World
Asia
Thai king strips fugitive ex-PM Thaksin of royal decorations
Shinawatra Thaksin, a billionaire with populist policies, was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged abuse of power and disrespect for the monarchy.
Latest
Extremism
Philippine police kill 'communists' rights groups say were farmers
Human rights and farmers' groups condemned the killings of the men they said were farmers and called for an independent investigation.
Analysis
Indonesian election
Jokowi's optimism outshines Prabowo's darker impulses
The latest presidential debate revealed President Joko Widodo as a multilateralist and internationalist while his challenger Prabowo Subianto offered a darker, isolationist vision.
- by James Massola
China
No earrings, tattoos or cleavage: inside China’s war on fun
Chinese censors are blurring the earlobes of some of China's young male pop stars in television and internet appearances.
- by Li Yuan
South China Seas
Chinese officials issue stark warning about South China Sea confrontation
Two senior officials speak up to threaten "more countermeasures" against the United States in the contested waterway.
- by Kirsty Needham
Press freedom
Philippine journalist Maria Ressa arrested in Manila
Maria Ressa, a journalist widely seen as a proxy for media freedom in the Philippines, has been arrested in Manila.
Sharia law
Tiny Asian nation to punish gay sex and adultery with death by stoning
Beginning next week, adultery and gay sex will be punishable by death in the tiny Asian nation just north of Australia.
- by Emily Tamkin
Chinese influence
'Twiggy' Forrest warns against anti-China sentiment
Businessman Andrew Forrest says Chinese people are just like Australians, and politicians are exploiting anti-Chinese sentiment.
- by Kirsty Needham
Space
India shoots down satellite, shifting Asia's balance of power
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India had test-fired a rocket that shot down one of its own satellites, escalating a rivalry with China.
- by Jeffrey Gettleman and Hari Kumar
China
China expels former Interpol chief from Communist Party for 'lavish spending'
China will prosecute former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei for spending state funds and abusing his power.
- by Ben Blanchard
Election
Thai opposition parties insist they can form government
Opposition alliance claims it has won a majority in the lower house of parliament, but it will likely fall short of being able to elect a prime minister.