Search and rescue teams have saved more survivors from the ruins of the Feb. 6 earthquake that devasted swaths of Turkey and Syria even as the window for finding people alive continues to shrink. Here’s a look at the key developments Saturday from the aftermath of the earthquake. THREE RESCUED IN HATAY On the 13th day of rescue operations, three people, including a child, were extracted from under an apartment building in Antakya, the capital of Hatay province. The man, woman and child were transferred to ambulances after spending 296 hours buried under the Kanatli apartment block in the center of the city, local TV reported. Footage showed medics fixing an IV drip to the man’s arm as he lay on a stretcher. Also Read: Turkey quake revives debate over nuclear plant being built Hatay is one of the worst hit of the 11 provinces in the Turkish disaster zone. On Friday evening, Turkey's death toll was 39,672, taking the number of recorded fatalities across both countries to 43,360. MISSING GHANAIAN SOCCER PLAYER’S BODY FOUND Search teams have recovered the body of Ghanaian international soccer player Christian Atsu in the ruins of a building that collapsed during the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, his manager said Saturday. The remains of the soccer star, who had been playing for Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor, were found in what was left of a luxury 12-story building where he had been living in the hard-hit city of Antakya, Hatay province. “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble. At the moment, his belongings are still being removed,” manager Murat Uzunmehmet told private news agency DHA. The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake on Feb. 6 in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria passed 43,000 on Friday and was certain to increase as search teams find more bodies. The 31-year-old Atsu, who previously played for English Premier League clubs Chelsea, Newcastle United, Everton and Bournemouth, signed for Hatayspor from a Saudi side late last year. Hatayspor said Atsu’s body was being repatriated to Ghana. “There are no words to describe our sadness,” the club tweeted. Reports a day after the quake struck had said that Atsu was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building and taken to a hospital for treatment. The club, however, announced days later that Atsu and the club’s sporting director, Taner Savut, were still missing. Savut has not yet been found. The contractor of the luxury 12-story Ronesans Rezidans building — where Atsu and Savut lived — was detained at Istanbul Airport a week ago, apparently trying to leave the country.

The weather department has predicted more rains across the country in the next 24 hours. “Light rains accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur at one or two places over Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions,” the department said in its bulletin on Saturday. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it said. Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may fall slightly over the country, it added. Read: More rains likely to drench Bangladesh The mercury reached 35.4 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Jashore, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 21.1 degrees in Tetulia of Rangpur division. Besides, monsoon is less active over Bangladesh and weak over the North Bay. Southwest monsoon may withdraw from northwestern parts of Bangladesh.

Beset with Sri Lanka's economic crisis, Pakistan's catastrophic floods, a global slowdown, and the impacts of the war in Ukraine, South Asia faces an unprecedented combination of shocks on top of the lingering scars of the Covid, the World Bank said in its twice-a-year update. Released Thursday, the latest "South Asia Economic Focus, Coping with Shocks: Migration and the Road to Resilience," projects regional growth to average 5.8 percent this year – a downward revision of 1 percentage point from the forecast made in June. This follows the growth of 7.8 percent in 2021 when most countries were rebounding from the pandemic slump. While economic distress is weighing down all South Asian countries, some are coping better than others.  Exports and the services sector in India, the region's largest economy, have recovered more strongly than the world average while its ample foreign reserves served as a buffer to external shocks.  The return of tourism is helping to drive growth in the Maldives, and to a lesser extent in Nepal – both of which have dynamic services sectors.  The combined effects of Covid and the record-high commodity prices due to the war in Ukraine took a heavier toll on Sri Lanka, exacerbating its debt woes and depleting foreign reserves. Plunged into its worst-ever economic crisis, Sri Lanka's real GDP is expected to fall by 9.2 percent this year and a further 4.2 percent in 2023.   Read: Tier-2 cities like Gazipur, Narayanganj must promote urban growth outside Dhaka: World Bank High commodity prices also worsened Pakistan's external imbalances, bringing down its reserves. The country's outlook remains subject to significant uncertainty after devastating climate-change-fueled floods submerged one-third of the country this year. "Pandemics, sudden swings in global liquidity and commodity prices, and extreme weather disasters were once tail-end risks. But all three have arrived in rapid succession over the past two years and are testing South Asia's economies," Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice-President for South Asia said.  "In the face of these shocks, countries need to build stronger fiscal and monetary buffers, and reorient scarce resources towards strengthening resilience to protect their people." Inflation in South Asia, caused by elevated global food and energy prices and trade restrictions that worsened food insecurity in the region, is expected to rise to 9.2 percent this year before gradually subsiding. The resulting squeeze on real income is severe, particularly for the region's poor who spend a large share of their income on food. South Asia's migrant workers, many of whom are employed in the informal sector, were disproportionately affected when restrictions on movement were imposed during Covid. However, the later phase of the pandemic has highlighted the crucial role migration can play in facilitating recovery. Survey data from the report suggests that in late 2021 and early 2022, migration flows are associated with movement from areas hit hard by the pandemic to those that were not, thus helping equilibrate the demand and supply of labour in the aftermath of the Covid shock. Read: Without reforms, Bangladesh’s GDP could fall below 4% by 2035: World Bank study "Labour mobility across and within countries enables economic development by allowing people to move to locations where they are more productive. It also helps adjust to shocks such as climate events to which South Asia's rural poor are particularly vulnerable," Hans Timmer, World Bank chief economist for South Asia, said. "Removing restrictions to labour mobility is vital to the region's resilience and its long-term development."

The overall number of Covid cases is now near 549 million amid a rise in new infections in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 548,692,849 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,350,314, on Sunday morning. The US has recorded 88,777,558 cases so far and 1,040,792 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows. Over 29,000 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in 24 hours in India, taking the total tally to 43,391,331, according to data released by the health ministry on Sunday. Besides, as many as 25 Covid-19-related deaths reported in the country since Saturday morning took the total death toll to 524,979. READ: Global Covid cases top 548 million Covid in Bangladesh Amid a rise in Covid infections, Bangladesh reported three more Covid-linked deaths with 1,280 new infections in 24 hours till Saturday morning. The new figures took the country’s total death toll from Covid-19 to 29,138 while caseload to 19,63, 493, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the deceased, two were women and another was man. Two of them were from Dhaka division and another was from Barishal. The daily-case positivity rate jumped to 15. 07 per cent from Friday’s 12.18 per cent as 8,492 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.48 per cent. The recovery rate declined to 97.10 per cent from Friday’s 97.16 per cent as 102 patients recovered during this period. In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS. Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with a single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses. The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

Bangladesh registered 64 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Friday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,935. The country's total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily test positivity rate increased to 1.35 per cent from Thursday’s 1.15 per cent as 4,685 samples were tested. The country on Thursday saw 59 cases with zero death. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate remained static at 97.50 per cent as 145 patients recovered during this period. READ: Bangladesh reports 59 Covid cases, zero death In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS. Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses. The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

Bangladesh registered 34 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Wednesday taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,541. The country's total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).  The daily test positivity rate increased to 0.63 percent from Tuesday's 0.61 percent as 5,353 samples were tested. The country on Tuesday saw 26 cases with zero death. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97.42 percent as 357 patients recovered during this period. In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS. READ: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 26 cases, zero death Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses. The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

Bangladesh registered 23 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Friday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,379, health authorities said. With no new Covid deaths reported during the period, the total fatalities from the pandemic have so far remained unchanged at 29,130. The daily test positivity rate slightly dropped to 0.59 per cent from Thursday’s 0.65 per cent as 3,899 samples were tested, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). On Thursday, the country saw 28 new cases with zero death. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 97.37 per cent as 221 patients recovered during this period. In April, the country reported only five Covid-linked deaths and 1,114 new cases, while 14,100 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS. Among the five deaths during the period, two were unvaccinated patients while three were vaccinated with two doses of the Covid vaccine. READ:  Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 28 new cases, no death The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

Bangladesh reported 10 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Monday morning, which took the total caseload to 19,52,726. As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,127 as no death has been reported during the period. The daily positivity rate decreased to 0.40 per cent from Sunday’s 0.95 per after testing 2,458 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 97.10 per cent with the recovery of 304 more patients during the 24-hour period. In April, the country reported only 5 Covid-linked deaths and 1,114 new cases while 14,100 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS. Among the 5 deaths during the period, two were unvaccinated patients while three were vaccinated with two doses of Covid-19 vaccine. READ: Bangladesh reports 25 new Covid cases, Zero death The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

Bangladesh logged 23 fresh Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning taking the total caseload to 19,52,625. As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,127 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily positivity rate slightly increased to 0.47 per cent from Tuesday's 0.38 per cent after testing 4,888 samples during the period. On Tuesday, the number of infections was lower as 19 new cases were reported with zero death. Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 97.02 per cent with the recovery of 334 more patients during the 24-hour period. In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS. READ: Bangladesh reports 19 new Covid cases, no death Among the 85 deaths during the period, 44 were unvaccinated patients, 11 were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 28 with the second dose and two with the third dose. The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

The overall number of Covid cases has surged past 504 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world. According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 504,079,223 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,196,927 Sunday morning. The US has recorded 80,625,120 cases so far and 988,609 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows. India's Covid-19 tally rose to 43,041,995   43,039,972 on Sunday, as 2023 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data. Besides, as many as 38 deaths due to the pandemic since Saturday morning took the total death toll to 521,781   521,743. Covid Situation in Bangladesh Bangladesh logged 51 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,52,275. As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,124 as no deaths were reported during the period. READ: Global Covid cases top 503 million The daily positivity rate increased to 1.28 per cent from Friday's 0.64 per cent f after testing 3,994 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). On Friday, the number of infections was lower as 27 new cases were reported with no death. Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 96.84 per cent with the recovery of 252 more patients during the 24-hour period. In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.