german president frank held his first christmas greeting as president from his residence last bellevue he called on people to seize initiative in uncertain times. because in to him for help in this we're not going to help the situation so our future is not sitting stone we can overcome the sense of powerlessness and alienation on both a large and small scale if we take action as a community if we stop calling on others to be responsible and start to realize that responsibility begins with us can. steinmeyer also addressed the delay in forming a new german government now the longest in post-war history. not all things that are unexpected should inspire shia this also applies when the formation of a new government takes longer than foreseen. of the thought in the us but the german president gave his assurance that the country remained stable. in german soccer the bundesliga is enjoying a well earned winter break after one of the most compelling first halves of the season in years high profile sacking some spectacular goals and a huge controversy over the new video referee system means th

german president frank held his first christmas greeting as president from his residence last bellevue he called on people to seize initiative in uncertain times. because indian for help in this we're not going to help the situation so our future is not sitting story when we can overcome the sense of powerlessness and alienation on both a large and small scale if we take action as a community if we stop calling on others to be responsible and start to realize that responsibility begins with us. each time i also addressed the delay in forming a new german government now the longest in post-war history. not all things that are unexpected should inspire a shia this also applies when the formation of a new government takes longer than full scene. of the vote in the us but the german president gave his assurance that the country remained stable. now to some of the other stories making news around the world. at least six people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the afghan capital kabul the blast occurred near an office belonging to the country's national intelligence agency during the

german president frank held his first christmas greeting as president from his residence schloss bellevue he called on people to seize initiative in uncertain times. because indian for help in this way not going to help the situation so our future is not sitting starn we can overcome the sense of powerlessness and alienation on both a large and small scale if we take action as a community if we stop calling on others to be responsible and start to realize that responsibility begins with us can. each time i also addressed the deny in forming a new german government now the longest in post-war history which leaves lish not only things that are unexpected should inspire a shia this also applies when the formation of a new government takes longer than full scene. of the vote in the us but the german president gave his assurance that the country remained stable. aren't to tell you now about some news just coming in there right now a bus has crashed into an underground passageway in moscow killing at least four people and injuring fifteen more all the cause of the crash at this moment isn't cle

german president frank held his first christmas greeting as president from his residence bellevue he called on people to seize initiative in uncertain times. because indian for help when not in a hopeless situation so our future is not sit in stone we can overcome the sense of powerlessness and alienation on both a large and small scale if we take action as a community if we stop calling on others to be responsible and start to realize that responsibility begins with us and. each time i also addressed the deny in forming a new german government now the longest in post-war history. not all things that are unexpected should inspire fear this also applies when the formation of a new government takes longer than foreseen one. of the involved in this but the german president gave his assurance that the country remained stable. let's catch up now with some of the other stories making news around the world tunisia has banned planes belonging to the dubai eline emirates from landing in its capital tunis officials that say they are responding to moves by the year one thousand arab emirates to

impasse over forming a new government they met last night of the presidential palace here in berlin at bellevue with discussions lasting more than two hours council machall has been trying to put together a workable alliance since september selection the social democrat leader martin schultz had earlier ruled out forming another coalition with merkel's conservatives but pressure is building on phil's to reconsider that position. joining me now in the studio is our correspondent oliver salat joy following this story this morning martin shelton party leaders meeting this morning this is a key get together can we expect them to give the green light to exploratory talks this is what the whole country is waiting for right now will the s.p.d. agree on going into these exploratory talks with the christian democrats with angela merkel's party or will they not and it's quiet on his toric situation as well it's the first time that the german president had to step in in such a scale inviting all the party leaders there to his office is there. this is exactly what happened last night they are we have not h

the impasse over the formation of a new government for the country meeting at the presidential palace bellevue here in berlin lasted more than two hours afterwards the party leaders left without making any formal statements council on a macro has been trying to put together a workable alliance since september inconclusive elections the social democrat leader martin scholtz at first ruled out forming another coalition with michael's conservatives but the pressure is building on him to reconsider that position. so how things go last night joining me now to talk about that is our correspondent all over celica morning all over to you you know after the first meeting do we have a sketch now of what we can expect for these talks but we don't know for sure if there will be any other talks at this point though so rumors basically right now we are waiting for any official confirmation of that of course what we know is the talks lasted laying longer than expected and this was quite a historic situation really when the president called in all leaders of different german parties here in especially yesterd

the leaders of germany's two biggest parties are in talks tonight hosted by the german president at bellevue palace right here in berlin it's taking place at this hour in the latest attempt to form a coalition government of the parties have actually been governing together for the past four years but these social democrats that been reluctant to renew that partnership now under pressure to end germany's political crisis they've agreed to come to the tape but the talks are unlikely to be smooth sailing our looks at the likely sticking points. the two get along well and respect each other. and her foreign minister. if it were just up to the c.d.u. chief and the former leader of the social democrats negotiations for the grand coalition would be rather straightforward but many s.p.d. members are still reeling from the poor election results they now want the conservatives to pay a high price for a new edition of a grand coalition one of the core demands is that the states spend more money on social welfare programs in a bid to combat old age poverty the s.p.d. wants to increase state pensions wit

now to our political correspondent thomas sparrow he is outside the presidential residence schloss bellevue here in berlin where these three party leaders have just arrived good evening to you out in the cold forest this evening told us what can we expect to happen inside that building there behind you tonight. it is indeed cold brant it's hope it's not ask cold inside among those leaders that as you say have just arrived what we can expect tonight is an initial conversation between those leaders directed by the german president. to see if there's any possibility of finding common ground of setting perhaps the basis for a future grand coalition in germany it is very unlikely that they will be actually discussing current policy proposals current projects that they would like to bring forward it is more likely that they will try and see if there is any possibility of finding that common ground if there's any possibility of working together in the future and in the meantime we know there's an interim government that's in place right now to keep things working until a new government is formed a

be taking a closer look at what to expect from those coalition talks in the presidential palace at bellevue later in this program this is the w. news live from bill and still to come on the show giving would be migrants hope at home if they see a future for themselves there perhaps they will make the dangerous journey to europe now that at least at the heart of the summit between leaders of the un the african union will go live to abidjan with us on this now underway. well united states republican party is split about donald trump's tax cuts that's right bryan it's a cut to the tune of one point five trillion dollars over a decade and many even in his own party are uneasy about it now senate republicans have put forward new demands to cut the proposed tax rate even further from twenty two percent down to twenty percent critics say mainly the rich would benefit the bill was passed in a house vote two weeks ago and the senate is set to vote on the measure thursday night president trump promoted the legislation at an event and charles missouri on wednesday saying the plan was rocket fuel for t

each held talks with steinmeier the next step is for all three to meet this will happen on thursday in bellevue council and after that the two parties could continue talks without the president trying to sneak in named if the meeting with the german president doesn't turn into a scene of stress and argument then i would say that it would be a good idea to hold these talks. because president. on america will also wants to enter the negotiations wholeheartedly and without preconditions. if we know that there are important points that we think are very significant when it comes to the question can germany master the future but we also know that these talks always demand compromises to be thought so if you can. afford a fine. common ground with the s.p.d. won't be easy one problem off the bat is that the social democrats youth branch categorically rejects a coalition with merkel she's also not well liked by the s.p.d. party base and they are the ones who have to make the final decision. or at least pull in our political correspondent almost bearer for the latest on this good evening to you told us

that statement when he does take the podium but hans i also want to ask you since you're outside of bellevue were american met with my earlier tell us more about the role this very important role that the german president will now play. yes indeed the german constitution constructed in such a way as to make it very difficult for parliament to be dissolved parliament cannot dissolve itself a government once it is in power can through. one cannot confidence verge ask for its government to dissolve but under the circumstances at the moment you elections can only be called after a very long procedure and in this long procedure the federal president. whose office as you said is in the building behind me. plays a crucial role he has to try and persuade the various parties involved to form a government to try again maybe to form a government before he actually goes the route towards a new elections this is all in an intended by the constitution to bring stability to the german political system so that there cannot be the situation that we have at the moment that election follows election and coalit