Filesharing no act of worship: agency
Copying, remixing and spreading information cannot be considered an act of worship, even if participants fall into a meditative trance during the act.
Day: July 7, 2011
Sweden
Sweden
Group wants to count American expats abroad
An organization is hoping to boost the political clout of Americans living in Sweden and elsewhere overseas by using technology to count them this summer. Moises Mendoza reports.
Sweden
Make Sweden a ‘settler country’: minister
At a press conference on Thursday, resigning Centre Party head and minister for enterprise and energy, Maud Olofsson, revealed that her speech at Almedalen later this evening will point out the three top priority challenges for the Centre Party to tackle in the future.
Germany
NYSE Euronext shareholders approve Deutsche Börse merger
NYSE Euronext shareholders approved Thursday a merger with Deutsche Börse to form the biggest stock exchange operator in the world valued at some $25 billion (€17.4 billion).
France
French trade deficit ‘very serious’: minister
France showed a record trade deficit for May, marking a "very serious" lurch in a trend of weak competitiveness, a trade minister said, in contrast to strong export-led growth in Germany.
France
Strauss-Kahn won’t plead guilty in any deal: report
Dominique Strauss-Kahn will not plead guilty to even a minor charge to reach a plea deal in the sexual assault case against him, the former IMF chief's defense team said in Thursday's New York Times.
Germany
Gene tests for IVF embryos legalised
Couples using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) can have embryos screened to ensure their child will not develop any serious hereditary disease or disability under a milestone law passed Thursday by Germany’s parliament.
Sweden
Happy days for the ‘raggare’ of Sweden
Wandering through the seemingly endless rows of classic American cars and stylish retro chic, you get an eerie feeling you’ve been transported onto the set of classic teen sitcom Happy Days.
Germany
UK soldiers in Paderborn hit by car killing one
A British soldier based in North Rhine-Westphalia was killed and five were injured when a car accidentally ploughed into them as they were walking, police said Thursday.
Sweden
Jailed Swedes on the way to Ethiopian capital
The two Swedish journalists jailed in Ethiopia are headed for the capital Addis Ababa, according to recent reports from Sweden's Foreign Ministry.
France
UMP official sues newspaper over outing
David-Xavier Weiss, a national secretary of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), has pressed charges against the satirical newspaper Le Canard enchaîné over an article that revealed his homosexuality.
Germany
Two North Korean footballers test positive for steroids
The Women's World Cup in Germany was hit by a doping scandal on Thursday after North Korea defenders Song Jong-Sun and Jong Pok-Sim both tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid, football officials announced.
Sweden
‘Record bust’ of hashish in southern Sweden
A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for organising the smuggling of close to half a ton of hashish, and over nine kilogrammes of amphetamine.
Sweden
Fuglesang survives homeopathic pill overdose
A group from a Swedish science organisation, with astronaut Christer Fuglesang in the lead, took an overdose of sleeping pills in Almedalen, at 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
Germany
Saudi tank deal may be dirty, Greens MP says
Greens MP Hans-Christian Ströbele has raised the stakes in the political controversy over Germany’s tank sale to Saudi Arabia, suggesting bribe money may be involved in the deal.
Switzerland
Women’s rights activist disrobes for equality
A new campaign launched by a women’s organisation portrays the group’s young secretary general covered only by a banner as she seeks to lead the charge for more female representation in the upper echelons of Swiss society.
Germany
Islamist charged for US airmen killings
German federal prosecutors said Thursday they had indicted a 21-year-old Islamic extremist from Kosovo over an attack on US troops at Frankfurt Airport in March that killed two airmen.
Switzerland
Demand for Swiss bull sperm on the rise
The demand for Swiss bull semen is on the rise in world’s markets, a major industry player said.
France
High-profile art dealer charged in investigation
Guy Wildenstein, art dealer and a government representative in New York for French citizens overseas, was charged on Wednesday in an investigation around missing artwork. He is accused of obtaining goods through an abuse of trust.
France
UMP backs tougher immigration rules
In the lead-up to presidential elections in 2012, the Union for a Popular Movement party has released its ideas for a more “muscular” stance on immigration, especially the illegal variety.
Switzerland
Body of newborn found in waste compost
The body of a newborn baby has been found among cut branches at a composting centre near Solothurn in north-west Switzerland, reports said.
France
French boat to Gaza blocked in Crete
A journalist onboard a French yacht carrying activists hoping to run the Israeli blockade on Gaza says protests will take place in Paris or Athens unless the boat is permitted to resume its journey.
Germany
Police raid Stuttgart 21 rail project opponents
Police raided the offices of Stuttgart 21 opponents on Thursday morning over violent protests against the controversial rail project, authorities have announced.
Germany
Group tries to count American expats abroad
An organization is hoping to boost the political clout of Americans living in Germany and elsewhere overseas by using technology to count them this summer. Moises Mendoza reports.
France
Sword-wielding man takes hostage on train
A 25-year-old man armed with a sword held a woman hostage on a train in southwest France for two hours on Wednesday before releasing her unharmed, police said.
France
NY prosecutors pursue Strauss-Kahn case
Prosecutors insisted Wednesday they were still pursuing the sexual assault case against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn after a high-stakes meeting in Manhattan with his defense team.
Sweden
Swedish stores shun “ugly” produce: report
Swedes throw away food for 20-40 billion kronor ($3-6 billion) every year and the food tossed aside by households, stores and restaurants is just the tip of the iceberg. A new report from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) reveals that vegetables considered unattractive never even reaches stores.
France
Fairy-tale looks from Valentino, Elie Saab at Paris shows
Feathers met tutus in a ballet-themed show by Jean Paul Gaultier on the final full day of the fall-winter haute couture collections in Paris on Wednesday.
Sweden
Swedish government approves Saab deal
The Swedish government has approved Saab’s property sale, according to a statement issued from the ministry for enterprise and energy on Thursday.
Germany
What’s on in Germany: July 7 – July 13
This Week's Highlights: Museum night in Dresden, Snoop Dogg in Hamburg, and a fashion show in Berlin.
Germany
Officer found dead after Bundestag post assault
A police officer suspected of attempting to rob a post office in a restricted area of a parliament building in Berlin on Wednesday night has been found dead after apparently committing suicide.
Sweden
Swedish women make quarter-finals
Sweden stunned two-time winners the United States 2-1 in their final Group C game at the women's World Cup on Wednesday, but both teams march into the quarter-finals.
Germany
Nine ageing Germans sentenced over Nazi massacres in Italy
A court in Verona sentenced nine elderly Germans to life imprisonment on Wednesday evening for Nazi massacres of hundreds of people in the north of Italy in 1944, Italian media reported.
Germany
FDP tax revolt threatens Merkel’s budget
A growing revolt within Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition is threatening to torpedo the chancellor’s budget, with members of the pro-business Free Democrats warning they will block the budget without deeper tax cuts.
Sweden
Gaza flotilla group sets sail from Athens
A Swiss firm has cancelled a 3,000-tonne cement order by activists involved in the aid flotilla for Gaza largely thwarted by the Greek authorities, Swedish activists said Wednesday.
Sweden
Spotify signs deal with Virgin Media
Virgin Media said on Wednesday it had agreed a deal with Sweden's Spotify to offer music streaming services for the British company's television, mobile phone and Internet subscribers.