Helmut Kohl, 78, Marries Girlfriend in Hospital

(NEWSER) - After many years of indifference, Berliners have started getting serious about saving what's left of the most famous symbol of the Cold War, Der Spiegel reports. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, locals viewed it as merely an unfortunate reminder of a bad past and little thought was given to preservation. Researchers believe more pieces of the wall are now overseas than still in Berlin. More»

'We are fighting for equality here,' bride says

(NEWSER) - They met while looking for a place to pray amid the tents and protesters in Zuccotti Park. A month later, the two lovebirds said "I do" in the very same park, surrounded by friends and fellow Occupiers, the New York Daily News reports. Emery Abdel-Latif, 24, and Micha Balon, 19, tied the knot this morning in a tradition Muslim wedding on a small bench. "This is a good way not to make the marriage about ourselves,” says Balon. “We are fighting for equality here." More»

They have been making vows since 1984

(NEWSER) - No 15-year itch for this couple: Two Tennessee lovebirds have renewed their wedding vows a 99th time, setting a world record once again, the Huffington Post reports. Lauren and David Blair fell in love when they met in 1982. They were married—for the first time—in California in 1984. Ever since their 66th renewal, the couple have been upping a Guinness World Record for “Most Marriage Vow Renewals by the Same Couple.” More»

Conservatives lose Baden-Wuerttemberg first time in 58 years

(NEWSER) - Japan's nuclear disaster is not just an environmental tragedy—it has started claiming political victims. Germany's Green Party appears poised to win a state government for the first time, trouncing Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives in their stronghold in southwest Germany. The Greens and Social Democrats won 47.3% in Baden-Wuerttemberg , according to early results, defeating the Christian Democrats (CDU), who have held the state for 58 years. "This is a historic victory," said the Greens leader in the state. "We will change things." More»

Critics descend on couple who met while married to other people

(NEWSER) - The New York Times’ normally genteel “Vows” column hit a nerve on Sunday, with its tale of John Partilla and Carol Riddell—who each left spouses to get hitched. It’s “part Brady Bunch, part The Scarlet Letter,” the paper cooed . Bloggers and commenters tore the paper a new one. “These things happen,” says New York magazine, “but we do question the decision to celebrate it in the face of your exes and children.” Now Partilla tells the New York Post he regrets the whole thing. More»