German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that she expected Britain's parliament to approve British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's divorce deal with the European Union.

The United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent-48 per cent&nbsp;in 2016 to quit the EU, albeit without deciding how it would be done. Parliament, however, has been deadlocked since a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave.

Johnson, who had promised to deliver Brexit on October&nbsp;31 "do or die", demanded a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-for-third-election-in-four-years-to-try-to-break-brexit-gridlock-258692">December&nbsp;12 election</a> after parliament - where he has no majority - frustrated his attempts to ratify the last-minute divorce deal he struck with the EU in October.

"I give this treaty a very, very big chance of being agreed to in Britain too and that would be good for all of us," Merkel told a business event in Berlin.

Johnson on Monday won the most significant boost of the election campaign to date when Nigel Farage's Brexit Party pulled out of 317 Conservative-held seats in a bid to prevent opponents of Brexit controlling the next parliament.

The move dramatically increases the chances that Johnson will stay as prime minister before finally delivering on the 2016 referendum result to take Britain out of the European Union.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that she expected Britain's parliament to approve British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's divorce deal with the European Union.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that she expected Britain's parliament to approve British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's divorce deal with the European Union. The United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent-48 per cent in 2016 to quit the EU, albeit without deciding how it would be done. Parliament, however, has been deadlocked since a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave. Johnson, who had promised to deliver Brexit on October 31 "do or die", demanded a December 12 election after parliament - where he has no majority - frustrated his attempts to ratify the last-minute divorce deal he struck with the EU in October. "I give this treaty a very, very big chance of being agreed to in Britain too and that would be good for all of us," Merkel told a business event in Berlin. Johnson on Monday won the most significant boost of the election campaign to date when Nigel Farage's Brexit Party pulled out of 317 Conservative-held seats in a bid to prevent opponents of Brexit controlling the next parliament. The move dramatically increases the chances that Johnson will stay as prime minister before finally delivering on the 2016 referendum result to take Britain out of the European Union.

Think British parliament will approve Brexit deal: Germany's Merkel

German police detained three people in the western city of Offenbach on Tuesday on suspicion of planning a bomb attack on behalf of the Islamic State militant group, prosecutors said.

The three suspects wanted to kill as many "infidels" as possible in the planned attack in the Rhine-Main region, Frankfurt prosecutor Nadja Niesen said in a statement.

The main suspect is a 24-year-old German of Macedonian origin who wanted to manufacture explosives and had tried to buy a weapon online. His two accomplices are Turkish nationals aged 22 and 21.

The three suspects are believed to have told people in the past that they identified themselves as IS supporters, Niesen said.

Substances that could be used to make explosives and equipment were found at the main suspect's home, she said. The authorities also secured written documents and electronic data.

The main suspect is due to be brought before the investigating judge at a court in Frankfurt later on Tuesday. The judge will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant and order pre-trial detention.

German police detained three people in the western city of Offenbach on Tuesday on suspicion of planning a bomb attack on behalf of the Islamic State militant group, prosecutors said.

German police detained three people in the western city of Offenbach on Tuesday on suspicion of planning a bomb attack on behalf of the Islamic State militant group, prosecutors said. The three suspects wanted to kill as many "infidels" as possible in the planned attack in the Rhine-Main region, Frankfurt prosecutor Nadja Niesen said in a statement. The main suspect is a 24-year-old German of Macedonian origin who wanted to manufacture explosives and had tried to buy a weapon online. His two accomplices are Turkish nationals aged 22 and 21. The three suspects are believed to have told people in the past that they identified themselves as IS supporters, Niesen said. Substances that could be used to make explosives and equipment were found at the main suspect's home, she said. The authorities also secured written documents and electronic data. The main suspect is due to be brought before the investigating judge at a court in Frankfurt later on Tuesday. The judge will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant and order pre-trial detention.

Germany detains three Islamic State suspects over attack plan

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday Iran would regain access to the international arms market later next year if it stuck to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and this would prove "a huge political success".

However, while a United Nations-imposed arms embargo on Iran is supposed to be lifted in October 2020, five years after the nuclear deal took effect, it is questionable whether that will transpire given the recent unravelling of the accord.

The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, arguing it was flawed to Iran's advantage and has reimposed sanctions crippling Tehran's oil exports, prompting to retaliate by breaching the deal's limits on its nuclear capacity.

Iran has said its steps to reactivate uranium enrichment, a pathway to developing nuclear bombs, could be reversed if Washington rescinded sanctions and returned to the deal.

Rouhani held out the prospect of the deal being saved despite its rapid erosion and said a major dividend for Iran would be an end to the arms embargo next year.

"When the embargo...is lifted next year we can easily buy and sell weapons...This is one of those important impacts of this (nuclear) agreement,” Rouhani said, according to state TV.

"By remaining in the deal, we would reach a huge political, defensive and security goal (in 2020) ... It would be a huge political success."

But US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's administration has warned that a lifting of the arms embargo would let Iran acquire weapons that could fuel conflicts in the Middle East, where Tehran has been involved in proxy wars for decades.

"@HassanRouhani's best pitch for IRAN staying in the disastrous Iran deal is that it lets the Islamic kleptocrats that lead that country buy and sell drones, missiles, tanks, jets, and more," US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Monday. "He will get his wish, unless UNSC extends the arms embargo before it expires 10/18/20."

But with the nuclear deal crumbling, prospects for a removal of the arms embargo appear to have dimmed, and the United States would wield a veto on any decision by the Security Council.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on Monday that Iran was enriching uranium at its underground Fordow site and rapidly accelerating enrichment more broadly, outlining Tehran's latest breaches of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-slams-iran-intimidation-of-iaea-inspector-as-outrageous-260911">2015 nuclear deal</a>.

Germany said on Monday it along with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-union-concerned-by-irans-nuclear-deal-breach-261502">Britain and France</a> should be ready to consider starting moves to reinstate full United Nations sanctions on Iran over its breaches.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday Iran would regain access to the international arms market later next year if it stuck to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and this would prove "a huge political success".

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday Iran would regain access to the international arms market later next year if it stuck to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and this would prove "a huge political success". However, while a United Nations-imposed arms embargo on Iran is supposed to be lifted in October 2020, five years after the nuclear deal took effect, it is questionable whether that will transpire given the recent unravelling of the accord. The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, arguing it was flawed to Iran's advantage and has reimposed sanctions crippling Tehran's oil exports, prompting to retaliate by breaching the deal's limits on its nuclear capacity. Iran has said its steps to reactivate uranium enrichment, a pathway to developing nuclear bombs, could be reversed if Washington rescinded sanctions and returned to the deal. Rouhani held out the prospect of the deal being saved despite its rapid erosion and said a major dividend for Iran would be an end to the arms embargo next year. "When the embargo...is lifted next year we can easily buy and sell weapons...This is one of those important impacts of this (nuclear) agreement,” Rouhani said, according to state TV. "By remaining in the deal, we would reach a huge political, defensive and security goal (in 2020) ... It would be a huge political success." But US President Donald Trump's administration has warned that a lifting of the arms embargo would let Iran acquire weapons that could fuel conflicts in the Middle East, where Tehran has been involved in proxy wars for decades. "@HassanRouhani's best pitch for IRAN staying in the disastrous Iran deal is that it lets the Islamic kleptocrats that lead that country buy and sell drones, missiles, tanks, jets, and more," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Monday. "He will get his wish, unless UNSC extends the arms embargo before it expires 10/18/20." But with the nuclear deal crumbling, prospects for a removal of the arms embargo appear to have dimmed, and the United States would wield a veto on any decision by the Security Council. The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on Monday that Iran was enriching uranium at its underground Fordow site and rapidly accelerating enrichment more broadly, outlining Tehran's latest breaches of the 2015 nuclear deal. Germany said on Monday it along with Britain and France should be ready to consider starting moves to reinstate full United Nations sanctions on Iran over its breaches.

Iran sees lifting of U.N. arms embargo in 2020 as 'huge political goal'

Sportswear maker Adidas announced Monday it was closing two niche but flagship factories in Germany and the United States that use robots and 4D printing to make sneakers, shifting the manufacturing to cheaper Asian factories instead.

The production of high-tech running shoes at its so-called speed factories in Germany's Ansbach and in the US city of Atlanta "will be discontinued by April 2020 at the latest", Adidas said in a statement.

Just three years ago, the Bavaria-based group had hailed its speed factory concept, which uses highly automated processes to make shoes more quickly, more customised and closer to sales outlets, as proof that manufacturing jobs could return to high-wage countries.

But from the end of this year, the speed factor shoes will join Adidas' other models and be produced by existing suppliers in Asia, the group said.

Citing "advancements" made at the suppliers, the move would make the production of the shoes "more flexible and economic while simultaneously expanding the range of products available", Adidas executive board member Martin Shankland said.

Both the speed factories churn out just a million of the roughly 400 million athletic shoes made by the group each year.

The future of the Ansbach plant's 160 workers is unclear at the moment.&nbsp;

The factory is operated by the German technology firm Oechsler, which has collaborated with Adidas on the project.

Oechsler CEO Claudius Kozlik said in the same statement that he regretted Adidas' pullout.

But he stressed that the two companies would continue to work together on soles for football shoes and 4D-printed soles.

Like 3D printing, 4D printing produces three-dimensional objects at the touch of a button but then goes further by creating materials that change properties when they come into contact with triggers such as water or heat.&nbsp;

Sportswear maker Adidas announced Monday it was closing two niche but flagship factories in Germany and the United States that use robots and 4D printing to make sneakers, shifting the manufacturing to cheaper Asian factories instead.

Sportswear maker Adidas announced Monday it was closing two niche but flagship factories in Germany and the United States that use robots and 4D printing to make sneakers, shifting the manufacturing to cheaper Asian factories instead. The production of high-tech running shoes at its so-called speed factories in Germany's Ansbach and in the US city of Atlanta "will be discontinued by April 2020 at the latest", Adidas said in a statement. Just three years ago, the Bavaria-based group had hailed its speed factory concept, which uses highly automated processes to make shoes more quickly, more customised and closer to sales outlets, as proof that manufacturing jobs could return to high-wage countries. But from the end of this year, the speed factor shoes will join Adidas' other models and be produced by existing suppliers in Asia, the group said. Citing "advancements" made at the suppliers, the move would make the production of the shoes "more flexible and economic while simultaneously expanding the range of products available", Adidas executive board member Martin Shankland said. Both the speed factories churn out just a million of the roughly 400 million athletic shoes made by the group each year. The future of the Ansbach plant's 160 workers is unclear at the moment. The factory is operated by the German technology firm Oechsler, which has collaborated with Adidas on the project. Oechsler CEO Claudius Kozlik said in the same statement that he regretted Adidas' pullout. But he stressed that the two companies would continue to work together on soles for football shoes and 4D-printed soles. Like 3D printing, 4D printing produces three-dimensional objects at the touch of a button but then goes further by creating materials that change properties when they come into contact with triggers such as water or heat.

Adidas shifts German, United States smart factories to Asia

German Chancellor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-wall-anniversary-merkel-urges-europe-to-defend-democracy-freedom-261009">Angela Merkel's</a> conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday broke a deadlock over a higher basic pension for low-income workers, an impasse which had threatened the future of their governing coalition.

Senior coalition members, including Merkel and SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, sealed the compromise deal during talks in the chancellery that lasted more than six hours.

The package also includes lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme and the creation of an investment fund to support local high-tech start-ups.

"Germany will get a (higher) basic pension and this is a socio-political milestone," said SPD interim leader Malu Dreyer, whose party had been pushing for a better deal for lower-income workers.

The coalition between Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD has struggled to stay afloat for much of the time since it was formed in March 2018 to end months of political limbo following an inconclusive national election.

The conservatives had agreed to an SPD proposal to introduce a higher basic pension for low-income workers who had been employed for at least 35 years. But some details were left open and talks on finalising terms had stalled for months.

The impasse led some SPD members, worried by the party's falling ratings, to threaten to quit the coalition.

If the partners had failed to reach a deal, SPD members might have decided to vote against staying in the coalition at a party congress on December&nbsp;6-8.

Dreyer estimated that up to 1.5 million people would benefit from the deal through increased pension entitlements.

"Especially women will benefit from this... so this is also a strong signal when it comes to feminist policies," she added.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, chairwoman of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the agreement would reduce the risk of old-age poverty while the decision to lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme was meant to give the slowing economy a fiscal stimulus.

The planned investment fund will be worth up to 10 billion euros to support cutting-edge technologies in areas such as digitisation and climate protection, Kramp-Karrenbauer added. It will be run by the state-owned KfW bank.

Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian allies of the CDU, said the coalition parties had shown with their compromise deal that they were able to deliver.

He estimated that the increased basic pension would involve additional costs of up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.65 billion).

The package is likely to be welcomed internationally after the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund have urged Germany for years to use its hefty budget surpluses to stimulate domestic demand through higher wages and pensions.

The German economy shrank by 0.1 per cent&nbsp;in the second quarter on weak exports, and data due on Thursday is expected to show another contraction in the third quarter. This would mean that Europe's largest economy had entered a technical recession.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday broke a deadlock over a higher basic pension for low-income workers, an impasse which had threatened the future of their governing coalition.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday broke a deadlock over a higher basic pension for low-income workers, an impasse which had threatened the future of their governing coalition. Senior coalition members, including Merkel and SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, sealed the compromise deal during talks in the chancellery that lasted more than six hours. The package also includes lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme and the creation of an investment fund to support local high-tech start-ups. "Germany will get a (higher) basic pension and this is a socio-political milestone," said SPD interim leader Malu Dreyer, whose party had been pushing for a better deal for lower-income workers. The coalition between Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD has struggled to stay afloat for much of the time since it was formed in March 2018 to end months of political limbo following an inconclusive national election. The conservatives had agreed to an SPD proposal to introduce a higher basic pension for low-income workers who had been employed for at least 35 years. But some details were left open and talks on finalising terms had stalled for months. The impasse led some SPD members, worried by the party's falling ratings, to threaten to quit the coalition. If the partners had failed to reach a deal, SPD members might have decided to vote against staying in the coalition at a party congress on December 6-8. Dreyer estimated that up to 1.5 million people would benefit from the deal through increased pension entitlements. "Especially women will benefit from this... so this is also a strong signal when it comes to feminist policies," she added. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, chairwoman of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the agreement would reduce the risk of old-age poverty while the decision to lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme was meant to give the slowing economy a fiscal stimulus. The planned investment fund will be worth up to 10 billion euros to support cutting-edge technologies in areas such as digitisation and climate protection, Kramp-Karrenbauer added. It will be run by the state-owned KfW bank. Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian allies of the CDU, said the coalition parties had shown with their compromise deal that they were able to deliver. He estimated that the increased basic pension would involve additional costs of up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.65 billion). The package is likely to be welcomed internationally after the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund have urged Germany for years to use its hefty budget surpluses to stimulate domestic demand through higher wages and pensions. The German economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in the second quarter on weak exports, and data due on Thursday is expected to show another contraction in the third quarter. This would mean that Europe's largest economy had entered a technical recession.

Merkel's conservatives, SPD avert crisis with German pension deal

Germany celebrated on Saturday the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall that divided East and West Germany, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanking Eastern European neighbours for spurring on the peaceful revolution.

Germany celebrated on Saturday the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall that divided East and West Germany, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanking Eastern European neighbours for spurring on the peaceful revolution. The toppling of the wall, which separated the Communist-ruled East from the capitalist West in Berlin for nearly three decades and became a potent symbol of the Cold War, was followed a year later by the reunification of Germany in 1990. "Together with our friends, we remember with deep gratitude the events 30 years ago," Steinmeier said during a ceremony at the Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Memorial, which was also attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel and heads of state from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. "Without the courage and the will to freedom of the Poles and Hungarians, the Czechs and Slovaks, the peaceful revolutions in Eastern Europe and Germany's reunification would not have been possible," Steinmeier said. During the ceremony, Steinmeier and the presidents of the four Eastern European nations placed roses in a small gap in the remains of the wall at the memorial. In August 1989, Hungarian border guards for the first time allowed people from East Germany to cross freely into Austria, paving the way for the fall of the Berlin Wall three months later and with it the end of the Iron Curtain. Steinmeier said, however, that the historic event did not mark the "end of history" as U.S. historian Francis Fukuyama stated. The struggle of political systems continues and the future is more uncertain than ever before, he added. "Liberal democracy is being challenged and questioned," Steinmeier said, calling on Germany and its European allies to keep fighting for a peaceful and united Europe. Rule of law His message was echoed by Merkel, who grew up in the former East, during a commemorative service at the memorial's chapel. "The values on which Europe is founded -- freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, respect for human rights -- are anything but self-evident. And they have to be filled with life and must be defended again and again," she said. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also used the occasion to appeal for European unity. "Power is shifting away from Europe, authoritarian models are on the rise, the United States is increasingly looking inwards and international law is losing ground," he said. "It means we will have to overcome some of our much-loved national taboos. Especially here in Germany. But the time to do it is now." The United States and European allies accuse Berlin of spending too little on defence, and view Germany's large current account surplus as a sign that Germans are not investing enough to support growth and development. Saturday's anniversary festivities in Berlin were due to culminate with a party at the Brandenburg Gate in the evening featuring the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra directed by Daniel Barenboim and electronic music with techno DJ legend WestBam.

Germany marks 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Sunday warned against undermining the transatlantic NATO security alliance, in Berlin's strongest response to date to French President Emmanuel Macron's critical remarks about the organisation.

Macron told The Economist this week that NATO was experiencing "brain death", citing a lack of coordination and US&nbsp;unpredictability under President Donald Trump. He also expressed doubt about the U.S.-led alliance's security maxim that an attack on one ally would be treated as an attack on all.

"It would be a mistake if we undermined NATO. Without the United States, neither Germany nor Europe will be able to effectively protect themselves," Maas wrote in a column published online by Der Spiegel magazine.

Maas supported Macron's call to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities. "That's why together with France, we are working hard to build a Europe that works much closer together in security policy," Maas wrote.

But he warned against playing the EU and NATO off against each other. "Yes, we want a strong and sovereign Europe, but we need it as part of a strong NATO and not as its replacement," Maas said.

Maas called for the creation of a European Security Council in which Britain should also be a member, regardless of London's planned but delayed exit from the European Union.

Maas said he was working closely on this idea together with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, adding that Germany is aiming to present a framework for such a European Security Council during its EU presidency in the second half of 2020.

France has traditionally had an ambivalent role in NATO, taking no part in its strategic military planning from 1966 to 2009 despite being a founding member. Still Macron's comments,&nbsp;a month before NATO's December&nbsp;4 summit in London - were unexpected.

Germany, for its part, has been accused by the United States and European allies of spending too little on defence.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that Macron was overreacting. "The French president has found rather drastic words to express his views. This is not how I see the state of cooperation at NATO," Merkel told a news conference in Berlin alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Sunday warned against undermining the transatlantic NATO security alliance, in Berlin's strongest response to date to French President Emmanuel Macron's critical remarks about the organisation.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Sunday warned against undermining the transatlantic NATO security alliance, in Berlin's strongest response to date to French President Emmanuel Macron's critical remarks about the organisation. Macron told The Economist this week that NATO was experiencing "brain death", citing a lack of coordination and US unpredictability under President Donald Trump. He also expressed doubt about the U.S.-led alliance's security maxim that an attack on one ally would be treated as an attack on all. "It would be a mistake if we undermined NATO. Without the United States, neither Germany nor Europe will be able to effectively protect themselves," Maas wrote in a column published online by Der Spiegel magazine. Maas supported Macron's call to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities. "That's why together with France, we are working hard to build a Europe that works much closer together in security policy," Maas wrote. But he warned against playing the EU and NATO off against each other. "Yes, we want a strong and sovereign Europe, but we need it as part of a strong NATO and not as its replacement," Maas said. Maas called for the creation of a European Security Council in which Britain should also be a member, regardless of London's planned but delayed exit from the European Union. Maas said he was working closely on this idea together with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, adding that Germany is aiming to present a framework for such a European Security Council during its EU presidency in the second half of 2020. France has traditionally had an ambivalent role in NATO, taking no part in its strategic military planning from 1966 to 2009 despite being a founding member. Still Macron's comments, a month before NATO's December 4 summit in London - were unexpected. Germany, for its part, has been accused by the United States and European allies of spending too little on defence. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that Macron was overreacting. "The French president has found rather drastic words to express his views. This is not how I see the state of cooperation at NATO," Merkel told a news conference in Berlin alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Germany warns France against undermining NATO security alliance

US President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed Germany as a "treasured" ally as commemorations were held marking 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

"The Cold War has long since passed, but tyrannical regimes around the world continue to employ the oppressive tactics of Soviet-style totalitarianism," Trump said in a message from Washington.

"I congratulate the German people on the tremendous strides that have been made in reuniting their country and in rebuilding former East Germany... We will continue working with Germany, one of our most treasured allies, to ensure that the flames of freedom burn as a beacon of hope and opportunity for the entire world to see."

On November 9, 1989, East German border guards, overwhelmed by large crowds, threw open the gates to West Berlin, allowing free passage for the first time since the Wall was built.

The momentous event would ultimately bring the communist regime crashing down, leading to German reunification a year later.

In Berlin on Saturday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Wall should remind Germans "that we have to do our part for freedom and democracy."

US President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed Germany as a "treasured" ally as commemorations were held marking 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. "The Cold War has long since passed, but tyrannical regimes around the world continue to employ the oppressive tactics of Soviet-style totalitarianism," Trump said in a message from Washington.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed Germany as a "treasured" ally as commemorations were held marking 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. "The Cold War has long since passed, but tyrannical regimes around the world continue to employ the oppressive tactics of Soviet-style totalitarianism," Trump said in a message from Washington. "I congratulate the German people on the tremendous strides that have been made in reuniting their country and in rebuilding former East Germany... We will continue working with Germany, one of our most treasured allies, to ensure that the flames of freedom burn as a beacon of hope and opportunity for the entire world to see." On November 9, 1989, East German border guards, overwhelmed by large crowds, threw open the gates to West Berlin, allowing free passage for the first time since the Wall was built. The momentous event would ultimately bring the communist regime crashing down, leading to German reunification a year later. In Berlin on Saturday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Wall should remind Germans "that we have to do our part for freedom and democracy."

Trump hails Germany as 'treasured' ally, 30 years after fall of Berlin Wall

Germany's Lufthansa Airlines Grounds 1300 Flights. #Gravitas

Gravitas: Lufthansa In Turbulence: 180,000 Passengers Stranded At Airports

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-talks-to-reconvene-in-geneva-on-november-25-un-envoy-260850">Syria summit</a> will be held in early December between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Britain in London, the Turkish presidency said Friday.

"It was decided to organise this four-way summit on the sidelines of the NATO summit scheduled in London on December 3 and 4," Anadolu state news agency quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's advisor Ibrahim Kalin as saying.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tayyip-erdogan-says-united-states-not-fulfilling-syria-deal-ahead-of-doanld-trump-talks-260531">Erdogan</a> is expected to sit down with Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson at a time of high tensions in the NATO alliance over Turkey's offensive last month against Kurdish militants, who had been a key ally for the West against the Islamic State group.&nbsp;

Erdogan has accused Western governments of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/examining-security-implications-of-turkish-invasion-of-syria-260554">"siding with terrorists"</a> over their NATO ally.

Turkey sees the Syrian Kurdish militants as an off-shoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union and United States.&nbsp;

The Turkish offensive was halted by two ceasefires organised with Moscow and Washington, but Ankara has threatened to resume hostilities if Kurdish forces do not fully withdraw from an agreed 30-kilometre-deep zone along the Turkish border.&nbsp;

A Syria summit will be held in early December between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Britain in London, the Turkish presidency said Friday. "It was decided to organise this four-way summit on the sidelines of the NATO summit scheduled in London on December 3 and 4," Anadolu state news agency quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's advisor Ibrahim Kalin as saying.

A Syria summit will be held in early December between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Britain in London, the Turkish presidency said Friday. "It was decided to organise this four-way summit on the sidelines of the NATO summit scheduled in London on December 3 and 4," Anadolu state news agency quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's advisor Ibrahim Kalin as saying. Erdogan is expected to sit down with Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson at a time of high tensions in the NATO alliance over Turkey's offensive last month against Kurdish militants, who had been a key ally for the West against the Islamic State group. Erdogan has accused Western governments of "siding with terrorists" over their NATO ally. Turkey sees the Syrian Kurdish militants as an off-shoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union and United States. The Turkish offensive was halted by two ceasefires organised with Moscow and Washington, but Ankara has threatened to resume hostilities if Kurdish forces do not fully withdraw from an agreed 30-kilometre-deep zone along the Turkish border.

Turkey, Britain, France, Germany to hold Syria summit

US Secretary of State <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-renews-attack-on-pompeo-says-communist-party-criticism-dangerous-260769">Mike&nbsp;Pompeo</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday issued a stark warning&nbsp;against&nbsp;China&nbsp;and&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;eve&nbsp;of the 30th&nbsp;anniversary&nbsp;of the fall of the&nbsp;Berlin&nbsp;Wall.

"Western, free nations have a responsibility to deter threats to our people" from governments like&nbsp;China,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;and Iran,&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said, speaking just a few metres (yards) away from where the&nbsp;Wall&nbsp;ran past the German capital's world-famous Brandenburg Gate.

The US and its allies should "defend what was so hard-won... in 1989" and "recognise we are in a competition of values with unfree nations," he added.

Picking at sore spots in Washington's relationship with&nbsp;Berlin,&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said the under-construction Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;to Germany would mean "Europe's energy supplies… depend&nbsp;on&nbsp;(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's whims".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-merkel-in-fresh-push-for-nationwide-e-car-charging-network-259740">Chancellor Angela Merkel</a> has repeatedly said the pipeline is a purely private business concern.

And he warned of "Chinese companies' intent to build 5G networks", after the German government failed to exclude tech giant Huawei from the bidding process for the next-generation mobile network infrastructure.

Pompeo&nbsp;is&nbsp;on&nbsp;a whirlwind two-day tour of Germany where he has revisited the site of his Cold War military service&nbsp;on&nbsp;the former Iron Curtain border and is slated to meet leaders including Merkel.

While in Europe, he has looked to shore up transatlantic relations eroded by trade conflicts and discord over geopolitical crises and military spending.

Spurred by the US leaving the way open to Turkish and Russian military action in northern Syria, France's President Emmanuel Macron told The Economist this week that the NATO alliance,&nbsp;of which Ankara is also a member,&nbsp;was suffering a "brain death" of lack of coordination between Europe and Washington.

Recalling past "challenges between partners" within NATO, including France's 1960s departure from the alliance's command structure,&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday dismissed the debate around Macron's comments as a "kerfuffle".

Other leaders including Merkel, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have also firmly rejected Macron's assessment.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday issued a stark warning against China and Russia on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. "Western, free nations have a responsibility to deter threats to our people" from governments like China, Russia and Iran, Pompeo said, speaking just a few metres (yards) away from where the Wall ran past the German capital's world-famous Brandenburg Gate.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday issued a stark warning against China and Russia on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. "Western, free nations have a responsibility to deter threats to our people" from governments like China, Russia and Iran, Pompeo said, speaking just a few metres (yards) away from where the Wall ran past the German capital's world-famous Brandenburg Gate. The US and its allies should "defend what was so hard-won... in 1989" and "recognise we are in a competition of values with unfree nations," he added. Picking at sore spots in Washington's relationship with Berlin, Pompeo said the under-construction Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany would mean "Europe's energy supplies… depend on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's whims". Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly said the pipeline is a purely private business concern. And he warned of "Chinese companies' intent to build 5G networks", after the German government failed to exclude tech giant Huawei from the bidding process for the next-generation mobile network infrastructure. Pompeo is on a whirlwind two-day tour of Germany where he has revisited the site of his Cold War military service on the former Iron Curtain border and is slated to meet leaders including Merkel. While in Europe, he has looked to shore up transatlantic relations eroded by trade conflicts and discord over geopolitical crises and military spending. Spurred by the US leaving the way open to Turkish and Russian military action in northern Syria, France's President Emmanuel Macron told The Economist this week that the NATO alliance, of which Ankara is also a member, was suffering a "brain death" of lack of coordination between Europe and Washington. Recalling past "challenges between partners" within NATO, including France's 1960s departure from the alliance's command structure, Pompeo on Friday dismissed the debate around Macron's comments as a "kerfuffle". Other leaders including Merkel, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have also firmly rejected Macron's assessment.

Pompeo warns against China, Russia on eve of Berlin Wall anniversary

German exports posted their biggest rise in almost two years in September, data showed on Friday, providing some relief amid widespread concerns that Europe's largest economy will dip into recession in the third quarter.

The Federal Statistics Office said seasonally adjusted exports increased by 1.5 per cent&nbsp;this month. That was their biggest increase since November 2017 and compared with economist expectations for a rise of 0.4 per cent.

"While there is no doubt that industry is in recession, the entire German economy could have avoided another contraction - and hence a technical recession - at the very last minute," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski.

The economy shrank by 0.1 per cent&nbsp;in the second quarter, and recent data have suggested manufacturing fared badly in the third, which could put Germany in a technical recession - usually defined as two straight quarters of contraction.

"Today's trade data suggest that there has been hardly any negative drag from net trade on the third-quarter gross domestic product," he said, adding private consumption looked like it had increased slightly and construction was flat or positive.

Germany's export-reliant manufacturers have been suffering from a slowing world economy and&nbsp;business&nbsp;uncertainty linked to a trade war between the United States and China, and Britain's planned, if delayed, exit from the European Union.

Data published this week has painted a mixed picture of the industrial sector, with output falling more than forecast in September while orders rose more than expected. A survey showed Germany's manufacturers remained stuck in recession in October as new orders fell.

Speaking about Friday's data, Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg economist Jens-Oliver Niklasch said: "This looks like a revival in foreign trade but looking at the whole year, September is more of an outlier".

He said foreign trade had been rather weak throughout 2019 and added that the risks in overseas trade had declined but not disappeared. A 0.4 decline in exports to non-euro zone European Union countries between January and September compared with the same period last year could be due to Brexit, he said.

The DIHK Chambers of Commerce expects exports to grow by 0.3 per cent&nbsp;this year as a whole before declining by 0.5 per cent&nbsp;next year, which would be their first fall since the global financial crisis.

A panel of economists advising the government on Wednesday said Germany's long-term upswing had come to an end and said that the export-oriented German economy was particularly at risk from a possible escalation of the trade conflicts. But they did not expect a "broad and deep recession".

Friday's data showed imports climbed by 1.3 per cent&nbsp;in September. The trade surplus widened to 19.2 billion euros from an upwardly revised 18.7 billion euros in the prior month.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected imports to be unchanged and saw the trade surplus at 18.1 billion euros.

German exports posted their biggest rise in almost two years in September, data showed on Friday, providing some relief amid widespread concerns that Europe's largest economy will dip into recession in the third quarter.

German exports posted their biggest rise in almost two years in September, data showed on Friday, providing some relief amid widespread concerns that Europe's largest economy will dip into recession in the third quarter. The Federal Statistics Office said seasonally adjusted exports increased by 1.5 per cent this month. That was their biggest increase since November 2017 and compared with economist expectations for a rise of 0.4 per cent. "While there is no doubt that industry is in recession, the entire German economy could have avoided another contraction - and hence a technical recession - at the very last minute," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. The economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in the second quarter, and recent data have suggested manufacturing fared badly in the third, which could put Germany in a technical recession - usually defined as two straight quarters of contraction. "Today's trade data suggest that there has been hardly any negative drag from net trade on the third-quarter gross domestic product," he said, adding private consumption looked like it had increased slightly and construction was flat or positive. Germany's export-reliant manufacturers have been suffering from a slowing world economy and business uncertainty linked to a trade war between the United States and China, and Britain's planned, if delayed, exit from the European Union. Data published this week has painted a mixed picture of the industrial sector, with output falling more than forecast in September while orders rose more than expected. A survey showed Germany's manufacturers remained stuck in recession in October as new orders fell. Speaking about Friday's data, Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg economist Jens-Oliver Niklasch said: "This looks like a revival in foreign trade but looking at the whole year, September is more of an outlier". He said foreign trade had been rather weak throughout 2019 and added that the risks in overseas trade had declined but not disappeared. A 0.4 decline in exports to non-euro zone European Union countries between January and September compared with the same period last year could be due to Brexit, he said. The DIHK Chambers of Commerce expects exports to grow by 0.3 per cent this year as a whole before declining by 0.5 per cent next year, which would be their first fall since the global financial crisis. A panel of economists advising the government on Wednesday said Germany's long-term upswing had come to an end and said that the export-oriented German economy was particularly at risk from a possible escalation of the trade conflicts. But they did not expect a "broad and deep recession". Friday's data showed imports climbed by 1.3 per cent in September. The trade surplus widened to 19.2 billion euros from an upwardly revised 18.7 billion euros in the prior month. Economists polled by Reuters had expected imports to be unchanged and saw the trade surplus at 18.1 billion euros.

Biggest rise in German exports in nearly two years gives some relief from recession fears

Germany will reach a NATO defence spending target by 2031, its defence minister said, missing a 2024 deadline agreed by the allies who are under heavy US&nbsp;pressure to beef up their military budgets.

Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Germany would spend 2&nbsp;percent of its economic output on defence by 2031, belatedly reaching the goal set by NATO leaders at a 2014 summit, months after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

"NATO is and will remain the anchor of European security. But it is also clear that Europe must increase its own complementary ability to act," Kramp-Karrenbauer told a private event to honour NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday night.

"This starts with the defence budget. We need (to spend) 1.5 percent by&nbsp;2024 and 2&nbsp;percent &nbsp;by 2031 at the latest," she said, according to quotes of the speech provided by her office, the first time she has publicly committed to the target to an international audience and weeks before the next NATO summit on December 4.

However, she said the target was not because "others are calling for it but because it is in the interest of our own security".

Only seven NATO countries currently meet or exceed the 2&nbsp;percent&nbsp;target - the United States, Britain, Greece, Poland and the three Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Germany is Europe's biggest economy and the second biggest in the NATO alliance after the United States.

Before Kramp-Karrenbauer, seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, took up her post this year, Germany's fiscal plans saw defence spending falling slightly to 1.24&nbsp;percent&nbsp;in 2023, but the minister said she was determined to increase spending, as polls show a shift in German public support for the move.

"OFFENSIVE"

Years of defence cuts after the end of the Cold War have left Europeans without vital capabilities, including in Germany, which is one of the last NATO allies to fly ageing Tornado fighter planes that are becoming harder to repair as spare parts become scarce.

Kramp-Karrenbauer's comments came after she expressed a willingness for Germany to contribute more of NATO's running costs, taking some of the burden off the United States.

Germany's earlier reluctance to spend more on defence, in a country that is home to US&nbsp;troops in Europe, has been a sore point for US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who has openly questioned NATO's continued value to Washington.

His envoy to Berlin, Richard Grenell, said in August that it was "offensive to assume that the US&nbsp;taxpayers continue to pay for more than 50,000 Americans in Germany but the Germans get to spend their (budget) surplus on domestic programmes".

Poland and the Baltic states, fearful of a more assertive <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/russias-resurgence-and-chinas-rise-will-test-nato-219295">Russia</a> after it annexed Crimea, have raised their military spending to the 2 percent&nbsp;target, drawing praise from Trump.

US&nbsp;complaints about Germany's defence spending pre-date <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-changes-tone-in-merkel-meeting-after-earlier-slamming-germany-150889/amp">Trump</a> but bilateral relations have deteriorated since he became president. The two allies disagree on a range of issues, including Iran, trade tariffs and the NordStream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Germany will reach a NATO defence spending target by 2031, its defence minister said, missing a 2024 deadline agreed by the allies who are under heavy US pressure to beef up their military budgets.

Germany will reach a NATO defence spending target by 2031, its defence minister said, missing a 2024 deadline agreed by the allies who are under heavy US pressure to beef up their military budgets. Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Germany would spend 2 percent of its economic output on defence by 2031, belatedly reaching the goal set by NATO leaders at a 2014 summit, months after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. "NATO is and will remain the anchor of European security. But it is also clear that Europe must increase its own complementary ability to act," Kramp-Karrenbauer told a private event to honour NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday night. "This starts with the defence budget. We need (to spend) 1.5 percent by 2024 and 2 percent by 2031 at the latest," she said, according to quotes of the speech provided by her office, the first time she has publicly committed to the target to an international audience and weeks before the next NATO summit on December 4. However, she said the target was not because "others are calling for it but because it is in the interest of our own security". Only seven NATO countries currently meet or exceed the 2 percent target - the United States, Britain, Greece, Poland and the three Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Germany is Europe's biggest economy and the second biggest in the NATO alliance after the United States. Before Kramp-Karrenbauer, seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, took up her post this year, Germany's fiscal plans saw defence spending falling slightly to 1.24 percent in 2023, but the minister said she was determined to increase spending, as polls show a shift in German public support for the move. "OFFENSIVE" Years of defence cuts after the end of the Cold War have left Europeans without vital capabilities, including in Germany, which is one of the last NATO allies to fly ageing Tornado fighter planes that are becoming harder to repair as spare parts become scarce. Kramp-Karrenbauer's comments came after she expressed a willingness for Germany to contribute more of NATO's running costs, taking some of the burden off the United States. Germany's earlier reluctance to spend more on defence, in a country that is home to US troops in Europe, has been a sore point for US President Donald Trump, who has openly questioned NATO's continued value to Washington. His envoy to Berlin, Richard Grenell, said in August that it was "offensive to assume that the US taxpayers continue to pay for more than 50,000 Americans in Germany but the Germans get to spend their (budget) surplus on domestic programmes". Poland and the Baltic states, fearful of a more assertive Russia after it annexed Crimea, have raised their military spending to the 2 percent target, drawing praise from Trump. US complaints about Germany's defence spending pre-date Trump but bilateral relations have deteriorated since he became president. The two allies disagree on a range of issues, including Iran, trade tariffs and the NordStream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Germany commits to NATO spending goal by 2031 for first time

Iran's announcement that it has developed advanced machines to speed up uranium enrichment jeopardises a 2015 accord with world powers, Germany's foreign minister said on Monday, urging Tehran to return to the pact.

Iran has been gradually shedding commitments under the deal since the United States withdrew from it last year and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, blocking its oil exports to try to force it into negotiating stricter limits on its nuclear programme.

Under the agreement between Iran and world powers, Tehran is only allowed to enrich uranium with just over 5,000 of its first-generation IR-1 centrifuges, widely seen as antiquated. The new IR-6 machines can refine uranium 10 times faster.

"Iran has built very advanced centrifuges, which do not comply with the agreement," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told a news conference in response to a question.

"They have announced in early September that they would not comply with the nuclear accord and we think this is unacceptable," he said alongside Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto.

Iranian nuclear agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi told state television earlier on Monday that Tehran was now operating 60 IR-6 advanced centrifuges and its scientists were developing an IR-9 able to enrich 50 times faster than IR-1s.

The nuclear deal, under which international sanctions against Iran were lifted, was tailored to extending the time Iran would need to obtain enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it sought one - something sometimes referred to as “breakout time” - to about a year from 2-3 months. Tehran denies ever having sought to build a nuclear bomb.

At the news conference, Maas also addressed tensions with NATO ally Turkey over its incursion into Syria on Oct. 9 to attack the Kurdish YPG militia after President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of US&nbsp;forces there.

Maas said Turkey was an important NATO member but Berlin expected it to act as a NATO partner. He said Germany would uphold its ban on the export of arms to Turkey that could be used in Syria.

He also said the European Union should speak with a common voice on issues related to the United States, China or Turkey, whose President, Tayyip Erdogan, is due to visit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday.

"I consider this very important and we would like to strengthen dialogue with Hungary and we are working on that," Maas said. "It is very important for Germany to continue the dialogue with our Central European partners and make it clear that there is one EU and one Europe."

Szijjarto said however that Hungary would continue defence cooperation with Turkey. "Turkey commands the second-largest military within NATO. Turkey is our NATO ally and it is natural that we cooperate in the field of military industry and we will continue to do so in the future."

Iran's announcement that it has developed advanced machines to speed up uranium enrichment jeopardises a 2015 accord with world powers, Germany's foreign minister said on Monday, urging Tehran to return to the pact.

Iran's announcement that it has developed advanced machines to speed up uranium enrichment jeopardises a 2015 accord with world powers, Germany's foreign minister said on Monday, urging Tehran to return to the pact. Iran has been gradually shedding commitments under the deal since the United States withdrew from it last year and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, blocking its oil exports to try to force it into negotiating stricter limits on its nuclear programme. Under the agreement between Iran and world powers, Tehran is only allowed to enrich uranium with just over 5,000 of its first-generation IR-1 centrifuges, widely seen as antiquated. The new IR-6 machines can refine uranium 10 times faster. "Iran has built very advanced centrifuges, which do not comply with the agreement," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told a news conference in response to a question. "They have announced in early September that they would not comply with the nuclear accord and we think this is unacceptable," he said alongside Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto. Iranian nuclear agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi told state television earlier on Monday that Tehran was now operating 60 IR-6 advanced centrifuges and its scientists were developing an IR-9 able to enrich 50 times faster than IR-1s. The nuclear deal, under which international sanctions against Iran were lifted, was tailored to extending the time Iran would need to obtain enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it sought one - something sometimes referred to as “breakout time” - to about a year from 2-3 months. Tehran denies ever having sought to build a nuclear bomb. At the news conference, Maas also addressed tensions with NATO ally Turkey over its incursion into Syria on Oct. 9 to attack the Kurdish YPG militia after President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of US forces there. Maas said Turkey was an important NATO member but Berlin expected it to act as a NATO partner. He said Germany would uphold its ban on the export of arms to Turkey that could be used in Syria. He also said the European Union should speak with a common voice on issues related to the United States, China or Turkey, whose President, Tayyip Erdogan, is due to visit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday. "I consider this very important and we would like to strengthen dialogue with Hungary and we are working on that," Maas said. "It is very important for Germany to continue the dialogue with our Central European partners and make it clear that there is one EU and one Europe." Szijjarto said however that Hungary would continue defence cooperation with Turkey. "Turkey commands the second-largest military within NATO. Turkey is our NATO ally and it is natural that we cooperate in the field of military industry and we will continue to do so in the future."

Germany decries Iran's move to speed up nuclear work, urges return to accord

Germany marks three decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall this week, but a hint of a return of the Cold War and the rise of nationalism is dampening the mood.

Leaders of former Cold War powers will be absent from anniversary festivities, as Donald Trump's America First, Britain's Brexit and Russia's resurgence put a strain on ties.

Gone, too, is the euphoric optimism for liberal democracy and freedom that characterised the momentous event on November 9, 1989, as Germany grapples with a surge in far-right support in its former communist states.

"The spirit of optimism" that we saw 30 years ago, or even five or 10 years ago, "is not perceivable" today, said Berlin's culture senator Klaus Lederer, whose office took the lead in putting together the capital's festivities for the week.

The mood is therefore "reflective, but we are celebrating", he said. "We are looking back at history together, and we are also talking about the future."

As a sign of the tense times, Germany will put on a sober political programme to mark the epochal event that led to reunification and brought down the Iron Curtain dividing a communist East from a capitalist West.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the anniversary was a chance to remind Europe why it needs to stay united in the face of rising geopolitical tensions around the world.

"Exhortations from individual European capitals fall on deaf ears in Moscow, Beijing and, unfortunately, to an increasing extent also in Washington, DC," he wrote in an op-ed carried in newspapers across the EU on Saturday.

"It is only Europe's voice that carries decisive weight. This is why unilateral action at the national level must finally be taboo in Europe."

Serious tone

While the spotlight five years ago was on world leaders from Barack Obama to Mikhail Gorbachev, this time round, the central focus is on Europe itself.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will set the tone with a speech on the eve of the anniversary at an event attended also by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On November 9 itself, only central European presidents will headline the official ceremonies.

Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be joined by his Polish, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian counterparts, in town to mark "the contribution of the central European countries to the peaceful revolution" that led to the collapse of the communist regime.

Merkel will speak at the Chapel of Reconciliation, which stands on the former Berlin Wall border strip.

Steinmeier, the moral arbiter of the country, will also make a speech at the Brandenburg Gate on the anniversary evening, before a series of concerts including by the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.&nbsp;

And US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was stationed in Germany as a young soldier in 1989, will be in visiting from Wednesday but leave on the eve of the anniversary.&nbsp;

He meets Merkel and members of her cabinet on Friday, in meetings set to underline the growing divisions across the globe.

In a statement announcing his visit, Pompeo's office said talks with his counterpart Maas will "discuss the importance of our Transatlantic partnership and the need for strengthened engagement in the face of growing threats from Russia, China, and Iran."

'Cold war is back'

While the fall of the Iron Curtain that divided post-war Europe had led to hopes of a liberal democratic era and arms dismantlement three decades ago, the mood has soured today.

Within the EU, cracks have appeared as former eastern bloc countries like Hungary or Poland are accused by Brussels of challenging the rule of law.

On a broader arena, Trump's go-it-alone stance on rejecting world treaties including on climate change and a nuclear disarmament deal with Iran has deeply shaken long-time allies in Europe.

Russia, meanwhile, is consolidating its foothold in the Middle East, while the US is also increasingly at odds with China.

For UN chief Antonio Guterres, "the Cold War is back -- with a vengeance, but with a difference. The mechanisms and the safeguards to manage the risks of escalation that existed in the past no longer seem to be present."

Gorbachev, who chose to stand aside instead of stopping the Wall from falling 30 years back, was also more pessimistic today.

Writing in his latest book, Gorbachev warned: "International politics is on an extremely dangerous trajectory... military operations currently have the characteristics of a real war."

Germany marks three decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall this week, but a hint of a return of the Cold War and the rise of nationalism is dampening the mood.

Germany marks three decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall this week, but a hint of a return of the Cold War and the rise of nationalism is dampening the mood. Leaders of former Cold War powers will be absent from anniversary festivities, as Donald Trump's America First, Britain's Brexit and Russia's resurgence put a strain on ties. Gone, too, is the euphoric optimism for liberal democracy and freedom that characterised the momentous event on November 9, 1989, as Germany grapples with a surge in far-right support in its former communist states. "The spirit of optimism" that we saw 30 years ago, or even five or 10 years ago, "is not perceivable" today, said Berlin's culture senator Klaus Lederer, whose office took the lead in putting together the capital's festivities for the week. The mood is therefore "reflective, but we are celebrating", he said. "We are looking back at history together, and we are also talking about the future." As a sign of the tense times, Germany will put on a sober political programme to mark the epochal event that led to reunification and brought down the Iron Curtain dividing a communist East from a capitalist West. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the anniversary was a chance to remind Europe why it needs to stay united in the face of rising geopolitical tensions around the world. "Exhortations from individual European capitals fall on deaf ears in Moscow, Beijing and, unfortunately, to an increasing extent also in Washington, DC," he wrote in an op-ed carried in newspapers across the EU on Saturday. "It is only Europe's voice that carries decisive weight. This is why unilateral action at the national level must finally be taboo in Europe." Serious tone While the spotlight five years ago was on world leaders from Barack Obama to Mikhail Gorbachev, this time round, the central focus is on Europe itself. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will set the tone with a speech on the eve of the anniversary at an event attended also by Chancellor Angela Merkel. On November 9 itself, only central European presidents will headline the official ceremonies. Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be joined by his Polish, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian counterparts, in town to mark "the contribution of the central European countries to the peaceful revolution" that led to the collapse of the communist regime. Merkel will speak at the Chapel of Reconciliation, which stands on the former Berlin Wall border strip. Steinmeier, the moral arbiter of the country, will also make a speech at the Brandenburg Gate on the anniversary evening, before a series of concerts including by the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. And US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was stationed in Germany as a young soldier in 1989, will be in visiting from Wednesday but leave on the eve of the anniversary. He meets Merkel and members of her cabinet on Friday, in meetings set to underline the growing divisions across the globe. In a statement announcing his visit, Pompeo's office said talks with his counterpart Maas will "discuss the importance of our Transatlantic partnership and the need for strengthened engagement in the face of growing threats from Russia, China, and Iran." 'Cold war is back' While the fall of the Iron Curtain that divided post-war Europe had led to hopes of a liberal democratic era and arms dismantlement three decades ago, the mood has soured today. Within the EU, cracks have appeared as former eastern bloc countries like Hungary or Poland are accused by Brussels of challenging the rule of law. On a broader arena, Trump's go-it-alone stance on rejecting world treaties including on climate change and a nuclear disarmament deal with Iran has deeply shaken long-time allies in Europe. Russia, meanwhile, is consolidating its foothold in the Middle East, while the US is also increasingly at odds with China. For UN chief Antonio Guterres, "the Cold War is back -- with a vengeance, but with a difference. The mechanisms and the safeguards to manage the risks of escalation that existed in the past no longer seem to be present." Gorbachev, who chose to stand aside instead of stopping the Wall from falling 30 years back, was also more pessimistic today. Writing in his latest book, Gorbachev warned: "International politics is on an extremely dangerous trajectory... military operations currently have the characteristics of a real war."

Sombre mood as Germany marks 30 years of Berlin Wall fall

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday said her government was stepping up efforts to roll out a vast network of electric car charging points in a bid to encourage drivers to make the switch and help the country meet its climate targets.

In her weekly podcast, Merkel said the rapid expansion of reliable, easy-to-use charging stations across Germany was necessary to give drivers "the confidence to buy an e-car".

"That's why we want to create one million charging points by 2030, and the industry will participate in this too," she said.

The comments came on the eve of a major meeting between car industry bosses and government ministries in Berlin.

In September, Merkel's government set itself the ambitious goal of increasing the number of charging stations to a million as part of a package of measures to reduce Germany's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030.

The country currently has just 21,000 public car charging points.

The government's "climate package" also wants to see seven to 10 million zero-emission electric cars on the roads by 2030, up from around 220,000 last August.

But to achieve that, the transport ministry says drivers first need to overcome "range anxiety" -- the fear of running out of juice in between charging points.

According to documents seen by AFP, the ministry will at Monday's meeting lay out a plan that prioritises installing battery-charging stations at supermarkets and petrol stations and making it easier for building owners to set up charging points in underground parks.

Job fears

The pivot to cleaner cars has been given fresh urgency as automakers face tough new EU limits on carbon dioxide emissions, while Berlin has come under pressure to take stronger climate action after falling short of its own 2020 targets for curbing greenhouse gases.

The government has insisted that automakers have to play their part in shifting to the greener cars of tomorrow, by offering discounts to buyers or by filling in gaps in the charging network.

But Merkel, once dubbed the "car chancellor" for her cosy ties with auto bosses, has also stressed that the crucial industry's 800,000 employees will not be left behind.

Monday's meeting was also about protecting jobs in the fast-changing sector, she said, adding that retraining schemes could help bring workers "along on the road to a modern, climate-friendly future".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday said her government was stepping up efforts to roll out a vast network of electric car charging points in a bid to encourage drivers to make the switch and help the country meet its climate targets.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday said her government was stepping up efforts to roll out a vast network of electric car charging points in a bid to encourage drivers to make the switch and help the country meet its climate targets. In her weekly podcast, Merkel said the rapid expansion of reliable, easy-to-use charging stations across Germany was necessary to give drivers "the confidence to buy an e-car". "That's why we want to create one million charging points by 2030, and the industry will participate in this too," she said. The comments came on the eve of a major meeting between car industry bosses and government ministries in Berlin. In September, Merkel's government set itself the ambitious goal of increasing the number of charging stations to a million as part of a package of measures to reduce Germany's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030. The country currently has just 21,000 public car charging points. The government's "climate package" also wants to see seven to 10 million zero-emission electric cars on the roads by 2030, up from around 220,000 last August. But to achieve that, the transport ministry says drivers first need to overcome "range anxiety" -- the fear of running out of juice in between charging points. According to documents seen by AFP, the ministry will at Monday's meeting lay out a plan that prioritises installing battery-charging stations at supermarkets and petrol stations and making it easier for building owners to set up charging points in underground parks. Job fears The pivot to cleaner cars has been given fresh urgency as automakers face tough new EU limits on carbon dioxide emissions, while Berlin has come under pressure to take stronger climate action after falling short of its own 2020 targets for curbing greenhouse gases. The government has insisted that automakers have to play their part in shifting to the greener cars of tomorrow, by offering discounts to buyers or by filling in gaps in the charging network. But Merkel, once dubbed the "car chancellor" for her cosy ties with auto bosses, has also stressed that the crucial industry's 800,000 employees will not be left behind. Monday's meeting was also about protecting jobs in the fast-changing sector, she said, adding that retraining schemes could help bring workers "along on the road to a modern, climate-friendly future".

Germany's Merkel in fresh push for nationwide e-car charging network

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday her country will spend one billion euros ($1.12 billion) in the next five years on green urban mobility projects conceived under the new German-Indian partnership.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday her country will spend one billion euros ($1.12 billion) in the next five years on green urban mobility projects conceived under the new German-Indian partnership. ''We have launched Indo-German partnership for green urban mobility and earmarked US$1 Billion towards this,'' Merkel said. ''We will also earmark Euros 200 Million to reform bus sector in Tamil Nadu,'' she said and added, whoever has looked at pollution in Delhi yesterday would find very good arguments to replacing diesel buses with electric buses. German funds will be used to finance several environment-friendly projects such as the introduction of electric buses to replace diesel ones used for public transport in urban centres. Merkel, accompanied by several cabinet colleagues and a business delegation, held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday that focused on trade, investment, regional security and climate change. Germany is India`s largest trading partner in Europe and more than 1,700 German companies operate in the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany to spend 1 billion euro in five years on green urban mobility projects in India: Merkel

A delegation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) member countries visited the Delhi Metro on Friday where DMRC officials presented its solar success story to them.

The delegation, which also includes ministers, is currently in Delhi for attending the 2nd assembly of the ISA, according to an official statement.

The ISA was launched in 2015, with the intent of bringing together all the countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn on to One International platform.

Since then, ISA has grown to have 121 prospective countries with 79 signatory member countries and it is the first international body to have a secretariat in India, located at Gurugram in Haryana.

The first assembly of ISA was held in New Delhi on October 2, 2018, and the second assembly is presently being held in the national capital.

"The presentation by DMRC showcased the initiatives taken by Delhi Metro, which involves both long term tie-up of the utility-scale solar project and rooftop solar projects on metro stations. It was also discussed how it has economically benefitted the organization besides achieving the distinction of being the first Metro in the world to go green," the statement said.

DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh highlighted that Delhi Metro is meeting 35 percent of its total energy requirement (of approximately 1,100 million units) from renewable sources and is one of the greenest metro systems in the world.

ISA Director General Upendra Tripathy commended the DMRC for its achievements in enhancing the use of solar energy and said that the metro rail operator is a role model for many other organizations to follow.

DMRC started its solar journey in October 2012, by signing an MoU with GIZ, Germany and has been making all possible efforts to contribute towards the National Solar Mission target of producing 175 GW electricity from renewable sources by 2022.

DMRC has set the target to install 50 MWp Solar PV Plant on the flat and curved roof of the stations, train depots and other buildings owned by it by 2022.To date, 32.4 MW of electricity has been operationalized on DMRC premises.

A delegation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) member countries visited the Delhi Metro on Friday where DMRC officials presented its solar success story to them.

A delegation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) member countries visited the Delhi Metro on Friday where DMRC officials presented its solar success story to them. The delegation, which also includes ministers, is currently in Delhi for attending the 2nd assembly of the ISA, according to an official statement. The ISA was launched in 2015, with the intent of bringing together all the countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn on to One International platform. Since then, ISA has grown to have 121 prospective countries with 79 signatory member countries and it is the first international body to have a secretariat in India, located at Gurugram in Haryana. The first assembly of ISA was held in New Delhi on October 2, 2018, and the second assembly is presently being held in the national capital. "The presentation by DMRC showcased the initiatives taken by Delhi Metro, which involves both long term tie-up of the utility-scale solar project and rooftop solar projects on metro stations. It was also discussed how it has economically benefitted the organization besides achieving the distinction of being the first Metro in the world to go green," the statement said. DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh highlighted that Delhi Metro is meeting 35 percent of its total energy requirement (of approximately 1,100 million units) from renewable sources and is one of the greenest metro systems in the world. ISA Director General Upendra Tripathy commended the DMRC for its achievements in enhancing the use of solar energy and said that the metro rail operator is a role model for many other organizations to follow. DMRC started its solar journey in October 2012, by signing an MoU with GIZ, Germany and has been making all possible efforts to contribute towards the National Solar Mission target of producing 175 GW electricity from renewable sources by 2022. DMRC has set the target to install 50 MWp Solar PV Plant on the flat and curved roof of the stations, train depots and other buildings owned by it by 2022.To date, 32.4 MW of electricity has been operationalized on DMRC premises.

International Solar Alliance delegation visits Delhi Metro

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in India on Thursday night for a two-day visit during which she will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of bilateral issues.

PM Modi meets Germany's Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Delhi. Watch video to know more.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Delhi

German Chancellor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/german-chancellor-merkel-kicks-off-her-3-day-visit-meets-pm-modi-259152">Angela Merkel</a> will host United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for talks in Berlin next Friday, a government spokeswoman said, as US forces resumed border patrols in northeast Syria.

Pompeo's visit comes after Thursday's return by US troops to patrol part of Syria's border with Turkey after a pullout ordered by US President Donald Trump that had opened the way for a Turkish assault.

"Alongside the bilateral relationship, current international questions" will be on the agenda at Merkel's office, spokeswoman Martina Fietz told reporters.

Pompeo also has meetings scheduled with Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas, finance minister Olaf Scholz and defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Fietz declined to say whether the pair would discuss Kramp-Karrenbauer's suggestion for international troops to set up a "security zone" in north-east Syria.

The defence chief's suggestion has provoked discord in German politics, with foreign minister Maas blasted by MPs for calling it "unrealistic" on a visit to Turkey last week.

Maas had pointed to the reality on the ground, where Kurdish fighters have ceded ground to Turkish and Syrian troops as well as Russian units allied with the Damascus government.

Friday saw the first joint patrols between Ankara and Moscow's soldiers under a deal struck to ensure the Kurds departed.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected the idea of a U.N.-mandated security zone in a state television interview Thursday.

"We haven noted Mr Assad's comments but they change nothing about the federal government’s stated position on security and stability in the region," Fietz said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for talks in Berlin next Friday, a government spokeswoman said, as US forces resumed border patrols in northeast Syria.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for talks in Berlin next Friday, a government spokeswoman said, as US forces resumed border patrols in northeast Syria. Pompeo's visit comes after Thursday's return by US troops to patrol part of Syria's border with Turkey after a pullout ordered by US President Donald Trump that had opened the way for a Turkish assault. "Alongside the bilateral relationship, current international questions" will be on the agenda at Merkel's office, spokeswoman Martina Fietz told reporters. Pompeo also has meetings scheduled with Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas, finance minister Olaf Scholz and defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Fietz declined to say whether the pair would discuss Kramp-Karrenbauer's suggestion for international troops to set up a "security zone" in north-east Syria. The defence chief's suggestion has provoked discord in German politics, with foreign minister Maas blasted by MPs for calling it "unrealistic" on a visit to Turkey last week. Maas had pointed to the reality on the ground, where Kurdish fighters have ceded ground to Turkish and Syrian troops as well as Russian units allied with the Damascus government. Friday saw the first joint patrols between Ankara and Moscow's soldiers under a deal struck to ensure the Kurds departed. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected the idea of a U.N.-mandated security zone in a state television interview Thursday. "We haven noted Mr Assad's comments but they change nothing about the federal government’s stated position on security and stability in the region," Fietz said.

Germany's Merkel set for talks with Pompeo next week

Germany and India are likely to sign agreements including a partnership on the use of artificial intelligence in farming during a three-day visit to New Delhi by Chancellor Angela Merkel that begins on Thursday, the German ambassador said.

Merkel will be accompanied by several cabinet colleagues and a business delegation, ambassador Walter J. Lindner told reporters.

Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to discuss trade, investment, regional security and climate change.

Both countries could sign agreements in areas such as artificial intelligence and green urban mobility, Lindner said.

"This time, the focus will be on economic and trade relations, innovation and digitalisation, and climate protection and sustainable development," Merkel said in a message ahead of the visit released by the Indian embassy in Berlin.

Bilateral trade between the two countries rose to $24.06 billion in the 2018/19 fiscal year ending in March from $22 billion the previous year, while German companies have invested nearly $12 billion in India since 2000.

Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and more than 1,700 German companies are operating in India.

Germany and India are likely to sign agreements including a partnership on the use of artificial intelligence in farming during a three-day visit to New Delhi by Chancellor Angela Merkel that begins on Thursday, the German ambassador said.

Germany and India are likely to sign agreements including a partnership on the use of artificial intelligence in farming during a three-day visit to New Delhi by Chancellor Angela Merkel that begins on Thursday, the German ambassador said. Merkel will be accompanied by several cabinet colleagues and a business delegation, ambassador Walter J. Lindner told reporters. Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to discuss trade, investment, regional security and climate change. Both countries could sign agreements in areas such as artificial intelligence and green urban mobility, Lindner said. "This time, the focus will be on economic and trade relations, innovation and digitalisation, and climate protection and sustainable development," Merkel said in a message ahead of the visit released by the Indian embassy in Berlin. Bilateral trade between the two countries rose to $24.06 billion in the 2018/19 fiscal year ending in March from $22 billion the previous year, while German companies have invested nearly $12 billion in India since 2000. Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and more than 1,700 German companies are operating in India.

India and Germany likely to sign agreement on artificial intelligence

Ahead of her official visit to India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday expressed happiness over her scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the upcoming fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi.

She informed that the focus of the talks between the two sides would be on economic and trade relations, climate protection, and sustainable development, among&nbsp;other areas.

As per an unofficial translation of Merkel`s statement tweeted by the Indian Embassy in Germany, the discussions between the two sides would also touch upon foreign and security policy issues, as well as how the two countries could work together towards climate protection and sustainable development.

"It is my fourth visit to India and I am happy to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to discuss with him about our bilateral relations. IGCs give us the opportunity to talk about the whole breadth of the future of our relationship. This time, the focus will be economic and trade relations, innovation and digitalisation, and climate protection and sustainable development," the statement read.

"Additionally, we will talk about how we can work towards climate protection and sustainable development in our relationship. We will also discuss foreign and security policy issues -- that means that our discussion will cover a large spectrum," it added.

The discussions will also touch upon renewable energy, smart cities, and new forms of mobility, Merkel further said.

The German Chancellor added that she is impressed by the "developmental dynamic of India" and how the country has rapidly developed over the past few years.

"All of us know that India has great potential. Therefore it is important that we, as Germans, the largest trade partner of India in the EU (European Union), work further for the strengthening of our relationship and learn from India and also are able to use our technological development in India."

"That would be a win-win situation for both countries," Merkel concluded.

Merkel will visit India on November 1 at the invitation of PM Modi. She will be accompanied by several ministers and state secretaries of the federal government, as well as a high-powered business delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement.

"Under the IGC format, the counterpart ministers from both countries will hold initial discussions in their respective areas of responsibility. The outcome of these discussions will be reported on at the IGC co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Federal Chancellor of Germany," the MEA statement said.

During the IGC, the two sides will discuss the deepening of cooperation in traditional sectors such as transport, skill development, and energy, and explore possibilities for cooperation in newer areas like green urban mobility and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Modi and Merkel will also exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest. Both leaders will have a separate engagement with CEOs and business leaders of both countries, the statement said.

The German Chancellor is also expected to meet President Ram Nath Kovind.

"India and Germany have established a strategic partnership that is characterised by a high degree of trust and mutual understanding. The two leaders have regularly interacted on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Germany is a leading trade and investment partner," the statement read.

Last month, Merkel had met Modi on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The two leaders held wide-ranging dialogues on several issues. In April last year, Modi made a brief stopover in Berlin and met Merkel after his visit to Sweden and Britain. 
&nbsp;

Ahead of her official visit to India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday expressed happiness over her scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the upcoming fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi.

Ahead of her official visit to India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday expressed happiness over her scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the upcoming fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi. She informed that the focus of the talks between the two sides would be on economic and trade relations, climate protection, and sustainable development, among other areas. As per an unofficial translation of Merkel`s statement tweeted by the Indian Embassy in Germany, the discussions between the two sides would also touch upon foreign and security policy issues, as well as how the two countries could work together towards climate protection and sustainable development. "It is my fourth visit to India and I am happy to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to discuss with him about our bilateral relations. IGCs give us the opportunity to talk about the whole breadth of the future of our relationship. This time, the focus will be economic and trade relations, innovation and digitalisation, and climate protection and sustainable development," the statement read. "Additionally, we will talk about how we can work towards climate protection and sustainable development in our relationship. We will also discuss foreign and security policy issues -- that means that our discussion will cover a large spectrum," it added. The discussions will also touch upon renewable energy, smart cities, and new forms of mobility, Merkel further said. The German Chancellor added that she is impressed by the "developmental dynamic of India" and how the country has rapidly developed over the past few years. "All of us know that India has great potential. Therefore it is important that we, as Germans, the largest trade partner of India in the EU (European Union), work further for the strengthening of our relationship and learn from India and also are able to use our technological development in India." "That would be a win-win situation for both countries," Merkel concluded. Merkel will visit India on November 1 at the invitation of PM Modi. She will be accompanied by several ministers and state secretaries of the federal government, as well as a high-powered business delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement. "Under the IGC format, the counterpart ministers from both countries will hold initial discussions in their respective areas of responsibility. The outcome of these discussions will be reported on at the IGC co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Federal Chancellor of Germany," the MEA statement said. During the IGC, the two sides will discuss the deepening of cooperation in traditional sectors such as transport, skill development, and energy, and explore possibilities for cooperation in newer areas like green urban mobility and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Modi and Merkel will also exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest. Both leaders will have a separate engagement with CEOs and business leaders of both countries, the statement said. The German Chancellor is also expected to meet President Ram Nath Kovind. "India and Germany have established a strategic partnership that is characterised by a high degree of trust and mutual understanding. The two leaders have regularly interacted on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Germany is a leading trade and investment partner," the statement read. Last month, Merkel had met Modi on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two leaders held wide-ranging dialogues on several issues. In April last year, Modi made a brief stopover in Berlin and met Merkel after his visit to Sweden and Britain.

India, Germany to focus on trade, economic relations at IGC: Merkel ahead of Delhi visit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is slated to visit India on November 1 for the fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).

Merkel, who is coming to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accompanied by several ministers and state secretaries of the federal government, as well as a high-powered business delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement.

"Under the IGC format, the counterpart ministers from both countries will hold initial discussions in their respective areas of responsibility. The outcome of these discussions will be reported on at the IGC co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Federal Chancellor of Germany," the MEA statement said.

During the IGC, the two sides will discuss the deepening of cooperation in traditional sectors such as transport, skill development, and energy, and explore possibilities for cooperation in newer areas like green urban mobility and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Modi and Merkel will also exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest.

Both leaders will have a separate engagement with CEOs and business leaders of both countries, the statement said.

The German Chancellor is also expected to call on President Ram Nath Kovind.

"India and Germany have established a strategic partnership that is characterised by a high degree of trust and mutual understanding. The two leaders have regularly interacted on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Germany is a leading trade and investment partner," the statement said.

Last month, Merkel had met Modi on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two leaders held wide-ranging dialogues on several issues. In April last year, Modi made a brief stopover in Berlin and met Merkel after his visit to Sweden and Britain.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is slated to visit India on November 1 for the fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). Merkel, who is coming to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accompanied by several ministers and state secretaries of the federal government, as well as a high-powered business delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is slated to visit India on November 1 for the fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). Merkel, who is coming to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accompanied by several ministers and state secretaries of the federal government, as well as a high-powered business delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement. "Under the IGC format, the counterpart ministers from both countries will hold initial discussions in their respective areas of responsibility. The outcome of these discussions will be reported on at the IGC co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Federal Chancellor of Germany," the MEA statement said. During the IGC, the two sides will discuss the deepening of cooperation in traditional sectors such as transport, skill development, and energy, and explore possibilities for cooperation in newer areas like green urban mobility and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Modi and Merkel will also exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest. Both leaders will have a separate engagement with CEOs and business leaders of both countries, the statement said. The German Chancellor is also expected to call on President Ram Nath Kovind. "India and Germany have established a strategic partnership that is characterised by a high degree of trust and mutual understanding. The two leaders have regularly interacted on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Germany is a leading trade and investment partner," the statement said. Last month, Merkel had met Modi on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two leaders held wide-ranging dialogues on several issues. In April last year, Modi made a brief stopover in Berlin and met Merkel after his visit to Sweden and Britain.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit India on November 1

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-turkey-ceasefire-agreement-uncertain-as-erdogan-meets-putin-257131">Turkey's offensive in northeastern Syria</a> falls foul of international law, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday.

"We don't believe that an attack on Kurdish units or Kurdish militia is legitimate under international law," Heiko Maas told Germany broadcaster ZDF.

"If there is no basis in international law for such an invasion, then it can't be in accordance with international law," he said, in his strongest comments yet on the assault.

Ankara launched a cross-border attack against Syria's Kurds on October 9 after the United States announced a military pullout from the north of the war-torn country, to widespread international criticism.

NATO member Turkey has justified the offensive as necessary to secure its borders.

A US-brokered ceasefire was announced late Thursday, giving Kurdish forces until Tuesday evening to withdraw from a buffer area Ankara wants to create inside Syrian territory along its southern frontier.

On Sunday, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fully withdrew from a Turkish-encircled town in northern Syria, in what appeared to be the start of a wider pullout under the ceasefire deal.

"We will do everything we can to ensure that this ceasefire lasts longer than five days and puts a halt to the invasion for the time being," Maas said.

Germany, along with a string of other European countries, has suspended arms exports to Turkey over the offensive.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/turkey-threatens-to-crush-kurds-in-case-they-fail-to-withdraw-before-tuesday-257002">Turkish-led bombardment and fire since October 9 have killed 114 civilians</a> and displaced at least 300,000 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

More than 250 SDF fighters, the de facto army of Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria -- and 190 pro-Ankara fighters have lost their lives over the same period, it says.

Turkey's offensive in northeastern Syria falls foul of international law, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday. "We don't believe that an attack on Kurdish units or Kurdish militia is legitimate under international law," Heiko Maas told Germany broadcaster ZDF.

Turkey's offensive in northeastern Syria falls foul of international law, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday. "We don't believe that an attack on Kurdish units or Kurdish militia is legitimate under international law," Heiko Maas told Germany broadcaster ZDF. "If there is no basis in international law for such an invasion, then it can't be in accordance with international law," he said, in his strongest comments yet on the assault. Ankara launched a cross-border attack against Syria's Kurds on October 9 after the United States announced a military pullout from the north of the war-torn country, to widespread international criticism. NATO member Turkey has justified the offensive as necessary to secure its borders. A US-brokered ceasefire was announced late Thursday, giving Kurdish forces until Tuesday evening to withdraw from a buffer area Ankara wants to create inside Syrian territory along its southern frontier. On Sunday, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fully withdrew from a Turkish-encircled town in northern Syria, in what appeared to be the start of a wider pullout under the ceasefire deal. "We will do everything we can to ensure that this ceasefire lasts longer than five days and puts a halt to the invasion for the time being," Maas said. Germany, along with a string of other European countries, has suspended arms exports to Turkey over the offensive. Turkish-led bombardment and fire since October 9 have killed 114 civilians and displaced at least 300,000 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. More than 250 SDF fighters, the de facto army of Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria -- and 190 pro-Ankara fighters have lost their lives over the same period, it says.

Turkish offensive violates international law: German Foreign Minister

German flight attendants' union UFO on Sunday&nbsp;said it would stage an all-day strike at smaller German divisions of airline group Lufthansa in an escalating row over workers' pay and pensions.

The walkout at Lufthansa brands Germanwings, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Line and Sunexpress had initially been scheduled for 0300-0900 GMT, but the union in a statement on Sunday said industrial action would now be extended until midnight local time (2200 GMT), citing threats made by the airline over jobs as the reason.

A Lufthansa spokesman said the strike was illegal because UFO's status as a negotiator on behalf of staff was in doubt.

Lufthansa on Friday had offered a 2 per cent&nbsp;pay rise to cabin staff, prompting the union to call off a planned strike at Lufthansa's namesake core brand at hubs Frankfurt and Munich.

But the dispute deteriorated after UFO found the offer lacked concessions on expenses and employment conditions.

The cabin crew union has for months fought with the airline in court over UFO's legal status. Lufthansa claims the union's new leadership team that took office earlier this year was not elected in a way that met legal requirements.

German flight attendants' union UFO on Sunday said it would stage an all-day strike at smaller German divisions of airline group Lufthansa in an escalating row over workers' pay and pensions.

German flight attendants' union UFO on Sunday said it would stage an all-day strike at smaller German divisions of airline group Lufthansa in an escalating row over workers' pay and pensions. The walkout at Lufthansa brands Germanwings, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Line and Sunexpress had initially been scheduled for 0300-0900 GMT, but the union in a statement on Sunday said industrial action would now be extended until midnight local time (2200 GMT), citing threats made by the airline over jobs as the reason. A Lufthansa spokesman said the strike was illegal because UFO's status as a negotiator on behalf of staff was in doubt. Lufthansa on Friday had offered a 2 per cent pay rise to cabin staff, prompting the union to call off a planned strike at Lufthansa's namesake core brand at hubs Frankfurt and Munich. But the dispute deteriorated after UFO found the offer lacked concessions on expenses and employment conditions. The cabin crew union has for months fought with the airline in court over UFO's legal status. Lufthansa claims the union's new leadership team that took office earlier this year was not elected in a way that met legal requirements.

Lufthansa cabin crew union stages all-day strike at smaller airlines

A widely downloaded Chinese propaganda app that quizzes users on Communist Party heroes and military achievements may be "studying them right back" through data collection and potential security breaches, an internet freedom campaign group says.

The app - called "Xuexi Qiangguo" or "Study to make China strong" - has accumulated 130 million users since its launch by the Communist Party's propaganda arm in January, according to state media in August.

Marketed as an education tool, it awards points for sharing articles and watching videos such as speeches by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

But the Open Technology Fund (OTF) - a US government-funded group that campaigns for internet freedom, says users also provide a plethora of data to the app, including location and emails.

OTF contracted the independent German tech firm Cure53 to study the app.

While the Communist Party advertises it as "a way for citizens to prove their loyalty and study their country, the app's maintainers are studying them right back", OTF wrote on its website.

The app's terms and conditions also say users may have to hand over more personal information, such as fingerprints and ID numbers, depending on the features or third-party tools they want to access.

The Chinese government has come under increasing scrutiny for high-tech surveillance, from facial recognition-enabled security cameras to apps used by police to extract personal information from smartphones at checkpoints.

And though "Study to make China strong" is an education app, Cure53 said it contains code that could run "arbitrary commands", reminiscent of a backdoor, on certain phones.

The app "maintains a level of access that no app would normally have over a user's device", said OTF.

The investigation, which was conducted in August, only looked at the Android version of the app, partly because of its market dominance, said Sarah Aoun, the group's director of technology.

OTF is considering tackling the iOS version next, Aoun told AFP.

"This is just another way of expanding that digital control through a very intrusive app that is being pushed onto its citizens," said Aoun.

The Communist Party's propaganda arm, which is responsible for the app, did not respond to AFP's request for comment.

Dozens of provincial and county governments across the country reportedly held workshops to promote the app earlier this year.

Chinese journalists will also have to use the app for online press accreditation exams later this month and November, said a notice last week from the State Council, China's cabinet.

"It is unusual to see so much data gathered for an education app," said Jane Manchun Wong, who reverse-engineers apps for security vulnerabilities and unreleased features.

"It's like reading a book about the great nation but the book somehow searches your home," she told AFP.

The app also scans for 960 applications, including gaming, travel and chat apps, appearing as if "attempting to find which popular apps are installed on the phone", said Cure53's report.

A spokesperson at DingTalk, an enterprise chat platform that was used to build the app, told AFP that it had "no 'backdoor code' or scanning issues".

But OTF said users' data and their phones could be further jeopardised if the code that "amounts to a backdoor" runs successfully.

Currently, this code only affects phones where users have installed software that gives them "superuser" privileges, such as the ability to modify the device's code.

But apps can also abuse this level of privilege to take over a user's device.

"The code they found is creepy", Baptiste Robert, a French security researcher, told AFP -- but cautioned against the use of the word backdoor.

The investigation also found "no evidence" that the code was used during testing, with Cure53 concluding that "further investigation" was needed to determine how it was used.

The code "can raise suspicion," Robert said, but to conclude that there is "vast espionage from China is complicated".

A widely downloaded Chinese propaganda app that quizzes users on Communist Party heroes and military achievements may be "studying them right back" through data collection and potential security breaches, an internet freedom campaign group says.

A widely downloaded Chinese propaganda app that quizzes users on Communist Party heroes and military achievements may be "studying them right back" through data collection and potential security breaches, an internet freedom campaign group says. The app - called "Xuexi Qiangguo" or "Study to make China strong" - has accumulated 130 million users since its launch by the Communist Party's propaganda arm in January, according to state media in August. Marketed as an education tool, it awards points for sharing articles and watching videos such as speeches by Chinese President Xi Jinping. But the Open Technology Fund (OTF) - a US government-funded group that campaigns for internet freedom, says users also provide a plethora of data to the app, including location and emails. OTF contracted the independent German tech firm Cure53 to study the app. While the Communist Party advertises it as "a way for citizens to prove their loyalty and study their country, the app's maintainers are studying them right back", OTF wrote on its website. The app's terms and conditions also say users may have to hand over more personal information, such as fingerprints and ID numbers, depending on the features or third-party tools they want to access. The Chinese government has come under increasing scrutiny for high-tech surveillance, from facial recognition-enabled security cameras to apps used by police to extract personal information from smartphones at checkpoints. And though "Study to make China strong" is an education app, Cure53 said it contains code that could run "arbitrary commands", reminiscent of a backdoor, on certain phones. The app "maintains a level of access that no app would normally have over a user's device", said OTF. The investigation, which was conducted in August, only looked at the Android version of the app, partly because of its market dominance, said Sarah Aoun, the group's director of technology. OTF is considering tackling the iOS version next, Aoun told AFP. "This is just another way of expanding that digital control through a very intrusive app that is being pushed onto its citizens," said Aoun. The Communist Party's propaganda arm, which is responsible for the app, did not respond to AFP's request for comment. Dozens of provincial and county governments across the country reportedly held workshops to promote the app earlier this year. Chinese journalists will also have to use the app for online press accreditation exams later this month and November, said a notice last week from the State Council, China's cabinet. "It is unusual to see so much data gathered for an education app," said Jane Manchun Wong, who reverse-engineers apps for security vulnerabilities and unreleased features. "It's like reading a book about the great nation but the book somehow searches your home," she told AFP. The app also scans for 960 applications, including gaming, travel and chat apps, appearing as if "attempting to find which popular apps are installed on the phone", said Cure53's report. A spokesperson at DingTalk, an enterprise chat platform that was used to build the app, told AFP that it had "no 'backdoor code' or scanning issues". But OTF said users' data and their phones could be further jeopardised if the code that "amounts to a backdoor" runs successfully. Currently, this code only affects phones where users have installed software that gives them "superuser" privileges, such as the ability to modify the device's code. But apps can also abuse this level of privilege to take over a user's device. "The code they found is creepy", Baptiste Robert, a French security researcher, told AFP -- but cautioned against the use of the word backdoor. The investigation also found "no evidence" that the code was used during testing, with Cure53 concluding that "further investigation" was needed to determine how it was used. The code "can raise suspicion," Robert said, but to conclude that there is "vast espionage from China is complicated".

China propaganda app fraught with security concerns: Report

Ahead of World Food Day, the World Food Programme (WFP) said more than 800 million people, one in nine people globally, are facing chronic hunger and are unable to meet their basic food requirements. WFP. World Food Day is marked on Wednesday (16 Oct). WFP said, for the most part, the causes of hunger remain the same – conflict, the climate crisis and economic marginalization.

More than 800 million people facing chronic hunger: World Food Programme

German authorities on Tuesday appealed to its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-forces-in-full-control-of-manbij-russia-256109">Turkish and Kurdish communities</a> to avoid echoing the Middle Eastern conflict, after clashes between the two groups over Ankara's offensive in northeastern Syria.

Police said at least five people had been injured in fights between the two communities late on Monday.

"We have a responsibility to prevent the conflict in the region becoming a conflict in our society... in Germany," integration commissioner Annette Widmann-Mauz told the Funke newspaper group.

"I expect all sides, especially migrant organisations and religious communities, to take responsibility and contribute to restraint", Annette added.

The commissioner advises the government on integration and serves as a point of contact for migrants and community organisations.

The clashes happened as around 350 people were marching through the western city of Herne Monday against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-halts-weapon-exports-to-turkey-over-syria-offensive-foreign-secretary-dominic-raab-256092">Turkey's offensive in Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria</a>, police said in a statement.

They were "provoked with hand signals" by people drinking at a nearby kiosk, the statement added.

"Some of them stormed into the kiosk, attacked two people inside and injured them" as well as breaking a window.

The demonstration continued and someone threw a bottle at the marchers from a Turkish-owned cafe as they passed.

"The reaction was very emotional and angry" as several participants again rushed into the cafe, breaking windows and furniture and injuring at least one person inside, as well as one of the police officers who intervened to stop the fighting.

Nevertheless, "the police were able to calm the situation" and the demonstration ended as planned when the marchers reached their destination in the centre.

Among the five people hurt was the organiser of the march. He too was attacked when he tried to stop the violence.

Of the roughly three million people with Turkish nationality or roots living in Germany, around one million are Kurds.

Politicians regularly warn of tensions between the two communities, which have been stoked by Turkey's offensive against Kurdish fighters inside Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-eu-shielding-terror-elements-by-criticising-syria-offensive-255938">Separately in Berlin</a>, local police said a man wearing a jacket with a Turkish flag was beaten by around 15 people, leaving him with a facial injury.

"According to the 30-year-old Turkish citizen, the men had assaulted him because of the jacket he was wearing, which had a Turkish national flag on it," Berlin police said in a statement.

The assailants spoke Arabic and German, police said.

From last Wednesday, Turkish troops moved into the zone controlled by Kurdish militias, which had helped a Western-led coalition fight jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) group but whom Ankara accuses of terrorism.

Germany, along with European allies such as France, has condemned the offensive and halted arms exports to Turkey.

German authorities on Tuesday appealed to its Turkish and Kurdish communities to avoid echoing the Middle Eastern conflict, after clashes between the two groups over Ankara's offensive in northeastern Syria.

German authorities on Tuesday appealed to its Turkish and Kurdish communities to avoid echoing the Middle Eastern conflict, after clashes between the two groups over Ankara's offensive in northeastern Syria. Police said at least five people had been injured in fights between the two communities late on Monday. "We have a responsibility to prevent the conflict in the region becoming a conflict in our society... in Germany," integration commissioner Annette Widmann-Mauz told the Funke newspaper group. "I expect all sides, especially migrant organisations and religious communities, to take responsibility and contribute to restraint", Annette added. The commissioner advises the government on integration and serves as a point of contact for migrants and community organisations. The clashes happened as around 350 people were marching through the western city of Herne Monday against Turkey's offensive in Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria, police said in a statement. They were "provoked with hand signals" by people drinking at a nearby kiosk, the statement added. "Some of them stormed into the kiosk, attacked two people inside and injured them" as well as breaking a window. The demonstration continued and someone threw a bottle at the marchers from a Turkish-owned cafe as they passed. "The reaction was very emotional and angry" as several participants again rushed into the cafe, breaking windows and furniture and injuring at least one person inside, as well as one of the police officers who intervened to stop the fighting. Nevertheless, "the police were able to calm the situation" and the demonstration ended as planned when the marchers reached their destination in the centre. Among the five people hurt was the organiser of the march. He too was attacked when he tried to stop the violence. Of the roughly three million people with Turkish nationality or roots living in Germany, around one million are Kurds. Politicians regularly warn of tensions between the two communities, which have been stoked by Turkey's offensive against Kurdish fighters inside Syria. Separately in Berlin, local police said a man wearing a jacket with a Turkish flag was beaten by around 15 people, leaving him with a facial injury. "According to the 30-year-old Turkish citizen, the men had assaulted him because of the jacket he was wearing, which had a Turkish national flag on it," Berlin police said in a statement. The assailants spoke Arabic and German, police said. From last Wednesday, Turkish troops moved into the zone controlled by Kurdish militias, which had helped a Western-led coalition fight jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) group but whom Ankara accuses of terrorism. Germany, along with European allies such as France, has condemned the offensive and halted arms exports to Turkey.

Berlin urges 'restraint' after Turkish-Kurdish clashes in Germany

Germany said Saturday it is halting sales of weapons to Turkey over its widely criticised operation against Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Germany, along with many of its allies, has condemned the offensive that Ankara says is targeting the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia -- a force that has played a key role against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Germany said Saturday it is halting sales of weapons to Turkey over its widely criticised operation against Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Germany, along with many of its allies, has condemned the offensive that Ankara says is targeting the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia -- a force that has played a key role against the Islamic State group in Syria. It joins the fellow NATO members the Netherlands and Norway, along with Finland, in suspending arms sales to Turkey. "In the context of the Turkish military offensive in northeastern Syria, the government will not issue any new permits for any military equipment that could be used in Syria by Turkey," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was quoted as telling the Sunday edition of Bild. Last year, Germany exported arms totalling almost 243 million euros ($270 million) to Turkey -- also a NATO member -- almost a third of its total weapons sales of 771 million euros. And in the first four months of this year, sales to Turkey -- its biggest customer in the transatlantic military alliance -- reached 184 million euros. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu defended his country's actions in Syria after the German announcement. "(The offensive) is a vital issue for us and a question of national security, a matter of survival. No matter what anyone is doing, whether it is an arms embargo or something else, it only strengthens us," he told Deutsche Welle. "Even if our allies support the terrorist organisation (the YPG), even if we are alone, even if an embargo is imposed, whatever they do, our struggle is directed against the terrorist organisation." Ankara considers the YPG a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish rebels who have been fighting an insurgency against the Turkish state for three decades. Germany's population includes about 2.5 million people of Turkish origin. Germany is one of the world's biggest arms exporters along with the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. Last year it imposed an embargo on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia after the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul. Maas this week warned that Turkey's operation risked the resurgence of IS in the region and that it could trigger a humanitarian disaster.

Germany bans weapons sales to Turkey over Syria offensive

The German government wants US social media giant Facebook to ensure that security forces can gain access to its platforms after it has encrypted them so as to help fight crime.

The United States, Britain and Australia urged Facebook in an open letter earlier this month not to encrypt its messaging services because this would hinder efforts to combat terrorism and child abuse.

A government statement to be published in Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday says: "The preoccupations expressed in this open letter concerning the consequences of Facebook's plans are shared by the interior ministry."

The company says it recognises the problems raised but that it still plans to go ahead.

Facebook has run into stiff criticism over massive personal data security lapses and recently promised to encrypt its instant messenger service, in line with its WhatsApp offering.

The German government said this move would result in "a weakening of the authorities' capacity to detect serious threats".

To resolve the issue, it wants Facebook to build in back-door access to the encrypted messages.

"Technical solutions must be found on a case-by-case basis," it said in the statement.

Finding the "appropriate solution... is first and foremost the responsibility of the company," it added.

Facebook bluntly rejected the request as a threat to user security around the world.

"We vehemently reject government efforts to gain back-door access because that would put in danger the private lives and the security of people around the world," the newspaper cited a Facebook German spokesman as saying.

In their open letter, the United States, Britain and Australia said Facebook reported 16.8 million paedophile content cases last year and said 70 per cent of these would not have been discovered if its services were encrypted.

The German government wants US social media giant Facebook to ensure that security forces can gain access to its platforms after it has encrypted them so as to help fight crime.

The German government wants US social media giant Facebook to ensure that security forces can gain access to its platforms after it has encrypted them so as to help fight crime. The United States, Britain and Australia urged Facebook in an open letter earlier this month not to encrypt its messaging services because this would hinder efforts to combat terrorism and child abuse. A government statement to be published in Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday says: "The preoccupations expressed in this open letter concerning the consequences of Facebook's plans are shared by the interior ministry." The company says it recognises the problems raised but that it still plans to go ahead. Facebook has run into stiff criticism over massive personal data security lapses and recently promised to encrypt its instant messenger service, in line with its WhatsApp offering. The German government said this move would result in "a weakening of the authorities' capacity to detect serious threats". To resolve the issue, it wants Facebook to build in back-door access to the encrypted messages. "Technical solutions must be found on a case-by-case basis," it said in the statement. Finding the "appropriate solution... is first and foremost the responsibility of the company," it added. Facebook bluntly rejected the request as a threat to user security around the world. "We vehemently reject government efforts to gain back-door access because that would put in danger the private lives and the security of people around the world," the newspaper cited a Facebook German spokesman as saying. In their open letter, the United States, Britain and Australia said Facebook reported 16.8 million paedophile content cases last year and said 70 per cent of these would not have been discovered if its services were encrypted.

Germany wants Facebook platform access after encryption

germany

Germany, News on Germany, stories on Germany, articles on Germany, Germany stories at Wion, Germany news, Germany latest news