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

Zero border killings: Promise that keeps ringing hollow along India-Bangladesh frontier

For years, India has been promising to bring the killing of Bangladeshis along the Indo-Bangla border down to zero

'Afghan National Army capable of defending country'

Nineteen years after the 9/11 attacks and on the eve of the intra-Afghan negotiations, Acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid said the Afghan National Army can shoulder the counter-terrorism mission and can defend the country without international support

Afghanistan’s negotiating team heads to Doha for talks

Afghanistan’s 21-member negotiating team led by Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai left Kabul for Doha on Friday afternoon to attend the much-awaited intra-Afghan negotiations that are expected to end the four decades of war in Afghanistan

Aeroflot recommences operations to the Maldives

Russian flag carrier, Aeroflot has recommenced operations to the Maldives, after a halt in operations due to COVID-19

Strong, stable Northeast key to self-reliant India: Foreign Secretary

A strong and stable Northeast is key to building a self-reliant India, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday, saying the government is working to improve the infrastructure and connectivity in the northeastern states while also facilitating greater regional integration

With unprecedented surge in single-day spike of Covid cases, deaths, India crosses 4.5 million

India on Friday recorded an unprecedented rise in single-day spike both in the number of fresh cases and deaths in 24 hours. There were 96,551 new infections reported that took the total tally to 45,62,414, the Union Health Ministry data revealed

TV coverage, Covid, unemployment spark suicidal thoughts

Psychiatrists are getting more patients with suicidal tendencies during this period. The reasons vary from loss of employment and livelihood, break-ups to incidents of violence at home. However, in the last two months, the situation has exacerbated monumentally

Hyderabad-Dubai reconnected as Emirates resumes flights

Hyderabad International Airport got re-connected with Dubai from Thursday under the 'air transport bubble' arrangement as part of India's efforts to re-start international air connectivity

Nepal PM Oli, former PM Dahal bury the hatchet with joint proposal

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the two co-chairpersons of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), have buried the hatchet and have sent a joint proposal to the party’s Standing Committee members

Domestic flights unlikely in Nepal from Sept 15

The government is preparing to extend the suspension of domestic flights, ignoring requests of the private sector and public demand

Pakistan PM rejects criticism of dual nationals holding public office

Expressing displeasure over criticism of dual nationals holding public office, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday stressed the need for tapping what he called “resource pool” of Pakistani experts and professionals living abroad for the uplifting of the country

Pakistan vows to defeat Afghan talks ‘spoilers’

Pakistan on Thursday vowed to defeat ‘spoilers’ attempting to sabotage upcoming intra-Afghan dialogue, through cooperation with Afghanistan

Pakistan aims 'long-term, multi-dimensional' partnership with Russia

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday extended an invitation to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to visit Pakistan, which he "gladly accepted", according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office said

Former PM Nawaz Sharif will have to surrender before further proceedings: IHC

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the legal representatives of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to assist the court in the next hearing on the question of whether a review petition filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo against his surrender can still be entertained after he was declared a proclaimed offender by an accountability court in the Toshakhana reference

Plans to produce 50% of Sri Lanka’s requirement of pharmaceuticals locally

The Sri Lankan government plans to produce 50 percent of the country’s requirement of pharmaceuticals locally within the next three years, the President’s Media Division said