New York  - Russia submitted a new draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, which it claimed reflects the six-point plan worked out by France to end the conflict in Georgia.

The Russian draft was aimed at countering another draft resolution already under discussion by the 15-nation council, calling for an immediate and unconditional end to hostilities in Georgia and for Russia to end its military occupation.

The draft being discussed by the council supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

New York, Aug 20 : The new leadership in Pakistan – mainly PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif – will have to show personal courage and broad political support to clean up its armed forces and intelligence agency ISI of the elements which have in the past killed Indian diplomats in collaboration with armed Islamic extremists.

India's top cigarette firm, ITC Limited has informed that its US-based wholly-owned arm ITC Infotech has acquired US-based Pyxis Solutions.

New York  - Wachovia Corp reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with regulators and governments on Friday, joining the banks settling allegations they improperly urged customers to buy a type of bond that fell apart in conjunction with the subprime mortgage crisis.

Wachovia will buy back from customers 8.5 billion dollars worth of auction-rate securities - a type of bond without a set interest rate for which rates are instead set at periodic auctions.

New York  - Serbia submitted a request on Friday for the UN General Assembly to debate Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and for the body to ask the UN world court to rule on the issue.

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Belgrade would respect and abide by an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague on whether Kosovo's declaration of independence in February was legal under international law.

New York  - UN special envoy for Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari was to leave Friday for a five-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation for talks on improving democracy in the military government there.

"Mr Gambari looks forward to returning to Myanmar to continue his consultations with the government and other relevant parties in the implementation of the good offices entrusted to the Secretary General by the UN General Assembly," UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.