North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been quoted as saying in a New Year's message that his country's development of banned intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) is in "final stages".

At least 23 people have been killed and 17 others wounded when a ferry caught fire near the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, an official said.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has denied allegations that she conspired with a longtime friend to extort money and favours from companies, accusing her opponents of framing her.

A typhoon packing gusts of wind up to 255km/h (158mph) has made landfall in the eastern Philippines.

South Korean authorities have culled more than 22.5 million poultry this winter, according to an official, as part of intense efforts to contain its worst bird flu epidemic in recent history that has affected farms across the country.

Taliban militants in Afghanistan have shot dead a woman who divorced her husband and remarried, officials say.

The killing took place in north-western Badghis province. There are some reports that the woman's husband had authorised the separation from abroad.

Japan's parliament has passed a long-awaited law to legalise casinos.

The move paves the way for casino resort developments that also include hotels and shopping centres.

South Korea's parliament has voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal.

Tens of thousands of Indonesians have rallied in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, calling for tolerance and unity after massive protests were held against the city's Christian governor.

The crowds on Sunday filled a major traffic circle in Jakarta and sprawled into its main thoroughfares, waving "We Are Indonesia" signs and a giant red-and-white national flag was held aloft.

The rally was held in response to protests against Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy.

Jakarta has been rocked in the past months by major protests against Purnama, who is accused of insulting Islam by criticising opponents who used Quranic references to attack him ahead of an election in February.

Protesters took to the streets on Friday in the latest rally targeting him, demanding Punama be jailed on blasphemy charges. A similar rally was held on November 4, both attracting tens of thousands of people.

Purnama is a long-term al

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is set to be proclaimed Thailand's new king, 50 days after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The head of the National Legislative assembly is expected to publicly announce the prince's acceptance of the throne later on Thursday.

Syrian regime forces have made large territorial gains in eastern Aleppo, driving a wedge through the middle of the zone that has been held by rebels for more than four years. Government forces and armed Shia groups loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began a renewed push toward eastern Aleppo on November 15 with airstrikes following a three-week lull.

A giant sinkhole that was hastily repaired in Japan earlier this month is showing signs of movement. Traffic was stopped at the busy intersection in Japanese city of Fukuoka on the weekend after the road was seen to sink some seven centimeters (2.7 inches).

Millions of residents in China's northwestern Xinjiang region have been ordered to surrender their passports to local police, in a move rights groups say is an attack on personal freedom.

Two people have been killed and 16 others injured in a car bombing outside the governor’s office in the southern Turkish city of Adana.

Myanmar is seeking the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Rohingya minority from its territory, a senior UN official has told the BBC.