Deutsche Welle English Service News 30. 03. 2005, 16:00 UTC
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Schr�der Firm on Lifting China Arms Ban German Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der said he had no plans to drop his support for the lifting of a European Union arms embargo on China after EU officials said any decision was unlikely to be made before June. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1534927,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DW-WORLD values your opinion: We look forward to hearing from you about stories we write and regularly post your letters in our reader response section. Check them out at: http://www.dw-world.de/english or write us an e-mail yourself: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Fires complicate quake rescue efforts Fires have broken out in north western Indonesia, complicating rescue efforts in the wake of a devastating earthquake. The fires on Simeulue island razed dozens of buildings and houses already destroyed by Monday's quake, which measured 8.7 on the Richter scale. In the meantime, rescuers continued their search for survivors on Wednesday, but officials said there was a lack of earth-moving gear to free anyone who may be trapped under the rubble. Up to 2000 people are feared dead. The United Nations has set up a hub in a Sumatra port city and will use Chinook heavy-lifting helicopters to ferry machinery and supplies to the isolated islands worst-hit by the quake. Pope being fed through nasal tube The Vatican reports that Pope John Paul is being fed through a nasal tube to help his recovery from surgery. According to a Vatican spokesman, the Pope has begun receiving nutrients from a nasal tube to improve his calorie intake and promote a speedier recovery. The Pope underwent throat surgery on February 24 to relieve breathing problems. The 84-year old Pontiff was too ill to preside over Easter celebrations. Israel's Addis ambassador shoots himself The Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia has been found critically wounded in his hotel apartment in Addis Ababa. After initial speculation about a possible attack on him, diplomatic and medical sources were quoted as saying Doron Grossman had tried to kill himself. He was to be flown to Israel for treatment. Wolfowitz tries to ease EU concerns The US nominee for World Bank president, Paul Wolfowitz, has met with EU leaders in Brussels to ease concerns over his qualifications for the post. He promised to recruit a "truly multinational" board to run the international development lender. Wolfowitz is now the US deputy secretary of defence and the primary architect of the war in Iraq. His nomination has sparked scepticism in Europe. He was invited to Brussels for a World Bank board meeting to choose a successor to James Wolfensohn. Key Kyrgyz leader quits Kyrgyzstan's law enforcement and security chief has resigned less than a week after taking up the post in a coup. A parliamentary press statement stated that Felix Kulov was resigning because the country had stabilised and a temporary government had been formed. The resignation is the latest twist for the ex-Soviet country, which is still adjusting to the sudden change in leadership. It has also raised concern of possible renewed instability in Kyrgyzstan. EU court rejects German land claims The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has ruled against a group of former east Germans who had their land seized after 1945. Seventy-one eastern Germans were claiming compensation for land that was taken by Soviet forces after World War II. The Strasbourg court upheld a ruling by Germany's constitutional court against the claim, saving the German government billions of euros in damages. Schiavo's parents file new appeal The parents of the severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo have filed a last-minute petition to a federal appeals court to have her feeding tube reconnected. According to a court spokesperson, Schiavo's parents requested that the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, hear the petition. 41-year-old Terri Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since a heart attack 15 years ago. Her husband won a series of court battles to have her feeding tube removed last week. Laura Bush visits Afghanistan US First Lady Laura Bush has flown to Afghanistan to praise women's achievements there since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Mrs. Bush unveiled a series of multi-million dollar US-funded projects to promote women's learning, including a grant for a new American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. Under the Taliban, women were barred from education. Even now, in many traditional Afghan families, husbands won't allow their daughters or wives to go to school unless they have all-female teachers. UN approves sanctions on Sudan The United Nations Security Council has voted to impose sanctions on those responsible for atrocities against civilians in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. The council approved a US drafted resolution amid fierce opposition from the Sudanese government. The sanctions, including a travel ban and the freezing of assets of those guilty of committing atrocities, will come into effect in 30 days. Last week the council agreed to send 10,000 peacekeepers to southern Sudan to monitor a cease-fire deal but it has been divided over how to handle the crisis in Darfur. 5 million registered voters in Zimbabwe Five million people have registered to vote in Thursday's parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe. According to observers, the vote has turned into a generational conflict with 81-year old President Robert Mugabe supporting older candidates against a younger opposition. Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party is expected to win. Elections in 2000 and 2002 were marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging. While election officials said conditions this year were peaceful, the European Union criticised the polls as unfair. Syria sets date for Lebanese pull out Syria has for the first time said Damascus will pull all of its troops out of Lebanon before the upcoming Lebanese elections. Syria's Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara reportedly made the pledge in a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The letter said that Syria had already cut back its troops to 10,000 from 40,000. It said there would be a "full withdrawal of these troops" before the May election. Pressure for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon intensified last month after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Many blame the murder on Damascus. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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? 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