offbeat

German firm fights years-long battle to crack Rubik's Cube

A German toy manufacturer is nearing success in its long battle to be able to make a Rubik's Cube all of its own.

tax fraud

Police raid Luxembourg banks and lawyers

A newly-created police unit in Düsseldorf has spent months investigating Luxembourg banks and their German subsidiaries on suspicion of helping clients evade tax and launder money, triggering a wave of raids on Tuesday.

Crime

Man tries to smuggle €100,000 in his shoes

A Bavarian pensioner tried to smuggle €100,000 of cash between Germany and Luxembourg by hiding the stash in his shoes.

Crime

Stolen data to be used to prosecute tax dodgers

Germany will prosecute tax fraudsters using stolen data it bought about its citizens who secretly deposited assets in HSBC bank in Luxembourg, the <i>Financial Times Deutschland</i> will report Friday.

European Union

Merkel vows not to 'abandon' euro nations

German Chancellor Angela Merkel moved Wednesday to silence fears of a eurozone break-up, saying that although some members faced tough challenges, Europe's paymaster would not desert them.