| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on August 28, 2012, 06:06 PM CET |
|
1972 Olympics Massacre
Germany's Secret Contacts to Palestinian Terrorists Eleven Israelis and one German police officer died in the Munich massacre of 1972, when Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage at the Olympics. Now, government documents suggest that Germany maintained secret contacts with the organizers of the attack for years afterward and appeased the Palestinians to prevent further bloodshed on German soil. |
|
Concrete Proposals for Democratic Transition
Syrian Opposition Presents Vision for Day After Assad The war is raging on in Syria but opposition members are already planning a transition to democracy. They presented proposals in Berlin on Tuesday and played down the prospect of a chaotic power vacuum after Bashar Assad falls. But given the lack of international support for the fragmented rebel movement, their vision looks utopian. |
|
Dutch Discontent
Socialists Ride Wave of Anti-EU Sentiment The economy is in trouble and unemployment is rising -- in the Netherlands as in much of the rest of Europe. Ahead of upcoming elections, the Socialists are riding a wave of euro-skepticism and may emerge as the strongest political force in the country. |
|
Risky Business
China Cracks Down on Ai Wei Wei Protege Zhao Zhao Life for modern artists in China is not easy. Imprisonment, hefty fines and travel bans are just some of the intimidation tactics the state police use to silence those critical of the regime. But Beijing artist Zhao Zhao, once an assistant to artist Ai Weiwei, refuses to bend to the pressure. |
|
The World from Berlin
Germany Hits Brakes on Race to Renewable Energy Future The share of renewable energies in Germany's power mix has shot up so high that the electricity grid and the subsidy framework has been unable to keep up. Now, the government wants to slow down the process. German commentators say that the current chaos endangers the entire project. |
|
Greek-Swiss Treaty
Athens Closes in on Wealthy Tax Evaders For years, Greece has been pledging to redouble its efforts against tax evasion. Only now, however, is Athens finally set to sign a tax deal with Switzerland in the hopes of generating billions in revenue. Critics, though, say the agreement won't make much of a difference. |
|
Life-Long Labor
Number of German Working Pensioners Soaring They look after children, give private tuition, stack supermarket shelves or just remain in ther old jobs: Increasing numbers of German pensioners are working, according to government figures. Experts are divided on the reasons. Some say it's due to declining pensions. Others say more old people want to stay active. |
|
Dangerous Legacy
WWII Bomb Discovered in Munich City Center Bomb disposal experts in Munich are struggling to defuse a World War II-era explosive discovered in the city's trendy Schwabing district. Some 2,500 people have had to leave their homes for safety reasons. The problem of unexploded ordnance remains a serious one in Germany, even 67 years after the war. |
|
Picture This
Deadly Inferno |
