BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from January 2009, page 2

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from January 2009

Commentary slams main Bosnian Muslim daily's "offensive" against media rivals.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Bosnian privately-owned independent daily Oslobodjenje, on 24 January [Commentary by Vildana Selimbegovic in the Pogledi supplement: "Bosnia in Radoncic's Harness"] When, exactly six years ago, Ivan Lovrenovic...

Bosnia not on US president's immediate list of priorities - commentary.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Bosnian Croat Mostar-based daily Dnevni list, on 25 January [Commentary by Pejo Gasparevic in the Danas supplement: "Barack Obama: Bosnia-Hercegovina not on the List of Problems"] Is the newly installed US...

Macedonian experts predict lower economic growth due to global crisis.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Macedonian newspaper Vecer on 30 January [Report by Valentina Marjanovic and Radmila J. Nikolovska: "Macedonia's Growth Reduced Twofold, Region Falling Into Recession"] The global economic crisis is undermining...

Iranian envoy urges more cooperation with Lebanon.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Beirut, 31 January: Iran's ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad-Reza Sheybani called on Friday [30 January] for expansion of cooperation with Lebanon. In...

Displaced Iraqis in Baghdad denied entry to polling centre - TV.
January 31, 2009... Doha Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel in Arabic at 0903 gmt on 31 January reports: "A number of Iraqi voters have reported that National Guard forces prevented them from casting their votes in the Al-Jami'ah neighbourhood in western Baghdad. The...

Albania, Kosovo sign power line agreements.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Albanian state news agency ATA [Report by Nini Mano: "Albania, Kosovo Sign Two Agreements on Power Transmission Lines"] Tirana, 30 January (ATA) -- Albania and Kosovo agreed on Friday [30 January] to...

Displaced Iraqi Kurds banned from voting in Khaniqin - TV.
January 31, 2009... Doha Al-Jazeera Channel in Arabic at 0907 gmt on 31 January interviews its correspondent in Arbil, Muhammad Fa'iq, for an update on the polling process in the city. During the course of the interview, Fa'iq says: "We received word from...

Albanian Socialists file complaint to Constitutional Court over lustration law.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Albanian state news agency ATA [Report by Suada Daci: "Lustration Law: Socialist Party Files Compliant to Constitutional Court"] Tirana, 30 January (ATA) -- As warned earlier Socialist Party filed a...

Albanian ruling party says lustration law to be enforced despite complaint.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Albanian state news agency ATA [Report by Anila Struga: "Lustration Law, Bumci: Socialist Party Constitutional Compliant Will Not Impinge Law Implementation"] Tirana, 30 January (ATA) -- Democratic Party...

Al-Qa'idah members caught disguised at Iraq polling station - TV.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Dubai-based, Saudi private capital-funded pan-Arab news channel Al-Arabiya TV on 31 January [Interview over telephone with Al-Arabiya's correspondent in Baghdad Suhayr Al-Qaysi by Al-Arabiya's anchorwoman Suhayr...

Serbian gas firm to remain under state control - magazine.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Serbian pro-western Belgrade-based Radio B92 website, on 30 January Belgrade, 30 January: Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic says that there will be no privatization of the company and that it will remain under...

Serbia may get "White Stream" gas pipeline as alternative to Russian supply.
January 31, 2009... Text of report posted on Serbian Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik website, on 29 January [Interview with Bratislav Ceperkovic, chairman of the Transnafta Board of Directors, by Z. Pantelic; place and date not given: "And the White Stream Gas...

Seven Chinese tourists killed in bus accident near Las Vegas.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "1st LD: 7 Chinese Tourists Killed in Bus Accident Near Las Vegas"] LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) - Seven Chinese tourists were killed...

EU monitors "come under fire" near Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by private Georgian Imedi TV on 31 January Fire has been opened on EU monitors from the separatist region [of Abkhazia]. The fire was opened in the direction of the border connecting [the Georgian-controlled] village of...

Main Serbian ruling party, Sandzak Democrats to sign confederation accord.
January 31, 2009... Text of report posted on Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti website on 29 January [Report by "N.C.": "Strengthening Alliance"] For the first time in Serbia, two political parties will sign a confederation agreement! The act will be...

Iranian provincial students to stage rally in support of Turkish premier.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Iranian conservative, privately-owned Fars News Agency website Orumiyeh, 31 January: Orumiyeh university students will hold a gathering of gratitude outside the Turkish consulate in Orumiyeh on Saturday afternoon [31...

Former Serbian minister registers NGO, denies rift with ex-PM's party.
January 31, 2009... Text of report posted on Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti website on 28 January [Report by "P.V.": "Parivodic Goes Nongovernmental"] Milan Parivodic, minister in the two Kostunica governments and member of the DSS [Democratic...

Serbia quadruples number of civil servants since 2000.
January 31, 2009... Text of report posted on Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti website on 28 January [Report by I Micevic: "Country Teeming With Civil Servants"] The state budget beneficiaries have been asked to tighten their belts. There is no money...

Serbian army, police "basically" agree to form sector for emergency situations.
January 31, 2009... Text of report posted on Serbian newspaper Danas website on 29 January [Report by Ivana Pejcic: "Joint Sector for Emergency Situations"] Belgrade -- The Defence Ministry's Department for Emergency Situations and the Interior...

Sri Lanka army continues shelling civilian targets - TamilNet.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Sri Lankan TamilNet website on 31 January Sri Lanka Army (SLA) continued artillery shelling Saturday [31 January] on civilian targets in Chuthanthirapuram. Eight wounded civilians have been rushed to Udaiyaarkaddu...

Danish commander remarks on limited air support for Afghanistan troops.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Danish leading privately-owned independent newspaper Politiken website, on 30 January Danish soldiers in Afghanistan are only able to rely on necessary air support in 75 per cent of operations. Despite...

Iran seeking concession from West in return for help in Afghanistan - paper.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from article entitle "Participation of neighbours in resolving Afghanistan problem" by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 28 January The NATO secretary-general in a statement has said that the current...

Chinese police shoot man dead after killing spree.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "Police Shoot Man Dead After Killing Spree in Central China"] BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) - Police in central China shot and killed a...

Al-Arabiya TV reports one killed, one wounded in Iraq's Al-Sadr City.
January 31, 2009... "Spokesman of Law Enforcement Plan in Iraq [reports] one killed, one wounded in Al-Sadr City," Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported at 1056 gmt on 31 January 2009 in an "urgent" screen caption. Source: Al-Arabiya TV, Dubai, in Arabic 1054...

North Korea says ties with South on "brink of war".
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, January 30 (KCNA) - The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea [name as received; Committee for the Peaceful Reunificaiton of the Fatherland,...

Armed groups targeting Nepal journalists over news reports.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from report published by Nepalese newspaper Kantipur on 31 January Sunsari [district in southeastern Nepal], 30 January [Friday]: Media workers have said that they have not been able to disseminate factual news because of...

Text of China-EU joint statement issued on 30 Jan.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Unattributed report: "Full Text of PRC-EU Joint Statement"] Brussels, 30 Jan (Xinhua) - During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the European Union...

Maoist fighter chief vows more recruitment if Nepal army raises strength.
January 31, 2009... Text of report published by Nepalese newspaper Kantipur on 31 January Kathmandu, 30 January [Friday]: Commander of the Maoist guerrillas Nanda Kishore Pun has warned that if the Nepal army does not halt its recruitment, the Maoist...

Nearly 300 kg of marijuana seized in Kazakh centre.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Karaganda, 31 January: Three strangers have been detained in Karaganda (administrative centre of Karaganda Region, the Kazakhstan's centre) while attempting to sell a large...

UN envoy arrives in Burma 'in a bid to spur democratic change'.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Yangon, Jan. 31 Kyodo - UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Myanmar for a seventh time Saturday as part of UN efforts to spur democratic change, but it was unclear whether he...

China, US presidents talk over phone on financial crisis 30 Jan - Xinhua.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["Hu Jintao and US President Obama Talk Over the Phone" - Xinhua headline] Beijing, 30 Jan (Xinhua) - Chinese President Hu Jintao had a telephone...

Russian president sends greeting to Ingushetia congress.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 January: Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev has sent a greeting to delegates and guests of the Congress of the People of Ingushetia, the Kremlin press office...

Thai defence minister denies report 400 officers sent to mingle with protestors.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 January [Report by Bangkokpost.Com from the "Breaking News" page: "Police, soldiers prepared for mass rally"] Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday...

Obama urges China to cut trade surplus with US.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Washington, Jan. 30 Kyodo - US President Barack Obama told Chinese President Hu Jintao by telephone Friday that China must take action to redress its swelling trade surplus...

Diplomat says Somali pirates seize 12 more Filipino seafarers.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Philippine newspaper The Daily Tribune website on 31 January [Report by Michaela del Callar: "Somali pirates kidnap 12 more Filipino seamen"] Twelve Filipino seamen aboard a German gas tanker MV Longchamp...

Georgian cabinet not to undergo further change - acting premier.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by private Georgian TV station Rustavi-2 on 31 January [Presenter] Following a cabinet meeting, [acting Prime Minister] Nika Gilauri said that the economic policy of the government will remain unchanged. He said that there...

Turkish paper predicts little change to US policy on Iran under Obama.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman website on 29 January There is no doubt that Iran's nuclear programme and related topics are going to make their mark on the international agenda in the period ahead. Especially now...

South Serbia Albanians demand same level of rights as Kosovo Serbs have.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive ["Representatives of Presevo Valley Request Rights Just Like Rights of Serbs of Kosovo" -- KosovaLive headline] Pristina, 30 Jan (KosovaLive) --...

Tanzania: Don't expect too much from President Obama, don tells African states.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Angel Navuri entitled "Don't expect too much from President Obama, don tells African states" published by Tanzanian newspaper The Guardian website on 31 January Renowned United States political commentator Dr. Steven...

Norway gives Tanzania 100m dollars to fight deforestation.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Felix Andrew entitled "Norway gives Tanzania USD100m to fight deforestation" published by Tanzanian newspaper The Guardian website on 31 January Tanzania has secured a 100m dollars grant from Norway to fight...

Opposition slams PACE resolution on Armenia.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by private Armenian news agency Arminfo Yerevan, 30 January: The opposition Heritage party issued a statement today over Resolution 1643 passed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] on 27 January on...

Yemeni security services hunting down new Al-Qa'idah group - official.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Hayat website on 31 January [Report byAhmad Ghallab in Riyadh: "Yemeni Official: 'Al-Qa'idah' Organization Chose Yemen Because of its Geographical Nature. Stressed Security Cooperation Between...

Kosovo premier orders probe into coal pit land appropriation fund abuses.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive ["Thaci: Apartments Have Been Built in Pristina With 20 Million Euros of the Fund Allocated to Hade" -- KosovaLive headline] Pristina, 30 Jan...

Afghan TV debates need for regional help to tackle insurgency.
January 31, 2009... Afghan analysts and MPs have debated President Hamed Karzai's recent criticism of America and the West for not providing the Afghan army with warplanes and other military equipment. In a regular weekly discussion feature, Goftoman...

Albanians "press-ganged" into military service - commentary.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Albanian leading national independent newspaper Shekulli, on 27 January [Commentary by Arben Rozhani: "NATO's Press-gangers"] In the news chronicles of the first month of 2009 there may have been two or three...

Iran: Roundup of East Azarbayjan Province Friday prayer sermons 30 Jan 09.
January 31, 2009... Friday prayer leaders in Iran's East Azarbayjan Province focused mainly on the European Union's decision to remove the Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq (MKO) from its terrorist list, the situation in Gaza and the 30th anniversary of...

Russia denies responsibility for incident with Japanese aid ship.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 28 January, ITAR-TASS: Russia will not be held responsible for a possible cooling of relations with Japan because of a row over a group of Japanese nationals who delivered...

Iraq's Dhi Qar health directorate allocates 30bn dinars for projects.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Iraqi Media Network weekly newspaper Al-Sabah on 25 January [Report by Hazim Muhammad Habib from Al-Nasiriyah: "New Health Projects at a Cost of 30 Billion Iraqi Dinars in Dhi Qar"] Dhi Qar Health Directorate has...

Taiwan's participation in WHA rests with China - foreign minister.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Taiwanese Central News Agency website [By Luis Yu] Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) - The key to Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) - the decision-making arm of the World Health Organization...

Iraq's Al-Sadr hospital departments upgraded.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Iraqi Media Network weekly newspaper Al-Sabah on 28 January [Report by Ali Muwafaq from Baghdad: "Looking at Starting Child Growth Chart, the Health Ministry; Inaugurating Gynecology and Emergency Sections in Al-Sadr...

Slovene daily views ramifications of opposition's NATO vote obstruction.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Slovene news agency STA, Ljubljana, 31 January (STA) - Daily Delo says on Saturday [31 January] that Thursday's obstruction of the ratification of Croatia's NATO accession protocol by the opposition Slovenian...

Chinese Transport Ministry praises naval task force for Somali mission.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "Escorts of Chinese Naval Task Force Earn Gratitude From Ministry"] BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) - China's Ministry of Transport has...

Russia's Medvedev refuses to rule out future energy supply crises, blames others.
January 31, 2009... Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev has refused to give assurances that energy supply from Russia won't again be disrupted. In an interview with Bulgarian media, an excerpt from it broadcast by state-owned Russian television channel Rossiya on...

Greece launches "fresh offensive" in name dispute with Macedonia - experts.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Macedonian newspaper Nova Makedonija on 30 January [Report by Ivana Kostovska: "Athens Firing From All Cannons"] Athens has launched an offensive and is stepping up the name battle on all fronts. Under...

Iranian consul visits Basra polling stations - Al-Sharqiyah TV.
January 31, 2009... "Basra governor: The Iranian consul visited polling stations in Basra," Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported at 1139 gmt on 31 January 2009 in an "urgent" screen caption. Source: Al-Sharqiyah TV, Dubai, in Arabic 1138 gmt 31 Jan 09 BBC...

China's natural gas output up 12.3 per cent in 2008.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "China's Natural Gas Output Continues To Rise, up 12.3 Pct in 2008"] BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) - China's production of natural gas...

Protests in Indian Kashmir over detention of separatists - paper.
January 31, 2009... Text of unattributed report headlined "Protests in valley over detention of separatists" published by Indian newspaper The Kashmir Times website on 31 January Srinagar, 30 January [Friday]: Police burst smoke shells and resorted to cane...

Bird flu spreads to new district in eastern India.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI Cooch Behar (West Bengal), 31 January [Saturday]: Indian eastern state West Bengal's Cooch Behar District was Saturday declared bird-flu-affected, with authorities directed to cull 45,000 birds,...

Taiwan tycoon denies political motive in investing in Hong Kong's Asia TV.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post website on 31 January ["Tycoon Has No Political Motive in Taking ATV Stake, Says Assistant"] Taiwanese billionaire Tsai Eng-meng has confirmed his investment in the...

Hamas says long-term cease-fire "first priority" over Palestinian dialogue.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by independent, non-governmental Palestinian Ma'an News Agency website ["De Facto Government Moves Forward On Reconstruction, Dialogue And Ceasefire; Affirms Files Not To Be Connected" - Ma'an headline] ...

Airbus to set up joint venture in China's Harbin.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "Airbus To Set up Joint Venture for A350 in NE China"] BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) - The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)...

Iran's Rafsanjani urges Obama not to copy Bush; welcomes Turkey's Davos walkout.
January 31, 2009... Iran's influential former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has urged new US President Barack Obama not to copy the policies of his predecessor George W. Bush in dealing with Tehran. "The repetition of the remarks and statements of Mr Bush...

Iran oil revenues at 64bn dollars - minister.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 31 January Tehran, 31 January: Iran has earned more than 64bn dollars in oil revenues from March to December 2008, Oil Minister Gholam-Hoseyn Nowzari has said. ...

Kashmir militants sending Indian phone cards to Pakistan - intelligence.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Pramod Kumar headlined "Rebels float Indian SIMs down Chenab to Pakistan" by Indian newspaper The Asian Age website on 31 January New Delhi, 30 January [Friday]: Militant outfits active in Jammu and Kashmir have adopted...

Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood denounces prevention of Gaza rally.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Jordanian newspaper Al-Arab al-Yawm on 31 January [Report by Raddad al-Qullab: "Government Prevents Muslim Brotherhood From Holding 'Thanks and Victory' Rally"] The government prevented the Muslim Brotherhood [MB]...

Burma: Arrest warrants said issued for six lawyers defending political activists.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website, on 30 January Dear listeners, here is a dispatch by Ma Khin Hnin Htet about the situation of lawyers who perform legal services for political activists. [Begin...

Palestinian Fatah official says Hamas leader has "dissident mentality".
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Dubai-based, Saudi private capital-funded pan-Arab news channel Al-Arabiya TV on 30 January [Announcer-read report over video] Azzam al-Ahmad, head of the Fatah bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council, has...

Russia: Medvedev's Bulgarian interview - text.
January 31, 2009... Text of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev's interview with Bulgarian National Television's Tsvetana Krasteva [as transliterated], taken from the Russian presidential website as published on 30 January [Medvedev] I am ready. If you are...

Iraqi talk show discusses election slogans, 28 January election "violations".
January 31, 2009... ["Rundown" talk show, moderated by Ahmad Khadir in the Dubai studio - live] Dubai Al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic between 1713 and 1757 gmt on 28 January carries a new episode of its "Rundown" talk show, moderated by anchorman Ahmad...

President of Troubled Russian Republic Opens Congress, Outlines Problems
January 31, 2009... Text of report by international stream of Gazprom-owned Russian NTV on 31 January [Presenter] Corruption and distrust in the authorities are the main causes of the difficult social-political situation in Ingushetia, President of the republic...

India daily reports omissions in terror dossier given to Pakistan.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Siddharth Varadarajan headlined "Pakistan weighs response to Indian dossier" by Indian newspaper The Hindu website on 31 January New Delhi: With reports swirling around of Pakistani investigators claiming the Mumbai...

Representative of top Iraqi Shi'i cleric urges election participation.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Iraqi government-controlled Al-Iraqiyah TV on 27 January [Telephone interview with Abd-al-Mahdi al-Karbala'i, representative of Iraqi religious authority Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala, by...

Nation Party leader says elections important for determining Iraq's identity.
January 31, 2009... ["Exclusive Interview" feature: Interview with Mithal al-Alusi, an Iraqi MP and leader of the Nation Party, in Baghdad, conducted by Suhayr al-Qaysi - live or recorded.] Dubai Al-Arabiya Television in Arabic at 1505 gmt on 24 January...

Clerical rule is the secret of Iranian Revolution's success - President.
January 31, 2009... The Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad has said that the rule of the Jurist (Persian: Velayat; meaning clerical rule) is the secret of the survival of the Revolution. Speaking at the Mausoleum of the Late Leader of the Islamic Revolution...

Thailand: Official details role of information centre on border with Cambodia.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 31 January [Interview with ex-envoy Paskorn Siriyaphan, head of Phra Viharn Centre by correspondet Thanida Tansubhapol in Phnom Penh; date not provided. "Border dispute...

Iraqi election curfew "totally lifted" - TV.
January 31, 2009... Dubai Al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic at 1131 gmt on 31 January carries the following "breaking news" as a screen caption: "The curfew is totally lifted. "[Interior Minister] Jawad al-Bulani tells Al-Sharqiyah: We call on voters to...

Russia: Ingush leader speaks of "huge gap" between people, authorities.
January 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Russian website Ingushetia.org on 31 January In the opening speech at the congress [of the people of Ingushetia], Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov mentioned all the problems accumulated in the republic over the...

Danish MPs seek clarification of NATO policy on Afghan anti-drug operations.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Danish leading privately-owned independent newspaper Politiken website, on 29 January Denmark's Social Democrats and Social Liberals want clarification of Danish NATO troop roles in Afghanistan. Denmark's...

Malaysia: Kelantan state, HAMAS agree on sponsorship of Palestinian students.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Malaysian official news agency Bernama website [Unattributed Report: "Kelantan Govt To Sponsor Palestinian Students"] KOTA BAHARU, Jan 31 (Bernama) - The Kelantan government will care for and sponsor the...

Iraqi Shi'i cleric's representative says polls laying foundation for new state.
January 31, 2009... Within its morning programming on 31 January, Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic continues its "special coverage" on the Iraqi provincial council elections, showing Iraqi voters and officials casting their ballots at polling centres and...

Thailand: Organizer says ex-PM not to phone-in at 31 Jan protest rally.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper The Nation website on 31 January [Unattributed Report from the "Breaking News" page: "No Thaksin's phone-in for Saturday rally: Jatuporn"] Former prime minister will not make a phone-in to...

Mideast: Fatah statement criticizes Hamas leader's call to replace PLO.
January 31, 2009... Text of report in English by independent, non-governmental Palestinian Ma'an News Agency website ["Fatah Statement Slams Mash'al Call To End The PLO; Accuses Hamas Of Dividing Palestinians" - Ma'an headline] Bethlehem, 31 January...

Writer discusses likely charges facing Hambali in Indonesia, publicity trial.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by Singapore newspaper The Straits Times website on 31 January [Article by John McBeth: "Terror Suspect Held In Guantanamo"] No swift return to Jakarta for Hambali DON'T look for Indonesian terrorist suspect...

Russian National Bolshevik leader detained in central Moscow.
January 31, 2009... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 January. The leader of the National Bolsheviks [banned National Bolshevik Party] Eduard Limonov was detained in the afternoon of Saturday [31 January] on...