Australia vote deals climate law blow
Australia's opposition elects climate change sceptic Tony Abbott as new leader, dealing a blow to the PM's carbon trading plans.

Charges over Philippine massacre
A politician accused over a massacre of 57 people in the Philippines is charged with multiple murders, officials say.

Bank of Japan tries new stimulus
The Bank of Japan announces new measures to boost the economy after holding an emergency meeting.

Third rate increase for Australia
Australia raises interest rates for a third successive month, as the country's economy continues to recover.

Charges in China 'mine cover up'
Chinese officials and journalists are charged with hushing up a deadly mine explosion before last year's Olympics, state media say.

Arroyo to seek seat in Congress
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo says she will run for a seat in Congress next year when her presidential term ends.

China rejects EU currency demand
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao rejects European pressure to let its currency rise against the euro.

Commonwealth urges reform in Fiji
Commonwealth leaders urge Fiji's military rulers to restore democracy and ensure human rights are protected.

Pirates jailed for yacht murder
Two Burmese fishermen and a 17-year-old boy are jailed in Thailand for murdering a British yachtsman.

Pandas given VIP welcome in Australia
Two giant pandas from China are welcomed in Australia with a police escort as they start a 10-year stay.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Aussies & Windies hit by injuries
West Indies paceman Jerome Taylor misses the rest of the tour to Australia, while the hosts call in Clinton McKay for Ben Hilfenhaus.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
All Blacks win in France
New Zealand round off their unbeaten tour of Europe with a superb display to beat France in Marseille on Saturday night.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Australia destroy woeful Windies
Australia dismiss the West Indies for 187 in the second innings to secure an easy first-Test victory at the Gabba.

'Jungle railway'
Local treats on the Singapore to Bangkok train

Child snatchers
Few happy endings to China's abduction scourge

Credibility shock
The Philippine massacre tests Arroyo's resolve

Australia aims for 'green' sheep
Australian scientists are hoping to breed sheep that burp less as part of efforts to tackle climate change.

Three dead in China plane crash
Three American crew members are killed as a cargo plane crashes on take-off at China's Shanghai airport.

Tainted milk case in China court
A Chinese court hears the first civil compensation claim by a parent whose child fell ill because of the tainted milk scandal.

Vanuatu PM loses seat in blunder
Vanuatu's prime minister is stripped of his post and parliamentary seat because of a basic paperwork error.

Disasters 'caused by immorality'
A government minister blames Indonesia's recent string of natural disasters on people's immorality.

China rock star jailed over riot
A Beijing court jails Chinese rock star Zang Tianshuo for six years for inciting a riot in which one person died.

Japan moves to boost flat economy
Japan's authorities move to offer support for the country's weakened economy.

High yen 'harming Japan economy'
The strong yen is harming Japan's economy, its finance minister says, as the US dollar continues to sink.

Eyewitness: Sumatra earthquake
Two Brits give their accounts on the devastating earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday.

Japan election: Voters' views
Five Japanese voters discuss the issues important to them and whether a change of power will be good for their country.

Xinjiang: Views from China
People from across China discuss the recent unrest

Beijing concerns over mine blast
China's latest mine accident will remind China's leaders that the nation's collieries remain dangerous workplaces, says Michael Bristow.

China executes child traffickers
China executes two men convicted of abducting and selling children, state media reports.

Tracking down Java's paleo-celebrity
Christine Finn travels to Java in Indonesia to find out more about a long-celebrated ancestor of both humans and chimps.

Defector tells of North Korean army life
Newsnight speaks to a North Korean defector, who says he was an anti-tank battalion commander in North Korea's army for seven years until he fled the country in 2005.