Delayed Austerity Talks Merkel Demands that Greece Take Quick Action

Patience with Greece is wearing thin in Europe. On Monday, Chancellor Merkel became just the latest EU leader to demand quick action from Athens. But talks on additional austerity measures there continue to go nowhere despite the looming threat of bankruptcy. Greek politicians, after all, must answer to their voters. more...

Port Said Massacre Egypt's Junta Stands to Gain from Fresh Unrest

Egypt has seen a resurgence of unrest after last week's deadly attack on football fans loyal to the revolutionary movement. One eyewitness reports being amazed at how few police were at the match in Port Said. The military has denied it orchestrated the violence -- but it stands to gain from the chaos. By Daniel Steinvorth and Volkhard Windfuhr more...

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The World from Berlin 'Moscow and Beijing Abased Syrians, Snubbed West'

The Syrian army pounded rebel stronghold Homs again on Monday, raising a death toll that had already reached the hundreds in recent days. German editorialists are slamming moves by Russia and China over the weekend to to veto a resolution condemning the violence currently being perpetrated by Bashar Assad's regime. more... [ Forum ]

Inside Syria's Revolution Outmatched Rebels Gain Ground Amid Crackdown

As President Bashar Assad continues his brutal efforts to maintain power, Syria's rebellion has turned into a full-fledged civil war. Conditions are dire, but the outnumbered rebels report making progress. Eyewitnesses described the front lines for SPIEGEL. more... [ Forum ]

The Electoral Pact Crisis Desperation Drives Merkel to Campaign for Sarkozy

Chancellor Angela Merkel's move to help President Nicolas Sarkozy in his bid for re-election is unprecedented. But so too is the European debt crisis. Berlin is driven by the fear that a Socialist president in Paris may overturn its strategy to rescue the euro. But Merkel's campaign assistance poses risks. By SPIEGEL Staff more...

Euro Group President Jean-Claude Juncker If Greece Doesn't Reform, 'It Can't Expect Solidarity'

In a SPIEGEL interview, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Euro Group, talks about the need for Greece to push ahead with economic reforms. If the country doesn't meet Europe's demands, it will have to declare bankruptcy in March, he says. more... [ Forum ]

Emissions Scheme Dispute China Bans Airlines from Paying EU Carbon Tax

China said on Monday it was forbidding its airlines from joining a European Union carbon emissions scheme to protect the climate. The companies now face fines or may even be barred from landing at EU airports. The dispute comes as the EU is looking to China to help tackle the euro debt crisis.  more...

New Allegation Against President Wulff Received Discount on Personal Car Lease

German President Christian Wulff, accused of using his public office for personal gain, is facing a new controversy. In 2010, when he was still a state governor, he received a discount on a Skoda SUV he leased. Critics say the head of state's behavior is undermining efforts to fight corruption. By SPIEGEL Staff more...

Young, Wired and Angry A Revised Portrait of Hungary's Right-Wing Extremists

Though largely ignored by the national media, Hungary's right-wing extremist Jobbik party operates within a surprisingly well-developed and self-sustained online universe. What's more, recent studies have found that the party's supporters aren't the "losers" that many experts thought they were. By Keno Verseck more...

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The Unwilling Revolutionary Egyptian Activist Wael Ghonim's Quest for Peace

One year ago, Egyptian Internet activist Wael Ghonim quickly became the face of the uprising. But he was never comfortable with the role and would still prefer to retreat into the crowd. The digital world is his comfort zone. By Philipp Oehmke more...

War Crimes Ruling Human Rights Take a Back Seat to Sovereignty

An international court ruled on Friday that Germany cannot be held liable for paying reparations to the descendents of victims of a massacre perpetrated during World War II in Italy. The verdict has implications far beyond Nazi-era war crimes, and was welcomed by countries far and wide. By Hans-Jürgen Schlamp more...

The World from Berlin Riot in Egypt 'Had Nothing To Do with Football'

With two more people killed since Wednesday's stadium tragedy in Port Said, renewed violence in Egypt has highlighted the ongoing struggle for power there. German editorialists say the violence at the football match was just the latest manifestation of tensions between protesters and the powerful military. more...

Not So Cool Running Will Underwear Scam Kill Tongan's Olympic Dreams?

It was a story too good to be true -- and it wasn't. In reality, Tongan luger Bruno Banani, who supposedly shares a name with a German underwear company, was rechristened as part of a guerrilla-marketing plot. But will that now shatter his Olympic dreams? By Jörg Kramer and Sara Peschke more...

Rising Death Toll No End in Sight for European Deep Freeze

Frigid temperatures and snowfall have swept across Europe over the last week, with well over 100 people having died due to the cold, most of them homeless. The dangerous weather is expected to continue. more...

Sharia in Germany? Politician Blasted for Support of Islamic Law

Does Sharia have a place in Germany? The interior minister of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate thinks it could, particularly in civil cases relating to marriage and divorce. But criticism of his comments has been fierce. more...

His Own Harshest Critic A New Look at Works Destroyed by Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter is one of the world's most important contemporary artists. But he is also his own harshest critic. Recently surfaced photos show works of art that he destroyed half a century ago. Today, they would have been worth hundreds of millions of euros. By Ulrike Knöfel more...