Late stage clinical trials of German firm Bayer AG’s cancer treatment oral drug Nexavar, co-developed with US based Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. failed to meet its primary goal of extending the lives of patients having an advanced form of lung cancer, including its secondary goal of so-called progression-free survival, in patients with non-squamous, non-small-cell lung cancer.

Researchers believe it is pointless for those who are habitual coffee drinkers to use it as a quick pick-me-up.

Experts have discovered those with a high caffeine intake to develop a tolerance to its stimulatory effects.

Volkswagen AG, the German manufacturer of cars, on Wednesday delighted everyone by reporting a whopping 95% rise in its first-quarter earnings, adding that the company is now expecting its deliveries, revenue and operating profits for the ongoing year to go much beyond the levels hit during 2009.

The discovery of bacteria B. cepacia in a small amount of Procter & Gamble Co.’s (P&G) Vicks Sinex nasal spray products manufactured at its Gross Gerau plant in Germany and sold in the United States, has affected a voluntary recall of 120,000 bottles of the same.

According to P&G, no illnesses have been reported so far, but the bacteria can cause serious infections in those with compromised immune systems or those who have cystic fibrosis, a chronic lung condition.

One of Germany's top ranked and biggest reinsurers, Hannover Re, has released a third quarter profit report which has managed to beat all estimates by the analysts and has led the company to nudge its full-year earnings forecast higher. The facts that write-downs' on equities were not repeated and America was hit by no major hurricanes have been credited by the firm for the profits.

German researchers reporting in Science say it is possible for the 'placebo effect' or fake procedure to help treat pain. Traditionally, the placebo effect has been viewed as a psychological phenomenon.

When a person experiences the placebo effect, it means they are responding to an inactive drug that does not contain anything helpful and is not supposed to affect their condition. Considered a purely psychological effect, the brain under the impression it is getting real help, rallies around and beings about an improvement in their condition.

The ancient Egyptian bust of Queen Nefertiti has been moved back to the Berlin museum which exhibited it before the Second World War, culture officials said Monday.

Egypt has repeatedly demanded the return of the exquisite female head, which was found during an archaeological dig near Amarna in 1913 and acquired by a German collector and businessman, James Simon.

He gave it to Berlin's Egyptian collection on permanent loan.

Nick Hornby’s previous book ‘High Fidelity’ was about the seductive power of pop music, while in ‘Fever Pitch’ he wrote about how a hobby can become an obsession. In his new novel ‘Juliet, Naked” he has married the two themes so perfectly, it should be called by a smash-up name, such as, ‘High Pitch, Anyone?’

However, like so much of the book, it’s title ‘Juliet, Naked’ is just right.