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

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

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

Merkel enters final stretch in coalition-building marathon

Germany&#39;s domestic intelligence chief wants the government to review laws restricting the surveillance of minors to guard against the children of Islamist fighters returning to the country as &quot;sleeper agents&quot; who could carry out attacks.

Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV agency, told Reuters that security officials were preparing for the return of Islamic State fighters to Germany along with potentially &quot;brainwashed&quot; children, although no big wave appeared imminent.

Nearly 1,000 people are believed to have left Germany to join up with the Islamist militants. As the group&#39;s presence in the Middle East crumbles, some are returning with family members.

Only a small number of the 290 toddlers and children who left Germany or were born in Syria and Iraq had returned thus far, Maassen said. Many were likely to still be in the region, or perhaps moving to areas such as Afghanistan, where Islamic State remains strong.

He said Germany should review laws restricting surveillance of minors under the age of 14 to prepare for the increased risk of attacks by children as young as nine who grew up in Islamic State schools.

&quot;We see that children who grew up with Islamic State were brainwashed in the schools and the kindergartens of the IS,&quot; he said.

&quot;They were confronted early with the IS ideology ... learned to fight, and were in some cases forced to participate in the abuse of prisoners, or even the killing of prisoners.&quot;

He said security officials believed such children could later carry out violent attacks in Germany.

&quot;We have to consider that these children could be living time bombs,&quot; he said. &quot;There is a danger that these children come back brainwashed with a mission to carry out attacks.&quot;

Maassen&#39;s comments were the first specific estimate of the number of children affected, following his initial warning in October that such children could pose a threat after being indoctrinated in battlefield areas.

The radicalisation of minors has been a big topic in Germany given that three of five Islamist attacks in Germany in 2016 were carried out by minors, and a 12-year-old boy was also detained after trying to bomb a Christmas market in Ludwigshafen.

The German government says it has evidence that more than 960 people left Germany for Iraq and Syria through November 2017 to fight for the Islamic State jihadist group, of which about a third are believed to have returned to Germany. Another 150 likely died in combat, according to government data.

Maassen said Islamic State also continued to target vulnerable youths in Germany through the Internet and social media, often providing slick advertising or age-appropriate propaganda to recruit them to join the jihadist group.

&quot;Islamic State uses headhunters who scour the Internet for children that can be approached and tries to radicalise these children, or recruit these children for terrorist attacks,&quot; he said.

Hans-Georg Maassen said Germany should review laws restricting surveillance of minors under the age of 14

Germany's domestic intelligence chief wants the government to review laws restricting the surveillance of minors to guard against the children of Islamist fighters returning to the country as "sleeper agents" who could carry out attacks. Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV agency, told Reuters that security officials were preparing for the return of Islamic State fighters to Germany along with potentially "brainwashed" children, although no big wave appeared imminent. Nearly 1,000 people are believed to have left Germany to join up with the Islamist militants. As the group's presence in the Middle East crumbles, some are returning with family members. Only a small number of the 290 toddlers and children who left Germany or were born in Syria and Iraq had returned thus far, Maassen said. Many were likely to still be in the region, or perhaps moving to areas such as Afghanistan, where Islamic State remains strong. He said Germany should review laws restricting surveillance of minors under the age of 14 to prepare for the increased risk of attacks by children as young as nine who grew up in Islamic State schools. "We see that children who grew up with Islamic State were brainwashed in the schools and the kindergartens of the IS," he said. "They were confronted early with the IS ideology ... learned to fight, and were in some cases forced to participate in the abuse of prisoners, or even the killing of prisoners." He said security officials believed such children could later carry out violent attacks in Germany. "We have to consider that these children could be living time bombs," he said. "There is a danger that these children come back brainwashed with a mission to carry out attacks." Maassen's comments were the first specific estimate of the number of children affected, following his initial warning in October that such children could pose a threat after being indoctrinated in battlefield areas. The radicalisation of minors has been a big topic in Germany given that three of five Islamist attacks in Germany in 2016 were carried out by minors, and a 12-year-old boy was also detained after trying to bomb a Christmas market in Ludwigshafen. The German government says it has evidence that more than 960 people left Germany for Iraq and Syria through November 2017 to fight for the Islamic State jihadist group, of which about a third are believed to have returned to Germany. Another 150 likely died in combat, according to government data. Maassen said Islamic State also continued to target vulnerable youths in Germany through the Internet and social media, often providing slick advertising or age-appropriate propaganda to recruit them to join the jihadist group. "Islamic State uses headhunters who scour the Internet for children that can be approached and tries to radicalise these children, or recruit these children for terrorist attacks," he said.

Islamic State fighters with 'brainwashed' children could carry out attacks: German intelligence chief

India has been ranked sixth in the list of wealthiest countries with a total wealth of $8,230 billion, while the United States topped the chart, says a report.

According to a report by New World Wealth, the United States is the wealthiest country in the world as the total wealth held in 2017 amounted to $64,584 billion, followed by China at the second place with &nbsp;$24,803 billion and Japan with $19,522 billion at third.

Total wealth refers to the private wealth held by all the individuals living in each country/city. It includes all their assets (property, cash, equities, business interests) less any liabilities. The report, however, excludes government funds from its figures.

Others in the list include United Kingdom (4th, $9,919 billion), Germany (5th, $9,660 billion), France (7th, $6,649 billion), Canada (8th, $6,393 billion), Australia (9th, $6,142 billion) and Italy (10th, $4,276 billion).

The report further noted that India was the best-performing wealth market globally in 2017 as its total wealth swelled from $6,584 billion in 2016 to $8,230 billion in 2017, registering a 25 per cent growth. 
Meanwhile, during the period under consideration, China&#39;s wealth saw an increase of 22 per cent and global wealth rose by 12 per cent (from $192 trillion at the end of 2016 to $215 trillion at the end of 2017).

Over the past decade (2007-2017) India&#39;s total wealth increased from $3,165 billion in 2007 to $8,230 billion in 2017, a jump of 160 per cent.

The report further noted that India is home to 3,30,400 HNWIs (individuals with $1 million or more in net assets).

Globally, India was ranked 9th in this aspect while US topped the list with 50,47,400 HNWIs (high-net-worth individuals). India is also home to 20,730 multi-millionaires, 7th largest in the world. &nbsp;And in terms of resident billionaires, India with 119 such individuals was named among the top three countries globally, after the US and China.

A billionaire is defined as an individual with $1 billion or more in net assets.

&quot;In general, it was a good year for all W10 (wealthiest 10) markets, thanks to strong global stock market gains - the MSCI world index was up 23 per cent and the Dow Jones (DJIA) was up 26 per cent during the year (in USD terms),&quot; the report said, adding &quot;wealth held in China, India, USA, Japan and Australia all grew strongly over the past year&quot;.

According to a report by New World Wealth, the United States is the wealthiest country in the world

India has been ranked sixth in the list of wealthiest countries with a total wealth of $8,230 billion, while the United States topped the chart, says a report. According to a report by New World Wealth, the United States is the wealthiest country in the world as the total wealth held in 2017 amounted to $64,584 billion, followed by China at the second place with $24,803 billion and Japan with $19,522 billion at third. Total wealth refers to the private wealth held by all the individuals living in each country/city. It includes all their assets (property, cash, equities, business interests) less any liabilities. The report, however, excludes government funds from its figures. Others in the list include United Kingdom (4th, $9,919 billion), Germany (5th, $9,660 billion), France (7th, $6,649 billion), Canada (8th, $6,393 billion), Australia (9th, $6,142 billion) and Italy (10th, $4,276 billion). The report further noted that India was the best-performing wealth market globally in 2017 as its total wealth swelled from $6,584 billion in 2016 to $8,230 billion in 2017, registering a 25 per cent growth. Meanwhile, during the period under consideration, China's wealth saw an increase of 22 per cent and global wealth rose by 12 per cent (from $192 trillion at the end of 2016 to $215 trillion at the end of 2017). Over the past decade (2007-2017) India's total wealth increased from $3,165 billion in 2007 to $8,230 billion in 2017, a jump of 160 per cent. The report further noted that India is home to 3,30,400 HNWIs (individuals with $1 million or more in net assets). Globally, India was ranked 9th in this aspect while US topped the list with 50,47,400 HNWIs (high-net-worth individuals). India is also home to 20,730 multi-millionaires, 7th largest in the world. And in terms of resident billionaires, India with 119 such individuals was named among the top three countries globally, after the US and China. A billionaire is defined as an individual with $1 billion or more in net assets. "In general, it was a good year for all W10 (wealthiest 10) markets, thanks to strong global stock market gains - the MSCI world index was up 23 per cent and the Dow Jones (DJIA) was up 26 per cent during the year (in USD terms)," the report said, adding "wealth held in China, India, USA, Japan and Australia all grew strongly over the past year".

India ranked sixth wealthiest country with total wealth of $8,230 billion: Report

Poland`s president on Sunday promised to review a new bill regarding the Holocaust and the definition of Nazi death camps, after the measure sparked a diplomatic row with Israel.

Poland`s rightwing-dominated parliament on Friday adopted legislation that sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish.&nbsp;

The measure, intended to apply to both Poles and foreigners, must still pass the Polish Senate before being signed by President Andrzej Duda.

In a statement on Sunday, Duda said he would present his &quot;final evaluation of procedural legal provisions after the completion of parliament`s work and a careful analysis of the final shape of the act&quot;.

The bill includes an article that applies a fine or a jail term to anyone who ascribes &quot;responsibility or co-responsibility to the Polish nation or state for crimes committed by the German Third Reich -- or other crimes against humanity, peace and war crimes&quot;.

Israel`s ambassador to Poland Anna Azari told the Polish PAP news agency that Israel believes the latter article could open the door to Holocaust survivors being prosecuted for their testimony should it concern the involvement of Poles in war crimes.

Azari said that while Israel`s government rejects the legislation, it also &quot;understands&quot; who built death camps like Auschwitz and that it was &quot;not the Poles&quot;.

A top Duda aide is due to meet with Azari on Monday in Warsaw. Israel`s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland of seeking to deny history with the bill.

&quot;We have no tolerance for the distortion of the truth and rewriting history or denying the Holocaust,&quot; he said on Sunday.&nbsp;

The Israeli leader later spoke with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki on the phone and the pair agreed to &quot;immediately open a dialogue&quot; to reach an understanding about the legislation, Netanyahu`s office said.&nbsp;

The call came hours after Israel summoned a top Polish diplomat to ask for clarification about the bill.

The Israeli foreign ministry said the timing of the legislation, which was adopted by parliament the day before Holocaust Memorial Day, was &quot;particularly surprising and regrettable&quot;.&nbsp;

Duda earlier appeared to address Israel`s concerns by saying that &quot;everyone whose personal memory or historical research speaks the truth about the crimes and shameful behaviour that occurred in the past with the participation of Poles has full right to this truth&quot;.

Polish officials routinely request corrections when global media or politicians describe as &quot;Polish&quot; the former death camps such as Auschwitz set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland.Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, said it opposed the new legislation, but also noted there was &quot;no doubt that the term `Polish death camps` is a historical misrepresentation&quot;.

&quot;However, restrictions on statements by scholars and others regarding the direct or indirect complicity of Polish people with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust are a serious distortion,&quot; it said.

Pre-war Poland was a Jewish heartland, with a centuries-old community numbering some 3.2 million, around 10 percent of the country`s population.

When the country was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, it lost six million of its citizens -- including three million Jews in the Holocaust.&nbsp;

Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki reacted via Twitter on Sunday with a metaphor referring to the fate of his country`s Jewish and non-Jewish citizens during the war.

&quot;A gang of professional thugs enters a two-family house. They kill the first family almost entirely. They kill the parents of the second, torturing the kids. They loot and raze the house. Could one, in good conscience, say that the second family is guilty for the murder of the first?,&quot; he asked.

After attending Saturday`s ceremonies in Auschwitz to mark the 73rd anniversary of its liberation Morawiecki, a trained historian, also remarked that &quot;Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase&quot;.

He was referring to the words on the Nazi camp`s infamous wrought-iron gate that mean &quot;Work makes you free&quot; in German.

Poland`s rightwing-dominated parliament on Friday adopted legislation that sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish

Poland`s president on Sunday promised to review a new bill regarding the Holocaust and the definition of Nazi death camps, after the measure sparked a diplomatic row with Israel. Poland`s rightwing-dominated parliament on Friday adopted legislation that sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish. The measure, intended to apply to both Poles and foreigners, must still pass the Polish Senate before being signed by President Andrzej Duda. In a statement on Sunday, Duda said he would present his "final evaluation of procedural legal provisions after the completion of parliament`s work and a careful analysis of the final shape of the act". The bill includes an article that applies a fine or a jail term to anyone who ascribes "responsibility or co-responsibility to the Polish nation or state for crimes committed by the German Third Reich -- or other crimes against humanity, peace and war crimes". Israel`s ambassador to Poland Anna Azari told the Polish PAP news agency that Israel believes the latter article could open the door to Holocaust survivors being prosecuted for their testimony should it concern the involvement of Poles in war crimes. Azari said that while Israel`s government rejects the legislation, it also "understands" who built death camps like Auschwitz and that it was "not the Poles". A top Duda aide is due to meet with Azari on Monday in Warsaw. Israel`s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland of seeking to deny history with the bill. "We have no tolerance for the distortion of the truth and rewriting history or denying the Holocaust," he said on Sunday. The Israeli leader later spoke with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki on the phone and the pair agreed to "immediately open a dialogue" to reach an understanding about the legislation, Netanyahu`s office said. The call came hours after Israel summoned a top Polish diplomat to ask for clarification about the bill. The Israeli foreign ministry said the timing of the legislation, which was adopted by parliament the day before Holocaust Memorial Day, was "particularly surprising and regrettable". Duda earlier appeared to address Israel`s concerns by saying that "everyone whose personal memory or historical research speaks the truth about the crimes and shameful behaviour that occurred in the past with the participation of Poles has full right to this truth". Polish officials routinely request corrections when global media or politicians describe as "Polish" the former death camps such as Auschwitz set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland.Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, said it opposed the new legislation, but also noted there was "no doubt that the term `Polish death camps` is a historical misrepresentation". "However, restrictions on statements by scholars and others regarding the direct or indirect complicity of Polish people with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust are a serious distortion," it said. Pre-war Poland was a Jewish heartland, with a centuries-old community numbering some 3.2 million, around 10 percent of the country`s population. When the country was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, it lost six million of its citizens -- including three million Jews in the Holocaust. Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki reacted via Twitter on Sunday with a metaphor referring to the fate of his country`s Jewish and non-Jewish citizens during the war. "A gang of professional thugs enters a two-family house. They kill the first family almost entirely. They kill the parents of the second, torturing the kids. They loot and raze the house. Could one, in good conscience, say that the second family is guilty for the murder of the first?," he asked. After attending Saturday`s ceremonies in Auschwitz to mark the 73rd anniversary of its liberation Morawiecki, a trained historian, also remarked that "Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase". He was referring to the words on the Nazi camp`s infamous wrought-iron gate that mean "Work makes you free" in German.

Poland president to review Holocaust bill after Israeli concern

Germany&#39;s Angelique Kerber beat Australia&#39;s Ashleigh Barty in straight sets to win the Sydney International for her ninth consecutive win of the new season on Saturday.

With this win Kerber cracks top 20 again, going to the 14th place. She will definitely be among the ones to watch at the Australian Open.

The former world No.1 was too strong for Barty, winning the final 6-4, 6-4 to give her a massive confidence boost for next week&#39;s Australian Open in Melbourne.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
...that winning feeling ???????????????? <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyTennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyTennis</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamAngie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamAngie</a> #????11 <a href="https://t.co/YNpKdUh1sM">pic.twitter.com/YNpKdUh1sM</a>
&mdash; Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) <a href="https://twitter.com/AngeliqueKerber/status/952095249907830785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

It was Kerber&#39;s second win over the 19th-ranked Barty in three meetings.

Kerber, who began last year as No.1 before finishing at No.22, continued her 2018 resurgence and remains unbeaten this year.

Kerber won her four matches at last week&#39;s mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth before her five victories in Sydney.

It was the first time an Australian woman featured in the Sydney International final since 2005 when Alicia Molik took the title over Sam Stosur.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kerber defeated Australia's Barty in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 after an hour and 11 minutes long rally

Germany's Angelique Kerber beat Australia's Ashleigh Barty in straight sets to win the Sydney International for her ninth consecutive win of the new season on Saturday. With this win Kerber cracks top 20 again, going to the 14th place. She will definitely be among the ones to watch at the Australian Open. The former world No.1 was too strong for Barty, winning the final 6-4, 6-4 to give her a massive confidence boost for next week's Australian Open in Melbourne. ...that winning feeling ???????????????? @SydneyTennis #TeamAngie #????11 pic.twitter.com/YNpKdUh1sM — Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) January 13, 2018 × It was Kerber's second win over the 19th-ranked Barty in three meetings. Kerber, who began last year as No.1 before finishing at No.22, continued her 2018 resurgence and remains unbeaten this year. Kerber won her four matches at last week's mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth before her five victories in Sydney. It was the first time an Australian woman featured in the Sydney International final since 2005 when Alicia Molik took the title over Sam Stosur.

Angelique Kerber beats Ashleigh Barty to win Sydney International

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

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

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

Merkel risks leading weak 'losers' coalition for Germany

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

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

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

No Grand Coalition! Opponents of Merkel alliance hit the road

US President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, keeping a landmark 2015 deal alive for now.

The Republican leader grudgingly agreed to sign sanctions waivers, ensuring Washington will live up to its commitments for another 120 days, but he cautioned it would be &quot;for the last time.&quot;

During that four-month period, he wants Congress and America&#39;s main European allies to draw up a new deal -- without negotiating with Tehran -- to replace the &quot;disastrous flaws&quot; in the current agreement.

&quot;Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal,&quot; Trump said in a statement.

&quot;Instead, I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deal`s disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw.&quot;

The new deal -- which Trump envisions as being outlined in US law and involving Britain, France and Germany -- would impose tougher controls on Iran if sanctions relief is to continue.

In particular, it will not begin to expire after 10 years as parts of the existing deal do, but instead would impose permanent restrictions on not just Iran&#39;s nuclear plants but also its missile program.

&quot;These provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon -- not just for 10 years, but forever,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume.&quot;

Trump is also urging Congress to reform US law so the president is no longer required to declare every 90 days whether he thinks Iran is in compliance, or to renew sanctions waivers every 120 or 180 days.

Iran&#39;s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, took to Twitter to describe Trump&#39;s decision and the announcement as &quot;desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement.&quot;

The 2015 deal, he said, &quot;is not renegotiable. Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance -- just like Iran.&quot;Trump&#39;s decision was announced alongside another package of new sanctions -- punishing not Iran&#39;s nuclear program, but its alleged abuse of human rights in a crackdown on recent street protests.

The most prominent new name on the Treasury sanctions blacklist, which forbids Americans from doing business with the targets, is the head of Iran&#39;s judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani.

The US Treasury said Larijani, the brother of Iran&#39;s parliamentary speaker and former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, is to blame for the torture and degrading treatment of prisoners.

Washington policy hawks hailed Trump&#39;s decision, which they said would concentrate minds in Europe, where leaders have urged the US president not to sabotage a deal they see as a landmark diplomatic success.

&quot;So Trump now has issued explicit May deadline to Congress and Europeans: Fix Iran nuke deal or no more sanctions waivers,&quot; wrote Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.&nbsp;

&quot;Is he bluffing? I don`t think so. Busy four months ahead.&quot;

But supporters of the existing deal between Iran and six world powers, including the former officials in Barack Obama&#39;s administration who negotiated it, denounced Trump&#39;s plan.

Diplomacy Works, a pressure group set up by former secretary of state John Kerry to defend the deal, was scathing.

&quot;Today, we learned that the president`s plan includes bullying our allies into fundamentally altering the terms of a deal that they know is working for our mutual security and have publicly stated they have no interest in amending,&quot; it said.

The other signatories to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- and the European Union, which oversaw the talks, were watching carefully.

The British and German foreign ministries said they had taken note of the decision and would confer with France before deciding on a course of action.

&quot;The UK has a clear position on the Iran nuclear deal: we regard it as a crucial agreement that makes the world a safer place by neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran,&quot; the British Foreign Office said.

The EU said it would hold internal consultations and was &quot;committed to the continued full and effective implementation&quot; of the deal.

America&#39;s allies see the accord as the best way to thwart Iran`s nuclear ambitions and a victory for multilateral diplomacy. Tehran categorically denies it is seeking to develop atomic weapons.

But Trump argues that Obama gave away too much to Iran in sanctions relief, without forcing the Islamic republic to end its ballistic missile program and support for militant groups.

While there may be some relief that Trump has yet to torpedo the hard-won accord, there were clear signs of frustration from European capitals in the runup to the decision.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron called Trump on Thursday and stressed France`s determination to see &quot;the strict application of the deal and the importance of all the signatories to respect it.&quot;

And Russia spoke out strongly in favor of the accord, calling it &quot;the result of a consensus among many parties.&quot;

UN inspectors have certified Iran`s compliance with the deal nine times, most recently in November.

The new deal -- which Trump envisions as being outlined in US law and involving Britain, France and Germany -- would impose tougher controls on Iran if sanctions relief is to continue

US President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, keeping a landmark 2015 deal alive for now. The Republican leader grudgingly agreed to sign sanctions waivers, ensuring Washington will live up to its commitments for another 120 days, but he cautioned it would be "for the last time." During that four-month period, he wants Congress and America's main European allies to draw up a new deal -- without negotiating with Tehran -- to replace the "disastrous flaws" in the current agreement. "Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said in a statement. "Instead, I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deal`s disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw." The new deal -- which Trump envisions as being outlined in US law and involving Britain, France and Germany -- would impose tougher controls on Iran if sanctions relief is to continue. In particular, it will not begin to expire after 10 years as parts of the existing deal do, but instead would impose permanent restrictions on not just Iran's nuclear plants but also its missile program. "These provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon -- not just for 10 years, but forever," Trump said. "If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume." Trump is also urging Congress to reform US law so the president is no longer required to declare every 90 days whether he thinks Iran is in compliance, or to renew sanctions waivers every 120 or 180 days. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, took to Twitter to describe Trump's decision and the announcement as "desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement." The 2015 deal, he said, "is not renegotiable. Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance -- just like Iran."Trump's decision was announced alongside another package of new sanctions -- punishing not Iran's nuclear program, but its alleged abuse of human rights in a crackdown on recent street protests. The most prominent new name on the Treasury sanctions blacklist, which forbids Americans from doing business with the targets, is the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani. The US Treasury said Larijani, the brother of Iran's parliamentary speaker and former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, is to blame for the torture and degrading treatment of prisoners. Washington policy hawks hailed Trump's decision, which they said would concentrate minds in Europe, where leaders have urged the US president not to sabotage a deal they see as a landmark diplomatic success. "So Trump now has issued explicit May deadline to Congress and Europeans: Fix Iran nuke deal or no more sanctions waivers," wrote Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Is he bluffing? I don`t think so. Busy four months ahead." But supporters of the existing deal between Iran and six world powers, including the former officials in Barack Obama's administration who negotiated it, denounced Trump's plan. Diplomacy Works, a pressure group set up by former secretary of state John Kerry to defend the deal, was scathing. "Today, we learned that the president`s plan includes bullying our allies into fundamentally altering the terms of a deal that they know is working for our mutual security and have publicly stated they have no interest in amending," it said. The other signatories to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- and the European Union, which oversaw the talks, were watching carefully. The British and German foreign ministries said they had taken note of the decision and would confer with France before deciding on a course of action. "The UK has a clear position on the Iran nuclear deal: we regard it as a crucial agreement that makes the world a safer place by neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran," the British Foreign Office said. The EU said it would hold internal consultations and was "committed to the continued full and effective implementation" of the deal. America's allies see the accord as the best way to thwart Iran`s nuclear ambitions and a victory for multilateral diplomacy. Tehran categorically denies it is seeking to develop atomic weapons. But Trump argues that Obama gave away too much to Iran in sanctions relief, without forcing the Islamic republic to end its ballistic missile program and support for militant groups. While there may be some relief that Trump has yet to torpedo the hard-won accord, there were clear signs of frustration from European capitals in the runup to the decision. French President Emmanuel Macron called Trump on Thursday and stressed France`s determination to see "the strict application of the deal and the importance of all the signatories to respect it." And Russia spoke out strongly in favor of the accord, calling it "the result of a consensus among many parties." UN inspectors have certified Iran`s compliance with the deal nine times, most recently in November.

Trump issues stay of execution for Iran nuclear deal

Germany&#39;s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday hosts his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu for talks as Berlin and Ankara try to end a festering crisis.

Relations between the NATO partners have been badly strained, especially since Turkey&#39;s 2016 failed coup and subsequent crackdown which saw tens of thousands arrested, including several German or dual citizens.

Germany, home to a three-million-strong ethnic Turkish community, last year advised its investors and holiday-makers to avoid Turkey and urged a cut in EU funding linked to its stalled membership talks.

However, Ankara has in recent weeks sent a flurry of signals that it wants a return to warmer relations with the EU and Germany, at a time it is on tense terms with the United States, Israel and some Gulf states.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having declared last month that Turkey &quot;must reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends&quot;, met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris Friday.

Adding a personal touch to Saturday&#39;s talks, Gabriel has invited Turkey&#39;s foreign minister to his home town of Goslar, after the two had meet in November in Cavusoglu`s southern home region of Antalya.

Following press statements around 1000 GMT, Gabriel will take his guest on a stroll through the heritage-listed medieval old town of Goslar, situated near Brunswick on the slopes of the Harz mountains.

Cavusoglu in a newspaper commentary Friday urged an end to the &quot;megaphone diplomacy&quot; between Turkey and Germany and a &quot;fresh start&quot; based on friendship and cooperation between &quot;equal partners&quot;.

Germany also sought a &quot;step by step&quot; rapprochement and said Saturday&#39;s talks would cover a full range of topics including the &quot;difficult&quot; ones, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.The main hurdle now is the detention of Die Welt daily&#39;s German-Turkish correspondent Deniz Yucel on terror charges since last February, and of another six Germans Berlin says are jailed for &quot;political reasons&quot;.

Turkey has in recent weeks released several of the Germans whom Gabriel has labelled &quot;hostages&quot;, among them journalist Mesale Tolu.

Hopes grew that Yucel&#39;s case too could be resolved after the Turkish government this week addressed it for the first time in 10 months with a submission to the constitutional court, which could soon rule on whether to release him from pre-trial detention.

Cavusoglu stressed the independence of Turkish courts but pledged that &quot;we`re doing everything in our political power to speed up the judicial process&quot;.

The bilateral crisis of recent years has been fuelled by other disputes -- over a German TV comic harshly lampooning Erdogan, a 2016 German parliamentary resolution on the Armenian genocide, and Turkey denying military base visits to German MPs.

Ankara has accused Berlin of failing to pursue followers of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom it blames for the 2016 coup attempt, and of failing to crack down on Kurdish militants.

When Germany last year repeatedly denied Turkish politicians&#39;&nbsp;requests to campaign for votes among the Turkish-German community, Ankara accused the government of &quot;Nazi methods&quot;.

But Gabriel recently suggested to news weekly Der Spiegel that Western countries should tone down lecturing Erdogan&#39;s Turkey on democratic values because it could be counterproductive.

Calling for an &quot;enlightened debate&quot; on the issue, Gabriel said that &quot;to constantly accuse each other of betraying values will neither get someone out of jail nor will it strengthen us&quot;.

Relations between the NATO partners have been badly strained, especially since Turkey's 2016 failed coup

Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday hosts his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu for talks as Berlin and Ankara try to end a festering crisis. Relations between the NATO partners have been badly strained, especially since Turkey's 2016 failed coup and subsequent crackdown which saw tens of thousands arrested, including several German or dual citizens. Germany, home to a three-million-strong ethnic Turkish community, last year advised its investors and holiday-makers to avoid Turkey and urged a cut in EU funding linked to its stalled membership talks. However, Ankara has in recent weeks sent a flurry of signals that it wants a return to warmer relations with the EU and Germany, at a time it is on tense terms with the United States, Israel and some Gulf states. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having declared last month that Turkey "must reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends", met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris Friday. Adding a personal touch to Saturday's talks, Gabriel has invited Turkey's foreign minister to his home town of Goslar, after the two had meet in November in Cavusoglu`s southern home region of Antalya. Following press statements around 1000 GMT, Gabriel will take his guest on a stroll through the heritage-listed medieval old town of Goslar, situated near Brunswick on the slopes of the Harz mountains. Cavusoglu in a newspaper commentary Friday urged an end to the "megaphone diplomacy" between Turkey and Germany and a "fresh start" based on friendship and cooperation between "equal partners". Germany also sought a "step by step" rapprochement and said Saturday's talks would cover a full range of topics including the "difficult" ones, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.The main hurdle now is the detention of Die Welt daily's German-Turkish correspondent Deniz Yucel on terror charges since last February, and of another six Germans Berlin says are jailed for "political reasons". Turkey has in recent weeks released several of the Germans whom Gabriel has labelled "hostages", among them journalist Mesale Tolu. Hopes grew that Yucel's case too could be resolved after the Turkish government this week addressed it for the first time in 10 months with a submission to the constitutional court, which could soon rule on whether to release him from pre-trial detention. Cavusoglu stressed the independence of Turkish courts but pledged that "we`re doing everything in our political power to speed up the judicial process". The bilateral crisis of recent years has been fuelled by other disputes -- over a German TV comic harshly lampooning Erdogan, a 2016 German parliamentary resolution on the Armenian genocide, and Turkey denying military base visits to German MPs. Ankara has accused Berlin of failing to pursue followers of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom it blames for the 2016 coup attempt, and of failing to crack down on Kurdish militants. When Germany last year repeatedly denied Turkish politicians' requests to campaign for votes among the Turkish-German community, Ankara accused the government of "Nazi methods". But Gabriel recently suggested to news weekly Der Spiegel that Western countries should tone down lecturing Erdogan's Turkey on democratic values because it could be counterproductive. Calling for an "enlightened debate" on the issue, Gabriel said that "to constantly accuse each other of betraying values will neither get someone out of jail nor will it strengthen us".

German, Turkish top diplomats meet to ease row

The United States and Germany called on China to immediately release a prominent human rights activist who was jailed for eight years on Tuesday for subversion, the harshest sentence passed in a recent crackdown on activism.

Wu Gan, a blogger better known by his online name &quot;Super Vulgar Butcher&quot;, regularly championed sensitive cases of government abuses of power, both online and in street protests. He was detained in May 2015 and charged with subversion.

In a separate case, also on Tuesday, rights lawyer Xie Yang avoided criminal punishment despite being found guilty of inciting subversion, because he admitted his crimes.

&quot;We call on the Chinese authorities to release Wu immediately,&quot; the US&nbsp;and Germany embassies in China said in a joint statement.

&quot;As Xie has been exempted from punishment, we urge China to allow Xie to resume his professional activities without preconditions and be free of any restrictions.&quot;

China&#39;s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Beijing frequently denounces foreign concern about rights cases as an interference in China&#39;s internal affairs and says China is a country with rule of law.

Wu&#39;s sentence was the most severe in what rights groups have called an unprecedented attack on China&#39;s rights activists and lawyers, known as the 709 crackdown, which began in full force on July 9, 2015.

The hardline approach has shown no sign of softening as Chinese President Xi Jinping enters his second five-year term in office. 
&nbsp;

The United States and Germany called on China to immediately release a prominent human rights activist who was jailed for eight years on Tuesday for subversion, the harshest sentence passed in a recent crackdown on activism

The United States and Germany called on China to immediately release a prominent human rights activist who was jailed for eight years on Tuesday for subversion, the harshest sentence passed in a recent crackdown on activism. Wu Gan, a blogger better known by his online name "Super Vulgar Butcher", regularly championed sensitive cases of government abuses of power, both online and in street protests. He was detained in May 2015 and charged with subversion. In a separate case, also on Tuesday, rights lawyer Xie Yang avoided criminal punishment despite being found guilty of inciting subversion, because he admitted his crimes. "We call on the Chinese authorities to release Wu immediately," the US and Germany embassies in China said in a joint statement. "As Xie has been exempted from punishment, we urge China to allow Xie to resume his professional activities without preconditions and be free of any restrictions." China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Beijing frequently denounces foreign concern about rights cases as an interference in China's internal affairs and says China is a country with rule of law. Wu's sentence was the most severe in what rights groups have called an unprecedented attack on China's rights activists and lawyers, known as the 709 crackdown, which began in full force on July 9, 2015. The hardline approach has shown no sign of softening as Chinese President Xi Jinping enters his second five-year term in office.

US, Germany urge China to release jailed activist

An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany&#39;s foreign minister said.

Britain secured the go-ahead from Brussels to start talks on its future relationship with the EU earlier this month, with London saying it aspires to a closer relationship as a former member than that of any other third country.

In an interview with the Funke newspaper group published on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said such a deal could offer a solution to the puzzle of how the bloc of 27 can manage its ties with two other large non-members.

&quot;I can&#39;t imagine Turkey or Ukraine becoming EU members in the next few years,&quot; he said. &quot;If we get a smart agreement with Britain regulating relations with Europe after Brexit, that could be a model for other countries - Ukraine and also Turkey.&quot;

Turkey, a candidate for EU membership for decades, already has a customs union with the EU which allows the trade of most goods without tariffs.

One possibility would be to offer Ankara a &quot;new, closer form of the customs union&quot;, Gabriel said, although he also said such a project would have to wait for changes in Turkey&#39;s political environment.

Thousands of people, including German citizens, have been detained in Turkey as part of a government crackdown since a failed coup in 2016.

An agreement between the EU and Ukraine on a &quot;deep and comprehensive free trade area&quot; formally came into force in September, aimed at allowing free trade of goods, services and capital, and visa-free travel for people for short stays.

Ukraine&#39;s desire for closer ties with the EU was one of the driving forces behind a popular revolt that toppled a pro-Russian president in 2014, leading Moscow to seize Ukraine&#39;s Crimea peninsula and back pro-Russian separatists in a still-unresolved conflict in the east of the country.

Gabriel&#39;s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is preparing for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel`s conservatives on governing together for another four years.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said such a deal could offer a solution to the puzzle of how the bloc of 27 can manage its ties with two other large non-members.

An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany's foreign minister said. Britain secured the go-ahead from Brussels to start talks on its future relationship with the EU earlier this month, with London saying it aspires to a closer relationship as a former member than that of any other third country. In an interview with the Funke newspaper group published on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said such a deal could offer a solution to the puzzle of how the bloc of 27 can manage its ties with two other large non-members. "I can't imagine Turkey or Ukraine becoming EU members in the next few years," he said. "If we get a smart agreement with Britain regulating relations with Europe after Brexit, that could be a model for other countries - Ukraine and also Turkey." Turkey, a candidate for EU membership for decades, already has a customs union with the EU which allows the trade of most goods without tariffs. One possibility would be to offer Ankara a "new, closer form of the customs union", Gabriel said, although he also said such a project would have to wait for changes in Turkey's political environment. Thousands of people, including German citizens, have been detained in Turkey as part of a government crackdown since a failed coup in 2016. An agreement between the EU and Ukraine on a "deep and comprehensive free trade area" formally came into force in September, aimed at allowing free trade of goods, services and capital, and visa-free travel for people for short stays. Ukraine's desire for closer ties with the EU was one of the driving forces behind a popular revolt that toppled a pro-Russian president in 2014, leading Moscow to seize Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and back pro-Russian separatists in a still-unresolved conflict in the east of the country. Gabriel's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is preparing for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel`s conservatives on governing together for another four years.

Brexit deal could be template for EU ties to Ukraine, Turkey: German foreign minister

A German intelligence service has released a list of social network profiles warning the public officials about the risk of leaking valuable personal information through social media.&nbsp;

The domestic intelligence has claimed that these social network profiles were faked by Chinese intelligence.&nbsp;

It said that the Chinese intelligence collects personal information relating to German officials and politicians through these social network profiles.&nbsp;

The German domestic intelligence has listed out individual profiles which it believes are fake.&nbsp;

A media report quoted BfV saying &quot;Chinese intelligence services are active on networks like LinkedIn and have been trying for a while to extract information and find intelligence sources in this way,&quot; including seeking data on users&#39; habits, hobbies and political interests&quot;.

The claims of the German intelligence service are based on a research of nine months.&nbsp;

The research revealed that over 10,000 German citizens had been contacted on the Linkedin professional networking by fake profiles. The profiles were disguised as headhunters, consultants, think-tankers or scholars.&nbsp;

It also added that there may be many more fake profiles that are yet not identified. 
Some of the fake profiles mentioned&nbsp;were &quot;Rachel Li&quot;, identified as a &quot;headhunter&quot; at &quot;RiseHR&quot;, and an &quot;Alex Li&quot;, a &quot;Project Manager at Center for Sino-Europe Development Studies&quot;.

The intelligence said that the display picture of these fake accounts had stylish and visually appealing young men and woman.&nbsp;

The service has invited the users to&nbsp;help in&nbsp;accessing suspected&nbsp;social media profiles.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A German intelligence service has released a list of social network profiles warning the public officials about the risk of leaking valuable personal information through fake social media

A German intelligence service has released a list of social network profiles warning the public officials about the risk of leaking valuable personal information through social media. The domestic intelligence has claimed that these social network profiles were faked by Chinese intelligence. It said that the Chinese intelligence collects personal information relating to German officials and politicians through these social network profiles. The German domestic intelligence has listed out individual profiles which it believes are fake. A media report quoted BfV saying "Chinese intelligence services are active on networks like LinkedIn and have been trying for a while to extract information and find intelligence sources in this way," including seeking data on users' habits, hobbies and political interests". The claims of the German intelligence service are based on a research of nine months. The research revealed that over 10,000 German citizens had been contacted on the Linkedin professional networking by fake profiles. The profiles were disguised as headhunters, consultants, think-tankers or scholars. It also added that there may be many more fake profiles that are yet not identified. Some of the fake profiles mentioned were "Rachel Li", identified as a "headhunter" at "RiseHR", and an "Alex Li", a "Project Manager at Center for Sino-Europe Development Studies". The intelligence said that the display picture of these fake accounts had stylish and visually appealing young men and woman. The service has invited the users to help in accessing suspected social media profiles.

German intelligence warns citizen of fake Chinese social network profiles

German exports fell unexpectedly in October while vibrant domestic demand pushed up imports, narrowing its trade surplus and adding to evidence that Europe&#39;s biggest economy started the fourth quarter on a weak footing, data showed on Friday.

The German economy, which is expected to grow by more than 2 percent this year, is enjoying a consumer-led upswing, propelled by record-high employment, rising real wages, moderate inflation, and ultra-low borrowing costs.&nbsp;

Seasonally adjusted exports edged down by 0.4 per cent on the month while imports jumped by 1.8 per cent, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed. The exports figure confounded expectations for a 1.0 per cent rise while imports beat a forecast for a 1.1 per cent increase.

&quot;German industry has gone through a small roller coaster ride since the start of the summer&quot;, ING economist Carsten Brzeski said, adding that disappointing numbers had been followed by impressive rebounds.&nbsp;

&quot;Behind the vacation and weather-driven white noise of monthly data, however, there is a clear upward trend. The export sector has once more become an important growth driver in 2017&quot;, Brzeski&nbsp;continued.

A breakdown of unadjusted figures showed that German imports from other European Union countries surged by 10.1 per cent while those from countries outside the bloc rose by 4.8 per cent.&nbsp;The seasonally adjusted trade surplus narrowed to 19.9 billion euros from an upwardly revised 21.9 billion euros in September. The October reading was lower than the Reuters consensus forecast for 21.8 billion euros.

Germany&#39;s wider current account surplus, which measures the flow of goods, services, and investments, fell to 18.1 billion euros after an upwardly revised reading of 25.8 billion euros in September, unadjusted data showed.&nbsp;

The trade figures followed economic data released on Thursday that showed industrial output fell unexpectedly in October - a drop economists linked to public holidays that let workers take long weekends.

The weak figures came after data on Wednesday showed that industrial orders had risen unexpectedly in October, suggesting that output could bounce back in the coming months.&nbsp;Rising exports and business investment in equipment helped the German economy to shift into a higher gear in the third quarter - it expanded by 0.8 per cent on the quarter, up from 0.6 per cent in the previous three months.

&quot;This week&#39;s industrial data show that even the German economy can have weaker moments&quot;, Brzeski said, adding that the fourth quarter could bring a slowdown in overall growth.&nbsp;For 2017 as a whole, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research predicts economic growth of 2.3 per cent which would translate into a calendar-adjusted expansion rate of 2.6 per cent - the fastest pace in six years.

Europe's second-biggest economy - Germany - takes a hit as it sees an unexpected decline in exports sector

German exports fell unexpectedly in October while vibrant domestic demand pushed up imports, narrowing its trade surplus and adding to evidence that Europe's biggest economy started the fourth quarter on a weak footing, data showed on Friday. The German economy, which is expected to grow by more than 2 percent this year, is enjoying a consumer-led upswing, propelled by record-high employment, rising real wages, moderate inflation, and ultra-low borrowing costs. Seasonally adjusted exports edged down by 0.4 per cent on the month while imports jumped by 1.8 per cent, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed. The exports figure confounded expectations for a 1.0 per cent rise while imports beat a forecast for a 1.1 per cent increase. "German industry has gone through a small roller coaster ride since the start of the summer", ING economist Carsten Brzeski said, adding that disappointing numbers had been followed by impressive rebounds. "Behind the vacation and weather-driven white noise of monthly data, however, there is a clear upward trend. The export sector has once more become an important growth driver in 2017", Brzeski continued. A breakdown of unadjusted figures showed that German imports from other European Union countries surged by 10.1 per cent while those from countries outside the bloc rose by 4.8 per cent. The seasonally adjusted trade surplus narrowed to 19.9 billion euros from an upwardly revised 21.9 billion euros in September. The October reading was lower than the Reuters consensus forecast for 21.8 billion euros. Germany's wider current account surplus, which measures the flow of goods, services, and investments, fell to 18.1 billion euros after an upwardly revised reading of 25.8 billion euros in September, unadjusted data showed. The trade figures followed economic data released on Thursday that showed industrial output fell unexpectedly in October - a drop economists linked to public holidays that let workers take long weekends. The weak figures came after data on Wednesday showed that industrial orders had risen unexpectedly in October, suggesting that output could bounce back in the coming months. Rising exports and business investment in equipment helped the German economy to shift into a higher gear in the third quarter - it expanded by 0.8 per cent on the quarter, up from 0.6 per cent in the previous three months. "This week's industrial data show that even the German economy can have weaker moments", Brzeski said, adding that the fourth quarter could bring a slowdown in overall growth. For 2017 as a whole, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research predicts economic growth of 2.3 per cent which would translate into a calendar-adjusted expansion rate of 2.6 per cent - the fastest pace in six years.

Unexpected decline in German exports narrows trade surplus

The leader of Germany&#39;s Social Democrats (SPD) took aim at US&nbsp;technology firms Apple, Facebook and Google on Thursday, saying a strong Europe was needed to make sure they stick to the rules.

Martin Schulz, who hopes to persuade his party to approve talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on forming a new coalition, told a congress of his SPD party that Ireland was complicit in allowing companies like Apple to avoid billions of euros in tax.

He also called for the creation of a European finance minister, who should fight tax evasion by reining in the race to the bottom in tax policy among member states.

&quot;Only a strong Europe can force platform giants like Facebook and Google to respect our rules and basic rights,&quot; he said.

The leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) took aim at US?technology firms Apple, Facebook and Google on Thursday, saying a strong Europe was needed to make sure they stick to the rules

The leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) took aim at US technology firms Apple, Facebook and Google on Thursday, saying a strong Europe was needed to make sure they stick to the rules. Martin Schulz, who hopes to persuade his party to approve talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on forming a new coalition, told a congress of his SPD party that Ireland was complicit in allowing companies like Apple to avoid billions of euros in tax. He also called for the creation of a European finance minister, who should fight tax evasion by reining in the race to the bottom in tax policy among member states. "Only a strong Europe can force platform giants like Facebook and Google to respect our rules and basic rights," he said.

German SPD leader takes aim at US tech giants

Close to 50 people were reported injured in a collision that happened near the German city of Duesseldorf, said the local police. No immediate reason for the crash was given. The mishap happened between a passenger train and a freight train at around 7:30 pm (local time) in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. State rail operator Deutsche Bahn reported North Rhine-Westphalia as Germany&#39;s most populous region.

The train had around 100 passengers on board, a National Express spokesman told Bild newspaper. The regional express train carrying passengers is run by the privately-owned British operator National Express, while the cargo train is operated by DB Cargo, it added.

&quot;DB, the relevant authorities and the rescue services are working at the scene to provide urgent assistance to those affected and to clarify the situation,&quot; Deutsche Bahn said.

There have been reports of another train mishap that occurred&nbsp;in May this year where seven people were lightly injured when a regional train derailed in eastern Germany.

(With inputs from AFP)

A passenger train crashed into a freight train

Close to 50 people were reported injured in a collision that happened near the German city of Duesseldorf, said the local police. No immediate reason for the crash was given. The mishap happened between a passenger train and a freight train at around 7:30 pm (local time) in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. State rail operator Deutsche Bahn reported North Rhine-Westphalia as Germany's most populous region. The train had around 100 passengers on board, a National Express spokesman told Bild newspaper. The regional express train carrying passengers is run by the privately-owned British operator National Express, while the cargo train is operated by DB Cargo, it added. "DB, the relevant authorities and the rescue services are working at the scene to provide urgent assistance to those affected and to clarify the situation," Deutsche Bahn said. There have been reports of another train mishap that occurred in May this year where seven people were lightly injured when a regional train derailed in eastern Germany. (With inputs from AFP)

Fifty injured in German train collision: Police

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

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

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

Germany's SPD lay out position for talks with Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday she aimed to get a government in place as quickly as possible after she was left scrambling to find a way to govern when three-way coalition talks collapsed last Sunday.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/merkels-fourth-term-in-doubt-as-talks-on-forming-coalition-government-fail-24606">Merkel&#39;s fourth term in doubt as&nbsp;talks on forming coalition government fail</a>

&quot;Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly,&quot; Merkel told a party meeting, adding, however, that her acting government was able to carry on day to day business in Europe`s biggest economy.

She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel`s conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect.&nbsp;

She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel`s conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday she aimed to get a government in place as quickly as possible after she was left scrambling to find a way to govern when three-way coalition talks collapsed last Sunday. Also read: Merkel's fourth term in doubt as talks on forming coalition government fail "Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly," Merkel told a party meeting, adding, however, that her acting government was able to carry on day to day business in Europe`s biggest economy. She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel`s conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect.

Germany's Merkel vows to get government in place quickly

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she was ready to lead her party into snap elections rather than risk leading an unstable minority government, after the collapse of coalition talks plunged Germany into a political crisis.

&quot;I&#39;m very sceptical&quot; about a minority government, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD, adding that &quot;new elections would be the better path&quot;.

In a separate interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merkel emphasised that Germany needed a stable government &quot;that does not need to seek a majority for every decision&quot;.

The veteran leader also confirmed that she was ready to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into new elections and said she had not considered stepping down after 12 years in office.&nbsp;

Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe&#39;s biggest economy to hold new elections.

But a new vote could deliver results that are just as inconclusive as September&#39;s, which had prompted Merkel and her conservative CDU-CSU alliance to seek a partnership with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.

Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe's biggest economy to hold new elections

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she was ready to lead her party into snap elections rather than risk leading an unstable minority government, after the collapse of coalition talks plunged Germany into a political crisis. "I'm very sceptical" about a minority government, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD, adding that "new elections would be the better path". In a separate interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merkel emphasised that Germany needed a stable government "that does not need to seek a majority for every decision". The veteran leader also confirmed that she was ready to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into new elections and said she had not considered stepping down after 12 years in office. Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe's biggest economy to hold new elections. But a new vote could deliver results that are just as inconclusive as September's, which had prompted Merkel and her conservative CDU-CSU alliance to seek a partnership with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.

Merkel says new elections 'would be better path' than minority government

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lesser-known-facts-about-angela-merkel-set-to-return-as-germanys-chancellor-20574">Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a</a> compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany.

Merkel&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/germany-prominent-afd-leader-quits-party-hours-after-election-success-20651">conservative party has been trying</a> to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn&#39;t reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made.

FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel&#39;s fourth term in office in peril.

&quot;Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!,&quot; Lindner said.

Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country.

Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats said,&quot;Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details.&quot;

However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: &quot;The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye.&quot;

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria&#39;s Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

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Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes

Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany. Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn't reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made. FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel's fourth term in office in peril. "Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!," Lindner said. Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country. Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel's Christian Democrats said,"Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details." However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely. Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: "The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye." Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria's Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

Merkel's fourth term in doubt as talks on forming coalition government fail

Almost 200 nations kept a 2015 global agreement to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/successful-talk-for-india-at-the-bonn-climate-summit-24438"> tackle climate change</a> on track on Saturday after marathon talks overshadowed by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to pull out.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, presiding at the two-week talks in Bonn, said the outcome &quot;underscores the importance of keeping the momentum and of holding the spirit and vision of our Paris Agreement.&quot;

Delegates agreed to launch a process in 2018 to start reviewing existing plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions as part of a long-term effort to ratchet up ambition. It would be called the &quot;Talanoa Dialogue, after a Fijian word for story-telling and sharing experiences.

And they made progress to draft a detailed rule book for the 2015 Paris agreement, which seeks to end the fossil fuel era this century, at the meeting in Bonn that ran overnight beyond a planned ending on Friday.

The rule book, covering aspects such as how to report and monitor each nation&#39;s greenhouse gas emissions, is due to be ready by December next year.

Many delegates said the work needed to go faster.

&quot;Right now we&#39;re moving at a brisk walk, so all countries will need to really pick up the pace from here,&quot; said Jose Sarney Filho, Brazil&#39;s minister for the environment.

Gebru Jember Endalew of Ethiopia, who leads the group of least developed countries, also said &quot;many areas of work are still lagging behind&quot;, despite steps forward in Bonn.

The Paris pact aims to limit a rise in average world temperatures to &quot;well below&quot; two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, ideally 1.5 (5.4F) to limit more droughts, floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels.

But existing policies are on track to cause a rise of about three degrees (5.4F) by 2100. The Talanoa Dialogue would be a step towards tighter policies.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/global-2-rise-in-co2-giant-leap-backwards-for-humankind-24118">The Bonn meeting</a> was under the shadow of Trump&#39;s decision in June to withdraw from the Paris accord and instead promote the coal and oil industry. Trump doubts that man-made emissions are the prime cause of rising temperatures.

No other nations have followed suit and even nations whose economies depend on fossil fuels have rallied around.

&quot;Everyone got together and said &#39;we have to protect the world. We have to protect the Paris Agreement&#39;. Countries are moving forward,&quot; United Arab Emirates Climate Minister Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi told Reuters.

One senior European diplomat said Trump&#39;s decision had &quot;sedated&quot; the talks into a numbed sense of unity, avoiding major confrontations to underscore that the main faultline on policy was between Trump and the rest of the world.

Washington retains its place in the talks for now because the Paris pact stipulates that no country can formally pull out before November 2020.

The fossil fuel industry was very much under the spotlight during the talks. The US&nbsp;administration&#39;s only event in Bonn was to promote coal, which jarred with many other nations who wanted talks to focus on renewable energies.

In seeming defiance, 20 countries and two U.S. states joined an international alliance to phase out coal from power generation before 2030.

Environmental groups said the outcome in Bonn was a step in the right direction, but many issues needed to be resolved over the next year, including financial support for developing nations who want to cut emissions and for adaptation.

Almost 200 nations kept a 2015 global agreement to tackle climate change on track on Saturday after marathon talks overshadowed by US?President Donald Trump's decision to pull out

Almost 200 nations kept a 2015 global agreement to tackle climate change on track on Saturday after marathon talks overshadowed by US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, presiding at the two-week talks in Bonn, said the outcome "underscores the importance of keeping the momentum and of holding the spirit and vision of our Paris Agreement." Delegates agreed to launch a process in 2018 to start reviewing existing plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions as part of a long-term effort to ratchet up ambition. It would be called the "Talanoa Dialogue, after a Fijian word for story-telling and sharing experiences. And they made progress to draft a detailed rule book for the 2015 Paris agreement, which seeks to end the fossil fuel era this century, at the meeting in Bonn that ran overnight beyond a planned ending on Friday. The rule book, covering aspects such as how to report and monitor each nation's greenhouse gas emissions, is due to be ready by December next year. Many delegates said the work needed to go faster. "Right now we're moving at a brisk walk, so all countries will need to really pick up the pace from here," said Jose Sarney Filho, Brazil's minister for the environment. Gebru Jember Endalew of Ethiopia, who leads the group of least developed countries, also said "many areas of work are still lagging behind", despite steps forward in Bonn. The Paris pact aims to limit a rise in average world temperatures to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, ideally 1.5 (5.4F) to limit more droughts, floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels. But existing policies are on track to cause a rise of about three degrees (5.4F) by 2100. The Talanoa Dialogue would be a step towards tighter policies. The Bonn meeting was under the shadow of Trump's decision in June to withdraw from the Paris accord and instead promote the coal and oil industry. Trump doubts that man-made emissions are the prime cause of rising temperatures. No other nations have followed suit and even nations whose economies depend on fossil fuels have rallied around. "Everyone got together and said 'we have to protect the world. We have to protect the Paris Agreement'. Countries are moving forward," United Arab Emirates Climate Minister Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi told Reuters. One senior European diplomat said Trump's decision had "sedated" the talks into a numbed sense of unity, avoiding major confrontations to underscore that the main faultline on policy was between Trump and the rest of the world. Washington retains its place in the talks for now because the Paris pact stipulates that no country can formally pull out before November 2020. The fossil fuel industry was very much under the spotlight during the talks. The US administration's only event in Bonn was to promote coal, which jarred with many other nations who wanted talks to focus on renewable energies. In seeming defiance, 20 countries and two U.S. states joined an international alliance to phase out coal from power generation before 2030. Environmental groups said the outcome in Bonn was a step in the right direction, but many issues needed to be resolved over the next year, including financial support for developing nations who want to cut emissions and for adaptation.

Governments keep global climate deal on track despite US pullout

Climate change imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands -- nearly double the number from just three years ago, a report said Monday.

The number of sites at risk has grown to 62 from 35 in 2014, when one in seven were listed, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which released the report at UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany.

Among the ecosystems most threatened by global warming are coral reefs which bleach as oceans heat up, and glaciers which melt.

&quot;Climate change acts fast and is not sparing the finest treasures of our planet,&quot; said IUCN director general Inger Andersen.

&quot;Climate change now threatens the very fabric of our society, threatens our identity, an identity that is grounded in the rich and yet delicate patchwork of natural heritage,&quot; she told journalists in Bonn.

The report found that 29 percent of World Heritage sites faced &quot;significant&quot; threats, and seven percent -- including the Everglades National Park in the United States and Lake Turkana in Kenya -- had a &quot;critical&quot; outlook.&nbsp;

&quot;The scale and pace at which it (climate change) is damaging our natural heritage underline the need for urgent and ambitious national commitments and actions to implement the Paris Agreement,&quot; said Andersen.

Negotiators are gathered in Bonn to work out a nuts-and-bolts rulebook for executing the pact adopted by nearly 200 countries in the French capital in 2015.

The agreement seeks to limit average global warming caused by greenhouse gases from fossil-fuel burning to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels, and to 1.5 C if possible.

The 1 C mark has already been passed, and scientists say that on current country pledges to cut emissions, the world is headed for a 3 C future.

- &#39;Devastating&#39; - 
The IUCN monitors more than 200 natural Heritage Sites listed by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Three World Heritage-listed coral reefs -- the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean, the Belize Barrier Reef in the Atlantic, and Australia&#39;s Great Barrier Reef, the biggest on Earth -- have been affected by &quot;devastating&quot; bleaching events over the last three years, said the IUCN report.

Corals &quot;bleach&quot; when they are stressed by environmental changes -- due to ocean warming or pollution.&nbsp;

The corals expel the colorful algae that live in them and turn bone white.

&quot;Retreating glaciers, also resulting from rising temperatures, threaten sites such as Kilimanjaro National Park, which boasts Africa&#39;s highest peak, and the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, home to the largest Alpine glacier,&quot; said the union.

Wetlands, low-lying deltas, permafrost and fire-sensitive ecosystems are also affected by changes in Earth&#39;s climate, it added.

- Insufficient funding - 
Harm to natural sites endangers local economies and livelihoods, the IUCN said.

&quot;In Peru&#39;s Huascaran National Park, for example, melting glaciers affect water supplies and contaminate water and soil due to the release of heavy metals previously trapped under ice.&quot;

Only invasive plant and animal species surpassed climate change as a risk to natural heritage sites said the union. And climate change boosts their spread.

Sites on the World Heritage list are earmarked for protection for future generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Countries assume responsibility under the World Heritage Convention to protect listed sites within their borders.&nbsp;

The report said the management of heritage sites has declined since 2014, &quot;notably due to insufficient funding.&quot;

The Bonn meeting is the first of UN climate envoys since US President Donald Trump said he would pull America out of the hard-fought Paris Agreement, a move many fear will make the 2 C goal that much harder to reach.

Among the ecosystems most threatened by global warming are coral reefs which bleach as oceans heat up, and glaciers which melt.

Climate change imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands -- nearly double the number from just three years ago, a report said Monday. The number of sites at risk has grown to 62 from 35 in 2014, when one in seven were listed, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which released the report at UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany. Among the ecosystems most threatened by global warming are coral reefs which bleach as oceans heat up, and glaciers which melt. "Climate change acts fast and is not sparing the finest treasures of our planet," said IUCN director general Inger Andersen. "Climate change now threatens the very fabric of our society, threatens our identity, an identity that is grounded in the rich and yet delicate patchwork of natural heritage," she told journalists in Bonn. The report found that 29 percent of World Heritage sites faced "significant" threats, and seven percent -- including the Everglades National Park in the United States and Lake Turkana in Kenya -- had a "critical" outlook. "The scale and pace at which it (climate change) is damaging our natural heritage underline the need for urgent and ambitious national commitments and actions to implement the Paris Agreement," said Andersen. Negotiators are gathered in Bonn to work out a nuts-and-bolts rulebook for executing the pact adopted by nearly 200 countries in the French capital in 2015. The agreement seeks to limit average global warming caused by greenhouse gases from fossil-fuel burning to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels, and to 1.5 C if possible. The 1 C mark has already been passed, and scientists say that on current country pledges to cut emissions, the world is headed for a 3 C future. - 'Devastating' - The IUCN monitors more than 200 natural Heritage Sites listed by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Three World Heritage-listed coral reefs -- the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean, the Belize Barrier Reef in the Atlantic, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the biggest on Earth -- have been affected by "devastating" bleaching events over the last three years, said the IUCN report. Corals "bleach" when they are stressed by environmental changes -- due to ocean warming or pollution. The corals expel the colorful algae that live in them and turn bone white. "Retreating glaciers, also resulting from rising temperatures, threaten sites such as Kilimanjaro National Park, which boasts Africa's highest peak, and the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, home to the largest Alpine glacier," said the union. Wetlands, low-lying deltas, permafrost and fire-sensitive ecosystems are also affected by changes in Earth's climate, it added. - Insufficient funding - Harm to natural sites endangers local economies and livelihoods, the IUCN said. "In Peru's Huascaran National Park, for example, melting glaciers affect water supplies and contaminate water and soil due to the release of heavy metals previously trapped under ice." Only invasive plant and animal species surpassed climate change as a risk to natural heritage sites said the union. And climate change boosts their spread. Sites on the World Heritage list are earmarked for protection for future generations. Countries assume responsibility under the World Heritage Convention to protect listed sites within their borders. The report said the management of heritage sites has declined since 2014, "notably due to insufficient funding." The Bonn meeting is the first of UN climate envoys since US President Donald Trump said he would pull America out of the hard-fought Paris Agreement, a move many fear will make the 2 C goal that much harder to reach.

Climate change imperils one in four natural heritage sites: Report

The carbon dioxide emissions that drive global warming, flat since 2014, are set to rise two percent this year, dashing hopes they had peaked, scientists reported at UN climate talks Monday.

&quot;This is very disappointing,&quot; said Corinne Le Quere, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia and lead author of a major study detailing the findings.&nbsp;

&quot;With global CO2 emissions from human activities estimated at 41 billion tonnes for 2017, time is running out on our ability to keep warming below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), let alone 1.5 C.&quot;

The 196-nation Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, calls for capping global warming at 2 C below pre-industrial levels.

With the planet out of kilter after only one degree of warming -- enough to amplify deadly heatwaves, droughts, and superstorms -- the treaty also vows to explore the feasibility of holding the line at 1.5 C.

Earth is overheating due to the burning of oil, gas and especially coal to power the global economy. Deforestation also plays a critical role.

&quot;The news that emissions are rising after a three-year hiatus is a giant leap backward for humankind,&quot; said Amy Luers, a climate policy advisor to Barack Obama and executive director of Future Earth, which co-sponsored the research.

This year&#39;s climate summit is presided by Fiji, one of the dozens of small island nations whose very existence is threatened by rising seas engorged by warmer water and melt-off from ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica.

Thousands of diplomats in Bonn are negotiating the &quot;rulebook&quot; for the Paris pact, which goes into effect in 2020.

To stay below the 2 C threshold, greenhouse gas emissions should peak and begin to curve downward by 2020, earlier research has shown.

Stalled CO2 emissions from 2014 through 2016 -- due to better energy efficiency, a boom in renewables, and reduced coal use in China -- raised expectations that the world had turned the corner.

Those hopes were premature.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;As each year ticks by, the chances of avoiding 2 C of warming continue to diminish,&quot; said co-author Glen Peters, research director at Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, Norway.

&quot;Given that 2 C is extremely unlikely based on current progress, then 1.5 C is a distant dream,&quot; he told AFP.

The study fingered China as the single largest cause of resurgent fossil fuel emissions in 2017, with the country&#39;s coal, oil and natural gas use up three, five and 12 percent, respectively.

Earth outside the safe zone&nbsp;

China alone accounts for nearly 30 percent of global carbon pollution.

Emissions from India -- the world&#39;s fourth largest emitter after the United States and the European Union -- are projected to grow by two percent, down from a 6.7-percent increase the year before.

2017 CO2 emissions in the United States will drop by only 0.4 percent, compared to 1.2 percent annually over the previous decade.

For the first time in five years, US coal use is projected to rise.&nbsp;

&quot;Human-induced warming has accelerated over the past few years despite the slowdown in carbon dioxide emissions because of other drivers of climate change, notably methane,&quot; said Myles Allen, a professor at the University of Oxford, commenting on the findings.

The Paris Agreement rests on voluntary carbon-cutting pledges from virtually every country in the world.

But even if fulfilled, those promissory notes are not enough to keep Earth in the safe zone, and would still see global temperatures rise a devastating 3 C (5.6 F) by the end of the century.

&quot;Global commitments made in Paris to reduce emissions are still not being matched by actions,&quot; said Peters.

The bottom line, say experts, is that the global economy is not shifting quickly enough from fossil fuels to low- or zero-carbon energy.&nbsp;

Solar and wind energy have grown 14 percent annually since 2012, but still only account for a tiny fraction -- less than four percent -- of global energy consumption.

The transition from dirty to clean energy has been slowed by oil, gas and coal subsidies that topped $320 million dollars (270 million euros) in 2015, according to the International Energy Agency.

Oceans and forests combined absorbed over half of the CO2 emissions from human activity, with the rest staying in the atmosphere, the study showed.&nbsp;

&quot;We would expect that the carbon sinks will eventually weaken as temperatures continue to rise, but how much and how fast is an active area of research,&quot; said Peters.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meanwhile, released a report Monday showing that climate change now imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands -- nearly double the number from just three years ago.

Thousands of diplomats in Bonn are negotiating the "rulebook" for the Paris pact, which goes into effect in 2020

The carbon dioxide emissions that drive global warming, flat since 2014, are set to rise two percent this year, dashing hopes they had peaked, scientists reported at UN climate talks Monday. "This is very disappointing," said Corinne Le Quere, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia and lead author of a major study detailing the findings. "With global CO2 emissions from human activities estimated at 41 billion tonnes for 2017, time is running out on our ability to keep warming below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), let alone 1.5 C." The 196-nation Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, calls for capping global warming at 2 C below pre-industrial levels. With the planet out of kilter after only one degree of warming -- enough to amplify deadly heatwaves, droughts, and superstorms -- the treaty also vows to explore the feasibility of holding the line at 1.5 C. Earth is overheating due to the burning of oil, gas and especially coal to power the global economy. Deforestation also plays a critical role. "The news that emissions are rising after a three-year hiatus is a giant leap backward for humankind," said Amy Luers, a climate policy advisor to Barack Obama and executive director of Future Earth, which co-sponsored the research. This year's climate summit is presided by Fiji, one of the dozens of small island nations whose very existence is threatened by rising seas engorged by warmer water and melt-off from ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica. Thousands of diplomats in Bonn are negotiating the "rulebook" for the Paris pact, which goes into effect in 2020. To stay below the 2 C threshold, greenhouse gas emissions should peak and begin to curve downward by 2020, earlier research has shown. Stalled CO2 emissions from 2014 through 2016 -- due to better energy efficiency, a boom in renewables, and reduced coal use in China -- raised expectations that the world had turned the corner. Those hopes were premature. "As each year ticks by, the chances of avoiding 2 C of warming continue to diminish," said co-author Glen Peters, research director at Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, Norway. "Given that 2 C is extremely unlikely based on current progress, then 1.5 C is a distant dream," he told AFP. The study fingered China as the single largest cause of resurgent fossil fuel emissions in 2017, with the country's coal, oil and natural gas use up three, five and 12 percent, respectively. Earth outside the safe zone China alone accounts for nearly 30 percent of global carbon pollution. Emissions from India -- the world's fourth largest emitter after the United States and the European Union -- are projected to grow by two percent, down from a 6.7-percent increase the year before. 2017 CO2 emissions in the United States will drop by only 0.4 percent, compared to 1.2 percent annually over the previous decade. For the first time in five years, US coal use is projected to rise. "Human-induced warming has accelerated over the past few years despite the slowdown in carbon dioxide emissions because of other drivers of climate change, notably methane," said Myles Allen, a professor at the University of Oxford, commenting on the findings. The Paris Agreement rests on voluntary carbon-cutting pledges from virtually every country in the world. But even if fulfilled, those promissory notes are not enough to keep Earth in the safe zone, and would still see global temperatures rise a devastating 3 C (5.6 F) by the end of the century. "Global commitments made in Paris to reduce emissions are still not being matched by actions," said Peters. The bottom line, say experts, is that the global economy is not shifting quickly enough from fossil fuels to low- or zero-carbon energy. Solar and wind energy have grown 14 percent annually since 2012, but still only account for a tiny fraction -- less than four percent -- of global energy consumption. The transition from dirty to clean energy has been slowed by oil, gas and coal subsidies that topped $320 million dollars (270 million euros) in 2015, according to the International Energy Agency. Oceans and forests combined absorbed over half of the CO2 emissions from human activity, with the rest staying in the atmosphere, the study showed. "We would expect that the carbon sinks will eventually weaken as temperatures continue to rise, but how much and how fast is an active area of research," said Peters. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meanwhile, released a report Monday showing that climate change now imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands -- nearly double the number from just three years ago.

Global 2 per cent rise in CO2 'giant leap backwards for humankind'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/24031">&nbsp;Anti-Pakistan protests</a> were held in two different cities of Germany against the abduction of Baloch activists by Pakistani security forces.

The Baloch National Movement (BNM) held a protest in Hannover city of Germany, against Pakistani brutalities and abduction of women, children and students in Balochistan.

The Baloch Human Rights Organisation (BHRO) is also set to hold a two-day awareness campaign in Berlin, Germany about human rights violations in Balochistan and for the safe recovery of Nawaz Atta, Information Secretary of the BHRO, and eight other students, abducted by secret agents and rangers from Karachi.

&quot;The state policy of using excessive force against civilians and whosoever talks about Baloch rights has intensified in recent days and has become the major cause of human right violations in Balochistan,&quot; said the general secretary of the BHRO, Abdullah Abbas.

He further said that Baloch activist Nawaz Atta was abducted from his home last month and eight others students were also abducted in a follow-up raid from Karachi by Pakistani security forces.

&quot;We demand from the Pakistan Government and security forces to release all the abductees immediately and if they have done any crime, to produce them in court; try them as per law and allow them their legal right of defending themselves,&quot; he added.

Abbas appealed to all human right organisations and human right activists to raise their voices against the enforced disappearances in Balochistan and for the safe recovery of all the abductees.

BHRO activist Tayiba Baloch also held a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan and announced future protest and demonstration for the safe recovery of Nawaz Atta and other students.

The BHRO will hold a protest demonstration on November 15 in Quetta and will organise a rally on November 19 in Karachi.

For decades in Balochistan, economic exploitation through the plundering of natural resources, and the systematic economic, social and political exclusion of indigenous Baloch people, has become a norm.

In addition to this, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression are used as covert tools to brutally repress the peaceful struggle for justice, rights and equality of the Baloch.&nbsp;

The Baloch National Movement (BNM) held a protest in Hannover city of Germany, against Pakistani brutalities and abduction of women, children and students in Balochistan

Anti-Pakistan protests were held in two different cities of Germany against the abduction of Baloch activists by Pakistani security forces. The Baloch National Movement (BNM) held a protest in Hannover city of Germany, against Pakistani brutalities and abduction of women, children and students in Balochistan. The Baloch Human Rights Organisation (BHRO) is also set to hold a two-day awareness campaign in Berlin, Germany about human rights violations in Balochistan and for the safe recovery of Nawaz Atta, Information Secretary of the BHRO, and eight other students, abducted by secret agents and rangers from Karachi. "The state policy of using excessive force against civilians and whosoever talks about Baloch rights has intensified in recent days and has become the major cause of human right violations in Balochistan," said the general secretary of the BHRO, Abdullah Abbas. He further said that Baloch activist Nawaz Atta was abducted from his home last month and eight others students were also abducted in a follow-up raid from Karachi by Pakistani security forces. "We demand from the Pakistan Government and security forces to release all the abductees immediately and if they have done any crime, to produce them in court; try them as per law and allow them their legal right of defending themselves," he added. Abbas appealed to all human right organisations and human right activists to raise their voices against the enforced disappearances in Balochistan and for the safe recovery of all the abductees. BHRO activist Tayiba Baloch also held a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan and announced future protest and demonstration for the safe recovery of Nawaz Atta and other students. The BHRO will hold a protest demonstration on November 15 in Quetta and will organise a rally on November 19 in Karachi. For decades in Balochistan, economic exploitation through the plundering of natural resources, and the systematic economic, social and political exclusion of indigenous Baloch people, has become a norm. In addition to this, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression are used as covert tools to brutally repress the peaceful struggle for justice, rights and equality of the Baloch.

Anti-Pakistan protests in Germany against abduction of Baloch activists

In a horrific incident, a male nurse in Germany allegedly used lethal drugs on patients out of &quot;boredom&quot;&nbsp;which may have taken lives of around 100 patients.&nbsp;

Niel Hoegel, 41, is serving life imprisonment for two murders and four counts of attempted murder for using lethal drugs on intensive-care patients at the Delmenhorst hospital in 2015.&nbsp;

In late August, police had confirmed that Hoegel may have killed at least another 84 patients other than the ones he was serving time for, when Niels Hoegel&#39;s worked as the nurse in two hospitals in Oldenburg and Delmenhorst.

Police further said that they have finished running toxicology tests on other reported 41 fatalities.

According to Independent UK, toxicological examinations uncovered further 16 cases in which he is suspected to have killed patients.&nbsp;

&quot;The insights we were able to gain are terrifying, they surpass what we could have imagined,&quot; said Johann Kuehme, police chief in the city of Oldenburg, where the other hospital is located, reported&nbsp;AFP.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;He cannot remember every case, but in more than 30 he concretely remembered the patients and their&nbsp;behaviour,&quot; said prosecutor Daniela Schiereck-Bohlemann.

Reports have confirmed that Hoegel has admitted to injecting patients with lethal drugs, due to &quot;boredom&quot;, which could potentially lead to heart failure or circulatory collapse and in the process tried to make them come back to life, and if successful, make a &quot;breakthrough revelation&quot;.

Hoegel worked at the Oldenburg hospital from 1999 to 2002 and in Delmenhorst from 2003 to 2005.

Niels Hoegel was convicted of two murders in 2015 but investigators believe he killed at least 90 patients with overdoses of heart medication

In a horrific incident, a male nurse in Germany allegedly used lethal drugs on patients out of "boredom" which may have taken lives of around 100 patients. Niel Hoegel, 41, is serving life imprisonment for two murders and four counts of attempted murder for using lethal drugs on intensive-care patients at the Delmenhorst hospital in 2015. In late August, police had confirmed that Hoegel may have killed at least another 84 patients other than the ones he was serving time for, when Niels Hoegel's worked as the nurse in two hospitals in Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. Police further said that they have finished running toxicology tests on other reported 41 fatalities. According to Independent UK, toxicological examinations uncovered further 16 cases in which he is suspected to have killed patients. "The insights we were able to gain are terrifying, they surpass what we could have imagined," said Johann Kuehme, police chief in the city of Oldenburg, where the other hospital is located, reported AFP. "He cannot remember every case, but in more than 30 he concretely remembered the patients and their behaviour," said prosecutor Daniela Schiereck-Bohlemann. Reports have confirmed that Hoegel has admitted to injecting patients with lethal drugs, due to "boredom", which could potentially lead to heart failure or circulatory collapse and in the process tried to make them come back to life, and if successful, make a "breakthrough revelation". Hoegel worked at the Oldenburg hospital from 1999 to 2002 and in Delmenhorst from 2003 to 2005.

German nurse allegedly killed 100 patients due to 'boredom'

Lockheed Martin Corp will work with the U.S. government as it talks to Germany about a replacement for its Tornado fighter jets, its chief executive said on Thursday, adding she believed Lockheed&rsquo;s F-35 would be the &ldquo;best choice&rdquo; for Berlin.

Germany is kicking off the process of replacing its 85 Tornado jets, which will go out of service around 2030. The programme could be worth billions of euros in coming years. The German air force last month issued a formal request for information about the F-35, as well as three other jets: the F-15 and F/A-18E/F, both built by Boeing Co, and the European Eurofighter Typhoon.

On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the German air force said the country needed a &ldquo;fifth-generation&rdquo; replacement for its Tornado fighters that is hard to detect on enemy radars and can strike targets from a great distance. Lieutenant General Karl Muellner&rsquo;s comments indicated a preference for the F-35, which meets those requirements.

&ldquo;I saw in the media that there is an interest in the F-35, and we stand ready to support the U.S. government on their interactions with the German government on their assessment of the F-35,&rdquo; Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson told Reuters during a visit to Norway. &ldquo;I do think it would be the best choice for them,&rdquo; she added. She was non-committal when asked how many planes Lockheed could potentially sell to Berlin, saying it was up to Germany.

Lockheed Martin also hopes to increase its sales of the F-35 to South Korea, Hewson said. &ldquo;Their initial buy is at 40 (aircraft), but I hope that over time they will look at additional buy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We are happy that the F-35 is being considered by a number of countries around the world ... Countries like Belgium, Finland, Canada and others are going to continue to look at the programme and make their decision,&rdquo; she added.

Many German allies in Europe, including Norway, the Netherlands, Britain, Italy, Turkey, and Denmark have selected the F-35 and some have received initial deliveries. Belgium is expected to make a decision next year.

Germany is kicking off the process of replacing its 85 Tornado jets, which will go out of service around 2030

Lockheed Martin Corp will work with the U.S. government as it talks to Germany about a replacement for its Tornado fighter jets, its chief executive said on Thursday, adding she believed Lockheed’s F-35 would be the “best choice” for Berlin. Germany is kicking off the process of replacing its 85 Tornado jets, which will go out of service around 2030. The programme could be worth billions of euros in coming years. The German air force last month issued a formal request for information about the F-35, as well as three other jets: the F-15 and F/A-18E/F, both built by Boeing Co, and the European Eurofighter Typhoon. On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the German air force said the country needed a “fifth-generation” replacement for its Tornado fighters that is hard to detect on enemy radars and can strike targets from a great distance. Lieutenant General Karl Muellner’s comments indicated a preference for the F-35, which meets those requirements. “I saw in the media that there is an interest in the F-35, and we stand ready to support the U.S. government on their interactions with the German government on their assessment of the F-35,” Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson told Reuters during a visit to Norway. “I do think it would be the best choice for them,” she added. She was non-committal when asked how many planes Lockheed could potentially sell to Berlin, saying it was up to Germany. Lockheed Martin also hopes to increase its sales of the F-35 to South Korea, Hewson said. “Their initial buy is at 40 (aircraft), but I hope that over time they will look at additional buy,” she said. “We are happy that the F-35 is being considered by a number of countries around the world ... Countries like Belgium, Finland, Canada and others are going to continue to look at the programme and make their decision,” she added. Many German allies in Europe, including Norway, the Netherlands, Britain, Italy, Turkey, and Denmark have selected the F-35 and some have received initial deliveries. Belgium is expected to make a decision next year.

Lockheed to work with US in bid to sell F-35s to Germany

The top diplomats of Germany and Turkey on Saturday met for previously unannounced talks in a southern Turkish resort, as a range of bitter rows strain ties between the two NATO allies.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel for the informal talks in Antalya, both sides said in statements on Twitter.

Berlin has been outraged by the detention of German nationals under Turkey&#39;s state of emergency imposed after last year&#39;s failed coup, while Ankara has accused Germany of meddling in its affairs.

The meeting is the first between the two diplomats since tensions reached a new peak in the run-up to the German elections on September 24.

&quot;I met my colleague @sigmargabriel in Antalya informally to discuss bilateral relations; including the difficult issues and mutual expectations,&quot; Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

The German foreign ministry issued a similar statement.

Pictures showed the two men, dressed in jackets without ties, chatting informally under blue skies in Antalya, Cavusoglu&#39;s home region.

The meeting comes just over a week after German activist Peter Steudtner was released following his arrest along with members of Amnesty International in July on disputed terror charges.

Another German citizen, who was not identified, was also released in a separate case but cannot leave the country, the German foreign ministry said Friday.

But nine Germans still remain behind bars in Turkey including most prominently Die Welt daily correspondent Deniz Yucel, who was arrested in February, and German journalist Mesale Tolu.

Gabriel had last month thanked former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who retains warm personal ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for helping broker the releases.

But Ankara denied any such deal.

The tensions have risen into one of the worst ever crises between Turkey and Germany, which is home to a large Turkish minority. Berlin has repeatedly expressed scepticism about the future of Turkey&#39;s EU membership bid.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged a cut in EU funding linked to Turkey&#39;s membership talks to signal the bloc&#39;s unhappiness over the crackdown in the wake of the failed July 2016 coup.

The top diplomats of Germany and Turkey on Saturday met for previously unannounced talks in a southern Turkish resort, as a range of bitter rows strain ties between the two NATO allies

The top diplomats of Germany and Turkey on Saturday met for previously unannounced talks in a southern Turkish resort, as a range of bitter rows strain ties between the two NATO allies. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel for the informal talks in Antalya, both sides said in statements on Twitter. Berlin has been outraged by the detention of German nationals under Turkey's state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup, while Ankara has accused Germany of meddling in its affairs. The meeting is the first between the two diplomats since tensions reached a new peak in the run-up to the German elections on September 24. "I met my colleague @sigmargabriel in Antalya informally to discuss bilateral relations; including the difficult issues and mutual expectations," Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter. The German foreign ministry issued a similar statement. Pictures showed the two men, dressed in jackets without ties, chatting informally under blue skies in Antalya, Cavusoglu's home region. The meeting comes just over a week after German activist Peter Steudtner was released following his arrest along with members of Amnesty International in July on disputed terror charges. Another German citizen, who was not identified, was also released in a separate case but cannot leave the country, the German foreign ministry said Friday. But nine Germans still remain behind bars in Turkey including most prominently Die Welt daily correspondent Deniz Yucel, who was arrested in February, and German journalist Mesale Tolu. Gabriel had last month thanked former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who retains warm personal ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for helping broker the releases. But Ankara denied any such deal. The tensions have risen into one of the worst ever crises between Turkey and Germany, which is home to a large Turkish minority. Berlin has repeatedly expressed scepticism about the future of Turkey's EU membership bid. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged a cut in EU funding linked to Turkey's membership talks to signal the bloc's unhappiness over the crackdown in the wake of the failed July 2016 coup.

Germany, Turkey top diplomats hold talks amid tensions

A 19-year-old Syrian suspected of planning an Islamist-motivated bomb attack in Germany was transferred to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe on Wednesday.

No official confirmation of his arrival was given to media.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said security officials had averted a &ldquo;major terrorist attack&rdquo;.

Yamen A. was arrested in the early hours on Tuesday in the north-eastern town of Schwerin.

Police searched his home and also those of other people not suspected of being directly involved.

He had ordered online chemicals used to make the explosive TATP, short for triacetone triperoxide, the spokeswoman for the prosecutor&#39;s office later added.

He had also acquired two radios, batteries and a cellphone battery, suggesting he had been planning a remote-controlled explosion by radio or mobile telephone.

There were no indications that he was a member of a terrorist organisation, the federal prosecutor&#39;s office said.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said security officials had averted a 'major terrorist attack'

A 19-year-old Syrian suspected of planning an Islamist-motivated bomb attack in Germany was transferred to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe on Wednesday. No official confirmation of his arrival was given to media. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said security officials had averted a “major terrorist attack”. Yamen A. was arrested in the early hours on Tuesday in the north-eastern town of Schwerin. Police searched his home and also those of other people not suspected of being directly involved. He had ordered online chemicals used to make the explosive TATP, short for triacetone triperoxide, the spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office later added. He had also acquired two radios, batteries and a cellphone battery, suggesting he had been planning a remote-controlled explosion by radio or mobile telephone. There were no indications that he was a member of a terrorist organisation, the federal prosecutor's office said.

German police arrest Syrian suspected of planning bomb attack

German police on Tuesday arrested a Syrian man suspected of preparing a terror attack using powerful explosives, prosecutors said, almost one year after a deadly jihadist truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas Market.

The man, identified only as Yamen A., 19, was held at dawn by special forces in the northeastern town of Schwerin, the federal prosecutors office said in a statement.&nbsp;

Several apartments were also searched in the region, which is north of Berlin.

The man is suspected of having &#39;planned and already concretely prepared an Islamist-motivated attack in Germany using very powerful explosives.&#39;&nbsp;the statement said.

&#39;It has not yet been established whether the suspect already had a target in mind or not.&#39;&nbsp;it said, adding that prosecutors did not have any information on whether the suspect belonged to &#39;a terrorist organisation.&#39;

The Syrian had made a decision &#39;no later than July 2017 to explode a bomb in Germany with the aim of killing and wounding as many people as possible.&#39;

In the following weeks, he began to acquire the chemical products and materials necessary to build a bomb.

&#39;A serious attack has been prevented.&#39;&nbsp;German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a statement.

&#39;This action came at exactly the right moment: late enough that the necessary evidence had been gathered but early enough to eliminate any potential danger.&#39;

He added: &#39;The threat level in Germany remains high.&#39;

German police have been on high alert to the threat of Islamist attacks, particularly since December last year when a man hijacked a truck and ploughed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

The attacker was shot dead by police in Milan four days later, and the rampage was claimed by the Islamic State group.

An investigation pointed to a catalogue of &quot;gross mistakes&quot; by security services in the lead-up to the attack.

-&#39;10,000 Islamic radicals&#39;-

The scathing report found that authorities had missed several opportunities to arrest and deport the driver, Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri.

The 24-year-old, who had previously been jailed in Italy, had been in touch with radical Islamists and sold drugs in Berlin.&nbsp;

He had managed to escape detection by skipping across German state lines and using different identities.

Last July, a 26-year-old Palestinian asylum seeker wielding a knife stormed into a supermarket in Hamburg, killing one person and wounding six others before being detained by passers-by.&nbsp;

German prosecutors said the man likely had a &#39;radical Islamist&#39;&nbsp;motive.

The intelligence services estimate there are around 10,000 Islamic radicals in Germany, some 1,600 of whom are suspected of being capable of using violence.

IS claimed responsibility for a number of other attacks in 2016, including the murder of a teenager in Hamburg, a suicide bombing in the southern city of Ansbach that wounded 15, and an axe attack on a train in Bavaria that left five injured.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has allowed in more than one million asylum seekers in the past two years -- a decision that has driven the shock rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The man is suspected of having planned and already concretely prepared an Islamist-motivated attack in Germany using very powerful explosives.

German police on Tuesday arrested a Syrian man suspected of preparing a terror attack using powerful explosives, prosecutors said, almost one year after a deadly jihadist truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas Market. The man, identified only as Yamen A., 19, was held at dawn by special forces in the northeastern town of Schwerin, the federal prosecutors office said in a statement. Several apartments were also searched in the region, which is north of Berlin. The man is suspected of having 'planned and already concretely prepared an Islamist-motivated attack in Germany using very powerful explosives.' the statement said. 'It has not yet been established whether the suspect already had a target in mind or not.' it said, adding that prosecutors did not have any information on whether the suspect belonged to 'a terrorist organisation.' The Syrian had made a decision 'no later than July 2017 to explode a bomb in Germany with the aim of killing and wounding as many people as possible.' In the following weeks, he began to acquire the chemical products and materials necessary to build a bomb. 'A serious attack has been prevented.' German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a statement. 'This action came at exactly the right moment: late enough that the necessary evidence had been gathered but early enough to eliminate any potential danger.' He added: 'The threat level in Germany remains high.' German police have been on high alert to the threat of Islamist attacks, particularly since December last year when a man hijacked a truck and ploughed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. The attacker was shot dead by police in Milan four days later, and the rampage was claimed by the Islamic State group. An investigation pointed to a catalogue of "gross mistakes" by security services in the lead-up to the attack. -'10,000 Islamic radicals'- The scathing report found that authorities had missed several opportunities to arrest and deport the driver, Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri. The 24-year-old, who had previously been jailed in Italy, had been in touch with radical Islamists and sold drugs in Berlin. He had managed to escape detection by skipping across German state lines and using different identities. Last July, a 26-year-old Palestinian asylum seeker wielding a knife stormed into a supermarket in Hamburg, killing one person and wounding six others before being detained by passers-by. German prosecutors said the man likely had a 'radical Islamist' motive. The intelligence services estimate there are around 10,000 Islamic radicals in Germany, some 1,600 of whom are suspected of being capable of using violence. IS claimed responsibility for a number of other attacks in 2016, including the murder of a teenager in Hamburg, a suicide bombing in the southern city of Ansbach that wounded 15, and an axe attack on a train in Bavaria that left five injured. Chancellor Angela Merkel has allowed in more than one million asylum seekers in the past two years -- a decision that has driven the shock rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

German police arrest Syrian suspected of preparing terror attack

Singapore&#39;s&nbsp;passport&nbsp;has been announced as the most powerful in the&nbsp;world&nbsp;as it secured the top spot in the Passport&nbsp;Index&#39; most powerful ranking with a&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;score of 159.

This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful&nbsp;passport, according to the Passport&nbsp;Index&nbsp;developed by global financial advisory firm&nbsp;Arton Capital.

The index says that&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holders enjoy&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;access to 173 countries.

The ranking has come after Paraguay eased its visa requirement for&nbsp;Singaporean&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holders.

Germany&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;ranked second and third, with a score of 158 and 157, respectively.

The Passport&nbsp;Index&nbsp;developed by&nbsp;Arton Capital&nbsp;ranks national&nbsp;passports by the cross-border access that they bring by assigning a &quot;visa-free&nbsp;score,&quot; according to the number of countries a&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holder can visit&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;or with visa on arrival.

The&nbsp;passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories were considered.

Historically, the top 10 most powerful&nbsp;passports in the&nbsp;world&nbsp;tend to be European, with&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;in the lead for the past two years, according to a press release issued on October 25.

Since early 2017, the top position was shared with&nbsp;Singapore, which was steadily moving up the ranks.

Other Asian&nbsp;passports in the top 20 include those of South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.

On the other hand, the United States&nbsp;passport&nbsp;has fallen in the ranking since President Donald Trump took office, according to the index.

Turkey and the Central African Republic revoked their&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;status to the U.S.&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holders, recently.

Singapore&nbsp;was also fourth this year in the Visa Restrictions&nbsp;Index, another ranking of travel freedom, which uses a different method of calculating how &quot;powerful&quot; a&nbsp;passport is.

The list is as follows:

1.&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;(159)

2.&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;(158)

3.&nbsp;Sweden, South Korea (157)

4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, United Kingdom (156)

5. Luxemburg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal (155)

6. Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, United States of America (154)

7. Austria, Greece, New Zealand (153)

8. Malta, Czech Republic, Iceland (152)

9. Hungary (150)

10. Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (149

This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful?passport

Singapore's passport has been announced as the most powerful in the world as it secured the top spot in the Passport Index' most powerful ranking with a visa-free score of 159. This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful passport, according to the Passport Index developed by global financial advisory firm Arton Capital. The index says that Singapore passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 173 countries. The ranking has come after Paraguay eased its visa requirement for Singaporean passport holders. Germany and Sweden ranked second and third, with a score of 158 and 157, respectively. The Passport Index developed by Arton Capital ranks national passports by the cross-border access that they bring by assigning a "visa-free score," according to the number of countries a passport holder can visit visa-free or with visa on arrival. The passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories were considered. Historically, the top 10 most powerful passports in the world tend to be European, with Germany in the lead for the past two years, according to a press release issued on October 25. Since early 2017, the top position was shared with Singapore, which was steadily moving up the ranks. Other Asian passports in the top 20 include those of South Korea, Japan and Malaysia. On the other hand, the United States passport has fallen in the ranking since President Donald Trump took office, according to the index. Turkey and the Central African Republic revoked their visa-free status to the U.S. passport holders, recently. Singapore was also fourth this year in the Visa Restrictions Index, another ranking of travel freedom, which uses a different method of calculating how "powerful" a passport is. The list is as follows: 1. Singapore (159) 2. Germany (158) 3. Sweden, South Korea (157) 4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, United Kingdom (156) 5. Luxemburg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal (155) 6. Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, United States of America (154) 7. Austria, Greece, New Zealand (153) 8. Malta, Czech Republic, Iceland (152) 9. Hungary (150) 10. Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (149

Singapore passport is world's 'most powerful'

Five people were injured after a knifeman attacked them at a train station in Munich.&nbsp;

Police gave out a description of the attacker as being corpulent, about 40 years old, and unshaven.&nbsp;

They added that he was wearing grey trousers and a green training jacket.&nbsp;

News reports said the attacker fled on a bicycle after the attack.&nbsp;

Police warned residents to stay at home.&nbsp;

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Update to description of the suspect: corpulent figure, short middle-blond hair, unshaven. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RosenheimerPlatz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RosenheimerPlatz</a>
&mdash; Polizei M&uuml;nchen (@PolizeiMuenchen) <a href="https://twitter.com/PolizeiMuenchen/status/921667637075161088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Description of the suspect: a man about 40 years, riding a black bike; wearing gray trousers, green training jacket, backpack+ sleeping mat
&mdash; Polizei M&uuml;nchen (@PolizeiMuenchen) <a href="https://twitter.com/PolizeiMuenchen/status/921663094677438464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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In case of contact: call 110. Do not risk anything! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rosenheimerplatz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rosenheimerplatz</a>
&mdash; Polizei M&uuml;nchen (@PolizeiMuenchen) <a href="https://twitter.com/PolizeiMuenchen/status/921659905156767744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The news reports added that none of the injuries were life-threatening.&nbsp;

Five people were injured after a knifeman attacked them at a train station in Munich. Police gave out a description of the attacker as being corpulent, about 40 years old, and unshaven. They added that he was wearing grey trousers and a green training jacket. News reports said the attacker fled on a bicycle after the attack. Police warned residents to stay at home. Update to description of the suspect: corpulent figure, short middle-blond hair, unshaven. #RosenheimerPlatz — Polizei München (@PolizeiMuenchen) October 21, 2017 × Description of the suspect: a man about 40 years, riding a black bike; wearing gray trousers, green training jacket, backpack+ sleeping mat — Polizei München (@PolizeiMuenchen) October 21, 2017 × In case of contact: call 110. Do not risk anything! #Rosenheimerplatz — Polizei München (@PolizeiMuenchen) October 21, 2017 × The news reports added that none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Five injured after knife attack at Munich train station

Germany&#39;s Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;began the tough task of trying to build a&nbsp;coalition government on Monday&nbsp;after<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/angela-merkel-wins-a-fourth-term-in-office-but-it-wont-be-an-easy-one-20593">&nbsp;securing a fourth term as chancellor</a> in an election which saw her support slide and the far right making significant gains.

Damaged by her decision two years ago to allow one million migrants into Germany,&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc secured 33 percent of the&nbsp;vote, losing 8.5 points, its lowest level since 1949. Her&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;partners, the centre-left Social Democrats, also slumped and said they would go into opposition.

Voters flocked to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), the first far-right party to enter the German parliament in more than half a century. However, the AfD hardly had time to savour its third-place showing before it fell into internal bickering.

Many Germans see the rise of the AfD as a similar rejection of the status quo as&nbsp;votes for Brexit and Donald Trump last year. But Germany&#39;s political centre held up better than in Britain and the United States as more&nbsp;voters have benefited from globalisation and most shun the country&#39;s extremist past.

Merkel&#39;s party remained the biggest parliamentary bloc and Europe&#39;s most powerful leader said her conservatives would set about building the next government. She said she was sure a coalition&nbsp;would be agreed by Christmas.

Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats that have governed with&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;since 2013, said his party had no choice but to go into opposition&nbsp;after&nbsp;dropping to a post-war low of 20.5 percent.

&quot;We have understood our task -- to be a strong opposition in this country and to defend democracy against those who question it and attack it,&quot; Schulz told party members to applause.

Investors were unsettled by the prospect of a weaker&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;at the head of a potentially unstable coalition&nbsp;with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens, dubbed &quot;Jamaica&quot; as the parties&#39; black, yellow and green colours mirror its flag.

They are also worried that months of&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;talks could distract from negotiations with Britain over its divorce from the European Union and efforts to push further integration. The euro and European stocks slipped on Monday.

&quot;The weak result could make Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;a lame duck much faster than international observers and financial markets think,&quot; ING economist Carsten Brzeski said.

Klaus Wohlrabe, an economist at the Munich-based Ifo economic institute, said new elections could not be excluded and the result could stoke uncertainty as German business confidence deteriorated unexpectedly in the weeks before the election.

DIVISIONS

Many Germans were alarmed by the rise of a party likened by the foreign minister to Nazis. Protesters threw stones and bottles at police outside the AfD&#39;s campaign party in Berlin on Sunday evening.

But just a day&nbsp;after&nbsp;the election, the AfD showed signs of fracturing as co-leader Frauke Petry, one its most prominent faces, said she would not sit in parliament with AfD members. It was not immediately clear why she was making such a move.

The election also exposed divisions in&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s conservatives, with her allies the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) demanding a shift to the right to win back&nbsp;voters lost to the AfD.

The CSU, which lost heavily to the AfD in Bavaria, faces regional elections next year.

&quot;They will try their best to recover lost ground on the right side of the political spectrum. Going into a&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;in Berlin with the Greens and the FDP will make this more difficult,&quot; said Janis Emmanouilidis from the European Policy Centre.

CDU Saxony Anhalt premier Reiner Haseloff called for the party to do more to address&nbsp;voter fears over immigration policy, while other party members warned against shifting to the right.

Leading AfD candidate, Alexander Gauland, gave a foretaste of the hostile new tone expected in parliament, saying it would &quot;hound&quot;&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;and &quot;get our country and our people back&quot;.

Industry leaders urged&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;to move fast to build a government.

&quot;Our companies need clear signals. Now it&#39;s all about averting damage to Germany as a place of business,&quot; Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry association, said.

After&nbsp;the SPD ruled out another &quot;grand&nbsp;coalition&quot;,&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s only other choice is to pursue a three-way&nbsp;partnership between her conservatives, the FDP and the Greens.

Such an alliance could be fragile due to deep differences on issues from migrants to tax, the environment and Europe.

In particular, the prospect of&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;sharing power with the FDP is likely to create problems for deeper integration of the eurozone as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Damaged by her decision two years ago to allow one million migrants into Germany,?Merkel's conservative bloc secured 33 percent of the?vote, losing 8.5 points.

Germany's Angela Merkel began the tough task of trying to build a coalition government on Monday after securing a fourth term as chancellor in an election which saw her support slide and the far right making significant gains. Damaged by her decision two years ago to allow one million migrants into Germany, Merkel's conservative bloc secured 33 percent of the vote, losing 8.5 points, its lowest level since 1949. Her coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats, also slumped and said they would go into opposition. Voters flocked to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), the first far-right party to enter the German parliament in more than half a century. However, the AfD hardly had time to savour its third-place showing before it fell into internal bickering. Many Germans see the rise of the AfD as a similar rejection of the status quo as votes for Brexit and Donald Trump last year. But Germany's political centre held up better than in Britain and the United States as more voters have benefited from globalisation and most shun the country's extremist past. Merkel's party remained the biggest parliamentary bloc and Europe's most powerful leader said her conservatives would set about building the next government. She said she was sure a coalition would be agreed by Christmas. Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats that have governed with Merkel since 2013, said his party had no choice but to go into opposition after dropping to a post-war low of 20.5 percent. "We have understood our task -- to be a strong opposition in this country and to defend democracy against those who question it and attack it," Schulz told party members to applause. Investors were unsettled by the prospect of a weaker Merkel at the head of a potentially unstable coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens, dubbed "Jamaica" as the parties' black, yellow and green colours mirror its flag. They are also worried that months of coalition talks could distract from negotiations with Britain over its divorce from the European Union and efforts to push further integration. The euro and European stocks slipped on Monday. "The weak result could make Angela Merkel a lame duck much faster than international observers and financial markets think," ING economist Carsten Brzeski said. Klaus Wohlrabe, an economist at the Munich-based Ifo economic institute, said new elections could not be excluded and the result could stoke uncertainty as German business confidence deteriorated unexpectedly in the weeks before the election. DIVISIONS Many Germans were alarmed by the rise of a party likened by the foreign minister to Nazis. Protesters threw stones and bottles at police outside the AfD's campaign party in Berlin on Sunday evening. But just a day after the election, the AfD showed signs of fracturing as co-leader Frauke Petry, one its most prominent faces, said she would not sit in parliament with AfD members. It was not immediately clear why she was making such a move. The election also exposed divisions in Merkel's conservatives, with her allies the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) demanding a shift to the right to win back voters lost to the AfD. The CSU, which lost heavily to the AfD in Bavaria, faces regional elections next year. "They will try their best to recover lost ground on the right side of the political spectrum. Going into a coalition in Berlin with the Greens and the FDP will make this more difficult," said Janis Emmanouilidis from the European Policy Centre. CDU Saxony Anhalt premier Reiner Haseloff called for the party to do more to address voter fears over immigration policy, while other party members warned against shifting to the right. Leading AfD candidate, Alexander Gauland, gave a foretaste of the hostile new tone expected in parliament, saying it would "hound" Merkel and "get our country and our people back". Industry leaders urged Merkel to move fast to build a government. "Our companies need clear signals. Now it's all about averting damage to Germany as a place of business," Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry association, said. After the SPD ruled out another "grand coalition", Merkel's only other choice is to pursue a three-way partnership between her conservatives, the FDP and the Greens. Such an alliance could be fragile due to deep differences on issues from migrants to tax, the environment and Europe. In particular, the prospect of Merkel sharing power with the FDP is likely to create problems for deeper integration of the eurozone as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Merkel looks for coalition partners after vote

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