BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from June 2009

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from June 2009

Highlights of Iran parliamentary session.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt of report on parliamentary proceedings published by Iranian newspaper Mardom Salari on 29 June Yesterday [Sunday 28 June] a part of parliament's time was once again taken up by a debate on events and incidents which have taken...

Pakistan PM says second, third tier of terrorists eliminated.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 29 June: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani on Monday [30 June] said that the second and third tier of terrorists, against whom the Army is...

Pakistan minister says schedule for return of displaced to be announced soon.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 29 June: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Monday said the government would not tolerate any embezzlement in the...

Kazakh leader says construction work remains priority.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Kazakhstan Today news agency website Astana, 29 June: Construction should remain a priority task in post-crisis Kazakhstan, the [Kazakhstan Today] news agency's correspondent quoted Kazakh President...

Yemen Airways plane crashes with over 153 people on board.
June 30, 2009... Al-Arabiya reported at 0400 gmt that an Airbus 310 belonging to the Yemeni airlines had crashed on its way from Yemen to the Comoros. The plane which was carrying more than 153 people, most of them from France and the Comoros, had come from...

Bangladesh apparel factories torched as workers continue violent demonstration.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Arif Newaz Farazi headlined RMG factories torched as violence flares published by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 30 June Five factories and two warehouses were torched and over 100 people were injured in...

Niger leader dissolves constitutional court.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 29 June [Presenter] Events are moving fast in Niger. Three days after giving himself extra powers by having recourse to Article 53 of the...

Niger suspends private broadcaster for airing opposition statement.
June 30, 2009... The High Council of Communication of Niger on Monday 29 June decided to "suspend until further notice" private radio and TV broadcaster, Dounia, RFI reported on 29 June. According to the French radio, the authorities' decision to suspend...

Two killed in police firing in India's Kashmir; probe ordered.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency Srinagar, 29 June: Two persons were killed and scores of others injured today as police opened fire to disperse violent protesters agitating against alleged police misbehaviour with a...

Paper slams Afghan media's coverage of post-election violence in Iran.
June 30, 2009... Text of Paez's report entitled: "Indifference or support for dictatorship" by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 26 June The tension caused after the announcement of election results in Iran, has become a topical...

(CORR) Niger leader to dissolve constitutional court.
June 30, 2009... (Correcting headline. A corrected version of the item follows) Excerpt from report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 29 June [Presenter] Events are moving fast in Niger. Three days after giving...

Afghan ministry reports rise in civilian deaths as insurgents increase attacks.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Afghan Ariana TV on 28 June [Presenter] The Afghan Interior Ministry has reported that there has been a 16-per-cent increase in civilian casualties caused by the armed opposition compared with the...

Pakistan: Banned charity chief dismisses Indian arrest warrant.
June 30, 2009... Text of unattributed report headlined "I do not care for Indian arrest warrant, Interpol contacts: Hafiz Saeed" published by Pakistani newspaper Ausaf on 27 June Lahore: Prof. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Daawa...

Indian, Pakistani foreign secretaries to meet in Egypt to discuss terrorism.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency New Delhi, 29 June: Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan are likely to have a bilateral meeting in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm-el Shaikh on the sidelines of the NAM...

Troops kill 13 militants, seven civilians in Pakistan's Khyber Agency.
June 30, 2009... Text of unattributed report headlined "13 militants, seven civilians killed in Khyber" published by Pakistani newspaper The News website on 30 June Landikotal/Bara: Security forces on Monday [29 June] claimed to have killed at least 13...

Niger: Interior minister slams opposition's call for Tandja's resignation.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Gabon-based pan-African radio broadcaster Africa No 1 on 29 June [Presenter] In Niger, the political atmosphere still remains very tense. The opposition and a large section of the civil society are demanding the...

India urges missions abroad to take steps to check flu.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency New Delhi, 29 June: As the number of swine flu cases crossed 100 today, the Indian government said that Indian missions abroad have been directed to ask their respective countries to...

Azeri expert rules out radical deterioration in ties with Iran over Peres visit.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Azerbaijani website Day.az on 29 June 29 June: "I do not anticipate radical deterioration in bilateral relations between Iran and Azerbaijan over the visit of Israeli President Shimon Peres to Baku," political expert...

Somalia: New law on political parties endorsed by Puntland parliament.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Somali Shabeelle Media Network website on 29 June The parliament of Puntland Administration today endorsed a new law that is to be affected in the region. The new law in regard to the formation of...

Bangladesh High Court asks for extra-judicial killings explanation.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by staff correspondent headlined HC asks govt to explain extra-judicial killings published by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 30 June The High Court on Monday [29 June] asked the government to explain in four...

Iran's national security officials meet top clerics over election crisis.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 29 June 29 June: As Iran's post-election tension continues to make headlines, a national security committee steps in to meet Iranian officials and senior clerics in...

Bangladesh: Bomb threat shuts trading at Dhaka Stock Exchange.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by staff correspondent headlined Bomb threat forces DSE to cut short trading published by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 30 June A telephoned threat to bomb the Dhaka Stock Exchange on Monday [29 June] forced the...

Moderate Islamists demolish "illegal" structures in central Somalia town.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Somali Shabeelle Media Network website on 29 June Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama'a forces in Caabuud Waaq District, Galguduud Region [central Somalia] have started demolishing illegal structures that have been...

Somali president to attend AU summit in Libya.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 29 June The President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] is headed for Sirte, Libya where he is expected to attend the AU summit. President Shaykh...

Somali clan elder urges business community to assist internally displaced.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Somali Shabeelle Media Network website on 29 June The chairman of the Hawiye Cultural and Unity Council, Muhammad Hasan Had, has urged the business community and the wealthy people in the country to...

Third swine flu case detected in Ethiopia.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website Addis Ababa, 29 June: The Ministry of Health said H1N1 cases have reached three in Ethiopia. The ministry said some media outlets are dispatching wrong...

Islamists in southern Somali town send reinforcement to capital.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 29 June According to reports reaching us from Kismaayo, Lower Jubba [southern Somalia], the Islamic administration in the town has sent some of their forces to Mogadishu in order...

India on alert over militants' threat to attack sea coast facilities.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency New Delhi, 29 June: Pakistan-based [Lashker-e-Taiba LeT] is planning to carry out attacks on vital installations along the Indian sea coast prompting the Centre to issue an alert to...

Key Islamist leader says Somali president planning renewed hostilities.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 29 June The chairman for Hisb al-Islam, Shaykh Hasan Dahir Aweys, responded to a statement by the president of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG], Shaykh Sharif...

Niger president reshuffles cabinet.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Niger TV on 29 June Upon the proposal of the prime minister and head of government, the president of the republic, Mamadou Tandja, today signed a decree on the appointment of members of the government. It will be noted...

Iran's second mobile radio on air in northeastern province.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by state-run Iranian radio on 29 June Iran's second mobile radio has become operational in Khorasan Razavi Province. The radio's operational room and studio have been installed in a bus. The radio will broadcast in...

Bangladesh ex-army chief leaves country amidst trial demand.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by staff correspondent headlined Moeen leaves Dhaka published by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 30 June Former army chief general Moeen U Ahmed left Dhaka for Singapore by a Malaysian Airlines flight in the early...

Visiting US official assures Ethiopia of sustained aid.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website Addis Ababa, 29 June: The US's new administration is committed to working with Ethiopia in providing more productive and sustainable assistance designed to meet...

Indian foreign minister starts two-day Czech visit.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Press Trust of India news agency New Delhi, 29 June: India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today began his two-day visit to Czech Republic, which currently holds the Presidency of the European Union, to discuss...

Japan's unemployment rate rises to 5.2 per cent May 09.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, June 30 Kyodo - Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reached a nearly six-year high of 5.2 per cent in May, with job availability dropping to the lowest level...

Iranian Speaker, Algerian president discuss ties.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by state-run Iranian TV news channel on 30 June The Algerian president [Abdelaziz Bouteflika] has stressed the need for boosting and strengthening partnership between Algeria and Iran in all spheres. At a meeting with...

Somalia's Puntland officials, NATO to discuss piracy, illegal fishing.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government Puntlandpost website on 29 June Officials of the Puntland administration and senior NATO officials who are based in the Somali coast have held talks in which they discussed ways of...

Ethiopian court starts hearing cases of alleged coup plotters.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website Addis Ababa, 29 June: The Federal High Court has started hearing witnesses against suspects accused of plotting acts of terror under the so-called "Ginbot 7"...

UN chief due in Japan for talks on North Korea, Burma 30 June.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, June 30 Kyodo - UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will make a three-day visit to Japan from Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Taro Aso and Foreign Minister Hirofumi...

Yemeni aircraft heading for Comoros crashes.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 30 June [Presenter] The aircraft which disappeared between Yemen and Comoros is an Airbus A310 belonging to the Yemenia Air company and not an Airbus...

North Korea "definitely" enriching uranium - South minister.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) - North Korea appears to be "definitely" pressing ahead with uranium enrichment that would give it another means to build nuclear arms, South Korea's...

Another armed militant reportedly killed in Kyrgyz south.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website Officers of the Uzgen district interior department destroyed yet another armed militant on 29 June. The Osh regional interior directorate's press service said...

US seeking alternative to Karzai in upcoming Afghan poll - Iran analyst.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Mohammad Montazeri headlined "Karzai-Washington struggle on threshold of election" published by Iranian newspaper Hamshahri on 29 June Hamed Karzai is extremely busy these days, endeavouring to be the winner in the...

Israel interested in direct energy routes from Azerbaijan - minister.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by private Azerbaijani news agency Turan Baku, 29 June: Israel is interested in bringing Azerbaijan's energy routes up to Israel, the official website of the State Oil Company [of the Azerbaijani Republic] (SOCAR) has...

Australian destroyer project "progressing well".
June 30, 2009... Text of media release carried by Australian Department of Defence website on 30 June Greg Combet, minister for defence science, personnel and materiel, today announced several procurement contracts related to the combat system of the new...

South Korean team leaves for North to prepare for 2 July talks.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) - A South Korean advance team travelled to North Korea on Tuesday to prepare for a third round of talks over a troubled joint industrial park amid...

Addiction, unemployment behind women running away from homes - Iran official.
June 30, 2009... Text of report citing Fars news agency entitled "Results of investigation into the standpoint of South Khorasan runaway girls and women: Addiction and unemployment factors of great impact on intensification of social vulnerabilities in the...

Iranian police arrest 1,122 drug smugglers in northwest.
June 30, 2009... Iranian police have arrested 1,122 drug smugglers in the northwestern province of West Azarbayjan since this March, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on 28 June. The agency quoted the head of the information centre department of the West...

Explosive-laden vehicle seized in Pakistan's Punjab.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by leading private Pakistani satellite TV channel Geo News website on 30 June Karachi: Police patrolling party in Gujranwala has claimed capturing a vehicle laden with heavy explosives and arrested two suspected extremists...

Armed group kills eight militants in northwest Pakistan.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by leading private Pakistani satellite TV channel Geo News website on 30 June Swat: Eight militants were killed and seven injured by national lashkar [local militia] in Upper Dir as operation 'Rah-e-Rast' is underway in...

New Zealand PM touring Pacific 7-10 July.
June 30, 2009... Text of news release carried by New Zealand government website on 30 June Prime Minister John Key will lead an official delegation to four Pacific Islands next week. The visit, over four days, will take in Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cook...

North Korea greets president of Burundi on independence anniversary.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website Pyongyang, June 30 (KCNA) - Kim Yong Nam [Kim Yo'ng-nam], president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on June 27 sent a message of...

Anniversary of North Korea-Laos diplomatic ties marked.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website Pyongyang, June 30 (KCNA) - A meeting and a reception were arranged in Vientiane on June 24 to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic...

South Korea confirms seven additional H1N1 cases.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) - South Korea's health authorities said Tuesday that they have confirmed seven additional new flu cases including one American citizen, bringing the...

South Korea's minimum wage to rise 2.75 per cent 2010.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) - A tripartite committee consisting of labour, management and government representatives decided on Tuesday to raise the country's minimum wage by 2.75...

Earthquake hits China southwest' no fatalities reported.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) CHENGDU, June 30 (Xinhua) - An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale shook Mianzhu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 2:03 a.m....

China plans seven wind power bases by 2020.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) - China plans to build seven wind power bases with a minimum capacity of 10 gigawatts (gW) each by 2020, in a move to...

China starts three-month prostitution crackdown ahead of national day.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) - China's police authorities have launched a three-month campaign to clamp down on prostitution, which is a "malignant...

Thai PM says troops to stay on Cambodian border.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 June Thailand will not withdraw its troops from the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear temple, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says. The prime minister...

Nepalese, Indian Maoist parties in ideological spat.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Nepalnews.com website on 30 June The ideological difference between Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and its Indian namesake Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M), which was levelled the...

South Korea to send new destroyer to Somali waters July 09.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) - South Korea announced Tuesday it will deploy a 4,500-ton destroyer to Somali waters in mid-July to replace one that has operated there under a US-led...

Somali hardline group vows to attack Kenya, Ethiopia.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Somalia's private commercial Radio Shabeelle on 30 June Islamic administration in Kismaayo District [southern Somalia] has vowed to launch attacks on Ethiopia and Kenya. This is the first time Al-Shabab is threatening...

Report says Afghan government failed to fight poppy cultivation.
June 30, 2009... Text of Abdolhai Kohi's article entitled: "Government's failures in the fight against narcotics" by Jamiat party affiliated Afghan newspaper Mojahed on 27 June One of the government's failures over the past eight years has been its...

Bhutan king gives audience to Indian army chief.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report in English by Bhutan Broadcasting Service text website on 30 June 29 June: His Majesty the King granted audience to the India's Chief of Army Staff Gen Deepak Kapoor today. Gen Deepak Kapoor was escorted in...

UK, Afghan defence officials discuss cooperation.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by state-owned National Afghanistan Radio on 29 June At a meeting between Gen Abdorrahim Wardag, the national defence minister, and the British defence secretary [Bob Ainsworth], the situation in the region and Afghanistan...

Fate of 153 people still unclear after Yemeni plane crash.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run Yemeni news agency Saba website Comoros, 30 June: A Yemeni airliner with 142 passengers along with a crew of 11 onboard crashed early Tuesday [30 June] in the Indian Ocean near the Moroni port of...

Three new checkpoints opened in Afghan western province.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by provincial state-owned Afghan Herat TV on 27 June The Afghan border police zone No 4 have established three extra security checkpoints to ensure security along the Qala Naw - Bala Morghab road [in western Badghis...

Maldives party leader questioned over refusal to answer graft probe summons.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Sri Lankan-based independent Maldivian Minivan News website on 30 June [By Maryam Omidi and Ibrahim Mohamed] An opposition party leader was taken into police custody for questioning today [29 June] after failing to...

Indian minister says Maoist-held area to be under government control "soon".
June 30, 2009... Text of report by website of southern India's most influential English daily The Hindu on 30 June SIVAGANGA: The Maoist-held territory in Lalgarh, West Bengal, will soon be brought under government control, Union [federal government]...

Iranian police seize smuggled fuel, deport migrants in southeast.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Iranian state-run provincial TV from Sistan-Baluchestan on 29 June Over 12,000 litres of smuggled fuel have been seized in provincial roads over the past 24 hours, Col Asgarpur, the deputy commander of the central...

Swine flu cases in Bangladesh rises to nine.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by staff correspondent headlined "One more detected with swine flu" published by Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo on 30 June One more person, who returned to Bangladesh last week from USA's Los Angeles, have been detected...

Reformists have foreign support in protest against poll - Iran analyst.
June 30, 2009... Text of commentary by Hamid Omidi entitled "Colourful dreams" published by Iranian newspaper Keyhan on 24 June It is natural that as president, Musavi would not have as much power like the Eminent Leader [of the Revolution] Ayatollah...

Kenyan government team meets over Annan deadline on poll violence suspects.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Beauttah Omanga headlined "Serena Team meets as Annan deadline nears" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 30 June The National Dialogue and Reconciliation team meets today amid a...

Nepal PM, Pakistan official pledge cooperation against terrorism.
June 30, 2009... Excerpt from report from The Rising Nepal, carried by Nepalese state-owned newspaper Gorkhapatra website on 30 June Kathmandu, [Monday] 29 June: Visiting Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir Monday called on Prime Minister Madhav...

Thailand confirms third H1N1 flu death.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 June The Public Health Ministry has confirmed the country's third death from type A (H1N1) flu, fuelling fears about the severity of the virus. A 21-year-old...

Kosovo joins World Bank.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Croatian state news agency HINA WASHINGTON, June 30 (Hina) - Kosovo became the newest member of five World Bank Group institutions on Monday [29 June], when President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim...

Kenyan tourism authorities seek to cushion industry against swine flu outbreak.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Sammy Cheboi and Bornice Biomndo headlined "High health alert as ministry seeks to cushion tourism" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 30 June; subheading as published The Tourism...

Pakistan TV show discusses Waziristan clashes, displaced people's conditions.
June 30, 2009... Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1600 gmt on 29 June relays live regularly scheduled "Today with Kamran Khan" program. Noted Pakistani journalist Kamran Khan reviews, discusses and analyzes major day-to-day developments with government...

Thailand reports 84 new H1N1 flu cases; total rises to 1,414.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 June The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed 84 new A(H1N1) flu cases on Tuesday morning, raising the total to 1,414. Deputy Public Health Minister Manit...

Bodies seen in sea waters after Yemeni plane crash.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run Yemeni news agency Saba website COMOROS, June 30 (Saba): The Higher Committee on Monitoring Aviation Accidents has made a press release over the crash of the Airbus 300-310, Flight No. IY 626 from...

Bosnian public TV gets new director.
June 30, 2009... The Bosnian public broadcaster BHRT management board has appointed Vladimir Bilic BHTV One director, the Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA has reported. Bilic was born on 27 April 1953 in Sarajevo. He has worked as journalist, editor and...

Sudan: Former UN chief slams AU stance on ICC arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Paris-based Sudanese newspaper Sudan Tribune website on 30 June The former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today criticized the position of African nations following the issuance of an arrest...

Unidentified gunmen kill 2 villagers in southern Thailand.
June 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 June Two village men were shot dead in Yala on Tuesday morning. Police said Abdullahsah Baha, 26, was shot twice in the head and Yako Samae, 19, was shot in the...

Al-Qa'idah seeks to abduct Americans in Mauritania, say security sources.
June 30, 2009... Text of report by Qatari government-funded, pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 28 June Nouakchott is witnessing an increased security presence around sensitive locations in the city. Security sources have told Al-Jazeera TV...