Iran, 6 nations agree to more nuke talks
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Iran and six other nations agreed to gather technical experts in March and return to full talks on Iran's nuclear program in April, a diplomat said Wednesday.
Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief negotiator, said participants at the Almaty, Kazakhstan, talks presented "more realistic proposals that come a little closer to Iran's position," The New York Times reported.
"Their proposals seem more realistic and positive," Jalili said, adding there have been "some changes in their viewpoint."
The two days of talks were called to get a clear response from Iran to an offer of gradual relief from sanctions in return for measures that inspire confidence about Iran's intent for its nuclear program, Western diplomats said.
The ultimate goal of the talks is to get Iran to comply with Security Council resolutions that it stop enrichment completely until it can satisfy the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, that it has no weapons program and no hidden enrichment sites. In return, all sanctions, which have crippled Iran's economy, would be lifted.
Iran meanwhile, has created a plan B for nuclear weapons capacity in a second plant, satellite images commissioned by Britain's The Daily Telegraph indicated.
16 Afghan police officers die of poisoning
KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- At least 16 local Afghan police officers in Ghazni province died of poisoning, local authorities said.
Deputy provincial council leader Abdul Jameh Jameh said the men reportedly ate poisoned food Tuesday, Khaama Press reported. The incident occurred in Gadol.
Gen. Mohammad Hussain, provincial security chief, said an investigation was under way.
No group has claimed responsibility.
Khaama Press said Ghazni is among the most volatile provinces in central-eastern Afghanistan where Taliban militants and other insurgents openly operate.
Shark kills man swimming in New Zealand
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A short film and commercial director died Wednesday in a rare shark attack while swimming at Muriwai Beach near Auckland, New Zealand, police said.
Adam Strange was swimming from Maori Bay into Muriwai approximately 650 feet offshore when the attack occurred, TVNZ reported.
Fisherman Pio Mosie said he heard Strange yell out "a shark!"
"We looked up and there was blood everywhere and the shark was attacking him," Mosie told TV ONE.
"Then the shark stopped and we yelled at him to swim to the rock, and he raised his hand up, but as soon as he raised his hand up the shark pulled him down. When he came up his head was down and now we know he was dead."
Police said they believe the shark was a great white, or perhaps more than one bronze whaler shark, though they are not sure.
Cyclone Rusty rams into Western Australia
PARDOO, Australia, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Tropical Cyclone Rusty crashed into the Western Australia coast near Pardoo Wednesday, bringing rain, floods and strong winds.
The system, downgraded to a Category 3 storm, was moving inland with winds of up to 102 mph at its center and the possibility of unleashing up to 2 feet of rain over 24 hours on the Pilbara region, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Forecasters said they expected Rusty to weaken as it headed toward Nullagine and Marble Bar, both under alerts.
Officials said there were reports of down power lines, flooded roads and gale-force winds, but no reports of injuries or loss of life.
Schools were closed and mines were shut down, with some being evacuated, before Rusty hit.
More older workers plan to keep working
CHICAGO, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Six-of-10 U.S. workers age 60 or older would look for a new job once they retired from their current job, a nationwide survey found.
In a survey conducted in November by Harris Interactive for human resources firm CareerBuilder, older workers indicating they would find a new job after retiring rose from 57 percent in 2011 to 60 percent in 2012.
More than 1-in-10 -- 12 percent -- indicated they did not believe they would ever retire, CareerBuilder said.
Among workers age 60 or over 67 percent indicated they would retire in one to six years. Fifteen percent indicated they would retire in seven to 10 years or more.
CareerBuilder said "there is good news for mature workers who are putting off retirement" as employers are seeking mature workers who bring a wealth of knowledge to a job and can serve as mentors for others.
Forty-eight percent of employers surveyed indicated they planned to hire workers age 50 or older, CareerBuilder said.
