For two days ago, the pipeline "Druzhba" no more oil to Germany. Now search the local petroleum industry for alternatives. Help, a Baltic Sea tanker.
Schwedt - the pipeline "Druzhba" is also on Wednesday morning no new oil came to Germany. It said a spokeswoman for the PCK refinery in Schwedt Brandenburg. The plant has been given two days of crude oil no more about the "Druzhba". Background for the delivery stoppage is a dispute between Russia and Belarus on oil supplies to the west.
Today the company is now expecting the arrival of a tanker with 80,000 tonnes of crude oil in Rostock. From there a line to Schwedt. The refinery normally processes 31,000 tonnes per day, yesterday, production was slightly throttled. The supply was secured, however, said the company.
also affected the second German, refinery Leuna in Saxony-Anhalt, had shut down their production. Currently the plant running only at 70 percent, said a spokeswoman. When the "Druzhba" pipeline go back into operation, it is still unclear.
German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee (SPD) said today during a visit to the oil refinery in Schwedt, Germany was permanently placed, a delivery stop to cope. Security is neither today nor in the future at risk. Consumers and industry needed no bottlenecks in the fuel supply to fear. wal / dpa-AFX / ddp

By Hasnain Kazim, Anne Seith and Karsten silent The Germans still discussing how robust the recovery really is. But abroad you can see a lot of long benign on the location Germany. In the U.S. press as wiedererstarkter we celebrated superstar. Foreign investors are planning large investments.
Hamburg - If Gianluca Giardina, fund manager of the German Growth Trust Baring, Germany asked, he almost gets into the shoals. He had even in the last few months, many German companies visited, the mood was always been as good as the business prospects, he explained. Even in the former crisis-industry, construction, is going ahead and the labour movement was the first properly come. "Together with the strong domestic economy is therefore clear: The good economy will not be easy wegkippen. On the contrary, in 2007, in the Federal Republic of profits to get," said his überschwängliches conclusion.
While the Germans still brood whether the recovery is sustainable, is already abroad, the reactivation of the former economic Stars celebrated. The Wall Street Europe, "said the Federal Republic in a cover story this week at the decisive impetus of the pan-economy. Foreign investors bringhas been some time in position to the promising market in a timely foothold. Financial investors to buy pharmaceutical companies, parts of the telecom giant houses or stocks, Russian companies to schielen German city works. According to a survey by the consulting firm Ernst & Young under the 1000 managers is Germany as an investment location for the next three years as attractive as any other country. High-tech companies would probably be in Europe especially in Germany. Even in research and development investment in Germany will probably best off.
In the property sectorpounced foreign entrepreneurs for quite some time practically everything that is to have said Holger Schmieding, chief economist for Europe at the Bank of America in London. "They keep German real estate for completely undervalued," says the economist. At that office and residential buildings from the international perspective spottbillig, "while in Germany, prices remained stable over the years, they are elsewhere, after all, 60 or 80 percent shooting in the air." With the increasingly growing pickup in economic activity but also the value of real estate stocks, according to the calculus of many investors. "I see as a bit too much enthusiasm," adds Schmieding. But foreign investors were just being "euphoric" when it comes to Germany. "From my own power more attractive" quite as far will Dierk Mueller, managing director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, not go. In the U.S., "says one" on the upswing, but he explains. U.S. entrepreneurs have always been closer to Germany as an investment location believed than the Germans.
"There are good reasons for the enthusiasm," says Bank economist Schmieding. While in Germany the word "reform" by the words like "Jam" is, would you rather abroad progress. "Germany has been from the perspective of non-investors own more attractive," said Schmieding. Most foreign investors have many years of wage restraint of workers impressed - to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office indicate that the cost per hour worked in the past six years only by 9.8 percent. The EU average was 22 percent.
course, foreign investors are not blind to the problems in Germany: the wish list of Chamber's Managing Director Mueller about - the chief lobbyist of American entrepreneurs in Germany - is long. "In the health sector and the labour missing U.S. investors reforms, which also act," he says. "The first details are not so important" The rigid structures on the Jobmarkt are just Americans obviously still a deterrent. Economics Nobel Prize winner Edmund Phelbs said in an interview in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung "does he wonder, why anyone invested in Germany:" The participation, protection against dismissal - all that is harmful, "he said and called for a radical reform of the whole economic system .
But despite all the criticism - even in the rigid structures for his almost legendary German labour market had in recent years, new perspectives opened, holds Schmieding against. And these new opportunities are finally for many entrepreneurs is crucial. "Above all, the boom time work, in the strict employment rules do not apply, offers new opportunities", said Schmieding. The forthcoming corporate tax reform will be positive signals, he also believes - so controversial in Germany. "A tax rate below 30 percent - this is just a sign," said Schmieding. "The details are just not that important."

The public prosecutor again goes against the pharmaceutical companies Ratiopharm: Today, almost 400 homes of active and former sales staff searched. They are suspected, doctors have lubricated.
Ulm - The investigators had already beginning of November the company's headquarters in Ulm searched. In today's raid it was gone, records, which would indicate that it "uneconomical and therefore improper prescription of medicines revealed.
Employeespractice in foreign service, according to the prosecutor an initial suspicion by doctors in cash or in kind to the prescription of Ratiopharm products and thus stopped the incitement or aid for embezzlement or fraud to the detriment of health insurance to have made a criminal offence.
The analysis of the seized material will take a long time, it noted. For more than a year the prosecutor Ulm against employees of the Pharma Group.
The manufacturer of generic drugs, called generics,
stressed that it was still a quick reconnaissance of the
Allegations interested. Ratiopharm, the prosecutor in
its investigations, as already fully
support. Still was not clear whether the
Relevant criminal allegations. "Therefore it is paramount,
as soon as possible and that this is finally resolved, "said
Ratiopharm. The company was convinced unchanged,
its marketing activities does not violate the criminal law to
have.
The public prosecutor's office in Ulm had its
Investigation again, after the
General Prosecutor's Office was previously the setting of the
Procedure undone. itz / AP / dpa-AFX

Now it's official: The German economy in 2006 has grown so strong as the past six years. The economic performance rose in comparison with the previous year to 2.5 percent, the Federal Statistical Office announced today.
Frankfurt am Main - The upturn was the gross domestic product (GDP) last year in real terms by 2.5 percent, the Federal Statistical Office reported today in Frankfurt. The increase was more than twice as much as in 2005 - because the increase was only 0.9 percent. In the boom year of 2000, the economy actually grew by 3.2 percent.
AP
construction workers (in Bremen): The German economy ran around in 2006 The upswing should also continue in the current year, but the value added tax increase to the growth experts estimate 2007 slowing to 1.5 percent.
the first time in five years met at Germany 2006 public deficit back into the deficit criterion of the European Stability and Growth Pact. The deficit was measured according to Statistical 2.0 percent of GDP. According to the information provided in the past year were 39.1 million people gainfully employed and therefore good 250,000 more than last year. With 0.7 per cent, this was the statisticians that the grßte increase in employment for six years. According to economists ran for the German economy as a whole round. The double-digit exports rose by 12.4 percent. Even in domestic ran glossy: Private consumption grew the first time in years by 0.6 percent - also because Vorzieheffekten before the VAT increase on 1 January 2007. The companies investing again thanks to good gains more (plus 7.3 percent). KAZ / dpa

Income millionaires often pay too little tax because the tax authorities to verify rarely - criticized the Court in its annual report. They bring any special audit in this class an average of 135,000 euro. In addition, the federal government verschwende billion annually.
Berlin - On average, the treasury in the year only 15 percent of Einkunfts-millionaires - this from today in Berlin's annual report of the Federal Court of Justice. In so doing, any special audit in this income bracket income of an average of 135,000 Euros. Between the federal states, there are also significant differences. A country annually check 60 percent of the income of millionaires, another only about ten percent. The Court asked the Federal Ministry of Finance to encourage countries to a significantly higher and more uniform Prüfquote to penetrate.
also criticized the Court that the federal government in spite of the prevailing savings rate remains up to three billion euro by senseless assisted projects and unwirtschaftliches action verschwende. Court president Dieter Engels warned before the grand coalition, given the billions of tax revenue the savings rate back up. "The good news figures are a first silver lining on the horizon. A silver lining, which may not be captivated, the unexpected blessing for tax purposes konsumptive use," he said. The tax increase was not a carte blanche for more spending. Steuerschätzer often expect too optimistic In another study, for the Budget Committee of the Federal Government was prepared to criticise the auditors also the approach to the tax estimate. This is reflected in several newspaper reports. The federal government should be the precautionary principle should be given greater consideration when the expected tax revenue and the budget einplant. The auditors would come to the result that the results of the working group tax estimate, based on the five-year planning period, in the past ten years by an average of 14 percent or about 30 billion euros over the actual tax revenue would have located.
Howevercertify the Court of the Federal Government, with the current budget and financial planning initial measures taken to ensure that they have planned optimistic tax revenue and related financial problems. Because there is currently no comparable medium-term growth estimate of other institutions, recommends that the Court, however, external expertise. Nor should the federal government to renounce economic and fiscal policy decisions and their possible effect on their overall growth forecast to be considered.
ase / dpa-AFX / ddp

The Bavarian consumer takes action against the headquarters Internet Reseller powerbox24.de and mediasale24.de - they have ordered goods are not delivered. The damage will be in the tens of thousands.
Munich - A large number of customers turned to the consumer because they are sellers in the goods against advance orders, but neither supply nor repayment is made. In Bavaria were 120 cases have been reported. Many customers already have the report, as consumers headquarters announced.
The shops are now gone from the network. Consumers Central assumes that there are many other stakeholders. It also advises these legal steps. The total damage could easily into the hundreds of thousands, said Petra consumer protection of the Rhine. Affected customers could be passed on to consumers headquarters.
To purchase online at no unpleasant surprises to experience advises consumers headquarters to great caution in the payment in advance. If you have a debit authorization to give, could the debit within a period time. itz / AP

The patent dispute against the Canadian BlackBerry manufacturer RIM NTP has already introduced a lot of money. Now bring the patent-holding against a new opponent in position. Palm should do with the Treo Smartphone rights are violated - and now pay heavily.
Richmond - The procedure is similar to the campaign against RIM. Palm said the accused had with his Treo Smartphone patent rights of NTP's wireless e-mail technology injured. Although NTP co-founder Doland E. Stout still an amicable agreement with Palm, but the action before a court in Richmond right now to provide the necessary vigour. The action is the last chance, "our intellectual property against further violations," said Stout of the New York Times
The procedure for Palm could be expensive. Because NTP does not only licensing fees for future claims, but also demands for reparations in the past perpetrated sponsorship injuries.
how serious the matter is not least the reaction of investors to read. The price of the Palm shares suffered a sharp shock absorbers after the message to the technology Nasdaq Stock Market had become known. The paper was temporarily by 7.59 percent to 14.24 U.S. dollars.
In March, the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry RIM a five-year patent litigation against NTP lost. Here, too, NTP had successfully completed a violation of its patents for wireless transmission of e-mails from servers to handheld devices claimed. The court had ordered withdrawal of service and the opportunity for parties out of court.
In comparing the counterparty agreed finally to a payment of 612.5 million U.S. dollars. An impending closure of e-mail service for three million users in the United States has been away at the last minute.
The patent dispute had in February even the government to spring into action, the Blackberrys for years in secret and security forces and to use an interruption of services feared.
mik

The optimistic growth forecasts for 2007 raise hopes for the labour market. The Federal Employment Agency estimates that under these conditions, the rate of unemployment in the annual average to near the four-million mark could fall.
Berlin - "We are currently a number of around 4.3 million for 2007 - with a subordinate growth forecast of 1.4 percent," said BA's Executive Heinrich Alt of the "Berliner Zeitung". If the higher growth could be in the vicinity of the 4 million mark.
economic researchers had in the past few days their growth forecasts for 2007 and even substantially increased rates of two percent are considered possible. Alt also said that a fall below four million expected until 2008. For the current year he expects a reduction in the average unemployment rate of more than 300,000. "Such a dynamic decline since 2003, there were no longer", said Alt. 2005, the average unemployment figure is 4.86 million. mik / ddp

Agreement in Ölstreit: After three Russian blockade flowing again through the Druzhba oil pipeline to western Europe. Belarus had previously requested the transfer fees withdrawn.
Minsk / Bratislava - The oil will return to Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary pumped, said the Director General of the pipeline operator Gomeltransneft-Druzhba, Alexei Kostuschenko in the evening. The resumption of deliveries corresponded to the agreements that Russia and Belarus reached had quoted the official news agency Itar-Tass Director of the operating company.
Getty Images
oil refinery in Schwedt: Three days gedrosselte production The pressure from the EU is not without effect remained. Russian President Putin and his Belarusian counterpart, Lukashenko had in the afternoon on the transfer conditions for oil supplies westward agreed. The Belarusian government had declared that it had the controversial transit fees for Russian oil again deleted. These charges were part of the dispute between Minsk and Moscow to the pipeline had led blockade.
The Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorski will now travel to Moscow tomorrow to deal with his Russian colleague Mikhail Fradkov concrete proposals on the future control of gas and oil supplies. This was according to official Belarusian figures in the telephone conversation between Putin and Lukashenko agreed. The investment in Schwedt and the large refinery at Leuna had Spergau in their production since Monday because of the ongoing blockade of the pipeline significantly reduce. In Schwedt, according to the speaker only about 60 percent of normal volume of about 31,000 tonnes per day processed. In Spergau were about 70 percent of the usual crude oil processed, as a spokeswoman for the refinery involved in the total group said. However, the verschafften their supply systems in other ways: In Rostock ran the information that a tanker with 80,000 tonnes of crude oil that has a different pipeline to be pumped Schwedt. The plant in turn should Spergau from crude oil deliveries to the port of Gdansk supply. Moscow on Monday had oil supplies in the direction of the Western Europe through Belarus extending "Druzhba" pipeline stopped. Russia raised the accusation that Belarus supplies have already been interrupted to oil for its own purposes abzuzweigen. The blockade was preceded by a dispute between the two countries to gas and oil supplies. Russia had earlier this year in the gas price for Belarus doubled and an oil delivery tax. Minsk then raised the transit tax on Russian oil, which in turn by Moscow described as unacceptable. reh / mik / AP / AFP / dpa

Nothing was more: In the port of Hamburg today, all cranes stood still. Ships waited in vain to be loaded and unloaded to be, because more than 2000 employees of state port company against a partial privatization protested.
Hamburg - The envelope in the port of Hamburg for one day by workers' protests largely come to a standstill. At the container terminals and other port facilities in the state company HHLA was nothing more today, because more than 2000 people at a Protestzug made to the company headquarters. A company spokesman confirmed that 6 to 15 clock was not working. "There are some delays and delays, but we will in the coming days to process"; HHLA said the spokesman. The company handles about two-thirds of the total Containerumschlages in Hamburg, the port achtgrßten the world.
DPA
protest at the port of Hamburg: Nine hours everything was still Background of the protests are privatisation plans of the Hamburg Senate for the state HHLA. "The mood is very irritated. Colleagues are afraid for their jobs. And they will not give up a fight," said the chairman of the HHLA works council, Arno Muenster. In the resistance against the privatization agree with it "nothing more". The Senate wants to 49.9 percent of the shares sold to investors. According to the Economic Authority, several interested reported in 2007 are concrete offers.
The city wants to get investors, to companies money for upcoming investment of 1.2 billion euros. The HHLA plans more than a doubling of the envelope from the current eight million containers per year to 18 million in 2015. This requires that large-scale installations in expanded. For some years the booming port, shipping benefited from the strong global economy and hence the high exports from Germany. Hamburg faces the financing overwhelmed The city of Hamburg is to have not been able to simultaneously HHLA investment and expansion as the roads and rails in the port to pay. According to Economic Affairs Senator Gunnar Uldall (CDU) will be voting for the expansion of transport infrastructure, a three-million amount. That would overtax HHLA and city. A company spokesman said, however, the company could at least until 2011 the planned investments on their own pay. The company's management is loud speakers for an IPO of voting preferred shares. This could be the city retain complete control. The opposition SPD and the unions reject the partial privatization. At the end of 2005 wanted to train in HHLA well as the corporate headquarters move to Hamburg. Such plans were approved by the federal government stopped.
last had a strike in January in the port of Hamburg. At that time, the port employees protested against a new EU directive, the validity of port licences time limit and reduce the port dues. Previously, there had been recent port strike in Hamburg in 1978, when the workers demanded more money. KAZ / AP / dpa