Category Archives: World News

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China skeptical over Geithner’s offer of ‘greater access to US market’

BEIJING: China is skeptical over  US offer to free up trade in high-tech goods. Chinese government advisers and economists said on Thursday that in the aftermath of the offer,  Chinese government should  reject to be involved into a negotiation  to speed up Yuan appreciation.

Timothy Geithner, treasury secretary, said that the United States wants to give China a greater access to US market and high-tech goods and in exchange for that expects Beijing to review its strictly controlled exchange rate system.

Meanwhile Chinese officials refused to comment on Geithner’s proposal that is made just ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to the United States next week. Many analysts are of the view that it is dubious to accept this trade-for-currency proposal.

“China will not act according to US direction; as far as Yuan appreciation is concerned, it must follow a general trend and not be impacted from the US sentiments,” said Ding Yifan, an analyst of the State Council.

One of the analysts is of the view that China should not be bothered about US demands as Beijing can have a greater access to high level of high-tech goods with ease from the Western Europe.

This week China has guided the Yuan move upward 0.4 percent against the US dollar. It has been a well-known pattern of pushing Yuan value up against the dollar before any diplomatic engagements.

Analysts are of the view that more and more Yuan appreciation will be needed over the period of time as inflation has been skyrocketing for the last two years and the trade surplus touching nearly $200 billion last year.

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US Calls on Sudan to conduct fair elections

US warns Sudan to conduct fair elections. Obama stated that Sudanese voters should have full freedom to vote for candidates according to their choices.

US President called on Sudan to conduct a fair election free from coercion. He also revealed that if Sudanese administration follows 2005 peace agreement and conducts a fair poll, US might remove the country from its list of states sponsoring terrorism.

The president stated that the all nations are looking toward Sudan and expect it fulfills the obligations under the peace deal. He further added that Sudan must show a clean image by allowing voters full access to polling booths and cast their votes freely. The Khartoum administration must ensure there is no tension provoked by any factor that might lead to violence during elections.

Obama himself has put lot of efforts to ensure that Sudan follows the referendum peacefully. He called on all Sudanese leaders from North and South to cooperate with each other and work united to prevent violence.

The US president advises Sudanese to avoid any illegal mean to gain votes. Sudan is conducting its first poll after agreeing to Peace agreement following the 50-year-long civil war in the country. There were more than 2 million people killed during this period in North and South Sudan.

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Christians demonstrate against communal violence in Egypt

Christians and their supporters protested in Cairo against New Year attack on Saints Church in Alexandria, which led to death of 23 people and injured many others. Hundreds of Coptic Christians were paying a mass worship in the church when bomb attack was made.

The protest voiced outrage among Christians against the violence and ignorant behavior of Egyptian administration. There are 80 million Coptic Christians living in Egypt that account for around 9 percent of total population of the country.

The demonstrators vowed to defend cross till their last breath. There was tight security in Cairo during the entire demonstration.  Protests have also been made in other parts of Egypt since the New Year car bombing. Administration has increased security measures in areas where they feel possibility of riots.

The Coptic Christians differ from other sects of Christianity as they believe in a different story regarding divinity of Jesus Christ. Coptic Church believes in Apostle Mark’s teachings. He had introduced Christianity in Egypt.  There have been constant intra-communal violence in Egypt since long time.

Earlier security authorities claimed that there might be some international terrorist groups or probably Al Qaeda involved in the attack. Even President Hosni Mubarak blamed foreign elements for the bombing in the Coptic Church.

However on Sunday Egypt acknowledged that there is a possibility of local groups being responsible for the attack on Christians.

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US offers to help Ivory Coast president for dignified exit

Gbagbo

Amidst pressure from the international community to resign from Ivory Coast president’s post, Laurent Gbagbo gets a more lucrative offer from the United States. US officials revealed that White House would help Gbagbo in leaving the country gracefully after his resignation.

ECOWAS, West African organization failed to convice Gbagbo to hand over power to his rival leader and former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara. However, Gbagbo is yet not ready to quit easily.

P.J. Crowley, Spokesman for the US State Department stated that they were negotiating with Ivory Coast president and other diplomats in West Africa. He added that US hopes that Gbagbo pays heed to their message and resigns. If he does not follow their advice, US will also support ECOWAS for further action. Presidents of Republic of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone met Kenyan premier Odinga to negotiate with Gbagbo on his resignation.

U.S. is continuously watching Ivory Coast’s situations and also safeguarding its officials staying in Abidjan. Crowley further added that US is trying to convey message to Gbagbo to give up power and leave for a safe heaven.

Despite receiving offers from many countries Gbagbo is not ready to surrender however sources said that he was interested in going to the US. Though Ivorian president has not received any phone call and refused meeting US envoy.

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UN official reveals extra-judicial killings in Ivory Coast

The United Nations faults Ivory Coast for human rights abuse after the November elections. The UN official reveals he has evidence of extra-judicial murders of innocent people to suppress the voices against the President Gbagbo.

However he acknowledged that the suppression of political leaders and their supporters against Gbagbo has gradually decreased.

Raila Odinga, Kenyan Premier is paying a visit to resolve the election dispute in Abidjan.

Ivorian President, Gbagbo is still insistent upon remaining in power despite so much international pressure upon him. He delayed the due presidential polls as far as possible. Finally the polls were organized under international pressure, when Gbagbo’s rival leader Alassane Ouattara was declared a winner by international community. However, Gbagbo nullified Ouattara’s victory and declared himself a winner.

There have been many clashes and demonstration by the supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara. USA and many other countries have imposed sanctions against Gbagbo and compelling him to resign. US authorities even tried to lure Gbagbo with many offers provided he hands over power to Ouattara.

The UN officials have acknowledged violence against supporters of Ouattara. According to UN report, more than 200 opponents of Gbagbo have disappeared, who have possibly been abducted and killed by Gbagbo’s supporters.

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Egyptians agitated following bomb attack on Christians

Saints Church Alexandria, Egypt

The New Year bomb blast in a Church that killed 21 Christians and injured hundreds of them has left Egyptians in outrage. There was intense clash between the security forces and angry crowd that faulted government for the attack targeting a particular religion.

Riot police used tear gas to remove people from the site and people threw stones on the security personnel. There have been demonstrations on the bomb blast site on Sunday.

The Christians in Egypt largely believe that the administration would have taken some stern steps to stop terrorist activities had the attack have been on a mosque—Muslim’s religious place.

The Saturday attack is being considered most severe in terms of casualties and impact so far in recent four decades. The bomb exploded when Christians were doing New Year mass worship at Saints Church in Alexandria on Saturday.

The blast symbolized violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt. Coptic Christians account for 10 percent of the total population of Egypt. Security officials revealed that the attack indicated that communal harmony was totally lost between Christians and Muslim communities in Egypt and there was increasing tension and intra-communal violence.

Experts claimed that within 30 years of President Hosni Mubarak’s rule communal violence was on rise.

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Egypt faults foreign elements for New Year bomb blasts

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak claims involvement of foreigners in the blast that killed 21 people. The statement has ignited criticism from all over the Middle East.

The attack on Coptic Church on New Year in Alexandria caused a dispute between riot police and agitated Christians in Egypt. The bomb was kept in a car that exploded at the Saints Church last night when a huge gathering of Christians were celebrating New Year leaving around 79 people injured. People threw stones on police when cops tried to control the agitated crowd at the Church.

Police has surrounded the area and scattered the crowd by using tear gas. Priest of the Church tried to calm down people and requested them to stay in the church.

This was the worst attack on Christians in Egypt since 2006. There have been similar attacks recently in Iraq too.

Egyptian health ministry also confirmed that all victims of the Saturday bomb blast—both dead and injured—were Christians. No terrorist group has claimed for the attack so far, however, the way the attack had been staged to kill maximum people suggests a hand of Al Qaeda behind it.

Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President suspected foreign militants’ role in the attack. He further stated that the attack was an indication of entire Egypt being targeted by some group, while giving condolence to people.

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Obama warns Ivory Coast president to resign

Gbagbo not ready to resign yet

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo pledged for not leaving despite US warnings to resign.

The US administration stated him to resign before it was too late, however Gbagbo has insisted upon staying in power.

Gbagbo has defied all the constitutional rules by denying his rival candidates win in the presidential polls. The polls were already delayed due to Gbagbo’s interruptions and were held only after the agreement with UN for restoring peace in Ivory Coast.

However Gbagbo did not agree with the November election results that declared his rival Alassane Ouattara a winner.

Gbabgo called on his supporters to not to give up and defend the country from foreign attacks.

Obama administration has been trying to solve Ivorian crisis with peaceful efforts yet and officials have even tried to convince Gbagbo to resign by luring him for getting a position in some international organization. Gbabgo has also being given an offer to settle in the United States if he liked or anywhere in Europe or Africa.

The international community has so far tried to pressurize Gbagbo by imposing travel sanctions on him and his family.  The US officials have also clarified that the offers given to Gbagbo might also be withdrawn if his supporters continued to suppress Ouattara’s supporters and attack UN officials and peacekeepers in Ivory Coast.

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UN Warns Ivorian President’s supporters against attack on leader

The United Nations issues warning against the supporters of Ivory Coast president for attacking Alassane Ouattara. However, it is likely to ignite a civil war in the country among the supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara.

Martin Nesirky, spokesperson of the United Nations stated that the UN chief Ban Ki-moon was “deeply alarmed” by the aggressive statements given by the supporters of Gbagbo against Ouattara.

The UN secretary general said that this attack on Ouattara’s hotel where he was staying, could provoke violence and called for immediate action to prevent such incidences, reveled the UN spokesperson.

UN had been authorized to verify the Nov 28 poll results under a peace agreement made after the civil war 2002-03. Ouattara was declared a winner by the international community but Gbagbo declared himself as winner referring to the Ivory Coast constitutional council’s decision. However, the council was headed by Gbagbo himself and he nullified the decision of one million voters to declare himself as a winner. The United Sates and other superpowers of the world have pressurized Gbagbo to resign and let Ouattara take the position of president however, Gbagbo remains aloof to all the pressure put over him. Gbagbo has already ruled in Ivory Coast much beyond the time given to an elected president to rule Ivory Coast as Gbagbo delayed the elections. .

Human rights groups have threatened president’s supporters for abducting political leaders who have been opposing Gbagbo. There have been reports of mass killing by Gbagbo supporters.

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South Korea says ready for unification with North

S Korean President Lee

Unification of South Korea with north may sound good news to the international community but would only irritate North Korea, which is already aggressive against South Korea. It will only take it as a challenge for annexation by the South. Unification Ministry of South Korea stated that it would divert its strategy to initiate diplomatic talks for unification of the Korean Peninsula.

However, this is not likely to receive any friendly gesture from North Korea and its ally China, which may regard the statement as a threatening or preparation to enslave North Korea.

Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea stressed on resolving the issue of nuclear armament by North through six-party talks as well as preparing for military attack if required.  Recent few weeks have witnessed rising tensions between the two countries that began with aggression from North Korea, its attack on Yeonpyeong Island and following gunfire from both sides. The statement of South Korean ministry showing willingness for unification came in a policy report; however the two countries have always been in war like situation always since their inception.

S Korean President Lee revealed that there was growing willingness among North Koreans for getting reunited with the other part of peninsula and South Korea is ready to step forward. He stated this while on a visit to Malaysia in early December.