World News Briefs -- October 6, 2009 (Evening Edition)

U.S. President Barack Obama waves to workers during his visit to the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Virginia, October 6, 2009. With Obama are Michael Leiter (L), the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES CRIME LAW)

President Obama Tries To Heal Rifts Over War Strategy In Afghanistan -- Times Online

President Obama turned to leading figures in Congress yesterday for advice on his Afghanistan war strategy as concerns grew that he has allowed internal tensions over such a critical decision to spill into public view.

The divisions between some of Mr Obama’s civilian White House advisers and senior military personnel have become so heated in recent days that Robert Gates, the Defence Secretary, was forced to appeal for calm as he admonished the top commander in Afghanistan for a speech he delivered in London last week.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Hamas digs in, dimming hopes for Mideast peace talks.

Iran plans to use new centrifuge at atom fuel plant.

Abbas cabinet says will confront Israel; protests flare.

High on qat, Yemeni troops battle Shiite rebels.

General Moshe Yaalon cancels London trip after arrest fear over Gaza bombing.

ASIA

North Korea may be open to talks. North Korea tells China it would rejoin nuclear talks.

Pakistan suicide bombing raises questions about security.

Typhoon heads to Japan, storm stalls over Philippines.

S Lanka pledge on refugee camps.

Aid workers reach remote Indonesian villages.

AFRICA

Top Rwanda genocide suspect caught in Uganda.

Somali pirates free Turkish ship after ransom.

In a Guinea seized by violence, women as prey.

Contention over rankings of African nations. Winner: Mauritius. Loser: Somalia.

Will amnesty bring peace to Niger Delta?

EUROPE

New Greek PM sworn in, cabinet to be appointed Tuesday.

France, Kazakhs ink military transit, energy deals.

Ukraine-Russia tensions evident in Crimea.

European farmers’ anger spills into the streets of Brussels.

Brown works to mend coalition in N. Ireland.

AMERICAS

Former Costa Rican president sentenced.

Chilean officers get prison in arms deal cover up.

US denies policy shift in deferring Dalai Lama meeting.

US 'to cut immigrant detention'.

Ecuador government seeks end to Indian protest.

Honduran security forces accused of abuse.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Obama: US 'making real progress' fighting terror.

Tough to meet Guantanamo closing deadline: Holder.

Two Lebanese jailed for Baku plot.

More on the Al Qaeda Shift to Somalia.

Obama team says Zazi Case illustrates balanced approach to terror threat.

U.S. terror suspect contacted senior al-Qaida.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Gold hits record high on 'plan' to ditch dollar.

Oil states to drop dollar in oil tyrading.

Oil states say no talks on replacing dollar.

World markets buoyed by recovery hopes.

Gold price rises as dollar falls.