HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 1:30 pm: NATION: BOM5 MH-CORONAVIRUS-LD DEATH Mumbai man becomes first COVID-19 fatality from Maha Mumbai: A 64-year-old man from Mumbai with a travel history to Dubai on Tuesday became the first victim of novel coronavirus infection from Maharashtra, which has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, a senior civic official said. DEL25 CORONAVIRUS-RESTRICTIONS-LD GOVT India bans entry of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia with immediate effect New Delhi: The government on Tuesday banned the entry of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia to India with immediate effect, according to an additional travel advisory DEL16 BJP-MEETING MPs should do their work when health concern stares at masses: Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP MPs on Tuesday to spread awareness about the coronavirus and made it clear that the ongoing Parliament's Budget Session will not be curtailed as lawmakers should be seen to be doing their work at a time when a health concern stares at the masses.

DEL26 CORONAVIRUS-RAHUL India should prepare not just for fighting coronavirus but also for economic devastation: Rahul New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said India should be preparing itself not just for fighting the novel coronavirus but also for an economic devastation that is coming. DEL31 CORONAVIRUS-CIC CIC limits hearings to urgent matters only through audio and video conference New Delhi: The Central Information Commission has limited hearings to urgent matters and only through video and audio conferences till March 31 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and has advised staff to maintain "social distancing", an order said on Tuesday.

MDS3 KA-MP-MLAS 20 more Cong MLAs ready to jump ship: rebel MP legislators Bengaluru: Rebel Congress MLAs from political crisis hit Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday claimed 20 more MLAs from that party want to join them and they were thinking of joining BJP in the days to come. LEGAL: LGD15 SC-LD NAVY SC allows permanent commission for women in Navy, asks Centre to finish modalities in 3 months New Delhi: Maintaining that women and men officers should be treated equally, the Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared permanent commission for women in the Navy and asked the Centre to complete the modalities within three months.

LGD19 SC-2NDLD MP-CHOUHAN SC seeks response of MP govt on Chouhan's plea seeking floor test New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh to give by Wednesday its response to former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's plea seeking a direction for an immediate floor test in the assembly. LGD22 DL-COURT-NIRBHAYA-ORDER Nirbhaya: Court reserves order on convict's plea seeking quashing of death penalty New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday reserved its order on plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, seeking quashing of his death penalty.

FOREIGN: FGN14 CORONAVIRUS-US-2NDLD TRUMP Coronavirus crisis could stretch up to August, warns Trump Washington: As Americans prepared to confine themselves within their homes to stop the deadly spread of coronavirus, US President Donald Trump has warned that the crisis could stretch up to August.By Lalit K Jha FGN12 CORONAVIRUS-UN-STAFFER UN staffer in New York tests positive for coronavirus United Nations: A UN staff member in New York has tested positive for coronavirus, a top official here has said, stressing that the case will not have a "critical impact" on the work of the organisation due to "strong risk mitigation measures" undertaken at the global body.Yoshita Singh FGN9 CORONAVIRUS-US-VACCINE US begins clinical trial of investigational vaccine for coronavirus Washington: Supported by a global coalition founded by India and Norway, the US has begun the phase one clinical trial of an investigational vaccine designed to protect against the coronavirus disease which has claimed the lives of over 7,000 people globally. By Lalit K Jha SPORTS: SPF18 SPO-CORONAVIRUS-PSL-PCB Pakistan Cricket Board postpones PSL amid COVID-19 pandemic Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday postponed the remainder of its premier T20 event -- the Pakistan Super League -- amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. SPD5 SPO-CORONAVIRUS-CAMPS-LD MINISTER All national camps, except those preparing for Olympics, postponed due to COVID-19: Rijiju New Delhi: All national camps, except for those where athletes are preparing for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, were on Tuesday postponed until further order in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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