Vietnam's rare mammals may be sliding towards extinction, but Britain's rarest butterfly is going from strength to strength, a series of contrasting announcements makes clear today.

A former leading general close to Burma's former dictator Than Shwe has reportedly given up his position in the Burmese government amid talk of a battle between reformers and hardliners.

Two assistants have sold an action comedy they wrote between arranging lunch bookings for their bosses.

Aung San Suu Kyi has taken the oath of office to become an official member of Burma's parliament.

The long and winding auction of the East Africa-focused oil explorer Cove Energy took another turn yesterday as the AIM-listed company recommended an increased £1.12bn bid from Shell.

Trading on Cambodia's stock exchange started today after a state-run company completed its initial public offering.

A former resistance leader, Taur Matan Ruak, is expected to be declared East Timor's new president today, with early counts from yesterday's second-round poll putting him ahead of the opposition Fretilin Party's candidate, Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres.

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has told thousands of his supporters that he believes reconciliation is taking place in Thailand and that he could even return to the country in a matter of months.

Cambodia's contestants in the Davis Cup are inspired by a player who lived through the Killing Fields

There should be no delay in easing sanctions against Burma if its moves towards democracy continue, David Cameron said today.

Malaysia crowned its fourteenth King yesterday in an elaborate ceremony at the new National Palace in Kuala Lumpur.

Raymond Aubrac, one of the leading figures of the French Resistance against the Nazis, has died at the age of 97.

The millions of tourists coming to London for the Olympics will dramatically increase the risk that a flu pandemic in Britain might spread, according to new research to be published this week.

Passengers endure hours of anxiety as boat drifts without power after fire breaks out on board