News & Reports 2012-01-22

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In This Edition?Group of 20 nations agree to push Europe to take extra steps to resolve the debt crisis as they inch toward a deal to boost the International Monetary 2 Fund's firepower.
?Leaders of Nicaragua and Peru voice support for Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands as Buenos Aires tries to secure diplomatic backing for its sovereignty claims over the disputed Islands.
?Final results confirm election victory for Islamists with Muslim Brotherhood 4 winning the biggest share of seats in Egypt's first freely-elected parliament in decades.
?Births are expected to increase dramatically across the Chinese-speaking world in the year of the dragon which starts on Monday, as the mythical 5 creature is considered auspicious 6 in traditional Chinese culture.
Hot Issue Reports?G-20 Nations Push Europe to Do Mere 7 to Resolve the Debt CrisisGroup of 20 nations have agreed to push Europe to take extra steps to resolve the debt crisis as they inch toward a deal to boost the International Monetary Fund's firepower.
Speaking at a news conference at the end of the two-day meeting, Mexico Deputy Finance Minister Gerardo Rodriguez said talks between G20 officials in Mexico City earlier this week were a "good starting point" although no specifics were agreed on how to shore up the Washington-based lender.
"Discussed was the need for more resources from Europe to help (the crisis) and also support for the IMF so that is has the power to help those countries that are outside the European Union. It was agreed that both issues needed to advance together in discussions regarding the EU and the IMF."The IMF is seeking to more than double its war chest by raising $600 billion for new lending, and the source said there was "broad agreement" to do this via bilateral 8 loans. But the plan faces roadblocks from the United States and other countries including Canada and Japan, which insist that Europe must first do more to help itself.
Some countries are pessimistic of reaching a detailed 10 agreement on IMF resources by the time G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meet in Mexico in late February given the difference in opinion between Europeans and non-Europeans.
Europe has already pledged to inject $200 billion into the IMF but has yet to detail who pays how much, after which another $300 billion to $400 billion would be needed to meet the IMF's call.
?Crucial Talks with Private Creditors 11 to be Continued as Deal Appears NearGreek officials say they are confident that a debt relief deal could be reached "very soon" following hours-long negotiations 12 in Athens with private creditors, but several eurozone members maintained pressure to lower interest rates on the proposed agreement.
Talks dragged on past midnight on Friday, as Prime Minister Lucas Papademos met for a third day with Charles Dallara and negotiators from the Institute of International Finance, IIF, which represents the private creditors.
They have been asked to take a loss on their bond holdings to lighten Greece's debt load by 100 billion euros.
Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the meeting would continue on Saturday.
"We are continuing discussions."A European diplomat 3 who requested anonymity 13 believes a deal could be reached during the weekend after progress was made.
But the diplomat adds that several eurozone countries still maintain that the proposed interest rate being considered in a bond swap 14 is too high.
?Nicaragua Voices Support over Argentina's Falklands ClaimNicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has voiced support for Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands as Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Marcos Timerman flew into Managua to secure diplomatic backing for its sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands.
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister David Cameron set off a political storm in the Latin American country by affirming his commitment to protect the archipelago from Argentina.
In response, Argentina sent its foreign minister off on a regional tour to drum up political support.
Buoyed 15 by statements from the United States that Britain should meet the Argentine government for peaceful negotiations, Timerman reiterated 16 the American position.
"We shared the news the Obama administration urged Great Britain and Argentina to negotiate for a peaceful solution and that they do not recognise British sovereignty over the Falkland and it is an issue that should be resolved peacefully. This is news that will be received with great appreciation 17 for all the people of Latin America because it is a recognition of a struggle that is not only Argentinean but of all free people in Latin America."Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega urged the United States to take a similarly tough stance.
"To say very clearly, the United States does not recognise the position of Great Britain, this would make Latin Americans, Caribbeans, Central Americans and Nicaraguans very happy and it would strengthen the fight of the Argentinean people for their legitimate 18 rights of sovereignty over the Falklands."Meawhile, Peru has also voiced support for Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands. The country also leaves open the possibility of taking action, upon Buenos Aires' request, to defend the archipelago controlled by the United Kingdom.
Britain has controlled the Falkland islands, some 500 kilometers off the Argentine coast, since 1833, and went into war with Argentina in 1982.
Peru supported its regional neighbor during the conflict and even sent planes into combat at the time.
The British government says it will only agree to sovereignty talks if the territory's 3,000 residents request it and that the islanders want to remain British.
Tensions over offshore 19 oil exploration that have risen in recent years are gaining steam before the April anniversary of the conflict as well as a planned tour of duty on the islands by Britain's Prince William, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, later this year.
?Hungarians Rally in Favor of PMMore than 100,000 Hungarians have rallied in central Budapest to support the country's embattled government, which was forced to back down in a bitter dispute with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
The government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is working to hammer out concessions 20 to the European Union in order to secure a much-needed loan agreement.
But Orban has come under fire for measures that opponents say threaten the independence of the media, the judiciary and the central bank.
Labelled a "March for Peace", the demonstration 21 in Budapest was by far the largest rally since the government took power in May 2010.
Many felt that Hungary has been severely 22 misrepresented abroad.
"False news has been spread about our country, most of it groundless. The left in the West receives such strong support from the Western press that they think that the time may have come to create a precedent 23 by bringing down the Orban government."The Hungarian prime minister has said he expects to secure a political agreement with the European Commission on the disputed laws next week, adding that he's ready to modify all contested legislation to meet the EU's demands.
?Islamists Claim Overwhelming Victory in Egyptian Parliament ElectionsIslamist parties in Egypt are claiming victory in the first post-Mubarak parliament elections.
Final results show Islamist parties won 70 percent of the vote with the Muslim Brotherhood came in first.
Abdel-Moez Ibrahim is the chief of Egypt's Electoral Commission.
"Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood, ten million one hundred and thirty four thousand voted, the number of seats are 127."Apart from the 127 seats, a further 100 seats were also won by the FJP through party members running as individuals.
Under the country's electoral system, two-thirds of the seats are allocated 24 to party list candidates, and the remaining third are voted for directly.
The hardline Salafi Al-Nour party came second.
The liberal New Wafd and the secular 25 Egyptian Bloc 9 coalition 26 are some way behind the Islamists.
Elections for the lower house of parliament began in November last year, and concluded last week after three phases of voting.
The new parliament is tasked to form a 100-member commission to write a new constitution for Egypt.
It is part of the preparation work for presidential elections scheduled for June.
The new parliament is due to sit for the first time on Monday.
?Violence Keeps Syria on Edge, Arab Mission in DoubtSupporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's have taken to the street for demonstration of allegiance to the government in Damascus.
Arab peace monitors have completed a month-long mission and Arab foreign ministers are meeting this weekend to decide whether or not to prolong or end the mission.
In Damascus, Syrians said they had no faith in that mission.
"Since we have lost our faith in the Arab League long time ago, we don't have faith in their report. What's the point? I mean such a mission, Hamad says that he wants Arabic troops to Syria? We can't have faith in something like that. Not in the Arab League nor in the mission.""do not have faith in the Arabic League because the league, since its foundation until now, did not give us the feeling that it is Arabic. It has not taken the opinions of the citizens in the whole Arab nations.""Frankly 27, as a Syrian citizen, I do not expect anything from them, I do not trust the mission."Some Arab countries, led by Qatar which heads the League's committee on Syria, say the mission has failed. Damascus is against Qatar's idea of sending in Arab troops. Nor is it endorsed 28 by any other country in the 22-member League.
And Iraq and Lebanon have said they will not enforce Arab sanctions on Syria, offering a trade lifeline to a country whose other neighbours are Turkey, Jordan and Israel.
Meanwhile, scattered 29 violence broke out on Friday in other cities in Syria. Activists 30 said at least six people were killed and the bodies of six others were turned over to their families.
Hundreds of people have been killed since the monitors arrived in Syria, where an armed insurgency 31 has grown in recent months, contesting Assad's grip on power.
?One more Body Found Aboard Stricken Italian Cruise ShipSearchers have found one more body in the stricken Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, bringing the death toll 32 to 12.
At least 20 people are still missing.
The woman victim, who was wearing a life jacket, was found near the stern of the ship.
Searchers have been blasting their way into the submerged areas of the ship using explosives.
And rescue officials say they would not end the search until the whole ship had been examined.
Franco Gabrielli is the head of the Italian Civil Protection Agency.
"We are still hoping to find people alive and, regardless, we want to find all the people declared missing, who presumably are still inside the ship."However, Gabrielli says rescuers now face a bigger challenge of removing the fuel that is on board the ship.
"We are dealing 33 with the recovery as soon as possible of the fuel inside the vessel 34, and at the same time making sure the shipwreck 35 stays in its current position."Salvage 36 experts are preparing to pump the over 22-hundred tons of fuel from the ship to prevent an environmental disaster.
And that came amid fear that the ship could slip into deeper water.
Some 4-thousand people were on the luxury cruise liner when it ran aground and began listing off the western coast of Italy last Friday.
?German Highway Traffic Accident Kills OneA mass collision on a northern German highway has killed at least one person and seriously injured several others.
Some 25 vehicles, both cars and trucks, crashed into each other on the A1 autobahn near Cloppenburg.
"I was driving at around 140 kilometers per hour in the fast lane and because of the sun which was low and road conditions I couldn't see anything anymore. All of a sudden, it was like a wall. All I saw was stationary 37 cars so I swerved 38 to the right and made sure to get out of the car as quickly as I could. Not a chance, it happened so fast, fractions of a second."Many parts of Germany's highways do not have speed limits and it was not clear whether there was a limit on the stretch of motorway 39 where the accident occurred.
The relevant Delmenhorst police station could not immediately be reached for comment.
?China Expects Baby Boom in Year of DragonThe Year of the Dragon which begins Monday is expected to see a baby boom as the dragon on the Chinese zodiac is considered auspicious.
In Asia, the dragon is a heavenly creature that is a force for good, making its year one of the most popular among the 12 years of the Chinese zodiac in which to have a child.
In Shanghai, Lilian Zhang and her husband are looking forward to having their own little dragon, predicted to appear in early February.
"The expected date of birth is February 9th. I really hope to give birth to my baby on the expected date, because it's at the beginning of the Year of Dragon. Many parents hope their children will be born then because the 'head of the dragon' carries good meaning. In the future, I hope my child can carry on this meaning and become an accomplished 40 person. That's what I wish for."Chinese often refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragon". In the Chinese zodiac signs, the dragon is the symbol of auspiciousness 41, the power to avoid evil, and enhancer of the family fortune. A dragon son or daughter is believed to be able to help the family to stay away from any evil and enhance good fortune.
But the desire for a little dragon may also cause problems. Bed spaces for the new year are filling up quickly in maternity 42 hospitals in the southern metropolis 43 of Hong Kong, potentially straining facilities and staff.
Dr. Cheung Tak Hong, Chief of Service in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hong Kong's Prince of Wales Hospital, expects a 15-percent increase in births at major local hospitals.
"You should anticipate a 10-percent increase for the Year of the Dragon, and somehow they figure out maybe five percent is more realistic. That's what they think. But in reality, in the current time, we recognize the antenatal booking in the authority hospitals. It's 15 percent more, so actually the impact is quite substantial."Meanwhile, Singapore also prepares to celebrate the auspicious year of the dragon, with hospitals getting ready for a baby boom.
Singapore's fertility rate in 2010 fell to a record low of 1.15 babies, far below the 2.1 babies needed for the population to replenish 44 itself naturally.
Historic data show spikes 45 of more than 10 percent in Singapore's total births during the most recent Dragon years, 2000 and 1988.
?Parents-to-be in Vietnam Hope Good Fortune for their "Dragon" BabiesSimilar to what's happening in China, a baby boom is also expected in Vietnam this year, as people mark the Year of the Dragon.
Dang Quang Hung is the maternity ward 1 director at a hospital in Hanoi.
"Many women have come for a checkup for babies planned in the Year of the Dragon. Boys are actually preferred, although this is what we cannot help or interfere 46 with. But we expect an increase in babies to be born this coming year, just like in 2007, the Year of the Pig."Vietnam's Lunar New Year shares many of the same customs as the Chinese New Year. Known locally as Tet, the Lunar New Year is Vietnam's most important holiday and falls on Sunday.
The dragon is the most desirable of the 12 zodiac animals and seen as a symbol of good fortune.
During Tet, every house is usually decorated with a flowering peach tree, which symbolizes 47 life and good fortune.
People's Daily: Downplaying the Iranian Nuclear Issue Not a Good SignThe antagonism 48 between the United States and Iran continues to escalate 49 with Washington's recent declaration that it will impose a new round of financial sanctions against Iran. Reluctant to show any signs of weakness, Tehran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz if western countries place an embargo 50 on its oil exports.
A commentary in People's Daily probes the nature and cause of this antagonism and suggests that every effort be made to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. It postulates 51 that the root of the antagonism between western countries and Iran is the nuclear issue and recommends that a solution be reached according to the resolutions of United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors. It also says negotiations should be done through diplomatic channels at first.
The article goes on to say Iran must engage in serious and unconditional 52 negotiations with the international community to restore other countries' confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. It also suggests western countries should cease their threats of war and sanctions and negotiate with Iran through cooperative, not peremptory 53, measures.
The People's Daily commentary puts forth 54 that the overriding 55 priority should be restoring talks and negotiations as soon as possible, as the latest round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany, has not recommended for nearly a year. It also recommends that comprehensive efforts should be made to resolve the issue once and for all.
***************************China Daily: China Has Committed to Stability in the Middle EastChinese Premier 56 Wen Jiabao wrapped up six-day trip earlier this week to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The Chinese media had high praise for Wen's Middle East trip during which he enhanced bilateral ties with the three Gulf 57 states and advanced China's cooperation with regional organizations, including the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
An editorial in China Daily says the pledge by China and the three Arab countries to step up their cooperation has sent a positive signal to the rest of the world at a time when the United States is deploying 58 military forces in the region for a possible attack on Iran, which could cause fluctuations 59 in the global petroleum 60 market. The editorial says the pledge undoubtedly 61 will contribute to regional peace and development.
The editorial goes on to say that mutual 62 respect and mutual benefits between China and the Arab countries have been the key to flourishing Sino-Arab cooperation over the years and set an example in South-South cooperation and exchanges.
During Wen's trip, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council also agreed to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement. The paper believes the agreement would enhance their overall relationship and have a positive influence on global trade.
In conclusion, the China Daily editorial says given the sweeping 63 changes that the Arab world has undergone in the past year, Wen's call for an end to violence against civilians 64 and support for people in the countries concerned underscores China's consistent perspective on such matters and epitomizes its commitment to peace and stability in the Gulf region and beyond.