DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter
English Service News 25.12.06, 17:00 Uhr UTC '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 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=evu56lIfcha79I0&req=l%3Devu56kIfcha79I0 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: In Christmas Address, German President Urges More Reform German President Horst Köhler has used his traditional Christmas address to again set out his case for enacting far-reaching reforms in Europe's biggest economy. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu56lIfcha79I1&req=l%3Devu56kIfcha79I1 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Fighting in Somalia escalates Ethiopian fighter jets have bombed two Islamist-held airports in Somalia as rival forces fought each other across the East African country. Ethiopia's air force struck the Mogadishu International Airport as well as Somalia's largest military airport northwest of the capital in what was said an attempt to disrupt supplies to Islamists who have control of most of Somalia. Artillery duels were reported near Baidoa, the only town the Somali-interim government controls. The government also declared the closure of all of Somalia's land, sea and air borders. Fears are rising that the conflict could spread across the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia and its major rival Eritrea are estimated to have up to 20,000 total troops in Somalia. Pope delivers "Urbi et Orbi" blessing Pope Benedict has delivered his traditional, twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the world from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica. The Roman Catholic Church head urged a solution to conflicts across the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa. He also said despite modern-day successes, the world remains in desperate need of a saviour. Earlier, Pope Benedict performed the traditional Christmas midnight mass in Rome, calling on the faithful to protect the world's children living in poverty. He also spoke out against the materialism that he said has been allowed to dominate Christmas. 1000 British forces storm Iraq police station About 1000 British forces stormed the headquarters of a rogue Iraqi police unit in the southern city of Basra, killing at least seven gunmen. They launched the raid, fearing that the Iraqi officers were about to start executing 127 prisoners. It was originally reported that more than 170 prisoners were being held. The Serious Crimes Unit was in the process of being disbanded when the British troops arrived and flattened the site. Meanwhile in Baghdad, a car bomb has killed ten people and wounded 15 more when it exploded in a mainly Shiite district of the capital. Israel removes roadblocks in West Bank Israel has ordered the immediate removal of dozens of several hundred roadblocks in the West Bank. Around 60 roadblocks are to be removed as part of several measures announced by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to ease restrictions imposed on the Palestinians. Israel will also release 100 million dollars of withheld taxes to the Palestinian Authority and is considering releasing some Palestinian prisoners. The steps come after a meeting on Saturday between Mr Olmert and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Meanwhile Olmert has said he would like to renew peace talks with Syria, subject to Damascus ending its support of militant groups like Hamas and the Hezbollah. Syria recently indicated it would like to resume negotiations with Israel. Record 648 illegal Africans reach Italy Italian coast guards have intercepted a 30 meter boat carrying almost 650 would-be immigrants near the island of Sicily. That's a record number of Africans trying to sneak into Europe in a single boat. The immigrants, who say they're Egyptian nationals, have been towed to the Sicilian port town of Licata. Most ships arriving in Sicily or Lampedusa, favourite destinations for illegal immigrants, carry no more than 200 people. On Saturday 102 migrants went missing off the Senegalese coast in the Atlantic after their ship capsized. Only 25 people survived. Rescuers launch operation in Aceh Rescue workers and soldiers have launched a large rescue operation after flash floods and landslides in Indonesia's Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. So far, at least 80 people have been reported killed and more than 100,000 have fled to higher ground, most of them seeking out government shelters. Aceh, still recovering from the 2004 tsunami, was hardest hit. Heavy flooding is an annual problem in Indonesia, but officials said the damage has been made worse by illegal logging. Thailand accused of tsunami aid misuse Western countries including Germany and Britain are demanding that Thai authorities look into allegations that up to 60 percent of 1.6 million dollars in aid to help victims of the 2004 Tsunami has been misappropriated. It's believed much of the money was wasted and disguised as travelling and other costs. 5,400 people were killed during the Tsunami in Thailand, half of them foreigners. The Indian Ocean tsunami killed about 220,000 people in 11 countries. Peace deal signed in Chad Chad's President Idriss Deby and rebel leader Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim have signed a peace deal at a signing ceremony in Tripoli, Libya. The two sides agreed on Sunday night to end all military activity, release each other's prisoners and to grant an amnesty to fighters from both sides. Other insurgents in Chad have dismissed the deal and said they would fight on. Office: German industry can cut greenhouse gas Germany's environmental office has called on the country's companies to redouble their efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. The head of the office, Andreas Troge, told the daily paper "Handelsblatt" that German industry could do more in advance of an article to appear on Wednesday. Troge added he couldn't understand why industry was challenging the European Commission's tougher CO2 quotas. German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel has also criticised Brussels for a lack of transparency in its greenhouse gas quota criteria. Germany set for EU presidency The European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has said he has high expectations for Germany when it takes over the rotating EU presidency on January 1. He said that he is confident Chancellor Angela Merkel will work towards moving the European agenda forward. He said however that he doesn't expect Germany to solve all of Europe's problems during its 6-month presidency. US forces in Baghdad hold Iranian diplomats The US military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including suspected senior military officials. The four were seized in raids last week, aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces. At least two of the men were in Iraq on invitation by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Two Iranian diplomats were among those initially detained in the raids but later released. It is unclear what evidence American officials have, and they will not identify those being held. Iraqi government officials have been trying to engage Iran on security matters. 'Godfather of Soul' James Brown dies Legendary singer James Brown, known as the "Godfather of Soul," has died. He was 73. Brown died of pneumonia after being admitted to hospital in Atlanta. His career spanned six decades and a total of 114 hit singles, including "I feel good", "Living in America" and "Sex machine". '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 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=evu56lIfcha79I2&req=l%3Devu56kIfcha79I2 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' For more information please turn to our internet website at http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu56lIfcha79I3&req=l%3Devu56kIfcha79I3 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=900000957&sig=EMHEBOLODGNPLBMN Copyright Deutsche Welle 2006 Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
