Asian news wire - Boston.com

Latest news from the wires:

Beijing residents told to stay home as games open

Giant screens were set up in parks so Beijing residents could share in the glory of their city hosting the lavish Olympics opening ceremony Friday. But in at least one park, security guards shut the gates and shooed people away. (AP, 3:53 p.m.)

Unfazed by bombings, India has an option: peace

With a deadly attack on its embassy in Afghanistan, Pakistani troops clashing with its soldiers in disputed Kashmir and Islamic militants bombing its cities, India has in recent months seemed a country under siege. (AP, 2:42 p.m.)

Shrine clash threatens to tear Kashmir from India

It started as a small demonstration against a plan to build bathrooms and shelters for Hindu pilgrims visiting a shrine in Kashmir. (AP, 12:25 p.m.)

US urges calm in South Ossetia

The United States called Friday for an immediate cease-fire in a conflict between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia. (AP, 12:01 p.m.)

Tibetans exiles in India protest Beijing Olympics

More than a thousand Tibetan exiles held protests in pouring rain Friday in New Delhi, chanting anti-China slogans and demanding freedom for Tibet hours ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. (AP, 11:31 a.m.)

Uranium spill at Japan fuel plant, no injury

A small amount of liquid containing uranium splashed out of a container at a Japanese nuclear fuel plant near Tokyo, slightly exposing two people to radiation, the plant operator said Friday. (AP, 11:31 a.m.)

Beijing couples rush to tie knot on lucky 08-08-08

For over a year, Zhao Gang and Liu Rui had hoped to get married at 8:08 a.m. on China's auspicious triple-eight date Friday. Problem was, so did more than 16,000 other Beijing couples. (AP, 2:22 p.m.)

U.S.-led coalition: 5 Afghan civilians killed

U.S.-led coalition forces "inadvertently" killed four women and a child during a clash with militants in central Afghanistan, the military said Friday. (AP, 6:28 a.m.)

Thailand releases 9 endangered deer

Thailand on Friday released nine critically endangered deer from a species that vanished from the wild three decades ago, in a bid to bring ecological balance to one of the country's national parks. (AP, 6:02 a.m.)

Chinese plane returns to Japan after bomb threat

An Air China passenger jet was forced to return to Japan and four others were delayed Friday after a bomb threat was e-mailed to the airline's Tokyo office, the Japanese Transport Ministry said. (AP, 9:02 a.m.)

Separatist leaders detained in Indian Kashmir

Three top separatist leaders in Indian Kashmir were placed under house arrest Friday to prevent them from leading a march to protest alleged assaults on Muslims, police said. (AP, 8:50 a.m.)

Beijing quiet before opening ceremony

After seven years of buildup and billions of dollars in preparations, world leaders and China's elite gathered Friday for the most lavish opening ceremony in Olympic history. But Beijing residents without a ticket were asked to stay home. (AP, 7:33 a.m.)

3 American protesters detained near Olympic venue

A pro-Tibet group says three American activists have been detained after trying to protest near the venue for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. (AP, 8:50 a.m.)

TRIP NOTEBOOK: Beijing a Bush family homecoming

For one old China hand, the Beijing Olympics are a special homecoming. Oh, and his son -- the leader of the free world -- thinks it's pretty cool to be here with him. (AP, 10:21 a.m.)

Security tightens more as Olympics get under way

Security forces squeezed their grip on China a notch tighter Friday for the start of the Olympics, edging up restrictions in the capital and imposing much tougher ones in a restive Muslim area in the country's far west. (AP, 2:20 p.m.)

Politics, pageantry blend for Bush at Olympics

President Bush reveled in the spectacular opening moments of the Olympics on Friday, but a burgeoning crisis stole some of his attention as Russia and Georgia neared the brink of all-out war. (AP, 5:05 p.m.)

New fighting kills 21 combatants in Sri Lanka

Fresh fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger separatists across Sri Lanka's embattled north killed 17 rebels and four soldiers, the military said Friday. (AP, 3:02 a.m.)

Tokyo hit by mild earthquake, no damage reports

A mild earthquake shook Tokyo on Friday, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. (AP, 3:02 a.m.)

Pakistan army targets militants in northwest

At least 30 militants and seven Pakistani paramilitary troops died in clashes near the Afghan border, where helicopter gunships and mortars pounded insurgent hide-outs Friday, officials and residents said. (AP, 8:41 a.m.)

Security tight on anniversary of Myanmar uprising

Twenty years after it violently suppressed a bid by more than a million peaceful protesters to restore democracy, Myanmar's military junta was on high alert Friday with riot police guarding the country's main city and detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's home. (AP, 3:12 a.m.)

Bush, Chinese leader exchange warm greeting

Speaking on China's turf the very day it hosted the opening of the Olympic Games, President Bush on Friday prodded the communist country to lessen repression and "let people say what they think." (AP, 9:33 a.m.)

British man protests China's record in Hong Kong

A British man was taken away after unfurling banners that denounced China's human rights record on a major bridge in Hong Kong ahead of the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony Friday. (AP, 1:11 a.m.)

Musharraf allies warn impeachment could be messy

The party of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif said Friday it is rejoining the Cabinet, a gesture of solidarity now that the bickering coalition partners have agreed to seek President Pervez Musharraf's impeachment. (AP, 11:31 a.m.)

Tibetan protesters detained in Nepal

Police in Nepal's capital broke up a protest by Tibetan exiles in front of the Chinese Embassy's visa office Friday, detaining more than 400. (AP, 3:02 a.m.)

Laura Bush meets with Burmese refugees

MAE SOT, Thailand - With a steady downpour outside, Laura Bush sat down inside a small hut near the Thai border with Burma and invited a group of refugees from one of the world's most repressive regimes to tell her what they "would like the people of the world to know" about their situation. (Boston Globe, 12 a.m.)

Another threat on eve of Olympics

URUMQI, China - A Chinese Islamic group that has threatened to attack the Beijing Olympics released a new video warning Muslims to avoid being on planes, trains and buses with Chinese at the games, a US group that monitors militant organizations said yesterday. (Boston Globe, 12 a.m.)