Germany plays down spat with Greece
Germany sought Friday to play down growing tensions with Greece over the debt crisis and war reparations ahead of a crunch meeting next week between the leaders of both countries.
Day: February 26, 2010
Germany
Germany
Cologne to flood metro tunnel as Rhine rises
Cologne city officials announced on Friday that they would flood a metro tunnel under construction over the weekend to keep stable as water levels rise rapidly in the Rhine River due to spring snowmelt.
Sweden
Woman threatened to set fire to her children
A woman was taken into psychiatric care on Friday afternoon after threatening to set fire to herself and her three children in an apartment in Karlskrona in southern Sweden.
Germany
VW profits plummets 80 percent in 2009
Volkswagen, the biggest European carmaker, said Friday that 2009 profit plunged by nearly 80 percent in the global slump but predicted that sales and operating profit would rebound this year.
Germany
Bringing 3D television to a living room near you
Three-dimensional TV pioneers are predicting groundbreaking new technology will be in most German living rooms within just a few years and that it will revolutionise storytelling and live sport without the need for funky 3D glasses.
Sweden
Bus driver in bitter fight for sartorial rights
Bus drivers in Umeå in northern Sweden have taken to the streets to protest uniform regulations requiring them to wear a tie to work.
Germany
Majority supports Westerwelle in controversial welfare debate
More than half of German voters back Vice Chancellor Guido Westerwelle’s robust attacks on Germany’s welfare system, saying his fiery rhetoric has been justified, a poll released on Friday revealed.
Sweden
Economists reject ‘housing bubble’ report
Economists from state-owned mortgage lender SBAB have rejected as unfounded warnings from the National Housing Credit Guarantee Board (BKN) that Sweden stands on the precipice of a house price crash.
Sweden
Firms under scrutiny over GPS spying
The Swedish Data Inspection Board (Datainspektionen) has announced the launch of a project to review how companies and municipalities use GPS positioning technology to track their staff.
Germany
Win Ocean Colour Scene concert tickets from The Local
Care to see some Britpop in Berlin or Munich? Win tickets to a concert by Ocean Colour Scene at the Hard Rock Cafe by subscribing to The Local’s weekly newsletter.
Sweden
Public bodies to accept thousands of interns
To meet labour market policy goals the Swedish Alliance government is now demanding that public authorities accept thousands of interns.
Sweden
Warmer winds carry falling ice warning
A sudden change in the weather in Sweden has led to a heightened risk of icy roads, while pedestrians are urged to watch out for falling ice and snow from buildings.
Germany
Lousy 2009 results pressure Bayer shares
German pharmaceutical giant Bayer saw its shares plunge Friday after the group reported poor 2009 results amid what it called a difficult environment.
Germany
Hunters urge calm as wolves return to Bavaria
The ÖJV ecological hunters’ association urged Bavarians on Friday to remain calm following confirmation that a lone wolf has been spotted near the southern community of Brannenburg.
Sweden
Malmö mayor says unaware of level of attacks on Jews
Malmö mayor Ilmar Reepalu conceded that he has not been sufficiently well informed about the vulnerable situation faced by Jews after meeting with community leaders on Thursday.
Germany
Munich’s answer to Lent: stronger beer
Lent might be a period of abstinence, but Bavarian monks decided centuries ago that drinking highly alcoholic beer helped their fasting. Thomas Barkley explains Munich's Starkbierzeit tradition.
Germany
Bundestag backs Afghan troop boost amid protest
The German parliament on Friday voted overwhelmingly in support of a new mandate to extend the nation’s military mission in Afghanistan and send up to 850 extra troops.
Germany
German banks to avoid Greek state bonds
In further signs of the finance world’s shattered confidence in Greece, major German banks plan to stop buying government-backed investments in the ailing country, business daily Financial Times Deutschland reported Friday.
Sweden
Hemp farmer wins state pay out
A hemp farmer in Halland in western Sweden has won a court ruling stating that his crop was illegally seized by the Swedish state.
Germany
Victorious Viktoria puts Germany in top spot
Germany consolidated its place on top of the Olympic Games medal table on Thursday thanks to a gold won by Viktoria Rebensburg in the women's giant slalom, her country's first in the event for 54 years.
Sweden
Opposition parties pull away: poll
The left-green opposition coalition has increased its lead over the Alliance government, a new poll on Friday shows.
Sweden
Travellers given discount after transport turmoil
Stockholm transport authority, SL, has introduced a temporary discount on its monthly passes as compensation for weeks of transport turmoil.