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DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter
English Service News
09.05.08, 16:00 Uhr UTC
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Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Merkel Urges UN Security Council Action on Burma
Chancellor Merkel has called for UN action to force Burma's rulers
to let in relief for survivors of Cyclone Nargis. The World Food
Program temporarily suspended aid but said two p***s would deliver
supplies Saturday.
To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the
internet address below:
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evydoyI4501ileI0&req=l%3DevydoxI4501ileI0
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WFP to resume aid deliveries to Burma at the weekend
The UN has said it will resume aid flights to Burma on Saturday. The
World Food Programme had suspended deliveries to the cyclone struck
country after two aid p***s were impounded by the regime on Friday.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, which has left more than a
million people homeless, aid is still only trickling into the
country. The Burmese Foreign Ministry continues to maintain it is
not in a position to receive foreign relief workers, saying it is
responding to the crisis with its own resources. Human rights group
Amnesty International has criticised the junta for going ahead with
a referendum at the weekend that aims to endorse a pro-military
constitution. Amnesty said prioritising a new constitution during a
major catastrophe was a violation of human rights.
Lull in Beirut fighting
Fighting has eased in Lebanon's capital Beirut between predominantly
Sunni supporters of the government and the Shiite opposition group
Hezbollah. Hezbollah militia now control most of western Beirut, and
are blockading the city's port and airport. Three days of sectarian
violence has left at least 11 people killed and dozens wounded.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have called an emergency Arab foreign
ministers meeting to discuss the crisis, while Syrian and Qatari
leaders have called the situation a Lebanese "internal affair". Some
western nations have issued travel warnings for Lebanon, while Italy
has said it is drawing up an evacuation plan for its citizens.
Serbian government approves important deals with EU and Russia
Serbia's government has approved the EU's Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA), which includes provisions for future EU
membership. The deal was accepted unopposed by pro-European
ministers after Vojislav Kostunica's nationalist opposition party
staged a walk-out. In a statement after the session Kostunica said
the SAA was against Serbia's state and national interests. A Russian
energy deal was greenlighted by both parties; it will include Serbia
in the South Stream gas pipeline and give Russia's Gazprom a high
stake in Serb oil firm NIS. Both agreements require approval by
parliament, where finding a governing majority after Sunday's voting
could take weeks.
Russia celebrates Soviet-style military parade
For the first time in 18 years Russia has showed off its heavy
weaponry in a Soviet-style military parade on Moscow's Red Square.
The ceremony to celebrate World War Two Victory Day was attended by
Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev and his predecessor, Vladimir
Putin, who is now prime minister. The parade featured fly-bys of
military aircraft, as well as exhibitions of intercontinental
ballistic missiles, tanks and other vehicles.
Mbeki set for Mugabe talks
South African President Thabo Mbeki, has arrived in Zimbabwe's
capital, Harare, for talks with President Robert Mugabe. Mbeki is
acting as the region's chief mediator for Zimbabawe's political
crisis. However, he has been widely criticised for his cautious
approach towards Mugabe, and the opposition Movement for Democratic
Change has called for him to be axed as mediator. MDC leader Morgan
Tsvangirai is currently out of the country meeting with African
leaders and diplomats in an effort to step up pressure on the 84-
year-old Mugabe to resign. Tsvangirai has yet to announce whether he
will compete in a run-off, after claiming outright victory in the
first round of the country's presidential election.
Olmert's resignation would delay peace process
A Palestinian negotiator has said the Mideast peace process would be
put on hold if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigns. Olmert is
under investigation over allegations of bribery dating back to when
he was mayor of Jerusalem. Police are investigating whether the
hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by a US businessman were
illegal election donations or actual bribes. Olmert has said he will
resign only if he is indicted.
Ex-Siemens chief to face misdemeanor charges
German prosecutors in Munich have said there is not enough evidence
to warrant launching criminal proceeding against former Siemens CEO
and supervisory board director Heinrich von Pierer. However, von
Pierer and other former board members could still face misdemeanour
charges for failing in their duty to supervise the company's affairs.
The current supervisory board is not affected by Friday's decision.
The group has acknowledged the existence of special funds worth 1.3
billion euros which were used to illicitly obtain foreign contracts.
Last October Siemens agreed to pay a fine of 201 million euros to
put an end to some German legal proceedings and has also incurred
compliance costs of around 1.8 billion euros.
Koehler calls for 'freedom of the arts'
Ceremonies are taking place in Germany to mark the 75th anniversary
of the 1933 book burning that formed part of the Nazi attempt to
purge democratic ideas and thoughts deemed to be un-German. Marking
the event in a speech at a Berlin ceremony German President Horst
Koehler called for the 'freedom of the arts' to be upheld worldwide.
On Saturday, Berlin's Humboldt Library and the Cervantes cultural
institute of Spain will host readings and recitals in Berlin from
works which the Nazis denounced.
German open results
And in Sports: Unseeded teenager Victoria Azarenka has upset 15th
seed Alona Bondarenko to become the first player to reach the German
Open semi-finals. Belorussian Azanrenka won 7-6, 6-2. In the day's
other game Russia's Dinara Safina beat Serena Williams 2-6, 6-1, 7-6.
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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
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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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