Deutsche Welle English Service News September 7th 2005, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Schröder Defends Record, Hits Out at CDU In the final parliamentary session before Germany's general election on Sept.18, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder defended his government's record and sharply criticized his challenger, Angela Merkel.
To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1703112,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- New Orleans survivors told to get out The mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, has ordered the forced evacuation of people still refusing to leave the flooded city. He urged all those not involved in the rescue effort to get out citing serious health threats. Nagin said chemicals, gas leaks and decomposing bodies had contaminated the water. Authorities said the US army was beginning to pump water out of the city but 60 percent of New Orleans remain flooded. President George W. Bush has said he will lead an investigation into how the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was handled. Critics have said the local and federal response was slow and confused. Bush said it was now important to focus on rebuilding the flooded city of New Orleans. Germany sends pumps to New Orleans Germany's technical aid organisation, THW, has sent about 100 workers to New Orleans to help in the clean-up following the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. A government spokesman told reporters in Berlin that the THW workers were equipped with 15 high-power pumps that are to be used to help pump the flood waters out of New Orleans. They're to arrive in the United States in a few hours' time. The German government has also agreed to send a number of forensics teams to the region to help identify the dead. Report says Annan guilty of mistakes United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that the findings of an independent probe into the UN oil-for-food program for Iraq were deeply embarrassing for all those involved. Paul Volcker, the former US Federal Reserve chairman who delivered the report blamed Annan as UN secretary-general for a series of "administrative failings." The report said those managing the programme ignored clear evidence of corruption and waste. But Volcker cleared Annan of any ethical misconduct. The report also said the United Nations was in urgent need of reforms. Bundestag hosts campaign speeches German parliamentarians have been meeting in their last session in the Bundestag prior to the September 18 federal election. And with the vote less than two weeks away, both the government and the opposition have turned the session into an election campaign event. Deutsche Welle Radio's Hardy Graupner reports from Berlin. Voting irregularities in Egyptian polls Egyptians have been voting in the country's first contested presidential election. Independent monitors reported a litany of irregularities at polling stations, complaining they had been beaten, apprehended and interrogated by security services in several places. Current President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for the past 24 years, is widely expected to beat out his nine challengers. Critics of the election say it does not make any real progess towards democracy. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since 1991. Blair calls for strong EU-India ties British Prime Minister Tony Blair has welcomed a European Union trade and security deal with India calling it a turning point in their relations. Blair, the current EU Council president, said the so-called action plan, which covers a wide range of issues would enhance relations between the two sides. Speaking earlier at the opening of the EU-India summit in New Delhi he said the EU should take advantage of India's economic boom and be part of its emergence as an economic powerhouse in the region. Blair flew to Delhi from China where he also discussed trade and human rights issues. India approves Airbus purchase India has approved the long-delayed purchase of 43 planes from European aircraft maker Airbus for 1.8 billion euros. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made the announcement after talks with European Union leaders led by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Indian Airlines board had agreed on the acquisition of 20 Airbus A-319s, 19 A-321s and four A-320s more than two years ago. But a final decision was delayed by required clearances from the government because of the size of the order. Iraq's president says Saddam confessed Iraq's president has said that ousted leader Saddam Hussein has confessed to crimes including murders committed during his regime. Jalal Talabani said on Iraqi state television that he was informed by an investigator that Saddam had confessed to ordering executions. Saddam's lawyers have disputed the claim, and said that the comments prejudiced his upcoming trial. The former leader is due to face court next month on a single charge of mass killings in reprisal for a 1982 assassination attempt. UN says world failing on poverty A new United Nations report says governments around the world are putting millions of lives at risk by failing to reduce poverty. In its 2005 Human Development Report, the UN says that despite some improvements there are still 100 million more impoverished people in Africa than 15 years ago. The report highlights the lack of development in sub-Saharan Africa where the HIV/AIDS pandemic is dramatically reducing life expectancy. A UN summit next week in New York is due to review the progress of the Millenium Development Goals, which include pledges to reduce poverty and achieve global primary education by 2015. Indonesia buries plane crash victims A mass burial has been held in the Indonesian city of Medan to lay to rest 33 unidentified victims of Monday's plane crash. The bodies of many of the victims were burned beyond recognition. Hundreds of people attended the funeral, many of them crying openly as soldiers and police lowered the coffins into a grave. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the Mandala Airlines plane to crash shortly after takeoff, killing 148 people. The head of the National Transport Safety Committee said a preliminary report indicated there may have been a problem with one of the plane's engines. Militant group claims Arafat killing The militant Palestinian group Popular Resistance Committees says it shot dead the former Gaza security chief Moussa Arafat in his house and kidnapped his son. Arafat, a cousin of the late leader, Yasser Arafat, was sacked earlier this year by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Moussa Arafat was linked to corruption charges and it's thought his killing was related to internal conflicts. The Popular Resistance Committees is made up of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants as well as members of the ruling Fatah party. Typhoon Nabi to hit Japan again Typhoon Nabi is said to be threatening the Japanese coast again and heading towards the northern island of Hokkaido. On Tuesday it swept across Japan, leaving at least 15 people dead and dozens missing. About 300,000 people are still without power. In South Korea at least five people are reported missing. The heavy rains and strong winds have grounded hundreds of flights, blocked trains, and closed down highways across southern Japan leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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