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Europe: Russia Receives Fresh Criticisms
Russia received fresh criticisms, this time from seven of the world's leading industrialised nations for recognising Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The US, the UK, France, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan said in a joint statement that Russia's move violated Georgia's integrity and sovereignty. The latest criticism came days after UK's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that the world should re-examine their ties with Russia. He also warned Moscow not to start a new Cold War. However, Russia already made it clear that was not afraid of anything. "If they want to sustain a good relationship with Russia, they will understand why Moscow recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said recently. EU summit To Focuses On Georgia's Integrity, Development: Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg yesterday said that talks at the upcoming EU summit would be focussed on the territorial integrity and development plans in Georgia after the recent conflict with Russia. He added that the development plan would cover the entire territory of Georgia, including South Ossetia and Abkhasia. The summit will be held on September 1 on the initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. French Leader To Visit Syria: As part of efforts to improve his country's ties with Syria, Sarkozy said that he would visit Damascus on September 3-4. Addressing media, the president noted that he would hold "necessary dialogue" with leaders in the Middle East country. The ties between the two countries plummeted after the assassination of ex-Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri three years back.

Asia, Asia Pacific: Malaysian Opposition Leader Swears In As MP
Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday took oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) before Parliament speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia. Addressing journalists after being announced as the opposition leader, Anwar said, "I was touched and vindicated coming back to Parliament after 10 years. After all that I had gone through in that time, now it feels good to be back, it is my right". Anwar, the former deputy prime minister, was dismissed in 1998 over sodomy and abuse of power charges. ASEAN, India Confirm Trade Pact: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday confirmed a free trade deal in goods with India, almost after five years of negotiations. The final deal is expected to be inked at the group's next meeting this December. "It is an important milestone for our region," India's Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said at a news conference on day three of the meeting. "ASEAN-India trade accounts for only 2% of ASEAN's global trade, so the potential of bilateral economic co-operation...is profound," he added. Arrest Warrants Released Against Thai Protesters: Arrest warrants have been released against nine leaders of an ongoing protest that saw thousands of demonstrators occupying a government compound. Police officials said that they surrounded the complex in the capital, but the demonstrators refused to leave. They added that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ordered to end the protest as soon as possible, however refused any use of force against the protestors. The demonstrators are demanding Sundaravej's resignation saying that he was a proxy for deposed Premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Meanwhile, the government has postponed talks with Cambodia on troops withdrawal from a disputed border following anti-government protests in Bangkok.

Middle East: Israel To Reopen Gaza Crossings Today
Israel is expected to reopen the border crossings with the Gaza Strip today. The Jewish state closed the crossings on August 26, stopping the flow of goods to the Hamas-ruled areas, in response to two rockets attacks from the coastal territory. The rockets that landed in Western Negev caused no casualties or damages. Israel Agrees To Free 64 Palestinian Activists: Officials from Palestinian National Authority and Israel yesterday met over the issue of 64 wanted Palestinian fighters and activists. According to a report, the Jewish agreed to grant amnesty to 64 activists, saying, "Israel pledged to stop chasing down the men and not to intercept them." Jordan, French Firm Form Uranium Mining Partnership: The government of Jordan and French company Areva yesterday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on uranium mining, during Jordanian King Abdullah II's visit to France. Addressing media, head of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, Khalid Touqan, said that the MoU was the declaration of principles, which underlines the guidelines for an agreement on mining in central Jordan. The formal deal is likely to be finalised this September.

Business News

ONGC To Buy Imperial
ONGC, one of India's biggest oil producers would buy UK-listed Imperial Energy for USD 2.6 billion. The deal is expected to expand ONGC's operations and would further improve the growth potential of the business in the Tomsk region of Siberia. The deal would help in the expansion of the energy sector as well. Imperial's interests lie in the Tomsk region of Siberia and it also has access to resource-rich Russian oilfields. According to analysts, ONGC is looking forward to gain oil supplies to increase production. A counter bid for Imperial has been reported by Chinese oil giant Sinopec. State-owned energy giants have been urged by both the Chinese and Indian governments to have an increased access to scarce energy resources.

E.ON To Shed 1,800 Jobs
Germany's largest gas and electricity provider - E.ON - yesterday announced that it was cutting as much as 1,800 jobs as part of its plan to closes almost two-thirds of its domestic service centres in the country. The company said in a statement that it planned to cut its number of call centres from 60 to 20 and that the restructuring process would be carried out over several years. "No one will be sacked. We are looking at partial retirement among other possibilities, "Klaus-Dieter Maubach, chairman of E.ON Energie, told a reporters. "Clearly, it's to save money,'' an analyst said, adding "Germany is increasingly feeling an effect on profits from regulation like grid fees.'' E.ON, the Dusseldorf-based company, deals with several overseas projects and is one of the largest gas and electricity suppliers to the UK.

Marine Safety News
Parties to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990 (OPRC) are required to establish measures for dealing with pollution incidents. A protocol to extend the Convention was adopted in 2000 and entered into force in Japan in June 2007. Pursuant to the 2006 Japanese law relating to Prevention of Marine Pollution and Maritime Disaster, effective 1 April 2008, tankers over 150 gt carrying liquid HNS products including kerosene, naphtha, jet oil, gas oil and noxious substances, when sailing in Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and Seto Inland Sea including Osaka Bay, are required to have access to materials, equipment and experts necessary for the prevention/elimination of HNS spills. The Maritime Disaster Prevention Center (MDPC) can provide these. It is therefore necessary for owners to pre-contract with MDPC.

A New Device Helps Paralysed Walk
People who are paralysed would now be able to walk with the help of a robotic suit called "ReWalk" that has a backpack device and braces on the legs of the paralysed. A remote control wristband would help in selecting the required activity. The robotic legs would be set in motion by leaning forward and the same also helps in activating body sensors. The device has helped many people like former Israeli paratrooper Radi Kaiof who has been paralysed for 20 years. Kaiof says that he never dreamt of walking again but the device has changed his life. An Israeli high-tech company claims the device would alleviate health related problems that are associated with the long time use of the wheelchair.

Cancer Diagnosis Done Via Mail
Madeleine Robb, from Stretford noticed signs of cancer in Rowan Santos's eyes. The diagnosis was done when she was looking at Rowan Santos's first birthday pictures. Madeleine immediately sent an e-mail to the child's mother asking her to seek medical help. It was found that the child suffered from the most rare type of cancer called Retinoblastoma for which the child underwent an operation and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Doctors have said that due to the early diagnosis the chances of survival are greater, although the child would lose her eye. Megan Santos, Rowan's mother thanks Madeleine Robb for saving her child's life.

Football: Champions League: Arsenal Beat Twente
Arsenal 4-0 FC Twente (agg 6-0): Arsenal yesterday beat Steve McClaren's FC Twente 4-0 to reach into the group stages of the Champions League. The first goal came from the boots of GBP 12 million French winger Samir Nasri after 27 minutes. The winners doubled the lead after 52nd minute when William Gallas fired home from close range. Arsenal, runners up in 2006, led 3-0 after 66 minutes as England winger Walcott smartly dodged the opponents' defence and curled a right-foot shot past Twente keeper Nicolay Mihaylov. "It was a big game for us and the response was clear. There was togetherness and focus. That is what we wanted after a result like Saturday when we lost at Fulham," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told media after winning the match. For his part, FC Twente coach Steve McClaren said, "I was sat here on Tuesday and they were talking about a crisis at Arsenal. Someone said it was the best time to play them after they lost to Fulham, but it was the worst time." Other results: Atletico Madrid 4-0 Schalke 04 (agg 4-1), BATE Borisov 1-1 Levski Sofia (agg 2-1), Basle 2-1 Guimaraes (agg 2-1), Dinamo Zagreb 1-3 Shakhtar Donetsk (agg 1-5), Dynamo Kiev 4-1 Spartak Moscow (agg 8-2), FBK Kaunas 0-2 AaB Aalborg (agg 0-4), Fenerbahce 2-1 Partizan Belgrade (agg 4-3), Liverpool 1-0 Standard Liege (agg 1-0) (After Extra Time), Marseille 2-1 SK Brann (agg 3-1), Olympiakos 1-0 Anorthosis Famagusta (agg 1-3), Slavia Prague 0-0 Fiorentina (agg 0-2), Steaua Bucharest 1-0 Galatasaray (agg 3-2). Carling Cup: Blackburn 4-1 Grimsby, Fulham 3-2 Leicester, Huddersfield 1-2 Sheff Utd, Nottm Forest 1-2 Sunderland (After Extra Time), West Ham 4-1 Macclesfield (After Extra Time). Co-operative Insurance Cup: Arbroath 2-2 Inverness CT (Inverness CT win 4-2 on penalties), Ayr 0-1 Aberdeen, Brechin 0-2 Kilmarnock, Hearts 0-0 Airdrie Utd (Airdrie Utd win 4-3 on penalties). Internationals: Friendly: Iran 1 - 0 Azerbaijan. International: Club Friendlies: Real Madrid 5 - 3 Sporting Lisbon.

Tennis: US Open: Keothavong Outclasses Schiavone
Anne Keothavong yesterday beat Francesca Schiavone 6-2 3-6 6-4 to become the first Brit woman to cruise into the third round of the US Open in almost two decades. The 24-year-old outclassed the 25th seed Italian in the first game and claimed the first set in style. However, Schiavone fought back and clinched the second, only to let Keothavong to win the decider round. "Before the match I really believed I had a chance to win," the Briton said, adding "I knew if I could hang in there and just get stuck in then I'd be in with a chance. I came away with the win so I'm pretty pleased with that."

F1: Hamilton To Drive More Conservatively
McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, who is eyeing the Formula One title this year, yesterday said that he would drive more conservatively than in the past to achieve the target. Speaking to reporters, the 23-year-old said that he learnt some useful lessons from the last weekend's race in Valencia that his finished second after Ferrari's Felipe Massa. "I've actually extended my lead in the championship despite losing two points to Felipe," the Briton said, adding, "I'm mentally strong enough to deal with that and I'm more relaxed about it, too. I'm playing a long game."