* The international community can fight terrorism effectively only by consolidating its efforts, Boris Gryzlov, the speaker of the lower house of Russia's parliament, said on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, in which about 3,000 people had died
* Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II awarded Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref with the 2nd degree Order of Saint Pious Prince Daniil of Moscow for his contribution to the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Kaliningrad, Russia's exclave on the Baltic Sea
* A new cathedral in Kaliningrad in Russia's westernmost region will contribute to friendship in the Baltic Sea area, President Vladimir Putin said
* Russia expects to swap the second tranche of its Soviet-era commercial debt by November, the Finance Ministry said
* Iran's top nuclear negotiator and the EU foreign policy chief said they had made progress at talks over Tehran's uranium enrichment program
* Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova won her first U.S. Open title Saturday night, beating second seed Justin Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4
