Germany ‘invites’ Iran’s envoy to clear air
The German government "invited" on Monday the Iranian ambassador to explain himself after Tehran accused Western countries of "meddling" in its affairs, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Berlin.
Day: June 22, 2009
Germany
Sweden
Sweden expels Chinese diplomat: report
The Swedish government has expelled a Chinese diplomat following revelations that the Chinese embassy was allegedly involved in spying on political refugees residing in Sweden.
Germany
Hostages in Yemen being held by rebels
Six foreign hostages, including five Germans, kidnapped this month in Yemen are alive and being held by Shiite rebels, a tribal source said on Monday. Three other hostages were found dead last week.
Germany
Last Karmann leaves factory as firm folds
Sports car manufacturer Karmann has produced its last vehicle, which left its factory on Monday, amid a row between management and unions over the reasons for its insolvency.
Sweden
Volvo Buses lands major order from China
Volvo Buses, along with its Chinese subsidiary, plans to deliever 1,500 buses to a group in Shanghai, China in a deal worth 1.3 billion kronor ($162 million).
Germany
Lufthansa takes over BMI for Heathrow slots
Lufthansa announced on Monday it had reached an agreement that should finally allow it to buy British Midland (BMI) from the carrier’s dominant shareholder, Michael Bishop.
Germany
BASF leaks 10 tonnes of stinging chemical into the Rhine
Production at the BASF factory near Mannheim was closed down on Monday after ten tonnes of chemicals leaked from it into the Rhine River.
Sweden
Bildt pushes Iran to allow peaceful protests
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt on Monday urged Iran to permit peaceful demonstrations against the results of the country’s recent presidential elections.
Germany
Bruno takes Berlin in knit ‘naked’ suit
British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has donned a skin-tight pink suit complete with sewn on genitalia in front of Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate to promote his new film "Bruno."
Germany
Taking a bite out of voter apathy
What do finger-chomping chimps at the zoo have to do with voter apathy in Germany? Roger Boyes, the Berlin correspondent of British daily The Times, has the answer.
Germany
Germany business confidence rises despite dire conditions
German firms are getting over the recession blues and expect a stabilisation in Europe’s biggest economy after the turmoil of recent months, the closely watched Ifo survey suggested on Monday.
Sweden
Swedish cops dump toilets to save money
The Malmö police department will stop at no lengths to refrain from spending a penny, employees learned recently.
Sweden
Bildt urges ‘time out’ over Balkan border dispute
On the eve of Sweden’s taking over of the European Union presidency, foreign minister Carl Bildt encouraged Croatia and Slovenia to reflect on the border dispute which has halted Croatia's EU accession negotiations.
Sweden
Convicted murderer suspected in new killing
A 36-year-old man suspected of murdering a woman on Kungsholmen in Stockholm over the weekend was already serving a life sentence for another brutal murder. He was on furlough from prison at the time of the killing.
Germany
Judge backs police breaking up concerts pre-emptively
A court in Koblenz has ruled that police may break up public events pre-emptively on the grounds that they expect crimes to be committed.
Germany
Police hunt killer after jogger stabbed to death in Berlin
Police on Monday were still feverishly hunting a blond teenager who stabbed a woman to death while she was jogging in the Spandau forest near Berlin over the weekend.
Sweden
Red Cross fraudster faked his academic records: report
The man suspected of defrauding the Swedish Red Cross (Röda Korset) of 2.7 million kronor ($336,000) to help fund a life of luxury reportedly built his career on falsified university transcripts.
Germany
Greenpeace occupies Unterweser nuke plant
Activists from the environmentalist group Greenpeace staged a protest on top of the reactor dome of the Unterweser nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony on Monday.
Germany
Schumacher backs rebel F1 teams
German driving legend Michael Schumacher has waded into the row engulfing Formula One racing by suggesting the breakaway competitor series being organised by the teams could be more exciting to watch than the original.
Germany
Berlin clears way for EU approval of cloned meat
Germany has reportedly dropped its opposition to allowing meat and dairy products from cloned animals in the European Union.
Sweden
Mother arrested for ‘torture-like’ abuse
A woman in her thirties has been remanded into custody on suspicions of abusing her three small children under torture-like conditions.
Germany
Frankfurt airport offers ‘gold to go’ vending machine
Tired of buying perfume or chocolates for your spouse while flying home? Looking for a special and safe investment in these turbulent times? AFP's William Ickes reports on Frankfurt airport's new gold vending machine.
Sweden
Irregularities reported in Sweden’s EU vote
There were a number of problems associated with the European Parliament vote held in Sweden two weeks ago, according to a post-election report.
Sweden
Arson suspected in eight Österlen fires
Police suspect arson in eight separate fires which broke out in various locations throughout the Österlen region of southern Sweden early Sunday morning.
Sweden
Minister proposes ankle bracelets for young criminals
Sweden’s justice minister says she’s open to monitoring young offenders with ankle bracelets rather than keeping them locked up.