Japan agrees to lease military aircraft to Philippines
Japan will lease military aircraft to the Philippines to counter Beijing's increasing regional influence
Obama seeks Gulf help against IS despite strains
US President Barack Obama met Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia to push for increased efforts against the Islamic State group.
China sets death penalty threshold in graft cases
Corruption cases involving three million yuan ($463,000) or more may incur the death penalty in future.
Kyrgyz parliament confirms new PM, government
Kyrgyzstan's parliament unanimously endorsed a new government led by the country's sixth prime minister.
Brazil's impeachment: a how to guide
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff risks being driven from office if the lower house votes in favor of an impeachment trial.
French MPs set to approve contested ban on paying for sex
French lawmakers are looking to outlaw sex for money and impose fines of up to 3,500 euros on prostitutes' clients.
Gibraltar, Falklands accuse Spain and Argentina of bullying
Wanting to stay British, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands have accused Spain and Argentina of 'bullying'.
Iran 'certain' Security Council will not act on missile tests
Iran's defence minister is certain the UN Security Council will not take any action over its missile tests despite calls from the Western.
Israel caps bankers' salaries to $658,000 a year
Israel's parliament passed a law capping the annual salaries of bank executives at $658,000, among the world's toughest such restrictions.
After Brussels, spies debate security risks of Brexit
The Brussels attacks have pushed security to the forefront of Britain's EU referendum campaign this week, as intelligence experts came out of the shadows to press the benefits and disadvantages of membership.
Israel supreme court strikes down landmark gas deal
Israel's top court on Sunday struck down a landmark deal regulating exploitation of Mediterranean gas reserves, in a major defeat for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
US and Russia to push Syrian political transition
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's President Vladimir Putin agreed to intensify the drive for a political settlement in Syria but remained divided over Bashar al-Assad's future.
Kazakhstan bans smartphones for police, civil servants
Kazakhstan is set to enforce a ban on smartphones in the workplace for police and government workers in an effort to prevent information leaks, according to a document that was itself leaked,
Ruling party seals expected victory in Kazakhstan vote
Nur Otan, the ruling party of energy-rich Kazakhstan, secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections.
Moscow begins withdrawal of military equipment from Syria
Russia has begun to withdraw military equipment from Syria, the defence ministry said Tuesday.
Central Asia strongman regimes challenged by stuttering economy
Now authorities across ex-Soviet Central Asia are facing an unexpected legitimacy test as falling oil prices and Russia's recession.
'Project Fear' stalks Britain's EU referendum campaign
Prime Minister David Cameron stands accused of unleashing Project Fear to try and keep Britain in the EU at a June referendum.
Obama hits out at Cameron, Sarkozy over Libya intervention
British leader David Cameron got "distracted" and French President Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to promote his country during the 2011 military intervention in Libya, US President Barack Obama said.
New Zealand bans 'zero hour' contracts
New Zealand has passed legislation banning 'zero hour' contractsto end the use of deals criticised as exploitative.
Names of 22,000 IS members leaked to news channel
Tens of thousands of documents containing the names, addresses, phone numbers and family contacts of jihadis who joined the Islamic State group have been given to the UK's Sky News.