http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Fri, 24 May 2013 15:01:32 +0200 Fri, 24 May 2013 15:01:32 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/german-exporters-less-optimistic-as-economic-worries-deepen-a-901556.html#ref=rss Companies in Germany that rely on exports are becoming increasingly concerned about the future of the country's economy, according to a new industry survey. The downturn in optimism is yet another indication that Europe may be in for a period of extended stagnation. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:52:27 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/german-exporters-less-optimistic-as-economic-worries-deepen-a-901556.html Companies in Germany that rely on exports are becoming increasingly concerned about the future of the country's economy, according to a new industry survey. The downturn in optimism is yet another indication that Europe may be in for a period of extended stagnation.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/german-brewers-oppose-fracking-because-of-fear-over-clean-water-a-901474.html#ref=rss Forget environmental concerns: When it comes to fracking, Germans are worried about how it might affect beer quality. In a letter to several ministries in Berlin, brewers expressed concern that the exploitation of shale gas could contaminate water supplies and thus violate the beer purity law of 1516. Thu, 23 May 2013 15:48:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/german-brewers-oppose-fracking-because-of-fear-over-clean-water-a-901474.html Forget environmental concerns: When it comes to fracking, Germans are worried about how it might affect beer quality. In a letter to several ministries in Berlin, brewers expressed concern that the exploitation of shale gas could contaminate water supplies and thus violate the beer purity law of 1516.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/amazon-and-other-us-corporations-flout-german-labor-laws-a-900615.html#ref=rss Last week workers walked out in protest at Amazon's two largest distribution centers in Germany. The online retail giant is one of several US companies to butt heads with employees in the country over corporate practices that chafe against German labor laws. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:14:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/amazon-and-other-us-corporations-flout-german-labor-laws-a-900615.html Last week workers walked out in protest at Amazon's two largest distribution centers in Germany. The online retail giant is one of several US companies to butt heads with employees in the country over corporate practices that chafe against German labor laws. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/deloitte-audit-prevention-of-money-laundering-in-cyprus-is-inadequate-a-900593.html#ref=rss 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. Fri, 17 May 2013 17:36:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/deloitte-audit-prevention-of-money-laundering-in-cyprus-is-inadequate-a-900593.html 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.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/big-data-enables-companies-and-researchers-to-look-into-the-future-a-899964.html#ref=rss Forget Big Brother. Companies and countries are discovering that algorithms programmed to scour vast quantities of data can be much more powerful. They can predict your next purchase, forecast car thefts and maybe even help cure cancer. But there is a down side. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:57:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/big-data-enables-companies-and-researchers-to-look-into-the-future-a-899964.html Forget Big Brother. Companies and countries are discovering that algorithms programmed to scour vast quantities of data can be much more powerful. They can predict your next purchase, forecast car thefts and maybe even help cure cancer. But there is a down side.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/deutsche-bank-backs-ruthless-rubber-lords-in-laos-a-899324.html#ref=rss 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. Wed, 15 May 2013 10:33:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/deutsche-bank-backs-ruthless-rubber-lords-in-laos-a-899324.html 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. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/court-orders-google-to-delete-search-suggestions-that-violate-privacy-a-899741.html#ref=rss A German court ruled Tuesday that Google's "Autocomplete" feature on search terms violates privacy laws in some cases. The company has been ordered to remove any suggestions that violate the rules. An entrepreneur sued after the algorithm linked him with Scientology. Tue, 14 May 2013 12:55:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/court-orders-google-to-delete-search-suggestions-that-violate-privacy-a-899741.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/daimler-blames-wolfgang-bernhard-for-recent-pr-disaster-a-898119.html#ref=rss Despite being a polarizing figure, Wolfgang Bernhard was long considered the heir to the throne at Daimler. But now the Stuttgart-based automaker is applying the brakes on his career and blaming him for its most recent public-relations debacle. Mon, 06 May 2013 17:02:50 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/daimler-blames-wolfgang-bernhard-for-recent-pr-disaster-a-898119.html Despite being a polarizing figure, Wolfgang Bernhard was long considered the heir to the throne at Daimler. But now the Stuttgart-based automaker is applying the brakes on his career and blaming him for its most recent public-relations debacle.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/amid-more-delays-siemens-blames-government-agencies-and-suppliers-a-897798.html#ref=rss Due to a series of glitches, German electronics giant Siemens has once again been unable to deliver trains on time. Instead of assuming responsibility for the problems, management is trying to pin the blame on suppliers and government agencies. Fri, 03 May 2013 17:10:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/amid-more-delays-siemens-blames-government-agencies-and-suppliers-a-897798.html Due to a series of glitches, German electronics giant Siemens has once again been unable to deliver trains on time. Instead of assuming responsibility for the problems, management is trying to pin the blame on suppliers and government agencies.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/speed-of-innovation-and-automation-threatens-global-labor-market-a-897412.html#ref=rss Past warnings about how technological innovation threatens jobs have proved exaggerated. Yet the digital revolution now has many scholars warning that this time things are different, and that the breakneck speed of automation could wreak havoc on the global labor market. Fri, 03 May 2013 10:49:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/speed-of-innovation-and-automation-threatens-global-labor-market-a-897412.html Past warnings about how technological innovation threatens jobs have proved exaggerated. Yet the digital revolution now has many scholars warning that this time things are different, and that the breakneck speed of automation could wreak havoc on the global labor market.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/critics-propose-economy-with-less-growth-and-environmental-damage-a-897550.html#ref=rss For years, economists have posited that prosperity requires growth, with environmental damage as the regrettable but unavoidable consequence. A growing number of critics are now challenging this equation, though, calling for a radical revamping of the economic system. Thu, 02 May 2013 16:23:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/critics-propose-economy-with-less-growth-and-environmental-damage-a-897550.html For years, economists have posited that prosperity requires growth, with environmental damage as the regrettable but unavoidable consequence. A growing number of critics are now challenging this equation, though, calling for a radical revamping of the economic system.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/polish-town-famous-for-producing-garden-gnomes-branches-out-a-897409.html#ref=rss A flourishing garden gnome industry spared an entire region around the town of Nowa Sól in western Poland from economic ruin. With the decorations now out of style, the industry is branching out to plastic tigers, dinosaurs and even churros. Thu, 02 May 2013 16:21:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/polish-town-famous-for-producing-garden-gnomes-branches-out-a-897409.html A flourishing garden gnome industry spared an entire region around the town of Nowa Sól in western Poland from economic ruin. With the decorations now out of style, the industry is branching out to plastic tigers, dinosaurs and even churros. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/kremlin-targets-russian-facebook-clone-vkontakte-a-897487.html#ref=rss Russia's successful Facebook clone VKontakte has long been a thorn in the Kremlin's side. Now, Moscow appears to be increasing pressure on the company, and CEO Pavel Durov has left the country. Thu, 02 May 2013 11:32:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/kremlin-targets-russian-facebook-clone-vkontakte-a-897487.html Russia's successful Facebook clone VKontakte has long been a thorn in the Kremlin's side. Now, Moscow appears to be increasing pressure on the company, and CEO Pavel Durov has left the country. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/european-companies-linked-to-collapsed-bangladesh-factories-a-897149.html#ref=rss 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. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:40:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/european-companies-linked-to-collapsed-bangladesh-factories-a-897149.html 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. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/deutsche-bank-los-angeles-slumlord-case-going-to-trial-a-896481.html#ref=rss Is Deutsche Bank one of the biggest "slumlords" in Los Angeles? The city thinks so, and has brought a lawsuit against the German banking giant that is headed to court now that a dismissal bid was rejected. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:29:50 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/deutsche-bank-los-angeles-slumlord-case-going-to-trial-a-896481.html Is Deutsche Bank one of the biggest "slumlords" in Los Angeles? The city thinks so, and has brought a lawsuit against the German banking giant that is headed to court now that a dismissal bid was rejected.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/government-wary-of-telekom-limits-on-flat-rate-dsl-access-a-896435.html#ref=rss German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom sparked controversy this week with plans to curtail flat-rate DSL speeds once certain data thresholds are reached. Customers, Internet advocates and the German government are all concerned. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:37:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/government-wary-of-telekom-limits-on-flat-rate-dsl-access-a-896435.html German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom sparked controversy this week with plans to curtail flat-rate DSL speeds once certain data thresholds are reached. Customers, Internet advocates and the German government are all concerned.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/economists-say-parallel-currencies-in-euro-zone-would-fail-a-895731.html#ref=rss A new German protest party is proposing the gradual re-introduction of the national currencies of highly indebted euro-zone countries. While the party's spokesman insists the idea solves everyone's problems, it has one major drawback: Economists agree it won't work. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:35:14 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/economists-say-parallel-currencies-in-euro-zone-would-fail-a-895731.html A new German protest party is proposing the gradual re-introduction of the national currencies of highly indebted euro-zone countries. While the party's spokesman insists the idea solves everyone's problems, it has one major drawback: Economists agree it won't work.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/lufthansa-worker-strike-grounds-almost-all-flights-a-895754.html#ref=rss Lufthansa cancelled most of its flights on Monday due to a strike by ground and cabin crew aimed at pressuring the airline in an ongoing wage dispute. The German national carrier called the measure "excessive" and "unprecedented." Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:29:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/lufthansa-worker-strike-grounds-almost-all-flights-a-895754.html Lufthansa cancelled most of its flights on Monday due to a strike by ground and cabin crew aimed at pressuring the airline in an ongoing wage dispute. The German national carrier called the measure "excessive" and "unprecedented."]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/lack-of-skilled-labor-could-pose-future-threat-to-german-economy-a-894116.html#ref=rss The success of Germany's economy has long been driven by small and mid-sized companies dependent on skilled labor. But a developing shortage of experts represents a threat to the country's economic future. With babies in short supply, immigration could be the answer. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:10:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/lack-of-skilled-labor-could-pose-future-threat-to-german-economy-a-894116.html The success of Germany's economy has long been driven by small and mid-sized companies dependent on skilled labor. But a developing shortage of experts represents a threat to the country's economic future. With babies in short supply, immigration could be the answer.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/risky-economic-plan-for-japan-inspires-hope-and-fear-a-894625.html#ref=rss Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic plan has rallied the Nikkei index and offered hope to those weighed down by the country's economic problems. But critics fear it could lead to national bankruptcy. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:52:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/risky-economic-plan-for-japan-inspires-hope-and-fear-a-894625.html Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic plan has rallied the Nikkei index and offered hope to those weighed down by the country's economic problems. But critics fear it could lead to national bankruptcy.]]>