| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on December 03, 2012, 06:18 PM CET |
| GERMAN WEAPONS FOR THE WORLD How the Merkel Doctrine Is Changing Berlin Policy Germany used to be extremely careful about where it exported its weapons. In recent years, however, Chancellor Angela Merkel has shown a preference for sending high-tech armaments abroad rather than German soldiers -- even if that means doing business with questionable regimes. By SPIEGEL Staff |
| KEY MEETING ON WEDNESDAY Germany Moves Closer to Banning Far-Right Party German regional authorities are expected to decide this week to attempt to ban the far-right National Democratic Party, following an extensive review of the case against the extremists. But Chancellor Angela Merkel remains skeptical. If the legal bid were to fail, the NPD would get a major boost. |
| PROTESTING ISRAELI SETTLEMENT PLAN Britain and France Mull Recalling Ambassadors Israel's plan to expand settlement construction has drawn fierce international criticism, with Britain and France considering the withdrawal of their ambassadors and Germany expressing serious concern. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the plan could deal an "almost fatal blow" to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| AN AFFRONT FROM BERLIN Israeli-German Relations Strained after Abstention Berlin has distanced itself from Israel with the decision to abstain from voting on enhancing the Palestinians' status in the UN General Assembly. Israel had expected a clear "no" vote, but Chancellor Angela Merkel balked at Prime Minister Netanyahu's uncompromising approach to the peace process. |
| FIVE DEGREES OF RUINATION Scientists Forecast Dramatic Temperature Increase The planet must not be allowed to warm beyond 2 degrees Celsius, according to the official targets at the Climate Change Conference in Doha. But a new study shows the goal is far from realistic. Current human activity is set to increase the temperature by some 5 degrees, and the consequences will be dire, scientists warn. |
| CLEAR-CUTTING SUMATRA Rainforest Pulp Used in German Children's Books Children's books are the second largest segment in Germany's billion-euro book industry. But publishers' profits are coming at the expense of rainforests in Asia, according to a new report from the WWF. Nearly 30 percent of German children's books use pulp from rainforest wood harvested in Sumatra and elsewhere in the region. |
| NET NEUTRALITY? Google Prods Users to Fight Copyright Law Google is increasingly throwing around its power to improve its bottom line. The latest incident is a draft law in Germany that would force the company to share some revenues with newspaper publishers. Meddling in politics is certainly not illegal, but it could be risky. |
| THE WORLD FROM BERLIN Egypt's Democracy at Stake The fight for power in Egypt is heating up as President Mohammed Morsi struggles to counter the influence of the remnants of the pre-revolutionary regime. Now, as Mubarak-era judges go on strike, German comentators say the path to democracy appears even rockier. |
| PICTURE THIS Manic Monday |
