April 19, 2012, 06:19 PM
NATO has promised it will provide significant financial support to Afghanistan over the next decade. Reaching agreement on who will pay how much is proving difficult, however. Aside from the US, all member states are doing their best to keep their share as small as possible. By Matthias Gebauer more...
April 19, 2012, 01:19 PM
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government approved an expansion of the EU's anti-pirate mission off the coast of Somalia on Wednesday to allow military strikes on land. German commentators share the opposition's skepticism and worries about risk. more...
April 19, 2012, 01:12 PM
Many conservatives are skeptical of Mitt Romney's religion, and their lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy could threaten his chances this fall. But why is the issue so controversial? And why won't he address it? By Gerhard Spörl more... [ Forum ]
April 16, 2012, 03:10 PM
Amid ongoing tension about Iran's nuclear program, representatives from Tehran and six global powers held talks in Istanbul on Saturday. Despite cautious optimism from diplomats, German commentators warn on Monday that the specter of war still haunts the region. more...
April 16, 2012, 02:17 PM
For decades, the ultra-conservative Society of St. Pius X has been on the outside of the Catholic Church and looking in. Now, with Pope Benedict XVI intent on healing the schism, the group -- known as SSPX -- has written a letter that could pave the way for an agreement. By Peter Wensierski in Rome more...
April 16, 2012, 02:11 PM
A German-owned ship tried to deliver weapons from Iran to the Syrian regime. Once reports emerged, though, the Atlantic Cruiser disappeared for hours on end. The case is dubious and has alarmed politicians in many countries. The German government is demanding an explanation from the shipping company. By Veit Medick more... [ Forum ]
April 16, 2012, 12:04 PM
Bringing Kinder Surprise eggs into the US can incur a fine of hundreds of dollars because the famous chocolates with toys inside are illegal there under a 1938 law. Seizures of the eggs have doubled since 2010, but egg-lovers are now petitioning for the ban to be lifted. more...
April 14, 2012, 10:50 PM
An attempt to defy the weapons embargo on the Syrian regime has been thwarted in the Mediterranean Sea, SPIEGEL has learned. On Friday, a German-owned ship carrying military equipment and munitions from Iran was stopped from docking in a Syrian port. more...
April 14, 2012, 01:20 PM
Europe and the United States are delaying action in the Syria conflict -- yielding the field to Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan is presenting himself as a crisis manager, organizing aid for refugees and threatening to invoke NATO's mutual defense clause. By doing so, Ankara is cementing its status as a major regional power in the Middle East. By Maximilian Popp more...
April 13, 2012, 06:00 PM
Is a new war on the horizon in the Middle East? This weekend the international community will undertake diplomatic efforts to convince Iran to back down in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. A speedy agreement remains unlikely because the biggest world powers are focused on one thing -- their own interests. By SPIEGEL ONLINE Staff.
more... [ Forum ]
April 13, 2012, 05:11 PM
Jerusalem-based diplomat Stefan Szepesi discovered a love of hiking when he set out to explore the West Bank on foot, much to the confusion of the local Palestinians. He has now written the first walking guide to the region, which is the perfect place for hiking -- provided you steer clear of the military facilities and settlements. By Juliane von Mittelstaedt more...
April 13, 2012, 03:47 PM
Using private security firms to protect ships from Somali pirates has long been a legal gray area in Germany. Conceding that it doesn't have enough soldiers to do the job, the German government is considering a draft law allowing shipowners to deploy private armed guards. But there's one caveat: Security personnel would be limited to using semi-automatic firearms. By Simone Utler more...
April 13, 2012, 01:06 PM
The Jews had significant competition in antiquity when it came to worshipping Yahweh. Archeologists have discovered a second great temple not far from Jerusalem that predates its better known cousin. It belonged to the Samaritans, and may have been edited out of the Bible once the rivalry had been decided. By Matthias Schulz more... [ Forum ]
