Thailand braces for 'red' protest

news.bbc.co.uk - Thailand mobilises thousands of troops ahead of rallies in Bangkok by supporters of ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. More... (Asia)

IPL to begin amid tight security

news.bbc.co.uk - The third season of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament is set to begin amid heavy security in Mumbai. More... (Asia)

Atheists celebrate lack of faith

news.bbc.co.uk - More than 2,000 atheists from around the world meet in Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate their lack of religious belief. More... (Asia)

State of drinkers

news.bbc.co.uk - Why Kerala has India's biggest alcohol problem More... (Asia)

Vladimir Putin in key India talks

news.bbc.co.uk - Russian PM Vladimir Putin is in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts. More... (Asia)

Putin in India for defence talks

news.bbc.co.uk - Russian PM Vladimir Putin is in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts. More... (Asia)

Japan arrests whaling activist

news.bbc.co.uk - An activist from New Zealand who boarded a Japanese whaling ship last month is arrested by Japan's coastguard. More... (Asia)

Thailand braces for mass protests

news.bbc.co.uk - Thailand mobilises thousands of troops ahead of mass rallies by planned supporters of ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. More... (Asia)

Pakistan team quit after cup flop

news.bbc.co.uk - Pakistan's men's hockey team retire en masse after finishing last at the Hockey World Cup. More... (Asia)

Obama urges China action on yuan

news.bbc.co.uk - Barack Obama urges China to change its currency strategy, a move that would effectively raise the value of the yuan and benefit US exporters. More... (Asia)

Number of Indian billionaires 'doubled in 2009'

news.bbc.co.uk - The number of billionaires in India doubled in 2009, Forbes magazine says. More... (Asia)

Burma annuls 1990 Suu Kyi poll win

news.bbc.co.uk - Burma's leaders formally annul the National League for Democracy's 1990 election win, as more details of new poll laws emerge. More... (Asia)

Sri Lanka general trial date set

news.bbc.co.uk - Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka is to be put on military trial next week, officials say. More... (Asia)

Modi faces Gujarat riot questions

news.bbc.co.uk - The chief minister of India's Gujarat state, Narendra Modi, is summoned to appear before an inquiry into the deadly riots of 2002. More... (Asia)

Afghan plea for 'no proxy wars'

news.bbc.co.uk - Afghanistan does not want other countries' "proxy wars" fought on its soil, President Hamid Karzai says in Islamabad. More... (Asia)

Pakistan kidnap boy not released

news.bbc.co.uk - The Foreign Office says a five-year-old boy from Oldham kidnapped in Pakistan has not been released. More... (Asia)

Japan protest over tuna ban plan

news.bbc.co.uk - Japan voices opposition to a proposed ban on international trade in bluefin tuna, after the EU backs the plan. More... (Asia)

Afghan police drug abuse 'rife'

news.bbc.co.uk - Drug abuse is rife in the Afghan police force with up to 40% of recruits testing positive in some areas, a US report says. More... (Asia)

Daihatsu recalling cars in Japan

news.bbc.co.uk - Carmaker Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, is recalling 274,551 vehicles in Japan because of a number of possible defects. More... (Asia)

China has more billionaires than all but the US, survey says

news.bbc.co.uk - China has 64 billionaires, second only to the United States, Forbes magazine says in its annual list. More... (Asia)

Confusion over kidnap in Pakistan

news.bbc.co.uk - Police in Pakistan dismiss reports a five-year-old British boy who was kidnapped last week has been released. More... (Asia)

Japan's economic growth rate cut

news.bbc.co.uk - Japan's economy grew by less than first estimated in the final quarter of 2009, revised government figures show. More... (Asia)

China inflation at 16-month high

news.bbc.co.uk - Chinese inflation hit a 16-month high in February, leading to calls for the government to take measures to cool the economy. More... (Asia)

Japan opens 98th national airport

news.bbc.co.uk - Japan opens an airport in Ibaraki offering just one flight a day, sparking criticism over wasteful public spending. More... (Asia)

Vladimir Putin set to visit India

news.bbc.co.uk - Russian PM Vladimir Putin is due in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts. More... (Asia)

Vladimir Putin in key India visit

news.bbc.co.uk - Russian PM Vladimir Putin arrives in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts. More... (Asia)

Burma election laws condemned

news.bbc.co.uk - Burma's election laws provoke widespread condemnation, but military rulers re-open opposition party offices. More... (Asia)

Afghan criticisms unfair, PM says

news.bbc.co.uk - Gordon Brown labels as "unfair" criticisms over the timing of his weekend visit to British troops in Afghanistan. More... (Asia)

Pakistan drone raid 'kills 12'

news.bbc.co.uk - Two missile strikes by US drone aircraft kill at least 12 suspected militants in north-west Pakistan, security officials say More... (Asia)