The Local’s year in review
As 2009 kicks off, The Local takes a look back at some of the stories that caught our attention during our first year in Germany.
Day: January 1, 2009
Germany
Germany
Loitzl shocks Ammann to take Garmisch ski jump honours
Wolfgang Loitzl of Austria won the second stage of the annual Four Hills event at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany on Thursday.
Sweden
Swedes break New Year text greeting record
The traditional Christmas card has been declared dead and buried as the text message is confirmed as the holiday season greeting's medium of choice.
Sweden
Ibrahimovic named in team of the year
Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named in the team of the year by French sports daily L'Equipe.
Sweden
What’s on in Sweden: January 2 – 8
What's on in Sweden: January 2nd - 8th. A Camp and Moderna for the kids in Stockholm; International floorball and Opera ball in Gothenburg; Jim Jones Revue in Malmö.
Germany
Violence mars Hamburg and Leipzig New Year’s celebrations
New Year’s celebrations in several German cities were marred by violent skirmishes with the police – but a million people gathered peacefully to ring in 2009 at the country’s largest Silvester party in Berlin.
Germany
Berlin: Ukraine row no threat to gas supplies
Germany said on Thursday that local gas supplies were assured even if Russia's decision to halt deliveries to Ukraine disrupted distribution farther afield.
Germany
Germans optimistic about 2009 despite economic gloom
An overwhelming majority of Germans are optimistic about what the new year holds despite the all the doom and gloom surrounding the economy.
Germany
Probe blames Nepal plane crash on crew
An official probe into a plane crash in Nepal's Everest region that killed twelve Germans in October blamed mistakes by the crew for the accident.
Sweden
Child feared dead in house fire
Police feared that a two-year-old boy has died in a fire raging at a house north of Sunne in Värmland. A teenager has been rushed to hospital with burns.
Sweden
Mamma Mia breaks new ground in the UK
"Mamma Mia!", the film version of the musical featuring the music of Swedish disco group Abba, has proved a big hit in the UK.
Sweden
Two men held over Gotland stabbing
A murder, a slew of firework injuries, assault, arson and domestic violence summed up New Year's Eve in many parts of Sweden.
Germany
What’s on in Germany: January 1 – 7
This Week's Highlights: Mozart in Berlin, Cuban dancers in Hamburg, and a Tom Waits musical in Munich.