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German Americans Cheer Bismarck's Triumph
Members of New York's German American groups came out in force to celebrate the end of the Franco-Prussian war that established Germany's unity. A report in The New York Times of April 10, 1871 make for interesting reading. Please click HERE
DER BLOGGER
Mitt and Newt: The Gloves Come Off
Newt Gingrich’s surge to success in South Carolina has surely brought joy to the Obama White House. For his 12-point victory ensures the fight for the GOP nomination will not end soon and will get nastier.
WANDERLUST
Québec City: A Touch of Europe
By Adam Leposa
When we woke up this morning, the scene outside our hotel window looked perfect for the Winter Carnival: lots of snow. Unfortunately, the storm also brought with it high winds that nixed our previous plans to go cross-country skiing on the Plains of Abraham. So, we set off to explore Québec City’s Old Town, as well as two unique hotels in the region.
ESSEN & TRINKEN
More Americans say, Prost!
German beer sales dip slightly in 2011 German beer sales remained more or less steady in 2011, according to the Federal Statistics Office. While Germans themselves bought less German beer compared to 2010, beer drinkers abroad were saying 'Prost!'
GERMERICA LINKS
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Red-Green Coalition Governs Biggest State
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 19:11 — Walter
The legislature in Germany's most populous state elected Social Democrat Hannelore Kraft to lead a new minority government on Wednesday, in coalition with the Greens.
The outcome is a blow for beleaguered Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose center-right federal government has now lost control of the upper house, or Bundesrat, which represents Germany's 16 states.
This, in turn, will make it harder for her coalition of conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) to pass legislation.
As the leader of a minority government in North-Rhine Westphalia, Kraft, too, will have a tough time passing legislation. Her “red-green” coalition will need to scrape together other parties’ votes in the state parliament – either from its left or its right – meaning it will need to make deals or risk a parliamentary deadlock.
Kraft is the first woman to become premier of the state. It took two rounds of voting in the state capital, Düsseldorf, to elect the 49-year-old politician.
A fractured result from state elections in May led to nearly two months of coalition negotiations.
A "grand coalition" between the SPD and CDU was untenable as was an SPD coalition including the far-left Left party. Talks between the SPD and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) also failed.
The CDU had been in been in power with the FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia with Jürgen Rüttgers the state premier.
The new government is to be made up of seven ministers from the SPD and three from the Greens.
Agencies
News In Brief
DAS KINO
'Berlinale' Presents 2012 Offerings
A new movie from Billy Bob Thornton and a turn as Marie Antoinette by Diane Kruger will rub shoulders with offerings from Asia to Africa at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
DAS BUCH
Breathtaking Tour of Germany
Featuring the wonders and beauty of Germany through the eyes of author Maureen Mahan Copelof and her husband, Sylvan, Discovering Germany shares a captivating view of the rich German tradition.
KULTUR
Thomas Quasthoff Bids Farewell
By Marita Berg
The news that singer Thomas Quasthoff would be concluding his career for health reasons came as a surprise to fans and concert organizers. His warm, colorfully nuanced and voluminous voice coupled with his intense, energized renditions have enchanted audiences for years.
DAS AUTO
The E-Car: False Hopes?
Germany’s plan to put a million electric cars on the road by 2020 is unlikely to do much for the environment without a dramatic increase in renewable energy, the daily Berlin-basedTageszeitung reported on Monday.
FUSSBALL
