Highlights: 3 drowned today in J&K while extracting sand, says police

France accuses Australia, US of 'lying' in 'serious crisis'.

The additional SP of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, Anwaar Ul Haq on Saturday told news agency ANI that at least three people drowned earlier in the day while extracting sand. “Rescue operation [is] underway by [the] SDRF,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Al Saud is in India for a three-day visit to have talks on the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, which recently fell into the hands of Islamist militant group Taliban.

Supriyo said that he is going to meet TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. Read more here.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday decided to reopen schools on November 1, even as the state continues to report a high number of daily Covid-19 cases. The decision was taken at the core committee meeting on the pandemic chaired by the CM. Read more here.

Colleges in Odisha will resume physical classes for 2020-21 undergraduate first year students from September 20 onwards.

Singh also said that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said ‘I am sorry Amarinder’ after he spoke with her over his decision to resign from the top post.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh said that Navjot Singh Sidhu, the party's state president, is an “incompetent man, [and] he is going to be a disaster.” “I will oppose his name for the next CM face. He has a connection with Pakistan. It will be a threat to national security,” he was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Union home minister Amit Shah launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana 2.0' Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur on Saturday. He said that as many as five lakh women are being given new LPG connections today, news agency ANI reported.

Union cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday said that all states, and UTs should undertake in-depth analysis of their Covid-19 situation and strengthen health infrastructure, stock essential medicines and augment human resources, according to news agency PTI.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Al Saud visit is expected to have discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, which recently fell back into the hands of Islamist militant group Taliban.

Captain Amarinder Singh also said that he will remain in Congress, and will consult his “supporters” before deciding the “next course of action.”

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday said that he “felt humiliated” as he was unable to run the state government “smoothly.”

Singh is set to address a press briefing at Raj Bhavan shortly. Read more here.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday took to Twitter to mention that India has administered 80 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses so far.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Saturday said that many BJP leaders are in communication with the TMC leadership as they are not satisfied with the former party. “One (Babul Supriyo) joined today, another wants to join tomorrow. This process will go on. Wait and watch,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Former BJP MP Babul Supriyo, who had quit the party after the recent cabinet rejig, has joined Trinamool Congress (TMC).

As many as seven girls drowned in a pond in Jharkhand during 'Karma Puja' immersion, news agency PTI reported.

Punjab Congress' president Navjot Sidhu and party's state general secretary Pargat Singh has received party leaders Harish Rawat, Ajay Maken and Harish Choudhary at the Chandigarh airport. A CLP meeting for Punjab is scheduled today.

Security was heightened at all major railway stations in Mumbai following an operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell, which led to the arrest of 6 terror suspects. Around 7,000 security cameras have been installed at the railway stations and certain entry and exit points have also been closed, reported news agency ANI on Saturday.

Chandigarh: Punjab ministers Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Charanjit S Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh arrive at the party office.

A CLP meeting of the party has been called today.

RN Ravi, former governor of Nagaland, took oath as the governor of Tamil Nadu in Chennai on Saturday, reported ANI. "I am looking forward to being at the service of the people of Tamil Nadu, to the best of my ability and the space that the Constitution gives me," Ravi told reporters at the oath taking ceremony. 

Income tax department said on Saturday that Bollywood actor Sonu Sood and his associates evaded tax worth ₹20 crore. IT department searched multiple premises in Mumbai, Nagpur and Jaipur linked to the actor while investigating allegations of tax evasion against Sood.