Lauren Frayer

India has ended its coronavirus lockdown. Social media is flooded with pleas for COVID-19 tests and hospital beds. The virus is surging — collapsing the country's health system.

With 12,881 new infections, Thursday's daily tally is India's highest so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ruled out another national lockdown, saying it's too painful for the economy.

India says 20 of its troops are dead after a confrontation with Chinese soldiers on the two countries' disputed border, high in the Himalayas. It was the first deadly clash there in decades.

India says 20 of its troops are dead after a confrontation with Chinese soldiers on the two countries' disputed border, high in the Himalayas. It was the first deadly clash there in decades.

The fighting, which reportedly involved stone-throwing and batons rather than bullets, occurred Monday night. It follows weeks of scuffles between Indian and Chinese troops along the border.

Many garment factories have reopened, but the coronavirus still affects global demand and orders remain canceled. "I need to work," says one employee. "I'll die of hunger before I die of this virus."

India, which now has the highest number of reported coronavirus cases in Asia, added nearly 10,000 new infections on Friday, while neighboring Pakistan reports some 5,000 more.

On top of rising infections, a cyclone and 100 million people out of work, India has another problem: An invasion of locusts — the worst in 25 years.

Broke and hungry, an Indian teenager has put her ill father on the back of her bicycle and pedaled hundreds of miles to their home village. Now, she got an offer to train for the Olympics.

Bangladesh has extended its coronavirus lockdown — except for the garment factories. But with global brands canceling orders, workers face pay cuts, hunger and little to no social distancing.

"The happiness of Eid is in not hugging each other and not shaking hands this time over," said a leading Indian imam. "Eid is related to life and happiness and we have to give the same."

Cyclone Amphan has been downgraded to a depression and cleanup is underway as authorities assess the damage in coastal India and Bangladesh.

Both countries were already beset by the coronavirus. Now they must cope with the powerful cyclone, which came ashore along their border Wednesday and threatens to snarl virus response efforts.

Cyclone Amphan — the strongest such storm in two decades — makes landfall Wednesday. The last one killed nearly 10,000 people. Millions of people are trying to socially distance amid evacuations.

Before the pandemic, 100 times more Indians were being detained annually on the U.S.-Mexico border, compared to 10 years ago. Officials say the economic migrants believe smugglers promising asylum.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a relief package to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus.

A look at how Kenya, India and the United Kingdom are dealing with the issue of when and how to reopen after the coronavirus lockdown.

A previous lockdown extension was due to expire Sunday, but has been extended through May 18. Starting Monday, areas will be divided into zones according to the concentration of COVID-19 cases.

"We call it a 'social distancing clamp' or a 'lockdown-breaker catcher,' " a policeman in Chandigarh, India, tells NPR.

India's decision came on Monday amid accuracy concerns surrounding the kits. It's the latest irritant in a relationship that's come under increasing strain over the coronavirus.