Israel alarmed over German-Iranian gas project

Israel expressed concern on Thursday about a German company's contract to build three liquefied natural gas plants in Iran amid sanctions aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme.

Germany warned of tornado danger

The German Weather Service (DWD) has cautioned that Germany could experience severe storms – including tornados – as two weather systems collide over the country on Friday.

Amnesty rights report won’t stop minister’s Olympic travel

The Swedish culture minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth has decided not to amend plans to travel to Beijing and the Olympic opening ceremony despite a new report from Amnesty damning China's human rights record.

Naked Swedish couple assaulted by drunken Aussie in Scotland

A pair of vacationing Swedes had their romantic getaway in Scotland interrupted earlier this week when a drunken Australian sheep shearer broke into their hotel room.

Hamburg orangutan drowns after visitor throws food

The Hagenbeck Tierpark zoo in Hamburg is in mourning on Thursday after one of their orangutans took a deadly fall and drowned when a visitor tried to feed her.

Retailer Hertie files for insolvency

The German department store chain Hertie said on Thursday it had filed for insolvency and signalled signalled problems with one of its owners, the British financial group Dawnay Day.

Lufthansa cancels flights amid efforts to end strike

Lufthansa on Thursday was forced to cancel 128 flights, but the German airline started preliminary talks with union officials aimed at ending the four day-long strike.

Stanley Cup makes baptism tour of Sweden

The Stanley Cup, ice hockey's holy grail, was put to unorthodox use as it made its way across Sweden this July - as a baptismal font.

Solar eclipse best seen from the north

Stargazers and scientists from across the world are gearing up for a solar eclipse on Friday. In Sweden, the eclipse can be seen from late morning across the country.

Former Economy Minister Clement booted out of the SPD

Former German Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement was kicked out of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Thursday by a committee in his home state of North Rhine-Westphalia for criticizing an SPD candidate in a recent election.

What’s on in Sweden: August 1 – 7

What’s on in Sweden: August 1st – 7th. Europride climaxes in Stockholm, Way Out West in Gothenburg and Propagandhi in Malmö.

What’s on in Germany: Jul. 31 – Aug. 6

Hitler’s art collection made public online

The German Historical Museum has made every piece of information on Adolf Hitler's art collection available online as of Thursday.

Klüft: ‘I am finished with the heptathlon’

Olympic champion Caroline Klüft insisted in a magazine here on Thursday she is finished with the heptathlon as she prepares to concentrate on the long-jump and triple-jump in Beijing.

Gothenburg club and concert tips: August 1 – 3

Where to go out in Gothenburg this weekend? Monthly has the answers (Click links for more information)

Stockholm art gallery guide: July 31 – August 6

Stockholm art gallery and exhibition tips from Kalendarium (Click links for more information)

Confidence in Sweden’s economy plummets

Swedish consumer confidence is at its lowest for over 15 years, a new report from the National Institute of Economic Research (KI) shows.

Neo-Nazi exhumed to find forbidden swastika flag

German officials in Passau have exhumed the corpse of a former Nazi Waffen-SS soldier in order to confiscate a forbidden Third Reich era flag placed over his coffin during his burial last weekend.

Stockholm club and concert guide: July 31 – August 3

Stockholm club and concert tips from Kalendarium (Click links for more information)

Deutsche Bank Q2 profit falls amid market turmoil

Deutsche Bank posted on Thursday a second quarter net profit that was far lower than in the same period a year earlier, but still managed to exceed analysts expectations thanks to one-off items.

High oil prices bolster record BASF profits

BASF, the world's biggest chemical company, posted record profit results for the second quarter on Thursday, boosted by high oil prices.

Restructuring pushes retailer Metro into Q2 loss

Metro, the leading German retailer, fell into a loss in the second quarter owing to one-off restructuring charges, it said Thursday in a statement.

Mother identifies German suspect

Emma Jangestig, mother of the two toddlers murdered in Arboga in March, told the court on Thursday that when the trial began she immediately recognized the 32-year-old German woman accused in the killings, Christine Schürrer.

Five injured in Saarbrücken explosion

Five people were seriously injured in an explosion in an apartment building in the western German city of Saarbrücken overnight after the suspected manipulation of gas canisters.

Bremen and Schalke to fight FIFA’s Olympic ruling

Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 will fight to bring their Olympic players back to Germany after FIFA ruled all clubs must allow eligible players to attend next month's Beijing Games.

Authorities close in on untaxed labour

A special investigation by the Swedish Tax Authority (Skatteverket) of staffing companies and other firms who supply labour under the table has so far resulted in the filing of nearly 1,000 criminal complaints.

Hamas frees cameraman working for German TV

Hamas-run security forces in the Gaza Strip have released a cameraman working for German public broadcaster ARD after arresting him and several other people over the weekend.

Man seeks redress for 100 day rape charge detention

A 34-year-old man from Skåne in the south of Sweden is requesting a total of 280,000 kronor ($46,000) in compensation from the state for having been deprived of his liberty for 100 days.

Nuder wrote book rather than casting Riksdag votes

Former Social Democratic finance minister Pär Nuder is facing questions for having written a book while still drawing his salary as a member of the Riksdag.