BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from May 2012

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from May 2012

Official urges political parties to play bigger role in China-EU ties.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Brussels, 30 May: Parties and political groups should play a positive and leading role in pushing forward the China-EU ties, a senior official with the...

Chinese party official backs European integration process.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Brussels, 30 May: A senior official with the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday [30 May] stressed that China supports Europe's integration...

China to include fingerprints in citizens' identity cards.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: China will require its citizens to register their fingerprints when applying for ID cards from January 2013 in a bid to curb counterfeit...

China, Uzbekistan agree to enhance military cooperation.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Tashkent, 30 May: China would like to work with Uzbekistan to enhance their bilateral military cooperation, a visiting senior Chinese military official...

China exports bullet train technology to Georgia.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: A Chinese electric locomotive manufacturer has delivered the electric traction system, the network control system and traction motor of...

China seeks to boost ties with East Timor.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng on Wednesday [30 May] vowed to enhance friendship and cooperation with Timor-Leste [East...

China committed to building "harmonious world" - official.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: China is committed to helping build a harmonious world, a senior political advisor said here on Wednesday [30 May] while addressing a...

China announces fund for electrical waste processing.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: China's Ministry of Finance said Wednesday [30 May] that the country will start amassing a special fund from July this year to subsidize...

China: Police to face punishment if found abusing prison inmates.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: Chinese police will face punishment ranging from demotion to dismissal if they are found to have abused inmates or connived in the...

Officials say China-Arab cooperation forum to boost ties.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Hammamet, Tunisia, 30 May; Senior officials of China and the Arab League (AL) member states said here Wednesday [30 May] that they hope the upcoming...

Chinese vice-premier calls for boosting development in Xinjiang region.(Conference notes)
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday [30 May] called for more support to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to achieve leapfrog...

Iran sympathizes with bereaved families of Qatar fire disaster.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 31 May, IRNA: Foreign Ministry spokesman here Wednesday [30 May] expressed regret over the sad fire disaster incident in a Doha shop which claimed a number of...

China to conduct UN Security Council presidency in "fair, neutral" way: envoy.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) United Nations, 30 May: China will fulfill its duty as the rotating president of the UN Security Council in June in a fair, neutral way so as to...

North Korean leader visits primary school.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website Pyongyang, 30 May: Kim Jong-un [Kim Cho'ng-u'n], first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme...

Iran government develops 10 axes for supporting national production.
May 31, 2012... Minister of Minister of Industry, Mining and Commerce Mehdi Ghazanfari has announced the development of 10 axes to support national production and curb inflation, Iran news network IRINN reported. Ghazanfari said that out of the 10 designed...

North Korean leader visits children's departmental store.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website Pyongyang, 30 May: Kim Jong-un [Kim Cho'ng-u'n], first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme...

Iran president's aide says government set up 65 dams across country.
May 31, 2012... Iran President's Special Aide Ali-Akbar Mehrabiyan has said that the ninth and tenth governments have set up around 65 big and small dams across the country in their tenures, Fars reported. Referring to the sanctions against the country, he...

Two killed in Pakistan's Karachi violence - website.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 31 May Karachi: Two people were killed while two others sustained injuries in various incidents of firing in the metropolis, Geo news reported. According to the...

Chinese Foreign Ministry discloses name of diplomat in Japan suspected of spying.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Beijing, 30 May: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin on Wednesday [30 May] said at a regular news conference that the name of the Chinese diplomat at the Chinese Embassy...

Chinese, Arab foreign ministers pledge to boost ties.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Hammamet, Tunisia, 30 May: Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and six of his Arab counterparts vowed to further ties between their countries here on...

Iran's vice-president visits Ecuador, Nicaragua, Cuba.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Quito, 31 May, IRNA - Iranian Vice President for International Affairs Ali Sa'idlu said on Wednesday [30 May] that he delivered an invitation from Iran's president to his...

Taleban report fighting with foreign forces in Sayedabad in Afghan east.
May 31, 2012... Text of report entitled: "Sayedabad: Heavy fighting takes place with invaders" by Afghan Taleban Voice of Jihad website on 30 May [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: According to a report by mojahedin of the Islamic Emirate in Maydan...

China: Former Chongqing police chief's top aide reportedly resigns.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Choi Chi-Yuk headlined "Wang Lijun's Top Aide Resigns, May Face Probe" published by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post website on 31 May A senior police officer who was a top aide to former Chongqing police chief...

Taleban report attack on government officials in Afghan east.
May 31, 2012... Text of report entitled: "Nangarhar: Heads of intelligence, finance, administration killed in mine explosion in Haska Mena" by Afghan Taleban Voice of Jihad website on 30 May [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: According to the latest...

Taleban report attack on government soldiers in Afghan north.
May 31, 2012... Text of report entitled: "Parwan: Armed attack carried out on soldiers of mercenary army in Syagard" by Afghan Taleban Voice of Jihad website on 30 May [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: According to a report by mojahedin of the Islamic...

North Korean premier inspects chemical complex.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website Pyongyang, 30 May: DPRK [North Korea] Premier Choe Yong Rim [Ch'oe Yo'ng-rim], member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C. [Central Committee] of the...

Taleban claim killing US Special Force soldiers in Afghan east.
May 31, 2012... Text of report entitled: "Maydan Wardag: Four American soldiers killed in Chak District" by Afghan Taleban Voice of Jihad website on 30 May [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: According to a report, four American Special Force soldiers...

Iran foreign minister leaves Tehran for New Delhi.
May 31, 2012... Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has left Tehran for New Delhi on Thursday 31 May for a two-day visit, IRNA reported. In this visit, Salehi will hand over an invitation from Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad to Prime Minister...

Azeri government's "anti-Islam" behaviour not lasting - Iran leader aide.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Iranian news channel Press TV website Any anti-religious measure in Azerbaijan is against the viewpoint of the majority of the Muslim people of Azerbaijan and has been imposed on them." Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior...

BBC Monitoring quotes from China, Taiwan press 31 May 12.
May 31, 2012... The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries carried in 30-31 May 2012 website editions of mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwan newspapers and news portals available to BBC Monitoring. Unless otherwise stated, the...

Tehran gears up to celebrate late leader Khomeyni's anniversary ceremonies.
May 31, 2012... Tehran Traffic Police has announced the traffic restrictions for 3 June, 23rd anniversary of late Leader Ayatollah Khomeyni, Iran news network IRINN reported. Traffic Police Chief Commander Rahimi announced the readiness to accommodate 30,000...

Chinese companies to continue investing abroad - official.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 May: Chinese companies' overseas investment will continue booming and is expected to total 500 billion U.S. dollars in the five years till...

Paper praises approval of Afghanistan-USA strategic pact by parliament.
May 31, 2012... Text of editorial entitled "Parliament's opposition to neighbours 'interference'" by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 27 May The parliament has approved the long-term strategic pact between Afghanistan and the USA...

Pakistan PM reviews progress of power projects.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 May: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani Wednesday [30 May] directed the Ministry of Finance to urgently release 1.5bn rupees [one US dollar is equal...

France ready to promote ties with China - foreign minister.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Paris, 30 May: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday [30 May] that France is ready to make joint efforts with China to promote the...

Ruling on Pakistan PM disqualification issue should be respected - speaker.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 May: Speaker National Assembly [lower house of the Pakistani parliament] Dr Fahmida Mirza Wednesday [30 May] said the speaker is custodian of the house...

Bodies of eight Kazakh guards found at outpost, weapons missing.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by privately-owned Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Taldykorgan, 31 May: A border outpost has burnt down in Almaty Region's Alkol District in the southeast of Kazakhstan, a source with the law-enforcement agencies of the region...

(Corr): Azeri government's "anti-Islam" behaviour not lasting - Iran leader aide.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Iranian news channel Press TV website [Correction: Correcting broadcast date from 31 May to 30 May] Any anti-religious measure in Azerbaijan is against the viewpoint of the majority of the Muslim people of Azerbaijan and...

US electoral politics affecting military commitment to Afghanistan - author.
May 31, 2012... Text of report entitled: " Political comments by the US defence secretary" by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 29 May US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said in his most recent comments that the Taleban have been...

Iran, Pakistan ministers discuss boosting bilateral ties in oil, gas.
May 31, 2012... Iran and Pakistan have decided to boost bilateral cooperation in the area of oil and gas, Iranian state radio reported at 0230 gmt on 31 May. The report added that Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi made the abovementioned remark during his...

Pakistan paramilitary officer among four killed in Karachi violence.
May 31, 2012... Text of report published by Pakistani newspaper The News website on 31 May Karachi: Four persons including a Rangers' sub-inspector were killed while two others sustained injuries in various incidents of firing in the metropolis Thursday [31...

Chinese, Singaporean defence ministers hold talks during ASEAN meet.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in Chinese by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Phnom Penh, 30 May: On 29 May, Liang Guanglie, Chinese State Councillor and minister of national defence, who is currently attending a consultation...

BBC Monitoring headlines, quotes from Iraqi press 30 May 12 - Package B.
May 31, 2012... The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 30 May 2012: Headlines Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]: At cabinet meeting held in Mosul in presence of...

Concerns abound about rigged Afghan presidential elections - paper.
May 31, 2012... Text of editorial entitled: "Concerns about election and memory of our history" by independent Afghan newspaper Cheragh on 29 May The third presidential election is approaching slowly. However, following the signing of strategic agreements...

Programme summary of Iranian Gorgan radio news 1800 gmt 30 May 12.
May 31, 2012... 1. News headlines. 2. Cultural heritage of Iranians helps the progress of mankind, President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad said at a meeting held yesterday evening in memory of a medieval Persian poet. 3. Ideas of the Islamic revolution should unite...

New Indian Army chief to focus on modernization.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 30 May: Lieutenant-General Bikram Singh will take over as the new army chief of India on Thursday [31 May] with a resolve to strengthen the work culture of the force and address the...

Indian PM, ruling party chief congratulate world chess champion.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 30 May: The nation Wednesday [30 May] paid rich tributes to Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand for retaining the world championship title with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress...

South Korean police arrest two suspected of spying for North.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 31 May: South Korean police said Thursday [31 May] they have arrested two men suspected of spying for a North Korean intelligence agency. The two men, aged 56 and 74 and...

Lebanese premier to focus on efforts to free hostages during Istanbul visit.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by privately-owned Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star website on 30 May ["Miqati seeks answers in Turkey on hostages"] Beirut: Prime Minister Najib Miqati arrived in Istanbul Wednesday [30 May] to hold multiple...

Programme summary of National Afghanistan TV news 1530 gmt 30 May 12.
May 31, 2012... A. Home news: 1. 0034 President Karzai receives representatives and MPs of nomads of eastern Logar Province today and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asef Rahimi provide information about his ministry's activities in distributing land to nomads...

Summary of Russian press for Thursday 31 May 2012.
May 31, 2012... Kommersant 1. Kirill Melnikov interview with Mikhail Fridman, co-owner and former head of the Russian-British joint venture TNK-BP, headlined "'We should engage in fight and then we will sort everything out'", who explains his decision to...

BBC Monitoring quotes from Russian press Thursday 31 May 2012.
May 31, 2012... The following is a selection of quotes from articles published in the 31 May editions of Russian newspapers, as available to the BBC at 0100 gmt on 31 May. Western "diplomatic offensive" against Syria Nezavisimaya Gazeta (centrist daily)...

Programme summary of Azeri ANS TV "Xabarci" news 1600 gmt 30 May 12.
May 31, 2012... Presenter Nigar Mahmudova 1. 0010 Headlines. 2. 0104 The Armenian armed forces have fired on Azerbaijani positions in Agdam, Daskasan, Cabrayil, Goranboy, Tartar and Fuzuli districts. No casualties are reported. 3. 0117 The Azerbaijani...

Israeli general says army to deliver "fatal blow" to Hezbollah in future war.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by privately-owned Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post website on 30 May [Report by Ya'aqov Katz: "IDF may act to stop Syria weapons smuggling"] Israel will consider using military action to intercept the transfer of...

US says to "never" accept North Korea as nuclear power - South report.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Washington, 30 May: The United States made clear Wednesday [30 May] that it will never recognize North Korea as a nuclear state. "The United States has long maintained that we...

Jordan's king attends Air Force graduation ceremony.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Jordanian news agency Petra-JNA website ["King patronizes Air Force graduation ceremony"] Amman, 30 May - His Majesty King Abdallah II, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces patronized in the...

Minister says Pakistan to facilitate repatriation of Afghan refugees.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 May: Federal Minister for SAFRON [State and Frontier Regions] Engr. [Engineer] Shaukatullah Khan has said the government would take every possible step...

Turkmen leader proposes holding energy dialogue at UN session.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Asgabat, 30 May: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has put forward a proposal on holding an energy dialogue of the CIS member countries at the next session of the UN...

s from Iranian TV channel IRTV1 at 0430 gmt on 31 May 12.
May 31, 2012... 1. Minister of Industry, Mining and Commerce [Mehdi Ghazanfari] has said that for completion of semi-finished projects 2,000bn tomans [over 1.6bn dollars] and 4.5bn dollars will be disbursed by the banking system and National Development Fund...

Envoy says Pakistan, China to evolve joint energy mechanism.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 May: Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Ahmed Khan on Wednesday [30 May] said that Pakistan and China will have a joint meeting to evolve a mechanism...

Jordanian planning minister, Swedish counterpart discuss bilateral ties.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Jordanian news agency Petra-JNA website ["Planning minister, Swedish counterpart discuss closer cooperation"] Amman, 30 May - Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ja'far Hasan, discussed...

Programme summary of Al-Jazeera TV's "Maghreb Harvest" 2130 gmt 30 May 12.
May 31, 2012... 000 Headlines 1. 0055 General election to be held in Spring 2013 - Tunisian premier. Video report highlights excerpts of interview on Tunisian TV. PM says Tunisia committed to extradition of ex-Libyan premier. Video report. Saudi has...

Pakistan "successfully" tests cruise missile - TV.
May 31, 2012... Pakistan has "successfully" tested Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad) cruise missile, which has a range of 350 kilometres, Pakistani private news channel Geo News reported at 0547 gmt on 31 May. Source: Geo TV, Karachi, in Urdu 0547gmt 31 May 12 BBC...

Opposition newspaper head detained in Kyrgyzstan.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by privately-owned Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website The managing director of the opposition Kyrgyz-language newspaper Maydan.kg, Nurgazy Anarkulov, has been detained, a source has said. The detention was carried out by...

Kenyan paper hails Taylor verdict, warns African leaders.
May 31, 2012... Text of editorial entitled "Taylor case shows impunity can be beaten" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 31 May; subheadings as published Finally the victims of Charles Taylor, the "butcher of...

Kenyan ICC suspects urged to learn from Taylor's trial.
May 31, 2012... Text of editorial entitled "Lesson to Ocampo 4: Focus on your defence" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 31 May The 50-year prison sentence imposed on former Liberian president serves a powerful notice to...

Pakistan PM, visiting Russian special Afghan envoy discuss ties, energy projects.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 May: Ambassador Zamir N. Kabulov, Russian president's special envoy on Afghanistan, called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani at the Prime...

Protest in Chinese province ahead of Tiananmen crackdown anniversary - paper.
May 31, 2012... Ping Kuo Jih Pao, an independent Hong Kong daily often critical of Beijing, carried on 31 May 2012 an unattributed report on a protest in Fujian province demanding redress for victims of the 1989 pro-democracy crackdown in Beijing. According to...

s from Iran news channel IRINN at 0430 gmt on 31 May 12.
May 31, 2012... 1. Minister of Minister of Industry, Mining and Commerce Mehdi Ghazanfari announced allocation of 300bn tomans to production units facing problems and 2,000bn tomans-loan for incomplete projects from banks and 4.5bn dollars from the National...

Kenyan ICC suspects "mum" over Taylor verdict.
May 31, 2012... Excerpt from unattributed report entitled "Ocampo Four mum as Taylor gets 50 years" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 31 May Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been handed a 50-year jail sentence...

Colombian leader says government to persist "on all fronts" to bolster security.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Colombian Office of the President website on 29 May [Report by Presidency's Government Information Service (SIG) from Barranquilla on 29 May: "We Are Going To Persevere on All Fronts To Strengthen Security, Said President...

Pakistan PM discusses energy investment with visiting Chinese delegation.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 May: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani on Wednesday [30 May] said that Pakistan was blessed with abundant natural resources in renewable energy,...

Russia: Special operation said under way in Ingushetia.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Russian Kavkazskiy Uzel website, specializing in news from the Caucasus, A special operation is under way in the town of Karabulak in Ingushetia, a source at the republic's law enforcement bodies has told a Kavkazskiy Uzel...

Taiwan Foreign Ministry warns of job scams during London Olympics.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by Taiwanese Central News Agency CNA Taipei, 31 May: Taiwanese young people seeking employment in the United Kingdom during the Olympic Games period are urged to be aware of work scams, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said...

Russia urges all Syrian sides to abide by Annan's plan - UN envoy.
May 31, 2012... Russia urges a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis and reiterates the need to abide by UN and Arab League's envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan, Russia's UN envoy Vitaliy Churkin has told journalists in New York, as shown by Gazprom-owned NTV...

Tajik resident sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Uzbekistan.
May 31, 2012... The court of Pop District of Namangan Region, Uzbekistan, sentenced a 31-year-old resident of the Tajik village of Sarvak of the Punuk community of Asht District, Khamzali Khidirov, to six years' imprisonment, a report published by the Tajik...

Iran: Defector reports rebel group's contacts with Iraqi dissidents, Al-Qaidah.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by Iranian conservative, privately-owned Fars News Agency website Tehran, 30 May: A defected member of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCR) disclosed on Wednesday [30...

Pakistan president signs human rights bill.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Karachi, 30 May: President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday [30 May] signed the National Commission for Human Rights Bill 2012 for the promotion and protection of human...

Chinese government-sponsored academy advises boosting nuclear power.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 31 May: A Chinese government-sponsored academy has advised increasing the country's installed capacity of nuclear power generation to 60-70...

Ukrainian fans deny xenophobia, say British media misquote them.
May 31, 2012... Excerpt from report by private Ukrainian Inter TV on 30 May [Presenter] There is a new challenge to Ukraine's reputation ahead of Euro 2012. Again it comes from the BBC journalists. After the report about the secretary-general of the National...

Programme summary of Afghan Tolo TV news in Dari 0530 gmt 31 May 12.
May 31, 2012... A. Home news: 1. 0000 The Pentagon expresses concern over the presence of insurgent hideouts in eastern Afghanistan. The Pentagon says that Al-Qa'idah still has centres in eastern Afghanistan. Although there number is small the NATO commander...

Pakistan's Punjab chief, visiting Iranian team discuss ties.
May 31, 2012... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Lahore, 30 May: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa said on Wednesday [30 May] that Iran and Pakistan had exemplary relations and the people of the two countries...

Programme summary of Somalia's Radio Shabeelle news 0500 gmt 31 May 12.
May 31, 2012... 1. Headlines. 2. Somali, Kenya forces shelled Al-Shabab-held town of Afmadow, southern Somalia. 3. Somali lawmaker warns against attacks on Kismaayo (southern Somalia) by foreign warships. 4. Djibouti peacekeepers to be deployed in...

UK expats in UAE prepare to mark Diamond Jubilee.
May 31, 2012... Text of report in English by Dubai newspaper Gulf News website on 31 May ["UAE's Diamond Jubilee Festivities for Fans of Cool Britannia" - Gulf News headline] Dubai pundits are predicting one of the grandest royal parties ever thrown by...