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. 

More on REGION

New modalities necessary, say Nepal's health experts

Nepal's health experts have said that the government should come up with new modalities to help prevent coronavirus transmission and ease lockdown

58,769 have returned home since March 24

A large number of Nepali migrant workers, students and patients, who had gone abroad (mostly India) for medical treatment, have returned home since the government imposed the nationwide lockdown on March 24 to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus

Pakistan's mango crop ruining for want of labour force

The mango crop in Mirpurkhas district, which produces the pricey Sindhri as well as certain other varieties, is facing a serious threat due to unavailability of properly trained and experienced labourers, according to owners of orchards

Government may reimpose lockdown after Eid if SOP violations continue

Special Assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, said on Monday that Pakistan's coronavirus cases and deaths were on the rise and urged citizens to follow government-mandated standard operating procedures (SOPs) against the virus, warning that "strict lockdowns" could be reimposed across the country if the trajectory continued

COVID-19 death toll crosses 500-mark

Twenty-one people have died with coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours,  Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said today

Sundarbans weathered much of Bangladesh from Cyclone Amphan, but at a great cost

Cyclone Amphan that cut a punishing path through Bangladesh has caused the Sundarbans three times as much damage as Cyclone Bulbul did last year, authorities say. The monster storm felled more than 12,350 trees of the delicate forest, according to the summary of findings by four Forest Department committees formed to fathom enormity of the damage caused by Amphan

Bangladesh ships 6.5 million PPE gowns to US

Bangladesh has joined a select group of countries that manufacture world-class, large-scale Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as Beximco today sent a shipment of 6.5 million PPE gowns manufactured to the US brand Hanes for ultimate delivery to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Police issue permits for MPs to attend parliament session

Police have begun issuing permits for MPs to attend the Maldives' parliamentary session

'Human trials for COVID-19 vaccine in India may begin in at least 6 months'

As India ranked 10th in the global infection list, overtaking Iran, which was an early hotspot of coronavirus, India's top medical body has said the human trials of COVID-19 vaccine may begin at least in six months

Taj Group serves gourmet meals to migrants, medicare staff

The Taj Group of Hotels has dished out over 16.50 lakh (1.65 million) nutritious meals - designed by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor - to migrants and medical workers at hospitals in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru, a top official said

Research by PhD student assisted a Rohingya man's case for Australian protection visa

A Rohingya man’s protection visa has been reinstated with the assistance of research from a University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney PhD law student Ashraful Azad

India now among top 10 worst-hit by COVID-19

With around 7,000 new cases in a day, India's tally of novel Coronavirus cases surpassed that of Iran's as it recorded 1,38,845 till Monday

ASHA workers spread 'hope' in India amid COVID-19 pandemic

The ASHA workers are living up to their name ('Asha' is Hindi for hope) and serving women and infants in the country amid the novel coronavirus pandemic

Cancellations spike, bookings drop as states limit air ops

A massive spike in ticket cancellations, along with a drop in bookings, was reported by the aviation industry for Monday's flights as several states moved to limit air operations

Virus casts shadow on Eid as cases surge by daily record; deaths top 500

The COVID-19 outbreak has put a further damper on muted Eid-ur-Fitr celebrations in Bangladesh after another 1,975 people tested positive for the infection, the most in a daily count, taking the caseload to 35,585