Latest india news News: Today’s Live Updates 01-Dec-2023

Exit poll projections in the southern state of Telangana suggest that the Congress party could stage a comeback, potentially ruining incumbent chief minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao's ambitions of a third straight term in office. The exit polls indicate that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by KCR might be reduced to 34-44 seats, while the Congress is set to achieve the majority mark by winning 63-73 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is projected to improve its 2018 tally and win 4-8 seats, while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi is expected to win 5-8 seats. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

The Election Commission has changed the date of counting of votes in Mizoram to December 4, instead of December 3 as originally scheduled. The decision was made following requests from various quarters in Mizoram, who highlighted the special significance of December 3 for the people of the state. This change in date was in response to the coincidence of December 3 being a Sunday, when church programs also take place. The elections for the 40-member Mizoram assembly were held on November 7 with a turnout of over 80 percent.

The Congress party has questioned the Election Commission's decision to delay the counting of votes in Mizoram by a day, despite requests from political parties more than a month ago. The Congress general secretary, Jairam Ramesh, asked why there was a delay in taking such a "simple and obvious step" to change the date of counting. The Election Commission announced the change on Friday, stating that it had received representations from various quarters requesting a change in the date of counting due to the special significance of Sunday for the people of Mizoram, a Christian-majority state.

The Indian government has responded to the charges brought against Indian national Nikhil Gupta by the United States, stating that it will take follow-up action based on the findings of an inquiry committee. The charges allege that Gupta was involved in a conspiracy to kill designated terrorist and Sikhs for Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. The Indian government has set up a high-level committee, led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to investigate the matter. The ministry of external affairs has called the case a "matter of concern" and stated that it will take appropriate action based on the committee's findings.

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has recommended the expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in a "cash-for-query" case. The committee voted in favour of the report, with six members supporting the recommendation and four members submitting dissent notes. The report will be tabled in the lower house of Parliament on Monday, and Moitra can only be expelled if the House votes in favour of the panel's recommendation. The Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday and is scheduled to continue till December 22.

The Election Commission has revised the counting date for the Mizoram election to December 4. No further details have been provided at this time.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson praised India for successfully landing on the south pole of the moon, calling it a significant accomplishment. He also highlighted the collaboration between NASA and ISRO on the NISAR mission, which aims to observe and understand changes in Earth's ecosystems and climate. Nelson mentioned that NISAR will provide valuable data on water, land, and ice changes, contributing to a better understanding of the planet. He expressed his admiration for India's efforts and emphasized the importance of preserving Earth as a home. Nelson's visit to India included meetings with ISRO officials and astronaut Rakesh Sharma.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath has questioned the accuracy of exit poll results that predict a BJP victory in the state assembly elections. Nath accused some exit poll agencies of creating a "false atmosphere" and putting pressure on poll officers. He urged Congress workers to ensure an impartial counting process on December 3 and said that the BJP has lost the elections. Various exit polls have predicted a BJP victory, with seat projections ranging from 95-115 seats for the BJP and 105-120 seats for the Congress. The official election results will be declared on December 3.

A 36-year-old Israeli woman was found dead in Kerala, India, with her throat slit, while her 73-year-old live-in partner attempted to end his own life and has been hospitalized. Police have determined that the couple had a suicide pact. The woman had been living in India for the past 16 years and was suffering from depression. Her partner, a yoga teacher, was suffering from psoriasis. The couple decided to end their lives together, with the man slitting the woman's throat before attempting to kill himself. He has been booked for murder and attempted suicide.

A woman officer in the Indian Navy is set to assume the command of a warship, marking a watershed moment in the country's naval history. The lieutenant commander will take charge as the commanding officer of a fast attack craft, INS Trinkat. This comes three decades after the navy began inducting women as officers. The development also comes months after the navy began inducting women as sailors for the first time. The navy is the first among the three services to induct women in the personnel below officer rank cadre across all streams, with more than 1,000 women currently serving.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed support for an "early and durable resolution" to the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai. This was the first in-person meeting between the top leadership of the two countries since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October. Modi also condemned the terror attacks by Hamas and expressed condolences for the loss of lives. The conflict was also discussed in a meeting between Modi and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

India's navy is closely monitoring China's activities in the Indian Ocean region in order to assess their intentions and activities, according to navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar. The navy is particularly interested in China's naval cooperation with Pakistan and is revising its own plans accordingly. China has a growing presence in the Indian Ocean, with several warships, fishing vessels, and research ships in the region. The Indian navy regularly deploys its assets, including warships, submarines, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles, to observe and monitor the area. The Indian Ocean has become a focus of geopolitical tension due to China's rising influence and military bases in the region.

The Congress party has criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks at the COP28 conference in Dubai, calling it "maximum global talk, minimum local walk". The party accused the Modi government of weakening environmental protections by passing amendments to the Environment Protection Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Congress also alleged that environmental norms, such as the Environmental Impact Assessment, had been continuously weakened since 2020. They further criticized the government for its handling of air pollution and accused it of exploiting forests and handing them over to selected corporations. The party claimed that the Forest Conservation Act and the Forest Rights Act had been weakened.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the winter season from December to February is expected to be warmer than usual in most parts of India. The intensity and frequency of cold waves are also predicted to be lower than normal. Above normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country during this period, while above normal maximum temperatures are expected in most areas except for some parts of central and northwest India. The forecast also suggests above-normal rainfall in the northwest, adjoining areas of central and east India, and some areas of extreme south peninsular India.