December 29, 2016 Thai parliament grants king power to name Buddhist patriarch Thailand's military-appointed parliament has granted the king absolute power in naming a supreme patriarch, the top ecclesiastical position of Thai Buddhism.
December 29, 2016 7 killed in suspected drug-related feud in Philippines Philippine police say gunmen have shot dead seven people including three teens and a pregnant woman in what they suspect is a feud involving illegal drugs.
December 29, 2016 China plans 30,000-km high speed rail network by 2020 The Chinese government is planning to expand the country's high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) by 2020, part of public infrastructure spending aimed at shoring up economic growth.
December 29, 2016 Japan's defense minister visits Yasukuni Shrine Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada visited a Tokyo shrine that honors convicted war criminals among the nation's war dead on Thursday, drawing a rapid rebuke from neighboring South Korea.
December 29, 2016 Philippine blast wounds at least 23 people at boxing match An explosion wounded at least 23 people who were watching a boxing competition held as part of celebrations of an annual Roman Catholic festival in a central Philippine town, an army officer said.
December 29, 2016 China says 4 people shot dead after attack in Xinjiang Four people detonated explosives at a Communist Party office in the far western region of Xinjiang, killing one person and injuring three others, according to local authorities who described it as a terrorist attack.
December 29, 2016 Chinese middle class in uproar over alleged police brutality Thousands among China's middle class are signing online petitions to protest the dropping of an alleged police brutality case, representing a rare but concerted display of white-collar outrage with Beijing.
December 28, 2016 South Korea cuts 2017 growth forecast to 2.6 percent South Korea has revised down its growth outlook for 2017 citing increased uncertainties in the United States and a sagging recovery in domestic consumption.
December 28, 2016 Philippines president claims he dropped kidnapper from helicopter The foul-mouthed president of the Philippines, who earlier this month admitted to personally shooting and killing three men and using a powerful painkiller in excess of a doctor’s order, said Tuesday he also had dropped a kidnapping suspect from a helicopter – and he would do it again.
December 28, 2016 The Latest: Activists: at least 20 killed in Syria airstrike The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 11 a.m.
