Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, whose stay at the US embassy caused a diplomatic crisis, leaves China on a plane heading for the US.
  Sri Lanka marks three years since the end of its civil war with a military parade, as the government is reportedly set to free Sarath Fonseka from prison - the man who led the army during the war
  An explosion in a road tunnel being constructed in central China's Hunan province kills at least 20 people, state media say.
  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.
  Indian police charge two Italian marines with the murder of two Indian fishermen, prompting Italy to recall its ambassador.
  The first pictures are released showing inside the "world's most expensive house", owned by the Ambani family in Mumbai.
  Lai Changxing, extradited from Canada to China to face smuggling and bribery charges, is jailed for life in China, state media says.
  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 businesses and households to cut electricity use by up to 15% to avoid possible blackouts.
  Japan completes its first successful commercial launch of a foreign-made satellite early on Friday, marking its entry into the launch business.
  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.
  A New Zealand woman who fled overseas with her boyfriend after taking millions accidentally added to his account is found guilty of money laundering and theft.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  Archery is such a popular sport in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province that some Pakistanis are asking for it to be officially recognised.
  A recent wave of attacks at schools in Afghanistan is forcing the Ministry of Education to close down schools across 11 provinces.
  Pakistani authorities say that trucks carrying supplies to Nato troops in Afghanistan have caused damage worth millions of dollars to the country's roads.
  Company in China specialises in building modular high buildings in short time frames.
  Indonesian police have refused to issue a permit for a Lady Gaga concert scheduled to take place in Jakarta next month.
  Police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh investigate reports that former chief minister Mayawati used public money to import palm trees.
  Philippe Croizon, a limbless Frenchman, completes the first part of his challenge to swim between five continents.
  A young penguin which escaped from Tokyo's Sea Life Park has reportedly been spotted swimming in waters around the Japanese capital.
  A Malaysian high court sentences to death five men, including three Mexican brothers, for drug trafficking, reports say.
  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.
  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.
  Boxer Mary Kom secures Olympic qualification despite quarter-final defeat at the World Championships.
  Relatives of Chen Guangcheng describe beatings meted out by local officials after the Chinese activist's escape from house arrest last month.
  Morning newspaper round-up: Widespread coverage over the fate of 29 Chinese fishermen detained in North Korea.
  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.
  Tax authorities in India begin moves to penalise and charge Kingfisher airline for its failure to pay $49m (£31m) in taxes, the government says.
  Bristol's Hindus may be able to scatter ashes in the River Avon in future rather than travelling to India's River Ganges.
  Hacker group Anonymous has carried out a series of attacks against government and political websites in India.
  The US says it has relaxed some sanctions on investments in Burma and named an ambassador to the country following political reforms.
  Unidentified North Koreans holding 29 Chinese fishermen and three boats seized in the Yellow Sea demand payment for their release, reports say.
  Hundreds of people attend the first gay pride event to be held in Burma, where homosexual relationships are banned.
  Jailed Sri Lankan presidential candidate and former army commander Sarath Fonseka may be freed this weekend, his wife tells the BBC.
  Two Pakistan Air Force light aircraft collide on a training mission north-west of Islamabad, killing two trainee pilots and two instructors.
  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.
  Key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of Australia, including key facts and events
  Key facts, figures and dates
  Key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of Brunei, including key events and facts.
  Key facts, figures and dates
  Provides an overview of Cambodia, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of China, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of the Cook Islands, including key events and facts.
  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
  Provides an overview of Fiji, including key events and facts about this tropical island and ethnically diverse former British colony in the Pacific.
  Provides an overview of French Polynesia, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Guam, which is home to a key US military base in the Pacific Ocean
  Provides an overview of Hong Kong, including key events and facts.
  Details of the key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of Indonesia, including key events and facts about the world's fourth most populous nation
  Provides an overview of Japan, including key events and facts about this earthquake-prone country on the western rim of the Pacific.
  An overview of the former princely state of Kashmir, which has been partitioned between India and Pakistan since 1947.
  Provides an overview of Kazakhstan, including key events and facts about this vast, mineral-rich Central Asian country.
  Provides an overview of Kiribati including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of North Korea, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of South Korea, including key events and facts
  Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Kyrgyzstan
  Provides an overview of Laos, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Macau, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Malaysia, including key events and facts.
  Key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of the Marshall Islands, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Micronesia, including key events and facts
  Summary: Provides an overview of Mongolia, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Nauru, including key events and facts about the world's smallest republic
  Key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of New Caledonia, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of New Zealand, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Hong Kong, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview and key facts about this self-governing territory politically linked to the United States
  Key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of Palau , including key events and facts about this tropical island nation in the northern Pacific.
  Provides an overview of Papua New Guinea, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Philippines, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Samoa, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Singapore, including key events and facts.
  Key facts, figures and dates.
  Provides an overview of Solomon Islands, including key events and facts.
  Provides key background, including facts and figures
  Provides an overview of Tajikistan, including key events and facts about this mountainous Central Asian republic.
  Provides an overview of Thailand, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Tibet, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Tokelau, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Tonga, including key events and facts.
  Overview of Turkmenistan, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Tuvalu, including key events and facts.
  Provides an overview of Uzbekistan, including key events and facts about the country.
  Provides an overview of Vanuatu, including key events and facts
  Provides an overview of Vietnam, including key events and facts about this east Asian country
  Provides an overview of Xinjiang, including key events and facts.
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