A panel of top German economists, which has slammed the country's huge public debt, says Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government should take back its "gift baskets" of tax relief, a German weekly reported.

Environment ministers from 44 key countries gathered here on Monday for a two-day closed-door meeting aimed at preventing embarrassing failure at next month's UN conference on global warming.

Danish PM: Industrial countries must bring specific pledges to Copenhagen climate conference. Denmark has told the United States and all other developed countries they must bring specific pledges to cut greenhouse gases to next month's climate change conference, the Danish prime minister said Tuesday.

Danish PM: Industrial countries must bring specific pledges to Copenhagen climate conference. Denmark's premier indicated Tuesday he expected the United States to bring specific pledges to cut greenhouse gases to next month's climate change conference.

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's most striking problem at the start of her new government is not the economy, an unpopular war or the opposition: it's a 66-year-old, 6-foot blonde in her own Christian Democrats, Erika Steinbach.

German government to extend Afghanistan mission, parliamentary approval needed. Germany will extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year, the government said Wednesday, despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home.

Germany agreed Wednesday to extend by one year its mission in Afghanistan, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, as her foreign minister warned German troops will not be there forever.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that crunch UN climate talks in Copenhagen next month must lay the groundwork for a binding international pact to be signed in the first half of 2010.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday she wanted to see an end to taboos in football after the tragic suicide of national goalkeeper Robert Enke, who killed himself after suffering depression.

European leaders gather Thursday in an effort to overcome political differences and unite behind a single candidate for the European Union's first-ever president.

European leaders will gather on Thursday in an effort to overcome political differences and unite behind a single candidate for the European Union's first-ever president.

European leaders gather Thursday in an effort to overcome political differences and unite behind a single candidate for the European Union's first-ever president.

Oscar-nominated German director Werner Herzog will lead the international jury at the 60th Berlin Film Festival from February 11-21, organisers said on Thursday.

German defense chief: Waiting for Obama before any move to up Afghan troops. Germany will hold off on any decision about adding troops to Afghanistan at least until the United States makes a move, the country's defense chief said Thursday.

European leaders gathered on Thursday to choose a first-ever EU president with little sign of consensus, amid fears they could miss a historic opportunity to boost the bloc's clout on the world stage.

Germany's Merkel calls for binding climate change deal next year if none reached at Copenhagen. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for all countries to fix binding climate change targets next year at the latest, acknowledging that no such deal is likely at global talks in Copenhagen next month.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy emerged Thursday as a near certain choice to become the European Union's first president after Britain dropped its backing for Tony Blair.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel called once again for binding rules to cut carbon pollution at climate talks in Copenhagen next month, a target endorsed on Thursday by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

UN climate chief sees room for success at Copenhagen despite shrinking expectations. The U.N. climate chief has a message for naysayers about the Copenhagen climate conference next month: It will succeed.

UN climate chief sees room for success at Copenhagen despite shrinking expectations. The U.N. climate chief has a message for naysayers about the Copenhagen climate conference next month: It will succeed.