Germany (German: Deutschland IPA: ), officially the Federal Republic of Germany (, IPA: ), is a country in central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Within its borders are a portion of the Alps mountains, the famous Rhine and Danube rivers, and the Black Forest.

Germany is a democratic parliamentary federal republic, made up of 16 states (Bundesländer), which in certain spheres act independently of the federation. Historically consisting of several sovereign nations with their own history, language (distinct dialects), culture and religion, Germany was unified as a nation state during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870/1871.

The Federal Republic of Germany is a member state of the United Nations, NATO, the G8 and the G4 nations, and is a founding member of the European Union. It is the European Union's most populous and most economically powerful member state.

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Germany News

Sweden OKs Russian-German gas pipeline in Baltic Sea, says it meets environmental concerns
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:13:22 -0000
Sweden on Thursday became the second nation to approve a Baltic Sea pipeline that would ship Russian natural gas to Germany, saying the project meets its demands to protect the marine environment.
The news conference that toppled the Wall
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:44:13 -0000
People hold a German flag with the word reading 'Unity' as they cross the newly opened checkpoint between East and West Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate - Volker Warkentin, a correspondent for the German language service in Berlin, has worked for Reuters for 31 years.
Global Video: H1N1 vaccine demand
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:22:23 -0000
In this photo illustration the H1N1 swine flu vaccination Pandemic is pictured at Virchow clinical center on Oct.
Traveling to Berlin 20 years after the wall came down
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:23:08 -0000
The Brandenburg Gate in the background the common sight of a construction worker walking through the area that was once "no man's land" in Berlin.
UN climate talks focus on how to cut emissions
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:59:02 -0000
African nations pushed wealthy countries at U.N. climate talks on Wednesday to explain how they intend to cut their greenhouse emissions under the landmark global warming agreement being negotiated.
GM does a u-turn on sale of Opel
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:31:37 -0000
General Motors last night reversed course by abandoning a long-expected sale of its Opel division to a group led by Canadian car supplier Magna.

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