Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

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LETTER FROM BERLIN
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Walking the Euro-Zone Tightrope with Angela Merkel
The list of Angela Merkel's critics is long these days, including many
from within her own party. But even as she does what she can to ensure
the passage of vital euro-zone reforms in late September, she risks
alienating German voters. Her political life could be at stake.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,783405,00.html#ref=nlint

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GERMANY ACTS ALONE
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Self-Important Approach Worries Berlin's Allies
Germany's neighbors and allies are growing increasingly concerned about
Berlin's foreign policy direction. Some even fear that efforts to export
its fiscal ideas could mean the prosperous country has lost sight of the
European idea. Or worse yet, that it wants to dominate the currency
union.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,783322,00.html#ref=nlint

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INTERVIEW WITH HISTORIAN HANS-JOACHIM VOTH
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'The Euro Can't Survive in Its Current Form'
Historian Hans-Joachim Voth gives the euro only another five years
unless the euro zone is transformed into a full transfer union with
massive redistribution. The continent is too culturally different to
warrant a single currency, he says, adding that it would be best if
Germany and other stronger economies left the euro zone.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,783281,00.html#ref=nlint

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UPGRADING THE EFSF
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The Euro Rescue Fund Needs More Powers
The German government is rejecting calls to allow the euro rescue fund,
the EFSF, to bail out troubled banks directly. In doing so, Berlin is
only deceiving itself -- and endangering the euro.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,783568,00.html#ref=nlint

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THE WORLD FROM BERLIN
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'Italy Is Burning and No One Is Putting It Out'
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his ruling coalition have
made a raft of changes to their proposed austerity package, causing many
to doubt Rome's intentions. German commentators say that the country's
future looks bleak.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,783572,00.html#ref=nlint

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LACK OF VOLUNTEERS
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End of Conscription Causes Headache for Charities
When Germany eliminated conscription this year, an extensive civil
service program for conscientious objectors also came to an end. A new
program launched to replace it, however, has not found enough
volunteers. Now, many service organizations are facing shortages.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,783444,00.html#ref=nlint

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GERMAN TERROR LAWS
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A Passenger Plane's Encounter with Two Fighter Jets
German jet fighters were scrambled on August 20 to intercept a Turkish
passenger plane that was out of radio contact for fear it had been
hijacked. Like dozens of similar cases each year, it was a false alarm.
But Germany lacks legal clarity should such a terror attack really
happen.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,783437,00.html#ref=nlint

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ALL YOU NEED IS LIEBE
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One Berlin Man's Quest to Translate the Beatles 
The eccentric Berlin singer Klaus Beyer has made it his life's work to
re-record the collected works of the Beatles in German. Now, with the
release of his version of "The White Album," he's finished. He plans to
tackle John Lennon next.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,783593,00.html#ref=nlint

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Photo Gallery: Klaus Beyer's Magical Mystery Tour
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-72304.html#ref=nlint


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PICTURE THIS
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Painting the Town Red


http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,783633,00.html#ref=nlint