BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from January 2009, page 7

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from January 2009

Iran, Iraq to expand political, economic cooperation - officials.
January 30, 2009... Text of report headlined "Davudi: We hope commercial relations between Iran and Iraq reach 10 billion dollars" published by Iranian newspaper Aftab-e Yazd on 5 January Emphasizing the approval of efforts and ideas by the people and the...

Slovene commentary criticizes government's response to financial crisis.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Slovene news agency STA, Ljubljana, 30 January (STA) - Daily Delo is critical on Friday of the government's response to the financial crisis, saying that while normal countries are helping their economies with...

Slovenia to boost presence in Afghan peace mission, pull out Chad troops.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Slovene news agency STA, Ljubljana, 29 January (STA) - The Slovenian government decided on Thursday to bolster Slovenia's peace-keeping team in Afghanistan with three additional military instructors. It also...

SPLM official calls for tribal co-existence conference in southern Sudan.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by UN sponsored Radio Miraya FM website, on 30 January Friday, 30 January 2009: The [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum requested the Governments of South Sudan and the Upper...

Polish foreign minister, US state secretary discuss missile shield by phone.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Polish national independent news agency PAP Warsaw, 30 January: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a telephone conversation on Thursday [29 January]. ...

Somalia: Puntland says to reject outcome of Djibouti peace talks.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Somali independent Radio Gaalkacyo on 29 January The president of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, Abdirahman Muhammad Farole, has said that his administration would not recognize the outcome of Djibouti peace...

Afghan observers partially blame West for failures.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV, on 29 January [Presenter] Some western media are reflecting more failures of the Afghan government these days. The New York Times, quoting two American officials yesterday, said that the...

Polish weekly examines ramifications of justice minister's dismissal.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Polish weekly Newsweek Polska on 1 February [Commentary by Piotr Smilowicz, Grzegorz Indulski and Andrzej Stankiewicz: "Who Is Next?"] By dismissing the justice minister, the prime minister raised political...

South Korean president taps ruling party lawmaker as administration minister.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [By Byun Duk-kun: "President Taps Ruling Party Lawmaker as Administration Minister"] Seoul, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) - Representative Lee Dal-gon of the ruling Grand National Party...

NATO says enrolment criteria for Kosovo Security Force not to change.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Kosovo Albanian privately-owned KohaVision TV on 29 January [Announcer] It is still unclear whether the Kosovo Security Force [KSF] recruitment process of former members of the Kosovo Protections Corps [TMK] will be...

Brunei's sultan arrives in Philippines.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Philippine newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer website on 30 January MANILA, Philippines - Brunei's monarch, Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan (head of state) Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, arrived in...

Iranian TV accuses BBC of impartiality over Gaza.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 30 January Press TV aired an ongoing row it is having with the BBC in the course of an interview with Muhammad Idrees at Spinwatch.org about the BBC's impartiality...

Seven candidates to compete for Slovak presidency.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Czech national public-service news agency CTK Bratislava, 30 January: Seven candidates will compete in the Slovak presidential elections to be held in late March, Elena Valovicova from the Slovak parliament...

Indonesia to proceed with trial of Singapore terror suspect.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Singapore newspaper The Straits Times website on 30 January In a setback for Singaporean terrorist suspect Mohammad Hassan Saynudin, an Indonesian court decided yesterday to proceed with his trial under terrorism...

Thai PM leaves to attend Davos world economic forum.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper The Nation website on 30 January Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva flew off late Thursday's night to attend World Economic Forum at Davos. Abhisit is expected to use the opportunity to...

Mental ailments rising in Pakistan tribal areas following drone attacks.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Mushtaq Yusufzai headlined "Drone attacks lead to sharp rise in mental ailments" published by Pakistan newspaper The News website on 30 January Peshawar: Frequent drone attacks on suspected militants' hideouts in South...

Japanese PM says social security, fiscal reform to be focus of next election.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Prime Minister Taro Aso indicated Friday that such issues as social security and fiscal reform would play a major part in his campaign for the next...

Japanese agency boycotts government meeting on public service reform.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Japan's National Personnel Authority refused to send a representative to Friday's government meeting on reforms of the country's national public service...

Kosovo police say situation in divided town "under control" following blasts.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Kosovo Albanian privately-owned newspaper Express on 26 January [Report by Dafina Myrtaj: "Mitrovica Again"] Prishtina [Pristina], 25 Jan - Following two powerful explosions in Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica] on...

Army chief to face action if new recruitment not halted - Nepal Maoist minister.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Nepalese newspaper Annapurna Post on 30 January Kathmandu: Minister for Law, Justice and Constituent Assembly Affairs Dev Prasad Gurung has said that action will be taken against Nepal Army Chief...

Japan says island entry row not to affect summit plans with Russia.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Japan will seek to resolve a recent dispute with Russia over the requirement for disembarkation cards to enter four disputed islands at working-level...

Guinea bans exportation of rice, fuel and forest-derived goods from country.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Boua Kouyate entitled "Economy and trade ministers ban export of basic essential goods" published by Guineenews website, based in Canada but with editorial team in Guinea, on 29 January Yesterday Wednesday 28 January,...

Kosovo: Prizren region Kfor to replace 100 troops deployed in north Mitrovica.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive ["General Fugger: Mitrovice Is Preoccupation for Entire Kfor" - KosovaLive headline] Prizren, 29 Jan (KosovaLive) - Mitrovice is not an issue of...

Kosovo ruling, opposition parties divided over government's annual work report.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive ["One-Year Governance Evaluated in Two Ways" - KosovaLive headline] Prishtina [Pristina], 29 Jan (KosovaLive) - The one-year work of the...

Ukrainian naval units in Crimea cut off from power over debt.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Kiev, 30 January: A number of units of the Ukrainian Navy deployed in the Crimea have been cut off from electricity supply for several days, the Breeze broadcasting company...

Burma urges need to prepare against natural disasters - Xinhua.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) YANGON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) - Myanmar official media Friday reiterated its call for taking preparedness measures against natural disasters, urging...

Kosovo leaders agree "in principle" to review ex-TMK members' tests - daily.
January 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Kosovo Albanian privately-owned newspaper Koha Ditore on 28 January [Report by Kastriot Jahaj: "FSK Crisis Continues"] Prishtina [Pristina], 27 Jan - Former members of the Kosova [Kosovo] Protection Corps [TMK]...

Ghana presidential aide defends nominination of two ministers without portfolios.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Ghanaian privately-owned radio station Joy FM on 29 January [Report by Malik Abass Daabu: "Ayarigah Defends Ministers Without Portfolios"] Presidential spokesperson, Mahama Ayarigah has defended the nomination of...

SAfrica trade union asks AU to set up neutral body to arrange Zimbabwe poll.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 30 January [Report by Diplomatic Editor Hopewell Radebe: "Cosatu Wants Neutrals for Harare Polls"] THE trade union federations of SA and...

Japanese industrial output logs record 9.6 per cent fall in December.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo [By Takuya Karube] Tokyo, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Japanese industrial production dropped a seasonally adjusted 9.6 per cent in December from the previous month, posting a record...

Study shows Austrian Turks remain unintegrated.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Austrian newspaper Kurier on 27 January [Report by Nicholas Bukovec and Philipp Hacker: "Turks in Austria: Long Time Here and Still Foreigners"] The first comprehensive integration study in Germany, which was...

Head of Slovene border commission resigns over fees controversy.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Slovene news agency STA Ljubljana, 30 January (STA) - Miha Pogacnik stepped down as the head of the Slovenian part of the commission of Slovenian and Croatian legal experts on the border on Friday, quoting a...

Japan confirms financial support for three Thai rail projects.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 January Japan has confirmed its financial support for the Red and Blue line railway services planned for Bangkok. Japanese ambassador to Thailand Kyoji Komachi,...

Iran minister says Turkish PM's walkout at Davos meeting "natural".
January 30, 2009... Text of report by state-run Iranian TV news channel on 30 January [Presenter] Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has reacted to the comments made by [Turkish Prime Minister] Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Davos summit. [Mottaki] Turkey...

Bodies retrieved from Kenyan fire tragedy.
January 30, 2009... The Kenyan police say they have started retrieving bodies from a supermarket in central Nairobi which burnt down on 28 January, the privately-owned KTN TV reported on 30 January. Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe also confirmed that 47...

Belarusian president, union state secretary discuss coming summit agenda.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan Minsk, 29 January. Alyaksandr Lukashenka on 29 January met with Pavel Borodin, state secretary of the Belarusian-Russian union state, to discuss the agenda of...

Thai anti-corruption commission to investigate complaints against ministers.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 January The fate of two ministers hinges on the National Anti-Corruption Commission after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday he might reshuffle his...

White House says US, Japan agree to cooperate closely in six-party talks.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [By Hwang Doo-hyong: "Obama Agrees With Aso To Cooperate Closely In 6-party Talks: White House"] Washington, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) - US President Barack Obama has agreed to...

Burma does not incoude Rohinja as ethnic minority - Xinhua.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) YANGON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) - Myanmar has denied some foreign media report that Rohinja [Muslim ethnic group] attempting to illegally enter Thailand...

Iran's Rafsanjani thanks Turkish premier for Davos walkout.
January 30, 2009... Leading Tehran Friday prayers at Tehran University campus on 30 January, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani thanked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for leaving one of the seminars of the World Economic Forum currently held in...

EU to give Burma more humanitarian assistance - Xinhua.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) YANGON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) - The European Union (EU) will give Myanmar humanitarian assistance of 40.5 million euros (52 million USD) this year, the...

PM says he protected "honour of Turkish nation" at Davos panel on Gaza.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia ["MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT HONOUR OF TURKISH NATION, TURKISH PM" - AA headline] ISTANBUL (A.A) -30.01.2009 -Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan...

Georgia may host US bases in response to Russian plan in Abkhazia - agency.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by private Georgian news agency Kavkas-Press Tbilisi, 30 January: Georgia intends to station US [military] bases in [the port town of] Poti and Marneuli [predominately ethnic Azerbaijani-populated Kvemo Kartli Province] in...

Japan government approves bill to raise state pension burden.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Jan. 30 Kyodo - The government approved a bill Friday to raise the state's financial burden of the national pension scheme from the current one-third to one-half in...

Indian economy to grow at 7.5 per cent despite global recession - minister.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency Davos, 30 January: The Indian economy is expected to remain on a fast track of 7-7.5 per cent expansion in the next fiscal beginning April despite a gloomy outlook for the world economy,...

Moldova to impose temporary ban on child adoptions.
January 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Moldovan news agency Infotag Chisinau, 30 January: Moldova will declare a moratorium on the adoption of children until the legislative base is improved. The decision was taken at a meeting focused on the adoption of...

Iran ready to offer 'guidance' to US on regional issues - senior cleric.
January 30, 2009... Iranian cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has hinted that Iran is willing to guide the USA and cooperate with it on regional issues if the new administration adopts a rational and fair approach towards his country. Speaking at Tehran Friday...

(Corr) Bodies retrieved from Kenyan fire tragedy.
January 30, 2009... (Correction; removing last sentence on four fire exits being blocked) The Kenyan police say they have started retrieving bodies from a supermarket in central Nairobi which burnt down on 28 January, the privately-owned KTN TV reported on...

Ministry welcomes Belgium's ratification of Croatia's NATO entry protocol.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Croatian state news agency HINA ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Belgium has ratified the protocol on the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign...

Defence minister pledges Albania's commitment to peacekeeping operations.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Albanian state news agency ATA [Report by Suada Daci: "Albania To Continue Playing Constructive Role in Region"] Tirana, 29 January (ATA) - "Albania will continue to play its constructive role in the...

US arms deals with Arab countries aimed at reducing Iran's influence - paper.
January 30, 2009... Commentary by Habib Sasani headlined "America and arms sales" published by Iranian newspaper Resalat on 24 December In her last trip to the countries of the region and her meeting with the heads of various Arab countries, Condoleezza...

Belarusian population continues to decrease.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan Minsk, 29 January: Belarus's population shrank by 18,400 to 9,671,400 people in the first 10 months of 2008, according to the National Statistics Committee. ...

Pakistan navy to acquire Airborne Early Warning aircraft.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by staff correspondent headlined "PN to get AEW aircraft and UAVs" published by Pakistan newspaper The News website on 30 January Karachi: Pakistan Navy will shortly acquire Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Aircraft and...

Albanian, Turkish premiers discuss boosting cooperation.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Albanian state news agency ATA ["Premier Berisha Meets Turkish Counterpart Recep Erdogan" - ATA headline] Tirana, 29 January (ATA) - Prime Minister Sali Berisha held a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister...

South Korean court sentences Nigerian drug trafficker to life in prison.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) - A South Korean court on Friday sentenced a Nigerian drug dealer, who used South Korean travellers to transport narcotics, to life in prison and a fine...

Arabic paper reports on Miliband's remarks at Chatham House, BBC controversy.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by London-based independent newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi website on 28 January [Report From London by Samir Nasif: "Miliband Supports Obama's Orientations and Proposes Middle East Solution With Participation of 23 Arab...

South Korean agency expects propaganda rise after North nullifies accords.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [By Lee Ji-dong: "N. Korea's undoing of detente measures signals return to propaganda era"] SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) - North Korea's unilateral nullification on Friday of...

Japan seeks Seoul's help in confirming fate of abductee.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [By Lee Chi-dong: "Japan Seeks S. Korea's Help in Confirming Fate of Woman Abducted by Pyongyang"] Seoul, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) - South Korea and Japan are in consultations to...

Former president says expects "fair, rational" US stance on Iran's nuclear case.
January 30, 2009... At 0855 gmt, Iranian state radio began to broadcast live Tehran Friday prayer sermons led by Chairman of the Assembly of Experts Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani at Tehran University campus on 30 January. The ayatollah started his...

At least 14 bodies retrieved from razed Kenyan building.
January 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Kenyan privately-owned TV station KTN on 30 January [Reporter] We are at the scene of the fire that razed down the Nakumatt Downtown here in Nairobi and standing by with me here is the assistant director of the...

New SAfrica political party said to contest polls with "all or nothing approach".
January 30, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 30 January [Report by Economics Editor Mariam Isa: "All or Nothing at Elections, Says Shilowa"] THE Congress of the People (COPE) says it will...

North Korean paper on Seoul's abstention from UN rights resolution.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, January 30 (KCNA) - A resolution critical of Israel's atrocities against humanity was adopted at a recent special session of the UN Human Rights Council....

Czech premier sees Croatian-Slovene EU dispute as bilateral issue.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Czech national public-service news agency CTK Ljubljana, 30 January: Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, the EU presidency head, has told RTV Slovenija that Slovenia's blockage of Croatian EU entry talks is...

(Corr) Iranian TV accuses BBC of lack of impartiality over Gaza.
January 30, 2009... (Correcting the heading to "Iranian TV accuses BBC of lack of impartiality over Gaza". A corrected version of the item follows.) Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 30 January Press TV aired an...

Russian weekly's future still shrouded in uncertainty.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 29 January: The long-term fate of the Ogonek magazine remains unclear. "There's still no clarity. One owner has departed (presumably Telekominvest - Interfax),...

SAfrica political parties resort to technology to raise funds for upcoming polls.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 30 January [Report by General Reporter Luphert Chilwane: "Parties Go Hi-Tech To Raise Poll Millions"] Political parties are resorting to...

Botswana "welcomes" outcome of extraordinary SADC summit on Zimbabwe.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Botswana TV on 28 January The Government of Botswana says it welcomes the outcome of the 26 -27 January 2009 extraordinary summit which sought to assist Zimbabwe's parties to the global political agreement move forward...

Kosovo MP reports threats by judge denied seat in judicial body.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive ["Hasani Threatened Several Times by Nazmi Mustafi" - KosovaLive headline] Prishtina [Pristina], 29 Jan (KosovaLive) - The Assembly member of...

Indonesia to repatriate Rohinja refugees to Burma - Xinhua.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) JAKARTA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) - Indonesia will send 193 Roohingyas [Muslim ethnic group] refugees to their home country Myanmar after their boat...

Dutch foreign trade minister on week-long visit to India from 8 Feb.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency New Delhi, 30 January: India and the Netherlands are expected to further strengthen business ties during Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Frank Heemskerk's week-long visit here beginning 8...

One killed in police firing during curfew in Pakistan's Swat.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Pakistan's private television channel Geo News website on 30 January Swat: Security forces' operation against militants is underway as various parts of Swat remained under curfew for sixth consecutive day on Friday [30...

Azeri minister justifies suspension of foreign radio broadcasts.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by private Azerbaijani news agency Turan Baku, 30 January: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has sent a letter to the US Congress's Helsinki Commission with regard to the rules for foreign radio broadcasts in...

SAfrican leader sends media, trade reform bills back to parliament.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 30 January [Report by Political Correspondent Linda Ensor: "Motlanthe Flexes Muscles on Key Bills"] CAPE TOWN - President Kgalema Motlanthe...

SAfrica: Plan to set up movement to rival main trade union said gaining momentum.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 30 January [Report by Sibongakonke Shoba: "Plan for Trade Union Body To Rival Cosatu Gaining Momentum"] A MOVE to form a trade union movement...

Zimbabwe authorities oppose bail granted to opposition MP facing terror charges.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by London-based Zimbabwe independent Short Wave Radio Africa website on 29 January [Report by Tichaona Sibanda: "State Opposes Bail for MDC MP Meke Makuyana"] State prosecutors this week opposed bail granted to the MDC...

Guinea's defence minister calls for discipline, transparency in army.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Hamidou Sow entitled "Economy and politics: CNDD, in the words of its defence minister, wants to clean up the army" published by Guineenews website, published in Canada but with editorial team in Guinea on 29 January ...

Tamil Tigers accuse Sri Lanka of increasing "genocidal" attacks.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Sri Lankan TamilNet website on 30 January Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political head B. Nadesan Friday [30 January] blamed Colombo for stepped up genocidal artillery attacks on civilian targets Friday after...

Ignoring US Republicans would mean neglecting "rule of the game" - Iran paper.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by hardline Iranian daily Keyhan website Text of commentary by Behruz Bensina headlined "The rule of the game" published in Iranian newspaper Keyhan on 28 December Tehran, 28 December: Nobody will forget the years from...

Portuguese premier denies changes to protection area linked to outlet project.
January 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Portuguese newspaper Publico website on 29 January [Unattributed report: "It Is a Lie That the Changes Were Used To Give a License to the Outlet, Insists Socrates"] Jose Socrates repeated yesterday in...

Austrian report finds Islam teachers wanting in democracy.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by Austrian newspaper Der Standard website on 28 January Vienna - According to a preliminary report published by the weekly city magazine Falter, a study on Muslim teachers in Austria rates them poorly for their views on...

North Korea's "happiness" lies in Kim Jong-il's "health and wellbeing" - radio.
January 30, 2009... Text of report by state-run North Korean radio on 25 January [Music-and-article from "literary feature" titled "People's Songs Sang During New Year's Holiday": "Song [We] Sound With Hearts of Wishes"; This programme was repeated at 2131...

Pakistan bloggers begin campaign to rebuild schools bombed by Taleban.
January 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Press Trust of India news agency Islamabad, 30 January: Avid bloggers in Pakistan have started a campaign to help in rebuilding schools that have been bombed by the Taleban in the picturesque Swat valley. Human...

Japanese PM leaves for World Economic Forum in Davos.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso left Japan for Switzerland on Friday to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the resort town of...

South Korea to establish renewable energy fund to bolster clean power use.
January 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [By Lee Joon-seung: "Gov't To Set Up Renewable Energy Fund To Bolster Clean Power Use"] Seoul, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) - The government said Friday that it plans to set up a 100...