China’s president-in-waiting Xi Jinping has not been seen in public for more than a week, prompting a wave of speculation on the reason for his absence.

Talks between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese leaders have failed to narrow gaps on how to end the crisis in Syria and resolve Beijing's territorial disputes with its smaller neighbours over the South China Sea.

Former Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan won a narrow victory to become the country’s seventh president, a sign that the popularity of the South east Asian city-state’s ruling party is eroding.

Singapore’s long-time ruling party has won an overwhelming parliamentary majority in elections, but the opposition made historic gains after mounting its biggest challenge since independence in 1965, according to returns.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is hitting the international headlines as Europe’s highest paid politician.

A FIVE-year-old blind girl is causing a sensation on YouTube after stories emerged of her uncanny ability to listen to a song just once then reproduce it perfectly on the piano.

Singapore’s prime minister warned today that recent protests during the Olympic torch relay have angered the Chinese public and will create “consequences” beyond the games themselves.

Singapore’s prime minister warned today that recent protests during the Olympic torch relay have angered the Chinese public and will create “consequences” beyond the games themselves.

The world’s largest and most modern jetliner, the Airbus A380, arrived in its new Singapore home today ahead of a historic flight next week.

A United Nations envoy remained tight-lipped today about his meetings with Burma’s junta chief and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in a highly-watched mission that followed the regime’s deadly crackdown on democracy protesters.

A UN envoy is hoping to meet Burma's top two military leaders today to persuade them to ease a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

The rapid economic ascent of China and India is fuelling Asia’s growth, but Islamist terrorism remains a threat to stability in the region, Singapore’s leader has said.

The Taoiseach has promoted Ireland as Asia’s gateway to investing in Europe after arriving for talks today with his Singaporean counterpart.

A PRINCE who is heir to the fabulous fortune of the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei married a 17-year-old half-Swiss commoner yesterday in Asia’s wedding of the year, attended by royalty and dignitaries from around the world.

Singapore’s prime minister said he will hand over his duties this year to the son of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew – but he will not give a date for the event, news reports said today.