Germany

Germany: Possible Railway Strike

Date: August 8th, 2007 |

A limited strike by train drivers planned for Aug. 9 was canceled when a court prohibited the union from striking until the end of September, but union officials appealed the ruling. If the appeal prevails, as some legal analysts believe it will, the strike could go on and would likely disrupt freight service and rail [read more]

Germany: Security Increased at U.S. Installations

Date: April 25th, 2007 |

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An unspecified threat perceived to be credible and serious by U.S. intelligence officials prompted the U.S. Embassy in Berlin to increase its security arrangements and to encourage Americans in Germany to do the same. Germany has increased security outside U.S. military bases and warned that U.S. buildings could be targets. Diplomats reviewed security at U.S. [read more]

Germany: Bombs on Trains Raise Concerns

Date: August 8th, 2006 |

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Two suitcase bombs found on trains July 31 have investigators puzzling over who planted them and why, and have generated calls for more security cameras at train stations to deter attacks on the railway network. Authorities do not know if extortionists or terrorists planted the bombs that were dismantled at Dortmund and Koblenz stations. The [read more]

Germany: World Cup Security Issues

Date: May 23rd, 2006 |

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As with all major sporting events in recent years, security is a prime concern for World Cup organizers and German authorities during the games that run June 9-July 9. Officials are confident that they can maintain security at the stadiums, but they are less confident about protecting other venues, such as big-screen viewing areas where [read more]

Central Europe: Floods Threaten Many Countries

Date: April 4th, 2006 |

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Flooding from melting snow and heavy rain threatened a repeat of the catastrophic floods of 2002. Floods forced evacuations in the Czech Republic, where a state of emergency was declared in seven of its 14 regions, in Hungary, Germany and Slovakia. Serbia and Romania were on high alert. Unlike the floods of 2002, the current [read more]

Germany: Tight Security for G8 Summit

Date: May 23rd, 2007 |

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Anti-globalization protests are planned for the G8 summit scheduled for June 6-8 at the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm. Police have banned protests within 200 meters of a fence that encircles the summit site, and also at Rostock airport. The main demonstration will take place June 2 in Rostock, and organizers have vowed to keep [read more]

Germany: Suitcase Bombs on Trains a Terrorist Attempt

Date: August 22nd, 2006 |

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Investigators believe that the two suitcase bombs discovered on German trains July 31 were an act of terrorism, not extortion, and they have arrested a Lebanese student in the plot. A second suspect seen on video surveillance cameras is still at large. Police feel the suspects are members of a terrorist group based in Germany, [read more]

Germany: Doctors Strike across Country, Bavaria and Baden Wuerttemberg Worst Hit

Date: July 25th, 2006 |

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Some 70,000 doctors in 700 municipal clinics have been on strike for more than three weeks and talks to end the impasse have broken down. The dispute is over pay and long hours. Doctors typically work 60-80 hours a week, double what their contracts specify, and often are unpaid for the overtime. The doctors’ union [read more]

Germany: Doctors Recommend Measles Vaccination for World Cup Fans

Date: May 16th, 2006 |

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German doctors are urging soccer fans coming for the World Cup that begins June 9 to get vaccinated for measles because of an outbreak in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia, where 142 cases were reported in the last week of April and 90 more the first week of May. A vaccination campaign in [read more]

Germany: Public Sector Strike

Date: February 7th, 2006 |

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The first public sector strike in 14 years began Feb. 6 in the southern state of Baden-Wurttemberg and will spread throughout the country Feb. 13 when the service sector union joins in. Union officials say they expect a drawn-out conflict. The targets of the strike are not tourism services or transportation networks but garbage collection, [read more]