| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on June 19, 2013, 09:30 PM CET |
| MR. SUNSHINE 'Yes We Can' Memories Flood Back on Feel-Good Trip Barack Obama's first official trip to Berlin was short on substance but rich in symbolism. For a few hours in the searing summer heat, his relaxed charm and eloquent idealism triggered memories of the heyday of "Yes we can," before drone attacks, Prism and realpolitik. |
| OBAMA'S NUCLEAR PUSH Moscow Fears Loss of World Power Status A world without nuclear weapons? It's a nearly inconceivable scenario for the Kremlin, even if its arsenal costs Russia billions each year. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the country has suffered a major drop in influence. Now it's doing all it can to cling to the geopolitical power it has left. |
| THE RIGHT TONE Why Germany Should Love Obama a Little More Barack Obama unleashed a full charm offensive in Berlin on Wednesday and he did a great job. It's high time for people to appreciate this US president a bit more again. |
| THE PRESIDENT IN BERLIN Obama Through the Prism of the Cold War History is everywhere in Berlin, as US President Barack Obama and his family found out on Wednesday. And the lessons of that past are clear -- which helps explain the president's challenging task of seeking to assuage German doubts about the Prism surveillance program. |
| BERLIN SPEECH Obama Calls for Cuts in Strategic Nuclear Weapons US President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he would seek negotiations with Russia to reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons they hold by up to a third. |
| 'ICH BIN EIN BERLINER' Obama Invokes Kennedy in Speech Fifty years after John F. Kennedy's legendary Berlin visit, Barack Obama wowed the city with a rousing speech at the Brandenburg Gate, saying all oppressed people are "citizens of Berlin" -- and urging the world to help free them. |
| MILD REBUFF US Rejects Criticism of Intelligence Practices President Barack Obama on Wednesday gently rebuffed Chancellor Angela Merkel's criticism of US Internet surveillance and gave a light-hearted explanation of why he hasn't kept all his promises: "People don't always do exactly what you want -- it's shocking." |
| THE RISE OF THE FEARMONGERS Germany's New Euroskeptic Elite Many Germans believe it is time to abandon the euro. They're part of a growing movement spurred by influential populists from the worlds of business and academia. Their arguments stoke fear but offer no clear alternatives. |
| CHIMES OF FREEDOM How Springsteen Helped Tear Down the Wall In July 1988, Bruce Springsteen gave East Germany the biggest rock concert it ever saw. In a new book, journalist Erik Kirschbaum says the Boss inspired an entire generation to strive for more freedom -- and deserves some credit for the fall of the Berlin Wall. |
| LETTER FROM NICOSIA Cyprus Says It Needs More Help from EU In a letter to euro-zone leaders, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has asked that the bailout package for his country be revisited. The effects on the island nation's economy have been much greater than expected, he writes. EU leaders are "puzzled." |
| DARKNESS AND DEBT German Cities Get Creative to Slash Costs Outwardly, at least, Germany is thriving. But some 130 billion euros in combined debt are forcing communities to find creative ways to cut costs. The city of Goslar, for example, hopes that killing the lights at night will bring a brighter future. |
| PICTURE THIS Cooling Off |
