♪ >> hello, and welcome to the "journal" on dw-tv. i am meggin leigh at the news desk. >> i am peter dolle with the business news. >> coming up, in his absence, jailed chinese dissident liu xiaobo was awarded the nobel peace prize in oslo. talks to find a climate deal in mexico are on a knife into on the summit's final day. >> and a joint currency, a common message. germany and france say they are in step on a plan to rescue the euro. ♪

>> the 2010 nobel peace prize has been awarded at a ceremony in oslo, but the liu xiaobo winnerliu, was notably absent. he was represented at the ceremony by an empty chair. the chinese dissident remains in prison i cna. since liu xobo and his family were not allowed to travel to oslo, the norwegian nobel committee said it would keep his award and the prize money in his name. >> norway's king harald and queen song yet arrived at oslo city hall along with the nobel peace prize committee. but with the guest of honor, dissident liu xiaobo, locked up in a chinese prison, this year's nobel peace prize ceremonies centered around an empty chair. >> liuiaob has only exercised his civil rights. he is not done anything wrong. he must be released. [applause]

>> liu xiaobo's growing international stature continues to split the global community and infuriate beijing. ballenger pressure from china, more than 16 nations boycotted the ceremony. china clamped down on the dissidents arrested -- ahead of the award ceremony. the co-author of news charter 08 demanding political reform in china has been arrested. internet sites reporting on the ceremony have been blocked in china and televised reports have been taken off the air. a norwegian actress read a statement entitled "i have no enemies in liu's absence derica the document was released by supporters after his sentencing a year ago. >> -- freedom of speech, is to trample on human rights, before humanity, and suppress choice. >> at the end of this ceremony,

the nobel the, was placed on liu xiaobo's vacant seat. this will be kept along withg te 1.1 million euros in oslo, until the prize winner can collect them himself. >> we will take an in-depth look at this year's nobel peace prize and the power of words coming up later on in this program. a friend of liu xiaobo's has written a book about him, which also came out on friday. the biography details liu xiaobo's activism beginning in 1989. >> exiled chinese author has known this year's nobel peace prize winner liu xiaobo, for more than 20 years. both are members of the independent chinese penn center, which works for freedom of expression in china. he believes the award could support china's democracy movement. >> it the nobel peace prize get help liu xiaobo be released in help china's featured democracy and more freedom. we have more opportunities in the future.

>> his book, "sacrificed to freedom," a biography, tells how liu xiaobo first came to prominence in 1989. that is when he held a hunger strike in beijing's tin men square. estimates of the number killed range from 300 to 3000 to last year, a chinese court sentenced liu xiaobo to 11 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power. the author hopes it will be free sooner than that. >> i still think he does not have to stay 11 years. maybe some time he can have an early release. i will never know. >> the chinese government has denounced the nobel committee in criticized liu xiaobo's supporters. the author has alsop felt the pressure during a recent stop in beijing, on his way to taiwan, his book was confiscated and he was sent back to germany. >> the nobel prizes for physics,

chemistry, and economics were handed out in stockholm, along with the award for literature. a peruvian border and all forgot that. the nobel academy a credit is his riding with shaping our image of south america. each award is worth 1.1 million euros. moving on to some other news, iran has denied reports that a woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery has been released from jail. speculation that the woman was freed began when state television released pictures of her at home with her son. but authorities said the photographs were taken during a shooting of a documentary on the the case. that programs due to be broadcast within the hour, and producers say it will shed light on the of poultry and murder charges against her. amnesty -- on the adultery and murder charges against her. amnesty interest -- amnesty international has condemned the

broadcast. police and the netherlands say packers have targeted the web sites of the country's police and state prosecutors. -- hackers have targeted web sites of the police and state prosecutor. a 16-year-old was arrested in connection with cyber attacks by pro-wikileaks attackers. supporters took to the streets in sydney, australia on international human rights day, protesting against the incarceration of the wikileaks founder, julian assange. swedish other is accused him of sexual misconduct and are seeking his extradition from britain. today's the final negotiations at the u.n. climate change summit in cancun, mexico. after two weeks of talks, differences still remain over key issues. the biggest stumbling block is a divide between industrialized and developinountries on a binding targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions. >> just hours before the summit

scheduled conclusion, there were still debating a host of major issues. sticking points include whether to enforce jackson greenhouse gas savings. bolivia's president urged negotiators to break an impasse and rescue the kyrah to a treaty. >> if we here in cantu throughout the kyoto protocol, we will be responsible for eco cide. that is the equivalent of genocide, because we are opposing this on humanity as a whole. >> there is also disagreement about clilite funds for developing countries and on a treaty to protect forests. japan insists that major greenhouse gas emitters', including china, india, and the u.s., must sign a new binding treaty. >> japan will not associate itself with signing a second amendment, heperiod. it should be established based

on the copenhagen accord. it covers countries representing more than 80% of global co2 emissions. >> other nations vented their anger at the japanese stand, saying compromise is desperately needed. >> now if this summit fails, shall we be asking ourselves if the u.n. is still the right forum to be talking about climate change? we put that question to the head of the u.n. environment program. >> i always respond to this question by saying, well why would you blame the united nations as the convene there, the provider of the platform, for a lack of results? it is more a question that the public begins to ask the questions, or the countries that are not willing to come to the table? he was preventing the majority of the world's nations to reach an agreement? in copenhagen, the vast majority of the world's nations were ready to find agreement. it was a few countries listed in the way. therefore, to blame the

convener when it is the responsibili of otr nations to make e agreementpossible is the wrong thing. we need a u.n. platform and free-market i do not think we have an alternative. i think we have to begin to hone in on those countries to have a responsibility to be part of a global deal and not to hold the rest of the world hostage for whatever reasons they may have. ultimately, all international deals are a compromise. that means all nations have to give and take. >> time for some business news. peter has the latest on the german-french summit that took place. >> slow progress, but progress indeed. the leaders of germany and france met this friday on the eurozone debt crisis. german chancellor angela merkel and french president nicolas sarkozy had ruled out any joint eurozone bond and said in note to increasing the eurozone bailout fund. -- and said no to increasing the

eurozone bailout fund. we have this report. >> the german chancellor came with one aim, to secure nicolas sarkozy as an ally for saving the euro. relations among the members have chilled recently over a proposal for joint eurobonds, a proposal rejected by merkel in its fears that it would damage the currency. >> if the euro fails, europe will fail. it is very important to me that we do everything to keep things the way they are. >> merkel says a common eu approach to debt risk is not as urgent as a common approach to their economies. german and france have pledged to harmonize their taxes to avoid future crisis and strengthening the euro. >> if one day there is more integration, and more harmonized economic policy, then a joint bailout of debt could be a possibility. but until then, the french position is in total agreement with that of the germans.

>> germany and france will be seeking to maintain their united front at the upcoming summit next week, when eu leaders tried to agree to terms of a permanent resting mechanism for the block. >> european stock prices closed mixed this friday with automobiles in demand and financials among the leading declers. in frankfurt, t dax iex closed above the key 7000 level. conrad paul has more on the day's trading from the frankfurt exchange. >> german stocks index climbed again above the level of 7000 points this friday. and it ended the trading session there. the highest closing in two and a half years. what supported the market's between other reasons was positive economic data from the united states. but not all traders are convinced whether we are really seeing a year-end rally of equity prices. several companies lowered their earnings projections.

for example, the consumer goods maker. and china wants to dampen its economic growth. who knows how this will affect german companies. >> looking at several market indices in more detail, we stay in frankfurt. we see the blue chip dax index closed up about 0.6%. the euro stoxx 50 was actually down just a tad. in new rk, investors are weighing the impact of stronger consumer sentiment data at of the holiday season. the dow closed the trading day nearly unchanged at 11,391. on the currency markets, the hero is ready for $1.30 two cents25. ireland has the bonuses of its bankers in its sights. it is already bailed out the banks to the tune of tens of billions of euros. now dublin is trying to get a little bit of that money back, with 90% tax o bonuses.

this move comes after reports that the near bankrupt allied irish bank wants to pay out 40 million euros in bonuses to executives. the move has been met with outrage. the new tax will not actually affect those bonuses, because they were laid to work done in two dozen it. a spokesman for the main opposition party has called for the tax rate to be increased to 1997. , do you released in doing your taxe too long, many people and companies here in germany. the coalition in berlin that took office last year promised to simplify tax codes, but the radical shake-up that many hoped for has not yet come about. instead, the government is saying one step at a time on thursday, it unveiled its latest set of proposals. >> christmas is two weeks away, but the government's top finance and do well are presenting packages as an early death.

41 measures aimed at cutting red tape and trimming the your overall tax take. >> today, we're putting in as little baggage under the christmas trees of the public and germany's small and medium- sized businesses. it is a package that will ease the burden on them, as well as provide simplifications. this will not completely simplify our tax laws, but it is a step towards less bureaucracy. >> attack to turn that -- a tax return was the holy grail of a cut -- former conservative leader. years later, businesses still complain that germany's tax code is a headache. the government's new measures will mean less paperwork and more electronic tax returns. workers will only have to file returns every two years, and deductibles s ll be increased. well intentioned, but not enough, says germany's industry

association, the bdi. it wants a fundamental overhaul the system. the tax return on appear mad is still a long way off. >> thank you for that. some sports news. the it team around the coach has won 13 of 15 games and has won eight games in a row away from home, a record of this weekend, they faced a struggling team. the only question is, how long can this young team keep on winning? >> is all smiles this season. ahead of the christmas break, the coaches time to look at the impressive season and thus far. >> i have read that we play like on a high. i do not sit like that. i think we're highly focused. you can add to that on a high. at least that is my experience.

>> they have run over their opponents. relentless pressure has turned james around. they have scored almost three goals a game, and the fans believe they have what it takes. >> this is a very clever team. they're young and that they will not win all the time. >> the system is right, and we have great reserve players. that is what gives us the edge it up if a player is out, then another player to take his place. >> two players from their last championship winning team in 2002 have made way for the new young guns. one of the fires has only played for five minutes this season. >> of course we can lose. that is normal. even barcelona, but -- the best team in the world, loses. we have to keep going. >> they are red hot favorites for the title already, but the players know there's still a

long way to go into the trophy is handed out in may. >> international news, your up- to-date. stay tuned for -- "in depth" coming up next. coming up next. >> we will be right back. no. well, it's just past there. first house in the right after the cottage on the l don't panic. brazen it out. me? - no. - right. here goes.

life. >> the chinese government jailed liu xiaobo last december on the charges of state subversion and for being part of a movement calling for political reform in china. so when the nobel committee announced this year's peace prize winner, the chinese aderip reacted with ry. the award committee in norway said it liu xiaobo is being honored for his long and peaceful struggle for fundamental human rights in china. liu xiaobo has dedicated his prize to those who died in the 1989 pro-democracy protests in china liu xiaobo. now in the international spotlight, beijing has restricted all contacted to his family, friends, and supporters.

>> the science is no interviews. liu xiaobo lives here. the wife of nobel peace prize winner liu xiaobo. it is one of the most closely guarded buildings in beijing. he has been under house arrest for weeks. >> liu xiaobo will not be allowed to the to oslo to accept the prize for her husband, liu xiaobo. for weeks, she has not given that allowed to talk to me, and i am her lawyer. >> the intimidation campaign began as soon as the prize was announced friends of liu xiaobo met to celebrate, the police stormed in, arrested supporters, and interrogated them for hours. >> we were only getting together. there is no law against that. but you cannot talk to them. you never know who they're going to lock up or why. >> and there's no end to this arbitrariness.

reporters could talk to liu xiaobo for a time, but now he is under surveillance, too. so is his friend, has been under house arrest since the night of the celebration. but in octob, this recording was managed to be smuggled out. >> i am being watched by six security people. they sleep in a hallway in front of my door. ever since the announcement, i cannot leave my house unaccompanied. never before have so many people been put under house arrest for so long. no one knows when this will end. >> when reporters went to pay a visit to him, there was a car at friend with no license plate. 24-hour state securit thene received ahone call warning him not to speak to reporters. and he is not alone. other friends and supporters of liu xiaobo are being muzzled. there is no mention of this in

the state-run media. and on the streets of china, hardly anyone even knows the name of liu xiaobo. >> i am sorry, i do not know who liu xiaobo is. >> i have heard the name, but i do not know anything about him. >> do u? i do not know we that is. i thought he was a foreigner. >> beijing regards liu xiaobo as a criminal. and they describe the nobel committee who honored him as a bunch of anti-chinese clowns. >> it is not only all chinese who reject this wrong decision by the nobel committee but the majority of countries in the world who respect the rule of law. more than 100 countries and organizations support china's position. > who exactly is 100 are is not clear, nor what crimes were committed by those under house

arrest or beijing, this year's nobel peace prize is part of a western campaign against china. >> several other nobel peace laureates have also been prevented from collecting their prize in person. including the burma pro- democracy leader, suu kyi. and in 1936, a german journalist was awarded the peace prize,nd not see rmany prevented him or his family from travelling to oslo to accept it. -- nazi germany prevented him from accepting it. the writers' group has long been engaged in drawing attention to their plight. >> china, cuba, iran, all countries in which riders face persecution -- writers face persecution. but their only weapon is the written word.

>> the word is the most powerful weapon against a dictator. the word is what convinces people living inside the dictatorship that this is no life. >> 50 years ago, they founded the writers in prison committee to raise awareness of persecuted authors all over the world. in berlin, actors staged readings for renters forced into exile under hitler and stalin. some writers persecuted by the nazis. >> she is a survivor of the gulag. [speaking foreign language] >> where they burn bugs, there will end up burning human beings, he wrote prophetically almost two hundred years ago. the nazi book burning was

perhaps the most manifest look at dictatorship turn to oppress the written word. some of germany's best authors fled into exile. >> it is astonishing how people in such situations have the power to turn to words, reminding us automatically of situations we have seen today. >> every six months, the document are around 1000 cases of literary persecution. one is the cuban exile, an acclaimed offer that fell at a political favor after writing about prostitution. he fled to germany four years ago. he writes about his home countries under billing. his books about prostitution, racism, criminality, and corruption are copied and distributed illegally in cuba. the deconstructs the propaganda of the communist paradise under the grate. castro. -- under the grade fidel castro.

[speaking foreign-language] >> with the regime still fearing his writing, he can no longer report as an eyewitness, but he committed its daily with colleagues in cuba, maintaining his cover with one of his 100 or more e-mail addresses. >> i do not think the written word can topple the government, and the dictators know that. but the fundamental thing is that words, books, and literature can mobilize awareness, and that is where the danger lies. >> we meet this iranian of their at an independent -- author and ended in a bookshop in berlin. even today, he declines to be filled in his own home, out of fear of the iranian regime.

>> all those writers who live in exile certainly miss their language. >> he first h h to leave his homeland in 1970 undertaking as stance against the shah . he has lived in germany for the last seven years. >> thanks to the internet, everything reaches the people. many of them have an internet connection and can read it there. >> the regime of mahmoud ahmed in the shot also fears the writer's words -- the regime of mahmoud ahmadinejad also fears the rector's word. >> words can mobilize. they can movus. they can affect us. >> for dictatorial regimes,

frankly spoken words can often sound the death knell. >> the nobel prize in the power of words, that has been our focus of "in depth" today. thank you for joining us here on dw-tv. stay tuned. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- ♪