DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Six miners confirmed dead in north China coal mine flood” plus 9 more

HOHHOT, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- All six of the miners who were trapped underground in an August coal mine flood in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have been confirmed dead after rescuers retrieved the last body on Thursday.

The flood occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 at the Changfu Coal Mine in the Hainan District of the city of Wuhai.

The six miners were between the ages of 26 and 56 and hailed from the provincial-level regions of Sichuan, Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia, rescuers said.

Local authorities are still investigating the accident, rescuers said.

JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF) representative for Indonesia Angela Kearney said on Thursday that Indonesia's infant mortality rate is still high although it showed a downward trend in the past few years, local media reported.

Based on a UNICEF global child mortality report, over the past 10 years infant mortality rate declined significantly to 35 out of every 1,000 births in 2011 from 97 out of every 1,000 births in 1991, she said at workshop on household to hospital cantinuum care held in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The achievement was inseparable from the central and regional government's endeavors, she said.

After all, the results of a health demography survey showed 193, 000 children lost life chance every year before they reached the age of 5 years, she said.

In South Sulawesi alone, 17.3 out of every 1,000 newborns died before they reached the age of 28 days last year. Two-thirds of the deaths occurred on the first week of their life and one out of every four mothers gave birth to their children without the help of trained medical workers.

Mothers' poor access to health facilities in the country posed one of the obstacles to the promotion of the nation's health. One out of every five mothers came from poor families, she said.

She said that a lack of infrastructures and equipment and the low number of trained medical workers had hindered the fulfillment of health services, the Antara news service said.

To deal with the challenge, the method of providing health services must be improved and the support of trained medical workers must be increased, she said.

"I am very happy to see UNICEF cooperating with the South Sulawesi provincial government to develop comprehensive approaches to overcome the shortcomings at social level and public health system at provincial health facilities," she said.

NEW DELHI, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 13 injured Thursday when an oil tanker hit a tractor-trolley in the northern Indian state of Punjab Thursday, said police.

The incident took place in Punjab's border district of Fazilka, when the trolley was hit by a speeding oil tanker and overturned on some farmers and farm laborers, killing three on the spot. The fourth victim died in hospital.

The injured were rushed to the civil hospital in Fazilka, 340 km from the state capital Chandigarh.

Fortunately, the oil tanker did not catch fire and explode, said police.

Road accident rate in India is among the highest in the world, with at least 110,000 people killed on the road each year, according to official estimates.

HELSINKI, Oct.6 (Xinhua) -- Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has joined the global wave of tributes to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs who died on Wednesday, Finnish media reported Thursday.

"Steve's passion for simplicity and elegance leaves a legacy that will endure. Thoughts of all at Nokia are with his friends and family," Elop said in a Twitter message on Thursday morning.

In an interview with Finnish Broadcasting Company on Thursday, analyst Hannu Rauhala of  Finnish Pohjola Bank said that Jobs' innovations were seminal for the mobile phone industry, and also guided Nokia to adopt touch screen technology.

Jobs' passing is unlikely to affect Nokia's market share--at least in the short-term, said Rauhala.

KABUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led military campaign had overthrown the Taliban regime in Afghanistan within weeks in late 2001, but the noble cause set for, above all to ensure viable security, has yet to be achieved as Taliban-led insurgency is still claiming the lives of Afghans.

In the very early day of U.S.-led invasion against Taliban reign, commenced on October 7, 2001 and ousted the Taliban regime within weeks, Afghans gave red carpet welcome to U.S. and allied troops.

Nevertheless, the continued failure of the alliance to curb militancy and ensure lasting peace has been gradually fading in the eyes of Afghans; while over 130,000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with nearly 100,000 of them Americans, are packing to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Afghans, once welcoming the invasion against Taliban's rule 10 years ago. Nowadays, they have been questioning NATO-led forces credibility in war on terror and their resolve to win it.

SECURITY CHALLENGES:

Taliban-led insurgency has reached its record level since the regime collapsed 10 years ago.

The lethal homemade roadside bombings and deadly suicide attacks, carried out by Taliban militants almost daily claim the lives of Afghans, most are civilians.

Concerns over security have covered all Afghans including the government ranking functionaries and non-governmental agencies.

More than 12,000 Afghan civilians also lost their lives over the past decade, according to Afghan and UN officials.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also expressed its concern over endless violence in Afghanistan.

"Ten years after the start of a new chapter in Afghanistan's 30- year-old war, Afghans remain caught in the midst of continued armed violence," ICRC, Kabul office said in a statement on Monday.

"Despite improvements in the quality of life for certain sectors of the population over the past decade, the security situation in many areas of the country remains alarming," said Jacques de Maio, the ICRC's head of operations for South Asia in the statement.

The statement admitted that ICRC is concerned about civilians in the line of fire, families displaced with nothing left, the sick and wounded who cannot obtain health care, and health workers harassed while providing care for a desperate population.

According to a report released by the United Nations here in July this year, 1,462 civilians had been killed in the first six months of 2011, 15 percent higher than that of the same period last year. In 2010, according to UN report, 2,777 civilians had lost their lives in militancy and conflicts in Afghanistan.

Getting impetus in militancy is clearly visible in Afghanistan that in the first year of attack on Taliban regime only 12 soldiers, all Americans had lost their lives while so far this year, more than 470 service members of the NATO-led ISAF with 355 of them Americans have been killed.

The fragility of the security situation can be gauged from here that targeted killing organized by anti-government insurgents has over a dozen eliminated high profile government functionaries and pro-government figures including President Hamid Karzai's younger brother Ahmad Wali Karzai and former President Burhanudin Rabbani since beginning this year.

Anti-government insurgents in close contact with al-Qaida, according to Afghan spy agency spokesman Lutfullah Mashal, has even conspired to assassinate President Hamid karzai but the plot had been foiled.

DRUG PRODUCTS:

The post-Taliban Afghanistan in the presence of international community particularly the well-equipped NATO-led troops has topped the poppy growing countries over the past decade.

Afghanistan, according to a report of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) has produced 3,600 tons opium poppy in 2010 against 6,900 tons in 2009.

The post-Taliban Afghanistan, according to the report produces 90 percent of the raw material used in manufacturing heroin in the world.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

In spite of continued militancy, Afghanistan has made tremendous progress in different fields over the past 10 years. More than seven million children including over three million girls go to school today. Some 14 million Afghans have cellular and telephones. Great achievements have been made in the fields of building roads, bridges, hospitals and public and private infrastructures across the country.

PUBLIC OPINION:

However, Afghans are of the view that fragility of security would negatively affect all the achievements have been made over the past decade.   "Neither the war on terror nor the fight on drug has yielded the desired outcome as both the evils are still rampant and threatening the whole region and the world at large," editor-in- chief of a local newspaper Nazari Pariani observed while his opinion was sought towards 10th anniversary of U.S. attack on Taliban.   "Taliban militants have extended their activities from traditional bases in the south to the relatively peaceful provinces in the north," he said, adding Afghanistan has still been in the first position in producing narcotics in the world.

Hundreds of Afghans held a rally in Kabul on Thursday morning, expressing their frustration over the presence of NATO-led troops in Afghanistan.

Chanting the slogans "Death to U.S." or "Death to Taliban",the protestors described October 7 as black day of U.S. invasion and called for the early pull-out of the troops from Afghanistan.

"On October 7, 2001, the U.S. and allied invaded Afghanistan under the fake banners of "democracy", "war on terror" and "women' s rights". The decade-long occupation of Afghanistan has turned our country into a hell on the earth," said a resolution readout at the end of the peaceful demonstration organized by a political party -- the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan.

"The presence of foreign forces has brought no major change in security sector. Taliban militants terrorize and kill people and the ordinary Afghans are paying the prices for wrong policies taken by foreign forces," a demonstrator and student of a  medical college Ahmad Omid said.

"Taliban resistance in the shape of suicide and roadside attacks have changed the outfit from the terrorist network to the political force and that is why the U.S. and Afghan governments have offered dialogue with the former foe," an Afghan analyst Rasouli said in a panel discussion.

So far, according to media reports, U.S. government has held talks with Tayab Agha, a close aide to Taliban elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.

"Begging Taliban for talks virtually means submission to terrorists which in fact tarnishes the image of NATO and destroys our hope for better future," an Afghan citizen Rahimullah said to Xinhua.

With such vision and perspective among Afghans, the NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force would further lose its credibility in the eyes of Afghans if they fail to curb Taliban- led militancy, analysts say.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The sixth annual Indonesian trade and tourism expo kicked off here on Thursday, aimed at promoting bilateral relations in the areas of trade, investment and tourism between Indonesia and Cambodia.

"The event is a part of our efforts to promote economic ties with Cambodia," Soehardjono Sastromihardjo, ambassador of Indonesia to Cambodia, said during the opening ceremony of the expo.

The exhibition is also trying to seize the momentum to strengthen and support the economic integration of the region, during the time when all ASEAN member states are heading towards the establishment of the ASEAN community in 2015, he said.

"The expo could serve as one of the forums for potential businesses from both countries to interact and develop partnership within the context of the ASEAN economic community," added the ambassador.

About 50 Indonesian companies ranging from food and pharmaceutical products to traditionally hand-painted batik cloths and travel agents had their products on display at the four-day event at Phnom Penh's Diamond Island Exhibition Centre.

The trade relation between Cambodia and Indonesia has shown a steady increase. According to the latest figures of Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce, the bilateral trade volume last year was 220 million U.S. dollars, 10 percent rise, compared to a year earlier.

"Cambodia considers Indonesia as a strong trading partner among ASEAN member states," Cambodia's Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said at the same occasion.

Cambodia and Indonesia would continue to pursue active trades, by utilizing ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) as tools for trade development, he said.

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Japan's new prime minister Yoshihiko Noda will visit South Korea later this month for summit talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, the Japanese foreign minister said Thursday in Seoul.

Noda will travel to Seoul on Oct. 18 for a two-day trip, his first Seoul visit since taking office last month, Japanese foreign minister Koichiro Gemba told reporters after talks with his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan.

In their first meeting last month in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, the two leaders agreed to further their joint efforts on the issues of mutual concern.

Lee and Noda are expected to discuss signing a two-way free trade agreement and the return of Korean loyal documents looted under Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, according to local media reports.

ANKARA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- One member of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) was killed in a clash with the Turkish security forces in southeastern Turkey, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Thursday.

A skirmish occurred late Wednesday after a group of PKK members in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir blocked the way of Turkish troops en route to the eastern Bingol province, Diyarbakir Governor Mustafa Toprak was quoted as saying.

More Turkish troops were soon dispatched to the area along with Cobra helicopters and one PKK member was killed in the clash, Toprak said.

The PKK has recently intensified its attacks on Turkish troops, police and civilians. Turkish officials vowed to reciprocate with absolute determination.

Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during the past over two decades.

JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia and Australia on Thursday agreed to boost their bilateral ties not only in terms of government-to-government but also the people-to-people.

In a dialog titled "the Citizen Diplomats", scholars, former officials, observers and youngsters of both countries said that through the dialog, they pledged to move forward to higher level.

"It is not about the government's role but also how to cooperate and address challenges, bilaterally, regionally and internationally," said Dr. Rizal Sukma, executive director of Indonesia's Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a public policy research institution dedicated to analysis and policy impact.

He also said that there was a consensus on strong endorsement from almost all participants to continue such dialog in the future and to encourage youngsters to participate through all kind of technology development.

"There are a lot of venues to encourage young participations. We stress public participation to enhance opportunity for closer bilateral ties," said Sukma.

John McCarthy, one of Australia's most distinguished diplomats and former Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, said that the dialog did not only discuss common issues such as business, security and others but more related to people connection.

"Indonesia is different country compared to several years ago and Australia feels that we have to increase our relationship. Actually, we manage the relationship well," he said.

Prof. Tim Lindsey, chairman of Australia Indonesia Institute and director of Asian Law Center at the University of Melbourne said that Indonesia holds a crucial role for Australia in its effort to gain prosperity.   "Our former Primer Minister Paul Keating once has said that Indonesia is the key of our future as it is the biggest country in Southeast Asia and one of the closest neighbors of Australia. Since then, the sentence has been our guidance in managing relationship with Indonesia," said Lindsey.

JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Logistic Agency plans to import 100,000 tons of rice from Thailand next week, as an effort to boost the country's rice stockpile, Sutarto Alimoesro, head of the agency said here on Thursday.

The plan was made as Indonesia strived to boost the stockpile to 2 million tons this year to prepare for the possible risks of long drought and global weather uncertainty.

The import plan was made between business to business sectors as both governments had been in negotiations over rice supply, Sutarto said.

"A deal was reached last night. It is business to business deal. Hopefully the rice will be able to arrive next week," he said at the Coordinating Ministry for Economy.

Indonesia, which has just finished great rice harvest, is weathering long drought season which could disturb rice production in some areas, pushing the government to boost rice stockpile for price stability from importation.

Minister Rajasa said that should the government have sufficient funds the stockpile could be raised to 3.5 million tons.

Extreme weather had decreased production and hampered supply of rice in Indonesia from the end of last year to January this year, shooting inflation to a 21-month high of 7.02 percent in January.

The government forecast that rice production will rise to 70.6 million tons this year from 67 million tons last year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said.