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news.bbc.co.uk — A U.S. Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid has arrived in the Georgian port of Poti, where Russian troops are still deployed. The U.S.S. Mount Whitney is the third US ship to deliver aid to Georgia since its conflict with Russia last month, but the first to dock at Poti. Poti was bombed by Russian forces when they entered Georgia, and several ships in the port were sunk. Russian said such a large warship was not suited delivering aid. The U.S.S. Mount Whitney, flagship of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, is the latest of three vessels sent by the US to deliver blankets, hygiene kits, baby food and other supplies to Georgia after its brief war with Russia.

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time.com — President Bush's top defense advisers have recommended he maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq until the end of the year contrary to expectations that the improved security in Iraq would allow for quicker cuts. Military leaders said that the closely held plan would send a small Marine contingent to Afghanistan in November to replace one of two Marine units expected to head home then. If Bush follows the recommendations, he would delay any additional buildup in Afghanistan until early next year, when another brigade would be deployed there instead of to Iraq.

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news.bbc.co.uk — U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney has condemned what he called Russia's "illegitimate" attempt to change Georgia's borders last month. Mr Cheney added that Russia's actions during the recent conflict with Georgia had cast doubt on its reliability as an international partner. He also said the U.S. was fully committed to Georgia's efforts to join NATO. Mr Cheney was in Tbilisi a day after the US announced a $1 billion aid package to help rebuild Georgia.

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iht.com — President Bush proposed $1 billion in humanitarian and economic assistance to help rebuild Georgia after its short, disastrous war with Russia last month, but he stopped short of committing the United States to re-equipping its battered military. Bush announced the infusion of aid as Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Baku, Azerbaijanin, on what he described as a demonstration that the United States had "a deep and abiding interest" in keeping Georgia and other neighboring states free from a new era of Russian domination. The aid — along with Cheney's high-profile visit to a region the Russians call "the near abroad" — is sure to inflame tensions further.

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news.bbc.co.uk — European Union leaders have agreed to suspend talks on a new partnership agreement with Moscow until Russian troops have withdrawn from Georgia. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was clear it could not "continue as if nothing had happened," after an emergency summit in Brussels. The EU also condemned Russia's move to recognize the independence of Georgia's regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia said the talks suspension had damaged the credibility of the bloc.

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nytimes.com — In the first major oil deal Iraq has made with a foreign country since 2003, the Iraqi government and the China National Petroleum Corporation have signed a contract in Beijing that could be worth up to $3 billion, Iraqi officials said. Under the new contract, which must still be approved by Iraq's cabinet, the Chinese company will provide technical advisers, oil workers and equipment to help develop the Ahdab oil field southeast of Baghdad, according to Assim Jihad, a spokesman for Iraq's Oil Ministry. The 22-year contract is a renegotiated version of a 1997 agreement between China and Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The original contract included production-sharing rights, but under the new contract China will be paid for its services but will not share in profits.

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iht.com — Three months ago, President George W. Bush reached a long-sought agreement with Russia intended to open a new era of civilian nuclear cooperation and sent it to Congress for review. Now, according to administration officials, Bush is preparing to scrap his own deal. The imminent collapse of the nuclear deal, once a top Bush priority, represents the most tangible casualty so far of the deteriorating relations with Russia after its brief war with neighboring Georgia. Vice President Dick Cheney is heading to Georgia next week, and Bush is poised to announce about $1 billion in economic aid to the country, the officials said.

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news.bbc.co.uk — Georgia has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, days after Moscow recognized the independence of Georgia—s two breakaway regions. Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said his ministry had received its instructions and —the final decision has been made.— The move came after another day of heated exchanges over the provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over the issue earlier this month.

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usatoday.com — The United States is spending more money than ever on private security contractors in Iraq as thousands of troops return home amid steady declines in insurgent attacks, federal records show. This year, spending on contractors, who protect diplomats, civilian facilities and supply convoys, is projected to exceed $1.2 billion. Most of that bill — about $1 billion — is State Department spending, which is up 13 percent over 2007. The remaining $200 million covers Pentagon contracts. Congress is raising concerns about the costs of relying on contractors for that work and the challenges of ensuring that they are supervised properly.

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news.bbc.co.uk — Seven of the world's leading industrialized nations have jointly condemned Russia's decision to recognize Georgia's breakaway regions. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S. and U.K. said Moscow's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia violated Georgia's integrity and sovereignty. Earlier, the U.K.'s foreign secretary said Western countries should re-examine their relations with Russia. David Miliband also warned Russia not to start a new Cold War. Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, Mr Miliband said Moscow had not reconciled itself with the new map of the region and that the West should look at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas.

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