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Xi meets with S African President Zuma ahead of BRICS summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma ahead of the BRICS summit in Durban. Joining Brazil, Russia and India, the five nations are seeking to establish a development bank.
Xi received a formal welcome complete with a 21-gun honor guard salute Tuesday in the South African capital, Pretoria. Zuma and Xi are expected to sign several agreements before traveling to Durban later in the day. BRICS summit to kick off Finance ministers at the BRICS summit, which will begin its fifth edition with a dinner banquet hosted by Zuma, are expected to present a feasibility study on the establishment of a new development bank to challenge the World Bank's decades-long dominance. Many in the developing world consider the World Bank, as well as the International Monetary Fund, to be western-dominated. Each of the five nations could be expected to contribute as much as $10 billion to capitalize the bank. Some have suggested that South Africa, the smallest country in the group, could host the bank in Pretoria in lieu of providing a large cash injection. Zuma has said the summit is also an opportunity to address South Africa's economic problems. "BRICS provides an opportunity for South Africa to promote its competitiveness," he said. "It is an opportunity to move further in our drive to promote economic growth and confront the challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment that afflicts our country." Presidents Dilma Rouseff of Brazil, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, as well as Xi and Zuma, will be in attendance for the presentation from economics ministers on Wednesday. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa account for 25 percent of global GDP and 40 percent of the world's population, economic data show. African investment The Chinese president arrived in South Africa from Tanzania, where he signed agreements to boost Beijing's trade, economic and cultural ties with the country. It is Xi's first since taking office. During a speech in Dar es Salaam Tuesday, Xi vowed to continue a $20 billion (15.5 billion euro) credit line to African nations over the next two years. China has become one of the world's leading investors in Africa. Trade last year between China and South Africa totaled $60 billion, accounting for almost one third of China's trade in Africa. Trade with the continent reached around $200 billion last year, up from just $1 billion in 2000. After the BRICS summit, Xi will travel to the Republic of Congo. dr/hc (AFP, dpa, PTI) | [
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Eurozone jobs crisis far from bottoming out
Unemployment in the eurozone has reached a new all-time high, surpassing the 19-million mark for the first time since the euro was launched. As growth won't pick up this year, Europe's jobs crisis is expected to worsen.
Unemployment across the 17-nation eurozone has struck 12 percent for the first time since the introduction of the euro in 1999, the European Union's statistics office, Eurostat, said on Tuesday. As 33,000 Europeans joined the jobless queues in February, the number of jobless in the single currency area surpassed 19 million people, or two million more than in the same month a year ago, Eurostat data showed. For the wider 27-nation European Union, February jobs data also showed a significant increase by 76,000 people to 26.34 million - a month-on-month rise in the rate from 10.8 percent in January to 10.9 percent in February. Describing unemployment as unacceptably high, EU Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor said the European Union needed to mobilize all available resources to create jobs, most notably for young people. Youth unemployment stood at 23.9 percent in the eurozone and at 23.5 percent in the EU, Eurostat's data showed, with crisis-hit Spain and Greece suffering jobless rates of more than 55 percent among youngsters under 25 years of age, followed by Portugal and Italy in the range of more than 35 percent. Greece and Spain are also leaders with regard to total unemployment figures, with rates of 26.4 percent and 26.3 percent respectively. #video#However, the February figures were compiled before the outbreak of the debt crisis in Cyprus. Many economists believe Cyprus' unemployment, which currently stands at 14 percent, will rise to Greek and Spanish levels as the country's economy is expected to shrink by 10 percent this year. In addition, economic contraction in the eurozone is far from bottoming out as output is forecast to shrink by another 0.3 percent this year. Austria and Germany, which have been faring relatively well in the current economic crisis, had the lowest unemployment rate in the eurozone with 4.8 percent and 5.4 percent respectively in February. uhe/pfd (AP, AFP, dpa) | [
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India prepares to introduce plastic banknotes
India has decided to trial the use of plastic notes across five of the country's cities. It is part of a move, experts say, aimed at reducing costs, increasing the life of notes and combating counterfeit currency.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is getting ready to circulate 1 billion plastic, or polymer, bank notes of the 10 rupee denomination, which equals around 14 euro cents, across five Indian cities. Kochi, Mysore, Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar and Shimla have been chosen for their vast geographical differences and to test the effects their varying climates may have on the plastic notes. The switch to plastic banknotes, Alpana Killawala, spokesperson at the Reserve Bank of India said, is not only aimed at increasing the longevity of the notes but also a move to tackle people attempting to counterfeit the currency. Plastic vs. paper Thirteen billion banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2009-2010, the RBI reported - amounting to a quarter of all banknotes in circulation at the time. Polymer bank notes are more expensive to produce. While no cost analysis has been done in India of paper printing versus plastic, central banks in Canada and New Zealand report that producing plastic banknotes is double that of paper. But, with the significantly longer circulation life of polymer notes, it is hoped the expense of printing replacement paper notes and disposing of soiled or torn currency will be cut, Kishore Jhunjhunwalla, co-author of the "Standard Reference Guide to Indian Paper Monday," told DW. "In India most notes, especially the lower denominations like 10 rupee notes which are circulated the most, get very dirty and damaged quickly. People here often scribble on notes, crease them and make them ugly - they cannot do so if they are plastic notes." Plastic bank notes, Jhunjhunwalla added, can be easily cleaned. With the latest available technology they are also able to be recycled. Along with their environmental benefit, polymer banknotes are also more hygienic, Dr Arindam Ghosh from the Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata told DW in an interview. "The paper notes get very dirty in humid regions of India and they are carriers of many germs. If finally a switchover to plastic notes takes place in India, the banknotes will be cleaner from a hygienic point of view, and we shall be able to cut down on many infections that are spreading through soiled paper notes now." Fake banknotes In 2009-2010 alone, the RBI reported detecting more than 400,000 counterfeit notes of varying denominations. Indian media reported recently that counterfeit money currently in circulation could be as much as 120,000 billion rupees. Experts believe polymer notes would curb the problem of fake money generation, as has been done in countries like New Zealand, Canada and Vietnam where the plastic currency has been fully introduced. "Modern polymer banknotes are very difficult to replicate or copy using high-grade home printers. The security features such as the transparent windows, micro-printed watermarks, hidden numbers and raised ink assist in making the polymer notes more secure," said Rezwan Razack, second author of "Standard Reference Guide to Indian Paper Money," in an interview with DW. "If they come into circulation, polymer notes look like a solution to India's counterfeit problem." Developed in Australia, modern polymer banknotes were first issued in 1988 as a more secure and durable alternative to paper notes. "A decision to issue plastic banknotes for long term circulation will be taken on the basis of the outcome of the field trial," junior finance minister S. S. Palanimanickam told India's parliament last month. If the trial circulation of the 10 rupee notes goes smoothly, the RBI will introduce polymer notes of higher denominations in future. No date as been given for the start of the trial. | [
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Israeli-Palestinian conflict rears its ugly head
Israeli troops have fired upon the Gaza Strip for the first time since November in retaliation for an attack from the Palestinian territories. It appears that Hamas is struggling to control splinter groups.
The heavily guarded border between Israel and the Gaza Strip had been largely calm for four months - until Tuesday night. For the first time since a ceasefire was brokered in November 2012, the Israeli Air Force targeted areas in the Gaza Strip. Rockets fired from the Palestinian territories preceded the Israeli strikes. On Wednesday, rockets were fired from Palestinian coastal regions into Israel. The exchange of fire has triggered concerns of a repeat of the eight-day war between Hamas and Israel last November. Six Israelis and 169 Palestinians died during that conflict. "We will not allow shooting of any sort (even sporadic) towards our citizens and our forces," said Israel's new Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. "Israel has no intention of ignoring fire from Syria toward Israeli territory, incidental or not, and will respond with a firm hand," Yaalon added. A Palestinian Salafist group claimed responsibility for the initial rocket attack, although this could not be confirmed. The Israeli army routinely blames any attacks on Hamas, which, it believes, should be enforcing the territorial ceasefire. When US President Barack Obama visited Israel last month, a group of alleged Salafists violated the ceasefire by launching rockets on the Israeli city of Sderot. Hamas reportedly apprehended the attackers at that time. Hamas likely not involved Palestinian journalist Anis Muhsin of the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut ruled out a Hamas connection in the most recent attack. "It's not in their interests. They're governing the Gaza Strip, and want the situation there to stay very quiet," Muhsin told DW. Hamas only recently established its new leadership and was thus seeking stability, Muhsin added. More likely, he said, the attackers were small factions with connections to other countries or to al Qaeda, and were seeking to shatter whatever fragile peace exists in the region. In effect, this was a blow to Hamas and its goals of controlling the area and preventing further attacks. Muhsin believes the most recent escalation could be linked to the death of a Palestinian prisoner in Israel. The Salafist group that claimed responsibility for the recent shelling allegedly sought to avenge the prisoner's death. Palestinian agencies had accused Israeli authorities of denying necessary treatment to the prisoner, Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh, who died of cancer aged 64 this past Tuesday. "That made the Palestinian population and the political class angry," Muhsin said. Although Israeli prison authorities denied the accusations, around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners declared a hunger strike in solidarity with Hamdiyeh. Struggling to control radicals Israeli political scientist Yithak Reiter agrees that more radical Palestinian groups than Hamas have an interest in firing rockets at Israel in light of developments over the past months. After the ceasefire was declared in November, Israel and Hamas opened talks. The Islamist Palestinian organization was supposed to have stuck to its promise of preventing attacks from the coastal strip, while Israel's part of the deal was to ease its clampdown on the region. Reiter said delegations from both sides were currently meeting in Cairo in an effort to expedite that process - a move that militant groups could torpedo through violence. Whether the bloody cycle of violence and revenge will restart is not clear. Reiter said diplomacy still stood a chance, reflected by US Secretary of State John Kerry's Middle East tour and his attempts to mediate between Israel and Palestine. "Only if these attempts result in a dead end, will we see more frustration and violence," Reiter concluded. | [
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World Bank aims to conquer extreme hunger
Being extremely poor means living on less than $1.25 a day. The World Bank is now endeavoring to eradicate such circumstances by the year 2030. But some are criticizing the organization's development strategy.
New World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is optimistic: "A world without poverty is within reach," he said in a speech in Washington this week. "We are at an auspicious moment in history when the successes of past decades and an increasingly favorable economic outlook combine to give developing countries a chance - for the first time ever - to end extreme poverty within a generation," he said during his speech at Georgetown University. The key to that success: continued economic growth, especially in South Asia and African nations south of the Sahara. Also, the fruits of that growth must be distributed more justly, Kim said. According to the World Bank, the "extremely poor" are those who have less than one euro (or around $1.25) a day to live on. Estimates show that in 2010, some 1.2 billion people were living in extreme poverty. Around 870 million went hungry every day. Some 6.9 million infants and toddlers die from a lack of food each year. If the World Bank had its way, the proportion of the global extremely poor would sink from the current 21 percent to under three percent by 2030. In announcing this new goal, Kim was also making a link to the United Nations Millennium Goals, which called for reducing the number of extremely poor by half between the years 1990 and 2015. The UN achieved this goal in the year 2010. The economic advancement of countries such as China, India and Brazil has contributed to millions of people being able to escape extreme poverty - even if they are still part of the group of poor who must live on two to 10 dollars a day, Kim said. Pre-condition for tackling poverty The World Bank president said that continued growth in emerging markets was a pre-condition for achieving this new goal. Further investments in education and in public institution were also necessary, he said. Concentration must also be placed on dealing with the after- effects of natural catastrophes, with climate change being a fundamental threat to economic development and eradicating poverty, he noted. A step in the right direction The World Bank said it would consider this new goal more closely than in the past and would regularly remind legislators from its 188 member states of the aim of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. Kim said his organization would measure progress in meeting the goal and publish results in an annual report. Mikkel Barslund is a political scientist with the Center for European Policy Studies, and believes the World Bank is on the right track. "The change must take place through economic development in the individual countries, but the World Bank can have a certain amount of influence by frequently calling attention to the problem," he said. Criticism from Attac But some have also criticized the World Bank's development plan. "The World Bank's strategy is to open up markets and put world trade at centerstage, but this often ends up destroying the existence of small farmers," said Roland Süss, of the globalization-critical network Attac. China, he pointed out, went about things quite differently. "The country first safeguarded its structures, and then opened up its markets. So it took the exact opposite approach to the one being propagated by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund," Süss said. | [
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The search for the last Nazi henchmen
It's a race against time: Germany's Central Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes is looking for more than 50 former concentration camp guards. Even 70 years later, it could still secure convictions.
Hans Lipschis lives in a small placid village in southern Germany. The 93-year-old with thick, horn-rimmed glasses does not like to talk about his past, but investigators believe he may have participated in unspeakable atrocities during World War II. Lipschis worked at the Auschwitz concentration camp between 1941 and 1945, possibly as a guard, and so may have been jointly responsible for thousands of deaths. Lipschis himself says he was only a cook, and had nothing to do with the murders. Over 50 former concentration camp guards are thought to be still alive, according to Germany's Central Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes, and preliminary investigations are to be initiated against all of them. Kurt Schrimm, director of the office, says that investigators have been working on the case against Lipschis for some time, and they cannot give out further details on it because the file has been handed in to state prosecutors in Stuttgart. The office had already brought a case against Lipschis in the 1980s, but the charge of murder could not be proven. If the case comes to trial now, it will be the first time that a suspected concentration camp guard has faced justice since John Demjanjuk. New verdict The trial against Demjanjuk, who worked at the Sobibor death camp, is now seen as a legal turning point. It marked the first time that a non-German subordinate to the National Socialists was sent to court without proof of the defendant having committed any concrete wrongdoing. Nevertheless, a Munich court convicted the Ukrainian in 2011 for complicity in the murder of over 28,000 people. Proof that Demjanjuk had worked as a guard in the camp was enough for the prosecution to win the conviction. In the event, Demjanjuk did not serve his five-year sentence - he appealed, and died before a federal court could confirm the verdict. Now the Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes wants to use that legal precedent to convict other guards, dozens of whom are thought to be still living in Germany. "We are now working on the assumption that you no longer have to prove that a guard - so, a helper - was involved in the individual murders of one or more prisoners. You simply have to prove that his activities in a death camp helped the entire machinery of death there to function," said Schrimm. 'Ridiculous' judiciary But the search for individual henchmen is complicated and laborious. Schrimm's investigators have to sift through archives and old trial records. The office even searches for evidence such as travel documents in Eastern Europe and South America, since Nazi criminals often travelled with International Red Cross papers to escape justice. Not only that, but the office is pressed for time, for many of the suspects are extremely old, making a conviction unlikely. That is why journalist Beate Klarsfeld, who earned a reputation as a "Nazi hunter" in post-war Germany, is critical of the new investigations. "It is making the judiciary ridiculous, because it had the chance to hold good trials," she said, adding that she believes it is more important to use memorials to maintain the memory of the crimes committed. Klarsfeld earned fame in 1968 when she slapped West German Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger, a former member of the Nazi party, at a Christian Democratic Union conference and called him to step down as she was escorted away. Remembering the dead But for the relatives of those that died in the concentration camps, the investigations still carry moral weight. "Justice is of great value, and if the prosecutors now see a chance to bring Lipschis to court, then they should and must do that," says Christoph Heubner, vice president of the International Auschwitz Committee. "The atrocities of Auschwitz do not have a statute of limitations, and those of the camps don't either." He dismisses the argument that the perpetrators are too old to stand trial as "cynical." "No one cared about the age of the children taken to the ovens either," he told DW. Kurt Gutmann, a co-plaintiff in the Demjanjuk trial, agrees. "It brings some satisfaction to live to see something being done, so that the dead aren't forgotten, that someone is still after the criminals even in their old age." But as yet it remains unclear if and when Lipschis will stand trial. | [
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Elections in Pakistan: the major players
Many Pakistanis are hoping for a political change, even though there is no clear alternative to an increasingly unpopular PPP. There are fears that the need to form a viable coalition might lead to weak government.
At the last parliamentary election in 2008, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari was elected to form a new government - and it was one that made history. In March 2013, a civilian government in Pakistan was able to formally conclude its term for the first time. Now that new elections will be held, possible political candidates have been presenting themselves. Apart from the regular candidates, there seems to be an alternative. But even though the population is eagerly expecting a change, experts think it is highly unlikely. To evaluate the current political sentiment, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Pakistan conducted a survey with help from the Heinrich Böll Institute. The survey, which was commissioned between October and December 2012, shows that people are skeptical of the political leadership in the country, according to SDPI director Abid Suleri. The results showed that the then governing party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was regarded as particularly corrupt, whereas the military, the judiciary and the media were believed to be less open to bribery. Cricketing celebrity status In this year's election campaign, the main political parties are accused of relying on the celebrity status of their candidates, rather than a clear party program. Former cricket star Imran Khan, with his center-right Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, is believed to be one of them. Although he vehemently differentiates himself from the two major parties - the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) - he lacks political experience and a clear agenda. "Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaaf has surely laid the main focus of the election program on the agricultural sector," Christian Wagner of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) told DW. "But its members are accused of being inconsistent. Most of them are former supporters of the two major parties who joined the PTI out of frustration or for more political power." However, Imran Khan has been able to win over young political candidates and voters with his charismatic manner. Weak government expected Although the SDPI survey was conducted five months prior to the elections, basic trends in voting behavior can be predicted. The three largest political parties in Pakistan - the PPP of the recent president Asif Ali Zardari, the PML-N of former president and industrialist Nawaz Sharif and the currently popular Khan's PTI are expected to each receive 20 to 30 percent of the votes. "This result would enable several scenarios for coalitions," said Wagner. Petersen believes the winners of the election will be forced to search for coalition partners which will primarily pursue their own interests. Therefore she thinks the outcome of the elections might be that the "the next Pakistani government will be a weak one." Military's power still crucial A consideration of the military, seen as the real lever of power in Pakistan, is needed to predict what the forthcoming elections will bring. According to experts, it remains the most important authority of the country and also controls a large part of the economy. Suleri points out that the recent government was able to increase its influence in the department of foreign affairs and the military could no longer override the government as easily as before. However, experts doubt that the military will refrain from exerting political influence in future. The military as well as the secret service still act as a state within the state. "We have seen that the military, which was formerly very active in Pakistani politics, has formally withdrawn," Wagner stressed. "Yet, this does not necessarily mean it has lost its power of influence." The military has made it clear that it will fully support the upcoming democratic elections, as it has a strong interest in a stable country. Little change in practice Britta Petersen draws a different conclusion from the past five years of the PPP-government. It may have triggered many initiatives in the field of women’s rights, climate policy and food supplies but "the main problem is that all these legal and regulatory texts are waiting to be applied in practice." The PPP has failed in its plans to provide the population with the basic needs. The food and energy supplies of the country are in a disastrous state. Pakistan is yearning for a political change, claims Petersen, but this is unlikely to take place. Both Petersen and Suleri believe that Imran Khan will merely establish himself as a political player in Pakistan. "Maybe the elections in 2018 will hold chances for Imran Khan to get a higher office, but certainly not in the current elections," said Suleri. | [
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Wife of Belgian serial killer and pedophile is freed
A Belgian court decided to release the ex-wife and accomplice of the serial killer and pedophile Marc Dutroux. The decision relating to a crime that shocked the nation is likely to prove controversial.
Two appeals against Michelle Martin's release were rejected by Belgium's highest court on Tuesday. Martin had served 16 years of a 30-year prison sentence for helping Dutroux, who kidnapped and raped six girls in the 1990s. Four of the girls, who were confined in a dungeonlike cellar, died. The court said 52-year-old Martin was free to leave prison immediately, backing the decision of a regional court to release her into a convent under strict parole terms. Belgian law dictates that, having served a third of her sentence, Martin can be set free if a rehabilitation program is in place. National debate sparked The regional ruling had provoked anger among victims' families, leading to demonstrations around the convent in the community of Malonne. It also triggered a debate bout the need to impose full-term jail sentences without parole for those crimes deemed the most serious. The appeals, one led by the father of a victim and another lodged by prosecutors, were judged to be inadmissible or unfounded. Martin, who had sought release on several previous occasions, claimed she was under Dutroux's spell and that she helped him reluctantly. Judges had approved a conditional release last year, but this was blocked when - in light of the public outcry at the time - a French convent went back on its offer of a place for Martin. rc/mkg (AFP, dpa) | [
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Dortmund in tough Champions League group
Borussia Dortmund face a tough task to improve on last year's disappointing Champions League campaign after being given a tough group Thursday. Afterwards, Barcelona's Andres Iniesta was named Best Footballer in Europe.
Defending Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund were dealt a tough hand Thursday at the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw in Monaco. Last year's league and cup double winners will participate in a Group D that includes Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax. 2012 finalists Bayern were drawn with Valencia, Lille and BATE Borisov of Belarus in Group F. Schalke mark their return to Europe's premier competition in Group B, joining Arsenal, Olympiacos, and reigning French champions Montpellier. Qualifying rounds for the Champions League began in June, during the European Championships. Seventy-six teams from 52 different national associations enter the competition, but only 32 remain by the time the Group Stage begins in September. Tough Group D Dortmund would certainly have been hoping for a better draw after disappointingly crashing out of the group stage last year with just one win. Facing nine-time champions Real Madrid and defending English Premier League champions Manchester City means advancing to the knockout stage will be a difficult challenge for the German team. Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo called it "the most difficult group", with all three teams making improvements since last season. The Spanish club made the biggest move by signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric for 35 million Euros ($43.81 million) Monday. Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp did not get caught up in the star power of the group. "We don't feel like we have to compete with them in terms of who is prettier, who is bigger, or who is better," he said. "But rather we want to be their most unpleasant opponent on the day." "Obviously it is always a great experience to be able to play in Estadio Santiago Bernabeu or on English soil," said Captain Sebastian Kehl. "But I have to honestly say, I was hoping for one of the easier [groups]." Schalke mark European return Schalke are returning to the Champions League for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2011. With Raul no longer in the squad, the Gelsenkirchen club have a redeveloped attack lead by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Jose Manuel Jurado and Julian Draxler. "It is a really interesting group," said Schalke Captain Benedikt Höwedes. "I am especially looking forward to the duel against Arsenal. Two players who I really understand well play there in Lukas Podolski and Per Mertersacker." Domestic rivals Bayern will be feeling confident of their chances. The Bavarian club were the first name to be drawn at the event, placing them in Group F. They will hope to do one better this season after falling in the final on penalties to Chelsea at their home ground in Munich. Germany's fourth team participating in the competition, Borussia Mönchengladbach, were eliminated late Wednesday night after falling to Dynamo Kyiv 4-3 on aggregate. The Ukrainian club went on to be drawn in Group A with FC Porto, Dinamo Zagreb and Paris St. Germain. Four German teams have returned to the competition after the Bundesliga moved up in UEFA's league rankings. Previously Germany qualified just three teams into the Champions League. Iniesta named Best Footballer in Europe Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was named Best Footballer in Europe Thursday evening. He was given the award by journalists from UEFA's 53 member countries in a live poll after the Champions League Group Stage draw in Monaco. The 28-year-old beat out favorites Lionel Messi, last year's winner, and Cristiano Ronaldo to collect the honor for the first time. Iniesta helped lead Spain to their second consecutive European Championship title this summer in Ukraine and Poland. He was named player of the tournament. Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Özil was the only German player to make the top ten list for the award. | [
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Republican vice-presidential candidate Ryan attacks Obama
Paul Ryan, the US Republicans' vice-presidential contender, has accepted his party's nomination at its convention with a verbal attack on the economic polices of President Barack Obama.
Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman regarded by Republicans as their fiscal expert, accused Obama of enacting "big government" policies and presiding over ballooning debt and joblessness. "The choice is whether to put hard limits on economic growth or hard limits on the size of government, and we choose to limit government," Ryan said. "We are going to solve this nation's economic problems," Ryan said while hailing the Republican's presidential candidate Mitt Romney as the man with business acumen to give America a "turnaround." "I have never seen opponents so silent about their record and so desperate to keep their power," said Ryan, who was little-known nationally or internationally until he was named as Romney's running mate on August 11. Speech awaited from Romney On Thursday, Romney is due to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination at the convention after three days of motivational addresses by party stalwarts. Obama's campaign team hit back on Thursday, accusing Ryan of misleading voters of Republican intentions on Medicare, which Obama recently reformed, and a deficit reduction plan discussed in Congress. Obama's team mocks Ryan "If Paul Ryan was Pinocchio his nose would be back in Janesville about now," said Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki in a reference to Ryan's hometown in Wisconsin. Obama is due to accept the Democratic nomination to run for a second term in the White House at his party's convention next week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Romney and Obama have been running close in most national surveys of voters ahead of the November 6 election. Unemployment, which approached 10 percent in the aftermath of the 2008-2009 recession, remains at 8.3 percent in the United States, while second-quarter economic growth was 1.7 percent. ipj/rg (Reuters, AFP) | [
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China criticizes EU solar dumping probe
The EU has decided to investigate allegations that Chinese solar firms are dumping their wares in Europe. China has promptly articulated its opposition to the move.
China expressed its “deep regret” on Thursday over the European Commission's decision to look into allegations that Chinese producers are guilty of solar panel dumping. Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang passed comment after Brussels announced on Wednesday that the Commission would investigate the issue following complaints from European solar companies. "China expresses deep regret" about the move, Shen said in a statement published on the ministry's website. "Restricting China's solar panel products will not only hurt the interests of both Chinese and European industry, it will also wreck the healthy development of the global solar and clean energy sector," said Shen, who called for negotiations to solve the dispute. A group of 25 European solar companies, including Germany's SolarWorld, first filed an anti-dumping complaint against China to the European Commission in July. They accuse their Chinese competitors, which receive subsidies worth billions from the Chinese government, of flooding the market with basement-price products. European solar companies are also heavily subsidized at home. Major Chinese companies in the solar panel industry, such as Yingli, Suntech, Trina and Canadian Solar had responded to the complaint by threatening a trade war. The conflict between the two sides was also a topic of conversation during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Beijing last week. China then called for negotiations in lieu of anti-dumping proceedings. The European Competition Authorities investigative forum now has 15 months to decide what, if any, punitive tariffs to impose on Chinese solar panel firms. sej/msh (Reuters, dpa) | [
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Dortmund, Schalke come away with wins in CL openers
The group stage of the Champions League kicked off on Tuesday night, and both German sides - Borussia Dortmund and Schalke - came away with wins.
After thirty minutes of evenly matched football, Schalke began to gain the upper hand on the road against Olympiacos Piraeus. Schalke thought they had gone ahead in the 37th minute when Kyriakos Papadopoulos sprung up in a direct challenge with Olympiacos keeper Balasz Megyeri and headed the ball in from five meters. The ref signaled for a goal, but the goal-line official said it was a foul. Just four minutes later, though, Schalke found themselves in the lead after all. Jefferson Farfan lined up to take a corner and sent a low drive just off the near post. Benedikt Höwedes, getting out in front of the defense, was there to meet the kick and direct it goalwards with his head. Schalke went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. First step in brutal group With a packed Signal Iduna Park in full song, Dortmund took the field against Ajax Amsterdam knowing that every point would count in their nightmare group, which also includes Real Madrid and Manchester City. Dortmund showed their typical up-tempo style of play, but unlike the Bundesliga, they were not able to simply run rings around their Dutch opponents. Both sides had a few good looks at the goal in the first half, but it was Ajax (with the help of Dortmund's keeper, Roman Weidenfeller) that caused several thousand Dortmund hearts to skip a beat in the 35th minute. Weidenfeller charged out of the goal to meet a solo attack from Ajax striker Derk Boerrigter. He prevented the goal, but then kept chasing the ball as it bounced further away from the goal. A few odd hops later, Ajax was in possession again with Weidenfeller nowhere near his station. Luckily, his defense was able to return the favor and cover for the keeper. After the break, Dortmund managed stretches where they were able to put consistent pressure on Ajax, but booted away several clear chances. Just three minutes in, Dortmund's striker Robert Lewandowksi caught half of Ajax's back line on the wrong foot but launched the ball far over the goal on the finish attempt. Shortly after, it was Mario Götze with the ball on a solo run into the area. He was brought down by Ricardo van Rhijn, and the ref awarded a penalty. Mats Hummels lined up to take the kick for Dortmund, but his weak effort was easily held by Ajax keeper Kenneth Vermeer. Quick fix in furious three minutes Meanwhile, in Piraeus, the hosts equalized, Schalke came back ahead and then missed a decisive penalty that would have likely put the game out of reach - all within three minutes. In the 58th minute, Olympiacos striker Rafik Djebbour passed into the area to set up Djamel Abdoun from 10 meters out, who easily tunneled Schalke keeper Lars Unnerstall. Immediately after play restarted, Lewis Holtby found Klaas-Jan Huntelaar dead center in front of the goal at the penalty spot, who hammered the ball past Megyeri to put Schalke up 2-1. A minute after that, Kostas Manolas took down Tranquillo Barnetta, drawing a yellow card and a penalty for Schalke. Huntelaar took the kick, but his shot ricocheted off the post and dribbled out for a goal kick. The Royal Blues' lead held for the remaining thirty minutes of play, and Schalke picked up a win in their first group game. Better late than never Dortmund, on the other hand, continued to struggle to convert chances, with faulty footwork or a missed pass often costing them the chance rather than Ajax defenders. But in the 87th minute, coach Jürgen Klopp's men got the goal they had earned. Ilkay Gündogan whipped over a cross-field pass for Lukasz Piszczek, who headed in front of the goal to a waiting Lewandowski. Dortmund's Polish striker took a few patient touches to shake his defenders, and then put away the long-overdue goal to the delight of the home fans. "That was a very, very nice goal," Klopp said after the match. "That's the hallmark of a great striker." Ajax was unable to find an answer in the closing minutes of the game, and Dortmund will be glad down the road that they were able to pick up the extra two points in Group D. Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo saved a win for his side over visitors Manchester City in Tuesday night's other Group D game, scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute for a final score of 3-2 for Real. In Shalke's Group B, Arsenal beat Montpellier 2-1 in France, with one of Arsenal's goals coming from German national team winger Lukas Podolski. On Wednesday night, Bayern Munich kick off their Champions League campaign at home against Valencia. | [
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Nationwide strike a partial success in India
Opposition parties and trade unions in India took to the streets in a day-long strike over the government's plan to open the retail sector to global supermarket chains to kickstart a sluggish economy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government has been buffeted by a string of corruption scandals and now faces another serious problem - one of his own survival, as it is now up in the air whether his government will last its full term until 2014. Having announced a raft of reforms designed to revive a slowing economy - a move that has sparked a furious backlash - the biggest ally pulled out of the shaky coalition earlier this week raising the risk of an early election. In response, a majority of traders and shopkeepers especially in opposition-ruled states downed shutters while supporters blocked railways tracks. Road traffic was totally paralyzed in eastern state of West Bengal, which also witnessed sporadic clashes between supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the ruling Trinamool Congress. "This is only the beginning, our struggle will continue till these anti-people polices are reversed. The government should not underestimate the power of dissent and today it was there for all to see," said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari. Just last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government announced the decision to go ahead with the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail, aviation and broadcasting following criticism against it over policy paralysis. It also announced the decision to hike diesel prices by 14 percent to reduce the increasing subsidy costs faced by the country. Life crippled in opposition-ruled states The decisions forced the Trinamool Congress, a key ally propping the government, to snap ties with the ruling alliance in Delhi. Realizing the government was in a spot, opposition parties made political capital and organized a nationwide shutdown. "The tragedy is that our prime minister (Manmohan Singh) has begun to worship the US. We are heading towards economic slavery," said Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury. While Mumbai, the financial hub of India, was largely untouched as the Shiv Sena - which rules the city's municipal corporation - was not supporting the strike, public transport was skeletal in other major cities, including New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), one of the biggest groupings of Indian traders, claimed that an estimated 50 million shopkeepers across India had participated in it. "The strike was very successful. All our 25,000 trade associations had called the strike and all traders participated in it," said Praveen Khandelwal, the group's general secretary. Shutdown bleeds economy The government put up a brave front despite the strike's success in vast swathes of the country and maintained protesters were only hurting the economy they claimed to be defending. "The right to protest is a democratic one and nobody is disputing that. But the hurt it is causing to casual workers and those in factories who have to earn wages is enormous. Also the economy suffers," said federal Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a business chamber of commerce, the nationwide strike is estimated to cause losses running to the tune 2.25 billion US dollars (around 1.7 billion euros) to the Indian economy. "Today's bandh [strike] has been disruptive for business and trade in many parts of the country. While an exact loss for the entire economy is not known, it can be estimated that almost 12,500 crore [125 billion] rupees has been the loss to the country in terms of disruptions in production and trade," the CII said in a statement. The industry association also asked the government not to roll back the recent reform measures under political pressure. | [
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Nigeria declares state of emergency
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has announced a state of emergency in the country's northeast. He said the government would do everything to put an end to the terrorist attacks.
Nigeria put its northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa under a state of emergency amid an increase of terrorist activity from the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram in recent weeks. "These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten [its] territorial integrity," said President Jonathan in a live broadcast Tuesday night. "As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this." The president said the terrorist activities were a "threat to [Nigeria's] national unity" and a "systematic effort" to destabilize the country. Jonathan ordered troops to help stem the insurgency in the country's northeast where some towns have reportedly fallen under the control of Boko Haram. The state politicians will retain the powers of the offices they hold despite the military deployment to the region. Boko Haram, whose name means, "Western education is sacrilege," in the Hausa language has been calling for shariah law to be imposed across Nigeria. Muslims comprise about half of Nigeria's population of 175 million. About 40 percent of its citizens are Christian. Since launching their insurgency against the central government in 2010, Boko Haram and splinter groups have staged numerous terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians, in which at least 1,600 people were killed. Late last week, 200 heavily armed gunmen staged a coordinated attack on a police station and prison in Borno state in a bid to free inmates. At least 55 people died in the siege. kms/msh (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa) | [
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Germany aims for 1 million e-cars by 2020
Chancellor Angela Merkel has re-affirmed the goal to have one million electrical cars on Germany's roads by 2020. An advocate says this hinges on the right mix of cheap batteries and pricing of electricity versus fuel.
A two-day conference on future mobility opened in Berlin on Monday, with a call from German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer that industry and state work together to create an "intelligent" infrastructure for electric vehicles. Among Germany's 43 million registered vehicles, only 7,000 are electric cars, while 65,000 are so-called hybrids which have combined fuel and battery-driven motor units. Sixteen new models are expected next year. To initiate the breakthrough and reach one million by 2020, Ramsauer said urban planning must provide infrastructure such as fast battery recharging stations that fitted in "intelligently" with other forms of mobility such as trams. Strife over sockets EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said Europe must still standardize the design of power sockets for re-charging stations. Especially in France, there were doubts about a socket favored in Germany, said Kallas. Merkel told politicians, scientists, automobile industry experts and interest groups that the goal was ambitious, but achievable. She urged Germany's automobile industry to master the transformation process underscored by Germany's 2011 decision to phase out nuclear and fossil fuels in favor of renewables. Acceptance conditional The chairman of Germany's National Electro-mobility Platform Henning Kagermann told German public ZDF television that future e-car acceptance would depend on trends in fuel and electricity pricing and "how cheap batteries can become." Kagermann forecast that so-called e-car sales would accelerate from 2015. Like Chancellor Merkel, he ruled out the use of sales incentives for prospective e-car buyers. The president of the German VDA automobile federation, Matthias Wissman, who is a former conservative cabinet minister, called on Merkel's center-right coalition government to consider tax rebates for future company e-car fleets. The German ADAC automobile club said in a survey it had determined that 47 percent of motorists are not willing to switch to an electric vehicle if it costs more than a traditional petrol or diesel-fueled vehicle. Only 33 percent accepted a maximum battery re-loading duration of two hours, added the ADAC. 'Hard' battle versus conventional cars Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche said electric cars had a "damn hard" battle in competition with conventional combustion motors because of their higher purchase cost and limited battery range. So-called car-sharing rental schemes in urban areas would provide key "building blocks" forward, Zetsche said. Earlier this month, the German ADFC cyclist club said over one million battery-assisted cycles called Pedeclecs are now used on Germany's roads and cycle routes. It forecast that a further 400,000 would come into use this year. ipj/jr (glp, dpa, Reuters, AFP) | [
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Uganda lifts ban on Daily Monitor newspaper and two radio stations
Uganda's government has ordered police to allow journalists to return to the premises of a newspaper, which had been shut down for 10 days amid widespread criticism. DW spoke to the Daily Monitor's managing director.
Police shut down the Daily Monitor and another paper after they printed a confidential memo by a senior general alleging that President Yoweri Museveni was grooming his son to succeed him. Independent newspaper Daily Monitor faced pressure to reveal how it obtained the letter in which Gen. David Sejusa urged the internal security service to investigate reports that high-ranking officials opposed to the political rise of the president's son were at risk. Sejusa, who is in London at the time and faces arrest if he were to return to Uganda, has said he himself might be targeted. The newspaper has resisted efforts to forward a copy of Sejusa's letter to the police, saying it goes against press freedom. DW: Before the internal affairs minister agreed to withdraw the police cordon around your premises, you had to agree not to publish stories that would cause insecurity or disturb law and order. Such conditions are obviously open to a very broad interpretation and could be easily abused. How worried are you that government interference in the media will continue? Alex Assimwe: What I can say is that we shared our editorial policy guidelines with them which they were not privy to. And in these guidelines they found a breath of fresh air in terms of the journalistic standards we have decided to uphold. And that's the only document that we did share. We did not sign any other undertakings. What exactly was in this memo written by Gen. David Sejusa that made it so sensitive apart from the allegation of nepotism at the highest level? Well from what I do remember is that it that they did say it was an internal security document. I think there were some assassination claims in this letter that Gen. Sejusa wrote to his internal security chief and he acknowledged that it was his letter. So I think their reasoning and understanding is that it touched on national security and they were probably worried that it would create security issues and divisions in the army. How serious is the financial impact of the ten-day closure on your paper? It was serious and it's been serious, but you have to look at the silver lining. To me I think this has come to a close sooner than later; it could have gone on for a longer period. I'm just appreciative that we are now open. I have received so many messages of good will, so much media coverage. The closure of your paper was criticized by the United Nations, the European Union, and various international media watchdogs. Can you assess how much impact this pressure had on the Uganda government? I would never be able to determine accurately how much each of their efforts - or their efforts collectively - what they have done. We appreciate them standing with us and I think it has been useful. The other thing that is that actually sitting down with the government side we did recognize that in spite of the action we had seen outside, there was a very reasonable candid and objective discussion that was going on. But even our wildest fears in terms of them demanding certain things that we are certainly not going to accept - we found a bit less of that. Alex Asiimwe is the Daily Monitor's Managing Director. | [
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UK spy chief warns of terrorist threat, seeks more surveillance powers
In the first ever live interview by the chief of a UK spy agency, MI5 head Andrew Parker has appealed for more surveillance powers. He said Britain's security forces had thwarted six plots in the past year.
The head of the UK's domestic intelligence agency is pushing for expanded government surveillance powers to respond to a rising homegrown terrorism threat. MI5 Director General Andrew Parker said in an interview with BBC Radio 4 on Thursday that terrorists were increasingly using advanced technology and social media to plan attacks and spread propaganda for the self-styled "Islamic State" (IS). "They are using secure apps and Internet communication to try to broadcast their message and incite and direct terrorism amongst people who live here who are prepared to listen," Parker told the "Today Programme." The British government estimates that at least 700 of its citizens have joined IS in Syria and Iraq, prompting the government last year to raise its security threat level to "severe." The designation, the second highest, means authorities consider a terrorist attack to be highly likely. Parker said the terrorist threat was "continuing to grow largely because of the situation in Syria and how that affects our security." However, the record number of refugees fleeing conflict for Europe is not "the main focus of where the threat is coming from," Parker said. The spy chief said security services had thwarted six terrorist plots in the past 12 months, while last week British police carried out a record number of arrests on suspected terrorists. British Prime Minister David Cameron's government plans to introduce new laws to strengthen police and intelligence agencies' surveillance powers, but the measures face stiff opposition from human rights and privacy groups - and quite probably from new opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Opposition to government surveillance has mounted following revelations from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden showing the US and British governments cooperated in conducting mass surveillance. Parker, however, brushed aside fears the government would conduct mass surveillance against ordinary citizens. "We're focused on the people who mean us harm," he said."We're not about browsing through the private lives of the citizens of this country. We do not have population-scale monitoring or anything like that." cw/msh (AP, Reuters) | [
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November sees first pan-Iberian anti-austerity strike
Spanish trade unionists have called a general strike against Madrid's austerity program. The protests will coincide with a similar strike in neighboring Portugal to make it the first concerted Iberian labor action.
The Spanish trade union confederation CCOO called Friday for a general strike for November 14, saying it would be directed at Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's recent austerity policies. The labor action will coincide with a general strike in neighboring Portugal, prompting organizers to speak of the first joint Iberian workers protest. "The strike has good chances of spreading to other European countries, especially in the south," CCOO representative Fernando Leczano told reporters in Madrid. Leczano insisted that all EU countries that have applied austerity measures have become worse for it and said the strike in November was aimed at forcing governments to modify their economic and budgetary policies. Government not amused In a first response to the announcement, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the strike would not improve the image of his country abroad. Though he acknowledged that people are concerned about the government's harsh cuts, Rajoy insisted that the measures are required to wriggle out of recession. "We do it because it must be done, and because it will create the basis for economic recovery," Rajoy said on the sidelines of an EU reform summit in Brussels. Madrid had announced the toughest budget cuts in decades in a bid to reduce public deficit from 9.4 percent of gross domestic product last year to 6.3 percent in 2012. Spain has slipped into recession for the second time in three years. The government's reforms aim to convince investors that the country can pull itself up by its bootstraps without a full-blown sovereign bailout by European lenders. hg/mkg (dpa, AP) | [
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Deadly sectarian violence continues in Myanmar
Sectarian violence has broken out in western Myanmar, leaving dozens dead. The United Nations has called for calm amid the ongoing clashes which have destroyed thousands of homes over five days.
Nearly sixty people have died as a result of ongoing violence between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists in Myanmar, which persisted Thursday for a fifth day. The western state of Rakhine has suffered the brunt of the conflict. According to Rakhine state spokesman Win Myaing, 25 men and 31 women were reported dead as of 7 p.m. local time in four townships. Myaing added that 1,900 homes had also been burned down. Security forces have struggled to quell the unrest in Myanmar since violence broke out in June. At least 80 have died as a result of the conflict, and around 75,000 people have been displaced. UN 'gravely concerned' The UN called for an end to the violence, saying that the struggle has forced thousands of displaced refugees into "already overcrowded" camps near the state capital of Sittwe. "The UN is gravely concerned about reports of a resurgence of inter-communal conflict in several areas in Rakhine State which has resulted in deaths and has forced thousands of people, including women and children to flee their homes," said Ashok Nigam, UN humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, in a statement. Nigam asked for the "immediate and unconditional access to all communities in accordance with humanitarian principles." Unrest after reforms The violence has dampened the widely-praised political reforms brought on by President Thein Sein, which included the release of hundreds of political prisoners. Rights groups have said the death toll could far exceed official numbers. "The way in which the situation has developed is very worrying," said Chris Lewa, head of the Arakan Project which campaigns for Rohingya rights. "It seems that there is a desire to eliminate Rohingyas from all the townships where they are a minority, continuing what occurred in Sittwe." The Rohingya have long been considered to be one of the most-persecuted minorities on the planet by the UN. dr/ccp (AFP, Reuters, AP) | [
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Cheap products come at a price
Most products sold in Germany are manufactured in low-wage countries. Conditions down the supply chain often violate international standards, and now critics want EU companies to live up to their responsibilities.
In September, a textile factory in Pakistan burnt down killing more than 250 people. The fire was able to spread partly because the security standards were blatantly violated and the emergency exits of the building were blocked or even locked. Shortly after the deadly fire, it surfaced that the factory had been mostly producing items for the German budget clothing store KiK. The case caused uproar in Germany with some observers saying it showed how little German retailers care about the working conditions down their supply chains. KiK reacted by establishing an emergency fund to support the families of the victims with a total of $500,000, and, according to media reports, is considering doubling that amount. Victims need more than emergency aid This help is important, said Sabine Ferenschild of Südwind, an organization that is fighting for global social and economic justice. Ferenschild also told DW that this support is by far not enough. "What's missing is any kind of long-term perspective," she said. "This is what the catastrophes so far have shown. There have been fires in factories before with several workers getting killed." The companies had always paid financial support, but over the years that aid stops. "Those affected though still continue to live with the consequences, for instance when they're unable to work" or have lost family members who used to contribute to the household's earnings, Ferenschild added. The pressure of the market The companies have to survive on the market and that means they have to keep their costs low and calculate every penny they invest in their products. This usually occurs on the backs of the poorest contributors, the workers in the low-wage countries down the supply chain. "Whether it's the lack of proper employment contracts, or minimal wages set too low or whether the workers are forced to put in extra hours - those are all structural problems rooted in the tough competition in the clothing retail sector - but that's the same in other sectors as well," Ferenschild told DW. There are a number of other organizations in addition to Südwind that are fighting to improve the conditions in the supplier companies in developing countries. So far they've had little success. Ferenschild said she believes that this is because so far all agreements have been on a voluntary basis only. The companies thus could change something if they want to - but they don't have to. German companies are not obliged to regularly monitor the companies that work for them abroad, let alone to be transparent about whether they check their suppliers, according to Ferenschild, Berlin is blocking legislation that would require companies to do so. "The European Commission signaled last year that it is willing to move away from the principle of keeping this on a purely voluntary basis," Ferenschild said. That means that the EU wants to introduce obligatory transparency on the issue: Companies would have to inform the public about the conditions under which their products are being produced. Then customers could whether they want to buy an item. Voluntary commitment The German retail sector, however, saw the matter in a different light. Stefan Wengler, of the Foreign Trade Association of German Retail Trade praised the voluntary efforts made by the companies. He told DW that the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) has been in place for nine years and pushes for international standards regarding security and pay. About 1,000 companies have agreed to participate in the initiative. Wengler said he sees the project as moving in the right direction. "At the beginning, in the first year, out of 100 companies only seven passed the test," he said, adding that in the most recent check, one third of the companies managed to fulfill the standards and the companies that didn't pass, quickly reacted to fix whatever was wrong. "The BSCI has very strict standards. The problem is only that when you go into a supplier to check, all might be fine but when you leave it's all back to how it was before again," Wengler said. That's why he said he believes it's about making the company heads in the supply countries aware of the problem by training managers and workers. Only if they understood why security standards are so important would things change, Wengler told DW. Responsibility lies with German companies But Südwind's Ferenschild was not quite as optimistic. While she said she saw some improvements, she said she also believes there still are massive problems, which are listed on the website of the campaign for social justice. In particular, Ferenschild said, German companies as being responsible. "Most of the products that are being sold here in Germany are no longer produced here but rather in countries where the workers' rights only exist on paper but not in reality," she said. "It's the German companies who profit from that." | [
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Libyan militias clash in Tripoli
Rival armed groups battled in a central area of Tripoli, setting fire to a former intelligence building. The clash is one of the worst breakdowns in security in the capital since Moammar Gadhafi’s fall in 2011.
Armed men sealed off roads near Zawiyah Street, which was at the heart of the battle between two rival groups, residents said. "Five people have sustained gunshot wounds in these clashes," a medical official at Zawiyah Street Medical Center said, adding that there had been no fatalities. Night-time clashes between rival groups are not unusual in the capital, which is still saturated with arms left over from the 2011 conflict that brought to an end Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's 42-year rule. The violence underscored the challenge faced by Libya's new government in controlling militias that gained power during the conflict. By early afternoon, a building belonging to the Supreme Security Committee (SSC), which was set up last year to try to regulate armed groups, was in flames and being looted by members of a rival militia, witnesses said. The head of the SSC, Mohammed Suweysi, said one of the militias attacked the other, accusing its members of detaining a man from their neighborhood and beating him to death. "We called the police early in the morning to help us stop the shooting, but no one came," resident Khaled Mohamed told Reuters. After more than 12 hours, the army moved in to restore order. On Sunday, violence also erupted outside the capital, where a car bomb exploded in front of a police station in Benghazi. Injuring three police officers, the incident is the latest in a series of attacks on security officials in Libya's second largest city, where the US ambassador was killed in September. hc/rc (Reuters, AFP, AP) | [
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Pakistan hands over Taliban prisoners to Afghans
Pakistan has released several Afghan Taliban prisoners to "facilitate the peace process" in Afghanistan. However, experts say this should not be mistaken for a change in Islamabad's Afghanistan policy.
Pakistani officials said on Wednesday that the government had decided to free several Afghan Taliban prisoners in order to bolster peace efforts in neighboring Afghanistan. "A group of Afghan Taliban has been released and they are accessible to anyone who wants to contact them," a Pakistani foreign ministry official told the German news agency, dpa. The news was confirmed on Thursday after a series of meetings in Islamabad between Afghan peace mediators Pakistan's top leaders and religious figures. A joint statement issued said the negotiating parties had agreed to cooperate to allow safe passage for "potential negotiators amongst Taliban" to attend future talks. Dozens of mid-level and senior Taliban commanders - who fled to Pakistan after the NATO forces attacked Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime in 2001 - are being held in Pakistani jails. The decision to release Taliban prisoners came during the meetings between Afghanistan's High Peace Council delegation - led by Salahauddin Rabbani - and Pakistani authorities in Islamabad. The Afghan peace delegation - which arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a three-day visit - met with Pakistan's civilian and military leadership to discuss ways to persuade the Taliban militants to end the decade-long insurgency in Afghanistan. Reconciliation efforts The Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told dpa that it was "too soon to comment" on Islamabad's decision. "The Islamic Emirates (the Taliban's name for Afghanistan) will announce its reaction soon after the decision of the leadership meeting." The number of freed Taliban leaders is said to be less than a dozen and it does not include Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's former deputy leader. Baradar was arrested in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi in February 2010. The Afghan government believes that Baradar can influence the Taliban to join the Afghan government-led peace talks. So far, the Taliban have rejected the negotiation offers. "We aren't too certain whether they (the released Taliban leaders) can play an important role in peace negotiations but it is a positive gesture from Pakistan in helping peace efforts," an Afghan official told the Reuters news agency. The Afghan government and the US are trying to hold separate peace talks with the Afghan Taliban in the hopes of finding a peaceful solution to the decade-long war. The US is winding up its operations in Afghanistan against Islamist militants and NATO troops are scheduled to withdraw from the war-torn country in 2014. Bargaining chip Afghanistan has long criticized Pakistan for not giving it access to imprisoned members of the Taliban leadership. The Afghan government and the US accuse Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) of supporting its favorite Taliban factions to use them as a bargaining chip while dealing with Kabul and Washington. Experts say that, despite the fact that Islamabad has agreed to hand over some Taliban leaders to Afghan authorities, it is unlikely that it is going to abandon its policy of maintaining strategic influence in Afghanistan through the Taliban. Dr. Naeem Ahmed, professor of International Relations at Karachi University, told DW that Pakistan wanted "to see a bigger role for the Taliban in Afghanistan." "Washington and Kabul also want to take the Taliban on board, and they are already conducting secret talks with some of their factions, but they want to exclude Pakistan from these negotiations," he added. "That is not going down well with Islamabad." Islamabad-based defense analyst Tahir Khan told DW that there were several unresolved issues between the two uneasy neighbors. "The Afghan government demands that Pakistan must give access to detained Taliban leaders so that its officials could talk to them directly," Khan said, adding that the Afghan government had always accused Pakistan of assassinating the Taliban leaders that were willing to negotiate with Afghanistan. A U-turn? Dr. Moonis Ahmar, professor of International Relations at Karachi University, told DW that peace efforts in Afghanistan were in Pakistan's own interest. He said that Pakistan did not want to see a civil war in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO troops from the country in 2014. For that reason, Ahmar said, Pakistani authorities had been trying to use their influence on some "moderate Taliban leaders" to engage in talks with the Afghan government and the US. "It is not clear on what terms and conditions these Taliban leaders are being released," Ahmar said. "The Afghan government has clearly said that it will only talk to the Taliban if they agree to certain rules and abandon the use of violence. I am not sure that those who are being freed have agreed to these terms." Ahmar also told DW that Saudi Arabia had been playing a big role in the Afghan reconciliation efforts at the behest of the US government, suggesting that the deal between Kabul and Islamabad for the prisoners' release could be facilitated by Riyadh. Experts, however, say that Pakistan would not favor any government in Kabul which did not protect its interests. They say that, despite its willingness to set some Taliban leaders free, it will still bargain with the US and Afghanistan through leaders like Baradar. "India is becoming a major player in Afghan politics," Ahmar said, referring to several economic and strategic pacts between Kabul and New Delhi during Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent Indian visit. Experts say that the US and other NATO countries have to find a way in which Pakistan, particularly its powerful military generals, feels that its interests are not compromised. Ahmar concluded that the lasting solution of the Afghan conflict depended on how India and Pakistan came to an agreement about their respective roles in the post 2014 Afghanistan. | [
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Hungary's Orban attempts to secure his position
For months, Hungarian opposition parties and civil rights groups had protested the plan - to no avail. Lawmakers have voted in favor of controversial electoral reforms.
Under the new electoral regulations, Hungarian voters must register if they want to cast their ballot in future. The governing coalition argues the new legislation will simplify drawing up voter lists. The opposition parties in parliament, however, criticize mandatory voter pre-registration as a covert constraint on electoral rights, arguing it keeps less affluent, poorly educated or undecided people away from the ballot boxes. "It's an attempt by Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party to anchor their election victory," Peter Juhasz, civil rights activist and head of the extra-parliamentary Milla group, told DW. The ruling passed on Monday evening (26.11.2012) requires voters to register personally every four years at the municipal office in their district or via the Internet, should they have an electronic signature. In the latter case, Hungarians eligible to vote must obtain a personal authorization beforehand. Registration is due at the latest two weeks before election day and is valid for parliamentary, local and European elections as well as for referendums. Ethnic Hungarians living in other countries, including the roughly three million-strong Hungarian minorities in Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine that have been allowed to voter by list since 2010, can register via letter. The new legislation also restricts election campaign practices: in future, parties and candidates will not be allowed to campaign on private radio and television stations or local print media. Last year, the constituency boundaries were redrawn and the number of delegates in parliament was cut by 50 percent. Critics argue the reform favors large parties like Fidesz. Slap in the face The new legislation has been a topic of heated debate for months. Opposition politicians, legal and electoral experts said there is no need for voter registration. They argued that Hungary, unlike countries that use pre-registration like the United States, has a central population register. Ahead of the vote in parliament Monday, the ruling Fidesz party emphatically rejected criticism of the electoral reform. It is "inacceptable", Gergely Gulyas said, that the electoral reform should be labelled anti-democratic or contrary to the rule of law. Jozsef Tobias, deputy parliamentary leader of the Socialist opposition party (MSZP) termed the reform a "slap in the face of democracy." His colleague Tamas Harangozo called it a "pedantic and inane attempt to influence the election outcome." Opposition parties and several civil rights groups have announced fresh marches and protests against the electoral reform. Együtt 2014 (Together 2014), an election coalition that includes leading opposition politicians, intellectuals, unionists and civil rights activists - among them the Milla group - plans a nationwide campaign to urge voters to register in large numbers ahead of election. They say that is the only way to win elections and abolish mandatory registration. Orban fears for his power Editorial writers in media critical of the government have slammed the reform as an effort by the ruling Fidesz party to counterbalance a significant loss of popularity over the past two years and to secure good election results in the long run. Orban's government cultivates a nationalist, populist and anti-capitalist rhetoric while at the same time pursuing drastic austerity policies that have mainly hit people with in lower-income bracket and retirees. That has led to Fidesz' sharp decline in opinion polls; currently, the party is far from a two-thirds majority. The electoral reform is "Fidesz' granite foundation", according to Hungary's left-liberal daily Nepszabadsag. And Hungary's most popular Internet news service, index.hu, has the following comment: "Elections are the most important event in a civil democracy, they are the system's festival. They are the moment when all citizens have the same chance to shape fate in their native country. Limiting this chance is a despicable gesture. Since Monday evening, Hungary is a much worse place than it ever was since 1990." | [
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Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal ends exile with Gaza visit
Khaled Meshaal, the leader-in-exile of Hamas, has crossed into Gaza for the first time ever. There is fierce speculation over whether the visit marks a political comeback for Meshaal or the end of his time as leader.
The exiled leader of Hamas, the political group that runs the Gaza Strip, set foot on Palestinian soil for the first time in 45 years on Friday. Khaled Meshaal, who has not returned to the Palestinian Territories since he left the West Bank aged eleven, kissed the soil on his arrival before greeting Gaza's prime minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas. Meshaal was accompanied by his deputy, Mussa Abu Marzuk, and a party of other senior officials as he drove through the Gaza crossing. Meshaal will stay in Gaza for around 48 hours. He is expected to attend an open-air rally on Saturday, which will celebrate Hamas' 25th anniversary and what the group refers to as its victory against Israel last month. Bouncing back or saying goodbye? Meshaal, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997, was based in Syria from 2004 until January this year; by that point the war between Syrian President Assad and rebels meant the arrangement was no longer workable. The position of the 56-year-old briefly suffered as a result- he had derived much of his authority from cultivating close ties with both Damascus and Tehran from that base. But the exiled leader, who now runs Hamas from Qatar and Cairo, regained ground during the confrontation which erupted between Israel and Gaza on November 14 and left 174 Palestinians and six Israelis dead. He worked closely with Cairo to broker the ceasefire which brought the fighting to an end. Nevertheless, there is speculation that Meshaal's Gaza trip marks the conclusion of a secret leadership election for his successor. Broader unease about the position of the Palestinian Territories vis a vis Israel parallels such uncertainty over leadership. At the end of November, the UN voted to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Territories to "non-member observer status." But Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to plow ahead with controversial plans to build 3,000 settler homes in the West Bank, a move that German Chancellor Angela Merkel cautioned against during talks with Netanyahu in Berlin on Thursday. sej/rg (Reuters, AFP) | [
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Great Views: A Day in Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Its location between the mountains and the sea influences the city's culture, cuisine and lifestyle.
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German nurse suspected in 24 more patient deaths
A male German nurse has been accused of killing dozens of patients over the years with a potent heart drug. The suspected death toll would make him one of Germany's worst post-war serial killers.
The number of possible murder victims rose of convicted male nurse Niels H. rose to at least 24, German police said on Wednesday. The former nurse was already found guilty of two murders and three attempted murders of intensive-care patients in February of 2015 and was imprisoned for life. Niels H. already admitted in court to injecting around 90 patients with an unprescribed heart drug and claimed to have killed around 30. After injecting his victims, he would then try to revive them in order to stand out amongst his peers. During the investigation, he said he felt overjoyed when he managed to bring a patient back from the brink of death, and was devastated when he failed. Police in the German town of Oldenburg said on Wednesday that they have exhumed and tested 77 sets of mortal remains from patients who had been under the care of Niels H. Besides the 24 suspicious cases where traces of the drug were found, police are still awaiting results from seven additional bodies. Police are looking into some 200 fatalities at the Delmenhorst hospital where Niels H. worked, as well as at the nurse's previous places of employment which include a nursing home, a clinic, and an emergency medical service. Investigators hope to have all the test results by mid-June, where they will then release detailed information to the public about the cases. The case dates back to 2005 when a coworker witnessed Niels H. administering the drug to a patient in Delmenhorst. After the patient survived, he was arrested and sentenced for attempted murder. A woman then contacted police, voicing suspicion that her mother may have also been a victim of the nurse - leading to the exhumations which sent Niels H. to prison for life. rs/kms (AFP, dpa) | [
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Dancers defy gravity during opening of Hublot store in Manhattan
Swiss watchmaker Hublot has debuted its flagship store in Manhattan. The opening ceremony was quite the spectacle, complete with dancers rappeling down the side of the building.
Luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Hublot announced its arrival in New York on Tuesday in one of the most dazzling ways imaginable. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of its flagship store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, spectators were treated to a remarkable spectacle. Two dancers, suspended by wires, rappelled down the side of a glass building in a bout of gravity-defying acrobatics. A store tailored for the best Founded in 1980 by Italian Carlo Crocco, the Swiss company is known for its sleek, expensive watches for men. Describing his design for the boutique shop on Fifth Avenue, architect Peter Marino said he modeled the storefront after the devices themselves. "The sculptural movement inherent in the facade is an abstract notion of time and the perpetual mechanism of the watch," Marino said, according to the Hublot website." The manufacturer is currently gearing up for the release of a signature watch in honor of Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt. | [
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UK economy picks up speed
Britain's economy gathered momentum in the second quarter, fresh figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed. But pundits believe further economic expansion could be marred by the Brexit vote.
The UK economy picked up during the second quarter that concluded with the nation's vote to leave the European Union. Q2 gross domestic product grew by 0.6 percent, up from 0.4 percent in the first three months of the year. Output in the three months to June was 2.2 percent higher than a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported Wednesday. Crystal ball reading? But economists warned that this robust pace of growth might not last into the second half of the year, given the uncertainties over the medium and long-term impact of the country's pro-Brexit vote in the June 23 referendum. Recent data show unease across British factories, with confidence among UK manufacturers falling in July to its lowest level since early 2009. While consumer optimism tumbled in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, some private sector surveys suggest domestic demand has mostly held up, helped by a strong labor market. But the Confederation of British Industry reported Wednesday that retailers suffered the sharpest drop in sales in four years following the referendum. Orders placed with suppliers fell at the sharpest rate since March 2009 and were expected to decline rapidly in August too. hg/jd (Reuters, AFP) | [
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Bayern's Uli Hoeness hopes for March release from prison
A court in Augsburg, Bavaria, is examining whether Uli Hoeness should be freed on probation at the mid-way point of his sentence. The longstanding Bayern Munich boss is serving three and a half years for tax evasion.
From February 29 next year, Bayern Munich's former commercial manager and president, Uli Hoeness, could be fully released on parole - less than two years after his conviction for tax evasion. An Augsburg court on Tuesday confirmed that it had received an application to consider Hoeness for release at the half-way point of his sentence. "After hearing from the convicted, the chamber will have to decide whether the legal conditions for this have been fulfilled," the court said in a press release. Spokesman Claus Pätzel said that a decision was highly unlikely before mid-January. Hoeness' lawyer first said in November that his client would seek the release, often dubbed a "half sentence" in German legal circles. Hoeness was sentenced in March 2014, after dramatically confessing to tax evasion worth some 28.5 million euros ($31.2 million at today's exchange) in court. Much of the money hailed from successful speculation on the stock markets, he said. The 63-year-old Hoeness has already been granted day-release prisoner status; he works with Bayern Munich's youth setup during the days, spending five nights a week at an open prison in Rothenfeld. He's permitted to spend most weekends in his family home at the lakeside town of Tegernsee, south of Munich. Home for Christmas, listening to Adele Hoeness, who has three days off work at the Bayern academy for the festive period, offered Bavarians something of a status update on Monday, calling private radio station "Antenne Bayern" to say how important it was to him to be able to spend Christmas with his family. He and his wife Susi had agreed "that we will not give each other gifts, because I can be at home," Hoeness said. "That's enough of a present." He also donated 10,000 euros to a charitable cause on air, requesting that the station play "Hello" by UK popstar Adele; Hoeness dedicated the donation and song to "my beloved wife Susi, my children and my son- and daughter-in-law," saying that they had made it possible for him "to get through this difficult time." Various factors could speak in Hoeness' favor for early release. His 2014 conviction was his first offense, and according to recent reports from the "Bild" newspaper, he has repaid his outstanding taxes plus interest. msh/pfd (dpa, SID) | [
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Hotel offers a year of free beer to unidentified Dortmund hero
There's no love lost between football teams Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund. But now there seems to be a prank war on between the two sides' fans: one with potentially mouth-watering rewards.
A hotel bar in the western German city of Dortmund has offered a year's worth of free beer to an unknown fan of the Borussia Dortmund soccer team. According to a report in the German tabloid Bild, an unidentified man climbed to the top of archrival team Schalke's stadium - currently under construction - where he placed the Dortmund flag. "This act must be rewarded," said Christoph Andruszewski of the Hotel Specht in Dortmund, referring to the desecration of the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. "Our hotel is a meeting place for Borussia fans, so we are offering the unknown hero free beer for a year and a box seat in front of our projection screen," he told the paper. Bild has offered to act as a go-between, putting the Dortmund hero in contact with the bar if he or she can prove he put up the flag. Meanwhile, former Dortmund player and fan liaison Alfred "Aki" Schmidt is convinced that the flag attack was an act of revenge. In 2006, a 41-meter (135-foot) Dortmund banner went missing, allegedly stolen by Schalke fans. The case remains unsolved even to this day. Author: David Levitz Editor: Sean Sinico | [
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Belarus orders international watchdog to close its Minsk office
The world's largest regional security organization must close its doors in Minsk, after the Belarusian government refused to extend its mandate. The OSCE had criticized the election of President Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus has ordered the closure of the office of Europe's main rights watchdog, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in Minsk after the body issued a report critical of the December election, in which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won around 80 percent of votes. "The Belarusian side has taken the decision not to continue the operations of the OSCE office in Minsk," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh said Friday. He added that an evaluation of the OSCE's activities in Minsk showed that the mission, which was set up in 2003, had fulfilled its mandate. The government has the right to revoke the mission's permit or refuse to renew it. Tense relations with West Critics expressed concern that the closure of the OSCE office in Minsk would have negative ramifications for Belarus' relationship with its western neighbors. "This will lead to a worsening of relations with the European Union and increase the influence of Russia in Belarus," Grigory Kostusev, a member of the Belarusian National Front party who opposed Lukashenko, told Reuters news agency. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1992, has been accused by Western leaders in the past of dictatorial rule and suppressing independent media. Germany condemned the OSCE office closure, saying the move was another step backwards for democratic rights in the country. "With its authoritarian direction, the government in Minsk is separating the country even more from European values of freedom," said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. "We will discuss with our partners what consequences are required in the face of the Belarusian government's voluntary policy of isolation." In a statement issued Friday evening, the foreign minister of neighboring Lithuania, Audronius Azubalis, expressed "deep regret" over Minsk's refusal to extend the mandate of the OSCE office. Ongoing detentions Minsk is still holding hundreds of demonstrators who were arrested during protests following the December 19 election. Five opposition candidates and 22 activists have been charged with organizing mass disorder, which could carry a jail sentence of up to 15 years. Belarus is part of the 56-member OSCE, which was set up during the Cold War as a forum for dialogue between communist states and the West. The organization is made up of European and Central Asian countries as well as the US and Canada. Author: Darren Mara, Sarah Harman (AFP, Reuters) Editor: Nancy Isenson | [
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Brazil pushes environment projects to tackle crime and poverty
Brazil is set to host the 2016 Olympic Games, and is investing heavily in infrastructure and security to makes its streets cleaner and safer. New environment programs too could help lift people out of poverty.
Rio is gearing up for the future. It's won the bid to host the 2016 Olympics, and before that, the 20th FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2014 in Brazil. Posters celebrating these two historic events are everywhere, including at the scenic Guanabara Bay, where children play soccer on the beach next to groups of sunbathers. It's an idyllic scene, but one that doesn't tell the whole truth. There are two sides to Rio de Janeiro: behind the scenes of this popular tourist destination lie sprawling slums dominated by poverty and violence. That didn't stop the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from choosing Rio as the site of the 2016 Olympics – making it the first city in South America to host the Games. In its application, the Brazilian government laid out an extensive concept for the transformation of the city's infrastructure, set to cost $14 billion. As well as new sporting venues, the concept foresees new subway lines and extensions to the existing two airports and harbor. Winners and losers But 80 percent of the funds have been earmarked for Rio's more affluent neighborhoods. To Thomas Fatheuer from the German Heinrich Boell foundation, this makes the upcoming Olympics very much a mixed blessing. “The poorer neighborhoods are left empty-handed,“ he complains. “It would make more sense to spend the money on long-term projects that are not necessarily tied to the Olympics.“ That includes environmental programs. Although plans have been drawn up for the construction of new sewage treatment plants and the introduction of more efficient recycling facilities, there has been little follow-through, stresses Fatheuer. Green and socially responsible But Brazil does have an environmental agenda. In 2000, the government passed a law boosting energy efficiency, and electricity providers have long been required to invest 0.5 percent of their turnover in projects that promote energy-efficiency. Half of these projects are designed to benefit the country's poor, who tend to spend over 25 percent of their income on electricity that is outdated and therefore far from cost-efficient. Recent years have seen many residents of Rio's favelas given energy-saving lamps and new, cleaner refrigerators. According to the GTZ, the German Organization for Technical Cooperation, these consume half as much energy as old appliances. At the same time, they can be responsibly disposed of at new, environmentally-sound recycling plants. Not only do such programs help Rio's working class economize, they also represent an opportunity for many to improve their situation. The refrigerator exchange program is often used by the people who spend their days collecting garbage – the catadores, which is Portugese for 'human scavenger' or 'rubbish collector.' They used to collect old refrigerators in the favelas and dismantle them in order to recover and sell any valuable materials such as metals and plastics. Now, the government has managed to integrate these catadores in the new waste management system in a way that secures their livelihood and offers them a way out of illegality and crime. Mean streets Nonetheless, the streets of Rio are ruled by drug gangs, and clashes with police – known in Brazil to use routine violence themselves - are part of day-to-day life. Security officers have been on permanent patrol in some slum neighborhoods for the last couple of years. These Polícia Pacificadora – or Peacemaker Police Units - have met with strong resistance from the gangs, but their presence is starting to show results, with crime rates beginning to fall. In the run-up to the Olympics, Rio de Janeiro's authorities are planning to introduce these units in one hundred favelas. But this plan laid out by mayor Eduardo Paes has its detractors. According to Thomas Fatheuer, the only reason why the drug trade has fallen off in the patrolled neighborhoods is because the gangs have been squeezed out into other neighborhoods. All that's happened is that the problem has been relocated, he argues. But the government is undeterred. "It's time to light the Olympic flame in a tropical country – and in the beautiful, wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro," rhapsodized then President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the IOC conference in Copenhagen in 2009. But until Rio cleans up its act – both socially and environmentally – its charm remains out of reach to much of its own population. Author: Michaela Führer (jp) Editor: Sonia Phalnikar | [
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Return of 'Baby Doc' Duvalier adds further confusion in Haiti
Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier is back in Haiti after a quarter century of French exile. Deutsche Welle looks back at his past and explores what his return could mean for the troubled island nation.
Duvalier arrived back in his homeland on Sunday and Haitian media were immediately dominated by the news of his return. Duvalier has not said much about his motivation other than a few scarcely audible statements on Haitian radio to the effect that he wants to help. A press conference was repeatedly postponed and has been rescheduled for Tuesday. His return came as something of a surprise, but supporters were informed in advance and turned out in droves at Port-au-Prince's airport to greet and cheer the former dictator. "It's a victory, almost exactly 25 years after he left the country," one of them told reporters. "According to our constitution, he should only have spent 10 years in exile. He waited longer than that, but now he's back again." Duvalier was overthrown by a popular uprising in 1986. And large numbers of Haitians - as well the vast majority of the international community - are not at all enthused about Baby Doc's return. Dark chapter of history In particular, human rights organizations are appalled by the thought of Duvalier once again playing a role in Haitian politics. 'Baby Doc,' as the former dictator is nicknamed, and his father Francois 'Papa Doc' Duvalier are thought to have committed numerous human rights offenses, including the murder of tens of thousands of Haitians, between 1957 and 1986 when they ruled the country. "During [Jean-Claude Duvalier's] regime, there was torture, people were imprisoned for political reasons, opposition figures were murdered or disappeared, and women were raped," said Gerardo Ducas, a Haiti expert at Amnesty International. "There's a long list of human rights violations for which Jean-Claude Duvalier should be called to answer for in front of a Haitian court." But the Haitian judiciary has yet to move against the former dictator. And given the chaotic situation in Haiti at present, it is hard to imagine any concerted efforts being made toward his arrest. Not only is the country still trying to recover from the devastating effects of last year's earthquake. Haitian politics are also in turmoil since an inconclusive and possibly corrupt election in late November. No final results from that vote have been published, nor any date set for a run-off election, leaving current president Rene Preval in office for the foreseeable future. Rampant speculations At present, no one knows why, or at whose behest, Duvalier chose this particular moment to return to Haiti. According to an article in Mother Jones magazine, Haitian media as well as ordinary people on the street think his return was engineered by France and the United States, as a means of putting pressure on Preval. Journalist Amy Wilentz, who spent time in Haiti under the Baby Doc regime, also thinks the timing of his return is anything but arbitrary. "I don't think this man should have anything to do with Haitian politics," Wilentz said. "Merely by setting foot in the country he raises a lot of political questions. Somebody let him back in; somebody gave him the okay. It seems inconceivable that he's coming home to retire. So he's coming home to exert some kind of political influence." But others believe that Baby Doc has only returned to Haiti to secure his family fortune. And there's even a rumor that he returned solely to renew his passport and that he already has a return ticket to Paris, booked for the end of this week. The coming days and weeks will tell what political agenda, if any, Duvalier is pursuing. One thing, however, is certain. His return has added an extra bit of political confusion at a time when Haiti can ill afford any potentially incendiary distractions. Author: Martin Polansky (jc) Editor: Rob Mudge | [
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Would-be killer of Prophet Muhammad cartoonist stands trial
In Denmark, the trial of a Somali man charged with the attempted murder of a cartoonist who drew caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad has begun. Last year the suspect tried to break into the cartoonist's home with an axe.
The trial of a 29-year-old Somali man accused of attempting to murder a cartoonist who drew caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad is set to begin Wednesday. The charges stem from an incident in January, 2010 where the suspect tried to enter the home of cartoonist Kurt Westergaard by taking an axe to the front door. Police were quickly on the scene and shot and wounded the Somali suspect, who also faces charges of attempted terrorism, attacking a police officer and illegal arms possession. Westergaard was one of a dozen Danish cartoonists who sparked a deep controversy in Denmark in 2005 when the Jyllands-Posten newspaper published a series of cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. Controversial cartoons The Muslim world was quick to protest the publication of the cartoons, especially after they were reprinted outside Denmark. Westergaard has received a number of death threats over the drawings. The Jyllands-Posten itself has been the target of violent plots as well. At the end of December, Danish and Swedish police arrested five men accused of planning a killing spree of the newspaper's staff at their offices in Copenhagen. Westergaard has maintained that his drawing did not necessarily depict the Prophet Muhammad, and that he intended to show a terrorist who evokes Islam and abuses it. Author: Matt Zuvela (AFP, dpa) Editor: Michael Lawton | [
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Israel contemplates worst-case scenarios as Egypt's crisis deepens
With Egypt's opposition movement gaining momentum and President Hosni Mubarak under increasing pressure, Israel is watching developments with concern as one its few Arab allies in the Middle East teeters on the brink.
Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries that have signed peace deals with Israel, ensuring almost three decades of sometimes lukewarm detente between the countries, a period of time which has seen Israeli and Egyptian officials maintain low-profile consultations on many regional developments, including the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Egypt has been a key mediator in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians; frequently hosting peace summits, brokering Palestinian reconciliation talks and mediating indirect discussions on possible prisoner swaps. All that could soon change, however. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week ordered his cabinet to refrain from commenting publicly on the popular uprising in Egypt but within the halls of power, it is well know that the Israeli administration is becoming increasingly nervous. A country which has acted as a counterweight to the majority view that Israel has no right to exist in the region could soon see Mubarak, one of the main architects of that balancing act for the last 30 years, removed from power. Who could take his place is a question that has Israeli military planners huddled over maps in darkened rooms. The common belief in the Jewish State is that popular sentiment in Egypt is anti-Israel and that the only people in Egypt who are committed to peace with Israel are those in President Mubarak's inner circle. Eli Shaked, a former Israeli ambassador to Cairo, wrote in the Yediot Aharonot newspaper recently that if the next president of Egypt is not from this inner circle then Israel is "going to be in trouble." Israel fears growth of Egyptian Islamist support for Hamas One of the biggest concerns for Israel is the possible rise to power of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Israelis who fear this scenario often refer to a 2008 Gallup poll which showed that 64 percent of Egyptians want Islamic law instituted in their country. Such a radical swing would almost certainly lead to a fracture in the Israel-Egypt peace accord. Any new Egyptian government which is unfriendly to Israel would present the Netanyahu administration with a series of potential flashpoints. In the case of an Islamist leadership taking over, Egypt's support for Hamas, the Gaza Strip's Islamic rulers, could increase, perhaps emboldening the militant group to launch a takeover of the Palestinian Authority-controlled West Bank. "The main fear is that there will be a coalition government in Egypt headed by the Muslim Brotherhood," Yossi Mekelberg, an international relations lecturer at Regents College London and Middle East expert at Chatham House, told Deutsche Welle. "Hamas is an offshoot of the Brotherhood so of course this will make things very difficult for Israel." Dr. Muriel Asseburg, head of the Middle East and Africa Research Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, believes that external policies and relations with Israel are not among the immediate objectives of any of the opposition groups in Egypt but shockwaves will still be felt outside the country should a new power take charge. "Any interim government will struggle to reestablish stability, law and order and take measures that aim to alleviate social and economic grievances," she told Deutsche Welle. "For none of the opposition forces, including the Muslim Brotherhood, relations with Israel will be a priority though.” Mekelberg added that any coalition headed by the Muslim Brotherhood would change the climate in the region and fan what many experts are calling the flames of revolution. This could have dramatic implications for Gaza and the West Bank, he said. Analysts in the Jewish media have speculated that the Palestinians could take the opportunity afforded them by the rise of a sympathetic government in Egypt and the unrest in the region to advance their pursuit of a sovereign country without waiting for an accord with Israel. This, it is feared, could take the form of a new intifada. In addition to this possibility, an anti-Israel government in Egypt could threaten Israel's energy supplies - Egypt supplies around 40 percent of Israel's gas consumption - and could potentially oppose Israeli naval ships passing through the Suez Canal, where they have operated in a bid to prevent arms smuggling from Sudan to Gaza. Spreading pro-democracy unrest could upset old order There is also a concern that, should Mubarak's regime fall, the knock-on effect would also prompt an uprising in Jordan which has already seen a number of low-key pro-democracy protests. Jordanians are also angry about soaring food prices, escalating poverty and the unpopular policies of the government. Israel is concerned that if Jordan should fall - and if Islamist forces take power there also - it will find itself surrounded in a way it has not been in decades. "Jordan is ripe for revolution," Mekelberg said. "There is a majority of Palestinians there who are fervent supporters of Hamas while the legitimacy of the government and King Abdullah is limited." With Egypt and Jordan in unfriendly hands, and with former ally Turkey increasingly turning toward Iran and Syria, Netanyahu could find himself without an ally in the region and may find that he needs to step up the tentative efforts Israel has already made to reach a peace agreement with Damascus. Israel may be forced to forge alliances with old foes As the Middle East faces a violent shake-up of the old regional order, Israel may be forced to align itself with Syrian President Bashar Assad who shares a desire to maintain the current status quo. "It's ironic that the rise of Islamist governments in Egypt and Jordan may force Israel to turn to Syria," Mekelberg said. "The status quo in the Middle East is an illusion; the old order cannot be kept forever like the Israelis and the Syrians believe. The Israelis have been told that this could happen if they did not solve the Palestinian situation and other governments didn't deal with unemployment, poverty and corruption. These are the elements of which revolutions are made of." However, some analysts believe that even if a government less friendly to Israel takes power in Egypt, the new leadership would most likely want to maintain some kind of continuity in relations. "Israel's concerns about a regime change are quite understandable," Asseburg said. "Hosni Mubarak has defended Egyptian-Israeli peace and diplomatic relations ever since he has been in power." "Still, even after the end of the Mubarak regime, we should not expect an end to peace with Israel or military threats towards Israel. What we should expect in the mid-term, though, is a further cooling of relations." Author: Nick Amies Editor: Rob Mudge | [
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German investigators search for cause of deadly train crash
German officials are continuing their investigation into the cause of the train collision over the weekend that killed at least 10 and left others seriously injured.
Two victims were identified Monday as police continued their investigation into the cause of a train crash that killed at least 10 people in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt over the weekend. The crash took place near the city of Magdeburg late Saturday when a goods trains collided head-on with a local passenger train. It is not yet clear what caused the accident, which also injured 23 people, many of them seriously. On Monday, a police spokesman said there were no new facts in the case. On Sunday, the head of the regional government, Wolfgang Böhmer, said human error was the likely cause. Unanswered questions Speaking to journalists, Böhmer said one of the trains had probably ignored a red stoplight on the section of single track where the accident occurred. "It's likely the stop signal wasn't respected. It's not normal that two trains were running on the same track," Böhmer said. However, Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Holger Hovelmann has warned against jumping to conclusions, and federal police official Ralf Krüger told a press conference that accident investigators had yet to reach a conclusion. "The inquiry has been opened. The conclusion will be made public as soon as possible," Krüger said. "The signal system must obviously be checked out." Another police spokesman had earlier said authorities were "investigating in all directions - including human error as well as technical failure." He said the trains had hit each other with such force that passengers in the front carriages would have died on impact, which was reportedly heard miles away. Heavy rescue deployment The train, the HarzElbeExpress, carrying around 50 passengers, was traveling on a single track section from Magdeburg to the town of Halberstadt. Several carriages were derailed after the collision. More than 150 firemen, police and rescue workers were deployed at the scene. Traffic was interrupted on the line and bus shuttles were set up. Heavy fog prevented helicopters from airlifting the worst injured. Police weren't ruling out a rise in the death toll because of the severity of the injuries. A spokesman for the Veolia group, which runs the HarzElbeExpress line, said the dead included the train driver and a conductor. Authors: Sarah Harman, Darren Mara, Richard Connor (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters) Editor: Martin Kuebler | [
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Flying makes us happy!
The Indian aviation sector is growing rapidly. A flight school in a rural region between Cologne and Frankfurt is benefiting from this boom by running a special training program designed for future Indian pilots.
"Flying makes us happy!" This is the philosophy of the Air Alliance Flight Center based at Siegerland airport. But it not only makes you happy, you can also make money with it. There is huge demand for good pilots in India, says Anju Varghese, a young Indian pilot of 35 years and managing director of AV Aviation in India. That's how she came up with the idea to set up a high-quality program based on German standards for Indian students to receive the best pilot training. In 2007 she implemented her idea and launched a successful Indian-German co-operation with the German flight school Air Alliance. Good training is important "I have done my training in India and also in Germany. When you compare it, I think the quality and standard we have in Germany is really good and there is a system. In India we still don't have that systematic way of training. Here we do," says Anju Varghese. But Anju Varghese does not only want to promote her flight school. She says the advertising jungle in India often confuses young people about making the right choice. Varghese says the students need a career guidance. "The students get so much of information. And they don't know how to select the best school. That's very important right now because there are so many options on the market." Air Alliance was the first choice Axel Beimdiek, Managing Director of Air Alliance is very optimistic that the training program has a bright future. He is very proud of the Indian-German partnership. Beimdiek says one aspect that made the school attractive to Indians was that it offered courses in English. "Of course it was exciting for us. Because I think we are not the biggest school in Germany but we are the most flexible one, as we are used to having international students here in the school. Not only from India. They are from Spain, Portugal and Italy, even from Russia." The students obtain the European ATPL License which is internationally accepted. Axel Beimdiek says it is recognized as the best. Air Alliance is not only a flight academy but also a state-of-the-art aviation service provider, covering the fields of charter and sightseeing flights, plane maintenance and airplane sales. This gives the students the opportunity to gain insight in various areas of the flight industry. Students feel very professional 24-year-old John Leenus is an aspiring pilot. Since he was young he dreamed of becoming a pilot and now he is only three weeks away from this goal. He is very satisfied with his choice of flight school. Leenus says he would definitely recommend the flight school to others, as the standards in Germany are quite high. He adds, "if you are training in India you go to small airports. You don't have many airports in India. In Germany I go to Cologne. You get to train there, you get to land there. You are very professional if you go to Cologne or Frankfurt or Dortmund. From the very beginning you are really professional." A bright future for prospective pilots According to experts, the number of passenger jets in India will double by the year 2020. A few weeks ago the private Indian airliner IndiGo bought a number of Airbus planes for a total of 16 billion dollars. It is considered to be the biggest deal ever in the commercial aviation sector. But buying planes alone does not mean "time for takeoff." The airlines need pilots, crew and ground staff, too. That means good job opportunities for every Indian student of Air Alliance. Author: Angelina Vogt Editor: Sarah Berning | [
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Top British judge examines tweeting in court
The controversy over tweeting in British courts has reached the highest level, as the head of the judiciary decides on the matter. The case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has generated renewed interest in the issue.
The extradition case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in Woolwich Crown Court has generated an enormous amount of public interest, in Britain and across the globe. Until recently, anyone wanting to follow each twist and turn of the case would have had to sit in the courtroom itself. But thanks to a new army of tireless court tweeters, people in the court relaying their views in messages on the social network Twitter, the wider public has been able to receive a blow-by-blow account of the Assange hearing wherever they are. One such tweeter is Federica Cocco from the cyberculture organization Owni.fr, who managed 789 tweets in the two first days of the hearing - a total of 13,762 words. Her tweets document in remarkable, pithy detail each speaker and their key contribution. While Cocco may have been the most prolific tweeter, she was certainly not the only microblogger in the room. Mainstream outlets such as the Guardian newspaper, The New York Times and the BBC among others had their own journalists tweeting from the Assange hearing, eager to demonstrate that they too are on the cutting edge of courtroom reporting. The ability to send live updates from inside court is something of a silent revolution, because English courts are notoriously careful about publicity. Andrew Scott, an expert in media law at the London School of Economics, said in Britain, the general rule is that no one should be doing anything in court "which causes interference with the administration of justice." Technology viewed with suspicion Since the presence of television cameras or photographers could interfere with how witnesses, jurors and other people behave, they are all banned, he said. "Progressively courts have become slightly more willing to allow texting," Scott added, but even this is at the judge's discretion. Simply having your phone on could mean that you are at risk of disrupting court, which leads to sometimes strange sight of journalists and others in the public gallery surreptitiously texting into their laps, in an effort not to attract the attention of the legal powers-that-be. The first breakthrough came at Assange's bail hearing in mid-December, when the judge, perhaps swayed by the overwhelming public interest in the case, expressly allowed tweeting and texting in court. But days later that permission was overturned. In an attempt to clarify matters, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Igor Judge gave a swift, provisional ruling that there was no legal basis for a ban on tweeting from courtrooms, a decision that caused much celebration among microbloggers. But the while the tweeters' battle was won on that day, their war is far from over. On February 7, the Lord Chief Justice announced the start of a three-month consultation on "live, text-based communication" in court. Amateur tweeters 'dabbling with danger' Scott said the consultation document highlights the risk that bloggers who aren't journalists could fall foul of reporting restrictions. "Within 140 characters it's very possible to cast a certain slant on the information you're presenting," he said. "The shorter the message you write the less opportunity you have to elaborate beyond the facts of what's going on," Scott added. "There is a potential problem for non-journalists tweeters where they're much less likely to understand the legal framework within which they're operating and may much more easily, inadvertently, commit breaches of reporting restrictions." Whatever the decision at the end of this consultation process, prolific court blogger Cocco said she believes that at least it means the English courts are facing up to the challenges and possibilities of new technology. She pointed out that although currently she is not allowed to bring a camera into court, she could bring her smartphone, which is able to take pictures. "Maybe they have to look back at the rules, and consider what modern technology can do," Cocco said. Scott agreed, calling the upcoming ruling a desirable development. "It accords very closely with the principle of open justice - the idea that justice not only be done, but manifestly be seen to be done," he said. If tweeting in court is seen to adhere to the highest principles of justice, the Assange case certainly won't be the last to be followed live, in 140 characters or less. Author: Robin Powell /rc Editor: Sean Sinico | [
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German Cup preview: Bayern set to beat Stuttgart
Bayern Munich is set to crown a spectacular season by bagging a third title in addition to their Bundesliga and Champions League wins. They face Stuttgart in Berlin for the final of the German Cup.
"It is more than a trophy we can win. We can write history," said Bayern midfielder Thomas Müller. It's true: no German team has ever managed to win the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League in one season. Bayern are one win away from becoming the first. Bayern are going into the Cup final as the clear favorites, even though they have to do without their Brazilian defender Dante and midfielder Luis Gustavo, who have been called to play for their national team this week. But Stuttgart is not planning to let Bayern have free reign of the pitch. Coach Bruno Labbadia's team has played a disappointing season, ending up in twelfth place. But now they are set to clinch a Europa League spot simply by having reached the final. It has been 16 years since Stuttgart last won the German Cup, but coach Labbadia is optimistic. "We have our own talents which we can use cleverly against Bayern," said the 47-year-old Labbadia, who has been on contract with Stuttgart since 2010 and has quite a bit to show for: He fought off relegation twice and managed to get Stuttgart into the Europa League for two seasons. Coaches eye the same prize As a player with Kaiserslautern, Labbadia won the German Cup in 1990, and as a coach with Leverkusen he reached the final in 2009 – and lost. In that respect he and Bayern's Jupp Heynckes are on the same level: Heynckes has also only won the Cup as a player – 1973 with Mönchengladbach – but never as a coach. Both teams stand to gain financially. Champions League and Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich have already made 9 million euros (11.7 million) in marketing fees for the three live matches they have played this season in the Cup competition. Only one of Stuttgart's matches was broadcast live so far, but that still gave them 3,7 million euros. There is still more money to come from the marketing of TV rights, advertising, and last but not least, ticket sales. Both teams get a bonus of two million euros for having reached the final – and the winner receives 300,000 euros on top of that. | [
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Floods hit Germany at economic low point
As Germany battles severe flooding in parts of the country, the cost of the damage is hitting Europe's biggest economy just as it has barely overcome a harsh winter that has driven it to the brink of recession.
In the first quarter of 2013, German Gross Domestic Product grew by just 0.1 percent. The country just managed to avoid a recession, which is defined as two successive quarters of economic contraction. Much of the hope for economic recovery lies with key economic indicators which predict accelerating growth in the coming months. However, economists are becoming more and more skeptical about the country's growth outlook as they fear that the much-vaunted spring upswing might drown in the deluge. "As the flood levels rose, so did the problems for German businesses," says Alexander Schumann, chief economist at the German chambers for Industry and Commerce (DIHK). He told DW that it was especially the construction industry which had been unable to boost activity due to the heavy rainfall. The sector was particularly hard hit, as it was already facing a huge backlog of orders stemming from the long and harsh winter in Germany. But hotel and restaurant owners were also affected, suffering losses from the bad weather at the start of the tourist season in Germany - as were farmers offering seasonal products such as strawberries and asparagus. Disrupted supply chains Individual companies had their own stories to tell: Krones, global market leader in manufacturing bottling machines, had to shut down production in two plants in upper Bavaria. The region is among those severest hit by the floods, and Krones workers were unable to get to work on inundated roads. In Zwickau, Volkswagen (VW) had to stop its auto production, VW Saxony spokesman Gunter Sandmann told DW, and Monday's early shift was asked to stay at home. "We were unsure whether the damage done to the transport infrastructure would enable suppliers to deliver their products in time, he added. Volkswagen has been able to resume production, prompting Sandmann to speak of a lucky escape. The same is true for the chemical companies located in the Bitterfeld chemical triangle, where the German armed forces were able to protect production facilities from the raging floods. Insurance industry officials said they were still unable to put a price tag on the losses caused by the flooding in eastern and southern Germany. However, the total of damage claims in the wake of the last so-called Flood of the Century in Germany in 2002 had amounted to 1.8 billion euros ($2.35 billion), Kathrin Jarosch from the GDV insurance industry lobby group says: "We'll have figures this time at the earliest at the end of next week." Destruction to spur growth? Some small comfort is offered by the fact that catastrophes like these usually provide a small boost to the economy as a whole. Not only insurance companies will benefit from brisk new business, but do-it-yourself stores and home improvement suppliers, which had been complaining that garden furniture and barbecue grills were not finding any buyers, will now enjoy a run on tools and building materials. However, Schumann is not convinced that the balance will end up on the positive side. "At the moment, there are first and foremost losses," he says. It's not even clear if the construction industry has the capacity to deal with demand. Theoretically the catastrophe could lead to a boom, "but it's impossible to say right now if that will really happen." | [
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European Court of Human Rights overrules Britain on murder jail terms
A European Court has ruled that Britain violated the rights of three convicted murderers by jailing them for life with no prospect of release. Britain's Justice Secretary criticized the decision.
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has ruled that sentences passed on three convicted British murderers constituted inhuman and degrading treatment. "Given ... the absence of a dedicated review mechanism for whole life orders, the Court was not persuaded that, at the present time, the applicants' life sentences were compatible with Article 3," wrote the court. It cited the European Convention on Human Rights' provision that prohibits torture, and inhumane and degrading treatment. The convention has the power of law in all signatory countries. British conservatives are already pushing for its repeal and Tuesday's decision looks set to strengthen their hand. British Justice Secretary Chris Grayling commented: "What the court is saying is that a judge can no longer tell the most appalling criminals that they will never be released. I think the people who wrote the original Human Rights Convention would be turning in their graves at this ruling." The ruling overturned a January 2012 judgment by a panel of seven judges at the European court that found the sentences of Jeremy Bamber, jailed for murdering five members of his family in 1985, serial killer Peter Moore and multiple-murderer Douglas Vinter, did not amount to inhumane or degrading treatment. The decision does not assure the petitioners any prospect of imminent release but it struck down a key British sentencing guideline. Further appeals by other British prisoners serving life terms, including some of the most notorious killers in the country's recent history, are now expected. Meanwhile, Britain announced on Tuesday it would opt out almost 100 EU measures on policing and criminal justice. For technical reasons, the move means the country first has to withdraw from all 133 such measures. However, Home Secretary Theresa May said Britain would rejoin 35 of them, including the controversial European arrest warrant scheme. jm/rc (Reuters, AP, AFP) | [
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Bolshoi Theater replaces director Anatoly Iksanov
The head of Russia’s Bolshoi Theater has been replaced after a series of scandals including an acid attack against its artistic director. The attack uncovered bitter infighting within the institution.
Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky announced at a press conference Tuesday that Anatoly Iksanov has been replaced as the Bolshoi's director, dismissing the suggestion that Iksanov had been fired. Iksanov, who had held the position for 13 years, sat beside the minister during the announcement. Vladimir Urin, the general director of the Stanislavsky Musical Theater, is to take his place. "He (Urin) will be able to unite the troupe and continue the development of the best theater in the country and one of the best in the world," Medinsky told reporters. "A difficult situation had developed around the theater and the troupe, and everything pointed to the need for renewal at the theater." Speaking to reporters after the announcement, Urin said: “I very much hope that the majority of people working in his theatre - talented, remarkable people - will be my allies," Urin said. "Only together can we solve the problems that, like in any theatre, exist today in the Bolshoi Theater." The theater has been in turmoil since January when a masked man threw acid in the face of Sergei Filin, the Bolshoi's artistic director. Last month the Bolshoi said that despite 18 operations, the attack has left Filin blind in one eye and with only about 10 percent vision in the other. A top Bolshoi dancer, Pavel Dmitrichenko, later confessed to hiring two accomplices to attack Filin but said he had not expected acid to be thrown in his face. Theater in-fighting has plagued the Bolshoi Ballet throughout much of the company's history, which spans over 200 years. hc/pfd (Reuters, AFP) | [
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Healthy Travel - Dr. Thorsten Onno Bender in our studio
The specialist for flight medicine and internal medicine provides you with tips on tackling motion sickness and jet lag and tells us which pre-holiday vaccinations make sense.
Flight Medicine Unit, Charité University Hospital, Berlin Campus Virchow Clinic Augustenburger Platz 1 13353 Berlin http://www.fliegerarzt-berlin.de/ | [
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How deep is the split in Turkish society?
For weeks, Turks have been protesting against Prime Minister Erdogan's government - though apparently with modest success. A group of Turkish experts has taken a look at different social divisions in Turkish society.
Lale Akgün is adamant: "The protests won't stop. The genie is out of the bottle." The German Social Democratic politician adds that people are bound to demonstrate and offer resistance until the present liberal spirit is established in society. Akgün was one of a group of experts in a panel discussion organized in Bonn earlier this week by DW, the Southeast Europe Association and the German-Turkish Association on the causes and consequences of the protests in Turkey. The other panel members: Turkish-born journalist Canan Topcu, Bahaedin Güngör, the head of DW's Turkish Service, and Maurus Reinkowski, a scholar of Islam at the University of Basel in Switzerland. "Everyone opposed to Erdogan's authoritarian style of government has taken to the streets - you see housewives with their daughters, young couples, young and old people, soccer fans and transsexuals," said Akgün, who recently returned from a visit to Turkey. "That's something Turkey is experiencing for the first time: a pluralistic society where you can live and let live." Erdogan's rise to power The protests in the streets do not appear to faze Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however. But how could a man who ignores the wishes of a good part of the population have risen to power more than 10 years ago? "Erdogan is the result of a fragmentation of the established parties at that time. They were totally embroiled in power struggles," Güngör remembered. "No one wanted to give in." These parties clearly neglected to fulfill the people's expectations, he said - and that's when Erdogan stepped in, telling voters they had tried out the established parties, and now they should give him a chance. "That was the secret of his success. Erdogan benefitted from a lack of political opponents." The situation has changed. Today, Erdogan has quite a few opponents among the population and the opposition - and even faces criticism from within the ranks of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Turkish President Abdullah Gul. In just 10 days, the police managed to destroy the reputation Turkey worked hard to attain, said Akgün, and she predicts further resistance. "If the AKP breaks apart, that could spell a quick end to Erdogan," she said. An acquired taste According to Akgün, the protests produced a phenomenon entirely new to Turkish society: previously apolitical youth have become politicized. "The young people are acquiring a taste for politics," said Akgün, adding that politics means shaping society, but it also means having a desire for power. "These young people now must let their enthusiasm and energy flow into creating political structures that will allow them to strive for political power - with the legitimization to rule and shape." The demonstrations raised the question of the deep split in Turkish society, which includes groups as different as the Alevites, Secularists and Kemalists. Reinkowski dismisses such categorizations as "too narrow," pointing out Turkey presents "a relatively lively picture, with quite some differentiation along the edges." He said the Taksim movement shows how a common concern can bring together different currents, a factor that should not be underestimated. Turkish civilian society is marked by greater self-confidence and a conviction that political action can bring about change, said Reinkowski - "a cultural and even political capital that will take hold over the coming years." Solidarity - a touchy subject The anti-Erdogan protests in Turkey have also spread to and mobilized people in Germany. But the protesters are quite different, as Topcu pointed out: in Germany, they were more fragmented, sometimes demonstrators refused to join a protest with, for instance, Kemalists. "It is different in Turkey," she said." People with a reason to be dissatisfied managed to come together to demonstrate against the AKP government and Erdogan. That is not how it was in Germany." The journalist fears the rallies in German cities could taint the way Turkish migrants are perceived. "I don't think the mass demonstration by the Alevite community or the protests organized by pro-Erdogan groups contribute to improving the image of ethnic Turks living in Germany, because the protests indicate that people are much more strongly attached to their native country than to Germany." That is not bound to be well-received by critics who regard Muslims as shirking integration, Topcu added. Difficult path to the EU Germany's perception plays a crucial role in an issue close to the Turkish heart: accession to the EU. Chancellor Angela Merkel urges continuing accession talks despite violent police intervention in the Turkish protests. But Güngör is convinced: "Turkey is unmanageable." It is not comparable with Romania, Bulgaria or other EU countries beset by major problems. "Those problems are manageable, and everything is transparent." In addition, said Güngör, Turkey is in a difficult situation with regard to its neighbors Syria, Iraq and Iran - "the restless Caucasus." From an economic, social and foreign policy point of view, Güngör concluded, Turkey is not an easy country: "It will be very difficult to see Turkey in the EU at all." | [
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New EU prosecutors to fight fraud
The European Union loses a lot of money each year through corruption and subsidy fraud. Now, a new institution is supposed to clamp down on the problem and prosecute offenders across EU borders.
"The bigger, the better," is what some Austrian farmers seem to have thought when they simply declared some unused fields as an agricultural area. For two years they cashed in with farm subsidies from the EU. At the end of 2012, the scam was discovered and since then, the EU is demanding that Austria pay back the subsidies totaling some 64 million euros. Normally, it is the EU member states themselves which are supposed to prosecute such scams, explains Dominik Brodowski, a German attorney. But members in past years "have shown on several occasions that they are not that eager to prosecute crimes in which the EU is the target," he told Deutsche Welle. This was in part because the various countries' national authorities are organized differently, but also because EU subsidies are EU funds and not part of any individual national budget. EU authority to coordinate The EU is no longer prepared to put up with this and, in the 2007 Lisbon treaty, decided to set up an EU prosecutors office. This authority is now ready to tackle cross-border prosecutions, if there are crimes or other misconduct committed at the expense of the EU. Justice commissioner Viviane Reding on Monday (15.07.2013) introduced a new bill to that end in the EU parliament. According to the draft, EU prosecutors would handle EU-wide infractions, while the state prosecutors of EU members would continue pursuing cases based on their respective national laws. An EU prosecutor-general would be chosen for an eight-year term with four deputies and would work closely with at least one prosecutor in each member state. The decentralized setup is based on a recent proposal made by German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. 500 million euros each year Justice Commissioner Reding announced a zero-tolerance policy in fighting crime. She also pointed out that, so far, there was only a 42 percent success rate when it came to prosecuting fraud cases with EU funds. This must change, she said, if for no other reason than the EU simply does not have the money to tolerate such crimes. Last year, at least 500 million euros was lost to fraud and corruption, Reding said. The damage done is not only financial, but also tarnishes the EU's reputation. It boosts the arguments of euroskeptics and helps them mobilize anti-EU support. Furthermore, EU money comes from EU taxpayers, Reding emphasized. She called on EU member states and the EU parliament to come to a quick decision on the EU prosecutors office so that it could become operational by early 2015. Not everyone on board The Association of German Judges has welcomed the draft. Board member, Peter Schneiderhan, told German public radio that an EU prosecutor would mostly ensure that crimes could be prosecuted under the same conditions across the EU. Attorney Brodowski called the move "a necessary step." The new prosecutors office still has some hurdles to take, however. Denmark and Britain do not want to be part of it. Brodowski pointed out that the plans, in fact, would certainly affect the sovereignty of member states. In future, there would no longer be national prosecutors to press charges, but instead one European authority. Brodowski also wonders whether the European position would work well with the authorities in individual countries, "or whether there will be difficulties like we have seen with other international authorities, like [the international courts] in The Hague?" | [
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Ex-CIA fugitive Robert Seldon Lady detained in Panama
Former CIA station chief Robert Seldon Lady has been detained in Panama. In 2009 he was convicted in absentia in Italy of kidnapping a Muslim cleric in what was the first trial involving the CIA's rendition program
Former CIA Milan base chief Robert Seldon Lady has been detained in Panama, Panamanian and Italian officials said late Thursday. Interpol had issued a request for Lady's arrest. It was not immediately clear where Lady would be taken as Italy and Panama have no bilateral extradition treaty. In 2009, an Italian judge sentenced 23 CIA employees, including Lady, in absentia for the abduction of the Egyptian cleric Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr. The imam, also known as Abu Omar, was taken from a Milan street in 2003 and flown to Egypt for interrogation, where he claims he was tortured. Lady had left Italy early into the Italian investigation and retired from the CIA. He was handed a nine-year jail term, which merits an extradition request under Italian legal guidelines. It was the first trial in the world involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program. Such renditions, which most famously took terror suspects to the US detainment facility at Guantanamo Bay, were part of the policies launched in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks by then-US President George W. Bush. In February, Italy's former military intelligence chief, Nicolo Pollari, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the kidnapping. hc/av (Reuters, AP) | [
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AirAsia search team finds four 'large objects'
The Indonesia Search and Rescue Agency searching for AirAsia flight 8501 has found two more "large parts" of the crashed jet, bringing the total to four pieces of debris. The plane had been carrying 162 people.
Agency chief Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo said on Saturday that the four large objects were found in the Java Sea using an Indonesian ship equipped with sonar technology. Despite high waves on Saturday, search teams extended their hunt for bodies and wreckage. So far, some 30 bodies have been found. Two other objects were also found earlier on Saturday, some 30 meters (90 feet) below the surface. No survivors have been found. "We managed to detect two large objects - one three-dimensioned, another two-dimensioned," Soelistyo said, adding there were signs of an oil spill. "I can confirm that they are parts of the plane we are looking for," he said. The Airbus A320-200 disappeared during a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore, after losing contact with air traffic control on December 28. Prior to losing contact, the pilot requested to ascend to avoid approaching threatening clouds. Permission was denied, however, due to heavy air traffic. On Saturday, Indonesian authorities also grounded all AirAsia flights from Surabaya to Singapore, saying that the airline had not had a permit to fly on Sundays - the same day that the AirAsia 8501 flight went down over the Java Sea. ksb/se (Reuters, AFP, dpa) | [
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Germans take to the streets to protest anti-Islamization movement
Anti-Islamist 'Pegida' supporters have had to cancel their appearance in Cologne, where thousands of demonstrators showed solidarity with migrants. However, thousands of anti-Islamists showed up in the city of Dresden.
20,000 residents in Cologne and neighboring areas gathered on the streets to demonstrate against the anti-immigrant movement, Pegida. Overwhelming support for immigrants and asylum seekers in Cologne led to the Pegida demonstrators cancelling their appearance. Citizens in Cologne shouted out in jubilation, the sole goal of their demonstration being to prevent the Kögida- the name of the anti-Islam movement in Cologne- from marching in their city. Lights out in Cologne Bridges over the Rhine in Cologne and the Cologne Cathedral were plunged into darkness as demonstrators of the anti-Islamic movement gathered to protest the influx of refugees into Germany. People displayed banners saying "We are the people" and "Nazis, out!" "We will not let a racist mob run free on Cologne's streets," a pamphlet said, referring to the march and rioting by the group "Hooligans against Salafists" last October in Cologne. Around 5,000 protesters gathered in a Berlin neighborhood, calling for more tolerance. Berlin's integration leder Dilek Kolat of the Social Democrats called the Pegida- an acronym for Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West- "an attack on peaceful co-existence in our society." Citizens in Munich and Stuttgart also came out into the streets. Around 1,000 people gathered in Munich's Sendlinger Tor to voice their displeasure against the anti-immigrant movement. Pegida still strong in Dresden Germany's eastern city of Dresden witnessed a strong presence of the anti-Islamists with around 18,000 Pegida supporters, who gather on Mondays, rallying against what they considered a threat to German and European values. Anti-Pegida activists in Dresden offered concrete proposals for negotiation to Pegida demonstrators for the first time on Monday. mg/bw (dpa, EPD) | [
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Anger, dismay and cynicism: The Muslim world responds to the new Charlie Hebdo
The latest edition of Charlie Hebdo has sparked heated debate in the Muslim world. The main media outlets have been restrained in their response, but discussions on social media are incensed.
You won't find Muhammad anywhere in the Arab world right now. Not, that is, in caricature - the weeping prophet the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo portrayed on its cover one week after the deadly attacks in Paris. The prophet is weeping over the violence perpetrated in the supposed name of Islam. But readers of the major Arab papers can't see him, because not one of those papers has published the cartoon. The majority in Algeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia decided to confine their reporting on the new edition to the sidelines - if, that is, they covered it at all. Some newspapers published caricatures of their own today that expressed their positions on the issue. These are considerably at variance. The Tunisian paper Al Fair, for example, offered its readers a drawing of a jihadist lighting a bomb. The bomb is round and depicts a globe. The jihadist is sitting on it - the message is that Islamist terrorists are destroying the world in which they themselves live. The Algerian paper Al Joumhouria published a very different caricature: a drawing of a larger-than-life Jew holding a tiny Muslim doll under a terrified woman's nose. It's strongly reminiscent of the anti-Semitic drawings that circulated in Germany under the Nazis. One week after the attacks, which were perpetrated by men of Algerian origin, this caricature conveys the message that the true enemies of humanity are the Jews. Justified dismay The young, liberal online newspaper Al Arabi al-Jadeed in London, on the other hand, carries extensive coverage of the caricatures. Commentator Azmi Bishara writes that the lines between free speech and hate speech have been blurred - but that this line "is not so thin, and a sound mind can indeed tell the difference." He says "it is time to ask ourselves, can cartoons that insult the prophets of all religions, including the prophet of Islam, truly undermine the stature of these prophets? […] Are such events a worthy cause for millions of people to rise up and damage their future, their plans, their relations with other nations and peoples?" Angry voices Many people writing online say yes to that, with comments on Twitter expressing anger and even cynicism. One user writes that Charlie Hebdo is spitting into Muslims' faces once again. "We will avenge our leader Muhammad for you," writes another user from East Asia. People who don't entirely condemn the attacks have also been writing in to Al Jazeera. One reader asks what it means that Charlie Hebdo wants to "forgive," as indicated in the cartoon. "The attackers are dead, so it's not really a question of forgiveness anymore," she says. Another refers to the limits of freedom: "Islam is a peaceful religion. Making fun of or insulting other people's faith is not freedom of speech - that's hate speech." Others focus on the political background to the attacks. "The principal cause is the weakness of Muslim states, their corrupt, weak and traitorous ruling dynasties," writes one commentator, and adds that it is obvious what should be done about it: "They must be removed by good Muslims." The Egyptian fatwa office The Dar al-Iftaa, the Egyptian fatwa office, had already commented in advance of today's edition of Charlie Hebdo, describing it as "an unjustified provocation to the feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world." As Dar al-Iftaa had it, "Charlie Hebdo's next edition will stir a new wave of hatred in the French and western (Muslim) community in general." It added that "the magazine's actions hinder Muslims' endeavors to achieve coexistence and dialog among civilizations." A week ago Dar al-Iftaa immediately issued a condemnation of the Paris attacks. Now, though, the office has criticized the new drawings. "This is considered a dangerous escalation in the face of human values, liberations, cultural diversity, tolerance and respect to human rights which are very vital to maintain societal peace," it writes: "Furthermore, it deepens the sentiments of hatred and discrimination in the hearts of Muslims and non-Muslims alike." | [
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Terror attack arrests in Paris as US' Kerry visits France to pay respects
US diplomat John Kerry meeting top officials in Paris says his country shares France’s pain over last week’s Islamist attacks. Kerry's visit comes as French authorities arrest a dozen people in relation to the violence.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with top officials in Paris Friday to convey America's solidarity with France after the deadly terrorist attacks last week. "I know you know that we share the pain and the horror of everything that you went through," said Kerry as he met the president, referring to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. "We share this pain and that is also the sense of our meeting today, as well as the friendship it displays…We must work together to find the necessary response," he added. Kerry met earlier on Friday with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at the French foreign ministry, explaining he could not have attended last Sunday's unity marches in Paris as he was on a scheduled trip to India. "It's good to be with you," Kerry said on his arrival. "We have a lot to talk about." The Obama administration came under fire for failing to send a cabinet-level official to the French capital for the rally. More than 40 world leaders, including Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, and a million demonstrators gathered in solidarity for the march on Sunday night. Kerry met with Fabius and Hollande before laying wreaths at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket. Kerry, who announced he was in France "to share a big hug with Paris," will meet the capital's mayor later in the day to express his sympathy. Meanwhile, a dozen people were arrested Friday morning in connection with last week's terror attacks in Paris that left 17 people dead. Nine men, and three women were arrested, French daily Le Monde reported Friday, citing an unnamed judicial source. Paris’ Gare de I’Est train station was evacuated at 8 a.m. local time (0700 UTC) after a bomb scare. It re-opened an hour later, the SNCF state railway said, without giving further details. jlw/kms (AP, AFP, dpa) | [
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Air India to cut cost amid industry turbulence
The Indian airliner has announced plans to slash staff and cut costly routes amid increasing pressure from cut-rate competitors. The move comes as the company eyes a possible turn-around after a long spell of losses.
India's state-owned aviation giant Air India announced late on Sunday that it plans to cut costs by 14 billion rupees (195 million euros, $227 million), or about 6 percent of its total outlays, in the next financial year. The announcement comes after the government asked the loss-making carrier to improve its fiscal health. The airline said that it would identify "surplus staff," freeze contractual hiring and discontinue loss-making routes, in a move meant to reduce its variable spending of 140 billion rupees by a tenth. "The ministry of civil aviation has directed that a 10 percent cut must be imposed," the company's chairman and managing director Robit Nandan said in a circular to senior staff. The company has also restricted staff travel, while pilots and cabin crew must stay in hotels near airports to cut transport costs. In addition, the circular said, "wage increases for local staff... will not be entertained." Stiff competition The move comes as Air India faces cut-throat competition from cheaper, private-sector rivals. The country's former aviation monopoly now controls just a fifth of the domestic market and hasn't turned an annual profit since 2007. In 2012, the government handed the flat-lining carrier a 300-billion-rupee bailout package, which was to be administered over a nine-year period, despite opposition from several ministers. The state run airline has reduced its losses over the last two fiscal years, with total year-on-year revenue rising by 6.5 percent in December 2014. All but one of India's major carriers have seen earnings nosedive, due to high operation costs and some of the lowest fare prices in the world. pad/uhe (AFP, PTI, Reuters) | [
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'We are not xenophobic': PEGIDA
A spokesperson for anti-Islamization group PEGIDA has said the organization will not give up, despite death threats against the group's founder. Police have temporarily banned the group's weekly Monday marches.
One of the organizers of Dresden's weekly PEGIDA ("Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West") marches has argued that her group's message is simply misunderstood. Appearing on a Sunday evening episode of Günther Jauch's talk show on German public broadcaster ARD, Kathrin Oertel argued that most people had a "false impression" of her organization. Oertel's appearance was the first such interview with a PEGIDA organizer, and came just hours after the cancellation of Monday's march. The protest, which would have been the latest in a series of weekly protests that began in October, was called off on Sunday due to death threats against founder Lutz Bachmann. The Dresden police have temporarily banned demonstrations in the city, including a planned counter-demonstration. The threats to Bachmann come amid warnings from foreign intelligence services that the Berlin and Dresden train stations have become possible targets for terrorist attacks. On the show, Oertel rejected accusations that PEGIDA is racist and hostile to foreigners. "We really are not a xenophobic organization," she insisted, adding that rather than stir up anti-immigrant feeling, the purpose of the marches is to "shake things up." "We want to highlight the shortcomings of our government in recent years," she said. Despite the ban on rallies in Dresden, Oertel said PEGIDA was by no means giving up its strategy. "We will continue to put pressure on the government," she told Jauch. Dialogue instead of slogans Alexander Gauland, a senior member of the euroskeptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was also a guest on the show. Coming to Oertel's defense, he called the ban on demonstrating "the beginning of Islamization," according to news outlet Spiegel Online. Parliamentarian Jens Spahn, of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was also present, and criticized PEGIDA for using "slogans" instead of "dialogue." Spahn said if PEGIDA wanted to be taken seriously, it must enter into dialogue with the political system. Both Spahn and Wolfgang Thierse of the liberal Social Democrats (SPD) agreed that banning political rallies was a serious infringement of the basic right to assembly. Spahn assured Oertel and the audience that PEGIDA would be allowed to demonstrate again, but in this specific case, considering the threat against Bachmann, Spahn and Theirse agreed with the decision of the authorities. es/cmk (dpa, EPD) | [
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Opinion: So much for a 'lame duck,' Obama's State of the Union
In his State of the Union address, US President Barack Obama confidently defied Republican leaders. Obama wants to give his policies one last push, says DW's Gero Schließ.
That was not the voice of a loser. It was the voice of a winner. Forget the Republicans, take no notice of them, they have given you nothing. The calls of many of the Democrats fearing an electoral defeat sounded almost like pleas to their president. But President Barack Obama didn't have to be told twice. The fact that his party had just suffered a crushing defeat in the midterm elections and had to address a completely Republican-controlled Congress for the first time seemed to be anything but a challenge for the US president. A reinvigorated Barack Obama was bursting with power, self-confident, and aggressive during his address to Congress. Taking Republicans into consideration was the last thing on his mind. With great gusto, he issued almost half a dozen veto threats - from the Republicans fight against the Obamacare health care reforms, to demands for further sanctions against Iran. Obama's message was clear: The United States has wandered through the valley of tears and is on top again. The economy is growing at record speed, unemployment is on the decline, prices on Wall Street are rising and oil prices are lower than they've been for some time - all factors which masses of people are set to profit from. But first, it's the president who's reaping the rewards. Obama is suddenly popular again. The good news has catapulted his popularity figures. Obama was in high spirits. He's pushing through his agenda - one could even say the left populist agenda of his party - more for the middle class, less for the rich. Whether it's taxes, education or social benefits, when it comes to Obama, it should be the middle and lower income groups who profit - and at the expense of the wealthy and the super-rich. Obama was in his element. You could almost feel an inner liberation. This president doesn't have much to lose anymore, certainly not after the defeat at the midterm elections. Instead, his party has so much to win - namely the 2016 presidential election. Although Obama can't run for presidency again himself, he wants to make sure that the next president - possibly even the first female president - is once again a Democrat and can continue his political legacy. In his speech, Obama did everything he could to lay the groundwork for a Democrat win in 2016 and to a certain extent used his address as a springboard into the election campaign. Obama's tax initiative is the spearhead of this strategy. Higher taxes on capital gains and inheritance - these are issues typically seen to affect traditional Republicans. Tax cuts for the middle class and social achievements, such as the American version of Germany's family allowance, however, are all factors which appeal to the middle class and lower income groups, who traditionally vote for Democrats. Few people expect any of these proposals to be implemented in Obama's remaining time in office. The Republicans have already expressed their resistance. But a theme for the looming election campaign has been set and the Republicans will have their work cut out in explaining why they're against tax relief. What Obama has put in motion with executive orders on immigration policy, climate protection or most recently with the historical rapprochement with Cuba, far exceeds the tailored package of tax relief and social benefits for the middle class. But that's not enough for election campaigning. That's where his initiatives for cyber security, a free Internet or a Pacific free trade agreement come into play. In his speech, the president was even good in areas which usually highlight his weaknesses, namely foreign policy. He combined his plea for a continued fight against Islamist terror with an address of solidarity with France and all countries that have been hit by terrorist attacks. His hesitation in dealing with Syria and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been forgotten. Obama could even turn those issues into victories for deliberate, measured diplomacy. In his remaining two years in office, Obama wants to give it a try one last time. There's a chance American politics are about to get exciting. But that doesn't mean that he will lose sight of all the challenges and conflict around him. The world, whether friend or foe, can prepare for a president who will remain faithful to his foreign policy agenda until the end of his term. | [
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US jury convicts former CIA officer of leaking classified Iran nuclear details
A United States federal court jury has found a former CIA officer guilty of leaking spy secrets to a journalist. Jeffrey Sterling was accused of leaking details of a failed operation to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Following three days of deliberations, jurors on Monday convicted 47-year-old Jeffrey Sterling of all nine counts, most of which related to unauthorized disclosure of national defense information. Prosecutors had said Sterling's actions had put lives at risk as well as compromising efforts to deter Iran's contested nuclear plans. Earlier in the day the jurors had informed the judge that they could not reach a unanimous verdict, but they were urged by the judge to keep talking and a few hours later they delivered guilty verdicts. The central issue in the two-week trial was who had told James Risen, a reporter for the New York Times, about the top-secret mission. The plan involved using a CIA asset, a former Russian nuclear engineer nicknamed Merlin, to supply the Iranians with deliberately flawed plans for nuclear weapons, in the hope that Iran would spend years attempting to develop parts which stood no chance of working. The mission was outlined in Risen's 2006 book "State of War." Sterling had been Merlin's case handler. Prosecutors had acknowledged a lack of direct evidence against Sterling, however said there was strong circumstantial evidence against him. They said Sterling believed he had been mistreated by his employer. Defense attorney Barry Pollack said it made more sense for a US congressional staffer at Capitol Hill to have leaked to Risen. The court case against Sterling was delayed for several years because prosecutors were trying to make Risen divulge his sources, which he refused to do. Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes but the US and its Western allies fear it to be a front for producing nuclear weapons and had targeted Iran with heavy economic sanctions. Following a breakthrough in negotiations in late 2013 which led to an interim deal for limited sanctions relief in exchange for Iran curbing some aspects of its program, negotiations have been underway to reach a long-term agreement by June 30 this year. se/bw (AP, Reuters, dpa) | [
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'Mad Men' creator, Audrey Tautou on Berlinale jury
The seven members of this year's Berlinale jury have been named. The experienced film celebrities will decide who will receive the prestigious Golden Bear in mid-February.
The American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, who directed the 2014 blockbuster "Noah," "Black Swan" and "The Wrestler," among others, will preside over the jury. He will be accompanied by French actress Audrey Tautou (who rose to fame with her eccentric character in the global hit, "Amélie") and German actor Daniel Brühl (who played the lead role in "Good Bye, Lenin!"), as well as Matthew Weiner, the creator, executive producer and screenwriter of the hit US series "Mad Men." Other jurors include Martha De Laurentiis ("Hannibal") and South Korean director Bong Joon-ho ("Snowpiercer"). The Peruvian filmmaker Claudia Llosa, who won the Golden Bear in 2009 with her film "The Milk of Sorrow," is also on board. Festival director Dieter Kosslick pointed out during a press conference that this year's selection includes many films depicting "strong women in extreme situations." Opening the festival is a film by Spanish director Isabel Coixet - "Nobody Wants the Night" - featuring French actress Juliette Binoche. It tells the story of Josephine Peary, who trekked across the tundra in Greenland in 1908 to rescue her missing husband. Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" also highlights a forceful woman's biography, with Nicole Kidman portraying British explorer and spy Gertrude Bell. Another awaited premiere is Terrence Malick's latest feature, called "Knight of Cups," and dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi's "Taxi." Altogether, 19 films are competing for the Golden Bear this year and 441 movies from 72 countries will be shown within 10 days. The Berlin International Film Festival, known as the Berlinale, will take place from February 5 to 15 in the German capital. eg/kbm (dpa, AFP) | [
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Ex-KGB spy Litvinenko's autopsy 'world's most dangerous'
Pathologists in the UK carried out one of the most dangerous autopsies when cutting into former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, an inquiry heard. The former agent died in 2006 after he drank tea poisoned with polonium.
The post-mortem of former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko was "one of the most dangerous" ever, according to experts speaking in London on Wednesday. Litvinenko, who is believed to have been poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, died on November 23, 2006. "It has been described as one of the most dangerous post-mortem examinations ever undertaken in the Western world," Nathaniel Cary, one of the pathologists inquiring into Litvinenko's case told the Associated Press. Those involved in the investigation had to wear white protective suits with specialized hoods that supplied filtered air. Inquiry into former spy's death Litvinenko suddenly fell ill in November 2006 after drinking tea with two Russians he met at a London hotel. The former spy's death deteriorated rapidly after the meeting and he died within three weeks of multiple organ failure. Litvinenko was living in exile in London as a former KGB agent who had become a critic of the Kremlin. In the inquiry into Litvinenko's killing, which started on Tuesday, police said Litvinenko suspected Russian President Vladimir Putin of personally ordering his death. The reason was to cover up Kremlin's link with the mafia, which Litvinenko was helping Spanish intelligence expose, Reuters news agency reported the Litvinenko family lawyer as saying. Two police suspects, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi, are still officially wanted for murder. The pair, however, have denied involvement in Litvinenko's death and Russia has so far refused to extradite them. They have been invited to speak at the inquiry via video link, but cannot be forced to do so. Lugovoi denounces UK investigation Meanwhile, Lugovoi told the Associated Press that the evidence being presented at the inquiry was "nonsense." "Such evidence simply does not exist because Russia wasn't involved," he said. Lugovoi also accused the inquiry of trying to cover up a possible involvement of the British intelligence agency MI6. The controversy generated by Litvinenko's killing severely impacted UK-Russian relations. An inquiry was delayed after London's ties improved with Kremlin, but the Ukraine crisis last year prompted Britain to commence the proceedings. mg/sms (Reuters, AP) | [
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US executes man despite disability claim
A man has been executed in the US after a final appeal by his lawyers who said he was intellectually disabled was turned down. Warren Hill was killed by lethal injection in the southeastern state of Georgia.
The 54-year-old murderer was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his 18-year-old girlfriend in 1986, whom he shot 11 times. While serving that sentence, however, Hill beat fellow inmate Joseph Handspike to death using a nail-studded board. In 1991, Hill was convicted of Handspike's murder and sentenced to death. His execution was delayed three times between July 2012 and July 2013 following various challenges. In their final appeal, Hill's lawyers argued that his execution was prohibited by the Constitution because he was intellectually disabled. According to Hill's representatives, he had an IQ of 70 and the mental capacity of an 11-year-old. A number of experts and state doctors had also testified to Hill's mental disability. The Supreme Court turned down the appeal, however, after the court voted 7-2 to not take up the petition. Despite being the first US state to ban the execution of mentally disabled inmates, critics say Georgia has the toughest standard for proving intellectual disability in the US. Global calls for mercy The European Union (EU), lawyers and doctors, as well as public figures including former US president Jimmy Carter, had also called for mercy for Hill. "This execution is an abomination," said Hill's attorney Brian Kammer, following the Supreme Court's decision not to take up Hill's petition. "Today, the court has unconscionably allowed a grotesque miscarriage of justice to occur in Georgia. "The memory of Mr. Hill's illegal execution will live on as a moral stain on the people of this state and on the courts that allowed this to happen." According to the Death Penalty Information Center, Hill was the fifth US inmate executed this year and the second in Georgia. ksb/bw (Reuters, AFP, AP) | [
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'High time' for medical marijuana in Germany
The federal government wants to make cannabis more accessible to sick Germans as a means for pain relief, according to the country's drug representative. 'High time,' say supporters of legalization.
"It is our goal that in the future more people in Germany will be able to receive cannabis as medicine than has been the case until now," Marlene Mortler, the federal government's drug representative said on Tuesday, adding that plans were in the making for legislation that would see insurance companies cover the costs. "We want to get this law through the Bundestag [lower house of German parliament] by the end of the year so it can take effect in 2016," Mortler said in an interview published in the Welt daily. Medicine and politics - and law "The case until now" has been that only very few receive cannabis as part of medical treatments. At present, less than 300 Germans are authorized to purchase marijuana in pharmacies, almost exclusively those suffering from terminal cancer, according to the federal health ministry. Mortler conceded that it "indeed remains not very easy" to differentiate those who are in dire need of cannabis from those who are not. The issue, she claimed, was of a political nature. "Our politicians need to provide clarity here in swift fashion." With regard to the accessibility of medical marijuana, however, the issue is more than just medical or political. Last July, three people went to a district court in Cologne to complain they couldn't afford to purchase medical marijuana from local pharmacies. Even with explicit authorization, the plaintiffs said they were still not able to obtain the drugs, and they asked the court to be allowed to grow their own plants. In an unprecedented ruling, the court said yes. For critically ill patients allowed to purchase cannabis in pharmacies, a gram officially costs between 15 and 18 euros, according to Germany's Federal Chamber of Pharmacists. Legalization, trivialization? Mortler made no mistake in her Welt interview - which was picked up by most mainstream media and garnered significant attention on Twitter - that the possession and usage of marijuana for Germans without medical authorization remained against the law. "I can only emphasize that regular use, particularly for young people, is damaging … It robs them of energy they need to stay fit in life, and we know that it can lead to psychoses and phases in which their entire lives revolve around getting high. Statements for the legalization of cannabis threaten to trivialize these dangers," implored Mortler, with regard to a popular campaign supported by leading Green party politician Cem Özdemir. Özdemir, who heads the Greens on the federal level, told DW in response to Mortler's interview that it was "about time that the federal government is willing to make use of the medical advantages of cannabis." His praise ended there, however: "But that shouldn't take a year to happen. It is preposterous that many patients are thus deprived of relief - this is a form of failing to render assistance." 'High time' Özdemir became a public champion for the legalization movement this past summer when he posted a video to Youtube in which he dumped a bucket of water on his head in support of ALS research. Saying nothing of the plant standing right next to him while responding to the "ice bucket" challenge, and although only half of it could be seen, it was clearly marijuana. An investigation was launched after Özdemir's parliamentary immunity was lifted in mid January, but the charges were dropped on Tuesday. Özdemir chose not to comment on the investigation that had been dropped, opting instead to talk about the importance of legalization with regard to "effective ways to protect minors." "The clearance of medical marijuana is only half of the issue. The protection of minors cannot be achieved by prohibition or the criminalization of users. Making cannabis illegal is no form of protection - the black market doesn't ask for identification or the age of the buyer," Özdemir said. For ordinary citizens, German law currently forbids the possession, cultivation and sale of marijuana, though the drug can be consumed legally. In most German federal states, despite being illegal, possession of up to six grams is not prosecuted. In Berlin, that amount is 15 grams. | [
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Parents of US hostage Kayla Jean Mueller issue appeal to 'IS' captors
The parents of a US humanitarian aid worker who her captors claim was killed in a Jordanian airstrike have said they are hopeful that she is still alive. They have also asked their daughter's captors to contact them.
Carl and Marsha Mueller, the parents of 26-year-old Kayla Jean Mueller, released a statement on Friday in which they appealed to "Islamic State" (IS) militants, who have claimed to be holding their daughter, to contact them privately. The statement came after the jihadis claimed earlier in the day that Kayla Jean Mueller had been killed in an airstrike by Jordanian fighter jets on the building where she was being held captive in the Syrian city of Raqqa. "This news leaves us concerned, yet, we are still hopeful that Kayla is alive," the parents said in the statement. Addressing directly "those in positions of responsibility for holding Kayla," the parents said: "You told us that you treated Kayla as your guest, as your guest her safety and well-being remains your responsibility." Mueller, of the US state of Arizona, had been working for a humanitarian aid organization when she was seized by IS militants while leaving a hospital in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in August 2013. No US confirmation US officials said on Friday that they were unable to confirm the IS claim that Mueller had been killed. "We are obviously deeply concerned by these reports. We have not at this time seen any evidence that corroborates ISIL's claim," National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said, referring to the IS by an acronym that they previously used. Jordan, meanwhile, questioned the jihadist group's claim. The country's foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, used his Twitter account to reject the claim as "an old and sick trick used by terrorists and despots for decades: claiming that hostages human shields held captive are killed by air raids." Jordan, a member of the US-led coalition involved in an air campaign against IS militants in Syria and northern Iraq, stepped up its air strikes on IS after the jihadists posted a video on the Internet earlier this week showing captured Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasseasbeh being burned alive in a cage. pfd/sms (Reuters, AFP) | [
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Sweden 'doesn't need groups like PEGIDA'
The Swedish branch of the PEGIDA movement has held its first demonstration in Malmo with little success, as counter-demonstrators vastly outnumbered PEGIDA supporters. Malcolm Brabant reports from Malmo.
The atmosphere on Malmo's Stortorget, or Big Square, was like a bear pit on Monday evening - and this was no ordinary PEGIDA demonstration. Following the lead of Dresden, where the PEGIDA rallies got their start in Germany last October, rallies are supposed to be orderly marches through European cities issuing dark warnings against the "Islamization of the West." But for Sweden's first PEGIDA outing, the authorities decided to corral the anti-Muslim protestors behind a wall of steel barricades in one corner of the square. The arena, for that's how it appeared, was surrounded on all sides by a hostile crowd, baiting anyone who had the nerve to carry a Swedish flag. Not surprisingly, despite declarations of support on Facebook, only a handful of PEGIDA followers dared brave the anti-racism demonstrators and follow controversial art gallery owner Henrik Ronnquist, leader of the Swedish chapter, into the cauldron. "Hundreds and thousands of people have contacted me over the past few days saying we sympathize with you, we support you, but we don't dare come here today," said Ronnquist, a man with a conviction for inciting racial hatred. Last year, his gallery exhibited what a court determined were derogatory depictions of Roma people and Africans by artist Dan Park, who received a six-month sentence for his work. Not long after Ronnquist's statement, a topless woman climbed over the barricade in an attempt to get at him. She had the words "Stop the PEGIDIZATION of Malmo" written on her torso. Screaming "Stop PEGIDA!" she was dragged away by a burly policeman, who later returned her coat to ward off the cold winter air. "Sweden needs PEGIDA," said Ronnquist. "What we're seeing is the slow Islamization of Sweden. It's not about racism. It's not about specific Muslim people. We want to keep our traditions. The ground Sweden stands on. Our culture. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion." Some young Muslims covered up their faces at the police barriers, anxious not to be filmed. Facing them from across the barricades, a handful of PEGIDA supporters held up a sign saying "Deport supporters of the 'Islamic State.'" PEGIDA 'preying on people's fears' The idea that Sweden is being Islamicized was ridiculed by Anders Ekhem, the vicar of Malmo, who held a service in support of Muslims during the rally at his church not far from the square. "I'm concerned about PEGIDA," he said. "They are preying on people's fears. Most Muslims in Sweden support democracy." At the rally, a group of young people carrying red flags supported his view. They spoke passionately against PEGIDA as the demonstration got under way. "We need to show them that everyone is welcome here," said Alma Karlssen. Protesting nearby, David Svensson said that Sweden doesn't "need groups like PEGIDA, who are driving a wedge between Swedes and creating more problems than there already are." "They don't know their history," added Philip Spanberg. "This is exactly how Nazi Germany came to power." Outlet for frustrations PEGIDA's emergence in Sweden comes as the country is involved in an intense debate over immigration and the government's commitment to admitting 100,000 asylum seekers per year. Ronnquist shares an ideology with the right-wing Sweden Democrats, which oppose the current open door immigration policy. The Sweden Democrats are the third largest party in parliament but their influence over legislation has been restricted after the major parties formed an alliance to effectively keep them out of the political decision-making process. Nevertheless, the party has seen a recent rise in its popularity in the polls. PEGIDA, therefore, has become an outlet for frustrations over Sweden's commitment to become the most generous country in Europe toward refugees. But following the low turnout on Monday evening in Malmo, and after poor attendance at PEGIDA rallies in Copenhagen just across the Oresund Bridge, the future of the movement in Scandinavia appears in doubt. "PEGIDA has more traction in Germany than in Scandinavia," said Magnus Ranstorp, a lecturer at the Swedish National Defense College and an extremism expert. "There is greater tolerance in Scandinavia, despite the presence of right-leaning parties. But this is a warning flag for the authorities, in that they need to deal more holistically with immigration and integration in a sensible way." | [
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Sydney terror suspects plans revealed
The Australian government has released details about the two terror suspects it arrested earlier in the week. The men threatened stabbings and claimed to be operating on behalf of "Islamic State."
The two suspected terrorists arrested in Australia on Tuesday were identified on Thursday as Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, and Mohammad Kiad, 25. Besides the knife, machete, and homemade "Islamic State" flag seized at their Sydney home, the Australian government also released details of a video in which one of the men threatens to stab the kidney and necks of Australians. After watching the video, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told parliament it depicted a man kneeling before the black flag with a knife saying "I swear to almighty Allah, we will carry out the first operation for the soldiers of the caliphate in Australia… I swear to you almighty Allah, blond people, there is no room for blame between you and us. We only owe you stabbing the kidneys and striking necks." Sydney police said they responded to a tipoff that Kutobi and Kiad were planning to carry out violence on Tuesday when the pair was arrested and charged with intent to launch a terrorist attack. Neither has asked for bail or entered a plea to the charges, which carry a possible life prison sentence. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton responded to reports on Thursday that the men came to Australia as refugees, and perhaps with fake passports. Dutton admitted that one of them may have entered the country with "some false documentation" and called for an urgent review of the matter. "Monstrous extremism" "I don't think it would be possible to witness uglier fanaticism than this, monstrous extremism than this, and I regret to say it is now present in our country," Prime Minister Abbott said. Whether the two men actually have ties to the IS terrorist group is under investigation. The government believes that at least 70 Australians are fighting with IS in Syria and Iraq, helped by around 100 Australia-based facilitators. In December, Man Monis, an Iran-born self-styled cleric with a criminal record, took 18 people hostage in a downtown Sydney café. Among his demands that he be delivered an "Islamic State" flag, though investigators later established he hadn't had any contact with the jihadist group. Last year, Abbott committed Australian aircraft and special forces to assist in the fight against IS in Iraq, introduced tough new laws on foreign militants returning to Australia, and gave security forces enhanced powers. es/jil (AP, Reuters) | [
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Lack of opportunity leads to mass exodus from Kosovo
In recent months, tens of thousands have fled Kosovo, the youngest European state. Poverty and a lack of prospects at home are just two reasons why they're leaving.
"Why should I stay here?" asks Fitim S., who has three children, ages 10, 8 and 3. Until a few months ago, he received 80 euros a month in benefits. But even that has been cut now, as he owns a house and others do not. "We've been told that we can claim asylum in Germany," Fitim says, adding that he would like to stay in Kosovo if he could find work paying "around 200 euros ($230) a month." But, things being as they are, all five of them are packed up and ready to get on the bus to Germany. For over two months, up to 10 buses have left for the north every evening from the capital, Pristina. It's a similar picture in most other towns. They usually have no problems passing through Serbia despite Belgrade's reluctance to recognize a Kosovo passport. They go as far as Subotica, a small town near the Serbia-Hungary border. It's a Schengen border, which most Kosovars then cross on foot with the help of corrupt police officers and traffickers who charge 200 euros per head. If they get caught by Hungarian police, they claim asylum in Hungary. But they'd rather make it all the way to Germany, Austria or Scandinavia. 'They leave' Kosovo has not seen this many people leave the country since the war in 1999. There are no official numbers, but government sources say up to 30,000 have fled Kosovo in the past two months. Some diplomats in Pristina, however, think 50,000 is a more realistic figure - some media outlets claim it's even more. Many schools have seen the effects: Teachers have been let go as more than 5,200 students have left. The streets and restaurants in Pristina, normally full of life, are also emptier than usual. For a country with just 1.8 million people, this mass exodus poses a problem. "Kosovars don't believe in political parties, parliament or the government anymore," sociologist Artan Muhaxhiri told DW. "So, first chance they get, they leave." Kosovo is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with unemployment at 45 percent and more than 34 percent of people living in poverty, meaning on less than 1.42 euros a day. About 18 percent even live on just 94 cents a day. But there are also some middle class Kosovars giving up fairly well-paid jobs to leave the country illegally. Reality check In January, Kosovars made up the second biggest group of applicants for asylum in Germany, after Syrians, according to German authorities. Serbians and Albanians were in third and fourth place, with some of those possibly Kosovars with Serbian or Albanian passports. For most Kosovars, their dreams of making it in Germany end as soon as they arrive. "There is no asylum for Kosovars," Manfred Schmidt, president of the German Migration and Refugee Authority, told DW. While Kosovo is not yet on the list of safe countries, like Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Macedonia, Kosovars seeking asylum are practically always rejected, Schmidt said. Those who do not leave Germany within two weeks of their rejection may be forced to leave and asked not to enter Schengen territory for the next five years. Government media campaign On their return, many Kosovars find themselves destitute, having lost everything for a shattered dream. "When this exodus is over there'll likely be more people in Brussels calling for a liberalization of visa policies for Kosovo," Dusan Reljic, head of the Brussels bureau of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Under pressure from diplomats, the government in Pristina started a media campaign asking people not to leave Kosovo. Border controls in Serbia and Hungary have also been stepped up. All to little avail, as more buses keep heading toward Serbia, with more people on board seeking a new life in Germany, Austria or Scandinavia. | [
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Yemen's alarming disintegration
Long the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is now in a deep crisis. The collapse of the state - a breeding ground for Islamist terror groups such as al-Qaeda - can no longer be ignored.
Germany's foreign ministry is not mincing its words: "Any Germans who may still be in Yemen are urged to leave," it said on its website. On Friday, Germany quietly closed its embassy in the capital Sanaa - following the lead of the US, UK, France and Italy. The situation in Yemen is extremely unstable, it said. Unloved new rulers Last week, Shiite Houthi rebels from the northwest of the country seized power in Sanaa. They announced they had deposed Interim President Abed Rabbo Mansur Hadi and dissolved parliament. But their coup lacks widespread support among Yemenis. On the contrary, many Sunnis are protesting loudly against the Houthis' actions, and are arming themselves and joining forces with the terrorist network al-Qaeda. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that Yemen was breaking apart before the eyes of the world. The months-long mediation efforts of the United Nations finally appear to have failed. Yemen is facing many problems simultaneously. It is one of the least developed countries in the world. The population is growing rapidly, but most of its 25 million people are desperately poor. Illiteracy and unemployment are widespread and water scarcity is now taking on dramatic proportions. Since the forced resignation of longtime ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2012, violence and serious political unrest have shaken Yemen. The Hadi government was supported by Saudi Arabia, but control of the country gradually slipped out of its grasp. In early 2014, the Houthi rebels launched an offensive, occupied the capital and expanded their control to the south of the country. Battle for supremacy The Houthis are fighting for a share of power. Since the civil war in the 1960s, Shiites have felt marginalized by the Sunni majority. Between 2004 and 2010, the Houthis battled, sometimes for months at a time, with the government forces of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. This was repeatedly followed by a ceasefire. But in the course of the Arab Spring, many tribes allied themselves with the Houthis, along with parts of the army, with many Sunni Islamists and with young people protesting against the president - at least temporarily. Saleh lost the presidency. But he remained in Yemen and was able to hold on to some of his supporters in the military and among the tribes. In the constitutional negotiations that followed, the interests of the Houthis and the formerly independent south were given short shrift. Instead, the Islamist Islah party prevailed. But Islah lost the support of the Saudis, who had turned against the Muslim Brotherhood, which in turn formed the Islah's core. The Shiite Houthis, on the other hand, are backed by Iran - a deeply troubling scenario for the Sunni-dominated Gulf States. Longing for the past The Houthis are now taking advantage of their opponents' weakness and making a bold statement with their advance toward the south. They are now supported by Saleh, who has fallen out with his successor and party comrade Hadi. Saleh hopes to return to power - or at least maintain his influence. For 33 years he was head of state, first of North Yemen, then of the united country. During that time, the situation in Yemen continued to deteriorate. But against the background of the current chaos, some Yemenis now want Ali Abdullah Saleh back. | [
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Turkey riles NATO with Chinese whispers
Turkey is sending mixed signals over whether it will buy a multi-billion dollar anti-missile defense system from NATO allies or China. Turkey's posturing could backfire, writes Jacob Resneck from Istanbul.
Turkey's announcement in 2013 that it had accepted a $3.4 billion (2.9 billion euros) bid from a blacklisted Chinese company sent shockwaves to its western allies because the system would be incompatible with existing infrastructure by linking up with a rival military power. "NATO will never allow a Chinese system to be linked to its own infrastructure for fear of China could then discover the underlying logistics, could use it for cyber attacks and things like that," said former Turkish diplomat Sinan Ulgen, now an analyst with the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies in Istanbul. "So it's not just a matter of technological compatibility - it's much more than that." In a written response to parliamentary questions, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz suggested that the Chinese system was being actively considered despite its inoperability with NATO's existing systems. "The system in question will be integrated with the national system for Turkey's defense and will be used without integrating with NATO," Yilmaz wrote Thursday. Hours later a senior defense procurement official clarified that no final decision had been made but the implication is clear: Turkey is willing to openly irritate its traditional allies to leverage what it wants: technology transfers, discounts on equipment and respect as an indispensable regional power. Having it both ways One theory is that Turkey may try to buy components from several sources - the US consortium of Raytheon and Lockheed and/or the Franco-Italian firm Eurosam - and still use Chinese components. "In return Turkey could possibly get some of the technology transfers it seeks," Ulgen said. Earlier reports suggested Turkey was postponing the decision until after April 24 when ethnic Armenians around the world will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the purging of ethnic Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Turkey reportedly planned to use the lucrative defense contract as leverage over the US and European nations not to commemorate what many historians consider the 20th century's first genocide. "The (defense) minister's announcement looked more political than technical to me," said veteran defense journalist Burak Bekdil who says his sources indicate that Turkey plans to use the missile defense contract as leverage over its longstanding dispute over the Armenian debate. The Chinese way China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp's bid is not only cheaper but includes more technology transfers than the European and American systems which appeals to Turkey's strategy of developing its own military systems independent of its NATO allies. "Turkish officials do not take seriously the threat of American and Western companies, and it seems like they will be out of the deal as long as they don't meet Turkey's demands concerning technology transfers," journalist Ali Unal wrote last year in the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper. That's been a theme in increasingly strident speeches by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who argues that Turkey has the right to a diverse arsenal. "If NATO is so sensitive on this subject, many countries which are currently NATO members still have Russian weapons in their inventories," Erdogan told reporters in 2013. Much of this could be posturing, though the stakes for Turkey's long-term security are high, says Gareth Jenkins, an Istanbul-based researcher with the Silk Road Institute at John Hopkins University who notes it's not the first time Ankara and Beijing have flirted with closer military ties. "Erdogan wants to demonstrate that Turkey is now a great power and it can do what it wants," Jenkins said. "I think he sees this - as well as the price advantage - as an opportunity for macho posturing which has come to dominate so many of his statements." Posture at your peril But defense analysts warn that Turkey is still years - if not decades - away from military independence and runs many risks by alienating its traditional allies. "If Turkey decides to go for a stand-alone system its long range air defense architecture will have to be deprived of NATO and US assets stationed on Turkish soil," Bekdil noted. "In short, it cannot be an efficient architecture without those assets." That's because Turkey continues to be heavily reliant on NATO's hardware - currently a battery of Spanish Patriot missiles are deployed on the Syrian border to defend Turkey from cruise missiles based in Syria. That leaves many questions of where Ankara's priorities lie. Many geopolitical factors are in play as Turkey flirts with traditional allies and rivals alike. "If Turkey decides to go for the Chinese solution it will have a big message to its NATO allies: that Turkey can only be relied upon as a part-time ally, rather than just an ally," Bekdil said. "It will be a bold Turkish challenge against the West, especially the US." | [
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Dresden asylum camp cleared after neo-Nazi attack
An asylum camp set up in front of Dresden's Semperoper opera house has been cleared. Refugees and supporters moved just a day after radical PEGIDA members and neo-Nazis attempted to storm the site.
Local authorities had originally planned to clear the refugee camp, which had been set up on Saturday, by Monday evening. The administrative court of Dresden successfully filed an appeal, however, which appeared to fuel an attack on Monday night by radical members of PEGIDA and neo-Nazis. Following the usual rally held by the right-wing PEGIDA movement on Monday evening, some 100 radicals flocked to Dresden's Theaterplatz demanding for the asylum seekers' camp to be cleared. Others could be heard shouting "Germany for Germans, foreigners out!" and were reportedly seen throwing bottles and fire crackers in the direction of the camp. In what appeared to be a coordinated attack, about two dozen radicals attempted to storm the anti-PEGIDA rally from two directions. The counter protest was held by local refuges and supporters of the groups "Asylum Movement," "Dresden for All," and "Dresden Nazi-free." Dresden police managed to fend off the PEGIDA members and neo-Nazis as they formed a chain of officers between the two protest groups, before later setting up a fixed cordon around Theaterplatz. Around 500 supporters of the refugees also gathered around the asylum camp to protect the tents. PEGIDA, which roughly translates as "Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West," has been holding demonstrations in Dresden and a host of other German cities since October. At its peak, the group saw a turnout of some 25,000 in Dresden. Figures have decreased in recent weeks, however, particularly after images of leader Lutz Bachmann posing as Adolf Hitler went viral. ksb/rg (AFP, dpa) | [
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France's far-right National Front being investigated by EU fraud squad
The European Parliament has asked the EU's anti-fraud body to look into possible misuse of funds by the French National Front party. Leader Marine Le Pen has threatened to lodge a complaint over the "false allegations."
The investigation centers around 20 members of the National Front, who were paid out of the EU budget for assisting members of the European Parliament, but who allegedly work for the party in France. Assistants receiving wages from the European Parliament must work directly for parliamentary MEPs. On Monday, EU parliament president Martin Schulz informed the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) of the suspected fraud, which some sources say could amount to 7.5 million euros ($8.1 million) over the current legislature, from 2014 to 2019. "It is not for Parliament to draw conclusions, it is the OLAF to decide in its capacity as the EU anti-fraud agency," said European Parliament spokesman Jaume Duch. Schulz has also written to French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira to express his suspicions, the EU body said in a statement. 'Big guns' National Front Vice President Florian Philippot said the allegations were "trumped up." "In a way, Schulz is right," he tweeted. "Our assistants don't work for the European Union but against it." The party's leader, Marine Le Pen (above right), accused the current French prime minister Manuel Valls of "mobilizing his Socialist friends against the National Front." "The EU parliament's president is bringing out the big guns. A complaint will be filed against him (Martin Schulz) for making false allegations." The OLAF will now to decide whether to start an investigation, and it could take several months before a decision is made. Fears of an 'unprecedented' far-right score French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned during the weekend that the National Front could win the next presidential election in 2017, saying their policies were a "disaster" for the country. Polls showed that the far-right party could win an "unprecedented" score in local elections on March 22 and 29, Valls said. "I fear for my country. I fear that it will smash itself to pieces against the Front National," Prime Minister Manuel Valls told Europe 1 radio at the weekend. Most political analysts believe that, while Le Pen could reach the runoff round in the 2017 presidential election, it would be far harder for her to defeat the mainstream candidate and win the position. dj/jr (AFP, Reuters, dpa) | [
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Costs of cleaning old Sellafield nuclear site soar
The British government has been forced to admit that it doesn't know the ultimate cost of closing down and cleaning up its hazardous nuclear site Sellafield. The latest figure was 53 billion pounds.
The cost estimate of cleaning up the hazardous waste at Sellafield reached 53 billion pounds ($79.18 billion, 74 billion euros) in February, a new National Audit Office report said. That estimate is up 5 billion pounds from March last year, and the figure is expected to rise above 70 billion pounds. Last year, Britain's Committee of Public Accounts criticized the management of Sellafield for huge cost over-runs, delays on projects and expensive staff. The committee, which assesses whether taxpayers' money is being spent properly, on Wednesday asked the government, the site's owner, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd and former managers Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) whether costs would continue to rise. The NDA is aiming to clear Sellafield, called Britain's "largest and most hazardous nuclear site" by the NAO, by 2120. 'Unprecedented difficulties' "It is impossible to know that (...) we find difficulties at the site which are pretty much unprecedented," Stephen Lovegrove, permanent secretary at the government's Department of Energy and Climate Change, told the committee. Britain's worst ever nuclear accident happened at the site in 1957. Sellafield stopped generating electricity in 2003. It is now a reprocessing and waste storage facility which deals with spent nuclear fuel from Britain and other countries. Despite the dangers of nuclear power - illustrated by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011- the EU in September recommended approval of Britain's ambitious plan to build its first nuclear plant in a generation - the Hinkley Point project - with backing from French and Chinese energy giants, after ruling that it met state aid rules. bk/hg (Reuters, AFP) | [
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China trade figures uninspiring
Chinese trading activities have taken a beating in recent weeks, official figures have shown. Both sales abroad and imports logged a hefty drop, leaving economists wondering about the nation's growth prospects.
China's exports contracted by a staggering 15 percent in March year-on-year, the General Administration of Customs reported Monday. The tumble in shipments abroad marked the sharpest monthly dip since the global financial crisis. It came against the backdrop of a 12-percent rise in exports penciled in by economists. Analysts said the decline was heightening worries about how a rising yuan had hurt demand for Chinese goods and services abroad. Worrying signals Providing a sign that domestic demand was also tepid in the Asian nation, imports into the world's second-largest economy shrunk by 12.7 percent in March year-on-year, the customs agency announced, the biggest slump since May 2009. "[The figures] lead to warning flags both on global demand and China's competitiveness," RBS economist Louis Kuijs told Reuters. The government in Beijing wants to protect jobs, knowing that higher unemployment could fuel social unrest, but anemic growth in the trade sector could hurt the labor market. So far, though, the jobs market appears to be holding up well despite signs that economic growth is steadily grinding to its lowest in a quarter of a century, nearing the 7-percent mark. hg/jil (AFP, dpa) | [
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Modi, Merkel seek deeper trade ties at Hannover Messe
India's visiting prime minister and Chancellor Angela Merkel have called for closer commercial cooperation between the two countries. India is the partner nation to this year's industrial trade fair in Hanover.
The German chancellor advocated relaunching talks on an EU free trade deal with India at the opening of the "Hannover Messe" - Germany and the world's largest industrial trade fair - on Sunday evening. "Trade between Germany and India can still be improved, although Germany is already India's largest European trading partner," Merkel said in the northern German city. Later on the opening evening, both Merkel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in various bilateral trade discussions organized as part of the trade fair. Roughly 400 industry representatives from the partner country India are expected at an event with around 6,500 exhibitors from 70 nations. "Germany has done more than any other Western country to tap India's world of business," said Modi, who is promoting his "Make in India" campaign, an appeal to international companies to manufacture their products in India. He offered German firms present in Hanover on Sunday the chance to partner in the building of a new India. Modi said that the opportunities for investors were vast, saying his government's first priority was establishing first-world-standard infrastructure. "India is standing ready to welcome the whole world with open arms," Modi said. Room to grow According to provisional figures from Germany's Destatis statistics agency, trade between Germany and India was worth a total of 15.9 billion euros ($16.8 billion) in 2014. That figure, which has fallen for three consecutive years, puts India just 25th in terms of trade volume with Germany, behind countries including Romania, Slovakia, Japan and South Korea. Trade with third-largest partner and Indian rival China, by contrast, was estimated at close to 154 billion euros. "We are pleased that your country is on a path of reform," Merkel said to Modi, who won last year's elections in India on a campaign platform to cut bureaucratic red tape and revitalize the economy. The chancellor also addressed the trade fair's other motto, "Integrated Industry - Join the Network," as this year's Hannover Messe seeks to showcase future industrial production methods. This is sometimes referred to as "Industry 4.0," with the new era seen as a fourth industrial revolution following steam power, the production line and then automation. Merkel lamented the EU's need to catch up on issues like digitalization: "We in Europe simply must get a move on, just as we in Germany must also get our skates on," Merkel said. "We have to adapt on a daily basis." Modi, who was in France over the weekend penning major defense deals and visiting Airbus, remains in Berlin until Tuesday. He will hold talks with leading Social Democrats, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, while in the country. The 64-year-old premier is set to hold talks with Merkel at the chancellery on Tuesday, prior to flying out for the last leg of his international tour, in Canada. In Lower Saxony, the Hannover Messe remains open to the public until April 17. msh/cmk (dpa, Reuters) | [
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Winterkorn to stay CEO at Volkswagen
German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has ended the crisis in its top management which pitted CEO Martin Winterkorn against VW's powerful board chairman Ferdinand Piëch. Winterkorn's contract is set to be extended.
A week-long power struggle at German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) came to an end on Friday, with the six-member presidium of the company's supervisory board saying it would recommend extending the contract of Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn beyond 2016. The presidium said in a statement that Martin Winterkorn was "the best possible chief executive" for Volkswagen. Winterkorn was under pressure after VW's powerful Board Chairman Ferdinand Piëch withdrew his backing for the CEO, telling German news magazine "Der Spiegel" on Friday last week that he was "at a distance to Winterkorn." On Friday, the presidium, however, said that it set "great store by the fact that Winterkorn should continue to act in his function as CEO as actively and successfully as he has done in the past." "He has the full support of the presidium, which will propose that his contract be extended at the supervisory board meeting in February 2016," the statement added. The announcement came after a crisis meeting of Volkswagen's inner circle in the Austrian city of Salzburg on Thursday that had industry experts wondering whether Piëch would kill off his own protégé. After less than three hours, the meeting was adjourned. The six-member leadership committee and Winterkorn left without saying a word. A twisting road The power struggle at Germany's biggest carmaker came as a surprise to everyone, including VW's second-most powerful man, and Piëch's own cousin, Wolfgang Porsche. The story took an unexpected turn, when, less than 48 hours after launching his verbal attack, some of Piëch's most trusted allies began defecting: From the state of Lower Saxony, which holds a 20-percent stake in the company, to Piëch's own family. "Dr. Piëch's statement reflects his private opinion, which is not aligned…with that of the family," said Porsche, who also chairs the Porsche SE holding company, which owns a 51-percent in the 12-brand VW group. By Monday, a throng of supporters had lined up behind Winterkorn. "We have in Mr. Winterkorn an outstanding industry leader and CEO, who has our full trust," VW Deputy Chairman Berthold Huber, also a former chairman of the powerful IG Metall trade union, told Der Spiegel. The company's council also refused to withdraw its backing of an extension of the CEO's contract, set to run out end of 2016, according to an unnamed source. As the dust began to settle, Piëch was left looking increasingly isolated. Strictly business But insiders disagree as to the 78-year-old patriarch's motives. Anonymous sources had said that the chairman had grown increasingly unhappy with Winterkorn's performance, particularly for his failure to turn around disappointing sales in the crucial North American market - something he had expressed at several supervisory board meeting over the past five months. Recent earnings reports may have provided Piëch plenty of ammunition to sustain his attack on Winterkorn - and win over skeptics: VW's first-quarter sales tanked in several key markets. Demand for the group's core brand dropped 1.3 percent, with deliveries down 9.3 percent in the US and 0.6 percent in China. The Russian market bled the most as Volkswagen suffered a 47.2-percent sales cut, amid continuing Western sanctions over Moscow's involvement in the Ukraine crisis. uhe/hg (AFP, Reuters, dpa) | [
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Mercedes' Hamilton secures pole for Bahrain Grand Prix
Defending Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has claimed his fourth successive pole of the season in Bahrain. Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg came third behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton secured his first-ever time on pole in Bahrain after comprehensively outpacing all his rivals in qualifying for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix. The British driver, the series leader with two wins from three races, came in 0.411 seconds ahead of German Sebastian Vettel, and more than half a second up on teammate Rosberg, also from Germany. Hamilton, who has had seven previous unsuccessful attempts at pole in Bahrain, laid down a glittering final lap in one minute and 32.571 after setting fastest times in all the qualifying sessions and the day's final practice session. Finn Kimi Raikkonen came in fourth in the second Ferrari, followed by compatriot Valtteri Bottas and Brazilian Felipe Massa for Williams. 'Grateful for the beast' "I feel great. I feel very happy," Hamilton said after the qualifying. "Obviously coming in to the weekend that was the target to master the track and get the car into an area that I'm happy with. I'm really grateful to have this beast underneath me to attack these corners," he added. Saturday's pole is the 42nd of the 30-year-old driver's career. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Huelkenberg in a Force India, Carlos Sainz Jr. in a Toro Rosso and Romain Grosjean in a Lotus make up the first ten for Sunday's race at the Bahrain International Circuit. tj/kms (dpa, AFP) | [
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Merkel: Mediterranean deaths 'incompatible with EU values'
German politicians have urged better financing for sea rescues and fair distribution of refugees across the EU. EU leaders are set to discuss how to stop migrant tragedies in the Mediterranean at a special summit.
Wednesday's discussion in the Bundestag, the lower house of German parliament, began with representatives standing in a gesture of mourning for the hundreds of people who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend. In a cabinet session earlier Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made clear that "images of drowned people are incompatible with the values of the European Union," deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said in Berlin, adding that the EU's first priority must be saving human lives. European leaders have faced criticism this week for their policies towards people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East embarking on perilous journeys to reach Europe - fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty. An estimated 800 people drowned Sunday when the overcrowded boat they were in sank off the coast of Libya. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 1,750 people have drowned so far this year in the Mediterranean Sea, trying to get to EU territory. The discussion in the Bundestag comes ahead of a special EU meeting called for Thursday in Brussels, where member states' leaders will discuss a 10-point plan including expanding sea rescue efforts, action against people smugglers and how to better distribute refugees across the EU for resettlement. Warning against expecting quick solutions German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the Bundestag that Europe could not shirk its responsibility to the migrants, while at the same time warning against expecting quick solutions. "Effort, time and investment" were necessary to stabilize the situation in transit countries such as Libya, he said. He also pointed to the need for greater efficiency in tackling criminal bands of people smugglers. He said it was right for the EU to double its current emergency sea rescue operations. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere also considered the sea rescues as an urgent priority, reacting positively to the suggestion of doubling the funding for sea rescues. "It could also be tripled," he said, adding that "migration is not allowed to become a question of life and death." Tripling the budget for the Triton border protection program would bring it close to - but not quite equal to - the former funding level of Mare Nostrum, the Italian sea rescue operation. That rescue program was launched in response to mass migrant deaths off the island of Lampedusa in October 2013. Mare Nostrum, however, was canceled late last year as some politicians said it created an incentive for migrants to take to unseaworthy vessels and risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean. The current EU mission, called Triton, has been billed as its partial replacement for Mare Nostrum, but its mandate was more limited in scope and centered on border protection, not rescue. De Maiziere also discussed measures for destroying what he called the "deadly boats" used by people smugglers. He also called for refugees to be distributed more evenly across the 28-member EU. Opposition Green party whip Katrin Göring-Eckardt called for means to enable people to flee legally to Europe so people smugglers would not be needed. "We need safe corridors," she said. se/sms (AFP, dpa, epd) | [
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Girls as Goods - Forced Prostitution in Berlin
They offer her bodies for sale. Many of them don’t have passports and don’t speak German. In particular, young girls from Eastern Europe are increasingly falling prey to unscrupulous traffickers.
Young girls from Romania and Bulgaria, some of them underage, are forced to have sex with up to 15 men a day, often without protection. Forced prostitution is a business that earns pimps and unscrupulous businessmen millions every year at the expense of enslaved girls and women who’re often desperately looking for a way out. Girls are Snared by Internet Advertisements Often the young women see their way to Germany as the only way to secure a better life for themselves and their families. They live in a country where prostitution is actually prohibited. And yet there is in all major cities of illegal brothels and women who offer their bodies on the street. In this climate, and the trade is thriving. Girls growing up in poverty can be easy game for traffickers. Our film also shows how ruthless Berlin brothel owners lure young Romanian women into prostitution in Germany with ads on the Internet – and quite legally, since the German parliament’s 2002 Law on Prostitution equates the operation of brothels with other more conventional services. Since then, the market has demanded an increasing supply of new girls - also because this uninhibited approach to prostitution now attracts sex tourists from all over Europe. A Brutal Cycle of Violence and Sex Authors Nadya Luer and Jo Goll spent over a year making contact with victims of forced prostitution. In long and confidential discussions, some of these women open up to the reporters and explain how they were lured by brutal traffickers back home – with the prospect of work as a waitress or nurse for the elderly in prosperous Germany. But those dreams end at the frontier, where their passports and thus their identities are taken away from them. Our report shows how hard it is to break out of the vicious circle of forced sex and violence. Broadcasting Hours: DW WED 22.04.2015 – 22:15 UTC THU 23.04.2015 – 06:15 UTC THU 23.04.2015 – 13:15 UTC THU 23.04.2015 – 17:15 UTC FRI 24.04.2015 – 04:15 UTC FRI 24.04.2015 – 10:15 UTC Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4 DW (Europe) THU 23.04.2015 – 04:15 UTC THU 23.04.2015 – 17:15 UTC FRI 24.04.2015 – 06:15 UTC FRI 24.04.2015 – 13:15 UTC London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 DW (Arabia) THU 23.04.2015 – 04:15 UTC Tunis UTC +1 | Cairo UTC + 2 | Dubai UTC +4 DW (Amerika) THU 23.04.2015 – 06:15 UTC Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3 | [
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Canadian judge grants bail to ex-Guantanamo detainee
A Canadian judge has granted bail to a former Guantanamo inmate while he fights his conviction in a Washington court for war crimes, including killing a US soldier. Omar Khadr could get his next breath of freedom May 5.
A Canadian court has granted bail pending appeal to the former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr. He was captured at the age of 15 in 2002 on a battlefield in Afghanistan and sent to the US prison on Cuban territory. Judge June Ross had ruled that Khadr had a strong basis for appealing the sentence that would otherwise last until 2018 and that keeping him behind bars would not serve the public interest. "Omar is fortunate to be back in Canada, where we have real courts and real laws," Nate Whitling, one of Khadr's lawyers, said on Friday In 2010, after he had already spent eight years in prison, Khadr received an eight-year sentence from a US military commission after agreeing to a plea deal that stipulated that he would serve only one year of his sentence at the US naval base. He has since said he only pleaded guilty to get out of Guantanamo and return to Canada. The commission convicted Khadr on five counts, including throwing the grenade that killed a sergeant in the US Army during a 2002 firefight. Khadr was the first person since World War Two prosecuted in a war crimes tribunal for acts committed as a juvenile. His attorneys had requested bail pending an appeal before the US Court of Military Commission Review. Khadr's attorneys said his father, Ahmed Said Khadr - an alleged al Qaeda financier who once brought the family to stay with Osama bin Laden during Omar's childhood - had pushed the teenager into war. Egypt-born, Ahmed died with other Qaeda operatives in 2003. In February, a US commission overturned the terrorism conviction of an Australian inmate at Guantanamo. 'A normal life' Canada's government argues that Ross had no jurisdiction to hear Khadr's application. Giving him bail would undermine international relations and obligations, government attorneys argued. They added that Ross should have taken into account the fact that Khadr had pleaded guilty to serious offenses. Dennis Edney, one of Khadr's attorneys, told CBC that he and his wife invited Khadr to stay at their home in Edmonton. Edney and his wife have also offered to pay Khadr's tuition at a local Christian college. "He will go to school," Edney told CBC on Friday. "He will continue his education. He will probably find some part-time employment. He will live a normal life." The continued presence of the US military prison on Cuban territory has proved a troublesome point in negotiations between the two nations toward normalizing relations. mkg/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP) | [
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German media: indication that German co-pilot 'rehearsed' crashing the plane
The co-pilot of the Germanwings plane had put the aircraft into an unnecessary descent on the way to Barcelona, before the doomed flight back to Düsseldorf, a German newspaper says. The crash killed 150 people.
Ahead of Wednesday's expected release of an interim report on the Germanwings crash, German mass-circulation newspaper Bild reported that flight data from the day of the deadly plane crash suggested that the young co-pilot had practiced downing the aircraft. The 27-year old co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, allegedly put the plane into a "controlled, technically unjustified dive, which lasted several minutes" while traveling to Barcelona on the day of the crash, the newspaper said, citing sources close to the French BEA agency, which is in charge of investigating aviation accidents. He is suspected of intentionally flying the plane with 150 people on board into a mountainside in France during the return flight on March 24. The newspaper also speculated that the dive might not have been just a practice run, and that the co-pilot might have wanted to crash the plane on the way to Barcelona. A BEA spokeswoman confirmed to the DPA news agency that an interim report on the accident is set to be published online Wednesday, but did not immediately comment on the content. Signed off sick Lubitz had suffered from severe depression and received treatment for "suicidal tendencies" before obtaining his pilot's license, German authorities have said. Although doctors had no indication that the co-pilot intended to harm himself or others, he was signed off sick from work a number of times, including on the day of the crash. He apparently decided to cover that up. In addition, German investigators found that he had researched methods of suicide and ways of blocking the cockpit door online. The captain is heard no the audio from the flight unsuccessfully trying to force his way back in after briefly leaving the cabin. All the 150 people in the aircraft were killed in the crash. dj/kms (dpa, Reuters) | [
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UN: Cyprus reunification talks to resume
The leaders of ethnically-split Cyprus have agreed to restart peace talks in a bid to reunify the island. The election of a moderate leftist Turkish Cypriot has raised hopes of a breakthrough after 40 years of division.
A United Nations envoy said the leaders planned to resume the stalled talks on Friday May 15, seizing a "unique opportunity" for peace on an island that's been divided along ethnic lines since 1974. Diplomat Espen Barth Eide made the announcement after hosting a dinner between Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and newly-elected Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. "They agreed it was important to use the momentum created and opportunity to move forward without delay," Eide told journalists in the capital Nicosia. It was the first meeting between the two leaders since Akinci, a moderate leftist and reunification advocate, defeated veteran nationalist Dervis Eroglu in elections last month. It's believed the leadership change could give new momentum to reunification efforts. Eide, a former foreign minister for Norway, said Friday's talks would involve a "general exchange of views" and address the structure of future negotiations. "I think this is a unique opportunity that will be grasped and it's truly rewarding to work with two leaders with such a strong commitment to seeing a shared challenge that can only be solved through shared effort." Four-decade split The Mediterranean island split into a Turkish North and a Greek-supported South in 1974, when the Turkish army invaded, itself in response to a coup seeking a union with Greece. Since then, there have been a number of failed attempts at peace. In October, Greek Cypriots walked away from UN-brokered talks in protest of Turkish exploration of the island's offshore oil and gas reserves. Although the rival sides agree that there should be a two-state federation, negotiations have stalled on issues such as territorial adjustments, security, property rights of internally displaced people, and power sharing. Turkey supports Northern Cyprus militarily and financially, and is the only country to recognize it as a separate state. The Greek Cypriot leadership theoretically represents the whole island in the European Union, although it technically only governs the south. nm/msh (Reuters, AP, AFP) | [
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ESC 2015: first set of finalists chosen
Sixteen nations battled in the first semifinals to qualify for Eurovision Song Contest finale on May 23. Ten qualified. When the jury and spectators' votes were counted, they served up some surprises.
After a glamorous downbeat delivered by last year's winner, Conchita Wurst, it was on to the contest, whose results surprised experts and betting agencies. Among the favorites, the Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät didn't advance to the next round. With its fairy tale backdrop and theme of genocide, "Face The Shadow" seems a bit over-composed, but the song by Armenia's band Genealogy found favor with jury and spectators. Having placed its bets on a very young artist, Belgium made the finals as well. Loïc Nottet gave a strong and idiomatic song-and-dance performance of "Rhythm Inside" on a black-and-white stage set. Greece also took the hurdle with the pathos-laden ballad "One Last Breath," sung by Maria Elena Kyriakou (picture above). Viewers also gave the thumbs-up to Estonia's pop rock song. In "Goodbye to Yesterday," Elina Born and Stig Rästa rendered the bleak mood of a one night stand in song. Their Tuesday evening performance wasn't a one night stand, however; they'll be back at Saturday's finale. Big show, down-tempo sounds Serbia sent a substantial singer Bojana Stamenov to the stage. In "Beauty Never Lies," the "Serbian Beth Ditto" delivered an explosive song, and her magnificent big dress generated the highest-octane glamour of all. Hungary qualified with Boggie's folksy and understated antiwar song, "Wars For Nothing." Peace and reconciliation is also the subject of Russia's powerful ballad "A Million Voices," with which Polina Gagarina made it to the final. Giving her all for Albania, Elhaida Dani squeaked "I'm Alive" in the highest pitches and entered the final round. Rumania's Voltaj convinced listeners with "De la capăt," a song about parents who work abroad and leave their children behind. An energetic final number was delivered by Nina Sublatti from Georgia. Accompanied by a hectic laser show, she screamed "Warrior" into the audience, which then delivered the necessary votes for her to proceed to the final. Only 16 countries voted The order in which the songs were performed was not coincidental. Host broadcaster ORF (Austrian Public Broadcasting) had carefully chosen the starting positions so that the audience wouldn't be lulled to sleep with multiple slow songs in a row. But with the majority of entries in the 2015 edition of the ESC being ballads - performed with varying degrees of bombast and considerably removed from the zeitgeist - the risk of a certain boredom looms. The finale will benefit from a couple of up-beat exceptions like Belgium's young dance performance. All 16 acts were required to perform for the jury on Monday, which then awarded half of the points. The television audience then had the opportunity to call in their votes in Tuesday evening's show, with only the participating countries allowed to vote and none permitted to vote for their own country. The next semifinal is set for Thursday. A starting position is guaranteed to host country Austria and the five highest contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU): Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. This year, Australia was invited to participate and will also be among the 27 countries vying for the top honor on Saturday. Ann Sophie in good spirits After having given a splendid rehearsal performance, Germany's entry, Ann Sophie, gave a press conference on Tuesday. Calm, composed and spontaneous, she chatted casually with journalists from various countries in impeccable English and gave a brief impromptu rendition of part of a song by her favorite singer, Beyoncé. Wrapping up the appearance, she followed up with an acoustical sample of her ESC song "Black Smoke," joined by her guitarist. | [
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Young Ugandan athletes on track for success
A new generation of Ugandan athletes is training hard to make it into international competitions. Encouraged by the success at the London Olympics, what they lack in resources, the runners make up for in determination.
Moses Asonya, a retired Ugandan athlete, has embarked on a journey to train his country’s next gold medalists in athletics. After a successful career representing Uganda in several international competitions, the former 400-meter distance runner is training a group of ten young Ugandans with high athletic hopes. Without a classroom or formal academy, Asonya meets his students on a local pitch. The team, ranging in age from 8 to 25 years old, practices for at least an hour every morning. Most of the athletes draw inspiration from global stars like Uganda's London Olympic marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich. Asonya hopes that with hard work and perseverance, Ugandans will soon be able to compete with athletes from other African countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea. | [
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Number of fake euros in Germany at all-time high
New data show an all-time high in the number of counterfeit euros in Germany. But it's still not a huge problem: The average German would have to live for 800 years to come into possession of a single fake banknote.
The German central bank, or Bundesbank, has released a report saying that about 50,500 fake banknotes with a total value of 2.2 million euros ($2.4 million) had been registered in the first half of 2015. That's an increase of 31 percent over the second half of 2014, and it's two and a half times as many bogus banknotes as were registered two years earlier, in the second half of 2013. Also on Friday, the European Central Bank (ECB) said that worldwide 454,000 fake euro banknotes had been withdrawn from circulation in the first six months of 2015 - the second highest amount since the introduction of the euro, but still less than in the first half of last year. The Bundesbank examines about 15 billion banknotes each year, searching for counterfeits. Statistically, given the number of counterfeit notes it finds, that means there are about 12 fake banknotes in circulation per 10,000 residents of Germany. The same data can be used to work out that an average German would have to live for eight centuries in order to happen across a single fake euro banknote, according to Carl-Ludwig Thiele, who is the chief of the Bundesbank's cash provision section. Nevertheless, the counterfeiting trend has been sharply upward over the past couple of years, and so the Eurosystem and the police are determined to increase their efforts to shut down counterfeiters, the Bundesbank reported. A key measure has been the introduction of new banknotes that are more difficult to counterfeit - a second series that replaces the banknotes the eurozone has used since the year 2000. Redesigned 5- and 10-euro banknotes are already in circulation; a new 20-euro banknote will come off the presses starting November 25. "The 20- and 50-euro banknotes of the first series were counterfeited particularly often," Thiele said. The data show that 41 percent of all counterfeit notes were 20-euro notes, and 48 percent were 50-euro notes. The number of counterfeit coins, in contrast, has declined sharply recently. In the first half of 2015, about 14,500 fake coins were found; in the second half of 2014, about 26,000 had been found. How to check a banknote's authenticity The Bundesbank warns retailers and others who handle a lot of cash that they should screen for counterfeit notes before accepting payments, because there is no compensation for fake banknotes. "The authenticity of a banknote can be tested by a procedure of 'feel-see-tilt' quite readily," said Thiele. In examining a banknote, several security features should be scanned, because the authenticity of euro banknotes can best be verified in the interplay of the various features: One can feel the texture of embossed lettering on their front side, as follows: In the older (first) euro banknote series, one finds the legend "BCE ECB EZB EKT EKP" at the top. In the newer banknotes, one finds the legend "BCE ECB EЦБ EZB EKP EKT EKB BĊE EBC" and additional stripes on the right and left edges. The watermarks can be seen in the unprinted area by holding a banknote up to the light. The hologram image changes when the banknote is tilted. On the back, pearly-sheened stripes (in denominations up to 20 euros) or shifting colors of the right value number (denominations from 50 euros upward) can be checked by tilting the banknote. In addition, the new "Europe series" euro banknotes have an "emerald number": By tilting the banknote, one can see the color change, and a bright bar is seen to move up or down. When examining a suspect banknote, it's helpful to compare it to an undoubtedly genuine banknote - in particular, one that was obtained by withdrawal from an ATM. | [
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Thailand charges 72 in human trafficking crackdown
Thai prosecutors are to indict 72 people on human trafficking charges, including state officials. It comes after thousands of Rohingya Muslims were stranded at sea trying to flee Myanmar via Thailand.
A spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said on Friday it had issued an order to charge 72 people on 16 counts, mostly over human trafficking, including more than a dozen state officials of all levels. Arrest warrants have been issued for at least 45 others, who remain at large. "We will not let influential people rise above justice," Wanchai Roujanavong told reporters at a press conference in Bangkok. Among the suspects is Lieutenant General Manas Kongpan, charged with being a major smuggling kingpin. The charges include human trafficking, involvement in international crimes, taking and bringing illegal migrants and malfeasance. The court must now decide whether to take up the cases. Thailand has long been criticized for not doing more to combat the lucrative human trafficking business in the country. Until a major Thai crackdown in May, the trade had flourished, as thousands of mainly Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar were being smuggled to their preferred destination, Malaysia, via Thailand's southern provinces. During their investigation - Thailand's biggest according to police - the authorities discovered vast smuggling rings, leading traffickers to abandon boats crammed with thousands of migrants at sea, attracting widespread international attention. Thai police say they have now successfully dismantled the trafficking network through the kingdom. But rights groups are waiting for the end of the monsoon season in a few months to see if the crackdown has worked. Around 4,500 Rohingya as well as Bangladeshi migrants were stranded in Southeast Asian waters in recent months, ping-ponged between countries reluctant to accept them until finally landing ashore on Malaysian, Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Myanmar and Thai soil. As part of the crackdown, investigators also discovered 26 bodies in graves buried deep in a jungle near the border with Malaysia. Last June, the United States downgraded Thailand one of its oldest allies in Asia, to the lowest "Tier 3" status in its 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, for not meeting the minimum standards for combating the illicit trade. The status would normally trigger sanctions, but they have not been imposed. On Monday, the US will release its latest TIP report. ng/jil (Reuters, AP, AFP) | [
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Swedish military investigating report of Russian submarine wreck
Divers have reportedly located the wreck of what could potentially be a Russian submarine off the east coast of Sweden. Authorities have reacted cautiously to the discovery and are examining footage of the wreck.
The Swedish military is examining video taken by shipwreck divers purporting to show the wreckage of a Russian submarine just off the eastern coast of Sweden, officials said Monday. The find comes less than a year after Swedish authorities tried unsuccessfully to locate a reported Russian submarine near the capital of Stockholm. The search marked the country's biggest military mobilization since the Cold War. Authorities reacted with caution to the discovery Monday, with Armed Forces spokesman Anders Kallin refusing to say whether the military believed the vessel was Russian. "We choose not to comment on it before we have seen more material. We will continue the analysis together with the company in the coming days," Kallin said. Another military spokesman, Jesper Tengroth, said that it was also too early to say for sure if the find was indeed a submarine. He added that it was better "to come back with facts rather than speculation," and that there was no particular hurry "because the wreck was not going anywhere." Ocean X Team, the diving company that discovered the wreck said on its website the Cyrillic letters on the hull of the craft "indicate that it is Russian." It is unclear how old the vessel is or how long it has been lying on the ocean floor. The vessel is about 20 meters long and 3.5 meters wide, according to Ocean X Team. Officials did not provide the exact location of the wreck, but the Expressen tabloid, which published images of the reported submarine on its website, said it was found about 2.8 kilometers off the east coast of central Sweden. The discovery comes amid renewed concerns about possible incursions by Russian submarines into Western territorial waters and as tensions with Moscow continue to rise over events in Ukraine. Sweden built up an anti-submarine force after a Soviet sub with nuclear weapons ran aground off its southern shores in 1981. Toward the end of the Cold War, the Nordic country sought to destroy suspected Soviet submarines and the Swedish navy periodically carried out searches in its waters. But since then, its anti-submarine program has gradually been dismantled. bw/lw (AP, Reuters, AFP) | [
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Ex-Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore joins Republican nomination race in US election
Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore has become the seventeenth major Republican figure to throw his hat into the ring in the race for Republican presidential nomination. He is unlikely to appear in the televised debate.
The 65-year-old filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday to stand alongside a number of considerably higher profiles, including former Florida governor Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Senator Marco Rubio and real estate tycoon Donald Trump. Having previously headed the Gilmore Commission - which advised both President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush on ways to improve homeland security strategy, particularly against domestic terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction - Gilmore is hoping that his national security credentials will work in his favor. He was also governor of Virginia on September 11, 2001, when hijackers crashed a plane into the Pentagon, which sits in the eastern US state, across from Washington. "I don't think we're addressing the threat to the country," Gilmore told the Richmond Times-Dispatch earlier in July. "I bring to the table experience others don't have," he added. Gilmore's first opportunity to take to the Republican stage will be on August 6 during the party's primary debate. Broadcaster Fox News has ruled, however, that only the top 10 candidates in nationwide polls will participate in the debate. Little-known outside Virginia, it is unlikely that Gilmore will make the final cut. ksb/jil (AFP, Reuters) | [
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EU climate envoy welcomes Obama's carbon plan
A senior EU figure on climate change has hailed US President Obama's plan to limit the country's carbon emissions. Obama's announcement came ahead of a global climate summit in Paris.
In a series of statements on Twitter, the European Union's commissioner for climate action and energy, Miguel Arias Canete, praised the Clean Power Plan, which had been announced by US President Barack Obama on Monday. Canete (pictured) called the plan "a positive step forward" in efforts by the US - the world's second-biggest carbon polluter after China - to cut down on its emissions. UN leaders are due to gather in the French capital in four months time for a climate conference (COP21) with the aim of agreeing on measures to limit global temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The vast majority of scientists accept that climate change caused by human's creation of greenhouse gases is a grave threat to life on Earth. Obama's plan marked the first time power plants in the US have been targeted by mandatory regulations on carbon dioxide emissions. The measures force power plant owners to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. "We're the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it," Obama told a gathering of supporters at the White House. Member states of the European Union, which is the world's third largest carbon emitter, have already agreed to cut emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels by the year 2030. se/sms (AFP, dpa, Reuters) | [
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Adidas buys Runtastic in race for fitness apps
While the sporting goods industry's major players invest more in digital offerings like fitness apps, Germany's Adidas has been slow on the uptake. But it has now bought Runtastic in a bid to catch up.
German sportsgear manufacturer Adidas announced Wednesday it had bought the Runtastic fitness app from German media conglomerate Axel Springer for 220 million euros ($239 million). The announcement came a day before Adidas is expected to announce quarterly figures. The acquisition is in keeping with an industry-wide trend of increased investment into digital fitness tracking - where Adidas has been falling behind. Rival Nike, which has been taking market share away from Adidas, has proven to be more in touch with industry trends. The US firm teamed up with tech giant Apple on the Nike+ running programs for the iPod and iPhone and launched the FuelBand calorie tracker in 2012. Nike isn't the only one outrunning Adidas. Baltimore-based Under Armour overtook Adidas last year as the second-biggest sportswear maker in the US. This year, it bought diet and exercise app MyFitnessPal for 437 million euros and social fitness network Endomondo for 78 million euros. But it took until as late as last year for Adidas to launch its own miCoach fitness device. Now the German company’s new buy has 20 apps covering variety of endurance, health and fitness activities in 18 languages. “Digital technologies are providing new capabilities and insights to help athletes of all levels take control of their sporting destiny – whether improving their performance, sharing their experiences, or creating their own great social moments of sport,” said Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer in a statement. Runtastic was founded in 2009 and has around 70 million registered users and is available in 18 languages. jd/uhe (dpa, Reuters) | [
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Berlin graduates from bit part to leading role
A quintessential "Berlin film" used to be a rarity, but is now common enough to merit a season of its own in one of the capital's movie theaters. The city also stars in a growing number of international productions.
A new film program called "Hauptrolle Berlin" (Leading Role Berlin) launched this week in the capital’s historic Zoopalast movie theater. It kicked off with 2012’s sleeper hit "Oh Boy" and personal appearances by director Jan Ole Gerster and lead actor Tom Schilling. Judging by the full house, Berlin as seen through a camera lens is as popular as the real thing. As the travel sections and arts pages never tire of telling us, Berlin is having a moment. So is the "Berlin film": the Zoo Palast won’t be hard-pressed to fill the season. "The focus is on movies from the last 20 years," explains Jens Nitsche from Flebbe Services, the theater’s operator. The plan is to give "Hauptrolle Berlin" a long-term slot, with upcoming featured films to include Tom Tykwer’s "Drei" about an unusual love triangle, Hannes Stöhr’s"Berlin Calling," an exploration of the infamous techno scene, and "Hilde," the 2009 biopic about gravelly-voiced actress-chanteuse Hildegard Knef, an icon of post-war West Berlin. Distribution rights aside, another obvious pick would be the critically-acclaimed one-take romp "Victoria," Sebastian Schipper’s giddy odyssey through night-time Berlin that in June swept the board at the Lolas, Germany's equivalent of the Oscars. Meanwhile, runner-up "Jack" – which goes on release later this year - is an unsentimental social drama also set in Berlin, albeit a very different city from the one now enjoying global notoriety as the destination of choice for burnt-out bohemians fleeing the rat race. Berlin’s currency as a city combining grit and glamor goes some way to explaining the glut of movies putting the city center-stage in recent years. It was arguably Tykwer’s cult classic "Run Lola Run" that ushered in this new golden era of the "Berlin film" back in 1998 – after a dry period when one tended to come along only every decade or so. Think Fritz Lang’s "M" in 1931; Robert Rossellini's "Germany, Year Zero" (1948), Billy Wilder’s "One, Two, Three" (1961) and of course Wim Wenders’ 1987 homage to the divided city, “"Wings of Desire." Few others make the cut. Finding new angles It was inevitable that reunification would help rekindle the city’s venerable tradition as a moviemaking capital, with the historic Babelsberg Studio privatized and reborn as Europe’s largest film studio in the 1990s. Less predicable perhaps was that now, over 25 years later, Berlin is also enjoying burgeoning popularity as a location for international film productions. But while what they’re after is the glamor, homegrown filmmakers are more interested in the grit. Even in the realm of cinema, it seems, a fight for the soul of Berlin is raging. For "Oh Boy" director Gerster, the challenge was to find an original way of committing this oh-so-popular city to the silver screen, now that its reputation precedes it. "It tends to be portrayed as this place where everyone has cool jobs and listens to electro," he said at the opening of the "Hauptrolle Berlin" season. "To me that’s a distortion of reality. Berlin as a motif has become a little tired and it took me a long time to find the images I was after." His black and white take on the city is more lonely than lairy, with lingering shots of trams rumbling by, swaying cranes and cigarette smoke drifting in the air evoking an atmosphere of dislocation and disappointment that gives the lie to the usual hype about the hauptstadt. Berlin – the new Hollywood His Berlin is a far cry from the city that Carrie Mathison moved to for the fifth season of the US TV show "Homeland," shot here on location this summer amid much local excitement, not to mention the highly contrived Berlin which the likes of Liam Neeson and Tom Cruise are seen striding through in big budget US movies such as "Unknown Identity" (2011) and "Valkyrie" (2008). Even Bollywood branched out to Berlin in 2011, with "Don 2 ‒The King is Back" making cinema history as the first Bollywood film ever to be shot in Germany. While the majors have discovered the city’s potential as a film set, they’re taken less by its atmosphere and more by its imposing landmarks, whether the Adlon Hotel or the historic Bendlerblock. According to the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, a growing percentage of the 300-odd movies made in Berlin every year are now international productions. In 2013, for example, a record number of Hollywood movies were shot in Babelsberg, including "The Monuments Men," "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "The Book Thief." Once strictly the preserve of low-budget, independent filmmaking, Berlin last year alone saw Steven Spielberg shoot scenes for his new thriller "Bridge of Spies" on the Glienicke Bridge and the disused Tempelhof airport serve as a backdrop for action sequences in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1." The crew of "Captain America 3: Civil War" is also expected to arrive later this summer. Ideal conditions "Berlin-Brandenburg is increasingly in-demand as a location," confirms Dietrich Reupke from the film and media policy division at the Berlin Senate Office."This development has a substantial impact on regional revenue and also boosts Berlin’s appeal as a media capital and tourism hub." The Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, meanwhile, stresses that the city is now the most popular filming location in Germany, primarily due to funding opportunities, skilled teams, state-of-the-art techical production conditions and excellent price-performance ratios. It's home to more than 2,000 film companies with total revenues of more than €900 million and a growth rate of around 60 percent over the last 10 years. "We're journeymen and we go where we have to go to make a movie," said the late Lloyd Phillips, producer on "The International” and "Inglourious Basterds" - two further costly movies using Berlin as a backdrop - in a 2009 interview with the New York Times. Right now, a blend of practical and artistic reasons are luring them to Berlin, and turning it into an increasingly significant hub of the industry. All that remains is for Woody Allen to make one of his picturesque European films in Berlin, rounding off his tour of Continental capitals from London to Rome and Paris. It probably wouldn’t be recognizable as the city that steals the show in “Oh Boy” – but it would be just as representative of today’s all grown-up Berlin. | [
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EU appeals to members for more assets for Frontex
Frontex says Greece and Hungary are buckling under an unprecedented influx of migrants. The EU's border agency wants nations to commit more vehicles and personnel.
The European Union made a fresh appeal Friday for member states to provide aircraft and other assets so that Frontex, the EU's border agency, can help states like Greece and Hungary cope with a fresh wave of migrants. A record 49,550 migrants tried to reach the European Union through Greece alone last month, more than had been recorded for all of 2014, Frontex said. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 192,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year already. Over 2,000 migrants are believed to have died attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing. "Because of the short distance between Turkey and the Greek islands, the smugglers cram migrants onto small boats," Frontex said in a statement. "As a result, border guards must deal with a large number of incidents." About 90 percent of the new arrivals are escaping Syria and Afghanistan, the agency said, while the remaining come from other conflict zones or are economic migrants. Many countries have already pledged to provide assets for short-term use, but Frontex spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said more planes and "technical assistance" including personnel and patrol cars were necessary. Hungary's wall with Serbia Hungary is also facing a crisis as it has received an unprecedented 110,000 migrants this year, nearly all walking from neighboring Serbia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that a 4-meter (13-foot) high fence, currently under construction by the Hungarian military, would be in place by the end of the month. But Roberta Metsola, a leading European parliamentarian from Malta, called for "a seismic shift" in EU thinking in dealing with the influx. "We cannot let history judge us as the generation who stood by and talked while people died," she said. Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras asked Europe to help as his heavily indebted country could not deal with them alone. "The EU is being tested on the issue of Greece. It has responded negatively on the economic front - that's my view. I hope it will respond positively on the humanitarian front," he said Friday. UNHCR calls situation 'shameful' The Greek premier's comments came as the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) called on Greece to take control of the "total chaos" on Mediterranean islands, where thousands of migrants have landed. "The level of suffering we have seen on the islands is unbearable. People arrive thinking they are in the European Union. What we have seen was not anything acceptable in terms of standards of treatment," Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR director for Europe said after visiting the Greek islands of Lesbos, Kos and Chios. "I have never seen a situation like that. This is the European Union and this is totally shameful." jar/bk (AP, dpa) | [
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Photos show Earth from dark side of the moon
New images published by NASA show the Earth's surface from the side of the moon invisible from the planet's surface. The DSCOVR satellite was set into orbit to investigate storms from space.
The satellite DSCOVR took photos of the moon crossing in front of the Earth. NASA, the US space agency, has published the stunning images on Wednesday. The spacecraft snapped the pictures from the dark side of the moon from about 1.6 million kilometers (1 million miles) away in mid-July. The Earth's satellite is in a synchronous rotation, meaning the same side of the moon always faces our planet. The first sighting of the lunar rear side was from the Soviet probe Luna 3 in 1959. The Earth-facing side of the moon has large, dark basaltic plains not visible on the far side. The dark side's most remarkable features are the Mare Moscoviense on the upper left and the Tsiolkovskiy crater on the lower left. "It is surprising how much brighter Earth is than the Moon," said Adam Szabo, DSCOVR project scientist, to NASA. "Our planet is a truly brilliant object in dark space compared to the lunar surface." The US aerospace company SpaceX launched the $340 million (300 million euro) observation satellite into space in February. The operation is a joint force between SpaceX and NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the US Air Force to explore weather in space and potentially harmful impact on Earth. The spacecraft will serve as an early warning system for solar storms, which are seen as auroras on Earth, but can also cause disruptions to telecommunications. "DSCOVR" is an abbreviation for Deep Space Climate Observatory. The mission is scheduled to last five years. kb/sms (AFP, dpa) | [
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Typhoon Soudelor hits China's east coast after lashing Taiwan
Typhoon Soudelor has killed at least 12 people on the Chinese mainland and caused major flight disruptions. Earlier, the storm cost six lives and injured hundreds of people in Taiwan.
Typhoon Soudelor slammed into the east coast of China late on Saturday, causing a number of deaths as high winds and heavy rain battered the region. The typhoon, which earlier caused widespread devastation in Taiwan, was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland from Fujian province towards the neigboring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangxi on Sunday. At least 12 people were killed and five reported missing in the city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang amid torrential rain and strong winds that knocked down trees and caused flash floods and mudslides, according to AFP news agency, quoting state media. Some 250,000 people were evacuated from their homes along the coast in Fujian and Zhejiang ahead of the typhoon's arrival, while state-run news agency Xinhua said more than 530 flights were canceled and two million households suffered power outages. Wencheng county saw 645 millimeters (25.4 inches) of rain in 24 hours - the most recorded in a century - after the typhoon made landfall Saturday night, Xinhua news agency reporterd. Devastation in Taiwan In Taiwan, where authorities say the typhoon caused at least six deaths and injured nearly 400 people on Saturday, a typhoon warning has been lifted as weather conditions ease. However, the Central Weather Bureau warned of further heavy rains in the south as emergency teams began clearing up the damage. More than 4 million households lost electricity due to the storm, and more than 500 flights were canceled or delayed. Typhoons are common in the South China Sea and Pacific at this time of year, deriving their power from the warm waters before unleashing it on the land in the form of winds and torrential rain. tj/jlw (AFP, Reuters, AP) | [
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European drought impacts people and environment
It's official: Europe experienced a severe drought this summer. DW looks at the key points of a new analysis reflecting impacts of high temperatures and low rainfall on the environment and people.
It's official: Europe suffered a severe drought in June and July of 2015. This is according to the European Drought Observatory's analysis of data through the end of July. Not only did virtually the entire European continent see a shortage of rainfall this summer, but it also experienced "thermal anomalies" in July - that is, heat waves that were hotter and longer than average. The drought had a number of consequences for people and the environment. High heat caused soils to dry out, also drying out plants. This facilitated the spread of wildfires, like this one in Greece. The impact of the lack of rain and high temperatures could be felt across many sectors. Agricultural production was reduced, and forests dried out and became more susceptible to insect attacks. Hydropower production decreased, rivers fell to record low levels, and inland water transport was completely shut down in some places. Tourism, however, was boosted - along with "open-air" activities, the observatory noted. The conditions allowed certain grape varieties to flourish, and of course benefited solar energy. The joint research project presented the analysis in its Drought News August 2015 publication. Although low rainfall and high temperatures were present across many European regions, France, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Benelux block, northern Italy and northern Spain experienced exceptionally hot and dry conditions. In these areas in June and July, it was warmer than 30 degrees Celsius for 30 days - while Spain (pictured below) saw 40 days over that temperature. | [
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AmCham survey reveals investment worries
The American Chamber of Commerce in Germany has released its annual survey of US companies in Europe's largest economy. It shows US executives are satisfied with Germany, but don't see it as innovative as it could be.
Ford is the biggest US company in Germany based on sales, while McDonald's is the US company with the most employees in the country, a survey says. The auto maker did 17.5 billion euros ($19.6 billion) in German business last year, topping the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany (AmCham)'s annual Top 50 ranking of US companies active in Germany. While the names of companies like Ford, Apple and Amazon come as no surprise, there were some changes to the rankings that may have been unexpected. For example, the second-largest company in Germany based on sales revenue in 2014 is now General Motors, through its Opel division - a company it came close to selling in 2009. It moves up one position. Rounding out the top five are ExxonMobil, Amazon, and Phillips 66, which runs Jet service stations in Germany. American jobs for German workers McDonald's 60,000 employees earned the fast-food chain the leading position in the Top 30 list of US employers in the country. That was nearly three times as many employees as second-ranked Ford's 23,000. Opel, Manpower and UPS were the next biggest US employers in Germany, all only slightly behind Ford. Alongside the rankings is a survey on Germany as an investment location. The results suggest US companies are generally satisfied with Germany, ranking the investment climate very good - even slightly better than last year. "The perception of Germany as a business location is good. However, the figures show that 2014 was a year of reluctance regarding investment," Bernhard Mattes, President of AmCham Germany, who is also chairman of the management board at Ford's European operations. "Germany continues to be important for US companies. However, it also needs to remain ambitious and be open to changes in spite of its economic strength. We need innovation and progress. In order to achieve this, the German government has to create the right conditions for doing business, companies have to spur innovation and society needs to confront changes with interest." Worries about the future The survey, conducted in collaboration with management consultancy Accenture, said the most important factors in retaining Germany's attractiveness as a place to do business were securing a highly-qualified workforce (64 percent), accelerating the country's digital transformation (50 percent), concluding the TTIP free-trade negotiations (46 percent), and ensuring the future of the EU's single market. Eight out of ten respondents said they believe TTIP would have a positive impact on transatlantic research cooperation. Only 16 percent said it would have little effect. But innovation is an area of concern. Some 62 percent of the US companies surveyed said the US was the clear leader in innovation, compared to 28 percent for Germany and 4 percent for China. But they expected the US and China to stand on an equal footing in a decade's time. | [
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Sieren's China: Skewing the figures
It is very difficult to comprehend China's official economic data, but there are reliable indicators for evaluating the Chinese economy, says DW's Frank Sieren.
On Monday, China revised its growth rate for 2014 downwards. However, it is difficult to understand this from the outside. According to the National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing, the world's second-largest economy grew by 7.3 percent instead of 7.4 percent. This, of course, has triggered discussions once again on how reliable Chinese economic data actually is. One argument is that Chinese statisticians interpret figures as they see fit. Of course, there are also political guidelines. Just as the Communist Party controls the media, it also controls the figures. However, this does not mean that it manipulates the figures haphazardly. On the contrary: Over the past 20 years, it has been clear that most of the figures seem plausible when taken in relation to one another. This does not mean that they are correct though. It is incredible that this year Beijing has twice been able to make a precision landing. China's GDP was exactly 7 percent in the past two quarters. Incredible but not impossible. This is why there have been the most diverse reactions: Commerzbank CEO Martin Blessing recently put the figures that the Chinese government had released on the country's economic growth in doubt. But people at Deutsche Bank think that fears of a crisis are exaggerated. Unreliable data not an isolated case The fact that data can only be verified with difficulty is not only valid for China but for other economies. Let's recall the financial crisis in the US in 2008 and 2009, when the state did not know what kind of risks the banks were running. Even the banks did not know. In China, the probability that data could be wrong is much bigger. China is much less transparent and has grown extremely fast over the past two decades. But we are not simply defenseless and at the mercy of those skewing the figures in Beijing. There are some figures that cannot be falsified so easily. These include exports, which can be cross-checked with international data, and foreign exchange reserves, which are invested internationally. They also include external debts and the dollar-yuan exchange rate. These can at least be used to predict big crises. According to these figures, the current situation in China is difficult but not grave. Exports in August fell by over 6 percent. At 1.67 trillion dollars, external debt is low. Foreign currency reserves are falling a little, but remain very, very high at 3.56 trillion dollars. And the yuan is still valued very high, despite the recent devaluation. No deep recession on the horizon A deep recession - like that in Brazil with minus 2 percent growth, or in Russia - is not on the horizon for China at all. The stability of the Chinese economy would be in serious danger if three developments that can be reliably measured were to occur at the same time: A double-digit depreciation of the yuan to stimulate the economy. If China had to reduce foreign exchange reserves by over a trillion dollars. And if China incurred debts abroad. Therefore, we can rule out a big crisis for the moment. Frank Sieren has lived in Beijing for 20 years. | [
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'Islamist' shot dead in Berlin after knife attack on policewoman
A 41-year-old man of Iraqi origin has been shot dead in Berlin after he stabbed a policewoman. State prosecutors say the man was an "Islamist."
The attacker died in a police operation on Thursday, shortly after he stabbed a policewoman with a knife. Police said the man lived in Berlin and had been sentenced to prison by the regional court in Stuttgart in 2008. He was subsequently released on parole and also wore an electronic tag, which he removed on Thursday morning before the attack. Investigators first learned of the incident via a phone call from a passer-by on Heerstrasse in western Berlin's Spandau area, according to local public broadcaster RBB. The caller said a man with a knife was threatening people. Four police cars reached the area, a police spokesman told reporters. The man attacked one of the officers, who stepped out of her car. Several shots were fired after that, although it is not known how many police officers shot at the attacker. The man died of his wounds despite repeated attempts to resuscitate him, police said. The policewoman, who was brutally injured in the knife attack, was flown to a hospital in a rescue helicopter. Berlin's homicide squad is currently investigating the case. mg/msh (dpa) | [
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Neymar has millions in assets frozen in Brazil
A Brazilian court has accused international football star Neymar of evading millions of dollars in taxes. Now the Barcelona Forward could face fines worth even more than that.
The judge accused 23-year-old Neymar of tax evasion on Friday, freezing 188.8 million reals ($47 million, 42 million euros) of his assets. The Sao Paulo-born star forward, now with FC Barcelona in Spain, is suspected of evading taxes worth 63.6 million reals. Carlos Muta, the Brazilian judge who made the ruling, said he had frozen three times the amount Neymar has been accused of not paying in order to cover potential interest and fines, according to a document released by the court. The alleged evasion dates back to 2011-2013, before Neymar's move to last year's Champions League winners, when he starred for top-flight Brazilian club Santos. The player will still have access to his bank accounts and liquid assets, but will not be able to sell any of his assets before the case comes to a close. Because the fines amount to more than 30 percent of Neymar's total declared assets -- about 244 million real ($61 million, 54.5 million euros) -- Brazilian authorities also froze assets belonging to his family. Prosecutors allege that the player purposefully omitted sources of income from abroad, including FC Barcelona. This isn't the first time Neymar has been embroiled in a tax-related scandal. In 2014, Barcelona's Sandro Rosell resigned as president of the club following allegations that he had failed to report the full cost of Neymar's transfer to the Spanish club from Santos. Afterward, FC Barcelona paid Spanish tax authorities a total of 13.5 million euros. blc/msh (Reuters, AFP, dpa) | [
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Obama announces deployment of 300 troops to Cameroon
US President Barack Obama has said he will send troops to Cameroon in order to counter the terror group Boko Haram. The central African country was the target of an attack this past weekend.
President Obama informed Congress on Wednesday it was sending 300 soldiers to Cameroon as part of the fight against the terrorist organization Boko Haram. The White House said 90 troops had already been deployed to the central African nation. The force, which officials say is armed for self defense, will remain in the country until their presence is no longer needed. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the deployment was in coordination with the Cameroon government. "It will be part of a broader regional effort to stop the spread of Boko Haram and other violent extremist organizations in West Africa," he said. Boko Haram, a Nigeria-based militant group affiliated with the "Islamic State" terrorist organization, began stepping up attacks in Cameroon earlier this year. A report released by Amnesty International in September said that almost 400 people in Cameroon had been killed by Boko Haram fighters since January 2015. On Sunday, a sucide attack killed nine people and injured 29 in a northern part of the country. blc/msh (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters) | [
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New role for German soldiers in Mali?
It seems that German troops are soon to be sent to northern Mali. They will not take part in combat operations but will play more of a support role to Dutch peacekeepers already stationed there.
It seems to be a foregone conclusion - the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are to expand their area of operations to northern Mali. A debate on the pros and cons of this is already underway in the German media. Last week, a delegation of the German defense ministry returned from Mali and the news quickly leaked out that German soldiers are to strengthen the UN's Minusma peace mission in the north. The mission is currently focused on monitoring a peace accord for the region that was signed in June. There had long been speculation in the German press that the defense ministry was considering expanding the role of the Bundeswehr in the West African state. Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen had repeatedly said at international gatherings that Germany wished to play a stronger role in UN peace missions. The daily newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung" got hold of an internal report compiled by a Bundeswehr team that returned from Mali at the beginning of last week. Should the suggestions contained in that report be implemented, the paper wrote in its Thursday edition, then "an advance guard could be sent before the end of this year, followed in early 2016 by troops whose task would be to protect property, as well as other support units." Reconnaissance troops would then follow between April and June. The main task would be to support the Dutch mission that has a number of helicopter gunships in northern Mali. Little risk for German soldiers The head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in Bamako, Jan Henrik Fahlbusch, who has been closely observing the security situation in Mali does not believe that German troops will take part in combat missions in the near future. The risk of loss of life will, therefore, remain low. He sees the expanded mission as more of a complementary component for the Dutch troops. Under a mandate from the German parliament, the Bundestag, up to 350 German soldiers can be deployed in Mali. In 2014 the Bundeswehr had more or less ended its involvement with Minusma, retaining just 9 liaison officers. Previously the UN had declined the use of two elderly Transall cargo planes. The German planes could not fly at night and often remained grounded when the daytime temperature was particularly high. Minusma preferred to use planes from other countries - such as a transport aircraft from Ghana. Fahlbusch is optimistic that the new Minusma-related tasks will serve a useful purpose. The Dutch helicopter gunships are particularly important in efforts to increase stability and security in the region, he told DW. Up to now, Germany has been primarily involved in training the Malian army as part of an EU program. Some 200 German army trainers are currently stationed in southern Mali. Fahlbusch has collected data on the acceptance of the foreign military presence in Mali as part of an FES survey. He told DW the results show that the presence of the German training mission is generally seen in a positive light. | [
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Germany's DFB admits 2005 FIFA payment, denies World Cup link
The German Football Federation (DFB) has said a payment it made to FIFA had nothing to do with the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. News magazine Der Spiegel claims a slush fund was used to secure votes.
Football's German governing body said on Friday it had found no "irregularities" in the awarding of football's showpiece event to Germany. "Furthermore, there is no evidence that any of the delegates' votes were won illegally at any stage in the application process," a DFB statement said. However, the DFB said it had become aware of a 6.7 million euro payment - brought to light by an internal investigation. The sum was paid to FIFA in April 2005 from the organizational committee preparing the event in Germany. "This payment was in no way linked to the awarding of the 2006 World Cup, which had been decided 5 years previously," said the statement, albeit acknowleding that the money might not have been used as intended. According to the DPA news agency, FIFA has said it will investigate the possible improper use of the payment. Swiss prosecutors are currently investigating accusations in the selection of Russia and Qatar as the venues for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Delegates 'bought off' News magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that the bid committee had set up a slush fund of 10.3 million Swiss francs ($10.8 million) to help it land the event. A report on the magazine's website on Friday said the money was used to secure the votes of four Asian FIFA delegates who were involved in awarding the World Cup. Der Spiegel said the money had come from Adidas boss Robert Louis-Dreyfus as a secret private donation. The magazine said the bid committee chief Franz Beckenbauer and the current DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach were aware that there was a fund. Germany narrowly pipped South Africa by 12 votes to 11 in the vote by the FIFA executive committee in 2009. Oceania's Charles Dempsey abstained from the ballot and said there had been huge pressure on him from undisclosed parties. Niersabach famously said in a German TV interview a few months ago that he did not know how Germany had won enough votes to tip the scales. The sum was said to have been sent to FIFA for a cultural event. In the end, that event was cancelled. The DFB has said it will look into a possible claim to potential repayment. FIFA, meanwhile, said it had forwarded the case to its audit and compliance commission. rc/msh (dpa, Reuters) | [
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How to combat osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis dramatically rises in Western Europe. Women are afflicted more than men. Patients can, however, take action themselves. We talk to sports scientist Dr. Jürgen Siebenhünen.
DW: Why do so many people get osteoporosis, and why is the proportion of women so high? Jürgen Siebenhünen: One frequent factor is genetic predisposition, i.e. the illness being passed on by the mother. The main reason for a growing risk of osteoporosis among women is the change in hormone levels during the menopause, who leads to an oestrogen deficiency. As the oestrogen level sinks, bone loss accelerates rapidly by up to 4% per year. Women lose an average of 40% of their bone mass between the ages of 40 and 70. The figure for men is only 12% - although younger men are now catching up, due primarily to unhealthy lifestyles that can favor development of the illness. Insufficient exercise, sweetened drinks, candy, yeast, preserved meat products, pickled meat and above all beer help to reduce bone mass. Can a healthy diet therefore have a positive impact? Faulty diets are indisputably a major factor behind the onset of osteoporosis. Patients should consult a professional dietician to get a formal appraisal of their eating habits. Dietary profiles help to identify faulty nutrition and possible deficiencies in vital nutrients. They also detect dietary sins that are frequently linked to a reduction of calcium levels, and which can be replaced gradually by healthier options. A diet that is balanced and geared to the patient can make a big contribution to relieving symptoms. Which foods do you recommend for osteoporosis patients? Firstly: all varieties of cheese, due to their high calcium content. Then: milk and dairy products, vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, all types of cabbage, fennel, wholegrain bread, and fruit. Mineral water that is high in calcium but low in sodium. But while your diet is important, an appropriate workout program remains essential. Do you have an ideal workout program for osteoporosis patients? Sports and workout programs should include exercises that exert pulling pressure on the bones. As impact on the body is also important, working out on a power plate (a rapidly oscillating platform) is very effective. It has been shown that this kind of workout can replenish bone mass and density. Workouts should be carried out on a regularly basis, however, in order to effectively combat osteoporosis. Doing the odd exercise once will not be enough. In addition to special power training with relatively short but very intensive exercises, endurance sports such as jogging and walking are an important component of any proper training program. To maximize the effect on bones, the workout intensity should be raised gradually, and should in any case exceed everyday demands. Finally: workout programs of this nature should only be performed with professional assistance. Dr. Jürgen Siebenhünen is a sports scientist who runs health management seminars, a sports rehabilitation expert and personal trainer. http://www.siebenhuenen-gesundheit.de | [
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Ban Ki-moon urges calm amid violence between Israel and Palestinians
During a surprise visit to Jerusalem, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has cautioned against an escalation of violence. His message to the local populace was marred by more deaths in the West Bank.
Speaking during a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday, Ban called for an end to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The UN secretary-general said that a lack of "political horizon" was to blame for the recent wave of violent attacks on Palestinian and Israeli territory. "Violence only undermines the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for statehood," Ban said. "If we do not act fast, the dynamics on the ground will only get worse," he warned, adding that it was not yet too late to "avoid a broader crisis." German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier shared a similar message on Tuesday, during a visit to his Jordanian counterpart in Ammam. Steinmeier urged Israelis and Palestinians to avoid action that could "further inflame" the unrest, wanring of "incalculable consequences." Death toll rises Ban's visit to Jerusalem on Tuesday was overshadowed by yet more deaths in the West Bank. Israeli police said earlier in the day that a Palestinian had been fatally shot after he drove his car into a group of Israelis near Jerusalem. An Israeli man also died in a separate incident, when he was run over by a truck during a clash with Palestinians. According to a Palestinian security official, the driver turned himself in to police, saying he hit the man by accident. Over the past month, 10 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, most of which were stabbings. In that time, 43 Palestinians were also killed by Israeli fire, including 20 attackers. An Eritrean migrant also died at the weekend, after being shot and beaten by a mob that mistakenly believed he was a Palestinian assailant. Ban is to meet with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. ksb/msh (AFP, AP, dpa) | [
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Brazil Supreme Court seizes anti-Rousseff lawmaker's alleged assets
Brazil's lower house speaker has denied allegations he received kickbacks in the Petrobras scandal. A court decision to seize his alleged assets comes after a report denying "institutional corruption" at the oil giant.
The Brazil Supreme Court this week seized $2.45 million (2.22 million euros) from Swiss accounts allegedly belonging to Chamber of Deputies Speaker Eduardo Cunha, a self-proclaimed enemy of President Dilma Rousseff. According to Justice Teori Zavascki, who approved the request to seize the speaker's funds, Swiss prosecutors provided documents to Brazilian federal prosecutors linking Cunha and his wife to the assets. However, the house speaker denied the allegations, saying he nor his wife own any bank accounts in Switzerland. Brazilian federal prosecutors say that Cunha is suspected in Brazil's largest kickback scandal, comprising more than $2 billion in bribes paid to several executives and politicians. Cunha allegedly assisted companies in building winning contracts with state-run Brazilian Petroleum Corporation (Petrobras) in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes. If the funds are discovered to be linked to kickback schemes, they will returned to the Brazilian treasury, Judge Zavascki added. 'Institutional corruption' non-existent? However, a Brazilian congressional panel on Friday published its final report on an investigation into corruption at Petrobras, concluding that suppliers and rogue employees were responsible for the graft, just shy of absolving politicians of complicity. Instead, the panel said that "institutional corruption" was non-existent at Petrobras, adding that police and prosecutors poorly handled Operation Car Wash, a probe into contract fixing, political kickbacks and bribery, with a focus on the oil giant. Rousseff, who served as chairwoman of Petrobras during much of the time the corruption took place, is facing calls from the opposition to resign or face impeachment over her possible involvement in the kickback scheme, though she has yet to be named by prosecutors. Opposition lawmakers allege that she also manipulated public accounts prior to her narrow reelection to boost government spending, a charge that could serve as grounds for impeachment. ls/bw (AP, Reuters, EFE) | [
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Anti-Islamist protests, counter-protests staged in Cologne
Police in the western German city of Cologne are bracing for potential violence as seven demonstrations take place. The rallies are being staged by anti-Islamist, extreme leftist and Carnival groups, among others.
Sunday's demonstrations center around a protest planned by the so-called Hooligans Against Salafists (HoGeSa) group, an anti-Islam organization that last year caused riots in the city at a similar demonstration. The Cologne chapter of "anti-Islamization" movement PEGIDA, which has its base in the eastern city of Dresden, is also expected to stage a rally. At the same time, a number of counter-protesters opposing the anti-Islam, anti-immigration stance of such groups have also gathered in the inner city. They include radical leftist "autonomous" demonstrators carrying banners with the slogan: "Germany, keep your mouth shut!" Other counter-demonstrators come from the city's vibrant Carnival scene. DW's Milan Gagnon is reporting from Cologne. Some 3,500 police have been deployed to try to keep the peace in Cologne, with around 23,000 people from the competing sides expected to take to the streets. Several water cannons are also on hand, and a helicopter is surveilling the city from above. Police tried to have the HoGeSa demonstration banned in the days leading up to the demonstration, citing last year's violence on October 26 in which at least 44 police were injured. But a court on Wednesday ruled against prohibiting the rally, stipulating only that it had to take place at a fixed location rather than include a march through the streets. Police did, however, manage to have the HoGeSa demonstration moved from last year's location at the main railway station to the other side of the river in the Deutz district. tj/cmk (AFP, dpa) | [
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