Economic recovery picking up speed
The German economic recovery has accelerated in recent months, the central bank said Wednesday, fuelling expectation it could raise its growth forecast for Europe's biggest economy.
Day: May 26, 2010
Germany
Germany
Oktoberfest hikes beer prices for 200th anniversary
Germany's world-famous beer festival Oktoberfest said Wednesday that it has upped the price for its huge mugs of amber nectar to almost €9 for this year's 200th anniversary event.
Germany
Germany’s golden future
With skittish Germans fearing the imminent collapse of the euro, Roger Boyes, the Berlin correspondent for the British newspaper The Times, decides it’s time to buy gold. Or sell it.
Sweden
Söderling reaches third round at French Open
Robin Soderling took just 71 super-charged minutes to sweep aside hapless American Taylor Dent on Wednesday to reach the third round of the French Open.
Sweden
Trial witness shot in Malmö
A man who was due to testify against a member of the Black Cobra criminal gang has been shot at a bus stop in Malmö. A female bystander was also injured in the shooting. Both victims were shot in the leg.
Sweden
Ryanair wins appeal on repatriation
A Swedish court ruled Wednesday that Irish low-cost airline Ryanair had no obligation to compensate a couple stranded in Brussels when one of its flights was cancelled due to heavy fog.
Germany
Bumbling repo men kidnap wrong woman
Stuttgart police on Wednesday said they had arrested a band of men working for a collection agency who allegedly kidnapped a woman and held her for more than a day before realising they’d snatched the wrong person.
Sweden
‘Birthplace Sweden but differences remain’
Swedish-born children of foreign-born parents are faced with lifelong challenges that differ greatly from those faced by people with two Swedish-born parents, a new report from Statistics Sweden (SCB) shows.
Sweden
Swedes struggle with unforeseen expenses
Nearly one in four households, or 22 percent, would have difficulty dealing with an unforeseen expense of 5,000 kronor ($635), according to a study by Länsförsäkringar.
Germany
Germany defends short-selling ban
Germany on Wednesday defended its decision last week to ban naked short selling, saying it wanted a "signal to markets" it will not tolerate "excessive speculation" regardless of international criticism.
Germany
World Cup rivals will be tough, injured Ballack warns
Germany's injured captain Michael Ballack has warned his country's football fans against having high expectations for the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Sweden
Red Cross chief jailed for fraud
The former communications chief of the Swedish Red Cross has been sentenced to five years in prison for swindling the organization out of millions of kronor.
Sweden
Swedish court convicts dead man for assault
A Swedish appeals court convicted a man in absentia of assault in April. The man's absence turned out to be due to his untimely death a month previously and the prosecutor has now called on the court to re-open the case.
Germany
Euro crisis stokes inflation and debt fears
The eurozone’s Greek crisis has stoked German fears of impending inflation and crushing debt, according to a poll published on Wednesday.
Germany
BND spy jailed for passing secrets to gay Balkan lover
A court in Munich on Wednesday jailed a former spy for the German BND intelligence service for more than two years for sharing top secret information with his boyfriend while working in Kosovo.
Germany
Poles, Romanians and Americans lead immigration to Germany
Poland, Romania and the United States were the largest sources of immigration to Germany last year, which surged by six percent according to official figures.
Sweden
Sweden faces mortgage debt hangover: report
Swedish household borrowing continues to increase at one of the world's highest rates and economists at the state Housing Credit Guarantee Board (Statens bostadskreditnämnd - BKN) have raised concerns over the risks for individuals, house prices, and the Swedish economy.
Germany
Volker Bouffier to replace Roland Koch as Hessian state premier
Following the surprise resignation by conservative Hesse state premier Roland Koch, the Christian Democratic (CDU) state parliamentary group has unanimously chosen Hessian Interior Minister Volker Bouffier to succeed him.
Germany
High water reaches Brandenburg early
Floodwaters from Poland have arrived in eastern Germany earlier than expected, hitting the second-highest warning level and rising, officials said on Wednesday morning.
Sweden
‘Green Party voters most likely to change sides’
Almost a quarter of Green Party support could consider voting for one of the centre-right Alliance coalition parties, a new survey has shown.
Germany
Merkel in Saudi Arabia for talks on Gulf tour
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with Saudi King Abdullah late on Tuesday after calling for Gulf nations to help press Iran over its nuclear drive, the official SPA news agency said.
Sweden
Iraqi Airways cancels Sweden flights
Iraqi Airways has announced that it is cutting services to Sweden and the UK after an "escalation" of a legal battle with Kuwait, that state carrier said on Tuesday.
Sweden
Vilks invited to complete Uppsala lecture
Uppsala University has invited artist Lars Vilks to speak again after his lecture on May 11th was interrupted when he was attacked.