Talking points

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will fully support efforts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to relaunch the Middle East peace process during her two-day visit to Israel which starts today. "We need, as soon as possible, a stable two-country solution, with a Jewish state of Israel and at the same time a state for the Palestinians," she said. Merkel, who will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressed that for historical reasons Germany was particularly committed to Israel's right to exist.

South Korea and the United States today kick off annual joint military exercises that have been condemned by North Korea amid the ongoing reunions of families separated by the Korean war. The military insists the exercises will be carried out in a "low-key" manner. The allies will hold the computer-based command post exercise, called Key Resolve, from today until March 6, involving about 10,000 South Korean and 5,200 American forces.