| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on August 07, 2012, 06:18 PM CET |
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Pussy Riot Politics
Mixed Messages from Berlin on Russian Human Rights The West has been vocally critical of the trial against the anti-Putin punk band Pussy Riot in Moscow. But the German members of a dialogue group aimed at improving ties with Russia have been largely silent. Chancellor Merkel isn't happy. |
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Siena's Financial Fiasco
Downfall of a Tuscan Paradise Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world's oldest bank, took five centuries to accumulate its wealth -- and three years to gamble it away. Its fall from grace is a disaster for its home city of Siena, which relied on distributed profits from the bank. Now the picturesque Tuscan city is trying to come to terms with the new reality. |
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Interview with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti
'A Front Line Between North and South' In a SPIEGEL interview, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti says Europe is showing traces of a "psychological dissolution" in the debt crisis and that leaders are doing too little to stop it. He also warns that governments cannot allow themselves to become "fully bound" to parliament in determining policies to save the euro. |
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'Constant and Systemic Dialogue'
Monti Clarifies Statements on National Parliaments Responding to criticism in Berlin and Brussels, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Monday night watered down statements he had made to SPIEGEL claiming that leaders in the euro zone should have less consideration for parliaments. |
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End of Frankfurt Protests
Occupy Will Survive the Camp Clearances The Occupy camp in Frankfurt has finally been cleared after a court rejected an appeal by activists. The attempt to set up a utopia in Germany's financial capital may have failed, but the movement will continue to play an important role in the debate about a better society. |
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Death and Money
Stieg Larsson's Controversial Legacy Stieg Larsson, the Swedish author of the Millennium trilogy, only became world-famous after his death in 2004. His long-time companion Eva Gabrielsson is still fighting for her share of the inheritance, but says she no longer plans to finish his fourth book. |
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Debate Over Olympic Exit
German Rower's Boyfriend Says He Quit Nazi Scene Michael Fischer, the boyfriend of German rower Nadja Drygalla, says he has quit the neo-Nazi scene. But media reports of a racist comment on Facebook during the Olympic Games cast doubt on how much he's changed. Drygalla left the team last Friday after her relationship with Fischer became public. |
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'Consistent with Conservative Values'
German Minister Supports Tax Benefits for Gay Couples Germany has long been taking incremental steps toward full legal equality between gay and heterosexual couples. Now, the country's family minister has come out in favor of extending existing tax benefits to those in a civil union, saying it is consistent with conservative values because gay couples take "lasting responsibility" for one another. |
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The World from Berlin
Syrian Prime Minister's Flight 'Won't Weaken Assad' The defection of Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab this week is being hailed as a victory for the opposition amid the ongoing civil war, in which rebel fighters reportedly continue to make advances. But German commentators warn on Tuesday that the conflict is far from over. |
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'Dangerous Preacher'
Former Bin Laden Bodyguard Living in Bochum A man who was part of Osama bin Laden's team of bodyguards has been living in the western German city of Bochum for years. Authorities say the Tunisian man is a "dangerous preacher," but attempts to expel him from the country have so far failed. |
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Picture This
Beach Bolt |
