Flocke Gets Russian Comrade

But Americans aren't so amusing, either

(NEWSER) - Maybe something’s just lost in translation: A poll of 30,000 people in 15 countries found Germany to be the world’s most unfunny country. But we’re not so amusing either: Russia and Turkey came in as the second and third least-funny, while Britain and the US rounded out the top five. Responders said they saw Germany as being more interested in reason and efficiency than jokes. More»

(NEWSER) - The Berlin Zoo’s prized polar bear, Knut, isn’t going anywhere, Der Spiegel reports. Officials there will pay $600,000 to a rival zoo to settle an ownership dispute. Given Knut's bankability as a bona fide world star, it's a bargain. The bear, not yet 3 years old, is estimated to have brought the Berlin zoo $7.4 million since his birth. His image and trademark are worth an estimated $8.3 million. More»

German leader echoes 'global zero' aim

(AP) - Russian PM Vladimir Putin says his country is willing to abandon nuclear weapons if the US and all other nuclear-armed countries do the same. Putin was speaking at a meeting with Germany's foreign minister, who said earlier that the idea of scrapping nuclear arms altogether was a real prospect. The US and Russia previously agreed to draft a new treaty to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. More»

US, Russia, Norway, Denmark and Canada sign joint statement on bear population

(NEWSER) - Five nations whose land is home to polar bears signed a joint statement today declaring global warming to be the biggest threat to the animals, AFP reports. Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the US agree that “long-term conservation of polar bears depends upon successful mitigation of climate change,” the statement said. More»

Polar bear under contract with different German zoo

(NEWSER) - The world's favorite polar bear may be bidding auf wiedersehen to the Berlin Zoo. Cuddly tourist attraction Knut actually belongs to the north German zoo his father came from, and a move is expected in the first half of 2009. "We entered into a contract which stated that the first surviving cub is owned by Neumuenster Zoo," said the Berlin Zoo's director. But Berlin officials want to keep Knut—and the extra $6.3 million he pulled in last year, the BBC reports. More»