Pakistan has ruled out the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has had a devastating impact on the global economy, would delay projects under the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

The Afghan government has reportedly expelled two top Iranian diplomats from the country over charges of being involved in intelligence activities and for being members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to a media report. Sources within the Afghan government told TOLO News that in retaliation Tehran has also expelled two Afghan diplomates from Iran

The US on Friday announced that it will provide Pakistan $1 million under the USAID programme to help improve monitoring and rapid response against the novel coronavirus outbreak in the South Asian country

Bhutan on Friday reported the country's second coronavirus case, a female tourist who is the partner of the first infected patient

An island-wide curfew has been declared in Sri Lanka from 6 pm Friday till 6 am Monday, the President’s Office said

Sri Lanka’s general elections, which was scheduled to be held on April 25, have been postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak

The India Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), a state-owned multi-speciality hospital built with Indian help, and one of two hospitals in Malé, has urged retired health professionals, especially doctors, to join back in a bid to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

The Nepalese government has appealed to the people not to leave their homes unless it was urgent. It also urged the general public not to organise cultural or religions gatherings of more than 25 people at locations such as banquet halls and temples

Nepal will shortly have a special hospital in Chitwan designated for treatment of COVID-19 patients

The Nepalese government had made 14-day self-quarantine mandatory for all foreigners entering the country on and after March 16 to curb the possible outbreak of coronavirus in Nepal, but they have not been adhering to the rules and the government seems to be doing nothing to cross-check implementation of the provision, The Himalayan Times said

Sri Lanka's Government Medical Officers Association general secretary, Dr. Haritha Aluthge has said COVID-19 was spreading rapidly and it was difficult to ascertain the exact amount of infected individuals in Colombo district

The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) has deplored the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the editor-in-chief of Pakistan's Jang Geo Media Group, and asked the incumbent government to release him

As the four convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case were hanged on Friday in Tihar Jail, a new chapter was added to the books of the largest complex of prisons in South Asia. This was the first time that four convicts were hanged here in one go and the first executions in India since 2015

Bhutan's royal couple today had the birth of their second child, a boy, Kuenselonline reported

The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) flag carrier Etihad airlines has further reduced its daily flights to key Indian cities as preventive measures against the coronavirus pandemic