German choreographer Pina Bausch dies at 68

October 8th, 2009 Excerpts from the Nobel literature prize citationExcerpts from the Swedish Academy's citation awarding the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature to Herta Mueller of Germany. Herta Mueller was born on August 17, 1953 in the German-speaking town Nitzkydorf in Banat, Romania.

September 25th, 2009 Father of the late Tim Russert dies in NY at 85BUFFALO, N.Y. — The father of the late "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert has died in Buffalo, N.Y.

September 16th, 2009 German writer Enzensberger wins Danish prizeCOPENHAGEN — German writer Hans Magnus Enzensberger was awarded Denmark's 2010 Sonning Prize on Wednesday, which honors work that benefits European culture. The University of Copenhagen said Enzensberger, 79, will receive the prize and 1 million kroner (about $200,000) during a ceremony in February.

September 10th, 2009 Akin brings comedy to Venice with 'Soul Kitchen'VENICE, Italy — Prize-winning German-Turkish director Fatih Akin is turning to comedy in his latest film "Soul Kitchen," which showed at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday. The film, which is in competition for the top Golden Lion prize, represents a departure from the more serious tones set in Akin's 2004 Berlin Golden Bear winner "Head On" and 2007's "The Edge of Heaven," which won the screenplay award at the Cannes film festival.

August 27th, 2009 Morris, among 1st AP female photographers, diesOAKLAND, Calif. — Mary Morris Lawrence, one of The Associated Press' first female photographers, has died.

August 26th, 2009 Ellie Greenwich, co-writer 'Chapel of Love,' diesNEW YORK — Ellie Greenwich, who wrote such classic pop songs as "Chapel of Love," ''River Deep, Mountain High" and "Be My Baby" with Phil Spector, has died, according to her niece. She was 68 years old.

August 6th, 2009 Germany's Stasi fooled in 1988 by Jacko doubleBERLIN — It appears that even the dreaded East German Stasi got caught up in Michael Jackson mania in the late 1980s. According to a document obtained by the AP last week from the archives of the former secret police, the Stasi reported on June 18, 1988 that it monitored Jackson as he visited the Allied Checkpoint Charlie in the center of divided Berlin.

July 30th, 2009 German stage director Peter Zadek dies at 83HAMBURG — German stage director Peter Zadek, known for his provocative and unconventional renditions, died overnight in Hamburg after a serious illness, the theater where he was working said Thursday. He was 83. "We mourn for a friend and one of the great directors of German theater," said Ulrich Waller, head of Hamburg's St.

July 28th, 2009 Taiwan's Lin pays tribute to CunninghamHONG KONG — One of the top modern dancers of the East on Tuesday paid tribute to a giant of the West, as Taiwan's Lin Hwai-min mourned the death of Merce Cunningham, calling the late American "the greatest choreographer of the 20th century." Cunningham, best known for pioneering pure movement in dance divorced from storytelling and music, died at age 90 Sunday in New York City from natural causes. "He was the greatest choreographer of the 20th century.

July 17th, 2009 Famed modernist photographer Julius Shulman diesLOS ANGELES — Colleagues say famed architectural photographer Julius Shulman has died at his Los Angeles home. He was 98. Gallery owner and representative Craig Krull says Shulman died Wednesday night and had been in declining health.

July 15th, 2009 Robert Redford marries German girlfriendHAMBURG — Robert Redford married his partner, a 51-year-old German artist, over the weekend, a German church said Wednesday. Renate Massfeller of the St.

June 24th, 2009 German actress Hanne Hiob dies at 86BERLIN — German actress Hanne Hiob, a daughter of playwright Bertolt Brecht, has died, officials said Wednesday. She was 86. Hiob — the daughter of Brecht and his first wife, opera singer Marianne Zoff — died on Tuesday in Munich, the Berlin office that represents Brecht's descendants said.

June 18th, 2009 Italian author to receive German literary prizeBERLIN — Italian author Claudio Magris will receive the top award of the Frankfurt Book Fair this fall, the jury announced Thursday. The jury that selects the winner of the annual Frankfurt Booksellers Peace Prize praised Magris' unique engagement with "the cohabitation and cooperation between different cultures." Magris, 70, often considered a contender for the Nobel prize in literature, is best known for his works "Danube" and "Microcosms." Born in the Italian port town of Trieste, he has written extensively about Germany, central Europe and his native Italy.

June 9th, 2009 Singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin dies of lung cancerLOS ANGELES — A spokesman for Kenny Rankin's record label says the veteran singer-songwriter has died of lung cancer. He was 67. Mack Avenue Records spokesman Don Lucoff says Rankin died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

June 3rd, 2009 Broadway's 3 Billys win 2009 Astaire AwardsNEW YORK — Broadway's three Billy Elliots have danced off with Astaire Awards. David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik (COE'-wall-ick) and Kiril (KA'-reel) Kulish (COO'-lish) will share the prize for best male dancer on Broadway for their performances as the title character in "Billy Elliot." Peter Darling, also of "Billy Elliot," received the award for best Broadway choreographer.