Asia

Heavy monsoon rains have deluged India, Bangladesh and Nepal in the region’s worst flooding in years. More than a thousand people have died and millions are homeless.

A liberal candidate who favours closer ties with North Korea has claimed victory in South Korea’s Presidential election.  

The Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, says his country may become the latest to withdraw its support from the International Criminal Court. The court was set up to try war crimes and crimes against humanity, but a growing number of countries have been announcing their withdrawal – including three African countries and, yesterday, Russia.

Over 1,600 refugees held on offshore islands off Australia are to be resettled in America. Among those kept in detention centres on Nauru and Manus islands in extremely difficult conditions are people from Iran, Syria, Iraq and Pakistan.

It’s two years since the British army officially ended combat operations in Afghanistan. Since then large areas formerly controlled by coalition troops have fallen to a resurgent Taliban.

They’re calling it Black Friday. Thais are dressed in black today, with many in tears of mourning for King Bhumibol, who died yesterday after a 70-year reign.

The Thai government has declared a year of national mourning following the death of Bhumibol. But the government has delayed an expected announcement of his son – the crown prince – as his successor.

The south-east Asian summit in Laos has been overshadowed by a row after the Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, referred to Mr Obama as a “son of a whore”. He later claimed it wasn’t personal, but the US team called off a planned meeting between the two men. This report contains strong language throughout.

One of the most serious allegations facing a world leader are those of personal corruption against the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Last year it was revealed that his personal bank account held a staggering $681 million. Under pressure Razak set up an inquiry which found he’d done nothing wrong and that the money was…

Forty per cent of Afghan civilians say they’d leave the country if they could – fleeing persecution, war and deprivation in greater numbers now than at any time since the Taliban were ousted. But, unlike Syrians and Iraqis, the European Union classes most as economic migrants. Our Asia Correspondent, Jonathan Miller, has been to Herat…

More civilians have been killed or injured in Afghanistan last year than ever before, yet the EU is seeking to repatriate up to 80,000 refugees.

Issues around sexuality and gender are still sensitive in Indonesia – but there are some more positive signs of tolerance – like a school for transgender women, known as Waria. Jonathan Miller visit the world’s first transgender madrassa.

When a group of men from Papua New Guinea jumped in a boat and began a trip to a neighbouring island, they thought no further ahead than what they’d be eating for dinner.

We get our first glimpse of General Prayuth Chan-ocha’s masterplan for Thailand’s future – which includes the arrest of a popular protest leader.

Brunei may be small – but it is earning an over-sized reputation for brutality as it introduces Sharia law punishments for offences including pregnancy outside marriage and homosexual acts.