DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter English Service News 22.12.06, 17:00 Uhr UTC
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' The Bundesliga is in full swing again! Follow all the German soccer action with DW-WORLD.DE in our special section: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu4w1Ifcha79I0&req=l%3Devu4w9Ifcha79I0 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Germany Split Over Plane Deployment to Afghanistan Germany's government is split over whether the decision to send spy planes to Afghanistan, which could see German troops deployed in the volatile south, needs parliamentary approval. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu4w1Ifcha79I1&req=l%3Devu4w9Ifcha79I1 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' NKorean nuclear talks end in deadlock Six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear arms program have ended in deadlock. The latest round of talks wrapped up after five days of meetings with no progress made and no date set for another round. The negotiations snagged on North Korea's refusal to discuss disarming until the US lifted financial sanctions imposed last year. North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Kye-Gwan blamed a "hostile" US policy toward Pyongyang for the failure of the talks. The chief US envoy to the talks, Christopher Hill, placed the blame squarely on North Korea, accusing its envoy of not having the authority to negotiate on the nuclear issue. Ethiopian tanks move into Somalia The Ethiopian government has moved tanks and other reinforcements into southern Somalia in a further day of fighting against Islamist forces. Ethiopia is supporting Somalia's weakened interim government against the Islamists, who control the capital Mogadishu and much of the rest of the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation. The two sides traded heavy shellfire east and south of Baidoa, the seat of government about 250 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu. Fighting began late on Tuesday, as an Islamist deadline for Ethiopian troops to leave Somalia or face a holy war passed. The fighting continues despite a statement by European Commission humanitarian chief Louis Michel on Wednesday that both sides had agreed to resume peace talks. Fatah militants wound 9 Hamas in fresh violence Gunmen loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah have opened fire on Hamas members in the West Bank, wounding at least nine civilians. The shootings occured as thousands of Hamas activists and militants attended a rally in the city of Nablus. It was the worst violence in the West Bank since Abbas called for fresh parliamentary and presidential elections, which the ruling Hamas described as a coup. So far 10 people have been killed in the factional violence. Speaking after Friday Prayers, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called for an end to the violence. Hamas and Fatah agreed on ceasefire earlier this week that has largely held. 8 Marines charged in Haditha deaths US military prosecutors have charged eight Marines in connection with the killing of 24 unarmed civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha last year. Four of the soldiers were charged directly with the killings, the other four for failing to report or investigate the deaths. The soldiers face a maximum penalty of life in prison. The Haditha killings took place in November 2005 allegedly in retaliation for the death of a Marine in a roadside bombing. Man charged over Ipswich murders A 48-year old man has appeared in court charged with the murders of five prostitutes in the English coastal town of Ipswich. Earlier prosecutors said Stephen Wright had been charged with all five murders. The court appearance followed a massive police inquiry into the deaths. Another court appearance at Ipswich Crown court has been scheduled for January 2. A second man who had also been detained this week was released from police custody on bail without charges being brought against him. Russian commission clears Beslan rescue effort More than two years after the Beslan school siege, a Russian commission of inquiry has cleared security officials for the bungled rescure effort in which more than 300 people died. Pro-Chechyna rebels seized more than 1,000 children and parents at the school on Sept. 1, 2004. More than half of the 333 hostages killed in the three-day siege were children. The commission blamed local authorities for ignoring calls to boost security in regional schools ahead of the first day of the school year. Putin to visit Ukraine after hiatus Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kiev for talks with the Ukraine leadership on energy, bilateral relations, and the recent sudden death of Turkmenistan's authoritarian leader. It's Putin's first visit to Ukraine in nearly two years following a dispute between Kiev and Moscow over trade and gas supplies. Ukraine is a key transit route for Russian gas to Europe. The Russian President is scheduled to have talks with the pro-Western Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who led the so-called "Orange Revolution" in 2005, and with cabinet ministers led by Ukraine's pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. His party won elections in March. Germany debates NATO request NATO's request that Germany send Tornado reconnaisance fighter jets to Afghanistan continues to divide German parliamentarians. The foreign policy spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives Eckart von Klaeden says such flights are covered by a existing Bundestag mandate for German NATO troops located mainly in Afghanistan's relatively peaceful north. But, other politicians in Merkel's grand coalition say parliament must be consulted again because the planes could be used over southern Afghanistan where NATO clashes often with resurgent Taliban militants. Thousands still stranded at Heathrow Fog is still blanketing London's Heathrow airport, grounding tens of thousands of passengers for a fourth day and upsetting holiday plans. Forecasters say the fog could linger until Christmas Day on Monday. British Airways has cancelled all domestics flights but long-haul services are continuing. London's Gatwick and smaller airports are also facing delays. BA has bused 3,000 people to northern British airports as well as Paris and Brussels. Space shuttle looking for place to land After nearly six months in space, the German astronaut Thomas Reiter is expected to return to earth today. It's unclear, however, where exactly the Discovery space shuttle will land. Poor weather and dwindling supplies could force the crew to divert the landing from Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida to White Sands, New Mexico. That site has only been used once - by the Colombia space shuttle 24 years ago. The landing cannot be postponed for much longer, as the shuttle will run out of fuel by Sunday. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Need a good laugh? Then check out DW-WORLD.DE'S From the Fringe Special, which regularly brings you quirky stories from and about Germany. To find out more, go to http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu4w1Ifcha79I2&req=l%3Devu4w9Ifcha79I2 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' For more information please turn to our internet website at http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu4w1Ifcha79I3&req=l%3Devu4w9Ifcha79I3 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. And of course the DW website also has information about DW-RADIO and DW-TV programmes: topics, broadcast times and frequencies. You can even listen to all programmes as audio-on-demand. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' You can cancel our newsletter at: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/public/unsubscribe.jsp?gid=90003210&uid=927954 405&mid=900000577&sig=ICGMJJCLCCKMHHBH Copyright Deutsche Welle 2006 Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
