US prices fall 0.1% in October as petrol costs drop
US consumer prices fell 0.1% in October as petrol prices dropped, the US Labor Department has said.
Petrol prices fell 2.9%, the biggest drop since April. The cost of new cars, clothes and healthcare also fell.
The decrease meant that annual inflation in the 12 months to October was just 1%.
So-called core prices, excluding energy and food costs which vary more, were up 0.1% in October and increased 1.7% in the last 12 months.
On Tuesday, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the US central bank would maintain its liberal monetary policy for as long as needed and that could mean holding interest rates near zero until "well after" US unemployment falls to below 6.5%.
Analysts believe his comments make it more likely that the Fed will continue its $85bn (£53bn) bond-buying programme, aimed at stimulating the economy.
Critics of the programme fear it could lead to higher inflation in the future.
Co-op Bank to face independent inquiry, says PM David Cameron
Chancellor George Osborne is to order an independent inquiry into how Paul Flowers was deemed a suitable chairman of the Co-op Bank.
The inquiry is also expected to examine whether the bank's recent leadership crisis has had any financial impact on its customers.
Its exact terms of reference and the name of its chair are likely to be formally announced in coming days.
Mr Flowers, 63, apologised after he was filmed allegedly buying drugs.
The Methodist Church said Mr Flowers had been "suspended indefinitely" from his post as a minister.
He had stepped down as chairman of Co-op Bank and as deputy chairman of Co-op Group in June.
It has also emerged that he was found to have had "inappropriate" adult images on his computer in 2011 while he was a Labour councillor in Bradford and before he was appointed chair of governors at a primary school in Bradford.
A council spokeswoman noted that the material was not illegal, but Glen Miller, leader of the Conservative group at Bradford Council, said: "Apparently no-one thought it sensible to inform the local school of the material that was found on his computer."
The inquiry into the Co-op is to be ordered by the chancellor and arranged by the Prudential Regulation Authority, under powers Mr Osborne obtained in the 2012 Financial Services Act, the BBC's Robert Peston has reported.
"This would be a long and detailed investigation by an independent expert into events at the Co-op Bank," he said.
Source-BBC
More Iran Nuclear Talks Thursday
Iranian and international negotiators are set to continue key talks Thursday that officials on both sides say could lead to an eventual deal limiting Iran's nuclear activities, in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
The Geneva talks, which convened Wednesday, are building on a first round of negotiations that ended two weeks ago without visible signs of progress. Analysts say those talks failed, in large part because France -- one of six governments at the talks -- said the preliminary deal under consideration did not sufficiently curb Iran's uranium enrichment program.
Wednesday's talks resumed as political leaders in Tehran and in the West sought to highlight their respective positions and assure their constituencies that their envoys will not compromise on basic demands.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an address Wednesday, said the Tehran government "will not step back one iota" from what it insists is an absolute right to enrich uranium.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry vowed that the United States will not accept any deal that lets Iran buy time to increase its nuclear capability.
The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, along with Germany, want an interim agreement that calls for Iran to stop some of its enrichment activity and accept more inspections in return for limited sanctions relief.
The White House on Tuesday described the current talks as "an opportunity to halt the progress on the Iranian program...while testing whether a comprehensive resolution can be achieved."
That statement came after President Barack Obama asked key Senate leaders to hold off on any new sanctions against Tehran while the Geneva talks continue.
China Criticizes Spanish Court's Arrest Orders for Chinese Officials
China has criticized a Spanish court's decision to order the arrest of five former Chinese leaders accused of involvement in "genocidal" policies in Tibet.
At a Wednesday briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing wants a "clarification" of the court decision from the Spanish government. He said that if reports of the Spanish National Court ruling are correct, China is "strongly displeased" with what it called the court's "repeated manipulation" of the Tibet issue.
Hong said the Spanish government should "change" the court decision and repair "severe damage" to China-Spain relations. He also urged Madrid to refrain from sending "wrong signals" to Tibetan forces.
In Monday's ruling, distributed to the media a day later, the Spanish National Court called for the arrest of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and four other officials who held senior roles in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Associated Press quoted a Spanish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman as saying Madrid has no comment on China's reaction because the case is a judicial matter.
A group of Spain-based activists who support Tibetan rights initiated the "genocide" case against the five Chinese officials.
The activists filed the lawsuit in Spain under the country's universal jurisdiction system, which allows Spanish courts to prosecute alleged war crimes and genocide committed anywhere, provided the victims include Spaniards.
US, Afghanistan Agree on Text for Security Pact
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States and Afghanistan have reached an agreement on the final text of a bilateral security pact that will determine the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai negotiated the agreement with U.S. officials, but a grand council of more than 2,500 Afghan elders, known as a Loya Jirga, must give its approval before the document goes to the Afghanistan parliament for a vote.
The group can revise or reject any clause of the draft agreement, and a flat-out rejection would most likely prevent the Afghan government from signing it.
The three-day gathering of Jirga delegates, including tribal, political and intellectual leaders, begins Thursday. Kabul remains on high alert with offices closed and dozens of checkpoints set up along the route leading to the site of the meeting.
A key sticking point had been whether Washington would agree to offer assurances that U.S. troops will enter Afghan homes only in "exceptional" circumstances to save lives.
The issue gained attention Tuesday after Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said the two sides had agreed to allow home raids if President Barack Obama writes a letter acknowledging mistakes by the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
But Kerry said Mr. Karzai did not ask the U.S. to apologize for civilian casualties.
The so-called Bilateral Security Agreement is seen as vital to lasting peace in the war-torn nation, where the United Nations said the Taliban insurgency this year reached levels of violence not seen since 2010.
Also Wednesday, Afghanistan's election commission announced the final list of candidates for next year's presidential poll, which will be the country's first-ever democratic power transfer.
Mr. Karzai, appointed following the U.S.-led invasion of 2001, must step down after serving two terms.
US President Obama Honors JFK at Gravesite
U.S. President Barack Obama paid tribute to former President John F. Kennedy's legacy to mark the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
Mr. Obama was joined Wednesday by former President Bill Clinton, along with First Lady Michelle Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, for a wreath-laying at Kennedy's grave in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.
Extended members of the Kennedy family also gathered for the tribute.
Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Mr. Clinton and 16 prominent Americans who made significant contributions to significant contributions to U.S. culture, politics, sports and science. President Kennedy established the modern version of the award, but was assassinated two weeks before he planned to honor the first group of recipients.
US, Afghanistan Work to Finalize Pact Before Elders Meeting
The United States and Afghanistan worked to finalize a crucial security pact on Wednesday, a day before more than 2,500 Afghan elders are due to begin debating whether to allow some U.S. troops to stay in the country after 2014.
Just before midnight local time, the Afghan Foreign Ministry posted what appeared to be a draft of the agreement on its website
The U.S. State Department said later that discussions were still under way and that it was reviewing the draft. In Kabul, an Afghan official with knowledge of the talks said he expected a deal to be struck later in the night.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai negotiated the draft agreement with U.S. officials, but the tribal assembly, or Loya Jirga must give its approval before the document goes to the Afghanistan parliament for a vote.
A key sticking point is whether Washington will agree to offer assurances that U.S. troops will enter Afghan homes only in "exceptional" circumstances to save lives.
The issue gained attention Tuesday after Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said the two sides had agreed to allow home raids if President Barack Obama writes a letter acknowledging mistakes by the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The Afghan government said it had received assurances that a letter from Mr. Obama would be provided this week to the Jirga.
But National Security Adviser Susan Rice told CNN television Tuesday there is "no need" for the United States to apologize to Afghanistan.
Kabul remains on high alert with offices closed and dozens of checkpoints set up along the route leading to the site of the three-day gathering of Jirga delegates, including tribal, political and intellectual leaders.
The so-called Bilateral Security Agreement is seen as vital to lasting peace in the war-torn nation, where the United Nations said the Taliban insurgency this year reached levels of violence not seen since 2010.
Also Wednesday, Afghanistan's election commission announced the final list of candidates for next year's presidential poll, which will be the country's first-ever democratic power transfer.
Mr. Karzai, appointed following the U.S.-led invasion of 2001, must step down after serving two terms.
Broncos hand the Chiefs first loss of the NFL season
With quarterback Peyton Manning's balky right ankle wrapped up tight and then wrapped some more, the Denver Broncos got their first statement win of the season, 27-17 against the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos, for the first time all year, didn't need Manning to be super Sunday night, winning on the strength of their running game, with a pair of touchdowns from rookie Montee Ball, and a defense that sacked Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith three times.
The Broncos and Chiefs both move to 9-1, with what should be an epic rematch set for Dec. 1 at Arrowhead Stadium.
But perhaps the best news for the Broncos is that after a week of agony throughout the Rocky Mountain Region about the state of Manning's ankle, he emerged from Sunday's game unscathed. He was barely touched by the Chiefs, who entered the game with an NFL-best 36 sacks.
The only time Manning hit the grass was when he dove to try to make a tackle after a first-quarter fumble — his sixth lost fumble of the season, and perhaps the only blemish on his MVP-caliber season.
The Chiefs' vaunted pass rush, with its league-leading 36 sacks in the first nine games, never arrived as Manning operated the Broncos' offense quickly and with just enough precision. The Chiefs' secondary, which entered the game looking like perhaps the only group deep enough to match up with the Broncos' trio of receivers, could only survive for so long before Manning struck.
Near the end of the first quarter, the Chiefs defense brought nine players up to the line of scrimmage, threatening to blitz. But that left Marcus Cooper, a rookie cornerback, all alone with just one deep safety for help against Demaryius Thomas. It was an easy pitch-and-catch for a 70-yard gain down the right sideline. Manning hit tight end Julius Thomas for a touchdown two plays later, and suddenly the Chiefs, down 10-0, faced their biggest deficit of the season.
Source-US Sports
Bolt may reconsider plans to retire after Rio 2016
Jamaican Usain Bolt may ditch plans to retire from track after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The World and Olympic sprint champion said there is a possibility that he would compete at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, making a return to the track he set alight in the summer of 2012 at the Olympic Games in the British capital.
"I was having some talk about this with my coach, and he was saying people had said I should go for another year," he admitted.
Bolt has said consistently following his triple gold medals at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow this year that he will seek three more gold medals at the Rio Games before retiring from the sport.
In his full autobiography, released earlier this month, Bolt said he is not concerned about the huge challenge and expectation of repeating these performances in Rio de Janeiro.
"If there's a possibility that I might make it, then I'm going to give it everything I've got. I've talked to coach (Glen Mills) about our chances, and we've discussed the situation sensibly by looking at some of the other athletes around us. I'll be turning 30 when Brazil comes around."
"Some guys in track and field have run times of 9.80, 9.90 seconds at that age. If I take care of my body and if I can push myself to the limits, then I don't doubt my ability to make 9.60 seconds in 2016," he said.
Bolt and his compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were named the 2013 Athletes of the Year at the IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco on Saturday.
The awards were hosted by International Athletics Foundation (IAF) Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAF & IAAF President Lamine Diack, who presented the trophies to the Male and Female winners.
Source-CMC
Fiji beat Samoa in Rugby quarter-finals
Fiji will meet Australia in the World Cup semi-finals at Wembley next Saturday after a battling win over Samoa in Warrington.
Aaron Groom and Wes Naiqama both scored first-half tries while Vitale Junior Roqica went over later in the game.
Naiqama converted all three tries and kicked two penalties for the Fijians, who played with greater composure.
Antonio Winterstein scored the only try for Samoa, who lost Penani Manumalealii to injury in a disappointing display.
Fiji will now hope to do better than the 54-0 drubbing they received from the Kangaroos in the 2008 semi-finals.