North Asia

The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation has called on Washington to give notice as to when it will quit its military bases. The organization is assuming ever greater political significance, not least because of the presence of India, Iran and Pakistan.

Two people are feared to be infected in Indonesia. There are new epidemics among birds in China, Vietnam and Russia west of the Urals. Experts say rapid confirmation of the presence of infection is difficult because of a lack of specialised testing centres in Asia.

The US Health Secretary is on a tour of Southeast Asia, warning of an "inevitable" pandemic; Siberia will cull half a million birds and Israel is considering what steps to take.

A minimal, good result after nearly three years of talks and tensions

Bird flu: an emergency across Asia

After two years of talks, the communist regime has accepted to dismantle its atomic reactors in exchange for oil, energy and humanitarian aid.

Still uncertainty at six-nation nuclear talks

Russian President says that he does not yet have any answer for the 'hard questions" the mothers made in the Kremlin but assures them that "the truth shall be revealed".

Beslan, the days of tragedy (Overview)

In a letter to the President, teachers demand the truth about the massacre be revealed. Children are losing trust in adults, whilst parents suspect the school system of corruption.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the tragedy, Aleksij II invites the faithful to pray and show their solidarity to the survivors. The Metropolitan of Moscow says that "this year's attacks echo the one in Beslan".

Beslan: amid the official clamour, families fast in silence