DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter English Service News 29.12.06, 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=evu5u3Ifcha79I0&req=l%3Devu5u2Ifcha79I0 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Euro Rises to New High But Europeans Remain Skeptical For the first time, the euro surpassed the US dollar in terms of the number of banknotes in circulation. Despite the euro's strength, European citizens remain skeptical, blaming it for making things more expensive. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu5u3Ifcha79I1&req=l%3Devu5u2Ifcha79I1 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Saddam transferred to Iraqi custody The chief defence lawyer for Saddam Hussein says the former Iraqi dictator has been transferred from US to Iraqi custody. The announcement has triggered widespread speculation that Saddam's execution is imminent. Meanwhile, the head of Iraq's interior ministry, Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf, has said security forces are on high alert ahead of the hanging, which is expected to exacerbate sectarian tensions. Bomber hits Shi'ite mosque A suicide bomber has attacked a Shi'ite mosque in the town of Khalis north of Baghdad. Iraqi police say at least ten people have been killed and eleven are injured. The bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest just after Friday prayers. In Kut, south of Baghdad, an Iraqi policeman has been killed and three others seriously injured in a mortar attack on the headquarters of the rapid intervention squad. The unit is connected to the US-led coalition forces. And a British soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb blast in Basra in southern Iraq. The British Ministry of Defence says the soldier was on a road patrol when the bomb exploded. Somali government plans martial law Somalia's Prime Minister Ali Mohamad Gedi says he intends to impose martial law in the country for at least three months in order to re-establish stability. He entered the capital Mogadishu to cheers from hundreds who lined the streets after Somalian government troops, aided by Ethiopian forces, regained control of the city after six months in the hands of soldiers loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts. The UN estimates that about 30,000 people have been displaced during the fighting and casualties have been high. Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency has said that 34 people died when two boats laden with people fleeing the conflict in Somalia capsized in the Gulf of Aden. A further 123 people are missing, presumed dead. Palestinian militants defy Israel truce Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired eight rockets at Israel in violation of a month-old ceasefire. Three of the missiles landed in the Jewish state without causing any injuries. The attacks come after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the resumption of pinpoint strikes in the Gaza Strip against militants firing rockets. Despite the decision, Israel has not yet responded to the latest attacks. Under the truce, Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire but more than 60 rockets have been fired into Israel since then. Millions of pilgrims arrive at Mt Arafat In Saudi Arabia, nearly three million Muslim pilgrims have arrived at a vast tent city at Mount Arafat outside the holy city of Mecca to take part in day-long prayers at the beginning of this year's Hajj. According to tradition the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon on the desert mountain some 1,400 years ago. Today's ritual, during which the pilgrims seek forgiveness for their sins, is the spiritual climax of the Hajj which began on Thursday and ends on Monday. New safety measures have been introduced this year, aimed at preventing stampedes that in the past have resulted in hundreds of deaths. Belarus prepares for gas supply cut Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said his country will not bow to what he calls Russian "blackmail" in the gas pricing dispute. Lukashenko is in Russia for talks aimed at settling the crisis. Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom has threatened to cut the Belarus gas supply at the start of the new year if Minsk doesn't agree to a steep price hike. Belarus is arguing that it should pay the same price as Russia. Meanwhile, residents of Belarus are preparing in case gas is cut off on Monday. Factories and other businesses using large quantities of gas will be the first to be disconnected. Reserves that should last two weeks will be used to maintain central heating in apartment buildings. 15 Wal-Mart outlets closed in Germany Germany's biggest retailer, Metro, has announced that it will close 15 of the loss-making former Wal-Mart hypermarkets it took over earlier this year from its US rival. Dusseldorf-based Metro said 1,200 staff would lose their jobs. It added that the 70 remaining outlets employing around 10,000 would be converted into Real hypermarkets by the middle of 2007. Wal-Mart which is the world's biggest retailer decided to leave the German market this year after failing to quell competition from other German low-price supermarkets. Three killed in train accident in Austria Three people have been killed after being hit by a train in Austria, near the country's border with Germany. The two police officers and a mortician were hit by the train while they were on the tracks investigating an earlier accident. A spokesman for the Austrian rail service said that normal procedure was to close the line after an accident, but it wasn't immediately clear why this apparently hadn't been happened in this case. Rift Valley fever kills 30 in Kenya More than 30 people have died from Rift Valley fever in northern Kenya over the past week. The viral disease, which has flu-like symptoms, is transmitted from livestock to humans by mosquitoes. The disease has been made worse by widespread flooding throughout the region. The Red Cross are distributing mosquito nets to people in the area to help prevent the disease from spreading. Since October more than 150 people have been killed by floods and related ailments after unusually heavy rains began pounding the country. Euro up 11 percent against dollar in 2006 Since the beginning of 2006 the euro has gained 11 percent in value against the US dollar. The European single currency has profited against the dollar this year from higher interest rates in the eurozone at a time when borrowing costs have remained on hold in the United States during the latter half of 2006. Currently, one euro is trading at 1.3170 dollars. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 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=evu5u3Ifcha79I2&req=l%3Devu5u2Ifcha79I2 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' For more information please turn to our internet website at http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evu5u3Ifcha79I3&req=l%3Devu5u2Ifcha79I3 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=900001803&sig=KDJBBFJGIMEMCKDJ Copyright Deutsche Welle 2006 Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
