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Europe **** 4 Upper IntermediateStories Checked for Students of English by Jamaby Seve stable after latest surgery Golf great Seve Ballesteros is back in intensive care after undergoing a fourth brain operation. (BBC News) Judge Rules Manslaughter in Death of Olympian's Wife A court in Heidelberg has found a 57-year-old man guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the traffic death of Susann Steiner -- the wife of a German Olympic gold-medal-winning weightlifter. But he says it didn't help. (Deutsche Welle) Conjoined twin dies after surgery One of the conjoined twins separated at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital has died, the hospital says. (BBC News) Ballesteros has fourth operation Golf great Seve Ballesteros is back in intensive care after undergoing a fourth brain operation. (BBC News) Conjoined twin dies in hospital One of the conjoined twins separated at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital has died, the hospital says. (BBC News) Many hurt in Spanish 'gas blast' At least 25 people are injured in a suspected gas explosion near the Spanish city of Barcelona, officials say. (BBC News) Infineon posts another large loss German chipmaker reports a seventh straight quarterly net loss because of falling chip prices and weakening demand. (BBC News) Latvia's once rampant economy seeks economic aid (BBC News) England stars 'set to shun tour' At least five England players have told former Test bowler Dominic Cork they will not go back to India for the Test series after the Mumbai terror attacks. (BBC News) German prisoners 'must have right to use beauty products' Germany's male inmates must have equal rights with female convicts to spend money on cosmetics, a court rules. (BBC News) German Paedophile Priest Seeks Resignation From Post A paedophile priest in Germany has sought the approval of Pope Benedict XVI to resign from the priesthood after admitting he molested boarding-school boys in the 1970s, his order said Tuesday. (Deutsche Welle) EU wants banks to boost lending The EU competition commissioner says banks that receive state aid should commit to lend to the real economy. (BBC News) EU citizens get duty-free boost The value of duty-free goods that Europeans can now bring into the EU is more than doubled, under new EU rules. (BBC News) Making a success selling ice cream to Siberians (BBC News) UK denies shift in euro policy British politicians are actively considering joining the eurozone, says European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso. (BBC News) German freezer baby mother guilty A German woman is jailed for more than four years for killing two of her babies and keeping them in a freezer. (BBC News) HSBC confirms 500 UK jobs to go Banking group HSBC confirms it is cutting 500 jobs across the UK, following a review of the business and the current economic conditions. (BBC News) No 10 denies shift in euro policy British politicians are actively considering joining the eurozone, says European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso. (BBC News) Venice is hit by serious flooding The historic centre of Venice is submerged, as Italy's lagoon city is hit by the biggest flood in more than 20 years. (BBC News) Venice warned of serious flooding Italy's lagoon city Venice is put on flood alert, with officials warning of the highest levels in almost 30 years. (BBC News) Cheap sex - the credit crunch is biting under the sheets As the credit crunch hits, Britons may turn to sex as a cheap way to pass the time a charity survey suggests. (BBC News) UK 'closer' to adopting the euro British politicians are actively considering joining the eurozone, says European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso. (BBC News) German Conservative Premier: Our Policies Focus on Achievers In an exclusive interview with DW-TV, Peter Mueller, the conservative premier of the state of Saarland, talks about why his party is best prepared to handle the current economic crisis. (Deutsche Welle) Radical Swiss state supply policy goes to the vote (BBC News) Will downturn push Danes to swap these for euros? (BBC News) EU calls for aid to poor nations The European Commission calls for more aid for developing countries as a major aid summit opens in Doha. (BBC News) Siberian oil town hit by downturn Just months ago, Russian officials were adamant that Russia was immune from the current financial crisis. Since then, the Russian stock market has plunged 70 percent, oil prices fell by two-thirds and the crisis has started to hit the real economy. (BBC News) Europe backs mobile roaming cap Sending text or downloading data while abroad looks set to get cheaper as Brussels backs caps on roaming charges. (BBC News) Russian rates up as rouble falls Russia's central bank increases its key interest rate to 13% from 12% and the rouble weakens by about 1% against the dollar and the euro. (BBC News) Hopes rise for deep ECB rate cut A steep fall in eurozone inflation and a rise in the jobless rate raises hopes that the ECB will cut rates sharply next week. (BBC News) Pressure good for Wales - Edwards Wales defence coach says there is pressure to win the final autumn Test match against Australia. (BBC News) UK Conservative leader David Cameron criticises the decision to arrest his immigration spokesman over Home Office leaks. (BBC News) Dutch 'internet baby' case opens A Dutch court hears the case of a Dutch couple's alleged illegal adoption of a baby from Belgium over the internet. (BBC News) France to offer credit insurance The French government is set to provide state-backed insurance to companies who offer credit to the businesses they trade with. (BBC News) Will downturn push Danes to swap these for euros? (BBC News) Coping with the downturn in frosty Russia (BBC News) Russia's upper house of parliament backs a bill extending presidential terms from the current four to six years. (BBC News) Oil rises as Russia threatens cut Oil prices rise after Russia said it might join Opec in cutting output, and following a fall in the US dollar. (BBC News) Kremlin reform passes upper house Russia's upper house of parliament backs a bill extending presidential terms from the current four to six years. (BBC News) The UK government reviews offshore banking (BBC News) After Legal Fight, German Family Allowed to Stay in Australia A German doctor with a Down syndrome child has won his fight to stay in Australia, after earlier being told to pack up and leave. (Deutsche Welle) Can the EU manage a stimulus package across 27 nations? (BBC News) Russia murder trial judge queried Prosecutors seek the dismissal of the judge in the trial of three men charged over the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. (BBC News) Report Outlines Steps to Diminish Violence Against Women On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Council of Europe published a study calling for stronger preventative and victim-protection measures. (Deutsche Welle) Russia murder trial open to media The trial of three men charged with involvement in the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya is re-opened to the public (BBC News) New UK laws against forced marriages Anyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland convicted of trying to force someone into marriage now faces jail. (BBC News) Clinic says excess gaming 'social not psychological' (BBC News) Three dead in Russian car blast Three people die in a car blast in Russia's city of St Petersburg that may have been caused by a hand grenade, officials say. (BBC News) EU Committed to Boosting Aid Despite Financial Crisis The European Union said it is committed to increasing aid to developing countries despite the negative effects of the global financial crisis. (Deutsche Welle) Drug-free sport is Utopia - Rogge Olympic chief Jacques Rogge tells Inside Sport that hoping for a drug-free Olympic Games is "naive". (BBC News) |
