Animal sex abuse is on the rise in Germany, with bestiality brothels being set up across the country, according to a state animal protection officer demanding stronger laws to protect mankind's furry and feathered friends....read this

Hamburg city is suing the firm building its landmark new concert hall for going tens of millions of euros over-budget and being at least four years late....read this

As Europe continues to fumble its way through its debt crisis, can Germany's reforms from a decade ago really serve as an example for the rest of the Continent? The Local's Marc Young look back to see an agenda for the future....read this

As German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrapped up her visit to China on Friday, the Asian giant's leaders promised they had no intention to "buy Europe," amid concerns over growing Chinese investment in debt-stricken eurozone economies....read this

The United Nations' highest court declared Friday that modern day Germany isn't responsible for Nazi war crimes in Italy, saying Rome breached international laws when its courts allowed compensation claims to be made....read this

Critics of disgraced former German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg hit him in the face with a big cake on Thursday night, while he was meeting a Pirate Party politician in a Berlin café....read this

Most Germans now want President Christian Wulff to resign, as the flow of allegations over his behaviour and investigations into his relationships with businesses continues to damage his credibility....read this

The US military will close bases at Bamberg and Schweinfurt in the German state of Bavaria by 2015 as part of a planned drawdown of its forces stationed in Europe....read this

A 35-year-old man who deliberately drove the wrong way down a south German motorway and crashed head-on into a car, killing one person has been jailed for 12 years but may be held indefinitely under preventative detention rules....read this

An alliance of public transportation providers in Germany has called fare dodging a national epidemic and is demanding higher fines up to EUR 120 for repeat offenders....read this

Germany's public transportation largely operates on the honour system, which makes fare dodging easy. Should fines be raised for freeloaders riding without a valid ticket? Have your say....read this

Macho German football legend Rudi Assauer says he has Alzheimer's Disease, an admission one expert told The Local could help stoke discussion of an illness still considered taboo in many circles....read this

As a homeless man was found frozen to death on a bench in northern Germany on Thursday, authorities across the country called for people to show compassion for those in danger from the harsh weather....read this

NATO will locate the command centre for its missile shield at the US airbase Ramstein in Germany, a base spokesman confirmed on Thursday....read this

This Week's Highlights: Burlesque in Hamburg, children's theatre in Nuremberg, and an exhibition in Berlin examines the dark side of technology....read this