Merkel presses Russia and Ukraine on gas row
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday pressed the prime minister of Russia and Ukraine – Vladimir Putin and Yulia Tymoshenko – to get gas flowing towards Western Europe again.
Day: January 7, 2009
Germany
Sweden
Jews in Sweden under increasing threat
Police in Sweden are on heightened alert following a spike in anti-Semitic attacks around the country in the wake of Israel’s campaign against Gaza-based Hamas militants.
Sweden
Wave of bankruptcies ‘only beginning’
Fresh figures show that the number of bankruptcies in Sweden grew by 12 percent last year to a total of 5,500, and credit check company UC fears that the worst is yet to come.
Sweden
Restructuring problems cause late social insurance payments
Strained finances at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) may result in prolonged processing times and delayed payments, according to a new report.
Germany
Fischer slams EU’s ‘flea circus’ in Middle East
Amid efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has reportedly called EU diplomatic work in the Middle East "chaotic" and a "flea circus."
Germany
Late billionaire Merckle agreed to sell Ratiopharm
German billionaire Adolf Merckle sealed the breakup of his industrial empire before committing suicide on Monday – agreeing to the sale of Germany’s biggest generic drugmaker Ratiopharm.
Germany
Turkish Karneval club wants to ‘civilise’ Cologne tradition
While the Rhineland readies for the traditional “fifth season,” or Karneval, the Turkish community in Cologne has founded the first foreign carnival club (TKVD) to take part in the wild and boozy festivities in their own way, the organisation revealed during Wednesday.
Sweden
More pessimism over Swedish economy
Swedes’ view of the economy continues to deteriorate according to a new report by the Skop opinion research company.
Germany
Infineon targeted in EU price fixing probe
Sites belonging to the German semi-conductor maker Infineon were searched within the framework of a European Commission probe into suspected price fixing of smart-cards, the company said on Wednesday.
Sweden
Club and concert tips: Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
Time to shake off that post-Christmas lethargy and get out and about in Sweden’s main cities this weekend.
Sweden
Students reported for beating school principal
Three students from a school in western Sweden have been reported to police for assaulting their principal.
Germany
Tennis: Germany downs US at Hopman Cup
Germany shocked the United States at the Hopman Cup on Wednesday to end the hopes of the top seeds and holders and move within one tie of the mixed teams’ tournament final.
Sweden
Meatballs reign supreme in Swedish kitchens: study
Swedes love their meatballs, according to a new study examining cooking habits among Swedish households.
Germany
Possible mass grave of German WWII civilians found in Poland
Some 1,800 corpses that authorities believe to be German civilians killed during World War II have been discovered in the Polish city of Malbork, daily Bild reported Wednesday.
Sweden
Gang leader’s email posted on the internet
Hackers on Tuesday night accessed an email account used by the head of the Original Gangsters (OG) criminal gang and later published the correspondence on a popular internet forum.
Germany
Russian mafia taking hold in Berlin
Berlin is emerging as one of the world headquarters of the Russian mafia, according to Wednesday's edition of daily Die Welt.
Germany
The best of Berlin in January
Exberliner, Berlin's leading English-language magazine, this month picks the best places to strip burlesque style, get your very own personal shopping guide or speak your mind before an audience.
Germany
Economic downturn hits German job market
The global financial crisis has come to Europe's largest economy: German unemployment rose in December halting nearly three years of job creation, according to official figures released on Wednesday.
Germany
Germany mulls €100 billion in corporate loan guarantees
The German government is considering €100 billion ($135 billion) in guarantees to help companies find financing along the lines of a plan already used by banks, the Financial Times Deutschland reported on Wednesday.
Germany
Deep freeze continues in Germany
Icy polar air has brought new record low temperatures to Germany for the second straight day. The town of Dippoldiswalde in the eastern state of Saxony registered a frigid -27.7 degrees Celsius (-17.86 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday morning, weather service Meteomedia reported.
Sweden
Swedish Gaza evacuation postponed
Swedish citizens trapped in Gaza will not be evacuated on Wednesday as originally planned, the foreign ministry has confirmed.
Germany
Condor passengers stranded for two days in Cancún
Some 270 vacationers got an unexpected trip extension when they were forced to wait for more than two days in Mexico for their return flight to Frankfurt as their Condor airline plane was repaired, the company confirmed late on Tuesday.
Sweden
Boys trapped under ice in souped down Volvo
Two boys from western Sweden escaped without injury after their Volvo "tractor" sank to the bottom of an ice-covered lake near Karlstad.
Germany
Putin and Merkel to hold talks in Berlin
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on January 16, German government sources told AFP on Tuesday.
Sweden
Accidents abound on icy roads
At least fifteen accidents were reported in western Sweden overnight as treacherous road conditions prevailed. There were no reports of any injuries.