national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> hello and welcome to "the journal" >> welcome. >> our top stories. the german president under fire again. with questions about the rule of the arab league, disorder continues in syria. and hungary has a new constitution and thousands are protesting the adjustments as undemocratic.

well, 2012 kicks off in germany with a new twist in the negative headlines around germany's president. the mass-circulation tabloid confirmed reports that he tried to stop publication of a story. the president reportedly threatened war on the paper if it ran the story. here is our report. >> four weeks, the popular german newspaper has been running stories about the president by in this house. the paper has confirmed that he tried to stop the story. he reportedly left a voicemail threatening a lawsuit. he is also alleged to have called a the editor in chief back to retract the threat, but

that has not satisfied journalist. >> when they are threatened, journalists do not take it lightly. it is troubling the president would engage in this behavior. >> the opposition had been restrained in their criticism, but now they are asking for answers. >> it seems we're getting the information bit by bit. we need a full explanation as soon as possible. my own trust has been shaken. >> christian wulff attempted to explain the loan in a speech before christmas. in the same speech, he praised freedom of the press. christian wulff and his lawyers say he has been transparent and the principal -- and the president and principal makes no disclosures of bows phone conversations. >> we ask why there was no

confirmation the german president was trying to muzzle the press. >> certainly the president's office is not confirming it. they are only saying he is committed to freedom of the press. but we have seen partial confirmation from the tabloid newspaper that is involved. the editor in chief of the paper did indeed receive a phone call message from the president's. the president was not able to reach the editor in chief, so he left a message, saying he was angry that the paper was proceeding with stories about a questionable loan that had been made to them by a private businessman. the paper is not revealing details of that phone message, but we are hearing from other media here in germany that the president threatened war with the paper and said he would take legal action against journalists and bald in the story. allegations indeed -- journalists involved in the

story. these are very serious allegations indeed because they go to the heart of freedom of the press. >> these allegations just get deeper, melinda? >> the opposition criticism has been restrained. we are hearing more questions about the president's and fitness to remain in office. there are new allegations about he took an additional loan from the southern german bank to replace that first questionable loan from a private businessman. now people saying the terms of the second loan now look questionable and unusually favorable. that bank is located in a southern state where the car manufacturer portion of -- porsche is located. some people are raising questions about whether these favorable terms might have been at 8 thank you.

-- a thank you. i think it will be increasing the pressure on the president. >> that was our political correspondent there. in syria, the arab league monitors sent in last week may soon be beating. advisers say they are not -- may soon be leaving. advisers say they are not helping to end the protests. >> this footage reportedly shows a stronghold of the syrian opposition movement. and i witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, describes the house government security forces -- describes how to carry forces have been punishing residents. there's no electricity for month. is the same for water and bread. deliver these -- deliveries are turned back at the checkpoint.

a few steps further ron, -- on, witness says the man was poor with ten children. there is no way of verifying stories like these. foreign journalists are still unable to work in the country. little has changed since the arab league's monitoring mission arrived last week. at a press conference in cairo monday, the arab league secretary said snipers were still shooting at civilians in some cities. syrian activists say journalists should leave the country because they are being misled by the government. they say it heavy weapons remain close to the cities and can be brought back quickly. >> meanwhile, dozens were injured after clashes broke out

between protesters and security forces on the sidelines of a funeral. these internet images show police using tear gas against protesters, where hundreds had gathered to take part in the funeral procession of a 15-year- old boy killed by security forces. anti-government protest have escalated recently. the demonstrations were violently pushed by governments forces who used live ammunition against protesters. let's turn it over to monica for business news. >> it is a different picture for germany because germany actually did a good job weathering the economic storm in 2011. country even managed to set new records. consumer spending hit its highest level in a decade. thanks to more favorable conditions for those looking for work.

>> it was another record year at the labor market. just over 40 million people were employed in germany last year. that amounted to 1.3% more people with jobs than previous year. and the lion share of workers earned their cash in the services sector. it accounted for a whopping 73% of those who gained employment, a huge jump over the last 20 years. the manufacturing sector accounted for 18.7% of jobs. that is a drop from two decades ago. nearly 6% of workers were employed in construction, and agriculture and forestry accounted for 1.6% of german jobs. orient jobs market has led to increased confidence -- the buoyant stock market has led to

increased confidence. but many analysts still expect a downturn in 2012. >> let's turn our attention to asia. we have this report on the best trading ever at the frankfurt stock exchange. >> china's industry and manufacturing sector in india are growing. this is shown by new economic data that just came out this weekend. on the stock exchange floor here in frankfurt -- many companies in germany are hoping to continue to benefit from these booming economies. that is not all. chinese companies are becoming so successful, they are planning no more takeovers in your. for the first time, a solar company in china plans to take over a competitor in germany. people welcome this news. it gives us hope for more lucrative mergers and acquisitions in 2012. >> trading was thin.

@ most asian markets were closed. frankfurt managed to get some interesting gains. it closed at 6675. also strongly into the new year -- gaining 2.3% to close at 2370. the euro still hovering below, trading for $1.29. 10 years ago, the euro was introduced and we will have more on the anniversary later in in- depth. >> some say the eurozone is linked to the fate of italy. this country will continue to struggle to get its massive debt under control. just before christmas, the prime minister announced austerity measures. italian consumers have already started to tighten their belts, spending less on christmas gifts

than last year. this kind of program may be good for private households, but not for the italian economy. >> shops across italy are now able to remain open around-the- clock every day of the year. it is hoped the move will spur domestic consumption and improve economic data. traders in the rumor skeptical whether this and other austerity measures will be effective. >> i do not expect much. if this year is like last year, we will have to close. i am about to retire. my children will take over. even if you work 10 hours a day, you can barely make enough. >> newspaper headlines are not doing much to live to the national mood. the dailies are full of stories of possible job cuts and inflation. the price of gasoline has risen by 5% to over 1.70 euros.

italians pay the highest gas prices in the eu. >> it will be like 20 years ago. >> there will be pain for everyone from now on. i do not want to be pessimistic, but that is how it is. >> pessimism is well founded. the european commission is projecting gdp growth of 0.1% for the year ahead. >> in greece, the new year has started with more protest against austerity measures. this time with doctors protesting health sector reforms and cuts in the debt crisis. pharmacies across the country began a 48-hour strike. they will continue to be on duty but only deal with emergency cases until thursday keeping the government in athens wants to cut health-care spending by 50 billion euros, as part of an

effort to deal with this massive debt. >> tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of the hungarian capital of budapest to protest against the introduction of the country's new constitution. critics say it kurds democracy and freedom of the press. the governing -- curbs democracy in the freedom of the press. the governing party passed the new constitution as a result of its two-thirds majority in parliament. elsewhere in europe, there are also concerns. >> supporters say simply a " hungry." -- "hungary." they have dropped "republic of" from the name. >> orban must go, according to

this headline. referring to the prime minister. tv journalist and been on a hunger strike. >> when independent institutions are put under the control of the government, checks and balances are destroyed. one has to be very concerned about the democratic rule of law. >> the prime minister put the new -- pushed the new constitution through in april with support from his right conservative party. the new constitution will have provisions that restrict the core. there were also new measures central bank. leaders from the international monetary fund attempted to dissuade mr. orban 2 no avail. >> and they call it operation blitzkrieg.

hackers associated with the group anonymous and have -- have led an effort against neo-not see -- neo-nazism websites. they have also targeted far right website, shooting them down with cyber attacks. and monday is an important anniversary in the process of coming to terms with the crimes and hours of the east german secret police, the sassy -- the stasi. 20 years ago, victims were able to read it records for the first time. >> the stasi kept files on the protestant pastor for decades. he said he often felt as if he was being watched. on january 2, 1992, he had

proof. on that date 20 years ago, he was one of the first people allowed to enter the former state security headquarters and view this file. 800 pages, including personal details about his life and friendships, compiled by 54 informants. >> i was pretty nervous because i knew it could only be the people around me. my friends, relatives, and acquaintances. the was it? i was not afraid. i was just anxious and worried about being disappointed about this person or that. >> now two decades later, the files are still a huge drop. every year, tens of thousands apply for access to their personal records. >> for the people, it is something very special. access to the files katzenbach part of their biography that -- access to the files it gives

them back part of their biography that the stasi still. >> it is a way of coming to terms with the past. he is still haunted by the revelation that fellow clergymen spied on him. >> coming up next, the euro tenures on.

>> welcome back. is this a birthday party anyone wants to go to? the euro is turning 10 years old. if you do not, do not feel bad. the euro debuted as actual money in people's pockets 10 years ago. today when most people talk about europe, they tend to talk about the possibility of its demise and the fact that it is in permanent crisis. we will have more on the eurozone in a moment, but first, what to people say when it is time to pay? >> >> i loved having the new nots

in my hand. just the changeover was really great. >> a common currency is good for europe. >> everything was more expensive or the hero is worthless. -- or the hero is worthless. -- the euro is worth less. >> take your pick. which currency do you prefer? >> i choose the euro. >> why? >> because it is stronger. i can relate to the bureau, but not the deutsche mark. >> i would choose the deutsche mark because we have stability

in the currency was worth something. >> the euro, i will tell you why. because of the open borders. because of europe. >> it is a good currency. let's hope it stays that way. >> bring back the deutsche mark. a currency for every nation so we know where it is up. nobody knows where they are with the euro. >> my husband is a banker. he is skeptical, but thinks there is no alternative. >> is there really no alternative to the common currency? many consumers would beg to differ. a lot of germans would rather have their deutsche mark back. there are similar sentiments for the franc and the lira. but german businesses will tell

you there's no going back and they like it that way. germany is the world's second largest exporter ahead of china and the head of the united states. german companies have done nothing but profit since the euro became the legal tender of much of the confident. -- of the continent. >> german exports are his job. he stacks them 6 bill ayers hi. the boxes are full of goods mean in -- made in germany. the common currency is a boon for the export business. >> when it comes to enter european trade and business, we no longer have to factor in currency-related risks whatsoever. there is no uncertainty. the europa is just like the --

the euro is just like the deutsche mark used to be. germany just got bigger. >> exports have increased by 130% since company started doing business in euros. german firms that have profited from the eurozone and it has profited companies like this. >> as a result of their large domestic market, the germans already had the most competitive suppliers, whether in terms of trade, service sector, our industry. when the european free trade area became freer, the germans had the best opportunities at the start and they used them. >> for german exports, the bureau has been a success story -- the euro has been a success

story. >> as we see things, there is no hero crisis. 2011 wasn't good year for germany -- was a good year for germany and a very good year for foreign trade. we are not expecting a catastrophe in 2012. we see that there is a problem with state debt and with the banks, and we're hoping it will not spread to the real economy. >> know when you're at hamburg harbour is shedding a tear for the deutsche mark. the bus terminal is building in new terminal to take advantage of shorter sigrid's. before the euro, that would have been risky. >> that is from the heart of the eu in brussels. we saw in that report, german exporters have no reason to mourn the deutsche mark.

is that true in brussels? >> it depends on who you talk to. there are people who feel this problem has gone far too long and are worried about currency stability. a lot of people would like to get back to their national currencies. if you talk to people behind the eurozone, and they will tell you nothing could be further from the truth. the eurozone is a zone of stability. it did not create the economic crisis. furthermore it is helping to maintain stability. unless you are an economic wizard, it is hard to pick between those two years. some are worried about the collapse of the row and the fact that yes, we may be looking at going back to one or other of the national currencies. >> and what would be the euro's greatest accomplishment in the last 10 years? >> remember, it is now just an

economic concept. it is a political one, too. it has brought a at a unity to europe, according to some. that was the and. there is also the fiscal unity. yes, more unity, certainly, and it was seen as the high watermark of european integration at the time. but we can see the underpinnings were never strong enough to withstand the global economic downturn we've been seeing for the last five years. >> at the rate that current countries are going under, surely that is a testament to how strong the single currency is? >> exactly. no one in addition to this problem cropping up years into the existence of the euro. now of course, eu leaders have agreed that they will have

closer monitoring, much more surveillance of national economies, national treasuries, economic policies. but will it be too late? the remedy is needed now. the remedy is not in place. it is difficult to see where we go from here. we had three years of real trouble, and as we go into 2012, more trouble on the white what possibly. >> finally, could you have imagined that a decade ago things would've gone away the dead? >> no, i do not think so. even the harshest of critics could not have envisaged this. there were some who said the one size fits all economic policy could not work for your. it has shown that you cannot have 17 different economic model sharing the same currency without expecting some trouble when the global economy goes into severe decline, as it has done. >> thank you very much for that.

germany and the rope, 10 years on. that has been our in debt today. -- our in death today. thank you for watching. -- our in-depth today.