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Jan 10, 2014 The Week in Germany Editorial (©colourbox) Dear TWIG Readers, The team of the German Information Center wishes you all a happy and successful 2014! We will continue to keep you informed on developments in Germany throughout the new year. The year 2014 will be, I think, a particularly interesting year for Germany and German-American relations. The year started with President Obama inviting Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit Washington in the coming months. At the same time, EU-US relations will get a boost, with the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) entering a decisive phase in 2014. Expectations for TTIP are high on both sides of the Atlantic – the deal is expected to create millions of jobs for Europeans and Americans alike. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This pivotal event has become symbolic of the fight for freedom in Germany, Eastern Europe, and beyond. It also stands for the unwavering American support for Germany's eventual reunification. To celebrate the occasion, the year will be filled with numerous activities chronicling the events leading up to that momentous day. On November 11, the city of Berlin plans to recreate the line of partition which the wall once made, using thousands of illuminated white balloons. The year 2014 will also see other anniversaries, among them the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I and the 75th anniversary of the beginning of World War II. Both events remind us of the catastrophes that shook the world during the last century. At the same time, they were closely followed by eras of reconciliation and the struggle for peace. Against that backdrop, we should celebrate the unequivocal success stories of an increasingly united Europe and our strong transatlantic ties. With that said, let us embrace the New Year with courage and optimism. Rüdiger Bohn Director GIC Webteam, Germany.info In this issue  Top Stories  Current Affairs  Business, Technology, Science, and the Environment  Culture, Events and Lifestyle  Word of the Week  Second Readings  Deutschland.de Portal  More Newsletters from the German Information Center USA  About "The Week in Germany" Top Stories Chancellor Merkel and US President Obama Speak via Telephone They talked about the central transatlantic tasks for 2014, including the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the NATO summit. Germany and the USA will work closely together on these and other topics to advance the common interests.  Merkel and Obama Speak Bundeswehr to Continue to Help Protect Turkey The German contribution to ensuring security in Turkey is part of the extensive efforts of the German government to contain the regional impacts of the crisis in Syria.  Bundeswehr Mandate Latvia: The Newest Member of the Euro Family Latvia introduced the euro as its currency on January 1 2014, bringing the number of euro-zone states to 18. The finance ministers of the euro zone approved Latvia’s accession in June 2013.  Latvia Joins the Euro  top Current Affairs Germany’s Contribution to the OPCW-UN Mission in Syria The German Government is willing and able to destroy the residuals generated by the irreversible neutralization of chemical warfare agents from Syria, which are similar to industrial waste, in Germany.  Destruction of Chemical Weapons Foreign Office Increases Humanitarian Aid for South Sudan The Federal Foreign Office has provided Welthungerhilfe with an initial 495,000 euros to supply humanitarian aid to people in South Sudan driven from their homes by the current fighting in the country. Welthungerhilfe, one of Germany's largest NGOs, fights against global hunger.  More Aid for South Sudan Steinmeier in Brussels: Europe a Source of Hope for the Future "We want to say that for us, Europe is not one of many options, but the result of the lesson learnt from German history as well as a source of hope for the future," Foreign Minister Steinmeier said after his meeting with European Commission President Barroso in Brussels.  Visit to Brussels  top Business, Technology, Science, and the Environment Record Number of Employed Persons in 2013 New data released by the Federal Statistical Office indicates a 0.6 percent increase of the number of people with jobs in Germany in 2013. On average, 41.78 people were employed throughout the year.  Employment in 2013 Population in Germany Grew in 2013 The overall population in Germany increased in 2013 from 80.5 million to 80.8 million residents. The increase is due in large part to the increased number of immigrants who came to Germany throughout the year.  Population Growth  top Culture, Events and Lifestyle Manuel Neuer Voted World Goalkeeper of the Year A jury of journalists and soccer experts from 70 countries voted the FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, the World GoalKeeper of the Year for 2013. This is the first time Neuer has received this award.  Goalkeeper of the Year  top Word of the Week Word of the Week: 08/15 What do you call something that is mediocre or average? Germans use the word 08/15 to describe things that are "nothing special". Learn when and why this number became a part of colloquial German language.  Word of the Week  top Second Readings Readings: Second Opinions Courtesy of Germany.info German expellees from World War II will be honored with their own memorial day, a Washington Post writer discusses the life of German philosopher Hannah Arendt and German bands are hiring sign language interpreters to give the hearing-impaired a better live concert experience.  Readings Potatoes: You Are Doing It Wrong Take it from Germany, the land where potato dreams are born. We have noticed that some of the standard potato recipes here in the US are a little bit bland, so we are here to offer you our centuries of experience to improve your potato palate. Here are 12 of our best-loved dishes for your dining enjoyment:  Potatoes: You Are Doing It Wrong  top Deutschland.de Portal More News from Germany A portal on all things German, Deutschland.de was launched in 2012 at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. It provides content in seven languages and specifically targets users abroad.  Deutschland.de  top More Newsletters from the German Information Center USA Germany in Class With bi-monthly updates on German language news and free lesson plans, "Germany in Class" is a great classroom resource. We keep German and social studies teachers as well as study abroad advisors informed about study abroad opportunities, scholarships and contests.  Subscription form  Germany in Class - Archive Deutschland-Nachrichten Our German-language newsletter “Deutschland-Nachrichten” delivers the news from Germany to your inbox every Monday. If you are a German living in America or an American who wants to keep up with Germany and practice your German, sign up for the “Deutschland-Nachrichten” to stay in touch.  Subscription form  Deutschland-Nachrichten - Archive  top About "The Week in Germany" A Publication of Germany.info and the German Information Center, USA The articles referred to in this newsletter may contain links to websites that are maintained by third parties. These links are for readers' reference only, and the German Information Center USA is not responsible, nor shall it be held liable for, the content, services or products provided on these websites.  The opinions and material contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the German government. © Germany.info unless otherwise noted. 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