Deutsche Welle
English Service News
13. 10. 2005, 17:00 UTC
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The Week in Germany: The best from German culture, business and
politics in a convenient weekly wrap-up. Read and subscribe at
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Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Looking Abroad for Reform Models
While what worked in other countries isn't a guarantee for success,
many believe looking beyond Germany's borders could provide the
inspiration needed to reform Europe's largest economy.
To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the
internet address below:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1739276,00.html
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Putin issues shoot-to-kill orders
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued shoot-to-kill orders to
troops involved in an operation to rescue several hostages held by
gunmen who stormed a police station in the Russian city of Nalchik
this morning. Putin said any gunman resisting capture in the rescue
operation was to be killed. Between 150 and 300 gunmen attacked
several government buildings including a police station and a
school. News agencies report that 12 police, 12 civilians as well as
around 20 gunmen have been killed as a result of the operation. The
city has been sealed off while armoured vehicles move to end the
standoff. Chechen rebels say they are behind the attacks.
EU says Turkish bird flu is deadly strain
The European Commission has confirmed that the bird flu virus found
in poultry from Turkey is the deadly H5N1 strain that has killed at
least 60 people throughout southeast Asia. EU Health Commissioner
Markos Kypriano said tests had shown that there was a direct link to
the viruses found recently in Russia, Mongolia and China. This comes
after Romanian health officials said they had found the virus in
three ducks in the Danube Delta region. The samples have been sent
to Britain to identify the strain. The EU has imposed a ban on the
imports of live birds and poultry products from Romania and Turkey.
Germany has called for stricter controls at airports and borders.
Muentefering named vice-chancellor
In Germany, the leader of Social Democrats, Franz Muentefering has
been named the country's vice chancellor and labour minister in a
coalition government under conservative Chancellor-designate Angela
Merkel. The post of finance minister will go to Peer Steinbrueck,
the former SPD premier of the state of North Rhine Westphalia.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier succeeds Joschka Fischer as foreign
minister. The Social Democrats will hold 8 of the 14 ministries in
the grand coalition government. Angela Merkel's Conservatives will
hold 6 ministries. The economy portfolio will go to Merkel's ally,
Edmund Stoiber.
Strong aftershock hits Pakistan
The World Food Programme is to divert 65 trucks and over 1,000
tonnes of wheat flour from its Afghanistan operation to quake-hit
Pakistan. Pakistani towns worst hit by Saturdays's earthquake have
begun receiving relief supplies with the help of US and German
helicopters. An estimated 2.5 million people were made homeless in
the quake, which has killed an estimated 40,000 people. Aid agencies
are trying to reach mountainous areas where people are at risk of
freezing temperatures. Meanwhile, a strong aftershock measuring 5.6
on the Richter scale has hit the earthquake-devastated regions of
Pakistan. There have been more than two dozen aftershocks since the
main quake last week.
Iraq seals borders ahead of Sat. vote
Iraqi and US forces are stepping up security throughout the country
ahead of this weekend's national referendum on a new constitution.
Iraq's borders will be sealed and all travel between the countries'
18 provinces will be banned. A night-time curfew will also come into
force this evening in a bid to prevent insurgents from disrupting
the vote. On Wednesday, negotiators agreed to last-minute changes to
the country's draft constitution. Sunni Arabs had demanded that
changes could be made to the charter after December's parliamentary
elections. One of the key additions states that the constitution is
a guarantee for Iraqi unity.
Morocco deports more Africans
Morocco has deported more sub-Saharan Africans, sending 360 Malians
back home in two plane loads on Thursday. Morocco also plans to send
a plane load of migrants from Senegal back to Africa later today.
Morocco began deporting sub-Saharan Africans earlier this week,
following a recent surge in Africans trying to enter the EU through
two Spanish enclaves on Morocco's northern coast. Eleven Africans
died in recent weeks while trying to scale the barbed-wire fences
around the enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. EU justice ministers met
yesterday to explore ways of dealing with iilegal immigration
crisis.
Syrian flag absent at Kanaan funeral
Syria's interior minister Ghazi Kanaan who committed suicide
yesterday has been buried in his home town of Bhamra. The Syrian
flag was notably absent from the coffin of Kanaan, who reportedly
shot himself in the head at his Damascus office. Kanaan's death
comes just three weeks after he was questioned by a UN team
investigating the killing of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has said Syria was not
involved in Hariri's death.
US, China textile talks fail
The United States and China have failed to reach an agreement on
their long-running textile dispute. A US trade official said there
had been no progress on meeting the needs of US manufacturers and
retailers. Cheaper Chinese textiles have been flooding the American
market putting pressure on local businesses. The US says it now
reserves the right to place its own restrictions on Chinese goods
entering the market.
Pinter wins Nobel literature prize
The British playwright Harold Pinter has won this year's Nobel Prize
for literature. The Swedish Academy in Stockholm hailed Pinter as
one of the greatest playwrights of the past century. The 75-year-old
is the author of more than 30 plays, including "The Room," and "The
Birthday Party."
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You'll find it all at www.dw-world.de/soccer
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