Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi said Wednesday that the Bushehr nuclear power plant is to become operational in the Iranian month of Shahrivar (August 23 to September 22), the official IRNA news agency reported.

• July 8, 2010

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari is in China this week, making good his promise to visit the “all weather ally” every three months. During his previous trips, his hosts have sent him off to the provinces to see for himself the booming growth there, but this trip may turn out be a lot more productive.

• July 8, 2010

Estonia's consumer price inflation rose to 3.5% in June from 3% in May, Statistics Estonia said Wednesday. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4% following 0.2% increase in May.

• July 8, 2010

Bulgaria aims to limit the cost of the Belene nuclear plant being built by Russia’s ZAO Atomstroyexport to 7 billion euros (.8 billion), Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said.

• July 8, 2010

President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday sought out China’s business leaders for help in developing his country’s ailing energy sector, pointing to nuclear power as a strong area of growth but making no public mention of a deal with China that has alarmed the US and others.

• July 8, 2010

Day.Az interview with Head of Centre for International Policy Analysis at Russia-based Institute of Globalization and Social Movements, Russian political expert Mikhail Neizhmakov.

• July 8, 2010

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin unveiled ambitious development goals for the volatile North Caucasus on Tuesday, promising 400,000 new jobs, an oil center in Chechnya and ski resorts stretching from the Black to the Caspian seas

• July 8, 2010

India and Iran will hold two days of talks on expanding bilateral economic cooperation, beginning here Thursday.

• July 8, 2010