SPIEGEL ONLINE - INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER Compiled on Friday, December 3, 2010, 07:34 PM CET This mail includes the latest edition of the SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL newsletter. For daily insights on Europe and the world, visit http://www.spiegel.de/international#ref=nlint If you are unable to click on any of the links below, please copy and paste the address into your Web browser's address bar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PARANOIA AND CONSPIRACY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dispatches Lay Bare Rocky US Relationship with Karzai The US dispatches unveiled by WikiLeaks show just how deep the mistrust is between the US and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Saudi Arabia's mediator role between NATO and the Taliban, it also becomes clear, faces several hurdles. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732470,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SKIMMING OFF THE TOP ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US Army Charged Germany Fees for Afghanistan Donations One cable obtained from WikiLeaks highlights irritation between Berlin and Washington over a 15-percent "administrative fee" the US sought to charge Germany on a 50 million euro donations made to a trust fund whose purpose is to improve the Afghan army. A top German diplomat complained the fee would be a tough sell to taxpayers. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732589,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'OBAMA IS NOT GOD' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US Drone Attack Raises Uncomfortable Questions for Germany A US drone attack in Pakistan in October is thought to have killed a German citizen. The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel would prefer the case to simply go away, but one parliamentarian is refusing to let it be forgotten. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732684,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US Ambassador Seeks to Limit Fallout from Cables Should Philip Murphy, the US ambassador to Berlin, be recalled because of unfavorable comments he wrote about leading German politicians in the diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks this week? Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Westerwelle are avoiding conflict in the issue. But some politicians are heavily criticizing Murphy's information-collecting practices. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,732777,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'NATURE IS GOOD, AS LONG AS IT IS CONTROLLED' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US Diplomats Analyzed Death Of Bruno the Bear The US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks have generated a commotion around the world. In addition to reporting on the internal workings of global governments, the dispatches also include some oddities, like the 2006 shooting of Bruno, the first wild bear to wander into Germany in 170 years. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,732532,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: Bavaria's Wild Bear Summer http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-62325.html#ref=nlint SPIEGEL 360: The Tragic End of Bruno the Bear http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/bruno_the_brown_bear/#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WIKILEAKS CABLES FALLOUT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mole in Germany's FDP Party Comes Forward The secret is out. The informant, who shared information about negotiations to form Germany's current government coalition with the US ambassador in Berlin, has disclosed his identity to the Free Democratic Party. An FDP spokesman claims there is no evidence he broke the law or passed on any classified material. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,732579,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BULLET WOUNDS AND BREAST IMPLANTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Plastic Surgeon Prefers War to Cocktail Parties Enrique Steiger's day job is performing breast operations and facelifts on celebrities. But when he's not doing cosmetic surgery or attending glamorous cocktail parties, the Swiss doctor is saving lives in makeshift Red Cross hospitals on the battlefield. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732631,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: Beauty and Death http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-62312.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DANGEROUS WATERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oceans Threatened by Rising Acidity and Overfishing Emissions of CO2 don't just have a negative effect on our climate. Oceans, which absorb a quarter of all carbon dioxide released, have become drastically more acidic in recent years. Should the trend continue, it could have dramatic effects on marine life. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732660,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE WORLD FROM BERLIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'FIFA Is Damaging Its Flagship Product' The decision to award Russia and Qatar the soccer World Cups for 2018 and 2022 has been greeted with consternation, and not just by the losing countries. The German press on Friday regards the choice as proof that there is something rotten at the heart of FIFA. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732693,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: Qatar and Russia Celebrate http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-62329.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADVENT ACTIVISM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hamburg Protest Group Counts Down Days To Christmas Activists in Hamburg have created what could well be Germany's largest Advent calendar. They have decorated the doors of 24 vacant properties across the city with Christmas baubles to raise awareness of gentrification. http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,732674,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: Counting Towards Christmas http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-62318.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PHAROAHS' PUPS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Egyptian Bones Could Help Solve Canine Conundrum Scientists are still trying to explain how the gray wolf could evolve into over 400 breeds of dogs, ranging from the pug to the pinscher. One aid in solving this riddle has been found in an unlikely place: a giant animal shrine from ancient Egypt. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,732654,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PICTURE THIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Tide Too High http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,732786,00.html#ref=nlint
Everyday of Freedom is an Act of Faith for my writings ============> http://robertoscaruffi.blogspot.com for something on religions ===> http://scaruffi1.blogspot.com
Friday, 3 December 2010
