The Local Germany

Man tries to smuggle tortoises disguised as desserts through Berlin airport

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:47:55 +0100

A man tried to bring three tortoises into Germany by disguising them as sweet treats.

Merkel's coalition bickers over military and aid spending

Wed, 02 May 2018 18:02:35 +0200

Bickering broke out within Chancellor Angela Merkel's hard-fought coalition on Wednesday, as German budget plans left the defence and international development ministries out in the cold.

Unemployment at historic low despite growth fears

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 13:09:32 +0200

Germany kept unemployment at historic lows in April as the recovery in Europe's biggest economy remains on track, unfazed by global uncertainties and a huge influx of refugees, data showed on Thursday.

German minister blasts Jeb Bush's America

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 12:02:36 +0100

After US presidential candidate Jeb Bush tweeted an image that seemed to equate the American Dream with gun ownership, Germany's Justice Minister struck back with his own image of the USA.

Student is worst TV quiz contestant in 15 years

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 11:52:30 +0200

A 20-year-old student from Aachen had the dubious honour on Monday night of being the first ever contestant on "Wer Wird Millionär" - Germany's version of quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - to answer the first question wrong.

Leaders warn Russia to honour Ukraine pact

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 09:33:05 +0100

US President Barack Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders confirmed on Tuesday that sanctions against Russia would not be lifted until ceasefire conditions in Ukraine were met.

Merkel slams China & Russia over Syria stance

Sat, 31 Aug 2013 13:07:00 +0200

German Chancellor Angela Merkel hit out at Russia and China over their stance in the Syrian crisis, saying in an interview published Saturday that their action weakened the United Nations.

Bayern win Cup final to earn historic treble

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 11:46:00 +0200

Champions League winners Bayern Munich became the first Bundesliga team to win the treble after their hard-fought 3-2 win over VfB Stuttgart in Saturday's German Cup final.

Giant Barbie doll house opens amid protests

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:34:00 +0200

Harmless pink fun or a bad influence on young girls? A life-size Barbie dream house attraction opened in Berlin on Thursday to protests including a bare-chested woman burning a doll in effigy. Jessica Ware reports.

Opposition up in arms over Saudi weapons deal

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:48:00 +0100

Saudi Arabia is planning to buy German patrol boats for a total of around €1.5 billion euros despite opposition in Germany, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Merkel: eurozone needs growth as well as cuts

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:55:00 +0200

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated on Wednesday that the eurozone needed economic growth as well as deficit-cutting measures. Germany continued to register slight growth, while the UK slipped into recession.

Apple faces ban on iPhone and iPad sales

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:55:00 +0100

A German court has issued an injunction that temporarily bans Apple Inc. from selling or marketing its mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads in Germany. But it’s unclear whether it will have an immediate effect on the company.

US considered trade war over GM crops

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:36:00 +0100

American diplomats wanted to start a trade war with Germany and other European countries that opposed the use of genetically modified crops, according to Wikileaks cables reported by British daily The Guardian.

German army celebrates Christmas in Afghanistan

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 10:47:00 +0100

Bundeswehr soldiers on active duty in Afghanistan are hoping for a quiet holiday, though the situation in the Kunduz region is still too dangerous to relax.

Winnenden shooter's father faces court

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:40:00 +0200

The trial of the father of Tim Kretschmer, the teen who shot dead 15 people and himself in Winnenden last year, started Thursday in Stuttgart. He faces charges of violating weapons laws by leaving the gun used in the massacre unlocked in his bedroom.

Guttenberg proposes trial period for new soldiers

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:19:00 +0200

Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Sunday defended plans to effectively end compulsive military service in Germany – and suggested new recruits should serve under a probationary status for six months.

SPD to form minority government in Rhineland

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:21:00 +0200

Hannelore Kraft, the leader of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), announced on Thursday she would form a minority government with the Greens in Germany’s most populous state.

Bremen firm wins EU's Galileo satellite deal

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:06:00 +0100

The European Commission on Thursday awarded Germany's OHB Technology a €566-million contract for 14 satellites for its Galileo navigation system.

Military filmed Kunduz strike from ground

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:25:00 +0100

German soldiers were on the ground filming ahead of the controversial deadly bombardment that killed up to 142 people in Afghanistan, daily Bild reported on Friday.

Guttenberg: air strike ‘militarily inappropriate’

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:30:00 +0100

German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Thursday said an air strike responsible for the deaths of scores of Afghan civilians in September was ‘not militarily appropriate’ and acknowledged it had been a mistake.