Afghanistan: ''Breakthrough' in Kabul jail riot. Rioting inmates in Afghanistan's main prison near Kabul have agreed to hand over their dead and injured, amid signs of a breakthrough in the stand-off.' (BBC)

Iran: 'Iran forges ahead with enrichment. Iran is forging ahead with nuclear enrichment by feeding uranium gas into centrifuge "cascades", a report by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog says.' (BBC)

Thailand: 'Thai opposition to boycott voting. Thailand's opposition parties announced Monday they will boycott April 2 national elections because Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has refused to accept their proposals for political reform, heightening the country's political crisis.' (CNN)

Iraq: 'Sunni mosque bombed in Baghdad.Two bombs exploded Monday evening outside a Sunni mosque in Baghdad, killing four people in a continuation of the sectarian attacks that have come since a bomb destroyed a Shiite shrine in Samarra last week.' (CNN)

India: 'Indian budget pushes for growth. India's Finance Minister delivered his "common man's budget" on Tuesday, setting the economy an ambitious annual growth target of 10%.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'Kabul's jail is overrun by 1,500 al-Qa'ida prisoners. The violence began after inmates were issued with uniforms. Until then, they were allowed to wear civilian clothing but the rules were changed after seven suspected Taliban prisoners escaped last month pretending to be departing visitors. Prison guards are believed to have assisted with the escape.' (Independent)

Thailand: 'Buddhist monks and nuns of the "Dharma Army" led thousands of people at a demonstration against embattled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday as opposition parties failed to agree to boycott a snap election.' (CNN)

Iraq: 'Daytime curfew lifted in Baghdad. Iraqi authorities have lifted a daytime curfew in Baghdad and surrounding provinces that was imposed after an attack on an important Shia shrine.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Rebels killed in Nepal fighting. Nepal's Maoist rebels say eight of their fighters have been killed in a clash with security forces in Nepal.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'British Army helpless as Afghan drug crop doubles.The enormity of the problems in tackling Afghanistan's massive opium crop has become apparent as the first wave of British troops are deployed in one of the most dangerous parts of the country.' (Independent)

India: 'India seals off 'bird flu town'. Officials in India's Maharashtra state have begun sealing off an entire town where bird flu has been discovered.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Iraq's civil war nightmare. For the families of the people who have died since the invasion in 2003, or the thousands more who have been maimed, or those who have been kidnapped, it probably does not matter much what sort of war is going on in Iraq.' (BBC)

Tajikistan: 'TAJIKISTAN: Demolition of country's only synagogue begins.' (Forum 18)

Nepal: 'Nepal opposition leader arrested. A senior Nepalese opposition leader has been arrested, two days after he was released by the Supreme Court.' (BBC)

Palestine: 'Hamas invited to form government. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has asked the militant group Hamas to form a government, following its win in parliamentary elections in January.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Iraq blast wrecks Shia shrine. A large explosion today heavily damaged the golden dome of one of Iraq's holiest Shia shrines, sending protesters pouring into the streets. It was the third major attack against Shia targets in as many days.' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Cartoon Protestors Target Christians. Leaders asked to differentiate between local Christians and Western media. Protesting caricatures of the prophet Muhammad first published in Danish media, thousands of demonstrators in northern Pakistan and Lahore last week destroyed private and public property, at times targeting Christians.' (Compass Direct)

Iran: End anti-cartoon violence. Iran's foreign minister has called for an end to violent protests over cartoons of Prophet Mohammed that have swept across the Muslim world after the images were published in several European newspapers.' (CNN)

India: 'India begins bird flu cull. Worst case economic cost is $4.4 trillion. Indian health officials and farm workers have begun culling hundreds of thousands of chickens in a bid to stave off the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus.' (CNN)

Pakistan: 'Pakistanis defy cartoon rally ban. Police in the Pakistani capital have used tear gas to disperse people who defied a ban on protests over cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Hamas unrepentant as Israel imposes sanctions. Israel has imposed sanctions on the Palestinians after President Mahmoud Abbas charged Hamas with forming a government. Ehud Olmert, the acting Israeli Prime Minister, said: "The Palestinian Authority is in practice becoming a terrorist authority. We will not agree to this."' (Independent)

Sri Lanka: 'Sri Lanka rebels leave for talks. A team of Tamil Tiger rebels are due to leave for Geneva for crucial talks with Sri Lanka's government, officials say.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Israel cabinet to discuss Hamas. The Israeli cabinet is considering what action to take should the militant group Hamas assume control of the new Palestinian administration.' (BBC)

Iran: 'France: Iran program 'military'. Iran's nuclear activity is a cover for a clandestine weapons program, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has said in France's most direct attack on Tehran in the escalating international dispute.' (CNN)

Pakistan: 'Pakistani gas pipeline blown up. A gas pipeline has been blown up in Pakistan's troubled southern province of Balochistan, officials say.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'New UK Afghan deployment begins. An enlarged UK deployment to Afghanistan has begun with 150 Royal Marines Commandos arriving in the capital, Kabul.' (BBC)

China: 'China defends internet regulation. China has responded to international criticism of its internet regulations by saying its rules are "fully in line" with the rest of the world.' (BBC)

Israel: 'US and Israel 'try to force new elections by starving Hamas'. Hamas denounced the governments of US and Israel for "interference" and "collective punishment" after it was reported that they were discussing ways of using a halt to funding to oust it from power later this year.' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Two dead in Pakistan anti-cartoon rioting. Thousands rampaged through two cities Tuesday in Pakistan's worst violence against Prophet Mohammed caricatures, burning buildings housing a hotel, banks and a KFC, vandalizing a Citibank and breaking windows at a Holiday Inn and a Pizza Hut' (CNN)

Lebanon: 'Huge Lebanese crowd hails Hariri. Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Beirut to mark the first anniversary of the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Former Nepal PM freed from prison. Nepal's ousted Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been freed from prison, a day after the anti-corruption body that convicted him was outlawed.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Cartoons: Police tear gas protest. Pakistan (AP) -- Police fired tear gas and wielded batons on Monday to stop about 7,000 students protesting the publication of the Prophet Mohammed cartoons from marching on the governor's residence.' (CNN)

Pakistan: 'Pakistanis 'killed in US strike'. Two Pakistani nomad women have been killed after a rocket fired across the border from Afghanistan landed on their tent, Pakistani officials say.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal king faces 'exile or death'. Nepal's King Gyanendra will ultimately be exiled or executed because he has closed the door to any political compromise since seizing absolute power a year ago, the reclusive leader of the country's Maoist rebels said.' (CNN)

Afghanistan: 'Afghan soldiers killed by bombs. At least eight Afghan soldiers have been killed and several wounded by two roadside bombs in Kunar province, according to officials.' (BBC)

Malaysia: Islam-West divide 'grows deeper'. Mr Badawi said many in the West thought Bin Laden spoke for Islam .Malaysia's prime minister says a huge chasm has opened between the West and Islam, fuelled by Muslim frustrations over Western foreign policy. Abdullah Badawi, seen as promoting a moderate form of Islam in largely Muslim Malaysia, said many Westerners saw Muslims as congenital terrorists' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Suicide bombing and riots kill 27 as Pakistan celebrates Muslim festival. At least 27 people were killed and 50 wounded by a suicide bombing and riots that followed in a provincial town in Pakistan during Shia Muslims' holiest festival.' (Independent)

China: 'Chinese democracy activist disappears during protest. A Chinese democracy activist, protesting at being beaten up by government-hired thugs, went missing yesterday after he tried to stage a hunger strike outside Beijing's central leadership compound.' (Independent)

Lebanon: 'Massive cartoon protest in Beirut. half a million Muslims turned a Beirut religious ceremony into a peaceful protest against cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, as Iran and Syria rejected U.S. accusations they were inciting anger over the caricatures.' (CNN)

China: 'Chinese man 'jailed due to Yahoo'. The internet giant Yahoo has been accused of providing China with information that led to the jailing of a second internet writer.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal polls marred by Maoist violence and low turnout. Nepal's first elections in seven years were overshadowed by violence as the army opened fire on protesters, killing at least one. The shambolic vote, on which the isolated King Gyanendra had staked his credibility, failed to quell the doubts over whether he can cling to power in the face of growing public opposition.' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Worshippers die in Pakistan blast. At least 22 people have been killed and many injured in a suspected suicide bomb that struck a religious procession in north-west Pakistan.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: Taliban bomber kills 13 as British troops prepare for Afghan mission At least 13 people were killed by a Taliban suicide bomber in the Afghan city of Kandahar as British troops prepare to move into the restive southern region.' (Independent)

Nepal: 'Nepalis go to polls amid violence. Nine people have been killed in attacks as Nepal votes in a controversial local election a year after King Gyanendra seized power.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Bomb attacks hit Baghdad market. Four people have been killed and 20 injured in twin bombings in a crowded market in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: ''Twelve killed' in Kandahar blast. At least 12 people, mostly policemen, have been killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, officials say.' (BBC)

Yemen: 'USS 'Cole' bombers tunnel out of Yemeni jail. A major international hunt is under way for 23 al-Qa'ida activists who escaped from their prison in Yemen by digging a 460ft tunnel to emerge in the woman's section of a mosque' (Independent)

Egypt: 'Relatives frustrated by lack of news ransack Red Sea ferry firm's offices. After four days of rising frustration, relatives of passengers on the doomed Red Sea ferry, the Al-Salaam '98, rampaged through the offices of the ship's owner yesterday, destroying furniture and setting alight the signs, before Egyptian riot police used tear gas and batons to beat them back.' (Independent)

Nepal: 'Nepal hit by Maoist rebel strike. policeman has been killed and four others injured in a landmine blast in south-western Nepal on the second day of a Maoist strike.' (BBC)

Egypt: 'Relatives of ferry victims storm docks. Relatives of the 1,400 passengers on an Egyptian ferry that sank in the Red Sea stormed the docks in Safaga as rescuers searched for 800 people still missing.' (Independent)

Pakistan: '13 die as bomb hits Pakistan bus. A bomb ripped through a passenger bus in a province of southwestern Pakistan wracked by growing tribal unrest, killing at least 13 people Sunday and wounding 20 others, police said. Some people were still trapped in the wreckage.'

Lebanon: 'Protesters burn consulate over cartoons. Lebanese minister quits as Muslims denounce caricatures. Thousands of protesters packed the streets of Beirut on Sunday, some clashing with security forces and setting the Danish Consulate on fire in anger over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.' (CNN)

Afghanistan: 'Two die in Afghan cartoon protest. Two Afghans have been killed at a rally against cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad, thought to be the first deaths in more than a week of protests.' (BBC)

Egypt: 'Egyptian ferry sinks in Red Sea. A ferry carrying about 1,400 people, most of them Egyptians, has sunk in the Red Sea. Fourteen bodies and 12 survivors have so far been pulled from the sea, Egyptian officials said.' (BBC)

Europe: 'Storm grows over Mohammad cartoons. International storm over cartoon drawings of the Prophet Mohammad published in European media gathered pace across the Islamic world Thursday with angry demonstrations and the shutting down of the EU office in Gaza City.' CNN)

India: 'Doctors in India prosecuted for sex determination, but few convicted. Pressure from the medical community is obstructing action against doctors in India involved in illegal sex determination and selective abortion of female fetuses, government officials said last week, echoing concerns expressed by health activists.' (BMJ)

Afghanistan: 'More Dutch troops for Afghanistan. The Netherlands will send an extra 1,400 troops to southern Afghanistan, after parliament ended six months of wrangling to approve the deployment.' (BBC)

India: 'India airport strike hits fliers. A strike by Indian airport workers has entered its second day today making life difficult for passengers. Workers have been picketing Delhi and Mumbai airports amid tight security. No flights have been cancelled so far.' (BBC)

Indonesia: 'Indonesia hunts for ferry missing. Dozens of people are feared to be still missing after a ferry sank in heavy seas in eastern Indonesia on Tuesday.' (BBC)

Indonesia: 'Tsunami victims' rights 'abused'. The huge global relief effort after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami has trampled on the human rights of many of the survivors even as it tried to rebuild their lives, three aid groups have charged.' (CNN)

Europe: 'Newspapers challenge Muslims over cartoons of Mohammed. Newspapers across Europe yesterday defended what one editor called the "right to blasphemy" by printing Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that have provoked fury in the Arab world.' (Telegraph)

Nepal: 'Maoist rebels attack Nepal town as King promises new elections. Maoist rebels attacked the town of Tansen yesterday on the anniversary of King Gyanendra's seizure of power, as pro-democracy protesters fought police in Kathmandu and other cities around the country.' (Independent)

Nepal: ''Major Maoist attack' At least 16 policemen and three soldiers have been killed in an attack by Maoist rebels in Nepal, reports say.'(BBC)

Nepal: 'Time for King to Relinquish Power. One year after King Gyanendra unilaterally assumed full executive authority, the human rights situation in Nepal has dramatically spiraled downwards, Human Rights Watch said today. It called on the king to return power to an elected civilian government and to resume the role of constitutional monarch assigned to him by the constitution.' (Human Rights Watch)

Indonesia: Scores saved from Indonesia ferry. Rescuers have pulled at least 113 people alive from heavy seas in eastern Indonesia after a ferry sank.' (BBC)