FRANCE

FRANCE
Liberation, Paris, Jan. 21: In the eyes of the Chinese, the monkey, an unpredictable and facetious animal, assures that the year that it presides over will be full of important changes (among previous years, 1944 and 1968 stand out.) The one that starts tomorrow will probably not have any trouble confirming predictions: China's upsurge has already revolutionized international affairs.
Chinese diaspora
One of the most effective vehicles of this opening toward modernity is the Chinese diaspora. Immigrants have always been one of China's biggest natural resources. They have also always contributed to the prosperity and stability of their host countries.
ITALY
La Repubblica, Rome, Jan. 21: The unexpected and immense crowd of people who faced the freezing cold in order to vote in the first Democratic primary has stirred a cold breeze to make Bush and the Republicans shiver.
The experience of all U.S. elections teaches not to read too much into Iowa. But there are two indisputable figures: 75 percent of the state's citizens are against the war, yet only 18 percent voted for Howard Dean, the candidate whose banner was his fierce opposition to the war. And the success of two moderates John Kerry and the southerner John Edwards, came in the highest electoral turnout since 1972.
Family throne
These figures do not mean that the Democrats have a reasonable chance of overthrowing George Junior from the family throne. But it does mean that Karl Rove, Bush's electoral pilot, won't have a comfortable extremist opponent to demolish with the usual charges of liberal elitism.
BRITAIN
The Guardian, London, Jan. 21: Democrats of every persuasion should thank Iowa's voters. The state party's caucuses went a long way to defining the battleground, challenges and requisite qualifications in the coming struggle to unseat George Bush. The surprise outcome also shattered a few illusions. Better that gooses are cooked now than later, when Republicans turn up the heat.
Voter messages
Among Iowa's several voter messages, the most important was pragmatic. Democrats desire, above all, a winner. Given the utter awfulness of Mr. Bush, as they see it, this is not a time for gallant losers or the ideologically pure in heart. They want a man (since a woman is not currently available) who has the credibility, character, experience and resourcefulness to stay the national course. That may be the main explanation for John Kerry's run from behind; and why Wesley Clark, who kept his powder dry for New Hampshire next week, may be the one who trips him up.
SINGAPORE
The Straits Times, Singapore, Jan. 20: In the latest round of the tussle for power in Iran, the Guardians' Council, a conservative-dominated body, has barred nearly half of 8,000 hopefuls from standing for election on political and theological grounds. Among them are about 80 sitting members in a parliament where reformers have put conservatives on the defensive.
In a sense, the council's move to alter the political landscape ahead of the parliamentary elections, which are due to take place on Feb. 20, is a sign of desperation. Conservatives are already in charge of the main levers of power: the courts, the armed forces, the broadcast media and the council, which can reject bills it considers unIslamic or unconstitutional and veto election candidates.
Nervous hard-liners
The scale on which the council has used its veto power this time -- only 8 percent of candidates were blocked out before the 2000 vote -- suggests hard-liners are more nervous about their prospects than they would like to confess.
JAPAN
Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, Jan. 20: At present, the dominant view is that President George W. Bush will be re-elected. In addition to his strength as the incumbent, the atmosphere in the United States makes it hard to criticize the president while the country is continuing to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world is watching this presidential race even more attentively than usual, wondering whether changes will emerge in the United States' fight against terror and its unilateralist action, which heavily tinges the Bush administration.
International terrorism
There are many problems the international community as a whole must address, such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, the wide gap in wealth between the rich and poor countries and global warming.
Under such circumstances, global geopolitical divisions will only widen if the United States continues to cling to unilateralism.