Main news of July 23

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* Russia and the United States have agreed on the text of a deal on child adoptions that has been under discussion since April, the Russian Education and Science Ministry said

* President Dmitry Medvedev called on Italian companies to cooperate in the Russian hi-tech sector, including in the Skolkovo research hub, during his visit to Italy

* Israel has agreed to release three Turkish ships that were seized as they attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in late May, national media said

* Russia and Italy have called for the resumption of direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said

* North Korea threatened "physical response" to U.S. and South Korean military drills to be held July 25-28, a North Korean spokesman said

RUSSIA

* The Russian government approved an agreement to allow visa-free travel to Russia for Colombian nationals

* The Peruvian Defense Ministry and Russian state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport have signed a contract for the sale of eight Russian-built helicopters to the South American country, the Russian company said

* July 2010 has become the hottest month on record in Moscow, a source in the city's meteorological bureau said

* Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Russian Urals city of Chelyabinsk where he will hold talks on the development of the country's metals industry and visit several plants

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has introduced a bill concerning arrears in salary, retirement benefits, scholarships and other payments to the lower house of Russia's parliament, the Kremlin's press service said

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill enforcing a zero alcohol limit for drivers, the Kremlin said

DEFENSE

* Russia and NATO are discussing the possible delivery of 27 Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan, NATO Military Committee Chairman Giampaolo di Paola said

* Test launches of Russia's ill-fated Bulava ballistic missile will resume in August or September, a high ranking Russian Navy official said