BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from December 2009, page 3

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from December 2009

Chechen leader says over 150 suspected militants killed in last five months.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 31 December: In recent months over 150 bandits have been destroyed and over 20 bases eliminated during special operations in Chechnya, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has said in...

Poland ends participation in UN missions.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Polish national independent news agency PAP Warsaw, 31 December: Poland, in tune with government's new strategy giving priority to NATO and EU military operations, withdrew this year its military contingents from...

UN sanctions to "reinforce firm Eritrean identity" - website.
December 31, 2009... Text of unattributed report in English entitled "Eritrean communities in the diaspora denouncing Security Council resolution" published by Eritrean Ministry of Information's Shabait website on 30 December Asmara, 30 December 2009 - Eritrean...

Czech data protection office head debates US request for tighter security checks.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Czech privately-owned independent centre-left newspaper Pravo website, on 29 December [Interview with Igor Nemec, chairman of the Czech Office for the Protection of Personal Data, by Lukas Bek; place and date not given:...

Afghan experts pessimistic about Karzai's new cabinet.
December 31, 2009... Text of article by Ehsan Baktash entitled "New cabinet worse than previous one", published by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 29 December At a time when the process to approve members of the new cabinet has not been...

Putin confirms hefty financial aid to be given to Russian car giant.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 December: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ordered to issue [troubled car manufacturer] AvtoVAZ with a loan worth R28bn [924m dollars at the current exchange...

Iran paper criticizes BBC Persian's programme on Ayatollah Montazeri's death.
December 31, 2009... Text of analytical report by Ja'far Takbiri headlined "BBC's mourning march and black flag in the White House!" published by Iranian newspaper Javan on 22 December White House's statement [on the occasion of Ayatollah Montazeri's death] was...

Hong Kong: Citizens' Radio founder back in court for non-payment of fine.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper The Standard website on 31 December Citizens' Radio founder and district councillor Tsang Kin-shing was arrested yesterday as three other activists surrendered to police over their refusal to pay fines...

Pakistan TV show discusses possible impact of president's speech.
December 31, 2009... Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1800 gmt on 28 December carries live regularly scheduled "Capital Talk" program relayed from channel's Islamabad studio. Prominent Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir is host of the popular talk show in...

Georgian airline permitted to fly charters to Russia for Orthodox Christmas.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti Moscow, 31 December: The Russian Transport Ministry has issued Georgia's air carrier Georgian Airlines with a permit to operate charter flights to Russia on the 8th, 9th and 10th of...

Finnish court receives appeal on Nord Stream gas pipeline project.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Finish popular conservative newspaper Helsingin Sanomat website, on 30 December [Unattributed report: "Appeal to KHO on Baltic Sea Gas Pipeline"] One appeal has been submitted to the Supreme Administrative Court (KHO)...

Al-Anbar police chief resigns in wake of two blasts; Iraq TV update 31 Dec.
December 31, 2009... Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic reports within its 0900 gmt newscast on 31 December on an update on the situation in Al-Anbar, following the blasts that rocked the city yesterday; comments by an Iraqi deputy on the draft law on...

Al-Arabiya talk show discusses US war on terror, situation in Yemen, Somalia.
December 31, 2009... [From the "Panorama" programme - live] Dubai Al-Arabiya Television in Arabic at 1905 gmt on 29 December carries live within its "Panorama" news programme a 50-minute talk show on the United States' war on terror. The first half of the talk...

US reportedly pressures Israel not to make concessions to Hamas over swap deal.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Hayat website on 31 December [Report by Fathi Sabbah in Gaza: "Palestinian Sources: US Pressures Thwarted Release of Sa'dat and Al-Barghuthi"] Palestinian sources have asserted that the United...

Pakistan denies UN team access to top military brass in Bhutto murder probe.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by private English-language TV channel Dawn News on 31 December The UN investigating team that was probing into the assassination of former prime minister Benzir Bhutto has been denied access to the top military officials that...

Chechen leader hails efforts to fight radicalism among young people.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 31 December: Chechnya has launched effective work for tackling the ideology of terrorism and Wahhabism, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said in an exclusive interview with...

Iran paper questions minister's remark on present government policies.
December 31, 2009... Text of editorial headlined "Plaintiff and accused changing places" published by Iranian newspaper Aftab-e yazd on 21 October Ten years ago, when the regretful university dormitory events caused concerns inside the country and happiness among...

Afghan daily says government doesn't need foreign help with general election.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in Dari entitled "Afghan government can hold parliamentary elections without international community's help", published by independent Afghan newspaper Cheragh on 30 December The Afghan government is determined to hold the...

Indonesia's Bali denies issuing terror warning.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Indonesian commercial news website Detikcom on 31 December Denpasar: The Bali provincial government has clarified that it never issued either a verbal or written terror warning for New Year's Eve. However, locals and...

Iran Intelligence Ministry warns legal action against "agitators".
December 31, 2009... Text of report by state-run Iranian TV channel one on 31 December Issuing a statement, the Intelligence Ministry has urged agitators to separate their way from that of the anti-revolutionaries and Hypocrites [reference to members of the...

North Korean president sends message of sympathy to Indonesian counterpart.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) - Kim Yong Nam [Kim Yo'ng-nam], president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on Thursday sent a message of...

Israel seeks rejection of petition against West Bank settlement construction.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by privately-owned Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post website on 31 December [Report by Dan Izenberg and Tova Tazaroff: "State Supports Qiryat Netafim Houses Built Without Permits"] The state on Wednesday [30...

Afghan MPs react strongly to civilian casualties in coalition forces' operation.
December 31, 2009... Several Afghan MPs have said on a TV talk show that a recent coalition forces' operation in Konar Province, in which civilians were reportedly killed, is intolerable. One said foreigners do not respect Afghans' rights, values and constitution...

Lebanese Speaker says call to abolish sectarianism a constitutional duty.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by privately-owned Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star website on 31 December ["Berri Defends His Call for Steps Towards Abolishing Sectarianism" - The Daily Star Headline] Thursday, December 31, 2009 BEIRUT:...

China to reexamine anti-dumping measures Japanese optical fibre imports.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "China To Reexamine Anti-Dumping Measures Against Imported Optical Fibre From Japan,"] Beijing, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) - China said Thursday to...

Senior Chinese police official dismissed from party, office for alleged graft.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "Senior Chinese Police Official Dismissed From Party, Office for Alleged Corruption"] Beijing, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) - A senior official with the...

Lieberman is best foreign minister Israel could have at present - commentary.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Israeli NRG Ma'ariv website on 28 December [Menahem Ben blog entry: "Lieberman, Bro"] Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is probably the most maligned minister in this government. Ha'aretz's gossip today was that after a...

Students boycott classes at Iran's north-eastern university.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Iranian reformist news website Rahesabz.net on 31 December Tehran, 31 December: Students at Azad University of Mashhad [north-eastern Iran] have issued a statement expressing their hatred of the incidents that took place at...

Incumbent head of Russian republic reappointed for third term.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Yoshkar-Ola, 31 December: The Government Council of the Republic of Mari El Republic supported at a session on Thursday [31 December] the Russian president's proposal to...

Afghan-Pakistani-NATO meeting discusses joint efforts against insurgents.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by state-owned National Afghanistan TV on 29 December [Presenter] The 29th tripartite meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the NATO command has been held. Mohammad Ebrahem Amdam has more: [Correspondent] The sides at...

Three terrorists arrested, vehicle loaded with arms seized in Pakistan province.
December 31, 2009... Text of report headlined "Sind Police Seize Weapons From a Hiace Coming From North Waziristan to Peshawar, Three Terrorists Arrested" published by Pakistan newspaper Ausaf on 30 December Rojhan - The Sindh Police have arrested three...

Social security plan needed before subsidy removal - Iran analyst.
December 31, 2009... Text of commentary by Behruz Behzadi headlined "Look before you leap" published by Iranian newspaper E'temad on 28 October Several days ago I wrote a comprehensive commentary that in order to remove subsidies, an efficient social security...

Two men impersonating as commandos arrested in Pakistan capital - paper.
December 31, 2009... Text of unattributed report headlined "Two Fake Commandos Arrested in Blue Area" published by Pakistan newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt on 31 December Islamabad - The Islamabad Police have arrested two persons in the Blue Area impersonating them as...

Al-Jazeera talk show discusses Denmark climate summit, clean energy options.
December 31, 2009... Doha Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel Television in Arabic - independent television station financed by the Qatari Government - at 1705 gmt on 22 December carries live a new episode of its weekly "From Washington" talk show programme. Moderator...

Saharan group urges discussion with Polisario over dispute with Morocco.
December 31, 2009... A Polisario Front splinter group, the Path of the Martyr (Khat El Chahid), has urged the front's leadership to engage in dialogue with the group over conditions of Sahrawi refugees living in camps in Algeria and to open a democratic discussion...

Kosovo court extends self-confessed hit man's house arrest for two months.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive ["Nazim Bllaca House Detention Extended" - KosovaLive headline] Prishtina [Pristina], 30 Dec (KosovaLive) - The panel of three judges, two EULEX [EU...

Deputy PM visits Mosul, Al-Anbar police chief sacked; Iraq TV update 31 Dec.
December 31, 2009... Dubai Al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic reports within its morning newscasts on 31 December on a visit by Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-Isawi to Mosul, during which the issues of services and stability in the governorate were discussed; a...

Sudanese minister says foreign aid agencies rejecting government security.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Sudanese government newspaper Sudan Vision website on 31 December [Report by Al Sammani Awadallah: "Government proposes to provide flexible protection to foreign aid agencies"] Sudan's State Minister for...

Former editor of China's Caijing journal takes helm at rival.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post website on 31 December Former Caijing editor Hu Shuli has teamed up with a leading think tank to launch a new magazine amid intense competition in the business publication market....

Zapatero expects Spanish economy to start recovering in 2010.
December 31, 2009... Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero expects the economy to start recovering in 2010, a Madrid daily has reported today. At a news conference yesterday, Zapatero stressed the importance of his Sustainable Economy Bill in tackling...

Belarusian president greets Russian counterpart on New Year.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan Minsk, 31 December: President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has congratulated Russian President Russian Medvedev on New Year, the Belarusian leader's press office said. "I...

Iraqi Speaker stresses need to end foreign interference, hold "honest" election.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Hayat website on 23 December [Report on interview with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Iyad al-Samarra'i by Uday Hatim; place and date not given: "Al-Samarra'i to Al-Hayat: 'I Expect Endorsement of Law To...

South Korea's national assembly passes 2010 budget bill.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) - The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) on Thursday railroaded the government's 2010 budget bill through parliament amid fierce protests from lawmakers of...

China arrests nearly 5,400 for spreading online pornography.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "China Seizes Nearly 5,400 for Spreading Online Pornography"] Beijing, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) - Chinese police have seized nearly 5,400 suspects in...

Belarus extends mandate of OSCE office for one year.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report in English by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan Minsk, 30 December: The mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk was extended until 31 December 2010 as a result of the OSCE Permanent Council's meeting in Vienna on...

Ethnic Russian paper sees Latvia's bloc as nationalist party.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Latvian newspaper Chas website on 28 December [Commentary by Anatoliy Kamenev: "Old Crabs in Same Tailcoats Planning To Save Country"] It seems like another awakening with calls on the public to "wake up and assess...

Families fleeing homes in southwestern Kenya over ethnic fight.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Colins Anampiu entitled ''Tension high at clash-torn border'' published by state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) website on 31 December Tension remains high along Rongo-Transmara border [in southwestern Kenya]...

Nationwide power outage hits Kenya, blamed on faulty machines.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Margaret Kalekye entitled ''Another power blackout hits country'' published by Kenya State House governmental website on 31 December Most parts of the country were thrown into darkness on Thursday morning [31 December]...

Taiwan president says cross-strait peace agreement not possible at present.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Taiwanese Central News Agency website Berlin, Dec. 31 (CNA) - President Ma Ying-jeou said in an interview with the German magazine "Internationale Politik" that he does not believe a cross-Taiwan Strait peace...

Croatian presidential candidate's associates founding new political party.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Croatian privately-owned independent weekly Nacional, on 29 December [Report by Plamenko Cvitic: "Bandic's Associates Are Working in Founding a New Party - Milan Bandic Is Assembling the SDP Members Who Are Dissatisfied With...

Publicity agency of Al-Jazeera network opens three offices in Saudi Arabia.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Dubai newspaper Gulf News website on 16 December [Report by Abd-al-Rahman Shahin: "Q.Media Opens Three Offices in Saudi Arabia"] In a major step to strengthen Al Jazeera Network's position in Saudi Arabia's...

Russian ambassador criticizes role of peace envoy in Bosnia.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Bosnian privately-owned independent daily Oslobodjenje, on 27 December [Interview with Russian Ambassador to B-H Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko by Almir Terzic; place and date not given: "I Do Not Think OHR Will Close Soon"] ...

Ukraine's central bank sceptical on IMF decision on reserves.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Interfax-Ukraine news agency Kiev, 31 December: The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has given a guarded assessment of the decision taken by the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) board of directors regarding a reduction...

Serbian defence chief views relations with NATO, Russia.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti website on 24 December [Interview with Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac by Dubravka Vujanovic; place and date not given: "It Is Time We Learned Lessons"] In the year just ending...

Russia: Putin's communication skills, TV persona judged superior to Medvedev's.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by the website of heavyweight Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 30 December [Unattributed commentary: "Putin Made His Choice"] The prime minister's live call-in show defined the prospects for the next presidential...

Over 1000 candidates seeking southern Sudan party nomination.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by UN sponsored Radio Miraya FM website, Juba on 31 December The Sudan People's Liberation Movement said that it has received more than one thousand applications for the party's candidacy for the 2010 forthcoming...

Russian leader Putin sends New Year message to Obama.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 December: In his New Year message to US President Barack Obama, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said that Russian-US relations have recently been developing...

Pakistan Television transformed into "profit earning entity" says director.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 31 December: Pakistan Television (PTV) was now bearing fruits of the positive steps taken during last one year, transforming the organization from 316m...

World Bank director suggests ways to tackle Nigeria fuel crisis.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust website on 30 December [Unattributed report: "How Nigeria Can Tackle Fuel Crisis Okonjo Iweala"] World Bank Managing Director and Nigeria's former minister of finance has suggested a way out...

Lebanese Hezbollah TV website reports further reaction to leader's speech.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Lebanese Hezbollah Al-Manar TV website on 29 December; subheadings as published [Report by Ahmad Sha'ytu: "Reactions to Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's Speech: Between Continuous Praise and Distortion Attempts"] Reactions to the...

Belarusian experts unhappy about media situation in 2009.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan Minsk, 31 December: The situation regarding media freedom in Belarus did not improve in the outgoing year, Andrey Bastunets, deputy chairman of the Belarusian...

Company head, experts differ on competitive potential of Russia innovation areas.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by the website of heavyweight Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 24 December [Report by Anastasiya Bashkatova: "Rosnano Is Exuding Optimism"] Anatoliy Chubays is certain that the Russian regions can compete with the...

Polish military to leave Afghanistan in two-years time - foreign minister.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Polish national independent news agency PAP Warsaw, 31 December 31: The Polish army will start to withdraw from the mission in Afghanistan in around two years time, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said at a...

Belarusian human rights activists disappointed with 2009.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan Minsk, 31 December: The year 2009 was the year of dashed hopes, Ales Byalyatski, deputy head of the International Federation for Human Rights, has said in an...

Afghan official blames Taleban for killing religious students.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Kandahar, 31 December: Unidentified gunmen killed seven religious students inside a mosque in Tarinkot, provincial capital of Urozgan Province last night. Director...

Taleban claim killing district security commander in Afghan east.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Afghan Taleban Shahamat website on 31 December [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: According to a report, Besmellah Khan, the security commander of Gorbaz District in Khost Province was killed as a result of an explosion...

Taleban claim killing Afghan security guards in west.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Afghan Taleban Shahamat website on 31 December [Taleban spokesman] Qari Yusof Ahmadi: According to a report from Farah Province, the mojahedin of the Islamic Emirate carried out an attack on the vehicles of the security...

Taleban accuse US forces of killing civilians in Afghan south.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Afghan Taleban Shahamat website on 31 December [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: The mojahedin of the Islamic Emirate report from Helmand Province that a reconnaissance aircraft of the American forces carried out an...

Lebanese interior minister denies responsibility for Beirut blast probe.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report in English by privately-owned Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star website on 31 December ["Baroud Says His Ministry Not Handling Dahiyeh Blast Probe" - The Daily Star Headline] Thursday, December 31, 2009 BEIRUT:...

Bahraini prosecutors deny terror suspect tortured in police custody.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Bahrain newspaper Gulf Daily News website on 30 December [Report by Nur Turani: "'Time bomb' suspect's claim denied"] Prosecutors yesterday denied that an alleged bomber accused of planning terrorist attacks in...

Southern Sudan ruling party taken to court for abuse of rights.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Sudanese pro-government newspaper Akhir Lahzah on 31 December An adviser to the Government of Southern Sudan [GoSS] who is also its lawyer, Nabil Adib Abdallah, has unveiled that he was in court to represent the GoSS, the...

Kosovo Assembly adopts 2010 budget, opposition MPs boycott session.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by public Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 29 December [Announcer] The Kosovo budget for 2010 will amount to 1.46bn [euros]. The draft law that was amended by the Assembly's Commission on Budget and Finance has been approved...

Iraq reported seeking to invest in joint oilfields with neighbouring countries.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by privately-owned Aswat al-Iraq news agency website ["Committees Set up To Invest in Joint Oilfields" - Aswat al-Iraq] December 31, 2009, Baghdad: The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has sought to set up committees with...

Russia's Yantar shipyard in recovery, expecting prosperous future - director.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by the website of government-owned Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta on 23 December [Interview with Igor Anatolyevich Orlov, director of the Yantar Shipyard, by Anna Shonova, date and place not given: "Pipe All Hands on...

Iran public concerned over president's failure to keep poll promises - paper.
December 31, 2009... Text of editorial headlined "Perhaps people on the other side repented!" published by Iranian newspaper Aftab-e Yazd on 29 October It has been more than four and half months since the presidential election; during this period all the factions...

Bangladesh wants time-bound settlement to maritime disputes with India, Burma.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by diplomatic correspondent headlined "MARITIME DISPUTE WITH DELHI, YANGON: Dhaka wants time-bound settlement" published by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 31 Dec 09 Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday [30...

Russian Air Force plans to buy 12 Yak-130 combat training planes - commander.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by the website of pro-government Russian newspaper Izvestiya on 24 December [Article by Dmitriy Litovkin: "The Air Force Has Ordered 'Flying School Desks'"] Air Force Commander in Chief Aleksandr Zelin has signed a...

Slovene president sees opportunity for change in 2010.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Slovene news agency STA Ljubljana, 31 December: Slovenia is leaving behind a year of trials, while the coming year is an opportunity for thorough changes and improvements that will ensure the wellbeing for the...

Russian aircraft construction corporation splits assets in three business units.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by corporate-owned Russian military news agency Interfax-AVN website Moscow, 28 December: President and chairman of the board of the United Aircraft Construction Corporation (OAK) open-type joint-stock company Aleksey...

Afghan paper accuses MPs of not questioning ministers-designate seriously.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from editorial in Dari entitled: "Empty parliament and awaiting confident ministers for vote of confidence", published by report by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 29 December The first phase of the vote of...

Article discusses president's remarks on punishing Gaza "war criminals".
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Hamas-backed Palestinian newspaper Filastin website on 30 December; subheadings as published [Report by Muhammad Al-Ayyubi in Gaza: "Abbas' Statement is Designed to Justify Israel's Crimes and Mislead the Public"] On the...

Al-Jazeera website views "series of US failures", Arab, regional, global changes.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Qatari government-funded aljazeera.net website on 28 December [Article by "strategic researcher" Munir Shafiq: "The Arab Situation and Regional and International Changes"] US President Barack Obama has received the...

President says Taiwan not being "Finlandized".
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Taiwanese Central News Agency website Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) - President Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday that the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations is not oriented in a pro-China direction and that Taiwan is...

Russian spacecraft more reliable than USA's - space chief.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian military news agency Interfax-AVN website Moscow, 30 December: Russian Soyuz spacecraft are safer and their launch plans are less dependent on weather conditions than American shuttle flights, the...