President Rodrigo Duterte vowed full support for development initiatives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas as he launched the administration’s poverty alleviation and development agenda here.

Several lawmakers over the weekend pushed for the immediate passage of a bill seeking to establish state-owned crematorium facilities in all legislative districts in the Philippines.

Voters in some 100 former exclaves are set to exercise their franchise for the first time as 22 Union Parishads (UPs) are going to polls there from 8am to 4pm today.

A number of organisations and lawyers are offering to defend Sharbat Gula, the Afghan woman arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for fraudulently obtaining Pakistan’s computerised national identity card (CNIC) in the court of law.

Bangladeshi-born American scientist Dr Shafiqul Islam jointly won the prestigious Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW).

China’s Shanghai Electric power company will buy a controlling stake in K-Electric, a power generation and distribution company in Pakistan’s largest city, for $1.77n, K-Electric’s parent company announced in a statement yesterday.

BNP is making preparations to stage a ‘huge showdown’ ahead of National Revolution and Solidarity Day on November 7 at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital Dhaka.

Police dogs in the Nepalese capital on Saturday were honoured in a ceremony with treats, food offerings and affection while wearing floral necklaces as a sign of respect on the second day of Tihar festival or Diwali, dedicated to canines.

The wife of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has urged the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) organisation to visit the ailing Mexican drug lord in prison.

Sri Lanka has become South Asia’s first member of the 70-nation Open Government Partnership (OGP) following an invitation from the group.

Goa has long attracted Western holidaymakers for its relaxed vibe, but rapid construction, swelling crowds and fears over safety are threatening the Indian state’s global reputation as a tranquil haven.

The Golden Temple complex, where the top Sikh shrine, Harmandar Sahib, is located, was illuminated yesterday and fireworks display took place to mark the “Bandi Chhor Diwas” and Diwali.