The head of NATO believes the Syrian government is approaching collapse. Anders Fogh Rasmussen  says it's only a question of time before the country's President Bashar al-Assad losses grip on power. And for the first time, Russia has conceded opposition forces could overthrow the government. Sixteen people were killed overnight when a car bomb exploded in the capital Damascus.

 

A state of disaster has been declared in Samoa, where cyclone Evan has killed at least two people and caused widespread havoc. There is now concern Evan could strike the island again in the next 24 hours. Strong winds of up to 160 kilometres an hour and heavy rain damaged homes and caused flooding. Power has also been cut to Samoa's capital.

 

Tasmania's forest peace agreement is on the brink of collapse because the Federal Government has withdrawn its multi-million-dollar funding promise. The CommonWealth pledged 200 million dollars to support the deal on the condition the state's parliament passed the legislation by the end of the year. Instead, Tasmania's Upper House decided to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee.