this is d.w. news from but i'm going to study may have been here in germany different says remain out the to tackle the tough issues of ukraine and syria but signs of a pragmatic doris the 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 off 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 of the world's top diplomats later he became the u.n.

special envoy for syria will examine his legacy. commemorating the dead easily holds a state funeral for the victims of tuesday's bridge collapse in the northern city of genoa friendships and friends during the country's leaders say goodbye to their loved ones. on how to how free 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 i think that that 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 in 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 medical 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 attention this is the first time putin has met merkel in germany since the conflict in donbass began and peace is still elusive. 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 medical 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 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 and putin met just recently in fact in such a why exactly all the two leaders meeting now well i'm going to muchel canal focus on foreign policy one of her strengths so vive being a key internal debate on migrations of that can explain at least partially why they 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 to three months of two thousand and fifteen and when it comes to syria she has also been 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 undoubtedly have putin a meeting precisely here in missouri back today andy thomas 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 to the pipeline that both countries want to

advance but that's that 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 these north seemed to pipeline so those were all issues that have to be discussed by the two leaders and that are going to mocha was particularly interested in finding at least some sort of answers from vladimir putin. so progress some answers need and we know that when it comes to syria there 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 lost his ace 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 anglo-american has set those is she's going to try and talk to fly the emir putin about the potential syria meeting in turkey in september where france and turkey and russia and germany who talk about percent potential solutions or at very briefly i'd like to go see 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 family show when in moscow thomas sparrow in maze of land and of course with me in the studio political correspondent nina thank you very much to you or. 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 served two terms from one nine hundred ninety seven to two thousand and six in new york the united nations low it is flag to haul stuff that it's world headquarters and then died after a short illness at the age of eighty. four almost ten years the face of the u.n. for many 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 it to rating we have an obligation under international humanitarian law and 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 un 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 being to make the united nations more useful for his tireless work as a peace negotiator and ambassador for human rights and none was honored with the

nobel peace prize in two thousand and one leaves the wife and three children. the heads of the italian company responsible for the motorway bridge which collapsed in genoa this week as promised to put in place a new structure within eight months the chairman of altos that ad 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 a close friend. gennaro a city in mourning. your one. dollar. bill could all load in the collapse of the marandi bridge slash the heart of genoa. the deep wound is caused above all by the immense pain for those who lost their lives

and for the missing. he spit. out a 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 general many of pointing the finger at altus that are dead 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 communities. afford 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. what's bringing hands quell

locals anger. so moved by the people united 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 to ensure. 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 wants it 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. and this is the first time that i've performed the hajj and it's been one of my greatest wishes 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. that he 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 crushed authorities say they are prepared we have done everything possible to prevent any kind of a stampede and the new i just. broke it

is just. one evidence of how much saudi arabia is willing to do to break take the security and safety of polygamy and make people flock to circle the cube shaped islam's holiest site it's what ms thems all over the world turned 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 to send us a with a goal by robot eleven dogs skin eighty second minute the biggest shock of their so on who also play in the fourth division knockout reigning champions i'm caught frankfurt with a two one victory got also made an early exit using two nil to hands a hotshot cough and i'm in but a man on the other hand while i had no such problems both defeating the lowly opponents with a school office six one. they say the news from of the nation

from we can always go to our website that stink up any dot com for the latest news and information around the clock on how to humphrey in berlin thanks as ever your company. every journey begins with the first step and every language with the first word emerged in the call. nico is in germany to learn german one on one with him it's simple online on your mobile and free shots d w z e learning course nikos fake german made easy wouldn't be fighting for the case to be taken seriously in the world of work here's what's coming up. on the.