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

UK envoy: Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to be available in Bangladesh

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Wednesday said that the Oxford vaccine would be available in Bangladesh once it is produced and ready for use

'No durable peace in Afghanistan without justice'

Afghan officials believe there would be no durable peace sans justice. In a ceremony titled “National Summit of Justice and Peace” the Afghan officials said a robust peace is only possible when there is justice across the country

Domestic flights to Kunduz resume after 12 years

Civil flights were resumed between Kabul and Kunduz province after 12 years of pause, with Kam Air plane, a private airline landing in Kunduz airport on Tuesday

'Taliban shows no flexibility in peace': Deputy Minister

Afghan Deputy Minister of Justice, Zakia Adili, called the Taliban a “monopolist” group that does not show flexibility in the peace process, and that the view of the group toward justice for victims of violence is political rather than rights-based

'Human rights abuser Pakistan resorting to mockery of UNHRC with India bashing'

India on Wednesday said that Pakistan's perennial India bashing at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) amounted to mockery, while its own record of human rights for ethnic minorities, social activists and journalists was abysmally poor

US hails India partnership as crucial for global recovery from COVID-19

The US on Wednesday hailed its partnership with India on protective equipment and medical supplies during the "desperate" early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as the "clearest example" of positive global collaboration rising from one of its "most important partnerships in the world"

International flights to remain suspended till Oct 31

The Indian government on Wednesday extended the suspension of scheduled commercial international flight operations to and from India till October 31

Pakistan pledged not to repeat mistakes, says Kabul

Members of the delegation from the Afghan government that accompanied Abdullah Abdullah on his three-day visit to Pakistan say that Pakistani leaders agreed to not repeat the nation's past policies toward Afghanistan—a promise that analysts say will help the peace process if it is put into practice

India's Covid tally over 63L, recoveries nearly 53L

With a spike of 86,821 coronavirus cases and 1,181 deaths in 24 hours, India's tally on Thursday mounted to 63,12,584 cases

New unlock guidelines: States free to decide on schools reopening after Oct 15

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday left it to the states and union territories to decide on reopening of schools and coaching institutions after October 15 in a graded manner

Cinemas, multiplexes to repoen, conditional relaxation for public gatherings

While India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed reopening of cinema halls and entertainment parks with conditions, there are some reprieves that are being given in gatherings as well

After Hathras, another woman raped, killed in Uttar Pradesh

Even as the embers of the Hathras incident continue to smoulder, yet another incident of a Dalit woman being gangraped and killed in Balrampur district has taken place

Nepal to join India’s ‘air bubble’ scheme to repatriate Nepalis from India

Nepal has decided to join India’s “air bubble” scheme in order to bring hundreds of Nepalis stranded in different parts of India, more than a month after the southern neighbour’s proposal to that effect

Let bygones be bygones, PM Imran Khan tells Kabul

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called for impr­oving Pak-Afghan relations by adopting a forward-looking approach rather than remaining stuck in the past

US government. Congress 'closely following' Amnesty International shutdown in India

Amnesty International shutting down its operations in India after its bank accounts were frozen “has received attention at the highest levels” of the US government, according to a senior State Department official, saying the US is committed to the health and vibrancy of civil society