," Ghaziabad Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra had stated earlier.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was shot by a man this morning while he was performing 'sewadar' duties at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The man was overpowered by those present on the spot.
Amid the ongoing farmers' agitation, the Uttar Pradesh government has formed a 5-member panel to address the farmers' stir in Noida and Greater Noida. The panel is expected to submit its report to the government within a month. Protesting farmers had set up a camp at Dalit Prerana Sthal on the Noida-Delhi Highway after security personnel prevented the farmers from reaching Delhi on Monday,
Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde was taken to private hospital in Thane city for a medical check-up. Earlier, Shinde had travelled to his village in Satara district, leading to speculation about his dissatisfaction with the way the new government was shaping up. However, he denied any dissatisfaction, saying that he had developed a high fever while in his village and dismissed any claims of political unrest. Refuting speculation of a deadlock over the chief minister's post, Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar had stated that caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is not the reason behind the delay in forming Maharashtra's new government. The BJP and its allies emerged triumphant in the the Maharashtra Assembly elections, held on November 20, 2024. The BJP is the largest party in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, bagging 132 seats. The Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, secured 57 seats, wheras the NCP under Ajit Pawar’s leadership won 41 seats.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is set to launch the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 /Proba-3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. The mission will entail the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 carrying around satellites weighing approx. 550kgs in a highly elliptical orbit.
 "News updates: US President-elect Donald Trump picks Jared Isaacman to head Nasa")
