US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is to stay on in charge of the Pentagon when Barack Obama takes office as president, according to US media reports. Mr Gates was nominated to the role by President George W Bush in 2006 and has overseen a change of strategy in Iraq. ABC News and Politico.com quoted officials saying Mr Gates would remain in the job for at least the first year of Mr Obama's administration. Mr Obama will give his third news briefing in as many days on Wednesday. The focus will be the economy, an aide said. In the previous news conferences, Mr Obama - who takes office on 20 January - named the new leaders of his economic team.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is to stay on in charge of the Pentagon when Barack Obama takes office as president, according to US media reports.
Mr Gates was nominated to the role by President George W Bush in 2006 and has overseen a change of strategy in Iraq.
ABC News and Politico.com quoted officials saying Mr Gates would remain in the job for at least the first year of Mr Obama's administration.
Mr Obama will give his third news briefing in as many days on Wednesday.
The focus will be the economy, an aide said. In the previous news conferences, Mr Obama - who takes office on 20 January - named the new leaders of his economic team.
He may have promised change but Barack Obama has chosen to retain Robert GatesIt may have been the economic crisis that delivered the election to Barack Obama but his consistent opposition to the war in Iraq was also a key plank in his campaign - first to be the Democratic nominee, and then for president.So it might therefore be surprising that he has retained the services of a Bush appointee, Robert Gates, as defence secretary. What's more, Gates has publicly disagreed with Obama's commitment to a 16-month timetable for withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.The Washington Post says the appointment "would probably disappoint some on the left of the Democratic party, who would prefer a clear and sharp break with Bush-era policies".Politico.com agrees "it could lead to criticism from his party's left wing that the lineup is more hawkish and less revolutionary than his supporters expected".
It may have been the economic crisis that delivered the election to Barack Obama but his consistent opposition to the war in Iraq was also a key plank in his campaign - first to be the Democratic nominee, and then for president.
So it might therefore be surprising that he has retained the services of a Bush appointee, Robert Gates, as defence secretary. What's more, Gates has publicly disagreed with Obama's commitment to a 16-month timetable for withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.
The Washington Post says the appointment "would probably disappoint some on the left of the Democratic party, who would prefer a clear and sharp break with Bush-era policies".
Politico.com agrees "it could lead to criticism from his party's left wing that the lineup is more hawkish and less revolutionary than his supporters expected".
A CIA veteran of the "war on terror" who was being lined up to run the US spy agency, has abruptly withdrawn his name from consideration for the Obama administration. In another development, it emerged that George Bush's Defence Secretary Robert Gates will remain at the Pentagon. The first order he will get from the next commander-in-chief is to arrange an orderly withdrawal form Iraq. John Brennan's role directing the CIA's network of secret "black site" prisons and his support for the "extraordinary rendition" of suspects subsequently tortured in other countries, made him an unacceptable candidate in the eyes of Mr Obama's supporters. Mr Brennan's sudden withdrawal is a rare reversal for the smoothly working Obama transition team. He had already been vetted by Mr Obama's team and was recruiting his own deputies when opposition to his appointment suddenly flared up. After behind-the-scenes pressure, Mr Brennan wrote to President-elect Obama saying he did not want to create a "distraction" for the incoming administration.
A CIA veteran of the "war on terror" who was being lined up to run the US spy agency, has abruptly withdrawn his name from consideration for the Obama administration.
In another development, it emerged that George Bush's Defence Secretary Robert Gates will remain at the Pentagon. The first order he will get from the next commander-in-chief is to arrange an orderly withdrawal form Iraq.
John Brennan's role directing the CIA's network of secret "black site" prisons and his support for the "extraordinary rendition" of suspects subsequently tortured in other countries, made him an unacceptable candidate in the eyes of Mr Obama's supporters.
Mr Brennan's sudden withdrawal is a rare reversal for the smoothly working Obama transition team. He had already been vetted by Mr Obama's team and was recruiting his own deputies when opposition to his appointment suddenly flared up. After behind-the-scenes pressure, Mr Brennan wrote to President-elect Obama saying he did not want to create a "distraction" for the incoming administration.
China has decided not to send representatives to Europe next month to protest scheduled meetings between EU heads of state meeting and the Tibetan spiritual leader. Things are tense between Beijing and Brussels. China's non-attendance at the summit was announced by the EU in a statement on Wednesday, Nov. 26. "The Chinese authorities have informed the European Union of their decision to request the postponement of the 11th European Union-China summit, scheduled to take place on Dec. 1," the statement said. "They said their decision was due to the fact that the Dalai Lama will at the same time undertake a new visit in several countries of the Union and will meet on this occasion heads of state and government." The Tibetan spiritual leader will be visiting a number of EU countries in December. At one major event, he is scheduled to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Poland at ceremonies commemorating the 25th anniversary of Polish labor leader Lech Walesa being given the Nobel Peace Prize.
China's non-attendance at the summit was announced by the EU in a statement on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
"The Chinese authorities have informed the European Union of their decision to request the postponement of the 11th European Union-China summit, scheduled to take place on Dec. 1," the statement said.
"They said their decision was due to the fact that the Dalai Lama will at the same time undertake a new visit in several countries of the Union and will meet on this occasion heads of state and government."
The Tibetan spiritual leader will be visiting a number of EU countries in December. At one major event, he is scheduled to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Poland at ceremonies commemorating the 25th anniversary of Polish labor leader Lech Walesa being given the Nobel Peace Prize.
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's President, is trying to hide the real extent of the cholera epidemic sweeping across his nation by silencing health workers and restricting access to the huge number of death certificates that give the same cause of death. A senior official in the health ministry told The Independent yesterday that more than 3,000 people have died from the water-borne disease in the past two weeks, 10 times the widely-reported death toll of just over 300. "But even this higher figure is still an understatement because very few bother to register the deaths of their relatives these days," said the official, who requested anonymity.He said the health ministry, which once presided over a medical system that was the envy of Africa, had been banned from issuing accurate statistics about the deaths, and that certificates for the fraction of deaths that had been registered were being closely guarded by the home affairs ministry.
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's President, is trying to hide the real extent of the cholera epidemic sweeping across his nation by silencing health workers and restricting access to the huge number of death certificates that give the same cause of death.
A senior official in the health ministry told The Independent yesterday that more than 3,000 people have died from the water-borne disease in the past two weeks, 10 times the widely-reported death toll of just over 300. "But even this higher figure is still an understatement because very few bother to register the deaths of their relatives these days," said the official, who requested anonymity.
He said the health ministry, which once presided over a medical system that was the envy of Africa, had been banned from issuing accurate statistics about the deaths, and that certificates for the fraction of deaths that had been registered were being closely guarded by the home affairs ministry.
WASHINGTON: The day before Joseph Biden Jr.'s birthday last week, Barack Obama surprised him after lunch with candlelit cupcakes. Within hours, the photograph of the president-elect and his running mate, smiling over the dessert, was on the news. The photograph, circulated by Obama's office, was meant to project unity, confidence and camaraderie. But while Obama has moved quickly to assemble his White House staff and the beginnings of a cabinet, he is lagging behind even the chronically late President Bill Clinton in bringing clarity to the role his vice president will play. So far, Biden has not been given a defined portfolio, the way Al Gore was given the environment and technology in 1992. And Obama's aides say they do not expect Biden to assume the kind of muscular role that Vice President Dick Cheney has played over the last eight years, although he is expected to put out a number of fires. "I'm sure that there will be discrete assignments over time," said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president-elect. "But I think his fundamental role is as a trusted counselor. I think that when Obama selected him, he selected him to be a counselor and an adviser on a broad range of issues."
WASHINGTON: The day before Joseph Biden Jr.'s birthday last week, Barack Obama surprised him after lunch with candlelit cupcakes.
Within hours, the photograph of the president-elect and his running mate, smiling over the dessert, was on the news.
The photograph, circulated by Obama's office, was meant to project unity, confidence and camaraderie. But while Obama has moved quickly to assemble his White House staff and the beginnings of a cabinet, he is lagging behind even the chronically late President Bill Clinton in bringing clarity to the role his vice president will play.
So far, Biden has not been given a defined portfolio, the way Al Gore was given the environment and technology in 1992. And Obama's aides say they do not expect Biden to assume the kind of muscular role that Vice President Dick Cheney has played over the last eight years, although he is expected to put out a number of fires.
"I'm sure that there will be discrete assignments over time," said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president-elect. "But I think his fundamental role is as a trusted counselor. I think that when Obama selected him, he selected him to be a counselor and an adviser on a broad range of issues."
BAGHDAD: Iraq's Parliament has delayed by at least 24 hours a vote on a security agreement with the United States that would lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq in three years. Iraqi lawmakers gave no immediate explanation for delaying the vote on Wednesday; it had already been postponed from Monday. But intensive last-minute negotiations were under way on Tuesday and earlier Wednesday as the agreement's proponents tried to corral enough votes for approval by a significant majority of Parliament.
BAGHDAD: Iraq's Parliament has delayed by at least 24 hours a vote on a security agreement with the United States that would lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq in three years.
Iraqi lawmakers gave no immediate explanation for delaying the vote on Wednesday; it had already been postponed from Monday. But intensive last-minute negotiations were under way on Tuesday and earlier Wednesday as the agreement's proponents tried to corral enough votes for approval by a significant majority of Parliament.
MUMBAI, India -- Teams of heavily armed gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in at least seven attacks in India's financial capital, killing at least 78 people and wounding at least 200, officials said Thursday. The gunmen were specifically targeting Britons and Americans and a top police official said the gunmen are holding hostages at two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels. The gunmen also attacked police headquarters in south Mumbai, the area where most of the attacks, which began late Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning, took place. "We are under fire, there is shooting at the gate," said constable A. Shetti by phone from police headquarters. Hours after the first attacks, A.N. Roy, a senior police officer, said police continued to battle the gunmen.
MUMBAI, India -- Teams of heavily armed gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in at least seven attacks in India's financial capital, killing at least 78 people and wounding at least 200, officials said Thursday. The gunmen were specifically targeting Britons and Americans and a top police official said the gunmen are holding hostages at two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels.
The gunmen also attacked police headquarters in south Mumbai, the area where most of the attacks, which began late Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning, took place.
"We are under fire, there is shooting at the gate," said constable A. Shetti by phone from police headquarters.
Hours after the first attacks, A.N. Roy, a senior police officer, said police continued to battle the gunmen.
Gunmen have opened fire at a number of sites in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 78 people and injuring about 200 more. Police said shooting was continuing and that the incidents were co-ordinated terrorist attacks. Gunmen had taken hostages at two hotels, they said. At least seven sites have been targeted across India's financial capital. There has been a wave of bombings in Indian cities in recent months which has left scores of people dead. Most of the attacks have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists.
Gunmen have opened fire at a number of sites in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 78 people and injuring about 200 more.
Police said shooting was continuing and that the incidents were co-ordinated terrorist attacks. Gunmen had taken hostages at two hotels, they said.
At least seven sites have been targeted across India's financial capital.
There has been a wave of bombings in Indian cities in recent months which has left scores of people dead.
Most of the attacks have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists.
At least 78 people were killed and 200 injured today when gunmen opened fire on a crowded Mumbai railway station, luxury hotels and a restaurant popular with tourists. Johnny Joseph, chief secretary for Maharashtra state in India, of which Mumbai is the capital, says the death toll could rise further. The gunmen attacked the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in southern Mumbai and Leopold's restaurant, a Mumbai landmark, along with the Oberoi and Taj Mahal hotels. The motive for the attacks was not immediately clear but Mumbai has frequently been targeted in terror attacks, often blamed on Muslim militants, including a series of blasts in July last year that killed 187 people. Several European MEPs were among those barricaded inside the Taj, a century-old seaside hotel complex and one of the city's best-known destinations. Sajjad Karim, part of a delegation of MEPs visiting Mumbai ahead of a forthcoming EU-India summit, said: "I was in the main lobby and there was all of a sudden a lot of firing outside."
At least 78 people were killed and 200 injured today when gunmen opened fire on a crowded Mumbai railway station, luxury hotels and a restaurant popular with tourists.
Johnny Joseph, chief secretary for Maharashtra state in India, of which Mumbai is the capital, says the death toll could rise further.
The gunmen attacked the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in southern Mumbai and Leopold's restaurant, a Mumbai landmark, along with the Oberoi and Taj Mahal hotels.
The motive for the attacks was not immediately clear but Mumbai has frequently been targeted in terror attacks, often blamed on Muslim militants, including a series of blasts in July last year that killed 187 people.
Several European MEPs were among those barricaded inside the Taj, a century-old seaside hotel complex and one of the city's best-known destinations.
Sajjad Karim, part of a delegation of MEPs visiting Mumbai ahead of a forthcoming EU-India summit, said: "I was in the main lobby and there was all of a sudden a lot of firing outside."
Britons and Americans have been taken hostage at a Bombay hotel during a terrorist attack in India which has left at least 80 people dead. Police said that gunmen were reported to be holding an unknown number of Western hostages in the exclusive Taj Palace hotel, which was among seven targets stormed by terrorists armed with guns and grenades. Teams of gunmen earlier stormed luxury hotels, tourist attractions and a crowded station in an attack that left a further 90 people wounded. The gunmen also attacked the police headquarters in the south of the city, which is India's commercial capital and also known as Mumbai. Among the targets was the Oberoi hotel as well as the popular Leopold's restaurant. Witnesses said the terrorists were specifically targeting British and American visitors. Guests in the restaurant of the five-star Oberoi were challenged on their nationality as they were herded upstairs. "They told everybody to stop and put their hands up and asked if there were any British or Americans," said Alex Chamberlain, a British businessman. "My friend said to me, don't be a hero, don't say you are British. "I am sure that is what this is all about. They were talking about British and Americans specifically."
Police said that gunmen were reported to be holding an unknown number of Western hostages in the exclusive Taj Palace hotel, which was among seven targets stormed by terrorists armed with guns and grenades.
Teams of gunmen earlier stormed luxury hotels, tourist attractions and a crowded station in an attack that left a further 90 people wounded.
The gunmen also attacked the police headquarters in the south of the city, which is India's commercial capital and also known as Mumbai.
Among the targets was the Oberoi hotel as well as the popular Leopold's restaurant.
Witnesses said the terrorists were specifically targeting British and American visitors. Guests in the restaurant of the five-star Oberoi were challenged on their nationality as they were herded upstairs.
"They told everybody to stop and put their hands up and asked if there were any British or Americans," said Alex Chamberlain, a British businessman. "My friend said to me, don't be a hero, don't say you are British.
"I am sure that is what this is all about. They were talking about British and Americans specifically."
KABUL, Afghanistan -- President Hamid Karzai bluntly rebuked NATO on Wednesday for its faltering campaign against the Taliban and Al Qaeda and demanded a timetable for the seven-year war here to end. Mr. Karzai's remarks, at a news conference with the secretary general of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, reflected dwindling public support for the war here and Mr. Karzai's own political vulnerabilities. In the United States, however, the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama is planning a significant increase in the Afghanistan war effort as it scales back the American military deployment in Iraq. "How long will this war go?" Mr. Karzai asked. "Afghanistan can't continue to suffer a war without end." Mr. Karzai's comments echoed remarks he made here on Tuesday to a visiting United Nations Security Council delegation. They seemed to be part of a strategy he has adopted in recent months to appear more in control of the country and more assertive in his dealings with foreign powers, even if the populist tenor of his remarks risks alienating the foreign backers who have channeled billions of dollars into reconstruction and the counterinsurgency fight.Amid worsening security and economic conditions, Mr. Karzai, who faces re-election next year, has been trying to counter rising dissatisfaction and criticism that he is little more than an ineffective puppet of foreign masters.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- President Hamid Karzai bluntly rebuked NATO on Wednesday for its faltering campaign against the Taliban and Al Qaeda and demanded a timetable for the seven-year war here to end.
Mr. Karzai's remarks, at a news conference with the secretary general of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, reflected dwindling public support for the war here and Mr. Karzai's own political vulnerabilities. In the United States, however, the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama is planning a significant increase in the Afghanistan war effort as it scales back the American military deployment in Iraq.
"How long will this war go?" Mr. Karzai asked. "Afghanistan can't continue to suffer a war without end."
Mr. Karzai's comments echoed remarks he made here on Tuesday to a visiting United Nations Security Council delegation. They seemed to be part of a strategy he has adopted in recent months to appear more in control of the country and more assertive in his dealings with foreign powers, even if the populist tenor of his remarks risks alienating the foreign backers who have channeled billions of dollars into reconstruction and the counterinsurgency fight.
Amid worsening security and economic conditions, Mr. Karzai, who faces re-election next year, has been trying to counter rising dissatisfaction and criticism that he is little more than an ineffective puppet of foreign masters.
