Klagenfurt, Austria - Striker Lukas Podolski scored twice to give Germany their first Euro victory since 1996 with a 2-0 win against Poland in a Group B game played in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

Berlin  - German Chancellor Angela Merkel travels to Poland later this month for a meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in his home town, the historic Baltic city of Gdansk.

Berlin  - Russian President Dimitry Medvedev Thursday began his first Europen trip since being sworn in last month with a visit to Germany, arriving in Berlin shortly before noon.

Medvedev was welcomed with full military honours by Chancellor Angela Merkel before holding talks with the chancellor, President Horst Koehler and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

During the one-day visit, Medvedev is to make a keenly awaited foreign policy address at a Berlin hotel.

He is also to lay a wreath at a Russian war memorial in former east Berlin.

German politicians have expressed hopes for a new phase in relations with Russia, stressing political and human rights issues alongside the vital economic ties.

Frankfurt  -

Riga- The Baltic states and Poland are keen to join energy, environment and economic development projects in the Baltic Sea region despite their opposition to a planned Russian-German underwater ga

Berlin  - European retail trade fell more than expected in April, data released Wednesday showed, adding to signs of slowing growth amid concerns about soaring food prices and inflation.