| PIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on November 30, 2012, 07:28 PM CET |
| THE GATES OF HELL Exploring Mexico's Sacred Caves Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is dotted with thousands of caves that once housed prehistoric people and later became sacred to the Mayans. German archaeologists and filmmakers are currently involved in a project to explore with modern imaging technology and make a 3-D film of this underwater labyrinth. |
| RELIGIOUS, STUBBORN AND CONFIDENT Egypt's Islamists Power Through Resistance Two worlds are colliding in Egypt. While President Morsi wants to force through an Islamist constitution, the secular opposition is holding massive demonstrations in protest. Both sides are unwilling to compromise, and the frustration could spill out into violence on the streets. |
| SQUABBLING IN THE BUNDESTAG German Parliament Rubber Stamps Aid for Greece Despite serious doubts over Chancellor Angela Merkel's handling of the euro crisis among the center-left, German parliamentarians on Friday voted to approve a new round of aid measures for Greece. Most Germans, however, would prefer to see the country go bankrupt. |
| SHOWDOWN AT THE UNITED NATIONS Palestinian Recognition Marks Triumph over Israel Both Israel and the US were adamantly opposed, but the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday granted the Palestinians non-member observer status, essentially an official recognition of a Palestinian state. The European Union was unable to find a common line, and Germany abstained as expected. |
| CORRUPTION IN RUSSIA Putin Strikes a Pose against 'Thieves and Traitors' First the defense minister had to go, and now Vladimir Putin's agriculture minister is being pushed out on suspicion of corruption. State-run television has begun an aggressive hunt for "thieves, traitors and enemies of the people." The main target, however, seems to be that of improving the Russian president's approval ratings. |
| THOSE WONDERFUL, AWFUL GERMANS A Journey Deep into the Nation's Surface Tuvia Tenenbom, who runs a Jewish theater in New York, spent a summer traveling through Germany. He found much to dislike, and detailed it all in a sometimes shocking, sometimes hilarious way. But the real value is in the telling, rather than the truth. |
| HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? Sex Ed Pamphlet Sparks Uproar in Austria How much do children need to know about sexuality? A new brochure has Austrians debating exactly that question. Critics say the booklet goes too far in presenting alternative lifestyles, but its publisher counters that it is just an honest reflection of current realities. |
| PICTURE THIS The Air Up There |
