Hundreds of villages in Atlantic Canada that depend on seal hunting for much of their livelihood are already feeling a sharp economic pinch from a European ban on seal products that went into effect last month.

There is a time bomb ticking under the world, but its leaders seem not to be aware of it. This bomb is different from any that war, terrorism and the movies have made us familiar with, because it cannot be defused at the last moment. This one has to be defused as soon as we hear it ticking. Otherwise, the countdown becomes unstoppable. All we can then do is run for shelter.

Russia complained about a major Chinese river project on Monday which it says will harm the Russian environment, the latest sign of strained relations between the two countries.

In a statement, Russia's Environment Ministry expressed "serious concern on information about the continuation of construction in China of drainage canals, which may make the river Argun shallow on Russian territory."

Russia plans to ban the production and sales of powerful incandescent bulbs in 2011 that will save energy, according to economic development minister Elvira Nabiullina, chairperson of the task force for energy efficiency. Incandescent bulbs above 100 Wt would no longer be produced, which will save 10 to 20 per cent electricity, Nabiullina said.

George Joseph / Kochi July 15, 2009, 0:52 IST

Russia has dealt a blow to Indian marine product exporters by banning imports from India. The ban has come into effect from the beginning of this month.

The Group of Eight rich nations and the G5 of emerging economies were among 40 nations and organizations represented at a three-day summit to discuss recession, climate change, trade and food security.

Below is a comparison between aims going in to the meeting and the results achieved.

EMISSIONS CUTS

President Obama has enlisted the world

The G8 agreed on Wednesday to try to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent, but it failed to persuade China and India to join a bid to halve world emissions.

With only five months until a new U.N. climate pact is due to be agreed in Copenhagen, climate change organizations said the G8 had left much work to be done and ducked key issues.

G8 leaders were due to agree a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels at a summit in Italy on Wednesday.

Here are some facts about the target, previously adopted by European Union nations and due to be widened to the United States, Russia, Japan and Canada.

2 DEGREES DOESN'T SOUND MUCH?

A plan by G8 industrial countries to boost food security through increased farming investment is important and timely, and should not only focus on production but also on addressing hunger and malnutrition, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday.