Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies: Der Spiegel

Proxy War in Yemen: Saudi Arabia and Iran Vie for Regional Supremacy

A Saudi Arabia-led coalition continues to bombard Yemen in an effort to stop the advance of an Iran-backed Shiite militia there. The conflict is becoming a proxy war for regional supremacy. The risks to the House of Saud are great. By Dieter Bednarz, Christoph Reuter and Bernhard Zandmore... [ Comment ]

Share your thoughts: Be the first to comment on this text!

The Persian Paradox: Iran Is Much More Modern Than You Think

Under the Scope

Interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Abadi'The Liberation of Tikrit Is Very Encouraging'

In a SPIEGEL interview, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi discusses his disappointment over delayed American support in Baghdad's battle against the Islamic State and why it remains so difficult to prevail over the terrorist organization. more... [ Comment ]

Share your thoughts: Be the first to comment on this text!

The Persian ParadoxIran Is Much More Modern Than You Think

People in the West tend to have a monolithic view of Iran. But there's a lot more to the country than the mullah-led theocracy, and it often gets ignored. And national pride is alive and well. An Essay by Erich Follathmore... [ Comment ]

Share your thoughts: Be the first to comment on this text!

Tashkent's Shakespearean DramaScandal Shakes Uzbekistan's Ruling Family

Germany's closest ally in Central Asia is a brutal dictator. Islam Karimov has ruled Uzbekistan with an iron fist for a quarter-century. Now, Shakespearean plotting within his own family is raising questions about who will succeed the 77-year-old leader. By Erich Follath in Tashkent, Uzbekistan more... [ Comment ]

Share your thoughts: Be the first to comment on this text!

The People Pay, Corporations Cash InProblems Plague EU Medical Research Initiative

The EU spends billions in subsidies on pharmaceutical research, with funds going to the Innovative Medicines Initiative, an alliance of corporations and universities with the aim of developing new drugs. Its record has been disastrous. more... [ Comment ]

Yesterday at 06:28 AM from mark.rosenstein.1420: market should finance and benefit of research. Hundreds of thousands of so called "scientist... more...

Geopolitical TremorsAmerica, Nuclear Talks and the New Middle East

The US is rethinking its approach to the Middle East and has even found commonalities with erstwhile archenemy Iran. Meanwhile, relations with traditional American allies, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, are cooling. A nuclear deal could further the shift. more... [ Comment ]

Opinion: A Bad Deal with Iran Is Better than None

04/02/2015 from sheri.hardinger: The EU has caved.. at least obama has to still take it to congress before he can cave more...

SPIEGEL Interview with Slavoj Zizek'The Greatest Threat to Europe Is Its Inertia'

Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek is one of Europe's boldest intellectuals and also a self-avowed leftist. In a new work, he argues Europe shouldn't be overly tolerant towards Islamism and that the Continent needs a 'leading culture' of Enlightenment. Interview Conducted by Romain Leickmore... [ Comment ]

04/02/2015 from gainesms: Confronted with something new, he runs to the past (neoliberalism and Enlightenment). Give a... more...

Fortress of NationalismRussia Is Losing Its Political Morals

The murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov reveals that Russia has become morally unhinged. The country is transforming into a nationalist fortress and the powers that be are happy to ignore the potentially dangerous implications. An Essay by Christian Neef more...[ Comment ]

Yesterday at 03:58 AM from jane.rand.7: Good article. A little lengthy but facts are straight. And quite appalling. I don't think the West...more...

OpinionA Bad Deal with Iran Is Better than None

Iran cannot be a trusted partner with its support for terrorists, a dire human rights record and it's denial of Israel's right to exist. But demonizing the country is not a viable policy. It's time for the West to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran. By Omid Nouripour more... [ Comment ]

Yesterday at 04:30 AM from ken.mathews.jr: "Any nuclear deal, even if it is deemed a bad one, is a step forward towards this more... more...

SPIEGEL Interview with John Cleese'Satire Makes People Think'

In an interview, British comedian John Cleese talks about his time as a comedian with Monty Python, the permissability of Muslim satire -- it is -- his longtime fascination for Germany and its language and a third marriage he wishes never happened. Interview by Christoph Scheuermann and Barbara Supp more... [ Comment ]

Photo Gallery: A Life of Humor

04/02/2015 from ganpati23: While accepting that population sizes confers a major advantage to Anglophones, Cleese and Monty... more...

Descent to OblivionThe Death Wish of a Germanwings Co-Pilot

The flight was routine, but it ended in disaster. On Tuesday, a Germanwings co-pilot apparently intentionally flew Flight 4U9525 into the ground, killing 149 people and himself. It is unlikely we will even know why he did. By SPIEGEL Staff more... [ Comment ]