Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Wednesday 31 July 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINEINTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 

Compiled on July 31, 2013, 06:31 PM CET

CRISIS OF FAITH

Doubts Grow Over Spanish Reforms

Measures to pull Spain out of the crisis are failing to bear fruit and exacerbating social tensions. While some are optimistic, the core problems remain, and many are questioning the old elite's ability to clean up the financial sector and reform the country.

POLISH DISSIDENT ADAM MICHNIK

'We Are Bastards of Communism'

Adam Michnik is editor-in-chief of Poland's leading daily and its most prominent former dissident. In a SPIEGEL interview, he talks about the threat of authoritarian regimes in Eastern Europe, the decline of the region's political culture and feelings of being treated like second-class citizens in Europe.

NEW CEMETERY IN RUSSIA

Germany Still Burying Eastern Front Dead

After spending two decades recovering almost 800,000 soldiers in Eastern Europe and Russia, Germany will open its last war cemetery in Russia on Saturday. The work isn't over, though, as the war graves commission has located a further 400,000 dead.

VANISHING TREASURES

Tomb Raiders Exploit Chaos in Egypt

Egypt's cultural heritage is in danger. Grave robbers, sometimes heavily armed, are taking advantage of political chaos to plunder its poorly guarded archaeological sites. Authorities feel powerless to stop them and fear that ancient treasures might be lost forever.

GAY COMMENTS

Pope Francis Not as Liberal as He Seems

Pope Francis has sparked enthusiasm with his call for greater tolerance toward gays. But it's too soon to celebrate, says theologian David Berger. The pope's warning not to engage in gay propaganda puts him on par with homophobes like Russian President Vladimir Putin, he contends.

INVISIBLE STEINBRÜCK

Is the SPD Hiding Its Chancellor Candidate?

Peer Steinbrück launched the most important part of his campaign on Tuesday in an effort to boost his candidacy and his troubled party, the Social Democrats. But he still hasn't solved his biggest problem -- an inability to differentiate himself from incumbent Chancellor Angela Merkel.

MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP

Baggage Hampers Fresh Start at Siemens

Joe Kaeser has been voted in unanimously as the new Siemens CEO in a triumph for supervisory board head Gerhard Cromme, who has defeated his critics for now. If the company truly wants a fresh start, though, it will have to part ways with Cromme too.

NEO-NAZI TERROR

Trial Advances Despite Immense Complexity

The NSU trial in Munich has so far been plodding along with disjointed hearings on multiple crimes and defendants, but the presiding judge has nevertheless moved the trial forward. Yet another complication is emerging, though, between prosecutors and victims.

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