International

▣ Donald Trump Has Run Out of Options in Iran

Trump has started a war he can no longer end. None of the options for exiting the current morass are palatable. And with Iran now attacking the global economy, the United States is on the defensive.

▣ Ukrainians Soldiers Who Have Abandoned the Fight: All Quiet on the Eastern Front

When the Russians launched their attack, Taras, Maksym and Lew fought hard to repel the invaders. Now, they have had enough of killing and suffering - and have gone underground as deserters.

▣ U.S. Military Expert on Oil Tanker Convoys in the Strait of Hormuz: "Iran Must Only Succeed Once to Trigger a Catastrophe"

How can Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz be broken? Retired General S. Clinton Hinote has addressed precisely that question as the former Air Force chief strategist. His conclusion? Difficult.

▣ Indigenous Activist Nick Tilsen: "Trump Wants to Hear Nothing about the Genocide against Indigenous Nations"

The United States this year is celebrating its 250th anniversary, and President Donald Trump is turning 80. The site of the party may be a sacred site in the Black Hills - and Indigenous activist Nick Tilsen is in no mood to join in.

▣ Donald Trump's U.S. Abandons Role as Global Leader

America's once-cherished role as a force of stability and order has gone up in smoke in the Middle East. After just two weeks of war in Iran, it is clear that the world has changed for good.

▣ Insta, TikTok and Co.: Is Australia's Social Media Ban for Children Actually Working?

In December, Australia became the first country in the world to enact a social media ban for children under 16. Lawmakers around the world are interested in following suit. But is it actually working?

▣ "Reckless, Suicidal Race": The Deadly Threat Posed by Artificial Intelligence

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is just as dangerous as the invention of nuclear weapons. AI pioneers are warning that the technology must be brought under control while it's still possible.

▣ Portrait of a City after Four Years of War: The Courage of Kyiv

The attacks come at night. But once the sun comes up, daily life continues. After four years of war, the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv remains defiant. Where does the city's strength come from?

▣ U.S. Historian Robert Kagan: "We Are Watching a Country Fall Under Dictatorship Almost Without Resistance"

The Cold War? Child's play compared to what lies ahead, according to U.S. historian Robert Kagan. Trump, he says, is leading the world into the most dangerous era since 1945.

▣ Nord Stream: How Early Did the CIA Know about the Pipeline Attack?

In 2022, a Ukrainian commando blew up the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline. DER SPIEGEL has learned that the CIA may have spoken to the saboteurs during the planning stage.

▣ Gisèle Pelicot After the Rape Trial: "I Now Allow Myself to Be Happy Again"

The courage Gisèle Pelicot showed during the trial of her rapists made her a hero to women around the world. Here, she speaks about the difficult weeks in court and the source of her bravery.

▣ Ongoing Interactions with Sailing Vessels: The Mysterious Behavior of the Orcas of Gibraltar

For the past several years, orcas off the coast of southwestern Europe have been ramming boats and sailboat rudders for no apparent reason. Why?

▣ Veering to the Right in Silicon Valley: The Two Faces of Mark Zuckerberg

There have always been two sides to the Meta CEO. But since the beginning of Trump's second term, the nice side has taken a back seat. Ruthlessness is now the name of the game.

▣ Injections, Makeup, Stress: The New Religion of Beauty

The beauty boom sells the dream of individuality while making faces more alike than ever. Beyond the glow, gloss and injections lies a hard new currency: appearance as capital.

▣ Former U.S. Security Adviser John Bolton: "We Have Passed Peak Trump"

John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, warns Ukraine against making too many concessions in the peace negotiations. And says that Trump is being manipulated by Putin.

▣ Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz: An Alliance of the Illiberal Right with Tech?

former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is traveling the world as a businessman. And he is making sure to maintain his close ties to those with power. Might he be considering a return to politics?

▣ Fast Fashion Exploitation: How the Clothes-Hanger Wars Escalated in Italy

A double murder in Rome shook Italy's Chinese community. The trail led to Prato, the heart of the fast-fashion industry - where workers from Asia are exploited by ruthless companies.

▣ The Public Uprising: Bernhard Poerksen's Critique of DER SPIEGEL's Debate Culture

For the past year and more, media studies professor Bernhard Poerksen has been observing and critiquing DER SPIEGEL. In this final essay, he takes a look back at his work, responds to the hundreds of reader comments he has received and lays out the utopic vision of a "listening newsroom." A guest essay by Bernhard Poerksen