December 7, 2015 Vietnam dissident lawyer set to stand trial A prominent Vietnamese activist lawyer is expected to go on trial Wednesday amid tight security, as campaigners threaten street demonstrations and international rights groups demand his immediate release.
December 7, 2015 New Zealand climbers missing on K2 are dead: family Two New Zealand climbers hoping to become the first father-and-son team to scale the world's second-highest mountain have died in the attempt, their family said Tuesday after the pair went missing in an avalanche on K2.
December 7, 2015 Thyme and punishment -- N.Z. prisoners go gourmet Whipping up a blackcurrant jus in Wellington's Rimutaka Prison, shaven-headed convict "Pete" rhapsodises about his new-found love of gourmet cooking, the swastika tattoos on his hand blurring as he whisks intently.
December 7, 2015 N. Korea restores hotline with South: Seoul officials North Korea on Wednesday restored its official hotline with South Korea and announced it would let the South's businessmen visit a shuttered joint industrial zone, Seoul officials said.
December 7, 2015 Taiwan couples seek surrogacy abroad to escape ban Three years ago Mr and Ms Lee fulfilled their dream of parenthood with the help of a surrogate mother.
December 7, 2015 Japan to be nuclear free as last reactor switched off Japan is to start the process of switching off its last working nuclear reactor Sunday for a scheduled inspection with no restart in sight due to public hostility towards atomic power.
December 7, 2015 Thai PM shuffles pack and takes key defence post Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday became the first woman to head the kingdom's defence ministry in a cabinet reshuffle that gives her more influence over the powerful army that ousted her brother.
December 7, 2015 US scientist committed suicide: Singapore coroner A Singapore state coroner ruled that a US scientist found hanged in the city-state in 2012 committed suicide and was not murdered as his family claims.
December 7, 2015 Tokyo pledges hard push in 2020 bid finale Tokyo bid leaders Friday pledged something special as they readied for the home straight in the contest to decide who will host the 2020 Olympic Games.
December 7, 2015 Coach tumbles into Malaysian ravine A bus carrying up to 45 people plunged into a deep ravine near a Malaysian mountaintop tourist resort Wednesday, police said, but added they could not yet confirm any casualties.