INDIA: Dust storms, heavy rain and lightning killed at least 96 people in northern India, while also damaging homes and other structures, officials said today.

The storms also left more than 50 people injured when they swept across several districts of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, on Wednesday night.

Officials said some deaths were caused by falling trees, collapsing structures and lightning. 

NIGERIA: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has been “shocked” by reports that separate air attacks by Nigerian and Chadian forces in northern Nigeria killed more than 100 civilians on May 10.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Turk said: “It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents.” 

PHILIPPINES: A senator wanted by the International Criminal Court for an alleged crime against humanity has fled the Senate, where he sought refuge to evade arrest, officials said today.

Ronald dela Rosa’s exit from the heavily guarded building came after volleys of gunshots were fired by security personnel on Wednesday night during an argument with a government agent, sparking chaos that apparently helped the senator slip away.

UNITED STATES: US District Judge Richard Leon has temporarily barred the Trump administration from imposing sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, after her family filed a lawsuit earlier this year.

Mr Leon said on Wednesday that the penalties sought by the administration could violate the first amendment rights of Ms Albanese and her family members.