HIGHLIGHTS AT 12:45 PM

Following are top stories at 12:45 PM:

Top Stories:

DEL17 VIRUS PM CHIEF MINISTERS

PM to interact with CMs on Saturday; extension of lockdown on agenda

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on Saturday via video, where a call would be taken on whether the 21-day lockdown to check spread of coronavirus, ending next week, should be extended.

DEL6 VIRUS-CASES

Death toll due to COVID-19 touches 199; cases climb to 6,412

New Delhi: The death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 199 and the number of cases to 6,412 in the country on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

 

Nation:

DEL14 VIRUS-PM-ISRAEL-BRAZIL

India ready to help in fight against COVID-19 pandemic: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told Israel and Brazil that India is ready to do whatever is possible to help its friends in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

DEL12 BIZ-ADB LD INDIA

ADB assures USD 2.2 bn support package to India for COVID-19 response

New Delhi: Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa on Friday assured Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of USD 2.2 billion (about Rs 16,500 crore) support to India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

DEL19 RAHUL-HEALTHCARE WORKERS

ASHA, ANMs, anganwadi workers are true patriots, have key role in combating COVID-19: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday hailed accredited social health activists, auxiliary nurse and midwives and anganwadi workers for their role in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, saying they are "true patriots" who toil to keep communities safe in the midst of this grave crisis.

BOM 13 LOCKDOWN-OFFICIAL

IPS officer sent on compulsory leave over Wadhawans' travel

Mumbai: Maharashtra government on Friday sent a senior IPS officer on compulsory leave for allowing DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan to travel despite the ongoing lockdown, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.

BOM10 GJ-VIRUS-CASES

46 new coronavirus cases surface in Gujarat; total tops 300

Ahmedabad: The number of coronavirus patients in Gujarat shot up to 308 after 46 new cases, one of them a doctor, were reported during the last 12 hours, said officials on Friday.

Foreign:

FGN33 VIRUS-PAK

Pakistan's coronavirus cases reach 4,601; death toll at 66

Islamabad: The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has sharply increased to 4,601 with more than 280 fresh infections while the death toll reached 66, the health officials said on Friday. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN25 VIRUS-UNSC

UNSC meets for 1st time to discuss COVID-19, recalls need for unity, solidarit

United Nations: The UN Security Council underlined the need for unity and solidarity with those affected by the COVID-19 and expressed support for the efforts of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the potential impact of the pandemic, as the powerful UN arm met for the first time to discuss the crisis that has engulfed the world. By Yoshita Singh

FGN16 VIRUS-US-DEATHS

Coronavirus death toll crosses 16,000 in US, infected cases surge past 460,000

Washington: The coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 16,000 lives and infected over 460,000 people in the US, devastating the country's economy and rendering a record 16 million workers jobless in just three weeks. By Lalit K Jha

FGN14 UK-MALLYA

Vijay Mallya gets bankruptcy reprieve from UK High Court

London: In a relief to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the High Court in London has deferred hearings on a plea by the SBI-led consortium of Indian banks, seeking the indebted tycoon to be declared bankrupt to enable them recover a loan of around 1.145 billion pounds from him. By Aditi Khanna.