Latest news with #BerlinWall
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK's huge plan to launch direct trains from Britain to EU hotspot 681 miles away
A 'landmark' partnership between the UK and Germany will 'explore a direct rail link' between London and a stunning EU city dripping in history and culture - but it won't happen any time soon Millions of passengers could benefit from new trains connecting Brits to yet another European hotspot - but there's a catch. In what has been described as a 'landmark' partnership, the UK and Germany have unveiled a joint taskforce to 'explore a direct rail link' between the two countries. The move, announced as part of the bilateral treaty to be signed by Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz, will see the nations break down logistical barriers stagnating European connectivity and establish the necessary border and security controls for direct long-distance rail passenger services. READ MORE: Beautiful 31-mile train journey past both mountains and beaches named UK's best It aims to provide an effective route linking London to Berlin, the capital and largest city of Germany renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture and vibrant nightlife. Here, you'll find the Holocaust memorial, the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains, and the 18th-century Brandenburg Gate. However, it appears the new route won't be launching any time soon, and could take as long as 10 years to get up and running. While the exact demand for a direct train from London to Berlin isn't clear, the route will provide a greener way of travelling than flying. Currently, travelling from London to Berlin via train takes around 10-11 hours, and includes stopovers in both Brussels and Cologne. "We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent," said Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander. "This landmark agreement – part of a new treaty the Prime Minister signed with Chancellor Merz - has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries, offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying." The politician went on to explain how a new taskforce will help bring the two nations 'closer together' as well as create new opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchange. She described the economic potential as 'enormous', adding: "A direct rail link would support the creation of jobs and strengthen the vital trade links that underpin our economic relationship with Germany. "British businesses will have better access to European markets, whilst German companies will find it easier to invest and operate in the UK. This is central to our Plan for Change – breaking down barriers, thinking boldly about the future, and making long-term decisions that better connect Britain to the world. Working with Germany, we're building bridges between our people and paving the way for a more sustainable, connected future." The news comes hot off the heels of Eurostar's announcement that it will soon whizz Brits over from London to Frankfurt, home to one of the largest financial hubs in Europe, as well as launching direct routes from London to Geneva in Switzerland. As previously reported, the railway firm is ramping up its offerings as part of a major €2 billion (approximately £1.7bn) investment- following its impressive 2024 earnings. "Despite the challenging economic climate, Eurostar is growing and has bold ambitions for the future," Eurostar's CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said. "Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality – notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here."
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. More Information The Tilting House By Ivonne Lamazares (Counterpoint Press; 304 pages; $27) Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares and due out Tuesday, July 22, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Book Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Book Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness. ___ AP book reviews:
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Eastern Germany in Western Hands – DW – 07/21/2025
Even 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there's still an imbalance between eastern and western Germany. Many executive positions in the former East are still held by people from the former West Germany. What are the reasons for this? Since the fall of the Wall, the former East Germanyhas undergone an unprecedented transformation, in which immigrants from former West Germany still play a significant role. Often, they arrived as young people, networked and rose to leadership positions. From here, they shaped and continue to shape eastern Germany today. According to figures published by the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany in September 2024, more than 3 decades after reunification, only around 12 per cent of the leadership elite in eastern Germany were actually born there. The documentary ponders the reasons for this - and its consequences. Does it go some way to explaining the widespread rejection of the democratic system and the great popularity of the far-right AfD party in eastern Germany? The fact is that immediately after the fall of the Wall, West Germans were urgently needed - for example in the judiciary. Many East German lawyers didn't make the grade. Iris Goerke-Berzau came to Saxony-Anhalt from West Germany in the 1990s and helped to rebuild the judiciary. She has stayed to this day. When it came to the economy in the new federal states, the rebuilding process also relied on skills of West Germans like Ludwig Koehne. The Oxford graduate came to the former East Germany in 1992 and worked for the Treuhandanstalt, a government agency set up to privatize East German state-owned enterprises. When the agency was dissolved in 1994, he took over a railway crane manufacturer in Leipzig and turned it into the global market leader in its sector. Koehne says this economic salvage operation wouldn't have been possible without western knowledge and capital. Angela Merkel and Joachim Gauck are prominent exceptions - former East Germans who have excelled in their field. Another is 45-year-old Manja Kliese, who heads the crisis response center at the Federal Foreign Office. "Many East Germans wouldn't even dare to apply for careers like mine,' she says. Eastern Germans are also underrepresented in senior positions at the Federal Foreign Office. "We have a huge democracy problem,' says Kliese, "when people in the East have been controlled by others for decades.' This is another reason why people feel very distant from elite groups and are more likely to support right-wing extremists, she says. But still, she encourages other eastern Germans to get involved -- and better represent their part of the country. Broadcasting Hours: DW English THU 31.07.2025 – 01:15 UTC THU 31.07.2025 – 04:15 UTC FRI 01.08.2025 – 09:15 UTC FRI 01.08.2025 – 16:15 UTC FRI 01.08.2025 – 21:15 UTC SAT 02.08.2025 – 19:15 UTC SUN 03.08.2025 – 02:15 UTC MON 04.08.2025 – 12:15 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
