Sydney, Australia (Agencies): The government stood by its tough immigration policy on Monday, a year after it sparked international outrage by turning away a Norwegian cargo ship carrying hundreds of asylum seekers rescued from a sinking ferry.

Pyongyang (Reuters): North Korea sought Japan's help on Monday to kick-start long-stalled talks with the United States and Japan said it would urge the United States to open dialog with the North, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Beijing (Agence France-Presse): The United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage began talks in Beijing on Monday hours after China said it would toughen up rules on missile technology exports, a major cause of Sino-U.S. disagreements.

Johannesburg, South Africa (Agence France-Presse): The biggest conference on the Earth's future got off to a sombre start in Johannesburg on Monday with warnings that the planets ability to sustain human life is shrinking while most of its six billion people are mired in poverty.

The Hague (Reuters): Concerns about Slobodan Milosevic's health could hit the pace of Europe's biggest war crimes trial since World War II after doctors warned he was at risk of heart disease, the Hague tribunal heard on Monday.

Johannesburg, South Africa (Reuters): With a call for an end to the "global apartheid" between rich and poor ringing in their ears, delegates to the Earth Summit in...

Islamabad (Agence France-Presse): The Asian Development Bank on Monday unveiled a three-year US$2.4 billion assistance package for Pakistan, which ADB country director Marshuk Ali Shah said would largely target poverty reduction.

Commack, New York (Reuters): Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan rallied past Juan Ignacio Chela to stun the seventh seed 5-7 6-2 6-2 on Sunday and captured his first career ATP title at the TD Waterhouse Cup.

Kutztown, Pennsylvania (Agence France-Presse): Pak Se-ri staged another final-round charge Sunday, birdying six of the last seven holes, including the last four, to post a three-shot victory at the Betsy King Classic.

Sammamish, Washington (Agencies): Australia's Craig Parry shot a six-under-par 65 to win the WGC-NEC Invitational by four strokes over Fred Funk and fellow Australian Robert Allenby at the Sahalee Country Club on Sunday.