For NPR news in Washington. I’m L W.

 

　　This week 8 senators, 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans may reveal their plan on how to overhaul immigration laws. Republican Mark Robio of Florida made the rounds of TV talk show this morning to provide a preview. He says it would include the way to deal with those here illegally but he stressed that it is not amnesty. Here is a FOX news Sunday.

 

　　They have to pass the background check. They have to be able to pay for registration fee. They have to pay a fine. And then they have to renew it. This is not forever. This is a renewable thing. And then they don’t qualify for any federal benefits. This is an important point. No federal benefits, no food stamps, no welfare, no Obama care.

 

　　Robio said it would be impractical to round up and deport the estimated 11 million people in the U.S. illegally.

 

　　A Senate vote on expanding background check for gun buyers could come as early as Wednesday. NPR’s C reports the bipartisan team behind the plan says it is too close to call over a vote to move the bill forward.

 

　　West Virginia Democrat Joe Mansion and Republican P in Pennsylvania are co-sponsoring the bill that would require background check for people buying firing arms, gun shoots under and on line. Speaking on CNN State of the Union, Senator T said the bill is not an infringement on the second amendment.

 

　　This is about whether or not it is reasonable to try to make it more difficult for dangerous people, for whom, we talked already, are illegal, for them to have weapons, to … them.

 

　　The NRA has opposed the measure, calling it is the first step toward restricting gun rights to non-criminals. The bill seems one of the only measures proposed in the wake of the recent mass shootings that could get a vote by the full Senate. C NPR news.

 

　　The Afghan government now says NATO killed 17 civilians during a recent air strike in eastern Afghanistan. NPR’s S C says Afghan officials initially claimed NATO killed 11 civilians.

 

　　An Afghan government fact-finding delegation says 12 of the victims of the air strike were children. Militants ambushed Afghan forces who were attempting to arrest two Taliban commanders. The U.S. civilian advisor died in the attack. At that point, U.S. forces called for air support. The Afghan government says NATO aircraft bombed the area for several hours, killing the civilians along with several militants. President H K called the NATO actions human rights violation. He also condemned the Taliban for using the civilians and their homes as shields. NATO says it is still investigating the incident and has not offered its own account of what happened. S C, NPR news, Kabul.

 

　　Secretary of State John Kerry is wrapping up a ten-day overseas trip in Tokyo. He said the U.S. and Japan are open to new negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear programme. But Kerry said that Pyongyang would have to first honour past agreements and lower tensions on the Korea Peninsular.

 

　　This is NPR news from Washington.

 

　　China’s state news agency reports today that two more people have died from the bird flu, bringing the death toll to 13. Health officials believe the H7N9 virus is spreading through contact with infected birds. They say there is no evidence that the flu is spread by human to human contact.

 

　　More than a trillion dollars goes missing every year across the European Union, lost in tax evasion and money laundry. Now as Terry S reports the biggest EU economies are taking the lead to close the loopholes and catch tax cheats, hoping they can convince the rest of the bloc to come onboard.

 

　　EU member states are struggling to pay their bills, yet lack in enforcement and manipulation of tax laws mean $1.3 trillion of the governments go uncollected every year. At EU meeting of finance ministers, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain announced they are spearheading a push to end tax evasion and corruption. British Finance Minister J D says tax evaders must get the message that they have to pay their share.

 

　　“The places you can hide are getting fewer and fewer.”

 

　　France’s Budget Minister just resigned over his own secret Swiss bank account. French Finance Minister P M says that has an impact.

 

　　“We are more resolute that ever”

 

　　But one country, Austria, remains unwilling to share more booking information, calling it government slipping in. For NPR news, I’m T S, Brussels.

 

　　Voters are going to polls in Venezuela today to select new president to replace Hugo Chavez. The interim president Nicolas M promises to continue his socialism. Opposition candidate R is running for what he calls incompetence of the government. Some Venezuelas are impatient with frequent power outages, food shortages and rising crime rate.

 

　　I’m L W. NPR news in Washington.