GERMANY

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces an unexpected challenge in getting new euro-zone budget-discipline rules approved at home, after the government confirmed on Saturday the new treaty will require a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.

The week ahead will largely be defined by two major events. First, on Friday, the February U.S. nonfarm payrolls report will be released, providing important data about the economic recovery. Second, also on Friday, euro-zone finance ministers will hold a conference call to decide whether Greece can get its second, €130 billion ($175 billion) bailout.

Apple and Samsung, two leading electronics manufacturers, have both taken out patent lawsuits against each other. A German court has thrown out these disputes today, according to a report from BBC News. Although the two companies have argued over the “slide-to-unlock” feature and other patents, their future smartphone releases may not overlap.

Japan is facing a demographic nightmare that portends a doomsday scenario for its future.

The world's oceans are turning acidic at what could be the fastest pace of any time in the past 300 million years, even more rapidly than during a monster emission of planet-warming carbon 56 million years ago, scientists said on Thursday.

Three key research centers and a consortium of Internet companies said on Thursday they would work together on a European cloud computing platform to handle the continent's rapidly growing demand for computer capacity.

Arsenal could seal the transfer of Lukas Podolski for a reduced fee, due to a clause in the forward's contract, according to reports.

Significant declines in perennial Arctic sea ice over the past decade may be intensifying a chemical reaction that leads to deposits of toxic mercury, a NASA-led study showed on Thursday.

The KitKatClub opened in 1994 and is known for its “undress code,” according to Berlin-Life.com, where reviewers gave the establishment an 85 percent approval rating.

Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX), the world's biggest coffeehouse chain, plans to grab market share from Switzerland-based food giant Nestle SA in the area of instant coffee and increase the number of Starbucks stores in Germany to more than 1,000 from 150, the Financial Times Deutschland reported Friday.

Austerity and reform finely balanced to bring back growth in Europe in face of record unemployment rates.

The latest Arsenal transfer news concerns rumored interest from AC Milan and Inter in Arsenal target Lukas Podolski

Russia, along with China, has stymied efforts by the West and the United Nations to condemn violence perpetrated by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, a longtime Moscow ally.

Euro zone manufacturing contracted in February for the sixth month in a row, according to a Markit Economics report published Thursday, but the sector may be stabilizing as increases begin to offset decreases.

Turkey is maintaining the façade of good relations with Iran, while a larger power struggle for domination of the Middle East is brewing between Ankara and Tehran

With victory over Italy, it looks like Jurgen Klinsmann is building the United States in the right direction.

Two NATO soldiers were shot dead on Thursday by two Afghans, including a man believed to be a soldier, NATO said, an attack that is likely to raise further questions about the future of the country's security forces.

The Greek parliament approved an extension of pharmacy opening hours and cuts to drug spending Thursday as part of a package of healthcare reforms agreed in return for last week's 130 billion euro international bailout deal.

Watch highlights of all the goals from the friendly international between Germany and France.

Where to watch a live stream of Germany v France 2012 friendly from Bremen on Wednesday.

South Korea and certain western nations have been pressuring Beijing not to deport the North Korean defectors