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SPIEGEL ONLINE - INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER Compiled on Friday, August 7, 2009, 06:45 PM CET  This mail includes the latest edition of the SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL newsletter.  For daily insights on Europe and the world, visit http://www.spiegel.de/international#ref=nlint  If you are unable to click on any of the links below, please copy and paste the address into your Web browser's address bar.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'A RECIPE FOR CHAOS' ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Will Reconciliation Efforts Tear Liberia Apart Again? A traumatized Liberia is still recovering from 15 years of civil war. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has published its recommendations, but former warlords -- and the country's once-idolized president -- are vociferously opposing them.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,641102,00.html#ref=nlint  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GERMANY'S SCHREIBER AFFAIR ------------------------------------------------------------------------  The Scandal that Helped Merkel Become Chancellor The Christian Democratic Union's donor scandal of the 1990s led to the political fall of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl and the party's chairman. Their sudden departure from the stage led to Angela Merkel's swift rise. Without the affair, she might never have become chancellor.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,640938,00.html#ref=nlint  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ REVENGE OF THE NETIZENS ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Online Activists Take On Germany's Political Mainstream As Germany heads into national elections, established political parties are trying to appeal to Web-savvy voters using Facebook and Twitter. But their Internet policies are alienating bloggers and activists, who are using the medium to protest against the political mainstream.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641061,00.html#ref=nlint  --------------------  Photo Gallery: Germany's New Internet Activists http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-45096.html#ref=nlint  SPIEGEL 360: Our Full Coverage of the German Elections http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,k-6712,00.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HARBINGER OF CHANGE? ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Export Jump Brings Hope for End of Crisis German's Federal Statistics Office released export figures for June on Friday, and they have a lot of people smiling. Exports grew to 68.5 billion euros, a 7 percent rise over May's figure. The data is the latest in a string of positive economic news being released around the world.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,641063,00.html#ref=nlint  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PUPPY LOVE ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Orphaned Seals Return to Sea A seal station in Germany on Thursday released five orphaned pups into the North Sea after helping them grow strong enough to survive on their own. In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, Norddeich Seal Station director Peter Linau discusses efforts to conserve the species in northern Europe.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641084,00.html#ref=nlint  --------------------  Photo Gallery: Seal Pups Released into the North Sea http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-45097.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STILL NO FIX FOR 'FIXIES' ------------------------------------------------------------------------  German Court Rules in Favor of Fixed-Gear Cyclist A court in Bonn, Germany ruled this week that the fixed-gear mechanism in popular but illegal "fixie" bicycles should be considered the same as brakes. The bike's owner will no longer face a stiff fine but it seems unlikely the case will serve as a precedence elsewhere in the country.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641075,00.html#ref=nlint  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPIEGEL PUB QUIZ ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Moonwalking for the Stasi Silly season? Every season is silly as far as the SPIEGEL Pub Quiz is concerned. But do you know why the Stasi was spying on Michael Jackson or why Muslims are furious with a German soccer team? Grab a cold one and take the latest edition of our famous Pub Quiz.  http://www1.spiegel.de/active/quiztool/fcgi/quiztool.fcgi?id=42627#ref=nlint  --------------------  SPIEGEL Pub Quiz Ugly Animal Edition: Nature's Cruelest Jokes http://www1.spiegel.de/active/quiztool/fcgi/quiztool.fcgi?id=42057#ref=nlint  Another Round? The SPIEGEL Pub Quiz Archive http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,k-7252,00.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CAN WASHINGTON LEARN FROM BRUSSELS' MISTAKES? ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Avoiding Europe's Carbon Trading Missteps Early carbon trading efforts in the European Union flopped because regulators created too many credits and gave them away for free. Washington wants to do better.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,641053,00.html#ref=nlint  --------------------  SPIEGEL 360: Our Complete Climate Change Coverage http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,k-6975,00.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE WORLD FROM BERLIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Tepid Reception for Bank Control Plan This week Germany's economics minister suggested the government be allowed to seize the management reins of banks if they are on the verge of financial failure. The proposal offers an alternative to nationalizing banks, but editorialists are split over the plan's merits.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641137,00.html#ref=nlint  --------------------  SPIEGEL 360: Our Full Coverage of the Global Economic Downturn http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,k-7312,00.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOUSTON, VE HAVE LIFTOFF, JA? ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Berlin TV Tower Rockets into Space YouTube videos from Germany don't go viral everyday, but an animation depicting Berlin's TV tower rocketing into space, is finding a broad audience around the world.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,641092,00.html#ref=nlint  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 YEARS FOR THREE STOPS ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Chancellor's Subway Line Opens in Berlin After almost 14 years of construction work and 320 million euros, Berlin is taking pride in its newest metro line -- even if the U55 is a bit short.  http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641209,00.html#ref=nlint  --------------------  Photo Gallery: Mini Metro Line Opens in Berlin http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-45122.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PICTURE THIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Nothing But Hot Air   http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,641187,00.html#ref=nlint  --------------------  Overview: Picture This http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,k-7151,00.html#ref=nlint   ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Your Newsletter Preferences:  E-Mail Preferences | Unsubscribe: https://service.spiegel.de/backoffice/newsletter-service.do?product=spon-en-newsletter#ref=nlint  FAQ: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,321421,00.html#ref=nlint  Contact us: mailto:spon_feedback@spiegel.de  About us: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,321949,00.html#ref=nlint  SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL is an e-mail information service provided by SPIEGEL ONLINE.  © 2009 SPIEGELnet GmbH  ---- SPnetMail 0.99m / international / 156817 / 20090807-1800 / 21901