City News

German authorities are scrambling to contain and make sense of a surge in car torchings in the nation’s capital that have raised fears that the vandalism spree could escalate into the broader, more dangerous forms of street crime that have recently hit other pockets of Europe.

Setting cars on fire has become a popular form of class protest and petty crime in recent years in Berlin, triggered in part by tensions over fast-rising rents and other forms of gentrification in this relatively poor city compared with other major German cities. But the latest spate—including some 60 cars torched in four nights—marks a sharp surge in the arson attacks. While previous car burnings were largely confined to Berlin’s up-and-coming working class neighborhoods, such as Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, the latest spate has rapidly spread to its more affluent western districts.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel is on holiday in South Tyrol and, come what may, is planning to stay there.

That was the message from Berlin yesterday, where Merkel’s officials described the letter from European Commission president José Manuel Barroso – calling on EU leaders to extend the capacity of the bailout fund – as unwelcome and unnecessary.

“If we allow ourselves to play this game, we’ll be at it every 10 days,” complained a senior Berlin official.

Severe weather and a number of direct lightning strikes over the last few weeks have caused hours of power outages around Berlin and thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to the town’s electrical network.

Nonetheless, town officials have nothing but praise for how the power department has handled the situation.

“I think they’ve done a remarkable job,” said Mayor Gee Williams. “They’ve shown extraordinary dedication and confidence.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday in Berlin to prepare for a summit of euro zone leaders on the bloc’s debt crisis on Thursday, his office said.

“The head of state and the chancellor agreed to meet tomorrow Wednesday July 20 in Berlin to prepare for the meeting of euro zone heads of state and government the following day,” his office said in a statement after Sarkozy and Merkel spoke by telephone.

Thailand’s foreign minister met German government officials on Friday in an effort to persuade them to reverse a court’s impounding of a jet owned by the Thai Crown Prince, but Berlin said the matter was in the court’s hands.

German insolvency administrators impounded a Boeing 737 owned by Thailand’s Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn earlier this week in response to a lawsuit by a German company seeking payment of an old debt owed by the government of Thailand.

“Green glamour” is returning Berlin’s fashion week to the map of trend-setting capitals, just at a time when consumers are turning to all things eco-friendly.

Two major “green” shows are exhibiting at this week’s Berlin fashion week that ends on Friday.

They have recently been bought by Frankfurt Fair, the world’s leader in textile and textile-technology, sending strong signals for sustainable products in the fashion sector .

Tens of thousands of yoga fans are expected in Berlin this weekend for a huge festival organised in the German capital’s 1930s Olympic Stadium by one of India’s best-known gurus, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

The July 2-3 World Culture Festival is billed as a “unique celebration of harmony in diversity”, bringing together a hoped-for 70,000 participants from 151 countries.

The federal government has filed a lawsuit against New Berlin, claiming the city was racially motivated in rejecting a low-income housing project.

The 13-page complaint filed in federal court accuses New Berlin of violating the Fair Housing Act last year. It also alleges officials went as far a changing the city’s 10-year comprehensive plan to stop approval of a 180-unit housing complex, aimed at serving residents making 60 percent or less of the area’s average income.

Ethiopian world record holder Haile Gebrselassie will bid for a fifth Berlin Marathon title on September 25, organisers said on Friday.

The 38-year-old wants to use the Berlin event to book his ticket to the Olympic Games in London in 2012, organisers said.

“I adore the Berlin marathon. Here on a good day everything is possible,” the Ethiopian said in a statement.