BERLIN, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — The following are the major news items in leading German newspapers on Tuesday.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung:
— For the first time in more than 30 years, the so-called birth rate in Germany rose to 1.5 children per woman last year.
Die Welt:
— Iraqi President Haider al-Abadi announced the start of an offensive on Monday to drive the Islamic state (IS) group from the city Mosul, which it had taken in 2014 within 48 hours.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:
— At least two people have been killed in a severe explosion at German chemical company BASF facility in Ludwigshafen.
