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Changes Spice Up Northern Europe in 2012
Travelers to Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia will encounter their share of renovations, red tape, and reinvigorated neighborhoods and sights this year
Brussels Agreements Increase German Role in EU
The great economic crisis has given birth to a smaller and tighter monetary union in Europe, under the influence of a Germany that is undergoing a certain estrangement from its European partners. This amounts to a possibly dangerous wager on what the European Union will ultimately become
2012 could be the make-or-break moment for the embattled eurozone. Europe could either continue on the path of ever-greater integration - or return to being a regional group of rival states.
The euro should now be recognized as an experiment that failed. The political goal of creating a harmonious Europe has also failed
More than any other place in Europe, Berlin is a work in progress. Over the last two decades, ripped-up tracks and a canopy of cranes have signaled its rebirth as a great city. If you haven't been here lately, you won't recognize the place
Germany's Ultimate Christmas Market: Nutcracker Sweet
Cradling a cup of hot-spiced wine as a hand warmer, I stroll through Nurnberg's main square. All around me are bundled-up shoppers and kids sampling fresh gingerbread, riding the carousel, listening to roving brass quintets, and marveling at the newest toys
Eurozone Rescue or Recession? Fallout of the October Package
It was short-term good news in that it defused 'the bomb' -- the possible catastrophe vortex of failing banks and defaulting sovereigns. The bad news is that it will induce a recession. Banks will create a credit crunch in trying to meet capital adequacy ratios, and the new austerity will create a fiscal contraction
Euro Zone Rescue: Deja Vu All Over Again
The crisis won't be over until the underlying flaw of the euro is fixed -- namely the separation of monetary and fiscal policy. German public opinion has to realise that the euro was built on imperfect foundations and that these imperfections must be corrected. Meanwhile, the Italian president of the ECB will need all his technical and political expertise to keep the Eurozone together
Can Europe's Divided House Stand?
Conventional wisdom has it that the eurozone cannot have a monetary union without also having a fiscal union. Euro-enthusiasts see the single currency as the first steppingstone toward a broader economic union, which is their dream. Euroskeptics do, too, but they see that endgame as hell -- and would prefer the single currency to be dismantled
European Union Leaders Reach Deal on Greece, but Worries Remain
European Union leaders have brokered a deal to reduce Greece's debt and hopefully stem the continent's lingering debt crisis. The deal is a major move forward, but it is still only one step in restoring stability on a continent beset by economic woes
European Crisis: Precise Solutions in an Imprecise Reality
The plans all are financial solutions to a particular set of financial problems. But regardless of whether they are realistic in addressing the financial problem, the question of whether the financial issue really addresses the fundamental dilemma of Europe -- which is political and geopolitical -- remains
German Parliament Approves Hike in EU Loan Guarantees
The Bundestag, Germany's Parliament, agreed to increase the country's guarantees on European Union loans to $284 billion from $167 billion
Germany and the US: Toward a 'Special Relationship'?
The history of 20th century American foreign policy largely surrounds efforts to thwart the designs of Germany to dominate Europe. But with a united Germany now the key player within the EU, has the time arrived for the US to forge a 'special relationship' with the European power?
Germany: The Beleaguered European Island
Many outward economic indicators still tell a story of German success. Inside, there are many signs of a troubled country lacking a strategic vision for itself and for Europe. The eurozone financial crisis highlights this vacuum - but the heart of the problem is political
Merkel: Europe Must Avoid 'Uncontrolled' Greek Default
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the 17-nation bloc that uses the euro currency must do everything it can to avoid an 'uncontrolled insolvency' by Greece
The Eurozone Debt Crisis: Why the IMF Proposal is Flawed
The IMF has recently suggested the recapitalisation of Europe's banks as the most prudent way out of the continent's economic crisis. This column argues that such thinking is based on a flawed analysis of the problem and is an unhelpful distraction at best.
The Crisis of Europe and European Nationalism
Europe was seen as a work in progress moving inevitably toward unification -- a group of nations committed to a common fate. What was a core vision in 2008 is now gone. What was inconceivable -- the primacy of the traditional nation-state -- is now commonly discussed, and steps to devolve Europe in part or in whole are being contemplated. This is not a trivial event
Germany's Rail Set to Run on 100 Percent Renewable Energy
Germany's railway company Deutsche Bahn has been criticized in the past for its lack of renewable energy plans. But no more. The company has a commitment to be carbon free by 2050
A Divided and Insular European Union
The eurozone fiscal crisis has called into question the future of the European Union project. Unwieldy budget deficits in peripheral eurozone countries have led to calls for the European Commission to strengthen the rules governing member countries, even as stronger EU members reassess the risks and benefits of further European integration
Germany's Good Fortune Tips the Scales Against its Neighbors
The excellent second quarter export and growth results reported by Germany have set that country at an increasing, and increasingly dangerous, distance from the other members of the European Union, with jeopardy to the EU and the euro
German Exports Fall More Than Expected
German exports fell by a larger percentage than forecast for October because of lower demand from southern European markets affected by the economic crisis
German Chancellor Warns Financial Crisis Solution Will Take Years
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pushed for stronger rules against overspending as the long-term answer to Europe's debt crisis and says the fixes for the eurozone's flaws must be written into changes in the basic EU treaty
Stage Set For 2012 Euro Cup Finals
The stage is set for the 2012 Euro Cup following Friday's draw that saw host Poland and Ukraine getting the top draws while Spain placed in a tougher group. Poland was drawn in Group A along with Greece, Russia, and Czech Republic
Europe's Crisis: Beyond Finance
Everyone is wondering about the next disaster to befall Europe. Italy is one focus; Spain is also a possibility. But these crises are already under way. Instead, the next crisis will be political, not in the sense of what conventional politician is going to become prime minister, but in the deeper sense of whether Europe's political elite can retain power
EU Leaders Announce New Eurozone Rescue Deal
EU leaders announced a new plan to contain the debt crisis in the euro area, after private banks and investors agreed to write off 50% of Greek debt from their books
France Teetering on Edge of Financial Precipice
France, like all of Europe, is caught in an economic tsunami, and France is teetering at the edge of the precipice. Every week, it seems, presidents and prime ministers hold urgent meetings searching for a solution, culminating with the G-20 convocation recently. Still, the problem grows only worse
Germany says it expects slower growth next year because of anticipated lower demand for the nation's exports
Better Ways Forward for the European Union
The European Union is presently a source of great instability that leaders have yet to tackle. This column argues the current policy response is misguided. The adjustment programmes are bound to fail to achieve sustainable budget deficits, and may result in an unprecedented destruction of economic activity
German Tiger or European Growth Engine?
What is increasingly apparent from the 2011 first half economic data in the euro zone is a widening growth gap between Germany and all other euro zone economies. The growth divergence (real GDP) is most pronounced between Germany on the one hand and Portugal, Greece, Spain and Italy on the other hand
Eurozone Manufacturing Slowing
Manufacturing in the 17-nation eurozone slowed down in August, marking the first time since September 2009 that the manufacturing sector contracted, according to a survey by Markit.
European Union Spending Cuts and Tax Hikes Hurt GDP Growth
A new round of second-quarter GDP figures shows slowing growth in the EU, which makes for a complicated economic situation, as reduced government spending can further stifle growth. Some economists say that, in tackling this dilemma, European governments are focusing too closely on their balance sheets and neglecting to propose real growth policies
The Castles of Mad King Ludwig II
Touristic, glorious, and romantic, some of Germany's best attractions are in Bavaria. My favorites are three of King Ludwig II's castles: stocky Hohenschwangau, his boyhood home; the nearby and fanciful Neuschwanstein, his dream escape; and Linderhof, his final retreat
Is Germany the New Safe Haven?
Germany, while still potentially exposed to the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in some of the peripheral countries like Greece, has the strongest economy in the European Union
German Unions Seek Return of Midday Napping Tradition
The DGB Confederation of Trade Unions sought the return of the midday napping tradition or siesta among German workers. The confederation explained that lunchtime power naps are good for the health and performance of employees
The Secrets of Germany's Economic Success
As Americans fret about persistent economic challenges, particularly high unemployment, a nearly opposite mood pervades Germany. Neither the economic crises in the rest of the eurozone nor the instability in the Middle East has dampened a deep-seated conviction among German business leaders and economists
It is important to understand that the crisis is not fundamentally about Greece. After all, Greece represents only 2.5 percent of the eurozone's GDP, and the bloc's fiscal numbers are not that bad when looked at in the aggregate. The real crisis is the more fundamental question of how the European continent is to be ruled in the 21st century
Chancellor Angela Merkel's Sinking Support
Recent German polls report plummeting support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, with Merkel's policies and leadership coming under particular fire -- especially regarding the euro crisis, in which she was seen as indecisive by a public concerned about its own national interests
European Union Funding Proposal Is Only the Beginning
The dramatic European Union funding proposal is an important first step. Next comes enforcement of tough fiscal reform guidelines, which introduces a series of new political challenges and risks.
What Happens if Italy's Economy Collapses?
While Europe panicked about Greece, Italy drew closer to the brink of economic ruin. No one was paying attention while Rome was burning. Until recently
Uncertainty Rises as Eurozone Crisis Deepens
With no end in sight for the two-year-old euro crisis, the question now is can the EU survive it while remaining united?
What made Europe a compelling political, economic, and social alternative wedged between Anglo-American free marketeers and Soviet nomenklatura is rapidly becoming a thing of the past
Europe, the International System and a Generational Shift
The financial crisis had its greatest impact in Europe, where it is triggering a generational shift. Since 1991, the idea of an integrated Europe has been a driving force of the global economy. Europe also has been presented as an implicit alternative to the United States as the global center of gravity
Behind Europe's Debt Crisis Lurks Another Wall Street Bailout
If you want the real reason for concern in the United States about what's happening in Europe, follow the money. A Greek (or Irish or Spanish or Italian or Portuguese) default would have roughly the same effect on our financial system as the implosion of Lehman Brothers in 2008. That is, financial chaos
Solving A Deadly Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis
Time is running out for EU leaders to put an end to the Eurozone crisis. This column explains how leaders could find a definitive solution to Greece insolvency, isolate solvent countries from possible Greek contagion, improve EU governance by creating a true European parliament, and refocus on a pro-growth policy mix
Exporters Armed Arab Spring Crackdown
Repressive regimes of the Middle East and North Africa had all the equipment they needed to quash Arab Spring protests, thanks to arms exporters
Assessing the Damage of the European Banking Crisis
Europe faces a banking crisis it has not wanted to admit even exists
Muliculturalism has failed. So said Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech in Potsdam last October. David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy both echoed her opinion early this year. But it is not easy to know just what they meant. The term is open to so many interpretations and used in so many different ways. Is it an ideology, a set of policies, or a social reality?
How to Save the Euro and the European Union
The European Union is in danger of compounding its ongoing economic crisis with a political crisis of its own making. Over the last year, crises of confidence have hit the 17 EU members that in the years since 1998 have given up their own currencies to adopt the euro. Markets behaved as though the debt of peripheral EU countries was as safe as that of core EU countries
Unexpected Revelations in Libyan Intervention
Events surrounding the military intervention in Libya these last two weeks, and what already has happened in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain, and what continues elsewhere in the region, have produced two unplanned but important results.
Thilo Sarrazin's book is still a runaway bestseller in Germany. The book makes an apocalyptic argument -- that immigrants are destroying Germany. In Sarrazin's view, most of the country's large Arab and Turkish populations are not just unwilling but also unable to integrate, and the nation must take urgent steps, starting with a radical overhaul of its welfare system, to avoid a hastening demise
Among their other headaches, some of Europe's biggest leaders are troubled by the lukewarm state of their countries' melting pots. A combination of economic recession, terrorism fears and electoral politics has made scapegoats out of immigrants and government multiculturalism policies
What's New in Germany and Austria for 2011
Shoring up the old while ushering in the new, Germany and Austria invests major bucks to renovate sights, improve transit hubs, and bring soaring viewpoints and opera within easy reach of the public.
Franco-German Call for Change in the EU Meets with Much Opposition
The European Union's leaders, Germany and France, decided to try to change the EU's Lisbon Treaty. This is a highly charged and divisive move. While the Germans and French want important changes, a large number of the other 25 members do not
Multiculturalism has completely failed. That's the assessment of Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, in a recent speech before the youth wing of her conservative political party, the Christian Democratic Union. The idea that disparate peoples can 'simply live side by side and live happily with each other' has failed, she said. 'Utterly failed'
Greek Financial Debt Crisis Only Part of EU's Woes
Today's European crisis has been precipitated by Greece acting with possibly reckless honesty, and Germany behaving badly toward Greece. The latter a case of the pot calling the kettle black; Germany itself is running a deficit of some 3 percent over the EC stability pact limit -- promising, like Greece, to do better in the future.
Europe U.S. Allies in Europe Begin to Pull Back
Five NATO governments made it known that they want American nuclear weapons removed from their territory. They include the Benelux three, together with Germany and Norway.
ECB to help Greece reduce debts
Author: New Europe The European Central Bank (ECB) kept its basic interest rate of 1% unchanged on 9 February, following a decision by its governing council.
What are the markets hoping for?
Author: New Europe European capital markets have not been exactly convinced that the agreements reached in Athens, in the early hours of 9 February with the country's official and private lenders, will effectively guide Greece onto a sustainable long-term path, both as far as growth and making sovereign debt manageable are concerned.
Athens agrees with troika: Eurogroup to finalise deal
Author: New Europe After a long night in Athens on 8 February, the three political leaders backing the Papademos government in parliament concluded a seven-hour meeting with the prime minister.
Record German exports in 2011
Author: New Europe Germany's annual export in 2011 surpassed for the first time €1 trillion, after an 11.4% rise. This huge surge in exports helped Germany reach a €158 billion trade surplus, despite the rise of 13.2% in imports, which also reached a record high of €902bn.
Latest economic data released for Germany and France
Author: New Europe Financial reports show huge export surplus for Germany, while France's trade deficit hit a record high.
Athens decision moves closer
Author: New Europe The leaders of the three major Greek political parties are expected to meet Prime Minister Loukas Papademos on the evening of 8 February, to sign and seal or reject a deal to restore the country's creditworthiness, offered by the European Union, the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the country's banks.
Waiting for Athens to decide
Author: New Europe The leaders of the three Greek parties that support the Papademos government in parliament received the draft text of the agreement to accompany the new soft-loan package for Athens of €130 billion, early on 8 February.
Merkozy call for Greece to be placed ‘under control’
Author: New Europe German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have come up with a new plan for Greece – to create a 'blocked' bank deposit account, through which the Eurozone will pay for the interest rates and maturing bonds of the country's debt, so that Athens will not go bankrupt.
Further pressure applied for more Greek austerity
Author: New Europe Athens agreements set to test country's political stability.
Euro crisis and earthquakes slam Munich Re profits
Author: New Europe Munich Re, the world's biggest reinsurer, said on 2 February that profits plummeted last year due to heavy losses from both the Eurozone debt crisis and a string of natural catastrophes, The Local reported. Munich Re said in a statement it booked bottom-line net profit of €710 billionn in 2011, a drop of 71% from a year earlier.
Deutsche Bank profits fall as debt crisis bites
Author: New Europe Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest bank reported on 2 February a bigger-than-expected drop in earnings at the end of last year as the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis hurt business, The Local reported.
Merkel seeks Eurozone rescue in China
Author: New Europe Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has announced, during the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, that Beijing is "considering" contributing to European rescue funds.
Will ECB participate in PSI in favour of Athens?
Author: New Europe All this week, European financial markets have kept rising, discounting the probability of a swift Greek deal. From Athens to London and from Paris to Frankfurt, stocks have strengthened despite the strong negative political and social reactions in Greece over the troika’s demands for a complete deregulation of the country's labour market.
The Chancellor who played with fire
Author: Joschka Fischer
BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel should be happy nowadays: her party’s approval ratings aren’t bad, and her own are very good.
Good news…but only from Rome
Author: New Europe A significant reduction in interest rates was noted in the auction of Italian treasury bonds of multiple maturities on 30 January.
Germany
Artist compensated for two lost French fries
A Munich court on Thursday awarded an artist €2,000 in damages because a gallery lost two 22-year-old chips that were the basis of an artwork in which the fries lay across each other in a cross.
Brutal cold triggers reserve power plants
After exporting power to France earlier this week, Germany has switched on reserve energy plants amid surging demand for electricity due to the ongoing deep freeze hitting Europe.
Star cyclist Ullrich found guilty of doping
Germany's most famous cyclist Jan Ullrich was found guilty of doping and stripped of his third place in the 2005 Tour de France by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday.
Germany expels four Syrian diplomats
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Thursday Germany was expelling four diplomats from the Syrian embassy in Berlin after the arrest of two men suspected of spying on regime opponents.
Daimler books record EUR 6-billion profit
German auto giant Daimler, which own Mercedes-Benz, said on Thursday they achieved record sales and profits in 2011, but warned that earnings may be flat this year.
Berlinale opens with revolutionary drama
Diane Kruger stars as Marie Antoinette in "Farewell My Queen," a lush costume drama set on the eve of the French Revolution that will open the 62nd Berlin film festival on Thursday.
Rent-jumping family caught by police
An eight-person family that avoided paying rent for years by moving house every two to three weeks has finally been caught in the northern German town of Schneverdingen.
What's on in Germany: February 9 - 15
This Week's Highlights: The star-studded Berlinale film festival kicks off in Berlin, Munch goes on view in Frankfurt, and a ukelele orchestra sets up in Munich.
Sick pups found in van
German police this week rescued 92 puppies from a van, after the dogs had spent 13 hours being transported across Europe without food or water.
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Find movies playing in English in Germany with The Local's cinema guide.
Germany signs EUR 3 bln in deals with Kazakhstan
Germany and Kazakhstan signed agreements Wednesday worth €3 billion ($4 billion) to cooperate on raw materials, industry and technology in Berlin.
Drunken Munich U-Bahn train driver busted
A drunken train driver for Munich's U-Bahn metro has been relieved of his duties after being busted driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.2 percent.
Arctic cold wreaks quirky havoc across Germany
The bitter cold is wreaking havoc across Germany in unexpected ways, with the subzero temps freezing an ice cream factory, forcing gravediggers to use jackhammers and driving penguins indoors. But Hamburg is having a party.
Exports top EUR 1 trillion despite euro crisis
German exports topped €1 trillion for the first time in 2011, but fell at year-end as the eurozone debt crisis hit demand for goods made in Germany, official data showed on Wednesday.
Merkel helps boost conservatives' popularity
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives are flying high in a new opinion poll showing them garnering their best result since her beleaguered coalition took power in 2009. Germans are also more confident the euro crisis can be beat.
The Local - Germany's news in English
German news throughout the day from The Local
Germany expels four members of Syrian Embassy, cites Syrian arrest of Germans
Germany is expelling four members of the Syrian Embassy, citing the arrest this week of two men suspected of spying on Syrian opposition groups in Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement released Thursday.
Germany's economic recovery stalls
Germany's economic recovery went into reverse at the end of last year but the country still notched up 3 per cent growth in 2011 -- twice as fast as in the US and the rest of the eurozone.
Where in the world ... ?
[Updated 4 p.m. Monday, January 9] This is the Friedrichstrasse, one of the main shopping destinations in Berlin, Germany.
Jobless data show twin-speed Europe
The starkly contrasting economic trajectories of countries inside the eurozone were highlighted on Tuesday as Germany reported unemployment at 20-year lows while Spanish jobless figures rose for the fifth consecutive month.
Britain, Germany and France -- Europe's reluctant dance partners
In Europe, the English have a reputation. They are notorious for prodigious drinking at Mediterranean resorts, a complete inability to master other languages and the habit of recalling World War Two every time England plays Germany at football -- or when it's time to remind the French of their spineless defeatism.
Europe's debt: Pressure's on
Investors kept the pressure on European debt on Thursday as interest rates on government bonds remained at elevated levels, a day after a weak Germany bond auction rattled markets in the United States.
Germany thrash Netherlands in international friendly
Germany underlined their impressive credentials ahead of Euro 2012 with a 3-0 thrashing of arch-rivals the Netherlands on Tuesday in Hamburg.
Berlin car burning suspect arrested, police say
A 27-year old man has been charged with arson attacks on 67 cars in Berlin, police told CNN Monday.
6 foreign car-rental fees to watch for on vacation
Car companies in Europe don't think you'll fight arcane charges in a different language -- or time zone. Here's how to steer clear of the worst ones.
German coalition under fire for talks ahead of crucial vote
Germany's ruling coalition yesterday conceded that it was involved in talks about increasing the firepower of the eurozone's ?440bn rescue fund, even before Thursday's crucial parliamentary vote on changes agreed by governments in July.
Germany approves expansion of European bailout fund
Germany's parliament voted Thursday to increase the powers of Europe's bailout fund, as Greece's debt woes fuel fears of a wider financial crisis.
Germany backs greater powers for Europe's bailout fund
What is happening with the eurozone bailout fund?
Pope: The Church in Germany 'will continue to be a blessing'
Pope Benedict XVI said goodbye to his native Germany on Sunday, capping a packed four-day visit in which he met with political and religious leaders in a country that -- like many others in Europe -- has seen growing disenchantment with the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope straddles dividing lines in Germany visit
On the third day of his visit to his native Germany, Pope Benedict XVI made two stops Saturday straddling the lines of history that have divided the country violently -- in past decades into Communist east and democratic west and in past centuries into mostly Protestant north and stalwart Catholic south.
Guards fired at outside area of Pope's Mass in Germany
Two private security company workers were shot at with an air gun near where Pope Benedict was to hold Mass in Germany on Saturday, police said.
Pope in Germany 'to speak about God,' not politics
On his first state visit to his homeland, Pope Benedict XVI met Thursday with Germany's prime minister and president and spoke to legislators, but insisted that his purpose was not economic or political, but spiritual.
Raphael Honigstein: Rumors of Chandler switch to Germany are unsubstantiated
In a week that saw USMNT coach Jürgen Klinsmann visit Germany and talk about setting up regional offices throughout the world to seek out U.S. talents, fears have grown that the Germans might poach a player who's been turning out for the Stars & Stripes in recent times: 1. FC Nürnberg's Timothy "Timmy" Chandler.
Wishing for euro bonds? Fat chance.
As Europe's debt crisis continues to intensify, calls for a bond backed by all 17 countries in the eurozone are growing louder.
German bomb plot suspects to remain in custody
Two men arrested in Berlin on suspicion of plotting a bomb attack must remain in custody, a judge ruled Friday.
Police arrest 2 over possible bomb plot in Germany
German police arrested two men in Berlin on suspicion of plotting a bomb attack, police said Thursday.
Top 10 Berlin experiences
Fifty years after the rise of the Berlin Wall, and now 22 years after its post-Wall rebirth, Berlin is a scene-stealing combo of glamour and grit, teeming with top museums and galleries, grand opera and guerrilla clubs, gourmet temples and ethnic snack shacks. Whether your tastes run to posh or punk, you can sate them in Berlin.
More car burnings hit Berlin neighborhoods
A string of arson attacks has hit the German capital, with vandals burning dozens of cars this week, including an additional 11 overnight, authorities said Friday.
Berlin's 'poor but sexy' startup hub
On the busy corner of Torstrasse, a street in the center of Berlin's Mitte district, a coffee shop called St. Oberholz serves as a meeting point and co-working space at what's fast becoming Europe's hottest startup hub.
Euro bonds: Magic bullet for debt crisis?
Many key European nations share a common currency, but not a common debt load. That has to change. Now.
Weak GDP and sales slump weigh on stocks
All eyes are looking at Europe today, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy meet to coordinate a strategy for coping with the expanding financial crisis.
Is it OK to be on antidepressants for years?
Is it dangerous to be on an antidepressant for several years?
Germany lends Libyan rebels $144 million as fighting rages
Germany announced Sunday it has agreed to lend 100 million euros ($144 million) to the rebels in Libya for "civilian and humanitarian purposes" despite staying out of NATO's bombing campaign against Libyan government forces.
German E. coli death toll rises further
German health authorities confirmed two more deaths due to a virulent bacteria outbreak, they said Thursday, bringing the total number of dead in Europe to 27. All but one were in Germany.
Tons of fresh produce trashed in Germany
Fruit and vegetable company Werder Frucht has to bring in additional workers these days or risk falling behind. But the workers are not busy selling the company's tomatoes: they are busy throwing red, ripe produce in the trash.
Deadly E. coli outbreak 'limited' to Germany, EU official says
A deadly bacterial outbreak that has killed at least 23 people in Europe is limited to an area around the German city of Hamburg and does not require Europe-wide controls, a top European Union official said Tuesday.
German government approves plan to go nuclear-free
Germany's government formally approved a plan Monday to close all the country's nuclear power plants by 2022.
German-grown sprouts named likely culprit in deadly outbreak
Sprouts grown in Germany are the likely source for an E. coli outbreak that has killed 22 people, officials said Sunday.
Death toll rises from E. coli outbreak in Europe
An outbreak of a virulent strain of E. coli has killed 19 people in Europe and infected more than 2,000 in at least 12 countries, the World Health Organization said on Saturday.
U.S. screens produce from Spain, Germany amid E. coli cases
A virulent strain of E. coli that has killed 18 people in Europe has not affected produce in the United States, according to food safety and health officials who conceded Friday there's much to learn about the organism.
E.coli: Is my salad safe?
From milk powder tainted with industrial chemicals in China to eggs contaminated with salmonella in the UK, food safety scares are nothing new, but the latest -- a deadly outbreak of E.coli in Germany is different.
How serious is Germany's E. coli outbreak?
An outbreak of E. coli in Germany that has killed at least 16 people and left hundreds battling infection in 10 countries raises questions about what risks the infection continues to pose and what fallout it will cause.
Minister: Germany to go nuke free by 2022
Germany's ruling coalition has agreed to shut down all of the nation's nuclear power plants by 2022.
Deadly E. coli outbreak spreads in Germany
The outbreak of E. coli in Germany has killed several more people and sickened hundreds, authorities said Tuesday.
E. coli infections kill 6, sicken hundreds in Germany, officials say
An E. coli outbreak linked to some raw vegetables has killed at least six people and sickened hundreds in Germany, national and global health authorities said Monday.
2 alleged Rwandan rebel leaders face war crime charges in Germany
Two Rwandan rebel leaders went on trial in Germany on Wednesday on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes and being members of a foreign terrorist group, a court statement said.
Raphael Honigstein: Top 10 young German prospects
After signing a contract extension (until 2014) and tentatively solving the "Michael Ballack question" -- the Germany captain will have an unofficial farewell match against Brazil in August -- coach Jogi Löw has few problems left. The biggest one might be finding places for a wave of new, exciting prospects in the squad. Here's a projection of Germany's next top model professionals (under 22 years).
Is trendy East Berlin losing its edge?
At its home in a beautiful 19th century building in the center of Berlin, C/O Berlin photography gallery attracts 200,000 visitors a year to see exhibitions from the likes of Annie Leibovitz.
How a 27,000-piece jigsaw puzzle was solved
A collection of ancient statues destroyed during the British bombing of Berlin in World War II have been painstakingly restored and are being displayed.
Don't bash Germany for its trade surplus
Many politicians today criticize Germany for its large current account surplus, and insist that it be reduced. Germany, goes the argument, profited the most from the euro and should now stand by the troubled countries and give them more loans. Those who so argue show they haven't understood a thing. They blithely overlook the fact that both demands stand in contradiction to each other, because a country's current account surplus is by definition the same as its capital exports. It is impossible to reduce the current account surplus and lend more capital to other countries at the same time. They also ignore the effects wrought by the euro throughout Europe.
Interactive: Berlin for film festival goers
A sprawling, culturally rich capital city, Berlin has much to offer visitors -- and there will be no shortage of them this month.
Germany scales back some security measures
Germany is scaling back increased security measures put in place last November, but the interior minister said Tuesday the move doesn't mean the terrorist threat has completely subsided.
Police: Train collision in Germany kills 10
Ten people were killed and 43 were injured, 18 seriously, when two trains collided in eastern Germany late Saturday, a Magdeburg Police spokesman said.
Usher Walks Off Stage During Berlin Concert
The performer, who is suffering from an upper respiratory illness, will reschedule his European shows in March
Germany lifts quarantine on 3,000 farms in contaminated egg scandal
Lower Saxony, the state hardest hit by Germany's tainted egg scandal, has lifted a quarantine on 3,000 poultry and hog farms after tests proved negative for increased dioxin levels, officials said Monday.
More than 1,000 German poultry farms shut in tainted egg scandal
Germany is reeling from a scandal in which large numbers of eggs may have been tainted with poisonous industrial residue, leading to the closure of more than 1,000 farms.
WikiLeaks: Heated debate in Germany over nuclear weapons on its soil
A proposal to reduce nuclear weapons highlighted the debate within the German government about when and how to get rid of nuclear weapons on its soil, a new WikiLeaks document shows.
Dutch seek fugitive Nazi war criminal from Germany
Dutch prosecutors asked Germany on Thursday to hand over a fugitive Nazi war criminal who escaped from prison nearly 60 years ago, they said.
Germany closes off access to part of parliament building
Germany has indefinitely closed off access to the general public to the cupola and the rooftop terrace of the Reichstag parliament building, the parliament's press office said Monday.
Pope to visit Germany next year
Pope Benedict XVI will be making his third trip to Germany next year, a church official confirmed on Friday.
In Germany, evidence emerges of attack plans
Concrete evidence has emerged of a possible attack planned in Germany later this month and persistent efforts by Islamists to attack the federal republic, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Wednesday.
Sites of Berlin's industrial past get a second life
Berlin's old industrial landscapes may not be much to look at, but they are providing the perfect playground for enterprising city dwellers wanting to get out and about.
Why there's gold fever
There is at present a profound uncertainty about currencies. That is why the president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, created such a stir with a brief reference to an enhanced role for gold in the course of a plea for a more sustainable international exchange rate system.
Germany: Train carrying nuclear waste continues amid protests
A train carrying nuclear waste in Germany is back on the move Monday after thousands of protesters blocked the track by sitting on it.
Members of Hamburg group linked to European plot are back in Germany
Three members of a jihadist group who left Hamburg, Germany, last year to train in the tribal areas of Pakistan are now back in Germany and living freely, European and German intelligence officials tell CNN.
Raphael Honigstein: Germany vs. Turkey transcends football
Germany's match against Ghana in South Africa brought the first World Cup game with two brothers -- Jérôme and Kevin-Prince Boateng -- on opposing sides. This week nearly included an even more unusual event: 1. FC Nürnberg midfielder Ilkay Gündogan could have become the first player called up by two national teams at the same time.
Soccer match-fixing trial begins in Germany
Four men went on trial in Germany Wednesday in connection with a huge soccer match-fixing scandal that may have affected about 270 games across Europe and Asia, German court officials said.
Germany trials carbon-eating algae
Germany is often viewed as one of the most advanced countries in the world when it comes to protecting the environment.
City guide: Cutting-edge cool in cultural, hip Berlin
Once a city split in two, Berlin is now a thriving culture capital. Ever since the wall came down, it has flourished as a creative hot-spot, drawing artists and art lovers in droves.
Merkel: Germany 'culturally richer' following reunification
As the 20th anniversary of the reunification between East and West Germany approaches, the country's leader says Germany has become "culturally richer" as a result.
Berlin-based reporter shares city tips
Berlin, Germany, mixes the old and the new, the west and the east with creativity and culture. Once the center of attention for a worldwide controversy (remember the Berlin Wall?), it's now an increasingly popular European destination.
4 dead in Germany fire, shooting
Authorities in southwest Germany were looking for a motive Monday in an apartment building fire and a hospital shooting that, together, killed four people and are believed to be linked.
Shooting in a German town leaves at least 2 dead
At least two people, including the suspected shooter, are dead after a woman opened fire at a hospital in southern Germany, a police spokesman said Sunday.
Germany extends nuclear plant life
Germany will keep its nuclear plants in operation for an average of more than a decade longer than planned, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Monday.
From the Nile to the Yangtze: Sailing the world's great rivers
The life-blood of civilizations and natural wonders, rivers are one of the best ways to explore the world's most spectacular scenery.
15 killed amid panic at Germany's 'Love Parade'
Fifteen people were killed Saturday when chaos broke out at a music festival in Duisburg, Germany, police said.
Jonathan Wilson: Tactical trends that came out of World Cup
Looking back at what the World Cup revealed in terms of tactical trends:
Pink and Carey Hart Go for Bike Ride in Berlin
Tony Romo dines with Candice and Chace Crawford, Jennifer Lopez shows off the twins and more star sightings
Google, feeling lucky, tells German privacy czar to wait
Yesterday, Google dropped the ball on a deadline to turn over a hard drive full of illegally collected data to the German government. The misstep, it's fair to say, makes Google watchers wonder: does the Internet giant answer to anyone?
Germany, the economic vanguard of the EU
Ever since the Greek crisis came into focus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been accused of exacerbating it by refusing to commit straightaway to a Greek bailout. As Greece's uncertain economic picturepummeled global markets that accusation gained steam. But Germany may have gained an economic advantage in dragging its feet, and even now that it has agreed to the nearly $1 trillion bailout, the country stands to reinforce its position as the strongest player in the eurozone.
Perfume, chocolate and God in Germany
On the banks of the Rhine, Cologne is an urban Jacuzzi that keeps the Rhine churning. The city that the residents call "Koln" is home to Germany's greatest Gothic cathedral, its best collection of Roman artifacts, a world-class art museum, and a healthy dose of urban playfulness.
Rihanna Parties in Berlin Until 5 a.m.!
⢠After performing at Berlin's O2 World Arena, Rihanna slipped into something more comfortable - a blue and white striped tube dress - and went clubbing. The singer and 60 members of her crew partied until 5 a.m. at Puro Lounge, sipping champagne and Red Bulls and enjoying chocolate cake.
What's new in Germany and Switzerland
It's been 20 years since the Berlin Wall came down in Germany, and unification seems like old news. From a traveler's point of view, the business at hand seems to be to keep the economy going and visitors entertained. Things are changing in Switzerland as well. Germany's southern neighbor continues to impress me with the creative, constructive, and democratic ways it grapples with various challenges. Here are a few changes you'll encounter in both countries in 2010.
New Catholic child abuse allegations surface
Four Catholic priests and two nuns have been accused of sexually abusing children in Germany's diocese of Regensburg, the diocese confirmed Monday.
Criticism of Catholic Church is unfair
The rash of stories about priestly sexual abuse in Europe, especially in Ireland and Germany, has put many Catholics on the defensive. They should not be. While sexual molestation of any kind is always indefensible, the politics surrounding this story is also indefensible.
German monastery raided over child sex abuse claims
Authorities have raided a monastery in southern Germany as part of a probe into allegations that priests sexually abused children there, prosecutors said.
Police: Raiders rob international poker tournament
At least four masked and armed men robbed an international poker tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, making off with an undisclosed sum of money, police said.
1 dead in Germany school shooting
One man was dead and another man was in custody Thursday after a shooting at a vocational school in southern Germany, police said.
Renée's Quick Cosmetics Run in Berlin
⢠How does Renée Zellweger get red carpet ready? In Germany for the Berlin International Film Festival, the actress stocked up on beauty products during a quickie trip to the KaDeWe department store. Among her purchases: some inexpensive Schwarzkopf shampoo, John Frieda hairspray, Palmolive shaving cream and disposable razors. The actress swooped in with her chauffeur and a cup of Starbucks coffee, then finished her shopping trip in 11 minutes, onlookers say. Later that night, the actress stepped out - barelegged - to join the festival's jury for dinner at Münzsalon, a private club in the city's Mitte neighborhood.
U.S. military copter crash in Germany kills 3 crew members
A U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Germany on Wednesday, killing three crew members, U.S. Army public affairs specialist Bruce Anderson said.
Slowing down in Germany's Mosel Valley
During a frantically busy trip to Europe, I hopped on a train and slipped off into Germany's dreamy Mosel Valley, figuring that a dose of quaint, cobbled towns and storybook castles was just what I needed. The Mosel, located near Germany's western border, is the Rhine's peaceful little sister.
90-year-old man charged over Nazi massacre
A 90-year-old man from northern Germany has been charged with 58 counts of murder for the killings of Jewish forced laborers in the final days of World War Two.
U.S. alert over German al Qaeda threat
U.S. officials extended a travel alert in Germany and urged Americans to remain wary after terrorist organization al Qaeda posted messages in recent months threatening attacks in the country.
Team California shine in Solar Decathlon
The smile never came off of my face as we heard who placed third, second, and first in the 2009 Solar Decathlon.
Germany nabs second Solar Decathlon win
A university team from Germany has won the U.S. Energy Department's Solar Decathlon for the second competition in a row, officials declared Friday. In second place was Team Illinois, and third place went to Team California.
Going for gold in the Solar Decathlon
For two weeks the National Mall in Washington D.C. has been transformed into a boulevard of homes of the future.
German police arrest man on terror charges
Investigators in Germany have arrested a 24-year-old man on terror-related charges.
Germans arrest terror video suspect
A 25-year-old Turkish man was arrested Friday in Stuttgart, Germany, after he allegedly uploaded a video containing threats against the country onto a "known Internet platform," police said.
U.S. urges caution after German terror threat
U.S. officials urged American citizens in Germany to keep a low profile and remain wary of their surroundings after the terrorist organization al Qaeda posted a video message threatening attacks in the country.
5 dead as bus hurtles into ravine in Germany
Five people were killed and seven were injured Tuesday when a local transit bus crashed into a ravine in western Germany, police said.
Germany boosts terrorism alert level
The German government raised its terrorism alert level after al Qaeda posted a video on the Internet threatening attacks in Germany if this month's elections do not come out the way the terrorist organization wants.
9 children hurt in Germany school attack
A teenage student wielding an ax, two knives, and three Molotov cocktails attacked several children at his school in southern Germany Thursday, wounding nine before he was arrested, police said.
Plane makes emergency landing in Germany
A plane carrying a senior political leader and others made an emergency landing at the airport in Stuttgart, Germany on Monday, an airline spokeswoman said.
Germany's 'TV duel' turns friendly as election looms
There's a saying that the German peace movement has been using since the days of the Cold War that translates into something like this: "Imagine there's a war and no one shows up."
Beds made of hay are latest hotel craze
Holiday-makers around the world are facing up to the fact that, in times of recession, large travel expenses are difficult to justify.
Blind women help detect breast cancer
Blind women are being trained to use their sensitive touch to help detect breast cancer earlier and more precisely than doctors.
Germany: News & Videos about Germany - CNN.com
Find stories, videos, and photos about Germany from CNN.com.