Bill Tarrant

North Korea appears to be making an orderly transition after the death of Kim Jong-il last week, but the risk of collapse is higher than before.

North Korea appears to be making an orderly transition after the death of leader Kim Jong-il last week but the risk of collapse is higher than before.

Thai protesters ignored calls by the government to leave their central Bangkok camp on Monday as troops tightened a security cordon around the area.

US President Barack Obama called on Saturday for a new strategy to rebalance global growth, but leaders took aim at signs of US trade protectionism.

South-east Asian leaders endorsed easier monetary policies and made a stand against protectionism on Sunday as they concluded a summit.

People in Burma were already living on the edge before the government doubled fuel prices, raising the cost of just about everything and shoving many over the precipice. The sudden announcement of fuel price hikes on August 15 became the tipping point of a crisis that had been building for a long time.

United States President George Bush said on Friday the United States would be willing to consider a peace treaty with North Korea if it gave up its nuclear weapons programme. ''We're looking forward to the day when we can end the Korean War.'' Bush told reporters after meeting South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.