Articles by Der Spiegel

We found 199 results.


[10 Years Ago] WikiLeaks Revelations: A View Deep Inside Guantanamo
John Goetz, Marcel Rosenbach and Britta Sandberg – Der Spiegel, 10 May 2021

Article originally published by TRANSCEND Media Service on 2 May 2011 – The latest documents obtained from WikiLeaks provide an inside view of a highly controversial system: More than 700 classified US government files on the prisoners held at Guantanamo show how lax the American military was in its dealings with the facts. SPIEGEL has analyzed the documents.

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The Portuguese Miracle: How Lisbon Has Managed the Corona Crisis
Alexander Smoltczyk | Der Spiegel - TRANSCEND Media Service, 13 Apr 2020

9 Apr 2020 – While Spain continues to battle a dire coronavirus outbreak, the situation is vastly better in neighboring Portugal. But why?

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Interview with Football Leaks Whistleblower Rui Pinto ‘This Football Mafia Is Everywhere’
Nino Seidel and Michael Wulzinger – Der Spiegel, 3 Feb 2020

2 Jan 2019 – In an interview, Rui Pinto, the Portuguese young man who kept the industry in suspense over revelations from Football Leaks, discusses his life in anonymity, the explosive power of his documents and accusations that he is a hacker.
“I am not a hacker, I am a whistleblower.” – Rui Pinto

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Persecution of the Uyghurs: The West Must Respond to Chinese Oppression
Bernhard Zand – Der Spiegel, 9 Dec 2019

4 Dec 2019 – There are many disturbing aspects to modern-day China, but its treatment of the Uighurs is the most despicable. The West must come up with a response to the inhuman persecution.

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Interview with Ex-President of Bolivia Evo Morales: ‘The Murders Must Stop’
Interview by Jens Glüsing – Der SPIEGEL, 2 Dec 2019

28 Nov 2019 – Bolivia’s long-time president, Evo Morales, has fled to exile in Mexico. What led to his departure and the conditions under which he would consider returning. At 60, he was Bolivia’s first indigenous president. The former head of the coca-farmers’ union is a symbolic figure among the Latin American left.

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Drug Taxis and Impotent Police: The Avalanche of Cocaine Hitting Europe
Der SPIEGEL Staff *– TRANSCEND Media Service, 2 Dec 2019

28 Nov 2019 – Drug syndicates are flooding Europe with very pure cocaine. Consumers need only send an encrypted text and a dealer will show up at their doorstep. And the authorities are all but powerless to stop them.

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Deathly Silence: An Inside Look at Kashmir
Laura Höflinger and Sunaina Kumar – Der Spiegel, 18 Nov 2019

15 Nov 2019 – Kashmir has been largely cut off from the outside world for months and the internet remains cut off. Residents share stories of state violence and terror.

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Scent of Musk: The Woman Who Can Smell Parkinson’s
Timofey Neshitov and Daniel Etter – Der Spiegel, 18 Nov 2019

12 Nov 2019 – So far, no cure has been found for Parkinson’s. It is only possible to treat the symptoms. But a nurse in Scotland can smell the disease before it is diagnosed, and researchers are hoping she can help on the search for a breakthrough.

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Handfuls of Data: The Ethical Minefield of Microchipping
Kristina Läsker – Der Spiegel, 28 Oct 2019

25 Oct 2019 – Employees at the Swedish unit of the German travel conglomerate TUI are volunteering to have a microchip implanted in their hands. The technology literally opens doors, but also raises numerous ethical questions.

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Interview with Edward Snowden: ‘If I Happen to Fall out of a Window, You Can Be Sure I Was Pushed’
Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler - Der Spiegel, 30 Sep 2019

13 Sep 2019 – Whistleblower Edward Snowden talks about how he managed to mislead the most powerful intelligence agency in the world, about his life in Russia and about why the internet must be reinvented.

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The Advance of Designer Viruses in Agriculture
Martin Schlak – Der Spiegel, 30 Sep 2019

24 Sep 2019 – Scientists believe designer viruses created in the laboratory can help the agricultural industry deal with pathogens and extreme weather. A vast experiment is currently being planned. But can the viruses be controlled?

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‘Hell Is Coming’ – What Lies Ahead for Europe’s Climate
Marco Evers – Der Spiegel, 8 Jul 2019

1 Jul 2019 – Half of Europe has been slammed by a massive heat wave in recent days, with many regions experiencing temperatures never before seen in June. But it may just be the beginning.

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The Horrors of Child Prostitution in Ghana
Sophia Bogner and Paul Hertzberg – Der Spiegel, 22 Apr 2019

More than 100,000 children in Ghana work as prostitutes. Melphia, 13, is one of them. She lives in a slum and spends her nights in hotel rooms with businessmen, police officers and, increasingly, tourists.

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Poisoned Dialogue: Skripal Case Descends into a Propaganda War
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 16 Apr 2018

In its rush to assign guilt to Moscow for the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the British government now finds itself on the defensive. Some German politicians have their doubts.

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Interview with Edward Snowden: ‘There Is Still Hope – Even for Me’
Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler – Der Spiegel, 18 Sep 2017

12 Sep 2017 – Whistleblower Edward Snowden discusses his life in Russia, the power of the intelligence apparatuses and how he will continue his battle against all-encompassing surveillance by governments.

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Documents Indicate Germany Spied on Foreign Journalists
Maik Baumgärtner, Martin Knobbe and Jörg Schindler – Der Spiegel, 27 Feb 2017

Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, apparently spied on large numbers of foreign journalists overseas over the course of several years, including employees of the BBC, Reuters and the New York Times. Critics see a massive violation of press freedoms.

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Uprising in Kashmir ‘If We Protest, the Soldiers Will Shoot at Us’
Fahad Shah – Der Spiegel, 19 Sep 2016

The killing by Indian security forces of a 15-year-old boy in Kashmir has become a rallying point for human rights groups over India’s controversial use of pellet guns. The recent death is only the latest in a long-brewing independence battle in the contested region.

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Child Soldiers in Mali: A Skinny Boy with a Kalashnikov
Christoph Titz – Der Spiegel, 12 Sep 2016

The war robbed him of a homeland but in the refugee camp there was no future. That’s why Abdallah and his friends returned — to fight as child soldiers against Mali’s hated government.

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Dieselgate in Europe: How Officials Ignored Years of Car Emissions Evidence
Markus Becker and Gerald Traufetter – Der Spiegel, 22 Aug 2016

When American authorities revealed that Volkswagen used software to trick pollution tests, it spurred widespread outrage. Documents obtained by SPIEGEL show that European officials knew about the deception for years – but didn’t act on it.

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Aedes Aegypti Mosquito: Fighting the Most Dangerous Animal in the World
Marian Blasberg, Hauke Goos and Veronika Hackenbroch – Der Spiegel, 25 Jul 2016

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika, dengue fever and other illnesses, appears unstoppable. It is posing a unique threat to this year’s Olympic Games in Rio and is rapidly spreading around the world. Europe, too, is at risk.

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The Olympian and the Terrorist: A Story of Two Belgian Brothers
Lukas Eberle – Der Spiegel, 25 Jul 2016

The older brother detonated a bomb at the Brussels airport. The younger one is representing his country at the Olympic Games in Rio. The story of two Belgian siblings who long ago parted ways.

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Eastern Flank Security – The Siren Song of NATO’s Hawks
Klaus Wiegrefe – Der Spiegel, 18 Jul 2016

NATO political and military leaders are intent on bolstering the alliance’s presence in the Baltic States and Poland. But does doing so actually improve European security? There is plenty of room for doubt.

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Russian Foreign Policy – ‘We Are Smarter, Stronger and More Determined’
Christian Neef - Der Spiegel, 18 Jul 2016

Relations between Russia and NATO are deteriorating. Kremlin foreign policy advisor Sergey Karaganov speaks with SPIEGEL about the risk of war, NATO’s aggressive posturing and the West’s inability to understand Russian values.

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Questionable Deal: EU to Work with African Despot to Keep Refugees Out
Jürgen Dahlkamp and Maximilian Popp – Der Spiegel, 23 May 2016

In an effort to help keep refugees from Africa at bay, the EU is planning to deliver personal registration equipment to Sudan, whose president is wanted on war crimes charges. Germany is leading the way.

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Timeout for Football Leaks: Whistleblowers Take Six-Month Break
Rafael Buschmann – Der Spiegel, 16 May 2016

The revelations exposed by soccer whistleblowing platform Football Leaks have provided tips for prosecutors and tax inspectors alike. Overwhelmed by a massive trove of data, the group says it will now take a break.

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The TTIPing Point: Protests Threaten Trans-Atlantic Trade Deal
Dinah Deckstein, Simone Salden and Michaela Schießl – Der Spiegel, 16 May 2016

An unprecedented protest movement of a scope not seen since the Iraq war in Germany has pushed negotiations over the TTIP trans-Atlantic free trade agreement to the brink of collapse. The demonstrations are characterized by a level of professionalism not previously seen.

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Touring Tragedy: A Day of Disaster Porn in Chernobyl
Hilmar Schmundt and Phil Thoma - Der Spiegel, 2 May 2016

It is the site of the most devastating nuclear disaster in history, but the Chernobyl exclusion zone has also become a magnet for tourists seeking a thrill. Join us for a tour.

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Lift the Ban! – Kofi Annan on Why It’s Time to Legalize Drugs
Kofi Annan – Der Spiegel, 7 Mar 2016

Drugs are dangerous, but current narcotics policies are an even bigger threat because punishment is given a greater priority than health and human rights. It’s time for regulations that put lives and safety first, argues former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

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Mediterranean Desperation: Saving Lives at the World’s Most Dangerous Border
Juliane von Mittelstaedt and Christian Werner (Photography) – Der Spiegel, 17 Aug 2015

Doctors Without Borders is the only major humanitarian organization actively rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean. So far, it has saved more than 10,000 people. But in the world’s biggest crisis region, timing is everything.

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US Military an ‘Insurmountable Obstacle to a Nuclear-Free World’
Mikhail Gorbachev – Der Spiegel, 17 Aug 2015

In a SPIEGEL interview, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev discusses morals and politics in the nuclear age, the crisis in Russian-American relations and his fear that an atomic weapon will someday be used.

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Burma’s Stateless Muslims: The World’s Most Persecuted Minority
Katrin Kuntz in Sittwe – Der Spiegel, 8 Jun 2015

In Burma, thousands of members of the Rohingya Muslim minority are fleeing persecution from Buddhists. Abused by smugglers, they are being turned away from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

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New Lives in Uruguay – Freedom Elusive after 12 Years at Guantanamo
Marian Blasberg – Der Spiegel, 25 May 2015

Six former Guantanamo prisoners have been sharing a house in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo for the last six months. The planned closure of the US detention facility could hinge on the outcome of this experiment.

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Europe Should Protect People, Not Borders
Maximilian Popp – Der Spiegel, 27 Apr 2015

The EU registers everything that happens near its borders. In contrast to the claims that are often made, they do not look away when refugees die. They are watching very closely. And what is happening here is not negligent behavior. They are deliberately killing refugees.

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Nazi Extortion: Study Sheds New Light on Forced Greek Loans
Manfred Ertel, Katrin Kuntz and Walter Mayr – Der Spiegel, 30 Mar 2015

Is Germany liable to Athens for loans the Nazis forced the Greek central bank to provide during World War II? A new study in Greece could increase the pressure on Berlin to pay up.

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The Warming World: Is Capitalism Destroying Our Planet?
Alexander Jung, Horand Knaup, Samiha Shafy and Bernhard Zand – Der Spiegel, 2 Mar 2015

25 Feb 2015 – World leaders decided in Copenhagen that global warming should be limited to 2 degrees Celsius. Achieving that target, though, would take nothing less than a miracle. With another round of climate negotiations approaching, it is becoming increasingly clear that mankind has failed to address its most daunting problem.

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Naomi Klein: ‘The Economic System We Have Created Global Warming’
Klaus Brinkbäumer – Der Spiegel, 2 Mar 2015

Can we still stop global warming? Only if we radically change our capitalist system, argues author Naomi Klein. In an interview with SPIEGEL, she explains why the time has come to abandon small steps for a radical new approach.

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Community Response: A Danish Answer to Radical Jihad
Manfred Ertel and Ralf Hoppe – Der Spiegel, 2 Mar 2015

The murders in Copenhagen have refocused attention on a thorny question for Europe: How can radical jihadists returning from Syria be reintegrated? The Danish city of Aarhus may have found an answer.

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It’s Time to Compromise on Greece
Dirk Kurbjuweit – Der Spiegel, 9 Feb 2015

Syriza’s victory in Greece makes it clearer than ever that a new approach is needed in Europe. Chancellor Merkel, in particular, must show flexibility in the search for compromise with Greek Prime Minister Tsipras. If they can’t agree, Europe is in trouble.

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Source Code Similarities: Experts Unmask ‘Regin’ Trojan as NSA Tool
Marcel Rosenbach, Hilmar Schmundt and Christian Stöcker – Der Spiegel, 2 Feb 2015

Just weeks ago, SPIEGEL published the source code of an NSA malware program known internally as QWERTY. Now, experts have found that it is none other than the notorious trojan Regin, used in dozens of cyber attacks around the world.

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Guantanamo Prisoner Diary: ‘We’re Gonna Teach You about Great American Sex’
Britta Sandberg – Der Spiegel, 26 Jan 2015

Motherfucker, I Told You, You’re Gone – “I was forbidden from seeing the light of day. For the next 70 days, I wouldn’t know the sweetness of sleeping: interrogation 24 hours a day, three and sometimes four shifts a day. At one point his interrogators threatened, you’re not gonna die, we’re gonna feed you up your ass.”

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Generations of Victims – Bhopal’s Unending Catastrophe
Anne Backhaus and Simone Salden – Der Spiegel, 15 Dec 2014

Thirty years after the worst chemical accident in history, the disaster is hitting a new generation. The victims have received little help, professional clean-up has not happened and there are no signs the ongoing environmental catastrophe will end.

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Summit of Failure: How the EU Lost Russia over Ukraine
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 1 Dec 2014

One year ago, negotiations over a Ukraine association agreement with the European Union collapsed. The result has been a standoff with Russia and war in the Donbass. It was an historical failure, and one that German Chancellor Angela Merkel contributed to.

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EU Democratic Deficit: It’s Time to Put Juncker on the Hot Seat
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 17 Nov 2014

Can the European Commission be led by a man who transformed his own country into a tax oasis? The debate is long overdue and Jean-Claude Juncker can no longer afford to shirk the question.

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The Zombie System – How Capitalism Has Gone Off the Rails
Michael Sauga – Der Spiegel, 27 Oct 2014

Six years after the Lehman disaster, the industrialized world is suffering from Japan Syndrome. Growth is minimal, another crash may be brewing and the gulf between rich and poor continues to widen. Can the global economy reinvent itself?

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Suras and Tolerance: Meet Europe’s Gay Imam
Takis Würger – Der Spiegel, 18 Aug 2014

A homosexual French Muslim imam is spreading a message of religion and tolerance in Europe. In addition to opening a gay-friendly mosque in Paris, he also recently married a lesbian couple in Sweden.

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Camiño de Santiago: Soul Searching and Commerce on the Way of St. James
Juan Moreno on the Camino de Santiago – Der Spiegel, 11 Aug 2014

Not long ago, only a few people would make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Now, over 200,000 people a year spend several grueling weeks along the route. Traditionalists turn up their noses at the crowds, but the rewards are still vast. (Photos: TMS editor Antonio C. S. Rosa 2003 pilgrimage.)

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The Boomerang Effect: Sanctions on Russia Hit German Economy Hard
Matthias Schepp and Cornelia Schmergal – Der Spiegel, 28 Jul 2014

21 Jul 2014 – The United States and Europe last week announced the imposition of stronger sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. German industry may be among the losers.

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New NSA Revelations: Inside Snowden’s Germany File
Der SPIEGEL – TRANSCEND Media Service, 30 Jun 2014

17 Jun 2014 – The National Security Agency has turned Germany into its most important base of operations in Europe, according to a story published by Der Spiegel this week.

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Prison of the Past: A Reporter Revisits His ‘Shameful’ Coverage of Rwanda
Bartholomäus Grill – Der Spiegel, 7 Apr 2014

Twenty years ago on April 6, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda began. At the time, many Western reporters played it down as “ethnic warfare,” including Bartholomäus Grill, now a correspondent for SPIEGEL. He looks back with shame.

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‘A’ for Angela Merkel: GCHQ and NSA Targeted Private German Companies
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel, 31 Mar 2014

Documents show that Britain’s GCHQ intelligence service infiltrated German Internet firms and America’s NSA obtained a court order to spy on Germany and collected information about the chancellor in a special database. Is it time for the country to open a formal espionage investigation?

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Europe’s Sin: Caribbean States Call for Slavery Reparations
Samiha Shafy – Der Spiegel, 24 Mar 2014

The leaders of 15 Caribbean countries are calling for reparations from European countries relating to the slave trade that took place 200 years ago. A lawyer representing them says the legacy of slavery still plagues the region today.

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Targeting Huawei: NSA Spied on Chinese Government and Networking Firm
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 24 Mar 2014

According to documents viewed by SPIEGEL, America’s NSA intelligence agency put considerable efforts into spying on Chinese politicians and firms. One major target was Huawei, a company that is fast becoming a major Internet player.

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Tight on the Right: Germany’s NPD Maintains Close Ties to Svoboda
Steffen Winter – Der Spiegel, 24 Mar 2014

Germany shuns the right-wing extremist party NPD at home. But even though the Ukrainian nationalist party Svoboda maintains tight links to the NPD, it has received indirect support from Berlin.

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GCHQ Revealed: Inside Her Majesty’s Listening Service
Christoph Scheuermann – Der Spiegel, 3 Mar 2014

The Snowden files have brought the shocking espionage activities of the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters into the open. Former employees describe an agency with shifting goals, a strong honor code — and an inferiority complex.

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Arms Exports: Berlin Backs Large Defense Deal with Saudi Arabia
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 10 Feb 2014

Berlin has often been criticized in recent years for selling weapons to questionable regimes. Now, the German government is backing a billion-euro deal for 100 patrol boats.

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Corporation Carte Blanche: Will US-EU Trade Become Too Free?
Michaela Schiessl – Der Spiegel, 27 Jan 2014

Opposition to the planned new trans-Atlantic free trade agreement is growing. So far, criticism has focused on the fact that the deal seems directed exclusively at economic interests. Now fears are growing that corporations will be given too much power.

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The Bosnian Knot: Conflicts Unchanged in Birthplace of WWI
Walter Mayr – Der Spiegel, 20 Jan 2014

The 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo came in the midst of a bitter power struggle among major European powers in the Balkans. One hundred years and three devastating wars later, peace still eludes the multi-ethnic region.

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The Mafia’s Deadly Garbage: Italy’s Growing Toxic Waste Scandal
Walter Mayr = Der Spiegel, 20 Jan 2014

For decades, the Mafia has been dumping toxic waste illegally in the region north of Naples. Recently declassified testimony shows that leading politicians have known about the problem for years, yet done nothing about it — even as the death toll climbs.

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Out of the Abyss: Looking for Lessons in Iceland’s Recovery
Guido Mingels – Der Spiegel, 13 Jan 2014

In 2008, Iceland experienced one of the most dramatic crashes any country had ever seen. Since then, its recovery has been just as impressive. Are there lessons to be learned? SPIEGEL went to the island nation to find out.

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Breaking the Silence
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 13 Jan 2014

Broad Support for Footballer’s Coming Out – Former German national team player Thomas Hitzlsperger on Wednesday [8 Jan 2014] became the first professional footballer in the country to acknowledge his homosexuality. The upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia, he said, was a reason for going public now.

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Shopping for Spy Gear: Catalog Advertises NSA Toolbox
Jacob Appelbaum, Judith Horchert and Christian Stöcker – Der Spiegel, 6 Jan 2014

After years of speculation that electronics can be accessed by intelligence agencies through a back door, an internal NSA catalog reveals that such methods already exist for numerous end-user devices.

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NSA’s Secret Toolbox: Unit Offers Spy Gadgets for Every Need
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 6 Jan 2014

The NSA has a secret unit that produces special equipment ranging from spyware for computers and cell phones to listening posts and USB sticks that work as bugging devices. Here are some excerpts from the intelligence agency’s own catalog.

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Inside TAO-Tailored Access Operations: Documents Reveal Top NSA Hacking Unit
Der Spiegel* – TRANSCEND Media Service, 30 Dec 2013

The NSA’s TAO hacking unit is considered to be the intelligence agency’s top secret weapon. It maintains its own covert network, infiltrates computers around the world and even intercepts shipping deliveries to plant back doors in electronics ordered by those it is targeting.

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Friendly Fire: How GCHQ Monitors Germany, Israel and the EU
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel, 23 Dec 2013

Documents from the archive of whistleblower and former NSA worker Edward Snowden show that Britain’s GCHQ signals intelligence agency has targeted European, German and Israeli politicians for surveillance.

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Belounis Returns: Footballer Escapes Qatar [Slavery] at Heavy Price
Stefan Simons – Der Spiegel, 2 Dec 2013

French footballer Zahir Belounis is back in his homeland after being trapped in Qatar against his will. He only secured his departure after signing a “retroactive termination,” which has virtually ruled out any legal action against the Qatari El Jaish Sports Club. In the waiver, the 33-year-old even had to thank the club for providing his apartment.

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‘Royal Concierge’: GCHQ Monitors Diplomats’ Hotel Bookings
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel, 25 Nov 2013

When diplomats travel to international summits, consultations and negotiations on behalf of governments, they generally tend to spend the night at high-end hotels. When they check-in, in addition to a comfortable room, they sometimes get a very unique form of room service that they did not order: a thorough monitoring by the British Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ in short.

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Black Market in Lebanon: Syrian Refugees Selling Organs to Survive
Ulrike Putz – Der Spiegel, 18 Nov 2013

In the shadow of the Syrian civil war, a growing number of refugees are surviving in Lebanon by illegally selling their own organs. But the exchange comes at a huge cost.

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Trans-Atlantic Free Trade: US Pushes for Deal despite NSA Scandal
Gregor Peter Schmitz – Der Spiegel, 18 Nov 2013

The NSA spying scandal has many in Europe calling for the suspension of negotiations on an EU-US free-trade deal. Officials in Washington are undeterred, and continue to push forward with talks despite growing skepticism this side of the Atlantic.

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Et Tu, UK? Anger Grows over British Spying in Berlin
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 11 Nov 2013

First it was the US — and now it turns out the UK might have been spying from its embassy in Berlin, too. Officials at Germany’s Foreign Ministry responded Tuesday by inviting Britain’s ambassador for a lecture.

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Shelter in Europe: Court Orders Asylum for Persecuted Gays
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 11 Nov 2013

An EU court ruled Thursday [7 Nov 2013] that gays and lesbians persecuted in other countries have the right to asylum in Europe, as long as they fulfill certain conditions. The decision came in a case involving three African men seeking safe haven in the Netherlands.

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Nuclear Arsenal: US to Turn Old Bombs into All-Purpose Weapons
Markus Becker and Otfried Nassauer – Der Spiegel, 11 Nov 2013

The US wants to modernize nuclear bombs stationed in Europe in a way many experts call the equivalent of creating a new weapon. Critics believe the move violates pledges by President Obama he would not develop new nukes.

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Embassy Espionage: The NSA’s Secret Spy Hub in Berlin
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 4 Nov 2013

According to SPIEGEL research, United States intelligence agencies have not only targeted Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, but they have also used the American Embassy in Berlin as a listening station.

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NSA Whistleblower: Snowden Open to Testifying in Germany
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 4 Nov 2013

Edward Snowden says he is willing to cooperate with investigations into NSA spying. At a meeting with a German lawmaker in Moscow, he reportedly suggested he would be open to coming to Germany, and complained of a US ‘campaign of persecution.’ Berlin has at least signaled readiness to talk.

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The ‘German Camp’: Jihadists from Germany Set up Base in Syria
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 28 Oct 2013

A growing number of German jihadists are heading to Syria to join the rebels in their fight against President Bashar Assad. According to German intelligence, some 200 Islamists from across the country have gathered in northern Syria in what’s been dubbed the “German Camp.”

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‘Unacceptable’: Mexico Slams US Spying on President
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 28 Oct 2013

The Mexican government says it “categorically condemns” email spying, after SPIEGEL reported that documents leaked by Edward Snowden show the US gained access to the email of former Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

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Holy Logic: Computer Scientists ‘Prove’ God Exists
David Knight – Der Spiegel, 28 Oct 2013

Two scientists have formalized a theorem regarding the existence of God penned by mathematician Kurt Gödel. But the God angle is somewhat of a red herring — the real step forward is the example it sets of how computers can make scientific progress simpler.

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Factory Farming: The True Price of a Pork Chop
Susanne Amann, Michael Fröhlingsdorf and Udo Ludwig – Der Spiegel, 28 Oct 2013

Germany slaughters 58 million pigs a year and has built an efficient meat industry second only to the US in pork exports — but at a hidden cost to the environment and our health.

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EU Parliament Report: Europe Has 880,000 Slave Laborers
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 21 Oct 2013

A report by the European Parliament says there are 3,600 international criminal organizations in the European Union and that some 880,000 slave laborers live in the 27-nation bloc, including 270,000 victims of sexual exploitation.

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Fresh Leak on US Spying: NSA Accessed Mexican President’s Email
Jens Glüsing, Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel, 21 Oct 2013

The NSA has been systematically eavesdropping on the Mexican government for years. It hacked into the president’s public email account and gained deep insight into policymaking and the political system. The news is likely to hurt ties between the US and Mexico.

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Expanding the Grid: A Vision for Fueling Europe on Renewables
Christoph Pauly – Der Spiegel, 21 Oct 2013

European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger is in Brussels on Monday [14 Oct 2013] to present his plan for the future of energy in the EU. He wants to export Germany’s push toward renewables to the rest of the Continent — and for the first time, he actually has the money to do it.

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Trapped in Qatar: Footballers Describe Nightmarish Treatment
Maik Grossekathöfer – Der Spiegel, 14 Oct 2013

Qatar, the host of the 2022 soccer World Cup, is spending a lot of money to attract players and coaches. SPIEGEL spent time with a handful who have gone to the emirate and say they aren’t getting paid, but have been prevented from leaving the country.

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Colorful Statement? Germany’s Olympic Uniform Seen as ‘Pro-Gay’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 7 Oct 2013

On Tuesday [1 Oct 2013], Germany premiered the colorful uniforms for its Sochi Winter Olympics team with a runway show in Düsseldorf. The show has prompted reaction in Germany not only because of its bold design, but because many people are reading it as a silent form of protest against Russia’s anti-gay laws.

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Video Games and Cigarettes: Syria’s Disneyland for Jihadists
Christoph Reuter – Der Spiegel, 30 Sep 2013

Foreign Islamists coming into Syria have been gathering in the relatively quiet north. But many of them are finding transit towns — with good food, video games and smoking — preferable to the front. When they do end up fighting, it’s often with each other.

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Meatless in Munich: Oktoberfest Introduces Vegan Food Options
Friederike Heine – Der Spiegel, 30 Sep 2013

For some 200 years Oktoberfest has been all about beer and meat. But organizers are breaking with tradition and reaching out by offering vegan dishes and even vegan wine. “There’s always a possibility,” says Jonas. “Forty years ago, traditional Bavarians would have trembled at the prospect of open homosexuality at Oktoberfest, and now we celebrate ‘Gay Sunday’ here every year.

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Cutting Controversy: German Court Sets New Circumcision Rules
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 30 Sep 2013

In the latest twist in a controversy that has divided Germans, a regional court has ruled that doctors need to discuss circumcision procedures with the child before they can be carried out.

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‘Follow the Money’: NSA Monitors Financial World
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel, 23 Sep 2013

The NSA monitors banks and credit card transactions — sometimes in apparent violation of national laws and global regulations. The European SWIFT financial transaction network is being tapped on different levels, internal documents from the US spy agency show.

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SWIFT Suspension? EU Parliament Furious about NSA Bank Spying
Gregor-Peter Schmitz in Brussels – Der Spiegel, 23 Sep 2013

Revelations the US is spying on international bank transfers have angered European parliamentarians. Some are calling for the suspension of the SWIFT deal between the EU and US. “Washington must make clear where it stands,” says one.

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‘Success Story’: NSA Targeted French Foreign Ministry
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 3 Sep 2013

Espionage by the US on France has already strained relations between the two countries, threatening a trans-Atlantic trade agreement. Now a document seen by SPIEGEL reveals that the NSA also spied on the French Foreign Ministry.

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Snowden Document: NSA Spied On Al Jazeera Communications
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 2 Sep 2013

Arab news broadcaster Al Jazeera was spied on by the National Security Agency, according to documents seen by SPIEGEL. The US intelligence agency hacked into protected communication, a feat that was considered a particular success.

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Codename ‘Apalachee’ – How America Spies on Europe and the UN
Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark – Der Spiegel, 26 Aug 2013

President Obama promised that NSA surveillance activities were aimed exclusively at preventing terrorist attacks. But secret documents from the intelligence agency show that the Americans spy on Europe, the UN and other countries.

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Bow, Arrow, Facebook: Brazilian Tribes Fight for Their Land
Jens Glüsing – Der Spiegel, 26 Aug 2013

Indigenous peoples in Brazil have lost their patience. Promised more land decades ago, they have recently begun forcing the issue by occupying farms and ranches. The government of President Dilma Rousseff has taken sides with the farmers’ lobby.

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‘Private Money’: Bitcoins Gain Ground in Germany
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 26 Aug 2013

Bitcoins have rapidly gained popularity, but what is the currency’s legal status? This week Germany revealed that it sees the virtual payment method as “private money,” but its tax status remains unclear.

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Merkel and the NSA: A Scandal That Just Won’t Die
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 19 Aug 2013

As the election approaches, Chancellor Angela Merkel is working hard to dissipate anger over controversial surveillance by German and US intelligence agencies. But every time Berlin assures voters that all is well, its claims are discredited.

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Mass Data: Transfers from Germany Aid US Surveillance
Hubert Gude, Laura Poitras and Marcel Rosenbach – Der Spiegel, 12 Aug 2013

German intelligence sends massive amounts of intercepted data to the NSA, according to documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden, which SPIEGEL has seen. The trans-Atlantic cooperation on technical matters is also much closer than first thought.

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‘Football for All’: Dutch Stand Up for Gay Players’ Rights
Jörg Kramer and Michael Wulzinger – Der Spiegel, 15 Jul 2013

Next month, the Dutch national football team’s coach plans to take a stand for the rights of gay players at the Amsterdam Gay Pride parade. Activitists in Germany, where no professional players are out, hope their football officials will follow his lead.

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Obama’s Soft Totalitarianism: Europe Must Protect Itself from America
Jakob Augstein – Der Spiegel, 24 Jun 2013

Is Barack Obama a friend? Revelations about his government’s vast spying program call that assumption into doubt. The European Union must protect the Continent from America’s reach for omnipotence.

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Beaten, Bullied, Badgered: EU Study Finds Widespread Homophobia in Europe
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 27 May 2013

Harassed at work and the doctor’s office, bullied and assaulted in public: The gay, bisexual and transgender community is still widely discriminated against in Europe. In an new EU survey, the most comprehensive to date, more than 90,000 participants report on the extent of their harassment.

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Secret Athens Report: Berlin Owes Greece Billions in WWII Reparations
Georgios Christidis – Der Spiegel, 15 Apr 2013

A top-secret report compiled at the behest of the Finance Ministry in Athens has come to the conclusion that Germany owes Greece billions in World War II reparations. The total could be enough to solve the country’s debt problems, but the Greek government is wary of picking a fight with its paymaster.

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Radiating Remnants: Nuclear Waste Barrels Litter English Channel
Nicola Kuhrt – Der Spiegel, 15 Apr 2013

Some 28,500 containers of radioactive waste were dropped into the English Channel between 1950 and 1963. Experts have assumed that the containers had long since rusted open, spreading the radioactivity throughout the ocean and thus rendering it innocuous. But a new investigative report from the joint French-German public broadcaster ARTE has concluded that the waste is still intact at the bottom of the sea.

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A Global Look at Gay Rights: ‘The Fight against Discrimination Must Go On’
Der Spiegel – TRANSCEND Media Service, 8 Apr 2013

Boris Dittrich, head of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy at Human Rights Watch, discusses the current debates on same-sex marriage in Europe and the United States and virulent homophobia in Russia and Uganda.

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