Officials approve fog grenades to protect nuclear power plant
Officials in the German state of Baden-Württemberg said Monday that they have given the green light to a novel scheme to protect a nuclear power station from attack: fog grenades.
Day: July 19, 2010
Cops don bathing suits to nab fugitive at pool
Frankfurt police recently traded in their uniforms for bathing trunks to arrest a fugitive at a crowded public swimming pool, authorities said on Monday.
Ice cream maker working overtime through heat wave
Employees at German ice cream maker Langnese are working around the clock to keep up with demand amid record summer heat, the company said on Monday.
Oktoberfest to enforce strict smoking ban
The proprietors of tents at Munich’s world-famous beer festival Oktoberfest have agreed to implement Bavaria’s strict new smoking ban this year despite having a grace period till 2011.
Father abandons boy at rest stop after family row
Youth services have been alerted after a German father abandoned his 14-year-old son at a Bavarian rest stop following an argument, police in the southern state reported on Monday, calling the incident “unbelievable.”
Merkel lonely at top as another ally departs
German Chancellor Angela Merkel looked increasingly alone Monday after another key ally, the mayor of Hamburg, jumped ship as part of a mass exodus of experienced conservatives.
Islamists offered way out of extremist groups
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has started an opt-out programme for Islamists trying to leave extremist groups, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière announced on Monday.
German media roundup: Hamburg’s democratic revolt
The decision by voters in Hamburg to torpedo plans to reform the city's schools sparked a decidedly mixed reaction from newspapers in The Local's media roundup on Monday.
Referendum voters reject Hamburg school reforms
Following the resignation of Mayor Ole von Beust on Sunday, Hamburg’s Christian Democratic-Green coalition suffered another blow after voters clearly rejected its controversial primary school reform plans in a referendum that could affect education policy nationwide.
Workers call in sick more often as economy improves
The number of German workers taking time off due to illness – particularly on Mondays - reached a five year high in the first half of 2010, according to new statistics by the Health Ministry.
Iran uses German bank to skirt sanctions
Tehran has used a small Iranian-owned bank in Germany to circumvent sanctions slapped on firms blacklisted for involvement in the Islamic republic's missile programmes, a newspaper report said Monday.