January 18, 2007, Germany News

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21083706-1702,00.html

Hurricane causes disruptions in Germany   “GERMANS were told to stay indoors and many schools across the country closed overnight as a rare hurricane bore down on them, seriously disrupting air and rail travel and causing at least one death on the roads.

After leaving a trail of damage in the Netherlands and the English Channel, authorities were on alert as hurricane "Kyrill" reached western Germany in the afternoon, uprooting trees, damaging buildings and causing major delays on roads. ...”

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2317629,00.html

German-Born Ex-Prisoner Describes Torture at Guantanamo Bay

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2317301,00.html

Merkel and Rice Take Steps to Revive Middle East Peace Talks

 “....Merkel and Rice discussed breathing new life into the Middle East peace process...

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after the two sides announced a revival of the international quartet for Middle East peace.

Rice and Merkel, who holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters before their meeting that there was a rare but tangible chance for peace in the Middle East which could have a positive influence throughout the region...”

(Thursday January 18, at 2 p.m. local time in Munich/ germany (just the storm was approaching germany) this breaking news:)

Bavarian Premier Stoiber Says He Will Step Down

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2317414,00.html

(notice: )

“....Stoiber has been a thorn in the side of Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), sister party of the CSU, since abruptly dropping plans to join her cabinet soon after the 2005 general election......”

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2318210,00.html

(amazing, the celerity of the events at the CSU.... some say it was like an earthquake as never before at any party here in germany...  Stoiber did hope to stay much longer... or at least a few months... now he did step down just now...

Some say, Stoiber was brought down....

Well, it seems, now Merkel more “powerful”....

As you know:

Germany : January until June 2007 head of the EU and

                  January  until December 2007 head of the G8 ....)