21 October 2009

The Morning News

- As he prepares for next month's run-off election, Abdullah Abdullah, the chief rival to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, is hinting that he might join a coalition government with Mr. Karzai. Such a move would remove the need for a run-off.

- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director Mohamed ElBaradei has confirmed that a proposal on Iran's uranium enrichment has been put forward, which he hopes will be approved by Iran and three world powers by Friday. Details from the BBC here.

- From the NY Times:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to decide whether federal courts have the power to order prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay to be released into the United States.

The court’s decision to hear the case adds a further complication to the Obama administration’s efforts to close the prison at the naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. A measure in Congress that would allow detainees to be admitted to the United States just to face trial had to overcome strong resistance before winning final passage on Tuesday.