HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 5 PM: NATION DEL56 2ND LD CORONAVIRUS Count of coronavirus patients in India rises to 114, Odisha reports its first case New Delhi: COVID-19 extended its footprint in India on Monday with the eastern state of Odisha reporting its first coronavirus patient and one new case each in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kerala, taking the total count to 114, Health Ministry officials said. BOM25 MP-ASSEMBLY-2ND LD ADJOURN 'Coronavirus reprieve' for Kamal Nath govt; BJP approaches SC Bhopal: The budget session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, which began on Monday, was adjourned till March 26 after the Kamal Nath-led government cited concerns over coronavirus, while the BJP demanded holding of a floor test as directed by Governor Lalji Tandon.

DEL34 PM-CORONAVIRUS No stone being left unturned to ensure people are healthy: PM on coronavirus fight New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there has been a coordinated response to the coronavirus outbreak and asserted that "no stone is being left unturned" to ensure people are healthy. DEL39 RAHUL-LD QUESTION Right to ask supplementary question taken away as speaker did not allow it: Rahul New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said his right as an MP to ask a supplementary question in Lok Sabha was taken away as Speaker Om Birla did not allow him to ask one.

DEL45 CORONAVIRUS-LSQ-IMPACT Indian macroeconomic outlook vulnerable to disruption of trade with China: FinMin on coronavirus New Delhi: The government on Monday said India's near-term macroeconomic outlook is vulnerable to disruption of trade with China due to the coronavirus outbreak but the latest data do not suggest any adverse impact on the economy, and sliding crude oil prices may be a silver lining. DEL53 ITX-PAN-AADHAAR Don't miss Mar 31 deadline for linking PAN-Aadhaar: I-T Dept New Delhi: The Income Tax Department on Monday issued a public message saying it was "mandatory" to link PAN with Aadhaar and advised people not to "miss" the stipulated deadline of March 31. DEL37 YESBANK-ED-2NDLD AMBANI Yes Bank: ED summons Anil Ambani New Delhi/Mumbai: Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani has been summoned by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor and others, officials said on Monday.

DEL33 DL-CORONAVIRUS-LD KEJRIWAL COVID-19: No religious, social, political gatherings, protests of over 50 in Delhi till Mar 31 New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said religious, social, cultural and political gatherings as well as protests comprising more than 50 people will not be allowed in the national capital till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak. CAL11 BH-CORONAVIRUS-NITISH Bihar govt to bear treatment expenses of COVID-19 patients: CM Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced that the state government will bear all expenses of the treatment of any patient who tests positive for coronavirus in the state.

BUSINESS DEL55 BIZ-RBI RBI hints at rate cut in April 3 policy meet, announces more liquidity measures Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on Monday hinted at a rate cut at the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet on April 3 and announced more liquidity enhancing measures. DEL43 BIZ-LD INFLATION-WHOLESALE WPI inflation eases to 2.26 pc in Feb as food articles, vegetables become cheaper New Delhi: Wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation softened to 2.26 per cent in February on the back of cheaper food items and vegetables, the government data showed on Monday.

DEL40 BIZ-STOCKS-CLOSE Sensex nosedives 2,713 pts; Nifty gives up 9,200-mark Mumbai: Resuming its free fall, the BSE Sensex plunged over 2,713 points on Monday, tracking a selloff in Asian peers as the coronavirus pandemic continued to wreak havoc on markets. LEGAL: LGD29 SC-NIRBHAYA SC-NIRBHAYA Nirbhaya: SC rejects plea of convict Mukesh Singh seeking restoration of legal remedies New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday rejected the plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the four death-row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, seeking restoration of all his legal remedies alleging that his earlier lawyers misled him.

LGD33 DL-COURT-VIOLENCE-TAHIR Suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain arrested in IB officer murder case New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday arrested suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain from a court here in connection with the alleged killing of Intelligence Bureau official Ankit Sharma during the recent communal violence in northeast Delhi. LGD26 DL-HC-LD DELHI VIOLENCE HC seeks response of Centre, police, AAP govt on plea to preserve CCTV footage of riots New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Monday sought responses from the Centre, the police and the AAP government on a plea seeking directions to Delhi Police to preserve the CCTV footage of the recent riots in northeast Delhi.

FOREIGN: FGN12 CORONAVIRUS-CHINA China reports 14 new coronavirus deaths; imported cases rise to 123 Beijing: The coronavirus death toll in China rose to 3,213 with 14 new fatalities, while the imported cases climbed to 123 after 12 new infections were reported, prompting Beijing to make 14-day quarantine in special facilities compulsory for foreigners returning to the country. By K J M Varma..