South Asia

South Asian countries need to maintain power balance: International relations analysts

International relations analysts have called for a move to strengthen South Asian integration for the sake of improving the lives of its huge population, and ensure human rights and protection of the environment.
Taiwanese couple tests positive for Covid-19 after returning from Bangladesh

Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on June 15 announced two new imported cases of coronavirus from Bangladesh.
Indian army officer, 2 soldiers killed in ‘violent face-off’ with Chinese troops

An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a “violent face-off” with the Chinese military in the Himalayan heights of eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley last night, the Indian armed force said today.
India reacts sharply to Nepal’s parliament bill redrawing map

India today reacted sharply to a bill passed in Nepal’s parliament redrawing the Himalayan nation’s map which reportedly includes parts of the Indian territory.
India’s private sector to enjoy space-based services

India’s private sector will be allowed to use Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Atomic Energy and Space Jitendra Singh has said.
‘India very far away from Covid-19 peak’

India is “very far away from the peak” as far as the spread of Covid-19 infection is concerned and preventive measures taken to check the spread have been very effective, the government said today.
Indian police averts vehicle-borne IED blast in Jammu and Kashmir

Indian security forces have averted a major car bomb attack by detecting and defusing a vehicle fitted with improvised explosive devices (IED) in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
Covid-19: India among top 10 worst hit nations, nearly 7000 new cases reported

India overtakes Iran to become one of the 10 worst-hit nations as it recorded the biggest single-day jump in the number of coronavirus positive cases for the fourth consecutive day with 6,977 new patients across the country in the last 24 hours, taking the total to nearly 1.38 lakh cases.
Twelve states in India record highest Covid-19 cases

Thirty municipal areas spread over 12 states are accounting for almost 80 percent of India’s Covid-19 cases, according to the health ministry.
India lodges protest over Pakistan SC’s order on ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’

India has conveyed its strong protest to Pakistan’s efforts to bring “material change” in Pakistan-occupied territories and asked Islamabad to vacate them.
Hasina, Modi discuss regional efforts at combating Covid-19

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks on the phone to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discusses the regional situation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus: lockdown in India has yielded positive results, says Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined that lockdown across the country “has yielded positive results” as it has managed to save thousands of lives in the past one and half months during the coronavirus outbreak.
India’s battle against Covid-19 becomes a people-driven movement: Modi

India’s battle against Covid-19 pandemic has become “a people-driven movement” as they are rising to the occasion to help each other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says.
India’s growth to slip to 0.8%: Fitch

International rating agency Fitch has cut India's economic growth projections to 0.8 percent in the current 2020-21 financial year, saying an unparalleled global recession was underway due to disruptions caused by coronavirus pandemic and resultant lockdowns.
Measures to combat coronavirus paying off: Indian govt

Even as the number of coronavirus cases in India surged past the 15,000-mark and death toll past 500, the government says several steps for prevention, containment and management of the contagion are yielding good results in 23 states and federally-ruled territories across four districts.
32 Rohingyas die on drifting boat, 382 rescued while going to Malaysia illegally: coast guard

Bangladesh's coast guard says it rescued at least 382 "starving" Rohingya refugees floating in a large boat in the country's territorial waters after nearly two months at sea.
India set to extend nationwide lockdown by 2 more weeks

India appears set to extend the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown by two more weeks in a bid to contain the spread of novel coronavirus that has so far claimed 239 lives and affected nearly 7,447 people in the country.
Coronavirus: People below 60yrs most affected in India

A little over 82 percent of Covid-19 patients in India are below the age of 60 years, according to health ministry data.
India refuses entry to 70 citizens at Benapole checkpost for coronavirus lockdown

Indian immigration at Petrapole checkpost refuses entry to seventy Indian nationals returning from Bangladesh’s Dhaka through the Benapole checkpost.
Delhi Police vacate Shaheen Bagh of CAA protesters

As India remains in a lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, police have evicted protesters from Shaheen Bagh, the ground zero of the recent agitation against Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
4 Indian men executed for Delhi bus gang-rape, murder

The four men, convicted in the brutal gang-rape and murder of a Delhi medical student in 2012, are hanged to death at the Tihar Central Jail in India's Delhi.
WHO calls for urgent, aggressive actions as coronavirus cases soar in Southeast Asia region

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls on Southeast Asian countries, including Bangladesh, to urgently scale-up aggressive measures to combat Covid-19, as confirmed cases crossed 480, and the disease claimed eight lives in the region.
$400 million ADB loan to upgrade Dhaka-northwest int’l road corridor

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Bangladesh government sign a €360 million ($400 million) loan agreement to help upgrade the Dhaka-Northwest international trade corridor in Bangladesh.
Modi proposes joint strategy by SAARC countries to fight coronavirus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposes a strong joint strategy involving SAARC countries to fight the coronavirus threat in the region.
23 Bangladeshis quarantined in India returning home tomorrow

All 112 people, including 23 Bangladeshis, who were admitted to a quarantine facility in India for over a fortnight after their return from China, have tested negative for coronavirus and are expected to be released today, a senior official says.
Coronavirus cases in India now 31

The number of positive cases of novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 in India has risen to 31 with the latest being reported from West Delhi, where the patient has a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia.
Hundreds arrested over Delhi violence; social media being watched

Indian government says police have arrested hundreds of people for their alleged involvement in the recent violence in Delhi, while a close watch is being kept on social media platforms to check rumours and unfounded propaganda.
India confirms two new coronavirus cases

India reports two more cases of coronavirus, including one in New Delhi, taking the number of positive cases to five so far.
CAA misunderstood: Indian foreign secretary

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla says India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been misunderstood in many ways, adding that it was undertaken on “humanitarian grounds”.
US, Taliban sign peace agreement aimed at ending Afghanistan war

The United States signs a historic deal with Taliban insurgents that can pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-war there.