http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:10:13 +0100 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:10:13 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814977,00.html#ref=rss In a SPIEGEL interview, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, 50, discusses the "repulsive" violence in Syria, his concerns about Germany's standing in Europe as a result of the euro crisis and his disatisfaction with the recent political impasse in Greece. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:08:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814977,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814905,00.html#ref=rss Germany's climate fund, a cornerstone of the government's much hyped transition towards renewable energy, has been massively underfunded during its first year of operation. The Green Party has accused the government of failing in its plan to create an energy revolution. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:41:42 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814905,00.html Germany's climate fund, a cornerstone of the government's much hyped transition towards renewable energy, has been massively underfunded during its first year of operation. The Green Party has accused the government of failing in its plan to create an energy revolution. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814912,00.html#ref=rss Duisburg mayor Adolf Sauerland was voted out of office in a local referendum on Sunday after he refused to resign over the Love Parade disaster in July 2010 in which 21 people died. He would not take responsibility for the mistakes that led to the tragedy, and said it was up to the courts to decide who was to blame. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:05:18 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814912,00.html Duisburg mayor Adolf Sauerland was voted out of office in a local referendum on Sunday after he refused to resign over the Love Parade disaster in July 2010 in which 21 people died. He would not take responsibility for the mistakes that led to the tragedy, and said it was up to the courts to decide who was to blame. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814575,00.html#ref=rss It was the first successful Islamist attack in Germany. Almost a year ago, Arid U. shot and killed two US servicemen at Frankfurt's airport. On Friday, he was sentenced to life in prison. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:27:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814575,00.html It was the first successful Islamist attack in Germany. Almost a year ago, Arid U. shot and killed two US servicemen at Frankfurt's airport. On Friday, he was sentenced to life in prison.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814106,00.html#ref=rss Is it acceptable to destroy cultural objects as if they were land mines? This is a question faced by archivists in Germany, where many of the country's historical films were shot on explosive nitrocellulose. A bitter fight has broken out in Germany over whether the film should be preserved or destroyed. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:01:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814106,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813635,00.html#ref=rss It's where Marlene Dietrich made her name, Fritz Lang created "Metropolis" and Quentin Tarantino and Roman Polanski sat in director's chairs. Studio Babelsberg, the world's first major film studio, turns 100 on Sunday. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:14:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813635,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813852,00.html#ref=rss Cancer has struck nearly every household in Wewelsfleth, a village of 1,500 inhabitants in northwest Germany near the mouth of the Elbe River. Residents feel not only cursed, but also abandoned by authorities in their search for an elusive answer. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:07:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813852,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814294,00.html#ref=rss German exports reached an all-time record in 2011, a development that may lead to increased criticism of its trade surplus, with many countries arguing it worsens global imbalances. Editorialists say the country's economy is already slowing and such criticism may be shortlived. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:19:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,814294,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813659,00.html#ref=rss The foundations affiliated with Germany's major political parties are playing an important role in the upheavals in the Middle East, attracting the attention of the region's rulers -- and making them the targets of harassment. The organizations' troubles are by no means limited to Egypt, where the offices of one German organization were recently searched. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:10:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813659,00.html The foundations affiliated with Germany's major political parties are playing an important role in the upheavals in the Middle East, attracting the attention of the region's rulers -- and making them the targets of harassment. The organizations' troubles are by no means limited to Egypt, where the offices of one German organization were recently searched. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813785,00.html#ref=rss She may be "tough" and "sporty," but the exiled widow of East Germany's former leader still misses home. Margot Honecker longs for the forests and wild mushrooms of Germany, the author of a new book about her husband says. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:45:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813785,00.html She may be "tough" and "sporty," but the exiled widow of East Germany's former leader still misses home. Margot Honecker longs for the forests and wild mushrooms of Germany, the author of a new book about her husband says. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813533,00.html#ref=rss 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. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813533,00.html 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. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813148,00.html#ref=rss 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. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:43:07 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,813148,00.html 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. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812515,00.html#ref=rss 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. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:32:45 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812515,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812877,00.html#ref=rss A suspect arrested this week in connection with a murderous neo-Nazi terrorist group has been identified as a former member of the far-right National Democratic Party. His affiliation is likely to spark renewed calls for the party to be banned in Germany. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:25:55 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812877,00.html A suspect arrested this week in connection with a murderous neo-Nazi terrorist group has been identified as a former member of the far-right National Democratic Party. His affiliation is likely to spark renewed calls for the party to be banned in Germany. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812511,00.html#ref=rss The revelation that lawmakers for the Left Party are under observation by the German intelligence service has triggered a debate about the agency's powers. The country's highest court is expected to provide much-needed clarification this year. At what point should spies be allowed snoop on elected representatives? <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i>  Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:05:40 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812511,00.html By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812672,00.html#ref=rss Many in Europe have been eyeing Beijing's trillions as a possible solution to the continent's debt crisis. During her trip to China, German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to promote investments in the debt-ridden euro-zone countries. But the Chinese have so far been tight with their money. Will Merkel succeed in getting Beijing to bend? Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:20:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812672,00.html Many in Europe have been eyeing Beijing's trillions as a possible solution to the continent's debt crisis. During her trip to China, German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to promote investments in the debt-ridden euro-zone countries. But the Chinese have so far been tight with their money. Will Merkel succeed in getting Beijing to bend?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812297,00.html#ref=rss Last October, the German research satellite Rosat plunged into the Bay of Bengal, more than 20 years after it had been launched into orbit. But had it remained aloft for just seven more minutes, it would have landed in Beijing instead, new calculations show. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:37:44 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812297,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812175,00.html#ref=rss Investigators have searched the presidential office of Olaf Glaeseker, the former spokesman of German President Christian Wulff, in a corruption probe. Opposition politicians say the affair poses further embarrassment for the beleaguered president, who is already under fire over his private loan arrangements. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:56:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,812175,00.html Investigators have searched the presidential office of Olaf Glaeseker, the former spokesman of German President Christian Wulff, in a corruption probe. Opposition politicians say the affair poses further embarrassment for the beleaguered president, who is already under fire over his private loan arrangements.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,811807,00.html#ref=rss It is a premiere for Germany. Never before have artifacts from Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba in Mecca, been on display in the country. A new exhibit in Berlin's famous Pergamon Museum traces history on the Arabian peninsula from the birth of civilization to the 20th century. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:46:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,811807,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,811262,00.html#ref=rss A group of fanatic bird killers in Germany known as "the Crowbusters" has been waging a war on the birds with military-grade weapons and crusader-like zeal. But their stated reasons for massacring these "feathered vermin" are unfounded, and their bloodthirstiness has irked even some hunting groups. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:23:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,811262,00.html A group of fanatic bird killers in Germany known as "the Crowbusters" has been waging a war on the birds with military-grade weapons and crusader-like zeal. But their stated reasons for massacring these "feathered vermin" are unfounded, and their bloodthirstiness has irked even some hunting groups. ]]>