Russia should be invited to rejoin a summit of the G7 industrial powers next weekend, the heads of two German business lobby groups were quoted as saying yesterday.

Conservative and centre-left leaders today signed the agreement to form a coalition government – the last step before Angela Merkel can be elected Germany’s chancellor.

A senior conservative’s participation in Germany’s proposed new left-right government was in doubt today as politicians struggled to digest the implications of a sudden leadership crisis in the centre-left Social Democrats.

The European Union constitution was set to clear its final legislative hurdle in Germany today as the upper house of parliament votes on the charter, two days before French voters have their say in a referendum.

Thousands of workers continued to fight devastating floods in central Europe today as the death toll from the disaster rose to at least 105.