DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter English Service News March 5th 2006, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Iran Defiant Ahead of IAEA Meeting Iran will not freeze sensitive nuclear "research" work even if it is hauled before the UN Security Council, the Islamic republic's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Sunday. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1924222,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Click Back is waiting for you! DW-WORLD invites you to participate in the February version of our monthly quiz and win a jacket: http://www.dw-world.de/english ---------------------------------------------------------------------- China to give more help to rural poor China has vowed to increase spending in rural areas by almost four and a half billion euros this year to reduce the growing prosperity gap between city and country. This comes amid mounting anger in rural areas over chronic poverty, corruption and land-grabs for development projects. China's Premier Wen Jiabao made the announcement at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress. Wen told the 3,000 delegates that extra spending would go towards providing crop subsidies and improving the agricultural infrastructure and rural social services - such as schools and hospitals. 50 dead in Pakistan border clashes Pakistani troops have clashed with pro-Taleban militants near the Afghan border for a second day on Sunday. Officials say at least 50 people, mainly militants, have died since the battles erupted on Saturday in North Waziristan. This remote region has served as a base for many al-Qaeda and Taleban supporters since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The violence came as US President George W. Bush wrapped up a day-long visit to the Pakistani capital Islamabad. He declared solidarity with Pakistan in the fight against militants, and called for more work in the war on terror. Hamas dismisses Al-Qaeda call on Israel The radical Palestinian group Hamas has distanced itself from a call by Al-Qaeda to keep up its fight against Israel. In a video aired on Arab broadcaster al-Jazeera, Al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri endorsed Hamas' victory in recent Palestinian elections, and urged it not to recognise any existing agreements with Israel. But Hamas has dismissed the appeal as the "opinion" of Zawahiri and says it will take decisions strictly in the interests of the Palestinian people. In the video, Zawahiri also urged Muslims to boycott countries that had published cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed. The cartoons were deemed blasphemous by Muslims and unleashed violent protests across the world. Olmert plans limited West Bank pullout Interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is planning a unilateral withdrawal from some settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins the country's general election later this month. His security advisor Avi Dichter told Israeli radio on Sunday that the plan involves relocating settlers from isolated outposts to major settlement blocs. But Israel will not withdraw its troops as it did in Gaza. In recent weeks, Olmert has made clear he will make fixing the final borders of the Jewish state his top priority. Opinion polls show his Kadima party are favourites to win the March 28 national poll. Protesters march against Thai PM Tens of thousands of Thais marched through the streets of Bangkok on Sunday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It's the fourth major protest in as many weeks against Thaksin, who is accused of corruption and abuse of power. In a bid to diffuse the protests, the Prime Minister dissolved parliament in late February and called snap elections three years early. But leading opposition parties have decided to boycott the April 2 polls. Sunday's protests come just two days after Thaksin drew tens of thousands of supporters to a rally of his own. Iran will not bargain over nuclear work Iran says it is not ready to "bargain" over its bid to master sensitive nuclear work, despite the risk of an escalation of its standoff with the West and UN Security Council action. The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, opens a meeting Monday that is expected to clear the way for the Security Council to consider acting against Iran over fears it seeks nuclear weapons. International concerns are centered on Iran's bid to master uranium enrichment, even via small-scale research. West Africa's Benin holds elections Voters in the West African nation of Benin have gone to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president. Some of the nation's polling stations stayed open past the evening closing deadline because materials or electoral workers showed up late, but no serious problems were reported. Voters were choosing among 26 candidates for president, and electoral officials say results could be released within several days. Current President Mathieu Kerekou has been in power for all but five years since 1972, but both he and his main rival were barred from running this time because of age limits. UN calls for east Africa drought aid The head of the United Nations' World Food Programme insists that international donors must act immediately to avert a catastrophe in drought-stricken east Africa. Speaking in Kenya, James Morris said aid to the region will run out in April unless new pledges are made within the next 10 days. The WFP says it needs $225 million to be able to provide food through early 2007, but has received only about 10 percent of the needed sum, so far. The UN estimates as many as 11 million people are at risk of starvation in the Horn of Africa. Bird flu spreads in Europe Bird flu is continuing to spread in Europe, with Poland reporting its first case of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus in a wild swan. New bird flu cases have also been reported in Switzerland, Austria, France and Greece, as well as the German state of Bavaria. The disease has now been detected in six of Germany's 16 federal states, after a wild goose was found in the northern state of Lower Saxony on Saturday. Enhanced protective measures have been in place in the six states since Saturday, to prevent the disease from infecting commercial flocks. The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed over 90 people, mostly in Asia, since 2003. Snow causes chaos in south Germany In southern Germany, authorities have issued an avalanche warning after more heavy overnight snow falls in the Alps. Extreme weather conditions are continuing to disrupt traffic across Bavaria. Many trains were brought to a standstill, and at Munich airport many flights were cancelled or delayed. Forecasters say more snow could be on the way. Authorities have issued weather warnings for the south of Bavaria and neighbouring Baden-Wuerttembe ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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