December 12, 2016 Merkel says Germany will stick to one-China policy German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that her country, Europe's biggest economic power, won't be changing its policy on China and Taiwan after President-elect Donald Trump raised questions about the future U.S. stance.
December 12, 2016 Japan minister: Economic ties will foster trust with Russia Japan's trade minister says his country's economic relations with Russia have grown more smoothly than political ties, with about 30 joint projects ready to be signed regardless of a breakthrough in territorial issues.
December 12, 2016 Pakistanis attack mosque of religious minority Pakistani officials says thousands of Sunni Muslims marking the Prophet Muhammad's birthday have attacked a mosque belonging to the Ahmadi religious minority, wounding several people.
December 12, 2016 China auto sales rise 17.2 percent in November Auto sales in China rose 17.2 percent in November over a year ago, driven by explosive demand for SUVs, as automakers prepared for the end of a key tax break and a potential slump in demand.
December 12, 2016 Hong Kong finance chief quits, leadership bid expected Hong Kong's financial chief has resigned amid mounting speculation that he will make a bid for the southern Chinese city's top job.
December 12, 2016 Philippine Abu Sayyaf militants free 2 Indonesians Abu Sayyaf gunmen have freed two Indonesian tugboat crewmen kidnapped by the ransom-seeking militants six months ago and held in the jungles of the southern Philippines.
December 12, 2016 Pakistan grounds all small ATR aircraft after plane crash Pakistan's national carrier says it has grounded all small ATR aircraft in its fleet after last week's planes crash that killed all 47 on board.
December 12, 2016 Afghan officials: Roadside bombs kill 2 civilians, policeman Afghan officials say at least two civilians were killed when their motorcycle struck a roadside bomb in southern Zabul province while a policeman died in another roadside bombing elsewhere in the same province.
December 12, 2016 South Korea's interim leader faces big, thorny issues South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who had a largely ceremonial job, now has to face off against North Korea and deal with edgy relations with Japan after becoming the country's interim leader following President Park Geun-hye's impeachment last week.
December 12, 2016 Pakistan appoints new spy agency chief in military reshuffle Pakistan's military has announced a major reshuffle in its senior posts, including appointing a new chief for the country's top spy agency.
