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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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Foreign ministers of Nepal, India hold phone talks

Nepalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali held a telephonic conversation with India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Saturday afternoon

All international flights to Pakistan suspended for 2 weeks

Pakistan has suspended all international flights coming into the country for two weeks

Pakistan reports 510 COVID-19 cases

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan increased to 510 on Saturday, while the death toll stood at three, authorities said

Bangladesh suspends all international flights except 4 routes

Bangladesh has suspended all international fights except on four routes -- UK, China, Hong Kong and Thailand -- starting Saturday till March 31 due to the global coronavirus pandemic

100 Indians stuck in Amsterdam send SOS

Day before Indian airspace deploys complete lock-down on all international landings amid the ongoing crisis due to coronavirus, 100 Indian nationals, returning from the US, have urged the government to rescue them

215 Italy evacuees test negative for COVID-19

A total of 215 evacuees from Italy who were brought back on on March 15, have tested negative for the novel coronavirus

Coronavirus cases rise to 285 in India, 4 dead

India's Ministry of Health has said that the total number of novel coronavirus cases has risen to 285 in India

Bangladesh punishes organisers of religious gathering for flouting coronavirus curbs

Two persons, Akash Rahman and Saddam Hossain, were fined a total of Tk 10,000 for organising a religious gathering at Patkel Bari village on Friday, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer and Magistrate Abu Sufian said

Partial lockdown in Nepal from Monday

In yet another drastic step to contain possible spread of the novel coronavirus, the government has decided to impose a partial lockdown by completely halting long-distance transportation services, international flights and non-essential services offered by both private and public sectors, The Himalayan Times reported

PM Modi thanks Bhutan, Nepal for contributing to COVID-19 emergency fund

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked Bhutan and Nepal for contributing to the COVID-19 emergency fund to tackle the spread of the deadly virus in the SAARC countries

Sri Lanka's Covid-19 cases touch 70

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka has risen to 70, Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi said

Foreigners have to wait to trek in Nepal

Trekking permit for foreign national(s) has been temporarily halted in a bid to prevent possible spread of the COVID-19 in the country

US pledges $1.8 million to Nepal

The US has pledged USD 1.8 million to bolster the Government of Nepal’s preparedness and response to COVID-19

Indian chartered flights for UAE visitors get new visas

A Dubai-based Indian businessman said that he chartered nine flights to enable 1,980 visit visa holders to change their visa, just before the suspension of new visas came to effect in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a measure against the coronavirus pandemic

Afghan government suggests ceasefire with Taliban

The Afghan government suggested a nationwide ceasefire with the Taliban to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus and deliver services to the people in Afghanistan, where the global pandemic has so far infected 22 people and forced the country to ban all types of social and political gatherings