AFP - Chancellor Angela Merkel embarks Thursday on last-ditch talks with Germany's second biggest party to form a government, in what is also a battle to rescue her political career.

September's inconclusive elections left the veteran leader without a majority and struggling to find partners to govern Europe's biggest economy.

AFP - Germany signalled Monday it was open to amending a controversial law combatting online hate speech as the justice minister fell victim to the rules he himself championed.