Deutsche Welle English Service News 20. 02. 2005, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: A Rough Road to Ratification Three countries have already said "yes" to the EU constitution. On Sunday, Spain becomes the first country to put the matter directly to the people. Here's a look at the remaining hurdles for the constitution. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1493592,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Israeli cabinet approves Gaza pullout The Israeli cabinet has approved the planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Earlier Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the pullout of Jewish settlers from the region was vital for the future of the state of Israel. The deal brokered with orthodox and right-wing coalition parties, will result in the enlargement of existing settlements in the West Bank and there will be further construction to the controversial West Bank barrier. Meanwhile the Israeli army said sixteen West Bank Palestinians expelled by Israel to the Gaza Strip, have been told they can return to their homes. In a further sign of progress in the Middle East peace process, Jordan on Sunday has sent its ambassador back to Israel to fill a four-year vacancy in a post abandoned after the start of the Palestinian uprising. Bush departs for Europe US President George W. Bush is on his way to Belgium to begin a three country visit intended to smooth over differences with Europe over Iraq and a range of other issues. A huge security operation has been initiated in Brussels where Bush will have talks with Belgian leaders on Monday before dining with French President Jacques Chirac. Thousands of protestors are expected during the tour, the first foreign visit since his second term began last month. On Tuesday he will stay in Brussels for meetings with NATO and European Union leaders. On Wednesday he will travel on to Germany for talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and then Slovakia, where he will meet Russia's president Vladimir Putin. Spain votes on EU constitution The people of Spain are voting in the first referendum on the new European Union constitution. Opinion polls show that a "yes" vote is expected, but a low turnout is feared. At least eight other EU countries are due to hold referendums. The new European Union constitution, intended to make the EU run smoothly after its enlargement last year to 25 states, must be ratified by all EU members. Portugal votes in early general election In Portugal a general election is underway in which the opposition Socialists are expected to sweep Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes' conservative Social Democrats from office. Five of six polls published on Friday showed the party, led since September by pro-market former environment minister Jose Socrates, will obtain a majority in the 230-seat parliament for the first time since the country returned to democracy in 1974. Togo's leader under increased pressure The pressure on Togo's new leader continues to grow as France added its voice to that of the US and the African Union for his resignation. Faure Gnassingbe, son of Africa's longest-serving leader Gnassingbe Eyadema, was named president by the military just hours after his father's death two weeks ago. The constitution was amended to legitimise the move. African and world leaders described the succession as a coup and on Saturday, ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States suspended Togo membership, imposed an arms embargo and banned the former French colony's leaders from travelling in the region. Gnassingbe is also under pressure at home, where at least 10,000 people demonstrated in the capital Lome on Saturday. African leaders want to avoid further instability in the volatile region. State elections in Schleswig-Holstein In Germany, state elections are under way in Schleswig-Holstein. Germany's northernmost state has a small population of 2.8 million, although the result of this election will be an important barometer for politics on the national level. According to opinion polls incumbent state premier Heide Simonis of the Social Democrats has a slight lead over her Christian Democrat challenger Peter Harry Christensen, but a large number of voters are still undecided. Former US presidents in Sri Lanka Former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush have began the third-leg of their four-nation tour of tsunami-hit countries with an overnight visit to Sri Lanka. Bush and Clinton have been appointed by President George W. Bush to head US private fundraising efforts in the wake of the tsunamis that killed at least 288,000 people in 11 countries in Asia and India. Prior to their arrival in Sri Lanka, the two former presidents witnessed the devastation in the Indonesian province of Aceh. 81 die in Bangladesh ferry disaster Police in Bangladesh say that 81 people are confirmed dead and more than 100 missing after a river ferry capsized in a cyclone near the capital Dhaka. The ferry was travelling from Dhaka to the town of Chandpur with around 200 people on board when it sank, although some survivors have put the figure at closer to 500. Ex-Haiti ministers in prison escape A former prime minister and interior minister of the deposed Haitian government of Jean Bertrand Aristide have been recaptured after escaping from prison in a mass break out. Police in Port-au-Prince said former prime minister Yvon Neptune and ex-Interior Minister Jocelerme Privert were arrested a few hours after the break out. About 350 prisoners escaped after armed miltants stormed the prison compound near the presidential palace. 41 die in snow in Indian Kashmir At least 41 people have been killed in Indian Kashmir after the heaviest snowfall in two decades hit the region. 11 bodies were recovered after an avalanche hit Loren village in southern Poonch district Sunday, according to police. More bodies are feared to be trapped under the snow. 30 deaths were reported overnight from similar snow-related accidents in other districts. This brings the death toll in two weeks of heavy snow to 69, including 19 soldiers. Road links have been cut, causing a shortage of essential supplies. Continuous snow in the region since late Thursday has also halted air travel. 'U Carmen' film wins Golden Bear In Berlin, the jury at this year's International Film Festival has awarded the golden bear for best film to "Carmen in Khayelitsha" by director Mark Dornford-May. It's just one of a crop of movies with political themes that have been getting attention at this year's festival. The Berlinale had made Africa a theme this year and for the first time the winner of the best film prize came from the continent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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. Serbian News Network - SNN news@antic.org http://www.antic.org/
