Toyota announces that it is to halt production at its domestic plants for 11 days in February and March.

The Thai government blocks thousands of websites deemed to be offensive to the revered monarchy.

The US is to establish "the largest area of protected sea in the world", banning fishing and mining, around its Pacific islands.

An Indonesian deputy is jailed for taking bribes, in a symbol of the country's new determination to tackle corruption.

An Australian woman appears in court charged with murdering her husband by setting fire to his penis over alleged infidelity.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans hold a New Year rally celebrating leader Kim Jong-il, who did not appear.

Rescuers hold out little hope of finding a Japanese sailor alive after he goes missing from a whaling ship in the Antarctic.

China launches a fresh campaign to get rid of unhealthy, vulgar and pornographic content on the internet.

Stock markets in Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong have a strong start to 2009 on hopes of fresh stimulus packages.

Australian fence proposal to prevent spread of a cancer threatening the world's largest marsupial carnivore.

India hope to play an extra Test during their upcoming tour of New Zealand in an attempt to recoup some of the $25m lost after they were forced to cancel matches against England and Pakistan.

New Zealand Warriors forward Sonny Fai is presumed drowned after being swept out to sea off a beach near Auckland.

Awake or asleep? Second picture shows difference

Children in Phnom Penh get their first public playground

Bets are off on gambling boom in China's Macau

Receiving a mass apology by text message

Chinese graduates will struggle to find jobs this year

Bangkok nightclub fire highlights need for improved safety

Thousands of people refuse to return to their homes in West Papua, Indonesia, as earthquake aftershocks rattle the region.

A man is arrested after the body of a four-year-old girl is found in his fridge, an official Chinese newspaper reports.

Several sightings of sharks close to popular swimming areas lead to the closure of four Australian beaches.

A Taleban rocket attack kills an Australian soldier in south Afghanistan, the eighth to be killed in the country since 2001.

Police say they will charge the owner of a Bangkok nightclub where a fire killed 62 people celebrating New Year's Eve.

At least four people are killed and dozens are injured after powerful earthquakes rock eastern Indonesia, officials say.

Vehicle sales in Japan fell 22% in December compared with the same month in 2007, making it the worst December on record.

China's manufacturing output falls for a third consecutive month as the economic slowdown continues to hit its economy.

Workers discuss how financial crisis is affecting them

Burmese are pessimistic one year after protests

Vietnam press says surprisingly little on China border deal

How much can you remember of what happened in 2008?

Where the acquittal of a top spy leaves Indonesia

The effect of Deng Xiaoping's reforms on modern China