BBC News - Asia

Aid workers freed in Afghanistan

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 16:09:03 GMT

Four aid workers kidnapped in north-eastern Afghanistan last month are freed in a "breathtaking" operation by coalition special forces.

US warships in Pacific relocation

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 03:54:37 GMT

Defence chief Leon Panetta gives the first details of America's new naval strategy in Asia, saying most US warships will be based in the Pacific by 2020.

Burma 'abandons nuclear research'

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:35:35 GMT

Burma has abandoned research into nuclear power generation, its defence minister Hla Min tells a Singapore security conference.

China 'arrests high-level US spy'

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:27:16 GMT

A Chinese security ministry official has been arrested on suspicion of spying for the United States, Hong Kong media reports say.

Suu Kyi warns on Burma 'optimism'

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:25:52 GMT

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi warns against ''reckless optimism'' over reforms in her first major foreign speech in more than 20 years.

Bomber attacks Afghan Nato base

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:53:23 GMT

A suicide bomber attacks a base of the Nato-led peacekeeping force (Isaf) in eastern Afghanistan.

Sheep plunge on to Melbourne road

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:07:44 GMT

Sheep "rain down" on motorists in the Australian city of Melbourne after a livestock lorry overturns on a flyover.

Bali arrest Briton in hospital

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:33:49 GMT

A British woman being held in Bali over a £1.6m cocaine haul is taken to hospital after complaining of illness.

Kazakh killings 'act of terror'

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:38:30 GMT

The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, says he believes an "act of terror" was behind the deaths of 15 people near the border with China.

Protesters block Thai parliament

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:03:22 GMT

Thai protesters block parliament to postpone debate on a reconciliation bill they fear would allow deposed Prime Minister Thaksin's return.

Google help against China censors

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:58:19 GMT

Google offers search users in China suggestions on which words run foul of the country's strict censors, hoping to let them find alternatives.

Samoa issues anniversary pardons

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:10:49 GMT

The Pacific island nation of Samoa is to pardon 35 prisoners to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence from New Zealand.

VIDEO: Ai Weiwei's hopes to visit London

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:01:54 GMT

Ai Weiwei's hopes to visit London to see 2012 pavilion

AUDIO: Being on death row in a Bali jail

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:06:46 GMT

The lawyer for the Australian 'Bali Nine' told BBC Radio 5 live about their time in jail facing the death penalty.

AUDIO: The price of cheap clothes?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:13:15 GMT

In a report published today the organisation, Anti-Slavery International allege that Indian textile firms, which supply some of Britain's biggest high street retailers, are operating near slave labour conditions. Mike Thomson has travelled to Tamil Nadu in Southern India to investigate.

VIDEO: Chen: 'Thugs attacked my family'

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:40:26 GMT

Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese dissident who arrived in the New York earlier this month, has spoken at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations.

VIDEO: High pollution hits Bangladesh capital

Thu, 31 May 2012 02:33:39 GMT

Bangladeshi officials say dust pollution levels in the capital Dhaka are reaching well above acceptable limits during winter months posing serious health problems to its estimated 14 million residents.

VIDEO: Bhopal gas legacy poisons Olympics

Wed, 30 May 2012 01:33:52 GMT

Campaigners in India are keeping up the pressure for Indian athletes to boycott the London 2012 Olympic games

VIDEO: Suu Kyi vows to help Burmese migrants

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:58:40 GMT

Aung San Suu Kyi vowed to help Burmese migrant workers, as she addressed cheering crowds in Thailand on her first trip outside Burma since 1988.

VIDEO: Suu Kyi to 'eradicate corruption'

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:26:23 GMT

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has made her first major international engagement after more than two decades of isolation.

Chess champion Anand keeps title

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:47:51 GMT

World chess champion Vishy Anand holds on to his title for a fifth year running against Boris Gelfand at the championships in Moscow.

Reptile has 'steak-knife teeth'

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:37:29 GMT

The unique saw-like chew of a New Zealand reptile could be the secret of its success, say scientists.

Bangladesh appoint Pybus as coach

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:42:32 GMT

Bangladesh appoint Richard Pybus as head coach for two years, with the option for an extension until 2015.

French hunt 'killer' porn actor

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:39:31 GMT

French police are searching for a Canadian porn actor wanted over the murder and dismemberment of a Chinese student in Montreal.

China media: Shangri-La Dialogue

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:11:31 GMT

Morning newspaper round-up: Chinese media cover the defence dialogue, as the South China Sea issue is expected to dominate the agenda.

Chen hopeful on Chinese democracy

Thu, 31 May 2012 19:52:55 GMT

Activist Chen Guangcheng, in his first major US public appearance, says democratic change in China is slow but irreversible.

Indian private army chief killed

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:34:08 GMT

The head of a banned upper caste private army is killed by unknown gunmen in the northern Indian state of Bihar, police say.

Man admits killing Indian student

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:29:04 GMT

A man accused of murdering Indian student Anuj Bidve in Salford pleads guilty to his manslaughter.

New Indian army chief takes over

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:49:14 GMT

General Bikram Singh takes over as the chief of India's 1.1 million-strong army promising to modernise the force.

Burnt bodies found in Kazakhstan

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:30:18 GMT

Thirteen bodies are found at a burnt-out border post near Kazakhstan's frontier with China and most of the dead are border-guards.

Graff delays $1bn HK share sale

Thu, 31 May 2012 02:40:56 GMT

Graff Diamonds halts its $1bn (£646m) Hong Kong share sale, set to be Asia's biggest in 2012, citing tough market conditions.

'Detentions' after Tibet burnings

Thu, 31 May 2012 06:16:53 GMT

Reports from Tibet say Chinese security forces have launched a wave of detentions in Lhasa following two self-immolations there on Sunday.

Judge shot dead in Nepal capital

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:23:23 GMT

A Nepalese Supreme Court judge under investigation for corruption is shot dead in the capital, Kathmandu.

Mob kills Bangladesh 'robbers'

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:37:32 GMT

At least five suspected robbers are beaten to death in Bangladesh by a group of fishermen angered over repeated looting of their catches, police say.

Nato 'kills senior al-Qaeda man'

Tue, 29 May 2012 10:54:51 GMT

One of the most senior al-Qaeda figures in Afghanistan was killed in a weekend air strike, Nato says, but Taliban sources deny it.

Afghanistan - Country profile

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:02:09 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates.

Australia country profile

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:08:44 GMT

Provides an overview of Australia, including key facts and events

Country profile: Bangladesh

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:54:57 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates

Country profile: Bhutan

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:05:50 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates.

Brunei profile

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:52:40 GMT

Provides an overview of Brunei, including key events and facts.

Burma profile

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:56:02 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates

Cambodia profile

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:04:51 GMT

Provides an overview of Cambodia, including key events and facts.

China profile

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:25:45 GMT

Provides an overview of China, including key events and facts.

Cook Islands profile

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:12:33 GMT

Provides an overview of the Cook Islands, including key events and facts.

East Timor country profile

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:17:02 GMT

Provides an overview of East Timor, including key events and facts about this former Portuguese colony which won independence from Indonesia in a long civil war

Fiji country profile

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:02:26 GMT

Provides an overview of Fiji, including key events and facts about this tropical island and ethnically diverse former British colony in the Pacific.

French Polynesia profile

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:20:35 GMT

Provides an overview of French Polynesia, including key events and facts

Guam profile

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:11:26 GMT

Provides an overview of Guam, which is home to a key US military base in the Pacific Ocean

Hong Kong profile

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:49:34 GMT

Provides an overview of Hong Kong, including key events and facts.

Country profile: India

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:12:04 GMT

Details of the key facts, figures and dates.

Indonesia profile

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:42:49 GMT

Provides an overview of Indonesia, including key events and facts about the world's fourth most populous nation

Japan country profile

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:49:13 GMT

Provides an overview of Japan, including key events and facts about this earthquake-prone country on the western rim of the Pacific.

Kashmir profile

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:55:58 GMT

An overview of the former princely state of Kashmir, which has been partitioned between India and Pakistan since 1947.

Kazakhstan profile

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:11:55 GMT

Provides an overview of Kazakhstan, including key events and facts about this vast, mineral-rich Central Asian country.

Kiribati profile

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:59:25 GMT

Provides an overview of Kiribati including key events and facts.

North Korea country profile

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:46:32 GMT

Provides an overview of North Korea, including key events and facts.

South Korea profile

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:33:43 GMT

Provides an overview of South Korea, including key events and facts

Kyrgyzstan profile

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:02:41 GMT

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Kyrgyzstan

Laos profile

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:58:17 GMT

Provides an overview of Laos, including key events and facts

Macau profile

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:18:32 GMT

Provides an overview of Macau, including key events and facts.

Malaysia profile

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:58:39 GMT

Provides an overview of Malaysia, including key events and facts.

Country profile: The Maldives

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:18:33 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates.

Marshall Islands profile

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:18:24 GMT

Provides an overview of the Marshall Islands, including key events and facts.

Micronesia profile

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:10:19 GMT

Provides an overview of Micronesia, including key events and facts

Mongolia profile

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:28:37 GMT

Summary: Provides an overview of Mongolia, including key events and facts.

Nauru profile

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:07:23 GMT

Provides an overview of Nauru, including key events and facts about the world's smallest republic

Country profile: Nepal

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:17:31 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates.

New Caledonia profile

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:18:37 GMT

Provides an overview of New Caledonia, including key events and facts

New Zealand profile

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:56:15 GMT

Provides an overview of New Zealand, including key events and facts

Niue profile

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:03:11 GMT

Provides an overview of Hong Kong, including key events and facts

Northern Mariana Islands profile

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:58:30 GMT

Provides an overview and key facts about this self-governing territory politically linked to the United States

Country profile: Pakistan

Sat, 14 May 2011 12:25:48 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates.

Palau country profile

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:56:17 GMT

Provides an overview of Palau , including key events and facts about this tropical island nation in the northern Pacific.

Papua New Guinea profile

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:07:29 GMT

Provides an overview of Papua New Guinea, including key events and facts

Philippines profile

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:18:12 GMT

Provides an overview of Philippines, including key events and facts.

Samoa profile

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:39:21 GMT

Provides an overview of Samoa, including key events and facts.

Singapore profile

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:21:22 GMT

Provides an overview of Singapore, including key events and facts.

Country profile: Sri Lanka

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:24:47 GMT

Key facts, figures and dates.

Solomon Islands country profile

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:48:24 GMT

Provides an overview of Solomon Islands, including key events and facts.

Taiwan profile

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:47:13 GMT

Provides key background, including facts and figures

Tajikistan profile

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:18:46 GMT

Provides an overview of Tajikistan, including key events and facts about this mountainous Central Asian republic.

Thailand profile

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:53:12 GMT

Provides an overview of Thailand, including key events and facts.

Tibet profile

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:21:46 GMT

Provides an overview of Tibet, including key events and facts

Tokelau profile

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:53:14 GMT

Provides an overview of Tokelau, including key events and facts

Tonga profile

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:54:36 GMT

Provides an overview of Tonga, including key events and facts.

Turkmenistan profile

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:02:02 GMT

Overview of Turkmenistan, including key events and facts.

Tuvalu Profile

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:57:52 GMT

Provides an overview of Tuvalu, including key events and facts.

Uzbekistan country profile

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:20:59 GMT

Provides an overview of Uzbekistan, including key events and facts about the country.

Vanuatu country profile

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:36:48 GMT

Provides an overview of Vanuatu, including key events and facts

Vietnam country profile

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:52:29 GMT

Provides an overview of Vietnam, including key events and facts about this east Asian country

Xinjiang profile

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:49:36 GMT

Provides an overview of Xinjiang, including key events and facts.

China factory activity weakens

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 03:39:06 GMT

China's biggest factories hit the lowest point this year

India’s growth rate slows to 5.3%

Thu, 31 May 2012 09:33:57 GMT

Growth slows to 5.3%, the worst performance since 2003

Filipinos gripped by judge's TV trial

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:54:02 GMT

A Philippine judge's trial looks more like a soap opera

Sri Lanka's hidden scourge of religious child abuse

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:20:58 GMT

Monk's sentencing highlights Sri Lanka child abuse

China factor to dominate top defence summit

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:02:18 GMT

Sea rows and military spending top Asian summit agenda

Is the India growth story over?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:05:26 GMT

Is the India growth story over?

Asia's economies face health risk

Thu, 31 May 2012 17:58:01 GMT

People and economies gain from good healthcare

In pictures: India's identity scheme

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:35:32 GMT

India creates world's largest personal identity database

VIDEO: Pakistan flood victims face fresh misery

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:47:03 GMT

Concerns about level of Pakistan's readiness to deal with flooding