he German government has backed a new legislation aimed at ending a legal dispute over the religious tradition of circumcision. 

The cabinet has announced support for proposals that would explicitly allow the practice. 

Earlier this year, a regional court ruled that circumcision of newborn boys amounted to assault, prompting protests from Jewish and Muslim organisations. 

It also raised fears among some of a resurgence in anti-Semitism in Germany. 

The new law will make circumcision explicitly legal, as long as it is carried out by trained experts, and parents are informed of any medical risks.

 Key Asian markets ended mixed on Tuesday, ahead of a key German ruling on the euro zone's bailout funds. Japan's Nikkei-225 index fell 0.7 percent; China's Shanghai Composite index also dropped 0.7 percent; and South Korea's Kospi index shed 0.2 percent.

But Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.2 percent; and and Singapore's Straits Times index added 0.3 percent. China, meanwhile, posted a wider-than-expected trade surplus in August, as imports unexpectedly contracted. Exports rose 2.7% in August from a year earlier, indicating relatively weak overseas demand. Imports dropped a surprising 2.6%, against expectations for a small rise.

The European markets fell, amid concern that developments in Spain or Germany could derail the European Central Bank's bond-buying plan. So key stock indices, UK's FTSE-100 and France's CAC-40 lost 0.4 percent, each, while Germany's DAX fell 0.2 percent in intra-day trade on Tuesday.

In Germany, Lufthansa cabin staff have begun a 24-hour nationwide strike, affecting about 900 flights and causing disruption chaos for thousands of passengers. A Lufthansa spokesman said on average there are 1,800 Lufthansa flights during a normal day, around half of these will take place. He said all German regions and all types of flights have been affected including long-haul. Thousands of passengers face disruption as the strike, called by the UFO union, affects country's six main airports including Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich.  UFO is seeking a 5% pay increase for cabin crew and assurances on jobs. The union, which represents about two-thirds of Lufthansa's 19,000 cabin crew, argues that its members have had no pay rise for three years.

Announcement

 nder the umbrella of Indo German bilateral development cooperation, the Small Industries Development Bank of India ,SIDBI and the German Government’s development Bank KfW, have signed an agreement for financial assistance of Rs. 375 crore to support the development and diffusion of innovative technologies by micro, small and medium enterprises , MSMEs operating in designated clean technology sectors. The agreements were signed between the Ministry of Finance and German Embaasy yesterday.

Under the Agreement, KfW will provide concessional loan and technical assistance to support financing of MSMEs for developing new energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, pollution control and other clean technologies.

Germany's ratification of the European Union's fiscal pact on budgetary discipline and the permanent bailout fund, ESM, will be delayed at least by two months.It was due to country's highest court decison that it will rule on fiscal pact and ESM constitutionality only by mid-September. The decision by the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe yesterday freezes the plans to implement two main initiatives to resolve the euro-zone debt crisis until it delivers verdict on September 12. In september the court will decide whether these initiatives are in line with the German constitution. The court has been examining since last Tuesday a number of petitions filed by lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties, the Left party, a group of leading economists and the citizens' group "more democracy", urging the court to issue a temporary injunction on the fiscal pact and the ESM

A Group of Ministers (GoM) today gave its approval to Madhya Pradesh government to dispose of 350 metric tonnes of Union Carbide toxic waste in Germany.

As per the decision, the Centre will pay 25 crore rupees towards the cost of airlifting the waste which will be removed within a year.

Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Babulal Gaur said that the GoM under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked the state government to prepare an agreement within two weeks' time. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Gaur said the waste will be disposed of in Germany. He said the whole procedure of removing the waste will be completed within a year .

About 346 MT toxic waste is lying within the premises of the erstwhile M/s Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) at Bhopal.

The credit ratings agency Moody's has downgraded the credit ratings of six German Banks.

In a statement, Moody's said it was doing so because the Banks faced risk, should the Euro crisis deepen.

he Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram has asserted that the security situation in the country has significantly improved. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal today he said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has changed for better with the level of violence coming down considerably. He added that centre is holding talks with every group including ULFA in North-east. Mr. Chidambaram said that significant achievements have been made in different sectors of economy during the last three years of UPA-regime.

Mr. Chidambaram said, a Group of ministers is meeting later this week to take a decision on a proposal of a German firm which has come forward to airlift the waste from Bhopal to that country for its safe disposal. He reiterated that all possible steps are being taken to dispose off this toxic waste. 

India and Germany have decided to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development through exploration of solutions to problems of mutual concern and exchange of information.


The Joint Declaration envisages promoting discussion and strategies on integrated policies and principles for urban development and revitalization in the two countries.

It also envisages fostering fair, equitable and sustainable urban communities in the two countries and the ideals of a democratic society with equal opportunity for all.

He said it would provide an enabling platform for the officials, professionals and business leaders to meet and share knowledge and best practices in the urban sector. He expressed hope that this joint declaration will lead to enhanced cooperation and deepen the engagement between the two countries.

He informed that the Government is likely to launch the next phase of the Urban Renewal mission shortly with an allocation of around 40 billion US dollars over the 12th Five Year Plan period.

India and Germany have signed an agreement to finance clean energy for rural development projects. As per the agreement, KfW(German Development Bank) will provide a loan amount of 100.1 million Euros to Rural Electrification Corporation, REC, to support such projects in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. 

The loan agreement was signed by Mr Rajeev Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of REC and Mr Oscar von Maltzan, Country Director of KfW for India in New Delhi. A Guarantee Agreement was also signed between KfW and the Government of India. This is the third Line of Credit that REC is receiving under the Bilateral Development Programme between India and Germany.