POWER PLAYS IN AFGHANISTAN
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Laying the Groundwork for Civil War
The Bonn conference on Afghanistan aimed to paint an optimistic future
for the war-torn country. But the country's inhabitants have no
illusions: They know that their military cannot protect them, and that
the warlords are jockeying for position. Meanwhile, the Taliban are just
waiting for the Americans to leave.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH HAMID KARZAI
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'The Efforts in Afghanistan Are a Shared Responsibility'
NATO foreign ministers are gathered in Bonn on Monday to discuss the way
forward in Afghanistan. SPIEGEL spoke with Afghan President Hamid
Karzai, who will be leading the conference, about how much international
involvement will be required following the 2014 withdrawal and about his
rocky partnership with the US.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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Afghanistan Controversy: Karzai Warns US over Night Raids
http://www.spiegel.de/
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GERMANY AND FRANCE AGREE
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Merkozy to Seek New EU Treaty to Tackle Crisis
Germany and France have agreed a common position on tackling the
euro-zone debt crisis by pushing for a new EU treaty to enforce budget
discipline through automatic sanctions. They plan to bring forward the
permanent euro bailout mechanism to 2012 from 2013 -- and both remain
opposed to euro bonds.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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PLAN Z
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IMF Could Set up Euro Aid Fund with EU Help
European governments might channel hundreds of billions of euros to the
International Monetary Fund to enable it to tackle the euro crisis,
German newspaper Die Welt reported on Monday. The US Federal Reserve may
also contribute.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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BLOCKING TACTICS
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UK Infuriating Partners by Obstructing EU Foreign Policy
Britain is obstructing attempts to forge a common EU foreign policy with
British representatives having prevented joint EU statements on a number
of issues. Tensions between Britain and its European partners have been
mounting during the euro crisis.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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THE WORLD FROM BERLIN
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'The Pirate Party Is Losing its Bond with Voters'
The Pirate Party's surprising triumph in the Berlin election this autumn
left many asking what the political newcomers stand for. More was
revealed at the party's conference this weekend, but German
commentators on Monday still disagree on whether they will be a
long-term fixture or a one-trick pony.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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A DISAPPOINTING LANDSLIDE
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Poor Election Showing Weakens Putin
It may have won by a huge margin, but the results of Sunday's Duma
election in Russia are still disappointing for Vladimir Putin's United
Russia. The party won just under half of the vote, a massive decline
compared to the 2007 election. The result reveals growing discontent
with Putin among the Russian population.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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URBAN AGRICULTURE
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Industrial-Sized Rooftop Farm Planned for Berlin
It is hardly a logical spot for a farm, but three Berliners have
earmarked a massive former factory roof for an unusual urban agriculture
venture. The sustainable set-up will produce both vegetables and fish
for local residents and could be a model for future city farms as the
world continues to urbanize.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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Photo Gallery: Rooftop Harvest
http://www.spiegel.de/
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PHOTO GALLERY
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Massive World War II Bomb Defused
Koblenz became a ghost town on Sunday, as half of the city's 107,000
residents were evacuated to defuse a massive bomb left over from World
War II. Over 2,500 bomb detonators, police and paramedics ensured
Germany's largest postwar evacuation was successful. The bomb was also
successfully defused.
http://www.spiegel.de/
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PICTURE THIS
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Naughty or Nice?
http://www.spiegel.de/
