Articles by SPIEGEL
We found 265 results.
‘Private Money’: Bitcoins Gain Ground in Germany
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
26 Aug 2013
Bitcoins have rapidly gained popularity, but what is the currency’s legal status? This week Germany revealed that it sees the virtual payment method as “private money,” but its tax status remains unclear.
→ read full articleMerkel and the NSA: A Scandal That Just Won’t Die
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
19 Aug 2013
As the election approaches, Chancellor Angela Merkel is working hard to dissipate anger over controversial surveillance by German and US intelligence agencies. But every time Berlin assures voters that all is well, its claims are discredited.
→ read full articleMass Data: Transfers from Germany Aid US Surveillance
Hubert Gude, Laura Poitras and Marcel Rosenbach – Der Spiegel,
12 Aug 2013
German intelligence sends massive amounts of intercepted data to the NSA, according to documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden, which SPIEGEL has seen. The trans-Atlantic cooperation on technical matters is also much closer than first thought.
→ read full article‘Football for All’: Dutch Stand Up for Gay Players’ Rights
Jörg Kramer and Michael Wulzinger – Der Spiegel,
15 Jul 2013
Next month, the Dutch national football team’s coach plans to take a stand for the rights of gay players at the Amsterdam Gay Pride parade. Activitists in Germany, where no professional players are out, hope their football officials will follow his lead.
→ read full articleObama’s Soft Totalitarianism: Europe Must Protect Itself from America
Jakob Augstein – Der Spiegel,
24 Jun 2013
Is Barack Obama a friend? Revelations about his government’s vast spying program call that assumption into doubt. The European Union must protect the Continent from America’s reach for omnipotence.
→ read full articleBeaten, Bullied, Badgered: EU Study Finds Widespread Homophobia in Europe
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
27 May 2013
Harassed at work and the doctor’s office, bullied and assaulted in public: The gay, bisexual and transgender community is still widely discriminated against in Europe. In an new EU survey, the most comprehensive to date, more than 90,000 participants report on the extent of their harassment.
→ read full articleSecret Athens Report: Berlin Owes Greece Billions in WWII Reparations
Georgios Christidis – Der Spiegel,
15 Apr 2013
A top-secret report compiled at the behest of the Finance Ministry in Athens has come to the conclusion that Germany owes Greece billions in World War II reparations. The total could be enough to solve the country’s debt problems, but the Greek government is wary of picking a fight with its paymaster.
→ read full articleRadiating Remnants: Nuclear Waste Barrels Litter English Channel
Nicola Kuhrt – Der Spiegel,
15 Apr 2013
Some 28,500 containers of radioactive waste were dropped into the English Channel between 1950 and 1963. Experts have assumed that the containers had long since rusted open, spreading the radioactivity throughout the ocean and thus rendering it innocuous. But a new investigative report from the joint French-German public broadcaster ARTE has concluded that the waste is still intact at the bottom of the sea.
→ read full articleA Global Look at Gay Rights: ‘The Fight against Discrimination Must Go On’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
8 Apr 2013
Boris Dittrich, head of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy at Human Rights Watch, discusses the current debates on same-sex marriage in Europe and the United States and virulent homophobia in Russia and Uganda.
→ read full article‘Abject Error’ – How the Cyprus Deal Hurts EU Strategic Interests
Jeffrey Stacey – Der Spiegel,
8 Apr 2013
The euro-zone bailout of Cyprus exposed deep divides within Europe and also brought back the specter of the euro crisis. In addition to harming the island nation’s economy, errors made in negotiating the deal will ultimately be a setback to strategic EU interests as well.
→ read full article‘This Is Working’: Portugal, 12 Years after Decriminalizing Drugs
Wiebke Hollersen – Der Spiegel,
1 Apr 2013
Twelve years ago, Portugal eliminated criminal penalties for drug users. Since then, those caught with small amounts of marijuana, cocaine or heroin go unindicted and possession is a misdemeanor on par with illegal parking. Experts are pleased with the results.
→ read full articleUnrest in Bulgaria: New Casualty in Wave of Self-Immolations`
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
25 Mar 2013
A 40-year-old Bulgarian set himself on fire to protest poverty and corruption in his country on Friday [22 Mar 2013], becoming the sixth self-immolation in the EU country in less than a month.
→ read full articleGay in China: Suffering in a Marriage of Convenience
Stefan Schultz – Der Spiegel,
11 Mar 2013
Xiao Bin is gay, but has been married to a woman for the last seven years. His fate is no different from that of up to 90 percent of gay men in China. The society is slowly changing, but pressures heaped on same-sex couples remain huge.
→ read full articleTrans-Atlantic Rifts: European Activists Could Thwart US-EU Trade Deal
Christoph Pauly and Christoph Schult – Der Spiegel,
4 Mar 2013
Consumer watchdogs, Internet activists and European farmers are gearing up to fight the planned trade agreement between Europe and the United States. Many in Europe are worried that politicians will make backroom deals at the expense of consumers.
→ read full articleAbyss of Uncertainty: Germany’s Homemade Nuclear Waste Disaster
Michael Fröhlingsdorf, Udo Ludwig and Alfred Weinzierl – Der Spiegel,
25 Feb 2013
Some 126,000 barrels of nuclear waste have been dumped in the Asse II salt mine over the last 50 years. German politicians are pushing for a law promising their removal. But the safety, technical and financial hurdles are enormous, and experts warn that removal is more dangerous than leaving them put.
→ read full articleA Mere Breeze: Era of Fast Growth Ends for Wind Energy in Europe
Joel Stonington – Der Spiegel,
18 Feb 2013
The debt crisis is finally catching up with wind energy, once a fast-growing sector in Europe. After more than a decade of double-digit growth, austerity, rapidly changing energy policies and skittish investors are putting a damper on the industry.
→ read full articlePatience Runs Out: EU to Crack Down on Israeli Settlement Products
Christoph Schult – Der Spiegel,
18 Feb 2013
Israeli settlers living in the Palestinian terroritories often deceptively give their products a “Made in Israel” label. The European Union wants to move soon to end the practice and appears to be set on a collision course with the country.
→ read full articleGermany’s Drone Conundrum: ‘New Wars’ Demand New Mindsets
Thomas Darnstaedt – Der Spiegel,
11 Feb 2013
Germany’s government recently announced plans to do a 180-degree policy shift by deploying armed drones in combat. It argues that remote-controlled killing machines are no different than any other weapons, but experts say the “new wars” have completely different — and revolutionary — rules.
→ read full articleWhat Is Anti-Semitism?
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
21 Jan 2013
Just how strongly are Germans allowed to criticize Israel? Accusations of anti-Semitism against SPIEGEL columnist Jakob Augstein have brought the question to the fore. He debates the issue with Dieter Graumann, the leader of Germany’s Jewish community.
→ read full articleThe Gravest of Allegations: Conflating Critique of Israel with Anti-Semitism
Ronen Bergman – Der Spiegel,
21 Jan 2013
In recent years, Israeli Jews have often confused anti-Israel rhetoric with anti-Semitism, argues journalist Ronen Bergman, who has himself been subjected to verbal attacks for his reporting in SPIEGEL.
→ read full articlePhoto Gallery: The Best of Picture This 2012
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
31 Dec 2012
Throughout the year, Spiegel Online sifts through photos taken around the world for its “Picture This” feature. As 2012 draws to an end, here’s a look back at some of the most colorful, humorous and moving images that have been selected.
→ read full article‘The Killing Has to Stop’: A Visit to the Home of Former Hostage Gilad Shalit
Dieter Bednarz – Der Spiegel,
3 Dec 2012
Gilad Shalit, who spent more than five years in the hands of Hamas kidnappers, harbors no thoughts of revenge toward the Islamist group. And his father, who is beginning a political career, says that Israel needs to negotiate.
→ read full articleSifting Through the Fallout – Death Hangs over the Gaza Strip after the Fighting
Jonathan Stock – Der Spiegel,
3 Dec 2012
More than 160 people died in the eight-day Gaza war. And though the fighting may have stopped, the dead and the nightmares remain. Survivors and victims’ families say they want revenge.
→ read full articleInterview with Iceland’s Economy Minister: ‘We Reacted Immediately to Symptoms of Crisis’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
3 Dec 2012
In late 2008 and early 2009, all three of Iceland’s major banks collapsed amid the financial crisis. Now, the country is experiencing economic growth once again and unemployment is falling. Economy Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson explains to SPIEGEL how it was done.
→ read full articleInevitability of Debt – The Faustian Bargain between States and Banks
Stefan Kaiser – Der Spiegel,
26 Nov 2012
States and banks have made a deal with the devil. Banks buy the sovereign bonds needed to prop states up in the tacit understanding that the states will bail them out in a pinch. But experts warn that this symbiotic arrangement might be putting the entire financial system at risk.
→ read full articleOut on the Right: On Being Gay, Conservative and Catholic
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
26 Nov 2012
Jens Spahn is a conservative parliamentarian. He is also gay. In a SPIEGEL interview, the 32-year-old describes how this has informed his political career and assesses how far Germany has come on civil rights for gays and lesbians.
→ read full articleForgetting Fukushima: India Pursues Massive Nuclear Expansion
Wieland Wagner – Der Spiegel,
26 Nov 2012
The 2011 disaster at Japan’s Fukushima plant led many countries to turn away from nuclear power. But a growing population and rising economy has prompted India to massively expand its nuclear program — even in the face of technological worries and fervent opposition.
→ read full articleBetting with Trillions: Prison of Debt Paralyzes West
Cordt Schnibben – Der Spiegel,
19 Nov 2012
Be it the United States or the European Union, most Western countries are so highly indebted today that the markets have a greater say in their policies than the people. Why are democratic countries so pathetic when it comes to managing their money sustainably?
→ read full articleIsraeli Offensive in Gaza – Netanyahu’s Extremely Risky Gamble
Ulrike Putz – Der Spiegel,
19 Nov 2012
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping the offensive in the Gaza Strip wins his Likud party more votes in January’s election. But the move is extremely risky. Skirmishes could escalate into a full-blown war that might weaken Hamas but shift Palestinian support behind even more radical groups.
→ read full article‘Horrible Citizens’ – The Life of Greece’s One Percent
Julia Amalia Heyer – Der Spiegel,
19 Nov 2012
The Greek economy has been tanking for years now as the country struggles to balance its budget by imposing deep austerity measures. But the country’s richest residents haven’t noticed. Many aren’t taxed at all, and some of those that are prefer to dodge their obligation to the state instead.
→ read full articleBeyond Regulators’ Grasp: How Shadow Banks Rule the World
Martin Hesse and Anne Seith – Der Spiegel,
19 Nov 2012
Beyond the banking world, a parallel universe of shadow banks has grown in the form of hedge funds and money market funds. They’re outside the reach of conventional financial regulation, prompting authorities to plan introducing new rules to prevent the obscure sector from triggering a new financial crisis. But in doing so they risk drying up an important source of funding to banks and firms.
→ read full articleTango with the Tax Man: Multinationals Find Loopholes Galore in Europe
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
19 Nov 2012
Large multinationals, many of them based in the United States, are masters at avoiding taxes on profits made abroad. According to data compiled by independent tax experts, US technology giant Apple paid a paltry $130 million (€102 million) in taxes on foreign earnings of about $13 billion in 2010. Microsoft paid only $1.7 billion on $15 billion in foreign earnings, while software giant Cisco paid a tax bill of $400 million on foreign earnings of more than $8 billion.
→ read full articleEuropean Policy in the Middle East: Activists Seek Ban on Trade with Israeli Settlers
Christoph Sydow – Der Spiegel,
5 Nov 2012
Officially, the European Union views Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories as illegal. But that hasn’t stopped the EU from doing booming trade with the outposts. Now a group of European NGOs has banded together to demand an end to the practice.
→ read full articleDebt Crisis: Wealthy Greeks Still Don’t Pay Taxes
Georgios Christidis – Der Spiegel,
5 Nov 2012
Average Greeks are reeling under the strict austerity measures passed in order to balance the country’s budget. Top earners, on the other hand, continue to evade the tax man. Most of the self-employed in Greece significantly underreport their earnings, whereas shipping magnates enjoy generous exemptions.
→ read full articleJobless in the Crisis: Euro-Zone Unemployment Higher than Ever Before
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
5 Nov 2012
The European debt crisis and related austerity measures continue to drive up unemployment across the euro zone. In September, according to statistics released on Wednesday [31 Oct 2012], fully 18.5 million people were without work in the common currency area, more than ever before.
→ read full articlePrecious Metal Abroad: Why Germany Wants to See Its US Gold
Sven Böll and Anne Seith – Der Spiegel,
5 Nov 2012
For decades, almost half of Germany’s gold has been stored deep below the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Now, with the euro crisis swirling, German politicians are asking their central bankers to take stock of the reserves. Some even say that the gold should be shipped home.
→ read full articleRussia’s War on Gays and Lesbians Intensifies
Benjamin Bidder in Moscow – Der Spiegel,
29 Oct 2012
Obscure conservative groups in Russia have intensified their fight against homosexuality, recently going after the pop-singer Madonna as well as an allegedly offensive milk carton label. The developments underscore a growing atmosphere of intolerance in the country.
→ read full articleCorruption Continues Virtually Unchecked in Greece
Julia Amalia Heyer – Der Spiegel,
22 Oct 2012
How can someone who has declared an annual income of €25,000 ($32,400) transfer €52 million abroad? What kind of supplementary income must an individual have who, according to his tax returns, earned €5,588 in 2010, yet still managed to move €19.8 million abroad? And how can it be that a Greek citizen sequesters €9.7 million abroad although he supposedly earned exactly zero euros?
→ read full articleIgnoble Prize? Euroskeptics Call Nobel Honor an ‘April Fool’s Joke’
Carsten Volkery – Der Spiegel,
15 Oct 2012
The decision to award the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union has divided the Continent. While European leaders in Brussels and national capitals are basking in the glow provided by the unexpected honor, euroskeptics in the EU have unleashed their contempt for the Norwegian Nobel Committee. In Britain, Friday’s [12 Oct 2012] award has been the subject of particularly heated commentary. Iain Martin, a columnist with the conservative Daily Telegraph dismissed the prize as “beyond parody.”
→ read full article‘The American Dream Has Become a Myth’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
8 Oct 2012
The finance industry is to blame for the growing divide between the rich and poor in the United States, says Nobel Prize-winning economics professor Joseph Stiglitz. In an interview with SPIEGEL, he accuses the industry of preying on the poor and buying government policies that help them get richer.
→ read full articleGay Players in the Closet: Coming Out Remains Taboo in German Football
Zeke Turner – Der Spiegel,
24 Sep 2012
Germany’s foreign minister is gay and so is the mayor of Berlin, but gay players in the Bundesliga top football league remain firmly in the closet. Last week [15 Sep 2012] one of them spoke out — anonymously — about the strain of denying his identity for fear of hurting his career. Chancellor Angela Merkel says athletes shouldn’t be afraid to come out. But the obstacles are high.
→ read full articleFrom Poverty to Power – How Good Governance Made Brazil a Model Nation
Erich Follath and Jens Gluesing – Der Spiegel,
13 Aug 2012
SPIEGEL explores how Brazil has become one of globalization’s success stories. A rigorous battle against corruption and poverty has ushered in new freedoms, growth and increasing equality, winning the country respect around the world. Western democracies consider themselves prime examples of “good governance.” But in recent years, the euro and debt crises, along with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have shattered faith in the reliability of Western institutions. Disconcerted Europeans are casting a worried eye at newly industrialized nations like China and Brazil. Can the West learn something from countries that for so long sought its advice?
→ read full articleThe Cartel – Behind the Scenes in the Libor Interest Rate Scandal
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
6 Aug 2012
There have been plenty of banking scandals, but none quite like this: Investigators and political leaders believe that the manipulation of the Libor benchmark interest rate was the result of organized fraud. Institutions that participated could face billions in fines and penalties.
→ read full articleWaves of Lawsuits Pending: Barclays Affair Rocks European Banking Industry
Martin Hesse – Der Spiegel,
16 Jul 2012
The LIBOR rate-fixing scandal has sent a shock wave through the whole European financial industry. A number of other banks are suspected of having manipulated interest rates, and Deutsche Bank has already suspended two employees. Experts warn of a wave of lawsuits that could ruin some institutions.
→ read full articleThe Last ACTA: Intellectual Property Treaty Dies in European Parliament
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
9 Jul 2012
It had been billed as an international effort to protect intellectual property. But on Wednesday [4 Jul 2012], the European Parliament overwhelmingly rejected ACTA following months of protests and claims that the law would infringe on individual rights. It appears doubtful that the treaty can be resurrected.
→ read full articleSecret Cooperation: Israel Deploys Nuclear Weapons on German-Built Submarines
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
11 Jun 2012
A German shipyard has already built three submarines for Israel, and three more are planned. Now SPIEGEL has learned that Israel is arming the submarines with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. The German government has known about Israel’s nuclear weapons program for decades, despite its official denials.
→ read full articlePolitical Revolution in Germany: Pirates Country’s Third Strongest Party in New Poll
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
16 Apr 2012
Germany’s Pirate Party may still be hammering out their platform, but that doesn’t seem to bother voters. Riding a wave of new popularity following a recent state election success, the Internet freedom advocates have gained record support in a national poll.
→ read full articleDiscrimination in Russia: Arrests for Violation of St. Petersburg Anti-Gay Law
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
9 Apr 2012
In St. Petersburg, Russia, two men were arrested on Thursday [5 Apr 2012] for holding up a sign reading “Homosexuality Is Normal.” It marks the first arrests on the strength of the city’s new law against disseminating information on homosexuality.
→ read full articlePedophile Priests in Germany: ‘Zero-Tolerance’ Bishop Accused of Leniency
Anna Loll – Der Spiegel,
26 Mar 2012
Despite the conviction, he remained a priest and, in 1996, he was simply transferred to a congregation in Ukraine. There, he says, he abused more minors. V. is now 72. “I can only compare it to alcoholism,” he says quietly with his arms folded over his chest and shaking hands. “It’s like an addiction,” he adds, “a sort of schizophrenia in which you switch off entire parts of your consciousness.” Nevertheless, he once again has access to minors since children regularly visit his places of work, a retirement home and a clinic in the Trier diocese.
→ read full articleFair Trial at Risk: Report Slams Hungary’s New Constitution
Christoph Schult – Der Spiegel,
19 Mar 2012
The new constitution introduced by right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been widely criticized as a means for the controversial leader to consolidate his power. A confidential Council of Europe report obtained by SPIEGEL declares that parts of the reform violate basic democratic rights.
→ read full articleContaining Super-Flus: Controversy Brews Over Scientists’ Creation of Killer Viruses
Veronika Hackenbroch and Gerald Traufetter – Der Spiegel,
20 Feb 2012
Should scientists be allowed to create extremely aggressive and highly infectious influenza viruses? Dutch virologists have done it and, in the process, triggered a fierce debate over the risks of bioterrorism and the potential release of deadly viruses.
→ read full articleGenetically Modified Pests
Rafaela von Bredow – Der Spiegel,
6 Feb 2012
The Controversial Release of Suicide Mosquitoes – A British biotech lab has released huge numbers of genetically modified mosquitoes in an effort to combat dengue fever. But locals, some say, were not adequately informed of the experiment — and now a debate has erupted over the potential dangers to humans.
→ read full articleHaircut Negotiations: Hedge Funds Bet on Profits from Greek Debt Talks
Stefan Kaiser – Der Spiegel,
30 Jan 2012
The negotiations over the Greek debt haircut are becoming increasingly suspenseful, with euro-zone finance ministers and the IMF pushing investors to accept greater losses. Hedge funds, more than any others, stand to profit, and are betting that the voluntary debt rescheduling will fail.
→ read full articleThe Freedom to Be Free: Battle Lines Drawn in Global Copyright Confrontation
Marcel Rosenbach and Gregor Peter Schmitz – Der Spiegel,
30 Jan 2012
Recent weeks have seen spectacular arrests and mounting tension between those who would like to make it harder to share copyrighted material online and those who champion Internet freedom. Controversial US legislation has been shelved, but the battle continues.
→ read full article‘Destroying Democracy’: Hungarians Protest Controversial New Constitution
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
9 Jan 2012
Tens of thousands of Hungarians took to the streets of Budapest on Monday night [2 Jan 2012] to protest the country’s new constitution, which took effect on Jan. 1. The document, in combination with other recent laws, severely curtails the independence of the country’s central bank and courts. Religious rights have also been slashed.
→ read full articleThe Crash Specialists: Argentina’s Lessons for a Crisis-Ridden Europe
Jens Glüsing – Der Spiegel,
26 Dec 2011
Ten years ago, Argentina’s economy was in a shambles, the victim of vast sovereign debt, a peso that was pegged to the US dollar and rigid IMF austerity measures. A decade later, Europe is facing many of the same problems. Argentina’s recovery has plenty of lessons for the euro zone — if only it would listen.
→ read full articleBurned for Spoiling Beer: Germany Rehabilitates Its Persecuted ‘Witches’
Kristen Allen – Der Spiegel,
19 Dec 2011
It was mainly women who were targeted, although there were also a surprisingly high number of men as well as a few children. They were accused of not only cavorting with the devil, but also of causing insect plagues, bad weather, ruined harvests and even spoiling the production of beer. “Of course there were no witches, these were all invented crimes,” says Hegeler, who has written 17 books on Germany’s witch trials. “But in hard times it was a good tool for local authorities to place the blame on others for famines and other problems. The witches were a wonderful scapegoat for whenever things went wrong.”
→ read full articlePress Freedom in Hungary: Journalists Protest Manipulation with Hunger Strike
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
19 Dec 2011
A group of Hungarian journalists has been on hunger strike this week to protest against alleged manipulation in the country’s state media. They say news reports have been edited in a misleading fashion for political reasons.
→ read full articleWinds of Change
Alexander Smoltczyk – Der Spiegel,
24 Oct 2011
The term “energy revolution” sounds light and airy enough, but how do human beings manage to wrest electricity from the sea? Germany’s largest offshore wind farm, a power plant surrounded by a hostile environment, produces 12 times as much energy as the world’s first nuclear power plant.
→ read full article‘The Laptop-and-Latte Generation Has Found Its Party’
David Crossland - Der Spiegel,
3 Oct 2011
The German Pirate Party won 8.9 percent in the Berlin election to gain its first-ever seat in a state parliament. It could become a political force at the national level, say observers, arguing that the party represents a generation of Internet users who have been ignored by the web-phobic mainstream parties.
→ read full articleGoing Rogue: Share Traders More Reckless Than Psychopaths, Study Shows
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
3 Oct 2011
What makes individual stockbrokers blow billions in financial markets with criminal trading schemes? According to a new study conducted at a Swiss university, it may be because share traders behave more recklessly and are more manipulative than psychopaths.
→ read full articleBeers and Bears
Christopher Cottrell – Der Spiegel,
3 Oct 2011
Gay Oktoberfest Events Reflect Changing Bavaria – Drawing more than six million visitors each year, Munich’s Oktoberfest has also become a magnet for the gay community. With a number of events catering to the gay and lesbian crowd, the “Rosa Wiesn,” or “pink Oktoberfest,” reflects the progress gays have made in the traditionally conservative region.
→ read full articleMy First AK-47: Kids Awarded Guns in Somali Recruitment Game
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
3 Oct 2011
Islamists fighting a civil war in Somalia have come up with a new way to find young new recruits. To stir up interest, they have reportedly resorted to using games, offering automatic weapons, hand grenades and cash as prizes to children who call in to take part in the fun.
→ read full articleQuestioning 9/11: The Politician Turned Conspiracy Theorist
Christian Stöcker – Der Spiegel,
12 Sep 2011
Andreas von Bülow used to be a German cabinet minister and member of parliament for the Social Democrats. Now he is a best-selling author who writes books about 9/11 conspiracy theories. He says he’s never feared for his life. This is despite the fact that he harbors suspicions that the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were not the work of 19 “suicide Muslims,” as he calls them, but rather an ingenious, cold-blooded operation in psychological warfare organized by the United States itself; and despite the fact that he has published this view in book form.
→ read full articleSpeculating with Lives: How Global Investors Make Money Out of Hunger
Horand Knaup, Michaela Schiessl and Anne Seith – Der Spiegel,
5 Sep 2011
In recent years, the financial markets have discovered the huge opportunities presented by agricultural commodities. The consequences are devastating, as speculators drive up food prices and plunge millions of people into poverty. But investors care little about the effects of their deals in the real world.
→ read full articleLeak at WikiLeaks: A Dispatch Disaster in Six Acts
Christian Stöcker – Der Spiegel,
5 Sep 2011
Some 250,000 diplomatic dispatches from the US State Department have accidentally been made completely public. The files include the names of informants who now must fear for their lives. It is the result of a series of blunders by WikiLeaks and its supporters.
→ read full articleOut of Control: The Destructive Power of the Financial Markets
SPIEGEL Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
29 Aug 2011
Speculators are betting against the euro, banks are taking incalculable risks and the markets are in turmoil. Three years after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, the financial industry has become a threat to the global economy again. Governments missed the chance to regulate the industry, and another crash is just a matter of time.
→ read full articleThe Goulash Archipelago: EU Remains Silent as Hungary Veers Off Course
Walter Mayr – Der Spiegel,
22 Aug 2011
Supporters of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán say he has a strict leadership style, while critics warn of the threat of forced political conformity, Jew-baiting and labor camps. Meanwhile, the European Union is saying nothing, apparently accepting the fact that a member state is getting out of control.
→ read full articleFear of the Executioners: The Sinister Power of the Rating Agencies
Michaela Schiessl, Christoph Schult and Thomas Schulz – Der Spiegel,
22 Aug 2011
The most obvious solution — perhaps even the only solution — to break the power of the agencies without also destabilizing the entire financial system would be to remove the rating stipulations from the regulations. This would allow investors to seek alternative sources of information without being bound, for better or for worse, to the agencies’ opinions.
→ read full articleFamine in East Africa
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
1 Aug 2011
Logistical Nightmare Hinders Aid Efforts in Somalia – Millions are starving and parents are watching their children die. Meanwhile militant groups are terrorizing the region. The situation in the Horn of Africa is becoming increasingly desperate. Aid organizations are facing enormous difficulties in their attempts to help hundreds of thousands of those suffering, but it’s a race against time they seem to be losing.
→ read full articleTraitor or Whistleblower? The Divided Life of Bradley Manning
Marcel Rosenbach – Der Spiegel,
25 Jul 2011
Chat transcripts by Bradley Manning, the alleged source of secret US government documents for WikiLeaks, will be used as evidence in his military trial. They reveal a conflicted and lonely young soldier who felt strongly about revealing “almost criminal” behavior. He’s spent 14 months in jail, but there is still no date for his trial.
→ read full articleBreaking the Power of the ‘Big Three’
Peter Müller, Michael Sauga and Christoph Schult – Der Spiegel,
18 Jul 2011
German Firm Wants to Set Up New Rating Agency – European politicians are blaming the escalation of the euro crisis on the major rating agencies, and are determined to break the monopoly of the “Big Three.” Supporters of an intiative by a German consulting firm to set up a European rival agency believe that their time has come.
→ read full articleA New Arms Race: Exports Booming for German Weapons Manufacturers
Dietmar Hawranek, Markus Dettmer and Ralf Beste – Der Spiegel,
18 Jul 2011
A decrease in orders from its own military has led Germany’s arms industry to turn the focus of its sales efforts abroad. It has recently enjoyed amazing successes despite seemingly strict export controls. For Frank Haun, it’s all a matter of “red” or “blue,” a minor color change on his map of the world.
→ read full articleSins of the Flesh: Church Shaken by Sexual Abuse Allegations in Africa
Horand Knaup in Nairobi – Der Spiegel,
11 Jul 2011
Following a series of abuse cases in Europe and North America, revelations have emerged of sexual abuse by priests in a number of African countries. The case of Father Renato Kizito, who is accused of raping young men in Kenya, shows how local power structures work in favor of the clerics.The Vatican has taken little action. The priest continues to operate his street-children projects. But one thing is clear: Just as in the past, it seems that the Church does not want to know.
→ read full articleGenerations of Pork: How Greece’s Political Elite Ruined the Country
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
11 Jul 2011
The latest tranche of loans from the EU and the IMF has helped buy debt-ridden Greece some time. But the Greeks will find it hard to get back on their feet. Their country has been ruined by three political dynasties, which created a bloated system of cronyism that is hard to change.
→ read full articleAt 98, Gay Holocaust Survivor Shares Story
Frank Hornig – Der Spiegel,
11 Jul 2011
For decades, the subject of the Nazi persecution of homosexuals during the Third Reich was swept under the rug and reparations were almost never paid. Rudolf Brazda, who may be the last living gay man to have survived the terror, shares his life story in a newly published book.
→ read full articleMao Inc. – China’s Terribly Successful Communist Party Turns 90
Erich Follath and Wieland Wagner – Der Spiegel,
4 Jul 2011
Beijing’s communists are among the world’s most successful capitalists, but their economic ascent is often overshadowed by its human rights violations. The Communist Party now faces a crucial test: Can it become more democratic without jeopardizing its hold on power?
→ read full articleA Fatally Flawed Recovery Plan: Greece Back on the Brink
Manfred Ertel, Christian Reiermann and Anne Seith – Der Spiegel,
13 Jun 2011
Greece needs even more money — EU officials estimate that a new bailout will cost over 100 billion euros rather than the previously assumed 60 billion. It will get the aid, even though the rescue strategy adopted so far seems doomed. The economy is shrinking, and ambitious privatization plans are illusory.
→ read full article‘Lasting Peace Only Possible with Hamas on Board’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
13 Jun 2011
It is time for the European Union to rethink its policy in the Middle East. That is the demand being made by 24 former heads of government, foreign ministers and peace negotiators. A Hamas recognition of Israel should be the goal rather than the precondition of the peace process, the leaders write in an open letter.
→ read full articleThe Rage of the ‘Indignants’: A European Generation Takes to the Streets
Mathieu von Rohr and Helene Zuber - Der Spiegel,
13 Jun 2011
For weeks, hundreds of young people have been camping out in central Madrid. And others across Europe have now begun following their example. Protests in Lisbon, Paris, Athens and elsewhere show that Europe’s lost generation has finally found its voice.
→ read full articleEuropean Opposition to Death Penalty: German Minister Denies US Request for Execution Drugs
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
13 Jun 2011
For months, dozens of US states have been facing shortages of a drug necessary in lethal injections administered to death-row prisoners. But German Economics Minister Philipp Rösler this week declined a request from his counterpart, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, to help out.
→ read full articleFears of Disruptions: Spain Bans Protests Ahead of Sunday Vote
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
23 May 2011
With the protest movement in Spain growing, Spanish authorities on Friday [20 May 2011] banned demonstrations this weekend as regional and municipal elections take place. Youth are protesting in the country against high unemployment and austerity measures, with protests in Madrid even being compared to Tahrir Square in Cairo.
→ read full articleSchengen Zone Dispute: EU Slams Denmark over Plans to Reintroduce Border Checks
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
16 May 2011
Denmark’s decision to reintroduce permanent border controls has met with criticism from the European Union, which sees the move as a challenge to the principle of freedom of movement. Copenhagen insists the new checks are compatible with Schengen rules.
→ read full articleApplying the Law in Guantanamo: ‘The Government’s Narrative Was a Lie’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
9 May 2011
When he arrived at Guantanamo in 2005 as chief prosecutor, Colonel Morris Davis thought that he would be dealing exclusively with fanatical terrorists. But he soon realized that many prisoners shouldn’t have been imprisoned at all. In a contribution for SPIEGEL, he describes his path from idealism to disillusionment.
→ read full articleGuantanamo’s Child Soldiers
Gregor Peter Schmitz – Der Spiegel,
2 May 2011
The Guantanamo files reveal many of the inmates in the controversial detention camp were under 18 at the time of their capture and that the charges against them were often based on hearsay. Even detainees who US interrogators admitted were innocent had to wait a long time before being freed.
→ read full articleHungary’s Rising Right
Keno Verseck – Der Spiegel,
2 May 2011
Right-wing extremists have been on the rise for years in Hungary, and the country’s Roma population lives in increasing terror. The government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has preferred to look the other way as vigilante groups have supplanted the rule of law.
→ read full articleWikiLeaks Revelations: A View Deep Inside Guantanamo
John Goetz, Marcel Rosenbach and Britta Sandberg – Der Spiegel,
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.
→ read full article‘Hungary Is a Disgrace for Europe’
David Crossland – Der Spiegel,
25 Apr 2011
An attack on pluralism, legislated intolerance, a crippling of checks and balances: Critics of Hungary’s new constitution are not hard to find. The country’s neighbors are also unhappy. German commentators say it is a scandal for Europe.
→ read full articleTriumph of Right-Wing Populists: How Dangerous Is Finland to the Euro?
Sven Böll and Maria Marquart – Der Spiegel,
25 Apr 2011
Will the election of right-wing populists in Finland derail the euro rescue package? A Helsinki veto would indeed be expensive for the rest of the euro zone, particularly for Germany. Experts are also warning that other European countries may follow suit if Finland decides to pull out of the euro bailout.
→ read full articleWhy Elections in Finland Could Doom Portugal’s Bailout
Der Spiegel Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service,
18 Apr 2011
Right-wing populism has arrived in Finland. The True Finns stand to gain close to 20 percent of the vote in Sunday’s elections on an anti-Islam, anti-Europe platform. That could be bad news for Portugal.
→ read full articleA Hapless Fukushima Clean-Up Effort
Veronika Hackenbroch, Cordula Meyer and Thilo Thielke – Der Spiegel,
11 Apr 2011
The lack of an effective emergency crisis management has underscored how poorly prepared TEPCO and indeed the Japanese authorities were for a nuclear disaster. Engineers seem helpless in their efforts to cope with radioactive water and workers aren’t even getting proper meals.
→ read full articleAmerican Peace Activist Jonathan Schell: ‘Our Most Dangerous Illusion Is that We Can Control Nuclear Energy’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
4 Apr 2011
In a SPIEGEL interview, peace activist and author Jonathan Schell discusses the lessons of the Fukushima disaster, mankind’s false impression that it can somehow safely produce electricity from the atom, and why he thinks the partial meltdown in Japan could mark a turning point for the world.
→ read full articleLeading Climatologist: ‘We Are Looting the Past and Future to Feed the Present’
Katrin Elger and Christian Schwägerl – Der Spiegel,
28 Mar 2011
Leading German climate scientist Hans Joachim Schellnhuber talks to SPIEGEL about the lessons of the Fukushima disaster, the future of nuclear energy in Germany and why our society needs to be transformed. “We consume as much oil in one year as was created in 5.3 million years,” he warns.
→ read full articleFumbling Toward Fukushima: Japanese Nuclear Plant Operator Plagued by Scandal
Markus Becker – Der Spiegel,
28 Mar 2011
For years, Tepco, the operator of the Fukushima power plant, has been widely criticized for deadly accidents and improper inspections. The Fukushima disaster is the tragic nadir in a history of poor management at the company’s nuclear facilities.
→ read full articleProblematic Public Relations: Japanese Leaders Leave People in the Dark
Wieland Wagner in Osaka, Japan – Der Spiegel,
21 Mar 2011
Leaders in Japan have not comported themselves well since Friday’s disaster. Information has been in short supply and distrust among the Japanese has begun to spread. Now, the blame game has begun in earnest… On Tuesday [15 Mar 2011], five days after the Fukushima disaster, Japanese Prime Minister Kan Naoto stepped into his limousine and was driven to the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) in the Japanese capital city. “What is going on here?” he screamed at the flabbergasted executives responsible for the out-of-control Fukushima power plant.
→ read full articleArab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service,
21 Mar 2011
‘The Beginning of an Epochal Development’ – Amr Moussa is the secretary-general of the Arab League and is a favorite in Egypt’s upcoming presidential election. In a SPIEGEL interview, he discusses the prospects for democracy in the Middle East, the risks of a civil war in Libya and his expectations of the West.
→ read full article‘You Are No Longer My Son’: French ‘Refuge’ Helps Muslim Gays
Annika Sartor – Der Spiegel,
14 Mar 2011
For many gay and lesbian young people in France, Le Refuge is a lifesaver — literally. Since 2003, the organization has helped hundreds of desperate youths, most of them from Muslim families, who have been rejected by their families and forced onto the streets. But the charity is overwhelmed by the number of people seeking assistance.
→ read full articleA Precedent or a Farce? – Court Faces Daunting Hurdles in Hamburg Pirate Trial
Michael Scott Moore in Hamburg – Der Spiegel,
24 Jan 2011
A Hamburg court is trying to make sense of a pirate attack off the coast of Somalia last April. But even as many hope the trial will produce a precedent for Europe’s approach to high seas crime, the court can’t even figure out how old the suspects are. The challenges to justice are immense.
→ read full articleSomali Pirates Testify in Court
Beate Lakotta in Hamburg – Der Spiegel,
17 Jan 2011
‘I Am Deeply Sad and Don’t Know How to Go On.’ Two out of the 10 Somali pirates on trial in Hamburg for hijacking a German container ship testified for the first time this week. Their stories provided a glimpse of the hardships of life in their lawless homeland.
→ read full articleLisbon in Limbo
Hendrik Ternieden – Der Spiegel,
17 Jan 2011
Portugal Fights Desperately to Regain Trust
→ read full article