1.   Earlier this month the northeastern region of Fruili Venezia Giulia confirmed its joint bid with bordering regions in Austria and Slovenia.

2.   Xinjiang separatists are believed to draw inspiration, help and even weapons from Islamic groups in newly independent former Soviet states that border the region.

3.   Uganda sends more troops to border Kisaga regions, Shaban Bantariza told AFP.

4.   Rangoon has proposed development aid to border regions dominated by armed ethnic insurgent groups in exchange for ceasefire accords.

5.   Russian border guards in Tajikistan killed three drug smugglers Friday in the rugged Afghan border region south of Dushanbe, it was learned Saturday.