Search is on for baby rhino name
Although Germans name their own babies Mia or Ben, possible monikers for the latest arrival at Magdeburg zoo are all a little more exotic – Makini, Mali and Makena are among the suggestions for a baby rhino’s name.
Day: December 29, 2011
Germany
Germany
‘Mia’ and ‘Ben’ favourite baby names of 2011
German parents kept it short and sweet when picking a name for their new bundles of joy this year. The most popular baby names in 2011 were Mia for girls and Ben for boys.
Germany
Two arrested in hunt for cop killers
Police have arrested two men suspected of shooting dead a policeman after a dramatic chase through the woods in Bavaria two months ago, they announced on Thursday.
Sweden
Swedish cop filmed naked female colleagues
A Swedish police commissioner has been suspended after it was revealed that he had secretly filmed female officers in the nude by hiding a video camera inside a locker in the station's changing room.
Sweden
Sweden’s five biggest news stories of 2011
As 2011 draws to a close, The Local looks back at some of the stories that dominated headlines in Sweden in the past year.
Sweden
Elk hunter acquitted of killing skier by mistake
A Swedish elk hunter who felled her first elk with a single shot that passed through the animal only to hit and then kill a cross-country skier, has been acquitted of manslaughter charges by the district court in Växjö in central Sweden.
Germany
This year cost 2.3 percent more than last
Life became 2.3 percent more expensive in Germany during 2011, as shown by inflation figures for the year released by the government on Thursday.
France
Veiled woman given driving fine
A woman in Brittany was slapped with a €35 ($45) fine after police spotted her driving her car wearing a full-face veil.
Sweden
‘Shrimp shortage’ set to spoil Swedes’ New Year
Seafood features prominently on many a Swede's New Year's menu, but harsh winds on Sweden's west coast have made fishing difficult recently, sending shrimp and crayfish prices sky high.
Switzerland
Swiss Defago wins Bormio downhill
Switzerland's Olympic champion Didier Defago won the men's World Cup downhill in Bormio, Italy, on Thursday ahead of teammate Patrick Kueng and Austrian Klaus Kroell.
Switzerland
Father found dead after killing infant daughter
A 34-year old man in Bulle, western Switzerland, killed his two-month-old baby and seriously injured his six-year-old daughter before shooting himself dead on Wednesday.
Switzerland
US crash widower sues Swiss for $10m: report
A US law professor whose wife was killed in an accident involving a Swiss embassy car in Washington is suing the Swiss government for $10 million, it was reported on Thursday.
Norway
Ex-politician charged over sex with minor
The former head of the Progress Party’s youth wing, Trond Birkedal, has been indicted over allegations he secretly filmed naked boys and had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy.
Sweden
Sex scandal conviction for porn-surfing politico
A formerly high-ranking local politician from western Sweden was among seven people convicted on Thursday in connection with the unmasking of a major prostitution ring in Halmstad.
Germany
Half of Germans optimistic for 2012
Nearly half of all Germans are looking towards 2012 with more hope than fear, though the main challenge may be keeping that optimism, one expert has warned.
Sweden
Sweden’s growing wealth gap ‘troubling’: Borg
Figures showing financial improvements for Sweden's middle and upper classes, at the same time the country's poorest have seen their incomes decline have given finance minister something to fret about.
Norway
OMG: Eye test blooper on Norwegian news
TV viewers in Norway were left laughing their posteriors off after a serious nightly news show inadvertently used an eye chart teeming with internet slang.
Sweden
‘Opinion Taliban’, ‘tree murder’ make 2011 new Swedish word list
Words inspired by flip-flopping politicians and mobile phone apps, as well as creative terms for opinionated people are among the newest Swedish words, according to an annual list of new and topical words released on Thursday.
Germany
Half a million kilometres of traffic jams this year
Far from effortlessly zooming down Autobahns at limitless speeds, German drivers are increasingly sitting in traffic– with nearly half a million kilometres of jams recorded this year.
Germany
Berlin’s spirits come in small batches
As the drinks flow over the days and nights leading up to January 1, spare a thought for the bumper crop of potatoes which introduced northern Germany to large-scale spirit making. Caitlan Carroll looked at what has evolved.
Sweden
Princess Victoria: 2011 a ‘very rough year’
Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Queen Silvia have finally broken their silence about the past year's royal scandals in an open-hearted interview set for broadcast on Thursday.
Switzerland
2011: record year for popular initiatives
Switzerland's system of direct democracy seemed more alive than ever in 2011, with the year seeing the launch of a record 23 popular initiatives
France
Museums and galleries enjoy bumper year
Figures released on Wednesday show a 5 percent increase in the number of visits to France's 1,000 plus museums and galleries this year.
Sweden
Agency slams immigrant language class failings
Many of Sweden's municipalities fail to place newly arrived immigrants in Swedish language classes within the time frames stipulated by law, a new investigation has found.
Germany
Cruise ships pollute like millions of cars
Those considering taking a cruise in the new year should choose carefully – in a single trip each ship operated by top German firms Aida Cruises and Tui Cruises creates as much pollution as five million cars, says environmental group Nabu.
France
Most annoying politicians named in poll
Former Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal tops a new poll asking French people to name the most irritating politicians.
Switzerland
Swiss rehabilitate WWII Jewish refugee helpers
Switzerland said Wednesday it had finally finished the process of rehabilitating more than a hundred people punished during WWII for having helped Jews escape Nazi persecution.
France
Google fined for faulty word suggestion
Google France has been ordered to pay €50,000 ($64,670) to a French company after its search engine automatically added the word "escroc" ("crook" or "swindler") after the company's name.
Sweden
‘Record number’ of homes for sale in Sweden
The number of houses and apartments for sale in Sweden is nearing record highs, according to a Swedish real estate listing service.
Germany
More jobless only getting basic support
One in four people in Germany who lose their jobs have paid so little into the generous social security system that they go straight onto the lowest possible level of support.
Sweden
Charges for Sweden’s ‘biggest-ever’ coke bust
Four men were charged on Thursday in connection with Sweden's “biggest-ever” cocaine bust that netted worth an estimated 145 million kronor ($21 million) from what police believe is a Balkan-based smuggling operation.
France
France approves tax on fizzy drinks
France's top constitutional body on Wednesday approved a new tax on sugary drinks that aims to fight obesity while giving a boost to state coffers.
France
Breast implant tycoon hits back over scandal
Holed up at his home in the south of France, the founder of troubled breast implant manufacturer PIP is fighting back against a growing international scandal over his allegedly faulty products.
Germany
The Local’s top five features of 2011
While the economy was on everyone’s mind this year, The Local’s feature writers took an in-depth look at stories that may have been off the radar. We’ve picked some of our favourites.