India automakers see 20-30 per cent rise in August sales
1 September 2010 - Sales at top Indian automakers rose 20 to 30 per cent in August, as analysts expected continued growth driven by strong demand in the festive months ahead. India's festive season starts in early September and peaks in early November after Diwali, the festival of lights. India is Asia's third-largest economy and is slated to grow 8.5 per cent this fiscal year. (more)

India GDP grows most since December 2007
1 September 2010 - India's economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly three years in the April-June quarter on strong manufacturing growth and better farm output. The 31 August data showed annual rate of growth picked up to 8.8 percent from 8.6 per cent in the previous quarter, underscoring continued growth momentum in Asia's third-largest economy amid a slowing pace of global recovery. (more)

Israel hints Jerusalem compromise in peace talks
1 September 2010 - Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday the Jewish state would be willing to hand over parts of Jerusalem in peace talks with the Palestinians to be launched by US President Barack Obama. Defence Minister Ehud Barak's rare comments about the need to partition Jerusalem, which is at the heart of the conflict, could signal a softening of Netanyahu's long-stated refusal to divide the holy city in any final peace deal with Palestinians. (more)

Manufacturing, auto sales show rebound in China
1 September 2010 - Chinese manufacturing and auto sales rebounded in August, suggesting the world's second-biggest economy may not be slowing as quickly as feared. Two surveys released Wednesday showed production, new orders, and purchasing prices all rose in August, with the HSBC purchasing managers index -- a seasonally adjusted index designed to measure the performance of the manufacturing economy -- rising to its highest level in three months. (more)

Russia: Moscow bans night-time vodka sales in health drive
1 September 2010 - Moscow banned night-time sales of vodka and other spirits on Wednesday, part of a nationwide drive to curb crime and disease linked with Russia's national drink. The ban is among a series of tough measures to reduce alcohol abuse ordered last year by President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a fight to slow Russia's persistent population decline. He called alcoholism a 'national disaster' that undermines public health and hampers the economy. (more)

Stocks worldwide surge after strong manufacturing data
1 September 2010 - A manufacturing rebound in China and stronger-than-expected US factory data spurred a jump in equity and commodity prices worldwide on Wednesday, helping start the month on a bright note after a gloomy August. Major stock indexes around the world rallied more than 2 per cent. (more)

Strong Asian data boosts world stocks
1 September 2010 - World stocks kicked off September on a stronger note on Wednesday as data showed a manufacturing rebound in China and stronger-than-expected growth in Australia. China's manufacturing sector staged a moderate rebound in August after slowing for several months while Australia's economy grew at the fastest pace in three years last quarter. (more)

The good news report from Canada 9-12 August 2010
1 September 2010 - Canada's territories have bright economic outlooks ahead, thanks to a rebounding demand for diamonds, gold, and other minerals, according to the latest forecast report from the Conference Board of Canada. The economic think-tank said Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon will 'post strong economic growth this year' as global economies recover from the recession and the demand for mineral commodities bounces back. Also, Canadian Solar, one of the 10 largest makers of solar energy modules in the world, will soon be manufacturing solar modules at a sprawling Guelph facility, creating hundreds of jobs for its residents. For details on these and other Canada news stories: (more)

UK: FTSE posts biggest daily gain in almost two months
1 September 2010 - Mergers and acquisitions among the travel, telecoms, and mining sectors helped Britain's top shares to their biggest daily gain in almost two months on Wednesday, as strong manufacturing data from the US and China boosted sentiment. The FTSE 100 closed up 141.19 points, or 2.7 per cent at 5,366.41, its strongest daily performance since 6 July and extending Tuesday's 0.5 per cent gain. (more)

US efforts in Palestinian-Israeli peace talks - factbbox
1 September 2010 - The Obama administration is hosting Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington this week in an effort to restart direct Mideast peace negotiations after a 20-month hiatus. The following is an outline of the Obama administration's efforts to this point. (more)

US President Obama: Time to turn the page in Iraq
1 September 2010 - President Barack Obama declared an end to the seven-year US combat mission in Iraq on Tuesday and promised recession-weary Americans 'my central responsibility' now is to repair the US economy. President Obama, who inherited the war from President George W Bush and is fighting another in Afghanistan, said he had fulfilled a 2008 campaign promise to end US combat operations in Iraq and declared the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for their security. (more)

US: Stocks soar on economic hopes
1 September 2010 - Wall Street jumped on Wednesday as an increase in US manufacturing activity and new signs of growth in China and Australia boosted investor confidence in the state of the global economy. The three major US stock indexes rose nearly 3 per cent after the Institute for Supply Management's closely watched index showed US manufacturing grew faster than forecast and chalked up a 13th straight month of expansion. (more)

World stocks up on China, Australia economic new
1 September 2010 - World stocks mostly rose Wednesday after strong manufacturing figures from China and forecast-busting economic growth in Australia shored up optimism ahead of a closely watched survey on the US industrial sector. Wall Street rallied ue to better than anticipated economic data from around the world. In China, figures from the state-affiliated China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing showed manufacturing growth up for the first time in four months in August. Investors were also cheered by figures showing that Australia's economy grew a seasonally adjusted 1.2 per cent in the April-June quarter as demand from China and elsewhere in Asia boosted exports of iron ore and other commodities. (more)