Deutsche Welle English Service News 04.09.2002, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Environmentalists Say Summit a Huge Letdown Environmentalists in Germany say agreements reached in Johannesburg are so watered-down that they actually set the clock back on poverty eradication and the environment. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1433_A_622820_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Summit action plan slammed by NGOs The sustainability summit in Johannesburg has adopted an action plan slammed as insufficient by NGO non-governmental groups and after jeering during a speech by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Police removed at least seven hecklers when Powell defended U.S. policies such as Washington's refusal to join the Kyoto climate protocol. The summit's action plan reaffirms the goal of halving the number of the world's poor by 2015. The number of those lacking sanitation and clean drinking water is to be halved as well. Species extinction is to be "significantly" reduced. Toxic chemical impacts are to be minimized. Renewable energies are to be "substantially" boosted, but short of a EU target. Green and NGO groups, some of whom staged a walk-out, said the summit had failed to raise extra aid for the world's poor or improve environmental protection. But, U.N. chief Kofi Annan said the summit was an "important" start. Bush to brief U.N. on policy toward Iraq U.S. President George W. Bush has met Congressional leaders in Washington and said that he will outline his policy toward Iraq in an address to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday next week. Bush said he would also meet Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, the USA's closest ally, this Saturday at Camp David, and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrietien next Monday in Detroit. Referring to recent threats by his top officials of military action against Iraq, Bush added that "doing nothing was not an option for the United States". He described Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as a "serious threat" and promised to consult Congress before acting. Euro parliament warns USA All major groups in the European Parliament have urged the United States not to launch a military offensive against Iraq on its own. Leading parliamentarians, both Social Democrat and conservative, warned that unilateral U.S. intervention would have drastic effects in the Middle East. EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said the United Nation's authority and international law must be respected. He also urged the world community to press Iraq to comply with U.N. resolutions on the return of U.N. weapons inspectors. Senior Indonesian politician jailed Indonesia's parliament speaker Akbar Tanjung has been sentenced to three years jail on corruptions charges by Jakarta's central court in a case widely seen as a test of Indonesia's legal reforms. Lawyers for Tanjung, who also heads the once all-powerful Golkar party, said they would appeal. He had denied having funds intended for poor villagers diverted to his party in 1999. Also sentenced to lesser terms of 18 months jail were two officials who helped run the fund. The presiding chief judge was Zakaria who in July jailed Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of the former dictator, for 15 years on murder and weapons charges. Golkar remains the second largest party in the coalition government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri. "Intensive" talks over North Koreans fate German and Chinese officials continue to negotiate the fate of 15 North Koreans sheltering inside a German embassy school and housing compound in Beijing since Tuesday. Another group of 21 North Koreans remains at South Korea's Beijing consulate after the Phillipines reportedly agreed to provide an indirect route to Seoul. Chinese police remain outside the German compound as diplomats clarify whether it is diplomatic territory under Geneva conventions. Officials inside said the 15 - eight women and seven men - had been fed and accommodated. Pupils were told that class had been cancelled. In Berlin, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Germany was working "intensively" to seek a solution. China this year has let 80 others go to South Korea via third countries. Munich publican sentenced for anti-Jewish remarks A Munich night club proprietor accused of making anti-Jewish remarks last year when refusing to host a party for the late Yitzah Rabin's granddaughter Noa has been given a six-month suspended jail term. A Munich court found the publican guilty of incitement and slander and also imposed a fine of 2,500 euros. Three women organisers had testified that he told them - three days before the event - that he wanted nothing to do with Jews and that he would rather have the DVU, a far-right German group, on his premises. During the trial, the publican denied making such remarks. Organisers said they had booked a cocktail party for Noa Ben Artzi-Pelossof and 400 guests. Israel deports Palestinain relatives One day after the Israeli High Court upheld a lower court decision to deport relatives of Palestinain suicide bombers, an Israeli military convoy has taken two West Bank Palestinians to the Gaza Strip, where they are due to remain for up to two years. Human Rights groups say the deportations amount to collective punishment in breach of Geneva conventions. It was the first time Israel has used the measure, which it said was aimed at deterring potential attackers, since a Palestinian uprising erupted two years ago. At least 17 people killed in fighting in Somali capital At least 17 people have been killed and 27 others wounded during two days of heavy fighting in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Witnesses and militia sources confirmed the fighting had erupted on Tuesday, between warring clans. An unidentified nurse at a local hospital told Reuters that local residents were also among the victims. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information please turn to our internet website at http://dw-world.de/english 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. Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
