Germany was fooling itself if it believed the peaceful post-WW2 neighbourhood it helped create transcended the logic of brute force, as the Ukraine crisis reveals, writes Lucian Kim.

Germany has dismissed Greek demands to pay World War Two reparations after leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused Berlin of using legal tricks to avoid paying compensation for the Nazi occupation of his country.

Germany blocked the introduction of tougher EU emissions rules for cars shortly after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party received a large donation from three major BMW shareholders.

Official results confirm that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have won Germany’s election but indicate they have finished short of an absolute majority.

An exit poll indicates that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have emerged by far the strongest force in Germany’s election, though it is unclear whether her coalition partners will stay in parliament.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is strongly favoured to win a third term at the helm of Europe’s biggest economy as Germans vote in a national election..

German chancellor Angela Merkel has absolved herself of blame for the eurozone’s north-south split during the debt crisis, saying she has Europe’s best interests at heart when pressing the need to become globally competitive.

BY NOW, everyone knows that Germany is calling the shots not just in the eurozone, but across all of Europe.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition suffered a new blow as Germany’s main opposition parties celebrated gains in a state election.

SWEDEN’S prime minister sought help from the opposition Greens yesterday to avoid a political deadlock after an Islam-bashing far-right group spoiled his centre-right government’s control of Parliament.

A far-right party holds the balance of power in Sweden after winning seats in parliament for the first time in elections yesterday.

The government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a tough test with today's election of the country's new president.

Voters in Germany’s most populous state dealt Chancellor Angela Merkel a painful setback, erasing her government’s majority in the upper house of parliament and curbing its power after a stumbling start and criticism over the Greek debt crisis.

An exit poll indicates Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right alliance has lost control of Germany’s most populous state.

Chancellor Angela Merkel risks losing her majority in Germany’s upper house of parliament as the country’s most populous state votes today – a setback that could make it harder to run Europe’s biggest economy.

Final results confirmed Chancellor Angela Merkel won a second term and a majority for a new centre-right government in Germany’s parliamentary election.

AN EXIT poll last night showed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have emerged from Germany’s election as the strongestparty and are on track to form a new centre-right government.

An exit poll tonight showed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have emerged from Germany’s election as the strongest party and are on track to form a new centre-right government.

As Germany’s parliament approved a €500bn rescue package for the country’s financial markets and financial turmoil spreads around the world, South Korea may prove to be one of the most vulnerable countries in Asia.

German authorities are using scent tracking to keep tabs on possibly violent protesters against next month’s Group of Eight summit – a tactic that is drawing comparisons with the methods of former East Germany’s secret police.

Berlin Zoo’s abandoned polar bear cub Knut looks cute, cuddly and has become a front-page media darling, but an animal rights activist insisted today he would have been better off dead than raised by humans.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s left-right government strengthened its grip on German politics with victories for the two ruling parties in three state elections and bad results for what remains of the opposition.

The United States is coming under increasing pressure from European governments to reply to charges that planes with alleged links to CIA prisoner transports have quietly touched down in their countries.

CHANCELLOR Gerhard Schroeder and opposition leader Angela Merkel held their first face-to-face talks yesterday to wrangle over their rival claims to lead Germany out of political paralysis.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and opposition leader Angela Merkel were preparing for face-to-face talks today on their rival claims to lead Germany after its inconclusive election.

A leader of Germany’s Greens today knocked down conservatives’ hopes the party would help opposition leader Angela Merkel become chancellor in a coalition government, citing major differences with her Christian Democrats and their pro-business ally.

Germany’s opposition leader Angela Merkel and the chairman of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s party made the first contacts with potential coalition partners in a scramble for power after Germany’s inconclusive election.

GERMANY slid into political chaos yesterday after an inconclusive election left chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his challenger Angela Merkel wrestling for the right to form a new government.

CONSERVATIVE challenger Angela Merkel claimed a mandate to form Germany’s next government - but an exuberant chancellor Gerhard Schroeder refused to concede defeat after his party did better than expected in yesterday’s election and insisted that he should lead the next administration.

Conservative challenger Angela Merkel headed into today’s election in Germany with a good chance of becoming the country’s first female chancellor.

Germany’s acrimonious election campaign heads into the final stretch with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and conservative challenger Angela Merkel trading barbs to the last minute – reflecting the tight race that will decide the path Germany takes in trying to end years of economic stagnation.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and challenger Angela Merkel were to address their parties’ official closing election rallies today, making a late appeal to an electorate divided over who can invigorate Germany’s sluggish economy.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today insisted he will not form an alliance with the new Left Party after this weekend’s German election and dismissed as “absurd” speculation over other possible coalitions.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was squaring off today with his challengers in their last debate before Germany’s election as a new poll showed his Social Democrats continuing to edge forward.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and conservative challenger Angela Merkel square off today in a live televised debate – a crucial encounter that gives both candidates a chance to impress undecided voters two weeks before Germany’s September 18 election.