President Maithripala Sirisena installed Sri Lanka's controversial former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse as the country's new prime minister yesterday, in a surprise move announced moments after the incumbent premier was sacked plunging the country into constitutional crisis.

Three Myanmar journalists accused of incitement were granted bail yesterday but must continue to fight the case involving a close confidant of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Western nations, including the United States and European countries, have expressed "serious concerns" to Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan about a crackdown on aid groups, diplomats said.

Afghan officials launched an investigation into claims at least 14 civilians were killed in a military ground operation targeting the Islamic State group in their stronghold in eastern Afghanistan.

Promising that all corrupt leaders will go to jail, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that no politicians and officials who have put Pakistan into the debt trap through their corrupt practices will get protection from any legislation like the defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

A United Nations investigator voices concern about human rights being sidelined during US and South Korean talks with North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, warning on Tuesday: look at what happened in Myanmar.

Australia yesterday slapped travel and financial sanctions on five top Myanmar military officers, accused of overseeing brutal violence against Rohingya Muslims by units under their command, following similar moves by the European Union and United States.

Malaysia's opposition leader yesterday said a quake-tsunami that killed thousands in neighbouring Indonesia was "punishment from Allah" for the activities of gay people, sparking a storm of criticism.

A foreign soldier was killed and two others wounded in an Afghan insider attack yesterday. "Initial reports indicate the attack was committed by a member of the Afghan security forces," Nato's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.

Terming the present government “incompetent”, former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has called upon all political parties to unite on one platform to declare that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government cannot run the country.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan left for Saudi Arabia to attend an investment conference boycotted by other leaders over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Problems plagued hundreds of polling centres yesterday as Afghans unable to vote in Saturday's parliamentary election were given another chance to cast their ballot.

The Maldives' top court yesterday ended weeks of uncertainty by rejecting President Abdulla Yameen's controversial bid to annul last month's election results, upholding his landslide defeat to an opposition candidate.

Nearly 170 Afghans were killed or wounded in poll-related violence yesterday, officials said, as the legislative election turned chaotic with many polling centres opening hours late -- or not at all -- due to technical glitches and lack of staff.

Security for Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has been stepped up following the discovery of an alleged plot to assassinate him, two of his advisers said on Thursday.

Bhutan's voters on Thursday gave an overwhelming victory to a new party headed by a surgeon in only the third democratic election held by the Himalayan kingdom, according to provisional results.

Punjab province authorities suspended at least 116 police officials, including top officers, in connection with the killing of demonstrators

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, wedged between India and China, yesterday voted in a national election guaranteed to usher in a new ruling party which must boost the economy without compromising the country's fierce independent streak.

The Taliban yesterday issued a fresh call for Afghans to boycott this week's parliamentary elections, denouncing the vote as a foreign-imposed process that went against both Islam and Afghan culture.

Opposition in the Maldives asked the police to bar President Abdulla Yameen from leaving the country hours after he announced plans to step down in the face of a likely defeat in a court case challenging his election loss.