China sends Vice-President Xi Jinping to North Korea in an apparent push for progress in nuclear talks.

Russia's Supreme Court upholds the life sentence against the only man convicted over the Beslan school siege.

North Korea's parliament replaces the country's prime minister without giving a reason, reports say.

The Spanish government's decision to engage in dialogue with ETA draws a mixed response. And there is a sit-in in the Ukrainian parliament. Elsewhere, there is concern over the shape of Slovakia's next government.

Artem Krechetnikov examines how Soviet leaders chose the Mikhail Gorbachev to lead the Soviet Union.

North Korea is marking the 62nd birthday of its leader Kim Jong-il with its usual fare of eulogising speeches and congratulatory editorials.

Europe's papers question the wisdom behind the French bill banning Islamic headscarves from schools.

Tony Blair is to meet with French and German leaders ahead of official talks on the European constitution.

A deal on the draft European constitution is "highly desirable" but life would go on without one, says Jack Straw.

The draft European constitution is unacceptable to the UK without key changes, says the MP who helped draw up the document.

Separatists in the Indonesian province of Papua have been marking their would-be independence day.

Elaheh Kulai is one of 11 female MPs in Iran's 290-seat parliament.

There appears to be little public enthusiasm for the draft European constitution published this week, though politicians have been lining up to attack or defend it.

The draft EU constitution continues to attract comment across Europe's newspapers, and the French press ponders the public mood as industrial action causes serious disruption again.

Reaction to the EU draft constitution is muted in papers across Europe, but many note the removal of the word 'federal'.

The proposed future political structure of the European Union continues to attract comment. "Pragmatism" is said to have replaced "no" as the operative word in Paris in dealings with the US. And Russian papers express anxiety over the Sars virus.

Seven Indonesian soldiers are found guilty over the 2001 killing of a prominent Papuan independence leader.

China's parliament is set to approve a new leadership, including Party chief Hu Jintao as president.

A third of Iranian MPs call for the foreign minister to be impeached after he had talks with his Iraqi counterpart in Tehran.

The first draft of an EU constitution is met with sharp criticism over use of the word "federal" and plans for foreign and economic policy.