Bangladesh has announced a stimulus package of 727 billion taka ($8 billion) to help cushion the economic blow from the COVID-19 pandemic
Sri Lanka needs well-designed political and economic policy changes for long-term recovery
The government has taken steps to address shortages of fuel and gas to some extent when compared to the earlier situation which had long queues that stretched for kilometres outside fuel and gas stations. But a well-planned recovery plan still cannot be seen that can address the long-term food security issues.
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Sri Lanka conducts first-ever online tea auctions
The Colombo Tea Auction, one of the largest and oldest ongoing tea auctions in the world, conducted it's first online sessions amid the coronavirus pandemic, local media reported
Total infected with COVID 19 up to 175
Sri Lanka’s health authorities are reporting nine new cases of COVID 19 raising the total infected since the outbreak to 175
Pakistan gives stranded Afghans four-day window to leave
At the special request of the Afghanistan government, Pakistan has decided to allow a four-day window to stranded Afghan nationals wishing to return home amid the coronavirus pandemic
Pakistani cleric, 6 others booked for violating government order
A case has been registered against Pakistani cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz and six others for disobeying a government order imposed against prayer congregations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it was reported on Sunday
PIA halts flight operations from Karachi
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended its flight operations from Karachi in view of the Sindh governments "forcible" quarantining of its pilots over fear that they might be coronavirus carriers, a media report said
Islamabad HC declares overcrowding in jails unconstitutional
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared that overcrowding in jails was unconstitutional and ruled that a prisoner can sue the government and prison authorities for inhumane treatment during incarceration, it was reported on Monday
Google data reveals how India moves during COVID-19 times
There was -77 percent decrease in peoples movement at retail and recreational places in India at the end of March, along with -65 percent drop at grocery and pharmacy locations, according to Google's first COVID-19 Community Mobility Report
Indian hoteliers to give 45,000 isolation rooms, 700,000 meals daily
The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has offered 45,000 rooms for quarantine for both tourists and domestic travellers stuck at various locations due to the India lockdown, besides the medical fraternity, an official said
Foreigners leaving India by special flights
Amid tight security and a highly sanitized departure area, foreigners working in embassies, various industries and NGOs are leaving India
India faces greatest economic emergency since Independence: Former central bank governor
Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has said that due to the coronavirus crisis, India currently faces the greatest economic emergency since its independence
South Asia's battle against Covid-19
On March 15, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did a video conference with heads of SAARC nations to discuss a joint plan to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and proposed a Covid-19 Emergency Fund and setting up of a Rapid Response Team of doctors and health specialists
Megaprojects involving China, Japan to be completed on time
Even though the progress of some mega projects involving China and Japan has slowed down amid the ongoing coronavirus situation, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said the projects will be completed on time
Around 800 tourists evacuated on four flights from Kathmandu
Around 800 more tourists were evacuated today to their respective countries in collaboration with Nepal Tourism Board
First local transmission of COVID-19
The first case of local transmission of COVID-19 has been reported in Nepal. With this, the total number of confirmed cases has reached nine across the country, of which four are from Sudurpaschim Province
