Indonesia has asked foreign embassies to send representatives to a maximum security prison ahead of the expected execution of 10 drug convicts, although an official 72-hour notice of execution has not been given yet, diplomats said.

An Indonesian court has rejected a last-ditch challenge by two Australian drug convicts facing execution by firing squad, but lawyers for the state and defence were divided over whether legal avenues remained for them to avoid the death penalty.

Indonesian officials said they will reject an Australian offer to swap prisoners as part of a last-ditch attempt to save the lives of two Australian drug smugglers expected to face a firing squad within days.

Two convicted Australian drug smugglers arrived at an Indonesian island prison where they will be executed by firing squad along with seven other foreigners amid a diplomatic squabble with some of their governments. 

Indonesia has postponed the transfer of six convicted drug smugglers to a prison island for execution.

Indonesia will not order the executions of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran for at least another week.

Hong Kong authorities cleared away the last barricades and tents of the two-month protest movement but the dozens of student leaders and other activists they took away vowed their fight for greater democracy wasn’t over.

Authorities have cleared away the last barricades and tents of a democracy protest in Hong Kong but student leaders and activists vowed their fight is not over.

Taking aspirin on a daily basis to reduce cancer risk should only be done under medical advice, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

Two Australians were sentenced to death by firing squad today for leading a drug smuggling ring on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.