Jokowi’s victory claim disputed in Indonesia

Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo says he has won but camp of ex-general Prabowo Subianto refuse to concede. Ex-general Prabowo Subianto has refused to accept a victory claim from his rival, Jakarta... Read more »

Merkel arrives in China for trade talks

German chancellor arrives in country for seventh visit since 2005, with economic ties and trade topping agenda. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in China for her seventh visit since 2005, with... Read more »

Egypt court sentences Brotherhood leader, 36 others to life

CAIRO: An Egyptian court sentenced Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and 36 other to life in prison Saturday, and confirmed death sentences for 10 others, most of them on the run. Badie,... Read more »

China attacks Japan for ‘barbarous’ past

President Xi Jinping’s speech in Seoul comes days after Tokyo announced a landmark shift in its pacifist defence policy. China’s president has sharply criticised Japan’s history of military aggression in China and... Read more »

Police arrest hundreds in Hong Kong protest

Police break up pro-democracy rally that organizers say more than 500,000 attended. More than 500 protesters at a Hong Kong sit-in have been arrested after police moved in to break up the... Read more »

Thai army vows interim government in months

General says administration made up of political rivals to be assembled by September, but no polls until country stable. The leader of Thailand’s military government has said that an interim government will... Read more »

South Korea ferry captain and crew go on trial

Mourning family members pack court as trial begins of 15 for disaster that killed more than 300 people, mostly children. Fifteen crew members of a South Korean ferry the Sewol that sank in April killing... Read more »

North Korea arrests third US citizen

Tourist held on suspicion of an unspecified crime is the third US citizen currently held by the country. North Korea has said it has arrested an American tourist for an alleged unspecified crime,... Read more »

China slams US over Hagel’s critical comments

Official says US defence secretary’s accusation of China destabilising Asia-Pacific region is intended to stir trouble. A senior Chinese military official has lashed out at the United States, saying its stance on... Read more »

China slams US over Hagel’s critical comments

Official says US defence secretary’s accusation of China destabilising Asia-Pacific region is intended to stir trouble. A senior Chinese military official has lashed out at the United States, saying its stance on... Read more »

North Korea agrees to probe Japan abductions

Japanese PM says Pyongyang has agreed to reopen probe into kidnapping of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. North Korea has agreed to reopen an investigation into the fate of Japanese... Read more »

Cadbury Malaysia in pork DNA investigation

Confectionary giant in Muslim Southeast Asian nation launches probe after finding traces of pork DNA in chocolate. Chocolate maker Cadbury Malaysia has launched an investigation after two of its products were found... Read more »

Army takes control of government in Thailand

General Prayut Chan-Ocha says military commission has now taken over government two days after imposing martial law. Thailand’s army chief has announced that a military commission that imposed martial law on Tuesday will now take... Read more »

South Korea manhunt for missing ferry owner

Prosecutors hunt for owner of ferry that sank last month and killed 300 people after he failed to heed official summons. Prosecutors in South Korea have launched a nationwide manhunt for one... Read more »

Thailand’s army declares martial law

Troops deployed in Bangkok as military insists its assumption of responsibility for national security “is not a coup”. Thailand’s army has declared martial law across the country to restore order following months... Read more »

China evacuates 3,000 nationals from Vietnam

Evacuations follow deadly rioting in industrial parks in response to China’s deployment of oil rig in contested waters. China has evacuated more than 3,000 of its nationals from Vietnam after a wave... Read more »

PM’s dismissal shakes Thai political scene

Constitutional Court’s ruling against Yingluck Shinawatra sets stage for fresh round of political bickering and unrest. Thailand’s political scene looks set for a new round of unrest after the country’s Constitutional Court... Read more »

Six wounded in stabbing at China rail station

Local reports say two attackers escaped after Guangzhou police opened fire, arresting one assailant and killing another. Six people have been wounded in a knife attack at a train station in Guangzhou in southern China,... Read more »

Thai PM in court over abuse of power charges

Case against Yingluck Shinawatra relates to her replacement of country’s security chief with a relative in 2011. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has arrived at Thailand’s Constitutional Court to face charges of abuse of... Read more »

Crackdown ordered after bombing in China

Uighur sources say more than 100 held over stabbing spree and blast in Xinjiang which President Xi just visited. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a crackdown after a stabbing spree and... Read more »

Brunei adopts ‘phase one’ of Islamic law

Sultan launches new penal code that will eventually include stoning, amputation and flogging as punishments. The sultan of Brunei has announced a controversial new penal code based on Islamic criminal punishments criticised... Read more »

North Korea conducts ‘live-fire drill’

S Korea says military is “fully prepared” after Pyongyang notified it of second live-fire exercise in four weeks. North Korea has begun a live-fire drill near its maritime border with South Korea,... Read more »

Philippines defence pact boosts US influence

Signing of deal during Obama trip raises concern over US influence and impact on Manila’s already strained Chinese ties. Manila – US President Barack Obama has arrived in the Philippines in a visit widely... Read more »

Obama brands North Korea a ‘pariah state’

US president says the government in Pyongyang would “rather starve its people than feed their hopes and dreams”. North Korea is a weak “pariah state” whose heavily militarised border with the South... Read more »