Deutsche Welle English Service News September 13th 2003, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Foreign Minsters Fail to Reach Agreement on Iraq's Future UN-Generalsekretär Kofi Annan hat die Außenminister der fünf Veto-Mächte im Weltsicherheitsrat für Samstag (13.9.) nach Genf eingeladen, um über eine neue Irak-Resolution zu verhandeln. Einigkeit wurde nicht erreicht. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/german/0,3367,1454_A_969904_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wrangle over Iraq shifts to Geneva At emergency talks on Iraq's future in Geneva, the UN Security Council's five veto nations have remained at odds, although UN chief Kofi Annan said a concensus appeared "achievable". U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who on Friday dismissed a French proposal of a rapid handover of powers to Iraqis, spoke of encouraging "points of convergence". But, said Powell, differences remained on aspects of a U.S. draft resolution to be debated in New York later this month. That draft seek more troops from other nations for a UN-mandated multinational force under U.S. command and more reconstruction cash. Russia, China, and non-permanent member Germany - like France - want a greater UN role. In Iraq, the U.S. military has apologised for a "friendly fire" shootout in Fallujah on Friday. Locals say nine Iraqi security men were killed. Nearby, two U.S. soldiers were killed. Typhoon toll rises in South Korea The toll from South Korea's worst typhoon on record has risen to at least 58 people killed, with many more missing, including 10 guests sought after waves flooded a karaoke bar at the coastal city of Masan. Typhoon "Maemi" struck southern Korean regions on Friday night, with huge seas sinking dozens of ships, including a cruise liner at Pusan; toppling cranes, and flooding crops. Officials say 25,000 people have been evacuated. Four atomic power stations shut down, cutting electricity to 1.4 million households. Officials said telephone links remained down in some area. One of many landslides derailed a train. The cabinet of Prime Minister Goh Kun has promised tax relief for affected families, firms and farmers. Meteorologists say the typhoon is now crossing the Sea of Japan, weakening as it goes. Lindh murder inquiry - Photos published Two Swedish tabloid newspapers have published photos from video cameras of an apparent suspect in the Anna Lindh murder inquiry - on the eve of Sweden's referendum on whether to adopt the euro. The pictures show a man in a cap and grey sweatshirt, with hood. Police have criticised the publication, saying it will compromise testimony from 15 witnesses. Sweden's foreign minister died on Thursday after Wednesday's stabbing in a Stockholm department store. On Friday, 100,000 people attended rallies across Sweden in memory of the pro- euro advocate. Four latest surveys differ on whether Swedes will reject or adopt the currency, already used in 12 EU nations. One shows Swedes still opposed. Another puts the "yes" camp slightly ahead. Prime Minister Goran Persson has called for a high turnout. And, EU finance ministers, meeting in Italy, have urged Swedes to adopt the euro, saying that would boost Europe's sluggish economy. Rwanda swears in President Kagame Rwanda has sworn in its first elected president since the 1994 massacres. Paul Kagame who assumed power as president in 2000 is set to serve a seven-year term as leader of the central African state. Kagame, a Tutsi, won 95 percent of the vote against two candidates from the majority Hutu ethnic group in the election. His party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), hailed the victory as proof that ethnic-based divisions have been overcome in Rwanda. The presidents of South Africa and Nigeria, Thabo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo attended the inauguration ceremony. Zimbabwe police shut down private newspaper Zimbabwean police have closed down operations at the country's only private daily newspaper, the "Daily News", a day after Zimbabwe's Supreme Court ruled it was operating illegally. The paper's editor and operations manager were reportedly taken to a police station. The paper had been operating without a licence in defiance of a restrictive media law passed in 2002. This comes after the announcement that President Robert Mugabe's troops are to take over all distribution of food aid. That has upset relief agencies which fear that the supply of food will become a tool of suppression. EU considers ending cotton subsidies The European Union appears to be ready to remove what poor nations see as a key obstacle in international trade. An EU Commission spokesman told reporters at the World Trade Organisation talks in the Mexican town of Cancun that subsidies for domestic cotton producers would be eliminated. Several African cotton-producing countries have called for an end to subsidies which they say distort trade competition. EU officials said further reform proposals targeting subsidies for sugar, olive oil and tobacco would be presented later this month. However industrialised countries said poorer nations must also open up their markets. Thousands of demonstrators are expected in Cancun on Saturday to protest at WTO policies. German President Rau in Nanjing German President Johannes Rau has called on China to initiate reforms for increased democracy and freedom. Rau made these remarks in his thank-you speech after receiving an honorary degree from the University of Nanjing in eastern China. Rau also emphasized that in Germany's view, human rights must be upheld throughout the world. World sport wrap-up At the Judo World Championships in Japan, Germany's Florian Wanner was the surprise winner in the 81-kilogram class. The European Women's Field Hockey Championships in Spain has been won by the Netherlands by beating Spain 5-0. At Sunday's Formula 1 grand prix in Italy, Juan Pablo Montoya came out on top followed by Michael Schumacher. Brother Ralf Schumacher did not race due to a training injury sustained in the previous week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
