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From now on life certificates for German pensioners can also be certified by Australian authorities. Adjustments to the relevant forms until mid 2008.
further information

Applications for new biometric German passports now available at the German Embassy !
further information

Payment in recognition of ghetto work
Federal Government Directive of 1 October 2007 concerning the payment of amounts to victims of persecution in recognition of work in a ghetto which did not constitute forced labour and which has not been recognised to date under social insurance law
further information


Current events

Do you know of any German related events in your
area ? We would love to promote it; so please let us know by e-mail to info1@germanembassy.org.au


German Lantern Walk in Canberra
Spielwelt German Parents Association cordially invites the public to a traditional German Lantern Walk in Canberra
22 June 2008, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm
Glebe Park in the city centre (ACT)
All welcome
further information


Art Song Canberra’s Season of Song 2008 presents
Mother and Child
With Louise Page, soprano, and Phillipa Candy, piano
22 June 2008 at 3 pm
Songs and lullabies by Strauss, Brahms, Bax and others, as well as Mahler's Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the death of children) and The Mystery by Carlisle Floyd.
Music Room, Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Forrest
further information


The Goethe-Institut in Australia presents:
Conversation Evening & Award Night.
"Berlin Night" with Beer, Buletten and Berliner.
Conversation evening
25 June 2008, 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm
Goethe-Institut, Level 1, 448 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004 VIC
further information


The Goethe-Institut in Australia presents:
R. W. Fassbinder Filmseries
Film series
Wednesdays until - 25 June 2008 at 7 pm
Goethe-Institut Australien, Sydney
90 Ocean Street, Woollahra NSW 2025
Films in German with English subtitles
Entry: free
further information


The Goethe-Institut in Australia presents:
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Exhibition
until 30 June 2008
Goethe-Institut Australien, Sydney
90 Ocean Street, Woollahra, NSW 2025
Opening hours: Mon - Thu 9am - 5pm, Fri 9 am - 3 pm
Admission free
further information

Liquid Architecture 9
The ninth Sound Art Festival
Special guests from Germany Marcus Schmickler and Andrew Pekler
4 - 26 July 2008
Australia wide
further information


The Goethe-Institut in Australia presents:
National Conference for teachers of German - NCTG
German on Stage
6 - 9 July 2008
Marina Quays International, John Lund Drive, Hope Island, Gold Coast QLD
Language: German/English
Full Fee/ Day Rate:
Teachers: $380/$280, Students: $150/100
further information


The Goethe-Institut in Australia presents:
German Day Out 2008
for all students of German years 8-12
25 July 2008, 10.00am - 2.30pm
Registration essential by 18 July!
NGV International, Federation Square, Melbourne
Language: German
Cost: $ 2.00 per student from AGTV member schools,
$ 5.00 for others (movie admission not included)
further information


The Goethe-Institut in Australia presents:
War: The prints of Otto Dix
Exhibition
until 10 August 2008
National Gallery of Victoria
Prints & Drawings Gallery, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Opening hours: 10 am - 5 pm
Admission Free
further information

Revolutions - Forms that turn
German Artists featured at the" Biennale of Sydney"
Exhibition
until 7 Sept 2008
Sydney
further information


News from Germany


Politics

Germany is First in Energy Saving
After data revealed in the review of World Energy 2008, published by BP, Germany has reduced its energy consumption around 5,6%, more than any other country.
further information

German cabinet passes second phase of energy-climate package
The package is aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020.
further information

German president calls for further economic reform in key speech
Germany needs a new agenda to follow on from previous economic reforms that have boosted employment and growth.
further information

A friend of US-German relations
A Hamburg business forum has presented the German-born, former US Finance Minister, Michael Blumenthal, with a German-American Friendship Award for services to nurturing transatlantic relations.
further information

German, Polish leaders tackle EU treaty crisis
Poland and Germany are ready to assume "a leadership role in European integration"
further information

Minister Steinmeier visited China's earthquake zone
Steinmeier traveled to China with members of the German parliament, business leaders and a cultural delegation.
further information

Germany Pledges 420 Million Euros for Afghan Reconstruction
The German contributions now covered the entire period 2008-2010 agreed under the Afghanistan Compact.
further information

International themes dominate Bush-Merkel talks in Berlin
The two leaders were joined by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
further information

Merkel and Sarkozy agree on EU car emissions policy
The two leaders agreed a target set by the European Commission of a limit on carbon dioxide emissions of 120 grams per kilometre by 2012.
further information

Germany trims solar subsidies, boosts wind and tele-heating
Germany's parliament passed legislation that trims cross-subsidies for the booming solar-power industry while boosting other methods of cutting carbon emissions when generating electricity.
further information

Medvedev, Merkel want objections to Baltic pipeline overcome
On his first visit to Europe since taking office on May 7, the Russian president highlighted progress towards a new partnership agreement between Russia and the European Union.
further information


Economy

Germany to stay export champion, says trade official
Despite a major challenge from China, Germany will defend its title as the world's export champion in the coming 12 months, according to a leading trade official.
further information

Climate change mitigation boosts employment
By 2020, climate change mitigation efforts will have created around half a million new jobs in Germany.
further information

East German MZ motorcycles finally sputters to an end
MZ is one of the world's oldest motorcycle makers, continuing to produce through World War II and afterwards under the communist East German government.
further information

German dairy farmers call off milk boycott
The 10-day strike prompted big grocery chains to offer higher
wholesale rates for milk
further information

Science, Technology & Higher Education

Initiative to engage young women for study in the sciences
The initiative seeks to expand the number of women in management positions in both universities and business.
further information

German scientists invent wireless bionic eyeball to cure blindness
About 30 million people around the world are legally blind due to retinal diseases.
further information

DAAD "Studying in Germany" magazine now online
The German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) “Studying in Germany” Deutschland special is now available online and in English.
further information

New degrees to give students more professional chances
The new academic degrees in “Food Chemistry” and “Modern Languages – Culture and Society” are intended to give students a more comprehensive academic study suited to their professional development.
further information


Culture & Society

Cannes winner opens Munich film festival
With splendid timing, Filmfest Munich opens Friday (20 June) with French director Laurent Cantet's film Entre les murs (The Class) a surprise winner of the Golden Palm at this year's Cannes festival.
further information

German reunification memorial initiators awarded National Prize
It took 10 years for a German citizen's initiative to convince the government to erect a memorial to German reunification.
further information

Berlin Gets New Art Exhibition Center
After a long wait, the German capital will finally get its own art exhibition hall - but only for two years.
further information

Cologne civic achievement award to Leoluca Orlando
The Italian author and politician defied the Mafia to make Palermo in Sicily a more pleasant place to live.
further information

Does Berlin need a wax Hitler? - the mayor's not at all sure
Madame Tussaud's opens its Berlin branch in July.
further information


Football (Soccer)

Germany beat Portugal 3-2 to Progress to Semi-Finals
Germany were dominant for large portions of the game but still had to fight for the victory.
further information

Germany in second round after beating Austria
Germany captain Michael Ballack scored with a spectacular free-kick in the 49th minute to give his side a 1-0 victory in a Group B match played in Vienna and a place in the quarter-finals.
further information

Whistle while you work – Germany’s top referee Herbert Fandel
Herbert Fandel is Germany’s current no.1 referee and is officiating at the European Championship in Switzerland and Austria.
further information

	Links

German Foreign Affairs:
The Auswärtiges Amt/Federal Foreign Office
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Newsletter of the Foreign Office in Berlin

Current Events in Germany - the online events calendar of the Auswärtiges Amt.
www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/en/
WillkommeninD/DInformationen/
Veranstaltungen/Veranstaltungssuche.jsp

Study abroad:
German Academic Exchange Service:
www.daad.de
in Sydney: ic.daad.de/sydney
Campus - everything on Studying in Germany:
www.campus-germany.de and
www.study-in-germany.de

German Language and Culture:
The Goethe-Institut, Germany's Cultural Institute.
www.goethe.de
in Australia:
www.goethe.de/ins/au/lp/enindex.htm

German TV and Radio - Deutsche Welle
Germany's voice abroad.
www.dw-world.de

"Die Woche in Australien"
Australia's only German language weekly.
www.woche.com.au

Infobahn Australia
Infobahn Australia is a website for all German-speaking people in Australia and down under fans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
www.Infobahnaustralia.com.au

Deutsche in Melbourne
Your Internetgateway to the German Community in Melbourne
www.deutscheinmelbourne.net

Deutsche in Perth
Your Internetgateway to the German Community in Perth
www.deutscheinperth.net

Das Zentrum - The Australian-German Institute in Canberra
A link between Australia and the German-speaking regions of Europe.
zentrum.blogspot.com/

Harmonie German Club Canberra
Canberra's own German Club since 1961.
www.harmonieclub.com.au

Canberra Multicultural Services Community Radio Station on FM 91.1
offers radio programs in German
www.cmsradio.org.au

4EB Radio FM 98.1
Brisbane's ethnic radio station broadcasts in German and 50 more languages. Tune in now - or listen online!
www.4eb.org.au - or German direct: www.4eb.org.au/german_4ebgroup.htm

German on the Coast
Quality German Language Lessons for Adults & Kids conveniently located on the Gold Coast
www.learn-german.com.au

The German Internet Gateway
The Federal Republic of Germany's official and independent website.
www.deutschland.de

Young Germany
The Website for young people with interest in Germany.
www.young-germany.de

German National Tourism Office
Official Tourism Website of Germany.
germany-tourism.de