Pakistani counterterrorism officials say authorities have arrested nine local militants with alleged ties to the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, who were planning terrorist attacks across the country.

• December 29, 2015

The Taliban has denied that it held talks with Russian officials about efforts to combat Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan as a British newspaper reported that President Vladimir Putin had met the group's leader earlier this year.

• December 28, 2015

Taiwan's opposition leader and presidential frontrunner on Sunday called on China to respect the island's democratic process and said she believes Beijing will have a "rational attitude" when dealing with her independence-leaning party.

• December 27, 2015

Nepal's foreign minister asked China on Friday for help in dealing with an energy crisis that crippled the landlocked country over the past three months and China said it would look at the request favorably.

• December 25, 2015

A senior Iranian nuclear official says Russia will begin construction on two new nuclear reactors in Iran next week.

• December 23, 2015

The president of Turkmenistan says the completion of a new gas pipeline will boost cooperation with European partners.

• December 23, 2015

Iranian nuclear officials say Tehran will export most of its enriched uranium stockpile to Russia in the coming days as it implements a nuclear deal to secure relief from international sanctions.

• December 20, 2015

Vietnam's military is steeling itself for conflict with China as it accelerates a decade-long modernization drive, Hanoi's biggest arms buildup since the height of the Vietnam War.

• December 17, 2015