Merkel calls for climate deal in early 2010
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that crunch UN climate talks in Copenhagen next month must lay the groundwork for a binding international pact to be signed in the first half of 2010.
Day: November 18, 2009
Utilities hiking power prices
Two German utilities – Vattenfall and EWE – announced on Wednesday they would dramatically raise electricity prices for their customers starting next year, blaming the higher cost of renewable energy.
Germany’s ageing population heading for massive decline
The Federal Statistic's Office on Wednesday forecast Germany's rapidly ageing population was likely to decline by 20 percent to around 65 million by 2060.
German spy on trial for passing secrets to gay lover
A trial opened in Germany on Wednesday with all the elements of a 21st-century spy thriller: the Balkan criminal underworld, betrayal of state secrets and careless pillow-talk to a gay lover.
Student protests prod officials toward education reforms
The massive student protests across Germany this week appear to have prodded officials to undertake educational reforms, including changes to bachelor's programmes and financial aid.
Fraud scam sparks growing recall of German credit cards
A massive fraud ring in Spain has sparked a growing recall of German credit cards, with customers of nearly all banks in the country affected. Some 100,000 cards been affected so far.
Museum Island
A "temple city of the arts" lies in the centre of Berlin on an island in the River Spree. The Old Museum designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and built in 1830 was the first building on Berlin Museum Island and the first public museum in Prussia.
Storm warning issued for North Sea coast
The German Weather Service warned on Wednesday a low pressure system over the North Sea could bring hurricane-force winds of 115 kilometres per hour to Germany’s northwestern coast.
Germany extends military mission in Afghanistan
Germany's cabinet decided on Wednesday to extend the mandate for its unpopular military mission in Afghanistan by one year, Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
Hesse to send juvenile repeat offender to Eastern Europe
A 13-year-old serial thief responsible for more than 140 crimes is being shipped off to Eastern Europe for a year in a dramatic effort to get his life back on track, youth officials in the German state of Hesse said this week.
Chelsea teammates Ballack and Drogba to miss friendly
Both Germany captain Michael Ballack and his Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba have been ruled out for Wednesday's friendly match, as the mourning Germans prepare to take on the Ivory Coast.