HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1700 hours:

TOP STORIES DEL51 INDOPAK-LD MEA

Pak used its Air Force to target India's military installations, bid foiled: MEA New Delhi: Pakistan has used its Air Force to target military installations in India in response to Indian counter-terrorism operations but their attempts were foiled successfully though one Indian pilot is "missing in action", External Affairs Ministry said Wednesday.

FGN52 PAK-IMRAN-INDIA

Pak PM claims 2 Indian MIGs shot down; offers talk to defuse tensions Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday claimed that two Indian MIGs crossed the Line of Control and they were shot down, as he offered to defuse tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and resolve the issues through talks.

DEL40 IAF-PILOT

Whereabouts of IAF pilot Abhinandan not known, say govt sources New Delhi: The whereabouts of IAF pilot Abhinandan are not known, government sources said on Wednesday, hours after the Pakistan Army claimed it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested two pilots.

FGN45 PAK-4THLD INDIA

2 Indian aircraft shot, 2 IAF pilots arrested: claims Pakistan Islamabad/Lahore: Pakistan on Wednesday claimed that it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested two pilots, as it closed its airspace amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. By Sajjad Hussain and M Zulqernain

DEL55 AVI-DGCA LD AIRPORTS

Operations at 9 airports have resumed as of now: DGCA New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA Wednesday said operations at the nine airports, which were shut earlier in the day, have resumed "as of now".

FGN50 CHINA-LD INDOPAK

China again calls on India, Pakistan to exercise restraint Beijing: China on Wednesday again called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint amid the escalation of hostilities between the two countries and urged them to engage in dialogue to uphold the peace and stability in the region. By K J M Varma

NATION

DEL50 JK-2NDLD CRASH IAF chopper crashes in JK, 5 killed

Srinagar: Five persons were killed on Wednesday when an IAF helicopter crashed in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

DEL58 JK-2NDLD ENCOUNTER Two Jaish militants killed in Shopian

Srinagar: Two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, including a Pakistani national, were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said.

DEL52 NIA-SEARCHES Terror funding cases: NIA carries out searches in south Kashmir

New Delhi: The NIA on Wednesday carried out searches at 11 locations in south Kashmir in connection with cases related to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy and funding of separatists and terror groups, according to an official statement.

MDS1 TL-QNET-NOTICES Police issue notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff in QNet 'cheating' case

Hyderabad: Notices have been issued to about 500 people, including top film actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Boman Irani and Jackie Shroff, to provide details on payments they allegedly received from QNet and Vihaan Direct Selling Private Limited, a senior police official said Wednesday.

FOREIGN FGN17 SWARAJ-3RDLD WANG

Swaraj raises Pulwama terror attack with Chinese Foreign Minister Wuzhen (China): The Pulwama terror attack is the direct result of the "impunity and cover" provided to the Jaish-e-Muhammed by Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday as she forcefully raised the February 14 strike with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi here. By K J M Varma

FGN42 PAK-OIC-SWARAJ-BOYCOTT

Qureshi threatens to boycott OIC meeting over Swaraj's participation Islamabad/Dubai: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday threatened to boycott a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) scheduled for next month in the UAE if India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj participates in it.

FGN28 UN-FRANCE-LD AZHAR

France to bring proposal to ban Masood Azhar after assuming UNSC presidency: Sources United Nations: France is working on a proposal to ban the chief of the UN-proscribed Jaish-e Muhammad (JeM) Masood Azhar and could move it in the Sanctions Committee after it assumes the Presidency of the powerful UN Security Council next month, sources said. By Yoshita Singh

FGN46 NEPAL-2NDLD CRASH

Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Adhikari among seven killed in helicopter crash Kathmandu: Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari and six others were killed when a private helicopter crashed in eastern Nepal's mountainous Taplejung district, according to a media report. By Shirish B Pradhan

FGN16 VIETNAM-TRUMP-LD KIM

Trump predicts 'AWESOME' future for N Korea if Kim gives up nukes Hanoi: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted an "AWESOME" future for North Korea ahead of a high-stakes dinner with its leader Kim Jong Un if his "friend" agrees to give up his nuclear arsenal. (AFP)

LEGAL

LGD14 SC-CHIT FUND File affidavit with details of alleged contempt by WB cops in Saradha chit fund probe: SC to CBI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday directed the CBI Director to file affidavit giving details about the alleged contempt committed by West Bengal police and the then Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with Saradha chit fund scam cases.

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