Obama To Launch New Economic Aid Package
Eager to jumpstart the economy ahead of crucial midterm elections, President Barack Obama said Friday he intends to unveil a new package of proposals, including tax cuts and targeted spending, to spark job growth. Obama spoke in the Rose Garden after the August jobs report came out better than expected, showing the private sector adding 67,000 new jobs last month and revising upward the numbers from June and July. But unemployment ticked upward to 9.6 percent as more people entered the job market, and the president said it wasn't good enough. CBS
VOA VIEW: More voodoo economics.

US Says Goodbye To Earl As Storm Spins Into Canada
The remnants of Hurricane Earl took aim at Nova Scotia early Saturday after a brush with the Northeast that was far less intense than feared, dumping heavy, wind-driven rain on Cape Cod cottages and fishing villages accustomed to nor'easters. The worst of the damage amounted to a few hundred power outages, a handful of downed power lines and isolated flooding in Massachusetts. The storm didn't make much of an impression on the dozen people who stayed overnight at a Red Cross shelter at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in Yarmouth on the Cape. Detroit News

Bubba Nod To SI Candidate A Shot Across Bam's Bow
Bill Clinton strongly endorsed "independent" Staten Island Democrat Rep. Mike McMahon's re-election bid yesterday -- even saying it was OK for the incumbent to buck President Obama by voting against health-care reform. The former president said McMahon "wants to fix it the right way" while Republicans want to put the insurance companies in charge of health care. "When I was president, I loved congressman like Mike, people who didn't always vote for me but were always thinking and listened to the evidence and looked for solutions," Clinton said. NY Post

Wyoming Man Donates $1.5M To Defend Arizona Immigration Law In Court
A Wyoming man has given more than $1.5 million to help defend Arizona's controversial immigration enforcement measure in court, Gov. Jan Brewer's office said Thursday. The contribution from Timothy Mellon of Saratoga is the largest to Brewer's defense fund, which has amassed more than $3.6 million from 41,000 donors nationwide. Mellon could not immediately be reached for comment. The latest legal bills released Thursday show Brewer's office has spent more than $440,000 for the first two months of defending the law. The bills, obtained through a public records request by The Associated Press, are for work performed through June by Phoenix law firm Snell & Wilmer. They do not cover July hearings in federal court before a judge Susan Bolton temporarily blocked enforcement of the law's most controversial provisions. Fox News
VOA VIEW: Americans are stepping up to fight Obama tyranny.

BP Begins Effort To Remove Failed Blowout Preventer
BP began operations to remove its failed blowout preventer from atop its well deep below the Gulf of Mexico, the company said Friday. BP spokeswoman Jessie Baker said a vessel that will be raising the device from the water is now connected to underwater equipment in preparation for the removal. The procedure may take place as early as this weekend, depending on weather conditions. Joint investigation teams, engineers and the Department of Justice are closely monitoring the status of the blowout preventer, as it may hold important forensic evidence as to why it failed on April 20, triggering the world's largest accidental oil spill after a deadly explosion that killed 11 rig workers. CNN

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Jobless Rate Rose To 9.6 Percent In Aug.
Growth in jobs last month was not fast enough to prevent the unemployment rate from ticking up to 9.6 percent from 9.5 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday morning. Businesses added another 67,000 jobs in areas from health care to business services, but that was overwhelmed by 121,000 layoffs by governments around the country, including 114,000 temporary workers let go by the Census Bureau. The comings and goings at census have particularly distorted the jobs picture in recent months, depressing overall employment by 54,000 in August. Earlier this year, they inflated the job gains to over 400,000 in one month. Washington Times

Osteoporosis Drugs Tied To Esophageal Cancer
A second look at British registry data indicates that esophageal cancer may be more common after all in patients taking oral bisphosphonate drugs, a type of drug used to treat osteoporosis, for long periods. In an analysis involving some 80,000 patients tracked for more than seven years on average, individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer of were 1.93 times as likely to have received at least 10 prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates compared with controls not having cancer, reported Dr. Jane Green of the University of Oxford in England and colleagues online in BMJ. ABC

Toshiba Recalls 41,000 Computers Over Risk Of Burns
Toshiba has announced the voluntary recall of about 41,000 notebook computers worldwide at risk of overheating and burning users. The recalled models are the Satellite T135, Satellite T135D and Satellite ProT130 notebook computers, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Consumers are asked to immediately download the latest version of a software program called BIOS. The program will detect whether a recalled notebook is overheating, and will disable the computer's external power and alert the consumer to contact Toshiba for a free repair. The software is available at http://laptops.toshiba.com/about/consumer-notices. Customers without Internet access are asked to contact the company for installation of the program. CNN

Democrats Add Fiscal Austerity As A Campaign Issue
The candidate was outraged - just outraged - at the country's sorry fiscal state. "We have managed to acquire $13 trillion of debt on our balance sheet," he fumed to a roomful of voters. "In my view, we have nothing to show for it." And that was a Democrat, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who voted "yes" on the stimulus, the health-care overhaul, increased education funding and other costly bills Congress approved under his party's control. Faced with a potential wipeout in November's midterm elections, candidates such as Bennet are embracing budget cuts with the enthusiasm of Reagan Republicans. Washington Post
VOA VIEW: Democrats don't understand the meaning of fiscal austerity.

Platform Fire Expands Worry On Oil Drilling
The fire at an oil platform off the Louisiana coast on Thursday may not, in the end, do much harm to the Gulf of Mexico. But it could still mean trouble for both the Obama administration and the oil industry by raising new questions about the gulf’s oil fields. The industry and the White House have battled all summer over a six-month moratorium on deep-water oil drilling imposed by the Obama administration after the historic spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig. But, within that fight, there was common ground: Both sides seemed to agree there was less of a crisis among the gulf’s other rigs. That would include those in shallower water, less than 500 feet deep, and those platforms that merely pumped oil instead of drilling. Boston Globe

BP Raises Blowout Preventer
BP crews worked Saturday to slowly raise the 300-ton blowout preventer that failed to stop oil from spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, careful not to damage or drop a key piece of evidence in the spill investigation. When the blowout preventer reaches the surface after its mile-long journey, government investigators will take possession of it and eventually examine it, hoping to gain insight into why the device failed. A BP PLC spokesman said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the 50-foot device was detached from the wellhead Friday afternoon. Another blowout preventer had successfully been placed on the blown-out well, the government said later. NY Times

American Academy Of Pediatrics Says Media Portrayal Of Sex ‘Unhealthy'
Calling media portrayals of sex “unhealthy,” the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new guidelines calling on all media outlets to present human sexuality in a healthy, scientifically accurate manner. At the same time, the group pomoted the use of contraceptives among teenagers and denigrated abstinence-only education. “There is a major disconnect between what mainstream media portray – casual sex and sexuality with no consequences – and what children and teenagers need – straightforward information about human sexuality and the need for contraception when having sex,” the AAP said.  CNS News

Roman Polanski Still On The Run – U.S. Justice Department Not Releasing Documents In Ongoing Case
Although famed movie director and criminal fugitive Roman Polanski was released by Swiss authorities from house-arrest in July and is free to travel in his homeland France and in Switzerland, the U.S. Justice Department is still pursuing him, as a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by CNSNews.com verifies. Swiss authorities had arrested Polanski in September 2009 based upon a U.S.-issued international arrest warrant that stemmed from a sex-crime Polanski committed in the United States in 1977, and were holding him pending the outcome of an extradition request for his return to the United States. CNS News

Kia Recalls 56,000 Souls, Sorentos In U.S.
Kia Motors said on Friday it had started a recall of some 56,000 Soul and Sorento vehicles sold in the United States and South Korea due to defective wiring harnesses that could cause fires. Some harnesses supplied by Johnson Controls for lighting in 2010 model-year Soul cars and 2011 model-year Sorento SUVs were improperly soldered, leading to possible electrical shorts, Kia said in a letter to U.S. safety regulators on August 30. There were no reports of accidents or injuries due to the issue, which was identified in June, said Kia, an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. Kia determined that a recall was needed on August 23. Reuters

Indian Army Likes U.S. Weaponry
India's Ministry of Defense is placing orders for U.S. armaments following joint exercises with U.S. military forces. Russia has traditionally been India's largest arms supplier but following evidence of the capabilities of U.S. military equipment during joint exercises with the Indian army, navy and air force, the Indian army decided to purchase of several hundred Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, demonstrated during the war games, the Telegraph reported Friday. UPI

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Judge Orders US-Born Kingpin 'La Barbie' Held
A Mexican judge has ordered a US-born suspected drug lord known as "La Barbie" held for 40 days pending an investigation into organized crime and other charges. The Attorney General's Office says Edgar Valdez Villarreal will be held at federal police headquarters while prosecutors decide whether to formally charge him. Mexican authorities are also trying to decide whether to try Valdez in Mexico or deport him to the United States, where he faces cocaine charges in three different states. Valdez was born in Laredo, Texas, and has been living illegally in Mexico. The Attorney General's Office announced the judge's decision in a statement Saturday. Valdez was captured Monday following a yearlong investigation. Tampa Tribune

Oil Hovers Near $75 As Global Stocks Rally
Oil prices hovered near $75 a barrel Monday in Asia, buoyed by rallying global stock markets and improving investor sentiment. Benchmark crude for October delivery was down 38 cents at $74.79 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.81 to settle at $75.17 on Friday. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday the central bank was ready to step in if the U.S. economy showed further signs of weakening. Bernanke's comments sparked a stock market rally, with the Dow Jones industrial average jumping 1.7 percent Friday. ABC

Too Early To `Declare Victory' As Housing Revives
The housing market is showing progress two years after the credit crunch drove down home prices, though it’s too soon to “declare victory,” Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan said. “It is too early to certainly declare victory,” Donovan said in an interview for Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” airing this weekend. He said prices picked up over the last year and Americans added $1.1 trillion in equity to their homes. Pending home sales rose an unexpected 5.2 percent in July, the National Association of Realtors reported yesterday. Seasonally adjusted pending sales had dropped 2.8 percent in June and almost 30 percent in May. When President Barack Obama came into office, “what was driving the housing market was bad loans, today it’s unemployment,” Donovan said. Bloomberg
VOA VIEW: The housing market is far from recovering.

Prescription Drug Spending Doubled In Less Than A Decade
Over the last 10 years, the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the past month increased from 44% to 48%, says a federal government study. Use of two or more drugs increased from 25% to 31%, and the use of five or more drugs increased from 6% to 11%, according to the analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study also found that 20% of children and 90% of adults aged 60 and older reported using at least one prescription drug in the past month, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers. Spending on prescription drugs in the United States totaled more than $234.1 billion in 2008, more than double the amount spent in 1999, they found. USA Today

Families Calling For Justice For Soldiers
As major U.S. combat operations in Iraq end, some families of soldiers and Marines convicted of crimes during battle hope the nation doesn't forget their sons. The men, known as the "Leavenworth 10," were convicted by military courts for the murder of Iraqis over the past seven years. They're serving sentences, which range from 10 to 40 years, at Fort Leavenworth. But their families say it's all an injustice and want other Americans to share their outrage over what happened to their loved ones. Las Vegas Sun

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Your Hair Knows When You're About To Have A Heart Attack
A new study shows your tresses store a long-term record of your stresses. And testing a few hairs may be able to predict your risk of an imminent heart attack, according to a report from LiveScience. Troubles at work? Family strife? Money woes? All that angst is stashed in your hair in the form of cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, Canadian researchers found. The hormone gets released in the bloodstream when you're freaking out and seeps into your hair follicles. As the hair grows, it provides a timeline of your anxieties -- and the toll they take on your heart. Gideon Koren, a professor at the University of Western Ontario, took hair samples from 120 men and measured cortisol levels in the 1.2 inches of hair closest to the scalp. That’s about three months worth of growth. MSNBC

Jobs Report Helps Stocks Extend September Rally
The stock market is closing out its first winning week in a month after news on the economy started getting better. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 128 points Friday, its fourth straight day of gains. The strong start to September marked a turnaround from a dismal performance in August. A better report on job creation Friday was the latest piece of good news on the economy and pushed shares higher. The jobs reported “created a bit of optimism, but there's still a degree of caution,” said Nick Kalivas, vice president of financial research for MF Global. The services sector report renewed some skepticism, Kalivas said. CBS

Earl Sideswipes NC
A weakening Hurricane Earl swiped past North Carolina on Friday on its way to New England, where officials warned residents that it still packed dangerous winds that could topple trees or damage the area's picturesque gray-shingled cottages. Earl dropped to a Category 1 storm — down from a powerful Category 4 a day earlier — with sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm could weaken to a tropical storm by the time it passes about 50 to 75 miles southeast of Nantucket on Friday night, said National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read. "The good news on Earl is it has been steadily weakening, maybe even a little quicker than forecast," Mr. Read said. Washington Times

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U.S. Government Probes Mariner Platform Fire
The U.S. government on Friday launched an investigation into Mariner Energy Inc's Gulf of Mexico platform fire, and a light oil sheen spotted near the offshore facility was not believed to be a leak, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard helicopter crew surveying the platform spotted a small sheen, about a gallon, but it is thought to be related to Thursday's efforts to extinguish the fire, an agency spokesman said. Investigators have boarded the damaged facility and are working to verify that it is not leaking crude oil into the Gulf. The cause of the fire, which forced the evacuation of the oil and gas production platform's 13-member crew, is not yet known. Reuters

Drugmakers Script Social Media To Push Meds
Under the Obama administration, the FDA has vowed to crack down on increasingly aggressive marketing tactics — both online and off. But even Abrams acknowledges the agency lacks the resources to sharply curtail misleading drug ads. Downturn or no, the pharmaceutical industry hasn't been skimping on advertising. In 2009, companies spent a vast $4.8 billion to reach out to consumers in the United States — the only country besides New Zealand that allows direct-to-consumer advertising — up from nearly $4.7 billion the year before, according to tracking firm Kantar Media. MSNBC

DC Like ‘Drug Dealer’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is likening the federal government to a drug dealer. In an interview Thursday with Fox News' "Your World With Neil Cavuto," Pawlenty defended his order that seeks to limit his state's participation in the new health care overhaul law that makes available funds for states to try new medical models. The potential 2012 Republican presidential contender said it would be wrong to take the money. "Instead of all just running around saying, 'We'll take the money because it's free money,' let's call it what it is: The federal government is basically a drug dealer trying to give out free samples, or give people a taste, get them further addicted," Pawlenty said. Las Vegas Sun

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Muslims Take To Minn. State Fair To Repair Image
Despite the smells of fried dough and roasted meat wafting from the Minnesota State Fair, Salim and Zuleyha Ozonder were focused on the people who were leaving, not the food or festivities beckoning from across the street. Each time a new wave of people exited, the young Minneapolis residents , who hadn't eaten all day , tried to press into their hands a small, glossy card that read "Islam Explained" on one side. On the other, it had about 180 words of background on a religion whose adherents fear is being misunderstood by too many Americans as violent and depraved. "You just want people to take the card, spend a minute reading it and say, 'Oh. They're not terrorists,'" said 27-year-old Zuleyha. She and her husband, like other Muslims, were fasting during daylight hours for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Philadelphia Inquirer

U.S. To Temper Stance On Afghan Corruption
U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan are developing a strategy that would tolerate some corruption in the country but target the most corrosive abuses by more tightly regulating U.S. contracting procedures, according to senior defense officials. American officials here have not spoken publicly about countenancing potentially corrupt local power brokers. Such a stance would run somewhat against the grain of a counterinsurgency doctrine that preaches the importance of building competent governance. But military officials have concluded that the Taliban insurgency is the most pressing threat to stability in Afghanistan and that a sweeping effort to drive out corruption would create chaos and a governance vacuum that the Taliban could exploit. Washington Post

Obama Says He's Committed To Helping Middle Class
A healthy economy needs bustling Main Streets and a thriving middle class even more than a healthy stock market, President Barack Obama said as he reaffirmed his commitment to work hard for America's hardworking men and women. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama on Saturday outlined what he's done to help the middle class, a group he says has been squeezed the most during the recession. He touted efforts to create jobs, make college more affordable, help the middle class build retirement nest eggs, cut taxes on these families and stop health insurance companies from refusing to cover people with pre-existing medical conditions. Charlotte Observer
VOA VIEW:  Fool and the naive believe anything Obama says.

Blackwater Created Shell Companies
The security company Blackwater Worldwide formed a network of 30 shell companies and subsidiaries to try to get millions of dollars in government business after the company faced strong criticism for reckless conduct in Iraq, The New York Times reported Friday. The newspaper said that it was unclear how many of the created companies got American contracts but that at least three of them obtained work with the U.S. military and the CIA. Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has asked the Justice Department to see whether Blackwater misled the government when using the subsidiaries to gain government contracts, according to the Times. Indy Star

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7.2 Magnitude Quake Rocks New Zealand
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck close to New Zealand's second-largest city of Christchurch early Saturday local time, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, though some residents there said buildings had collapsed and power lines were severed. The USGS did not immediately warn of the threat of tsunamis. The quake hit at 4.35am local time just 20 miles (30 km) northwest of Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island. Christchurch is New Zealand's second-largest city with a population of about 342,000 people. New Zealand's National Radio reports the temblor shook thousands of residents awake. Fox News

Abbas Said Under U.S. Pressure In Talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is being pressured to continue talks with Israel even if Israel resumes construction in West Bank settlements, sources say. The Obama administration has renewed its pressure on Abbas to remain in direct peace negotiations with Israel even if construction begins again after the end of the current moratorium, a senior Palestine source told the Haaretz newspaper. Abbas would not abide a renewal of construction and would be forced to withdraw from the talks, the source warned. Palestinian acceptance of renewed construction as talks are resumed is politically impossible, the source said. UPI News

Peres Hails 'Promising Start' Of Newly Launched Peace Talks
Hillary Clinton declares peace is within Israeli and Palestinian interests in Friday night interview with Israeli and Palestinian reporters; Erekat denies report that negotiating teams scheduled to meet in West Bank. President Shimon Peres said newly launched peace talks with the Palestinians had a “promising start,” speaking to reporters at an economic conference in Italy on Friday. Peres stated that the negotiations  had a “surprisingly” good beginning, considering the fact that “skepticism prevailed before.” The president expressed his hope that the latest round of talks could lead to a peace agreement, saying that the difficulties existing in bridging the gap between the two sides are manageable and those taking part in the negotiations are serious. Jerusalem Post

'Jerusalem Cannot Be The Capital Of State Called Israel'
Nasrallah derides peace talks as dead on arrival in "Jerusalem Day" speech after explosions erupt from suspected Hizbullah arms cache. The current round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks will not succeed, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said during a "Jerusalem Day" commemoration speech on Friday. Nasrallah characterized the talks as "stillborn" and said, "Jerusalem, and not even one of its streets, can not be the capital of the state called Israel." The Hizbullah chief's comments came hours after explosions ripped through a building Friday in southern Lebanon that might - according to Lebanese security officials - have been used to store weapons for the terrorists group. Jerusalem Post
VOA VIEW: So much for peace.

Radical Islam Is World's Greatest Threat
Tony Blair has described radical Islam as the greatest threat facing the world today. He made the remark in a BBC interview marking the publication of his memoirs. Mr Blair said radical Islamists believed that whatever was done in the name of their cause was justified - including the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. Mr Blair, who led Britain into war in Afghanistan and Iraq, denied that his own policies had fuelled radicalism. Asked about the argument that Chechens, Kashmiris, Palestinians, Iraqis and Afghans were resisting foreign occupation, he said Western polices were designed to confront radical Islamists because they were "regressive, wicked and backward-looking". BBC

Japan Imposes New Iran Sanctions Over Nuclear Programme
The measures - which go beyond than those imposed by the UN Security Council - ban transactions with some Iranian banks, and also target energy-related investments. Japan approved sanctions against Iran last month, but US officials have been urging Tokyo to adopt tougher measures. Many states fear Iran's nuclear programme is developing atomic weapons; Iran insists its programme is peaceful. Japan is a major importer of Iranian crude oil, but did not impose any restrictions on oil imports from Iran. "We took those steps as they are necessary to push for nuclear non-proliferation and prevent its nuclear development," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told a news conference. BBC

Afghan Officials Resist Clean-Up Of Kabul Bank As Scandal Engulfs Elite
Officials in Afghanistan are resisting US pressure for a wide-ranging clean-up of Kabul Bank, which is mired in allegations of corruption which has engulfed some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the country. The stand-off came as the bank's third-biggest shareholder, Mahmoud Karzai – the elder brother of President Hamid Karzai – called for a US bailout of the stricken bank. The Central Bank on Tuesday ordered that the chairman and chief executive of Kabul Bank, who are both large shareholders in the bank, should step down from their positions and a government official be appointed to manage the bank. Guardian

Gaza Groups Threaten Attacks On Israel
Militant groups in the Gaza Strip said last night they had joined forces to step up attacks against Israel, possibly including suicide bombings. The statement was made as Israeli and Palestinian leaders met in Washington for the first day of direct talks yesterday, and agreed that a peace deal could be achieved within a year. George Mitchell, the White House envoy who joined the negotiations, said the two leaders decided to begin framing an agreement on all major issues – such as borders, Jerusalem, Jewish settlements and security – that will "establish the fundamental compromises necessary" to flesh out a comprehensive peace deal. Guardian

'Seething' Brown Claims Moral High Ground
Gordon Brown is said to be "seething" and "dismayed" about Tony Blair's searing criticism of him in his memoirs but yesterday told aides not to respond in kind. Instead, claiming the moral high ground, he announced how he plans to devote his spare time to working without payment to improve conditions in the world's poorest countries. The former prime minister will be paid up to £64,000 for some speeches, to fund a London-based Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown, with a staff of two or three. Mr Blair has a staff of about 130 for his work as a Middle East peace envoy; projects in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Liberia; a London office and his sports and inter-faith foundations. He is said to have been paid up to £250,000 for speeches and to have earned £20m since leaving Downing Street in 2007. Independent

UK Vow On Military Ties With France
Defence Secretary Liam Fox promised "closer co-operation" with the French today as military budgets face being squeezed on both sides of the Channel. Dr Fox, who was in Paris for talks with his French counterpart Herve Morin, said the "tough financial climate" meant it was in the interest of both nations to work together. The Defence Secretary and Mr Morin also discussed Afghanistan and the progress being made to train military and security forces in the country. As the leading military nations in Europe, the Ministry of Defence said a strong relationship between the UK and France was important for the defence and security of both countries. Speculation about closer defence ties, including reports of sharing aircraft carrier capability, surfaced in the build-up to today's meeting. Dr Fox said: Independent

Afghan Withdrawal Date 'Emboldens' Taliban
An influential American general has endorsed a report that criticises President Barack Obama and the Prime Minister’s decision to set a withdrawal date for Afghanistan that “emboldens” the Taliban to fight on. The report cautions that Afghan people are now frightened of supporting the Kabul government as they would be labelled collaborators once Western forces leave. The report attacked the political rhetoric of timelines for withdrawal which played into the hands of the Taliban and undermined the Nato military effort. “It emboldens insurgents to continue fighting, as they are presented with a survival target to reach,” wrote the report’s author George Grant, a counter-terrorism expert. Telegraph

Karzai Sets Up Panel To Pursue Talks With Taliban
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he has formed a council to pursue peace talks with the Taliban. A statement issued by Karzai's office on Saturday says the High Peace Council is a "significant step toward peace talks." Karzai is pursuing reconciliation talks with insurgents willing to renounce violence, honor the Afghan constitution and sever ties with terrorist networks. International leaders have welcomed establishment of the panel, which was approved in June at a national peace conference in Kabul. Karzai's office says the council will consist of former members of the Taliban, jihadi leaders, top figures and women. Its members are to be announced next week. Houston Chronicle

6 Million In UK Told They've Paid Wrong Income Tax
British tax collectors say a new computer system has revealed that almost 6 million people have paid the wrong amount of income tax, and 1.4 million will be told to repay an average of 1,500 pounds ($2,300) each. HM Revenue and Customs says 4.3 million people will receive a rebate. The problem affects some of the 40 million people whose income tax is automatically deducted from their paychecks under a system known as Pay As You Earn. The tax agency said Saturday its computers have found that 2 billion pounds was underpaid through the system over the past two years, while 1.8 billion pounds was overpaid. Tax advisers say people who receive the tax demands should seek advice, because they may not have to pay if they can prove the mistake was not their fault. SF Gate

Shoe, Eggs Hurled At Ex-Brit PM Blair In Dublin
Anti-war protesters hurled shoes and eggs at Tony Blair on Saturday as he held the first public signing of his fast-selling memoir. Scores of demonstrators chanted that Blair had "blood on his hands" as the former British prime minister arrived at a Dublin book store. A shoe, eggs and other projectiles were thrown toward Blair as he emerged from a car, but did not hit him. A flip-flop could be seen lying on the roof of a BMW in Blair's motorcade. Security was tight for the signing, with book buyers - who appeared to outnumber the 200 or so protesters - told to hand over bags and mobile phones before entering Eason's book store.Some of the protesters, who were held behind barricades, scuffled with police, and there were at least two arrests. Seattle Times

UN Agency Convenes Special Meeting To Examine Turmoil In Wheat Markets
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will hold a special meeting later this month to examine the recent spike in wheat prices and help avoid any repeat of the recent global food crisis. The meeting, slated for 24 September at FAO headquarters in Rome, will bring together experts and government representatives to consider how to ease the current turmoil in grain markets and what role should the UN agency in handling the situation. Wheat prices experienced their biggest monthly rise in almost a year in August, according to the FAO’s Food Price Index, climbing by 5 per cent following persistent drought in Russia – a major producer – and that country’s subsequent restriction on sales. Higher sugar and oilseed prices also contributed to the price spike, which has flowed into overall international food prices as well. UN News

Economic Recovery Strategies Must Prioritize Job Creation
Although the global economy is on the cusp of a fragile recovery, governments must take concerted action to create jobs to spur growth and development, according to the heads of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “A job-centred growth strategy should be our number one priority,” said ILO Director General Juan Somavia, ahead of a high-level conference on 13 September in Oslo. “Otherwise, the economic recovery may take years to reach those who need it most, or it may not reach them at all.” The joint ILO-IMF summit, hosted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, will explore ways to forge a sustainable, job-rich economic recovery. UN News

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