Across Germany, schools, student organisations and church groups have organised 'flashmobs' to launch "blessings from above" for Reformation Day.

Islam is part of a modern, changing Germany and necessary to develop a vibrant society, President Christian Wulff has said at a church gathering.

A German church-backed human rights organisation wants action to save one of the world largest swamplands, threatened by oil extraction activities.

The former leader of Germany's Protestant's, the Rev Margot Kässmann, has criticised her country's government in an interview for cut-backs affecting the poorest in society.