Heidelberg, Germany  - The foundation stone was laid Friday for a new building to house the College of Jewish Studies in the German university town of Heidelberg.

Hanover, Germany - Highlights of the Hanover Fair, one of the world's biggest machinery expos, are to include robots and energy-saving ideas from Japan, the "partner country" this year at the annua

Berlin - Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has deposed Chancellor Angela Merkel from top of the list of Germany's most popular politicians, according to a survey released Friday.

An opinion poll conducted for German semi-public broadcaster ZDF showed the Social Democrat (SPD) minister with a rating of 1.7, marginally higher than Merkel's 1.6.

Steinmeier is considered a potential challenger to Merkel for the chancellorship in national elections due to take place in September 2009.

He is currently vice chancellor in the grand coalition with Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU).

The survey showed that 39 per cent would vote for the CDU against 28 per cent for the SPD if elections were to be held now.

Karlsruhe, Germany - The Karlsruhe culture festival in Germany, set to begin Friday evening, has an "All Roads Lead to Rome" theme this year, with all the art and music having some kind of connecti

Berlin - Germany has become the world's second biggest aid donor after the United States, the ministry of economic assistance said, quoting statistics released by the Organization for Economic Coop

Brussels - The Social Democrat bloc in the European parliament called for tougher labour laws Friday following a ruling by the European Court of Justice that forbids the setting of agreed minimum w