Woman collapses after self-immolation threat
A woman threatened to set herself on fire outside the County Court in central Gothenburg on Friday after she had her asylum application rejected.
Day: November 21, 2008
Sweden
Anger over Norway’s fighter plane rejection
A former Saab executive lashed out at the Norwegian government on Friday over its handling of a decision to reject the Gripen in favour of the American F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Germany
More German students learning English
The percentage of German primary school pupils learning English has tripled in the past four years, according to a new study.
Sweden
Swedish DNA tests confirm remains of Copernicus
Strands of hair found in a book at Uppsala University have been used to confirm that a skeleton discovered in Poland is that of 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
Germany
LBBW piles up loss of €2 billion
Germany's biggest stated-owned regional bank Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) said Friday it was raising billions of euros in fresh capital and considering tapping a government rescue package after being hit by the financial crisis.
Germany
Widow asks grave robbers to return billionaire’s body
The widow of German industrial billionaire Friedrich Karl Flick called on thieves to return her husband’s corpse, saying the Flick family is willing to pay an “appropriate” finder’s fee, according to daily Bild.
Germany
Merkel wants broadband internet for every German
German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to provide faster internet for the entire country, she announced at this week’s internet technology summit in Darmstadt, daily Die Welt reported on Friday.
Germany
Hunters kill thousands of wild boars as population explodes
German wild boar hunters are reporting one of their best seasons since World War II after moderate weather and plentiful food led to a wild pig population boom.
Sweden
Estonia victim families demand new probe
Relatives of the victims of a 1994 Baltic Sea ferry sinking, which claimed the lives of 501 Swedes, are stepping up pressure for a new probe of enduring claims that the disaster was caused by an explosion.
Sweden
Icelandair offers discount as thanks for Nordic loan
To show its appreciation for Thursday’s offer of financial assistance from Iceland’s Nordic neighbours, the country’s airline, Icelandair, said on Friday it was offering a 25 percent discount on all economy class seats.
Germany
BMW heiress opens up about gigolo blackmailer
Germany's richest woman said turning in her blackmailing ex-lover was a difficult choice but was necessary to protect her family and defend women against similar situations in the future.
Germany
Man extradited from Turkey in Sauerland terror case
An alleged terrorist from the Sauerland terror group has been extradited from Turkey to Germany on Friday, federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe said.
Sweden
Carnegie to be broken up for eventual sale
Sweden's National Debt Office (Riksgälden) said on Friday it plans to sell Carnegie's investment banking arm and insurance broker Max Matthiessen as separate units.
Sweden
Two Swedish towns hit by AstraZeneca cuts
Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca said Thursday it would slash 1,400 jobs by 2013, affecting operations in Umeå in northern Sweden, as well as Södertalje south of Stockholm.
Germany
Government spending, borrowing up in 2009
A draft 2009 budget passed late Thursday by a committee from Germany's lower house of parliament would allow Berlin to spend and borrow more than other budgets proposed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Grand Coalition government.
Sweden
Swedish baby born in skies above Kazakhstan
A Swedish mother is celebrating the remarkable birth of her new daughter, who was welcomed to the world high above Kazakhstan in the back of a Finnair jet.
Germany
Experts predict 215,000 lost jobs next year
The global financial crisis could mean up to 215,000 lost jobs in the next year for Germany according to an industry study released by daily Bild on Friday.
Germany
Ribery back with Bayern ahead of weekend Leverkusen match
Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will take on bottom side Energie Cottbus on Saturday with midfield star Franck Ribery despite his injury scare with France.
Sweden
Justice minister offers concessions on file sharing law
The Swedish government has indicated it plans to move forward with a controversial anti-file sharing law but that the proposal will be altered in an attempt to appease some of the measure’s many critics.
Germany
Lebanese TV channel banned in Germany
Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has banned the Lebanese station Al Manar TV from broadcasting in Germany, daily Die Welt reported on Friday.
Sweden
Riksdag ratifies EU’s Lisbon treaty
The Riksdag voted late Thursday night to ratify the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty, making Sweden the 25th of the 27 EU members to approve the text.