Strict smoking bans in restaurants in future?(Photo:http://hottelling.files.wordpress.com/)

Strict no-smoking-rule from January 1, 2010?

The year-long discussion between GAL and CDU about the smoking-interdiction will have an end soon. The coalition-parliamentary groups want to find a compromise net week, where the GAL apparently will not longer demand on a strict smoking-interdiction. At the latest, by January 1, 2010 the countries will have to find a new settlement. Many CDU voters are against a strict ban, while the GAL wants to accomplish the opposite. CDU-health politician Harald Krüger said, "If we can find a compromise that allows smokers some exception arrangements, without battering non-smokers, I will be very pleased."

Our Michel Beautifies Hamburg

The new Michel. (Photo: http://www.szene-in-hamburg.de/bildergallery)

Since 1983 it had been under construction; now the new Michel is finished, with a new outdoor lighting and other new features to boot.

The first church visitors came two hours before the first church bell-ringing to save the best seats. About 2,500 Hamburgers attended the first church service after the 12.8 million-euro renovation. The rush was so high, that not every visitor could find a seat, but with its new brightness the Michel enchanted everybody.