In Indonesia’s capital, voters oust renowned Christian politician in show of Islamist power – The Washington Post

A Chinese court on Thursday jailed a former deputy head of the country's Taiwan Affairs Office for 15 years, for taking bribes and abusing his position, the state broadcaster said. – Reuters

Authorities in the central Chinese province of Henan are preparing to try an activist on subversion charges after he was forcibly repatriated by Thailand despite having been granted political refugee status by the United Nations. – Radio Free Asia

Chinese authorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang have banned dozens of baby names with religious meanings that are widely used by Muslims elsewhere in the world, RFA has learned. – Radio Free Asia

India's exposing open pits of uranium to a river system causing deaths of fish has made experts in Bangladesh concerned about a likely link. – The Daily Star

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has received a third maritime patrol vessel (MPV) from China, according to the Xinhua news agency. – IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

The US should keep a low profile if it wants to be involved in efforts to get China to release Taiwanese detainee Lee Ming-che (李明哲), former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) chairman Richard Bush said on Wednesday. – Taipei Times

Malaysia and Abu Dhabi have reached a settlement on a dispute involving billions of dollars in debt obligations of scandal-scarred 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that is at the center of an international money-laundering probe. – Straits Times

China has taken another step toward its goal of putting a space station into orbit around 2022, by sending its first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 into space on Thursday evening. – People’s Daily Online

Cambodia’s Interior Ministry will no longer allow CNRP officials to visit their jailed comrades after it accused the party of bringing a Radio Free Asia (RFA) staff member to a prison visit under false pretenses, a claim disputed by the party and the employee. – The Cambodia Daily

Tokyo and Canberra agreed Thursday to reinforce defense cooperation in Asia amid rising tensions over North Korea’s nuclear saber-rattling and try harder to engage Washington in the effort. – Japan Times

With many Koreans still aggravated by U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial comment that "Korea used to be a part of China," his closest business partner, Vice President Mike Pence, has jangled their nerves again. – The Korea Times