SPIEGEL ONLINE - INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER Compiled on Thursday, December 2, 2010, 07:07 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MACHO FRIENDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Washington Concerned about Berlusconi-Putin Axis What is behind the friendship between Italy's Silvio Berlusconi and Russia's Vladimir Putin? The close relationship between the two leaders is a source of unease for the US State Department. The leaked cables contain allegations of personal business interests that both politicians deny. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732560,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'VIRTUAL MAFIA STATES' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Russian Mafia an International Concern for US Diplomats Leaked embassy cables show US diplomats are concerned about the growing power of Russian organized crime and believe it has contacts with the highest levels of government in Moscow. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732345,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'TOP DOG' AND A VENGEFUL HARPY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The US Is Betting on Putin The US is well informed in Moscow -- which is why Washington is skeptical that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has much of a future. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, diplomatic cables make clear, is 'in the driver's seat.' http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732290,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'TERRIBLE LOSSES OVERNIGHT' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cables Track US Diplomatic Efforts to Avert Russian-Georgian Conflict The leaked embassy cables show how the US, after spending years helping to build up Georgia's military capabilities, made last-ditch diplomatic attempts to avert the August 2008 conflict between Georgia and Russia. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732294,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IN RUSSIAN HANDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US Forced to Change Course in Relations with Ukraine The US wants to lure the Ukrainians toward the West -- but how? The victors of the Orange Revolution have failed, and US diplomatic cables show that dealing with the new president has been far more difficult. The country has become the stage for a proxy conflict with the Kremlin. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732276,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE UNCERTAINTIES OF GLOBAL WARMING ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sea Level Could Rise in South, Fall in North Climate change is expected to cause sea levels to rise -- at least in some parts of the world. Elsewhere, the level of the ocean will actually fall. Scientists are trying to get a better picture of the complex phenomenon, which also depends on a host of natural factors. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732303,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- SPIEGEL 360: Our Complete Climate Change Coverage http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/climate_change/#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WEDDING IN THE CAUCASUS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The US Ambassador Learns that Cognac Is Like Wine It was surely one of the strangest parties ex-US Ambassador to Moscow William Burns ever attended. In August 2006, he sent a dispatch to the US State Department describing a high society wedding in the Caucasus -- complete with massive quantities of alcohol, lumps of gold and revolver-wielding drunkards. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732370,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE WORLD FROM BERLIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'The Internet Is Not a Lawless Place' Germany on Wednesday unveiled plans to beef up Internet privacy after a public outcry over Google's Street View service. The new law would allow people to opt out from tracking services as well as ban services that combine data to create comprehensive profiles of individuals. German media on Thursday are critical of the plans, asking if they go far enough. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,732451,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE COLOMBIAN COKE SUB ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Former Drug Smuggler Tells His Story The South American drug-smuggling business is becoming increasingly sophisticated as Colombian gangs use home-made submarines to get cocaine to Mexico. The crews have to put up with incredible heat, insanitary conditions and a lack of space. One former submersible captain told SPIEGEL about his experiences. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732292,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: All at Sea http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-62245.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A380 ENGINE PROBE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Find Potential Manufacturing Flaw The aviation safety authority investigating the near fatal mid-air explosion in an Airbus A380 aircraft in November has reached a conclusion. The problem could be a manufacturing defect in the Rolls Royce engines powering a number of the largest passenger jets in the world. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732441,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: Airbus Emergency Landing http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-61344.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MIRACLE HEALER ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientists Attempt to Crack Secret Code of the Axolotl The axolotl is one of a kind in nature: It can regenerate severed limbs, organs and even grow back its spinal column after injuries. At a new research center in Hanover, Germany, researchers are trying to unlock the Mexican salamander's secrets -- and whether they can be applied to humans. http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,732283,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: The Fabulous World of the Axolotl http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-62244.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WINTER ARRIVES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ First Snow Causes Traffic Chaos throughout Germany Winter arrived in Germany this week, with a major snowfall across the country. Bad weather caused traffic accidents, flight cancellations and delays and disruptions for railways. Meteorologists say the cold snap is expected to continue at least through the weekend. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,732488,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PICTURE THIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hatching Plans http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,732555,00.html#ref=nlint
Everyday of Freedom is an Act of Faith for my writings ============> http://robertoscaruffi.blogspot.com for something on religions ===> http://scaruffi1.blogspot.com
Thursday, 2 December 2010
