ASIA

CMS holds Global Interfaith Convention to promote communal harmony

Asian shares slip on jitters over inflation, interest rates

3:01 pm February 24, 2021

BANGKOK: Shares fell Wednesday in Asia as investors weighed the possibility that inflation might prompt central banks to adjust their ultra-low interest rate policies, despite reassurances from the chair of the Federal Reserve. Hong Kong led the decline, losing 3.1% to 29,687.63 after the government announced it was raising the stamp tax on stock transactions […]

Biden, Trudeau pledged to counter China, climate change

12:21 pm February 24, 2021

Beijing: U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought on Tuesday to turn the page on the Trump era, stressing the countries’ deep ties and pledging to work together to counteract Chinese influence and address climate change. “The United States has no closer friend, no closer friend than Canada,” Biden told Trudeau […]

Sri Lanka orders 13.5 mn AstraZeneca doses, likely to drop Chinese vaccines

4:15 pm February 23, 2021

Colombo: Sri Lanka has ordered 13.5 million Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines in addition to the 500,000 doses gifted by India, and the country may not use Chinese vaccines in the second phase of immunisation, a government spokesman said on Tuesday. Ramesh Pathirana, who is also the Minister of Plantations, said Sri Lanka is likely to go only with the AstraZeneca vaccines for the second phase of […]

India and China hold 10th round of military talks; focus on further disengagement in eastern Ladakh

11:43 pm February 20, 2021

New Delhi: India and China on Saturday held another round of military talks with a focus on taking forward the disengagement process at friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, two days after concluding the withdrawal of troops and weapons from North and South banks of Pangong Tso in the high-altitude region, official sources said. The tenth round of Corps Commander-level talks began at 10 AM at […]

Russia steps in, trying to aid stalled Afghan peace process

1:50 pm February 20, 2021

ISLAMABAD: With talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban stalled and the new administration in Washington mulling its options, Russia is stepping up efforts to try and find a way forward in the peace process. Moscow’s emissaries have been making the rounds, visiting regional players and meeting officials and senior Taliban figures — even […]