| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on May 28, 2013, 05:53 PM CET |
| THE SYRIAN MIRE Middle East Divisions Deepen amid Civil War The civil war in Syria is increasingly dividing the Arab world along sectarian lines. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has now charged into the fray, joining predominantly Shiite government forces in an effort to dislodge Sunni rebels from the key city of Qusair. |
| DIVISIONS IN BRUSSELS EU Allows Syrian Arms Embargo to Expire EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels Monday failed to reach an agreement on extending the arms embargo on Syria. Beginning Saturday, member countries will be permitted to supply weapons and other military support to rebels, but all previous economic sanctions will remain in place. |
| EMPTY COMPROMISE EU Foreign Policy Fails Again on Syria European Union foreign ministers have sought to sell their Syria compromise as a success. In reality, Monday's agreement is an abdication of leadership, once again proving that Europe cannot be taken seriously as an actor on the global stage. |
| CAMPAIGN HEADACHE Drone Debacle Could Cost Merkel a Minister German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziére is under fire after he cancelled a half-billion euro surveillance drone program that he knew was in trouble years ago. The scandal could create problems for Chancellor Merkel's re-election campaign. By SPIEGEL Staff |
| DISTORTED STATS Europe's Youth Unemployment Fallacy The oft-cited statistic that half of young Spaniards are unemployed is wrong. In reality, about one-fifth of those under 25 are looking for work. Nevertheless, outreach programs created by Germany focus on young people alone, though critics say other groups desperately need help too. |
| 'LEGAL HIGHS' New Synthetic Drugs Flood EU Market Last year, some 73 new psychoactive substances were identified by the European Union, according to statistics presented on Tuesday. The long-term effects of these so-called "legal highs," sold online and in specialty stores often under fake labels, are little known. |
| INTEGRATION INTRIGUE Merkel Ally Demands Dual Citizenship Law Angela Merkel's junior coalition partners, the Free Democrats, are pushing hard for a change in Germany's immigration laws. With Economy Minister Philipp Rösler demanding this week that immigrants be allowed to hold dual citizenship, the chancellor's conservatives are becoming increasingly isolated. |
| BERLIN SURPRISE Wing of Long-Awaited Airport May Open in 2013 For years now, media coverage of Berlin's new international airport has been a story of one delay after another. But a report on Tuesday claims that the once-touted airport might make a surprise partial opening this October. |
| PICTURE THIS On the Dot |
