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

Berlin - A public opinion poll in Germany has shown support for relocating this summer's Olympic Games from Beijing if violence against Tibetan protesters continues, the Bild am Sonntag newspaper r

Stuttgart - Germany's Daimler AG reported record car sales for the first quarter of 2008 despite rising oil prices that have made driving more expensive.