Police in Malaysia have arrested 12 people linked to the militant group Islamic State and seized explosives — foiling a plan to attack several locations in and around the capital city.

US president Barack Obama has told Burma’s junta to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, a US official said today.

Reclusive Laos opened its first major international conference today, drawing together Asian nations in their aspirations for European-style economic integration while addressing terrorism and other regional threats.