Former chancellor awarded Germany's highest honour

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel was presented with Germany's highest honour on Monday in recognition of her near-record 16 years at the helm of the country. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for special achievement on the four-term chancellor, who became only the third ex-leader to receive that level of distinction.

Merkel, 68, was the first woman to lead Germany and the first chancellor who grew up behind the Iron Curtain in communist East Germany.Merkel stepped down in December 2021 with a well-regarded record of leading Europe's biggest economy through a series of crises. She didn't seek a fifth term and ended her tenure as post-World War II Germany's second-longest serving leader.