Afghanistan: ''Long road' to Afghan stability. Afghanistan still faces a long road to peace and stability, President Hamid Karzai has told international donors. Speaking at a conference in London to discuss a new five-year development plan, he said terrorism and drugs remained the nation's biggest threats.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Maoist intimidation of candidates puts Nepal poll in doubt. A candidate in the municipal elections that have become a battleground for Nepal's future was critically injured by suspected Maoist rebels yesterday. Dal Bahadur Rai was in his house in the capital Kathmandu when gunmen broke in and shot him.' (Independent)

Afghanistan: 'Afghanistan holds 'bomb plotters' Afghan security forces in Kandahar province say they have arrested nine people, including two Pakistanis, suspected of plotting attacks.' (BBC)

Pakistan: Pakistani train crash 'deliberate'Sabotage to a rail track caused part of a packed express train to derail and crash into a ravine in eastern Pakistan, killing at least three people and injuring more than 40, officials said Monday.'(CNN)

Uzbekistan: 'Uzbek opposition leader on trial. An Uzbek opposition leader is expected to go on trial on Monday for alleged economic crimes. Sanjar Umarov, the Sunshine Uzbekistan leader, was arrested in October 2005 for embezzlement, a charge supporters say is politically motivated.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Women of Gaza fear for their freedoms under new religious regime. Naila Ayesh, a secular married woman who frequently goes about Gaza in Western clothes, has already noticed a subtle change since Hamas's election victory last Wednesday.' (Independent)

Israel: 'Israel rules out talks with Hamas. Israel has said it will not deal with a Palestinian government including Hamas, following the Islamic militant group's sweeping victory in Palestinian polls.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal shuts down as Maoists target King. The Maoists have threatened to target any candidate. They have already killed one, and so serious is the situation that the government is offering special life insurance to anyone brave enough to stand.' (Independent)

Malaysia: 'Malaysia plans 'crooked' bridge. Malaysia says it will go ahead with controversial plans to build a crooked bridge across half the strait it shares with Singapore.' (BBC)

China: 'Blow to free speech as China bars journalists from workshop. Chinese journalists have been ordered to stay away from a media seminar, organised by the British Embassy, marking a new extension of the campaign against freedom of expression.' (Telegraph)

Jordan: 'Jordan: Editor Prosecuted for Posting Articles by MPs' (Human Rights Watch)

Central Asia: 'Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan close doors to UN Special Rapporteur' (Forum 18)

India: 'Attacks mar Indian celebrations. Four policemen have been injured in eastern India after separate attacks by suspected Maoist rebels ahead of the country's Republic Day celebrations.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Palestinians show support for Hamas elections. Fatah's monopoly of power over the Palestinian Authority was decisively broken last night after two exit polls showed Hamas within five seats of overtaking it in parliamentary elections.' (Independent)

Nepal: 'Nepal: Government, Maoists Target Political Activists
Protesters Attacked Ahead of Controversial Election' (Human Rights Watch)

Nepal: 'Eight killed in Nepal violence. At least eight people, including three policemen, have been killed in fighting with Maoist rebels in south-western Nepal, authorities say.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Divisions in Fatah give hope to Hamas as Palestinians go to polls. More than a million residents of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem are expected to vote today in elections that will see Hamas end Fatah's monopoly of control over the Palestinian Authority. Divisions in the mainstream Fatah, which have helped reduce its lead over Hamas in recent weeks, cost the life of an activist in the West Bank city of Nablus yesterday when he was shot by a rival group while putting up an election poster.' (Independent)

Mongolia: 'Enkhbold is Mongolia's new PM. The Mongolian parliament has chosen the former mayor of Ulan Bator, Miyeegombo Enkhbold, as the new prime minister.' (BBC)

China: 'Google censors itself for China. Leading internet company Google has said it will censor its search services in China in order to gain greater access to China's fast-growing market.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Iraq official: 5 female captives to go free. An Iraqi official said Tuesday that five female prisoners in U.S. custody are to be released in two days -- a move that would partially meet the demands of militants who abducted U.S. journalist Jill Carroll.' (CNN)

Iran: 'Six killed in Iran bomb attacks. At least six people have been killed and 24 injured in a series of blasts in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz, police say.' (BBC)

India: 'India holds Bangladesh 'suspect'. Police in India have arrested a man in connection with a series of bomb blasts in Bangladesh last August.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Iraq prepares for a new government. IRAQ optimists have few moments to cheer when discussing that country's political situation. So the announcement on Friday of results from the first post-war election for a four-year parliament should be savoured as a good day for democracy. But hard steps now follow.' (Economist)

Indonesia: 'EIGHT HOUSE CHURCHES SHUT DOWN IN WEST JAVA' (Compass Direct)

Sri Lanka: 'A senior Norwegian envoy has arrived in Sri Lanka for talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war.' (BBC)

Afghanstan: 'Hard drive Afghan women celebrate freedom - with driving lessons.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Pakistan PM: CIA attack reports 'bizarre'. Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday ridiculed as "bizarre" a U.S. report that senior al Qaeda leaders were killed in a CIA attack on a home along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.' (CNN)

Nepal: 'Day-long curfew in Nepal capital. Nepalese soldiers are imposing a dawn to dusk curfew in Kathmandu to prevent pro-democracy protests against the king, who seized total power last year.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Suicide bomber hits Tel Aviv. A bomber detonated Thursday at a sandwich shop near the old central bus station in Tel Aviv, police said, in the first suicide bombing in Israel this year.'(CNN)

Kashmir: Many killed in Kashmir bus crash. At least 50 people have been killed in a bus accident in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials say.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Pakistan probes 'al-Qaeda' deaths. The Pakistan government says it is trying to establish the identity of a number of foreign militants it says were killed in a recent US air strike.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal cracks down on opposition. The Nepalese authorities say they have arrested scores of opposition leaders and activists, ahead of planned pro-democracy demonstrations on Friday.' (BBC)

Turkmenistan: 'TURKMENISTAN: Official "religious hatred" towards non-Muslim faiths. Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses in Turkmenistan have complained to Forum 18 News Service about continuing official "religious hatred" towards followers of non-Islamic faiths.' (Forum 18)

Pakistan: 'U.N. resumes quake relief flights. The United Nations resumed crucial relief flights to earthquake-devastated areas of Pakistan on Wednesday, but the race to save hungry and freezing victims was stymied by new landslides.' (CNN)

Iraq: 'Ten killed in Iraq convoy attack. At least 10 Iraqis have been killed and a Malawian engineer kidnapped in an ambush in the west of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry official says.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'UN resumes Pakistan aid flights. The UN has resumed aid flights to earthquake-hit areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officials say.' (BBC)

Kashmir: 'Nuclear rivals in Kashmir talks. Top foreign ministry officials from India and Pakistan have begun a fresh round of talks in Delhi on the long-running Kashmir dispute.' (BBC)

China: 'Donors asked for bird flu funding. A key conference aiming to raise more than $1bn (£566m) to halt the spread of bird flu is under way in Beijing.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'Remember Afghanistan? Insurgents bring suicide terror to country
A suicide bomber yesterday rode into town, killing at least 20 in the deadliest insurgent attack since the US invasion. More than 1,600 were killed in 2005, and the murder rate is rising. The rule of law has collapsed. The government is trapped in its own fortified compound in the capital. Soon, Britain will commit another 3,500 troops to a dangerous mission with no clear goals or exit strategy...' (Independent)

Indonesia: 'Indonesian girl dies of bird flu. An Indonesian girl has become the latest person to die of bird flu, according to officials there.' (BBC)

Iran: 'Iranian scientists are expected to start work this week on the highly technical task of enriching tons of uranium to a level where it could be used in the production of atomic weapons, say the latest reports received by western intelligence agencies.' (Telegraph)

Pakistan: ''No evidence' that Zawahiri was present when bomb hit. The deputy leader of al-Qa'ida may have survived an American air strike in Pakistan because he did not turn up to a dinner at which he was expected. As the reports emerged yesterday, thousands of Pakistanis took part in angry street protests at the air strike, in which 18 civilians are believed to have died, including six children.' (Independent)

Nepal: 'Nepal on alert after 12 police die. Nepali troops were on high alert on Sunday after attacks around Kathmandu by Maoist rebels killed 12 policemen, an army officer said.' (CNN)

China: 'Thousands flee from China quake. At least one person has been injured and 20,000 people evacuated following a 4.7-magnitude earthqauke in southwest China's Yunnan province, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.' (CNN)

Pakistan: ''Rockets' kill Pakistan villagers. At least 14 people have been killed in a rocket attack on a Pakistani village near the Afghan border, local officials and residents say.' (BBC)

Sri Lanka: 'Sri Lanka bomb attack fuels fear of return to civil war. Eight Sri Lankan sailors have been killed in an attack by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels as fears grow that the country is slipping back towards civil war.' (Independent)

Iran: 'Iran: The nuclear nightmare. The confrontation between Iran and the West deepened yesterday as both sides hardened their positions over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.' (Independent)

Saudi Arabia: 'Hajj stampede kills hundreds. At least 345 people have been killed in a stampede during a symbolic stoning ritual at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, according to the country's Health Ministry.' (CNN)

Sri Lanka: 'Sailors killed in Sri Lanka blast. At least nine Sri Lankan sailors have been killed in a blast in the north of the country, the military says.' (BBC)

Saudi Arabia: 'Pilgrims killed in Hajj stampede. At least 50 Muslim pilgrims have been killed in a crush in the stone-throwing ritual during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say.' (BBC)

Iran: 'Ministers to call for emergency talks on Iran's nuclear plan. The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany will today pave the way for Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council after Tony Blair increased the pressure for Tehran to be punished for escalating its nuclear programme.' (Independent)

Turkey: 'Turkish bird flu 'may be endemic'. The bird flu virus could become endemic in Turkey and poses a serious risk to neighboring countries, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says.' (CNN)

Kyrgyzstan: 'Do Not Trade Refugees for Empty Promises. Uzbek Government Assurances No Safeguard Against Torture. Kyrgyzstan should reject the Uzbekistan government’s proposal that the Kyrgyz return four refugees in exchange for Uzbek government assurances not to torture the men.' (Human Rights Watch)

Pakistan: 'Pakistan hit by 'mild' earthquake.A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale has struck northern Pakistan, the meteorological department officals say.' (BBC)

Kazakhstan: 'Kazakhstan's president sworn in. Nursultan Nazarbayev has been sworn in as Kazakhstan's president for another seven years following his landslide election victory last month.' (BBC)

Iran: 'US warning after Iran breaks seals at nuclear plant. Western governments issued stern warnings to Iran to desist from resuming its nuclear research after United Nations monitors in Vienna formally confirmed that the country's scientists had removed seals from materials at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant.'(Independent)

China, Turkey: ' China flu deaths, Turkey ups ante. The World Health Organization says two more people have died from bird flu in China, as Turkey sets up a bird flu crisis center in its capital Ankara to curb a growing spate of human cases.' (CNN)

India: 'Indian opposition leader 'bugged'. India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the government of tapping the phones of its former president, LK Advani.' (BBC)

Iran: 'Iran set to resume nuclear work. Iran has removed seals from a nuclear facility and will begin research there in the coming hours, the UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA has confirmed.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Suicide bombers attack Iraq's interior ministry. Suicide bombers carrying the credentials of senior police walked into the interior ministry in Baghdad yesterday and killed at least 28 people. ' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Pakistani soldiers die in attack. Seven Pakistani soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected militants in the North Waziristan tribal area, bordering Afghanistan.' (BBC)

Turkey: 'Human bird flu spreads in Turkey. Five new human cases of bird flu have been identified in several Turkish provinces, pushing the number of infected up to 14, officials say.'(BBC)

Iran: 'ElBaradei 'loses patience' as Iran breaks UN seals at nuclear research centres. Iran was preparing to remove United Nations seals at several nuclear research and development sites last night, despite warnings from the UN nuclear chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, that the international community was running out of patience with Tehran.' (Independent)

Iran: 'A military plane with 11 passengers on board has crashed in northwestern Iran, killing a number of high-ranking officials in Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.' (CNN)

India: 'India 'loses 10m female births'. More than 10m female births in India may have been lost to abortion and sex selection in the past 20 years, according to medical research.' (BBC)

Kashmir: 'Kashmir could face more quakes. One of the world's leading seismologists has warned of the possibility of more earthquakes in the Kashmir region over the next 50 years.' (BBC)

China: 'Thousands trapped in China snow. Almost 250,000 people in north-western China have been trapped by heavy snowfall, as the country faces its worst winter in 20 years.' (BBC)

Yemen: 'Italian Yemen hostages released. Five Italian tourists taken hostage by Yemeni tribesmen on 1 January have been freed from captivity.' (BBC)

Saudi Arabia: '20 dead in Mecca hotel collapse. Saudi authorities are investigating what caused a small hotel in Mecca to collapse Thursday, killing at least 20 Muslim pilgrims and wounding 59 others, an Interior Ministry spokesman told Saudi's state-run news agency.' (CNN)

Israel: 'Ariel Sharon is unlikely to return as Israel's prime minister after his massive stroke, doctors said last night, threatening to derail faltering steps towards peace in the Middle East. As Mr Sharon was placed under heavy sedation, Israeli politicians promised to continue his policies, while quietly jockeying for the succession.' (Telegraph)

Iraq: 'Suicide attacks put Iraq's political future in doubt.The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, noted that the "horrendous crime" was the latest in a series of increasingly violent attacks after the 15 December elections and warned of the danger of the democratic process being fatally undermined.' (Independent)

Turkey: 'Second teenager dies in Turkey bird flu outbreak. A second Turkish teenager who tested positive for bird flu died today, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.Turkey yesterday confirmed two human cases of bird flu, one of whom, a teenage boy, died on Sunday after developing pneumonia-like symptoms. His sister died in hospital early today, Anatolia reported.' (Independent)

India/Pakistan: 'India, Pakistan discuss rail link.Officials from India and Pakistan have begun talks on reopening a key rail link which was shut down 40 years ago when the two countries went to war.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'At least 134 killed in attacks across Iraq. In the deadliest day in Iraq in nearly four months, at least 134 people were killed and scores were wounded by insurgent-bomb attacks, authorities said Thursday.' (CNN)

Indonesia: 'Hundreds feared dead in landslide. Soldiers and volunteers used their bare hands Thursday to search for survivors buried beneath tons of mud and rock after landslides wiped out several Indonesian villages, leaving more than 210 people dead or missing, officials said.' (CNN)