Angela Merkel

The EU will ink a landmark trade deal with Singapore on the margins of the summit on October 19 in what Brussels hopes will be a clear rebuttal of rising US protectionism.

VW will offer an incentive for customers who agree to scrap diesel vehicles equipped with older euro 1 to euro 4 engines, the carmaker said.

Success in the upcoming negotiations depended "largely on what it is Britain really wants, and on this the discussion has still not been entirely clear", Merkel told a business conference in Berlin.

The coalition of Merkel's conservative Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats agreed when it took office earlier this year to ensure pensions remain at the current level of 48 percent of average wages through 2025.

It's a work meeting from which no specific results are expected but the number of problems that occupy us from Ukraine and Syria.

The two will meet at the German government's guest house outside Berlin and will give short statements beforehand but aren't planning a news conference, German officials have said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged that Berlin has not been investing enough on defence, but stressed that it will push outlays to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2025.

President Donald Trump's administration has imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports and is mulling whether to add tariffs on auto products.

Germany's political crisis is the latest sign of a growing divide across the EU between those who want to maintain open borders and those who want to restrict the number of migrants entering the bloc.

The Brussels meeting underscored how Europe's 2015 spike in immigration continues to haunt the bloc, despite a sharp drop in arrivals of people fleeing conflict and economic hardship in the Middle East and Africa.

President Donald Trump singled out Germany as a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation that was not doing enough to contribute fully to the organization.

"Turning away migrants at our borders at the heart of Europe will lead to negative domino effects that could hurt Germany and put into question European unity," : German Chancellor Angela Merkel

"It's hard, it's depressing this time, but that's not the end" of the Group of Seven, she said in a rare one-on-one interview with ARD public television.

Speaking two days before the Canada meeting of the club of major industrialised democracies, Merkel also said the leaders may not necessarily manage to agree on a final joint statement.

Merkel, who is set to leave this afternoon, said in her weekly video message her talks with Chinese leaders will address issues such as the rule of law, the economic situation and international disputes such as those over trade.

It was the third and last leg of Modi's three-nation tour to the UK, Sweden and Germany

Bundestag lawmakers voted 364-315 for Merkel, with nine abstentions. Merkel is to be formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before taking the oath of office at 1100 GMT.

Merkel said it showed that "a united international stance, including sanctions, certainly offers a glimmer of hope".

Both also "urge Russia to end its involvement in the bombing of Eastern Ghouta and to persuade the Assad regime to stop its offensive operations against civilian areas", a chancellery statement said.

The Germon Chancellor's statement is being seen as targeting US President Donald Trump's America First policies and other protectionist measures like tax rate cuts.