Germany will send more than 100 extra troops to Afghanistan in January, the country’s defence minister announced today.

Germany today launched a campaign to get a million electric cars on the road by 2020, trying to position the country as a market leader.

General Motors will sell its Opel unit and other European assets to Canada’s Magna International Inc in a deal German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today would protect the assets from GM’s likely bankruptcy.

A top-level meeting in Germany approved a plan today for Canadian car parts firm Magna to rescue Vauxhall parent General Motors’ European arm.

Vauxhall and Opel are to be taken over by Canadian car parts company Magna, industry sources said tonight.

Europe’s industry ministers are to hold emergency talks tomorrow amid growing concern about Germany’s handling of the attempt to sell off General Motors Europe.

Thousands of workers at Vauxhall in the UK will have to wait to see who is being lined up as the carmaker’s new owner after a key meeting ended today with no decision.