The German EU Presidency: Promoting Peace, Economic Growth and the European Constitutional Process
Chancellor Angela Merkel outlined the three key priorities during a recent interview.

In meetings with the leaders of Egypt and Israel, Merkel called for a revival of the Mideast Quartett.
Merkel's Meeting with Hosni Mubarek
Merkel's Meeting with Ehud Olmert

EADS North America Begins Delivery of UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters to the U.S. Army
The contract is the company's first as a primary contractor in the US, the world's largest military market.

Germany to Push for UN Security Council Seat
Berlin will seek a UN revamp and an upgraded role for Germany in the world body "with great intensity," the Chancellor said.

German President Questions Consumer Information Law
Köhler declined to sign the law - which was approved after a series of food scandals - because it allows the federal government to impose certain obligations on local governments that he perceives to be unconstitutional.

EU Court Rejects Germany’s Challenge of a Law Banning Tobacco Ads
A law banning tobacco advertising from the radio and the Internet in Europe has already been passed by the Bundestag.

Economists Expect Only Limited Fallout from VAT Rise
Adding to the optimism about the outlook for the country's economy, Thursday's release of a raft of upbeat economic reports coincided with the Frankfurt exchange climbing to its highest level in almost six years.

German Unions Court the New Proletariat: Interns
“Interns have rights too,” is the message of a new website by the German alliance of trade unions, the DGB.

Deutsche Bank Throws its Hat in the Islamic Banking Ring
Germany’s largest bank has joined a growing number of financial institutions that offer “Shariah compliant” mutual funds for Muslim investors.

Readings: A Roundup of German Themes on the Web
Cynthia Ozick on Leo Baeck(NY Times)
36 Hours in Berlin (NY Times)
Still a man's world: The Economist on the German Press

Germany on Broadway: More than Just Cabaret
A rock musical based on the work of 19th century playwright Frank Wedekind and featuring songs by Duncan Sheik opened on Broadway last week.

Why Finnish Busses Take Coffee Breaks– German Words Travel the World
The German Language Council has published the surprising and amusing results of its international contest “Word Migrations.”

EU Ombudsman Calls for More German in EU Publications
EU parliamentarians from Germany were quick to follow up the Ombudsman's comments, pointing out that German is the most spoken native-language in the 25 member bloc.

Use it or Lose It: Nuremberg Considers Intergenerational Playground to Keep Aging Citizens from Acting their Age.
The southern German city of Nuremberg has hit on a novel idea to make activity more pleasurable for older people.

Barenboim’s Arab-Israeli Youth Orchestra to Serenade Annan at UN Send Off
The Berliner Staatsoper director is bringing his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to perform as Kofi Annan caps off ten years in office.

German Sports Roundup
German National Women's Soccer Team will play Dutch, Swiss, Belgian and Welsh counterparts
Wembley Stadium back in business
Victory for Germany's Greis, Henkel
Zwanziger reiterates fight against racism
German Olympic sports body agrees anti-doping plan Germany's goalkeepers feel the winds of change
Beckenbauer: 'the most eventful year of my life'