HIGHLIGHTS AT 1250 HRS

Following are the top stories at 1250 hours:

Top Stories:

DEL4 INDOBRAZIL-LD JAISHANKAR Jaishankar calls on Brazilian Prez

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro and discussed ways to deepen ties between the two countries in a range of areas, including trade and investment.

FGN17 CHINA-2NDLD VIRUS-TOLL China’s Coronavirus afflictions claim 41 lives, nearly 1300 confirmed cases, 237 critical

Beijing: The deadly Coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China and abroad as the death toll due to it in this Far East country rose to 41 with 1,287 confirmed cases, China’s National Health Commission announced on Saturday. By K J M Varma

BOM2 MH-CORONAVIRUS Mumbai: Two test negative for coronavirus, another's blood sample to be tested

Mumbai: Two persons, who were admitted to a civic hospital in Mumbai for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, have tested negative for the infection, while the blood sample of another person will be sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Saturday, officials said.

Nation:

BOM1 MH-KOREGAON BHIMA-CONG-NCP Cong, NCP condemn transfer of Koregaon Bhima case probe to NIA

Mumbai: Condemning the Centre's decision to hand over the probe into the Koregaon Bhima violence case to the NIA, the Maharashtra Congress on Saturday alleged that the sudden move substantiates the "conspiracy" of the BJP. The NCP also alleged that the Centre's move is aimed at covering up the wrongdoings of the previous BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

DES6 INTERVIEW-AAP-LD GOPAL RAI

BJP 'irritated' people of Delhi by raking up CAA, NRC during poll campaign: AAP leader Gopal Rai New Delhi: BJP leaders have "irritated" the people of Delhi by raising the amended citizenship act and NRC during election campaign and it would "backfire" on them, senior AAP leader and minister Gopal Rai has said.

DES4 DL-POLL-BAGGA

EC notice to BJP's Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga over campaign song New Delhi: The Election Commission has issued a notice to Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, the BJP candidate from Hari Nagar constituency here, over his campaign song "Bagga Bagga har jagah".

Legal:

LGD7 DL-COURT-LD NIRBHAYA

Nirbhaya case: Court says no further directions required, disposes of convicts' lawyer's plea New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday said no further directions were required on a plea by the lawyer of the death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case alleging the prison authorities were not handing over certain documents required to file mercy and curative petitions, and disposed of the petition.

Foreign:

FGN23 US-WELLS-PAK Not meeting FATF obligations would be devastating for Pak economic reform program: US

Washington: Not meeting the obligations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) would have a devastating impact on Pakistan's economic reform program, a top US diplomat said. By Lalit K Jha

FGN21 NEPAL-CLIMATE-MINISTER Nepal facing brunt of global warming: Foreign Minister Gyawali

Kathmandu: Nepal is facing the brunt of global warming with the melting of ice and shrinking glaciers in the Hindukush Himalaya region which provides water, ecosystem services for some 240 million people and a business as usual approach will not work in addressing the impending disaster, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has warned. By Anil K Joseph.