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DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter
English Service News
30.07.07, 16:00 Uhr UTC
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Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
German Ministry Warns Siemens Against Libya Nuclear Deal
A high-ranking official in Germany's environment and nuclear safety
ministry has warned engineering giant Siemens to get involved in a
controversial French plan to build a nuclear plant in Libya.
To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the
internet address below:
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evvutrI4501ileI1&req=l%3DevvutqI4501ileI1
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Bush, Brown meet at Camp David
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is in the United States for his
first talks with President George W. Bush since taking office last
month. Following their talks at the Camp David retreat, Prime
Minister Brown told reporters that he believed that the already
close relations between Britain and the US would become even
stronger in the future. He also outlined what he thought were the
most pressing foreign policy issues for their two countries. Brown
was also to meet with Republican and Democratic Party leaders from
the US Senate and House of Representatives before traveling on to
New York. there he is to meet with United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and address the UN General Assembly.
Taliban extends S. Korean hostage deadline again
In Afghanistan, Taliban militants holding 22 South Korean hostages
have once more extended the deadline for the captives' lives. The
kidnappers are demanding the release of an equal number of Islamist
militants. The latest deadline is set for Wednesday. The Taliban
have now let several deadlines pass with no killings, although last
Wednesday the militants murdered one captive several hours after a
deadline passed. A German engineer taken prisoner by the Taliban a
day before the Koreans, remains captive. Meanwhile, the Interior
Ministry said that 13 security guards were killed by Taliban forces
in an ambush on the notorious Kabul-Kandahar highway on Sunday.
Car bomb kills six in Baghdad
A car bomb has killed at least six people in central Baghdad. Police
said dozens were also wounded in the blast, which came only hours
after the expiration of a vehicle ban imposed ahead of Iraq's soccer
final against Saudi Arabia. Iraq's victory in the Asian Cup
triggered wild celebrations in the capital, with guns fired into the
air despite a government ban. Police in Baghdad and the city of Kut
reported at least seven deaths and more than 50 people wounded by
stray bullets. Meanwhile, the US military has said that three US
troops have been killed in fighting in Anbar province west of
Baghdad.
Oxfam says hunger, disease spreading in Iraq
Aid agencies say hunger and disease are spreading in Iraq, and that
nearly a third of the population need immediate emergency aid. A
report released by Oxfam and the NGO Co-ordination Committee network
in Iraq says violence in the country is masking a deepening
humanitarian crisis. It notes a sharp increase in humanitarian
problems since the US-led invasion in 2003, including a 30-percent
rate of malnourishment in children. Oxfam pulled out of Iraq along
with most other aid agencies four years ago due to the deteriorating
security situation.
Billion dollar US arms deal will aid "forces of moderation"
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has announced proposals for a
new multibillion dollar US military sales package for Arab nations.
Speaking ahead of a four-day tour of the region with Defence
Secretary Robert Gates, Rice said the proposed US package to be
phased over 10 years, would help bolster forces of moderation and
counter the negative influences of al-Qaeda, Hebollah, Syria, and
Iran. The proposed sales to Arab countries, notably Saudi Arabia,
would be counter-balanced by a 25 percent increase in military aid
to Israel, also phased over the next 10 years.
Japanese PM vows to stay on
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he intends to stay in his
post despite a major defeat in upper house elections. He has however
said he will reshuffle his cabinet in the wake of the defeat, which
saw the opposition Democratic Party of Japan set to become the
largest party in the upper house for the first time. Abe's ruling
coalition retains a sizeable majority in the lower house. This was
the first electoral test for Abe since he came to power 10 months
ago. His approval ratings have plunged since then, amid a series of
scandals. Abe has faced some pressure to quit from within his own
Liberal Democratic party, but analysts say he could survive owing to
a lack of suitable successors.
Lebanese troops advance on militants
The Lebanese army says troops are continuing their advance into a
Palestinian refugee camp where Islamist militants have been holed up
for more than two months. One soldier was killed in clashes on
Sunday in the Nahr al-Bared camp in the north of the country. The
army has repeatedly said it has delayed a final assault on the
militants out of concern for the safety of civilians still in the
camp. Over 30,000 residents have been evacuated, but wives and
children of the Fatah al-Islam militants are thought to be still
inside. More than 200 people have been killed so far in the
fighting.
Abbas in Moscow for talks with Putin
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is in Moscow for a three day
visit, which will include talks with his Russian counterpart,
Vladimir Putin, and other senior officials. Shortly after he arrived
in the Russian capital, Abbas told reporters that he planned to use
the talks to discuss the conditions for an international conference
on the Middle East, which has been proposed by the United States. He
said he would also discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, which
was taken over by force by the Islamist militant group Hamas last
month. Russia is the only member of the Quartet of Middle East peace
brokers that remains in contact with Hamas leaders.
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo makes landmark visit
Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo is visiting the former rebel
stronghold of Bouake on a landmark trip. It is the first time Gbagbo
has visited the rebel-held north since a 2002 uprising against his
rule divided the country. The city is hosting a disarmament and
reconciliation ceremony underlining the peace process in the
country. Bouake was the headquarters of the former rebel New Forces
that controlled the north for nearly five years. Under a peace
agreement signed in March, ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro was
appointed prime minister in a new unity government.
ASEAN foreign ministers meet in Manila
The ASEAN foreign ministers have gathered in the Philippine capital,
Manila for their annual meeting. The 10 members of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations have been struggling with a number of
controversial issues in drafting a new charter. After some revisions
the charter is expected to be adopted and ratified at a leader's
summit in November. Other issues on the agenda include fighting
terrorism, creating a regional body to respond quickly to disasters,
and setting up a safety watchdog to make sure nuclear plants in the
region are not used to produce weapons. On Thursday, the ASEAN
Regional Forum meets, with senior officials from the European Union,
China, Japan, the US and other nations.
2,000 people on Gran Canaria evacuated
A forest fire that has destroyed thousands of hectares on Gran
Canaria has flared up again after being brought under control by
Spanish firefighters. More than 2,000 residents have been evacuated
from the municipality of Mogan in the west of the Canary Island. The
blaze was revived by wind after being contained on Sunday. A forest
warden is in custody after confessing to starting the fire.
Meanwhile, in mainland Spain, firefighters are battling a blaze
which broke out on Friday on a military firing range near the
southern town of Cordoba. In Greece, officials say 14 big forest
fires have been raging for several days.
69 trapped in Chinese coal mine
Heavy rains have been hampering efforts to save dozens of miners
trapped for more than 24 hours in a flooded coal mine in central
China. The Xinhua state-run news agency reported that 69 miners were
trapped when the flood struck the Zhijian mine in Henan province
early Sunday. It said 33 managed to escape. The latest downpour on
Monday triggered landslides on both sides of the mountain road
leading to the mine, leaving trucks carrying relief materials
stranded. The report gave no indication of whether any of the miners
were still alive. China's coal mines are the world's deadliest, with
fatalities reported nearly every day in fires, explosions and floods
despite government efforts to improve safety.
Ingmar Bergman dies aged 89
Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman has died. The Swedish news
agency TT said he passed away at his home in Faro, Sweden at the age
of 89. Best-known for his contribution to cinema, Bergman was also a
prolific stage director all his life. He was widely acclaimed for
films such as "The Seventh Seal" and "Fanny and Alexander," which
won four Oscars, including for Best Foreign Language Film.
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Need a good laugh?
Then check out DW-WORLD.DE'S From the Fringe Special, which
regularly brings you quirky stories from and about Germany. To find
out more, go to
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evvutrI4501ileI2&req=l%3DevvutqI4501ileI2
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For more information please turn to our internet website at
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Here you'll find out what's happening in Germany, Europe and the
rest of the world. News and background reports from the fields of
current affairs, culture, business and science. And of course the
DW website also has information about DW-RADIO and DW-TV programmes:
topics, broadcast times and frequencies.
You can even listen to all programmes as audio-on-demand.
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