HIGHLIGHTS

    New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm:
    
     NATION
    
     DEL155 LDALL VIRUS
    India's COVID-19 testing ratio not low: ICMR after Rahul criticism; nearly 13,000 cases as Raj,MP cross 1k mark
    New Delhi: As coronavirus cases in India touched nearly 13,000, the Centre on Thursday defended its testing strategy in the wake of fresh criticism, saying the testing ratio is not low, adding there has been no COVID-19 infections in 325 of the 736 districts.
    
    DEL161 VIRUS-LDALL RAHUL
    Lockdown no solution against coronavirus, says Rahul; Pitches for aggressive testing for COVID-19
    New Delhi: Calling for a united fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said a lockdown is not the solution to defeat coronavirus, and asserted that aggressive testing is the "biggest weapon" to fight the virus.

    DEL121 VIRUS-MHA-LD UPDATE
    Mask-wearing, social distancing should be enforced strictly: MHA on lockdown
    New Delhi: The Union home ministry on Thursday asserted that rules such as wearing face masks, practising social distancing and no gathering of five or more persons should be strictly enforced at public places in order to ensure that the lockdown clamped to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country is implemented effectively.
    
     DEL159 VIRUS-INDIA-GLOBALHUNT
    India gets 6,50,000 coronavirus testing kits from China; ramps up global hunt for more
    New Delhi: India on Thursday received 6,50,000 coronavirus testing kits from China even as it continued its global hunt to buy medical equipment from a number of countries including the US, the UK, South Korea, France and Germany, official sources said.

    DEL118 AVI-LD REFUND-GOVT
    Those who booked flight tickets during Mar 25-Apr 14 for travel till May 3 can get refunds: Govt
    New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday said the passengers who had booked flight tickets during the first phase of lockdown for travel up to May 3 must get a full refund from the airlines without any cancellation charges if they ask for it.

     DEL146 LOCKDOWN-ARMY-LD NO MOVEMENT
    Coronavirus pandemic: Army to strictly observe 'no movement' till April 19
    New Delhi: The Indian Army on Thursday directed all its military establishments, cantonments, formation headquarters and field units to totally restrict movement of forces till April 19 in view of the government's fresh lockdown related guidelines.

    DEL158 ED-JAMAAT-LD CASE
    ED books Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad under PMLA
    New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, trusts liked to the Jamaat and others, officials said on Thursday.

    MDS11 AP-VIRUS-CURRENCY
    Currency notes turn out to be 'culprits' carrying coronavirus: AP police
    Amaravati(AP): Currency notes turned out to be the "culprit" carrying the coronavirus from infected persons and transmitting them to others, the Andhra Pradesh Police have found out.

    LEGAL
    
    LGD4 VIRUS-SC-FREE CALLS
    Plea in SC seeks free unlimited calls, data usage facilities during COVID-19 lockdown
    New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre to ensure that free unlimited calling, data usage and DTH facilities are provided to subscribers to ease "psychological stress" during the lockdown till May 3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    
     BUSINESS
    
    DEL94 BIZ-VIRUS-PM-FM
    PM reviews impact of COVID-19 on economy; 2nd stimulus in consideration
    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy and a possible second stimulus to boost sectors hit hard by the pandemic.

    DEL110 BIZ-2NDLD FOODGRAIN
    Govt sets foodgrain production target at record 298.3 mn tonnes for 2020-21 crop year
    New Delhi: The government has set the foodgrain production target at 298.3 million tonnes for the 2020-21 crop year, up 2 per cent from the record output achieved in the current year, banking on forecast of a normal monsoon.
    
     DEL16 BIZ-LOCKDOWN-INSURANCE-EXTENSION
     Date for renewal of health, motor insurance policies extended up to May 15: Finmin
     New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Thursday extended the renewal dates of health and motor insurance policies falling during the nationwide lockdown period till May 15 to ensure continuity.

    FOREIGN:
    
    FGN19 VIRUS-US-3RDLD TRUMP
    US has 'passed the peak' on new coronavirus cases, says Trump
     Washington: The US has "passed the peak" on new coronavirus cases, President Donald Trump has said and predicted that some states would reopen this month. By Lalit K Jha
    
     FGN41 VIRUS-US-2NDLD MAHINDRA-PPE
    Mahindra retools its Detroit auto plant to produce face shields, other medical supplies
    Washington: Indian auto major Mahindra has said it is retooling their Detroit manufacturing facility to make medical personal protection equipment for healthcare workers in the US combating the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected over 2 million people globally. By Lalit K Jha
    
    FGN17 VIRUS-WHO-INDIA
    WHO welcomes joint efforts with India to fight COVID-19
    United Nations: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has welcomed the world health body's cooperation with India to leverage strategies that helped the country win its war against polio into the response to COVID-19 outbreak, saying such joint efforts will help defeat the pandemic. By Yoshita Singh. PTI CK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)