China to expel US scribes from major media outlets

Beijing (IANS) China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced the expulsion of American journalists working for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post as a measure taken by Beijing "in the spirit of reciprocity."

Colombo airport to partially shut after 19 years

Colombo, March 19 (IANS) Starting Thursday, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo will be partially shut down after 19 years for a week in an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Sri Lanka.

The development…

COVID-19 hits all 50 US states, toll surges to 108

Washington, March 18 (IANS) The deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has now hit all 50 states in the US. With West Virginia reporting its first case of infection on Tuesday, Governor Jim Justice said, "We knew this was coming."

New York…

Aggressive measures needed to fight COVID-19 in SE Asia: WHO

Geneva (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday said that South East Asia should step up "aggressive measures" in the battle against the spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

As infections in the region continue to rise,…

German FM says COVID-19 vaccine research not for sale

Berlin, March (IANS) Germany cannot allow other countries to "exclusively" acquire the results of its researchers, the country's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Funke media group on Monday.

On Sunday, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag…

Pakistan COVID-19 cases increases to 183

Islamabad, March 17 (IANS) The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan has increased to 183, after Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) confirmed 115 and 15 new infections, respectively.

This is the single largest increase in coronavirus…

No decision yet to delay SL general elections

Colombo (IANS) Chairman of Sri Lanka's National Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya has said that no decision has been taken yet to postpone the April 25 general elections due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Deshapriya made the remarks…

Pak reports 1st COVID-19 death, cases reach 193

Islamabad, March 17 (IANS) Pakistan on Tuesday reported the first coronavirus death, while the number of confirmed cases increased to 193 with the emergence of 10 new infections, the Ministry of National Health Services announced.

According…

Jaishankar, Pompeo discuss cooperation to meet COVID-19 challenge

New York (IANS) India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have discussed cooperation between the two countries to deal with the coronavirus crisis, according to a US official.

State Department…

China's industrial production falls 13.5% in 30-year low

Beijing (IANS) China's industrial production plummeted 13.5 per cent year-on-year in the first two months of 2020, its worst decline in 30 years, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the countrys national statistics office said…