Russia reported its first death connected to the coronavirus pandemic yesterday, initially saying an elderly woman died of pneumonia before changing the cause of death to a blood clot.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday lockdown orders would be issued unless people stepped up compliance with guidelines urging them to stay at home to help halt the spread of the coronavirus in Israel.

Nato expects its members to keep up defence spending despite the economic turmoil caused by coronavirus, the alliance chief said yesterday, insisting they must maintain the ability to defend themselves.

As nations around the world fight the coronavirus pandemic with mass lockdowns and travel bans, UN experts warn that some three billion people lack even the most basic weapons to protect themselves: soap and running water.

Although Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi yesterday urged the public to avoid panic buying amid the looming coronavirus threat, the news of the first death from Covid-19 in Bangladesh aggravated the buying spree among consumers for rice, potatoes, lentils, onions, garlic and ginger.

Italy yesterday braced for an extended lockdown that could see the economy suffer its biggest shock since World War II from a pandemic that has killed almost as many people as it has in China.

Thai hospitals are deploying “ninja robots” to measure fevers and protect the health of overburdened medical workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.

Two indigenous female workers of a readymade-garment factory were raped by two men in Bandarban on Wednesday night.

Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev today affirms his country’s desire for good relations with all sides on the Indian subcontinent.

The Election Commission yesterday announced that by-polls in Dhaka-10, Bagerhat-4 and Gaibandha-3 constituencies would be held tomorrow, ruling out the public health concerns over coronavirus.

Authorities yesterday imposed a ban on public gatherings at different tourist spots in Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Chattogram and Patuakhali to prevent the risk of spreading coronavirus.

A team of Gonoshasthaya-RNA Biotech Limited, a sister concern of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, claims to have developed an affordable kit that can detect novel coronavirus infection in 15 minutes.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges took steps to collect toll from major highways for road maintenance, but an initiative to raise dedicated fund for the same purpose remained stalled for years.

A 103-year-old woman in Iran has recovered after being infected with the new coronavirus, state media reported, despite overwhelming evidence the elderly are most at risk from the disease.

A historic 25-year treaty is signed between Bangladesh and India today. The treaty of friendship, cooperation and peace between the two countries is signed at Bangabhaban by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for Bangladesh and Indira Gandhi for India.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday rejected economically devastated Venezuela’s request for a $5 billion loan to help it cope with the onslaught of coronavirus on the country that an aid agency warned is as prepared as war-torn Syria.

Mobile courts in different districts have fined at least 12 expatriates between Tuesday night and yesterday afternoon for not abiding by the government-mandated home quarantine of 14 days.

Funded by governments, pharmaceuticals and research labs across the world have stepped up their efforts to find vaccines and treatments for the new coronavirus, using a variety of different technologies and some of them have claimed initial success.

Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case was yesterday transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka for quick disposal.

Family members, friends, and colleagues of missing journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol yesterday demanded that the government find him immediately.