http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:01:25 +0200 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:01:25 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/obama-charms-berlin-on-visit-short-of-substance-a-906796.html#ref=rss Barack Obama's first official trip to Berlin was short on substance but rich in symbolism. For a few hours in the searing summer heat, his relaxed charm and eloquent idealism triggered memories of the heyday of "Yes we can," before drone attacks, Prism and realpolitik. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:22:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/obama-charms-berlin-on-visit-short-of-substance-a-906796.html Barack Obama's first official trip to Berlin was short on substance but rich in symbolism. For a few hours in the searing summer heat, his relaxed charm and eloquent idealism triggered memories of the heyday of "Yes we can," before drone attacks, Prism and realpolitik. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/moscow-fears-obama-disarmament-push-threatens-influence-a-906793.html#ref=rss A world without nuclear weapons? It's a nearly inconceivable scenario for the Kremlin, even if its arsenal costs Russia billions each year. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the country has suffered a major drop in influence. Now it's doing all it can to cling to the geopolitical power it has left. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:54:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/moscow-fears-obama-disarmament-push-threatens-influence-a-906793.html A world without nuclear weapons? It's a nearly inconceivable scenario for the Kremlin, even if its arsenal costs Russia billions each year. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the country has suffered a major drop in influence. Now it's doing all it can to cling to the geopolitical power it has left.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/obama-invokes-kennedy-in-speech-given-in-berlin-a-906769.html#ref=rss Fifty years after John F. Kennedy's legendary Berlin visit, Barack Obama wowed the city with a rousing speech at the Brandenburg Gate, saying all oppressed people are "citizens of Berlin" -- and urging the world to help free them. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:32:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/obama-invokes-kennedy-in-speech-given-in-berlin-a-906769.html Fifty years after John F. Kennedy's legendary Berlin visit, Barack Obama wowed the city with a rousing speech at the Brandenburg Gate, saying all oppressed people are "citizens of Berlin" -- and urging the world to help free them.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/editorial-on-the-speech-given-by-us-president-obama-in-berlin-a-906771.html#ref=rss Barack Obama unleashed a full charm offensive in Berlin on Wednesday and he did a great job. It's high time for people to appreciate this US president a bit more again. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:05:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/editorial-on-the-speech-given-by-us-president-obama-in-berlin-a-906771.html Barack Obama unleashed a full charm offensive in Berlin on Wednesday and he did a great job. It's high time for people to appreciate this US president a bit more again.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/a-906754.html#ref=rss Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:20:50 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/a-906754.html ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/president-obama-navigates-berlin-history-amid-criticism-of-prism-a-906723.html#ref=rss History is everywhere in Berlin, as US President Barack Obama and his family found out on Wednesday. And the lessons of that past are clear -- which helps explain the president's challenging task of seeking to assuage German doubts about the Prism surveillance program. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:18:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/president-obama-navigates-berlin-history-amid-criticism-of-prism-a-906723.html History is everywhere in Berlin, as US President Barack Obama and his family found out on Wednesday. And the lessons of that past are clear -- which helps explain the president's challenging task of seeking to assuage German doubts about the Prism surveillance program. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/barack-obama-calls-for-cuts-in-us-russian-nuclear-weapons-a-906717.html#ref=rss US President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he would seek negotiations with Russia to reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons they hold by up to a third. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:46:50 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/barack-obama-calls-for-cuts-in-us-russian-nuclear-weapons-a-906717.html US President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he would seek negotiations with Russia to reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons they hold by up to a third. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/new-anti-euro-figures-in-germany-offer-vague-ideas-and-fan-fears-a-906675.html#ref=rss Many Germans believe it is time to abandon the euro. They're part of a growing movement spurred by influential populists from the worlds of business and academia. Their arguments stoke fear but offer no clear alternatives. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:19:32 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/new-anti-euro-figures-in-germany-offer-vague-ideas-and-fan-fears-a-906675.html Many Germans believe it is time to abandon the euro. They're part of a growing movement spurred by influential populists from the worlds of business and academia. Their arguments stoke fear but offer no clear alternatives.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/barack-obama-rebuffs-criticism-of-us-intelligence-practices-a-906659.html#ref=rss President Barack Obama on Wednesday gently rebuffed Chancellor Angela Merkel's criticism of US Internet surveillance and gave a light-hearted explanation of why he hasn't kept all his promises: "People don't always do exactly what you want -- it's shocking." Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:05:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/barack-obama-rebuffs-criticism-of-us-intelligence-practices-a-906659.html President Barack Obama on Wednesday gently rebuffed Chancellor Angela Merkel's criticism of US Internet surveillance and gave a light-hearted explanation of why he hasn't kept all his promises: "People don't always do exactly what you want -- it's shocking."]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/book-says-springsteen-concert-helped-bring-down-berlin-wall-a-906236.html#ref=rss In July 1988, Bruce Springsteen gave East Germany the biggest rock concert it ever saw. In a new book, journalist Erik Kirschbaum says the Boss inspired an entire generation to strive for more freedom -- and deserves some credit for the fall of the Berlin Wall. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:38:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/book-says-springsteen-concert-helped-bring-down-berlin-wall-a-906236.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-communities-forced-to-find-creative-ways-to-reduce-debt-a-906478.html#ref=rss Outwardly, at least, Germany is thriving. But some 130 billion euros in combined debt are forcing communities to find creative ways to cut costs. The city of Goslar, for example, hopes that killing the lights at night will bring a brighter future. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:40:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-communities-forced-to-find-creative-ways-to-reduce-debt-a-906478.html Outwardly, at least, Germany is thriving. But some 130 billion euros in combined debt are forcing communities to find creative ways to cut costs. The city of Goslar, for example, hopes that killing the lights at night will bring a brighter future.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/us-president-obama-to-address-nuclear-disarmament-in-berlin-speech-a-906581.html#ref=rss Speculation has been rife in Berlin regarding the possible contents of US President Barack Obama's speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday. Media reports indicate he will be making a renewed push for nuclear disarmament. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:01:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/us-president-obama-to-address-nuclear-disarmament-in-berlin-speech-a-906581.html Speculation has been rife in Berlin regarding the possible contents of US President Barack Obama's speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday. Media reports indicate he will be making a renewed push for nuclear disarmament.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cyprus-asks-for-improvements-to-bailout-deal-a-906558.html#ref=rss In a letter to euro-zone leaders, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has asked that the bailout package for his country be revisited. The effects on the island nation's economy have been much greater than expected, he writes. EU leaders are "puzzled." Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:45:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cyprus-asks-for-improvements-to-bailout-deal-a-906558.html In a letter to euro-zone leaders, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has asked that the bailout package for his country be revisited. The effects on the island nation's economy have been much greater than expected, he writes. EU leaders are "puzzled."]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-obamas-are-here-us-president-lands-in-berlin-a-906539.html#ref=rss Barack Obama and his family arrived on Tuesday night for the US president's first visit to the German capital since assuming office. Air Force One has landed, and the American leader will stay for 25 hours. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:12:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-obamas-are-here-us-president-lands-in-berlin-a-906539.html Barack Obama and his family arrived on Tuesday night for the US president's first visit to the German capital since assuming office. Air Force One has landed, and the American leader will stay for 25 hours. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/map-the-places-the-obamas-will-visit-in-berlin-a-906533.html#ref=rss Barack Obama will be in Berlin for a total of 25 hours during his first visit to the German capital as US president. The following map shows the sites on the itinerary for the president and First Lady Michelle Obama. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:11:40 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/map-the-places-the-obamas-will-visit-in-berlin-a-906533.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/probe-shows-how-ubs-targeted-junk-securities-at-german-cities-a-906176.html#ref=rss An investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission has revealed for the first time the methods with which the Swiss investment bank UBS sought to palm off bad debt securities on German municipalities. It succeeded in Leipzig. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:36:05 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/probe-shows-how-ubs-targeted-junk-securities-at-german-cities-a-906176.html An investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission has revealed for the first time the methods with which the Swiss investment bank UBS sought to palm off bad debt securities on German municipalities. It succeeded in Leipzig.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/free-trade-area-to-dominate-talks-between-obama-and-merkel-a-906467.html#ref=rss The shine has come off Obama's image since he was last in Berlin in 2008. This week's visit is set to be overshadowed by the NSA surveillance scandal, which Chancellor Merkel says she fully intends to address. Free trade will likely top the agenda. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:12:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/free-trade-area-to-dominate-talks-between-obama-and-merkel-a-906467.html The shine has come off Obama's image since he was last in Berlin in 2008. This week's visit is set to be overshadowed by the NSA surveillance scandal, which Chancellor Merkel says she fully intends to address. Free trade will likely top the agenda.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/a-906505.html#ref=rss Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:10:46 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/a-906505.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-spd-is-in-self-destruct-mode-ahead-of-election-a-906508.html#ref=rss Germany's Social Democrats are busy wrecking their chances of winning the September 22 election. The three leaders, exasperated at their party's disastrous opinion polls, are no longer bothering even to hide their mutual mistrust. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:04:48 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-spd-is-in-self-destruct-mode-ahead-of-election-a-906508.html Germany's Social Democrats are busy wrecking their chances of winning the September 22 election. The three leaders, exasperated at their party's disastrous opinion polls, are no longer bothering even to hide their mutual mistrust.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/taksim-square-protests-are-a-mirror-of-turkish-society-a-906312.html#ref=rss The Taksim Square protests have been hailed as a reflection of modern Turkey. United by a common goal, a motley collection of demonstrators has united to vent their fury with Prime Minister Erdogan. They are confident their sit-in served an important purpose. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:20:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/taksim-square-protests-are-a-mirror-of-turkish-society-a-906312.html