Beyond the broad smiles, the jokes about Hillary Clinton's wardrobe, and the ceremonial reassurances that accompanied German Chancellor Angela Merkel's three-day visit to Washington this week, there was a clear message that President Barack Obama expects Germany to demonstrate leadership with NATO and in Europe. Considering the context — Tuesday's love fest on the White House lawn — Obama was outspoken in urging his guest to take more responsibility in Libya, saying that he expected full and ...

Girls for All SeasonsSir: There are no words to describe the immense pleasure and happiness your cover story on Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave [March 17] gave me. Having seen Georgy Girl three times and Morgan! once, I can understand why the world is in love with these two fantastic artists.SUZANNE R. FRIED Queens, N.Y.Sir: Pity the British theater, and TIME for resorting to the Redgrave menage for a cover story. The paucity of theatrical talent is aptly illustrated in the Lynn-Vanessa Redgrave act: typical Lynn, ...

Girls for All SeasonsSir: There are no words to describe the immense pleasure and happiness your cover story on Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave [March 17] gave me. Having seen Georgy Girl three times and Morgan! once, I can understand why the world is in love with these two fantastic artists.SUZANNE R. FRIED Queens, N.Y.Sir: Pity the British theater, and TIME for resorting to the Redgrave menage for a cover story. The paucity of theatrical talent is aptly illustrated in the Lynn-Vanessa Redgrave act: typical Lynn, ...

As campaigning was closing for the German presidential election Sunday, attention was already turning to what coalition will rule the country. Few doubt that Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, CDU, will win most votes. So, will Merkel continue the current center right-center left 'grand coalition' with the Social Democrats or will the votes suffice for a coalition with the business liberal but centrist Liberal Democrats or the FDP, a constellation Germans refer to as 'Black-Yellow.' At a press conference ostensibly ...

The German government raised its terrorism alert level after al Qaeda posted a video on the Internet threatening attacks in Germany if this month's elections do not come out the way the terrorist organization wants. "The federal elections offer a special [opportunity] for propaganda and operative activity by terror groups," the Interior Ministry said on Friday. "A new video posted on September 18 by al Qaeda underlines this. The security services have therefore increased the threat level, which leads to ...

There's a saying that the German peace movement has been using since the days of the Cold War that translates into something like this: "Imagine there's a war and no one shows up." Adapt that to German politics and you have a pretty good summary of Sunday's pre-election TV debate between Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union and her rival Frank Walter Steinmeier, of the Social Democratic Party, who is also this country's Foreign Minister: "Imagine there's an ...

The German chancellor on Sunday called for a quick and thorough investigation into a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan that killed at least 90 people. The German commander in the area called in the airstrike Friday in the northern Kunduz province. It happened as Afghans tried to siphon fuel from two tankers hijacked by the Taliban a day earlier. "Regarding the Kunduz incident, I would first like to clarify that the German government and I personally want to see a NATO ...

The California home where Nadya Suleman plans to raise her 14 children is at risk of foreclosure, CNN affiliate KTLA reported Wednesday. Los Angeles County property records show a notice of mortgage default was filed Feb. 9 against the home of Suleman's mother, Angela Suleman, the station reported. Angela Suleman is $23,225 behind in her mortgage payments and the three-bedroom house could be sold at an auction beginning May 5, documents say. Suleman has said that she was raising her ...