Deutsche Welle English Service News May 1st 2005, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
An Expanded Union -- One Year Later One year ago, the EU suddenly grew by some 75 million people when 10 nations joined the fold. What has membership meant, in real terms, for the new member states and their citizens? To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1569393,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We'd like to introduce you to our latest newsletter: ""Germany Light"" give you a weekly look at Germany's cultural, peculiar and sometimes odd happenings. To sign up for regular dose of fun and entertainment, please go to our Newsletter section at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1170241,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraqis confess to UK hostage murder Five suspects detained by Iraqi troops have confessed to the kidnapping and murder of British aid worker Margaret Hassan. An interior ministry spokesman told reporters that the five Iraqi suspects were detained in a raid in the capital, Baghdad. The 59-year-old Hassan was abducted last October, and a video apparently showing her killing was released a month later. She was an aid worker who had married an Iraqi and lived in the country for more than 30 years. Nine dead in Baghdad attacks Two insurgent attacks in Iraq have killed at least nine people. In the first incident gunmen shot dead five policemen at a checkpoint just outside the capital, Baghdad. In the second attack at least four civilians were killed and five wounded after a car bomb hit a US convoy in the capital. Italy to release report on agent's death Italy is preparing to release the results of its investigation into the killing of an Italian secret agent by US troops in Iraq. Nicola Calipari was gunned down at a US checkpoint near Baghdad two months ago as he was bringing a freed Italian hostage to safety. The US military released its own report on Saturday confirming it would not discipline the soldiers involved in the incident. The US report said the soldiers had acted within the rules of engagement. The affair has strained relations between Washington and one of its closest allies in the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. Blair had early plan to invade Iraq Britain's Sunday Times newspaper has published a secret report alleging that Prime Minister Tony Blair was committed as early as July of 2002 to taking part in a US-led invasion of Iraq. The leaked Foreign Office document comes just days before British voters go to the polls in a general election. Blair has always said that he didn't make up his mind about invading Iraq until months later. The memo, dated July 23, 2002, quotes Britain's foreign intelligence chief as saying that the cabinet had already determined that military action was inevitable. Turkish PM visits Israel Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has paid his first official visit to Israel. The Turkish leader was hoping to mend fences, following a public statement last year in which he accused Israel of engaging in "state terrorism." Shortly after his arrival in Jerusalem, Erdogan paid his respects to the victims of the Nazi Holocaust at the Yad Vashem memorial. Following a meeting with Israeli President Moshe Katsav, Erdogan said the two countries needed to show solidarity in the international war on terror. Erdogan was to hold of separate talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Dachau liberation remembered A ceremony has been held at the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich to mark the liberation of the camp 60 years ago. The Nazi concentration camp opened in March 1933, just two months after Adolf Hitler came to power. It was liberated by US troops on April the 29th 1945. German political and religious leaders and several hundred former prisoners took part in Sunday's memorial service. More than 30 thousand people are estimated to have died at Dachau. Police arrest 200 over Cairo attacks Egyptian police have arrested 200 people for questioning in connection with two attacks in the capital, Cairo, that left three militants dead and injured at least 10 other people, including four foreign tourists. In the first incident police said a suicide bomber detonated explosives near the Egyptian Museum. Shortly afterwards, two veiled women, believed to be the bomber's sister and his fianc�e, opened fire on a tourist bus. The two women apparently committed suicide after firing the shots. Authorities said the three belonged to a small terrorist group that was involved in last month's attack on a Cairo bazaar that killed three tourists. ECOWAS urges dialogue in Togo A delegation of West African leaders visiting Togo has called for dialogue between the country's political parties to resolve its political crisis. Dozens of people have been killed in the aftermath of last Sunday's disputed presidential election. The delegation, made up of representatives from the ECOWAS regional grouping, held talks with Togo's interim president and opposition leaders. Faure Gnassingbe was declared the winner of the election, but opposition leader Emmanual Akitani Bob says the vote was rigged. Germany's foreign ministry called on all Germans in Togo to leave the country, after the Goethe Institute in the capital, Lom�, was attacked and set on fire. Pope delivers first Sunday blessing In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI has given his first Sunday blessing to thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. In a message marking May Day he called for human dignity to be respected in the workplace. The pope also appealed for peace in the West African state of Togo and other countries affected by conflict and poverty. Benedict XVI officially moved into his papal appartments in the Vatican on Saturday. Berlin police arrest 65 in May Day clash German police have arrested 65 people in connection with May Day clashes with left-wing protesters in Berlin. A spokesman said three officers had suffered light injuries. However authorities said that the disturbances had been mild so far compared with last year when 200 police officers were hurt and more than 200 arrests were made. The May Day protests have become a traditional feature in the German capital. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tell us what you think! 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