WORLD
* A ceasefire has been achieved between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, starting at 7:00 p.m. GMT, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said
* At least 18 people were injured when an explosion hit a bus in central Tel Aviv, Israeli media said
RUSSIA
* Russia is unlikely to reap quick benefits from its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) amid the intensifying gloom engulfing the global economy, President Vladimir Putin said
* A Russian opposition activist facing up to ten years over allegations that he conspired to organize mass disorder was hit with additional charges when investigators accused him of an armed robbery dating from 1997
* YouTube, the video-sharing website, has been take off the blacklist maintained by Russian media and communications watchdog Roscomnadzor
* The Moscow headquarters of two influential human rights groups were vandalized on Wednesday, the first day a controversial new law on non-governmental organizations (NGO) took effect
BUSINESS
* Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called on the troika of international lenders to fulfil their commitments and unlock a much-needed 31.5 billion euro loan for the country, claiming Greece has met its creditors’ austerity demands