Former Minister: France No Role Model for Germany

The parliamentary leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), and a former German economics minister publicly criticized the French government under Socialist President François Hollande Thursday in a move that highlights the tension between the two countries. By Mary Beth Warner more...

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Top Papers Left Out Court Faces Fresh Trouble Over Press Seats

The Munich court where the NSU neo-Nazi terror trial is due to start on May 6 faces fresh controversy over media accreditation after several major German newspapers failed to obtain seats in a lottery of press passes. It was the second attempt to allocate seats after Turkish media had been left out in the first round. more...

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Europe's Moral Quandary The High Human Price of Cheap T-Shirts

More than 3,000 people worked producing cheap t-shirts for European clothing chains in the highrise sweatshop that collapsed in Bangladesh last week. Hundreds died because the facility was lacking even the most basic safety standards. By Hasnain Kazim, Nils Klawitter and Wieland Wagner more... [ Forum ]

NSU Aftermath German Investigators Sharpen Focus on Far Right

For years, German federal law-enforcement officials hesitated to launch terrorism investigations against right-wing extremists. But the NSU debacle has prompted them to launch an unprecedented number of cases and to employ controversial means in an effort to avoid accusations of inaction. more...

Sarkozy's Back Ex-President Takes Aim at Hollande's Policies

While French President François Hollande deals with dismal jobless figures and turmoil surrounding the recent legalization of gay marriage, his upbeat predecessor goes on the thinly veiled offensive in Montreal. "When I look at those who succeeded me," Nicolas Sarkozy says, "I feel very good." more... [ Forum ]

Rainforest Fiction Disney 'Chimpanzee' Film a Splice of Life

A Disney film about altruistic chimpanzees has been a huge hit in the United States. The movie is about to be released in Germany, where it is being marketed as a true story. Now a German researcher who was the flick's main scientific adviser has admitted large parts of the touching story were made up. By Jörg Blech more... [ Forum ]

Big Tests Ahead Italy Tries Fresh Start With Fragile Government

Two months after the election, Italy finally has a new government. It is made up of parties bitterly opposed to each other, much like the political situation in Greece. Can it prevent political chaos and keep Silvio Berlusconi from rising again? By Fiona Ehlers more... [ Forum ]

World From Berlin Italy's New Cabinet Gives Rise to 'Skeptical Hope'

Italy's new left-right government, sworn in on Sunday, is younger than previous cabinets, has more women and contains a mix of technocrats and politicians. It's a promising start, write German commentators. But they note that it faces huge pressures, and will need to deliver results quickly. more...

EU Social Affairs Commissioner 'Wages in Germany Must Increase'

Wages in Germany must increase and the government should establish a nationwide minimum wage, says EU Social Affairs Commissioner László Andor. In an interview with a German daily, he calls for a radical change in policy in the euro crisis and argues for a shift away from the country's export model. more... [ Forum ]