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Seven out of 10 Americans say what happens in China is vitally important to the US, while for India is it just three out of 10, the latest Gallup opinion poll has said.

As a result, China is placed on the top of the list of 12 countries, and India at the bottom, while Afghanistan 6th, Pakistan 8th and Egypt 9th. Russia, the other super power of the Cold War years, is a ranked a spot ahead of India.

Gallup asked Americans to rate the importance of countries in this way in February 2007. Americans' views of Iraq's importance have shown the greatest change over the last four years, dropping to 52 per cent 'vitally important' today from 70 per cent in 2007, when Iraq topped the list.

At that time, President George W Bush had just announced his 'surge' strategy in Iraq in response to deteriorating conditions there, and his party had suffered significant losses in the 2006 midterm elections, partly as a result of the debate over Iraq.

Now, with American combat troops withdrawn from that country and attention shifted to Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world, Iraq has slipped to 5th place, Gallup said. In 2007, India was again ranked last in the list of 12 countries, but at that time only 28 per cent of the Americans considered India as a vitally important country, as against 31 per cent now.

"Americans' views that events in China are vitally important to the US have increased by 12 percentage points since 2007, putting China where Iraq was four years ago," it said, adding the importance of China in the average American's eyes likely reflects continuing awareness of the economic influence of China on the US and world economies.

US First Lady 'unlikes' FB

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Michelle Obama keeps daughters Malia and Sasha away from signing up on the popular social networking site

The Obama daughters aren't on Facebook, and if it's up to the First Lady, they won't be signing up anytime soon.

Michelle Obama said she's "not a big fan of young kids having Facebook," during an interview yesterday with NBC's Today.

Michelle Obama said that she did not see why her daughters Sasha and Malia needed to be a part of Facebook

She added that while Sasha (9) and Malia (12), have certain restrictions other children don't have because of security issues, it's also "not something they need. It's not necessary right now."

When host Matt Lauer asked if the girls would be able to join the social networking site when they leave the White House, Obama replied, "It depends when we leave and how old they are."

During the interview, the First Lady also addressed criticism that chicken wings and deep dish pizza were served during the White House Super Bowl.

Reacting she said, it was not realistic to just eat healthy food all the time especially on Super Bowl Sunday.

"I don't even know what you'd have other than some hot dogs and some burgers for a Super Bowl party," she said.
And when asked if the President dyed his hair, she said, "No."

She also discussed her husband kicking his smoking habit. After smoking for the last 30 years, his family has always wanted him to be healthier, she said.

Going back to the Facebook topic, Lauer joked that maybe by the time her daughters were 40-years-old, the First Lady would "let them out of the bubble."

"Maybe, we'll talk about it," Obama said, laughing.

Facebook officially has a lower age limit of 13 for its users, but kids who are much younger frequently register for accounts at the popular website by simply lying about their age when they sign up. " Agencies

Let's move
First Lady Michelle Obama brushed off jabs from Sarah Palin, who in December incorrectly said her "Let's Move" anti-obesity drive calls for people to go without dessert. Obama said, "I don't think about her in this initiative, because it is not really about... this initiative is about balance and giving parents the kind of advice and tips that they have been asking for."

Cairo readies for 'Friday of martyrs'

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Protests at Cairo's Tahrir Square entered day 16 yesterday, a day after many first timers took part in a massive demonstration to oust Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, with the government warning that it could not 'put up with continued protests' for a long time.

Thousands of Egyptians camped through the night at Tahrir Square, the focal point of their protests that have spread across the country.

Egyptian anti-government protesters shout slogans against President Hosni Mubarak outside the parliament yesterday

The protesters were upbeat after Tuesday's rally that saw hundreds of thousands of Egyptians, many of them first timers, participating in it to press for the ouster of Mubarak who has ruled the country for nearly 30 years.

Mubarak's defiance has made the protesters more determined.

Newly-appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman said that his government "can't put up with continued protests" for a long time.

In a sharply worded statement reflecting the regime's impatience with the mass demonstrations, he said the crisis must end as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, recently-freed Google executive Wael Ghonim appears to be calling for another huge demonstration.

"We are hoping that 'Friday of Martyrs' will be the world's largest funeral to bid farewell to 300 Egyptians," Ghonim tweeted yesterday.

Ghonim also said it was "no longer time to negotiate" with Mubarak, and that he was "ready to die" to bring change to Egypt.

News 1st Look

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Mid Day International News

Mid Day International News

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