Jobless rate drops unexpectedly in March
The Federal Labour Agency said Wednesday the number of people out of work in Germany dropped unexpectedly to 8.5 percent in March, as Europe's top economy continued its gradual recovery.
Day: March 31, 2010
Germany
Sweden
Stockholm defends city housing sell-offs
Stockholm city council has defended its policy of privatising municipal-owned housing, which has come under fire after a couple of recent apartment sales led to windfalls for their new tenant-owners.
Germany
German CIA rendition victim sentenced to jail for assault
Khaled el-Masri, a Lebanese-born German citizen mistakenly abducted and tortured by people working for the CIA, has been sentenced to two years in jail for attacking the mayor of a Bavarian city.
Sweden
Car park assault victim dies
A 78-year-old woman has died as a result of injuries sustained when she was assaulted in a Landskrona parking lot on Monday.
Germany
Historic steam locomotives gather for Easter train festival
More than 200 historic trains from various eras will be travelling the rails along scenic routes in southwestern Germany over the Easter holiday, in what organisers are calling the biggest gathering of steam locomotives in more than 30 years.
Germany
Brett Macdonald: An international education
The Local's series "Making it in Germany" presents Brett Macdonald, a Canadian teacher at an international school in Munich.
Sweden
Boy taken into care after village rape case
The boy convicted of raping two girls in Bjästa near Örnsköldsvik in northern Sweden will be taken into municipal care on his release from youth custody.
Germany
A piece of chocolate a day keeps the doctor away
German scientists have discovered that a small piece of chocolate daily can greatly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, but warned in a study released this week that moderation is key.
Germany
Germany backs bank tax for financial crisis fund
The German government on Wednesday backed a new tax on banks for a fund which could be used for bailouts in the event of another financial crisis, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said.
Sweden
Government pledges boost for big families
The Alliance government has earmarked hundreds of millions of kronor for a hike in child benefits for families with several children, as well as investment in summer jobs for Sweden's youth.
Germany
State premier Rüttgers promises folk song revival for re-election
North Rhine-Westphalia's premier Jürgen Rüttgers has reportedly promised he will spearhead efforts for the advancement of German folk music if he is re-elected in May.
Germany
Bishop Mixa accused of abusing children
Five people have accused Germany's controversial Catholic Bishop Walter Mixa of physically abusing them while they were at a children’s home north of Munich in the 1970s and 1980s.
Sweden
What’s On in Sweden: April 2nd – 8th
What’s on in Sweden: Sweden is dancing this week with tap dance in Stockholm, Bolivian Caporales in Gothenburg and tango in Malmö.
Germany
Germany’s Turks don’t need Papa Erdoğan or Mutti Merkel
The current debate about Turkish schools in Germany exposes how politicians in both Berlin and Ankara like to treat German Turks as if they were children caught in a nasty custody battle, writes Deniz Baspinar from Zeit Online.
Sweden
Swede dies in Bali volcano accident
A Swedish tourist has died after falling 150 metres into the crater of an active volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Sweden
Ericsson lands major Indian contract
An already successful week for Swedish telecom giant Ericsson got better on Wednesday as it followed up two major China deals with a $1.3 billion contract to upgrade Bharti Airtel's mobile network in India.
Sweden
Swedish diplomat was Russian source: Ex-spy
A former Russian spy commander, Sergei Tretyakov, has accused a Swedish diplomat of having handed classified documents over to the Russian secret service following his recruitment at the end of the 1990s.
Germany
Shorter Bundeswehr conscription to cost Defence Ministry millions
The German government’s planned reduction of compulsory military service from nine to six months will end up costing the Defence Ministry an extra €26 million annually, according to a media report on Wednesday.
Sweden
Geely sets Volvo sights on Chinese luxury market
Geely aims to use Volvo to crack China's fast-growing luxury car market by using its access to the Swedish firm's cutting-edge technology to vault into global contention, analysts say.
Germany
Insurance agent tops list of unpopular jobs
The least popular professions in Germany are insurance agent followed by career politician, according to a survey released this week.
Germany
Bayern stun United in final minute
Bayern Munich stunned Manchester United 2-1 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg Tuesday night, with an injury-time goal by Ivica Olić evoking memories of their famous clash in 1999.
Sweden
Arsenal need trophies to match Barcelona: Ibrahimovic
Sweden and Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has warned Arsenal ahead of their Champion's League clash in London that it is trophies that count in football and not plaudits for playing beautiful football.
Sweden
SAS losses widen in 2010
SAS Scandinavian airlines' losses continued to widen in January and February, the company said Tuesday as it prepares for a new €510 million rights issue to bolster its ailing finances.