Live: Armed gangs kill 74 in Nigeria’s Benue state

At least 74 people were killed in Nigeria’s Benue state in two separate attacks by gunmen this week, local officials and police said on Saturday, the latest clashes in an area where violence between pastoralists and farmers is common, Reuters. 

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday alleged that the “mafia raj” in Punjab has grown stronger under the “patronage” of the AAP, which had promised to demolish it before coming to power.

Sidhu also attacked the ruling dispensation over its failure to implement its pre-poll promises and dared Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to a debate with him regarding the state government’s performance, reported PTI. 

One person was killed and three policemen injured in a clash between members of two communities in Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara district on Saturday, senior officials said. The violence was allegedly triggered by a fight between children at Biranpur village under Saja police station area in the morning, officials said, reported PTI. 

Three women were killed and five others injured when lightning struck them in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Saturday, PTI reported.

The Ahmedabad crime branch on Saturday arrested alleged conman Kiran Patel after he was brought to Ahmedabad from Jammu and Kashmir.

Patel, arrested in Jammu and Kashmir for posing as a senior PMO official last month, was on Thursday handed over to the Gujarat Police.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Saturday deployed warships and flew fighter jets to encircle the self-ruled island of Taiwan, putting on an aggressive show of military might in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s US stopover and meeting with House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, this week.

Around 150 people were detained for blocking roads during a day-long shutdown called by tribal bodies in Jharkhand’s Ranchi on Saturday to protest against the alleged burning of the Sarna flag (tribal religious flag) by unidentified men on March 25.

Coronavirus pandemic is completely under control in Andhra Pradesh with only 267 people exhibiting symptoms out of the total 15,096 people screened, state health minister Vidadala Rajini said.

The Minister said there was no reason to worry, reflecting on these tests conducted in the past two weeks.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reached BJP National President JP Nadda’s residence in the national capital for a parliamentary board meeting of the party to discuss and finalise the list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

Karnataka BJP president Nalinkumar Kateel, former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other leaders are also present at Nadda’s residence.

Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday announced to double the reward on jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed’s wife, Shaista Parveen, who is on the run in connection to Umesh Pal murder case.

Former Congress leader and great-grandson of C Rajagopalachari, CR Kesavan joins BJP.

In the first reported death arising out of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Bihar over the last three months, a 70-year-old woman of Makdumpur village in Jehanabad district died of heart attack at the Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital (ANMMCH) on Friday evening, said health officials.

Five people were killed in two road accidents in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman district on Saturday, police said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar not favouring formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations against the Adani group will not lead to cracks in opposition unity.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will reportedly skip Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme in the state on Saturday. As part of the programme, PM Modi is set to inaugurate several development projects for the poll-bound state and as per the protocol, an official invitation was sent to Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) inviting KCR to participate in the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Integrated Terminal Building (Phase -1) of Chennai International Airport on Saturday.

My party has supported the JPC but I feel that the JPC will be dominated by the ruling party thus the truth will not come out…so I feel that SC monitored panel is a better way to bring out truth: NCP chief Sharad Pawar to ANI on Adani issue

Amid rising cases of coronavirus, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta urged the Centre to provide at least 50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to continue with the immunisation drive in the state.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said that 42 Chinese planes and eight ships crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line on Saturday morning.

Police arrested three leaders of banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) and Campus Front of India (CFI) in Assam’s Barpeta district. The arrested PFI and CFI leaders were identified as Jakir Hussain, he is also the State Secretary of PFI, Abu Sama and CFI National Treasurer Sahidul Islam. Police also recovered cash of ₹1.50 lakh, four mobile phones, pamphlet of SDPI in possession from them: Hiren Nath, ADGP (SB), Assam police to ANI

A Delhi Police head constable allegedly shot himself inside a PCR van Saturday morning near Chandgi Ram Akhara in Civil Lines area, reported ANI quoting a senior officer.

There is an active shooter at the Van Vleet Oval. OUPD investigating possible shots fired on Norman campus,” tweets University of Oklahoma.

Biden says he ‘will fight’ to overturn abortion pill ruling: White House

North Korea claimed Saturday it had tested another underwater nuclear attack drone, in its latest response to South Korean and United States military drills, though analysts have questioned whether Pyongyang has such a weapon.

As soon as the information was received, 26 fire tenders reached the spot. The fire was spreading quickly due to the wind. This fire has been declared of medium category. There is no information about loss of life or property so far. Situation under control: SK Dua, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Delhi, tells ANI

Taiwan detects 13 Chinese aircraft, 3 warships around island, reports AFP citing defence ministry

China will hold three days of military exercises around Taiwan starting from Saturday, the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command announced, the day after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a trip to the United States.

An Italian tourist was killed and five other tourists were wounded in a Tel Aviv car ramming attack on Friday, Israeli and Italian officials said.

The United States on Friday voiced solidarity with ally Israel which mobilized police and army reserves after deadly attacks following a surge in tension in Jerusalem.

A conservative federal judge in the state of Texas halted US approval of the abortion pill mifepristone on Friday, but paused implementation for a week to give federal authorities time to appeal.

Delhi: Massive fire breaks out in a plastic godown at PVC market in Tikri Kalan area. 25 fire tenders at the spot. No casualties reported so far.