TWEET BACKLASH

Prime minister Matteo Renzi said he is planning three years of legislation to end Italy’s economic stagnation and cited Germany in 2003 as his inspiration.

Cian O'Connor has won a bronze medal for Ireland after the final of the show jumping at Greenwich Park.

HOUSE sparrows have lived with us since the dawn of civilisation.

FORMER German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday called for the creation of a “United States of Europe”, saying the bloc needed a common government to avoid future economic crises.

THE sole survivor of a fishing boat fire tragedy which claimed the lives of his three friends said he has daily thoughts of the accident.

Somali Islamist fighters today beheaded seven prisoners accused of abandoning the Muslim faith and spying for the government.

JULIE JENSEN will essentially testify from the grave when her husband’s murder trial begins.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has dropped significantly as she nears the end of her first year in office, according to a poll published today that found her ratings slipping behind those of her potential opponent at the next election.

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 European Union continued to subordinate human rights in its relationships with other countries deemed useful in the fight against terrorism, such as Russia, China and Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said today.

BOB Geldof yesterday defended his decision to join Britain’s Tory party policy group on global poverty, saying he was “in no one’s pocket”.

The UN war crimes tribunal hearing the Slobodan Milosevic case today decided against issuing subpoenas to Prime Minister Tony Blair and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Kidnappers extended a deadline until Saturday in their threat to kill four captive peace activists, including Briton Norman Kember.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder used Al-Jazeera television today to issue an appeal for the release of a German aid worker and her Iraqi driver who were kidnapped on November 25.

Newly-elected German chancellor Angela Merkel opened her first working session today with her new Cabinet, and was expected to immediately get down to policy issues.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder gave up his seat in parliament today, completing his exit from day-to-day politics after seven years as German leader.

Angela Merkel was heading for Paris for talks with French President Jacques Chirac today, embarking on her first foreign trip as Germany’s new chancellor.

Angela Merkel took office as Germany’s eighth post-Second World War leader and its first female chancellor, heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe’s biggest economy after years of stagnation and six months of political turmoil.

ANGELA MERKEL took power yesterday as Germany’s eighth post-Second World War leader and its first female chancellor, heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe’s biggest economy after years of stagnation and six months of political turmoil.

The White House today congratulated Angela Merkel on becoming Germany’s chancellor and said it hoped she would meet soon with President George Bush.

Angela Merkel took power today as Germany’s eighth post-Second World War leader and its first female chancellor, heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe’s biggest economy after years of stagnation and six months of political turmoil.

ANGELA MERKEL becomes Germany’s eighth post-war chancellor today - but only after being forced into awkward compromises on taxes and welfare-state reforms that could undermine her coalition and slow efforts to fix a lagging economy.

Outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told MPs today he will give up his parliamentary seat, members of his party said, completing his withdrawal from day-to-day politics after seven years as German leader.

Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic party today overwhelmingly approved a coalition agreement with Social Democrats that will make her Germany’s first woman chancellor.

Gerhard Schroeder plans to write a book about his seven years at the head of Germany’s government, the outgoing chancellor said in remarks released today.

Germany’s main parties have come one step closer to building a coalition, agreeing on several points including raising the retirement age and a policy on Turkey, but they still must overcome the hurdle of plugging a huge budget shortfall.

Germany’s Social Democrats pressed for a new tax on high-income earners today as negotiators opened a decisive week in their efforts to form a new government - talks that will focus on plugging a huge budget shortfall.

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.

Germany faces a €35bn budget shortfall, its two main political parties said yesterday, signalling tough spending cuts or tax hikes under a planned coalition even as its economy struggles.

Germany’s newly-elected parliament was to convene for its first meeting today, one month after voters failed to give either centre-left or centre-right alliances a majority.

Germany’s conservatives are moving toward completing the lineup of Chancellor-designate Angela Merkel’s cabinet, with a key ally preparing to nominate his final choice for the new government.

President George Bush called Angela Merkel today to congratulate her on becoming Germany’s next chancellor, the White House said.

Gerhard Schroeder today said he would “definitely” not take part in the next German government.

Chancellor-designate Angela Merkel will have only limited authority in Germany’s planned left-right government, leaders of its two main parties said, as they prepared today for the start of full-blown coalition negotiations.

ANGELA MERKEL, set to become Germany’s first female chancellor, campaigned on promises to shake up Germany’s welfare state and the worker protections that have helped choke economic growth.

GERMANY has been the sick man of Europe for almost a decade and despite major attempts by Gerhard Schroeder and his Social Democrats (SPD) to introduce reform, the country’s growth remains among the slowest of any EU country.

According to reports in the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told his conservative counterparts during coalition talks yesterday that he would not join the new government.

Conservative leader Angela Merkel was set to become Germany’s first female Chancellor under a power-sharing agreement that would end Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder’s seven years in office, Social Democratic officials said today.

German Conservative leader Angela Merkel is to become Chancellor in a power-sharing deal, say party officials in Germany.

Angela Merkel is to become German Chancellor, according to news agency Reuters.

Conservative leader Angela Merkel and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder headed into a showdown today over who will lead a new government, seeking to end a post-election stalemate that is delaying efforts to tackle Germany’s stubborn economic problems.

Conservative challenger Angela Merkel is still pressing hard to replace Gerhard Schroeder as chancellor of Germany after the two opponents held another meeting to try to hammer out a coalition accord.

CONSERVATIVE leader Angela Merkel pushed her demand to serve as Germany’s next chancellor while Gerhard Schroeder clung to his competing claim as they readied today for tough negotiations aimed at ending the country’s political crisis.