Try this !. i put the condition here!..
<div class="container">
<h1>Latest News & Updates</h1>
<div id="slides">
<?php $the_query = new WP_Query($args); ?>
<?php if ($the_query->have_posts()) : ?>
<?php $counter = 1; ?>
<?php $obj = wp_count_posts(); ?>
<?php $totalPosts = $obj->publish; ?>
<?php while ($the_query->have_posts()) : $the_query->the_post(); ?>
<?php $remainder = $counter % 2; ?>
<?php if ($remainder == 1): ?>
<div class="slide">
<?php endif; ?>
<div class="<?php echo $remainder == 1 ? 'slide-left' : 'slide-right'; ?>">
<h2><?php the_time('j'); ?><?php the_time('M'); ?><span> <?php the_time('Y'); ?></span></h2>
<div class="img">
<?php
// if (has_post_thumbnail()) { // check if the post has a Post Thumbnail assigned to it.
// the_post_thumbnail();
// }
?>
</div>
<div class="content" style="padding-left: 14px;">
<p class="bold"><?php echo get_the_title(); ?></p>
<?php
echo the_excerpt();
?>
<?php $link = get_permalink(); ?>
<p class="more"><?php echo"<a href=$link>Readmore >></a>" ?></p>
</div>
</div>
<?php if ($remainder == 0 || $counter == $totalPosts): ?>
</div>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php $counter++; ?>
<?php endwhile; ?>
<?php endif; // have post ?>