Japan eases rules on wearing masks outdoors

Tokyo (IANS) A top Japanese government official said on Wednesday that wearing of face masks outdoors would no longer be necessary as long as people maintain proper social distancing measures against Covid-19.

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary…

Chinese power plants in Pak to shut down within days unless payments made

Islamabad (IANS) With more than 300 billion PKR in stuck up dues, more than two dozen Chinese firms operating in Pakistan said that they will be forced to shut down their power plants this month unless payments are made upfront, the media reported.

Sri Lanka's fleeing ex-PM, family take refuge at naval base

Colombo (IANS) In the wake of the widespread violence in Sri Lanka that left five people dead, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family on Tuesday took refuge at a naval base in Trincomalee after leaving Colombo under heavy security.

Gujarat Hindus, Bangla Muslims voted on religious lines in UK local elections

London (IANS) Religious consolidation, prevalent in the subcontinent, was clearly evident in British politics as testified by local election results in London.

British Gujarati Hindus, who subscribe to the RSS, reportedly closed ranks in Harrow…

'Chinese confidence in Pak's security system seriously shaken'

Islamabad (IANS) There may have been no exodus of Chinese workers from Pakistan after the Karachi University attack, but they look less confident about the country's ability to protect them, says a Senator.

"The Chinese confidence in Pakistan's…

SL protesters surround Parliament as hartal brings country to standstill

Colombo (IANS) Burdened by growing food crisis and shortages of fuel and gas, Sri Lankans launched an island-wide 'hartal' on Friday, giving ultimatum to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government to resign by March 11.

Organised…

UNSC agrees first time on statement on Ukraine, but it's toothless

United Nations (IANS) After an acrimonious informal meeting on Ukraine, the UN Security Council came together formally for the first time to issue a statement that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "spoke with one voice for peace in Ukraine".

IS-K attacks puncture Taliban's claim of restoring order in Afghanistan

Kabul (IANS) A spate of high-profile attacks claimed by IS-K militants in recent weeks has punctured the Taliban's narrative that it has restored law and order in the war-wrecked country, RFE/RL reported.

Since seizing power in August 2021,…

Sri Lanka's useable foreign reserves drop below $50mn

Colombo (IANS) Sri Lankan Finance Minister, Ali Sabry told parliament on Wednesday that the country's current useable foreign reserves were less than $50 million.

Sabry told parliament that Sri Lanka should have sought assistance from the…

NYC raises Covid alert level to medium

New York (IANS) New York City has adjusted up its Covid-19 alert level from low to medium, indicating the presence of medium community spread of the virus, according to the official data.

The accumulated new cases per 100,000 people in the…