World News Briefs -- August 27, 2009 (Evening Edition)

In a photograph made avaliable by Albany Associates in 2008, General Martin Luther Agwai, Force Commander of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), pauses during a speech in Darfur, Sudan. There is no more war in Darfur, according to the outgoing military commander of the joint UN-African Union (UNAMID) peacekeeping force in the western Sudan region. (AFP/HO/File/Stuart Price)

Darfur War Over At Least For Now Says Departing UN Chief -- Yahoo News/AFP

KHARTOUM (AFP) – There is no more war in Darfur, according to the outgoing military commander of the joint UN-African Union (UNAMID) peacekeeping force in the western Sudan region.

"As of today, I would not say there is a war going on in Darfur," Martin Luther Agwai told correspondents.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Palestinians say full settlement freeze is precondition to new peace talks.

'No foreign link' in Iran unrest.

Iran’s factional disputes grow increasingly bitter.

Police: Iraqi forces recover stolen Picasso. Doubts cast on authenticity of Picasso in Iraq.

Iran nuclear expansion 'stalled'.

ASIA

Afghans in greatest danger since Taliban fell: Amnesty.

Afghanistan election results on hold for at least two days.

Japan on brink of change.

Taiwan president approves Dalai Lama visit.

China moves to cut use of executed inmates' organs.

A car bomb in Southern Thailand and other recent trends.

Should a Muslim mother be caned for drinking a beer?

AFRICA

New peacekeeping mandates needed for LRA hunt: UN.

Somali pirates fire on U.S. helicopter.

Sudan's Darfur no longer at war: peacekeeping chief.

Islamic radicalism slows Moroccan reforms.

South Africa's Jacob Zuma heads to Zimbabwe amid rumours of Robert Mugabe health scare.

SAfrican police clash with protesting soldiers.

Mali women's rights bill blocked.

EUROPE

Moldovan government to stand down.

Russia charges mystery ship suspects with piracy.

Spain warns Eta 'a live threat'.

Auschwitz blueprints given to Israeli PM.

Russia vows to protect S Ossetia.

Russian anthem author Sergei Mikhalkov dies at 96.

AMERICAS

U.S. moves toward formal cut off of aid to Honduras. Central American bank freezes Honduras loans.

U.S.-Colombia deal prompts questions.

Latin America weighs less punitive path to Curb drug use.

NM gov. on Cuba mission, plans White House report.

Latam exports 'worst in 70 years'.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US urges Yemen to go after growing al-Qaida threat.

Saudi Arabia disrupts Al-Qaeda finance, recruitment.

CIA prisoners faced chilling interrogation methods.

ACLU sues DHS over laptop searches.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

White House, CBO debt forecasts challenge Obama.

Obama raises 2010 deficit estimate to $1.5 trillion.

FDIC problem bank list hits 416, but recovery eyed.

Federal Reserve says disclosing loans will hurt banks.