As Germany sinks into crisis, president urges compromises

Germany's president on Monday urged political parties to find compromises and avoid snap elections, hours after the collapse of high-stakes coalition talks plunged the EU's top economy into crisis.President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who holds the power to call a new vote, made it clear that this was not his favoured option, as he told mainstream parties to rethink their positions and return to the negotiating table.Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose fourth term in office is now in danger, was forced