G8 pledges action on food, oil (AFP)

by Shaun Tandon 13 minutes ago TOYAKO, Japan (AFP) - Leaders of the world's eight top industrial powers wrapped up a summit Wednesday with pledges to act on soaring oil and food prices, but failed to bridge deep differences with poor nations on how to fight climate change. US President George W. Bush hailed his last G8 summit, at which rich nations agreed to at least halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as "very productive" before he left the resort venue in the mountains of northern Japan. "I'm pleased to report that we've had significant success," Bush said. Emerging nations invited to attend a special summit on climate change however declined to back the G8's much-touted carbon emissions goals, saying they amounted to empty rhetoric. Leaders grappling with climate change and spiralling prices also made time to... [read full story]