In Berlin, Rice Announces that the Mid-East Quartet will Meet in February
Chancellor Merkel had promoted a revitalization of the Quartet to President George W. Bush during her visit last week.

Merkel: "Europe's soul is tolerance."
In her address to the European Parliament, Merkel stressed the importance of a European constitution, the need for a European foreign minister, and the preservation of the European welfare state.

40,000 Relief Workers Help Germany Recover after Monster Storm Sweeps Over Germany
Life slowly returned to normal in Germany on Friday after one of the worst storms in 20 years left 11 persons dead and a massive trail of disruption in its wake.

Women in Leadership: Goethe Institute President Jutta Limbach
The woman at the helm of Germany's premier cultural institution abroad recently scored a bigger budget for an increasingly important mission - cultural diplomacy.

Foreign Minister Steinmeier Talks About Energy Matters with Der Spiegel
Steinmeier said Europe wants to "negotiate with Moscow to establish mechanisms which will ensure reliable supplies of oil and gas" and warned against hysteria, saying it is in Russia's own interest to guarantee supplies and resolve its dispute with Belarus.

"Lack of Alpine Snow Will Force Climate Action"
Amid growing alarm in Germany and Austria at a lack of snow in the Alps this winter, an author and scientist has predicted the crisis will lead to a swing in public opinion and demands for action to counter climate change.

Rudolf August Oetker, the head of one of Germany's biggest family-owned business concerns, died on Tuesday at the age of 90
Your TWIG editors noted with sadness this week the passing of a man whose name graced their cereal and frozen pizza boxes for years: the "pudding king", Rudolf August Oetker.

German-French Physics Duo Snag Multiple Prizes for Developing the Technology Behind Today's Gargantuan Hard Drives
Peter Grünberg, of Germany and Albert Fert of France discovered years ago that they had stumbled onto the same discovery and decided to team up.

Readings: TWIG Cannot Cover it All - But We Can Tell You Where to Find it!
Merkel talks Europe with the Guardian
Navid Kermani on Kafka and the German mindset
Der Spiegel asks whether Germany can live without nuclear reactors
Deutsche Welle covers a Berlin writer who wants to save endangered words

Worst Case Scenario: German TV Series Offers Dark Vision of a Revolt of the Elderly
A German public television movie is offering a new take on Germany's aging society in the form of a documentary movie that is part Soylent Green and part An Inconvenient Truth.

Trends: A Roundup of German Habits...
Beer consumption is up, potatoes are in short supply and cigars are more popular than cigarettes in Germany.

German Cinema Roundup - From Washington to Berlin, the Festival Landscape Hots Up
For those of you who can't make it across the pond to the Berlinale, the Goethe Institute's film festival in Washington, D.C offers a taste of the glitz and glamour this weekend.
Summer in Berlin opens New Films Festival in DC
Berlinale forum showcases films by young directors from Germany and across the globe
Clint Eastwood and JLo among Berlinale talent
Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz revisted

Stage is Set for "Best Ever" Handball World Championships in Berlin
After the euphoria of last year's World Cup Germany is hoping for another fairytale tournament when the men's handball world championships begin on Friday in Berlin.