Today, we look at the political future of Boris Johnson , the impact of Hurricane Dorian on the Bahamas, Donald Trump's problematic Middle East policy . And with India's failed attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon.
Will the British get a new premier?
AFP
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Issue 37/2019
King Boris
Chaos on schedule? As Prime Minister Johnson gambled the future of the BritishDigital Edition | Printed issues | Apps | SUBSCRIPTION
What a drama: Ironically, Boris Johnson, the man who promised to ask in no case on October 31 in the EU for a postponement of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum-date, now comes perhaps the embarrassment of having to do just that. Already on Monday, the law enforced by Parliament should come into force, which virtually forbids him the no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
How can Johnson still save his face in this situation? There is always a way out, it is the resignation. According to the British media, this option is currently no longer excluded in Downing Street 10. Johnson himself said ambiguously that he would rather "die in a ditch" than ask for a moratorium on October 31. That fuels speculation on the island.
Should it actually come to the Johnson resignation, Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn or another opposition politician could lead a coalition government as a "caretaker" - until early elections. For Johnson, this scenario would certainly benefits: In the election campaign, he could try as a top candidate of the Tories his comeback. And: The Brexit delay would then have to apply for another in Brussels.
- Read all the background to the Brexit chaos in the new SPIEGEL cover story: How Gambling King Boris Forfeited the Future of the Land.
What will happen to the Bahamas now?
Scott Olson / Getty Images
It is one of the sad features of major natural disasters that their full extent usually only a few days later becomes visible. Then, when the helpers manage to penetrate into the destroyed areas. This is also the case in the Bahamas, where hurricane "Dorian" apparently claimed far more lives than previously known. Hundreds of people continue to be missing, with authorities expecting the death toll to increase significantly. So far, 43 dead were counted.
Meanwhile, according to US media reports, the US government is worried that China might use the Bahamas disaster to build its own influence in the region. The news portal "Axios" and the broadcaster NPR report that Washington expects China to provide massive aid to rebuild the islands. Beijing could use the help as a kind of "Trojan horse" and build an outpost - on the doorstep of the United States. Miami is only a 50 minute flight from the Bahamas.
- Controversial Hurricane Card: What "Sharpie-Gate" reveals about Donald Trump
Trump's Middle East policy crumbles
Carolyn Kaster / AP / dpa
Actually, US President Donald Trump wanted to do everything better in the Near and Middle East than his predecessors. As it stands, however, the opposite is true. Quite incidentally, Trump's Middle East peace envoy, Jason Greenblatt , announced his resignation these days. Apparently, the president's personal real estate lawyer from New York was not the right person to solve this complicated conflict. In any case, they are still waiting for the much-announced Trump peace plan in the region.
Even in the Iran conflict threatens new trouble. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) today wants to announce details of the third phase of the renunciation of the 2015 Vienna Agreement on nuclear energy. The agreement was unilaterally terminated by Trump, which is why Iran now wants to step down gradually. President Hassan Rohani announced that the AEOI should undertake, without restriction, everything necessary for the development of national nuclear technology and for research. It is likely that Iran will now promote the production of nuclear-grade uranium.
- Bypassing US sanctions: German diplomat Bock to head Iranian Trade Institute
Loser of the day ...
Robert Michael / zb / dpa
... ... is the space nation India . India wanted to make a moon landing as the fourth country after the USA, Russia and China. But the attempt has apparently failed during the night. At first, everything went smoothly, but just before the landing, the contact with the unmanned landing module "Vikram" broke off. This indicates that it could have come to a crash landing. The failed mission is also a setback for India's nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had probably hoped to score with a success among the electorate. Modi does not want to give up though. The space program should be continued, he announced immediately: "Our journey continues."
The compact news overview in the morning: current and opinionated. Every morning (weekdays) at 6 o'clock. Order directly here:
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I wish you a nice weekend!
Your Roland Nelles