Australia's asylum policy, Malaysia general elections, and other news in pictures

Australian Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton, left, and Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Osborne, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, address reporters at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Monday. Dutton says people smugglers are now marketing New Zealand as a backdoor into Australia.

Australian Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton, left, and Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Osborne, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, address reporters at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Monday. Dutton says people smugglers are now marketing New Zealand as a backdoor into Australia.   | Photo Credit: AP

 

10:30 am

'Asylum seekers target New Zealand backdoor'

People smugglers are marketing New Zealand as a back door into Australia, an Australian government minister said Monday after Malaysian authorities intercepted a boat carrying Sri Lankan asylum seekers. More than 130 Sri Lankans believed to be heading for Australia and New Zealand were intercepted when Malaysian authorities halted the modified tanker on Tuesday off the coast of southern Johor state.

9:30 am

Clash of political titans brings a gripping election to Malaysia

Malaysia's general election on Wednesday will be an extraordinary contest, pitting a 92-year-old former authoritarian leader and a jailed reformist he fell out with 20 years ago against a prime minister who has been mired in a multi-billion-dollar scandal. Few doubt that Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for the six decades since independence, will triumph.

8: 30 am

World Cup: Cahill makes Australia’s provisional squad

 

Tim Cahill has been included in Australia’s provisional squad for this year’s World Cup in Russia, boosting his prospects of being selected for a fourth World Cup. Cahill was among 32 players picked in an expanded training squad, announced by coach Bert van Marwijk on Monday, but the veteran forward faces an anxious wait before knowing whether he will make the final cut for Russia.

(With inputs from Agencies)