Eastern Promises
The Russian city of Sovetsk tried for decades to repress its past as the East Prussian town of Tilsit. But now it is embracing its history and has made its most famous son, popular German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl, an honorary citizen. For Mueller-Stahl, returning to his birthplace after 73 years was an emotional journey into his own past. By Christian Neef in Sovetsk, Russia more...
Prosecuting the Prosecutor
Many hailed crusading Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón as a hero for going after powerful criminals around the world. But this week saw him sitting at the defense table in what was the first of several trials stemming from his efforts to confront the power elite in his own country. By Helene Zuber in Madrid more...
Papa Kohl and Madame Mitterand
A new musical coming to Berlin turns the euro crisis into an amusing fairy tale, with Hansel and Gretel-like characters and a gingerbread house. But the author says he wants to point out the euro's weaknesses, and he lays some of the blame for the crisis on Germany. The Germans, he hopes, will have a sense of humor about it all. By Aaron Wiener more...
Debt Talks
Greece on Friday took huge strides toward reaching a deal with its private creditors in an effort to slash the country's debt by 100 billion euros. And with insolvency looming, the agreement comes not a moment too soon. more...
When the Holocaust Was Planned
Friday was the 70th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference, when senior Nazis coordinated plans for the Holocaust. Germany marked the somber occasion with a ceremony at the villa where the meeting took place. more...
Smuggler's Paradise
The West's sanctions against Iran have made it harder for people there to get their hands on various luxury goods. But, for the inhabitants of a tiny Omani port just across the Strait of Hormuz, the sanctions have been a goldmine. By Juliane von Mittelstaedt more...
Intolerable Stench
Tourists are increasingly discovering the rural charms of northern Germany. But with industrial pig breeding operations moving in, that charm may soon be destroyed by the stench of swine slurry. Locals are up in arms -- but factory farming may be the region's last chance to create jobs. By Markus Deggerich more...
Paying for the Euro Rescue
The financial markets have calmed for the moment, but the next wave of turbulence may be just around the corner. Germany is under pressure from all sides to provide more funds to rescue the common currency, but Chancellor Angela Merkel would prefer not to pay any more. By Carsten Volkery in London more... [ Forum ]
The World from Berlin
The future of solar subsidies has pitted members of Chancellor Merkel's cabinet against each other. But instead of politicizing the issue, German commentators on Friday urge the country's leaders to focus on consumers and what best serves Germany's energy needs. more...
New State Elections in Saarland
Two weeks after the collapse of its governing coalition, the tiny state of Saarland announced on Thursday that it would soon hold new elections. Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition partner, the Free Democrats, could emerge as the biggest losers. more...
Unpunished Massacre in Italy
In the spring of 1944, Nazi troops massacred hundreds of Italian civilians in the Ardeatine Caves near Rome. After World War II came to an end, however, the German government did little to track down the perpetrators. At the time, both Rome and Bonn were more interested in politics than justice. By Klaus Wiegrefe more...
Doomsday Atmosphere
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is unpopular, defeated and tired. Only three months ahead of the election, he is frantically battling the image of a failed presidency. A host of media sources in the country are signaling that the Sarkozy-era is nearly finished. By Stefan Simons in Paris more... [ Forum ]
Abandoning Ship
When Costa Concordia capsized off the Italian coast last week, an official demanded the ship's captain get back on board to oversee the evacuation. Now his angry words have been aimed at German Chancellor Merkel in an Italian caricature, which shows her escaping the "MS Europa Discordia." more...
Rousseff's Gender Revolution
Brazil's new president, Dilma Rousseff, has quickly stepped out of the shadow of her charismatic predecessor Lula. After one year in office, she is more popular than any former president was at this stage. She has surrounded herself with powerful women, who are now calling the shots in Brasília. By Jens Glüsing in Brasília more... [ Forum ]
Illegal Fishing
Berlin police recently caught the North Korean ambassador to Germany fishing without a license, according to local media reports. But there was nothing they could do -- the envoy enjoys diplomatic immunity. more... [ Forum ]
The World from Berlin
The online community is buzzing about the blackout protest staged on Wednesday by major US websites against proposed anti-piracy legislation. While the efforts certainly gained attention for their cause, German commentators say they may have missed the point. more...
The Art of Demonstration
A new art exhibition in Frankfurt draws connections between demonstrations past and present. In the case of Egyptian artist Aalam Wassef, it studies how online activism has transformed protesting and become a work of art in itself -- but one that can cost people their lives. By Ulrike Knöfel more... [ Forum ]
From Guantánamo to Palau
Ahmad Tourson spent eight years in Guantánamo as an innocent man. Then, in 2009, he was shipped off to the tiny island nation of Palau. His new situation, though, is untenable -- but the US government seems unwilling to do anything about it. A Contribution by Seema Saifee more...
Solar Subsidy Sinkhole
The costs of subsidizing solar electricity have exceeded the 100-billion-euro mark in Germany, but poor results are jeopardizing the country's transition to renewable energy. The government is struggling to come up with a new concept to promote the inefficient technology in the future. By Alexander Neubacher more...
Suspected of Corruption
Olaf Glaeseker, who was President Christian Wulff's spokesman until December, is under investigation for corruption. While Wulff himself is not directly implicated, the affair could reignite mistrust of Wulff's own financial dealings. more...
Rating Agency Downgrades
The Germans love a good conspiracy theory. The latest is about the evil American rating agencies that want to destroy the wonderful euro. It is a viewpoint shared even in the highest political circles. But that doesn't make it any less absurd. A Commentary by Stefan Kaiser more...
Hungary in the Crossfire
In his appearance before the European Parliament on Wednesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán started out with moderate words before quickly launching into a nationalist tirade. But his speech was really aimed at his audience back home, where he desperately needs to boost his popularity. By Keno Verseck more... [ Forum ]
Poor and Prejudiced
Hungary is almost broke and has lurched to the right so sharply that the EU has launched legal action in defense of democracy. But the problem is far more widespread: Nationalists and populists are gaining ground across Eastern Europe. By Keno Verseck more... [ Forum ]
New Polar Bear Cub
A polar bear that shares the same father as Berlin celebrity Knut (RIP) has been born in Wuppertal. There appears to be a distinct family resemblance, although "Anori," whose gender is still unknown, has the good fortune of not having been rejected by its mother. more...
Berlin Start-Up 6Wunderkinder
With more than a million downloads of its first app and a big investment from Skype's co-founder, 6Wunderkinder is already a significant player in the Berlin start-up scene. It now wants to establish itself as a major European company with the soon-to-be-released Wunderkit, a "Facebook for the workplace." By Christopher Cottrell in Berlin more... [ Forum ]
