German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday stood by her decision to open Germany's borders to hundreds of thousands of refugees two years ago.

Music channel MTV responded today to criticism in Germany of its parody cartoon Popetown by saying it will broadcast only one episode for now and will consider public reaction before deciding whether to air more.

Germany’s conservative opposition was today set to nominate Angela Merkel, a Protestant minister's daughter from the former East Germany, as its challenger to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, giving her the chance to become the country’s first female leader.