Gist of Fukuda-Bush meeting

Following is the gist of a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and U.S. President George W. Bush on Sunday ahead of the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido. -- Fukuda and Bush reaffirmed a stance to closely cooperate on the North Korean nuclear issue and the issue of its past abductions of Japanese nationals.

NGO forum begins in Sapporo ahead of G-8 summit

Representatives of nongovernmental organizations from more than 30 nations across the world gathered Sunday in Sapporo, Hokkaido, for a three-day forum to discuss the environment, development and human rights ahead of the Group of Eight summit beginning Monday. The 2008 Japan G6 Summit NGO Forum plans to hold about 40 workshops and other sessions through Tuesday, including programs to work out recommendations on poverty issues, organizers said.

Fukuda, Bush agree to cooperate over N. Korea, climate change ahead of G8

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed Sunday to cooperate in dealing with nuclear and abduction issues involving North Korea as well as climate change issues but failed to build consensus on a key climate deal to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At a bilateral meeting held ahead of the Group of Eight summit on Japan's northern main island Hokkaido, the two leaders also agreed to take ''immediate actions'' in dealing with soaring food and oil prices, while Bush said the United States believes in a ''strong dollar'' policy.

Australian tour to skip disputed islands after request by Japan

An Australian tour agency has rerouted a cruise tour from northern Japan to Russia's Far East to skip islands subject to a diplomatic dispute after a request by the Japanese Consulate General in Sydney, according to the agency's website and Japanese government officials. Aurora Expeditions, based in Sydney, said on its website it has decided on a route change, given the sensitive territorial issue between Japan and Russia.

G-8 leaders to support reviewing HIV-related travel restrictions

The Group of Eight nations' leaders are set to agree at their summit from Monday to support moves toward lifting entry restrictions for HIV positive people and are expected to include a clause to that effect in a set of guidelines on health-related issues, sources close to the negotiations said Sunday. The United States and other countries currently with strict visa requirements for HIV positive visitors have expressed cautious positions, but the reference that the leaders will ''support ongoing work to review travel restrictions for HIV positive people'' in the action plan at the three-day summit is expected to help build momentum toward a change.