| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on September 20, 2012, 06:15 PM CET |
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'Charlie Hebdo' Editor in Chief
'A Drawing Has Never Killed Anyone' The editor in chief of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo insists that their publication of Muhammad caricatures was no provocation, but a signal that free speech is alive and well in the country. Come what may, the magazine won't stop criticizing whatever it wants, he says. But his office remains under police protection. |
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Reaction to Protests
Germany Closes Embassies in Muslim Countries The German government expects further violence in the Muslim world following Friday prayers and will close its embassies in the region as a precaution. Personnel have been instructed to stay home and security may be increased in some places, the Foreign Ministry in Berlin said on Thursday. |
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German Magazine Wades into Muhammad Affair
'Muslims as Sword-Swinging Crazies? That's Racist' Following on the heels of the French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo, the German publication Titanic in now also planning a Muhammad cover this month. Editor-in-Chief Leo Fischer speaks with SPIEGEL ONLINE about Western humor and the danger of attracting support from the right wing. |
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The World from Berlin
'Most Muslims Want Freedom Rather than Slogans' The decision by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to publish Muhammad caricatures on Wednesday threatens to inflame the already tense atmosphere in the Muslim world. But German commentators argue that the Arab Spring proved that Muslims would rather have freedom than increased radicalism. |
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Autocompleting Bettina Wulff
Can a Google Function Be Libelous? Search engines attempt to guess what users are looking for and offer them suggested words. But can these terms constitute defamation? Former German first lady Bettina Wulff says they do, and is suing Google over searches that pair her name with terms like "prostitute." Google maintains it is an automatic mechanism. |
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Undignified Memoirs
Bettina Wulff Was the Wrong First Lady Christian Wulff, who resigned as president in February for taking favors from rich friends, was the wrong man for the job. It now turns out that his wife was the wrong first lady, too. She has written a book revealing personal and banal details about her life as the president's wife. It goes too far for such a prestigious position. |
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Bailout Fund
Euro Zone Changing ESM to Satisfy German Court The final hurdle may now have been cleared for the implementation of the European Stability Mechanism, the permanent euro bailout fund. Euro-zone member states appear to have reached an agreement on a legally binding statement that addresses the conditions stipulated by Germany's highest court before the ESM Treaty can be ratified. |
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'The Greedy Pirate'
Berlin Politician Slammed for Defending Copyright Senior Pirate Party politician Julia Schramm made headlines this week when her publisher took action against pirated copies of her book "Click Me." Now Schramm is at the center of a shitstorm over her wavering positions on intellectual property. Both the tabloid press and members of her own party accuse her of hypocrisy. |
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Court Order
Deutsche Post Must Deliver Far-Right Party Flyers A German high court ruled on Thursday that the country's postal service is required to accept a publication by the xenophobic National Democratic Party. The company had refused to deliver the flyer to households in the Leipzig area. NPD leaders are calling the decision a "victory for free speech." |
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Women in Business
Surprise Backers Edge Germany Toward Gender Quota The debate over a potential gender quota for women in top jobs has divided Germany's leading conservatives for months. But surprise support from two states led by the party is likely to push a legislative initiative for a binding quota through the upper legislative chamber on Friday. It's the only way to change the business world, says one governor. |
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Picture This
Art Bubble |
