Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Saturday 23 November 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINEINTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 

Compiled on November 22, 2013, 07:00 PM CET

'FAT CAT' BACKLASH

Swiss Executive Pay Debate Gets Ugly

Switzerland votes this weekend on whether to limit executives' pay at twelve times that of their lowest-paid worker. In the run up to the referendum, the issue has become a national talking point, with both sides stoking public resentments and fears.

MIGRANT ABUSE

MEPs Plan Qatar Trip after Damning Resolution

Amid ongoing criticism over the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar, the European Parliament has announced it will send a delegation to the 2022 World Cup host. On Thursday, MEPs issued a resolution condemning conditions for these workers in the Gulf state, though Doha called the resolution "premature."

MODERN MISSIONARIES

Shrinking Catholic Church Imports Priests

Faced with a shortage of priests, the Catholic Church in Germany is recruiting an increasing number of preachers from abroad like Benjamine Gaspar, who hails from India and now holds sermons at a church in the town of Bocholt.

WORLD FROM BERLIN

Ukraine's Complaints Are 'Insolent'

The Ukrainian government's decision to withdraw from discussions of a planned trade deal with the EU is drawing condemnation in Europe. German editorialists decry Russia's strong-arm tactics in the run-up to the decision.

CAMPFIRE KIDS

Going Back to Nature with Forest Kindergartens

Radical back-to-nature forest kindergartens where children are allowed to climb trees and play with fire have spread across the country. Will the concept of the Waldkindergarten become Germany's next export success?

PIZZA AND POLITICS

Conservatives and Greens Revisit Flirtation

Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats and the Green Party won't form the next German government, but officials in both camps are eyeing the possibility of a so-called "pizza coalition" in 2017. This week they reprised an old forum for talks about the future.

HOUSING SHORTAGE

Berlin Bans Tourist Apartments

Berlin's tourist boom has led many locals to rent out their apartments to visitors for short-term stays. Now the Berlin senate, amid soaring rents, has passed a law banning the practice. Critics, however, are unsure of how effective it will be.

PICTURE THIS

Glee Cub