A long pontificate comes to an end - John Paul II dies. His successor Benedict XVI. inspires the church youth of the world in Cologne. Bomb attacks in London, terror reaches Europe - and the wave of violence in Iraq continues. More hurricanes than ever before bring suffering, death and devastation - and the tsunami catastrophe in Southeast Asia claims hundreds of thousands of lives. The EU constitution fails - and the dispute over Turkey's accession threatens to divide the community. 60 years after the end of the war, a German chancellor stands in the middle of the ranks of the victors - and the Holocaust Memorial is opened in Berlin. Simonis and Steinbrück pay for the reform policies of the Schröder government - the new elections bring Germany its first female chancellor. Charles and Camilla are finally allowed to marry - and with Max Schmeling, a great sportsman leaves.

The world as a guest of friends - The Football World Cup fascinates and shows Germany in a new light

Everyone talks about the weather. The chancellor asks for the summit in Heiligendamm, and a district administrator saws at the chair of Edmund Stoiber. A little polar bear conquers the hearts of the Germans, Paris Hilton has to go behind bars, young people discover fun in "coma drinking", and cycling finally sinks into the drug swamp. - All this and more in "Album 2007".

The financial crisis is shaking up the global economy, and rescue packages are designed to prevent its collapse.