What we’re watching Monday

Good morning. It’s the second week of the government shutdown. Here are some of the stories PBS NewsHour is following Friday, Oct. 7:

Government shutdown, Day 7

As the shutdown heads into its second week, the Oct. 17 deadline to raise the debt ceiling looms closer. The Morning Line reports that House Speaker John Boehner appeared on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, frustrated that President Barack Obama’s negotiations with Congressional leaders hasn’t extended beyond a brief, ineffective meeting last week.

“He knows what my phone number is, all he has to do is call,” Boehner said, stressing that he just needed a “simple conversation” with the president.

Standing in for the president, Secretary of State John Kerry said to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit that the shutdown was a “moment” in politics that would be resolved. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Saturday that most civilian Department of Defense workers that were furloughed during the shutdown would be asked to return to work starting today.

U.S. and Russia agree to peace talks next month

Reuters reports that after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kerry said that the U.S. and Russia are urging the United Nations to set a date for Syria peace talks sometime in November. Kerry also praised the Assad government for its compliance with the international inspectors that have started destroying Syria’s chemical arsenal.

“I think it’s a credit to the Assad regime, frankly. It’s a good beginning and we welcome a good beginning,” Kerry said.

Three share the Nobel Prize in medicine

The New York Times reports that three Americans share the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for their discovery of how key substances are transported within cells. The Nobel committee said their research helps scientists have a better understanding of diabetes and other disorders.