Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka needs well-designed political and economic policy changes for long-term recovery

The government has taken steps to address shortages of fuel and gas to some extent when compared to the earlier situation which had long queues that stretched for kilometres outside fuel and gas stations. But a well-planned recovery plan still cannot be seen that can address the long-term food security issues. 

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Pakistan lifts partial restrictions as situation improves

Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced the lifting of a number of restrictions imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus in the country, including the staggered reopening of educational institutions in districts where the positivity rate is less than five per cent and resumption of outdoor dining, according to a Dawn report

Pakistan’s progress in controlling poliovirus receives international acclaim

The International Monitoring Board has appreciated Pakistan’s progress in controlling the poliovirus despite complex challenges faced by the immunisation programme, Pakistan Today reported

Myanmar: Rights expert welcomes fresh sanctions against junta, urges other nations ‘step up’

The announcement this week of new coordinated sanctions against Myanmar’s military rulers by a handful of Western governments has been welcomed by the UN independent expert monitoring the human rights situation in the country

China-Nepal relation touches new low as border pillars go missing in Daulkha

China is once again showing its aggressive stance against neighbour Nepal as border pillars went missing in the Daulkha district of the Himalayan nation, media reports said

Nepalis can now fly abroad in chartered rescue flights

Authorities in Nepal have allowed Nepali citizens in the country to go abroad using the chartered flights that are being arranged to rescue foreigners who are stranded in the country

Sri Lanka imposes countrywide restrictions

As Covid cases remain unchecked, Sri Lanka has imposed countrywide restrictions for four days, starting from today, and only essential services would be allowed during the period

Covishield vs Covaxin: Which to choose? Indian government says both vaccines work well

The Indian government said Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum Institute of India produced Covishield cannot be compared with each other, scientifically, to choose one over another

Bharat Biotech ramps up Covaxin production by 200 million doses

Bharat Biotech, the Hyderabad based Indian vaccine maker, said it is gearing up to increase manufacturing capacity of Covaxin by 200 million doses per year

Nepal apex court scraps appointment of seven ministers

Days after K P Sharma Oli was reappointed as the prime minister of Nepal, the country’s supreme court gave him a jolt

Sri Lankan parliament passes controversial bill intended for Chinese investment

The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill that created quite a controversy over the past week has been passed by the Sri Lankan parliament

Maldives records highest single-day surge

The Maldives on Thursday reported the highest-ever single-day surge in Covid-19 cases, crossing the 2100 mark. Around 1700 cases alone came from its capital Male

Covid can be catastrophic unless proper measures are taken: Sri Lanka expert

The Covid 19 pandemic could cause a  major catastrophe in Sri Lanka if proper measures were not taken immediately, an expert has warned

Make rural India Covid free, Modi tells officials

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised that the methods and strategies in dealing with COVID-19 should be dynamic as the virus is "expert" in mutation and changing the format

India's first self-use RAT kit that detects coronavirus in 15 minutes

In a bid to reduce pressure on diagnostic facilities that have been stretched to the limit, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved the first self-use Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kit, developed by Pune-based MyLab Discovery Solutions, that detects coronavirus infection in 15 minutes

Pakistan records over 4,000 fresh Covid infections

Pakistan reported over 4,000 fresh coronavirus cases on Thursday after a break of 13 days, while the death count was 131, Geo TV reported