Articles by Spiegel
We found 265 results.
[10 Years Ago] WikiLeaks Revelations: A View Deep Inside Guantanamo
John Goetz, Marcel Rosenbach and Britta Sandberg – Der Spiegel,
10 May 2021
Article originally published by TRANSCEND Media Service on 2 May 2011 – The latest documents obtained from WikiLeaks provide an inside view of a highly controversial system: More than 700 classified US government files on the prisoners held at Guantanamo show how lax the American military was in its dealings with the facts. SPIEGEL has analyzed the documents.
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COVID-19 Vaccines Are Coming, but They’re Not What You Think
Graeme Wood and David A. Spiegel | The Atlantic - TRANSCEND Media Service,
21 Dec 2020
These novel approaches could fail in many ways.
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The Portuguese Miracle: How Lisbon Has Managed the Corona Crisis
Alexander Smoltczyk | Der Spiegel - TRANSCEND Media Service,
13 Apr 2020
9 Apr 2020 – While Spain continues to battle a dire coronavirus outbreak, the situation is vastly better in neighboring Portugal. But why?
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Interview with Football Leaks Whistleblower Rui Pinto ‘This Football Mafia Is Everywhere’
Nino Seidel and Michael Wulzinger – Der Spiegel,
3 Feb 2020
2 Jan 2019 – In an interview, Rui Pinto, the Portuguese young man who kept the industry in suspense over revelations from Football Leaks, discusses his life in anonymity, the explosive power of his documents and accusations that he is a hacker.
“I am not a hacker, I am a whistleblower.” – Rui Pinto
Persecution of the Uyghurs: The West Must Respond to Chinese Oppression
Bernhard Zand – Der Spiegel,
9 Dec 2019
4 Dec 2019 – There are many disturbing aspects to modern-day China, but its treatment of the Uighurs is the most despicable. The West must come up with a response to the inhuman persecution.
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Interview with Ex-President of Bolivia Evo Morales: ‘The Murders Must Stop’
Interview by Jens Glüsing – Der SPIEGEL,
2 Dec 2019
28 Nov 2019 – Bolivia’s long-time president, Evo Morales, has fled to exile in Mexico. What led to his departure and the conditions under which he would consider returning. At 60, he was Bolivia’s first indigenous president. The former head of the coca-farmers’ union is a symbolic figure among the Latin American left.
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Drug Taxis and Impotent Police: The Avalanche of Cocaine Hitting Europe
Der SPIEGEL Staff *– TRANSCEND Media Service,
2 Dec 2019
28 Nov 2019 – Drug syndicates are flooding Europe with very pure cocaine. Consumers need only send an encrypted text and a dealer will show up at their doorstep. And the authorities are all but powerless to stop them.
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Deathly Silence: An Inside Look at Kashmir
Laura Höflinger and Sunaina Kumar – Der Spiegel,
18 Nov 2019
15 Nov 2019 – Kashmir has been largely cut off from the outside world for months and the internet remains cut off. Residents share stories of state violence and terror.
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Scent of Musk: The Woman Who Can Smell Parkinson’s
Timofey Neshitov and Daniel Etter – Der Spiegel,
18 Nov 2019
12 Nov 2019 – So far, no cure has been found for Parkinson’s. It is only possible to treat the symptoms. But a nurse in Scotland can smell the disease before it is diagnosed, and researchers are hoping she can help on the search for a breakthrough.
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Handfuls of Data: The Ethical Minefield of Microchipping
Kristina Läsker – Der Spiegel,
28 Oct 2019
25 Oct 2019 – Employees at the Swedish unit of the German travel conglomerate TUI are volunteering to have a microchip implanted in their hands. The technology literally opens doors, but also raises numerous ethical questions.
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Interview with Edward Snowden: ‘If I Happen to Fall out of a Window, You Can Be Sure I Was Pushed’
Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler - Der Spiegel,
30 Sep 2019
13 Sep 2019 – Whistleblower Edward Snowden talks about how he managed to mislead the most powerful intelligence agency in the world, about his life in Russia and about why the internet must be reinvented.
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The Advance of Designer Viruses in Agriculture
Martin Schlak – Der Spiegel,
30 Sep 2019
24 Sep 2019 – Scientists believe designer viruses created in the laboratory can help the agricultural industry deal with pathogens and extreme weather. A vast experiment is currently being planned. But can the viruses be controlled?
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‘Hell Is Coming’ – What Lies Ahead for Europe’s Climate
Marco Evers – Der Spiegel,
8 Jul 2019
1 Jul 2019 – Half of Europe has been slammed by a massive heat wave in recent days, with many regions experiencing temperatures never before seen in June. But it may just be the beginning.
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The Horrors of Child Prostitution in Ghana
Sophia Bogner and Paul Hertzberg – Der Spiegel,
22 Apr 2019
More than 100,000 children in Ghana work as prostitutes. Melphia, 13, is one of them. She lives in a slum and spends her nights in hotel rooms with businessmen, police officers and, increasingly, tourists.
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Poisoned Dialogue: Skripal Case Descends into a Propaganda War
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
16 Apr 2018
In its rush to assign guilt to Moscow for the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the British government now finds itself on the defensive. Some German politicians have their doubts.
→ read full articleInterview with Edward Snowden: ‘There Is Still Hope – Even for Me’
Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler – Der Spiegel,
18 Sep 2017
12 Sep 2017 – Whistleblower Edward Snowden discusses his life in Russia, the power of the intelligence apparatuses and how he will continue his battle against all-encompassing surveillance by governments.
→ read full articleDocuments Indicate Germany Spied on Foreign Journalists
Maik Baumgärtner, Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler – Der Spiegel,
27 Feb 2017
Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, apparently spied on large numbers of foreign journalists overseas over the course of several years, including employees of the BBC, Reuters and the New York Times. Critics see a massive violation of press freedoms.
→ read full articleUprising in Kashmir ‘If We Protest, the Soldiers Will Shoot at Us’
Fahad Shah – Der Spiegel,
19 Sep 2016
The killing by Indian security forces of a 15-year-old boy in Kashmir has become a rallying point for human rights groups over India’s controversial use of pellet guns. The recent death is only the latest in a long-brewing independence battle in the contested region.
→ read full articleChild Soldiers in Mali: A Skinny Boy with a Kalashnikov
Christoph Titz – Der Spiegel,
12 Sep 2016
The war robbed him of a homeland but in the refugee camp there was no future. That’s why Abdallah and his friends returned — to fight as child soldiers against Mali’s hated government.
→ read full articleDieselgate in Europe: How Officials Ignored Years of Car Emissions Evidence
Markus Becker and Gerald Traufetter – Der Spiegel,
22 Aug 2016
When American authorities revealed that Volkswagen used software to trick pollution tests, it spurred widespread outrage. Documents obtained by SPIEGEL show that European officials knew about the deception for years – but didn’t act on it.
→ read full articleAedes Aegypti Mosquito: Fighting the Most Dangerous Animal in the World
Marian Blasberg, Hauke Goos and Veronika Hackenbroch – Der Spiegel,
25 Jul 2016
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika, dengue fever and other illnesses, appears unstoppable. It is posing a unique threat to this year’s Olympic Games in Rio and is rapidly spreading around the world. Europe, too, is at risk.
→ read full articleThe Olympian and the Terrorist: A Story of Two Belgian Brothers
Lukas Eberle – Der Spiegel,
25 Jul 2016
The older brother detonated a bomb at the Brussels airport. The younger one is representing his country at the Olympic Games in Rio. The story of two Belgian siblings who long ago parted ways.
→ read full articleEastern Flank Security – The Siren Song of NATO’s Hawks
Klaus Wiegrefe – Der Spiegel,
18 Jul 2016
NATO political and military leaders are intent on bolstering the alliance’s presence in the Baltic States and Poland. But does doing so actually improve European security? There is plenty of room for doubt.
→ read full articleRussian Foreign Policy – ‘We Are Smarter, Stronger and More Determined’
Christian Neef - Der Spiegel,
18 Jul 2016
Relations between Russia and NATO are deteriorating. Kremlin foreign policy advisor Sergey Karaganov speaks with SPIEGEL about the risk of war, NATO’s aggressive posturing and the West’s inability to understand Russian values.
→ read full articleQuestionable Deal: EU to Work with African Despot to Keep Refugees Out
Jürgen Dahlkamp and Maximilian Popp – Der Spiegel,
23 May 2016
In an effort to help keep refugees from Africa at bay, the EU is planning to deliver personal registration equipment to Sudan, whose president is wanted on war crimes charges. Germany is leading the way.
→ read full articleTimeout for Football Leaks: Whistleblowers Take Six-Month Break
Rafael Buschmann – Der Spiegel,
16 May 2016
The revelations exposed by soccer whistleblowing platform Football Leaks have provided tips for prosecutors and tax inspectors alike. Overwhelmed by a massive trove of data, the group says it will now take a break.
→ read full articleThe TTIPing Point: Protests Threaten Trans-Atlantic Trade Deal
Dinah Deckstein, Simone Salden and Michaela Schießl – Der Spiegel,
16 May 2016
An unprecedented protest movement of a scope not seen since the Iraq war in Germany has pushed negotiations over the TTIP trans-Atlantic free trade agreement to the brink of collapse. The demonstrations are characterized by a level of professionalism not previously seen.
→ read full articleTouring Tragedy: A Day of Disaster Porn in Chernobyl
Hilmar Schmundt and Phil Thoma - Der Spiegel,
2 May 2016
It is the site of the most devastating nuclear disaster in history, but the Chernobyl exclusion zone has also become a magnet for tourists seeking a thrill. Join us for a tour.
→ read full articleLift the Ban! – Kofi Annan on Why It’s Time to Legalize Drugs
Kofi Annan – Der Spiegel,
7 Mar 2016
Drugs are dangerous, but current narcotics policies are an even bigger threat because punishment is given a greater priority than health and human rights. It’s time for regulations that put lives and safety first, argues former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
→ read full articleMediterranean Desperation: Saving Lives at the World’s Most Dangerous Border
Juliane von Mittelstaedt and Christian Werner (Photography) – Der Spiegel,
17 Aug 2015
Doctors Without Borders is the only major humanitarian organization actively rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean. So far, it has saved more than 10,000 people. But in the world’s biggest crisis region, timing is everything.
→ read full articleUS Military an ‘Insurmountable Obstacle to a Nuclear-Free World’
Mikhail Gorbachev – Der Spiegel,
17 Aug 2015
In a SPIEGEL interview, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev discusses morals and politics in the nuclear age, the crisis in Russian-American relations and his fear that an atomic weapon will someday be used.
→ read full articleIs the Ugly German Back? Flames of Hate Haunt a Nation
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
27 Jul 2015
During the first six months of this year, right-wing extremists in Germany committed attacks against places housing asylum-seekers on an almost daily basis. Many refugees living in the country fear for their lives.
→ read full articleBurma’s Stateless Muslims: The World’s Most Persecuted Minority
Katrin Kuntz in Sittwe – Der Spiegel,
8 Jun 2015
In Burma, thousands of members of the Rohingya Muslim minority are fleeing persecution from Buddhists. Abused by smugglers, they are being turned away from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
→ read full articleNew Lives in Uruguay – Freedom Elusive after 12 Years at Guantanamo
Marian Blasberg – Der Spiegel,
25 May 2015
Six former Guantanamo prisoners have been sharing a house in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo for the last six months. The planned closure of the US detention facility could hinge on the outcome of this experiment.
→ read full articleEurope Should Protect People, Not Borders
Maximilian Popp – Der Spiegel,
27 Apr 2015
The EU registers everything that happens near its borders. In contrast to the claims that are often made, they do not look away when refugees die. They are watching very closely. And what is happening here is not negligent behavior. They are deliberately killing refugees.
→ read full articleNazi Extortion: Study Sheds New Light on Forced Greek Loans
Manfred Ertel, Katrin Kuntz and Walter Mayr – Der Spiegel,
30 Mar 2015
Is Germany liable to Athens for loans the Nazis forced the Greek central bank to provide during World War II? A new study in Greece could increase the pressure on Berlin to pay up.
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Breedlove’s Bellicosity – Berlin Alarmed by Aggressive NATO Stance on Ukraine
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
9 Mar 2015
US President Obama supports Chancellor Merkel’s efforts at finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis. But hawks in Washington seem determined to torpedo Berlin’s approach. And NATO’s top commander in Europe hasn’t been helping either.
→ read full articleThe Warming World: Is Capitalism Destroying Our Planet?
Alexander Jung, Horand Knaup, Samiha Shafy and Bernhard Zand – Der Spiegel,
2 Mar 2015
25 Feb 2015 – World leaders decided in Copenhagen that global warming should be limited to 2 degrees Celsius. Achieving that target, though, would take nothing less than a miracle. With another round of climate negotiations approaching, it is becoming increasingly clear that mankind has failed to address its most daunting problem.
→ read full articleNaomi Klein: ‘The Economic System We Have Created Global Warming’
Klaus Brinkbäumer – Der Spiegel,
2 Mar 2015
Can we still stop global warming? Only if we radically change our capitalist system, argues author Naomi Klein. In an interview with SPIEGEL, she explains why the time has come to abandon small steps for a radical new approach.
→ read full articleCommunity Response: A Danish Answer to Radical Jihad
Manfred Ertel and Ralf Hoppe – Der Spiegel,
2 Mar 2015
The murders in Copenhagen have refocused attention on a thorny question for Europe: How can radical jihadists returning from Syria be reintegrated? The Danish city of Aarhus may have found an answer.
→ read full articleIt’s Time to Compromise on Greece
Dirk Kurbjuweit – Der Spiegel,
9 Feb 2015
Syriza’s victory in Greece makes it clearer than ever that a new approach is needed in Europe. Chancellor Merkel, in particular, must show flexibility in the search for compromise with Greek Prime Minister Tsipras. If they can’t agree, Europe is in trouble.
→ read full articleSource Code Similarities: Experts Unmask ‘Regin’ Trojan as NSA Tool
Marcel Rosenbach, Hilmar Schmundt and Christian Stöcker – Der Spiegel,
2 Feb 2015
Just weeks ago, SPIEGEL published the source code of an NSA malware program known internally as QWERTY. Now, experts have found that it is none other than the notorious trojan Regin, used in dozens of cyber attacks around the world.
→ read full articleGuantanamo Prisoner Diary: ‘We’re Gonna Teach You about Great American Sex’
Britta Sandberg – Der Spiegel,
26 Jan 2015
Motherfucker, I Told You, You’re Gone – “I was forbidden from seeing the light of day. For the next 70 days, I wouldn’t know the sweetness of sleeping: interrogation 24 hours a day, three and sometimes four shifts a day. At one point his interrogators threatened, you’re not gonna die, we’re gonna feed you up your ass.”
→ read full articleObama’s Lists: A Dubious History of Targeted Killings in Afghanistan
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
5 Jan 2015
Combat operations in Afghanistan may be coming to an end, but a look at secret NATO documents reveals that the US and the UK were far less scrupulous in choosing targets for killing than previously believed. Drug dealers were also on the lists.
→ read full articleGenerations of Victims – Bhopal’s Unending Catastrophe
Anne Backhaus and Simone Salden – Der Spiegel,
15 Dec 2014
Thirty years after the worst chemical accident in history, the disaster is hitting a new generation. The victims have received little help, professional clean-up has not happened and there are no signs the ongoing environmental catastrophe will end.
→ read full articleSummit of Failure: How the EU Lost Russia over Ukraine
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
1 Dec 2014
One year ago, negotiations over a Ukraine association agreement with the European Union collapsed. The result has been a standoff with Russia and war in the Donbass. It was an historical failure, and one that German Chancellor Angela Merkel contributed to.
→ read full articleEU Democratic Deficit: It’s Time to Put Juncker on the Hot Seat
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
17 Nov 2014
Can the European Commission be led by a man who transformed his own country into a tax oasis? The debate is long overdue and Jean-Claude Juncker can no longer afford to shirk the question.
→ read full articleGermany’s New Right: The Unholy Alliance of Neo-Nazis and Football Hooligans
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
10 Nov 2014
The riots in Cologne at the end of October [2014] show there is a new danger on Germany’s extremist right. Neo-Nazis and football hooligans have teamed up to go after Islamist Salafists. Many are wondering why officials didn’t recognize the development sooner.
→ read full articleThe Zombie System – How Capitalism Has Gone Off the Rails
Michael Sauga – Der Spiegel,
27 Oct 2014
Six years after the Lehman disaster, the industrialized world is suffering from Japan Syndrome. Growth is minimal, another crash may be brewing and the gulf between rich and poor continues to widen. Can the global economy reinvent itself?
→ read full articleCaliphate of Fear – The Curse of the Islamic State
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
25 Aug 2014
Images of Yazidis fleeing parts of Iraq and Syria have shocked the world and the battle against the jihadists with the Islamic State has united Americans, Europeans, Kurds and Iranians. Can the Islamists be stopped?
→ read full articleSuras and Tolerance: Meet Europe’s Gay Imam
Takis Würger – Der Spiegel,
18 Aug 2014
A homosexual French Muslim imam is spreading a message of religion and tolerance in Europe. In addition to opening a gay-friendly mosque in Paris, he also recently married a lesbian couple in Sweden.
→ read full articleCamiño de Santiago: Soul Searching and Commerce on the Way of St. James
Juan Moreno on the Camino de Santiago – Der Spiegel,
11 Aug 2014
Not long ago, only a few people would make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Now, over 200,000 people a year spend several grueling weeks along the route. Traditionalists turn up their noses at the crowds, but the rewards are still vast. (Photos: TMS editor Antonio C. S. Rosa 2003 pilgrimage.)
→ read full articleThe Boomerang Effect: Sanctions on Russia Hit German Economy Hard
Matthias Schepp and Cornelia Schmergal – Der Spiegel,
28 Jul 2014
21 Jul 2014 – The United States and Europe last week announced the imposition of stronger sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. German industry may be among the losers.
→ read full articleNew NSA Revelations: Inside Snowden’s Germany File
Der SPIEGEL – TRANSCEND Media Service,
30 Jun 2014
17 Jun 2014 – The National Security Agency has turned Germany into its most important base of operations in Europe, according to a story published by Der Spiegel this week.
→ read full articleEurope: 1, Google: 0 – EU Court Ruling a Victory for Privacy
SPIEGEL – TRANSCEND Media Service,
26 May 2014
20 May 2014 – A ruling by the European Union’s highest court last week ordering Google to provide people with the right to be forgotten has generated fiercely divergent responses in the US and Europe. Germans are celebrating the decision, which buttresses privacy.
→ read full articlePrison of the Past: A Reporter Revisits His ‘Shameful’ Coverage of Rwanda
Bartholomäus Grill – Der Spiegel,
7 Apr 2014
Twenty years ago on April 6, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda began. At the time, many Western reporters played it down as “ethnic warfare,” including Bartholomäus Grill, now a correspondent for SPIEGEL. He looks back with shame.
→ read full article‘A’ for Angela Merkel: GCHQ and NSA Targeted Private German Companies
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel,
31 Mar 2014
Documents show that Britain’s GCHQ intelligence service infiltrated German Internet firms and America’s NSA obtained a court order to spy on Germany and collected information about the chancellor in a special database. Is it time for the country to open a formal espionage investigation?
→ read full articleEurope’s Sin: Caribbean States Call for Slavery Reparations
Samiha Shafy – Der Spiegel,
24 Mar 2014
The leaders of 15 Caribbean countries are calling for reparations from European countries relating to the slave trade that took place 200 years ago. A lawyer representing them says the legacy of slavery still plagues the region today.
→ read full articleTargeting Huawei: NSA Spied on Chinese Government and Networking Firm
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
24 Mar 2014
According to documents viewed by SPIEGEL, America’s NSA intelligence agency put considerable efforts into spying on Chinese politicians and firms. One major target was Huawei, a company that is fast becoming a major Internet player.
→ read full articleTight on the Right: Germany’s NPD Maintains Close Ties to Svoboda
Steffen Winter – Der Spiegel,
24 Mar 2014
Germany shuns the right-wing extremist party NPD at home. But even though the Ukrainian nationalist party Svoboda maintains tight links to the NPD, it has received indirect support from Berlin.
→ read full articleBeyond Ukraine: Russia’s Imperial Mess
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
17 Mar 2014
Russia’s occupation of Crimea has violated international law and created a new crisis among world leaders. Now the EU and the US are fighting over the best means to address Russia’s reawakened expansionary ambitions.
→ read full articleGCHQ Revealed: Inside Her Majesty’s Listening Service
Christoph Scheuermann – Der Spiegel,
3 Mar 2014
The Snowden files have brought the shocking espionage activities of the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters into the open. Former employees describe an agency with shifting goals, a strong honor code — and an inferiority complex.
→ read full articleThe Pope’s Sex Problem – Catholic Survey Reveals Frustrated Flock
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
10 Feb 2014
The Vatican last year sent out a survey to Catholics around the world focusing on attitudes to sex and sexuality. The responses are now in — and they show that the Church is badly in need of reform. Can Pope Francis meet such expectations?
→ read full articleArms Exports: Berlin Backs Large Defense Deal with Saudi Arabia
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
10 Feb 2014
Berlin has often been criticized in recent years for selling weapons to questionable regimes. Now, the German government is backing a billion-euro deal for 100 patrol boats.
→ read full articleCorporation Carte Blanche: Will US-EU Trade Become Too Free?
Michaela Schiessl – Der Spiegel,
27 Jan 2014
Opposition to the planned new trans-Atlantic free trade agreement is growing. So far, criticism has focused on the fact that the deal seems directed exclusively at economic interests. Now fears are growing that corporations will be given too much power.
→ read full articleThe Bosnian Knot: Conflicts Unchanged in Birthplace of WWI
Walter Mayr – Der Spiegel,
20 Jan 2014
The 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo came in the midst of a bitter power struggle among major European powers in the Balkans. One hundred years and three devastating wars later, peace still eludes the multi-ethnic region.
→ read full articleThe Mafia’s Deadly Garbage: Italy’s Growing Toxic Waste Scandal
Walter Mayr = Der Spiegel,
20 Jan 2014
For decades, the Mafia has been dumping toxic waste illegally in the region north of Naples. Recently declassified testimony shows that leading politicians have known about the problem for years, yet done nothing about it — even as the death toll climbs.
→ read full articleOut of the Abyss: Looking for Lessons in Iceland’s Recovery
Guido Mingels – Der Spiegel,
13 Jan 2014
In 2008, Iceland experienced one of the most dramatic crashes any country had ever seen. Since then, its recovery has been just as impressive. Are there lessons to be learned? SPIEGEL went to the island nation to find out.
→ read full articleBreaking the Silence
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
13 Jan 2014
Broad Support for Footballer’s Coming Out – Former German national team player Thomas Hitzlsperger on Wednesday [8 Jan 2014] became the first professional footballer in the country to acknowledge his homosexuality. The upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia, he said, was a reason for going public now.
→ read full articleShopping for Spy Gear: Catalog Advertises NSA Toolbox
Jacob Appelbaum, Judith Horchert and Christian Stöcker – Der Spiegel,
6 Jan 2014
After years of speculation that electronics can be accessed by intelligence agencies through a back door, an internal NSA catalog reveals that such methods already exist for numerous end-user devices.
→ read full articleNSA’s Secret Toolbox: Unit Offers Spy Gadgets for Every Need
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
6 Jan 2014
The NSA has a secret unit that produces special equipment ranging from spyware for computers and cell phones to listening posts and USB sticks that work as bugging devices. Here are some excerpts from the intelligence agency’s own catalog.
→ read full articleInside TAO-Tailored Access Operations: Documents Reveal Top NSA Hacking Unit
Der Spiegel* – TRANSCEND Media Service,
30 Dec 2013
The NSA’s TAO hacking unit is considered to be the intelligence agency’s top secret weapon. It maintains its own covert network, infiltrates computers around the world and even intercepts shipping deliveries to plant back doors in electronics ordered by those it is targeting.
→ read full articleFriendly Fire: How GCHQ Monitors Germany, Israel and the EU
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel,
23 Dec 2013
Documents from the archive of whistleblower and former NSA worker Edward Snowden show that Britain’s GCHQ signals intelligence agency has targeted European, German and Israeli politicians for surveillance.
→ read full articleBelounis Returns: Footballer Escapes Qatar [Slavery] at Heavy Price
Stefan Simons – Der Spiegel,
2 Dec 2013
French footballer Zahir Belounis is back in his homeland after being trapped in Qatar against his will. He only secured his departure after signing a “retroactive termination,” which has virtually ruled out any legal action against the Qatari El Jaish Sports Club. In the waiver, the 33-year-old even had to thank the club for providing his apartment.
→ read full article‘Royal Concierge’: GCHQ Monitors Diplomats’ Hotel Bookings
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel,
25 Nov 2013
When diplomats travel to international summits, consultations and negotiations on behalf of governments, they generally tend to spend the night at high-end hotels. When they check-in, in addition to a comfortable room, they sometimes get a very unique form of room service that they did not order: a thorough monitoring by the British Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ in short.
→ read full articleBlack Market in Lebanon: Syrian Refugees Selling Organs to Survive
Ulrike Putz – Der Spiegel,
18 Nov 2013
In the shadow of the Syrian civil war, a growing number of refugees are surviving in Lebanon by illegally selling their own organs. But the exchange comes at a huge cost.
→ read full articleTrans-Atlantic Free Trade: US Pushes for Deal despite NSA Scandal
Gregor Peter Schmitz – Der Spiegel,
18 Nov 2013
The NSA spying scandal has many in Europe calling for the suspension of negotiations on an EU-US free-trade deal. Officials in Washington are undeterred, and continue to push forward with talks despite growing skepticism this side of the Atlantic.
→ read full articleEt Tu, UK? Anger Grows over British Spying in Berlin
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
11 Nov 2013
First it was the US — and now it turns out the UK might have been spying from its embassy in Berlin, too. Officials at Germany’s Foreign Ministry responded Tuesday by inviting Britain’s ambassador for a lecture.
→ read full articleShelter in Europe: Court Orders Asylum for Persecuted Gays
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
11 Nov 2013
An EU court ruled Thursday [7 Nov 2013] that gays and lesbians persecuted in other countries have the right to asylum in Europe, as long as they fulfill certain conditions. The decision came in a case involving three African men seeking safe haven in the Netherlands.
→ read full articleNuclear Arsenal: US to Turn Old Bombs into All-Purpose Weapons
Markus Becker and Otfried Nassauer – Der Spiegel,
11 Nov 2013
The US wants to modernize nuclear bombs stationed in Europe in a way many experts call the equivalent of creating a new weapon. Critics believe the move violates pledges by President Obama he would not develop new nukes.
→ read full articleEmbassy Espionage: The NSA’s Secret Spy Hub in Berlin
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
4 Nov 2013
According to SPIEGEL research, United States intelligence agencies have not only targeted Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, but they have also used the American Embassy in Berlin as a listening station.
→ read full articleNSA Whistleblower: Snowden Open to Testifying in Germany
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
4 Nov 2013
Edward Snowden says he is willing to cooperate with investigations into NSA spying. At a meeting with a German lawmaker in Moscow, he reportedly suggested he would be open to coming to Germany, and complained of a US ‘campaign of persecution.’ Berlin has at least signaled readiness to talk.
→ read full articleThe ‘German Camp’: Jihadists from Germany Set up Base in Syria
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
28 Oct 2013
A growing number of German jihadists are heading to Syria to join the rebels in their fight against President Bashar Assad. According to German intelligence, some 200 Islamists from across the country have gathered in northern Syria in what’s been dubbed the “German Camp.”
→ read full article‘Unacceptable’: Mexico Slams US Spying on President
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
28 Oct 2013
The Mexican government says it “categorically condemns” email spying, after SPIEGEL reported that documents leaked by Edward Snowden show the US gained access to the email of former Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
→ read full articleHoly Logic: Computer Scientists ‘Prove’ God Exists
David Knight – Der Spiegel,
28 Oct 2013
Two scientists have formalized a theorem regarding the existence of God penned by mathematician Kurt Gödel. But the God angle is somewhat of a red herring — the real step forward is the example it sets of how computers can make scientific progress simpler.
→ read full articleFactory Farming: The True Price of a Pork Chop
Susanne Amann, Michael Fröhlingsdorf and Udo Ludwig – Der Spiegel,
28 Oct 2013
Germany slaughters 58 million pigs a year and has built an efficient meat industry second only to the US in pork exports — but at a hidden cost to the environment and our health.
→ read full articleEU Parliament Report: Europe Has 880,000 Slave Laborers
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
21 Oct 2013
A report by the European Parliament says there are 3,600 international criminal organizations in the European Union and that some 880,000 slave laborers live in the 27-nation bloc, including 270,000 victims of sexual exploitation.
→ read full articleFresh Leak on US Spying: NSA Accessed Mexican President’s Email
Jens Glüsing, Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel,
21 Oct 2013
The NSA has been systematically eavesdropping on the Mexican government for years. It hacked into the president’s public email account and gained deep insight into policymaking and the political system. The news is likely to hurt ties between the US and Mexico.
→ read full articleExpanding the Grid: A Vision for Fueling Europe on Renewables
Christoph Pauly – Der Spiegel,
21 Oct 2013
European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger is in Brussels on Monday [14 Oct 2013] to present his plan for the future of energy in the EU. He wants to export Germany’s push toward renewables to the rest of the Continent — and for the first time, he actually has the money to do it.
→ read full articleTrapped in Qatar: Footballers Describe Nightmarish Treatment
Maik Grossekathöfer – Der Spiegel,
14 Oct 2013
Qatar, the host of the 2022 soccer World Cup, is spending a lot of money to attract players and coaches. SPIEGEL spent time with a handful who have gone to the emirate and say they aren’t getting paid, but have been prevented from leaving the country.
→ read full articleColorful Statement? Germany’s Olympic Uniform Seen as ‘Pro-Gay’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
7 Oct 2013
On Tuesday [1 Oct 2013], Germany premiered the colorful uniforms for its Sochi Winter Olympics team with a runway show in Düsseldorf. The show has prompted reaction in Germany not only because of its bold design, but because many people are reading it as a silent form of protest against Russia’s anti-gay laws.
→ read full articleVideo Games and Cigarettes: Syria’s Disneyland for Jihadists
Christoph Reuter – Der Spiegel,
30 Sep 2013
Foreign Islamists coming into Syria have been gathering in the relatively quiet north. But many of them are finding transit towns — with good food, video games and smoking — preferable to the front. When they do end up fighting, it’s often with each other.
→ read full articleMeatless in Munich: Oktoberfest Introduces Vegan Food Options
Friederike Heine – Der Spiegel,
30 Sep 2013
For some 200 years Oktoberfest has been all about beer and meat. But organizers are breaking with tradition and reaching out by offering vegan dishes and even vegan wine. “There’s always a possibility,” says Jonas. “Forty years ago, traditional Bavarians would have trembled at the prospect of open homosexuality at Oktoberfest, and now we celebrate ‘Gay Sunday’ here every year.
→ read full articleCutting Controversy: German Court Sets New Circumcision Rules
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
30 Sep 2013
In the latest twist in a controversy that has divided Germans, a regional court has ruled that doctors need to discuss circumcision procedures with the child before they can be carried out.
→ read full article‘Follow the Money’: NSA Monitors Financial World
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel,
23 Sep 2013
The NSA monitors banks and credit card transactions — sometimes in apparent violation of national laws and global regulations. The European SWIFT financial transaction network is being tapped on different levels, internal documents from the US spy agency show.
→ read full articleSWIFT Suspension? EU Parliament Furious about NSA Bank Spying
Gregor-Peter Schmitz in Brussels – Der Spiegel,
23 Sep 2013
Revelations the US is spying on international bank transfers have angered European parliamentarians. Some are calling for the suspension of the SWIFT deal between the EU and US. “Washington must make clear where it stands,” says one.
→ read full article‘Success Story’: NSA Targeted French Foreign Ministry
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
3 Sep 2013
Espionage by the US on France has already strained relations between the two countries, threatening a trans-Atlantic trade agreement. Now a document seen by SPIEGEL reveals that the NSA also spied on the French Foreign Ministry.
→ read full articleSnowden Document: NSA Spied On Al Jazeera Communications
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
2 Sep 2013
Arab news broadcaster Al Jazeera was spied on by the National Security Agency, according to documents seen by SPIEGEL. The US intelligence agency hacked into protected communication, a feat that was considered a particular success.
→ read full articleCodename ‘Apalachee’ – How America Spies on Europe and the UN
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel,
26 Aug 2013
President Obama promised that NSA surveillance activities were aimed exclusively at preventing terrorist attacks. But secret documents from the intelligence agency show that the Americans spy on Europe, the UN and other countries.
→ read full articleBow, Arrow, Facebook: Brazilian Tribes Fight for Their Land
Jens Glüsing – Der Spiegel,
26 Aug 2013
Indigenous peoples in Brazil have lost their patience. Promised more land decades ago, they have recently begun forcing the issue by occupying farms and ranches. The government of President Dilma Rousseff has taken sides with the farmers’ lobby.
→ read full article