Berlin  - Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat was believed to have been stranded in Germany on Thursday after demonstrators invaded both of Bangkok's airports, forcing a cancellation of flights.

Flights from Europe to Bangkok by Thai Airways International and other airlines were cancelled as a result. Bangkok aviation authorities agreed on Thursday to open the U-Tapao Air Force Base as an alternative.

Sompong's presence in Germany could not be confirmed, since he was not visiting the country as an official guest.

Berlin  - German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned Indian Prime Minister

Berlin - Germany set up a crisis office and sent a team of psychologists to India Thursday to counsel victims of the terrorist attacks which have killed at least 101 people in Mumbai.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier "most sharply" condemned the attackers.

At his ministry in Berlin, a crisis office was handling the German response, and extra staff were deployed to the German Consulate General in Mumbai.

Berlin - European economic sentiment slumped to an historic low in November, a key indicator released Thursday showed, amid signs that the slowdown in the global economy is gaining momentum.

The European Commission's closely watched economic sentiment indicator for the 15-member eurozone fell more-than-forecast by 5.1 points to 74.9 in November from
80.4 in October.

The indicator now stands at its lowest level since August 1993.

Its release follows the commission's announcement Wednesday of a 200-billion-euro (259-billion-dollar) stimulus package aimed at helping the European economy to limp through the current economic downturn which has been triggered by the world's financial crisis.

Hamburg  - Nordic combined skiing has undergone a complete overhaul to raise its popularity but has lost its superstar Hannu Manninen when the World Cup season starts on Saturday.

Manninen, 30, announced his retirement in May, quitting after a poor 2007-08 season. He is the sport's most decorated athlete with four World Cup trophies 2004-2007, a record 45 race wins, a sprint world title and team golds at worlds and Olympics.

The Finn will now watch from the sidelines as the sport twinning ski-jumping and cross-country skiing has changed face again for popularity and television reasons.

Berlin  - Families grow from one generation to the next and frequently pass some problems along in the process.

Grandma's eating disorder can be noticed in one of the grandchildren, fears or compulsions, inclinations toward addictions or depression - and often such individual problems become family problems.

Whether inherited from a distant relative, passed down directly or passively brought out, the traits that grip some families can hardly be comprehended by the those affected. A family therapist can provide help and information about such unknown hereditary processes.

Bulimia, panic attacks, addition to alcohol or violent personalities are some of the difficulties that families face together.