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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Kabul attack shows US-Taliban peace deal is tenuous

The diametrically opposite claims of the Afghan government and the US government about the deadly terror attack on the Kabul maternity hospital in which two dozen nurses, mothers and newly-born babies were killed early this week, indicate why the peace deal in Afghanistan is tenuous

Nepal govt prioritizes health, education investments

The Nepal government has announced that health, education, economic recovery and employment will be key priority for the budget for next fiscal year 2020-21

Health ministry to reinforce testing, tracing and treatment

In the wake of increasing positive Covid-19 cases in the country, the health ministry will start conducting periodic testing of high-risk communities and frontline responders along the border areas starting May 18

Sindh reports new cases as COVID-19 tally jumps to 39,473

The novel coronavirus emerged in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of last year and proliferated to almost the whole world within a couple of months

Bangladesh's virus caseload nears 21,000, death toll hits 314

The COVID-19 caseload surged to 20,995 on the back of 930 new cases confirmed in the 24 hours to 8 am Saturday, according to the health directorate

Dozens ready to adopt unclaimed babies after maternity ward attack

Dozens of men and women on Friday flocked to Ataturk Hospital to adopt those Afghan babies who lost their parents in the aftermath of a deadly attack on a maternity ward on Tuesday

Khalilzad briefs reporters on Afghan situation

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday briefed the US State Department on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the situation which has emerged in the country following Tuesday’s deadly attacks on a maternity hospital in capital Kabu

India surpasses China in COVID tally, total nears 86K

With India's total tally rising to 85,940, the world's largest democracy has now surpassed China with a total of 53,035 active cases and 2,752 deaths while 30,152 people have recovered so far, the Union health ministry said on Saturday

US committed to troops withdrawal from Afghanistan

The Pentagon has said that the US was committed to the troops' drawdown plan stipulated in the peace agreement that Washington inked with the Taliban in February

Ghani defends new aggressive military policy

Defending his military strategy against insurgents, President Ashraf Ghani on Friday said his administration will never oppose efforts for peace and reconciliation, but warned that the Afghan armed forces deserve the right to defend the nation against threats and create conditions for a dignified peace

'War causes destruction,” Karzai's appeal

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged for an immediate stop of the current war and other acts that cause the deepening of differences among the people of the country

Pakistan cuts interest rate to support businesses against COVID-19 impact

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced to cut the country's policy rate by 100 basis points to 8 percent to support businesses against the COVID-19 impact

Sri Lanka COVID-19 cases rise to 935

Sri Lanka reported a total of 10 new cases Friday, raising the total number of people contracted the coronavirus to 935, according to the Health Ministry

Curfew imposed islandwide from 8 pm today until 5 am Monday

The curfew will be imposed in all districts of the island from 8:00 pm today (16) until 5:00 am on Monday, May 18 the Government said

Sri Lanka airline readying to start scheduled flights in June

State-run SriLankan Airlines is getting ready to resume scheduled flights by June if health authorities give the go-ahead, Chairman Ashok Pathirage said as the carrier is battling a to survive a Coronavirus crisis