Hello, I'm Jerry Smit.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the United Nations generalassembly that it will be a huge mistake not to cooperate with the SyriaNPResident Bashar Assad to defeat Islamic State militants. President Obama saidthe United States was prepared to work with any nation to end the conflict inSyria. But he talked of a managed transition away from Mr. Assad. Here is ourMiddle East editor Jeremy Bryon. “It's clear now that Russia’s PresidentVladimir Putin is determined to take the initiative on the war in Syria,especially the fight against the Jihadists of Islamic State. And in his speechof the UN, President Putin said Russia would push for a resolution tocoordinate the fight against the IS. But in a speech in latest with rebukes toRussia, President Obama told the general assembly that President Assad had nopart of Syria's longer term future.”

Speaking at the UN, President Obama says its peacekeepersremained one of the world's most important tools to address armed conflict. Andmore nations needed to bear the burden of providing troops. “At thissummit, more than 50 countries, from Bangladesh to Colombia, from Finland to China, are making commitments total in more than 30, 000 new troops and police.And they’re serving up with critical contributions like medical units,helicopters and capabilities to counter IEDs( Improvised Explosive Devices ) whichwill help peacekeepers be able to stay safe and succeed in their missions.”

The Taliban in Afghanistan say they have captured thegovernment headquarters in the northern city of Konduz and are advancingtowards the city's airport. A senior government official confirmed theheadquarters had fallen. Johnny Dymond reports. “Around dawn, Talibanfighters attacked Konduz from three directions. After the initial assault, oneresident says that they were told the battle was over. But by late afternoon,the Taliban banner was flying in the city's main square. A spokesman said thatthey had taken the governor’s house and were marching on the airport. Thepolice say that half the city is in Taliban hands. The Afghan government issending reinforcements. But if the Taliban dig in, they will be difficult todislodge.”

NASA says it's obtained the strongest evidence yet that waterflows on the surface of Mars. Images from the Mars reconnaissance orbiter havefound the long gullies inside crates and slopes are most likely to have beenformed by salty water with rounds along the surface to this day. The lateststudy says different kinds of salts have been identified in these channelswhich by melting ice could enable it to flow. News from the BBC

Reports from the Central African Republic say several hundredinmates have escaped from the main prison in the capital Bangui. The Security Servicessays there was no one left at the Ngaragba jail. Earlier, United Nationspeacekeepers fired shots in the air to disperse thousands of protesters callingfor the rearming of the military and resignation of President Catherine Samba-Panza.

The military in Burkina Faso says members of the presidentialguard that staged a short live coup earlier this month are refusing to lay downtheir weapons. The joint chief of staff issued a statement saying thedisarmament process had reached an impasse. Last week, the army agreed towithdraw from the capital while members of the presidential guard were supposedto be disarmed.

Officials in the eastern Indian state of Assam say as many as50 people may have drowned after an overcrowded riverboat hit a bridge andcapsized. Survivors said more than 20 people were trapped below deck.

A search has begun for the lost tomb of the ancient Egyptianqueen Nefertiti. The British archaeologist Nicholas Reeves believes he'sdetected the outline of two doors hidden behind the decoration of the wall tothe tomb Tutankhamun. Alan Johnston has more details. “Doctor Reevesreckons that Tutankhamun was buried in what amounts to an entrance way to thetomb of Nefertiti, the woman who was his stepmother. So this raises a question,did the great archaeologist Howard Carter, who discovered Tutankhamun’s grave,actually miss what would probably have been a much greater prize, the restingplace of the famous queen. For now, Doctor Reeves' theory is just that. Butsoon when he's put his radar, sonar and other equipment to work, we'll find outwhether he has indeed made what would be one of the greatest archaeologicalfinds of our time.” BBC News