- 23:48 08/07/2009
The Group of Eight rich nations pledged to honor earlier commitments to provide aid to Africa despite the ongoing economic crisis, in a joint statement released after the first day of their summit
- 22:45 08/07/2009
Russia refuses to back a target of an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 proposed by other Group of Eight countries, a Kremlin aide said after the first day of the G8 summit in Italy
- 20:41 08/07/2009
At least 43 people have died over the past few days after consuming illegally produced toxic drinks in India's Gujarat state, where an alcohol prohibition law is in force, national media reported on Wednesday.
- 20:02 08/07/2009
Police in west China's riot-hit city of Urumqi have urged residents to remain in their homes, the China News Service said on Wednesday.
- 19:06 08/07/2009
A dead animal lying in a road in the German state of Lower Saxony turned out to be a drunk badger taking a nap, a German online paper said on Wednesday citing police in Goslar.
- 18:52 08/07/2009
Italy is unlikely to be expelled from the G8 and replaced by Spain, although it has been sloppy with preparations for the upcoming G8 summit this week, a leading correspondent at an Italian daily said on Wednesday.
- 18:30 08/07/2009
The leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations began their summit in the Italian town of L'Aquila on Wednesday with a working lunch.
- 18:12 08/07/2009
A bottling plant opened by U.S. soft drink giant PepsiCo outside Moscow on Wednesday is expected to reach full capacity in three to four years, the company's top executive said.
- 17:40 08/07/2009
Russia urges North Korea to immediately return to the six-nation talks on its nuclear program, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
- 17:30 08/07/2009
Georgian parliamentary committees began considering amendments to simplify visa rules on Wednesday.
- 17:23 08/07/2009
A third task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet will arrive in late July in the Gulf of Aden to ensure security in the pirate-infested waters, a Navy official said on Wednesday.
- 17:06 08/07/2009
The leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations began their summit in the Italian town of L'Aquila on Wednesday with a working lunch.
- 16:32 08/07/2009
India is satisfied with the performance of Russian Su-30MKI fighters, despite a crash in April, and plans to double the number in service with the air force by 2015, the defense minister said on Wednesday.
- 16:08 08/07/2009
Washington has frozen its missile defense plans for Europe and could subsequently review them, a senior Russian MP said on Wednesday, commenting on the U.S.-Russian presidential summit in Moscow.
- 15:50 08/07/2009
The Russian Orthodox Church is waiting for the Vatican to give a "signal" that it is ready to take relations to a new level and move away from past disagreements, a spokesman told journalists Wednesday.
- 15:32 08/07/2009
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has made a rare public appearance at a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of his father, Kim Il-sung, the country's founder
- 15:25 08/07/2009
A new round of strategic arms reduction talks between Russia and the United States could begin as early as next week, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday.
- 15:04 08/07/2009
Officials in the southwestern Chinese city of Meishan have been banned from having extramarital affairs, the China Daily paper said on Wednesday.
- 14:48 08/07/2009
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Italy on Wednesday to attend a Group of Eight summit in the earthquake-stricken city of L'Aquila.
