Germany edition

Bka

The following articles have been tagged with "Bka":

Child poverty decreases

Society: 26 Jan 12
The number of children living on state benefits in Germany has dropped significantly in the past five years, it was reported Thursday. READ »

At least two Germans killed in Ethiopia attack

National: 18 Jan 12
At least two German tourists were killed on Tuesday in an attack on a group of foreigners visiting a remote part of Ethiopia, the German government confirmed on Wednesday. READ »

Thousands missing over the holidays

Society: 26 Dec 11
More than 5,000 people – and nearly 2,000 children – are registered with authorities as missing nationwide, according to statistics released on Monday. READ »

Police plead for help in neo-Nazi terror hunt

National: 1 Dec 11
Calling on the German public for help, the authorities hunting supporters of the neo-Nazi terrorist cell on Thursday described the chillingly efficient plans made by the group to murder at least ten people. READ »

Neo-Nazi terror cell 'may have been bigger'

National: 18 Nov 11
The neo-Nazi terrorist group which killed nine shopkeepers and a policewoman probably involved at least two more people than the four already in the sights of the authorities, Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor said on Friday. READ »

Mafiosi tied to Duisburg massacre out of prison

National: 9 Nov 11
Three mafia members connected to a notorious shooting in Duisburg have been released from prison in Italy due to a technicality and a fourth man has escaped while receiving treatment at a hospital. READ »

DNA testing confirms German's death on Polynesian island

Society: 22 Oct 11
German authorities said human remains found in French Polynesia were identified as those of a German man who went missing two weeks ago – but said media reports suggesting cannibalism played a role in his death were unfounded. READ »

Suspected Russian spy pair arrested

National: 22 Oct 11
German Federal Police have arrested a man and woman on suspicion of having spied for Russia's foreign intelligence service for over two decades, according to a Saturday news report. READ »

Police release paedophile suspect pictures in desperate appeal

National: 22 Sep 11
German police have released photos of a man they suspect of sexually molesting a baby girl, in an appeal for help in identifying him – as they fear he may still be abusing her years later. READ »

Frankfurt dubbed Germany’s crime capital

National: 29 Aug 11
Frankfurt has been declared the most dangerous city in Germany according to still unreleased crime statistics for 2010, which apparently show the city had the largest number of murder and manslaughter cases per 100,000 residents. READ »

New campaign to combat ATM fraud launched

National: 18 Aug 11
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) is launching a new campaign to stop ATM fraud following reports that more than 100 Sparkasse customers’ accounts were recently compromised in apparent skimming attacks. READ »

Honour killings not rising

Society: 3 Aug 11
Researchers who have analysed more than 70 cases of so-called "honour killings" in Germany say they are not on the rise – and suggest that better integration of migrants could help in preventing such crimes. READ »

Economy primed for next decade but poor lose out

Business & Money: 19 Jul 11
Germany is in a better situation to cope with the next decade than any other major industrial nation, but the gap between rich and poor is increasing, according to studies published this week. READ »

Counterfeit euros flood Germany

National: 25 May 11
Almost 91,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were seized in Germany in 2010, a surge of 22 percent from the previous year, according to the Federal Criminal Police (BKA). READ »

One in three cash machines replaced after 'skimming' attacks

National: 11 May 11
German banks had to replace nearly a third of all their cash machines last year because they were too easy for criminals to manipulate, according to the Financial Times Deutschland on Wednesday. READ »

Al-Qaida suspects were 'testing shrapnel bomb'

National: 30 Apr 11
German authorities say the three suspected al-Qaida terrorists arrested on Friday were experimenting with building a shrapnel bomb designed to hurt as many people as possible in an attack. READ »

Cabinet moves to erase child porn sites

National: 6 Apr 11
The centre-right coalition cabinet has decided to remove online child pornography, burying an earlier initiative to block it by former Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen, dubbed “Censorsula” by internet activists. READ »

Police foil Dortmund stadium bomb plot

National: 31 Mar 11
German police said on Thursday they had foiled an apparent blackmail plot involving bombs placed near the stadium of football club Borussia Dortmund. READ »

Neo-Nazis face court for online radio content

National: 21 Mar 11
Eighteen operators of a right-wing extremist online radio station face a Koblenz court on Monday for incitement of hatred. They face up to five years in prison. READ »

Bank owes up to €320k for lost savings account

Society: 7 Mar 11
A German man has received an unexpected windfall after finding a 52-year-old savings account booklet set aside for him by his late father. A Frankfurt court ruled the bank must pay out the sum – now worth up to €320,000 with interest. READ »

Hells Angels wrap themselves in the law to fight against ban

National: 30 Jan 11
The Hells Angels biker gang says it will challenge any legal bid to ban it across in Germany – as far as the European Court of Justice. READ »

US must give access to student terror suspect, says Polenz

National: 27 Jan 11
The head of the German parliamentary committee on foreign affairs on Thursday called for the US to grant access to a student being held on suspicion of planning terror attacks in Kabul. READ »

Middle class shrinking

Business & Money: 26 Jan 11
Germany’s middle class has been steadily shrinking since the late 1990s, a leading economics think tank has found. READ »

German student held on terror charges in Afghanistan

National: 26 Jan 11
A German student is being held in the US Bagram air base prison in Afghanistan on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks, according to a Wednesday media report. READ »

Federal police merger faces growing opposition

National: 14 Dec 10
The recently announced decision to merge Germany’s federal police forces is encountering a growing chorus of opposition. Lower Saxony’s interior minister said Tuesday that the country's states would block the reorganization. READ »

Karlsruhe robbers thought to be evasive "Gentlemen" duo

National: 11 Dec 10
Police said Friday evening that two bank robbers killed during a shoot-out with cops in Karlsruhe were likely the "Gentlemen Robbers," who have stolen some €2 million and evaded police custody for the past 15 years. READ »

Federal police forces set to merge

National: 9 Dec 10
After 60 years of fragmented nationwide law enforcement, the two branches of Germany's federal police are set to be brought under one roof. READ »

Reichstag dome closed amid terrorism fears

Society: 22 Nov 10
Police have closed the dome and roof terrace of Berlin’s Reichstag in a dramatic security clampdown following reports that Islamists were planning a Mumbai-style attack on the building. READ »

Reports warn of attack on Reichstag

National: 20 Nov 10
Reports are flying through the German media that al-Qaida has sent armed terrorists to Germany to storm the Reichstag, take hostages and kill as many people as possible in a Mumbai-style attack. READ »

Suspected bomb meant for Munich-bound flight

National: 18 Nov 10
Namibian police have hindered a possible terrorist attack on a flight from Windhoek to Munich, federal police said Thursday. A suspected explosive device was found in a piece of luggage discovered as the LTU flight was being loaded. READ »

Explosive package seized at Merkel's office

National: 2 Nov 10
A suspicious package containing an explosive substance was found at German Chancellor Angela Merkel's offices on Tuesday and disarmed, the Federal Crime Office (BKA) said. READ »

Police expecting riots to greet next radioactive waste transport

Society: 16 Oct 10
Police are expecting massive demonstrations and riots next month when a transport of 11 containers of highly-radioactive waste is due to be brought from France to Gorleben, Lower Saxony. READ »

End to Oktoberfest marred by crowd chaos

Society: 4 Oct 10
Oktoberfest shuts off its taps on Monday evening after Munich's beer festival welcomed record numbers of visitors to its 200th anniversary celebration. But along with the crowds came chaos this weekend. READ »

Getting through a smoke-free Oktoberfest

Lifestyle: 28 Sep 10
The 200th anniversary Oktoberfest is the first to be completely smoke-free, thanks to Bavaria's new no exceptions smoking ban and solidarity among the beer-tent landlords. Ben Knight found out how the locals are coping. READ »

Remembering the Oktoberfest of yore

Lifestyle: 24 Sep 10
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest this year, organisers have created a historical tribute to the festivals of yore. Ben Knight slipped on his lederhosen for a tour of the nostalgia zone. READ »

Beer mug brawling spikes at 200th anniversary Oktoberfest

Society: 24 Sep 10
This year’s 200th anniversary Oktoberfest has proved to be rowdier than previous years, officials said this week, citing a jump in the use of the festival’s famous large beer mugs as weapons. READ »

Munich breweries reap Oktoberfest PR bonanza

Society: 21 Sep 10
Though rivers of beer are consumed each year at Oktoberfest, it's just a fraction of Munich breweries' overall sales. For them the festival is not just tradition, it's also a massive public relations event fuelling their international business. READ »

Barfing Oktoberfest drunks face taxi cleanup fees

Society: 20 Sep 10
Revellers who drunkenly vomit in taxis must cough up the cleanup costs, according to an Oktoberfest-related court decision published by a Munich district court on Monday. READ »

Oktoberfest kicks off

Society: 18 Sep 10
The Munich beer festival got under way Saturday with millions of visitors from around the world expected to raise a glass or two to celebrate the event's 200th birthday over the next 17 days. READ »

Oktoberfest starts 200th jubilee with historic party

Society: 17 Sep 10
One day before the official start of Munich’s 200th anniversary Oktoberfest celebrations, a special historical area tapped its kegs on Friday, treating guests to a nostalgic taste of the famous Bavarian beer bash. READ »

Munich brothel cries foul over Oktoberfest taxi driver bribes

Society: 16 Sep 10
Upscale Munich brothel Pascha complained this week that its competitors are stifling business during the lucrative Oktoberfest season by paying taxi drivers large sums to bring customers to their establishments instead. READ »

Oktoberfest all over the world

Lifestyle: 13 Sep 10
Beer in Palestine? Oompah music in Ho Chi Minh City? With Munich’s legendary beer bash Oktoberfest about to celebrate its 200th anniversary, Ben Knight takes a look at the impact of Bavaria’s cultural juggernaut around the world. READ »

Drinking culture: Oktoberfest gets odour-eating bacteria

Society: 8 Sep 10
A smoking ban at Oktoberfest means visitors to Munich's beer bash won't leave smelling like an ashtray, but what about the stink of sweat, roasted chicken and stale alcohol? One businessman has the answer: an odour-eating bacteria. READ »

Police demand tougher powers to fight child porn on web

Society: 15 Jul 10
Police are struggling to keep the internet clean of child pornography, with four out of 10 offending sites still accessible in Germany a week after they are posted, media reported Thursday. READ »

Hamburg police search for car arsonists after fiery weekend

National: 6 Apr 10
Hamburg police on Tuesday were searching for suspected left-wing arsonists who destroyed 10 parked vehicles early in the morning, as part of a continuing car-burning spree in the northern German port city. READ »

Police fear third wave of German Jihadists

National: 5 Apr 10
Anti-terrorism authorities are increasingly worried about a “third generation” of German Jihadists travelling – often as whole families – to the lawless tribal region on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, according to a Monday media report. READ »

Press freedom laws planned to protect whistleblowers

Politics: 3 Apr 10
Journalists who publish leaked government information would be able to protect their sources from exposure under planned laws to enshrine stronger press freedom, the German Justice Ministry has announced. READ »

Politically motivated crime hits record high

National: 23 Mar 10
A huge jump in left-wing extremist and anarchist crime has reportedly sent the number of politically motivated offences in Germany soaring to its highest level since records began. READ »

Number of Germans living in poverty surges

Society: 17 Feb 10
The ranks of the poor in Germany have swelled over the past decade, as a study released on Wednesday showed more than 11 million people living in poverty. READ »

Kurdish-German fights Iranian Interpol listing

National: 2 Feb 10
An Iranian-born German citizen is fighting to have his name removed from Interpol’s most-wanted list after allegedly being placed there by Iran for his work with Kurdish activists opposed to the regime in Tehran. READ »

Berlin residents at highest risk for poverty

Business & Money: 18 Jan 10
Nowhere in Germany are people more at risk of poverty than in the capital city of Berlin, a study released on Monday found. READ »

Neo-Nazi violence dropped in 2009

National: 5 Jan 10
Police have registered a significant drop in right-wing extremist violence for 2009 compared to the previous year, daily Bild reported on Tuesday. READ »

Vandals target Westerwelle's car

Politics: 15 Dec 09
The personal car of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has copped the fury of political critics, with unknown assailants sticking nails in the car’s tyres, daily Berliner Morgenpost reported Tuesday. READ »

Berlin and Hamburg attacks an anarchist 'declaration of war'

National: 4 Dec 09
Anarchists attacks on police stations and political offices in Berlin and Hamburg overnight were a “declaration of war” on the state, head of the German Police Union (DPoIG) told The Local on Friday. READ »

Police launch campaign to find terror suspect in Afghanistan

National: 15 Nov 09
Germany’s federal police have taken the unusual step of putting up posters in Afghanistan warning of a German terrorism suspect thought to be hiding in a lawless tribal region, magazine Der Spiegel reported Sunday. READ »

’Ndrangheta Mafia seen firmly established in Germany

National: 13 Aug 09
The dreaded ’Ndrangheta clan of the Italian Mafia has established a growing foothold in Germany, according to a report from the Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BKA) obtained by weekly newspaper Die Zeit. READ »

Details of brutal child rapist suspect emerge

National: 7 Aug 09
The suspected child rapist who turned himself in after police went public with their search is a 37-year-old who worked as a waiter in the mountainous Allgäu region, a Gießen senior public prosecutor said on Friday. READ »

Brutal child rapist surrenders to police

National: 6 Aug 09
A German man suspected of brutally raping children has surrendered to police after they went public with their search. READ »

German hostages taken to Somali mainland

National: 19 Jul 09
Following apparent difficulties in release negotiations, Somali pirates took three German hostages from the hijacked cargo ship Hansa Stavanger to the mainland on Sunday, reports said. READ »

German shippers’ pirate problems persist

National: 9 Jul 09
As talks for the release of the Hansa Stavanger go on, a German freighter captured by pirates in April, more German marine shipping companies are feeling the financial strain of the pirate threat in waters off the coast of Africa. READ »