An advertising agency for BMW has paid to name a cold weather
front sweeping Europe “Cooper” in Germany, after the lawmakers
Mini Cooper.   Germany’s meteorology institute allows the
sponsorship of weather systems.  On its website, advertising
agency Sassenbach says that naming the front after the open-air
vehicle was a “wind- and weather-proof idea”.  It is encouraging
people to follow the path of the weather on meteorological
websites.  While the snow and ice have brought some stunning
scenes across Europe, the freezing temperatures have led to at
least 100 deaths, mainly in Poland and Ukraine.  In Ukraine
alone, nearly 950 people are being treated in hospital with
hypothermia and frostbite, the Associated Press news agency
reports.  The Munich-based advertising agency said it was no
longer commenting on the unfortunate correlation between the
progress of the severe weather and the car it sought to
publicise.  It has also named a warmer weather front to follow
“Minnie”.  BMW has apologised for the stunt, wh