Judge drops Strauss-Kahn charges
A New York judge on Tuesday dropped all sex crime charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, ending a three-month saga that brought down one of the world's most powerful men and caused an international uproar.
Day: August 23, 2011
Switzerland
Three beards that rocked the Alps
A bevy of bearded gentlemen battled it out in idyllic Alpine surroundings on Sunday to see who would have his facial hair declared the most elegant in Switzerland.
Switzerland
Foreigners deposit less money in Swiss banks
Deposits in Swiss banks by foreign private clients have dropped by 73 billion francs ($92.5) over the course of the last year, according to recent statistics from the Swiss National Bank (SNB).
Germany
Investor confidence slumps to 2008 lows
German investors had a bad case of the summertime blues this month as economic activity stagnated across the eurozone, with surveys released Tuesday at multi-year lows owing to the debt crisis and poor growth prospects.
Sweden
Police return stolen bike after 15 years
A woman in Gävle was surprised to receive a call from the police saying that the bike she reported stolen 15 years ago had been found.
Sweden
McDonald’s advert fakes ‘Swedish’ farmland
Burger giant McDonald’s chose to fake the Swedish countryside in their latest commercial, in which the company highlights Swedish agriculture, and their own cooperation with Swedish farmers.
Germany
Porsche unveils new 911
An icon of German automotive engineering, the Porsche 911, is being reborn. The legendary sports car is bigger, pricier, and more fuel-efficient.
France
Introducing… Marine Le Pen
With France's most famous daughter busy revving up her outboard engine for next year's presidential election, contributor Martin Untersinger loads up on seafaring terminology and takes a fish-eyed squint at the politics and biology of Marine Le Pen.
Sweden
Saab staff face new paycheck delay
Saab employees’ wages may be delayed, marking the third consecutive month that at least part of the company's 3,700 employees has seen their salary payments delayed.
Germany
Teen confesses to brutal metro beating
The 18-year-old accused of a vicious attack in a Berlin U-Bahn metro station has confessed to the crime at the opening of his trial.
Sweden
Housing shortage sinks immigrant jobs efforts
Of the 4,000 people who’ve arrived in Sweden since December 2010, the Swedish Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) has only been able to find work for ten.
Germany
Beloved humorist Loriot dies
One of the most popular German comedians of the post-war period, Vicco von Bülow, better known by his stage name Loriot, has died at the age of 87.
France
Restaurant sighting helps girl trap sex attacker
After being the victim of a frightening attack, a 14-year-old girl managed to keep her cool when she spotted her assailant eating in a local restaurant.
France
Tied-up 10-year-old plunges five floors
A 10-year-old boy who had his hands and feet tied with television cables fell from the fifth-floor window of an apartment block on Monday after a family argument.
Switzerland
Swiss president slams US tax tactics
Swiss president Micheline Calmy-Rey has described as “legally unacceptable” the increasing demands from US tax authorities for data from Switzerland on alleged tax evasion by Americans.
Germany
Mountain climbers go missing in Afghanistan
Fears are growing that two German men who went missing several days ago after setting off to climb snow-capped mountains in war-torn Afghanistan could have been kidnapped, officials said Tuesday.
Sweden
Sweden fears swimming Danish raccoon invasion
Raccoon dogs and raccoons may soon be a common sight in southern Sweden.
Germany
Media roundup: Libya after Qaddafi
As the end of Libyan despot Muammar Qaddafi reign nears, commentators in The Local’s media roundup examine what’s next for the North African country and the impact of Germany’s decision to break with its NATO allies.
Germany
Bayern’s Lahm exposes deep rifts with ex-coaches
A new book by Bayern Munich and German national team captain Philipp Lahm exposes deep rifts with his former coaches Jürgen Klinsmann, Felix Magath and Louis van Gaal at the Bavarian football club.
Sweden
Patient suicides on the rise in Sweden: report
Suicides among patients are increasing, show new figures from Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare.
France
Post-it wars break out across France
The long summer months have spawned a wave of creativity among French office workers with multi-coloured images made of post-it notes springing up in business districts across the country.
Sweden
Qaddafi ‘bizarre yet fascinating’: Bildt
Foreign minister Carl Bildt revealed his impressions of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi at a press conference held Monday, describing him as simultaneously “bizarre” and “fascinating”.
France
Libyan rebel victory ‘not complete’: France
Victory over Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi's regime is "not complete", French officials warned on Tuesday, as Paris' joy over the rebel forces' entry into Tripoli gave way to renewed caution.
France
Marc Jacobs rumoured to take over at Dior
Star designer Marc Jacobs is set to move into the job vacated by John Galliano at luxury brand Dior, according to reports from respected fashion source Women's Wear Daily.
Sweden
Sweden trying to ‘trick’ EU on wolf hunt
A recent government decision to temporarily halt Sweden's licensed wolf hunt is nothing more than an attempt to fool the European Commission, environmental organisations claimed on Tuesday.
Switzerland
UBS announces 3,500 job losses
Swiss banking giant UBS on Tuesday announced plans to slash 3,500 jobs in order to make savings of some 2 billion Swiss francs ($2.5 billion).
Germany
Westerwelle plays down engagement in Libya
Although Germany is eager to help Libya after the ousting of dictator Muammar Qaddafi, discussion of any potential engagement in the North African country is premature, said Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Monday evening.
France
Prosecutors ask judge to dismiss DSK case
Prosecutors formally asked on Monday to dismiss all the sexual assault and attempted rape charges against former IMF chief and one-time French presidential favorite Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Germany
Deutsche Post struggles with rising mail theft
Thousands of letters and packages are being stolen each year within Deutsche Post’s delivery chain in what German police say is a growing trend.
Sweden
Stieg Larsson sequel ’70 percent finished’: Baksi
Kurdo Baksi, confidant and author of an expose book on deceased Swedish crime writer Stieg Larsson, has claimed that the manuscript believed to be the fourth book in the Millennium series is almost complete.
Sweden
Dog dragged to death behind owner’s car
An 84-year-old man forgot that he had his dog tied to the his tow-bar when he jumped in his car to leave a rest stop, dragging the hapless household pet to its death.
Sweden
Communities crucial for tsunami response
Experts who have studied the March 11th disaster in Japan told the World Water Week conference in Stockholm on Monday of the importance of local communities in responding to devastating tsunamis.
Germany
Outdoors clothes companies making major inroads
A paradise for outdoor clothing and accessories, Germany is drawing the attention of the sector's major players.