Shame and Fear
The Catholic Church in Germany has been shaken in recent days by revelations of a series of sexual abuse cases. Close to 100 priests and members of the laity have been suspected of abuse in recent years. After years of suppression, the wall of silence appears to be crumbling. By SPIEGEL Staff. more... [ Forum ]
'Million-Fold Violation of the Private Sphere'
Many in Berlin have long viewed Google's Street View service with some suspicion. Now, Consumer Protection Minister Ilse Aigner has called for better privacy laws. She says that even intelligence agencies wouldn't "collect photos so unabashedly." more...
The World from Berlin
Over the weekend, Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki rebuffed a uranium swap plan proposed by the West. In Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered his scientists to begin enriching uranium to 20 percent. It is now time to impose tough new sanctions, say German commentators. more...
Interview with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, 74, discusses peace negotiations with Israel and his disappointment with United States President Barack Obama in an exclusive SPIEGEL interview. more...
Ahead of SWIFT Vote
As the European Parliament prepares to flex its muscles in the vote on the SWIFT data deal, the US is trying to convince the Europeans of the importance of sharing bank transfer information. US officials say the EU and Germany have already benefited from the SWIFT reports in fighting terrorism. more...
Greek Debt Crisis
Goldman Sachs helped the Greek government to mask the true extent of its deficit with the help of a derivatives deal that legally circumvented the EU Maastricht deficit rules. At some point the so-called cross currency swaps will mature, and swell the country's already bloated deficit. By Beat Balzli more...
Tymoshenko vs. Yanukovych
Ukraine looks to be heading for political stalemate after Sunday's runoff presidential election. With over 95 percent of the votes counted, opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych appears to have won, but he has failed to achieve a convicing lead over his rival Yulia Tymoshenko. She may contest the result in court. By Benjamin Bidder in Kiev more...
Old-Age Vigilantes
Four German pensioners were so incensed with their financial advisor after making losses on investments that they kidnapped him in a bid to get their money back. They told the court at their trial on Monday that they had been "taken for a ride." more...
Reversing the Atomic Phase-Out
German Enivronment Minister Norbert Röttgen has caused a rift in Chancellor Angela Merkel's government by suggesting that it drop plans to extend the lifetimes of the country's 17 nuclear power stations. more...
German Embassy Scandal in Tehran
The scandal involving federal police officers at the German embassy in Tehran who allegedly had affairs with an Iranian woman is expanding. The woman, who apparently holds both Iranian and British citizenship, is currently sitting in the dock in a show trial. By Matthias Gebauer and Marcel Rosenbach more...
Iranian Opposition Leader Mahdi Karroubi
In an interview with SPIEGEL, opposition politician and former president of the Iranian parliament Mahdi Karroubi, 72, discusses allegations that he has bowed under pressure from the government in Tehran. more...
A Paralyzing State Election
Jürgen Rüttgers, the powerful governor of North Rhine-Westphalia, currently holds the reins of German politics. He doesn't want anyone rocking the boat before crucial state elections in May and is hampering much-needed reforms. He could even pose a challenge to Chancellor Angela Merkel. By Rene Pfister more... [ Forum ]
Interview with German Government Economic Adviser
Greece is currently facing the prospect of bankruptcy, which could threaten the euro. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, Peter Bofinger, a prominent economic adviser to the German government, explains why he believes Europe's common currency would survive a Greek collapse and calls for a new global monetary order. more...
Far-Right Rhetoric
A small Muslim community in a western German town would like to build a minaret on its mosque. But the plan has triggered passionate opposition from locals, many of whom rely on rhetoric from the extreme right in railing against the "symbol of Islam's quest for power." more...
Discord at the Heart of German Football
German national team coach Joachim Löw may have secured a place for the players in the World Cup, but that hasn't been enough to secure a contract extension. The Football Federation has failed to agree to Löw's demands. Now the talks have been postponed until after the tournament in South Africa. more...
A 400 Million Euro Windfall
German tax authorities are preparing to pay a hefty sum for information on tax evaders with accounts in Switzerland, but the deal looks well worth it. The state is expected to recover as much as 400 million euros in back taxes, a German newspaper reports Friday. more...
The Unloved Film Mogul
Bernd Eichinger is Germany's most successful film producer. He has produced 70 films in more than 30 years, often taking considerable financial risks and boldly tackling difficult material. His films have received several Oscar nominations and he is well-known in Hollywood. So why is there so little love for him at home? By Lars-Olav Beier more... [ Forum ]
