Main news of July 8

WORLD

* 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

* Georgia's Interior Ministry accused Russia on Wednesday of increasing the number of reconnaissance missions conducted by spy drones over its territory

* Police in west China's riot-hit city of Urumqi have urged residents to remain in their homes, the China News Service said

* Russia urges North Korea to immediately return to the six-nation talks on its nuclear program, the Foreign Ministry said

* 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

* 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

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Italy on Wednesday to attend a Group of Eight summit in the earthquake-stricken city of L'Aquila

* Georgia dismissed on Wednesday reports that it had resumed reconnaissance flights over Abkhazia

* Incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has a strong lead in Indonesia's presidential election in his quest for another five-year term, exit polls said

* At least 16 people were killed and over 25 injured in a fire that broke out at a fireworks workshop near the city of Madurai in southern India's Tamil Nadu state, the Times of India reported

RUSSIA

* Four militants have been killed and several detained in a special operation in the south Russian republic of Ingushetia, near the border with Chechnya, the Chechen president said

* Russia marked Day of Married Love and Family Happiness on Wednesday, an official holiday which coincides with Peter and Fevronia Day, the Orthodox patron saints of married couples