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Obama’s Berlin Speech: This is the Moment to Stand as One
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama arrived in Berlin on Thursday, kicking off the European leg of his overseas trip amid high expectations. Huge crowds of Berliners eagerly looked forward to Obama’s speech in front of the Tiergarten’s 226-foot high Victory Column, which previously has been a backdrop for various mass events.
For many Germans, Obama is the embodiment of the American dream and the ideal of a land of opportunity where everyone can make it to the top, regardless of race or social background. At a moment when anti-American sentiments have reached unprecedented heights in Germany, Obama is seen by many Germans as a symbol of hope and change for the good.
This detailed article presents a number of photographs and three videos, including the live video of Obama's full speech that was given at Berlin's Victory Column. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama arrived in Berlin on Thursday, kicking off the European leg of his overseas trip amid hig... more -
Obama Supporters 200,000 Strong in Germany
In one of the most theatrical events of his campaign, Barack Obama called today for closer ties between Europe and the United States in a speech to more than 200,000 Germans at a towering monument to Prussian war triumphs.
The sea of people stretched a mile across the Tiergarten, Berlin's central park, from the Victory Column where Obama spoke to the historic Brandenburg Gate in the distance.
For his arrival, Obama, dressed in a business suit, walked alone around the Victory Column, a giant pillar near the center of the park. It is a monument to Prussian war victories of the 19th century.
The crowd roared as he walked several hundred feet down a makeshift runway to the lectern where he stood for the speech.
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!! In one of the most theatrical events of his campaign, Barack Obama called today for closer ties between Europe and the United States i... more -
Obama warns Germans of potential 'new walls'
"Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, speaking to thousands of Germans crowded into the heart of the city, is warning Thursday of "new walls" that could divide trans-Atlantic allies and said Europe and America must reunite to tackle wars, nuclear threats and genocide.
"In this new world, such dangerous currents have swept along faster than our efforts to contain them," he said. "That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone."
The Illinois senator hinted at strains between Europe and the United States in recent years and said that "if we're honest with each other, we know that sometimes, on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny."
Police estimated the crowd, which began gathering hours before the speech, at over 200,000, according to Michael Bengsch, media relations for the Berlin police. Many waved American flags, some shouting Obama's campaign slogan: "Yes We Can"." "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, speaking to thousands of Germans crowded into the heart of the city, is warning Thurs... more -
Obama in Berlin
In visibility range of the Brandenburger Gate at the "victory column" candidate Barack Obama speakes in Berlin.
At the beginning of his speach he pointed out the special position of berlin in history, the "airlift" after WWII, the berlin wall and the "flame of hope" which lighted from here to the world.
"People of the world — look at Berlin!
Look at Berlin, where Germans and Americans learned to work together and trust each other less than three years after facing each other on the field of battle."
And further:
"Sixty years after the airlift, we are called upon again. History has led us to a new crossroad, with new promise and new peril. "
Obama mentioned the global warming, the problem of nuklear weapons and the security of the free world. He also made clear that he expect more european engagement in afghanistan to fight terrorism.
"That is why America cannot turn inward. That is why Europe cannot turn inward. America has no better partner than Europe. Now is the time to build new bridges across the globe as strong as the one that bound us across the Atlantic. Now is the time to join together, through constant cooperation, strong institutions, shared sacrifice, and a global commitment to progress, to meet the challenges of the 21st century."
In visibility range of the Brandenburger Gate at the "victory column" candidate Barack Obama speakes in Berlin. ... more -
Obama in Germany
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama landed in Berlin Thursday, kicking off the European leg of his overseas trip amid high expectations. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama landed in Berlin Thursday, kicking off the European leg of his overseas trip amid high ex... more
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Obama arrives in Europe
After a succesful tour of the Middle-East, US senator Barack Obama has arrived in Germany, where he will give a speech.
In what is quite clearly a show for the American public, rather than having any clear political goals, Obama will speak in front of German crowds gathered in front of the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten Park (pictures).
He will also visit France and the UK, before returning home. After a succesful tour of the Middle-East, US senator Barack Obama has arrived in Germany, where he will give a speech. ... more -
German university to put world's oldest bible online
The world's oldest surviving semi-complete copy of the Bible, a 4th-century manuscript in ancient Greek that was discovered in a waste-paper bin by a German scholar, is set to be published online. The world's oldest surviving semi-complete copy of the Bible, a 4th-century manuscript in ancient Greek that was discovered in a wast... more
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Pilot Strike Grounds More Than 500 Flights
A 36-hour strike by the German pilots' union Cockpit continues to ground hundreds of short-haul flights of two Lufthansa subsidiary airlines. Union representatives for ground and cabin personnel plan to announce Friday whether they will also go on strike.
Walkouts by members of the airline pilots' union Cockpit affected 465 flights of Lufthansa subsidiary airlines Tuesday and are expected to ground more than 500 Wednesday, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.
The strike began at noon Tuesday and is scheduled to last until midnight Wednesday. The Cockpit union asked its more than 1,000 members to not show up for work at the subsidiary airlines Eurowings and Lufthansa CityLine.
The strike has forced Lufthansa to cancel almost 1,000 flights -- 465 on Tuesday and 525 on Wednesday, according to a company statement. The affected planes are primarily smaller aircraft making frequent connections between European countries as well as connecting flights between regional German airports and the major hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The major airports affected are those of Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin, Nuremberg, Düsseldorf and Hanover.
Read more... A 36-hour strike by the German pilots' union Cockpit continues to ground hundreds of short-haul flights of two Lufthansa subsidiary ai... more -
Siemens To Sue Former Top Executives - Corruption Scandal
German multinational Siemens is expected to launch multimillion euro lawsuits against some of its top ex-managers, according to a newspaper report. The company reportedly accuses the managers of having failed to take action to prevent corrupt practices at the company.
Engineering and electronics giant Siemens is reportedly planning to sue former directors it believes were responsible for failing to prevent what became the largest corruption scandal in German corporate history, according to a major national daily. The company's supervisory board, the Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday, is expected to make the decision next week to launch legal proceedings against 10 former top executives who sat on the group's board between 2003 and 2006.
According to the newspaper, the top managers -- who include former Siemens bosses Klaus Kleinfeld and Heinrich von Pierer and former financial director Heinz-Joachim Neubürger -- are being accused by the company of grave failures when they ran Siemens, allowing one of the biggest corruption scandals in German corporate history to unfold. Siemens is said to be seeking several million euros in damages from each of the 10 executives.
Read more... German multinational Siemens is expected to launch multimillion euro lawsuits against some of its top ex-managers, according to a news... more -
Comedian in trouble for eating sausage while driving on his TV show
Being a comedian in Germany can be hard at times. Comedy star Hape Kerkeling has received a legal complaint from a television viewer for eating a sausage while driving in his new show, in which he plays a taxi driver.
A German comedian who plays a taxi driver in a candid camera show has received a legal complaint from a viewer who spotted him committing two minor traffic violations on television.
In his show "Hallo Taxi," Hape Kerkeling, 43, a gifted impersonator, has amusing conversations with passengers which are recorded by a hidden camera. One viewer seemed to be paying more attention to his driving than the comic aspect of the show.
Read more... Being a comedian in Germany can be hard at times. Comedy star Hape Kerkeling has received a legal complaint from a television viewer f... more -
The end of Europe's 'Obamania'? Obama's foreign policy speech in Berlin could risk...
US presidential candidate Barack Obama will speak in Berlin on Thursday. Germans have fallen in love with the man many in Europe have come to see as the anti-Bush -- the man who many hope will steer America back toward the path of peace, love and happiness. Almost three-quarters of Germans would vote for Obama were they given the opportunity to do so; in France, that number approaches 90 percent. Berlin authorities are expecting tens of thousands -- maybe even hundreds of thousands -- for his appearance later this week.
But German commentators doubt the love affair will survive this week's foreign policy speech. The financial daily Handelsblatt looks at what Berlin might expect from Obama's speech. "With the speech at the Siegessäule on Thursday, a new phase is beginning. And there are a number of signs pointing to the fact that those pleasantly anticipating an Obama presidency might not be quite as euphoric should he get elected. The reasons are clear: Obama's superstar status in Germany is based primarily on two factors. One is the fact that he is not George W. Bush…. The second is that Obama has remained quite vague until now: Everyone can see in him what he or she wants. But now the senator from Illinois is beginning to mold a concrete foreign policy."
"Soon, it will be clear what "change" really means. Obama wants to withdraw from Iraq but at the same time he wants to bolster troops in Afghanistan. That increase shouldn't just come from the Americans, but from the Europeans as well."
The paper writes that his speech in Berlin isn't just meant for the American voters. His choosing the German capital for the speech "sends a clear message, even if the charismatic politician has opted for a subtle delivery: 'Dear Europeans, dear Germans, should I be elected, I am going to take you at your word. More international cooperation means more European engagement in crisis regions.' Obama, should he become the superpower's next president, will not suddenly transform into a dove. He too will use the US military to reach his political goals."
(Excerpts / Charles Hawley, Spiegel International) US presidential candidate Barack Obama will speak in Berlin on Thursday. Germans have fallen in love with the man many in Europe have ... more -
An American Idol in Germany - Obamania
US presidential candidate Barack Obama will land in Berlin on Thursday. Europeans have fallen in love with the Democrat, mostly because he's not Bush. But they may not like what they hear this week.
He has already found his spot at the Brandenburg Gate. Indeed, it's where he speaks every day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. -- his voice, met with wild cheers from his audience, is enough to send shivers down one's spine even today. After giving his speech, he is driven in an open limousine through Berlin, where hundreds of thousands line the streets, chanting: "Kennedy, Kennedy."
His eternal spot in Berlin is in a museum on Pariser Platz, directly across the square from the Brandenburg Gate. The museum, called "The Kennedys," represents the ultimate in a politician's achievements -- complete and utter hero worship. It is filled with attractive photographs, inspiring quotes and magnificence. The film constantly on screen there depicts former US President John F. Kennedy's appearance in Berlin in June, 1963, including the parade given in his honor and his speech in front of the Schöneberg Town Hall, where he famously said: "Ich bin ein Berliner" ("I am a Berliner").
Barack Obama's voice, by contrast, will not be heard at the Brandenburg Gate and he will not be gazing at the "The Kennedys" museum when he speaks in Berlin. Though he is often compared with Kennedy and sparks similar hopes, Obama hasn't come that far yet. He still lacks the kind of stature that would spare him from being ground through the mill of German politics. German Chancellor Angela Merkel turned down his request to speak at the Brandenburg Gate.
Read more... US presidential candidate Barack Obama will land in Berlin on Thursday. Europeans have fallen in love with the Democrat, mostly becaus... more -
What is Bjork doing?
Bjork performs at the Melt! Festival 2008 on July 20, 2008 in Grafenhainichen, Germany.
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Barack in Berlin: Obama to speak at Nazi-contaminated site?
Finally, it's official. Barack Obama, when he arrives in Berlin on July 24, will hold his speech at the Siegessäule monument in the heart of the city, according to an announcement made by his campaign office in Chicago on Sunday. In his speech, he will speak about the "historic US-German partnership" and about the importance of strengthening trans-Atlantic relations, according to his campaign team.
The Siegessäule is located about a kilometer down the Strasse des 17. Juni from the Brandenburg Gate. His speech is set to begin at 7 p.m. and Berlin is expecting a massive number of Obama fans to show up -- between 10,000 and a million according to one city official quoted in the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel.
Still, even as the issue of his speech's location has now been settled, a number of politicians in Berlin are still dissatisfied with the site. The Siegessäule -- or Victory Column -- was erected in memory of Prussia's victories over Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870/71). The column originally stood in front of the Reichstag, Germany's parliament building, but was moved by Adolf Hitler to its current location in 1939 to make way for his planned transformation of Berlin into the Nazi capital "Germania."
"The Siegessäule in Berlin was moved to where it is now by Adolf Hitler. He saw it as a symbol of German superiority and of the victorious wars against Denmark, Austria and France," the deputy leader of the Free Democrats, Rainer Brüderle, told Bild am Sonntag. He raised the question as to "whether Barack Obama was advised correctly in his choice of the Siegessäule as the site to hold a speech on his vision for a more cooperative world."
Andreas Schockenhoff of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats said, "the Siegessäule in Berlin is dedicated to a victory over neighbors who are today our European friends and allies. It is a problematic symbol."
(Excerpts / Spiegel International) Finally, it's official. Barack Obama, when he arrives in Berlin on July 24, will hold his speech at the Siegessäule monument in the he... more -
German site sued by Facebook
The German company sued by Facebook for running a "knockoff" of the social networking Web site said on Sunday it asked a German court to declare that Facebook's claims are without merit.
Facebook's complaint, filed on Friday in a California federal court, accuses studiVZ of copying the look, feel, features and services of Facebook and seeks "to end StudiVZ's illegal activity" lest Facebook's own reputation be harmed by association.
"As with any counterfeit product, StudiVZ's uncontrolled quality standards for service, features and privacy negatively impact the genuine article," Facebook stated in the complaint.
StudiVZ filed for declaratory judgment at the District Court in Stuttgart, also on Friday.
Facebook's suit also seeks compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
StudiVZ claims Facebook is suing them only because Facebook has failed to transplant its success in the United States and other countries to the German market.
"Their strategy appears to be: 'If you can't beat them, sue them,"' said Marcus Riecke, chief executive of studiVZ, which is owned by Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, a German publishing company.
The German company sued by Facebook for running a "knockoff" of the social networking Web site said on Sunday it asked a German court ... more -
Barack Obama’s Foreign Mission: Hopes and Cautions
Senator Obama's foreign mission began covered by a shroud of secrecy. Early Thursday morning, Obama flew from Chicago to Reagan National Airport in a small chartered jet. He transferred to an unmarked plane at Andrews Air Base, arriving in Afghanistan early Saturday morning.
In Afghanistan on Saturday, he met with American soldiers and military commanders, and on Sunday will meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Other stops in his world trip will include Iraq, Israel, Palestine and Europe (England, Paris, and Germany). This detailed article will be updated with new photographs and videos daily.
The article presently includes photographs and six videos about his trip. Senator Obama's foreign mission began covered by a shroud of secrecy. Early Thursday morning, Obama flew from Chicago to Reagan Nation... more -
Two in a million: twins born - one black, one white
Doctors say it is an extremely rare occurrence, but it is possible if genes combine in a certain way. The twin boys, named Ryan and Leo, are the offspring of a mixed-race couple. Doctors say it is an extremely rare occurrence, but it is possible if genes combine in a certain way. The twin boys, named Ryan and Le... more
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Top Tyrants: Playing happy families with dictators Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin
Each card of the game, which is similar to Happy Families, features one dictator and includes little-known facts about each despot
The card game featuring the great dictators of history including Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin has been released in Germany. Each card of the game, which is similar to Happy Families, features one dictator and includes little-known facts about each despot ... more -
Retired man abandoned on Autobahn
A 69-year-old retiree was found wandering on the autobahn, forced to leave a bus during a "free" excursion that turned out not to be gratis. The old man argued over a surprise three-euro charge, and the driver, he says, left him behind.
"The trip was supposed to be free," said Rainer H., who started walking home on the autobahn after a day trip to Berlin ended badly.
German police are investigating a tour bus company after a retired man from Dresden was found wandering on a highway outside Berlin. Autobahn police found Rainer H., 69, after he'd walked 12 kilometers back toward home along the A13 in the eastern state of Brandenburg. He said a tour bus driver had forced him to leave the bus after an argument over three euros.
"We are investigating the driver and we're looking at legal steps to take against the bus company," Thomas Wilde, police chief of the regional office in Königs Wusterhausen, told the mass-circulation daily BILD Zeitung.
It's common in Germany for tour companies to offer "coffee trips," or cost-free day trips, to retirees who want a short excursion into big cities like Berlin. These trips tend to include some sort of sales pitch. Rainer H. received an invitation in the mail for a free shopping trip to Berlin in a "luxury bus."
Everything went well, he said, until the driver pulled into a rest area. After a break, "when we climbed back into the bus," he told the newspaper, "(the driver) asked, 'Does everyone have 3 euros? I just need to collect that.'" Rainer H. stood on principle. "I said I had no money with me. Besides, the trip was supposed to be free."
The driver let him back on the bus, but later in the trip he pulled off the autobahn and told Rainer H. to leave. Suddenly the old man was alone. "I walked back up to the autobahn, because that way I could orient myself," he said. The police found him only after he'd walked 12 kilometers toward Dresden.
"On these tours passengers are often put under pressure," Renate Janeczek, who works at a consumer protection agency, told the paper. "But getting thrown out of a bus is the low point." A 69-year-old retiree was found wandering on the autobahn, forced to leave a bus during a "free" excursion that turned out not to be g... more -
Volkswagen to open US plant
Twenty years after the closure of its last American plant, Volkswagen is returning to the United States. With its planned factory in Chattanooga, the company is hoping to regain US market share and also buffer itself from euro-dollar currency fluctuations.
German carmaker Volkswagen announced on Tuesday it would invest close to €1 billion ($1.59 billion) to build its first factory in the United States after the closure of its last plant 20 years ago. The company said it expects to open a new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee by 2011. VW plans to produce 150,000 automobiles annually at the site as part of its effort to increase market share in America, which has eroded in recent years.
Read more... Twenty years after the closure of its last American plant, Volkswagen is returning to the United States. With its planned factory in C... more
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