Democrats the first day has ended on a positive note look at the latest from our correspondent also coming up paris remembers the victims of the attacks three years ago that horrified the world the killings began when gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical magazine charlie abdo. And for figure skaters from both sides of the korean divide get ready for an unlikely cross border union at the Winter Olympics. In atlanta. Im michel henery and good to have you with us the first round of talks to form a new Coalition Government in germany has ended on a positive note the spokesman for the negotiations said they had been serious concentrated but also open test their own goal of merkels conservatives are holding the talks with the center left social democrats after previous negotiations with other parties failed germany has been waiting for a new government since the election more than three months ago. Germany six a new government and they slate is under pressure to deliver one its of a three month since the country voted and even now neither the christian democrats adler merkel nor the social democrats martin showed can guarantee a new government but they are hopeful. That things will do nothing in these amazing to be on these negotiations in a constructive and inclusive why. Lets go i believe we can do it were committed to working together very rapidly and intensively. The key issues dividing the conservatives from the s. P. Database talks a migration and europe a migration the right wing of the conservatives dont want the families of refugees to be able to come here but the social democrats are all for that idea on Europe Martin short says big idea as he noted states of europe the key conservatives remind skeptical the social democrats host of the first day of these talks that the partys headquarters gillibrand house now entering into the negotiations wounded by the parties were showing in postwar german history at septembers election afterwards i said i wanted to go into opposition but now theyve performed a u. Turn and say what the country needs is a stable government a new style of leadership because if this is given the Election Results and vital things cant go on as they were. The vote the International Political situation and the makeup of the german been dissed tog show that were in a new era. In sight. And this new era requires a new style of politics the s. P. D. In conservative parties will have to go into government if Angela Merkel is to remain as chancellor merkel has made it clear its a majority government new elections the chance and future two is riding on the outcome of these talks. Covering the talks for us as our Political Correspondent kate brady who joins us now. Kate chancellor merkel has a lot of work ahead of her and these political negotiation talks why do these products are they struggling so much to find Common Ground between basic issue and thats the two of the three main parties taking part in these talks have very opposing objectives in these talks and is thats especially between the social democrats and the c. S. Use that the very insistent party to merkels c. D. U. Conservatives and s. P. D. Of course remember they actually said that they wouldnt form another grand coalition with merkels conservatives and so they really have to work over these during these exploratory talks also convince their own delegates and Party Members that a grand coalition would be the right move for the s. P. Day so theyre putting demands on the table such as higher taxes for the wealthy they want more integration into europe and they also want more liberal refugee policy and these are all demands which a quite the opposite what the c. S. U. Are demand and one of the most contentious issues between those two parties is certainly going to be that refugee policy as thats something that the c. S. U. Really want to take a tougher stance on particularly when it comes to family reunions of refugees would you say that this is merkels last chance to form a stable government but it certainly had a last chance to form a government that would have a clear majority in parliament if these exploratory talks dont turn into actual Coalition Negotiations then that still be two options left on the table have. A minority government and thats something that merkel herself has said that she would not be willing to enter the she said on several occasions and the other option would be new elections and a staff election is also something thats not favored neither by the social democrats nor the conservatives as theres also this concern among both parties who both had historic lows in septembers election they both worry that they could actually lose more seats in parliament that they would also see more voters migration to the far right who of course entered the German Parliament for the first time back in September Kate bravely reporting for us thank you very much welcome. Well return to that story a bit later in the show. The victims of the facts in paris three years ago that target a jewish supermarket and the offices of the satirical magazine. Islamists gunmen are believed to have singled out the publication for printing cartoons of islams Prophet Muhammad eleven Staff Members and a policeman work held. In this simple ceremony french president emanuel mccrone and paris met and it dago laid a wreath at the former offices of the city rico magazine charlie at. The attack on the publication was a watershed moment for france a moment felt not just by a few but by the whole Society Three years ago the french born islamist extremists and sure if koat she stormed the offices of charlie abdo and short twelve people dead two days later another extremist stormed the supermarket killing four. The gunman from both incidents were killed during shootouts with place. The magazine found itself in the crosshairs of radical islamists after published images of the Prophet Muhammad in two thousand and twelve and actis courage by many islamic traditions the twenty fifteen attack is presumed to be in response to those cartoons it shocked france just we shall it became the rallying cry of the magazine supporters after the shooting triggered discussions of free speech and freedom of the press Charlie Hebdo was also the first in a string of terrorist attacks in france over the past three years this has changed very thorough way i mean first of all this was an attack on the right one of the very cool principle of democracy many friends here felt even today people are still afraid that there might be new attacks its very much a topic in the center of attention and more than nine out of ten of the french say that they think that a new terror attack in france is likely a very lucky Charlie Hebdo is still in operation according to its editor the magazine pays more than one Million Euros every year old thirty two sailors and are missing after an Iranian Oil Tanker and a freighter collided off the east coast of china a tanker caught fire after the crash search teams have been looking for survivors all crew members from the freighter has been rescued. In myanmar friends of a ten detained reporter gathered at a young guns meant the go to to pray for his release orders reporter while though and call they cross oku arrest on twelve december after covering their hendrik refugee crisis the European Union the United States and the un have all to manage their release. Of thousands of progovernment supporters have again been marching in iran its the fifth successive day of rallies by supporters of the government the countrys revolutionary guard has claimed. That recent antigovernment protests are all but over to rant says around twenty people have died in the unrest. Now sport and the news that north korea is likely to compete at the Winter Olympics across the border in south korea has made political waves but for two south korean figure skaters its strictly personal they recently trained in canada with their north Korean Counterparts and theyre desperate to meet again at pyongyang in an atmosphere of friendly rivalry. Youd be forgiven for thinking that the north korean Winter Olympic Team id get a frosty reception across the border in chiang. And kim to seek the two figure skaters that comprise the norths modest olympic squad a warm welcome awaits they trained with southern counterparts computer and can can chant in canada last year and the foursome became fast friends. As we trained together for two months in canada we became close easily because we speak the same language we rooted for each other and we said that we should meet. Despite inevitable differences resulting from growing up under regimes dancing to two wildly different tunes the athletes phone they still had plenty in common. Peace to meet each other and could get along with them more than the other we ate together and it made us closer. To. A sense of togetherness among the korean athletes shows that the olympic spirit is alive and well allies of both countries are hoping its the first step on the road to more cooperation. Football fans in germany are having to make do with that at their weekly six as the bundesliga takes its midseason break but they can still stay up to date with their favorite players who share snippets of their everyday lives on Twitter Facebook and instagram its not just a way to interact with fans but also big business for the pros. Fans lined up to catch a glimpse of their idols but signing autographs and taking selfies isnt enough. Media is the most important point of contact for supporters posting daily updates is almost as important as training for stars like messi and cristiano ronaldo. Has different fans want to feel close to them to have a connection they can catch a glimpse of their lives every single day. They find a. What the players are up to and also what makes them happy or sad if in fact looked. Polished. And manages the social Media Presence of football is its his job to help turn the football into a sustainable brand its a massive business not just for the players. Its. Big clubs dont just pay the player for his contribution on the pitch its also for his marketing value so its also about whether the player can help sell more jerseys and merchandise maybe attract new sponsors to the club and kind of. In germany told us is one of the biggest names in social media aside from posting about sports and his private life he uses his accounts to promote social causes. Lower profile pros like daniel. Also use it to build their brand eighty five percent of bundesliga players have a social Media Presence. Social media keep them social media gives those other players the opportunity to increase their Media Presence put themselves in the limelight and create a continuous dialogue with the fans and. Took on todays footballers need a virtual presence but for fans theres nothing quite like meeting their favorite player face to face. The area freestyle skiing world cup continued this weekend with moscow hosting the first meet of twenty eight the most spectacular john in the mens if that came from anton questionnaire the ballot will see the athlete pulled off the stunning foot to take first place and move up the second in the overall gold cup rankings in the womens event colleen mcness effort was just as impressive and it was enough to give the delighted American Press first ever think three and a world cup. The dakar rally got underway in peru as five hundred forty cars trucks and motorcycles lined up for the worlds top off road race fans turned out in force in la. For the start it was the first stage in peru for five years after leaving the capital racers faced a real challenge two hundred forty two kilometers through mostly desert terrain after the first stage defending champion Sam Sunderland was leading the motorcycles while two time winner Nasser Alitalia helpful in the car division for more stages to come true before the race moves on to bolivia. Now its undergone seven long years of restoration but finally istanbuls historic St Stephens Church has reopened its doors the church is thought to be the only one in the world with an iron frame turkish president or one and bulgarian Prime Minister for cobras off attended the inauguration ceremony and the church follows the bulgarian orthodox form of christianity and the projects completion comes despite an often turbulent relationship between bulgaria and turkey. And a reminder of the top story were following for you in germany a first day of talks between chancellor Angela Merkel and the social democrats on forming a new Coalition Government has ended on a positive note the country has been without a new government since the election more than three months ago. More news coming up at the top of the hour in the meantime has our website dot com im still here in berlin thanks for watching. The latest technology