1.   In March, Watanabe led a delegation to North Korea, where Japan and North Korea agreed to resume talks aimed at normalizing relations.

2.   Kyodo News agency, citing unidentified government officials, reported Tuesday that Japan will abandon its yearlong offer to resume talks aimed at establishing diplomatic ties with North Korea.

3.   Muttawakil, the Taliban spokesman, said in talks with Richardson leaders had agreed to resume negotiations aimed at bringing the United Nations back to southern Afghanistan.

4.   The United States and Britain are slated to resume talks aimed at liberalizing air transport between the two countries, the British embassy reported Thursday.