Focus of this week

Asia on Obama´s mind

-- Up first, Asia on his mind. With Japan calling for change and sensitive issues with China looming large, Barack Obama sets out to re-assert America´s position in the region.

Related: Obama´s visit to highlight emphasis on Asia

Rampant tourism threatens Venice

-- Troubled waters. Rising sea levels and unsustainable tourism threaten the centuries-old reign of the Queen of the Adriatic.

Related: Venice "under water" after worst floods for 20 years

Fort Hood shootings: The war at home

-- The war at home. The shootings at Fort Hood raise new painful questions about America´s strategy in Afghanistan.

Related: Army psychiatrist fatally shoots 12, wounds 31 at Fort Hood

Recent Hightlight

Ecuador´s green experiment

-- Ecuador´s green experiment. Sustainable tourism trumps oil exploitation at Yasuni National Park.

Related: Live Yasuni, Ecuador

Climate change

-- Up first, forecast, cloudy. National interests and political power heat the debate on climate change ahead of Copenhagen.

Related: Climate change introduction

China´s concern over population aging

-- Turning gray gracefully. China looks for the silver lining in the cloudy issues concerning an aging population.

Related: Day for elderly raises concerns over ageing, pensions

Bloody sunday in Iraq

-- Bloody Sunday. Twin bombings are the latest in suspected al-Qaeda and sectarian violence to shatter Iraqi dreams of peace.

Related: Rio Group condemns deadly bombing attacks in Iraq