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'Amphan' intensifies into super cyclone over eastern India, Bangladesh

The India Meteorological Department on Monday said that extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan over the west and central parts of Bay of Bengal has intensified into a "super cyclone" with wind speed above 200 km per hour

India says no plan to extend coronavirus lockdown

India has no plans to extend a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus in the country. The announcement came on Monday from the government's top bureaucrat

Bhutan’s bureaucrats to contribute 5 to 10% of salary for COVID-19 fund

Bureaucrats in Bhutan will be contributing five to 10 percent of their salaries for the COVID-19 relief fund set up by the government, the Royal Civil Servant Commission (RCSC) has said

Bhutan announces physical distancing measures for public transport

The Bhutanese government has announced several physical distancing measures to be followed in all public transport facilities, including taxis, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic

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Maldives to connect prison inmates with families via video calls

In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the Maldives government, which has already suspended all visits in the prisons, is now planning to connect the inmates with their families via video calls

Maldives confirms second local case of COVID-19

The Maldives government has confirmed a second national has been tested positive for the highly-contagious COVID-19 virus

Taliban rejects Kabul peace force as ‘inconclusive’

The Taliban has rejected a delegation introduced by President Ashraf Ghani for the intra-Afghan negotiations, saying it was against a peace deal the group signed with the United States in February

Kabul imposes strict quarantine restrictions

Officials are imposing strict quarantine restrictions in capital Kabul city as they try to control the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country

Bangladesh ready to work with UK

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed sadness for her British counterpart Boris Johnson, who has been infected with coronavirus, and said that her government is ready to work closely with the United Kingdom (UK) government to overcome the challenge that has risen due to the outbreak of the lethal virus across the globe

Government allocates rice for the poor amid shutdown

The government has allocated Tk 98.1 million and 30,617 tonnes of rice for assistance of the poor in Bangladesh whose livelihood is hit hard by a 10-day nationwide shutdown to stem the coronavirus outbreak

Informal sector workers hit hard by lockdown

It’s the fifth day of the lockdown and it has already disrupted the lives of millions in Nepal. Only essential businesses such as grocery, pharmacies, hospitals, banks and petrol stations are operating, leaving informal traders and workers unsure how they are going to survive if the lockdown extends

Call to provide help to Nepali students in Australia

Five umbrella organisations of education consultancies working for Nepali students in Nepal and Australia have issued a joint press release, requesting the Government of Australia, Embassy of Australia in Nepal, Australian High Commission in India, Australian education providers, Australian communities, Embassy of Nepal in Australia and other stakeholders to provide necessary support to Nepali students in Australia in this hour of global

Fifth COVID-19 case confirmed in Nepal

The fifth case of coronavirus was confirmed in a 19-year-old girl, a resident of Baglung

Government imposes travel restrictions

With restrictions imposed on travels, the  Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) is exploring a middle-path approach to encourage physical distancing in public transportation sector in Bhutan

Pakistan's western, eastern borders to be shut

Pakistan has decided to keep its western borders with Iran and Afghanistan as well as its eastern border with India closed for two more weeks due to the cornavirus pandemic

Sri Lanka extends partial airport closure

Sri Lanka is extending a ban on arriving passengers by one week to April 07 from March 31, the island’s Civil Aviation Authority said, but aircraft would still be able fly in with cargo, transit passengers and fly out with outbound passengers

Sri Lanka reports first COVID-19 death

Sri Lanka's Health Ministry said that a 60-year-old man who tested positive for the novel coronavirus has died while being under critical care at the National Infectious Disease Hospital on the outskirts of Colombo

Rail coaches being converted into isolation wards

In a unique endeavour, Indian Railways has begun work to convert train coaches into isolation wards to deal with rush of COVID-19 patients

Digital India faces its biggest challenge amid lockdown

When Digital India took birth, little did we know that in an unprecedented situation like a total lockdown, the apps and services that helped us sail through the day with ease will immediately hang up on millions