Rocking hammocks aid sleep – Swiss study
A team of Swiss and French scientists published a study on Monday that suggests the rocking motion of a hammock improves sleep quality and helps people get to sleep faster.
Day: June 20, 2011
France
Ex-minister arrested on sex charges
Police on Monday arrested a former French minister over sexual harassment charges that drove him to resign last month, his lawyer said.
Germany
Terror suspect extradited from Austria
A German man arrested on suspicion of recruiting for a terror group mounting attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan was extradited from Austria Monday, federal prosecutors said.
France
French diplomats targeted in Iraq bombing
Seven Iraqis were wounded as an improvised bomb struck a French embassy car in southern Baghdad on Monday, interior ministry and hospital sources said.
France
France set to extradite ex Panama dictator
France is set to launch extradition proceedings to send ex-dictator Manuel Noriega to face justice in his native Panama, the French foreign ministry said Monday.
Germany
Dog bites sausage-seller after vegan assault
Man sells sausage. Vegan pushes man. Dog bites man. A bizarre scuffle between animal rights activists and a Berlin bratwurst seller on Saturday was settled abruptly by the intervention of a German shepherd.
France
Chirac to go on trial for corruption
France's former leader Jacques Chirac is to be tried in September for corruption relating to his time as Paris mayor in the 1990s, a judge said on Monday.
Germany
Summer forecast: Warm, tornadoes possible
Meteorologists are predicting a warm summer that is drier than average, although there's the possibility of storms and even tornadoes.
Sweden
Film of slain teacher’s beating: ‘good, he’s dead’
One of the three suspects accused of beating a 54-year-old Swedish school teacher to death in April filmed the assault with a mobile phone camera, giving prosecutors key evidence as the trio's murder trial opened on Monday.
Germany
The Local’s guide to the Women’s World Cup
The biggest sporting event of the summer, the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, kicks off June 26 in Berlin. Check out The Local’s guide as hosts Germany go for football glory.
Sweden
Facebook ‘fair game’ in benefits cheats battle
Sweden's social services have been given the green light to use information found on Facebook and other social media sites to verify whether or not Swedes are being truthful on their applications for benefits.
Germany
Aquarium seeks heir to Paul the psychic octopus
The Sea Life aquarium chain is looking for the next incarnation of Paul, the octopus who amazed the world by correctly predicting the results of Germany’s matches in the 2010 World Cup.
Switzerland
Liechtenstein approves gay unions
Liechtenstein has voted to officially recognize gay civil partnerships, in a law closely modelled on Switzerland's legislation.
Sweden
Bouncers charged for multiple patron beatings
Twelve bouncers from popular Gothenburg nightclubs have been charged for routinely assaulting patrons, sometimes using handcuffs, batons and even allegedly tossing one victim down a flight of stairs.
Germany
Hessian official wants alcohol ban during football matches
Hesse’s interior minister wants to crack down on drunken hooligans who disrupt sporting events. But his prescription is likely to rankle beer-loving Germans: A total alcohol ban in football stadiums and public transportation taking fans there.
Sweden
Most refugees jobless after 9 years: report
Refugees arriving to Sweden face difficulties finding work, with 56 percent still looking for a job after nine years in the country, a new report shows.
Sweden
Duped dope buyer freed after buying real grass
A 58-year-old Swedish man arrested following a suspected drug purchase has been cleared after officers discovered that the plastic bag he bought contained neither marijuana nor hashish.
Germany
Top 500 firms book stellar sales amid boom
Germany’s top 500 companies are booming, lifting their sales by nearly 12 percent last financial year, the largest rise in more than a decade, a survey has found.
Germany
Public viewing: Where to watch the matches
Hoping to watch a World Cup match with your thousand best friends? The Local's listing of public viewing venues has you covered.
Germany
Tickets and fixtures: Who’s playing where and when?
The Local's World Cup guide makes sure you've got your tickets and your calendar marked for every big match.
Sweden
Winter train delays cost Sweden ‘billions’: report
Last winter's cancelled and delayed trains cost Swedish society about 2.4 billion kronor ($372 million) in lost working hours, according to a new report.
Switzerland
Swiss racism on the rise – report
Reports of racist incidents increased in 2010, with black people and Muslims particularly affected, according to a new report.
Germany
Team profiles: The favourites, contenders and the rest
All 16 teams participating in the women's football World Cup have a shot at winning the golden trophy, but the dream is more realistic for some than others. The Local looks at the favourites including hosts Germany, the USA and Brazil.
Sweden
Island hopping in Stockholm’s archipelago
With Midsummer rapidly approaching, The Local's Clara Guibourg explores the wonders of the Stockholm archipelago and discovers a couple of gems off the beaten track.
Switzerland
Switzerland ‘vulnerable to cyber attacks’
Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer has warned that there are major loopholes in Switzerland’s cyber security, as hacker attacks increase worldwide.
France
No butts on the beach: mayor bans seaside smoking
A beach on the Mediterranean is the first in the country to go non-smoking this summer.
France
Mystery intruder in Salma Hayek’s Paris home
François-Henri Pinault, head of the luxury goods group PPR, and his actress wife had an unwelcome guest in their Paris apartment over the weekend.
France
New plane promises New York in 90 minutes
Plans for a new hypersonic jet that flies at four times the speed of sound will be unveiled in Paris on Monday.
Sweden
Tax agency rejects ‘His Majesty’ name change request
A Swedish man's bid to have 'His Majesty' officially added to his name has been rejected because it could lead to "misunderstandings".
Sweden
Vattenfall ‘worst’ nuclear power firm in Europe
Sweden' state-owned energy company Vattenfall has the worst performance among 27 European nuclear power operators, according to a report from the United Nations energy agency.
France
Fears increase for missing student
A huge search is underway in south-central France after a 17-year old girl went missing after going for a jog on Saturday.
Germany
Berlin rules out intervention in Syria
Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière has ruled out participation by Germany in any NATO operation in Syria to stop a bloody crackdown on protesters.
Sweden
Teen boy faces sex crime suspicions for grabbing principal’s butt
The female principal of a middle school in Stockholm has reported a 15-year-old boy to the police for sexual molestation after he grabbed her behind.
Germany
Ballack blasts coach Löw over dumping
Dumped Germany captain Michael Ballack has lashed out at coach Joachim Löw, suggesting Löw lied when claiming privately back in March that Ballack would no longer be part of the team.
Germany
Schäuble warns Greece to reform for bailout
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble stepped up pressure on Greece on Monday, insisting the debt-laden country won’t get its next €12 billion bailout instalment without decisive economic reform.
Sweden
Ikea gave 4-year-old girl to wrong parents
A 4-year-old girl was handed over to the wrong parents from the play area of an Ikea store in Uppsala in eastern Sweden on Sunday.