Nation and World Roundup
By AP Reports
Chileans optimistic for early October miner rescue: Chilean rescuers are eyeing a much earlier date than was originally predicted for pulling the 33 trapped miners out of the mine shaft that they are trapped in. The miners, who were found alive on August 22, will be removed through three escape tunnels.
Body of Texas man recovered as rain finally eases: Storms partly fueled by Hurricane Karl finally began weakening along the Texas coast on Tuesday after dumping more than ten inches of rain, and authorities found the body of a driver who had been swept away by floods. Widespread flooding closed schools and forced families into shelters, but forecasters said the lingering showers shouldn't be as severe. "The worst is over," National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Grantham said. Virginia could execute first woman in nearly a century: A woman convicted of two hired killings is scheduled to die by injection Thursday and become the first woman put to death in Virginia in nearly a century, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block her execution.
CIA runs elite Afghan fighting force: The CIA has trained and bankrolled a well-paid force of elite Afghan paramilitaries for nearly eight years to hunt al-Qaida and the Taliban, according to current and former U.S. officials. Modeled after U.S. special forces, the Counterterrorist Pursuit Team was set up in the months following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2002.
Vatican claims transparency amid laundering probe: The Vatican says it is "perplexed and surprised" by a money laundering probe that resulted in the seizure of 23 million euros ($30 million) from the Vatican bank and an investigation of the company's chairman. Italian financial police made the seizure Tuesday as a precaution and prosecutors placed the chairman and another official of the Institute for Religious Works under investigation for alleged mistakes linked to violations of Italy's anti-laundering laws. World powers renew offer of nuke talks with Iran: The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany have offered Iran another chance to return to negotiations regarding its nuclear program. They are hoping to resolve the dispute between the U.N. and Iran in this area and end the long-term disagreement quickly.
Afghanistan helicopter crash kills nine NATO troops: A helicopter that was carrying international troops crashed in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday. Nine service members were killed in what was the deadliest incident of its type in four years for coalition forces. Three others, including one U.S. civilian, were injured in the crash.
Commonwealth Games chief rushes to New Delhi: Emergency talks are taking place between the chief of the Commonwealth games and the prime minister of India over the country's chaotic preparations. Two major competitors have already withdrawn and England has criticized many of the preparations.