| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on February 11, 2013, 07:15 PM CET |
| DIMINISHING STRENGTH Weakness and Vatican Intrigues Plagued Pope Benedict XVI has claimed failing health for his decision to step down from the papacy. But ongoing power struggles and intrigue in the Vatican likely also played a role. The search for a successor could prove challenging. |
| BENEDICT BOWS OUT Burdens of Aging Lead Pope to Resign In a surprise development, the Vatican confirmed Monday that Pope Benedict XVI will step down later this month. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her "utmost respect" for his decision and described the Catholic leader as "one of the most important religious thinkers of our time." |
| PATIENCE RUNS OUT EU To Crack Down on Israeli Settlement Products Israeli settlers living in the Palestinian terroritories often deceptively give their products a "Made in Israel" label. The European Union wants to move soon to end the practice and appears to be set on a collision course with the country. |
| THE WORLD FROM BERLIN "In Politics, Friendships Count for Little" German Education Minister Annette Schavan quit the government at the weekend, days after her doctoral thesis was revoked by the University of Düsseldorf. On Monday, German media commentators applauded her dignified response. |
| CALLS FOR CHEAP EURO ECB Caught in Currency-War Crossfire Central banks around the world are trying to cheapen their currencies in order to boost their economies. This is making the euro more expensive and endangering the recovery of Europe's stricken economies. But the European Central Bank is resisting growing calls to join in the currency war. |
| CODE NAME 'MURAT' What Germany Knew About Ankara Bomber The case of the suicide bomber who killed one and injured three in Ankara earlier this month is straining German-Turkish relations. German investigators had been monitoring the radical leftist for years.By SPIEGEL Staff |
| CARNIVAL CLIMAX Germany Goes Crazy at Rose Monday Parades Angela Merkel as a pig suckling hungry nations in the euro crisis? Isn't that a bit risqué? Not this week, because anything goes at German carnival, when the nation, or large parts of it, allows itself to let its hair down. The Rose Monday parades marked the highlight of the season with their satirical floats. |
| THE VIENNESE SWAMP Corruption and Attacks Mark Austrian Election Year Austria's political leadership has been mired in a swamp of scandal in recent months. With four state elections and a national poll scheduled for this year, the mudslinging has thus far been intense. The campaign has become particularly absurd on the far right. |
| PICTURE THIS Lines of Vines |
