Deutsche Welle English Service News 26. 02. 2006 17:00 Uhr UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
German Olympic Athletes Worth Their Weight in Gold Germany won the most medals at the Winter Olympics in Turin. But the absence of any flag-waving at home suggests that the athletes' impressive haul left Germans cold. Has the country simply come to expect success? To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1916832,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign up for our new podcast! In "Correspondents report," Deutsche Welle journalists provide coverage of the top stories on the world and European news agenda. Every day, you will be able to listen to at least two stories from Newslink, DW-RADIO's news journal. For more information and to sign up, please go to http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,9541,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran and Russia reach nuclear deal Iran and Russia say they have reached a preliminary agreement on a joint venture to enrich uranium. Speaking at a news conference in Iran, the heads of the two countries' nuclear agencies said negotiations will continue in Moscow in the coming days. It is unclear exactly what the deal involves, but Moscow has proposed a compromise plan involving Iran's uranium being enriched on Russian soil. This would ease Western fears that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, while guaranteeing Tehran's access to reactor fuel needed to generate electricity. The deal comes ahead of a meeting of the UN's nuclear watchdog on March 6, which will discuss possible action against Iran over its nuclear program. Iraqi violence continues In Iraq, sectarian violence sparked by the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine has continued on Sunday despite calls for calm. At least five people were killed in a bomb explosion in the mainly Shi'ite town of Hilla, while there were minor injuries when a bomb went off in a Shi'ite mosque in Basra. On Saturday, Shi'ite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari joined with Sunni and Kurdish leaders to call for an end to violence between Shi'ites and Sunnis. They also vowed to move forward with forming a national unity government. More than 150 people have died in violent sectarian clashes since Wednesday's bombing of a major Shi'ite shrine. Authorities have extended a curfew in Baghdad, including a ban on traffic, until Monday. Abbas could resign if peace talks stall Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he might resign if peace talks with Israel remain stalled under a Hamas-led government. His comments, in an interview to be broadcast Sunday by Britain's ITV network, come amid the first signs of compromise between Israel and Hamas. Palestinian prime minister-designate Ismail Haniya has told the Washington Post Hamas is "ready to recognise" Israel if it gives the Palestinian people their full rights and a state in lands occupied since 1967, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In response, Israeli cabinet minister Meir Sheetrit has said that Israel won't have any trouble speaking to Hamas and reaching a settlement if Hamas recognises Israel and renounces violence. Philippines marines standoff ends The commander of the Philippines marines has been removed from his post, prompting a brief stand-off between his supporters and those of President Gloria Arroyo. Major-General Renato Miranda was relieved of his command two days after an alleged military coup plot was discovered. One of his subordinates, Colonel Ariel Querubin, responded by holing up with armed men at the marine headquarters and appealing for public support, but he emerged with his newly appointed commander after several hours of talks. Military officials said the chain of command had been restored, but did not spell out the punishment to be imposed on Querubin and his soldiers. German union hints at strike compromise A German union leader has hinted at a possible compromise to end almost three weeks of public service strikes in various federal states. The Verdi services union argues that state government plans to extend the working week for all public service workers from 38.5 to 40 hours would cost 250,000 jobs. But in a newspaper interview, Verdi chief Frank Bsirske pointed to a possible solution based on a system used by some hospitals, under which younger employees work longer hours than their older counterparts. The chief negotiator for the state governments, Hartmut Moellring, said he was open to the suggestion. The next round of labour talks is planned for March 10. Don't over-react to bird flu, says EU European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has urged EU trade partners not to over-react to an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu at a turkey farm in France. Despite reassurances from French President Jacques Chirac that eating poultry and eggs poses no danger to humans, Japan and Hong Kong have suspended imports from France, the EU's largest poultry producer. Meanwhile, Switzerland has reported its first positive tests for bird flu, and the disease has now been detected in four German states. The worst affected is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the virus has been found in more than 120 wild birds. The H5N1 strain has killed over 80 people in Asia since 2003, and experts fear it could mutate into a human pandemic form. Rioting inmates seize Afghan prison In Afghanistan, hundreds of rioting inmates have seized control of a wing of Kabul's largest jail. A number of prisoners were wounded when wardens opened fire during the riot, and several women have also been taken hostage, but it is not yet clear if they are inmates or guards. The prisoners, who include alleged members of the ousted Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies, burned mattresses and clothes and broke down walls in the prison, after refusing to wear new uniforms. Afghan fast reaction troops and army tanks have surrounded the prison. Protesters rally against Thai PM Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have taken to the streets of Bangkok to demand the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The peaceful crowd chanted slogans accusing the former telecom tycoon of undermining the checks and balances of the constitution and tailoring policy to suit his family's business. The demonstration follows the Prime Minister's call for a snap general election on April 2, three years ahead of schedule. Leaders from three main opposition parties have threatened to boycott the poll, but they said they would delay any decision until Monday after they meet Thaksin to discuss 'political reforms'. Basque explosion follows ETA protest Two people were injured in Vitoria, the capital of Spain's Basque country, when an explosive device went off at a bank cash machine on Saturday night. Spain's Interior Minister has blamed the attack on the Basque separatist group ETA. It came just hours after tens of thousands of people have marched in Madrid to protest what they said are moves by Spain's Socialist government to negotiate secretly with ETA. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has denied opening talks and says ETA must first lay down its arms permanently. A recent poll showed most Spaniards agree with the approach. Call for restraint over cartoons The United Nations, Arab states and the world's largest Islamic body called on Saturday for restraint and dialogue to ease tensions over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The cartoons, first published in Denmark last year, have led to worldwide protests by Muslims in recent weeks. The statement, issued in Qatar at a gathering attended by UN chief Kofi Annan, reaffirmed the right to free speech but said it must be used responsibly and not as a pretext for insult. Qatar is hosting a three-day conference as part of efforts to calm the furore and overcome misunderstandings. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Win a trip to Germany! "A Time to Make Friends" is the motto of this summer's World Cup in Germany. Tell us what you associate with the host country and you could end up winning a trip for two to Germany. 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