1.   The agreement helped smooth over a recent rift between U.S. and Israeli officials, but Powell almost caused another.

2.   A recent rift between Gusmao and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has raised worries that East Timor may be heading for political instability.

3.   The lower-than-expected turnout might also have reflected a recent rift between Golan Heights settlers and those from the West Bank.

4.   Further recent rifts in the rebel movement and inter-tribal fighting have enabled the government to recapture a string of garrison towns it had earlier lost to the rebels.

5.   Clinton was widely expected to extend the preferrential trade treatment despite recent rifts with Beijing over human rights and nuclear non-proliferation issues and ballistic weapons sales.

6.   Clinton was widely expected to extend the preferrential trade treatment despite recent rifts with Beijing over human rights issues, nuclear nonproliferation issues and ballistic weapons sales.

7.   Japanese militarists and right-wingers must bear sole responsibility for recent damaging rifts in relations between Tokyo and Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Peng was quoted as saying Thursday.

8.   National Security adviser Anthony Lake said Thursday that Clinton would renew MFN China by the deadline despite recent rifts with Beijing.

9.   On Wednesday Chinese Premier Li Peng blasted Japanese militarists and right-wingers, saying they must bear sole responsibility for recent damaging rifts in relations between Tokyo and Beijing.