http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:51:48 +0100 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:51:48 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif 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/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/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/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/world/0,1518,662220,00.html#ref=rss Afghan President Hamid Karzai was sworn in on Thursday for his second term in office with a number of Western diplomats in attendance. Under intense pressure from the West, he promised to step up the fight against rampant corruption in his country. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who was in Kabul for the ceremony, said that now is the time for action. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:17:48 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662220,00.html Afghan President Hamid Karzai was sworn in on Thursday for his second term in office with a number of Western diplomats in attendance. Under intense pressure from the West, he promised to step up the fight against rampant corruption in his country. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who was in Kabul for the ceremony, said that now is the time for action.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662067,00.html#ref=rss Just one day before Afghan President Hamid Karzai is sworn in for his second term, the country's attorney general has announced that he has prepared indictments against five top politicians on charges of corruption. It's now up to Karzai to take action. NATO has also said it is willing to help in the fight against graft. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:15:26 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662067,00.html Just one day before Afghan President Hamid Karzai is sworn in for his second term, the country's attorney general has announced that he has prepared indictments against five top politicians on charges of corruption. It's now up to Karzai to take action. NATO has also said it is willing to help in the fight against graft.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661736,00.html#ref=rss Achim Steiner heads up the UN Environment Program, a traditionally weak agency with an annual budget of just 200 million dollars. But Steiner is doing his best to transform the position into a soapbox for the environment -- and is having some success. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:33:07 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661736,00.html Achim Steiner heads up the UN Environment Program, a traditionally weak agency with an annual budget of just 200 million dollars. But Steiner is doing his best to transform the position into a soapbox for the environment -- and is having some success.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662002,00.html#ref=rss In Rome this week, the UN is discussing the fate of 1 billion people in the world who do not have enough to eat. But the industrialized world tends to forget that the food crisis is still very real for people in places like Ivory Coast. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:59:41 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662002,00.html In Rome this week, the UN is discussing the fate of 1 billion people in the world who do not have enough to eat. But the industrialized world tends to forget that the food crisis is still very real for people in places like Ivory Coast.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661965,00.html#ref=rss The Hutu militia FDLR is responsible for much of the violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where murder, massacres, rape and kidnapping are widespread. The FDLR's leaders have lived untouched in Germany for years. Now the authorities have reacted -- far too late. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:52:17 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661965,00.html The Hutu militia FDLR is responsible for much of the violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where murder, massacres, rape and kidnapping are widespread. The FDLR's leaders have lived untouched in Germany for years. Now the authorities have reacted -- far too late.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661797,00.html#ref=rss In an open letter in the run-up to the the UN climate conference beginning on Dec. 7, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appeals to world leaders to come to Copenhagen and hammer out the foundation of what he hopes will eventually be an ambitious climate deal. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:22:31 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661797,00.html In an open letter in the run-up to the the UN climate conference beginning on Dec. 7, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appeals to world leaders to come to Copenhagen and hammer out the foundation of what he hopes will eventually be an ambitious climate deal.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661787,00.html#ref=rss Though President Obama has not shied away from discussing human rights and censorship on his three-day trip to China, German commentators argue that growing US dependence on China has taken the thunder out of his rhetoric. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:58:28 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661787,00.html Though President Obama has not shied away from discussing human rights and censorship on his three-day trip to China, German commentators argue that growing US dependence on China has taken the thunder out of his rhetoric.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661747,00.html#ref=rss The chances of a binding agreement being reached at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen seem slimmer than ever. But environmentalists still see a small chance of progress at the December meeting. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:50:01 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661747,00.html The chances of a binding agreement being reached at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen seem slimmer than ever. But environmentalists still see a small chance of progress at the December meeting.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661678,00.html#ref=rss US President Barack Obama came to office promising hope and change. But on climate change, he has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, George W. Bush. Now, should the climate summit in Copenhagen fail, the blame will lie squarely with Obama. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:39:05 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661678,00.html US President Barack Obama came to office promising hope and change. But on climate change, he has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, George W. Bush. Now, should the climate summit in Copenhagen fail, the blame will lie squarely with Obama.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661632,00.html#ref=rss The good news: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she intends to attend the Copenhagen climate talks. The bad news: 21 other world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, have said they don't expect the talks to produce a binding treaty. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:59:16 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661632,00.html The good news: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she intends to attend the Copenhagen climate talks. The bad news: 21 other world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, have said they don't expect the talks to produce a binding treaty.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661583,00.html#ref=rss Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his ally, the United States, are hopelessly at odds, and yet they are condemned to the mutual pursuit of success in Afghanistan. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:26:47 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661583,00.html Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his ally, the United States, are hopelessly at odds, and yet they are condemned to the mutual pursuit of success in Afghanistan.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661792,00.html#ref=rss A new novel has drawn attention to the depth of corruption in Russian society. President Dmitry Medvedev has taken steps to combat the problem, but his appeals for improvement are falling flat. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661792,00.html A new novel has drawn attention to the depth of corruption in Russian society. President Dmitry Medvedev has taken steps to combat the problem, but his appeals for improvement are falling flat.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661188,00.html#ref=rss US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke to SPIEGEL about her hopes for Afghanistan, her fears about al-Qaida's safe haven in Pakistan and her finite patience with Iran. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:41:21 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661188,00.html US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke to SPIEGEL about her hopes for Afghanistan, her fears about al-Qaida's safe haven in Pakistan and her finite patience with Iran.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661192,00.html#ref=rss Everyone knows that the ice sheet on Greenland is melting. But new research shows it is disappearing much faster than previously thought. The findings could mean that ocean levels are also rising more quickly. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:00:51 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661192,00.html