Sun goes down on German economy as recession drags on and government spending is slashed

The sun rises first in Saxony, Germany's easternmost state likes to boast, but last week it set on another solar industry hopeful. Some 400 employees of panel manufacturer Meyer Burder were let go in the town of Freiberg, a move the company blamed on relentless cheap competition from China and a thumbs-down from Berlin for additional solar industry subsidies. "All our fears came to pass, though we hoped to the end for a different outcome," said Freiberg mayor Sven Krà¼ger to MDR television. "This is the second time that a solar firm has failed in Freiburg, we can't have a…