http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Sun, 19 May 2013 16:28:40 +0200 Sun, 19 May 2013 16:28:40 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/austrian-right-wing-populists-collapse-in-carinthia-state-election-a-886762.html#ref=rss The state was once their most reliable stronghold, but Austria's right-wing populists suffered a painful defeat in Carinthia on Sunday. Amid a series of corruption scandals, the abysmal showing could bode poorly for national elections later this year. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:58:24 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/austrian-right-wing-populists-collapse-in-carinthia-state-election-a-886762.html The state was once their most reliable stronghold, but Austria's right-wing populists suffered a painful defeat in Carinthia on Sunday. Amid a series of corruption scandals, the abysmal showing could bode poorly for national elections later this year. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/diary-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand-details-1892-journey-around-world-a-886196.html#ref=rss Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian archduke whose assassination triggered World War I, started a trip across the world in 1892. His newly published diary from the journey reveals a world of extremes, from island cannibals to skyscrapers. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:17:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/diary-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand-details-1892-journey-around-world-a-886196.html Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian archduke whose assassination triggered World War I, started a trip across the world in 1892. His newly published diary from the journey reveals a world of extremes, from island cannibals to skyscrapers. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/frank-stronach-stirs-up-austrian-politics-with-new-party-a-885810.html#ref=rss Frank Stronach left Austria as a boy to make his billions in Canada. But now the 80-year-old has returned home to launch a political party that is challenging established heavyweights. But many have one question: Why? Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:38:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/frank-stronach-stirs-up-austrian-politics-with-new-party-a-885810.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/election-year-in-austria-kicks-off-with-scandal-and-absurdities-a-882615.html#ref=rss Austria's political leadership has been mired in a swamp of scandal in recent months. With four state elections and a national poll scheduled for this year, the mudslinging has thus far been intense. The campaign has become particularly absurd on the far right. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:42:03 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/election-year-in-austria-kicks-off-with-scandal-and-absurdities-a-882615.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/vienna-indoor-marathon-mistake-means-personal-bests-for-many-runners-a-873443.html#ref=rss Spectators and participants alike marvelled at the impressive race times clocked up at an indoor marathon in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday. But it turned out that the runners weren't particularly fast after all -- the race course had been too short. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:01:32 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/vienna-indoor-marathon-mistake-means-personal-bests-for-many-runners-a-873443.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/new-allegations-haunt-eads-fighter-jet-deal-a-873194.html#ref=rss In the corruption scandal surrounding the sale of Eurofighter jets to Austria, more and more information suggests that European defense giant EADS may have played a role in bribery aimed at securing the lucrative contract. The affair has the potential to damage the company's image and its bottom line. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:40:15 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/new-allegations-haunt-eads-fighter-jet-deal-a-873194.html In the corruption scandal surrounding the sale of Eurofighter jets to Austria, more and more information suggests that European defense giant EADS may have played a role in bribery aimed at securing the lucrative contract. The affair has the potential to damage the company's image and its bottom line. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/a-new-pamphlet-has-triggered-a-sexual-education-debate-in-austria-a-870230.html#ref=rss How much do children need to know about sexuality? A new brochure has Austrians debating exactly that question. Critics say the booklet goes too far in presenting alternative lifestyles, but its publisher counters that it is just an honest reflection of current realities. Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:41:20 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/a-new-pamphlet-has-triggered-a-sexual-education-debate-in-austria-a-870230.html How much do children need to know about sexuality? A new brochure has Austrians debating exactly that question. Critics say the booklet goes too far in presenting alternative lifestyles, but its publisher counters that it is just an honest reflection of current realities.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/russian-mp-wants-to-buy-and-destroy-hitler-house-in-braunau-a-866737.html#ref=rss Braunau still doesn't have a plan for what to do with the house Adolf Hitler was born in. But a parliamentarian from Russia has an idea. He wants to raise enough money to buy the property and then demolish it. And he has support from a surprising quarter. Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:54:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/russian-mp-wants-to-buy-and-destroy-hitler-house-in-braunau-a-866737.html Braunau still doesn't have a plan for what to do with the house Adolf Hitler was born in. But a parliamentarian from Russia has an idea. He wants to raise enough money to buy the property and then demolish it. And he has support from a surprising quarter.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/krampus-and-company-winter-demons-come-out-for-christmas-in-the-alps-a-863593.html#ref=rss Halloween spooks are for wimps compared to the grisly Christmastime traditions of Europe's Alps, where demonic creatures come out to punish naughty children or to drive winter away each year. A gorgeous new photography book explores the many guises of these wild monsters, whose traditional rumpus harkens back to pagan rites. Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:12:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/krampus-and-company-winter-demons-come-out-for-christmas-in-the-alps-a-863593.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/males-nudes-get-due-in-two-major-austrian-exhibitions-a-863454.html#ref=rss Nude portraiture is commonplace in the museum world -- at least when it comes to women. But two major exhibitions this autumn in Vienna and Linz, Austria, are aiming to offset some reverse gender discrimination by focusing on works that feature nude males instead. They are already becoming a magnet for controversy. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:27:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/males-nudes-get-due-in-two-major-austrian-exhibitions-a-863454.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/nobel-laureate-examines-neuroaesthetics-and-broken-relationship-with-vienna-a-859639.html#ref=rss Neuropsychiatrist and Nobel laureate Eric Kandel's recent book on the brain, art and the creative process is a fascinating look into the brand new area of research called "neuroaesthetics." Just as fascinating is his perspective on turn-of-the-century Vienna, the city of his birth, which later expelled him for being Jewish. Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:07:58 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/nobel-laureate-examines-neuroaesthetics-and-broken-relationship-with-vienna-a-859639.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/austrian-billionaire-frank-stronach-starts-new-political-party-a-859432.html#ref=rss Austria has a newcomer on the political scene and, in contrast to neighboring Germany, it is not a rabble-rousing band of computer nerds. Billionaire Frank Stronach made a fortune in the auto parts industry. Now, he has created a new political party in the hopes of shaking up the status quo. Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:45:09 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/austrian-billionaire-frank-stronach-starts-new-political-party-a-859432.html Austria has a newcomer on the political scene and, in contrast to neighboring Germany, it is not a rabble-rousing band of computer nerds. Billionaire Frank Stronach made a fortune in the auto parts industry. Now, he has created a new political party in the hopes of shaking up the status quo.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/debate-erupts-in-austria-over-the-braunau-birthplace-of-adolf-hitler-a-857908.html#ref=rss A debate has erupted in the tiny Austrian town of Braunau over what to do with the building where Adolf Hitler was born. The mayor said last week he wants it to become residential apartments, but many would like to see a memorial instead. The property has been vacant for over a year. Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:51:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/debate-erupts-in-austria-over-the-braunau-birthplace-of-adolf-hitler-a-857908.html A debate has erupted in the tiny Austrian town of Braunau over what to do with the building where Adolf Hitler was born. The mayor said last week he wants it to become residential apartments, but many would like to see a memorial instead. The property has been vacant for over a year.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-archaeologists-announce-discovery-of-medieval-bras-at-castle-a-845397.html#ref=rss For years, people have believed that the wonder of cupped bras were a 20th-century invention. But archaeologists excavating a castle in Austria have discovered four bras dating back some 600 years. The bodice-busting find could change the history of women's intimate apparel. Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:15:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-archaeologists-announce-discovery-of-medieval-bras-at-castle-a-845397.html For years, people have believed that the wonder of cupped bras were a 20th-century invention. But archaeologists excavating a castle in Austria have discovered four bras dating back some 600 years. The bodice-busting find could change the history of women's intimate apparel.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-years-behind-with-rail-lines-to-brenner-and-gotthard-tunnels-a-844823.html#ref=rss European plans call for expediting north-south train traffic with new railway tunnels in the Brenner and Gotthard passes. But Germany could be creating a bottleneck in both projects because it hasn't made much progress on access lines -- and doesn't have any money set aside to do so. Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:21:34 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-years-behind-with-rail-lines-to-brenner-and-gotthard-tunnels-a-844823.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-court-bans-cowbells-from-field-after-legal-dispute-a-844947.html#ref=rss Cowbells are just as much a part of Alpine culture as yodelling and Lederhosen, but the constant clanging can be annoying. An Austrian court has ordered a farmer to remove the bells after residents complained they couldn't get any sleep. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:05:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-court-bans-cowbells-from-field-after-legal-dispute-a-844947.html Cowbells are just as much a part of Alpine culture as yodelling and Lederhosen, but the constant clanging can be annoying. An Austrian court has ordered a farmer to remove the bells after residents complained they couldn't get any sleep. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-family-lives-without-plastic-a-840955.html#ref=rss Is it possible to live modern life without plastic? One Austrian family, concerned about dangers to the environment and health caused by the material, decided to find out. What was meant to last a month has evolved into a new way of life. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:35:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-family-lives-without-plastic-a-840955.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/forest-sex-footage-sparks-debate-in-austria-a-838691.html#ref=rss Wildlife cameras set up in the woods of the Austrian state of Carinthia have captured the sexual exploits of an unidentified local politician. The footage has sparked a debate about data protection, with Austrian activists claiming the cameras are intrusive. But the politician may win compensation for breach of privacy. Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/forest-sex-footage-sparks-debate-in-austria-a-838691.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/austrian-group-tests-mars-space-suit-a-831024.html#ref=rss Volunteers and professionals at the Austrian Space Forum are testing a prototype Mars space suit in a series of ice caves that provide conditions similar to those on the Red Planet. Humanity is still far away from a manned mission to the planet, but the enthusiasts here believe it will actually happen one day. Wed, 02 May 2012 19:01:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/austrian-group-tests-mars-space-suit-a-831024.html Volunteers and professionals at the Austrian Space Forum are testing a prototype Mars space suit in a series of ice caves that provide conditions similar to those on the Red Planet. Humanity is still far away from a manned mission to the planet, but the enthusiasts here believe it will actually happen one day. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/interview-with-austrian-chancellor-faymann-don-t-overestimate-the-fiscal-pact-a-812299.html#ref=rss In a SPIEGEL interview, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, 51, expresses doubt about Germany's strategy in combatting the euro crisis, discusses the potential need for a larger Greek bailout package and says that the ECB may have to contribute to debt relief for Athens. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:19:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/interview-with-austrian-chancellor-faymann-don-t-overestimate-the-fiscal-pact-a-812299.html In a SPIEGEL interview, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, 51, expresses doubt about Germany's strategy in combatting the euro crisis, discusses the potential need for a larger Greek bailout package and says that the ECB may have to contribute to debt relief for Athens.]]>