Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's trip next week to four Latin American countries marks the rising importance of the region, German government sources said Thursday.

The growing economies of the region, with powerhouses like Brazil and Mexico, had added to its political significance, they said.

The highpoint of the chancellor's trip, which begins on Tuesday and ends on May 20, is to be her participation in the fifth European Union-Latin American and Caribbean Summit (EU-LAC) to be held May 16-17 in Lima.

Berlin  - The European representative of the Dalai Lama criticized German Foreign Mini

Berlin  - Germany industrial production fell in March, data released Thursday, adding to signs of slowing growth in Europe's biggest economy.

Berlin  -  Germany has called the ambassador of Myanmar to the foreign ministry to hear Berlin's

Bonn - Deutsche Telekom reported a first-quarter increase in net profit on Thursday as cost-cutting measures helped offset a decline in revenue.

Frankfurt - Leading German retail bank Postbank AG reported Thursday a 19-per-cent drop in first-quarter earnings as a result of writedowns linked to the US subprime mortgage market crisis.