In a secret recording from 2017 obtained by DER SPIEGEL, Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache of the far-right Freedom Party is heard discussing a deal with a purported Russian millionaire to trade state contracts for campaign support. By DER SPIEGEL Staff
Author: Spiegel.de
Spiegel Online (SPON) is one of the most widely read German-language news websites.
It was founded in 1994 as the online offshoot of the German news magazine, Der Spiegel, with a staff of journalists working independently of the magazine.
Today, Spiegel Online is the most frequently quoted online media product in Germany. Spiegel Online International, a section featuring articles translated into English, was launched in autumn 2004.
Archive Document: Queen Outed Herself as a Fan of the EU
Does Britain’s future lie in Europe? In 1988, long before the prospect of Brexit, the queen spoke about the issue with a German diplomat. A document viewed by DER SPIEGEL shows that she held a very clear view.
A Bloc Against the Right: The Dream of a Green Party Alliance with Macron
Influential Franco-German politician Daniel Cohn-Bendit would like the German Greens to join forces with French President Emmanuel Macron to get the European Union back on track. But not everyone is taken with the idea.
The End of the Bashir Regime: Sudan Revolution Struggles to Keep Momentum
In a working-class neighborhood of Khartoum, six friends helped topple Sudan’s dictator, Omar al-Bashir. Now, as they hope for a transition to civilian power, they are afraid their protest is devolving into a street party, and that the military will remain in control.
Brexit Party Leader Nigel Farage: ‘We Want Fundamental Political Change’
Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party is leading in the British polls ahead of the European Parliament elections. In an interview, the former UKIP front man talks about upending the UK political system and how he plans to do it.
Climate Stasis: German Failure on the Road to a Renewable Future
In 2011, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the country was turning away from nuclear energy in favor of a renewable future. Since then, however, progress has been limited. Berlin has wasted billions of euros and resistance is mounting.
“He Said: ‘Save My Life'”: Pamela Anderson Discusses Her Visit with Julian Assange
Canadian actress Pamela Anderson, a friend of Julian Assange, recently visited the WikiLeaks founder in prison in Britain. In an interview, she reports on his condition and his fight against extradition to the United States, where he could face additional charges.
Rising Tensions: Trump’s Iran Escalation Poses a Threat for Germany
The U.S. under Donald Trump is exacerbating tensions with Iran, leading many to fear war may be just around the corner. Any military conflict would have dire consequences for Europe, but the Americans remain undeterred. By DER SPIEGEL Staff
Terror Group Boko Haram: The Suicide Bomber Who Survived
Halima was supposed to die at a market in Chad. And her mission was to take as many people as possible with her — a mission forced upon her by the terror group Boko Haram. But she survived, and the 20-year-old is now learning how to live again.
The AfD Dilemma: Germany Struggles to Find Right Approach to Populists
With the AfD now holding seats in every state parliament and in the federal parliament in Berlin, churches, unions and other organizations across Germany are wrestling with a tough question: Is it better to kick the populists out or to try to integrate them? By DER SPIEGEL Staff
Hell on Earth: Refugees Suffer as Libya’s Civil War Rages On
As Libya descends into a bloody civil war, thousands of refugees are trapped in the crossfire. Some are forced to fight as mercenaries, while others are systematically raped, tortured or sold as slaves. One Italian is helping them tell their stories.
A Nazi Critic and a Gestapo Spy: ‘You Can’t Report Your Own Father!’
The Gestapo spy Paul Reckzeh denounced a group of Nazi critics in Berlin and two of them were executed. Irmgard Ruppel was the last survivor of the group, and in an interview five decades later, she told the story of what happened.
The Anti-Environment Party: AfD Hopes to Win Votes by Opposing Climate Protection
German populists are adopting climate change denialism as a new campaign strategy. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has begun directing its unscientific claims at global warming activists like 16-year-old Greta Thunberg and says it wants to be the party that “saves diesel.”
Interview with WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief: ‘Everything Was Done To Make Julian Assange’s Life Miserable’
In his first interview since Julian Assange’s arrest, WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson discusses the “disgraceful” detention of the platform’s founder, criticism of its links to Russia and what he describes as the “appalling” treatment of Chelsea Manning.
Giving Birth in India: ‘The Women Here Are Afraid’
Every year, 32,000 women in India die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. To reduce that number, the government plans to begin training midwives. A visit to a maternity ward in Hyderabad shows the difference they can make.
The China Question: Time to Find a New Approach to Beijing
China’s Silk Road Summit was a clear demonstration of the country’s political and economic heft. But with three major historical anniversaries approaching for the country, it is time for the West to fundamentally rethink its relations with Beijing.
Traumatized and Tormented: A Difficult Homecoming for Yazidis Kidnapped by IS
Kidnapped Yazidis are being reunited with their families following the victory over Islamic State. They include children who have been deeply traumatized. While in captivity, IS brainwashed them to think their parents were evil.
The Legacy of Rwandan Genocide: ‘Everyone Lives in Fear’
A quarter-century has passed since the murder of 800,000 people were in the Rwandan genocide. President Kagame presents his country as a place of progress and equality, but that image starts to crack when you look behind the façade.
Facebook Frenzy: How the German Right Wing Dominates Social Media
A comprehensive analysis has revealed the degree to which German right-wing populists from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are dominating the social media landscape. They might be getting help from abroad.
Interview with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid: ‘Our Government Is More Innovative’
The tiny Baltic nation of Estonia is a digital trailblazer. All public services are available online, saving the country millions of euros each year. President Kersti Kaljulaid spoke to DER SPIEGEL about Estonia’s burgeoning IT industry, the free market and the perils of cyberwarfare.
‘This Is Our Jungle’: Abysmal Conditions for Refugees in the Greek Islands
The European Union claims that the refugee pact with Turkey has been a success. Yet asylum-seeker camps on Greek islands in the Aegean have transformed into prisons. Thousands of migrants live there in horrific conditions.
Avicii’s Journey: The Untimely Death of a Superstar
Tim Bergling, alias Avicii, produced hits that became the soundtrack of the Instagram generation. At the age of 28, he took his own life. A year later, his family and friends look back.
Our Lady: The Profound Lesson of the Notre Dame Fire
As the flames shot out of the roof of Notre Dame de Paris on Monday evening, a global community of concern quickly formed. It shows that the idea of cultural heritage is much more than just a UNESCO list.
Jordan Bardella’s Rise: The Fresh Young Face of France’s Populist Right
A 23-year-old politician is leading Marine Le Pen’s right-wing populists in May elections for the European Parliament. His name is Jordan Bardella, and he’s as eloquent as he is radical.
A Scarred Nation: Ukraine Turns to a Comedian for Comfort
The Ukrainian presidential campaign has been nothing if not absurd. But the success of TV comedian Volodymyr Zelensky shows that the electorate has had it with politicians. A trip through the country reveals the roots of his success.
Hell on Earth: The Horrors of Child Prostitution in Ghana
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.
Frauenkirche Expert on Devastating Fire: ‘Notre Dame Reconstruction Will Take Years’
The damage to Notre Dame cathedral is massive: The roof was destroyed, a spire collapsed and the stone was exposed to immense heat. What will efforts to rebuild look like? We asked one of the engineers behind the reconstruction of Dresden’s Frauenkirche church.
A Precarious Alliance: Patience Wears Thin with Germany’s NATO Spending
As NATO prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, the most successful military alliance in history finds itself in the throes of an existential crisis. The unfulfillled promises of some member countries — in particular Germany — to spend more on defense threaten to tear the block apart. By DER SPIEGEL Staff
Interview with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg: The U.S. and President Trump ‘Are 100 Percent Behind’ Us
In an interview, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses recent tensions between the Trump administration and its European partners in the alliance, Germany’s military spending and what China’s growing military power means for the trans-Atlantic community.
Interview with Sir David Attenborough: ‘Collecting Memories Isn’t the Same as Collecting Ammonites’
Sir David Attenborough has long been a household name for his landmark nature documentaries for the BBC. Now, his Netflix series “Our Planet” is starting on April 5. In a DER SPIEGEL interview, he speaks of his passion for collecting, joking with the queen and how to approach male gorillas.
‘I’m Just Being Me’: British House Speaker Bercow on His Brexit Role
He has become legendary with his calls for “order! orderrr!” In an interview, John Bercow, the speaker of Britain’s House of Commons, discusses the never-ending Brexit drama and his good luck that people holding his position are no longer subjected to beheadings.
France’s Golden Boy Learns How to Fight: Macron Debates His Way Out of The Yellow-Vest Crisis
When faced with the anger of the yellow-vests movement, French President Emmanuel Macron was almost taken down by his own hubris. Now he has emerged from the crisis with a new fighting spirit, marking a turning point for him — and for the country.
Corrupt Egyptair Deal: Suspicions of Bribery Cast Shadow Over Airbus
Leaked internal documents from Airbus suggest corruption may have been involved in the sale of several aircraft to Egyptair in 2003. The issues raised by the documents threaten to overshadow the planned departure of CEO Thomas Enders.
From the Web to Real Life: The Growing Threat of Online-Bred Right-Wing Extremism
The gunman who killed 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand is being celebrated by right-wing extremists around the world, including in Germany. It is a sign of how the internet has forged a new kind of terrorist threat, and an increasingly emboldened network of radicals. By DER SPIEGEL Staff
The Caliphate’s Kids: Sick Children Bear the Brunt of Post-IS Chaos
The last pocket of Islamic State may have been dislodged over the weekend, but the extremist group has left behind hundreds of children. They are the group’s weakest and most innocent victims — and in urgent need of medical care.
Women’s Rights: Trial Casts Light on Hardline Approach in Saudi Arabia
Three Saudi women are currently on trial in Riyadh, charged with espionage and conspiracy. The truth is that the women merely advocated for women’s rights. They have reportedly been tortured in a case that has cast light on the kingdom’s new hardline approach.
Brexit Chaos: Theresa May’s Days Are Numbered. Now What?
Even if British Prime Minister Theresa May’s last attempt to get her much-maligned withdrawal agreement through parliament succeeds, she is unlikely to keep her job. But whoever comes next probably won’t manage to defuse the crisis.
Our Climate Catastrophe: The Kids Aren’t Nearly Angry Enough
The school children who have been protesting to stop climate change every Friday have understood a basic truth: They are being betrayed. By politicians. By business leaders. And by an entire generation of denialists.
Voluntourism’s Dark Side: The Scam of Fake Orphanages in Cambodia
Thousands of children in Cambodia live in orphanages even though their parents are still alive. Some of the institutions exist solely to make money from tourists. Now, efforts are being made to reunite the families, but that is easier said than done.
Call to Order: The British Parliament in the Age of Brexit
The Brexit spectacle has plunged Britain into a deep crisis and turned the country’s political leaders into laughing stocks. Justifiably? A closer look at the House of Commons reveals that it may be too early to pass judgment.
Brexit Forever: European Leaders Buy Time to Keep Bickering
This week’s compromise between London and Brussels to delay the UK’s exit from the European Union defused a potentially explosive situation. Now everyone can go back to pretending like they have things under control.
Hide-and-Seek: How British Football Clubs Secretly Signed Youth Talent
It appears that football club FC Chelsea secretly signed underage players. The development could also have direct consequences for FC Bayern Munich’s recruiting efforts in Germany.
‘Absolutely Controlled MP’: Documents Link AfD Parliamentarian To Moscow
Russian government emails show evidence of how Moscow is seeking to exploit the Alternative for Germany party in its propaganda war. The right-wing populists appear to be voluntary accomplices — and a member of the federal parliament is at the center of the scandal. By DER SPIEGEL Staff
EU’s Chief Brexit Negotiator: The Political Ambitions of Michel Barnier
One of the worst kept secrets in Brussels is that Michel Barnier’s political star is rising. The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator seems interested should higher office become available.
UK in Disarray : Amid Brexit Chaos, Theresa May’s Conservative Party Implodes
The Conservative Party was once seen as Europe’s best-oiled political machine. But Brexit and Theresa May have turned it into a smoldering wreck. Now, the party faces the dire prospect of EU elections.
Playing with Fire: Talk of Shifting Kosovo’s Borders Sparks Concern
Twenty years after the end of NATO’s intervention in the Balkans, the relationship between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo remains tense. Senior figures are talking about shifting Kosovar borders, setting a potentially dangerous precedent.
Beaten but Not Defeated: Islamic State Plans Next Move After Loss of ‘Caliphate’
In the desert between Iraq and Syria, mostly Kurdish forces have seized the last remaining pocket of the Islamic State’s once sprawling dominion. But while the terrorists may have capitulated for now, many have gone underground to plan the next deadly phase.
A Precarious Alliance: Patience Wears Thin with Germany’s NATO Spending
As NATO prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, the most successful military alliance in history finds itself in the throes of an existential crisis. The unfulfillled promises of some member countries — in particular Germany — to spend more on defense threaten to tear the block apart. By DER SPIEGEL Staff