Bolt blitzes to new 100m world record in Berlin

Jamaican Usain Bolt added the world crown to his Olympic title as he scorched to victory in a world record 9.58 seconds in the men's 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Sunday.

Autobahn shootout leaves two injured

Two men were injured after their car was sprayed with bullets by unknown assailants while driving on an autobahn near Kassel early Sunday morning, police reported.

German TV gets president’s name wrong

Public broadcaster ARD accidentally called German president Horst Köhler, “Klaus” in a broadcast Saturday evening.

Dresden’s ‘Blue Wonder’ bridge dilapidated

One of the Saxon capital’s landmark bridges over the Elbe, the 116-year-old Blue Wonder, suffers from major rust and water damage and needs urgent repair, Dresden city officials said this weekend.

The Local’s Stockholm shopping guide: Kungsholmen

Deutsche Post to close all of its own post offices

Deutsche Post, Germany’s privatised mail service, said this weekend that it plans to exit the retail business and close all of the post offices it operates alone. Branches operated jointly with Postbank will continue to stay open.

The Local’s Stockholm shopping guide

Whether you’re a tourist in town or a Stockholmer on the hunt for hot deals, The Local’s shopping guide is your must-have resource when planning a shopping day in the city.

Bolt, Gay cruise at Berlin track competition

Olympic champion Usain Bolt and reigning world champion Tyson Gay cruised into the semi-finals of the men's 100m on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Saturday.

Germany lacks election day volunteers

With national elections just five weeks away, German voters may find long lines at polling stations unless thousands more volunteers are recruited quickly, reported the news magazine Focus.

Child benefits must be raised: Sahlin

Mona Sahlin, leader of the Swedish Social Democrats, has argued in a speech that child maintenance support benefit levels must be raised if the left-wing coalition wins next year's election. The background for the proposal is that the economic crisis has hit single parents particularly hard.

Shooting death may be linked to gang war

The death of 23-year-old man who was shot while sitting inside a car outside a petrol station on Friday night in Malmö might be related to a gang war. Several shots were fired at the victim by an unknown assailant.

Fewer seeking asylum in Sweden

The number of foreigners seeking asylum in Sweden has fallen by 17 percent in the first half of 2009, compared to the same period last year, according to the Swedish Migration Board’s (Migrationsverket) mid-year report to the Swedish government.

Military conscription phase out under fire

Conscription into the Swedish military will be phased out in 2010 in three stages. Recruitment to the armed forces with thereafter on a voluntary basis. However, the reform has come under criticism from the Social Democrats and the Conscription Council (Värnpliktsrådet).

Ransom demanded for missing Arctic Sea

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (Centralkriminalpolisen - CKP) has now confirmed that a ransom has been demanded for the missing cargo ship Arctic Sea, which disappeared off the Swedish island of Öland at the end of July.

Porsche buy launches VW drive for world domination

Volkswagen's triumphant bid to take over luxury German carmaker Porsche marks the end of a bitter family power struggle and the start of a drive to become the world's top auto manufacturer.