New Delhi, April 21: Malaysia has witnessed a remarkable fall in press freedom while China, which "continues to take Internet censorship, surveillance and propaganda to unprecedented levels", is still firmly anchored among the worst countries in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) which provides information about the media freedom situation worldwide.

New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) As India announced opening up of Covid 19 vaccination drive for all citizens above the age of 18 amid a surge in cases, industry and business honchos said they expect the situation to come well under control by May-end. Besides vaccination drive, several state governments including Delhi, have already put in place measures to break the chain of transmission.

New Delhi, April 19: Even though Covid-19 vaccination is in full swing, the pandemic continues to affect a huge population, severely affecting the countrys economic and social fabric. There are many who recommend tapping Ayurveda, Indias ancient alternative medical system.

New Delhi, April 19: April 18 is observed as World Heritage Day or the International Day for Monuments and Sites. Proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982, it was approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1983.

New Delhi, April 17: Tired and broken, the United States has announced its unceremonious exit from Afghanistan. The decision, in many ways, is a throwback to a similar moment in recent history—the pullback of the Soviet forces from the strife torn nation after Moscows ill-fated intervention in Afghanistan in 1979. The Soviet Union was then a superpower, although ailing, when it decided to move forces across the Hai ratan bridge now in Uzbekistan, only to face defeat in a country which has been well described as the "graveyard of empires".

New Delhi, April 17: With the second wave of Covid-19 or Corona virus hitting the country, States and Union Territories have geared up their response in tune with local conditions.

New Delhi, April 17: After Japan, Indias northeastern states have caught the attention of domestic and foreign investors. A few Korean investors led by the Korean Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) have already begun touring Sikkim to identify concrete investment opportunities.

New Delhi, April 17: Sri Lankan opposition parties along with numerous civil society groups have filed several petitions before the Supreme Court against a controversial legislation related to the Chinese-backed Sri Lankan Port City.

New Delhi, April 16: Going beyond precautions and vaccinations, doctors and the World Health Organization (WHO) have advised that proper nutrition and hydration would be key in fighting the second wave of Covid-19. This is a throwback on some essential ancient wisdom. 2500 years ago, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, hit the nail right on the head when he said: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

New Delhi, April 16: India is bonding fast and furious, with foreign countries, by building partnerships but avoiding alliances. If anyone thought that India was heading towards an Asian NATO through the Indo-Pacific Quad, then kindly think again.

New Delhi, April 15: There is a widespread concern among the authorities and general public alike regarding the spurt in Covid-19 cases. Making the scenario worse is the perception that the spike is due to new strains of Covid-19 virus.

New Delhi, April 15: The rising number of false negative tests for Covid-19, surfacing in the second wave of the pandemic sweeping across India, have become a cause for grave concern. This is being attributed to some new strains of coronavirus that the standard RT-PCR tests are not being able to detect.

New Delhi, April 15: It is April 15 -- Poila Boishakh for Bengalis living across the globe. Poila Boishakh, like many other states in India which observe Baisakhi, Bihu, Vishu among others, marks the first day of the Hindu New Year. But Poila Boishakh, the Bengali new year, has an international dimension across the eastern border.

New Delhi, April 15: The damage caused to the village mosque at Hadipora in southern Kashmirs Shopian district during an encounter between the security forces and the militants on 9 -10 April has outraged the local population but, in contrast to some previous incidents, the public anger this time around is unmistakably against the militants.

New Delhi, April 15: For the last two days, Pakistan has been burning. Thousands of protesters of Tehreek-i-Labbaik in the country have been clashing with the police on the streets, demanding the immediate release of their chief Saad Rizvi.

New Delhi, April 14: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Wednesday made out a strong case for matching ability and aptitude while highlighting the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) which seeks to transform India sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high-quality education to all.

New Delhi, April 14: The Joe Biden administration is moving fast. In just 11 weeks, it has honed on China as an enemy that has to be pursued relentlessly and outmanoeuvred. America knows its enemies and how to chase them down.

New Delhi, April 13: Paranoia is once again building up with the surge in the Covid 19 with widespread circulation of misinformation regarding the intensity of the new strain of virus and Coronavirus vaccines.

New Delhi, April 13: West Indies cricket great Brian Lara has appealed for help after a giant volcanic eruption began to threaten the tiny eastern Carribean island of St. Vincent.

New Delhi, April 13: The Vietnam government has launched a high-speed patrol boat built with India assistance, and one more of similar class is in the pipeline. The Vietnamese coast guard had inducted the first India-made patrol vessel in December 2020.

New Delhi, April 13: There's a strong possibility of you getting a forward on social media these days, criticising Indian Army's proposed move of reduction in manpower. What it probably won't mention is that it concerns the 'non-essential' manpower. So what is it, really and, more importantly, how and when is the reduction going to happen?

New Delhi, April 12: The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah is in India to attend the Kumbh festival. He arrived in the holy city of Haridwar on Sunday to participate in the biggest Hindu festival.

New Delhi, April 12: Amid the ongoing crackdown on the militant hardliner groups, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Of Bangladesh has arrested Rafiqul Islam Madani. Known as "shishu bokta" (child preacher), he has been charged with making provocative anti-state speeches and inciting mob. Madani is one of the icons of the hardline outfit, Hefazat- e- Islam (HeI).

New Delhi, April 12: China's top health official has admitted for the first time ever that the Chinese coronavirus vaccines are not very effective and the government is exploring the option of mixing different Covid-19 vaccines to give them a boost, according to a news report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

New Delhi, April 12: While inaugurating the first Water Sports Centre adopted by his Ministry in Kashmir last week, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju announced that the Government of India was developing as many as 100 Khelo India Centres across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. An amount of Rs 513 crore has been earmarked in the current years budget for promotion of sports in addition to the substantial financial assistance flowing from the Centre.