News updates: 1 killed, a couple injured in Kashmir twin attacks ahead of polling

From Swati Maliwal's assault case to the raging heat wave in North India, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

A former sarpanch was killed and a couple from Rajasthan was injured in firing by terrorists in two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, two days before polling. The country is in the middle of a marathon six-week general election. Four rounds are over, three more remain. The votes will be counted on June 4. 

"...Our goal is to protect this Constitution...If this (Constitution) goes away - which the BJP and PM Modi want...So, the first work is to safeguard this Constitution because this is your future, your dream and the voice of your heart..," says Rahul Gandhi at a poll rally.
 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he will go to the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters at 12 pm on Sunday (May 19) along with all Aam Aadmi Party leaders, MLAs and MPs. 'Arrest us together. You think that by jailing AAP leaders, you will crush AAP. It will not happen. You can try. AAP is a thought that has made home in the hearts of the people of the country,' the AAP supremo said.

The Delhi unit of the BJP on Saturday accused AAP leaders of circulating "edited" videos to damage the image of their own party MP Swati Maliwal, who has accused an aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of assaulting her, PTI reported.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar has been arrested by Delhi Police in the Swati Maliwal assault case. Kumar will be produced at the Tis Hazari Court, reported Indian Express.

On Friday, Delhi witnessed 47.4 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh, making it the hottest place in the country. Delhi on Saturday morning recorded a minimum temperature of 27.1 degrees Celsius, 0.6 notch above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has alleged that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed atDelhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence were being tampered with, according to an ANI report. Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi Marlena has alleged that Swati Maliwal is the face of the conspiracies being planned by the BJP to disrupt AAP's Lok Sabha election campaign. Taking to the microblogging site X on Friday evening, Swati Maliwal, the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said, "I have received information that now these people are tampering with the CCTV of the house."

The effects of the scorching heat likely to hit India over the next few days will be accentuated by climate change, according to a research group, Bloomberg reported. The northwestern region of the country which includes the national capital Delhi, is expected to record temperatures that could exceed the average for this time of year by more than 6 degrees Celsius, US-based Climate Central said in a report Friday. “Human-caused climate change has made this intense heat much more likely,” Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, said in the report. Night-time temperatures are unlikely to go below 34 degree celcius for the period, making this event “particularly alarming,” Pershing said.

11:49 PM

1 killed, Jaipur couple injured in Kashmir twin attacks ahead of polling

A former sarpanch was killed and a couple from Rajasthan was injured in firing by terrorists in two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, two days before polling. The country is in the middle of a marathon six-week general election. Four rounds are over, three more remain. The votes will be counted on June 4. 

9:31 PM

Fire breaks out in Gurugram slum, 65 shanties gutted

About 65 shanties were gutted after a major fire broke out in local slum cluster in sector 65 here on Saturday, a fire official said.

 

Initial investigations have revealed the cause of the fire was a cooking gas leakage, the official said.

 

According to police, a fire broke out in the sector 65 area around 10 am. Five fire engines were immediately pressed into the service, they said, adding that the blaze was brought under control but 65 shanties were gutted.

 

There were no casualties or burn injuries reported, the police said.

8:40 PM

Our goal is to protect Constitution: Rahul Gandhi at a poll rally

"...Our goal is to protect this Constitution...If this (Constitution) goes away - which the BJP and PM Modi want...So, the first work is to safeguard this Constitution because this is your future, your dream and the voice of your heart..," says Rahul Gandhi at a poll rally.

8:03 PM

Omar Abdullah requests to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami

“I would request the central government to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami immediately after the Lok Sabha elections conclude and it should contest the upcoming state elections. They have supported other candidates in the past but not fought elections themselves,” says National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah.

8:02 PM

Nepali Ambassador to India attends PM Modi's public rally in Delhi today

On attending PM Modi's public rally in Delhi today, Nepali Ambassador to India, Dr. Shankar P Sharma says, "20 foreign delegates including 6 ambassadors of different countries are here today to see what the election rally looks like. We are proud to attend the PM's rally and get a first-hand experience of it. India is the mother of democracy...

7:08 PM

PM Modi addresses a public rally in North East Delhi

"This is the time when Bharat is taking a leap for development. 2024 elections is to make India one of the top three economies in the world. This election is also to protect the country's economy from powers which want to bankrupt the country with its policies. It is also to protect the poor and middle class from those who want to snatch away their wealth...," the PM said.

7:07 PM

'BJP and its Delhi Police know that this case is false,' says Atishi

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Atishi on Saturday said that BJP and Delhi Police know that the case against Bhibhav Kumar is fake. “From the videos that have surfaced in the last two days, it has become clear that there was no attack on Swati Maliwal ji. When the court was about to dictate its order at 4:45 PM, the Delhi Police counsel through VC said that this is no longer the nature of anticipatory bail.

7:07 PM

FSSAI warns against use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits, urges strict compliance

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has alerted traders’/fruits handlers/Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating ripening chambers to strictly ensure compliance with the prohibition on calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, particularly during the mango season. FSSAI is also advising Food Safety Departments of States /UTs to remain vigilant and take serious action and deal stringently against person(s) indulging in such unlawful practices as per the provisions of FSS Act, 2006 and Rules/Regulations made thereunder.

5:53 PM

Delhi CM, AAP leaders to go to BJP headquarters at 12 noon tomorrow, dares PM to get them arrested

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he will go to the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters at 12 pm on Sunday (May 19) along with all Aam Aadmi Party leaders, MLAs and MPs. 'Arrest us together. You think that by jailing AAP leaders, you will crush AAP. It will not happen. You can try. AAP is a thought that has made home in the hearts of the people of the country,' the AAP supremo said.

5:48 PM

Court dismisses CM Kejriwal ex-aide Bibhav Kumar's anticipatory bail plea

His bail application has become infructuous. After the conclusion of arguments, Public Prosecutor informed the court that Bibhav Kumar has been arrested at 4.15 PM. Earlier, the order was reserved.

5:48 PM

'Matter of surprise that Bibhav was found inside premises of CM's residence,' says BJP's Shazia Ilmi

"It has taken far too long for Bibhav to get arrested...It is not a matter of surprise that he was found inside the premises of CM's residence...He(Bibhav) was enjoying the protection of Kejriwal...It is Kejriwal who ordered Bibhav to beat up Swati Maliwal...He(Arvind Kejriwal) is directly responsible for this assault," said BJP leader Shazia Ilmi, following the arrest of Bibhav Kumar.

4:37 PM

Delhi’s peak power demand clocks 6987 MW, highest ever in the first 18 days of May

"Delhi’s peak power demand clocks 6987 MW, highest ever in the first 18 days of May. In the first 18 days of May 2024, Delhi’s peak power demand higher on 100 per cent of the corresponding days vis-vis May-2023. Delhi’s peak power demand was 5781 MW in the first 16 days of May last year. Power demand in April-24 higher on 83 per cent of the corresponding days as compared April-23. BRPL and BYPL successfully met the peak power demand of 3131 MW and 1537 MW respectively,"says DISCOM official.

3:49 PM

When there is strong govt in country, enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything: PM Modi at rally in Ambala

Election 2024 Live News: Strong government of Modi brought down wall of Article 370. Kashmir now moving on path of development: PM Modi at Ambala rally.

3:36 PM

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with party's candidate KL Sharma holds a roadshow in Amethi

Election 2024 Live News: KL Sharma is contesting the sitting MP and BJP candidate Smriti Irani in Amethi, the constituency that is set to vote on May 20, in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

3:36 PM

Death toll from tourist attack in Afghanistan rises to six, AFP reports citing government

The death toll from an attack in the popular tourism destination of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan has risen to six, the interior ministry said Saturday, with three Afghans and three Spanish nationals killed in gunfire.

 

"The new information is that three Afghan citizens were killed in the attack, of which one was a Mujahid (Taliban member) and two of them were civilians," interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani told AFP, adding that all the dead and wounded had been transferred to Kabul.