HIGHLIGHTS AT 18.30 HRS

These are the top stories at 18.30 hrs

NATION

DEL26 LOCKDOWN-SHOPS-LD EXEMPTIONS

Standalone shops of mobile phones, garments, hardware allowed to open during lockdown, but not markets

New Delhi: Neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items have been allowed to open but those located in market places, malls and COVID-19 hotspot and containment zones, will continue to remain shut till May 3.

DEL2 HEALTH-VIRUS-CASES

COVID-19 death toll rises to 775, cases climb to 24,506: Health Ministry

New Delhi: The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 775 and the number of cases climbed to 24,506 in the country on Saturday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

 

DEL29 VIRUS-HEALTH MINISTRY

India records lowest daily growth rate in COVID-19 cases on Saturday since it crossed 100 cases

New Delhi: The average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country is 9.1 days as of now and from Friday 8 am to Saturday 8 am, India recorded a six-per cent growth in new cases, which is the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the country crossed 100 cases, the government said on Saturday.

DEL39 HEALTH-VIRUS-RAPID-TESTS

COVID-19 rapid antibody test kit use put on hold, ICMR to check accuracy: Official source

New Delhi: States and Union Territories have been asked to put on hold the use of COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits till their accuracy is rechecked by apex health research body the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), official sources said on Saturday.

BOM5 MH-LOCKDOWN-SHOPS

Maha yet to take call on opening of shops

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is yet to decide whether shops be allowed to remain open in view of the amended guidelines issued by the Central government.

DEL44 SONIA-PM

Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi; seeks economic package for revival of MSMEs

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a financial package for the revival of the MSME sector, saying if ignored, the problem can have a devastating and expansive ripple effect on the country's economy.

DEL30 CONG-LD VIRUS

Formulate a national plan for handling coronavirus crisis: Cong to govt

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday urged the government to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis under the Disaster Management Act.

DEL35 UP-LOCKDOWN-LABOURERS

UP govt starts bringing back workers; Over 2,000 return from Haryana

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government has started bringing back workers hailing from the state who were stranded in other parts of the country due to the lockdown and as many as 2,224 labourers have returned in the first phase, a senior official said on Saturday.

CAL9 VIRUS-BENGAL-TEAM

WB govt not providing logistical support, relevant info on COVID-19: Central team

Kolkata: A central team on a visit to West Bengal to assess the COVID-19 situation on Saturday flagged non-cooperation on the part of the state government over providing logistical support and other relevant information.

MDS9 KA-VIRUS-LD PLASMATHERAPY

Plasma therapy trials to treat coronavirus patients begin in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Saturday commenced clinical trials of convalescent plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients in critical condition.

DEL47 CVC-3RDLD APPOINTMENT

President's secretary Sanjay Kothari takes over as Central Vigilance Commissioner

New Delhi: President's secretary Sanjay Kothari on Saturday took over as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, ten months after the top post in the country's anti-corruption watchdog CVC fell vacant.

DEL172 JK-LD ENCOUNTER

Two militants, associate killed in encounter with security forces in J-K

Srinagar: Two militants and a "hardcore" militant associate were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

FOREIGN

FGN24 PAK-LD MISSILES

Pakistan Navy successfully test-fires anti-ship missiles

Islamabad: The Pakistan Navy on Saturday successfully test-fired a series of anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea, a spokesman said. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN5 VIRUS-CHINA-VACCINE

China approves third COVID-19 vaccine for clinical trials

Beijing: China has approved its third coronavirus vaccine for the second phase of clinical trials as it reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 82,816. By K J M Varma

FGN11 TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-REPORT

Trump's temporary Green Card ban aims to 'turn off the faucet' of new immigrant labour: report

New York: President Donald Trump's executive order to temporarily halt issuance of green cards aims to "turn off the faucet" of new immigrant labour and is the beginning of a broader strategy to reduce the flow of foreigners into the US, architect of Trump's immigration agenda Stephen Miller has said. By Yoshita Singh

FGN10 US-LD INDIAN

Indian-American woman elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Houston: Renu Khator, an Indian-American university chancellor, has been elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for her contributions in the fields of education and academic leadership. By Seema Hakhu Kachru

FGN19 SAUDI-FLOGGING

Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the supreme court announced, hailing the latest in a series of "human rights advances" made by the king and his powerful son.