The first visit of Chinese warships to Burma ends as top Burmese leader Than Shwe prepares to visit Beijing, highlighting the two country's close ties.

Independent Wilkie backs Gillard

One of four key independent lawmakers endorses Australian PM Julia Gillard, leaving her two seats short of the majority needed to form a government.

Japan charges jewel gang 'thief'

Japanese prosecutors charge an alleged member of the Pink Panther gang of international jewel thieves with stealing a tiara and other jewellery worth £2.2m in Tokyo in 2007.

Typhoon hits South Korean capital

Three people die as Seoul is hit by its strongest typhoon in 15 years, while storms continue to cause heavy rain and landslides in China.

Thousands stuck in China traffic

More than 10,000 vehicles are stuck in a 120km (75-mile) traffic jam on China's Beijing to Tibet motorway.

Manila in hostage coffin 'mix-up'

The Philippines vows to probe claims that coffins of three of Hong Kong's eight victims of last week's hijacking in Manila were wrongly labelled.

Reshuffle after Tajik jail break

Tajikistan's security chief is replaced following the escape of 25 prisoners, including several Islamic militants, from a Dushanbe jail.

Chinese accused of honey smuggling

US authorities indict 11 German and Chinese executives for conspiring to illegally import $40m worth of honey from China.

EU presses China over fake goods

The EU urges China to curb smuggling to Europe, saying counterfeit cigarettes alone deprive the EU of 10bn euros (£8bn) in tax revenue annually.

School in gay kookaburra song row

An Australian head teacher is under fire after removing the word gay from the famous song Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.

Facial cancer hits Tasmanian Devil vaccine hope Cedric

A Tasmanian Devil who experts hoped was immune to a facial cancer that threatens the marsupial species is euthanised after developing tumours.

US and China manufacturing grows

Positive data eases concerns over the strength of the global economic recovery.

US drops China currency inquiry

The US drops a probe of China's currency policy, averting a trade row.

Yen worries hit Japanese stocks

Japan stocks fall after BOJ's attempts to curb the rising yen.

Wallabies lose after leading S Africa

Australia lose thrilling Tri-Nations match in Pretoria

Webber takes pole for Belgian GP

Championship leader Mark Webber starts the Belgian Grand Prix from pole position after a rain-affected qualifying session in Spa.

Australia

Key facts, figures and dates

Brunei

Key facts. figures and dates

Burma

Key facts, figures and dates

Cambodia

Key facts, figures and dates

China

Key facts, figures and dates

East Timor

Key facts, figures and dates

Fiji

Key facts, figures and dates

Indonesia

Key facts, figures and dates

Japan

Key facts, figures and dates

Kazakhstan

Key facts, figures and dates

Kiribati

Key facts, figures and dates

North Korea

Key facts, figures and dates

South Korea

Key facts, figures and dates

Kyrgyzstan

Key facts, figures and dates

Laos

Key facts, figures and dates

Malaysia

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Marshall Islands

Key facts, figures and dates

Micronesia

Key facts, figures and dates

Mongolia

Key facts, figures and dates

Nauru

Key facts, figures and dates

New Zealand

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Palau

An overview of Palau including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Papua New Guinea

Key facts, figures and dates

Philippines

Key facts, figures and dates

Samoa

Key facts, figures and dates

Singapore

Key facts, figures and dates

Solomon Islands

Key facts, figures and dates

Taiwan

Key facts, figures and dates

Tajikistan

Key facts, figures and dates

Thailand

Key facts, figures and dates

Tonga

Key facts, figures and dates

Turkmenistan

Key facts, figures and dates

Tuvalu

Key facts, figures and dates

Uzbekistan

Key facts, figures and dates

Vanuatu

Key facts, figures and dates

Vietnam

Key facts, figures and dates

Cook Islands

Key facts, political leaders and notes on the media.

French Polynesia

An overview of French Polynesia, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Guam

An overview of Guam, including key facts, political leaders and the media

Hong Kong

An overview of Hong Kong, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Macau

An overview of Macau, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

New Caledonia

An overview of the Pacific territory, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Niue

A profile of the South Pacific island - the world's smallest self-governing territory

Northern Marianas

A profile of the US commonwealth territory in the north-west Pacific

Tibet

An overview of Tibet, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Tokelau

A profile of the three-island territory in the South Pacific

Xinjiang

An overview of Xinjiang, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

New traffic jam halts China highway

More than 10,000 vehicles are stuck in a 120km (75-mile) traffic jam on China's Beijing to Tibet motorway.

Tropical hotspot

Why tensions are rising in the South China Sea

'Lifeline service'

BBC Burmese marks 70 years of broadcasting

'Dear Leader'

Is North Korea's Kim poised to name his successor?

In pictures

Kazakh artwork on show outside Central Asia for the first time

In pictures

Weddings, yurts and felt hats - life in remote Tajikistan