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DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter
English Service News
28.01.08, 17:00 Uhr UTC
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Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Dutch Block EU-Serbia Pact Ahead of Presidential Poll
The EU's plan to give the pro-Europe candidate a boost before
Sunday's election in Serbia was blocked by the Dutch. They want to
see Belgrade's full cooperation with war crimes tribunals before
the bloc extends its hand.
To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the
internet address below:
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evxhkaI4501ileI0&req=l%3Devxhk9I4501ileI0
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CDU suffers losses in state elections
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union has
lost support in two state elections. In Hesse, the CDU, led by
Premier Roland Koch, took 36.8 percent of the vote, down from 49
percent in 2003. But the CDU remains the strongest party, by the
slimmest of margins. The Social Democrats, led by Andrea Ypsilanti
won 36.7 percent. It's unclear whether the CDU will remain in power.
Neither the CDU, with its traditional coalition partners, the
liberal Free Democrats, nor the SPD and Greens can form a
parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, in Lower Saxony, the CDU, led by
Premier Christian Wulff has been returned to power with 43 percent
of the vote. That's down from 48 percent in 2003, but still enough
for the CDU to form a government with the FDP.
Tribal violence in Kenya continues
Police in Kenya are struggling to quell violence between rival
tribes that was sparked by last month's presidential election.
Clashes have been reported in the towns of Naivasha and Nakuru. At
least 19 people died over the weekend in fighting between members of
President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe and the two main tribes backing
his rival Raila Odinga. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan has been trying to broker a deal to end the political deadlock
that has gripped the country since the vote, which Odinga and his
supporters say was rigged. More than 700 people have been killed and
a quarter of a million others have been forced to flee their homes
since the results of the December 27 election were announced.
Pakistan school siege "over"
Tribal elders say a group of armed men have released some 250 school
children and teachers held hostage in north-west Pakistan. The men
took the children hostage in the district of Bannu in North West
Frontier Province after escaping from police earlier on Monday.
Witnesses in the area say the armed men, about five in number, were
given safe passage. The negotiations were conducted by tribal elders.
Initial reports said the hostage-takers were Islamist militants but
other reports describe them as common criminals. Security in and
around Bannu has been a growing problem. Pro-Taleban militants
control large areas of neighbouring North and South Waziristan. In
recent months they have been increasingly active in Bannu district.
Last October at least 15 people were killed in Bannu town by a
suicide bomber dressed in a burka.
French jail terms for Chad charity workers
A court in France has sentenced six French aid workers to eight
years in prison for trying to kidnap 103 children from Chad last
year. The six were sent home last year after a deal was struck
between the two countries to let them serve their sentences in
France. They had been sentenced to eight years' hard labour in Chad,
in a case which sparked widespread local anger. The charity Zoe's
Ark says it thought the children were orphans from Darfur.
Societe Generale trader admits hiding trades
The former Societe Generale dealer accused of the worst trading
fraud in bank history has confessed to police that he hid his
activities from his superiors. Paris prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin
told reporters that he had requested that 31-year-old Jerome Kerviel
be placed in temporary detention. He said Kerviel had told police
that he had concealed his trades in an effort to enhance his
reputation as a trader, not out of any desire to hurt the bank.
Societe Generale suffered almost five billion euros loss as a result
of his unauthorised trades.
Israel to ease Gaza blockade
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has agreed to ease a blockade of
the Gaza Strip, which was imposed in response to a spike in militant
rocket attacks. Olmert made the announcement after a meeting with
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. In Egypt, efforts
have been stepped up to close the country's border with Gaza.
Security forces have begun stopping vehicles and further tightened
their cordon around the town of Rafah. The United Nations says at
least 700,000 Gaza residents have crossed the border with Egypt
since last Wednesday, when Hamas militants blasted a number of holes
into the border wall.
Seven killed in demonstrations in Beirut
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Sinora has declared a day of mourning,
after at least seven people were killed and dozens of others injured
in violent demonstrations in the capital, Beirut. Officials say
protesters who had gathered to demonstrate against frequent
electricity cuts, set tyres ablaze, blocking a main road. Gunshots
were fired after the army moved in to try to clear the road.
EU foreign ministers discuss Serbia, Kosovo
European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels in talks
that are expected to focus on Serbia, Kosovo and an EU peacekeeping
force for Chad. Prior to the meeting, the European enlargement
commissioner, Olli Rehn told reporters that the EU could sign a
stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia soon. Observers
say EU officials are seeking to send a positive message to Serbia
ahead of next weekend's presidential run-off vote. At the same time,
most EU countries have said they would recognise an independent
Kosovo. The ethnic-Albanian leadership of the Serbian province is
expected to declare independence within a matter of weeks.
Fierce fighting continues in Sri Lanka's north
In Sri Lanka, at least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels and two government
soldiers have been killed in the latest clashes in the north of the
country. This brings the death toll from the weekend's fighting to
55. Earlier this month, the Sri Lankan government formally pulled
out of a 2002 truce, saying the rebels had used it to regroup and
re-arm.
Thailand elects Samak as new prime minister
Thai lawmakers have elected Samak Sundaravej, an ally of deposed
premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as the nation's new prime minister. The
vote restores civilian leadership to Thailand after 16 months of
military rule. Samak is widely expected to try to clear the way for
Thaksin to return to Thailand. Thaksin was toppled by the military
in September 2006 and since then has been living in self-imposed
exile.
CDU suffers losses in state elections
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union has
lost support in two state elections. In Hesse, the CDU, led by
Premier Roland Koch, took 36.8 percent of the vote, down from 49
percent in 2003. But the CDU remains the strongest party, by the
slimmest of margins. The Social Democrats, led by Andrea Ypsilanti
won 36.7 percent. It's unclear whether the CDU will remain in power.
Neither the CDU, with its traditional coalition partners, the
liberal Free Democrats, nor the SPD and Greens can form a
parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, in Lower Saxony, the CDU, led by
Premier Christian Wulff has been returned to power with 43 percent
of the vote. That's down from 48 percent in 2003, but still enough
for the CDU to form a government with the FDP.
Tribal violence in Kenya continues
Police in Kenya are struggling to quell violence between rival
tribes that was sparked by last month's presidential election.
Clashes have been reported in the towns of Naivasha and Nakuru. At
least 19 people died over the weekend in fighting between members of
President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe and the two main tribes backing
his rival Raila Odinga. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan has been trying to broker a deal to end the political deadlock
that has gripped the country since the vote, which Odinga and his
supporters say was rigged. More than 700 people have been killed and
a quarter of a million others have been forced to flee their homes
since the results of the December 27 election were announced.
Pakistan school siege "over"
Tribal elders say a group of armed men have released some 250 school
children and teachers held hostage in north-west Pakistan. The men
took the children hostage in the district of Bannu in North West
Frontier Province after escaping from police earlier on Monday.
Witnesses in the area say the armed men, about five in number, were
given safe passage. The negotiations were conducted by tribal elders.
Initial reports said the hostage-takers were Islamist militants but
other reports describe them as common criminals. Security in and
around Bannu has been a growing problem. Pro-Taleban militants
control large areas of neighbouring North and South Waziristan. In
recent months they have been increasingly active in Bannu district.
Last October at least 15 people were killed in Bannu town by a
suicide bomber dressed in a burka.
French jail terms for Chad charity workers
A court in France has sentenced six French aid workers to eight
years in prison for trying to kidnap 103 children from Chad last
year. The six were sent home last year after a deal was struck
between the two countries to let them serve their sentences in
France. They had been sentenced to eight years' hard labour in Chad,
in a case which sparked widespread local anger. The charity Zoe's
Ark says it thought the children were orphans from Darfur.
Societe Generale trader admits hiding trades
The former Societe Generale dealer accused of the worst trading
fraud in bank history has confessed to police that he hid his
activities from his superiors. Paris prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin
told reporters that he had requested that 31-year-old Jerome Kerviel
be placed in temporary detention. He said Kerviel had told police
that he had concealed his trades in an effort to enhance his
reputation as a trader, not out of any desire to hurt the bank.
Societe Generale suffered almost five billion euros loss as a result
of his unauthorised trades.
Israel to ease Gaza blockade
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has agreed to ease a blockade of
the Gaza Strip, which was imposed in response to a spike in militant
rocket attacks. Olmert made the announcement after a meeting with
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. In Egypt, efforts
have been stepped up to close the country's border with Gaza.
Security forces have begun stopping vehicles and further tightened
their cordon around the town of Rafah. The United Nations says at
least 700,000 Gaza residents have crossed the border with Egypt
since last Wednesday, when Hamas militants blasted a number of holes
into the border wall.
Seven killed in demonstrations in Beirut
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Sinora has declared a day of mourning,
after at least seven people were killed and dozens of others injured
in violent demonstrations in the capital, Beirut. Officials say
protesters who had gathered to demonstrate against frequent
electricity cuts, set tyres ablaze, blocking a main road. Gunshots
were fired after the army moved in to try to clear the road.
EU foreign ministers discuss Serbia, Kosovo
European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels in talks
that are expected to focus on Serbia, Kosovo and an EU peacekeeping
force for Chad. Prior to the meeting, the European enlargement
commissioner, Olli Rehn told reporters that the EU could sign a
stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia soon. Observers
say EU officials are seeking to send a positive message to Serbia
ahead of next weekend's presidential run-off vote. At the same time,
most EU countries have said they would recognise an independent
Kosovo. The ethnic-Albanian leadership of the Serbian province is
expected to declare independence within a matter of weeks.
Fierce fighting continues in Sri Lanka's north
In Sri Lanka, at least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels and two government
soldiers have been killed in the latest clashes in the north of the
country. This brings the death toll from the weekend's fighting to
55. Earlier this month, the Sri Lankan government formally pulled
out of a 2002 truce, saying the rebels had used it to regroup and
re-arm.
Thailand elects Samak as new prime minister
Thai lawmakers have elected Samak Sundaravej, an ally of deposed
premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as the nation's new prime minister. The
vote restores civilian leadership to Thailand after 16 months of
military rule. Samak is widely expected to try to clear the way for
Thaksin to return to Thailand. Thaksin was toppled by the military
in September 2006 and since then has been living in self-imposed
exile.
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For more information please turn to our internet website at
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evxhkaI4501ileI1&req=l%3Devxhk9I4501ileI1
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You can even listen to all programmes as audio-on-demand.
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