Sweden set for soggy Midsummer
Rain showers and traffic jams made for a slow and wet start to the holiday weekend on Thursday afternoon, with much of the country facing the prospect of a damp Midsummer holiday.
Day: June 18, 2009
Sweden
Germany
Censorsula can’t stop child porn
In the latest installment of Portnoy’s Stammtisch, our column about life in Germany, Portnoy slams the government’s attempt to block child pornography online as a ham-fisted assault on civil liberties.
Germany
Child porn law sparks web censorship debate
An attempt to tighten German laws against online child pornography has sparked resistance from some Social Democrats and its intended enforcers.
Sweden
Swedish politician sings Hitler’s praises
A local Christian Democratic politician in northern Sweden is in hot water after praising Adolf Hitler for his skill in solving economic crises.
Germany
German debt set to balloon
Germany could have to take on another €312 billion in debt by 2013, according to finance ministry documents cited on the website of the magazine Der Spiegel.
Germany
Sauerland cell members confess to planning attacks
Suspected Islamic militants on trial for plotting to bomb US targets in Germany have begun making confessions after a shock twist in the high-profile case, a lawyer said Thursday.
Sweden
Swedish unemployment hits 9 percent
With job losses continuing to mount in the mining, manufacturing and energy sectors, Sweden's unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in May, according to new figures from Statistics Sweden.
Sweden
Train hits ‘bloody doll’ in unscheduled stop
When the driver of a train traveling through central Sweden saw what he thought might be a bloodied body lying across the tracks, he slammed on the emergency brakes. But it was too late.
Germany
Premium for old cars revs up women drivers
Germany's cash-for-clunkers auto premium has drawn more women to Europe's biggest car market than ever before, according to a study released on Thursday.
Germany
Wet and stormy weekend ahead
This weekend might be the official start of summer, but you might prefer to put your barbecue plans on hold with stormy weather and rain expected across much of Germany.
Sweden
What’s on in Sweden: June 19 – 25
What's on in Sweden: Morrissey & Midsummer fun in Stockholm; AC/DC & Euro 2009 U-21 football in Gothenburg; Yasmina Reza's ART in Malmö.
Germany
Teen dies in jet ski accident
A 14-year-old boy riding a high-powered jet ski has died after colliding with a channel divider on the Main River, police reported Thursday.
Sweden
Headmaster fired after Facebook pic scandal
A high school principal in northern Sweden has left his post after publishing risqué photos of himself on Facebook and joining a number of sexually-themed groups on the popular social networking site.
Germany
Troops in Afghanistan get heavy weaponry
German troops in Afghanistan are to deploy heavy weaponry for the first time as fighting against the Taliban intensifies, the daily Handelsblatt reported on Thursday.
Germany
Chinese could spoil Magna-Opel deal
Canadian auto parts maker Magna seemed to get the green light to buy troubled carmaker Opel, but a report Thursday said a Chinese company is preparing a serious bid for the General Motors division.
Germany
What’s on in Germany: June 18 – 24
This Week's Highlights: Faith No More take the stage in Frankfurt, Cologne celebrates gay pride, and Berlin busts into bloom with Fete de la Musique.
Germany
Thousands of bird nests along North Sea destroyed by fire
A fire on an uninhabited North Sea island and national park has destroyed thousands of bird nests, an official confirmed Thursday.
Sweden
Life sentence upheld for Gällivare murder
Sweden's appeals court has upheld a sentence of life imprisonment for Toni Alldén, the 51-year-old who has confessed to killing 29-year-old Carolin Stenvall outside Gällivare in northern Sweden.
Sweden
China’s Geely to buy Volvo Cars: report
Chinese automaker Geely has reached an initial agreement with Ford for the purchase of Volvo Cars, according to Chinese media reports.
Germany
SPD warns Merkel against backing EU’s Barroso
Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats have warned Chancellor Angela Merkel against offering EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso her support ahead of summit in Brussels on Thursday.
Germany
Bayern Munich try to hold Ribery as Real Madrid salivate
Real Madrid are ready to shell out another €55 million ($76 million) for French star Franck Ribery, although his club Bayern Munich have again insisted the playmaker is not for sale.
Sweden
Man sentenced to eight years for child rape
A 42-year-old man from Skåne in southern Sweden was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years in prison for child rape and other crimes.
Sweden
Agency puts its foot down in Sweden’s battle with killer slugs
Agriculture authorities in Sweden are setting up battle stations in the country’s continuing struggle to fight off killer slugs.
Sweden
Vattenfall takeover of Dutch utility wins shareholder approval
Swedish power company Vattenfall’s €8.5 billion ($12 billion) friendly takeover of Dutch utility Nuon was approved by Nuon shareholders on Wednesday.