OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog » News

In Berlin – BBC World Service vs. National Public Radio – Which is better – Berlin English Radio listeners Poll – article by W van Coeveren

theo — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:58:36 +0000

Berlin has a multitude of excellent radio stations which cater to any number of tastes, from classical music, jazz to popular younger type of music,German talk-back shows and documentaries- all for a wide spectrum of listeners.

For native English speakers in Berlin, and yes we all speak some German and want to learn more – however there are times early in the morning, late [...] Continue Reading…

As Wikileaks founder Julien Assange faces court in London – ‘Piraten Partei’ in Germany rightfully supports Wikileaks- by contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:03:59 +0000

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of OTA-Berlin but of the contributor – in this case Mr Emil Hoogensteyn. OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog’ is part of OTA-Berlin ‘……the intelligent Apartment-Alternative to Hotels in Berlin’.The Blog provides OTA-Berlin guests a quick overview of the cultural, sports, social and other related activities taking place in Berlin during their stay. ‘OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog’ has existed [...] Continue Reading…

French Elections – ‘Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows’: Chancellor Merkel to go out on a political limb & out of her way to support Sarkozy’s re-election – by OTA-Berlin Constituency blog contributor Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:49:38 +0000

Political forces can sometimes bring and even force together people who might otherwise have very little in common - this could be the case with the German Chancellor Merkel and the French President Sarkozy.

” Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows” is how William Shakespeare put it with a man who has been shipwrecked and finds himself seeking shelter beside a sleeping [...] Continue Reading…

German spy agency monitors ‘Linke’ politicians – BfV /’Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz’ – A Bureaucratic agency out of control, out of touch and out of its depth – The ‘BfV’ has become more of a problem than any kind of solution – by OTA-Berlin Constituency contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:59:44 +0000

Well over a third of the ‘Linke’ Party parliamentarians are currently actively being monitored by the country’s domestic intelligence agency the’ BfV’ -the domestic secret service or the ‘Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz’.

It has been reported and since admitted by the agency concerned that 27 of the Linke’s 76 MP’s it current considers ‘people of interest’ along with 11 Linke members serving in regional [...] Continue Reading…

Should German President Wulff go or stay? Part 4 – Support still sinking – OTA-Berlin Constituency poll finds by contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:38:15 +0000

President Wulff -foto Wikipedia -source CFK_y_Christian_Wulff.jpg Our own OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog poll shows that public sentiment is falling for the German President. This all concerns alleged and perceived irregularities concerning his personal finances, when Christian Wulff was previous Premier of the federal German state of Lower Saxony and subsequent attempts to cover-up the story.

While in no way scientific – readers [...] Continue Reading…

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle debunks US media perception for caricature of Europe and Germany as inaccuarte and untrue – commentary by Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:36:21 +0000

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle has gone on the diplomatic offensive and debunked US media caricature of Europe and Germany as short-sighted and untrue. Last Friday he defended the EU’s and Germany’s response to the Euro-zone debt crisis management on a visit in the US and exposed the falseness of the caricature of Europe that prevails in US politics.

Speaking to a Washington so-called [...] Continue Reading…

Should German President Wulff go or stay? Part 3 – by contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:26:52 +0000

President Wulff -foto Wikipedia -source CFK_y_Christian_Wulff.jpg The influential and respected German newspaper, the Süddeutschen Zeitung has had it on the front page all week.

The heavy burden of the credit and media scandal on German President Christian Wulff is compelling and simply will not go away -efforts to defuse the scandal have not succeeded.

And while there have been calls from the [...] Continue Reading…

Etihad Airways investment in Air Berlin is for the long-term – Lufthansa/KLM-Air France ‘not amused’ – by OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog Economics contributor Mr W van Coeveren

OTA-Berlin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:15:55 +0000

German low-cost carrier Air Berlin has been thrown a financial life-line in the form of a 30% outright purchase of its shares plus a debt-financing agreement from the Abu Dhabi state-controlled airline Etihad Airways – as was reported by this blog last month.

In the announced ‘strategic partnership’ Air Berlin will enter into a code-sharing agreement with Etihad Airways that will [...] Continue Reading…

Vote for a ‘Yellow-Card’ or a ‘Red-card’ – Should German President Wulff go or stay? Vote in ‘OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog’ Poll – by contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:41:59 +0000

Please vote in our poll below and let us know your thoughts on this issue – whether you live in Berlin, Germany, in Europe or outside of Europe.

The issue is not so much about Wulff as such but the office of President.

Much of the German press are saying that the beleaguered German President Wulff walked away from last night’s TV interview with some of [...] Continue Reading…

Berlin in 2012 – What we can expect and look forward to in the New Year – by contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn

OTA-Berlin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:59:10 +0000

Euro crisis and Economic Debt Crisis Worldwide will dominate for Berliners
On January 1st exactly 10 years ago in 2002, the Euro was introduced as a common currency in 12 European countries and a decade later, the jury is still out on whether it will be considered a success or a failure – this year will be a definitive one for the [...] Continue Reading…