The mini hot rod looks like an outsize toy, and its Hamburg-based creators still can't quite believe it's street legal. It offers drivers as much fun as can be had behind a steering wheel, and a bit of discomfort is a small price to pay. By Benjamin Braden, Sara Maria Manzo and Christoph Stockburger in Hamburg more... [ Video | Forum ]
Proving that bad taste never goes out of fashion, an exhibition opened in Hamburg this week that romps through decades of aesthetic atrocities, showcasing hideous design from the early 20th century to the present. more...
As a further sign that all is not well in the Franco-German motor of Europe, the two countries will not issue a joint statement ahead of the next EU summit as Berlin had hoped. The development comes as France slips further into economic malaise. more... [ Forum ]
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. more... [ Forum ]
Despite the country's crippling financial crisis, residents of the Greek island of Ithaca have found new hope after the Emir of Qatar bought a nearby island for his summer retreat. The purchase has sparked a rush on local real estate and could bring new development. By Manfred Ertel more... [ Forum ]
A recent inquiry suggests that Cyprus isn't doing enough to combat money laundering, a precondition for obtaining a bailout package. The banks know little about their customers and are ill-equipped to identify suspicious transactions. more... [ Forum ]
Excrement and urine have been splattered on the Munich office of a lawyer representing plaintiffs in Germany's biggest neo-Nazi trial. Police suspect far-right extremists were behind the incident, just one of several apparently intended to intimidate anti-racist and immigrant groups as the trial gets underway. more... [ Video | Forum ]
For some, it's a dream in pink. For others, it's a monument to misogyny. The Barbie Dreamhouse opened its doors in Berlin on Thursday, and demonstrators and journalists were out in force. Femen also made an appearance -- to burn Barbie on the cross. By Rainer Leurs more... [ Forum ]
For decades, Joseph Beuys has been exalted as a heroic icon of postwar avant-garde German art. But a new biography accuses him of having been a serial liar who never completely emancipated himself from the views of Nazism and a bizarre cult. By Ulrike Knöfel more... [ Forum ]
During her eight years as chancellor, Angela Merkel has skillfully lulled Germans to sleep and used feel-good policies to switch their focus from politics to personal comfort. By starving Germany's democracy of vibrancy, "Mommy Merkel" has caused it to wither. A Commentary by Dirk Kurbjuweit more... [ Forum ]
Not long ago Berlin's future looked bright, with a state-of-the-art airport and a new high-tech park set to open where the old Tegel airport now stands. Now, delays to the former may torpedo the latter, particularly now that there are plans afoot to keep Tegel operational for years to come. By Andreas Wassermann more... [ Forum ]
Ever wondered what Angela Merkel had in mind with her decision to phase out nuclear energy? Dependency on Russian energy, if you believe some prominent conspiracy theorists. They'd like you to believe the German chancellor is some kind of KGB "sleeper agent" installed by Moscow at the end of the Cold War. By Jan Fleischhauer more... [ Forum ]
They are beautiful, secluded and sometimes bizarre: Europe's smallest, least-known islands have their own unique charm. Some can only be reached by mail boat. Another asks that all visitors arrive in the nude. more... [ Forum ]
It may have begun as a joke, but with the adoption of slogans used by the Nazis, an ongoing feud pitting long-time Berliners against newer residents from southern Germany may have crossed a line. By Charly Wilder more... [ Forum ]
Education experts in Germany are pushing to modernize the country's basic curriculum by making instruction in computer science mandatory. But opponents say it doesn't deserve the same status as subjects like math, Latin and biology. By Hilmar Schmundt more... [ Forum ]
President Obama, usually cautious, has made bold statements on Syria and Iran, but by drawing red lines, he risks being backed into a corner. He could take a lesson from Teddy Roosevelt when it comes to foreign policy. An Essay by Erich Follath more... [ Forum ]
A survivor of the recent factory building collapse in Bangladesh describes the day of the tragedy and the constant pressure to work faster under horrible conditions. Her story provides a glimpse at the difficult and impoverished lives of those who produce inexpensive clothing for the West. more... [ Forum ]
The European common currency zone has now been in recession for six straight quarters, with three of the bloc's four largest economies now suffering persistent negative growth. Could the Continent's pursuit of austerity be backfiring? German commentators believe the answer is yes. more... [ Forum ]
Vietnamese companies have been ruthlessly taking advantage of Laotian locals and their environment to create vast rubber plantations. The "rubber lords" are also getting support for the land grabs from Germany's Deutsche Bank, which is violating its ethics and sustainability policies, critics say. By Martin Hesse, Jörg Schmitt and Wieland Wagner more... [ Forum ]
Youth unemployment in Spain is enormously high, yet some companies in Germany can't find the skilled labor they need. Now, a program in Bavaria is trying to kill two birds with one stone. It has been overwhelmed with applications and the first Spanish newcomers have begun arriving. By Andrew Bowen in Munich, Germany more... [ Forum ]
