Another challenge the region faces is the disproportionate economic impact the pandemic has had on women. The report includes in-depth analysis of gender disparities in the region and their link with deeply rooted social norms

On Sunday the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) said that all hospitals in the country no longer had access to imported medical tools and vital drugs. In a letter sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the association said, “We are made to make very difficult choices. We have to decide who gets treatment and who will not.”

Blinken said that Modi and Biden who met before their 2+2 meeting “had a very warm and productive conversation today in their virtual summit” and covered a lot of ground, including Covid-19, climate change, strengthening the global economy, the free and open Indo-Pacific

By 2019, a total of 17,369  businesses were owned by women—most of them were less than five years old then—and created around 129,000 jobs in the country, according to a study conducted by Afghanistan’s Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Exports from the world’s largest wheat exporter Russia and the fifth-largest exporter Ukraine have been disrupted by the invasion. The two countries account for about 30 per cent of the world’s export of wheat

“The...sector in India has the potential to become the torchbearer of ‘Create in India’ & ‘Brand India’,” the statement by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said

From the $800 million in surplus, the balance of payment recorded a deficit of $2.03 billion in the same period this year

The crisis has also rocked the country’s political leadership as they face nationwide protests seeking the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa—a demand the government has refused to entertain

Once known as a power-starved country, Nepal became a power surplus state last year during the winter months, with its production capacity touching 2000 MW after the commencement of the Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project (456MW)

Fueled by record import bills due to global high fuel and commodities prices, the trade deficit is expected to touch $45 billion this year by June, surpassing the earlier record of $37.7 billion in FY18

Given India’s pivotal role in the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy and its attempts to curtail China’s influence, Washington has generally been supportive of India despite its neutrality on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its purchases from Russia

Terming the signing of the pact as another milestone in the growing relationship between India and Australia, Morrison said the agreement further develops on the promise of the burgeoning relationship between the two Indo-Pacific countries that are members of Quad

“Since 2020, the World Bank has provided over $3 billion to Bangladesh to support emergency response, vaccination, and other Covid-19 recovery efforts,” Mercy Tembon, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune

India was quick to offer grants on the condition  that projects would be developed by Indian firms—an offer Colombo eventually accepted

In February, the country’s foreign exchange reserves dropped to $2.31 billion, with the authorities struggling to pay for the imports of essentials like fuel, food, and medicine