Main news of July 13

WORLD

* Kazakhstan is not opposed to the possible opening of a new Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan and welcomes measures to strengthen security in the region, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said

* Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called on Monday his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev's visit to South Ossetia "immoral" and "despicable"

* Italian justices of the peace went on strike on Monday over dissatisfaction with working conditions, the Italian ANSA news agency reported

* Five of the six parties to the Nabucco gas pipeline project signed on Monday an intergovernmental agreement on the transit of Caspian gas to Europe, skirting Russia

* At least 11 people died and dozens were wounded as a bomb exploded in an Islamic school in Pakistan's second largest province of Punjab on Monday, national media said

* Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has announced that he will dissolve parliament next week, with elections scheduled for August 30, the Kyodo News agency reported

* Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called on the United States to withdraw its "gringo" troops from its airbase in Honduras to protest the recent coup in the Central American state

* South Korea's YTN said on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has pancreatic cancer, while a leading dissident said North Koreans are fleeing the country amid severe food shortages

* The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed on Monday a proposal by the EU foreign policy chief that the UN should recognize Palestinian statehood, if the two sides failed to reach a deal, Israeli media said

* The launch of space shuttle Endeavour has been put back once again until later on Monday due to bad weather around the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, NASA said

RUSSIA

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that Russia had successfully test-launched a strategic missile from a submarine

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in South Ossetia on Monday on his first visit to the former Georgian republic, recognized as independent by Russia last August

BUSINESS

* The Russian government approved on Monday three economic development scenarios for 2010-12, accepting the moderate scenario as the basis for budget forecasts for the next three years

* Gazprom has adjusted its investment program for this year to 775 billion rubles ($23.5 billion), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said

* Bulgaria has put two major energy projects with Russia on hold until the country's new prime minister-designate Boiko Borisov has carried out a review of outstanding projects, a business daily said