| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on May 14, 2013, 06:27 PM CET |
| DEADLY SIDE EFFECTS New Details Emerge in East German Drug Test Scandal Until the fall of the Wall, Western pharmaceutical companies conducted drug trials in East German hospitals. More than 50,000 patients served as subjects, often without their knowledge, and many died. The human experiments haven't been fully investigated to this day despite fresh evidence of wrongdoing. |
| TESTING MEDS Companies Look Overseas for Cheap Subjects For years, major pharmaceutical companies have been testing new drugs in developing countries like India. The practice is forbidden, but the use of subcontractors makes it difficult to detect. |
| AFGHANISTAN EXIT Kabul and Berlin Estranged as Withdrawal Looms With the security situation deteriorating in Afghanistan, Chancellor Merkel paid a visit to German troops last week without even informing Afghan President Karzai. The move highlights frosty relations between Berlin and Kabul amid difficult negotiations for the 2014 troop withdrawal. |
| DAY TWO OF NSU CASE Prosecutor Reads Out Charges in Chilling Detail Germany's biggest neo-Nazi trial resumed on Tuesday after an eight-day adjournment. The prosecutor read out the charges against the main defendant, Beate Zschäpe, who is accused of involvement in 10 murders. She remained impassive as the families of the victims gasped at the details of the crimes. |
| THREAT TO THE EU German Exceptionalism Poses a Challenge Southern Europeans have grown impatient with Germany's self-imposed role as Europe's iron fist in recent months, but their criticism seems to have left the majority of Germans unfazed. A new study reveals the growing rift in public opinion on the state of the European Union. |
| PEW STUDY Europeans Rapidly Losing Faith in Europe In just the last 12 months, support for the European Union has plummeted on the Continent. Furthermore, many have lost faith in their elected representatives. Only in Germany do people still view the EU favorably, and the split with the rest of Europe is widening. |
| NEW BIOGRAPHY CAUSES STIR How Close Was Merkel to the Communist System? A biography focusing on Chancellor Angela Merkel's time growing up in East Germany is making headlines because it suggests she was closer to the communist system than hitherto known. Her spokesman has denied she has covered anything up. |
| LETTER FROM BERLIN Anti-Euro Party a Growing Challenge for Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel wanted to ignore the Alternative for Germany. But with the anti-euro party gaining ground, many among her conservatives say it is time to change strategy. They are concerned that the currency heretics could cost Merkel her re-election. |
| 'AUTOCOMPLETE' PRIVACY VIOLATIONS Court Orders Google To Delete Results A German court ruled Tuesday that Google's "Autocomplete" feature on search terms violates privacy laws in some cases. The company has been ordered to remove any suggestions that violate the rules. An entrepreneur sued after the algorithm linked him with Scientology. |
| BYE-BYE BIEBER Pop Star's Pet Monkey to Stay in Germany Following weeks of uncertainty, Justin Bieber's management has indicated that his tiny pet ought to be turned over to German authorities. The former Belieber will likely take up residence at a zoo in the country. |
| PICTURE THIS Birthday Bash |
