In the early 1960's Washington was a city on edge and the threat of a nuclear attack wasn't far from the minds of the powerful. More than five decades later, Brooke Wylie, from the ABC bureau in Washington, uncovers some fascinating artefacts buried deep in the corridors of power.

For many of our correspondents, it's the chance encounters along the way, or their observations and personal reactions, that can often be more interesting than the story they're covering. South Asia Correspondent James Bennett found himself halfway up a mountain, talking to a man who, as a young boy, had welcomed freshly-exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to India.

Polyester was a bad choice for the Asian heat, but in the early days, New Zealander Derek Williams didn't know any better. He quickly learnt though and went on to forge a career as a sound man and cameraman that spanned four decades. The Vietnam war, Tiananmen Square, coups in Thailand - Derek Williams was there for all of them. Among his many friends and colleagues was the legendary Australian cameraman Neil Davis. Now, after 40 years, Derek Williams is leaving Asia and our South East Asia correspondent Liam Cochrane sat down for a chat with him about life behind the lens.

Our North America correspondent Conor Duffy has spent six months settling in to Washington DC. U Street today is a thriving inner-city suburb - but for decades after the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King it was a no-go zone. Conor's new neighbours include Virginia and Kamal Ali who run Ben's Chilli Bowl - a Washington landmark visited by Presidents and television stars - it's also one of only three businesses to survive through the turmoil of race riots and the crack epidemic.

Baijiu is China's national drink and last year it sold more than 5 billion litres making it most consumed spirit in the world. It can be up to 70 per cent alcohol and those game enough to try it, liken it to cleaning fluid mixed with cheap perfume.

Manchester was struck by terror this past week - a horrifying attack that targeted the youngest of victims. For so many it felt an all too familiar story - the panic, the tears, the hunt for loved ones and the search for the culprits. It was also familiar for the ABC's London Bureau which has covered many attacks in the past 18 months. And it's given them pause for thought about how the media covers these atrocities.

Having guests visit is great. But there's a problem: the house is dry. And you can't pop down to the local liquor store. Indonesia Correspondent Adam Harvey has hosted a few visitors recently. It's cost him a fortune, not that he's complaining.

Australian band Midnight Oil has embarked on its first world tour in more than 20 years with shows planned across Australia, America, and Europe. The band - headed by former environment minister, lead singer Peter Garrett - hasn't done a large-scale tour since the 1990s. But now that he's left politics the oils are free to play again, and their social message is once again resonating with fans at a time of global political volatility.

Recent horrific events in Syria have left many asking - what more they can do to help? An Australian-Israeli doctor gives us an insight into an extraordinary program where men, women and children wounded in the Syrian war receive treatment and care from their long time enemy - Israel.

PNG is in election mode. It means colourful campaigns, rallies, and outlandish promises by candidates. Candidates perform stunts and make plenty of promises to end corruption, build sealed roads, and bring services to remote communities, things for which there is simply no money and sometimes no economic justification.