Deutsche Welle English Service News 13.11.2005, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Future Merkel Government Faces First Major Test Monday The ink is barely dry on the pact for incoming chancellor Merkel's grand coalition government, but Germany's major parties will face their first tough test when the deal is put to their rank-and-file for approval Monday. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1775264,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DW-WORLD is looking for the best Weblog. Our International Weblog Awards are in full swing and now it's time for you to cast your vote. Choose your favorite from more than 100 finalists and win an iPod Shuffle with a bit of luck. DW's "The BOBs -- The Best of The Blogs" is sponsored by Maritim Hotel Bonn. Fore more, go to http://www.thebobs.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Woman bomber confesses on Jordan TV An Iraqi woman has confessed on Jordanian televsion to attempting to set off an explosives belt inside one of the three Amman hotels targeted by suicide bombers last Wednesday. Sajida Mabruk Atrous Rishawi was shown with the explosives belt that she had concealed. The 35-year-old said her belt failed to detonate but her husband did manage to blow himself apart in a mission that targeted two other luxury hotels. All three suicide bombers have been identified as Iraqis. The hotel blasts left 57 people dead and wounded 90 others. Kashmir man arrested over Delhi blasts Police in India say they have arrested a man from Kashmir who allegedly coordinated and financed last month's deadly blasts in New Delhi. Investigators said the salesman from Srinagar had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group that India blames for the triple bombings in the Indian capital that left 66 people dead and hundreds more wounded. The arrest came as India and Pakistan failed to make headway in a slow-moving peace process at a South Asian regional summit in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. French city bans gatherings French authorities have banned large gatherings in Lyon after police clashed with youths throwing stones and fire bombs. But officials said violence was waning in other areas under emergency measures such as curfews. Cars set ablaze in France for a 17th straight night Saturday were down by a quarter on the previous night. Fears that violence would grip central Paris proved unfounded after rallies were banned in the capital. The government adopted emergency measures last Tuesday to crack down on violence by youngsters frustrated by unemployment, racism, harsh police treatment and a lack of opportunities. Spain's Catholics protest school bill Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets of Madrid to protest against downgrading religious studies in schools. Under the new education bill, it would no longer be compulsory to take religion courses, even in state-funded private Catholic schools. Most of the protesters are from Spain's powerful Catholic church, making this the first time that the church has been pitted against the Socialist government. Azeri opposition rallies for vote re-run More than 20,000 opposition supporters in the oil-rich former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan have gathered for a rally to demand a re-run of last weekend's disputed parliamentary elections. Many of the protesters carried orange flags in a reference to the "Orange Revolution" that forced new presidential elections in Ukraine last year. President Ilham Aliyev, whose New Azerbaijan Party won the most seats in the poll, says he will not allow a revolution to take place. Western observers said last Sunday's vote failed to meet democratic standards. Burkina Faso chooses new president Voters in Burkina Faso are casting their ballots for a new president. Incumbent President Blaise Compaore is widely tipped to win in a landslide victory. But the opposition has accused him of misusing state funds to finance his re-election campaign. Around four million people of the 12-million population are eligible to choose between 12 candidates. Liberian election results due Tuesday The Liberian National Elections Commission says it will announce the final results of the country's presidential election no earlier than Tuesday. This comes despite what has been greeted as a clear win by former Finance Minister Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. With 90 percent of votes counted, Sirleaf has led with almost 60 percent of the vote. The main rival, soccer star George Weah, has raised accusations of fraud and called for a re-run election. Sirleaf, who will be Africa's first female elected head of state if her results are confirmed, has offered Weah a posting in her cabinet. German party conferences to examine deal Germany's two major political parties are planning conferences this week to debate the latest agreement to create a grand coalition government. Approval of the agreement by the CDU/CSU and the SPD looks likely despite reservations from both sides. On Friday, senior members from the Social Democrats and Christian Democrats announced that they had reached a deal on forming a grand coalition under the leadership of Angela Merkel. The deal includes tax hikes as well as cuts to benefits which Merkel has defended as essential to revitalising Germany's stagnant economy. Approval of the deal will also pave the way for Angela Merkel to be formally elected as Germany first female chancellor on November 22. Tennis: All French WTA final The WTA Championships final in Los Angeles will be an all-French affair for the first time in history. Mary Pierce who plays for France shocked top-ranked Lindsay Davenport by beating her 7-6 7-6 to reach the final on Saturday. She will play compatriot Amelie Mauresmo, who defeated Russian Maria Sharapova 7-6 6-3. Whoever wins the final will become the first Frenchwoman to win the title and end the year ranked no.3. The loser will end the year ranked no 5. Sharapova will fall from number three to four. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DW-WORLD offers you a special service for the Bundesliga. 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