Big Budget at the Berlinale
Chinese director Zhang Yimou was long considered a critic of his country's regime. Lately, though, he has focused on sumptuous period pieces -- and Beijing hopes his new film, "Flowers of War," will establish the country as a cultural world power. By Martin Wolf more...
The Road to Damascus
Germany has expelled four Syrian diplomats, apparently in connection with the arrest of two suspected Syrian spies earlier this week. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also called Thursday for a new attempt to reach a UN resolution on the ongoing violence in the country. more... [ Forum ]
Putin's Unruly Children
Russia's young people are growing up with more freedom than ever. Twenty years after the end of communism, the first post-Soviet generation is transforming the country -- whether the once and future president likes it or not. By Benjamin Bidder more...
Azerbaijan's Eurovision
While the Azerbaijani government hopes to burnish its image by hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in May, civil rights activists are struggling to draw more attention to the country's human rights violations. Standing uncomfortably in the middle are the organizers of this supposedly "apolitical" event. By Stefan Niggemeier more...
Pacific Battlefield Tourism
World War II ravaged the tiny island of Peleliu in 1944 as US and Japanese forces clashed in one of the fiercest battles of the Pacific campaign. Rusting tanks, wrecked aircraft and live shells strewn across the island continue to attract battlefield tourists to this beautiful but dangerous place. By Stefan Robert Weißenborn more...
Breaking Global Warming Taboos
Will reduced solar activity counteract global warming in the coming decades? That is what outgoing German electric utility executive Fritz Vahrenholt claims in a new book. In an interview with SPIEGEL, he argues that the official United Nations forecasts on the severity of climate change are overstated and supported by weak science. more...
Kremlin's Tough Top Diplomat
Sergey Lavrov has reaped massive criticism for Moscow's veto of the UN Security Council resolution on Syria, but the Russian foreign minister remains unmoved. The top diplomat, who met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, has a track record of standing up to the West. By Benjamin Bidder in Moscow more... [ Forum ]
Watching the Opposition
Two men have been arrested in Berlin for allegedly spying on members of the Syrian opposition in Germany, prosecutors said Tuesday. Officials were also searching the homes of six others suspected of similar activities. The arrests came amid international outrage at Syria's violent crackdown on opposition. more... [ Forum ]
Port Said Massacre
Egypt has seen a resurgence of unrest after last week's deadly attack on football fans loyal to the revolutionary movement. One eyewitness reports being amazed at how few police were at the match in Port Said. The military has denied it orchestrated the violence -- but it stands to gain from the chaos. By Daniel Steinvorth and Volkhard Windfuhr more...
Inside Syria's Revolution
As President Bashar Assad continues his brutal efforts to maintain power, Syria's rebellion has turned into a full-fledged civil war. Conditions are dire, but the outnumbered rebels report making progress. Eyewitnesses described the front lines for SPIEGEL. more... [ Forum ]
