In This Edition

 

The deadliest single loss for American forces in the decade-old war against the Taliban...30 US service members were killed when insurgents shot down a US military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan.

 

Turkey calls for the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference to hold an emergency meeting on the famine in Somalia.

 

A senior Indian police official says there is a significant decrease in the militancy in the Kashmir border areas but efforts of infiltration is still on.

 

AC Milan rallied from one goal down to beat feud Inter Milan 2-1 to win the 2011 Italian Super Cup in Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium.

 

 

Hot Issue Reports

 

US Military Helicopter Shot down

Insurgents have shot down a US military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan. The US-led coalition says that 30 American service members, a civilian interpreter and seven Afghan commandos were killed.

 

Afghan Defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi confirmed the crash.

 

"During the operation last night, a helicopter of the international forces crashed and as a result of the helicopter crash, 31 soldiers from the international forces were killed and seven soldiers from the commando of special forces of the Afghan army were martyred as well."

 

The helicopter crashed in the Sayd Abad district of Wardak province. Aircraft crashes are relatively frequent in Afghanistan, where insecurity and difficult terrain make air travel essential for coalition forces transporting troops and equipment.

 

Afghan Defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi expresses his condolences to the victims of the tragedy.

 

"The Afghan defence ministry expresses its deepest condolences and shares this moment of sorrow with the families of the victims, the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Command, the people of America and families of the victims."

 

The Taliban claims that they downed the helicopter with a rocket while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak overnight.

 

It was the deadliest single loss for American forces in the decade-old war against the Taliban.

 

Turkey Calls for Urgent Meeting of OIC on Famine in Africa

Turkey says it has called for the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference to hold an emergency meeting on the famine in Somalia and the risks it poses to other African countries.

 

During a conference with Turkish businessmen, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that they were working out the details of the meeting and hope that it would be held within the next two weeks.

 

He added that his ministry was organizing visits to Ethiopia and South Africa later this month.

 

On Friday, a Somali soldier was killed and a dozen residents wounded when three trucks loaded with food intended for famine victims were looted in the country's capital Mogadishu, witnesses said.

 

Away from the issue of Somalia, when quizzed about Cypriot plans for natural gas exploration, Davutoglu said nobody has the right to conduct drilling activities around Cyprus without a permanent solution to the island's problem.

 

"This is wrong according to international law, and Turkey's attitude on the issue is clear. We will show the necessary reaction if they (Cyprus government) decide to take further steps on the issue."

 

On Tuesday, Cyprus announced it would drill for natural gas and oil resources off the southern coast on October 1, the day celebrated as Cyprus' Independence Day.

 

Davutoglu also confirmed reports of the seizure of an Iranian arms shipment to Syria.

 

"We have received such information. We have launched a legal investigation into the issue. We will give you further information in the future if necessary."

 

Obama Says Job Creation a Top Priority

US President Barack Obama has hailed a positive jobs report but said more job growth is needed and predicted the situation will improve over time.

 

Obama made comments on a Labor Department report saying that 154,000 private sector jobs were created in July, marking the strongest pace since April and the unemployment rate also went down to 9.1 percent in July from 9.2 percent in June. He predicts a promising employment situation.

 

"We are going to get through this. Things will get better. And we're going to get there together. The bipartisan compromise on deficit reduction was important in terms of putting us on sounder fiscal footing going forward."

 

Obama said the US economy has faced a tumultuous year and noted markets around the globe have had a bumpy ride.

 

He cited divisive US debt talks, Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, revolts in Arab countries and the European debt crisis as factors contributing to slack growth.

 

Obama has promised that when the US Congress returns to work in September, he wants lawmakers to move quickly on job-creating steps including extending a payroll tax cut, extending unemployment insurance to help people get back on their feet and putting construction workers back to work rebuilding America.

 

Earlier this week, Obama signed a bipartisan bill of raising the nation's debt limit into law, ending the month-long perilous stalemate and averting a potentially catastrophic debt default risk.

 

Kashmir Sees a Decrease of Militancy, Infiltration Still on

The Director General of Police of India's Jammu and Kashmir state, Kuldeep Khoda said there is a significant decrease in the militancy in the Kashmir border areas but efforts of infiltration is still on.

 

"We have to keep our security arrangement still very tight, so that nobody is able to take undue advantage of it. You must have noticed that there have been lots of efforts for infiltration along the Kashmir border. They are trying to infiltrate as many as militants in the country before the passes close but due to the tight security on the border many infiltrators were stopped there only."

 

Khoda adds the reduction in militancy in the restive region is the result of equal participation by the security forces and Indian Army with the police but the major contribution is of the local people.

 

Khoda said people of the region want peace and development and thus united to fight against militancy.

 

"Almost everybody, every citizen in Kashmir wants peace. People are fed up of violence or instability. They want stability, they want education for children, Traders want peaceful atmosphere so that they can pursue their peaceful activity. It is our job to ensure that their longing for peace is achieved with the help of police and the other security forces. We are working together."

 

Kashmir continues to be the bone of contention between India and Pakistan.

 

Tens of thousands of people lost their lives in Kashmir since an armed revolt against New Delhi's rule erupted in 1989.

 

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the region.

 

Supporters Protest Arrest of Ukraine's Ex-PM

A big crowd gathered on the street in central Kiev Saturday to protest the arrest of Ukraine's former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

 

Andrei Pavlovski is a law-maker, Block of Yulia Tymoshenko.

 

"Lawmakers and citizens are protesting here against the illegal arrest of Yulia Tymoshenko an inquisition that is in Ukraine now."

 

Police arrested Tymoshenko on Friday during her abuse-of-office trial for violations of court procedures.

 

Tymoshenko's supporters including national lawmakers, squabbled with riot police, trying to prevent them from driving her away in a prison car.

 

Dozens then gathered outside the court building in central Kiev and tried to block the road, but riot police pushed them aside.

 

They remained outside the court on Saturday, demanding her release and calling her arrest illegal.

 

"I think that the court imprisons not Tymoshenko, but our freedom and democracy. This is the only thing we have left."

 

Tymoshenko is charged with abusing her powers by signing a natural gas import contract with Russia in 2009 that prosecutors claim was disadvantageous to Ukraine.

 

But she insists her innocence, arguing that the contract ended weeks of natural gas disruptions to Ukrainian and European consumers and that she was authorized to sign the deal as prime minister.

 

Chilean Students Protests Mar the Opening of Museum Dedicated to Rescued Miners

On the first anniversary of the mining disaster that trapped 33 workers 2,000 feet below ground, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera presided over the opening of a museum specially dedicated to the men as violent student protests continued to rage on the streets.

 

Following various commemorations to the rescued miners in the Latin American country, survivor Jose Ojeda returned to Copiaca, near the site of the accident, to help open the museum.

 

One of its prized exhibitions was the note Ojeda scribbled down in the depths of the mine declaring that the miners were alive and well.

 

Ojeda said this is a day of mixed feelings, evoking memories of the ordeal, but also joy that this message can be exhibited in this museum.

 

The inauguration ceremony was, however, overshadowed by angry student protests against Pinera, with police struggling to maintain public order outside.

 

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera pleaded with students outside to respect the special anniversary for millions of Chileans.

 

"We have heard you and are paying attention to your message but the government and the President has to govern for all Chileans. It is not just our right but our obligation to guarantee public order for all Chileans, to guarantee students who want to study the power to study and improve themselves and work towards a better life and country."

 

Hundreds of thousands of people have protested in Santiago and Chile's other main cities in recent weeks as miners and environmentalists rally against Pinera, who is less than half way through his four-year term.

 

A recent CEP poll revealed that just 26 percent of Chileans approved of Pinera's leadership, a sharp contrast from the much-lauded president that oversaw the dramatic rescue of the 33 miners twelve months ago.

 

Australia Sending Police to Christmas Island to Guarantee Deportation

The Australian government is boosting police numbers on Christmas Island, in preparation for the expected deportation of the first asylum-seekers as part of the recently signed swap deal with Malaysia.

 

The group of 54 mainly Afghan asylum-seekers, including 13 unaccompanied children, arrived on Christmas Island on Thursday. They have since been told that they will not be allowed to settle in Australia.

 

A refugee advocate group, Asylum Seekers Christmas Island, says it received a distressed phone call from an asylum-seeker detained on Christmas Island.

 

"An Afghan man who explained to me that the women and children are in an extremely bad way at the moment, that they are in desperate need of help, and that the asylum-seekers are going on a hunger strike."

 

However, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says that a hunger strike will not change her government's plan.

 

"Look, I've seen reports to that effect. Obviously our Immigration Department officials will handle any issues, but as we've made clear all along, the returns to Malaysia aren't a question of volunteering. This will be done."

 

The Australian government is under intense pressure to allow the unaccompanied children to remain in Australia. The United Nations Refugee Agency has criticised the three-day processing schedule as being much too fast for dealing with vulnerable people.

 

Japan Remembers Hiroshima Bombing

Japan Saturday marked the 66th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the world's biggest nuclear crisis prior to the Chernobyl disaster.

 

Hiroshima residents have honored the thousands who perished in the attack, and many more who died of radiation exposure, by observing a minute of silence, tolling a peace bell and releasing hundreds of doves into the air.

 

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called for the country to reduce its reliance on nuclear power in the wake of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake which rocked the country in March, causing reactor explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

 

"I will reflect deeply on nuclear power's 'myth of safety', investigate thoroughly the causes of the accident and the fundamental measures by which to secure safety, as well as reduce the country's dependence on nuclear power plants, thus aiming for a society that does not depend on nuclear power".

 

Hiroshima, as well as the rest of Japan, has been careful not to let the wartime trauma influence the debate about the merits of nuclear energy in the past. The nation's passionate rejection of nuclear weapons has been separate from its attitude towards the nuclear power industry.

 

All 54 of Japan's nuclear reactors could be shut down by May 2012.　

 

An atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. on Hiroshima on 6 August, 1945 caused the deaths of 140,000 citizens. The other bomb hit the city of Nagasaki three days later, which forced Japan to surrender, thus bringing an end to World War II.

 

China's Speed Skater Apologizes for Her Misbehavior

China's four-times Olympic gold medalist Wang Meng has apologised for her misbehavior on national TV after being expelled from the national short track speed skating team following a drunken brawl with team manager Wang Chunlun.

 

"I've reflected on my behavior since the day of the incident. I think I should sincerely apologize to the people of China, to the people who love winter sports and my fans who love and support me. It is because the negative impact on the society that the incident brought is not what I want to see."

 

The 26-year-old punched Wang Chunlu after being criticized for coming back late to a training camp following a night out drinking with five other team mates.

 

The China's most decorated Winter Games athlete had decried her expulsion and said she would hold a press conference later, while several of her team mates claimed they would quit in protest.

 

Wang Meng won three gold medals at 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and one gold, one silver and one bronze at 2006 Turin Games.

 

AC Milan Beats Inter Milan 2-1

AC Milan rallied from one goal down to beat feud Inter Milan 2-1 to win the 2011 Italian Super Cup after an exciting derby in Beijing Saturday night.

Fans were in upbeat mood at the match.

 

"I came from Sichuan province with a bunch of Milan fans to Beijing just to watch the Milan derby. I of course hope Milan will win. Result should be 2-1. Go! Milan! Go!"

 

"I think it's normal to win or lose. We are not quite frustrated with the result as we were happy for the first goal. Of course it is better to win but we will keep supporting our team despite Inter losing this game."

 

Milan, who ended Inter's five-year reign as Italian champions by winning the Scudetto in May, fought back through ex-Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng.

 

Ibrahimovic equalised with a header against the run of the play in the 60th minute after being set up by Clarence Seedorf and nine minutes later Boateng scored the winner.

 

The defeat was an inauspicious start for new Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who replaced Leonardo during the close season.

 

Gasperini's appointment disappointed many Inter fans given he was sacked by modest top flight side Genoa early last campaign and has no big club experience.

 

The Super Cup was played in the packed Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing in front of over 70,000. The match will still be held there for the next two seasons before the start of the Serie A, which means the event will create more business value and sporting fever in the place where the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was held.

 

Change Needed in Government Conduct

 

The recent joint appeal for transparency in administrative procedures, from the general offices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council is an attempt to provide bureaucratic establishments with a way out of a deepening credibility crisis.

 

The call was issued in the wake of a series of negative events including the deadly bullet train crash in Zhejiang and the reputation free fall of the Red Cross Society of China overshadowed state institutions.

 

An editorial in the China Daily says a document of such a comprehensive nature does not seem to be an expediency hurriedly tailored to meet immediate needs.

Instead, the call by the central authorities for timely and complete information-sharing in the event of major incidents represents an informed judgment, pointing to the very roots of public disbelief - our public institutions' obsession with information control.

 

The paper says the internet has provided a handy platform for ordinary citizens to air their concerns about the conduct of public servants and institutions, and the days when public servants could act arbitrarily, declaring such acts to be for good of the public, are gone.

 

The paper also argues video-ready mobile phones and micro blogs have armed the public with the means to circumvent misdirection and misinformation so well that the room for bureaucratic manipulation of the facts has shrunk considerably.

 

The editorial goes on to add that though public opinions aired online may not be 100 percent representative, they can be powerful catalysts in the formulation of negative perceptions of our public powers.