India allowed the reopening of local stores from Saturday, more than a month after the country went into lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
It said retail shops could operate with 50% of staff and implement social distancing guidelines for customers.
However, large market places and malls will remain shut until May 3.
So far, the country has reported 24,506 cases of the coronavirus and 775 deaths.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 9, but switched to a so-called "smart lockdown" from Saturday that'll allow some industrial and commercial activities to begin under safety guidelines.
It'll mainly target tracking and tracing of positive cases, officials explained.
Pakistan has reported 11,940 cases of infections, including 253 deaths.
A furious China launched "punishment" drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", sending up heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks as state media denounced newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te.
Nine people have died and around 50 were injured after a structure collapsed at a campaign event for the Citizens' Movement party in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon.
India's election watchdog has ordered the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress to exercise restraint in their campaigns, after both had reported the other for making divisive speeches.
Spain, Norway and Ireland will recognise Palestine as a state, taking effect on May 28, the Prime Ministers of all three countries confirmed on Wednesday.
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