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Tuesday October 20th, 2026
World

S&P affirms Bangladesh credit rating at B+

Bangladesh continues to implement reforms in line with a 42-month Extended Credit Facility, EFF

July 25, 2025 11 min read

S&P upgrades Pakistan credit rating to B- from CCC+

Downward pressure would emerge if financial support from key bilateral and multilateral partners quickly erodes,

July 25, 2025 10 min read

Trump brokers ceasefire between India and Pakistan

Indian and Pakistan Foreign Ministers confirmed the deal

May 10, 2025 3 min read

US cardinal Robert Prevost becomes new Pope Leo XIV

"We must be a church that builds bridges, dialogue," he said, before reciting a Hail Mary for world peace

May 8, 2025 1 min read
US-Iran conflict credit risks remain elevated despite ceasefire: Fitch Ratings

Key unknowns include the outcome of the talks (if any), and speed of recovery for energy flows and supply chain logistic

US president Trump announces 2-week ceasefire, considers Iran's 10 conditions

As well as the lifting of all US directed sanctions towards Iran.

Germany converts Sri Lanka Euro13mn maternity hospital loan into grant

The hospital was damaged in 2004 Tsunami

November 3, 2021 1 min read

Does Covid vaccines deprive visa and reduce fertility? - fact-checked

Some countries do not require vaccines and other countries requesting mandatory vaccination do not reject Sinopharm.

October 31, 2021 8 min read

Sri Lanka imports Coronavirus vaccines worth US$150mn from ADB credit

ADB is set to hold its annual meeting in Colombo from 2 to 5 May 2022.

October 6, 2021 2 min read

South Asia immigration barriers hindering industrial hub potential

It is not that the region is lacking in natural and human resources, both skilled and unskilled

September 30, 2021 6 min read

Time to build upon the COVID dividend in South Asia education

Teachers upgrade skills on their own with private sector support

Kshama Ranawana
September 22, 2021 6 min read

Moody's downgrades Maldives to Caa1, despite tourism recovery

Debt consolidation will be slow due to expansionary projects

August 29, 2021 12 min read

Nepal: Himalayan country in crisis

South Asian countries should have adopted a common regional strategy to combat COVID-19 in the region: Suhasini Haidar

Kshama Ranawana
July 6, 2021 9 min read

Sri Lanka wins special award for pesticide control, suicide prevention

Sri Lanka has won a special award along with the Philippines and Colombia.

July 3, 2021 2 min read

“Happy” Bhutan threatened by climate change and geopolitics

Bhutan, ever on the pursuit of happiness, is threatened by global warming and the India-China tussle, experts say

Kshama Ranawana
June 10, 2021 7 min read

NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan leaves the region nervous

The vacuummay create an opening for China to step in

Kshama Ranawana
June 7, 2021 6 min read
Morning Briefing Gain clarity on the biggest stories of the day with our daily newsletter, Morning Briefing
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US Dollar 330.8514 330.9617
UK Pound 438.3450 438.2595
Euro 371.0168 371.5045
Yen 2.0916 2.0943
Aus Dollar 231.1659 230.8789
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Source: Central Bank/Indicative
today yesterday
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World's largest iceberg breaks off from Antarctica: reports

The break-off is part of the natural cycle and since it’s a floating ice shelf it will not cause sea levels to rise.

Mahadiya Hamza
May 20, 2021 2 min read

Myanmar military coup slams economy, to shrink 8.9-pct in 2021: IMF

Myanmar's economy could shrink 8.9 percent in 2021, as a military coup has descended on the country though most other A...

April 14, 2021 1 min read

Prince Philip dead at 99

April 9, 2021 1 min read

Maldives dollar Sukuk Islamic bond rated 'B3' by Moody's

Moody's has rated a planned US dollar Sukuk (Shariah law compliant bond) at 'B3' same as the government which will be us...

March 27, 2021 2 min read

Aruba rating downgraded to BBB by S&P, outlook stable

Standard and Poor's has downgraded Aruba's sovereign rating from to BBB from BBB+, with a stable outlook as tourism was ...

March 27, 2021 1 min read

Restarting South Asia: The Tea industry faces up to its challenges

The coronavirus pandemic wrought havoc on almost all walks of life, and the various industries ranging from commodities,...

Kshama Ranawana
March 23, 2021 6 min read

Sri Lanka lobbying Muslim countries ahead of crucial Geneva vote

Sri Lanka has ramped up contacts with Islamic countries as the vote on the Resolution against the island nation at the U...

March 22, 2021 2 min read

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka pledge mutual assistance on a range of issues

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have signed 6 memoranda of understanding after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed a...

March 20, 2021 1 min read

Indian becomes the second woman to swim across the Palk Straits

A 47-year old Indian, Syamala Goli, became the second woman and 13th person to swim across the Palk Strait when she reac...

March 20, 2021 2 min read

Mahinda pledges to stand with Bangladesh

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed the possibilities of achieving closer cooperation in maritime, shipping, t...

March 20, 2021 2 min read