DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE Newsletter English Service News 15. 08. 2006 16:00 Uhr UTC ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Steinmeier Cancels Talks With Syrian President German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has cancelled a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on short notice because of a speech the president gave blaming the US for ongoing tensions in the region. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=1hlpwyIfcha79I0&req=l%3D1hlpwxIfcha79I0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The wait is over! The Bundesliga starts again! Follow all the German soccer action with DW-WORLD.DE in our special section: http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=1hlpwyIfcha79I1&req=l%3D1hlpwxIfcha79I1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Fragile cease-fire in Lebanon holding A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas is still reported to be holding despite sporadic violence in southern Lebanon. Israeli military officials say Hezbollah have fired several rockets at Israeli positions in southern Lebanon. No casualties were reported and Israeli troops did not return fire. Since the cease-fire came into force on Monday, thousands of Lebanese refugees who had fled the fighting in the south of the country have been heading home. More Israeli troops have pulled out of Lebanon, but the majority of them are not expected to leave until Lebanese and international troops are ready to deploy to their positions. Officials said this could begin in the next couple of days. Steinmeier cancels trip to Syria German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has cancelled a trip to Syria just minutes before he was to board a plane bound for Damascus. Steinmeier told reporters in the Jordanian capital, Amman, that his decision was a direct result of a speech by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In that speech, Assad praised Hezbollah for what he said was a glorious victory over Israel in southern Lebanon, and he said Syria was proud to be a supporter of the Shi'ite militant group. Assad described Israel as an enemy and said peace would never come to the Middle East as long as US President George W. Bush was in power. Germany can't refuse troops "if asked" Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung has said that Germany will present a concrete proposal of Bundeswehr participation in Lebanon in New York on Thursday. Jung already said on Monday that Germany could not, if asked, refuse to participate in an international UN peacekeeping force. Several newspapers are already reporting that Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats and their grand coalition partners, the Social Democrats, have agreed in principle to send troops. The debate is shifting towards what role the troops should take on. Options include sending navy ships to patrol the coast off Lebanon or border police to help monitor Lebanon's border with Syria, in an effort to prevent arms from getting through to Hezbollah guerillas. Sri Lanka schools closed for violence In Sri Lanka, heavy fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels is continuing. The government has closed all schools in fear of reprisal attacks by the rebels. The Tamil Tigers say an air attack on a former orphanage on Monday killed some 61 schoolgirls. The army rejects the claim, but Norwegian observers have confirmed the death of 19 youngsters. Only hours after the attack, a car bomb detonated next to a Pakistani embassy convoy, leaving seven people dead. The Sri Lankan military blames Tamil rebels for that attack. Preventing AIDS better than curing it The World Bank says that the fight against HIV and AIDS can only be won if high-risk countries tackle the disease individually. Julian Schweitzer from the World Bank's South Asia branch said countries should also focus more on prevention programs rather than trying to cure a limited number of infected people with expensive medication. Schweitzer made the announcement at the 16th International AIDS Conference that is underway in Toronto, Canada. Of 65 million people who contracted AIDS and HIV in the past 25 years, 25 million have died of it. AIDS is most prevalent in Africa and South Asia. Protesters clash with Mexican police Mexican police for the first time used teargas and clubs in clashes with supporters of presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is disputing the outcome of the country's recent election. At least eight demonstrators were hurt as police tried to disperse the crowd. Lopez Obrador says the election was rigged by his conservative rival Felipe Calderon, who emerged as the winner by the narrowest of margins. A partial review of votes ordered by Mexico's top electoral court appeared to confirm Calderon's victory. Lopez Obrador and his followers want a full recount. German oil worker kidnapped in Nigeria Another German oil worker has been kidnapped in Nigeria. The Foreign Office in Berlin has confirmed that a German was among four foreign workers who were kidnapped in the Niger Delta at the weekend. A Foreign Office spokesman said diplomats were working to secure his release. Meanwhile, there's still no word on the fate of an employee of the German company Bilfinger Berger who was kidnapped in Nigeria 12 days ago. The Foreign Office has warned all German citizens against travelling to the Niger Delta region. German populations shrinks to 82.4 mn The German population continues to shrink. Latest figures released by the Federal Statistics Office shows that the German population shrunk by 65,000 in 2005 to 82.4 million. Immigration failed to balance a declining birth rate. 686,000 babies were born in Germany in 2005, while 830,000 people died that year. India on terror alert for Independence Day India is celebrating Independence Day amid tight security after warnings of possible militant attacks. Thousands of police were visible on the streets of the capital New Delhi, checking cars and guarding government buildings. The country is on hight alert in the wake of last month's train bombings in Mumbai that killed 186 people and injured hundreds more. Independence Day marks India's freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. Philippines: sunk oil tanker could explode The Philippines coastal guard has called for international help to salvage a sunken oil tanker amid fears it could break up and explode. The "Solar 1" tanker, carrying two million liters of industrial fuel, sank in stormy weather last Friday en route to a power plant on the southern island of Mindanao. The spill has caused the biggest oil slick ever to pollute the Phillipine coastline. Coastal authorities say the slick now covers a stretch of 19.5 nautical miles and is polluting beaches, diving spots and sensitive coastal areas around the central Island of Guimaras. Environmental group Greenpeace says oil company Petron must be held accountable for environmental and marine damage from the spill. Political killings in Philippines on the rise International human rights group Amnesty International reports that 51 left-wing political activists have been murdered in the Philippines in the first half of this year. In its latest report, Amnesty says the number of killings is increasing and is concerned that military forces may be involved. 66 left-wing activists were killed in the Philippines last year. About 700 leftist activist, farmers and journalists have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo swept into power in 2001. Attacks rarely lead to arrest or prosecution, says Amnesty, and warns that the leadership of Philippine's armed insurgency is threatening to form reprisal assassination squads Dell to recall laptop batteries The world's largest manufacturer of personal computers, Dell, is to recall 4.1 million of its notebook computer batteries because of a fire risk. Most batteries are in computers sold in the United States but more than 1 million are believed to be outside the US. Dell says it knows of six instances since December when the batteries, made by Sony, overheated or caught fire. The US body responsible for consumer safety says it is the biggest recall of electrical products in its history. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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