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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Motorable bridge over Mahakali river to boost connectivity between India and Nepal

As part of its policy to enhance connectivity with its select South Asian neighbours, especially those on its eastern/northeastern flank, the Indian Cabinet has approved a memorandum of understanding for building a motorable bridge over the Mahakali river that forms the India-Nepal border in the north, connecting Dharchula in India to Darchula in Nepal

India among six nations in anti-submarine exercise in Pacific Ocean

Six Indo-Pacific nations, including India, are participating in a multilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Pacific Ocean as part of their joint strategic vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific

Supreme Court of Pakistan to get its first female judge

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has confirmed the appointment of Justice Ayesha Malik to the country’s top court amid strong protest by lawyers who have been opposing her elevation as it supersedes several senior judges

Pakistan to install radiation monitoring portals at border points, worried about smuggling of nuclear material

Worried about the possible smuggling of nuclear material, Pakistan has begun installing Radiation Monitoring Portals (RMPs) at all international trade corridors to check the smuggling

Indian foreign minister holds talks with the Maldives, Bhutan counterparts

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has held separate telephonic talks with his counterparts from Maldives and Bhutan among others with a focus on further boosting their bilateral ties in the South Asian framework

Modi government withdraws special security to four former Kashmir chief ministers

The Modi government has withdrawn special security cover to four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir in what one of the chief ministers saw as a response to their "increased political activities"

'Mr Clean' stands 'exposed': Pakistani opposition parties slam PM Imran Khan over undisclosed foreign funding report

Opposition parties in Pakistan hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan after the country’s top election body said that the ruling party, the PTI, grossly underreported funds received from foreign nationals and firms

Afghan-Pakistan border dispute: Fencing of the border will continue as planned, says Pakistan military after Taliban objections

Pakistan will continue fencing the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the military said on Wednesday, days after Taliban fighters destroyed border fences at multiple locations along the Durand Line, the internationally recognized border between the two countries

A woman among three arrested in India in scandalous online 'auctioning' of Muslim women

Indian authorities have made three arrests, including of an 18-year-old girl, in connection to the case involving fake auctioning of prominent Muslim women on an online application which has now been taken down

Bangladesh's main opposition BNP to hold dialogue with other parties on 'political situation'

Bangladesh's main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to hold talks with other political parties over the "overall political situation" in the country

No place for former leaders in government, says Taliban deputy leader; says strong economy precondition for inclusive education

Former leaders associated with the erstwhile US-backed Afghan government will not be included in the Taliban government, the group’s deputy leader Mullah Baradar said, indicating the new regime is unlikely to heed the demand for inclusivity

Indian foreign minister speaks with American and Russian counterparts

India External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reviewed bilateral relations with his American and Russian counterparts ahead of planned interactions with both countries

Tamil groups oppose Sri Lankan government’s involvement in Jaffna Kite Festival

A section of Tamil groups has reacted sharply over the government’s participation in the Jaffna Kite Festival in the northern city of Jaffna, once the stronghold of Tamil secessionist militant leader Velupillai Prabhakaran

Sri Lanka to cultivate more rubber plantations to enhance forest cover to 30 percent

Sri Lanka plans to increase forest cover from currently 29.3 percent to 30 percent by 2025 by cultivating rubber plants over an area of 500 hectares

Rape, abduction derail tourism in Bangladesh’s beach town of Cox’s Bazar, local economy impacted

In any normal new year, hotels and guesthouses in the beach town Cox’s Bazar would be booming with tourists and visitors