World News Briefs -- September 3, 2009 (Evening Edition)

U.S. Marines walk around a base in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, September 3, 2009. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Gates Says It's Not Time To Leave Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP

WASHINGTON – Faced with waning public support for the military escalation in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that the war is worth fighting and signaled for the first time he may be willing to send more troops after months of publicly resisting a significant increase.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iraq accuses Syria of harboring armed groups.

Report of second letter from Obama to Tehran.

Iran opposition says 72 died in post-poll unrest.

Bloodshed at Iranian camp tests US-Iraq transition.

U.S., Israel grow more confident of talks with Palestinians.

In Israel's Sderot, a reprieve from rockets, but not fear. Building of new West Bank housing drops.

ASIA

10,000 Chinese protest series of needle stabbings.

South Korea's Lee shuffles cabinet, appoints Premier.

Strategist rises in Japan power shift.

Afghan vote results likely to be delayed.

Ethnic tension flares over syringe attacks in Chinese city of Urumqi.

Indian searchers locate missing Minister’s helicopter.

U.N. envoy seeks probe into 'horrendous' Sri Lanka video.

US, Australia to seek military exercises with China.

AFRICA

Peacekeeping General’s dangerous Darfur pronouncement.

Somali camps 'unfit for humans'.

Unrest as dictator's son declared winner in Gabon.

Rwanda's ex-parliament speaker gets life for genocide.

Activists Mike Campbell and Ben Freeth’s farms ‘set alight by henchmen’.

EUROPE

EU plans to admit more refugees.

Court orders renewed probe into Russian slaying.

Key aide to U.K. defence minister quits.

Russia says progress made on U.S. nuclear arms deal.

Dutch to prosecute Arabs over Holocaust cartoon.

Scottish lawmakers condemn Lockerbie release.

Greece's PM calls snap election.

Berlusconi's woes deepen with Vatican rift.

AMERICAS

Colombia Congress OKs referendum on Uribe seeking reelection.

Napolitano: 'Big Influx' of new infections likely.


Clinton to meet Zelaya, US mulls cutting off aid. US could withhold funds to Honduras over coup.

Despite brutal year, Mexico's Calderon remains popular. Hitmen kill 17 in Mexico clinic on U.S. border.

Chevron: No payment for enviro damages in Ecuador.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al-Qaeda launchpad in Yemen gives Saudis new headache.

Popular Arab TV program exposes the real Al Qaeda.

Fighting terrorism out of Africa.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Joint EU call for bank bonus rules.

U.S. Food stamp list soars past 35 million: USDA.

U.S. Economy: Companies cut more jobs than forecast.

Further evidence points to recession bottoming out.

A look at economic developments around the globe.