French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday pledged to overcome differences in order to formulate a roadmap for a reform of the euro zone which they will seek to get approved by their European peers in June.

Merkel, who was narrowly re-elected to a fourth term as chancellor, wants to fulfil her incoming government&#39;s pledge to deliver a &quot;new start&quot; for Europe. Macron, too, has made euro zone overhaul a central goal since taking power last May.

However, members of Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc are wary of more comprehensive European integration, especially if it means that Germany, Europe&#39;s economic powerhouse, would be pooling risks and debts with other, less financially stable countries.

&quot;We are not always on the same page. But Germany and France have also achieved a lot in the past and now we have the firm intention to do that again,&quot; Merkel said as she met Macron for the first time since she formed a new coalition government.

The goal of the reform push has to be to stabilise the 19-country euro zone and improve its competitiveness of the single currency bloc, Merkel said, adding that it must also provide for more convergence on asylum policies.

&quot;We&#39;ll put forward a clear, ambitious roadmap by June for this overhaul,&quot; Macron said, adding that the plan should also address further integration of the bloc on migration, defence and trade.

The roadmap will also touch on the banking union, budgetary issues, Europe&#39;s Stability Mechanism and tax convergence, a source in Macron&#39;s office said.

&quot;Our aim is that the Europeans - at 27 for some issues, at 19 for what is euro zone-related - agree on a roadmap for euro zone reform and more broadly for growth and innovation,&quot; the source said after their meeting.

There is already substantial reform under way in the euro zone, including plans for a single deposit insurance scheme that would protect individuals&#39; savings.

However, the appetite for deeper integration, such as Macron&#39;s grand ideas for a standalone euro zone budget, a single euro zone finance minister and a dedicated fund that would help countries facing external shocks, is limited.

The Netherlands and seven other EU states issued a joint statement in early March saying the first priority should be to ensure countries implement measures that have already been decided.

Macron, 40, has waited impatiently for the Germans to form a government and is itching to press ahead.

The chancellor, 63, knows that Macron, in his first term, needs to deliver on his promises, well aware that a large proportion of France&#39;s electorate remains susceptible to far-right and far-left populists who are sceptical about the EU.

In January, when they last met for formal discussions on the eurozone and Merkel was still negotiating over a coalition, the pair said they hoped to present their plans to member states at an EU summit in March.

But the next EU leaders&#39; meeting in June now the new deadline.

&quot;We must agree by June a Franco-German roadmap for the whole euro zone. It&#39;ll be very tough work,&quot; French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said after talks with his German counterpart, Olaf Scholz.

Yet, even if they can get the 17 other euro zone members to agree to further reforms -- how better to deploy their 500 billion euro ESM rescue fund -- there will be a tight schedule to implement those changes before the EU has to tackle its next big challenges: Britain&#39;s formal exit from the union in March 2019 and European Parliament elections shortly afterwards.

Merkel, who was narrowly re-elected to a fourth term as chancellor, wants to fulfil her incoming government's pledge to deliver a "new start" for Europe. Macron, too, has made eurozone overhaul a central goal since taking power last May.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday pledged to overcome differences in order to formulate a roadmap for a reform of the euro zone which they will seek to get approved by their European peers in June. Merkel, who was narrowly re-elected to a fourth term as chancellor, wants to fulfil her incoming government's pledge to deliver a "new start" for Europe. Macron, too, has made euro zone overhaul a central goal since taking power last May. However, members of Merkel's conservative bloc are wary of more comprehensive European integration, especially if it means that Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, would be pooling risks and debts with other, less financially stable countries. "We are not always on the same page. But Germany and France have also achieved a lot in the past and now we have the firm intention to do that again," Merkel said as she met Macron for the first time since she formed a new coalition government. The goal of the reform push has to be to stabilise the 19-country euro zone and improve its competitiveness of the single currency bloc, Merkel said, adding that it must also provide for more convergence on asylum policies. "We'll put forward a clear, ambitious roadmap by June for this overhaul," Macron said, adding that the plan should also address further integration of the bloc on migration, defence and trade. The roadmap will also touch on the banking union, budgetary issues, Europe's Stability Mechanism and tax convergence, a source in Macron's office said. "Our aim is that the Europeans - at 27 for some issues, at 19 for what is euro zone-related - agree on a roadmap for euro zone reform and more broadly for growth and innovation," the source said after their meeting. There is already substantial reform under way in the euro zone, including plans for a single deposit insurance scheme that would protect individuals' savings. However, the appetite for deeper integration, such as Macron's grand ideas for a standalone euro zone budget, a single euro zone finance minister and a dedicated fund that would help countries facing external shocks, is limited. The Netherlands and seven other EU states issued a joint statement in early March saying the first priority should be to ensure countries implement measures that have already been decided. Macron, 40, has waited impatiently for the Germans to form a government and is itching to press ahead. The chancellor, 63, knows that Macron, in his first term, needs to deliver on his promises, well aware that a large proportion of France's electorate remains susceptible to far-right and far-left populists who are sceptical about the EU. In January, when they last met for formal discussions on the eurozone and Merkel was still negotiating over a coalition, the pair said they hoped to present their plans to member states at an EU summit in March. But the next EU leaders' meeting in June now the new deadline. "We must agree by June a Franco-German roadmap for the whole euro zone. It'll be very tough work," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said after talks with his German counterpart, Olaf Scholz. Yet, even if they can get the 17 other euro zone members to agree to further reforms -- how better to deploy their 500 billion euro ESM rescue fund -- there will be a tight schedule to implement those changes before the EU has to tackle its next big challenges: Britain's formal exit from the union in March 2019 and European Parliament elections shortly afterwards.

Merkel, Macron plan roadmap by June on euro zone reform

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bruised by half a year of post-election coalition haggling, was Wednesday narrowly confirmed by parliament to her fourth and likely final term at the helm of Europe&#39;s biggest economy.

Lawmakers in Berlin&#39;s glass-domed Reichstag voted 364-315 with nine abstentions for Merkel, who was then formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before taking the oath of office.

The outcome of the secret ballot suggested 35 lawmakers of her new right-left coalition bloc voted against Merkel, giving her a thin nine-vote margin that opposition parties were quick to label a &quot;rocky start&quot; for a spent and joyless governing alliance.

Merkel, wearing a necklace in the national colours black-red-gold, nevertheless beamed with joy and relief as applause filled the Bundestag chamber, where her scientist husband Joachim Sauer and her 89-year-old mother Herlind Kasner were among the well-wishers.

For the veteran leader, the ceremony marked the end of a painful stretch of post-election paralysis, the deepest crisis of her 12-year career.

A right-wing populist rise in September elections weakened all mainstream parties and deprived Merkel of a majority, forcing her into another unhappy alliance with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).

The grand coalition, mockingly dubbed a &quot;GroKo&quot; in German, didn&#39;t start as a &quot;love marriage&quot;, her designated vice chancellor and finance minister, the SPD&#39;s Olaf Scholz, drily observed this week.

All coalition partners have nonetheless sought to allay fears that their marriage of convenience could break up mid-term, insisting they plan to jointly govern until 2021.

Trip to Paris 
From 1600 GMT, Merkel sits down with her new cabinet, in which the SPD has wrested both the trophy posts of finance and foreign affairs to the dismay of a growing band of critics within her Christian Democratic Union (CDU).&nbsp;

To quieten the dissent, Merkel has named a sometimes outspoken critic, Jens Spahn, 37, as her new health minister and recently tapped a potential successor, new CDU general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

&quot;The chancellor was, from time to time, written off in the past six months,&quot; Marianne Kneuer of Hildesheim University told Phoenix TV.

&quot;Many in the party started thinking about the future after Angela Merkel... but at the same time Merkel has strengthened her position again.&quot;

On Friday Merkel will head to Paris to discuss EU reform plans with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a March 22-23 summit, after a lengthy stretch in which Berlin was hamstrung on the European and world stage.

Macron warned in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily that, without Germany on board, &quot;part of my project would be doomed to failure&quot;.

&quot;We are completely dependent on each other. I do not believe for one second that a European project without or against Germany could succeed.&quot;

Merkel&#39;s incoming coalition has broadly welcomed Macron&#39;s bold reform plans, meant to reinvigorate the bloc and counter extremists and populists who have made major gains in Western democracies.

She has argued that the EU must increasingly look after its own interests in the era of US President Donald Trump, who has questioned long-standing transatlantic defence ties and threatened a trade war.

Berlin advocates closer EU cooperation on defence, immigration and plans for a European Monetary Fund. But it is lukewarm on the idea of a joint eurozone finance minister and rejects any pooling of debt.

&#39;Zero tolerance&#39; 
The rise of populist fringe parties is also the central domestic threat for Merkel&#39;s new coalition, which faces the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the biggest opposition party.

The AfD scored almost 13 percent in the election, capitalising on public fears over a mass influx of more than one million refugees and migrants since 2015 and angrily demanding that &quot;Merkel must go&quot;.

The shock rise of the AfD has come at the expense of the CDU, its Bavarian CSU allies and especially the SPD, all of which suffered their worst results in decades in September.

While Merkel&#39;s last GroKo had a crushing 80 percent parliamentary majority, the margin has shrunk to 56 percent.

To answer the new right-wing threat, designated interior minister Horst Seehofer has pledged a &quot;zero tolerance&quot; law-and-order drive and faster deportations of failed asylum-seekers.

His new interior super-ministry also covers &quot;Heimat&quot; or homeland affairs, a term much derided for evoking Alpine vistas, beer and bratwurst but intended to recapture claims to patriotism from the AfD.

Scholz has meanwhile promised to tackle another fear exploited by populists, of vanishing jobs in the age of globalisation and rapid technological change.

&quot;When we look at the Trump election, Brexit and the success of right-wing populist parties in many European countries,&quot; Scholz said, &quot;we see there is a clear need to find new answers to the challenges of the 21st century.&quot;

Lawmakers in Berlin's glass-domed Reichstag voted 364-315 with nine abstentions for Merkel, who was then formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before taking the oath of office

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bruised by half a year of post-election coalition haggling, was Wednesday narrowly confirmed by parliament to her fourth and likely final term at the helm of Europe's biggest economy. Lawmakers in Berlin's glass-domed Reichstag voted 364-315 with nine abstentions for Merkel, who was then formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before taking the oath of office. The outcome of the secret ballot suggested 35 lawmakers of her new right-left coalition bloc voted against Merkel, giving her a thin nine-vote margin that opposition parties were quick to label a "rocky start" for a spent and joyless governing alliance. Merkel, wearing a necklace in the national colours black-red-gold, nevertheless beamed with joy and relief as applause filled the Bundestag chamber, where her scientist husband Joachim Sauer and her 89-year-old mother Herlind Kasner were among the well-wishers. For the veteran leader, the ceremony marked the end of a painful stretch of post-election paralysis, the deepest crisis of her 12-year career. A right-wing populist rise in September elections weakened all mainstream parties and deprived Merkel of a majority, forcing her into another unhappy alliance with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). The grand coalition, mockingly dubbed a "GroKo" in German, didn't start as a "love marriage", her designated vice chancellor and finance minister, the SPD's Olaf Scholz, drily observed this week. All coalition partners have nonetheless sought to allay fears that their marriage of convenience could break up mid-term, insisting they plan to jointly govern until 2021. Trip to Paris From 1600 GMT, Merkel sits down with her new cabinet, in which the SPD has wrested both the trophy posts of finance and foreign affairs to the dismay of a growing band of critics within her Christian Democratic Union (CDU). To quieten the dissent, Merkel has named a sometimes outspoken critic, Jens Spahn, 37, as her new health minister and recently tapped a potential successor, new CDU general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. "The chancellor was, from time to time, written off in the past six months," Marianne Kneuer of Hildesheim University told Phoenix TV. "Many in the party started thinking about the future after Angela Merkel... but at the same time Merkel has strengthened her position again." On Friday Merkel will head to Paris to discuss EU reform plans with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a March 22-23 summit, after a lengthy stretch in which Berlin was hamstrung on the European and world stage. Macron warned in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily that, without Germany on board, "part of my project would be doomed to failure". "We are completely dependent on each other. I do not believe for one second that a European project without or against Germany could succeed." Merkel's incoming coalition has broadly welcomed Macron's bold reform plans, meant to reinvigorate the bloc and counter extremists and populists who have made major gains in Western democracies. She has argued that the EU must increasingly look after its own interests in the era of US President Donald Trump, who has questioned long-standing transatlantic defence ties and threatened a trade war. Berlin advocates closer EU cooperation on defence, immigration and plans for a European Monetary Fund. But it is lukewarm on the idea of a joint eurozone finance minister and rejects any pooling of debt. 'Zero tolerance' The rise of populist fringe parties is also the central domestic threat for Merkel's new coalition, which faces the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the biggest opposition party. The AfD scored almost 13 percent in the election, capitalising on public fears over a mass influx of more than one million refugees and migrants since 2015 and angrily demanding that "Merkel must go". The shock rise of the AfD has come at the expense of the CDU, its Bavarian CSU allies and especially the SPD, all of which suffered their worst results in decades in September. While Merkel's last GroKo had a crushing 80 percent parliamentary majority, the margin has shrunk to 56 percent. To answer the new right-wing threat, designated interior minister Horst Seehofer has pledged a "zero tolerance" law-and-order drive and faster deportations of failed asylum-seekers. His new interior super-ministry also covers "Heimat" or homeland affairs, a term much derided for evoking Alpine vistas, beer and bratwurst but intended to recapture claims to patriotism from the AfD. Scholz has meanwhile promised to tackle another fear exploited by populists, of vanishing jobs in the age of globalisation and rapid technological change. "When we look at the Trump election, Brexit and the success of right-wing populist parties in many European countries," Scholz said, "we see there is a clear need to find new answers to the challenges of the 21st century."

Merkel narrowly elected to fourth term as German chancellor

German lawmakers voted on Wednesday to re-elect Angela Merkel as chancellor for a fourth, and likely final, term that may prove her most challenging yet as she leads a fragile coalition with her standing diminished.

Lawmakers voted by 364 to 315, with nine abstentions, in favour of re-electing Merkel, 63.&nbsp;

&quot;I accept the vote,&quot; Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament after the vote.

Lawmakers voted by 364 to 315, with nine abstentions, in favour of re-electing Merkel

German lawmakers voted on Wednesday to re-elect Angela Merkel as chancellor for a fourth, and likely final, term that may prove her most challenging yet as she leads a fragile coalition with her standing diminished. Lawmakers voted by 364 to 315, with nine abstentions, in favour of re-electing Merkel, 63. "I accept the vote," Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament after the vote.

German lawmakers elect Merkel to fourth term as chancellor

Chancellor Angela Merkel&rsquo;s cabinet approved plans on Wednesday to expand Germany&rsquo;s military missions abroad, including in Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq, government sources said.

The defense bill, which must still be approved by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, would raise the number of German troops deployed in Afghanistan by a third to 1,300.

It also changes Germany&rsquo;s military operations in Iraq. After their successful work training Kurdish Peshmerga forces in north, German forces would now also be stationed in Baghdad.

The cabinet&rsquo;s decision implements an agreement on defense made by Merkel&rsquo;s conservatives and the center-left SPD during negotiations about a re-run of the &lsquo;grand coalition&rsquo; that ruled Germany since 2013.

It also includes a plan to add 100 more troops to Germany&rsquo;s 1,000-strong deployment to a UN&nbsp;peacekeeping mission in Mali in order to meet increased maintenance needs and Germany&rsquo;s new responsibility for a military base in Gao.

The decision to increase German military presence in Afghanistan comes against a backdrop of increased violence there and a new peace initiative launched by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told broadcaster ARD the move should be matched with accelerated reforms by Kabul. She warned the mission would likely extend for some time.

&ldquo;We need patience and a long breath, without question,&rdquo; von der Leyen told ARD, citing a history of progress and setbacks in Afghanistan in recent years.

She praised the military&rsquo;s success in training the Peshmerga, adding, &ldquo;That is moving to a different level now,&rdquo; von der Leyen said.

In addition, the cabinet backed the continuation of surveillance and refueling flights by the German military in support of allied efforts to fight Islamic State, as well as AWACs flights carried out on behalf of NATO.

Germany has carried out limited engagements abroad since World War Two, focusing mainly on training , surveillance, medical rescue and peacekeeping, although it participated in the 1999 air offensive on what was then Yugoslavia.

The minister acknowledged shortfalls in military equipment and personnel disclosed in a critical report last week, but said troops headed on overseas missions like those in Iraq and Afghanistan would be adequately equipped.

The new governing coalition has already agreed to add 10 billion euros to the military budget over the next four years, but von der Leyen has said further increases will be needed to rebuild the German military after years of spending cuts.

The defense bill, which must still be approved by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, would raise the number of German troops deployed in Afghanistan by a third to 1,300

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet approved plans on Wednesday to expand Germany’s military missions abroad, including in Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq, government sources said. The defense bill, which must still be approved by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, would raise the number of German troops deployed in Afghanistan by a third to 1,300. It also changes Germany’s military operations in Iraq. After their successful work training Kurdish Peshmerga forces in north, German forces would now also be stationed in Baghdad. The cabinet’s decision implements an agreement on defense made by Merkel’s conservatives and the center-left SPD during negotiations about a re-run of the ‘grand coalition’ that ruled Germany since 2013. It also includes a plan to add 100 more troops to Germany’s 1,000-strong deployment to a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali in order to meet increased maintenance needs and Germany’s new responsibility for a military base in Gao. The decision to increase German military presence in Afghanistan comes against a backdrop of increased violence there and a new peace initiative launched by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told broadcaster ARD the move should be matched with accelerated reforms by Kabul. She warned the mission would likely extend for some time. “We need patience and a long breath, without question,” von der Leyen told ARD, citing a history of progress and setbacks in Afghanistan in recent years. She praised the military’s success in training the Peshmerga, adding, “That is moving to a different level now,” von der Leyen said. In addition, the cabinet backed the continuation of surveillance and refueling flights by the German military in support of allied efforts to fight Islamic State, as well as AWACs flights carried out on behalf of NATO. Germany has carried out limited engagements abroad since World War Two, focusing mainly on training , surveillance, medical rescue and peacekeeping, although it participated in the 1999 air offensive on what was then Yugoslavia. The minister acknowledged shortfalls in military equipment and personnel disclosed in a critical report last week, but said troops headed on overseas missions like those in Iraq and Afghanistan would be adequately equipped. The new governing coalition has already agreed to add 10 billion euros to the military budget over the next four years, but von der Leyen has said further increases will be needed to rebuild the German military after years of spending cuts.

German cabinet approves increase in troops for Afghanistan

Chancellor Angela Merkel today vowed to work with the Social Democrats for the &quot;good of Germany&quot;, after the centre-left party agreed to join her new coalition, but the veteran leader will go into her fourth term with weaker cards than before.

Two in three of the SPD&#39;s rank and file voting in a make or break referendum backed a new partnership with Merkel&#39;s conservatives, heralding an end to the political stalemate that has plagued Europe&#39;s biggest economy since September&#39;s inconclusive elections.

But the chancellor, in power for 12 years, has had to pay a high price to coax the reluctant Social Democratic Party (SPD) back into another loveless &quot;grand coalition&quot;.

Congratulating the SPD for its &quot;clear result&quot;, Merkel said using her CDU party&#39;s Twitter account that she was looking forward to &quot;further cooperation for the good of our country&quot;.

Stung by their worst post-war results, the SPD had initially ruled out another four years under Merkel&#39;s shadow.

But after Merkel&#39;s attempt to cobble together a government with two smaller parties failed, the SPD relented.

With the party riven over its way forward, its leadership promised its more than 460,000 members the final say on any coalition deal.

&quot;We now have clarity. The SPD will be in the next government,&quot; said SPD&#39;s caretaker chairman Olaf Scholz, adding his party plans to send three male and three female ministers to the cabinet.

European partners waiting impatiently for post-war Germany to end its longest stretch of coalition haggling heaved a sigh of relief, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling the SPD decision &quot;good news for Europe.&quot;

&quot;France and Germany will work together starting in the coming weeks to develop new initiatives for advancing the European project,&quot; Macron&#39;s office said.

In a nod to the the abbreviation &quot;GroKo&quot; as the grand right-left coalition is known in Germany, European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans wrote on Twitter: &quot;GroGO! For solidarity in Germany and EU!&quot;

Following the SPD&#39;s emphatic decision for a new partnership, Merkel is expected to launch her fourth government by mid-March.

But the long-serving leader faces a far rockier road ahead than in the last four years.

Unlike in their previous partnership when Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the SPD enjoyed a crushing majority, this time they now have only a slim 56 per cent (399 out of total 709) of seats in parliament.

Both sides had been weakened as voters angry about the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015 turned to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Noting that it would be the biggest opposition party now that the SPD has joined the government, the AfD&#39;s parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel promised that &quot;the bill will come at the latest in 2021.&quot;

Wary of ceding further ground to the far-right Islamophobic outfit as voters turn away from traditional parties, Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the SPD have inserted a clause to review their cooperation in two years.

Dissenting voices in the SPD also promise to keep the long-time partners on their toes.

The SPD&#39;s youth chief Kevin Kuehnert, who ran an impassioned campaign against the planned coalition known as &quot;GroKo&quot;, expressed disappointment at today&#39;s vote result.

&quot;When criticism is necessary, then it will come from us,&quot; he vowed, adding that young Social Democrats won&#39;t rest until there is a &quot;fundamental renewal&quot; in the party.

Within her ranks too, Merkel, who once seemed invincible, is looking increasingly vulnerable as calls grow louder for change.

Opponents of her liberal refugee policy have grown more outspoken, while the conservative wing of her party is seething at having lost control of the powerful finance ministry to the Social Democrats as part of the coalition deal.

For the chancellor,who is under pressure within her party to rejuvenate her ranks, the clock is essentially ticking to groom her successor.

In a bid to tamp down criticism, Merkel has brought one of her most outspoken CDU critics, Jens Spahn, into her next cabinet as health minister.

Spahn, 37, a former deputy to hardliner Wolfgang Schaeuble at the finance ministry, has repeatedly slammed Merkel&#39;s centrist policies, particularly on immigration.

He has also advocated a sharp conservative shift in a bid to woo back voters from the AfD, which garnered nearly 13 per cent in the September election.

Announcing the new line-up, Merkel called Spahn &quot;a representative of the younger generation&quot; who would play a constructive role.

But crucially, at a congress this week, her party also formally appointed its new general secretary, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, tapped by Merkel to kickstart the renewal process.

Sueddeutsche daily noted that &quot;she is the one who has made it clear that the CDU is now no longer without a successor for Merkel&quot;.

Chancellor Angela Merkel today vowed to work with the Social Democrats for the 'good of Germany', after the centre-left party agreed to join her new coalition

Chancellor Angela Merkel today vowed to work with the Social Democrats for the "good of Germany", after the centre-left party agreed to join her new coalition, but the veteran leader will go into her fourth term with weaker cards than before. Two in three of the SPD's rank and file voting in a make or break referendum backed a new partnership with Merkel's conservatives, heralding an end to the political stalemate that has plagued Europe's biggest economy since September's inconclusive elections. But the chancellor, in power for 12 years, has had to pay a high price to coax the reluctant Social Democratic Party (SPD) back into another loveless "grand coalition". Congratulating the SPD for its "clear result", Merkel said using her CDU party's Twitter account that she was looking forward to "further cooperation for the good of our country". Stung by their worst post-war results, the SPD had initially ruled out another four years under Merkel's shadow. But after Merkel's attempt to cobble together a government with two smaller parties failed, the SPD relented. With the party riven over its way forward, its leadership promised its more than 460,000 members the final say on any coalition deal. "We now have clarity. The SPD will be in the next government," said SPD's caretaker chairman Olaf Scholz, adding his party plans to send three male and three female ministers to the cabinet. European partners waiting impatiently for post-war Germany to end its longest stretch of coalition haggling heaved a sigh of relief, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling the SPD decision "good news for Europe." "France and Germany will work together starting in the coming weeks to develop new initiatives for advancing the European project," Macron's office said. In a nod to the the abbreviation "GroKo" as the grand right-left coalition is known in Germany, European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans wrote on Twitter: "GroGO! For solidarity in Germany and EU!" Following the SPD's emphatic decision for a new partnership, Merkel is expected to launch her fourth government by mid-March. But the long-serving leader faces a far rockier road ahead than in the last four years. Unlike in their previous partnership when Merkel's conservatives and the SPD enjoyed a crushing majority, this time they now have only a slim 56 per cent (399 out of total 709) of seats in parliament. Both sides had been weakened as voters angry about the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015 turned to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Noting that it would be the biggest opposition party now that the SPD has joined the government, the AfD's parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel promised that "the bill will come at the latest in 2021." Wary of ceding further ground to the far-right Islamophobic outfit as voters turn away from traditional parties, Merkel's conservatives and the SPD have inserted a clause to review their cooperation in two years. Dissenting voices in the SPD also promise to keep the long-time partners on their toes. The SPD's youth chief Kevin Kuehnert, who ran an impassioned campaign against the planned coalition known as "GroKo", expressed disappointment at today's vote result. "When criticism is necessary, then it will come from us," he vowed, adding that young Social Democrats won't rest until there is a "fundamental renewal" in the party. Within her ranks too, Merkel, who once seemed invincible, is looking increasingly vulnerable as calls grow louder for change. Opponents of her liberal refugee policy have grown more outspoken, while the conservative wing of her party is seething at having lost control of the powerful finance ministry to the Social Democrats as part of the coalition deal. For the chancellor,who is under pressure within her party to rejuvenate her ranks, the clock is essentially ticking to groom her successor. In a bid to tamp down criticism, Merkel has brought one of her most outspoken CDU critics, Jens Spahn, into her next cabinet as health minister. Spahn, 37, a former deputy to hardliner Wolfgang Schaeuble at the finance ministry, has repeatedly slammed Merkel's centrist policies, particularly on immigration. He has also advocated a sharp conservative shift in a bid to woo back voters from the AfD, which garnered nearly 13 per cent in the September election. Announcing the new line-up, Merkel called Spahn "a representative of the younger generation" who would play a constructive role. But crucially, at a congress this week, her party also formally appointed its new general secretary, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, tapped by Merkel to kickstart the renewal process. Sueddeutsche daily noted that "she is the one who has made it clear that the CDU is now no longer without a successor for Merkel".

Merkel vows 'good for Germany' as SPD paves way for her fourth term

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel believe that the Syrian regime must take the accountability for the East Ghouta attacks.&nbsp;

The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave.

&quot;This applies both to the Assad regime&#39;s deployment of chemical weapons and for its attacks against civilians and the blockade of humanitarian support,&quot; the leaders noted the statement released by Merkel&#39;s office.

According to reports, apart from the ongoing unrest in Syria, Merkel and Trump also discussed Russia&#39;s recent announcement of new weapons systems and its possible repercussions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel believe that the Syrian regime must take the accountability for the East Ghouta attacks. The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave. "This applies both to the Assad regime's deployment of chemical weapons and for its attacks against civilians and the blockade of humanitarian support," the leaders noted the statement released by Merkel's office. According to reports, apart from the ongoing unrest in Syria, Merkel and Trump also discussed Russia's recent announcement of new weapons systems and its possible repercussions. (With inputs from agencies)

Syrian regime must be held accountable for Ghouta attacks: Merkel, Trump

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Pakistan today summoned India&#39;s deputy high commissioner J P Singh for the second consecutive day over &nbsp;&quot;unprovoked firing by Indian troops&quot; along the Line of Control(LoC).

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Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday for the first time in a corruption case that involves the country&#39;s largest telecommunications company, Israel Radio said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-regime-must-be-held-accountable-for-ghouta-attacks-merkel-trump-34497">Syrian regime must be held accountable for Ghouta attacks: Merkel, Trump</a> 
The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-ranveer-singh-is-killing-it-with-pharrell-williams-at-his-holi-party-we-have-proof-34496">Ranveer Singh is killing it with Pharrell Williams at his Holi party, we have proof!</a> 
Ranveer Singh had earlier shared a photo on Instagram that read: &#39;Join Pharrell in India. Streaming live from the Holi festival hosted by Ranveer Singh&#39;. The post goes on to reveal that the party will take place on March 2, 2018, starting from 6 pm and the best part if you have noticed, is that it be live for all of us to watch!

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-pak-boys-yorkers-impresses-wasim-akram-video-goes-viral-34502">Watch: &#39;Who is this boy,&#39; asks Wasim Akram, video goes viral</a> 
The boy with left-handed bowling action is seen in the video bowling with such pace and venom that even Pakistani bowling legend Wasim Akram couldn&#39;t resist

Amid cross-border firing, Pakistan summons India's deputy high commissioner Pakistan today summoned India's deputy high commissioner J P Singh for the second consecutive day over "unprovoked firing by Indian troops" along the Line of Control(LoC). Israeli police question Netanyahu in telecoms corruption case Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday for the first time in a corruption case that involves the country's largest telecommunications company, Israel Radio said. Syrian regime must be held accountable for Ghouta attacks: Merkel, Trump The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave Ranveer Singh is killing it with Pharrell Williams at his Holi party, we have proof! Ranveer Singh had earlier shared a photo on Instagram that read: 'Join Pharrell in India. Streaming live from the Holi festival hosted by Ranveer Singh'. The post goes on to reveal that the party will take place on March 2, 2018, starting from 6 pm and the best part if you have noticed, is that it be live for all of us to watch! Watch: 'Who is this boy,' asks Wasim Akram, video goes viral The boy with left-handed bowling action is seen in the video bowling with such pace and venom that even Pakistani bowling legend Wasim Akram couldn't resist

WION Evening News Brief, March 2, 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday appealed to fellow members of her Christian Democratic Union to back a coalition agreement with centre-left Social Democrats, insisting that the new government would not allow new taxes or new public debt.

Merkel also underscored the need to rejuvenate the European Union, saying Europe needed to be a true player in global affairs to be taken seriously.

Merkel also underscored the need to rejuvenate the EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday appealed to fellow members of her Christian Democratic Union to back a coalition agreement with centre-left Social Democrats, insisting that the new government would not allow new taxes or new public debt. Merkel also underscored the need to rejuvenate the European Union, saying Europe needed to be a true player in global affairs to be taken seriously.

Germany's Merkel vows to avoid tax increases, new debt

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France&#39;s presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area.

The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the &quot;implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria&quot;, it said.

More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria&#39;s regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus.

After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday&#39;s strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault.&nbsp;

France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations.

In its statement France&#39;s presidency said the ceasefire was &quot;an essential first step&quot;, adding that it would be &quot;extremely vigilant&quot; over its implementation.&nbsp;

More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia's Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France's presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area. The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the "implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria", it said. More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus. After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday's strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault. France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations. In its statement France's presidency said the ceasefire was "an essential first step", adding that it would be "extremely vigilant" over its implementation.

Macron, Merkel to talk Syria ceasefire plan with Putin

Peter Tauber, secretary-general of German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservative CDU party, will step down from his post for health reasons, party sources said Sunday.

Tauber, 43, will announce his decision on Monday, the sources said, with a successor to be named at an extraordinary party congress on February 26.

Although Tauber is seen as a close associate of Merkel&#39;s, infighting within the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) led the chancellor to designate another party stalwart to draft the party&#39;s electoral platform last year.

Tauber&#39;s intestinal illness prevented him from taking part in the protracted negotiations to form a government following last September&#39;s inconclusive elections.

He underwent surgery for his condition last month.

The CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD), both weakened by the elections, finally reluctantly renewed their left-right &quot;grand coalition&quot; or &quot;GroKo&quot; last week.

The deal is still subject to a ballot by the SPD&#39;s deeply divided base of 470,000 rank-and file members.

Some within the CDU have criticised the deal, which saw the SPD clinch the finance portfolio, as too generous.

Tauber, 43, will announce his decision on Monday, the sources said, with a successor to be named at an extraordinary party congress on February 26

Peter Tauber, secretary-general of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party, will step down from his post for health reasons, party sources said Sunday. Tauber, 43, will announce his decision on Monday, the sources said, with a successor to be named at an extraordinary party congress on February 26. Although Tauber is seen as a close associate of Merkel's, infighting within the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) led the chancellor to designate another party stalwart to draft the party's electoral platform last year. Tauber's intestinal illness prevented him from taking part in the protracted negotiations to form a government following last September's inconclusive elections. He underwent surgery for his condition last month. The CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD), both weakened by the elections, finally reluctantly renewed their left-right "grand coalition" or "GroKo" last week. The deal is still subject to a ballot by the SPD's deeply divided base of 470,000 rank-and file members. Some within the CDU have criticised the deal, which saw the SPD clinch the finance portfolio, as too generous.

Top official in Merkel's CDU to step down: Party sources

Germany&#39;s divided Social Democrats will hold a crunch vote Sunday on whether to pursue a coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives, or plunge the nation into political turmoil.

At an extraordinary congress in the western city of Bonn, 600 delegates from the centre-left SPD and its 45-member board will have their say on entering into formal talks for a renewed alliance with Merkel&#39;s centre-right CDU/CSU bloc.

The stakes could scarcely be higher for Merkel as a &quot;no&quot; vote would leave her with the option of leading an unstable minority government -- a prospect she has baulked at -- or face snap polls.

Horst Seehofer, leader of Merkel&#39;s Bavarian CSU sister party, said a thumbs down from the congress would be &quot;a political catastrophe&quot; for Germany.

&quot;I can only appeal to everyone to get it together and help bring about a government,&quot; he said in a recent interview with Bild newspaper.

The outcome is far from certain after leading SPD members savaged a coalition blueprint painstakingly thrashed out by the three parties this month, complaining it contained too many concessions on issues such as migration, taxes and healthcare.

&#39;#NoGroKo&#39;

With his career on the line, SPD leader Martin Schulz has been criss-crossing the country trying to sell sceptical party members on the idea of another &quot;GroKo&quot;, as the grand coalition is known in German.

In a letter to party members Friday, Schulz stressed the vote&#39;s &quot;enormous importance for the future of Germany... all of Europe and the SPD&quot;.&nbsp;

He told Der Spiegel news weekly that a defeat would &quot;very quickly&quot; trigger new elections in which voters would be likely to &quot;punish&quot; the conservatives but also the SPD.

Pitted against him is the fiery chief of the party&#39;s youth wing, Kevin Kuehnert, who has been on his own &quot;#NoGroKo&quot; tour, arguing that the party would be better served spending the next four years in the opposition.

&quot;I&#39;m very optimistic that we have a realistic chance at winning this vote,&quot; he told reporters Thursday.

Crown slipping 
 
Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September&#39;s inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel&#39;s open-door refugee policy.

Bruised by his party&#39;s worst result in decades, Schulz initially vowed to go into opposition but then caved to pressure to reconsider after Merkel&#39;s attempt at a novel tie-up with two smaller parties collapsed in November.

The U-turn angered many grassroots SPD&#39;ers, who believed some time on the opposition benches would help the 150-year-old party regain its fighting spirit.

Merkel, often dubbed the world&#39;s most powerful woman, has been largely absent from the global stage as the domestic drama has played out, and she is increasingly described by commentators as entering the twilight of her rule.

With her hopes for a fourth term now squarely in the hands of the SPD, the veteran leader has urged party delegates to make &quot;a responsible decision&quot; and back the &quot;fair&quot; coalition roadmap.

The 28-page in-principle agreement that lays the basis for future government policies promises more spending on childcare, education and pensions as well as joining France in a push to reform the EU.

Hurdles ahead 
 
But critics within the SPD have bemoaned the party&#39;s failure to secure a tax hike for the rich or a restructuring of the country&#39;s two-tier health care system -- two major campaign pledges.

They have also voiced dismay at the document&#39;s mention of limiting asylum seeker arrivals to around 200,000 a year, a flagship CSU demand.

Schulz has since insisted that many details still need to be ironed out and proposed that any future coalition government be put under review after two years.

A Forsa survey published Thursday found that 61 percent of SPD voters were in favour of moving on to formal coalition talks.

The same poll found that the SPD would score just 18 percent if elections were held now, below the 20.5 percent garnered in September.

Even if party delegates give the green light to open formal coalition talks, another hurdle looms on the path to a new government.

Schulz has pledged that any final coalition agreement will still be put to a vote by more than 400,000 rank-and-file SPD members.

Germany's divided Social Democrats will hold a crunch vote Sunday on whether to pursue a coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, or plunge the nation into political turmoil.

Germany's divided Social Democrats will hold a crunch vote Sunday on whether to pursue a coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, or plunge the nation into political turmoil. At an extraordinary congress in the western city of Bonn, 600 delegates from the centre-left SPD and its 45-member board will have their say on entering into formal talks for a renewed alliance with Merkel's centre-right CDU/CSU bloc. The stakes could scarcely be higher for Merkel as a "no" vote would leave her with the option of leading an unstable minority government -- a prospect she has baulked at -- or face snap polls. Horst Seehofer, leader of Merkel's Bavarian CSU sister party, said a thumbs down from the congress would be "a political catastrophe" for Germany. "I can only appeal to everyone to get it together and help bring about a government," he said in a recent interview with Bild newspaper. The outcome is far from certain after leading SPD members savaged a coalition blueprint painstakingly thrashed out by the three parties this month, complaining it contained too many concessions on issues such as migration, taxes and healthcare. '#NoGroKo' With his career on the line, SPD leader Martin Schulz has been criss-crossing the country trying to sell sceptical party members on the idea of another "GroKo", as the grand coalition is known in German. In a letter to party members Friday, Schulz stressed the vote's "enormous importance for the future of Germany... all of Europe and the SPD". He told Der Spiegel news weekly that a defeat would "very quickly" trigger new elections in which voters would be likely to "punish" the conservatives but also the SPD. Pitted against him is the fiery chief of the party's youth wing, Kevin Kuehnert, who has been on his own "#NoGroKo" tour, arguing that the party would be better served spending the next four years in the opposition. "I'm very optimistic that we have a realistic chance at winning this vote," he told reporters Thursday. Crown slipping Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September's inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel's open-door refugee policy. Bruised by his party's worst result in decades, Schulz initially vowed to go into opposition but then caved to pressure to reconsider after Merkel's attempt at a novel tie-up with two smaller parties collapsed in November. The U-turn angered many grassroots SPD'ers, who believed some time on the opposition benches would help the 150-year-old party regain its fighting spirit. Merkel, often dubbed the world's most powerful woman, has been largely absent from the global stage as the domestic drama has played out, and she is increasingly described by commentators as entering the twilight of her rule. With her hopes for a fourth term now squarely in the hands of the SPD, the veteran leader has urged party delegates to make "a responsible decision" and back the "fair" coalition roadmap. The 28-page in-principle agreement that lays the basis for future government policies promises more spending on childcare, education and pensions as well as joining France in a push to reform the EU. Hurdles ahead But critics within the SPD have bemoaned the party's failure to secure a tax hike for the rich or a restructuring of the country's two-tier health care system -- two major campaign pledges. They have also voiced dismay at the document's mention of limiting asylum seeker arrivals to around 200,000 a year, a flagship CSU demand. Schulz has since insisted that many details still need to be ironed out and proposed that any future coalition government be put under review after two years. A Forsa survey published Thursday found that 61 percent of SPD voters were in favour of moving on to formal coalition talks. The same poll found that the SPD would score just 18 percent if elections were held now, below the 20.5 percent garnered in September. Even if party delegates give the green light to open formal coalition talks, another hurdle looms on the path to a new government. Schulz has pledged that any final coalition agreement will still be put to a vote by more than 400,000 rank-and-file SPD members.

Germany's SPD to hold all-or-nothing vote on Merkel alliance today

Germany&#39;s Social Democrats (SPD) voted on Sunday to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives, moving Europe&#39;s economic powerhouse one step closer to a stable government after months of political deadlock.

SPD delegates voted by 362 to 279, with one abstention, to press ahead with negotiations. The centre-left party&#39;s leaders had agreed a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc earlier this month.&nbsp;

A recount was held after an initial show of hands was too close for the SPD official in charge of the count to call.&nbsp;

Just before delegates voted, SPD leader Martin Schulz made an impassioned plea for a &#39;yes&#39;, telling them their decision was being watched across Germany and Europe.

&quot;One must not rule at any price,&quot; Schulz said. &quot;But neither should one be prepared to pay any price to decline to rule.&quot;

Coalition talks are now expected to start this week, a step likely to be welcomed by Germany&#39;s partners in Europe, where Merkel has long played a leading role in economic and security affairs.

SPD party members will still get to vote on any final coalition deal that emerges, however.

Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday they wanted to deepen bilateral cooperation and give the European Union a fresh push towards closer integration.

The SPD and conservative blocs, which both bled support to the far right in the Sept. 24 election, struck their preliminary deal after exploratory talks on renewing their ruling alliance that took office in 2013.&nbsp;

SPD critics, including the party&#39;s youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert, argued the exploratory blueprint did not bear enough of the SPD&#39;s hallmarks.

The motion passed by delegates on Sunday opening the way for negotiations included language on obtaining improvements to the blueprint that would see conservative concessions on labour, health and migration policies.

&quot;We will fight for further improvements in the coalition negotiations if we can continue the talks,&quot; Schulz earlier told the congress in Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany where late SPD chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt earned reputations as international statesmen.

Leading conservatives have rejected SPD demands for major concessions.

The centre-left party's leaders had agreed to a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel's conservative bloc earlier this month.

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) voted on Sunday to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, moving Europe's economic powerhouse one step closer to a stable government after months of political deadlock. SPD delegates voted by 362 to 279, with one abstention, to press ahead with negotiations. The centre-left party's leaders had agreed a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel's conservative bloc earlier this month. A recount was held after an initial show of hands was too close for the SPD official in charge of the count to call. Just before delegates voted, SPD leader Martin Schulz made an impassioned plea for a 'yes', telling them their decision was being watched across Germany and Europe. "One must not rule at any price," Schulz said. "But neither should one be prepared to pay any price to decline to rule." Coalition talks are now expected to start this week, a step likely to be welcomed by Germany's partners in Europe, where Merkel has long played a leading role in economic and security affairs. SPD party members will still get to vote on any final coalition deal that emerges, however. Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday they wanted to deepen bilateral cooperation and give the European Union a fresh push towards closer integration. The SPD and conservative blocs, which both bled support to the far right in the Sept. 24 election, struck their preliminary deal after exploratory talks on renewing their ruling alliance that took office in 2013. SPD critics, including the party's youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert, argued the exploratory blueprint did not bear enough of the SPD's hallmarks. The motion passed by delegates on Sunday opening the way for negotiations included language on obtaining improvements to the blueprint that would see conservative concessions on labour, health and migration policies. "We will fight for further improvements in the coalition negotiations if we can continue the talks," Schulz earlier told the congress in Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany where late SPD chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt earned reputations as international statesmen. Leading conservatives have rejected SPD demands for major concessions.

Germany's SPD votes for coalition talks with Angela Merkel

Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe&#39;s top economy.

The sources said the parties had ironed out their final differences and were ready to sign an agreement for Merkel&#39;s fourth term.

Public broadcaster ARD said the final disputes had centred around &quot;ministry remits and personnel questions&quot;.&nbsp;

The breakthrough will come as a relief to Germany&#39;s EU partners as the bloc faces tough negotiations on migration and Brexit.&nbsp;

Merkel, Europe&#39;s most experienced leader, has seen her standing at home and abroad weakened by the longest stretch of coalition-building in the country&#39;s postwar history.

But before she can be sworn in, a final hurdle looms: the hard-fought pact between her CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party must still be approved by the SPD&#39;s sceptical rank-and-file .

The agreement for a renewed &quot;grand coalition&quot; comes after days of marathon talks in which negotiators from all three parties haggled over everything from foreign policy to labour issues and healthcare.

SPD holds the keys&nbsp;

Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September&#39;s inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel&#39;s liberal refugee policy.

Merkel, in power for over 12 years, at first tried to cobble together a novel three-way coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, but those efforts collapsed in November.

Faced with snap elections that could further boost the AfD or the prospect of heading an unstable minority government, she opted to woo back the SPD -- her junior partner for two of her three terms since 2005.

SPD leader Martin Schulz then abandoned his post-election vow to renew the party in opposition -- a U-turn that angered many.

Merkel&#39;s fate now lies in the hands of the SPD, as Schulz has promised to give his party&#39;s 460,000 members the final say on whether to accept the coalition pact.

Observers expect the referendum to be tight, with the SPD&#39;s left and youth wings fiercely opposed to another four years governing in Merkel&#39;s shadow.

The party&#39;s fiery youth chief Kevin Kuehnert has led a campaign against another &quot;GroKo&quot;, as the grand coalition is known.

The referendum will be held by postal ballot, with the result expected to be announced in early March.

A green light could see a new Merkel-led government in place by the end of next month.

A thumbs-down could spell disaster for Merkel and Schulz, whose political lives hang in the balance, and see the country headed for fresh elections.

Hard-won concessions&nbsp;

With so much at stake, Schulz was determined to extract as many concessions as possible from the tortuous coalition talks to win over sceptics.

While details of the final agreement have yet to be released, former European Parliament chief Schulz has put a fairer Europe at the heart of his efforts, insisting that Berlin must join French President Emmanuel Macron&#39;s push to deepen eurozone integration.

In a draft version of the coalition pact seen by AFP, the parties agreed to support Macron&#39;s reform drive and tentatively backed his idea of a eurozone investment budget.

On the hot-button topic of migration, the two camps said they would aim to limit the annual intake to 180,000-220,000 people, a key CSU demand.

The SPD however won assurances that family reunifications for refugees would resume in August, albeit restricted to 1,000 people a month.

It was not immediately clear how the final sticking points in the negotiations were resolved, such as the SPD&#39;s insistence on limiting short-term contracts and overhauling the two-tier healthcare system.

On defence spending too, both sides remained at odds as the finish line neared with the conservatives more open than the SPD to raising military spending closer to NATO targets, as pushed for by US President Donald Trump.

But the protracted haggling has left its scars, and surveys suggest both camps have much to fear from fresh elections in case of a &quot;no&quot; vote from SPD members.

A recent Insa poll found that support for the CDU/CSU had fallen from 33 to 30.5 per cent, while the SPD slipped from September&#39;s historic low of 20.5 per cent to 17 per cent.

The AfD meanwhile scored a record 15 pe rcent.

The sources said the parties had ironed out their final differences and were ready to sign an agreement for Merkel's fourth term

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe's top economy. The sources said the parties had ironed out their final differences and were ready to sign an agreement for Merkel's fourth term. Public broadcaster ARD said the final disputes had centred around "ministry remits and personnel questions". The breakthrough will come as a relief to Germany's EU partners as the bloc faces tough negotiations on migration and Brexit. Merkel, Europe's most experienced leader, has seen her standing at home and abroad weakened by the longest stretch of coalition-building in the country's postwar history. But before she can be sworn in, a final hurdle looms: the hard-fought pact between her CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party must still be approved by the SPD's sceptical rank-and-file . The agreement for a renewed "grand coalition" comes after days of marathon talks in which negotiators from all three parties haggled over everything from foreign policy to labour issues and healthcare. SPD holds the keys Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September's inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel's liberal refugee policy. Merkel, in power for over 12 years, at first tried to cobble together a novel three-way coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, but those efforts collapsed in November. Faced with snap elections that could further boost the AfD or the prospect of heading an unstable minority government, she opted to woo back the SPD -- her junior partner for two of her three terms since 2005. SPD leader Martin Schulz then abandoned his post-election vow to renew the party in opposition -- a U-turn that angered many. Merkel's fate now lies in the hands of the SPD, as Schulz has promised to give his party's 460,000 members the final say on whether to accept the coalition pact. Observers expect the referendum to be tight, with the SPD's left and youth wings fiercely opposed to another four years governing in Merkel's shadow. The party's fiery youth chief Kevin Kuehnert has led a campaign against another "GroKo", as the grand coalition is known. The referendum will be held by postal ballot, with the result expected to be announced in early March. A green light could see a new Merkel-led government in place by the end of next month. A thumbs-down could spell disaster for Merkel and Schulz, whose political lives hang in the balance, and see the country headed for fresh elections. Hard-won concessions With so much at stake, Schulz was determined to extract as many concessions as possible from the tortuous coalition talks to win over sceptics. While details of the final agreement have yet to be released, former European Parliament chief Schulz has put a fairer Europe at the heart of his efforts, insisting that Berlin must join French President Emmanuel Macron's push to deepen eurozone integration. In a draft version of the coalition pact seen by AFP, the parties agreed to support Macron's reform drive and tentatively backed his idea of a eurozone investment budget. On the hot-button topic of migration, the two camps said they would aim to limit the annual intake to 180,000-220,000 people, a key CSU demand. The SPD however won assurances that family reunifications for refugees would resume in August, albeit restricted to 1,000 people a month. It was not immediately clear how the final sticking points in the negotiations were resolved, such as the SPD's insistence on limiting short-term contracts and overhauling the two-tier healthcare system. On defence spending too, both sides remained at odds as the finish line neared with the conservatives more open than the SPD to raising military spending closer to NATO targets, as pushed for by US President Donald Trump. But the protracted haggling has left its scars, and surveys suggest both camps have much to fear from fresh elections in case of a "no" vote from SPD members. A recent Insa poll found that support for the CDU/CSU had fallen from 33 to 30.5 per cent, while the SPD slipped from September's historic low of 20.5 per cent to 17 per cent. The AfD meanwhile scored a record 15 pe rcent.

Germany's top parties 'reach deal' on Merkel coalition

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In a second mammoth talk in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi continued his attack on the Congress.&nbsp;

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China today warned against any military intervention in the Maldives, saying such a move would further complicate the situation, amid repeated calls for India&#39;s military intervention by exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed to resolve the political crisis.

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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-top-parties-reach-deal-on-merkel-coalition-32099">Germany&#39;s top parties &#39;reach deal&#39; on Merkel coalition</a>

Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe&#39;s top economy.

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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today unveiled its most extensive product line-up with 11 new models at the ongoing 14th Auto Expo 2018. &nbsp;

Modi continues attack on opposition, says Congress-mukt Bharat was Gandhi's idea In a second mammoth talk in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi continued his attack on the Congress. China warns against military intervention in Maldives China today warned against any military intervention in the Maldives, saying such a move would further complicate the situation, amid repeated calls for India's military intervention by exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed to resolve the political crisis. Sachin at Auto Expo 2018: My love for cars began at age three Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar spoke about his another passion other than cricket, cars During an Auto Expo 2018 in Delhi on Wednesday. Germany's top parties 'reach deal' on Merkel coalition Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe's top economy. Auto Expo 2018: Honda India unveils X-Blade motorcycle, 10 other new models Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today unveiled its most extensive product line-up with 11 new models at the ongoing 14th Auto Expo 2018.

WION Evening News Brief, February 7, 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives entered coalition talks Sunday with knotty issues still to untangle with their historic centre-left rivals, but a deal could finally be in sight.

Merkel professed her &quot;good will, but also some expectation that there will be tough hours of talks ahead&quot; as her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) negotiators arrived at Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin.

&quot;We will have to negotiate very, very intensively today&quot; especially on areas of social policy like labour law, healthcare reform and housing, SPD chief Martin Schulz said, adding that the wrangling could go on &quot;until late in the evening or the night&quot;.

Even more important than speedy progress was a &quot;dependable coalition agreement that achieves consensus&quot; for a stable government, he continued.

More than four months after an election beating for both parties, leaders hope to wrap up talks on repeating the &quot;grand coalition&quot; or &quot;GroKo&quot; that has ruled since 2013 by Sunday evening, with the option of extending into Monday or Tuesday.

Germany&#39;s partners abroad are watching impatiently from the sidelines, as Berlin has been paralysed since September on urgent issues like reform of the European Union.

Both sides are reluctant to compromise too much and risk losing support but are equally fearful of going back to voters in repeat elections that could see a further rise of the far-right.

Neither can they afford to dig in their heels, as a poll for ARD television showed 71 percent of people do not understand &quot;why forming a government is taking so long&quot;.

At stake for Merkel is whether she leads a stable coalition into her fourth term, or risks a fragile minority government or new elections.

The SPD is a reluctant partner, having initially vowed to go into opposition after plunging to a historic low vote share of 20.5 percent in September.

Social Democrats agreed to talks only after Merkel&#39;s soundings with two smaller parties, the ecologist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, fell through.

Challenged by rebels within his own ranks, SPD leader Martin Schulz has sought political cover by putting any final coalition deal to a vote by all 440,000 members. Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD youth wing, has become a standard bearer for opponents of a new deal with Merkel.

&quot;This kind of politics was rewarded with a 14 percentage point drop (for CDU and SPD combined) last year, and I suspect things will continue that way&quot; if the coalition materialises, he has said.

Others warn the SPD is too weak to face voters again so soon, garnering 18 percent in some polls -- just a few points ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel too faces grumbling among her troops, with more conservative voices accusing her of marching her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) too far into the political centre, giving up terrain to the AfD. Meanwhile, the press has scented the end of an era approaching.

Eight years of GroKo under Merkel -- from 2005-09 and again from 2013-17 -- had shown that &quot;the lowest common denominator achieves nothing as long as there is no overarching idea,&quot; commented Stefan Braun for the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Public backbiting between the parties had highlighted how &quot;hesitant, quarrelsome, demoralising and above all uninspiring&quot; the whole process was, he wrote.

Merkel and Schulz should offer honest, ambitious answers to the country`s big challenges or &quot;leave the way clear for new leaders or new elections&quot;. The far-right has profited from public fears about the arrival of more than one million migrants and refugees since 2015.

It dances along the line between widespread concern over the effort that integrating so many new arrivals will take and outright racism, xenophobia and conspiracy theories.

And the AfD&#39;s entry into parliament, complicating coalition arithmetic, is largely what has forced the unwilling CDU and SPD together again.

Merkel&#39;s struggles to form a government have had consequences abroad with some now looking to Paris and youthful President Emmanuel Macron of France for leadership rather than to Berlin.

Germany -- a vital partner for reforming the EU -- has been guardedly open to some of Macron`s grand plans for the bloc.

But Schulz, a former European Parliament president, has founded his decision to enter talks with Merkel on determination to seize the hand proffered by France.

&quot;The fight for a stronger, renewed Europe&quot; must be top of the new government`s to-do list, he declared last week.

Social Democrats agreed to talks only after Merkel's soundings with two smaller parties

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives entered coalition talks Sunday with knotty issues still to untangle with their historic centre-left rivals, but a deal could finally be in sight. Merkel professed her "good will, but also some expectation that there will be tough hours of talks ahead" as her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) negotiators arrived at Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin. "We will have to negotiate very, very intensively today" especially on areas of social policy like labour law, healthcare reform and housing, SPD chief Martin Schulz said, adding that the wrangling could go on "until late in the evening or the night". Even more important than speedy progress was a "dependable coalition agreement that achieves consensus" for a stable government, he continued. More than four months after an election beating for both parties, leaders hope to wrap up talks on repeating the "grand coalition" or "GroKo" that has ruled since 2013 by Sunday evening, with the option of extending into Monday or Tuesday. Germany's partners abroad are watching impatiently from the sidelines, as Berlin has been paralysed since September on urgent issues like reform of the European Union. Both sides are reluctant to compromise too much and risk losing support but are equally fearful of going back to voters in repeat elections that could see a further rise of the far-right. Neither can they afford to dig in their heels, as a poll for ARD television showed 71 percent of people do not understand "why forming a government is taking so long". At stake for Merkel is whether she leads a stable coalition into her fourth term, or risks a fragile minority government or new elections. The SPD is a reluctant partner, having initially vowed to go into opposition after plunging to a historic low vote share of 20.5 percent in September. Social Democrats agreed to talks only after Merkel's soundings with two smaller parties, the ecologist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, fell through. Challenged by rebels within his own ranks, SPD leader Martin Schulz has sought political cover by putting any final coalition deal to a vote by all 440,000 members. Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD youth wing, has become a standard bearer for opponents of a new deal with Merkel. "This kind of politics was rewarded with a 14 percentage point drop (for CDU and SPD combined) last year, and I suspect things will continue that way" if the coalition materialises, he has said. Others warn the SPD is too weak to face voters again so soon, garnering 18 percent in some polls -- just a few points ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Merkel too faces grumbling among her troops, with more conservative voices accusing her of marching her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) too far into the political centre, giving up terrain to the AfD. Meanwhile, the press has scented the end of an era approaching. Eight years of GroKo under Merkel -- from 2005-09 and again from 2013-17 -- had shown that "the lowest common denominator achieves nothing as long as there is no overarching idea," commented Stefan Braun for the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Public backbiting between the parties had highlighted how "hesitant, quarrelsome, demoralising and above all uninspiring" the whole process was, he wrote. Merkel and Schulz should offer honest, ambitious answers to the country`s big challenges or "leave the way clear for new leaders or new elections". The far-right has profited from public fears about the arrival of more than one million migrants and refugees since 2015. It dances along the line between widespread concern over the effort that integrating so many new arrivals will take and outright racism, xenophobia and conspiracy theories. And the AfD's entry into parliament, complicating coalition arithmetic, is largely what has forced the unwilling CDU and SPD together again. Merkel's struggles to form a government have had consequences abroad with some now looking to Paris and youthful President Emmanuel Macron of France for leadership rather than to Berlin. Germany -- a vital partner for reforming the EU -- has been guardedly open to some of Macron`s grand plans for the bloc. But Schulz, a former European Parliament president, has founded his decision to enter talks with Merkel on determination to seize the hand proffered by France. "The fight for a stronger, renewed Europe" must be top of the new government`s to-do list, he declared last week.

Merkel enters final stretch in coalition-building marathon

German carmakers came under fire Monday following revelations they helped finance experiments that saw humans and monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma, lung diseases and heart attacks.

The disclosures sparked widespread outrage, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel who strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation&#39;s powerful but scandal-tainted auto industry

&quot;These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified,&quot; said Merkel&#39;s spokesman Steffen Seibert.

&quot;The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable.&quot;

Earlier Monday the Sueddeutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung dailies reported that a research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital.

The revelation came just days after the New York Times wrote that the same organisation carried out tests on monkeys in the United States in 2014.

According to the NYT article, the researchers locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhausts from a VW Beetle while watching cartoons.

Volkswagen apologised for the animal testing at the weekend, saying the group &quot;distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse&quot;.

Special meeting&nbsp;

The German government has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves, said acting transport minister Christian Schmidt.

&quot;This has once again damaged trust in the auto industry,&quot; he said.

It was VW&#39;s admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars with cheating software to make them seems less polluting than they were that brought close scrutiny to the industry, which had long touted diesels as better for the environment than gasoline-powered engines.

Several German cities grappling with air pollution are now mulling diesel bans.

All three German carmakers have distanced themselves from the research body in question -- the now defunct European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) -- and promised to launch internal investigations.

&quot;The BMW Group did not participate in the mentioned studies,&quot; the luxury carmaker said in a statement.

&quot;We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation,&quot; a Daimler spokesman told AFP.

While it was the EUGT that commissioned both tests, the organisation itself was financed by the trio of car giants hoping its research would defend diesel&#39;s green reputation -- and the valuable tax breaks that go with it.

The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year.

No significant effects

The tests involving 25 human volunteers were carried out at a university hospital in the German city of Aachen in 2013 and 2014.

As part of the study, the participants were exposed for several hours to different levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- the most toxic form of nitrogen oxide and commonly found in diesel exhausts.&nbsp;

The researchers detected &quot;no significant effects&quot;, according to a summary of the study.

But Thomas Kraus, the head of the relevant department at the university hospital in Aachen, told German media the findings were limited as they weren&#39;t representative of the wider population and didn&#39;t take into account general air pollution.

The institute released a statement stressing the study had been approved by the university hospital&#39;s ethics commission.

The study was carried out before &quot;dieselgate&quot; erupted and was not linked to diesel emissions testing or to experiments involving monkeys, it added.

On its website the World Health Organization points to &quot;growing evidence&quot; that nitrogen dioxide exposure &quot;can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth.&quot;

Exposure is &quot;linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,&quot; it states.

Absurd

The premier of Lower Saxony, whose state is home to VW&#39;s Wolfsburg headquarters and is one of the group&#39;s biggest shareholders, echoed Berlin&#39;s repudiation of the tests.

The experiments are &quot;absurd and disgusting&quot; said Weil, whose state holds two seats on VW&#39;s supervisory board.

He reminded the VW group that it &quot;must meet all ethical requirements&quot;.

The latest scandal &quot;will have a lasting impact on the public&#39;s trust in the auto industry,&quot; predicted analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research.

A research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital

German carmakers came under fire Monday following revelations they helped finance experiments that saw humans and monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma, lung diseases and heart attacks. The disclosures sparked widespread outrage, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel who strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation's powerful but scandal-tainted auto industry "These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert. "The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable." Earlier Monday the Sueddeutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung dailies reported that a research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital. The revelation came just days after the New York Times wrote that the same organisation carried out tests on monkeys in the United States in 2014. According to the NYT article, the researchers locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhausts from a VW Beetle while watching cartoons. Volkswagen apologised for the animal testing at the weekend, saying the group "distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse". Special meeting The German government has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves, said acting transport minister Christian Schmidt. "This has once again damaged trust in the auto industry," he said. It was VW's admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars with cheating software to make them seems less polluting than they were that brought close scrutiny to the industry, which had long touted diesels as better for the environment than gasoline-powered engines. Several German cities grappling with air pollution are now mulling diesel bans. All three German carmakers have distanced themselves from the research body in question -- the now defunct European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) -- and promised to launch internal investigations. "The BMW Group did not participate in the mentioned studies," the luxury carmaker said in a statement. "We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation," a Daimler spokesman told AFP. While it was the EUGT that commissioned both tests, the organisation itself was financed by the trio of car giants hoping its research would defend diesel's green reputation -- and the valuable tax breaks that go with it. The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year. No significant effects The tests involving 25 human volunteers were carried out at a university hospital in the German city of Aachen in 2013 and 2014. As part of the study, the participants were exposed for several hours to different levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- the most toxic form of nitrogen oxide and commonly found in diesel exhausts. The researchers detected "no significant effects", according to a summary of the study. But Thomas Kraus, the head of the relevant department at the university hospital in Aachen, told German media the findings were limited as they weren't representative of the wider population and didn't take into account general air pollution. The institute released a statement stressing the study had been approved by the university hospital's ethics commission. The study was carried out before "dieselgate" erupted and was not linked to diesel emissions testing or to experiments involving monkeys, it added. On its website the World Health Organization points to "growing evidence" that nitrogen dioxide exposure "can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth." Exposure is "linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases," it states. Absurd The premier of Lower Saxony, whose state is home to VW's Wolfsburg headquarters and is one of the group's biggest shareholders, echoed Berlin's repudiation of the tests. The experiments are "absurd and disgusting" said Weil, whose state holds two seats on VW's supervisory board. He reminded the VW group that it "must meet all ethical requirements". The latest scandal "will have a lasting impact on the public's trust in the auto industry," predicted analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research.

German carmakers under fire for diesel tests on humans, monkeys

France&rsquo;s president Emannuel Macron is having a busy week meeting two women: &nbsp;one who is going to sever their relationship and the other, looking to strengthen it. &nbsp;On a cold, blustery day straight out of the windblown scenes of the famous novel, &ldquo;The French Lieutenant&rsquo;s Woman&rsquo;&rsquo;, Monsieur Macron first met with UK PM &nbsp;Theresa May for the 35th Anglo-French Summit in Sandhurst. There were two subjects uppermost on their minds: the plight of refugees in the French town of Calais, which is the French transit point across the English Channel from the UK. And how Brexit will affect the UK-France relationship.

Le Touquet in French means a trivial sum, something of no consequence. But it&rsquo;s also the name of a 2003 agreement between the two countries which allows British officials to screen refugees in Calais &ndash; on French soil, before they can leave for the UK and that is proving to be a big deal. &nbsp;Calais officials are annoyed because the signatories didn&rsquo;t anticipate just how many refugees would arrive in the seaside town, 33 km across the sea from the UK. There were once 10,000 refugees here. The number has dwindled to 700 and yet, officials say that many arrive without papers and formal family reunification requests and &ndash; the numbers are reportedly mounting again.

The youthful Macron swore to amend the agreement and &ndash; the exquisite meal in a Michelin-starred pub that his 61-year-old U.K. counterpart invited him to, may have helped in striking a deal. The UK will offer France 62 million dollars to bolster security at French border controls and the two sides signed a new treaty to complement the agreement too. Ms May, of course, hopes that the gesture will soften Mr Macron towards the UK even after Brexit.

&quot;While this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we are and will remain a steadfast partner to our friends and allies, said Ms May at a joint press conference. &ldquo;And a strong and deep relationship between the United Kingdom and France remains in both of our interests. The president and I agree on the importance of the UK-France relationship, not just to our security but to European security.&quot;

When it came to the subject of Brexit and the EU, &nbsp;not even the finest partridge lunch seems to have helped. Macron was unmoved and continued to play hardball.

&quot;First of all, I&#39;m going to be very clear with you: I am not here to reward or punish, the French President said. &ldquo; I am here to do the utmost to make sure that our mutual interests are defended. But I have one demand and that is that the single market is preserved. It is one of the benefits of the European Union and one of the bases of the European Union. So now the choice in on the British side, it&#39;s not on my side. There cannot be a differentiated access to the single market of which financial services are part.&rdquo;

It was a bittersweet parting. &nbsp;And just like in the famous novel by John Fowles, Monsieur Macron returned to France &ndash; leaving a windblown Ms May gazing across the channel in despair and pondering over their joint future after the formal divorce &ndash; Brexit &ndash; is through.

But the flexible &quot;Mr Plexiglas&quot; - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady.&nbsp;

Her age is perfect &ndash; she&rsquo;s 64. She is just as powerful as he is, Europeans say even more so. And the stars seem right since she is finally going to give Germany a long-awaited coalition government. Chancellor Angela Merkel will spend an afternoon on the banks of the Seine on Friday to celebrate an even longer alliance: 55 years of fraternit&eacute; with France.

Merkel brings Mr Macron the news he has been waiting for: that five months after Germany&rsquo;s general election, the coalition between her conservatives and the Social Democrats will finally take shape. The two superpowers of the European Union are in synch: Macron is putting tough but necessary reforms in place - of the kind that have propelled Germany&rsquo;s economy back on track. Ms Merkel and Mr Macron will aim at strengthening the Eurozone and aim at closer cooperation over the three issues closest to their hearts: defence, migration and climate change.

But the flexible "Mr Plexiglas" - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady.

France’s president Emannuel Macron is having a busy week meeting two women: one who is going to sever their relationship and the other, looking to strengthen it. On a cold, blustery day straight out of the windblown scenes of the famous novel, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman’’, Monsieur Macron first met with UK PM Theresa May for the 35th Anglo-French Summit in Sandhurst. There were two subjects uppermost on their minds: the plight of refugees in the French town of Calais, which is the French transit point across the English Channel from the UK. And how Brexit will affect the UK-France relationship. Le Touquet in French means a trivial sum, something of no consequence. But it’s also the name of a 2003 agreement between the two countries which allows British officials to screen refugees in Calais – on French soil, before they can leave for the UK and that is proving to be a big deal. Calais officials are annoyed because the signatories didn’t anticipate just how many refugees would arrive in the seaside town, 33 km across the sea from the UK. There were once 10,000 refugees here. The number has dwindled to 700 and yet, officials say that many arrive without papers and formal family reunification requests and – the numbers are reportedly mounting again. The youthful Macron swore to amend the agreement and – the exquisite meal in a Michelin-starred pub that his 61-year-old U.K. counterpart invited him to, may have helped in striking a deal. The UK will offer France 62 million dollars to bolster security at French border controls and the two sides signed a new treaty to complement the agreement too. Ms May, of course, hopes that the gesture will soften Mr Macron towards the UK even after Brexit. "While this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we are and will remain a steadfast partner to our friends and allies, said Ms May at a joint press conference. “And a strong and deep relationship between the United Kingdom and France remains in both of our interests. The president and I agree on the importance of the UK-France relationship, not just to our security but to European security." When it came to the subject of Brexit and the EU, not even the finest partridge lunch seems to have helped. Macron was unmoved and continued to play hardball. "First of all, I'm going to be very clear with you: I am not here to reward or punish, the French President said. “ I am here to do the utmost to make sure that our mutual interests are defended. But I have one demand and that is that the single market is preserved. It is one of the benefits of the European Union and one of the bases of the European Union. So now the choice in on the British side, it's not on my side. There cannot be a differentiated access to the single market of which financial services are part.” It was a bittersweet parting. And just like in the famous novel by John Fowles, Monsieur Macron returned to France – leaving a windblown Ms May gazing across the channel in despair and pondering over their joint future after the formal divorce – Brexit – is through. But the flexible "Mr Plexiglas" - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady. Her age is perfect – she’s 64. She is just as powerful as he is, Europeans say even more so. And the stars seem right since she is finally going to give Germany a long-awaited coalition government. Chancellor Angela Merkel will spend an afternoon on the banks of the Seine on Friday to celebrate an even longer alliance: 55 years of fraternité with France. Merkel brings Mr Macron the news he has been waiting for: that five months after Germany’s general election, the coalition between her conservatives and the Social Democrats will finally take shape. The two superpowers of the European Union are in synch: Macron is putting tough but necessary reforms in place - of the kind that have propelled Germany’s economy back on track. Ms Merkel and Mr Macron will aim at strengthening the Eurozone and aim at closer cooperation over the three issues closest to their hearts: defence, migration and climate change.

Emannuel Macron meets Theresa May, Angela Merkel as UK prepares to leave the EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week in what could turn into an epic clash of competing world views with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Merkel, who has been struggling to put together a government since a German election in September, had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year.

But after clinching a preliminary coalition agreement with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday, German officials said Merkel could travel to Davos after all, possibly setting up a major confrontation with Trump, who is expected to speak on the final day of the forum.

An appearance would signal Merkel&#39;s return to the world stage after months of political limbo in which she has avoided the limelight and been dismissed by some in the German and international media as a spent force.

It would also allow her and Macron, who is scheduled to speak at the forum on Jan. 24, two days before Trump, to reaffirm their commitment to reforming the European Union after Britain&#39;s decision to leave, and to defend liberal democratic values in the face of Trump&#39;s &quot;America First&quot; policies.

Merkel&#39;s spokesman Steffen Seibert was coy last week when asked whether she might attend the WEF, which will run from Jan. 23-26 under the banner &quot;Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World&quot; and will attract some 60 heads of state and government.

But after clinching a preliminary deal with the SPD, the chances that she could attend appear to have risen. German officials said no final decision had been taken and that Merkel may wait for the outcome of an SPD congress in Bonn next Sunday - where the party will formally decide whether to enter coalition talks with her conservatives - before committing.

Officials at the WEF said they believed Merkel was still considering whether to attend. If she does, it is unlikely that she or Macron would overlap with Trump, who is expected to arrive on the afternoon of Jan. 25.

This year&#39;s forum will be opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 23. Britain&#39;s Theresa May, Canada&#39;s Justin Trudeau and Israel&#39;s Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected, as well as celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and musician Elton John.

Last year&#39;s gathering took place in the week leading up to Trump&#39;s inauguration and was headlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who signalled his readiness to fill the vacuum in global leadership created by America&#39;s shift inward.

United in antipathy

Since then, Trump has pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal with Asian countries, announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and threatened to torpedo an agreement between Western powers and Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear programme.

He has stirred fears of conflict with North Korea by engaging in an escalating war of words with its leader Kim Jong Un. Last week, he stirred international outrage by referring to Haiti and African nations as &quot;shithole countries&quot;, according to members of Congress who attended a meeting in the White House.

On Saturday, some 500 demonstrators marched in the Swiss capital Bern to protest against Trump&#39;s plans to attend the WEF.

&quot;There are very few things in the world that unite countries as much as their antipathy towards Trump and what he is doing,&quot; said Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, and a regular at Davos.

&quot;In the United States he may have 40 percent who approve of what he&#39;s doing. In the Davos crowd it is closer to 5 percent.&quot;

The visit by Trump will be the first by a U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000. He will be accompanied by a large delegation that is expected to include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Merkel has had a frosty relationship with Trump, who accused her during his campaign for the presidency of &quot;ruining Germany&quot; by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in the Middle East, into the country in 2015.

She was hailed in some Western media as the last defender of liberal democratic values after Trump&#39;s victory. Since then, the election of Macron, a pro-European centrist who, like Merkel, supports free trade and the global rules-based order, has given her a powerful ally in the confrontation with Trump.

Macron is slated to speak for 45 minutes in the evening of Jan. 24 in Davos, a ski resort in eastern Switzerland.

&quot;My instinct tells me that Macron will go big,&quot; said Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank in London. &quot;He won&#39;t just talk about Europe. He will try to take up the mantle of the free world under Europe&#39;s wing.&quot;

If he is joined by Merkel, who has made seven appearances at the WEF since becoming chancellor in 2005, that message may resonate even louder.

Merkel had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week in what could turn into an epic clash of competing world views with U.S. President Donald Trump. Merkel, who has been struggling to put together a government since a German election in September, had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year. But after clinching a preliminary coalition agreement with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday, German officials said Merkel could travel to Davos after all, possibly setting up a major confrontation with Trump, who is expected to speak on the final day of the forum. An appearance would signal Merkel's return to the world stage after months of political limbo in which she has avoided the limelight and been dismissed by some in the German and international media as a spent force. It would also allow her and Macron, who is scheduled to speak at the forum on Jan. 24, two days before Trump, to reaffirm their commitment to reforming the European Union after Britain's decision to leave, and to defend liberal democratic values in the face of Trump's "America First" policies. Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert was coy last week when asked whether she might attend the WEF, which will run from Jan. 23-26 under the banner "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World" and will attract some 60 heads of state and government. But after clinching a preliminary deal with the SPD, the chances that she could attend appear to have risen. German officials said no final decision had been taken and that Merkel may wait for the outcome of an SPD congress in Bonn next Sunday - where the party will formally decide whether to enter coalition talks with her conservatives - before committing. Officials at the WEF said they believed Merkel was still considering whether to attend. If she does, it is unlikely that she or Macron would overlap with Trump, who is expected to arrive on the afternoon of Jan. 25. This year's forum will be opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 23. Britain's Theresa May, Canada's Justin Trudeau and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected, as well as celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and musician Elton John. Last year's gathering took place in the week leading up to Trump's inauguration and was headlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who signalled his readiness to fill the vacuum in global leadership created by America's shift inward. United in antipathy Since then, Trump has pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal with Asian countries, announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and threatened to torpedo an agreement between Western powers and Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear programme. He has stirred fears of conflict with North Korea by engaging in an escalating war of words with its leader Kim Jong Un. Last week, he stirred international outrage by referring to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries", according to members of Congress who attended a meeting in the White House. On Saturday, some 500 demonstrators marched in the Swiss capital Bern to protest against Trump's plans to attend the WEF. "There are very few things in the world that unite countries as much as their antipathy towards Trump and what he is doing," said Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, and a regular at Davos. "In the United States he may have 40 percent who approve of what he's doing. In the Davos crowd it is closer to 5 percent." The visit by Trump will be the first by a U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000. He will be accompanied by a large delegation that is expected to include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Merkel has had a frosty relationship with Trump, who accused her during his campaign for the presidency of "ruining Germany" by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in the Middle East, into the country in 2015. She was hailed in some Western media as the last defender of liberal democratic values after Trump's victory. Since then, the election of Macron, a pro-European centrist who, like Merkel, supports free trade and the global rules-based order, has given her a powerful ally in the confrontation with Trump. Macron is slated to speak for 45 minutes in the evening of Jan. 24 in Davos, a ski resort in eastern Switzerland. "My instinct tells me that Macron will go big," said Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank in London. "He won't just talk about Europe. He will try to take up the mantle of the free world under Europe's wing." If he is joined by Merkel, who has made seven appearances at the WEF since becoming chancellor in 2005, that message may resonate even louder.

Merkel could join Macron in Davos for epic clash with Trump

Germany&#39;s veteran chancellor Angela Merkel, often called the world&#39;s most powerful woman, will embark on a fourth term with diminished influence and little vision for shaping Europe&#39;s future, analysts say.&nbsp;

After wrapping up more than 24 hours of talks Friday between her conservatives and the Social Democrats on forming a new &quot;grand coalition&quot; government, Merkel insisted the preliminary deal would break the deadlock in Germany and pave the way to a &quot;fresh start&quot; for Europe.

But before the ink was even dry on the roadmap for her new administration, observers branded Merkel and the team she&#39;s likely to lead a &quot;losers&#39;&quot; coalition with little ambition or power to tackle the major challenges facing the country and the continent.

&quot;In fact this &#39;grand coalition&#39; is only a mini-coalition with just 53 percent&quot; of seats in parliament following the September election that saw both parties cede millions of voters to the far-right, anti-immigration AfD party, political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte of Duisburg-Essen University said.

This compares with the lavish, nearly 80-percent majority the parties enjoyed during Merkel&#39;s previous term, he told public broadcaster ZDF.

Merkel insisted the accord with the Social Democrats, which must still be approved by the party&#39;s rank and file, would ensure Germany&#39;s enduring stability and prosperity.

&quot;We will work earnestly, today and during the next term, to create the conditions so that we can also live well in Germany in the next 10 years and 15 years,&quot; she told reporters, flanked by SPD leader Martin Schulz and the head of Bavaria&#39;s Christian Social Union, Horst Seehofer. 
However influential news magazine Der Spiegel branded the alliance led by Merkel, who has been in power since 2005, a &quot;paleo-coalition&quot; of political dinosaurs bereft of fresh blood to propel renewal.

While France&#39;s young president Emmanuel Macron said he was &quot;happy&quot; about progress in ending Germany&#39;s four-month-long political limbo, critics at home savaged the tired-looking troupe.

&quot;The losers of the September election have come together again and you have to say that this programme blueprint doesn&#39;t even begin to address the problems in our society,&quot; charged Dietmar Bartsch, a leading figure with the far-left Linke opposition party. &nbsp;

Nicola Beer of the pro-business Free Democrats said the deal showed little imagination or &quot;future-oriented pragmatism&quot; and would thus feed disillusionment and support &quot;for the extreme right and left&quot; of the political spectrum.

The 28-page joint policy outlines included pledges to join France in a push to &quot;strengthen and reform&quot; the eurozone, to limit the influx of asylum seekers to Germany to around 200,000 a year, and to refrain from tax hikes given the healthy state coffers.

But the absence of grand new initiatives led political scientist Werner Patzelt of Dresden&#39;s Technical Institute to conclude that more-of-the-same from Berlin could boost the AfD in particular.

&quot;It will hand them success in upcoming state elections and they&#39;ll step up calls for Merkel to resign,&quot; he said, attributing her relative weakness to the record refugee influx in 2015 that undermined her standing with many voters.

Although Merkel stunned many observers abroad by winning re-election despite her controversial open-border stance, her struggle to form a viable coalition has revived speculation about the twilight of her reign. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Angela Merkel is past her zenith,&quot; Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin&#39;s Free University told business daily Handelsblatt.

&quot;In the interest of her party&#39;s electoral strength, she should not stay in office for the entire legislative term&quot; running until 2021.

A majority of Germans now share this view according to a poll published this week, with 56 percent calling for her to leave the stage before the next scheduled elections.

Germany's veteran chancellor Angela Merkel, often called the world's most powerful woman, will embark on a fourth term with diminished influence and little vision for shaping Europe's future, analysts say

Germany's veteran chancellor Angela Merkel, often called the world's most powerful woman, will embark on a fourth term with diminished influence and little vision for shaping Europe's future, analysts say. After wrapping up more than 24 hours of talks Friday between her conservatives and the Social Democrats on forming a new "grand coalition" government, Merkel insisted the preliminary deal would break the deadlock in Germany and pave the way to a "fresh start" for Europe. But before the ink was even dry on the roadmap for her new administration, observers branded Merkel and the team she's likely to lead a "losers'" coalition with little ambition or power to tackle the major challenges facing the country and the continent. "In fact this 'grand coalition' is only a mini-coalition with just 53 percent" of seats in parliament following the September election that saw both parties cede millions of voters to the far-right, anti-immigration AfD party, political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte of Duisburg-Essen University said. This compares with the lavish, nearly 80-percent majority the parties enjoyed during Merkel's previous term, he told public broadcaster ZDF. Merkel insisted the accord with the Social Democrats, which must still be approved by the party's rank and file, would ensure Germany's enduring stability and prosperity. "We will work earnestly, today and during the next term, to create the conditions so that we can also live well in Germany in the next 10 years and 15 years," she told reporters, flanked by SPD leader Martin Schulz and the head of Bavaria's Christian Social Union, Horst Seehofer. However influential news magazine Der Spiegel branded the alliance led by Merkel, who has been in power since 2005, a "paleo-coalition" of political dinosaurs bereft of fresh blood to propel renewal. While France's young president Emmanuel Macron said he was "happy" about progress in ending Germany's four-month-long political limbo, critics at home savaged the tired-looking troupe. "The losers of the September election have come together again and you have to say that this programme blueprint doesn't even begin to address the problems in our society," charged Dietmar Bartsch, a leading figure with the far-left Linke opposition party. Nicola Beer of the pro-business Free Democrats said the deal showed little imagination or "future-oriented pragmatism" and would thus feed disillusionment and support "for the extreme right and left" of the political spectrum. The 28-page joint policy outlines included pledges to join France in a push to "strengthen and reform" the eurozone, to limit the influx of asylum seekers to Germany to around 200,000 a year, and to refrain from tax hikes given the healthy state coffers. But the absence of grand new initiatives led political scientist Werner Patzelt of Dresden's Technical Institute to conclude that more-of-the-same from Berlin could boost the AfD in particular. "It will hand them success in upcoming state elections and they'll step up calls for Merkel to resign," he said, attributing her relative weakness to the record refugee influx in 2015 that undermined her standing with many voters. Although Merkel stunned many observers abroad by winning re-election despite her controversial open-border stance, her struggle to form a viable coalition has revived speculation about the twilight of her reign. "Angela Merkel is past her zenith," Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin's Free University told business daily Handelsblatt. "In the interest of her party's electoral strength, she should not stay in office for the entire legislative term" running until 2021. A majority of Germans now share this view according to a poll published this week, with 56 percent calling for her to leave the stage before the next scheduled elections.

Merkel risks leading weak 'losers' coalition for Germany

Opponents of a renewed German &quot;grand coalition&quot; took to the road on Saturday, hoping to persuade members of their Social Democratic Party (SPD) to vote against governing with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives for another four years.

The party&#39;s rank-and-file, bruised after seeing the SPD&#39;s previous stint as Merkel&#39;s junior partner lead to its worst election result since 1933, is wary of its leaders&#39; calls for the party to step up for the sake of Germany&#39;s stability.

Leaders of the SPD and the conservative camp thrashed out a 28-page blueprint for a possible &quot;GroKo&quot; grand coalition government this week, recommending that their parties hold formal coalition talks.

But meeting in Wernigerode, a medieval town of half-timbered buildings at the foot of the thickly forested Harz hills, delegates at a regional party meeting wrestled with the issue, which has split the party down the middle.

&quot;Important demands that the SPD made ahead of the elections are simply not in the document,&quot; said Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD&#39;s Jusos youth wing, who will spend the next week criss-crossing the country arguing for delegates to vote &quot;No&quot; to coalition talks at a special party congress next Saturday.

&quot;We Jusos aren&#39;t going to make ourselves the servants of a Black (conservative) government that demands deportations or a refugee camp,&quot; said Florian Luedke, a local youth delegate wearing a &quot;NoGroKo&quot; badge, to applause.

The slump in the SPD vote in the Sept. 24 national election has left the membership in a contrary mood, with many calling for the party to reinvent itself in opposition rather than attempt to implement what they see as thin gruel in the coalition blueprint.

The document is sprinkled with pledges - on strengthening the European Union, on supporting refugees, on tax and pensions - designed to appeal to the more radical membership.

But most fall far short of what the SPD campaigned for in the election. A tax hike for the wealthy or the establishment of parity between private and public healthcare were absent from the document thrashed out with Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and her still more conservative Bavarian CSU allies.

&quot;DAMNED LONELY&quot;

The Jusos are angered particularly by the document containing an aspiration that migration not exceed 220,000 a year, dismissing it as an &quot;asylum cap by another name&quot;.

The SPD&#39;s branch in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany&#39;s largest state, also opposes a repeat of the coalition. Hit by the decline in the heavy industry that had provided its traditional voter base, it was toppled in the regional government by Merkel&#39;s CDU last year.

Even some senior party figures are not completely sold on the idea.

&quot;There is a great deal of scepticism,&quot; Manuela Schwesig, SPD state premier in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, told NDR Info radio.

Across the country, voters have deserted the SPD for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party or the Left party, formed from the ashes of the former East German Communist party.

Addressing the regional congress in Wernigerode, Social Democrat Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged delegates to resist the temptation to lick their wounds in opposition, urging them to use power to give people a reason to vote for them.

&quot;If you never make compromises you&#39;ll end up damned lonely, pretty quickly,&quot; Gabriel said. Only in power can the SPD advance policies that would win it votes, he added.

He praised the deal&#39;s commitment to strengthening the EU and tackling youth unemployment across the bloc, saying that in a world where U.S. President Donald Trump was an increasingly unreliable partner and China ever more powerful, social democracy was hard to achieve &quot;by national means&quot;.

On this, at least, the radical youth wing agreed with him.

&quot;There was lots of social democracy in the first bit on Europe, but after that it stops,&quot; Luebke said of the coalition blueprint. &quot;Vote against the Grand Coalition, and look for ways to renew our party.&quot;

The party's rank-and-file, bruised after seeing the SPD's previous stint as Merkel's junior partner lead to its worst election result since 1933, is wary of its leaders' calls for the party to step up for the sake of Germany's stability.

Opponents of a renewed German "grand coalition" took to the road on Saturday, hoping to persuade members of their Social Democratic Party (SPD) to vote against governing with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives for another four years. The party's rank-and-file, bruised after seeing the SPD's previous stint as Merkel's junior partner lead to its worst election result since 1933, is wary of its leaders' calls for the party to step up for the sake of Germany's stability. Leaders of the SPD and the conservative camp thrashed out a 28-page blueprint for a possible "GroKo" grand coalition government this week, recommending that their parties hold formal coalition talks. But meeting in Wernigerode, a medieval town of half-timbered buildings at the foot of the thickly forested Harz hills, delegates at a regional party meeting wrestled with the issue, which has split the party down the middle. "Important demands that the SPD made ahead of the elections are simply not in the document," said Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD's Jusos youth wing, who will spend the next week criss-crossing the country arguing for delegates to vote "No" to coalition talks at a special party congress next Saturday. "We Jusos aren't going to make ourselves the servants of a Black (conservative) government that demands deportations or a refugee camp," said Florian Luedke, a local youth delegate wearing a "NoGroKo" badge, to applause. The slump in the SPD vote in the Sept. 24 national election has left the membership in a contrary mood, with many calling for the party to reinvent itself in opposition rather than attempt to implement what they see as thin gruel in the coalition blueprint. The document is sprinkled with pledges - on strengthening the European Union, on supporting refugees, on tax and pensions - designed to appeal to the more radical membership. But most fall far short of what the SPD campaigned for in the election. A tax hike for the wealthy or the establishment of parity between private and public healthcare were absent from the document thrashed out with Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and her still more conservative Bavarian CSU allies. "DAMNED LONELY" The Jusos are angered particularly by the document containing an aspiration that migration not exceed 220,000 a year, dismissing it as an "asylum cap by another name". The SPD's branch in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, also opposes a repeat of the coalition. Hit by the decline in the heavy industry that had provided its traditional voter base, it was toppled in the regional government by Merkel's CDU last year. Even some senior party figures are not completely sold on the idea. "There is a great deal of scepticism," Manuela Schwesig, SPD state premier in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, told NDR Info radio. Across the country, voters have deserted the SPD for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party or the Left party, formed from the ashes of the former East German Communist party. Addressing the regional congress in Wernigerode, Social Democrat Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged delegates to resist the temptation to lick their wounds in opposition, urging them to use power to give people a reason to vote for them. "If you never make compromises you'll end up damned lonely, pretty quickly," Gabriel said. Only in power can the SPD advance policies that would win it votes, he added. He praised the deal's commitment to strengthening the EU and tackling youth unemployment across the bloc, saying that in a world where U.S. President Donald Trump was an increasingly unreliable partner and China ever more powerful, social democracy was hard to achieve "by national means". On this, at least, the radical youth wing agreed with him. "There was lots of social democracy in the first bit on Europe, but after that it stops," Luebke said of the coalition blueprint. "Vote against the Grand Coalition, and look for ways to renew our party."

No Grand Coalition! Opponents of Merkel alliance hit the road

Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced optimism as she opened talks Sunday with Germany`s second-biggest party on renewing their alliance, in a new attempt at shaking Europe`s biggest economy out of paralysis after September`s inconclusive elections.

The week of meetings between Merkel`s conservative alliance and the Social Democrats (SPD) will examine whether both sides have enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations towards a new government by March or April.

&quot;I am going into these talks with optimism. At the same time it is clear to me that we will have an enormous amount of work in front of us over the next few days but we are willing to take it on and to bring a good result,&quot; Merkel told journalists as she arrived at the SPD`s headquarters for the meeting.

&quot;I think that it can be done. We will work very swiftly and very intensively,&quot; she added.

The talks are not without pitfalls -- including tricky questions surrounding the more than a million asylum seekers who have arrived in Germany since 2015.

The far-right anti-immigration AfD capitalised on growing misgivings in Germany over the new arrivals, winning more than 90 parliamentary seats in the watershed election.

Merkel was left without a majority, while the centre-left SPD found itself with its worst post-war score.

Anxious to stem the haemorrhage to the far right, the conservative wing of Merkel`s party, as well as her Bavarian allies CSU, are championing a tougher stance on immigration -- including demands that are unpalatable to the SPD.

With an eye on a regional election in Bavaria later this year, where current polls show that the CSU could lose its absolute majority, the party wants financial handouts to asylum seekers reduced.

Following several violent crimes involving refugees of uncertain age who claimed to be minors, the party also wants medical tests to determine if adult migrants are posing as under-18s. 
Nevertheless, CSU chief Horst Seehofer voiced his determination to find a deal with the SPD.

&quot;We must find an agreement,&quot; he said Sunday as he entered into the exploratory talks.SPD chief Martin Schulz meanwhile signalled that his party was going into the talks with an open mind, while determined to extract key concessions on social welfare reforms.

&quot;We`re not drawing any red lines, but we want as many red policies in Germany implemented as possible,&quot; he said, in a reference to his party`s colour.

The Social Democrats had initially vowed to go into opposition, but the collapse of coalition talks between Merkel and smaller parties pushed them to reconsider.

As the two sides square off at the negotiating table, the parties have agreed to decline media interviews, with publicity limited to joint statements.

The decision is aimed at preventing a rerun of Merkel`s previous failed attempt at forging a coalition late last year, when interviews given by negotiators soured the atmosphere.

Despite the two sides` apparent commitment to keeping it together, the latest opinion polls suggest that a potential new grand coalition enjoys little favour with Germans.

A survey published by Focus magazine found that 34 percent of Germans prefer new elections, while only 30 percent favoured a return of the conservative-SPD alliance.

Another poll published by public broadcaster ARD found that only 45 percent of Germans view a new grand coalition positively, while 52 percent considered this a bad option.

Rachel Tausendfreund from the German Marshall Fund think-tank noted however that a deal may be the best option, not only for Germany but also for Europe, particularly if the SPD manages to extract key compromises on EU and social welfare reforms.

&quot;It could indeed be dangerous for the SPD, but the alternative is by no means safe. Better to take a bullet for Europe than poison for a very uncertain chance at renewal.&quot;

The meeting will examine whether both sides have enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations

Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced optimism as she opened talks Sunday with Germany`s second-biggest party on renewing their alliance, in a new attempt at shaking Europe`s biggest economy out of paralysis after September`s inconclusive elections. The week of meetings between Merkel`s conservative alliance and the Social Democrats (SPD) will examine whether both sides have enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations towards a new government by March or April. "I am going into these talks with optimism. At the same time it is clear to me that we will have an enormous amount of work in front of us over the next few days but we are willing to take it on and to bring a good result," Merkel told journalists as she arrived at the SPD`s headquarters for the meeting. "I think that it can be done. We will work very swiftly and very intensively," she added. The talks are not without pitfalls -- including tricky questions surrounding the more than a million asylum seekers who have arrived in Germany since 2015. The far-right anti-immigration AfD capitalised on growing misgivings in Germany over the new arrivals, winning more than 90 parliamentary seats in the watershed election. Merkel was left without a majority, while the centre-left SPD found itself with its worst post-war score. Anxious to stem the haemorrhage to the far right, the conservative wing of Merkel`s party, as well as her Bavarian allies CSU, are championing a tougher stance on immigration -- including demands that are unpalatable to the SPD. With an eye on a regional election in Bavaria later this year, where current polls show that the CSU could lose its absolute majority, the party wants financial handouts to asylum seekers reduced. Following several violent crimes involving refugees of uncertain age who claimed to be minors, the party also wants medical tests to determine if adult migrants are posing as under-18s. Nevertheless, CSU chief Horst Seehofer voiced his determination to find a deal with the SPD. "We must find an agreement," he said Sunday as he entered into the exploratory talks.SPD chief Martin Schulz meanwhile signalled that his party was going into the talks with an open mind, while determined to extract key concessions on social welfare reforms. "We`re not drawing any red lines, but we want as many red policies in Germany implemented as possible," he said, in a reference to his party`s colour. The Social Democrats had initially vowed to go into opposition, but the collapse of coalition talks between Merkel and smaller parties pushed them to reconsider. As the two sides square off at the negotiating table, the parties have agreed to decline media interviews, with publicity limited to joint statements. The decision is aimed at preventing a rerun of Merkel`s previous failed attempt at forging a coalition late last year, when interviews given by negotiators soured the atmosphere. Despite the two sides` apparent commitment to keeping it together, the latest opinion polls suggest that a potential new grand coalition enjoys little favour with Germans. A survey published by Focus magazine found that 34 percent of Germans prefer new elections, while only 30 percent favoured a return of the conservative-SPD alliance. Another poll published by public broadcaster ARD found that only 45 percent of Germans view a new grand coalition positively, while 52 percent considered this a bad option. Rachel Tausendfreund from the German Marshall Fund think-tank noted however that a deal may be the best option, not only for Germany but also for Europe, particularly if the SPD manages to extract key compromises on EU and social welfare reforms. "It could indeed be dangerous for the SPD, but the alternative is by no means safe. Better to take a bullet for Europe than poison for a very uncertain chance at renewal."

Angela Merkel 'optimistic' in new bid to end political impasse

A year after an Islamic jihadist ploughed a truck into a Christmas market crowd, killing 12, Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet today with the victims&#39; families for the first time.

The private gathering on the eve of the anniversary of the atrocity comes against the backdrop of angry recriminations by many of the bereaved, who say official incompetence and neglect since the assault have inflicted fresh pain.

Merkel acknowledged Monday that &quot;some had wanted such a meeting earlier&quot; but pledged to listen the families&#39; concerns.

&quot;It is clear to me that their suffering, this complete transformation of their lives, cannot be put right,&quot; she told reporters ahead of the gathering.

&quot;But nevertheless we can show compassion and will improve the things that must be improved.&quot;

Last December 19 at 8:02 pm, Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian who had failed to obtain asylum, rammed a stolen truck into crowds at the market on the Breitscheidplatz, a popular destination for Berliners and tourists alike.

The victims came from Germany as well as countries including Israel, Italy, the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility the next day, and Amri was shot and killed four days later by police in Italy, where he had previously lived.

More than 70 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest ever carried out by IS in Germany.

In a wrenching open letter to the chancellor this month, before the meeting was announced, several family members condemned her &quot;political inaction&quot; and accused her of failing to reach out to them.

&quot;Almost a year after the attack, we note that you have not shared your condolences with us either in person or in writing,&quot; the letter said.

&quot;In our opinion, this means that you are not living up to the responsibilities of your office.&quot;

A government-commissioned report released last week identified a litany of shortcomings in the response to the tragedy.

Some relatives desperately searching for their loved ones were told only three days after the attack that a family member had perished, even though they could have been given early warning through facial identification.

Others were sent &quot;bills for autopsies -- including warnings for late payment, I didn&#39;t want to believe it, but I had such a letter in hand,&quot; said the author of the report, Kurt Beck.

&quot;Such experiences should never be repeated,&quot; he said, adding that Germany &quot;was not prepared&quot; to deal with the attack&#39;s aftermath.

The government has paid out 1.6 million euros (USD 1.9 million) in compensation to the wounded and victims&#39; families.

Another factor keeping the wounds raw has been revelations in the media about administrative gaffes and missteps leading up to the attack.

Amri, who arrived in Germany in the summer of 2015, at the height of the refugee influx, registered under several different identities.

Authorities knew him to be an Islamist extremist and drug dealer whose asylum claim had been rejected and who was being intermittently monitored by police.

But Amri was never deported or arrested.

Merkel noted Monday that a parliamentary inquiry had been called to &quot;get to the bottom of all the questions surrounding the perpetrator&quot;.

A year after an Islamic jihadist ploughed a truck into a Christmas market crowd, killing 12, Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet today with the victims' families for the first time. The private gathering on the eve of the anniversary of the atrocity comes against the backdrop of angry recriminations by many of the bereaved, who say official incompetence and neglect since the assault have inflicted fresh pain. Merkel acknowledged Monday that "some had wanted such a meeting earlier" but pledged to listen the families' concerns. "It is clear to me that their suffering, this complete transformation of their lives, cannot be put right," she told reporters ahead of the gathering. "But nevertheless we can show compassion and will improve the things that must be improved." Last December 19 at 8:02 pm, Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian who had failed to obtain asylum, rammed a stolen truck into crowds at the market on the Breitscheidplatz, a popular destination for Berliners and tourists alike. The victims came from Germany as well as countries including Israel, Italy, the Czech Republic and Ukraine. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility the next day, and Amri was shot and killed four days later by police in Italy, where he had previously lived. More than 70 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest ever carried out by IS in Germany. In a wrenching open letter to the chancellor this month, before the meeting was announced, several family members condemned her "political inaction" and accused her of failing to reach out to them. "Almost a year after the attack, we note that you have not shared your condolences with us either in person or in writing," the letter said. "In our opinion, this means that you are not living up to the responsibilities of your office." A government-commissioned report released last week identified a litany of shortcomings in the response to the tragedy. Some relatives desperately searching for their loved ones were told only three days after the attack that a family member had perished, even though they could have been given early warning through facial identification. Others were sent "bills for autopsies -- including warnings for late payment, I didn't want to believe it, but I had such a letter in hand," said the author of the report, Kurt Beck. "Such experiences should never be repeated," he said, adding that Germany "was not prepared" to deal with the attack's aftermath. The government has paid out 1.6 million euros (USD 1.9 million) in compensation to the wounded and victims' families. Another factor keeping the wounds raw has been revelations in the media about administrative gaffes and missteps leading up to the attack. Amri, who arrived in Germany in the summer of 2015, at the height of the refugee influx, registered under several different identities. Authorities knew him to be an Islamist extremist and drug dealer whose asylum claim had been rejected and who was being intermittently monitored by police. But Amri was never deported or arrested. Merkel noted Monday that a parliamentary inquiry had been called to "get to the bottom of all the questions surrounding the perpetrator".

Merkel to meet bereaved one year after Christmas market attack

Germany&#39;s Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday stated that the German government does not support President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

&quot;The German Government does not support this position because the status of Jerusalem is to be resolved in the framework of a two-state solution,&quot; Merkel`s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement on Twitter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
More fallout from European allies: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says via government spokesman Steffen Seibert that Germany &#39;does not support&#39; position of the Trump administration on Jerusalem, whose &#39;status is to be settled as part of negotiations on a 2-state solution.&#39;
&mdash; Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) <a href="https://twitter.com/AymanM/status/938519021212794887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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US President Donald Trump fulfilled one of its campaign promises and reversed decades-long US policy after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-recognises-jerusalem-as-israels-capital-sparks-firestorm-26072" target="_blank">recognising Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital</a> earlier on Wednesday. The United States of America became the first country in the world to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Official announcements were made with respect to shifting the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Here again, America becomes the first country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem.&nbsp;

Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.

(With inputs from Reuters)

US President Donald Trump fulfilled one of its campaign promises and reversed decades-long US policy after recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier on Wednesday

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday stated that the German government does not support President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. "The German Government does not support this position because the status of Jerusalem is to be resolved in the framework of a two-state solution," Merkel`s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement on Twitter. More fallout from European allies: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says via government spokesman Steffen Seibert that Germany 'does not support' position of the Trump administration on Jerusalem, whose 'status is to be settled as part of negotiations on a 2-state solution.' — Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) December 6, 2017 × US President Donald Trump fulfilled one of its campaign promises and reversed decades-long US policy after recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier on Wednesday. The United States of America became the first country in the world to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Official announcements were made with respect to shifting the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Here again, America becomes the first country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state. (With inputs from Reuters)

Germany doesn't support Trump on Jerusalem, says Angela Merkel

The leaders of Germany&#39;s Social Democrats (SPD) agreed on Monday to enter talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives on forming a government that could end political deadlock in Europe&#39;s largest economy.

The centre-left SPD set the contours of its demands in coalition talks with the conservatives expected to start next year in a document seen by Reuters, with proposals on issues like the economy and immigration likely to cause friction.

Merkel turned to the SPD after she failed to form a three-way alliance with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, plunging Germany into a political impasse and raising doubt about her future after 12 years in power.

On the highly divisive issue of immigration, one of the main reasons for the collapse of Merkel&#39;s first effort, the SPD said it opposed a conservative plan to extend a ban on the right to family reunions for some asylum seekers that expires in March.

&quot;Family reunions and the cohabitation of a family lead to good integration,&quot; the SPD document said. &quot;That&#39;s why we are against the extension the suspension of family reunions.&quot;

Merkel could also face complications emanating from her own conservative camp.

Her arch-conservative allies in Bavaria on Monday named a right-winger to be their candidate for the premiership in a regional election next year. The move raises the risk of disputes in Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc and weaken her hand as she negotiates with the SPD.

Markus Soeder will be the Christian Social Union (CSU) candidate for premier in a vote in the rich state of Bavaria next autumn where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to enter the regional parliament for the first time.

Macron or Merkel&#39;s Europe?

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party CSU bled support to the AfD in the general election on September 24 and the Bavaria-based CSU fears the far-right party will steal conservative voters angry with the chancellor&#39;s decision in 2015 to open Germany&#39;s door to more than a million asylum seekers.

The future of current Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer had been in question since the election. After the election losses, Merkel reluctantly accepted a CSU demand to put a limit on the number of asylum seekers Germany will accept each year.

The SPD did not stake out a position on the conservatives&#39;&nbsp;upper limit on refugees in their document.

The SPD, which has governed in coalition under Merkel since 2013, suffered its worst election result in postwar history and is reluctant to join another &quot;grand coalition&quot;.

It dropped its pledge to sit in opposition after Merkel failed to form a government, bowing to pressure from President Frank-Walter Steimeier to unwind the impasse.

The SPD will hold a party congress in Berlin on December 7-9, where it is expected to debate its position in coalition talks.

The future of the European Union and eurozone reforms championed by French President Emmanuel Macron are another policy issue that could complicate life for Merkel.

The SPD said during the election that Germany should embrace Macron`s proposals.

In its position document, the SPD said Germany should work with Macron on strengthening the European project through economic policies geared to fight high youths unemployment.

It did not mention key elements of Macron&#39;s demands that the eurozone should have its own budget and finance minister but it did mention his plan for closer cooperation in defence.

On the economy, the SPD&#39;s proposals for more rights for workers and employee-friendly regulation of the large temporary work sector could draw fire from the CSU.

&nbsp;

Merkel turned to the SPD after she failed to form a three-way alliance with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, plunging Germany into a political impasse and raising doubt about her future after 12 years in power

The leaders of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) agreed on Monday to enter talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on forming a government that could end political deadlock in Europe's largest economy. The centre-left SPD set the contours of its demands in coalition talks with the conservatives expected to start next year in a document seen by Reuters, with proposals on issues like the economy and immigration likely to cause friction. Merkel turned to the SPD after she failed to form a three-way alliance with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, plunging Germany into a political impasse and raising doubt about her future after 12 years in power. On the highly divisive issue of immigration, one of the main reasons for the collapse of Merkel's first effort, the SPD said it opposed a conservative plan to extend a ban on the right to family reunions for some asylum seekers that expires in March. "Family reunions and the cohabitation of a family lead to good integration," the SPD document said. "That's why we are against the extension the suspension of family reunions." Merkel could also face complications emanating from her own conservative camp. Her arch-conservative allies in Bavaria on Monday named a right-winger to be their candidate for the premiership in a regional election next year. The move raises the risk of disputes in Merkel's conservative bloc and weaken her hand as she negotiates with the SPD. Markus Soeder will be the Christian Social Union (CSU) candidate for premier in a vote in the rich state of Bavaria next autumn where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to enter the regional parliament for the first time. Macron or Merkel's Europe? Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party CSU bled support to the AfD in the general election on September 24 and the Bavaria-based CSU fears the far-right party will steal conservative voters angry with the chancellor's decision in 2015 to open Germany's door to more than a million asylum seekers. The future of current Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer had been in question since the election. After the election losses, Merkel reluctantly accepted a CSU demand to put a limit on the number of asylum seekers Germany will accept each year. The SPD did not stake out a position on the conservatives' upper limit on refugees in their document. The SPD, which has governed in coalition under Merkel since 2013, suffered its worst election result in postwar history and is reluctant to join another "grand coalition". It dropped its pledge to sit in opposition after Merkel failed to form a government, bowing to pressure from President Frank-Walter Steimeier to unwind the impasse. The SPD will hold a party congress in Berlin on December 7-9, where it is expected to debate its position in coalition talks. The future of the European Union and eurozone reforms championed by French President Emmanuel Macron are another policy issue that could complicate life for Merkel. The SPD said during the election that Germany should embrace Macron`s proposals. In its position document, the SPD said Germany should work with Macron on strengthening the European project through economic policies geared to fight high youths unemployment. It did not mention key elements of Macron's demands that the eurozone should have its own budget and finance minister but it did mention his plan for closer cooperation in defence. On the economy, the SPD's proposals for more rights for workers and employee-friendly regulation of the large temporary work sector could draw fire from the CSU.

Germany's SPD lay out position for talks with Merkel

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