HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 5 pm:

NATION

DEL9 PM-LD CHILDREN AWARDS I get inspiration and energy from you, PM tells children who won national awards

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the work done by children who won national awards in various categories, saying he gets inspiration and energy from them.

DEL25 CITIZENSHIP-CITIZENS-LD PREZ Anti-CAA stir: 154 'concerned citizens' urge Prez to take action against those indulging in violence

New Delhi: A group of 154 "conscious, responsible and concerned citizens" on Friday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to take action against those indulging in violence in the name of protests against the CAA and the NRC and "safeguard" the country's democratic institutions.

BOM5 MH-LD CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus: Two under watch in Mumbai; special ward set up

Mumbai: Two persons who returned from China have been kept under medical observation here for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country, said officials on Friday.

CAL6 WB-BSF-MIGRANTS Substantial increase in outflow of B'deshi migrants post CAA enactment: BSF

Kolkata: The BSF on Friday said a substantial increase in the outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to their home country has been recorded over the past one month, following the enactment of the CAA.

DEL24 HEALTH-AIIMS-CORONAVIRUS AIIMS sets up isolation ward for treating suspected novel coronavirus infection cases

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the national capital has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of novel coronavirus infection.

BOM13 MH-TAPPING-DESHMUKH BJP govt in Maha tapped phones of NCP-Cong leaders: Minister

Mumbai: Accusing the previous BJP-led government in Maharashtra of tapping phones of senior NCP and Congress leaders during the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said he has ordered a probe into the matter.

DEL8 JK-JEM-TERRORIST Pulwama encounter: Slain terrorist identified as 'most wanted' JeM member from Pakistan

Srinagar: The terrorist, who was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Pulwama district on Wednesday, was identified as a Pakistani national affiliated with proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, a senior police officer said on Friday, adding the ultra operated in militancy-infested south Kashmir under code names "Abu Saifullah" and "Abu Qasim".

DEL23 INDOBRAZIL-BOLSONARO Brazilian Prez arrives on 4-day India visit

New Delhi: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrived here Friday on a four-day visit with an aim to further expand the already close strategic partnership with India.

DEL16 DL-MISHRA-EC-LD TWITTER EC asks Twitter to take down Kapil Mishra's India Vs Pak tweet

New Delhi: The Election Commission has asked Twitter to remove a controversial tweet by BJP's Kapil Mishra, a candidate for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, in which he likened the election in the city to a India versus Pakistan contest.

LEGAL

LGD26 SC-LD NSA SC refuses to entertain plea against imposition of NSA amid anti-CAA protests

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of National Security Act (NSA) in few states as also in the national capital amid anti-CAA protests.

LGD24 DL-HC-LD JNU Fee hike: HC seeks JNU stand on plea challenging IHA decision amending Hostel Manual

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday said JNU students, who have not yet registered for the new academic year, may do so under the old hostel manual as it sought response of the University on the plea of JNU Students Union challenging the decision to amend the hostel manual.

LGD25 SC-LD FADNAVIS SC to hear in open court plea of Fadnavis seeking review of verdict asking him to face trial

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear in open court former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' plea seeking review of its verdict which said the BJP leader will have to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases in his 2014 poll affidavit.

FOREIGN

FGN31 WEF-IMF-LD INDIA Growth slowdown in India temporary, expect momentum to improve going ahead: IMF chief

Davos: IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva on Friday said growth slowdown in India appears to be temporary and she expects the momentum to improve going ahead. By Barun Jha

FGN20 CHINA-3RDLD VIRUS China coronavirus: Death toll rises to 25, eight cities locked down to prevent spread

Beijing: The death toll in China's deadly coronavirus has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, prompting authorities lock down eight cities to prevent its spread, officials said on Friday. By K J M Varma

FGN19 CHINA-INDIA-LD DAY Indian embassy in Beijing cancels Republic Day ceremony due to coronavirus outbreak in China

Beijing: The Indian embassy in China on Friday cancelled the Republic Day ceremony in view of the coronavirus outbreak which has killed 25 people and infected over 800 others. By K J M Varma

FGN28 NEPAL-INDIA-BOUNDARY Nepal says if India can resolve boundary issue with Bangladesh, why not Kathmandu Kathmandu: If India can resolve its land boundary issue with Bangladesh then why not with Nepal, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, referring to the lingering territorial differences between the two neighbours. By Anil K Joseph PTI RHL