Free Republic

Police are hunting a knifeman following a stabbing spree in Munich's central square, next to an underground station...... Munich police said that at least four people have been lightly injured during stabbing......

The world's biggest bierfest, as famous for its traditional legwear as its beer and sausages, faces an unprecedented absence of lederhosen after the Bavarian government refused to back down on plans to cut grants to folk groups.The prospect of drinkers in jeans and T-shirts packing the beer tents at the Munich Oktoberfest came closer yesterday after lederhosen wearers said that they would boycott the event. More than six million people are expected to attend the festival - last year tourism brought in more than €50 million (£34 million) to Munich and the beer festival is the highlight - but tourism...

STRAUBING, Germany (Reuters) - Dogs in the German state of Bavaria can now blend in with the local Alpine scenery wearing the same traditional attire worn by their owners -- lederhosen. Dogwear designer Hildegard Bergbauer, who also makes Tyrolean mountain hats and rainwear for canines, said the leather outfits were best suited for dachshunds and other small dogs but also looked good on poodles, spaniels and boxers. "There are lederhosen for the dogs and Dirndls for the bitches," she said on Wednesday. "The idea has gone down really well; people think it's a lot of fun." Bergbauer said some items...

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany can no longer afford state aid to help its yodellers buy Lederhosen, the Bavarian government said Tuesday in a sign of how drastically public finances have deteriorated in Europe's largest economy. "We no longer want to sponsor the Lederhosen with subsidies," Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber said, ignoring outcries from traditional folk groups, some of whom have threatened to boycott the opening parade of the Munich Oktoberfest, the world's biggest beer festival. The Alpine state had previously provided the 300,000 members of its folklore groups with half a million euros in state funds to help buy traditional...

BERLIN - Germany can no longer afford state aid to help its yodelers buy lederhosen, the Bavarian government said Tuesday in a sign of how drastically public finances have deteriorated in Europe’s largest economy. “We no longer want to sponsor the lederhosen with subsidies,” Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber said, ignoring outcries from traditional folk groups, some of whom have threatened to boycott the opening parade of the Munich Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival. The Alpine state had previously provided the 300,000 members of its folklore groups with half a million euros in state funds to help buy traditional Bavarian...

Lederhosen boycott threatens Oktoberfest party Tue Mar 16,11:43 AM ET MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - The loyal custodians of Bavaria's proud lederhosen tradition threatened to boycott the famed Oktoberfest beer party's opening parade in a row with their state government. Angered by the axing of subsidies, the German state's traditional clothing associations have launched a wave of protests targeting the ruling Christian Social Union (CSU). CSU lawmakers have been told by a number of associations that they are no longer welcome to speak at their functions. State premier Edmund Stoiber, a dyed-in-the-wool Bavarian who has pointed proudly to the region's cultural...