Missing 4-year-old was murdered: police

The autopsy of a 4-year-old boy who was found dead Sunday night in a wooded area near his home in south central Sweden has led police to conclude he was murdered, prompting a formal criminal investigation.

Queen under fire for giving kids wine

The admission that the Royal children were allowed a glass of wine at festive occasions, followed by Coca Cola, despite being under age, has sparked criticism from Swedish temperance campaigners.

Top firms unveil plan to increase female execs

The 30 leading German companies belonging to the blue-chip stock DAX stock index unveiled a plan Monday to bring more women into management, but stopped short of making quotas compulsory.

Sweden looks to tackle immigrant women jobs challenge

The Swedish government on Monday announced a new inquiry aiming at finding ways to make it easier for immigrant women to enter the labour market.

Anti-capitalist protesters set up tent cities

As demonstrations critical of capitalism sweep through Germany, activists have set up tent-cities in Frankfurt and Hamburg, vowing to stay as long as they can.

Cargo firm slammed for ‘discriminating’ against EU workers

Geneva speed demon had huge pill stash

A 28-year-old man who was clocked driving at 325 km/h on a motorway in southern Switzerland this month was found to have over 4,000 sleeping pills in his Geneva flat.

Festival of Lights transforms Berlin

Every night between 12 to 23 October, Berlin’s most famous buildings are being transformed into glowing works of art, as the annual ‘Festival of Lights’ returns. There are also a number of interactive light installations.

Swede jailed for catching 13,000 wild birds

The 40-year-old Swedish bird enthusiast who caught more than 13,000 wild birds was sentenced on Monday to 18 months in prison for aggravated hunting crimes, animal cruelty, and violating Sweden's protected species laws.

Statoil buys US shale oil firm

Norwegian oil giant Statoil on Monday announced the $4.7 billion purchase of US company Brigham Exploration, in a move to enable the expansion of its non-conventional oil and gas extraction activities in the US.

Porn behind 11-year-old girl’s abuse claims: court

After three days of proceedings, the district court in Jönköping, in southern Sweden, on Friday freed a mother and father suspected of raping their three daughters.

Man plunges to death while trying to rescue cat

A 20-year-old man died early on Saturday morning after he climbed onto a roof to rescue his cat.

Expert sounds alert on bed bug invasion

Bed bugs, which have already caused mild hysteria in cities across the US, are steadily making their presence felt in France, according to media reports on Monday.

Hijacked ship carried Russian chemical weapons: report

The Arctic Sea, a Finnish ship hijacked in Swedish waters in July 2009, was likely carrying materials stolen from Russia meant for the making of chemical weapons, Finnish researchers have claimed.

Rain, sleet and snow set to replace sunny days

Germany’s "Golden October," which has been dishing out hefty doses of autumnal Vitamin D, will soon be washed down with an onset of wet winter weather, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

VW and Telekom workers accused of corruption

The Stuttgart prosecutor’s office has indicted five employees affiliated with Volkswagen and Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Systems in connection with an alleged anti-competitive bribery scheme involving VfL Wolfsburg football club.

Leftist group threatens life of far-right mascot

An extreme leftist group has admitted to the theft of the far-right SVP’s favourite pet, a goat named "Zottel", and have now threatened to kill their hircine hostage.

‘Sweden should ask for US help to free journalists jailed in Ethiopia’

Just as Sweden helped win the release of two American journalists captured in North Korea in 2009, the US can hopefully find a way to return the favour in Ethiopia before Sweden considers supporting US anti-terror efforts in the region, argues historian Susanne Berger.

L’Oréal heiress declared mentally unfit by court

Billionaire L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt is to be placed under the guardianship of family members, according to the lawyer of her estranged daughter Francoise after a court hearing.

Beauty giant slammed over anti-wrinkle claims

Beauty conglomerate L’Oréal continues to market its anti-wrinkle creams in Sweden with ”misleading information” according to Sweden's consumer watchdog, demanding the company be fined.

Bildt slams paper over ‘amateur’ reporting

With the trial of two Swedish journalists on terror charges set to open in Ethiopia on Tuesday, foreign minister Carl Bildt hit back at the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper over what he called faulty reporting on his alleged interests in the case.

Parents slam school over ‘racist’ game

The parents of children who attend a primary school in Valais in southern Switzerland have complained over the use of a game entitled "Who’s afraid of the black man?", a hide-and-seek game they argue is “racist".

Researcher bemoans dearth of new names

Norwegian name researcher Gulbrand Alhaug has called on parents to use their imagination when it comes to naming their children in order to increase variety and to combat the advance of internationalisation.

Mental illness forcing more to retire early

More Germans than ever are being forced to take involuntary early retirement because of mental illnesses, according to a report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Stuck raccoon causes train delays

A raccoon stuck in a railway switch point shut down the intercity train lines between the central German towns of Göttingen and Kassel on Sunday.

Injured Libyans flown to Hamburg for treatment

Five severely injured victims of the Libyan civil war were brought to Hamburg for medical treatment on Sunday night, as part of an ongoing German aid plan.

Sheep saved from cliff in dramatic chopper rescue

Six sheep were hoisted to safety by helicopter on Sunday, after weeks spent stranded on a steep mountain cliff edge.

French left picks Hollande for president

Francois Hollande has won the nomination to represent France's Socialists against President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year's presidential vote.

Breastfeeding mums gather in push for change

Mothers and their babies gathered in more than 80 towns around the country on Sunday for the "Big Feed" (La Grande Tétée), an event to promote breastfeeding as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

Cigarette prices up but smokers on the rise

Smokers face an average rise of 0.30 euro ($0.40) on a packet of cigarettes on Monday, making France the fourth most expensive European country for people wanting to light up.

Man kills police officer with samurai sword

A 33-year-old teacher is being held in prison after admitting to killing a female police officer on Friday by attacking her with a Japanese sword.

‘Ban Swedish biker gang vests’: Social Democrats

Municipalities in Sweden ought to have the right to ban vests bearing symbols associated with known motorcycle gangs in order to fight organised crime, a leading Social Democrat has suggested.

Deutsche Bank considers cutting Greek debt in half

The head of Germany's biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, is conducting talks over a 50-percent write-down of Greek debt in his capacity as chairman of the global banking lobby, a newspaper reported Monday.

TV dancers performed for Chechen leader

Dancers on the payroll of German state TV channel MDR joined Hollywood stars at the controversial birthday party of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of human rights abuses.

SPD calls for bank split

Social Democratic Party (SPD) head Sigmar Gabriel has called for a permanent division of investment and commercial banking to protect consumers from toxic debts run up by banks. The German government quickly rejected the idea.

100-year-old driver blames crash on faulty hearing aid

A 100-year-old motorist said a malfunctioning hearing aid caused him to crash his car on a motorway in central Sweden on Sunday night.

Murder probe into death of missing 4-year-old

A 4-year-old boy was found dead in a wooded area near his home in south central Sweden on Sunday night.