Polling booths in the Maldives closed yesterday after voting hours were extended in a controversial election marred by police raids on the opposition and allegations of rigging in favour of strongman president Abdulla Yameen.

Campaigning for Indonesia's presidential election in April kicked off yesterday, pitting incumbent Joko Widodo against a former military general in the race to lead the world's third-biggest democracy. Opinion polls show Widodo, whose down-to-earth style has made him popular with Indonesians, well ahead of his main challenger Prabowo Subianto.

The government wants to continue its efforts with other stakeholders to keep the movement of animals, especially elephants, undisturbed following the significant impacts on wildlife and subsequent human-elephant conflict due to installation of makeshift camps for Rohingyas, officials say.

An Indian tourist is injured when a Thai woman bit his lip during a street fight on Pattaya's Walking Street, police says.

The World Bank (WB) has approved another $25 million, including $4 million from Canada, to help Bangladesh provide education and support to heal the psychological wounds of Rohingya children and youths who had fled violence in Myanmar.

World Bank Vice President for the South Asia region, Hartwig Schafer, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today to further deepen the

Canadian lawmakers on Thursday unanimously voted to declare Myanmar's military against the Rohingya people a "genocide."

India launches its first national online registry for sexual offenders in a bid to check crimes against women and children. A separate portal, which will allow anonymous complaints on objectionable online content, is also launched.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for New York this morning to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where she will highlight her response to the Rohingya crisis and seek global support for a sustainable solution to it.

Malaysian prosecutors yesterday charged former Prime Minister Najib Razak with 21 counts of money laundering and four counts of abuse of power over hundreds of millions of dollars received in his personal bank account.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking that India and Pakistan resume dialogue that has been suspended since 2015. In the letter addressing the PM as "Modi Sahab", Imran Khan also suggests a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt yesterday called for justice on the Rohingya crisis after his visit to Myanmar's Rakhine state, telling embattled leader Aung San Suu Kyi the world "won't let it rest".

India's Supreme Court yesterday reserved its judgement on a plea seeking the immediate release of five leading rights activists accused of having links with Maoists and in connection with violence during a backward caste rally.

British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt says the international community should consider referring the treatment of Rohingya in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court unless those responsible are tried and held accountable in the country.

Lawmakers from South East Asia urges the UN to act on a devastating report on atrocities against Rohingya in Myanmar and do everything it can to pave the way for justice for victims.

Twelve people are killed and dozens missing after a landslide unleashed by monsoon rains struck in the central Philippines, inflicting more misery on the already storm-battered nation.

Australia is considering targeted sanctions in response to atrocities committed against the Rohingya in Rakhine state of Myanmar.

A former columnist for state media has been jailed for seven years for "abusive" Facebook posts about Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a court official said yesterday, the latest case threatening free expression in the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that Bangladesh will place its proposals on the future action plans over the Rohingya crisis in different multilateral meetings during the upcoming 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Mangkhut has climbed to 81 and could hit triple digits as searchers dig through a landslide where dozens are presumed dead, authorities said yesterday. Mangkhut swamped farm fields in the north and smashed houses when it tore through with winds and heavy rains.