December 19, 2016 S. Korea begins trial of disgraced president's confidante The jailed confidante of disgraced South Korean President Park Geun-hye begins a trial Monday that will explore a scandal that led to Park's impeachment after millions took to the streets in protest.
December 19, 2016 Japan Emperor has a cold, cancels year-end banquet Japan's Emperor canceled an annual year-end palace banquet on Monday because of a cold.
December 19, 2016 Amnesty warns Myanmar over treatment of Rohingya Amnesty International has warned Myanmar that the actions of its military may constitute crimes against humanity, based on accounts of violence against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority.
December 19, 2016 Australia's projected annual deficit worsens by $3.2 billion Australia's projected budget deficit for the current fiscal year has increased by 4.4 billion Australian dollars ($3.2 billion) to AU$41.5 billion as the economy continues to slow following a China-driven mining boom, the government's latest forecasts showed Monday.
December 19, 2016 Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at the latest key developments in the South China Sea, home to several territorial conflicts that have raised tensions in the region.
December 18, 2016 Pakistani cinemas to resume screening Indian movies Pakistani cinema owners will resume the screening of Indian movies after a two-month self-imposed ban linked to the Kashmir conflict.
December 18, 2016 Search continues for up to 9 missing workers in Caspian Sea after oil platform collapses Search and rescue efforts continue in the Caspian Sea after one worker was killed and nine others reported missing after part of an offshore oil installation broke off in strong winds off the coast of Azerbaijan.
December 18, 2016 Indonesia military transport plane crashes in Papua; 13 dead An Indonesian military transport plane crashed in bad weather Sunday in the country's easternmost province of Papua, killing all 13 people on board, officials said.
December 18, 2016 Idlib likely to be Syria's next bloody theater after Aleppo The battle for Aleppo has gripped the world, but it is hardly the only active front across war-torn Syria.
December 18, 2016 14 people died in traffic accident in western Afghanistan An Afghan official says that at least 14 Afghans have been killed after a civilian bus hit a fuel tanker on the main highway in western Afghanistan.