| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on February 04, 2013, 06:25 PM CET |
| IN THE LION'S DEN The Fight for Survival in Damascus Damascus has become one of the most intense battlefields in the fight for Syria, even as those loyal to President Bashar Assad insist that much of the capital remains under their control. Those who haven't left care only about survival. |
| INFLUX FROM THE SOUTHEAST German Cities Complain of High Immigration Immigration to Germany from southeastern Europe has dramatically increased in recent years and the country's municipalities are struggling to absorb the influx. Now, German cities are taking a close look at the problem and may ask for help from Berlin or even the European Union. |
| BAILOUT DOUBTS Merkel Opponent Sets Conditions for Cyprus Aid Cyprus is badly in need of aid, but skepticism in Berlin appears to be growing. Chancellor Merkel's opponent in this year's election, Peer Steinbrück, has set a number of conditions that must be met before his party will support a bailout. There is a growing number of rebels in Merkel's camp as well. |
| 'FORGETFUL OF HISTORY' Top Vatican Cleric Criticized for 'Pogrom' Remark A German archbishop is under fire for appearing to liken recent criticism of the Catholic Church to a Nazi-era pogrom. The cleric, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, had said that "targeted discrimination campaigns" against the church sometimes reminded him of a "pogrom sentiment." |
| SUICIDE ATTACK German Prosecutors Were Probing Ankara Bomber Before he blew himself up in front of the US Embassy in Ankara on Friday, Ecevit S., a 40-year-old Turk, spent years living in Germany, where he was under investigation by federal prosecutors for membership in a terrorist organization. |
| GREEK EXTREMISTS 'Golden Dawn' Fosters Ties with German Neo-Nazis The Greek right-wing extremist party Golden Dawn has established contacts with German neo-Nazis in Bavaria. The group, which is represented in Greek parliament, is also attempting to set up a cell in the southern German state. |
| ACCUSATIONS AGAINST JAIN LIBOR Probe Could Cost Deutsche Bank Billions Deutsche Bank says the benchmark LIBOR rate was rigged by individual rogue traders. But co-CEO Anshu Jain carries some responsibility because he organized the investment banking operation in a way that caused conflicts of interest and allowed the fraud to flourish. |
| CHANGE OF HEART 'Cookie Monster' Wants to Return Golden Biscuit The theft of a giant golden cookie from the Hanover headquarters of Bahlsen, one of Germany's most famous food companies, seems close to a happy resolution. The shadowy "Cookie Monster" who has been holding the biscuit ransom has announced he will return the emblem. |
| ACID ATTACK Bolshoi Director Seeks Treatment in Germany The Bolshoi Theater's Sergei Filin is to be treated in Germany following a horrific acid attack in January. The artistic director says he is "certain" he knows the perpetrator. |
| CRASH LANDING Logo Painted over on 'Alitalia' Plane After a crash landing that injured 16 people on Saturday, it appears that an aircraft has been painted to cover the logo of Italy's flag carrier Alitalia. The flight had been operated by a Romanian subcontractor to the Italian national airline. |
| PICTURE THIS Behind the Mask |
