South Asia

Tillakaratne Dilshan was unbeaten on 85 at tea in Colombo
Kumar Sangakkara was on 90 at tea in Colombo today
Kingfisher reported a net loss of 11.52 billion rupees ($208 million) in the three months to March
A convoy of NATO supply trucks driven by Pakistani drivers make their way as they prepare to cross into Afghanistan
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan activists offer prayers during a protest rally in Karachi in 2011, against US drone attacks
The Afghanistan game will serve as a warm-up for Australia's series against Pakistan in the UAE
Pakistan's Junaid Khan (second right) celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Tharanga Paranavitana
Assam state has been worst hit with the massive Brahmaputra river breaching its banks
Salman Butt is considering an appeal against a five-year ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC)
Good monsoon rains are forecast across India in July and August
A poor monsoon in India could hit prices on world commodity markets
Authorities have told India's 29 states to draft plans to shift from thirsty crops such as rice and sugarcane to others
ONGC Onshore Director A. K. Hazarika prepares to break a coconut over a newly-officiated oil well in 2009
Pakistani Shiite Muslims carry the coffins of blast victims during their funeral on the outskirts of Quetta
A Pakistani policeman walks past the wreckage of a destroyed bus after a bomb explosion on the outskirts of Quetta
Men buy and trade currencies at a money market in 2010 in Kabul
The 13 centimetre long worm, which survived for half an hour after it was pulled from the patient's eye
Misbah ul-Haq
Salman Butt
It is very rare for worms to travel from the intestine to the eye

Protester killed in new Bangladesh crimes clashes

Bangladeshi police on Friday shot dead a protester in fresh clashes with thousands of supporters of the nation's biggest Islamic party angered by the ongoing war crimes trials of their leaders.
 

Apple, Microsoft defend Australian pricing at inquiry

Technology giants including Apple and Microsoft on Friday defended their pricing policy in Australia at an official inquiry launched over concerns that they were overcharging customers.
 

Motorbike bomb kills six in Pakistan

A bomb planted on a motorbike killed six people and wounded another 15 on Friday in a crowded Pakistani market in troubled southwestern province Baluchistan, police said.
 

Court lifts media ban on Delhi gang-rape trial

An Indian court overturned a gag order on Friday that prevented media access to the trial of four men charged over the fatal gang-rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi last December, lawyers said.
 

Sri Lanka state media slams UN panel after rights vote

Sri Lankan state media called Friday for the dismantling of the UN human rights chief's office after Colombo was angered by a resolution calling for a probe into alleged war crimes in the island.
 

Putin welcomes China's Xi for landmark talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of strategic agreements.
 

Murder trial Italian marines on way back to Delhi

Two Italian marines flew back to India on Friday to face murder charges, after Rome dramatically reversed a decision that they would not return which had triggered a diplomatic firestorm.
 

Murder charge Italian marines on way to Delhi: India

Two Italian marines charged with murder in India are on their way back to New Delhi after the government in Rome agreed they should return to face trial, the foreign ministry said on Friday.
 

Putin welcomes China's Xi for landmark talks

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks on Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of economic and strategic agreements.
 

Italy says will send marines back to India for trial

Italy said two marines on trial for murder in India would return to the country by Friday, a stunning turnaround after Rome earlier unleashed a diplomatic furore by saying they would not go back.
 

Ton-up Gayle, Chanderpaul put Windies on top

Contrasting centuries by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle tightened West Indies' grip over Zimbabwe on the second day of the second and final Test at Windsor Park on Thursday.
 

Brazil, China to ink deal on trade in national currency

Brazil hopes to sign a bilateral accord with China to promote trade in their national currencies at next week's BRICS summit of the world's five emerging powers, Trade and Industry Minister Fernando Pimentel said Thursday.
 

US drones kill four in Pakistan: officials

US drones fired two missiles at a vehicle in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt Thursday, killing four militants, security officials said.
 

Italy says will send its marines back to India for trial

Italy said two marines on trial for murder in India would return to the country by Friday, in a stunning turnaround after Rome earlier unleashed a diplomatic furore by saying they would not go back.
 

Report urges US spies to shift away from Qaeda focus

A panel of advisors has warned the White House that US spy agencies are too focused on targeting Al-Qaeda militants and need to devote more attention to other threats, a US official said Thursday.
 

Sri Lanka must launch rights abuse probe: UN body

Sri Lanka must launch an in-depth probe into claims that government troops killed 40,000 civilians during a 2009 offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels that ended its three-decade civil war, the UN Human Rights Council said Thursday.
 

Pakistan refugee camp bomb kills 15

A car bomb tore through a Pakistani refugee camp Thursday, killing 15 people including women and children and heightening security fears before a May general election.
 

India's upper house passes tougher rape law

India's upper house on Thursday gave its seal of approval to a new bill toughening punishment for sex offenders, including the death penalty if a victim dies.
 

India upholds death penalty over 1993 Mumbai blasts

India's top court upheld the death penalty on Thursday for a mastermind of the country's deadliest series of attacks and ruled a Bollywood star who bought weapons from the bombers must return to jail.
 

Misbah stars as Pakistan square series

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq led his side to a three-wicket win over South Africa in the fourth one-dayer Thursday, setting up a series decider in the final match in Benoni on Sunday.