A Strawman in England: FC Barcelona, a Shell Company and Messi's Father

A Strawman in England FC Barcelona, a Shell Company and Messi's Father

The London-based company Sidefloor was part of the tax-evasion structure for which Lionel Messi and his father Jorge were convicted. Now it has been revealed that FC Barcelona spent years paying agent fees to this letterbox company, payments apparently destined for Jorge Messi. By Rafael Buschmann and Michael Wulzinger more...

The Last of the Monks: Germany's Vanishing Monasteries

The Last of the Monks Germany's Vanishing Monasteries

Religious orders in Germany are disappearing because so few people want to dedicate their entire lives to God anymore. Some monasteries and convents find novel ways to make money and survive, but even their days are numbered. By Felix Bohr more...


Football Leaks Lawyer: 'In Germany, Pinto Never Would Have Been Sent to Jail'

Football Leaks Lawyer 'In Germany, Pinto Never Would Have Been Sent to Jail'

Rui Pinto is the whistleblower behind Football Leaks and has been in jail in Portugal for months. In an interview, his lawyer William Bourdon talks about how his client is doing and what he is doing to get Pinto out of prison. Interview Conducted by Rafael Buschmann and Christoph Winterbach more...

'Special Advisers': Investigators Target Illicit Trade in Diplomatic Passports

'Special Advisers' Investigators Target Illicit Trade in Diplomatic Passports

Several Germans have managed to procure diplomatic passports from African countries, including former tennis star Boris Becker and figures with criminal histories. Now authorities are investigating a suspected network of intermediaries. By DER SPIEGEL Staff more...


Interview with Edward Snowden: 'If I Happen to Fall out of a Window, You Can Be Sure I Was Pushed'

Interview with Edward Snowden 'If I Happen to Fall out of a Window, You Can Be Sure I Was Pushed'

In a DER SPIEGEL interview, whistleblower Edward Snowden talks about how he managed to mislead the most powerful intelligence agency in the world, about his life in Russia and about why the internet must be reinvented. Interview Conducted by Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler more... [ Comment ]

Return to Gadhafi Era in Libya: A Warlord Rebuilds Benghazi in His Own Image

Return to Gadhafi Era in Libya A Warlord Rebuilds Benghazi in His Own Image

Benghazi was the center of the revolution against former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. After driving out the Islamists, warlord Khalifa Haftar has set up a culture of surveillance and fear in the city. Now he aims to conquer the rest of the country. By Mirco Keilberth and Fritz Schaap more...


Alternative for Democracy: The AfD's Ongoing Slide toward Right-Wing Extremism

Alternative for Democracy The AfD's Ongoing Slide toward Right-Wing Extremism

In recent state elections, the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany won almost a quarter of the votes. It was primarily radical candidates from the right-wing fringe who emerged triumphant. The party is continuing its slide into extremism. By DER SPIEGEL Staff more...

Football Leaks: Why FC Chelsea Parked a Young Player in Cologne

Football Leaks Why FC Chelsea Parked a Young Player in Cologne

Why did the 14-year-old football prodigy Thierno Ballo transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to the amateur club Viktoria Köln? He was apparently parked there as part of a contract with FC Chelsea. By Rafael Buschmann and Michael Wulzinger more...


The Fearless Generation: Russian Youth Stand Up to the State

The Fearless Generation Russian Youth Stand Up to the State

University student Yegor Zhukov was arrested for participating in a Moscow protest and thousands of young Russians threw their support behind him. A new generation of youth in Russia is standing up to Kremlin oppression. By Christian Esch more...