US President George Bush labelled Zimbabwe’s election a sham today as G8 leaders kicked off their annual summit.

The world’s top industrialised nations face pressing financial and environmental troubles at their annual summit tomorrow, confronted with demands they reinvigorate the stumbling world economy, push ahead languishing climate change talks, and make good on pledges to battle poverty and hunger.

Climate change, soaring oil prices and possible steps against Zimbabwe were high on the agenda as leaders from the Group of Eight economic powers gathered in Japan for their annual summit.

Roaming bands of government supporters heckled, harassed and threatened people into voting in a run-off election in which Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate, ensuring he will remain in power despite international condemnation of the balloting as a sham.

Millions could face poverty, disease and hunger because rising temperatures and changing rainfall are expected to hit poor countries the hardest, the World Health Organisation warned today.

Millions could face poverty, disease and hunger because rising temperatures and changing rainfall are expected to hit poor countries the hardest, the World Health Organisation warned today.

Former US Vice President Al Gore and U2 frontman Bono offered measured praise today for efforts in tackling climate change and global poverty, but warned that conditions were not improving as much as they could.

JAPAN took over the presidency of the Group of Eight club of the world’s leading economies yesterday, with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda vowing to put a focus on climate change and environmental issues.

German chancellor Angela Merkel today said the Group of Eight had agreed on a plan calling for "substantial cuts" to greenhouse gas emissions.

The Group of Eight world leaders start their first day of joint talks in Germany today with tough issues like climate change and possible independence for Serbia’s Kosovo province in front of them.

Protesters clashed with riot police today as tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the German city of Rostock to protest the upcoming Group of Eight summit.

US President George Bush, seeking to blunt international criticism of the US record on climate change, today urged 15 major nations to agree on a global emissions goal for reducing greenhouse gases by the end of next year.

The foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed today to increase cooperation after meeting with Group of Eight counterparts concerned that acrimony between the two neighbours is helping the Taliban inflict mounting losses on NATO troops and Afghan civilians.

Germany’s finance minister warned against expecting a fast agreement on how to make hedge funds more transparent as he hosted a meeting of his Group of Eight counterparts outside Berlin.

The world’s biggest industrial countries are failing to keep up with financial promises they made to Africa, rock star Bono said, calling a new progress report “a cold shower” for the Group of Eight.

The world’s biggest industrial countries are failing to keep up with financial promises they

THE UN’s top climate change official says the EU has sent a “very encouraging” signal to developing countries by committing itself to bold measures against global warming.

Concerns about global warming and resolving the seemingly endless tensions in the Middle East are set to dominate the agenda of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown today said institutions like the Group of Eight leading nations, the UN and the International Monetary Fund must reform to reflect a “new world order” in the global economy.

Pope Benedict XVI tonight lent his support to the G8 summit declaration on the Middle East, which blamed the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah for the escalation in fighting and which urged Israel to exercise restraint.

Not realising his remarks were being picked up by a microphone, US President George Bush told Tony Blair today that Syria should press Hezbollah “to stop doing this sh*t".

Iran will respond in mid-August to the Western incentives for a rolling back of its nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today.

More than two million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV, almost all in sub-Saharan Africa where there is no access to treatment and death is virtually guaranteed, seven leading child advocacy organisations said in a report yesterday.

A resurgent Russia will open its chairmanship of the Group of Eight this weekend when finance ministers from the world’s wealthiest nations convene in Moscow for a day of oil-focused talks.

President Vladimir Putin today dismissed calls for Russia’s dismissal from the Group of Eight as a product of a Cold War mentality and said leaders of the G-8 nations support Russia’s presidency.

Russian and Ukrainian officials aimed to resume negotiations tonight on resolving a price dispute that led to a cut-off of Ukraine’s natural gas supply, but Russia gave no indication it was in the mood for compromise.

European buyers of Gazprom’s natural gas today said they were receiving full supplies after the Russian monopoly increased shipments through Ukraine.

Russia’s state-controlled OAO Gazprom natural gas monopoly today accused Ukraine of diverting about $25m (€21m) worth of Russian gas intended for customers in other European countries, Russian news agencies reported.

The stand-off between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies sent a shiver running through western European countries fearing they may become innocent victims of the dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom halted sales to Ukraine today in a price dispute.

Asian leaders expressed shock and dismay today over the bomb attacks in London that killed dozens of people as the world’s most powerful leaders met at the G8 summit in Scotland. From China to Malaysia to Australia, leaders urged greater cooperation in fighting terrorism.

President Hu Jintao will attend the summit of leaders of the Group of Eight major economies in Scotland in July, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said today.

U2's lead singer Bono will visit European Union headquarters later this week to appeal to EU leaders to cancel debts, double aid and make trade fair for the world's poorest nations, EU officials said today.

World leaders meeting in Egypt today focused on Israel, the Palestinians and what is seen as a chance to jump start the peace process, before shifting focus to Iraq.

World leaders meeting in Egypt focused on Israel, the Palestinians and what is seen as a chance to jump start the stalled peace process today, with plans to shift the focus to another Mideast hotspot – Iraq – later in the day.

Declaring that high oil prices are a threat to the global economy, the world’s industrialized countries urged producers to provide price relief by boosting supplies.

World leaders closed their annual summit today by pledging a united effort to rebuild Iraq and fight the threat of nuclear weapons in Iran and North Korea.

PRESIDENTS George W Bush and Jacques Chirac smiled for the cameras yesterday at the start of a Group of Eight summit overshadowed by the US-French clash over the Iraq war and concern over Washington’s next moves.

Despite the destruction of most of its bases in Afghanistan, the al-Qaida terror network remains a serious threat, with sleeper cells and agents who “are always ready to act,” the world’s top justice and interior ministers said tonight.

She’s done it so many times, it takes Chiara Cassurino only a few minutes to get ready.