Germany and the European Commission on Tuesday called on EU nations to stick to their agreed budget cuts despite mounting voter discontent, but promised some new efforts to boost growth to alleviate economic hardship.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Rick Snyder is no stranger to being kicked around. "I was bullied because I was a nerd," Michigan's Republican governor recently told reporters. "I got pushed around, shoved around in high school and actually in college." The computer executive-turned-politician famously dubbed himself "one tough nerd" as he campaigned in 2010 for governor, his first public office. Snyder will need plenty of toughness now as he faces the Midwestern state's difficult problems, including reviving its recession-hit economy and cleaning up a financial mess in Detroit. ...

DETROIT (Reuters) - Rick Snyder is no stranger to being kicked around. "I was bullied because I was a nerd," Michigan's Republican governor recently told reporters. "I got pushed around, shoved around in high school and actually in college." The computer executive-turned-politician famously dubbed himself "one tough nerd" as he campaigned in 2010 for governor, his first public office. Snyder will need plenty of toughness now as he faces the Midwestern state's difficult problems, including reviving its recession-hit economy and cleaning up a financial mess in Detroit. ...

DETROIT (Reuters) - Rick Snyder is no stranger to being kicked around. "I was bullied because I was a nerd," Michigan's Republican governor recently told reporters. "I got pushed around, shoved around in high school and actually in college." The computer executive-turned-politician famously dubbed himself "one tough nerd" as he campaigned in 2010 for governor, his first public office. Snyder will need plenty of toughness now as he faces the Midwestern state's difficult problems, including reviving its recession-hit economy and cleaning up a financial mess in Detroit. ...