Asia News

KABUL, Afghanistan - The spring fighting season in Afghanistan geared up this weekend with a war of words. Full Story »

KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban declared the start of a spring offensive across Afghanistan on Saturday, warning they would target foreign troops as well as Afghan security forces and top government officials in a wave of attacks including suicide bombings. Full Story »

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire on their disputed border for a ninth straight day on Saturday, both sides said, casting doubt on efforts to end the countries' bloodiest conflict in decades. Full Story »

TAIPEI (AFP) - Thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets on Saturday to protest against a new nuclear power station as safety concerns mounted in the wake of the atomic crisis in Japan, an organiser said. Full Story »

MOSCOW (AFP) - Miki Ando beat favourites Kim Yu-Na and Mao Asada to claim her second world figure skating title on Saturday and dedicated the win to the victims of the quake-tsumami disaster in her native Japan. Full Story »

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Flagship carrier Air India's woes deepened as it was forced to cancel most of its domestic flights by a pilots' strike over pay that entered its fourth day Saturday. Full Story »

KABUL (AFP) - A gunman who opened fire at an air force training centre in Kabul, leaving eight US troops and an American contractor dead, appeared to be acting alone, NATO said Saturday. Full Story »

KOCHI, India (AFP) - Virender Sehwag smashed a 47-ball 80 on a difficult pitch to set up Delhi Daredevils' 38-run win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala in an Indian Premier League match on Saturday. Full Story »

BANGALORE, India (AFP) - Infosys on Saturday named a prominent banker to take charge of India's second-largest software exporter as the firm struggles to boost performance in the face of slow global recovery. Full Story »

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Cairn Energy has warned India that imposing conditions on the sale of the British firm's majority stake in its Indian unit to Vedanta ould kill the deal, a report said on Saturday. Full Story »

GAUHATI, India - A helicopter carrying the chief minister of the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh went missing Saturday in bad weather during what should have been a 75-minute flight, officials said. Full Story »

LAHORE, Pakistan - Police broke up a mob of people armed with sticks that was threatening to attack a church Saturday after word spread that two copies of the Quran had been burned in eastern Pakistan, officials said. Full Story »

BHUBANESWAR, India - Police in eastern India are investigating reports that villagers protesting a noisy stone crushing plant burned to death its three owners and four employees, authorities said Saturday. Full Story »

BANGKOK - Laos held legislative elections Saturday that are expected to sweep in a younger generation of lawmakers but preserve the political status quo, since virtually all candidates owe allegiance to the all-powerful communist party that has ruled for 36 years. Full Story »

PATTANI, Thailand - Thai police say twin attacks blamed on suspected Muslim militants killed two soldiers Saturday and wounded nine others in southern Thailand. Full Story »

TOKYO - Criticism of the Japanese government's handling of the crisis at a radiation-spewing nuclear power plant increased Saturday, with a new poll indicating three-quarters of the people disapprove and a key adviser quitting in protest. Full Story »

TAIPEI, Taiwan - About 2,000 protesters are demanding that Taiwan scrap plans to operate a newly built nuclear power plant and turn the facility into a museum to highlight the dangers of nuclear power. Full Story »

BANGKOK, Thailand - Troops from Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire at the countries' contested border again Saturday, marking the ninth straight day of clashes that have left at least 16 people dead and displaced nearly 100,000. Full Story »