The chancellor’s failure to form a coalition may lead to fresh elections, and a power vacuum in Berlin would have a knock-on effect in Paris, writes Philippe Legrain

A four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee has called on developed countries to ban paedophiles and suspected sex offenders from foreign travel in the same way as suspected terrorists.

A four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee has called on developed countries to ban paedophiles and suspected sex offenders from foreign travel in the same way as suspected terrorists.

Germany has spoken and, as ever since 1945, it sends in its election results mixed messages, thanks in part to a constitution designed to prevent one party getting an overall majority in the Bundestag.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc has won a lacklustre victory in Germany’s national election while the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party managed a triumphant entry into parliament, projections have shown.

DESPITE the sobering lessons inflicted on crystal ball gazers by Brexit, the elevation of President Trump and humiliation of Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May in last June’s

A nationalist party that wants Germany to close its borders to migrants, leave Europe's common currency and end sanctions against Russia is predicted to enter parliament for the first time this month.

Germany's parliament has voted to legalise same-sex marriage.

German chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken of the need to protect Ireland in the aftermath of Brexit as one of a “multitude of special interests”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be “unable” to take any questions on the controversial Fennelly report into decades of garda phone tapping when it is published today as he will be in Germany at a long-arranged meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi defended his stimulus policies to critical lawmakers in Berlin, yesterday, while reaffirming the urgency to step up structural reforms.

Volkswagen is set to escape fines from the German government even after cheating on emissions tests for years, reflecting a softer political stance that’s increasingly drawing ire following a generous deal for US drivers.

Salah Abdeslam, a prime suspect in the Paris attacks, had documents about the German nuclear research centre, Juelich. 

The number of residential building approvals in Germany rose 8.4% to 309,000 in 2015, the highest in 15 years, the Federal Statistics Office said, as Europe’s largest economy experiences a construction boom.

Thousands now expected to flood into Sweden to seek asylum.

The German parliament approved a third bailout for Greece yesterday after finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, said the country should get “a new start”, while in Athens the government agonised over whether to call a snap election.

German lawmakers will vote on Wednesday on a new aid package for Greece, which needs approval to meet a debt payment deadline a day later.

German politicians have overwhelmingly backed a new bailout plan for Greece after chancellor Angela Merkel argued that the cash-strapped country would face chaos without a deal.

A harsher austerity programme than any that has gone before for Greece will be studied by troika officials today before going to eurozone ministers tomorrow.

Greece’s last throw of the dice to get a third bailout from the EU and IMF was expected to be delivered to Brussels around midnight.

IT is becoming increasingly difficult to tell fact from propaganda, ideologically driven positioning from the uncoloured and unattractive reality faced by ordinary Greeks struggling to live basic, decent and dignified lives. It is becoming increasingly difficult to tell political ambition or dogma, national or individual, from the pressing humanitarian needs generated by the deepening crisis.

So, M Jean-Claude Juncker feels betrayed by the people of Greece — poor M Juncker!

Greece plunges further into deep crisis today as the country looks set to default on its €1.6bn repayment to the IMF, putting its membership of the euro in doubt.

Greece must reach an outline funding agreement with its lenders at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on April 24, its finance minister told a Greek newspaper yesterday.

EU leaders are likely to keep economic sanctions on Russia in place until a Ukraine ceasefire deal is fully working, after German chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be wrong to ease pressure on Moscow prematurely.

European indices ended the week mostly higher, with Ireland 1.1% better off, outperforming the region. Greece closed 2.7% lower after the German Bundestag approved the four-month extension of the bailout programme. Of note, there were rumours circulating late in the afternoon that Piraeus Bank ATMs in Athens were running out of cash, a rumour swiftly denied by its chief financial officer.

Mario Draghi can ‘do what it takes’ to save the eurozone, but must proceed with care while doing so.

EVERY year at this time I go to very considerable lengths to tell you what you can expect in the coming year.

Another day over at the banking inquiry, and what have we learnt? 

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has pledged to ask ECB president Mario Draghi to give evidence to the banking inquiry, but insists he cannot force him to attend.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s advice to stick to the €2bn budget adjustment next month is politically impossible, said Fine Gael TD, Bernard Durkan.

The expected savings of up to €3bn in interest repayments from repaying the IMF early will have an impact on the Budget for next year, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said.

Long sitting hours, late-night party meetings, and the clientele-style nature which requires TDs to be available to voters "day and night" make politics in Ireland incompatible with personal and family life.

-Merkel adviser insists collapse was of Ireland’s own making

German Chancellor Angela Merkel blasted those who would welcome the UK’s departure from the European Union, even as she said the island nation isn’t always a "comfortable partner" in the 28-member bloc.

After years of decision-making at an elite level, a rights-based approach will give Irish people a stake in society, while necessary democratic reform will improve governance, says Fr Sean Healy.

An art historian has found two art works stolen by the Nazis inside Germany’s parliament, a newspaper reported, in a new embarrassment for authorities after a huge stash of looted art came to light last month.

IN THE coming days, Bettina Wulff will testify in the trial of her estranged husband, Christian Wulff, the former president of Germany who stands accused of taking bribes.

European Union ministers overcame German unease at direct aid to lenders and agreed on rules for how public funds can be made available for banks shown to have insufficient capital in upcoming balance-sheet checks.

THERE’S no doubt yesterday was a defining moment for the Coalition.

Ireland’s clean exit from the bailout was hailed in the EU as a great success, but the troika will continue to monitor the country’s economy and the ongoing reforms.