Mexico storm toll rises to 97

A resident checks the damage to a restaurant in Acapulco, Mexico, on Thursday. Deaths from floods and landslides rose to 97 as a fresh hurricane hit the northwest. — AFP

13 injured in Chicago shooting
Chicago, September 20
Thirteen persons, including a three-year-old child, were injured in a night-time shooting on Chicago's South Side that the police said on Friday was believed to be gang-related.

Syria submits chemical arms details to watchdog
Damascus, September 20
Syria has begun supplying details of its chemical arsenal, the world’s chemical weapons watchdog said today, as rebels agreed a truce with jihadists in a key border town.

Washington, September 20
In a rare move that might end the chronic impasse between arch-enemies the US and Iran, President Barack Obama could meet his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

"I would just say that in general, it's possible. But it has always been possible. The extended hand has been there from the moment the President was sworn into office," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters here.

However, when asked directly if there would be a meeting in New York next week, Carney said, "there are currently no plans for President Obama to meet with President Rouhani."

"It's fair to say that the President believes there is an opportunity for diplomacy when it comes to the issues that have presented challenges to the United States and our allies with regards to Iran, and we hope that the Iranian Government takes advantage of this opportunity," Carney said.

Rouhani, a moderate cleric, will travel to the US to attend the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly wherein he will address world leaders on the same day as Obama.

Any meeting between President Obama and Rouhani next week would be historic. The two countries have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the Western-backed Shah regime after massive countrywide protests.

In a newspaper op-ed, Rouhani called for a "constructive interaction" with the US.

"As I depart for New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly, I urge my counterparts to seize the opportunity presented by Iran's recent election," he wrote.

I urge them to "respond genuinely to my government's efforts to engage in constructive dialogue," Rouhani said. — PTI

London, September 20
Britain has indicated to India that there is no move to finalise the controversial 3,000 pounds visa bond scheme for Indians soon, a senior Indian diplomat has said here.

Answering a question on the controversial bond at a farewell reception hosted in his honour at the India House, outgoing Indian High Commissioner to the UK Jaimini Bhagwati said, “The issue was taken up with the UK government both at the government level and senior ministerial level.”

“They were told about our concerns. If the idea is to target someone who will violate the Visa rules, then it is not clear how the bond will prevent such violators. There is no move to finalise the proposal soon,” he said.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg opposed the Conservative-led coalition government's controversial 3,000 pounds visa bond scheme, which would affect visitors from certain countries including India.

Clegg is the latest senior figure from the Liberal Democrat party to speak out against plans to charge 3,000 pounds from foreigners belonging to certain "high risk" nations. — PTI 

The Taliban attack on Sunday that killed an army general has dealt a “serious blow” on the government move for a peace dialogue with the rebel group. The move has “come to a standstill”, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly on Friday.

The minister said that the military and Opposition would be consulted while reviewing the process. His statement indicated an apparent hardening of the government position.

In his first public comments on the Taliban-claimed roadside blast of an improvised explosive device in Upper Dir, the minister advised political parties to avoid making statements that could compromise the consensus reached at the September 9 all-party conference.

And in what appeared to be a snub to a suggestion by Imran Khan, chairman of the Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, that the government and Taliban form negotiating teams and announce a ceasefire, Nisar said, “Nobody should advise us for a ceasefire.”

Army continues tough talk

The army put out a toughly worded statement this week. "While reaffirming the army's support for the political process, (Kayani has) also said, unequivocally, that terrorists will not be allowed to take advantage of it," it said. "The army has the ability and the will to take the fight to the terrorists." — Reuters

Damascus, September 20
Syria has begun supplying details of its chemical arsenal, the world’s chemical weapons watchdog said today, as rebels agreed a truce with jihadists in a key border town.

A senior Syrian official, meanwhile, said Damascus wanted a ceasefire in the 30-month war, which has reportedly killed more than 1,10,000 persons and forced more than two million to flee.

Hours before a deadline for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to provide details on its arsenal, the Hague-based group tasked with dismantling the arms said it has received an initial report.

"The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has received an initial disclosure from the Syrian government of its chemical weapons programme," an OPCW statement said. — AFP