15.10.2013

News in English

Iran offers new proposals at nuclear talks / US Senate leaders seek to avert crisis / Earthquake hits central Philippines / Afghan governor killed in terror attack / Amnesty accuses Nigerian military / NSA “targeting contact lists” / Coalition negotiations begin in Austria / The Weather

Iran offers new proposals at nuclear talks

Iran has put forward new proposals at talks with six major world powers on its nuclear programme. The two days of formal negotiations being held in Geneva are the first since Iran’s new president Hassan Rouhani took office in August. Western diplomats have said they want Iran to offer firm restrictions on its nuclear programme in return for at least a partial lifting of sanctions.

US Senate leaders seek to avert crisis

In the United States, Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate say they have made progress on a deal to avert the looming crisis over the debt limit. They are reportedly discussing funding the government until January and lifting the debt limit until February. Senate majority leader Harry Reid: “We’ve made tremendous progress. We’re not there yet but tremendous progress. And everyone just needs to be patient, recognising how hard this is for everybody.” Any deal must also pass the Republican dominated House of Representatives. The US will begin to default on its payments, with possible global economic consequences, unless an agreement on raising its borrowing limit is reached by midnight on Thursday.

Earthquake hits central Philippines

A powerful earthquake in the central Philippines has killed over 85 people and caused widespread destruction. The 7.2 magnitude quake was centred on the island of Bohol. Many of the region’s historic buildings were damaged.

Afghan governor killed in terror attack

The governor of the eastern province of Logar in Afghanistan, Arsallah Jamal, has been killed in a bomb attack in a mosque, at the beginning of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. At least 15 people were injured. Jamal was a rural development expert and a close confidant of President Hamid Karzai.

Amnesty accuses Nigerian military

Amnesty international says it has evidence hundreds of people are dying in detention in Nigeria as the military carries out a crackdown on the extremist Boko Haram group. It says more than 950 people died in military custody in the first six months of this year, some suffocated and starved to death in horrific conditions.

NSA “targeting contact lists”

In the latest revelations on US spy agency surveillance, The Washington Post is reporting that the National Security Agency has been collecting hundreds of millions of contact lists from personal email and instant messaging accounts around the world. The paper cited senior intelligence officials and documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Coalition negotiations begin in Austria

In Austria, the Social Democrats and People’s Party open talks today on forming a new coalition government following last month's general election. Both parties have said they want an agreement well before the end of the year.

The Weather

Mainly sunny with scattered showers in the west. Top temperatures 10 to 20 degrees.

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