Anklam, Germany - Trichina worms, which infect pigs and cause a nasty rheumatic illness in humans, have returned to Germany, animal-health officials north of Berlin said Friday.

Trichinosis infects people who have undercooked pork containing the nematodes.

The worms were found at a slaughterhouse in a pig from a private home, veterinarian Holger Vogel said in Anklam.

Many area householders still keep pig-sties and raise pigs at home.

Berlin, Nov. 21 : Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has been dumped by his fiancée Sandy Meyer-Woelden.

According to Becker, Sandy sent him an SMS telling him it was game, set and match in a blow that "trampled on my soul".

"On Friday evening, October 31, I suddenly got an SMS from Sandy ... saying that this was it, that this was over. To make sure how serious she was she sent me five others saying the same thing," 40-year-old Becker told the Bild daily.

Bangalore, India - Sometimes, children just ask the more probing questions - even if it is on the world travels of a foreign minister as he faces such issues as the global financial crisis, Iran's nuclear programme and pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Instead, the public might like to hear whether globe-trotting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gets homesick or whether he has a favourite foreign land.

Twelve-year-old Berliner Antonia Dolla knows the answers. This week, she became the first child to travel with the official delegation of the German minister during his three-day trip to India.

Berlin, Nov 21: A unique three year research project has determined that there are more than 11,000 alien species present in Europe, that have biologically invaded the continent.

Known as DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventory for Europe), the research project, with more than 100 European scientists, provides new knowledge on biological invasions in Europe.

Biological invasions by alien species often result in a significant loss in the economic value, biological diversity and function of invaded ecosystems.

Alien species are plants, animals and micro-organisms that have been moved by humans to new environments outside of the range they occupy naturally.

New Delhi, Nov 21: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier who is on a three-day maiden visit to India to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee last evening.

Issues like current global economic crisis and environment protection are likely to be the focus during his visit.

The issue of escalating violence in Afghanistan is also expected to come up during his discussions with Indian leaders.

A delegation of businessmen is accompanying Steinmeier.

Steinmeier will inaugurate new German Consulate General in IT city Bangalore.

New York - German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung promised UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon assistance in the fight against piracy off the Somalia coast during a meeting Thursday in New York.

In dealing with the surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden the international community needs a clear operation plan, said Jung.

"Where German interests are concerned, we will ensure that a condemnation of the pirates takes place," said the defence minister.