The European Union's foreign policy apparatus is often written off as trivial. But its leader, Catherine Ashton, is the one whose tenacious diplomacy has brought the West and Iran back to the table to negotiate Tehran's nuclear program and related sanctions. By Gregor-Peter Schmitz and Christoph Schult in Brussels more... [ Comment ]
Pumped-storage power plants are an important part of Germany's shift away from nuclear energy. But the facilities are being planned in some of the country's most idyllic areas, leading locals and supporters of renewable energies alike to protest. By Dinah Deckstein in Jachenau, Germany more... [ Comment ]
Female members of Germany's Social Democrats want a coalition government with Merkel's conservatives to be contingent on a gender quota for company boards. Battered in the election, the SPD's men may now take these calls seriously. more... [ Comment ]
Workers from Nepal and India are helping turn Qatar's dreams for the 2022 football World Cup into reality. But they allegedly face conditions akin to modern slavery, and many are paying for the job with their lives. By SPIEGEL Staff more... [ Comment ]
Arthur Boyt eats animals killed by cars. He stews badgers with the head on, and he loves the taste of labrador. He'll even eat carrion several weeks old. Once you've picked the maggots off and cooked it, the meat tastes really good, says the British pensioner. more...
Silvio Berlusconi has plunged Italy into another political crisis. It's a wake-up call for Europe and a reminder that, despite what the recent German election campaign suggested, the euro crisis is by no means over yet. By Gregor-Peter Schmitz in Brussels more... [ Comment ]
Barack Obama is moving his foreign policy course toward diplomacy and away from military intervention. Suddenly the Iranian nuclear issue and Israeli-Palestinian conflict are back on the table -- but is the Middle East ready for a breakthrough? By Dieter Bednarz, Matthias Gebauer and Holger Stark more... [ Comment ]
Thousands of economic refugees flood into Berlin every year, including many Roma. Some end up homeless, many are insulted or spat upon. Now a new program aims to help them find jobs and apartments -- and begin a new life. By Lena Reich more... [ Comment ]
It's quickly becoming clear how hard it's going to be for Angela Merkel to form a new government. The SPD wants the Finance Ministry and will ballot its members on any deal. In the end, though, they're likely to reach an agreement, say media commentators. more... [ Comment ]
He's to blame for 20 years of standstill in Italy. Now he's leading the nation and the whole of Europe to the brink of disaster. If Silvio Berlusconi succeeds in toppling the government this week, his cynicism will have won. An Analysis by Hans-Jürgen Schlamp in Rome more... [ Comment ]
The European Central Bank wants to impose rigid tests on financial companies in the euro zone before it assumes its new supervisory role. But even before the tests are set to begin, the ECB is already tangling with policymakers. By Martin Hesse and Christoph Pauly more... [ Comment ]
Prosecutors claim 93-year-old former Auschwitz worker Hans Lipschis is complicit in the murder of thousands of people. The charges raise questions about how to interpret guilt in the Holocaust, as well as why the German justice system waited so long to pursue such cases. By Felix Bohr more...
They murder, rob and kidnap, just like their male comrades. Some women fight for rebel groups in Congo against their will, while others are driven by desperation. Photographer Francesca Tosarelli documented their dangerous lives. By Johannes Korge more... [ Comment ]
Austrians voted on Sunday to re-elect their current coalition government. But the country's two largest parties saw their worst nationwide election results since World War II while the right-wing populists made substantial gains. more...
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. By Christoph Reuter more... [ Comment ]
For some 200 years, Oktoberfest has been all about copious amounts of beer and meat. But, this year, organizers are breaking with tradition and reaching out to visitors with dietary restrictions by offering vegan dishes and even vegan wine. By Friederike Heine more... [ Comment ]
More than 800 experts from 195 countries have collaborated on the UN's lengthy new report on climate change. Despite points of scientific contention, the study uncovers worrying developments. Instead of arguing over the details, it's time the international community finally takes action. A Commentary By Christoph Seidler more... [ Comment ]
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. more... [ Comment ]
For decades, it's been common knowledge that dolphins are among the world's smartest species. Now some researchers -- and a new book -- argue the supposed underwater geniuses aren't so special after all. By Philip Bethge more... [ Comment ]
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