Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Thursday 31 January 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINEINTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 

Compiled on January 30, 2013, 07:00 PM CET

HITLER'S WRISTWATCH

A Nazi Legacy Hidden in German Museums

Adolf Hitler and his Nazi henchmen amassed huge amounts of valuable art, jewelry and other collectibles prior to and during World War II. It is a poisonous legacy which German museums and governments have failed to properly address. The moral disaster continues to the present day.

'ONLY A PHASE'

How Diplomats Misjudged Hitler's Rise

Wednesday marks the 80th anniversary of Hitler's rise to power in Germany. Correspondence from foreign diplomats in Berlin at the time reveals the extent to which they underestimated the dangers of the Nazi Party.

CHILDREN OF THE CRISIS

German Schools Struggle with Wave of Immigrants 

Germany is experiencing a well-documented boom in immigrants from countries hard-hit by the euro crisis. Less visible, however, are their children. They rarely have any knowledge of German, and schools are struggling to meet their needs.

PRESSURE FOR A DEAL

Berlin Opposition to Cypriot Aid Weakens

German leaders are concerned that emergency euro-zone aid to Cyprus will merely serve to help the Russian oligarchs who use the island nation as a tax haven. With pressure growing to approve a bailout deal, however, Berlin now appears to be changing its tune.

CRIME STORY

The Dark World of Moscow's Bolshoi Theater

The recent acid attack on the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theater has shocked Russia and the art world. As doctors fight to save his vision, rumors are circulating that the attack was prompted by professional jealousy, a ticket-scalping racket or sex.

ONE FOR ALL?

German Court to Decide on EU Benefits Case

Are immigrants from EU states entitled to claim welfare benefits in Germany? Chancellor Merkel's government has tried to prevent this from happening, but Germany's Federal Social Court will soon rule on the issue -- and potentially set a costly precedent.

MORSI MEETS MERKEL

Visit Dashes Hopes for Quick Aid

Right in the middle of the biggest crisis of his presidency, Egyptian President  Mohammed Morsi has come to Germany. Morsi had been hoping Berlin would forgive hundreds of millions of euros in debt. He ended up getting something far less tangible: advice on how to run his country.

DUTCH RULING

Shell Mostly Cleared in Nigeria Oil Spills

A closely watched environmental lawsuit against oil giant Shell has ended in mixed results. A court in The Hague cleared the company of wrongdoing in oil spills in the Niger Delta, but ordered its subsidiary to compensate one farmer for revenue lost because of the damage.

BLURRING BOUNDARIES

Hungarian Leader Adopts Policies of Far-Right

Internationally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán likes to present himself as a champion of democracy. At home, though, he is implementing one policy after the other that is inspired by the right-wing extremist Jobbik party. Too often, Brussels downplays the problem.

PICTURE THIS

Wall of Water