Top Sri Lankan editor shot dead
The editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper often critical of the government is shot dead in the commercial capital, Colombo.

India IT firm faces scandal probe
Satyam faces an investigation and sees its stock suspended after its boss quit over an accounting scandal.

India in US 'missile shield talks'
India has been holding initial talks with the US over the purchase of its missile defence shield, a UK newspaper says.

Army 'takes more Tiger territory'
Sri Lankan troops say they have taken more territory from Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

India accuses Pakistan on gunman
India accuses Islamabad of "consistent flip-flop" after confirmation that Mumbai gunman Ajmal Qasab is Pakistani.

Everest trip helps critically ill
Blood oxygen levels recorded on a trip by medics to Everest could help the treatment of critically ill patients.

Afghan foetus 'aborted by razor'
The family of a 14-year-old Afghan rape victim are accused of removing her foetus using a razor without anaesthetic.

Dozens killed in Afghan fighting
Coalition forces say they have killed about 50 insurgents in Afghanistan, amid reports of dozens of civilian casualties.

Pakistan sacks security adviser
Islamabad removes its national security adviser hours after confirming the surviving Mumbai gunman is a Pakistani.

Rare purple frog from India filmed for first time
A rare type of frog only discovered in 2003 has been filmed for the first time by scientists.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Shoaib awarded Pakistan contract
Shoaib Akhtar is given a chance to revive his international career after being given a central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Dilshan shines as Sri Lanka win
Tillakaratne Dilshan scores his second century of the game and takes 4-10 as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 456 runs to win the second Test in four days.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Mushtaq cleared for England role
Former Pakistan leg-spinner has received clearance to coach England spin bowlers and also Sussex for three months in the summer.

Diary from Swat
Bodies, beatings and mistrust in Taleban stronghold

'India's Enron'
Indian and world press shocked by Satyam scandal

Kabul winter
Facing the cold is a heated issue in Afghanistan

Bhutto lament
Daughter's rap tribute song to Benazir

Captured 'capital'
Inside the ruined remains of the Tamil Tiger HQ

Kabul misery
Why all the aid has made little impact on Afghan daily life

Nepal PM backtracks in priest row
Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda cancels the appointment of two top priests at the country's holiest Hindu temple after days of protests.

Militants kill Pakistan policemen
Suspected Taleban militants kill three policemen and kidnap three others in north-western Pakistan, officials say.

India IT boss quits over scandal
The boss of Satyam, India's fourth-biggest software firm, resigns after admitting to irregularities in its accounts.

Kashmir stand-off in second week
Efforts by the security forces to remove militants surrounded in a remote area of Indian-administered Kashmir enter an eighth day.

India truck strike begins to bite
Prices of fruit and vegetables start to rise in some Indian cities as a nationwide strike by lorry drivers enters a third day.

New leader takes oath in Kashmir
Young pro-India leader Omar Abdullah is sworn is as the new chief minister of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sri Lanka renews Tamil Tiger ban
Sri Lanka's government re-imposes a formal ban on the Tamil Tigers, which it lifted in 2002 at the start of a six-year truce.

Gurkhas decision delay criticised
The government is criticised over delays in producing a new policy on Gurkha veterans wanting to settle in the UK.

PM accuses Pakistan on Mumbai
The Mumbai attack must have had support from some official agencies in Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says.

Gunmen raid Sri Lanka TV station
Gunmen ransack a Sri Lanka television channel that drew criticism for its recent coverage of the country's civil war.

Democracy returns in Bangladesh
Democratic rule returns to Bangladesh as Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina is sworn in as PM for a second time.

Army 'continues Jaffna advance'
The Sri Lankan army says it has captured the northern-most defensive line of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the Jaffna peninsula.

Air India sacks 'fat' hostesses
India's state-run carrier Air India dismisses nine hostesses who had earlier been grounded for being overweight.

Vote deposes Kashmiri leader
Parliament in Pakistan-administered Kashmir votes out the government after accusing it of mismanagement and corruption.

India truck strike over fuel cost
Millions of trucks in India are off the roads in an indefinite strike, with operators demanding a lowering of diesel prices.

India unveils economic boost plan
Indian authorities unveil a fresh economic stimulus package, including another cut in the country's main interest rate.

Obama's South Asia headache
Ahmed Rashid says 2009 brings S Asia new challenges

Key loss will test Tamil Tigers
A key town falls but Sri Lanka's war is not over

Bangladesh's pioneering surfer
The pioneer promoting surfing in Bangladesh

Full circle in Kashmir
Kashmir feels a sense of deja vu as 2009 dawns

India moustaches 'face the chop'
India moustaches 'face the chop'

Mumbai's pain undimmed
Mumbai tries to come to terms with its loss

Muted festivities for UK troops
UK troops celebrate Christmas in zones of conflict

Divorce - Bhutan style
Why Bhutanese have a different attitude to divorce

Tears as hotels re-open
Two hotels reopen three weeks after the Mumbai attacks