this is d w news from berlin i'm going to have hootin here in germany differences remain as the to tackle the tough issues of ukraine and syria but signs of a pragmatic thoresby german and russian at leaders to talk face to face for the second time in three months or so coming up on a declares a week of mourning all to the country's most famous son kofi annan at the age of eighty the former united nations chief and nobel peace prize laureate served two terms as the world's top diplomat later he became the u.n.

special envoy for syria will examine his legacy and commemorating the dead easily holds a state funeral for the victims of choose days bridge collapse in the northern city of genoa credited some friends join the country's leaders to say goodbye to their loved ones. on how to hold free glad you could join us german chancellor angela merkel has been holding talks with russian president vladimir putin here in germany with the crises in both syria and ukraine high on the agenda but the key energy project also on the table there are signs of a pragmatic thaw and what have been difficult relations. it's their second meeting in three months and there's no shortage of issues for the two

leaders to chew over. i mean. in view of the fact that there are so many serious issues around the world we need an opportunity to find solutions we both have responsibility germany but in particular also russia because russia is a permanent member of the security council so we need to look for solutions. solutions on syria will be difficult as merkel said there has been a reduction in the fighting but the search goes on for an end to the conflict but putin at least is talking about post-war reconstruction. still let me remind you that one million refugees are in jordan one million in lebanon three million are in turkey but this is potentially a huge burden for europe and therefore it's better to do everything so that these people can go back home for them with what must be done for that elementary things

we need to help to restore water supply sewers medicine the most basic things i think everyone is interested in that including europe and ukraine to continues to be a focus of tension this is the first time putin has met merkel in germany since the conflict in donbass began and peace is still elusive. and of course we will talk about ukraine as the chancellor said in the context of settling the crisis. we are not making the progress we might have hoped but there is no alternative to the implementation of the minsk agreement. top level relationship looks more active and more cool deal than it has for some years as merkel said earlier this week while breakthroughs are unlikely talking remains essential. we'll talk more about this now i'm joined by the w.c. and the show win in moscow thomas sparrow in

a maze of bag that's the venue of the talks and here in the studio with me our political correspondent nina has a welcome to you all thomas i'd like to begin with you because american putin met just recently in fact in such a why exactly all the two leaders meeting now well i'm going to michael cohen our focus on foreign policy one of her strengths so vibing a key internal debate on migrations of that can explain at least partially why they are meeting now that focused on that america and how government want to put on foreign policy issues and foreign policy issues that by the way have to be solved with russia when we're talking for example about the crisis in ukraine we're talking about the crisis in syria in particular for example the crisis in ukraine is one that i'm going to mobile has been trying for years alongside other partners to try and hold in particular through the means degree months of two thousand and fifteen and when it comes to syria she has also been a vocal about the need to finding political solutions obviously that is

a very difficult challenge ahead not only for germany but also for other partners internationally but that explains the need why under merkel and vladimir putin a meeting precisely here in mr back today and he tell us this is something the chancellor has been grappling with for many years now concretely what is it do you think that germany expects from russia now. on the one hand i think ongoing dialogue it is not something that's unique to the german russian relationship but it is particularly important in the german russian relationship made namely the need to keep talking even when there are very evident differences that on the one and then obviously political assurances when it comes for example to ukraine or to russia the need to try and find long term solutions for both conflicts and then there's obviously the issue of trade one that was also discussed here in particular the north stream two pipeline that both countries want to

advance but that's is facing certain opposition not only from certain countries in the european union but also other countries in particular for example ukraine but also the united states donald trump has been very critical of his north to pipeline so those were all issues that had to be discussed by the two leaders and that i'm going to mogul was particularly interested in finding at least some sort of answers from vladimir putin all right so progress some answers nina we know that when it comes to syria to angela merkel actually wants putin to finalize a lasting cease fire what role can germany play in in syria and brokering peace there while germany does have a clear interest in avoiding a further escalation of the conflict russia is selling the world of the narrative that bashar al assad's and his they've been supporting for years has essentially won the war uncle machall said earlier that she still believes that there need to

be fresh elections but at the same time germany's interested like i said in not escalating the conflict further so what germany will try and do uncle michael has set this is he's going to try and talk to flooding there putin about the potential syria meeting in turkey in september where france and turkey and russia and germany who talk about percent potential solutions all right very briefly i'd like to go over to emily share win in moscow and many of the nord stream to pipeline will bring russian gas directly to germany putin has said that it's an economic project what does he mean by that briefly if you will. well north korean two bypasses ukraine and ukraine has been very worried about that and merkel came to this meeting kind of hoping for guarantees for ukraine as well and in a way putin kind of handed those guarantees to her on a platter he said that ukraine would continue could continue to be a transit country but he also left a kind of back door open he said that it would be

a transit country if that was economically beneficial. when in moscow thomas sparrow in maze of lynn and of course with me in the studio political correspondent nina thank you very much to you all. the former united nations chief and nobel peace prize laureate kofi annan has died and that was the first black african to be the world's top diplomat he cept two terms for one thousand nine hundred ninety seven to two thousand and six in new york the united nations of blow it is flag to half staff that its world headquarters and then died after a short illness at the age of eighty. for almost ten years the face of the un for many years he still is he managed to be more than just the u.n. secretary general he was a moral authority he was driven by one conviction that he kept for it to rating they have an obligation under international humanitarian law and now on moral

values to help kofi annan was born in ghana in one thousand nine hundred thirty eight his parents were well off he could study economics in the u.s. as well as switzerland the young soccer fan was only twenty four when his career began at the united nations. he started with the world health organization in geneva and soon became head of u.n. missions in war zones. when he moved to the top post at the u.n. it was meant as an interim solution taking over from the controversial previous secretary-general boutros boutros ghali despite his diplomatic skills he felt his biggest defeat was over the two thousand and three iraq war but his belief in the un's goals and importance never ceased i think most of you know that one of my chief ever since i took over as secretary general has been to make the united nations more useful for his tireless work as a peace negotiator and ambassador for human rights

a nun was honored with the nobel peace prize in two thousand and one leaves a wife and three children. the head of the italian company responsible for the motorway bridge which collapsed in genoa this week has promised to put in place a new structure within eight months the chairman of altus that had also promised tens of millions of euros in aid for those affected by the disaster ceremonies have been held in italy to mourn the forty three people killed after the collapse of the bridge on tuesday. a state funeral in genoa for some of those killed in the disaster. the names of the dead read out to applause. a city in mourning. for one. dollar that. it could all load in quantum around the collapse of the marandi bridge slash the heart of genoa the deep wound is caused above all by the immense pain to perform for

those who lost their lives and for the missing. piano pearsall of even if it is spades. how to started the company responsible for the bridge in a press conference held only hours after the state funeral said it would give five hundred million euros to the city of genoa. many of pointing the finger at how to start it but they stop short of taking responsibility. for your line of vision and we strongly feel compassion closeness torment toward the victims and the relatives of the victims and their friends. and towards the society and local community. affordable but we don't believe that under the current circumstances we should take responsibility for an event that is still being investigated in-depth look at that i mean. but bringing hands won't quell

locals anger. so moved by the get into your mind these are mistakes that keep on being repeated and now for the umpteenth time angels flew in the sky and paid for mistakes of other human beings severe mistakes so it is time to say enough and to think about what is really crucial which is maintenance man walked into school today the families of those who lost their lives are grieving but pressure is mounting on the authorities to find who was responsible and ensure that they see justice saudi arabia has been making final preparations to host the annual hajj pilgrimage which begins on sunday over two million faithful from across the world are expected during the five day event the pilgrimage represents one of the five pillars of islam and required of all able bodied muslims once in their life. it is by no means an easy

journey walking up to fifteen kilometers a day in more than forty degree heat but for the more than two million muslims taking part this year it will be the trip of a lifetime. but this is the first time that i've performed the hajj and it's been one of my greatest wish is for a long time i prayed to allah to help me to perform the whole ritual i hope this year will be a good one for the islamic nations are. set up so. the hajj poses a great logistical challenge for sadia arabia and twenty fifteen more than two thousand four hundred people were killed in a stampede and subsequent crush authorities say they are prepared we have done everything possible to prevent any kind of stampede and that the new i just. wrote is just. one

evidence of how much saudi arabia is willing to do to bring take the security and safety of polygamy and make up people flock to circle the cube shaped islam's holiest site it's what muslims all over the world turn towards cheering their five daily prayers and a place that all hope to see in the flesh at least once in their lives. in football the german cup first round continued today and they have been some shock results on a county now ready managed to beat fourth to talk us and us a with a goal by robot eleven dusky an eighty second minute the biggest shocker though so on who also play in the fourth division knockout reigning champions eintracht frankfurt with a two one victory got also made an early exit using to nail the hands of a shock often hind end with a man on the other hand while they had no such problem is both defeating the lowly opponents with a school office six one. they see the news from us but they know

from we can always go to our website that dot com for the latest news and information around the clock on how to humphrey imbalance thanks as ever your company. cannot go out and they will not succeed in dividing us about not succeeding taking the people off the streets because we're tired of this dictatorship. taking the stand global news that matters. made from minds. a. reliable data.