US ambassador seeks to soothe WikiLeaks damage
The US ambassador to Berlin, Philip Murphy, sought Wednesday to stem the diplomatic damage from awkward cables on WikiLeaks, calling Germany's maligned Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle "a friend."
Day: December 8, 2010
Germany
Germany
Deutsche Bahn to sell German Arriva assets to Italian consortium
State-owned German railway Deutsche Bahn said Wednesday that it would sell German assets belonging to its British subsidiary Arriva to a consortium led by the Italian Ferrovie dello Stato.
Sweden
Two Swedes jailed for plotting Somalia attacks
Two Swedish citizens of Somali origin, members of the Islamist movement al-Shabaab, were sentenced by a Swedish court on Wednesday to four years in jail for "planning terrorist crimes" in Somalia.
Sweden
AB Volvo CEO to resign next summer
After almost 14 years as president and CEO of AB Volvo, Leif Johansson announced his intention on Wednesday to resign in conjunction with his 60th birthday next summer.
Germany
Coen brothers film ‘True Grit’ to open Berlinale
The Oscar-winning fraternal duo Joel and Ethan Coen are to open the 61st Berlin International Film Festival next year with their remake of the classic John Wayne western “True Grit,” organisers announced Wednesday.
Sweden
Stolen silver treasure recovered on Gotland
An old silver treasure dating back to the Viking Age that was stolen on Gotland a year ago was recovered on Wednesday.
Sweden
Assange rape claims not part of WikiLeaks: lawyer
Sexual assault claims brought against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange have nothing to do with his website and he should say so, the lawyer for the two Swedish women whose claims led to his arrest said on Wednesday.
Sweden
Hacker attacks reported to Swedish police
Swedish IT experts confirmed on Wednesday that a new brand of hacker attack disabled websites for both the Swedish prosecutor's office as well as the lawyer representing the women at the centre of rape allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Germany
Strong output heralds record growth
A strong month of German industrial activity in October erased a decline in September and underpinned prospects for record national economic growth in 2010, official data showed on Wednesday.
Germany
Juncker blasts Berlin for ‘un-European’ behaviour
Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg prime minister and Eurogroup chairman, launched a blistering attack on Germany on Wednesday, calling its flat rejection of proposals for eurozone bonds "un-European."
Sweden
Moderates largest party in Sweden: survey
Sweden's ruling Moderate Party have overtaken the Social Democrats, which for decades dominated the country's political scene, as the party that enjoys the highest level of support, according to a new survey released on Wednesday.
Sweden
Top human rights lawyer to defend Assange
High-profile human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson will represent beleaguered WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in his extradition fight from Britain to Sweden, the lawyer's office announced on Wednesday.
Germany
The day the music died
Still looking for that special Christmas gift? Two Berliners have compiled a loving – and often humorous – tribute to famous dead musicians in a novel pocket-sized calendar.
Sweden
Unique winter offer at Stockholm and Malmö Marriott properties!
The Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm and Renaissance Malmö hotel are offering readers of The Local a special winter package that will give you the chance to enjoy these two great Swedish cities for shopping, culture or just relaxation.
Germany
Geothermal plant likely cause of earthquakes
A geothermal power plant is “very likely” the cause of several small earthquakes near the Rhineland-Palatinate city of Landau, a state report revealed Wednesday.
Sweden
Bildt denies US contact on Assange extradition
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt denied on Wednesday that there have been contacts between Swedish and US authorities on the possible extradition of beleaguered WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.
Sweden
Swedish group The Ark disbands after 20 years
Swedish glam rockers The Ark shocked their fans by announcing that they will disband after 20 years together at the end of their summer tour next year.
Sweden
‘Some middle-aged men choose a Harley, I chose a nose clip’
UK transplant and film director Dylan Williams talks to The Local's Peter Vinthagen Simpson about how making Men Who Swim (Män som simmar) -- a film described as "Spinal Tap in trunks" -- helped him deal with the challenges of integration, fatherhood and middle-aged physical decline.
Germany
O, Cannabis Tree! Police find decorated plant during bust
Hippies enjoy celebrating Christmas too, police in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate said on Wednesday after they were stunned to find a two-metre marijuana plant decked out in twinkling lights during a drug bust.
Germany
No new signs of looming terror attack, Berlin interior minister says
Three weeks after Germany went on high alert over terrorism fears, Berlin's state interior minister, Ehrhart Körting, acknowledged Wednesday there were no fresh indications of planned attacks.
Germany
Pilots strike at airlines Germania, Tuifly
Pilots from the airlines Germania and Tuifly walked off the job Wednesday morning, affecting flights around the country.
Sweden
US praised Swedes’ work in file sharing fight
The United States and Sweden have worked closely with one another to combat illegal file sharing, documents released by WikiLeaks reveal.
Germany
Opposition calls for all-day schools
Opposition politicians called for all-day schools to become the standard in Germany on Wednesday, as debate raged about Germany’s latest mediocre performance in the international PISA tests.
Germany
Werder hammer lacklustre Inter but exit Champions League
Werder Bremen enjoyed a rare - but alas meaningless - 3-0 win over Champions League holders Inter Milan on Tuesday as the Italians progressed while Bremen bowed out of Europe.
Sweden
Slain Swedish bride’s husband arrested
A British businessman has been arrested at the request of South African authorities on suspicion of conspiring to have his Swedish bride murdered while on honeymoon, police said Wednesday.
Sweden
Hackers disable Swedish prosecutor’s website
The website of the Swedish prosecutor's office pursuing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange came under cyber attack on Tuesday in the latest salvo in a campaign by online supporters who have also struck PayPal and the Swiss Post Office bank.
Sweden
Gripen purchase by Brazil ‘unlikely’: analysts
The likelihood that Brazil will purchase Swedish-made Saab Gripen fighter jets to modernise its air force diminished significantly following recent comments by the outgoing Brazilian president, analysts believe.