The news

Bouldering World Championships Chamonix 2003, the finalists

Ines Papert climbs Basic Instinct 8a+ at the Schattenwand, Berchtesgaden, Germany

Josune Bereziartu sends Na-Nai 8c+ at the Baltzola Cave, Spain

A recent agreement between China and India could signal the start of improving relations between the two countries.

Muriel Sarkany and Alexandre Chabot win the World Cup Difficulty in Lecco

Frenchman Jerome Meyer wins ahead of Chris Sharma and Serik Kazbekov

The Russian Olga Bibik wins in Lecco ahead of Ioulia Abramtchouk (RUS) and Myriam Motteau (FRA).

Intense heat marked the start of the Women's World Cup in Lecco

Tomasz Olesky and Anna Saoulevitch win the fourth stage of the Speed World Cup 2003 in Lecco

British climber Steve McClure has made the first ascent of the extension to Raindogs, 9a at Malham Cove, England. The new sports climb is called Rainshadow.

The fourth Mountaineering - Grignetta d’Oro Awards Ceremony gets underway in Lecco, Italy this weekend. The two-day meeting marks the start of the highly anticipated, week-long mountaineering festival, which includes the World Cup Difficulty, Speed and Bouldering competitions.

On 17/06 Denis Urubko, Dima Chumakov, Maksut Jumaiev and Vassilly Pitsov, members of theInternational Pakistan Expedition 2003, reached the summit of Nanga Parbat 8125m.

Salavat Rakhmetov and Sandrine Levet win the second stage of the Bouldering World Cup 2003.

On 16 June Tomaz Humar departs for the immense Rupal Face, Nanga Parbat, Pakistan

n Wednesday 11 June the week-long Mountaineering Festival, due to take place in Lecco from 21-29 June, will be officially presented in Milan.

Alexandre Chabot and Chloè Minoret win the second stage of the World Cup Difficulty 2003 in Yekaterinburg, Russia