Travelling to Germany’s heart of darkness
In the latest installment of Portnoy’s Stammtisch, The Local’s column about life in Germany, Portnoy ventures into the country’s heart of darkness.
Day: November 1, 2010
Deutsche Bahn to reduce freight train noise with ‘whisper brakes’
German national rail provider Deutsche Bahn has announced that it will outfit its freight train fleet with quieter brakes in an effort to cut noise and the costs of protective walls in residential areas.
Sinkhole swallows car
A large sinkhole opened up overnight in the middle of residential area in Thuringia, sucking a nearby car and part of a garage into its depths and forcing authorities to evacuate residents, police said on Monday.
Aachen stinks
A mysterious stench has plagued the western German city of Aachen for much of the past year, but neither city officials nor scientists have been able to determine the foul odour's source.
Flight ban extended to Yemeni passenger jets
Germany has extended a ban on air freight from Yemen to passenger flights, a Transport Ministry spokesman said Monday, after parcel bombs posted in that country were found on US-bound cargo flights.
Merkel: Public service needs more immigrants
Only two weeks after saying attempts to forge a multicultural society had failed, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for more immigrants in the country's civil service and deplored discrimination in employment.
TV licence fee collector fined for Nazi salute
A woman collecting Germany's GEZ public broadcasting licence fees in Ulm has reportedly been fined after a dispute with a pub owner escalated and she made racist comments and a Nazi salute.
Röttgen to lead North Rhine-Westphalia CDU
German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen was elected leader of the conservative Christian Democrats in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday, a victory party members expect will increase his standing in Berlin too.
Dortmund back at Bundesliga top after beating Mainz
Borussia Dortmund returned to the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday after a hard-earned 2-0 win at title-rivals Mainz with the winning goals coming from teenager Mario Götze and striker Lucas Barrios.