The fourth Group of 20 (G20) summit concluded on June 27 afternoon with leaders of major economies agreeing on a set of targets of fiscal consolidation and measures to ensure a strong, sustainable and balanced growth.

Iranian officials are dismissing newly passed US sanctions against their country, with one parliament member saying that the measures will only backfire against the United States, according to state-run media reports on June 27.

Five troops, including four Norwegians, serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan have been killed, ISAF said on June 28.

Kyrgyzstan is pressing ahead with a referendum on a new constitution despite fears it could inflame ethnic tensions.

The Democratic Republic of Korea's ruling party plans to hold a meeting with its representatives in September, state media said on June 26.

The Group of Eight rich nations focused on recovery from a global economic crisis in their two-day summit but made note of other thorny issues in their final statement issued Saturday.

The G20 is making "serious progress" toward an agreement on new bank capital standards, narrowing differences over key points of the reform package, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said on June 26.

Hundreds of workers tried Friday to shore up two dikes on a river in eastern China as the area dealt with continued deadly flooding, state-run media reported.

Germany's Chancellor has insisted that Europe's leaders are making good progress in talks with the US about how to bolster fragile economic growth.

Federal aid is flowing into rain-ravaged areas of northeastern Brazil and the number of missing has diminished to less than 140, but more than 150,000 people remained homeless or displaced Friday, the government said.