Deutsche Welle English Service News March 11th 2005, 18:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Pain Still Raw as Spain Remembers Victims In schools, workplaces and on the streets, Spain fell silent for five minutes on Friday in memory of the 191 people who died in Madrid a year ago in the worst terrorist attack in the country's history. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1515442,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in German soccer? Then DW-WORLD has just the thing for you: On Saturday, we offer you a live ticker of a Bundesliga match. The game starts at 15:30 CET, so be sure not to miss it. Follow all the action by clicking on the LIVE SOCCER banner at DW-WORLD's new Bundesliga Web site: http://www.dw-world.de/soccer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bells mark anniversary of Madrid attack Spain is commemorating the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings in which 191 people were killed and almost 2,000 others injured. Over 600 church bells in Madrid tolled at 7:37am the minute the first bomb went off on March 11, 2004. Silent tributes were held at midday. Spanish King Juan Carlos and other world leaders including UN Secretary General Kofi Annan laid wreaths and attended a ceremony in central Madrid. 192 cypress and olive trees have been planted at a special memorial site for each of the bombing victims as well as a policeman who died in a later raid on a suspect's flat. 75 people were arrested in the criminal investigation, 25 are still in prison, 17 are under court supervision and 33 have been released. UN calls for total Syrian withdrawal Almost all of Syria's 14,000 troops have been withdrawn from north Lebanon, leaving only intelligence agents behind. But the United Nations has called on Damascus to completely withdraw from Lebanon. UN Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen is scheduled to travel to Syria on Saturday to present the UN's ultimatum. This includes recognizing Lebanon's sovereignty and non-interference in the country's forthcoming elections. Syria must also withdraw its 5,000 intelligence agents and present a pull-out timetable. If President Bashir al Assad fails to comply Syria will be isolated both politically and economically, said the UN Special Envoy. Nepal ex-prime minister free again The government in Nepal has released former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba from house arrest. At least 18 other politicians were also released from detention. Deuba was fired and placed under house arrest on February 1 by King Gyanendra who said the prime minister had failed to control the deadly Maoist revolt which has killed thousands of people. Deuba's release came amid mounting international pressure on Nepal's king to restore democracy. US warns of possible attack in Jakarta The US embassy in Jakarta has warned of a possible terrorist attack at the World Trade Center Mangga Dua. The embassy posted the warning on its website, saying a possible bomb threat could take place within the next four days. There were no details however on what prompted the alert. Indonesia has been hit by several bomb attacks, the most recent being on the Australian embassy last September which killed 10 people. Turks protest killing of Chechen chief Thousands of protesters have gathered outside an Istanbul mosque after Friday prayers to condemn the killing of Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov by Russian security forces. The demonstrators carried banners and Chechen flags and held a symbolic funeral for the slain rebel leader. Turkey is home to thousands of Chechen nationals or their descendents. The state-run Anatolian news agency said anti-Russian protests also took place in other Turkish cities. Tourism best help for Tsunami hit region German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul has urged tourists to return to Tsunami-affected regions. Speaking ahead of the International Tourism Fair, which opens today in Berlin, the minister said tourism offered the best help for those south east nations hit by the massive waves. Meanwhile the first group of German soldiers have returned from their humanitarian mission in the Indonesian province of Aceh devastated by the December 26 Tsunami. 50 soldiers arrived in Cologne/Bonn airport on Friday with the remaining 100 to return within a week. German Bundeswehr soldiers have been rebuilding the damaged hospital in Banda Aceh. Iran could be referred to UN Britain, France and Germany have told their European Union partners they would support referring Iran to the UN Security Council if it resumes uranium enrichment or breaches nuclear commitments. Last December they entered into talks with the Tehran leadership, aimed at persuading Iran to suspend all enrichment activities as well as cooperating fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has said it wants to resolve its nuclear standoff with the West without provoking a military conflict. But Tehran's senior nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani reiterated that Iran would not give in to demands by Washington and the EU that it scrap parts of its nuclear programme such as uranium enrichment. Britain calls for billions in aid for Africa Britain is urging wealthy nations to double aid spending for Africa. In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched the report of the multi-national Africa Commission which described the widespread poverty on the continent as "the greatest tragedy of our time." Britain, which is chairing the G8 group of industrialised nations, has called for a 19-billion-euro increase in aid funding for Africa over the next three years. Government formed in Schleswig-Holstein A minority coalition government has been formed in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Following state elections in February, the ruling Social Democrat and Green coalition lost their majority and formed a government with the minority Danish party the Southern-Schleswig voter association. Under a new deal all parties have agreed to widespread administrative reforms and the introduction of all day community schools. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Join our latest forum: The EU intends to lift its 15-year arms embargo against China, much to the regret of the US which says resuming defense trade would upset the balance of power in the region. What do you think? Participate by going to http://www.dw-world.de/english ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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