Germany beat Ghana to advance to final 16
Midfielder Mesut Özil's second-half strike fired Germany to a 1-0 win over Ghana on Wednesday and into the World Cup last 16 where archrivals England will be waiting.
Day: June 23, 2010
The daily World Cup roundup
The Local’s World Cup blog offers an outsider’s perspective on German football as Die Mannschaft goes for glory in South Africa. Don’t miss our daily roundup!
US Army announces base closures in Baden-Württemberg
The US Army on Wednesday announced a three-phase plan for further consolidation of its bases in Germany, reducing troop numbers in Mannheim and Heidelberg by nearly 1,500 over the next five years.
Hitler begged for car discount, letter reveals
An imprisoned and impoverished Adolf Hitler wrote to a car dealer begging for a discount on a Mercedes he had his eye on, according to a letter being auctioned in Germany next month.
BASF snaps up Cognis for €3.1 billion
German chemical giant BASF said Wednesday it would buy the specialist company Cognis for a total of €3.1 billion.
Brewer banishes Bud to crown Hasseröder official World Cup beer
German football fans nearly rioted during the last World Cup after FIFA and its beverage sponsors tried to force Budweiser on them. Ben Knight reports on how the popular East German brew Hasseröder became this year’s official beer.
Mixa backs down, promises to go quietly
In a dramatic capitulation, former Bishop Walter Mixa abandoned any attempt to claw back his old job on Wednesday and issued an abject apology to the people he had “not treated the right way.”
Growing ranks of smokers support ban
An increasing number of smokers support Germany’s smoking ban in bars and restaurants, according to a study released by the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) this week.
German aid workers kidnapped in Darfur
Two German humanitarian workers were abducted late on Tuesday when gunmen swooped on the offices of the THW group in south Darfur, a United Nations official said on Wednesday.
Holy division and cynicism
What is going on in the Catholic Church in Germany? Wracked by sexual abuse scandals, it has now decided to get into an ugly row with disgraced Bishop Walter Mixa. Paul Kreiner of Der Tagesspiegel doubts the pope can usher in a new era of reform.
Professor dead after vintage electric car crash
An Erlangen professor was killed when he crashed a replica vintage Siemens electric car this week in the Black Forest, but the cause of the accident remains a mystery, a media report said on Wednesday.
Löw predicts fast and physical game in Ghana clash
Coach Joachim Löw has warned the German team will need to strike a careful balance between playing a strong, physical game and avoiding yellow cards in Wednesday night's decisive game against Ghana.
Justice minister rejects driving ban for criminals
Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has dismissed a plan by state counterparts to introduce driving bans for convicted criminals, media reported Wednesday.
Windfall raises fresh calls for tax cuts
Tax cuts swiftly reappeared on the government agenda Wednesday following the unexpected good news this week that the nation’s finances were not as dire as they seemed.
Neo-Nazi leader loses hotel ban court case
Hotels are entitled to refuse rooms to neo-Nazis, a court ruled late Tuesday in overturning a complaint by far-right leader Udo Voigt against a Brandenburg hotel.