HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 6:30 pm NATION: DEL82 CORONAVIRUS-LD CASES Coronavirus cases in country climb to 151 New Delhi: The number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 151 on Wednesday after four more were reported from various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry. DEL75 LD CORONAVIRUS COVID-19: Army reports its first case, suspends all wargames, trainings; Total cases in India rise to 151 New Delhi/Leh: The Indian Army reported its first case of coronavirus after a 34-year-old soldier of Ladakh Scout regiment tested positive for the COVID-19, prompting the force to strengthen its check and prevention mechanism and suspend war games and training activities, as the total number of cases rose to 151 in the country on Wednesday.

DEL80 RS-LD CORONAVIRUS-MASKS Masks debut in RS; MPs demand curtailing of Budget session New Delhi: Opposition Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday demanded curtailment of the ongoing Budget session, which is due to end on April 3, in view of the novel coronavirus scare, but the government seemed unwilling. DEL50 CORONAVIRUS-RAHUL India going to pay heavy price for govt's inability to act decisively on COVID-19: Rahul New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the country will have to pay a heavy price for the government's inability to act decisively on curbing coronavirus. DEL63 AVI-DGCA-2NDLD PASSENGER DATA Domestic air passenger traffic grew by 8.98 per cent in Feb: DGCA New Delhi: Domestic air passenger traffic in February increased by 8.98 per cent to 1.236 crore as compared to the same period last year, according to data released on Wednesday by aviation regulator DGCA.

DEL65 CORONAVIRUS-LOSSES-BOLLYWOOD Coronavirus: Film industry braces for financial loss, crowded release calender Mumbai: With theatres closed, shootings on hold and the release of major films pushed indefinitely, Bollywood is reeling under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, say industry insiders, pegging the losses at anything between Rs 300 crore to Rs 800 crore. CAL3 WB-CORONA-COWURINE- ARREST BJP activist arrested for hosting cow urine consumption event to fight COVID-19 Kolkata: A BJP activist has been arrested for organising a cow urine consumption event here, claiming that it will protect people from coronavirus or cure those already infected, leading to a civic volunteer falling ill after drinking it, police said on Wednesday. MDS1 KA-CONG-MP-MLAS-DIGVIJAY Stopped from meeting rebel Cong MLAs Digvijay Singh protests outside Bengaluru resort, detained Bengaluru: High drama unfolded on Wednesday morning near the resort where rebel Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh are staying, as senior party leader Digvijay Singh staged a protest accusing the police of not allowing him to meet the legislators.

BOM16 MH-CORONAVIRUS-LD TOPE Maha to open seven more labs for coronavirus testing: Tope Mumbai: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said seven more laboratories will come up across the state for testing suspected novel coronavirus cases. LEGAL: LGD62 SC-2ND LD MP SC refuses proposal to produce rebel Cong MLAs in judges chamber, says can't be held captive New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to accept the proposal for producing 16 rebel MLAs of the Madhya Pradesh Congress in judges' chamber, and observed that they may or may not go to the Assembly but they cannot be held captive.

LGD41 DL-HC-LD NIRBHAYA Nirbhaya: HC reserves order on convict's plea claiming absence from Delhi at time of incident New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved order on the plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the four death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, challenging a trial court order dismissing his plea that he was not in the national capital when the crime took place on December 16, 2012. BUSINESS: DCM39 BIZ-STOCKS-LD TELECOM Telecom shares crack; Vodafone Idea plunges 35 pc New Delhi: Telecom shares came crashing on Wednesday, led by Vodafone Idea which plunged 35 per cent after the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre and telcos for doing self-assessment or reassessment of the AGR dues fixed by the apex court FOREIGN: FGN28 CORONAVIRUS-UK-CASES UK heads to 'wartime' scenario as 71 die of COVID-19 London: The UK must act like a "wartime" government and do whatever it takes to support the country's economy, Prime Minster Boris Johnson has said as Britain's death toll from the COVID-19 rose to 71 and the number of cases stand at nearly 2,000. By Aditi Khanna FGN40 CORONAVIRUS-UK-INDIANS Coronavirus: Panic-stricken Indian students in UK desperate to get back home London: Indian students in the UK are desperate to return to India and have flooded the Indian High Commission here with queries about when they are likely to get back home and be with their families, as New Delhi bans travellers from Britain starting on Wednesday due to the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic. By Aditi Khanna PTI ANB ANB