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Elysee Treaty: France and Germany celebrate 50 years of friendship

Despite the professions of friendship, the anniversary falls at a tense time for the allies.

Chatter: Ms Merkel goes to Athens

Protesters await the German chancellor's arrival in Greece, Mexico claims a major victory in its war on drugs, and some loon prepares to show us what happens to the human body when it plummets to earth from space.
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Graphic. (Antler Agency/GlobalPost)
Protesters await the German chancellor's arrival in Greece, Mexico claims a major victory in its war on drugs, and some loon prepares to show us what happens to the human body when it plummets to earth from space.
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German president asks Angela Merkel to explain euro crisis better

"Sometimes it's too laborious to explain what's at stake," President Joachim Gauck said, "and sometimes there's a lack of energy to tell the public very openly about what's really going on."

Did Merkel just get trounced?

So far, investors have argued that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the big loser at this week's EU summit, as new deals struck mean Germany will have to shell out more cash.

Business Insider: Spanish youth say Merkel reigns supreme

"We do whatever she asks us to do."

Business Insider: Merkel scrutinized as euro-zone members seek bailouts

Months ago, people across Europe were finally beginning to vocally question the German model of dealing with the debt crisis, which was: austerity + strict reforms. The reason people were questioning it was simple: It wasn't working. Not only were economies collapsing around the periphery, it wasn't accomplishing the official goal, which was to make the state solvent. Borrowing costs had only been shooting up. But in the months since, we've seen Sarkozy lose. We've seen the pro-bailout parties in Greece fail to form a coalition, and we've seen Merkel suffer more defeats in regional elections. So from a pure power standpoint, Merkel is the weakest she's been since the crisis began. A major eurobond coalition is forming among the French, Italian, and Spanish, as they all come for German money.

German cabinet gives itself a pay rise

It's the first time the cabinet has taken a pay rise since 2000.

Chatter: France gets a new president

François Hollande is sworn as France's new president, and hits the ground running.
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Graphic. (Antler Agency/GlobalPost)
Francois Hollande has been sworn in as the new president of France.

He was inaugurated at the Elysee in Paris this morning, becoming the first Socialist in 17 years to occupy the presidential palace. But he'll barely have time to collect the keys before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Some unexpected positive news for euro zone and some expected negative news, as well, today.

The OECD has broken ranks with the IMF and the European Commission and predicted that the euro zone economy will avoid recession and grow a fraction this year, reports the FT.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for many in Greece nothing she says or does will ever be right. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/Getty Images)

Nothing German Chancellor Angela Merkel says or does will ever satisfy some Greek politicians and their constituents. In a BBC interview today Merkel says, "We have taken the decision to be in a currency union. This is not only a monetary decision, it is a political one. It would be catastrophic if we were to say to one of those who have decided to be with us: 'We no longer want you'."

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