Deutsche Welle English Service News May 28th 2005, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Schröder's Election Strategy Hits a Snag Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is basing new elections on losing a planned vote of "no confidence" on July 1. But losing that and then going on to be left's top candidate is proving a dilemma. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1598497,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We'd like to introduce you to our latest newsletter: ""Germany Light"" give you a weekly look at Germany's cultural, peculiar and sometimes odd happenings. To sign up for regular dose of fun and entertainment, please go to our Newsletter section at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1170241,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bomb blasts in Indonesia kill 20 At least 20 people have been killed and 50 injured in two bomb blasts in a crowded market in eastern Indonesia. The explosions occurred 15 minutes apart in the predominantly Christian town of Tentena, on the eastern island of Sulawesi. The island has been the scene of heavy violence between Christian and Muslim groups in the past. Indonesian authorities suspect the Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah of involvement in the bombings. Jakarta blames Jemaah Islamiyah for the 2002 blast on the island of Bali. The attack comes amid heightened warnings of terrorist attacks in Indonesia. On Thursday, the United States closed its four diplomatic missions in the country, citing a security threat. Bombings kill 19 in Iraq A roadside bomb has killed three civilians in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Three explosions outside of a joint US-Iraqi military base in Sinjar, near Mosul, have killed seven Iraqis and injured 35. Iraqi authorities say twin car bombs have killed nine people and wounded at least 44 in the city of Tikrit, north of Baghdad. Japanese and Iraqi officials have confirmed that the man appearing on a video posted by an Iraqi militant group on the Internet is abducted Japanese contractor Akihiko Saito. The Army of Ansar al-Sunna says Saito had died of wounds sustained during his capture three weeks ago. The government in Tokyo says relatives have positively identified the man, but that his death could not be confirmed. Muslims condemn alleged Koran abuse Thousands of people across the Muslim world have rallied against the alleged abuse of the Koran by US personnel at the military detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Protesters in Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon and Malaysia demanded that the US apologise and punish those responsible. The demonstrations came after the US military acknowledged that some of its guards and interrogators had handled the Koran improperly. It denied reports that the Islamic holy book had been flushed down a toilet, as alleged in an article in Newsweek magazine. The magazine has since retracted its report. UN chief Annan visits Darfur UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has toured the troubled region of Darfur as part of a three-day visit to Sudan. After talks with the Sudanese government in Khartoum, Annan flew to South Darfur province and visited one of the largest camps for displaced persons, where around 110,000 people have been living for the past two years. The UN estimates that more than 180,000 people have been killed and about two million forced from their homes due to rebel fighting and systematic attacks by so-called Janjaweed militias on villages. Observers say Khartoum supports the Janjaweed. Donors at a conference in Ethiopia week have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to help the African Union monitoring mission in the region. Saudi officials say Fahd ís stable Saudi Arabia's King Fahd is reported to be in stable condition. The king was taken to hospital with pneumonia. Saudi officials said he underwent treatment to remove water from his lungs. King Fahd suffered a stroke in 1995 and has been incapacitated ever since. His half-brother, Crown Prince Abdullah, performs most of the functions of the Saudi head of state. EU leaders say "vote 'oui' for Europe" Residents of France's overseas territories have begun casting their ballots in the country's EU constitution referendum. European leaders have joined Paris in urging the French electorate to vote in favour of the European Union treaty in Sunday's referendum, instead of using their vote to send a punishing message to their own government. French citizens have become increasingly bitter over rising unemployment and unpopular labour market policies. In opinion polls, the majority of voters say they plan to reject the EU treaty. The constitution requires ratification by all 25 member states to come into force. On Friday, Germany became the ninth EU country to approve the constitution after the second chamber of parliament, the Bundesrat, voted in favour of the charter. Italian strike grounds flights In Italy, around 200 flights have been cancelled and dozens of others delayed due to a four-hour air traffic controllers' strike. The country's flag carrier, Alitalia, announced the cancellation of 196 flights, including 116 international connections. The labour action, aimed at gaining better job security and benefits, mainly affects airports in Rome and Milan. It is the union's second strike this month. Budesliga: Wolfsburg's coach quits The German Bundesliga football team VfL Wolfsburg has announced that its coach Erik Gerets has resigned over disagreements with the team's management. The 51-year-old Belgian and veteran of his country's 1986 World Cup bid, had taken on the Wolfsburg post in April 2004. Blindness reported with impotence drug US health authorities say they have received more than 40 reports of a type of blindness in men taking drugs for erectile dysfunction. Many of the cases involved the most well-known impotence drug, Viagra. But a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said there is no proof that Viagra had caused blindness. Stock in the pharmaceuticals company Pfizer Inc., which makes Viagra, dropped by almost two percent following the news. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Send us your favorite picks for sight-seeing, museum hopping, historical edification – whatever you’ve got to share with others heading to Germany. Restaurants, hotels, back-country hideaways – write to us with your insider tips and tell us about what you liked best about traveling in Germany. For more information, please go to http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1096790,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information please turn to our internet website at http://dw-world.de/english 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. 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