GERMANY'S FAR- RIGHT POLITICIANS
Germany's parliament is currently debating whether to ban the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD). But such a step may prove to be neither feasible nor advisable. In fact proponents of democracy in Germany would be better off focusing on their strengths and trying to make the NPD irrelevant. By Dirk Kurbjuweit more... [ Forum ]
FROM MACHU PICCHU TO TIMBUKTU
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have been around forever it seems. Isn't it time for some "new" monuments to take their place? The people from New 7 Wonders think so. They're traveling the globe looking for the best of the best. more...
IRAQ WORSE OFF THAN UNDER SADDAM
Sectarian violence has never been worse in Iraq. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says the country is at civil war and that some Iraqi's were better off when a brutal dictator ruled their land. more...
MAJOR FORCES ON A MINOR ISLAND
Does Bahrain represent the democratic future of the Middle East? Even before the Iraq war, the Gulf state had experimented with free elections. The Islamist parties - no friends of the island's U.S. naval base - won hands down. more... [ Forum ]
A NEO- CON STEPS DOWN
John Bolton, the controversial United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said on Monday he would resign from his post. Bolton faced an incoming Democratic Congress that was unlikely to confirm his post. more...
BEIRUT PROTESTS ENTER FOURTH DAY
Mass Hezbollah protests entered their fourth day on Monday as the pro-Syrian opposition in Lebanon tries to topple the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Diplomats are scrambling to head off a crisis. more...
INTERVIEW WITH WEB GURU TIM O'REILLY
Tim O'Reilly is considered the father of the term "Web 2.0." In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE the Web guru and software pioneer reveals whether he would show YouTube to visitors from outer space, why it's OK to make money out of other peoples' work -- and why he's getting sick of "Web 2.0." more...
CHRISTMAS BACKLASH
They may taste the same, but the differences are huge. A woman in southern Germany is doing her best to increase the profile of St. Nicholas. Santa has almost completely taken over. Where to start? The supermarket shelves. By Charles Hawley more...
TAKING ON THE LAW
Ryan Williams from Cardiff, Wales, was issued with a parking ticket 20 months ago. It was the first time he'd gotten into trouble with the law. He didn't think it was fair so he decided to fight back. Now he is also being asked to pay thousands in legal fees. By Uwe Buse more...
BUDGETARY WOES
Greenpeace is in dire financial straits: The largest German environmental organization is bringing in too little money, and Greenpeace International needs more and more support. Now, the group is cutting 20 of the 160 jobs in Germany. Morale has hit a low point. By Sonja Pohlmann more...
ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR THE "DEVIL"
Socialism is alive and well in South America. Venezuelans on Sunday re-elected Hugo Chavez as president in a landslide. And the leader has no plans to stop at the end of his six year mandate. more...
EUROPEAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
The European aerospace giant EADS is a delicate balancing act between French and German economic interests. A consortium of German banks wants to purchase shares that DaimlerChrysler is planning to sell, but for now the French are saying "non." more...
OLDRICH STRANSKY REMEMBERS AUSCHWITZ
Oldrich Stransky grew up in a Jewish Czech family. The Nazis killed his parents and his brother and deported him to Auschwitz. SPIEGEL spoke to him about surviving in hell. more...
TREASURES OF THE RED CONTINENT
The current natural resources boom is good news for Australia which has a plentiful supply of precious metals. Never before have mining corporations extracted so much iron ore, copper, gold or uranium and exported it worldwide, especially to China. But is Australia becoming dangerously dependent? By Alexander Jung more...
A GROWING THREAT IN AFGHANISTAN
A report from the German military, the Bundeswehr, warns that the Taliban is approaching Kabul and that attacks on the capital city are likely to increase. Security in nearby districts is already deteriorating. more...
THE END OF FIGHTING IN NEPAL
Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dashal, also known as Prachanda, has laid down arms in Nepal. SPIEGEL spoke to him about the end of the armed insurrection in the country and discussed the future of democracy in the Himalayan kingdom. more...
TURKEY AND THE EU
Germany's chancellor is pushing for the use of a European Union instrument that could freeze membership talks with Turkey for 18 months and possibly longer. Her Turkey policy also underscores a divide in Germany's coalition government on the issue between her conservative Christian Democratic Union and the more liberal Social Democratic Party. more...
THE FABULOUS WORLD OF SÉGOLÈNE
In the race for the French presidency, the French Socialist Party's successful leading candidate Ségolène Royal is billing herself as a popular political outsider beyond the scope of dogma and hierarchy. But this supposed nonconformist has the backing of a well-oiled political machine. By Stefan Simons in Paris more... [ Forum ]
