The Malaysian Insider :: Breaking Views
The Malaysian Insider :: Breaking Views |
| Tsu Koon to represent Malaysia at Norodom Sihanouk’s royal cremation Posted: 31 Jan 2013 07:52 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 – Minister in Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will represent the Government of Malaysia at the royal cremation ceremony for the late King Norodom Sihanouk at the Veal Preah Meru Square, Cambodia on Feb 4. The late king, who is Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni's father passed away of a heart attack on Oct 15, 2012 in a Beijing Hospital, at the age of 89. A Foreign Ministry statement said that Tsu Koon had earlier represented Malaysia and paid the last respects to the late King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct 23, 2012. The late king's body has been lying in state at the Royal Cambodian Palace since Oct 17, last year to allow the Cambodian people and foreign dignitaries to pay their last respects before the royal cremation. – Bernama |
| Merkel says ‘very optimistic’ on EU budget deal Posted: 31 Jan 2013 07:50 AM PST BERLIN, Jan 31 — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said ahead of a meeting with visiting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti today that she was optimistic a deal on the European Union's long-term budget could be clinched soon.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel. — Reuters pic "I am very optimistic that on the question of the long-term EU budget, we will be successful, that we will get an agreement," Merkel said, standing alongside Monti in the Chancellery in Berlin. "Italy and Germany are both net payers, we have common interests. But of course these talks won't be easy and we can expect Italy to push its interests," she said. Monti reiterated that his country's contribution to the EU budget was out of proportion to its real wealth. He called for a reform in the system of rebates and discounts "which currently benefits some countries and is financed by others". "In the last 10 years Italy has become a net contributor and has paid more than could be justified by its relative level of prosperity, to the point that in 2011 it was the top net contributor to the EU budget," Monti told reporters. Monti met European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council head Herman Van Rompuy earlier today in Brussels and will hold talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Sunday, he said. Merkel meets Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Berlin next Monday and is expected in Paris yesterday for a meeting with Hollande. Monti, the technocrat who replaced Silvio Berlusconi as premier in November 2011 when Italy was struggling to avoid being sucked into the euro zone debt crisis, is competing in February's election against populist promises of tax cuts and growth from the centre-right. "In Italy's view it is essential that the (EU) financing plan be designed to sustain economic growth, employment and socio-economic cohesion in Europe," said Monti. — Reuters |
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