damien mcguinness there on the streets of berlin.international monetary fund, thinks there's going to be a modest improvement this year. we also asked the german government for an interview, but they declined. so here's some of what the finance minister said at the world economic forum in davos, where he rejected the idea that germany's economic troubles make it the so—called sick man of europe. germany is not the sick man. germany is, after a very successful period since 2012 and these years of crisis, germany is a tired man after a short night, and the low growth expectations are partly a wake—up call. and now we have a good cup of coffee, which means structural reforms, and then we will be continuing to succeed economically. ok, so what needs to change for the world's fourth biggest economy to be more successful? well, private business has a big influence. so i turn to the chief economist at the federation of german industries. it represents 39 industry associations, more than 100,000 companies with around eight million employees.

let's speak to the bbc�*s berlin correspondent damien mcguinness.s quite a big move and this law has been years in the making, matthew. it is this law has been years in the making, matthew.— say it is one of the key policy objectives of this coalition government, which is led by a centre—left party, the social democrats. the aim of it, according to the health minister, is to de—stigmatise use of cannabis order to make sure the product is safe there are no toxins in there, they want to roll out a big information campaign to enable young people to find out more about the harms of cannabis. it does seem a bit counterfactual in a way, and i think a lot of conservatives and critics of the law have said it seems odd to them that in order to fight rising use of cannabis amongst young people, they are legalising cannabis, but the government would say this is all about informing people how to use this and regulating the use, because what we have seen over the past few years across germany is an incredible rise in the use of cannabis amongst young people. so

but like damien mcguinness there.ral london where thousands have gathered in these pro—palestinian matches through central london. we are expecting them to end around downing street. organisers have said that metropolitan police have ensured a heavy presence and could also take a harsher approach compared with previous demonstrations should need bay. the met announcing on friday that face coverings at this protest are prohibited. as it makes its way around london. so those are the latest pictures of the pro—palestinian match in london. now the weather. good afternoon. a tale of two halves with our weather today. we have brighter but slightly chilly weather across scotland and northern ireland but for most of england and wales it is a mild, blustery day. in fact that blustery weather will head back northwards for the second part of the weekend to scotland and northern ireland. at the moment we are in this rather brisk westerly wind again and there are lots of showers, heavier showers than yesterday with hail and thunde

, where plans were discussed to deport people with non—german backgrounds. 0ur correspondent damien mcguinnesstions have been held in towns and cities right across germany. they're being held by all sorts of groups, from environmentalists, trade unions, political parties, even a group called grannies against the far right. what they all have in common is they are protesting against right—wing extremism after reports of a secret meeting in november attended by the far—right party, the afd, at which a plan was discussed to deport anyone with non—german heritage outside of germany. it would affect millions of people, a very radical plan which is not going to happen but it shocked the whole nation. sparked these mass demonstrations. as a result, over the last few weeks, the afd seems to have slipped in the polls to just over 20%. it could be because of these protests putting off some people or it could be because of other far—right parties and anti—migrant groups are being set up, undermining support for the afd. either way, afd leads have come out fighting. they say they have been victimised by m

accused of more than 30 murders committed between the 1970s and early 1990s. 0ur correspondent damien mcguinnessadical left wing militants that terrorised germany really throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties. and she's dubbed here in germany, part of a group of the baader—meinhof pensioners, because for decades now german police have been looking for her. she's been on the run, she's been living underground with two other thought accomplices. and she's managed to fund her underground lifestyle with a number of quite spectacular robberies, including on supermarkets, most of them in western germany. and that's really why this arrest has taken place in the first instance. but she's known primarily because of her membership of this radical militant group, which was obviously very well known throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties in germany. they disbanded in 1999 and then the following few years, right through to the mid 2000s, she is accused with two other men of carrying out these attacks, some of which, some of these robberies, she managed to earn, it's alleged up to 100,000 eu

let's go now to our germany correspondent damien mcguinness, who is live in berlin. welcome.s against this party. yes. the streets against this party. yes, interestingly _ the streets against this party. yes, interestingly every _ the streets against this party. yes, interestingly every week _ the streets against this party. t9: interestingly every week at the protests get bigger and bigger. this could be the biggest yet. people are streaming in from crowds, to the german parliament building, the reichstag, just over there, and the plan is they will hold hands and form human chain around parliament building. it is a simple, really, how ordinary people say they want to protect democracy from the afd, which many describe as an anti—democratic party. that is the huge debate across germany. because courts and judges have officially defined some party leaders and members of the party as fascist and anti—democratic. now there is a huge debate here about whether the party should be banned and what it means for german democracy as a whole. what impact are these likely to have, do you

more than thirty murders committed between the 1970s and early 1990s. 0ur berlin correspondent, damien mcguinnessical left wing militants that terrorised germany really throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties. and she's dubbed here in germany, part of a group of the baader—meinhof pensioners, because for decades now german police have been looking for her. she's been on the run, she's been living underground with two other thought accomplices. and she's managed to fund her underground lifestyle with a number of quite spectacular robberies, including on supermarkets, most of them in western germany. and that's really why this arrest has taken place in the first instance. but she's known primarily because of her membership of this radical militant group, which was obviously very well known throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties in germany. they disbanded in 1999 and then the following few years, right through to the mid 2000s, she is accused with two other men of carrying out these attacks, some of which, some of these robberies, she managed to earn, it's alleged up to 100,000 euro

damien mcguinness in berlin. the strikes are hampering the economy which is already lagging behind. minister christian lindner recently described germany as just a "tired man" in need of "a strong cup of coffee". does this describe my next guest? let's speak about this in more detail with christian schulz, deputy chief european economist at citi. good morning to you. joining a slave from near frankfurt, is that right?— slave from near frankfurt, is that right?_ but| that right? that is right. but with the coffee. _ that right? that is right. but with the coffee. you - that right? that is right. but with the coffee. you have i that right? that is right. butl with the coffee. you have got your strong coffee. tell us about the impact of all these strikes. 0nce about the impact of all these strikes. once again lufthansa passengers will not be able to get around. passengers will not be able to get around-— passengers will not be able to net around. ~ . ., get around. well, the impact of a da of get around. well, the impact of a day of strike _ get around. well, the impact of a day of str

our correspondent, damien mcguinness, was at a protest in berlin.which is not going to happen but it shocked the whole nation. sparked these mass demonstrations. as a result, over the last few weeks, the afd seems to have slipped in the polls to just over 20%. it could be because of these protests putting of some people protests putting off some people or it could be because of other far—right parties and anti—migrant groups are being set up, undermining support for the afd. either way, afd leads have come out fighting. they say they have been victimised by mainstream german politics and media and they hope that actually these politics will boost their support by playing into this narrative they often use that they are being victimised by the rest of german society. a team of scientists and engineers has landed in antarctica, to test a new drone that will help experts forecast the impact of climate change. the device will enable researchers to access parts of the continent that were previously out of bounds because of the harsh weather conditions. t