Cologne, Germany  - One of Germany's main Islamic groups voiced relief Friday after winning planning clearance to build a controversial new mosque expected become a landmark in the western city of Cologne.

Right-of-centre German groups had campaigned against the mosque, which will have a dome reaching 37 metres high and two 55-metre minarets. They charged that it would bring a "foreign" touch to a city skyline dominated by Cologne's 11th-century Catholic cathedral.

Ditib, a foundation funded by Ankara to build mosques for Turkish- speaking Moslems, said Friday it would build the mosque as a "symbol of co-existence in peace and trust and without fear" and open it as a place of communication with non-Muslims.

Cologne, Germany - Volume production of the all-new Ford Fiesta has begun at the Cologne plant in Germany after the vehicle celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, the car maker has announced.

The new Fiesta, which features the kinetic design of the Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy, will go on sale in Germany in October. Ford said it had invested around 455 million euros (670 million dollars) in modernizing the Cologne plant that will at full capacity produce 1,900 Fiesta per day in three shifts.

Cologne - German and Brazilian industry leaders launched a business conference Monday against the backdrop of rapidly growing economic ties between the two countries.

"German company investment in Brazil is already at a record level," said Juergen Thumann, the president of Germany's Federation of Industry (BDI).

"An investment program of about 200 billion euros (296 million dollars), a stable economy and a steady hand on the nation's finances, along with recent positive reports from rating agencies would help German investment in Brazil to increase," said Thumann on opening the conference, held in the west German city of Cologne.

Cologne, Germany - Most gender differences in motoring habits have been confirmed in a survey conducted in Germany on the basis of 150,000 insurance policy holders.

The poll, conducted by the business consultancy Nafi on behalf of the Capital Investor finance weekly, confirmed most perceptions of men and women drivers.

Only 16 per cent of men allow friends to drive their car while the figure is about 25 per cent for women. Men prefer to take the wheel of a car that is in general more expensive than the vehicle owned by a woman.

Cologne, Germany - Unusual material combinations are coming into style in furniture, according to a trend outlook report published for a furniture trade show in Cologne.