HIGHLIGHTS AT 12:50

Following are the top stories at 12.50 pm:

DEL8 VIRUS-CASES

COVID-19 death toll touches 1,694; cases rise to 49,391

New Delhi: The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 1,694 and the number of cases climbed to 49,391 in the country on Wednesday, registering an increase of 126 deaths and 2,958 cases in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said.

DEL29 JK-2NDLD ENCOUNTER

2 militants killed in encounter in J-K's Pulwama; another operation nears completion

Srinagar: Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday, while another operation where a top militant commander is trapped was entering its final stages, officials said.

 

DEL14

JK-ENCOUNTER-MOBILE

Mobile internet suspended in Kashmir as top Hizb commander Riaz Naikoo trapped in encounter

Srinagar: Mobile internet services in Kashmir were suspended on Wednesday after top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group Riaz Naikoo, along with another militant, was trapped in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district, officials said.

DEL26 CONG-CMS-MEET

Cong questions govt's strategy on lockdown

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday questioned the government over the criteria it adopted to judge how long the COVID-19-induced lockdown will continue.

BOM1 MH-VIRUS-TOWN PLANNING

Chance to rework town planning of Mumbai amid COVID-19: Gadgil

Mumbai: The spread of COVID-19 in Mumbai and Pune is an opportunity to rework the town planning of the two prominent Maharashtra cities by stopping their vertical growth and encouraging self-contained satellite townships around them, architect Anant Gadgil has said.

MDS4 KA-LOCKDOWN-RELIEF

Lockdown distress: Karnataka govt announces Rs 1,610 cr package

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday announced a Rs 1,610 crore relief package for the benefit of those in distress due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

Legal:

LGD1 SC-CONTEMPT

SC sentences 3 people for making scandalous allegations against judges

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sentenced three people, held guilty of contempt of court for making "scurrilous and scandalous allegations" against two sitting judges of the apex court, to 3-month jail observing that it was a "concerted effort to virtually hold the judiciary to ransom".

Foreign:

FGN16 VIRUS-PAK Pakistan reports record 40 deaths in single day, coronavirus cases jump to 22,413

Islamabad: Pakistan reported a record 40 deaths due to the coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 1,049 new cases, health officials said on Wednesday. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN13 VIRUS-US-LD WHISTLEBLOWER

Trump admin ignored concerns over HCQ import from uninspected plants in India, Pak: Fired scientist

Washington: A fired American vaccine expert has alleged that the Trump administration ignored the concerns of doctors over the importation of hydroxychloroquine from "uninspected" factories in India and Pakistan and flooded the US with the unproven and potentially dangerous anti-malarial drug to treat coronavirus patients. By Lalit K Jha.