http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:10:56 +0100 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:10:56 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662516,00.html#ref=rss The appointment of Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton to the European Union's top spots has many scratching their heads. The two are relatively unknown, but expectations are so low, they can only exceed them. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:17:23 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662516,00.html The appointment of Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton to the European Union's top spots has many scratching their heads. The two are relatively unknown, but expectations are so low, they can only exceed them.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662520,00.html#ref=rss This week, results of the first study comparing opinions of Germans, Turks and Turks living in Germany were announced. There were some grounds to celebrate integration but there were also problems. Many immigrants say they feel out of place in both countries, almost half want to return home and Turkish youth are becoming more conservative than their elders. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:06:41 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662520,00.html This week, results of the first study comparing opinions of Germans, Turks and Turks living in Germany were announced. There were some grounds to celebrate integration but there were also problems. Many immigrants say they feel out of place in both countries, almost half want to return home and Turkish youth are becoming more conservative than their elders.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,662518,00.html#ref=rss Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:04:07 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,662518,00.html ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,662082,00.html#ref=rss Rammstein has reached its goal. The band's best-selling new album "Liebe ist für alle da" ("Love is There for Everyone") has been taken off German shelves after offending government censors -- a first for the bad boys of German rock. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:42:16 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,662082,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662517,00.html#ref=rss Herman Van Rompuy is a practicing Catholic who belongs to the conservative wing of the Flemish Christian Democrat party. He likes haiku poetry and prefers the Beatles to the Stones. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:34:04 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662517,00.html Herman Van Rompuy is a practicing Catholic who belongs to the conservative wing of the Flemish Christian Democrat party. He likes haiku poetry and prefers the Beatles to the Stones.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,661999,00.html#ref=rss The Czech Republic this week kicked off celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Back then, it was Czechoslovakian students who took the lead. Nowadays, the country's youth are ambivalent about Prague-style democracy. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:12 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,661999,00.html The Czech Republic this week kicked off celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Back then, it was Czechoslovakian students who took the lead. Nowadays, the country's youth are ambivalent about Prague-style democracy.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662479,00.html#ref=rss Prosecutors in Germany have revealed the scope of the match-fixing scandal that has shocked European football. Around 200 games are suspected of having been fixed, with more than 30 of those played in Germany. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:56:06 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662479,00.html Prosecutors in Germany have revealed the scope of the match-fixing scandal that has shocked European football. Around 200 games are suspected of having been fixed, with more than 30 of those played in Germany.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662458,00.html#ref=rss After a controversial election, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was finally sworn in for his second term this week. The high-ranking Western diplomats who attended the inauguration said it was a decisive moment for the strife-torn land. But German commentators are not impressed with Karzai's promises. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:10:50 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662458,00.html After a controversial election, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was finally sworn in for his second term this week. The high-ranking Western diplomats who attended the inauguration said it was a decisive moment for the strife-torn land. But German commentators are not impressed with Karzai's promises.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662438,00.html#ref=rss It's not often that sport becomes the stuff of diplomatic disputes. But two highly controversial World Cup qualifying matches have pushed football into the global headlines this week. Algeria and Egypt find themselves embroiled in a serious spat while the Irish government complained to Paris. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:39:27 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662438,00.html It's not often that sport becomes the stuff of diplomatic disputes. But two highly controversial World Cup qualifying matches have pushed football into the global headlines this week. Algeria and Egypt find themselves embroiled in a serious spat while the Irish government complained to Paris.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662401,00.html#ref=rss With the world struggling to come up with an agreement ahead of December's Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, one important fact has been overlooked: Women are hit hardest by the extreme weather shifts, according to a new UN report. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:25:57 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662401,00.html With the world struggling to come up with an agreement ahead of December's Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, one important fact has been overlooked: Women are hit hardest by the extreme weather shifts, according to a new UN report.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,662447,00.html#ref=rss Two Deutsche Bank funds were designed to profit from premature deaths in the US by buying up life insurance policies. But investors have seen precious little return on their investment. Angry customers are accusing the bank of fraud. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:39:58 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,662447,00.html Two Deutsche Bank funds were designed to profit from premature deaths in the US by buying up life insurance policies. But investors have seen precious little return on their investment. Angry customers are accusing the bank of fraud.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662387,00.html#ref=rss Two parties in Denmark's parliament are calling for stricter checks on American travelers to the country out of terrorism concerns. Danish Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen agrees that restrictions may be necessary. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662387,00.html Two parties in Denmark's parliament are calling for stricter checks on American travelers to the country out of terrorism concerns. Danish Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen agrees that restrictions may be necessary.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661759,00.html#ref=rss China's image in the world hasn't been the best lately. Now, Beijing is pumping billions of dollars into a global media campaign in an effort to reverse that trend. Chinese television may be coming soon to a TV near you. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:47:42 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661759,00.html China's image in the world hasn't been the best lately. Now, Beijing is pumping billions of dollars into a global media campaign in an effort to reverse that trend. Chinese television may be coming soon to a TV near you.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662357,00.html#ref=rss Europe's leaders are relieved that the wrangling over the EU's new positions of president and foreign minister is finally over. But they have no reason to be proud. Once again, the EU has missed an opportunity to boost its standing on the global stage. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:05:44 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662357,00.html Europe's leaders are relieved that the wrangling over the EU's new positions of president and foreign minister is finally over. But they have no reason to be proud. Once again, the EU has missed an opportunity to boost its standing on the global stage.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662303,00.html#ref=rss A dead captain, soldiers onboard civilian freighters, record ransoms and shoot-outs almost daily: After two months of relative calm, pirate season off the coast of Somalia has resumed. The stakes are higher than ever. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:19:54 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662303,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,662299,00.html#ref=rss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:56:02 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,662299,00.html ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662245,00.html#ref=rss Leaders of the European Union meet on Thursday evening to discuss who should get the bloc's new top jobs. German commentators suggest that, before the meeting, the leaders should do some homework and put aside national differences -- or risk devaluing the whole process. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:23:33 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662245,00.html Leaders of the European Union meet on Thursday evening to discuss who should get the bloc's new top jobs. German commentators suggest that, before the meeting, the leaders should do some homework and put aside national differences -- or risk devaluing the whole process.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662240,00.html#ref=rss Amid complaints that Parisian nightlife has lost ground to cities like Berlin and Barcelona, French officials are doing their best to buff up the city's reputation. But partygoers, perturbed by red tape and the closure of famous clubs, say that more has to be done to enliven the city in the wee hours. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:54 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,662240,00.html Amid complaints that Parisian nightlife has lost ground to cities like Berlin and Barcelona, French officials are doing their best to buff up the city's reputation. But partygoers, perturbed by red tape and the closure of famous clubs, say that more has to be done to enliven the city in the wee hours.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662092,00.html#ref=rss Global warming appears to have stalled. Climatologists are puzzled as to why average global temperatures have stopped rising over the last 10 years. Some attribute the trend to a lack of sunspots, while others explain it through ocean currents. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:13 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662092,00.html Global warming appears to have stalled. Climatologists are puzzled as to why average global temperatures have stopped rising over the last 10 years. Some attribute the trend to a lack of sunspots, while others explain it through ocean currents.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,662204,00.html#ref=rss Some men will steal your heart, others will steal your wallet. But one man might soon learn that, if you plan on doing the latter, don't seal the deal with a kiss. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:24:19 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,662204,00.html Some men will steal your heart, others will steal your wallet. But one man might soon learn that, if you plan on doing the latter, don't seal the deal with a kiss.]]>