Europe

Islamabad, Feb 14 (PTI) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday embarked on a visit to Germany to attend an international security conference in Munich where leaders and defence experts from across the world will discuss security issues.

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure, Qureshi said he will present Pakistan's point of view on different issues of regional peace and security in the conference from February 15-17, the Radio Pakistan reported.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany narrowly avoided a recession in the fourth quarter, reporting only zero growth as foreign trade made little contribution to Europe’s largest economy.

The lackluster figure released Thursday by the state statistics agency followed a 0.2 percent fall in output during the preceding third quarter. Business spending on machinery and equipment as well as construction supported the economy in the fourth quarter and kept Germany from suffering two straight quarters of negative growth, one definition of a recession.

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO defense ministers are discussing the future of the alliance’s operation in Afghanistan and how best to use its military presence to support political talks aimed at ending the conflict.

Frustrated with America’s longest war, U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to pull out troops, raising doubts about NATO’s training operation in the strife-torn country.

Around 14,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, just over half with NATO and the rest doing counter-terror and combat operations.

13 Feb 2019; AFP: A Sudanese refugee held in one of Australia's offshore migrant detention sites for six years was on Wednesday awarded the world's most prestigious human rights prize.

Abdul Aziz Muhamat, 26, was hailed by the Martin Ennals Award organisers for his "extraordinary tenacity and courage" in protesting the Australian government's "inhumane practices".

14 Feb 2019; DW: Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have signed two petitions calling on a German zoo to return Bili, a bonobo ape who was being "bullied" by fellow apes, to the United Kingdom.

The petitions, which have gathered more than 400,000 signatures, call on the authorities at the zoo in the western German city of Wuppertal to release Bili to an ape sanctuary in the UK.

14 Feb 2019; DW: European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Thursday announced it will end production of the A380 double-decker passenger jet in 2021.

The Franco-German company had hoped the superjumbo would challenge Boeing's 747 and revolutionise air travel in the 21st century.

What's behind the move?

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. OPEC countries demonstrated an unequal level of oil production cuts as of the end of January and reduction rates need to be expedited, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said on Tuesday in a statement released by the Secretariat’s press service.

"Initial production and supply data from participating countries is beginning to show various levels of conformity, as can be viewed in OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report. Once again the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to exhibit leadership from the front and by example," Barkindo said.

PARIS, February 13. /TASS/. One-sided resolution, hostile to Venezuela’s legitimate government, will never be approved by the UN Security Council, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters during his visit to Paris on Tuesday.

"As I understand, we don’t even have a clear understanding by all Security Council members of stances taken by leading actors, including the US, let alone a common consolidated text [of a resolution] that would be acceptable to everyone in this or that form," he said.

SOCHI, February 13. /TASS/. Moscow is determined to continue assisting Damascus in liberating Syria’s territory, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"I would like to reiterate that we will continue to make every possible effort to assist the Syrian government and armed forces in liberating the country," he said. "We will support the Syrian army’s activities that must be consistent with international humanitarian laws," the Russian top diplomat added.

SOCHI, February 13. /TASS/. The UN Security Council should be reformed by expanding the representation of developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America as a matter of priority, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference after negotiations with his Lesotho’s counterpart Lesego Makgothi on Wednesday.

As Russia’s top diplomat said, the sides discussed the reformation of the UN Security Council.