north and south korea are holding their first formal talks in two years after donald trump claimed his tough stance on pyongyang made the meeting possible. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu faces mass protests over corruption allegations with thousands marching in the streets of tel aviv. and new coalition talks are in full swing in germany as i'm going to multiple attempts to end what some indeed the country's worst political crisis in years.

this is r.t. international coming to life are lost on the joining us. north and south korea have started their first official talks in two years the negotiations are taking place in the demilitarized zone between the two countries that have been recent signs of progress january the third sold the reopening of a cross border telephone line and the following day donald trump delayed the annual military drills with seoul until after next month's winter olympics in south korea . let's cross now to our reporter caleb caleb what more can you tell us about these talks which we north and south korea. well the talks have already started in the shared village in the demilitarized zone between north and south korea now from what we understand the primary focus of the talks will be in relation to the olympics about the participation of athletes from north

korea in the south korean olympic games which are coming up in february now we also heard from south korea's reunification minister and he was saying that he hoped the talks could go beyond that and it could be a place for easing the tension between the two countries in the tension on the korean peninsula that the whole world has been closely paying attention to over the last few weeks and few months let's take a a look kind of an overview of what's been going on on the korean peninsula recently . now the administration in south korea actually jumped at the opportunity to have talks now unlike their predecessors the moon administration has always said that

it's very open to a diplomatic solution and a diplomatic approach with north korea now the talks actually come in the aftermath of an announcement in a statement in kim jong un's new year's remarks in which she said in his remarks that he was open to having a dialogue with the south this is what we heard from the leader of north korea. one clue to the south really wants reconsideration in unity we will keep open the doors for talks contact and exchange to everyone including the south korean administration opposition poems these groups from various fields and quantities and individuals. now when it was announced that the talks were going to take place we heard first on twitter and then in comments in speeches to the press that we heard from donald trump and he says that he thinks that was his approach in dealing with north korea in the last year of his administration that was responsible for

the fact that the talks are taking place this is donald trump explaining what he thinks caused the talks a lot of people have said a lot of people have written that without my rhetoric and without my tough stance and such a stance i mean this is this is what has to be done if it has to be done that they wouldn't be talking about olympics that they wouldn't be talking right now. here of strategic patience with the north korean regime has failed united states is prepared to use the full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies we will have no choice but to totally destroy north korea little rocket man rocket fuel for the american economy is a sick puppy. now it's certainly interesting that if donald trump is responsible for this taking place that unlike previous dialogues that have gone on in the past the united states is not going to have

a seat at the table it is only the two koreas north and south korea that will be engaging in this dialogue that is taking place this dialogue that's taking place at this very moment and furthermore the press is not permitted to be there there is no journalist presence inside the reunification village it's not there's no press there it's only a five person delegation from north korea the representatives from south korea they're the only ones in the room there is no media there you know covering the event so all eyes are on the korean peninsula and in particular on the dillon demilitarized zone where these talks are taking place is as the world prepares for the upcoming winter olympic games in which these talks seem to be focused on but many are hoping it will lead to other issues as well and the resolution of tensions on the korean peninsula sunday service he was going to come from this kind of movement thank you very much indeed thank you want some more insight on the story

we can now bring in sort of gupta who's an asia pacific. and asia pacific specialist which tony speaks a lot is pretty easy to do than say thank you very much indeed for joining us here i mean do you expect any breakthrough at these talks between north and south korea . it would be a gradual process but i think the would be a breakthrough definitely with regard to a limpet participation that is a low hanging fruit and i think it can be achieved well donald has claimed credit for the talks saying if i weren't involved they would be doing no talking or be much more serious i mean do you think he's right. no i don't think i am certain here's not correct the credit for this actually should go to the new south korean administration of president in what kim jong un spoke in his new year's message was in fact in reply to a speech made by president moon in berlin early july where he laid out

points on which they could be concerned the issue with south korea kim jong un has responded on each of those points which in had put out on reducing tensions on the military demarcation line in terms of participation along pics starting exchanges particularly family reunions and cetera et cetera so the credit should go to that i mean perversely that donald trump should get some credit in terms of not the korea accelerating its nuclear and ballistic missile of the terror and so that it now feels that it is reasonably assured that it has the deterrent and can now open talks so from a perverse perspective yes donald trump does get some credit and perhaps we should be a little more generous in saying that he has acknowledged that jane can take a leading role in doing in trying to find in trying to pursue him to korean reconciliation and for that i think there is some credit that donald trump can take

but this is primarily our president moon who deserves the credit well as we heard from caleb that i mean unlike previous talks between the two koreas the u.s. will not be at the table despite what we say about donald trump i mean how could this affect the process. what it can do and what it can helpfully do is that if there is progress in this trial in these talks slowly gradually over a period of time it then paints the u.s. as the only belligerent and hostile force which is seeking belligerent means in resolving the issue and that will force the us to do it recalculation off its policy on north korea and try to see how it can also facilitate more peaceful solutions rather than just hawkish solutions so from that perspective it can be useful but we must also remember in mind that there's only so far that south and north korea can go and it is essential that during this period north korea does not

take any belligerent actions are not know it's there to the north korean delegation said that successful talks would be the perfect need years gift i mean what do you think north korea specifically is hoping to get out of these negotiations. i think north korea is really genuinely seeking seeking to play the conciliation card if one reads our president kim. chairman kim jong un speech on new year's day is a good third of that speech was devoted to rican solution with the south the tone was very respectful and conciliatory so if north korea feels that it is at a point with a sufficiently assured with its deterrent capability it wants to see how far it can pursue conciliation with the south yes one can one one can never be sure and saw it might be is just seeking a pause from during which time he can do technological advancements that cetera et

cetera he might be trying to grow put a wedge between the us and are ok but all these things can only be tested once and once once we actually go ahead and allow this process to take take shape and then we will know who stands where and at this point of time let's take it in good faith and try to see if we can lower temperatures on the peninsula and get in and do an deflect the peninsula from the from the fairly awful trajectory on which it has been moving towards for the last possible near their time to be positive that sort of got to asia pacific strategists and economic policy specialists there and you're getting right in here thank you very much indeed for your thoughts thank you. assassins of people have marched through the streets of tel aviv demanding the resignation of israel's prime minister binyamin netanyahu due to allegations of corruption radagast year for ports.

for six weeks now its release have been demonstrating against the prime minister the prime minister as they've affectionately nicknamed him not just in tel aviv the capital but now growing but israel proper always been here for the last three years everybody is talking about it all the time to the media. there is a feeling that the government is corrupt and puts its interests before the citizens . government is corrupt. they're tired i think is going to get elected again. there are two publicly known cases against netanyahu in the first his wife and he alleged to have the except did elicit gifts tobacco and alcohol from

a hollywood billionaire luxurious champagne for the lady and fine cigars for the gentleman case number two netanyahu reportedly struck a deal with a major newspaper where in return for more favorable coverage he would weaken a rival newspaper using his office and powers as prime minister serious allegations stuff like this has put people in jail you think bebe's scared if there will be recommendations by police to undo it so here's a fact i doubt the public knows the vast majority of police recommendations in with nothing more than sixty percent of police recommendations are thrown out here of course denies everything just like his predecessor who'd all met also denied ever taking bribes even as he was handcuffed and convoyed off to jail b.b. doesn't care police can recommend whatever they want it's only if the state

prosecutors decide to act will he face trouble and he seems sure they won't they knew a year ago even before the investigation why did it take a year and a waste of time and public funds there's more of course questions about netanyahu has connections how bibi's cousin ended up in the middle of a controversial billion dollar deal to buy german submarines you know how these things happen but isn't it amazing how a man can be so flippant about corruption allegations against him and so righteous about corruption allegations against. others bridgie reunions are pouring into the streets they seek freedom they seek justice i wish the iranian people success in their noble quest for freedom but the know. they support.

against other corrupted riches like him you learn but you try to manipulate. criticism against him it is really a corrupt government releases still months away from issuing an official recommendation on whether to try to netanyahu or not but b.b.'s allies as striking back they've passed through legislation that would be the police for making any public recommendations on whether people should be taken to court that then yahoo's a survivor israel's longest serving prime minister he has weathered and survived plenty of scandals and next time this law will make it even easier under the israeli law the prime minister does not have to resign even if he is indicted and even when he's standing trial only after he has been convicted

in a certain district court in jerusalem and after he's appeal has been denied by the high court which could take two years or so but this is only beleaguered point from the public and political point of view there will be a lot of pressure on him to resign or at least step aside for a while once he's indicted. a new coalition talks have kicked off in germany in what's seen as angle americans last chance to form a majority government and avoid yet another election the social democrats and the ruling. christian democratic union will now have five days to enter into a so-called grand coalition and both sides seem confident of success forming an alliance with the social democrats is the only option left for on the local

previous coalition talks with the green party of the free democrats collapse two months ago the political crisis is seen by some as the worst injury of many theists any of which i guess sizes up michael's challenges of resolving it. to put together a coalition it takes a match angle has been desperate to make any match she hoped her party could match with the greens but that plan also required matching with the d.p. or the free democrats or rights why appear to but no it's a match pop ups and go all those got it right with the green party but she's still in favor of using coal power plus her transport minister in the old government called the greens tofu that has fallen into our meets when it comes to the d.p. these folks were nowhere near matching with deep divisions in how to deal with tax

solemn and environmental policies. we will not abandon our vote for a policy with which we are not convinced it is better not to govern than to govern badly so that was it for the so called to make a call that talks. one guy quit using the coalition building up all together but then signed up again. we are not entering a grand coalition we said this clearly in this room after the elections and we still stand by this. time politics and that's why these tools necessary to meet the great challenges facing the world europe germany so angle crossed paths with her part there swipe left or swipe right the conservative leader is having another go at matching with the social democrats but here again angle may find herself matchless here's why. migration was

much less of an issue in twenty third thing when agreeing on the c.d.u. s.p.d. grand coalition was no sweat today it's one of the main if not the number one issue for germans to worry about the success of the right wing force the conservative blog to get more tough on asylum seekers something the social democrats refuse to accept. instead what they'd love to accept and actually push for is more integration after all the s.p.d. leader wants to see the knotted states of europe and while angle as c.d.u. is more hesitant varian wing of her block is turning increasingly euro skeptic you don't invite hungary's leader slash. viktor orban to a party summit for nothing. then there's the issue of how much to spend on the

army the conservatives are seeking more military spending to reach the nato target of two percent of g.d.p. the social democrats though say that's not what germany needs if eventually these things are nuff to cause a mismatch angola merkel may end up in real trouble as the prospect of yet another election looms recent opinion polls show more than half of all germans are against merkel running again earlier we spoke to geo political analyst ron arad for sue believes a rerun is much more likely than people think the trust in great question is beginning to diminish quite considerably and german population there is already much of a majority of people calling for new elections as recent polls have showed a good negotiator would have seen much earlier that one of the three or four even negotiating parties was why i'm to represent the different

points that were gathered to flow in the question and obviously angela merkel failed at that point she did not realize how bad the situation was perceived on behalf of liberals i can imagine that will be replaced. even if there are new elections already in twenty eight. the vice president of the german bundestag recently said he was in favor of limiting the chancellor's term in office to eight or ten years calling it the hardest job in the country and amid the political uncertainty some are speculating merkel may not run again if the latest coalition talks fail the media has already lined up potential successors.

really. look. like. what is it going for on the right. well have any of you ever seen a circus with a black roof. are you an expert in german wine. when they can we were there why you tell us now

yes it's pretty easy to distinguish between brad i am quite why. the national security agency in the united states is facing troubling times numbers of employees leaving the service are increasing dramatically former n.s.a. technical director turned whistleblower william binney saying staff can no longer walk in the conditions the agency creates. the internally in n.s.a. see their program called see something say something about employees your fellow workers so they've got the workers inside n.s.a. watching the they other workers so that they can get they what their objective is to get somebody to tell them about someone who might be another edward snowden so that was the whole program that's what that's all about so i'm sure that that creates a very hostile you know kind of. a bad work environment that destroys the morale the people do it work doing the work there i mean can you it's like you were in the

middle of the i was in the original program set up by the stasi to they did the same thing in east germany so i mean when you i mean anybody who had a vendetta or some gripe against someone else could say something about them you know in without giving their names and just to report them for something just to get them into trouble and have difficulty so i mean that just sets up a very bad work environment. they have to encourage you know creativity and independence and get get get the fear of actually trying to do something out of the employee so they're not afraid to try things i mean when you have people watching you all the time for some kind of slip up i mean that kind of that kind of makes you an inhibited that kind of says i don't want to try to do things because somebody might perceive it incorrectly and if they do and i get reported i get in trouble so you know that's that's a very bad thing for them to be doing so they need to correct that they need to

they need to also out a magically audited on what they're doing so that you know congress can really know what's happening and the people can really know and so can the justice department they're doing illegal things like violating the constitution of the united states which are currently doing now. so they need to correct all of that and then that will create a better and work environment and actually see that the get the people who are working there to see that they're actually doing positive things. well i mean i don't see them succeeding at stopping terrorism anyway i mean the only thing they stop or this set up that the f.b.i. does you know they entrap people as far as the the attacks that have really been planned by terrorists or people who are in there who are intending harm to people i mean they haven't stopped this for any of them that i know of because alexander general alexander former director there and claim to the judiciary committee in the senate that they'd stopped that before attacks and he was challenged by senator leahy to prove it and they couldn't prove any of them so i mean the point is the

thing that they're doing is unconstitutional illegal it's crimes against the laws of the united states and they need to stop that that would change some of the way the the work and employees working there would perceive the the job and the charter and the duties inside innocent. the u.s. army and department of homeland security have developed a virtual reality training game to simulate shootings in schools it's intended for teachers and first responders helping them stay ahead of a potential tragedy. the feeling that. they're helping two hundred seventy five school shootings in the u.s. in the past five years an average of almost one a week this year already there have been two reported firearm incidents in schools

while nearly a third of all mass shootings in the u.s. since the year two thousand have taken place in schools here's a reminder of some of the deadliest. we are still experts how effective this new school shooting simulator may be in helping to curb the problem. we have to really understand that we do live in a day and age when children are going to have to understand this at

a younger age than we would have liked then we were probably raised with and because of that you know it is good to utilize technology in order to train them to either defend themselves against it or defend others against it and just to be ready for it because sometimes the worst things will happen when children or those in its situation have absolutely no idea how to handle what is happening that provides teachers with at least some information in order to prepare any addend that they're actually use and so on their school and what that does is it is assumed that the assaults will come there will be more socks and dare i say this there will be there will be more shooting there will be more bashing in schools across the united states we have seen this and there's nothing that tells me that that's simply not true will technology and video games make decisions safer i don't know i hope it will but here's what i do know i know that we have seen mass

shooting after mass shooting after back shooting children in the united states but we're working in the schools with young students to help them understand the modern threats of that time and to better prepare with that to know exactly what to do in the case of the current modern threat happiness upon their school in this case it is school shootings the united states and so you know teachers first responders being able to take part in the simulations is going to help them better train their students for what to do in the event of a school shooting but this is to some degree and acceptance that that is the ongoing reality and that the only true response the only thing that the u.s. can do at this point is simply to prepare teachers for what is coming rather than to find a legitimate alternative to stopping those actual shootings themselves. yeah you might think a successful businessman has better things to do than spend his days picking litter up off the streets but not when you're a man on

a mission. thank you. out . there i think it doesn't matter how much money you give no matter if you are british or poor you always need to pass on positive energy to suss it doesn't matter how old you either. cut. it for so someone dropped litter in public i would persuade them to pick it up and not to do it again because i collect trash to remind and persuade others. i. do time but if ten percent of citizens were like him our environment would be much better. show machine i believe that if

i could assist you environment would you better keep good usage long as i keep you even when i'm seventy eighty years old. i'll be back at the latest headlines in just over half an hour meanwhile for more on all of our stories. it's a new year but the same stories persist out front as the chaotic trump white house followed by the steel dossier and a possible breakthrough with north korea.