EARLY EDTION

Thousands Of Indonesian Muslims Protest US Church's Plan To Burn Koran On 9/11
Thousands of Indonesian Muslims rallied outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Saturday to denounce an American church's plan to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by burning copies of the Koran. The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, said it will burn the Islamic holy book Wednesday, the ninth anniversary of the terror attacks. Local officials have denied a permit for the bonfire on the church's grounds, but the center — which made headlines last year by distributing T-shirts that said "Islam is of the Devil" — insists it will go ahead with the plan. Fox News
VOA VIEW: The Dove church is only proving that there are mad fanaticals in every religion.

U.S. Will Bypass Turkey In Iraq Weapons Withdrawal
The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on Saturday said the United States does not plan to use Turkish territory in withdrawing its weapons from Iraq. Adm. Mike Mullen, the highest-ranking military official in the U.S. armed forces, spoke at a news conference in Ankara. News reports suggesting his visit was about the transfer of heavy combat equipment from Iraq via Turkey were "simply false and completely without merit," he said. "We do not transport weapons through Turkey, nor do we plan to in the future," Mullen said. CNN

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Afghan Progress Slower Than First Hoped
International forces in Afghanistan have at times overstated the progress being made this year, the deputy commander of the NATO-led force said on Saturday, with advances coming slower than originally expected. British Lieutenant-General Sir Nick Parker, second-in-command of the International Security Assistance Force behind U.S. General David Petraeus, said progress had been slowed by the complexity of the mission. Petraeus has said in a range of interviews in recent weeks that progress was being made and that the Taliban's momentum had been checked, though violence across the country is at its worst since the hardline Islamists were ousted in late 2001. Reuters

Craigslist Removes Adult Services Section
Craigslist closed the adult services section of its website Saturday, replacing it with a black bar that says "censored," just over a week after a group of state attorneys general said there weren't enough protections against blocking potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution. The listings came under new scrutiny after the jailhouse suicide last month of a former medical student who was awaiting trial in the killing of a masseuse he met through Craigslist. Critics have likened the services to virtual pimping, while Craigslist maintained the site was carrying ads even tamer than those published by some newspapers. MSNBC

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Egg "Whistleblowers": Red Flags Went Unheeded
A couple who worked at one of the two Iowa egg farms faulted in the recent massive recall say they blew the whistle on unsanitary conditions at one plant -- and no one listened. Rather, Robert Arnold said on "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," he and his wife, Deanna, were told the practices and conditions they cited, such as repacking old eggs as fresh, were standard operating procedure and to just go back to work. He says he regrets that they didn't press on with their complaints. Some 550 million eggs have been recalled and some 3,000 people report salmonella symptoms apparently related to eating tainted eggs. The conditions described by the Arnolds "nearly defy belief," observes CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers. CBS

Poll Shows Waning Support For Congressional Democrats, Obama, Health Care Law
Democratic congressional candidates face a political landscape even rockier than those in 1994 and 2006 that ended with election upheavals that changed control of Congress, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. As the fall campaign begins in earnest over Labor Day weekend, dissatisfaction with the nation's direction is higher and support for the party in power lower than it was in those tumultuous midterms. This time, however, voters are more likely to say their vote reflects opposition to the party in power rather than support for the other side. Republicans are held in the same low regard as when the GOP lost control of Congress four years ago. That could create problems if they do score a net gain of 39 seats to control the House of Representatives or 10 seats to control the Senate. ABC
VOA VIEW: Obama and Democrats are sinking like the Titanic.

World Bank Would Aim For Rapid Membership For Independent Southern Sudan
The World Bank would work to make a newly independent Southern Sudan a member “speedily,” paving the way for the undeveloped region to gain international financing it does not qualify for now, a top bank official said. Under the terms of a 2005 peace agreement, Southern Sudan can choose to vote to secede from the rest of the country in a January 2011 referendum. The peace deal ended a 21-year civil war between the north and south in which 2 million people died. “If a country is newly independent, we do have precedence of how the country quickly qualifies to become a member of the World Bank or the IMF, and so we would follow the same process to grant an independent South Sudan its membership of the bank,” Obiageli Ezekwesili, the World Bank vice president for Africa, said in an interview today in the southern capital Juba. Bloomberg

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"Pharmageddon": America's New Drug Crisis
A new drug problem is emerging in the United States: an alarming national epidemic of pill popping and prescription drug abuse so bad it's being called "Pharmageddon." The latest issue of Time magazine has numbers painting a disturbing picture: Over the last two decades, deaths from accidental drug overdoses have increased five-fold. And, for the first time, unintentional overdoses have replaced car accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in 15 states and the District of Columbia. It's a problem Dr. Barbra Krantz describes as "the perfect storm." CBS

Nation’s Economic Woes Jeopardize Dems’ Prospects
Frustrated, discouraged and just plain mad, a lot of people who have lost jobs _ or know someone who has _ now want to see the names of Democrats on pink slips. And that's jeopardizing the party's chances in Ohio and all across the country in November's elections. In this big swing-voting state alone, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland is in a dogfight for re-election. Senate candidate Lee Fisher may be even worse off. As many as six House Democrats could lose their jobs this fall. Recession-fueled animosity is dominating every race, giving Republicans hope of huge victories. Las Vegas Sun
VOA VIEW: Democrats caused and perpetuate the economic meltdown.

For US Muslims, A 9/11 Anniversary Like No Other
American Muslims are boosting security at mosques, seeking help from leaders of other faiths and airing ads underscoring their loyalty to the United States _ all ahead of a 9/11 anniversary they fear could bring more trouble for their communities. Their goal is not only to protect Muslims, but also to prevent them from retaliating if provoked. One Sept. 11 protest in New York against the proposed mosque near ground zero is expected to feature Geert Wilders, the aggressively anti-Islam Dutch lawmaker. The same day in Gainesville, Fla., the Dove World Outreach Center plans to burn copies of the Quran. Las Vegas Sun

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evada Candidate Pushes Pay-To-Speed Program To Solve Budget Crisis
One Nevada gubernatorial hopeful sees a speedy fix to Nevada's budget crisis. Nonpartisan candidate "Gino" DiSimone believes people would pay for the privilege to drive up to 90 mph on designated highways -- and fill the state's depleted coffers. DiSimone calls his idea the "free limit plan." He estimates the plan would bring in $1 billion a year. First, vehicles would have to pass a safety inspection. Then vehicle information would be loaded into a database, and motorists would purchase a transponder. After setting up an account, anyone in a hurry could dial in, and for $25 charged to a credit card, be free to speed for 24 hours. The Nevada Highway Patrol isn't keen on the idea, saying it would lead to increased injuries and traffic deaths. Fox News

U.S. Withholds Aid To Mexico
Allegations of human rights abuses by Mexican soldiers in the country's battle against drug cartels has cost Mexico $26 million in U.S. aid, officials say. The U.S. State Department announced the action Friday, The Arizona Republic reported. The department said the money would be cut from an upcoming $175 million payment of aid for anti-drug initiatives. The sanction is the first since the two countries launched the Merida Initiative in 2008. The partnership includes more than $1 billion in U.S. aid. UPI

Earl Ends With A Punch In Halifax, Canada
After toying with tens of millions of coastal residents and tourists along the East Coast, Earl finally made landfall Saturday morning — but in Canada's Nova Scotia province. The storm, downgraded overnight from hurricane to tropical storm, again packed hurricane-speed winds when it made landfall, and then weakened once more. Winds gusting to 80 mph downed trees, flooded roads and left 200,000 customers without power. The province has a population of about 940,000. "We are still classifying this storm as a hurricane, based on the overnight presentation of the storm on satellite and radar," said Chris Fogarty, program supervisor at Canadian Hurricane Center. "The eye is still very much intact." MSNBC

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Ohio Sees Whooping Cough Outbreak
Ohio health officials have declared a whooping cough outbreak in Franklin County, urging people at risk to seek a booster shot against the infection. Columbus City Medical Director Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams said the number of clusters of reported cases was rising, The Columbus Dispatch reported Saturday. Officials said 410 cases have been reported this year in Columbus and Franklin County and 258 have been laboratory-confirmed. People, especially those in contact with infants, have been urged to get a booster shot to protect against the bacterial infection, known formally as pertussis. UPI

BP Gulf Well "Secured"
BP Plc's ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well is secure with no threat of spewing crude again, the top U.S. official overseeing the spill response said on Saturday. "We basically have secured this well," retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said. "We have essentially eliminated the threat of discharge from the well at this point." A cap atop failed blowout preventer equipment on the Macondo well had sealed in all oil flow since July 15. On Friday, BP replaced the failed equipment with a new giant stack of valves and pipes. Once the new blowout preventer is tested, BP can resume drilling a relief well that will bore into the Macondo well and pump in mud and cement to plug it for good. Reuters

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South Korean Foreign Minister Offers To Resign
The South Korean foreign minister offered to resign Saturday amid a brewing controversy over the hiring of his daughter, state media reported. Yu Myung-hwan decided to step down because of allegations of nepotism, Yonhap news agency reported. President Lee Myung-bak will likely accept the resignation, the news agency said. Yu is the longest-serving Cabinet minister under the current administration. He has served in the job since the start of the Lee's administration in February 2008, the news agency reported. This resignation comes on the heels of the August resignations of South Korean prime minister-designate Kim Tae-ho and two other nominees to Cabinet positions. CNN

Death Toll Rises To 65 in Attack on Pakistanis
The death toll from a Pakistani Taliban suicide attack on a Shiite Muslim procession rose from 43 to 65 overnight as critically wounded people died in hospitals, police said Saturday. About 150 people were wounded and some remained in critical condition after the bombing Friday in the southwestern city of Quetta, police official Mohammed Sultan said. The attack was the second in a week against Shiites for which the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility. A triple suicide bombing Wednesday night killed 35 people at a Shiite ceremony in the eastern city of Lahore. Washington Times

Saudi Shares Climb Most In Six Weeks After U.S. Jobs Data Beat Estimates
Saudi Arabian shares rose the most in seven weeks after U.S. and European markets rallied on reports reassuring investors that the recovery in the world’s biggest economy is not waning. The Tadawul All Share Index gauge advanced 1.9 percent to 6,274.71 at the 3:30 p.m. close in Riyadh, the biggest gain since July 10. Saudi Basic Industries Corp., the world’s largest petrochemicals maker, known as Sabic, rallied the most since July 21. Bloomberg

Erekat: Israel Has Agreed To Honor Olmert Concessions
J’lem remains mum on content of talks as negotiating teams prepare to meet in Sharm e-Sheikh; Palestinian negotiator says framework agreement will come within a year. Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on the “core issues” that will be discussed during their direct talks, Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, said over the weekend. Erekat claimed that PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed at their meeting in Washington on Thursday that the peace talks would be resumed from the point where they were stopped two years ago under then-prime minister Ehud Olmert. Jerusalem Post

IDF Beefs Up West Bank Forces To Counter Terror Attacks
The IDF increased its forces in the West Bank last week following a number of shooting attacks and amid assessments that Hamas will continue to trying to perpetrate terror attacks as Israeli-Palestinian peace talks continue. Two battalions were transferred to the West Bank last week and were deployed along the roads to man checkpoints and patrol highways in an effort to prevent additional shooting attacks. Last week, four Israelis were killed in a shooting attack near Kiryat Arba. Two more Israelis were wounded in an additional drive-by shooting near Ramallah. Palestinian Authority security forces have launched an unprecedented wave of arrests throughout the West Bank, rounding up close to 300 Palestinians affiliated with Hamas, which claimed responsibility for the Wednesday’s deadly hit. Jerusalem Post

Taxpayers Should Not Fund Pope's Visit
Some 77% of Britons think taxpayers should not help pay for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Scotland and England, a survey suggests. An online poll of 2,005 adults issued by think tank Theos also found 79% had "no personal interest" in his visit. The Pope is due to arrive on 16 September, the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II's 1982 trip. The cost of the trip to UK taxpayers, previously estimated at £8m, could rise to between £10m and £12m. The Catholic Church is also expected to make a contribution of between £9m and £10m towards the costs, which do not include an expected multi-million pound bill for policing the visit. BBC

Iraq WMD Dossier Was 'Reviewed' To Match Labour Spin
A Foreign Office official involved in drafting the discredited dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction suggested that he might have to review an assessment of Saddam's nuclear capabilities so that it was in line with briefings from Labour spin doctors, an internal Whitehall memo shows. The March 2002 memo, written by Tim Dowse, head of the Foreign Office non-proliferation department, and sent to a special adviser to the then foreign secretary, Jack Straw, has been obtained by the Observer under the Freedom of Information Act. In the memo, Dowse complains his department had been given "no forewarning" of a paper the special adviser used to brief the Parliamentary Labour Party and later the cabinet, which effectively contradicted the official assessment of Iraq's nuclear capability. Guardian

International Backing Grows For 'Robin Hood Tax' On Banks
European Union finance ministers will step up talks on raising extra money from banks this week amid signs that the International Monetary Fund is softening its opposition to a "Robin Hood tax" on financial transactions. Treasury sources said the chancellor, George Osborne, was prepared to back a financial activities tax on bank profits and pay at the Brussels meeting provided it was universally introduced, but was wary of a broader Robin Hood tax. Campaigners said last night, however, that a leaked IMF report showed growing international backing for a broader tax and urged Osborne to look at the revenue-raising potential of a levy of transactions. Guardian

Rocket Fired From Gaza Hits Israel
Militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired a rocket into southern Israel today, two days after the start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, causing no injuries or damage, the Israeli military said. The cross-border rocket fire was the first since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Washington to relaunch peace negotiations. Hamas Islamists routed forces loyal to Abbas to take over the Gaza Strip in 2007. The group rejects Abbas' peace moves and has vowed to continue attacks against Israel. Independent

British Banks' Survival Plans Set For G20
Britain's biggest banks will hand over their worst economic case survival plans to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) next month ahead of the G20 summit in South Korea. The recovery and resolution plans, more commonly known as "living wills", will form part of the G20 talks on reform of the global banking system on 11 and 12 November. HSBC, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Standard Chartered, Lloyds Banking Group and Santander will all submit draft plans next month as part of the FSA's living will pilot programme. Accountants Deloitte, KPMG, and Ernst & Young are advising at least one bank each. Independent

Cockroaches Could Help Combat MRSA And E.coli
Scientists at Nottingham University found that the insects, which are widely reviled for their dirty image, could actually be more of a health benefit than a health risk.
They have identified up to nine different molecules in the tissues of cockroaches and locusts that are toxic to bacteria and they hope will pave the way for new treatments for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. The tissues of the brain and nervous system of the insects were able to kill more than 90% of MRSA and E.coli bacteria, without harming human cells. Telegrpah

Taxpayers Spend Millions Paying For Trade Union Activities
Local authorities across the country are allowing hundreds of their employees to devote all or part of their working week to union, rather than council, duties - while their salaries are paid from public funds. A survey of 77 English councils by this newspaper found that they spent around £11 million last year on the salaries of individuals who were employed by the councils, but in fact spent their time on trade union duties. Some of the dedicated union workers were on salaries in excess of £50,000 a year. The system, known as "facility time", also operates in Whitehall departments, the NHS, the BBC and other areas of the public sector - meaning that the true extent to which taxpayers subsidise trade unions is actually far higher. Telegraph

Ban Stresses Protection For The Vulnerable Despite Global Economic Recession
Fiscal prudence and measures to protect the vulnerable can be implemented at the same time, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging richer countries not to abandon their commitments to helping poorer nations to alleviate poverty and boost social development. “I commend those countries whose most recent budgets have retained a strong commitment to global development despite the fiscal pressures,” Mr. Ban told the European Forum on the International Financial Crisis and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the western Austrian village of Alpbach. UN News

Aid And Fairer Trade Crucial To Boost Africa's Poverty Reduction Efforts – Ban
Africans need both foreign aid and fairer trading terms with other regions to achieve the poverty reduction and social development targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by their 2015 deadline, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today. “Far more than that, they need the tools with which they themselves will create jobs, generate income and unleash the continent's own potential,” Mr. Ban said in a message to the two-day Africa Consultative Forum on the MDGs in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. UN News

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