- China activist Chen lands in US
Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng arrives in New York, after his escape to the US embassy in Beijing last month sparked a diplomatic crisis.
- Sri Lanka general to be released
Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa has signed papers to free his political rival General Sarath Fonseka from prison - three years after the civil war ended.
- UK force 'to stay in Afghanistan'
A small number of British soldiers could remain in Afghanistan after forces withdraw in 2014, a senior UK government official says.
- Crowded House drummer Jones dies
Crowded House drummer Peter Jones dies at the age of 45.
- China tunnel explosion 'kills 20'
An explosion in a road tunnel being constructed in central China's Hunan province kills at least 20 people, state media say.
- Deadly blast at Afghan checkpoint
A suicide bomber kills at least 10 people, a number of them children, at a checkpoint in the eastern Afghan province of Khost, officials say.
- India charges prompt Italy row
Indian police charge two Italian marines with the murder of two Indian fishermen, prompting Italy to recall its ambassador.
- Inside world's ‘priciest house’
The first pictures are released showing inside the "world's most expensive house", owned by the Ambani family in Mumbai.
- China jails smuggler Lai for life
Lai Changxing, extradited from Canada to China to face smuggling and bribery charges, is jailed for life in China, state media says.
- India 'assault' cricketer charged
Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach is granted bail after being charged with molesting a woman and assaulting her fiance at a hotel in India's capital.
- Japan urges cuts in power usage
Japan urges businesses and households to cut electricity use by up to 15% to avoid possible blackouts.
- Japan launches S Korea satellite
Japan completes its first successful commercial launch of a foreign-made satellite early on Friday, marking its entry into the launch business.
- VIDEO: Island of waste in Maldives
Although the Maldives are known as an unspoilt tourist paradise, the islands struggle with managing their waste, as the BBC discovered on a visit to an 'apocalyptic' island waste dump.
- VIDEO: Sri Lanka parade marks anniversary
Sri Lanka marks the three-year anniversary of the end of its 26-year civil war with a large military parade in the capital, Colombo.
- VIDEO: France confirms early Afghan exit
France has confirmed it plans to withdraw its combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, two years ahead of the agreed Nato schedule.
- VIDEO: Flags 'a factor' in Karachi unrest
Flags marking out the areas controlled by different political groups in Karachi should be removed in order to ease long-running political feuds, Pakistan's Interior Minister has suggested.
- VIDEO: Hitting bullseye in Pakistan
Archery is such a popular sport in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province that some Pakistanis are asking for it to be officially recognised.
- VIDEO: Chinese activist Chen flies to US
The Chinese activist who sparked a diplomatic crisis between Beijing and Washington is on his way to the United States.
- VIDEO: Five hundred schools closed in Afghanistan
A recent wave of attacks at schools in Afghanistan is forcing the Ministry of Education to close down schools across 11 provinces.
- VIDEO: Peshawar roads damaged by Nato trucks
Pakistani authorities say that trucks carrying supplies to Nato troops in Afghanistan have caused damage worth millions of dollars to the country's roads.
- Mayawati palm tree imports probed
Police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh investigate reports that former chief minister Mayawati used public money to import palm trees.
- Limbless man hits swim landmark
Philippe Croizon, a limbless Frenchman, completes the first part of his challenge to swim between five continents.
- Escapee penguin 'found' in Tokyo
A young penguin which escaped from Tokyo's Sea Life Park has reportedly been spotted swimming in waters around the Japanese capital.
- Malaysia sentences five to death
A Malaysian high court sentences to death five men, including three Mexican brothers, for drug trafficking, reports say.
- N Korea 'resumes work' on reactor
North Korea resumes work on a light water reactor that could be used to support its nuclear programme after months of inactivity, a US institute says.
- Magazine sued over 'coup story'
India's Open magazine, being sued for $90m by the Indian Express newspaper, says it stands by its criticism of a recent story in the newspaper.
- Mary Kom qualifies for Olympics
Boxer Mary Kom secures Olympic qualification despite quarter-final defeat at the World Championships.
- Chen's relatives tell of beatings
Relatives of Chen Guangcheng describe beatings meted out by local officials after the Chinese activist's escape from house arrest last month.
- China media: Captured fishermen
Morning newspaper round-up: Widespread coverage over the fate of 29 Chinese fishermen detained in North Korea.
- Chinese gold demand hits record
Chinese demand for gold hit a record in the first quarter of 2012 and it remains the world's biggest market for gold, the World Gold Council says.
- Shah Rukh Khan given stadium ban
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan is banned from Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium for five years following angry exchanges with staff at an IPL cricket match.
- Kingfisher penalised for tax dues
Tax authorities in India begin moves to penalise and charge Kingfisher airline for its failure to pay $49m (£31m) in taxes, the government says.
- City site sought for Hindu ashes
Bristol's Hindus may be able to scatter ashes in the River Avon in future rather than travelling to India's River Ganges.
- US relaxes some Burma sanctions
The US says it has relaxed some sanctions on investments in Burma and named an ambassador to the country following political reforms.
- North Koreans 'hold Chinese crew'
Unidentified North Koreans holding 29 Chinese fishermen and three boats seized in the Yellow Sea demand payment for their release, reports say.
- Burma sees first gay pride event
Hundreds of people attend the first gay pride event to be held in Burma, where homosexual relationships are banned.
- Fonseka 'to be freed soon' - wife
Jailed Sri Lankan presidential candidate and former army commander Sarath Fonseka may be freed this weekend, his wife tells the BBC.
- Four dead in Pakistan air crash
Two Pakistan Air Force light aircraft collide on a training mission north-west of Islamabad, killing two trainee pilots and two instructors.
- Afghan suicide raid kills police
At least six policemen and a civilian have been killed and 13 wounded in a suicide attack on a governor's compound in western Afghanistan, police say.
- Afghanistan - Country profile
Key facts, figures and dates.
- Australia country profile
Provides an overview of Australia, including key facts and events
- Country profile: Bangladesh
Key facts, figures and dates
- Country profile: Bhutan
Key facts, figures and dates.
- Brunei profile
Provides an overview of Brunei, including key events and facts.
- Burma profile
Key facts, figures and dates
- Cambodia profile
Provides an overview of Cambodia, including key events and facts.
- China profile
Provides an overview of China, including key events and facts.
- Cook Islands profile
Provides an overview of the Cook Islands, including key events and facts.
- East Timor country profile
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
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
Provides an overview of French Polynesia, including key events and facts
- Guam profile
Provides an overview of Guam, which is home to a key US military base in the Pacific Ocean
- Hong Kong profile
Provides an overview of Hong Kong, including key events and facts.
- Country profile: India
Details of the key facts, figures and dates.
- Indonesia profile
Provides an overview of Indonesia, including key events and facts about the world's fourth most populous nation
- Japan country profile
Provides an overview of Japan, including key events and facts about this earthquake-prone country on the western rim of the Pacific.
- Kashmir profile
An overview of the former princely state of Kashmir, which has been partitioned between India and Pakistan since 1947.
- Kazakhstan profile
Provides an overview of Kazakhstan, including key events and facts about this vast, mineral-rich Central Asian country.
- Kiribati profile
Provides an overview of Kiribati including key events and facts.
- North Korea country profile
Provides an overview of North Korea, including key events and facts.
- South Korea profile
Provides an overview of South Korea, including key events and facts
- Kyrgyzstan profile
Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Kyrgyzstan
- Laos profile
Provides an overview of Laos, including key events and facts
- Macau profile
Provides an overview of Macau, including key events and facts.
- Malaysia profile
Provides an overview of Malaysia, including key events and facts.
- Country profile: The Maldives
Key facts, figures and dates.
- Marshall Islands profile
Provides an overview of the Marshall Islands, including key events and facts.
- Micronesia profile
Provides an overview of Micronesia, including key events and facts
- Mongolia profile
Summary: Provides an overview of Mongolia, including key events and facts.
- Nauru profile
Provides an overview of Nauru, including key events and facts about the world's smallest republic
- Country profile: Nepal
Key facts, figures and dates.
- New Caledonia profile
Provides an overview of New Caledonia, including key events and facts
- New Zealand profile
Provides an overview of New Zealand, including key events and facts
- Niue profile
Provides an overview of Hong Kong, including key events and facts
- Northern Mariana Islands profile
Provides an overview and key facts about this self-governing territory politically linked to the United States
- Country profile: Pakistan
Key facts, figures and dates.
- Palau country profile
Provides an overview of Palau , including key events and facts about this tropical island nation in the northern Pacific.
- Papua New Guinea profile
Provides an overview of Papua New Guinea, including key events and facts
- Philippines profile
Provides an overview of Philippines, including key events and facts.
- Samoa profile
Provides an overview of Samoa, including key events and facts.
- Singapore profile
Provides an overview of Singapore, including key events and facts.
- Country profile: Sri Lanka
Key facts, figures and dates.
- Solomon Islands country profile
Provides an overview of Solomon Islands, including key events and facts.
- Taiwan profile
Provides key background, including facts and figures
- Tajikistan profile
Provides an overview of Tajikistan, including key events and facts about this mountainous Central Asian republic.
- Thailand profile
Provides an overview of Thailand, including key events and facts.
- Tibet profile
Provides an overview of Tibet, including key events and facts
- Tokelau profile
Provides an overview of Tokelau, including key events and facts
- Tonga profile
Provides an overview of Tonga, including key events and facts.
- Turkmenistan profile
Overview of Turkmenistan, including key events and facts.
- Tuvalu Profile
Provides an overview of Tuvalu, including key events and facts.
- Uzbekistan country profile
Provides an overview of Uzbekistan, including key events and facts about the country.
- Vanuatu country profile
Provides an overview of Vanuatu, including key events and facts
- Vietnam country profile
Provides an overview of Vietnam, including key events and facts about this east Asian country
- Xinjiang profile
Provides an overview of Xinjiang, including key events and facts.
- US puts tariffs on Chinese panels
US to impose import tariffs on Chinese solar companies
- China raises rare earth exports
China to allow more companies to export rare earths
- The Chinese who actually like cheese
The Chinese who actually like cheese... stir-fried of course!
- Jubilee memorabilia: Tell us your stories
Do you collect royal mementoes? Share your stories
- A glimpse of life after Nato in Afghanistan's wild east
A glimpse of life after Nato in Afghanistan's wild east
- Why chess is booming in India
Could India become a chess superpower?
- Whale meeting heads for discord
Hunts and sanctuaries could make whaling meeting a hot one
- Facebook's first female engineer
How Indian-born female engineer beat old-fashioned views
- VIDEO: Nato's exit strategy in Afghanistan
How will Nato remove troops and hardware from Afghanistan?
- The fish more poisonous than cyanide
Eating the fish that contains a poison stronger than cyanide