Today, it's about Brexit poker and the Queen's speech in London, about Donald Trump's totally failed Syria policy, about Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and her rivals in the Union. And a special train journey.
In the middle of Brexit-Chaos - Big performance for the Queen
Facundo Arriz / picture alliance / DPA
More in the SPIEGEL
Issue 42/2019
NEVER AGAIN?
The assassination of Halle and the everyday hatred of Jews in GermanyDigital Edition | Printed issues | Apps | SUBSCRIPTION
In Brexit poker between Britain and the EU, the week of the decision begins, once again, it must be said. How many is it? If your time is too good to keep track of the crazy back and forth, maybe you should not check any news for the rest of the week and just turn it on again next Saturday at 11am (Greenwich Time). Then comes the deadline that Parliament has set Prime Minister Boris Johnson to seek a Brexit deal with the EU. In other words, there must be some kind of decision by then.
Behind the scenes is hectic negotiations, it is again about the famous Irish "backstop". Johnson wants to confer with Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. On Thursday, the heads of state and government of the EU will meet for the summit.
In the midst of this confusion, they want to uphold an old venerable tradition on the island: Queen Elizabeth II will reopen the parliament today in a solemn ceremony and read the Prime Minister's policy statement. This is a huge spectacle even by British standards, with a golden carriage, scepter, crown, proud riders and flashing sabers. In London, they will say to themselves: A bit of imperial pomp must be allowed in these drab times, almost to relaxation.
- Brexit Scenarios for Boris Johnson: The Chancellor and the Player
"Trump has blood on his hands"
Leah Millis / REUTERS
This is how the chaos policy of Donald Trump goes: In northern Syria, the Turkish army invades . IS supporters use the confusion to escape from prison camps . The Kurds, formerly allied with the US and abandoned by Trump, have to fear for their lives. There are already cruel videos of first executions. 130,000 people are on the run. Out of sheer desperation, the Kurds are now joining forces with the Syrian dictator Assad and the Russians.
"Trump has blood on his hands because he left the Kurds alone," former US General and IS expert John Allen comments on the situation on US television, a scathing verdict for the US president.
Meanwhile, France, Germany and other leading European NATO countries are trying to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to put an end to the offensive. To this end, they announced that they would no longer approve deliveries of weapons that could be used in Syria. Today, EU foreign ministers will also be debating the topic. Sweden and France have discussed sanctions against Ankara. Trump has been talking for days about sanctions to stop Erdogan. But he has not done anything yet. The US president spent his weekend on the golf course.
Show the K-question candidates
Harald Tittel / DPA
The squad of potential contenders for the next Chancellor candidate of the Union parties has come to the weekend at the Germany Day of the Young Union a kind of showcases. Especially the darlings of the more conservative party offspring, Friedrich Merz and Jens Spahn , were celebrated. For party leader Annegret Kramp Karrenbauer there was only courtesy applause.
Also not nice for AKK: The majority of the offspring demanded a primary election on the next chancellor candidate, so that the delegates of the boss spoke as it were the traditional "first access right" on the candidacy. It does not have to mean that AKK has been eliminated from the race for the candidacy, but apparently she is not really in the race anymore.
- Kramp-Karrenbauer at the Junge Union: But on a cuddly course
Winners of the day ... ...
DPA
... are Norway's crown princess Mette-Marit and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon. At a time when stupidity seems to be on the rise worldwide, they promote education through reading. Today, the couple travel from Berlin to Cologne on board a "literature train", on Tuesday they travel to Frankfurt / Main for the book fair, where Norway is guest of honor this year. Mette-Marit wants to talk with students about reading and favorite books while traveling. Also included are Norwegian authors such as Jostein Gaarder ("Sofie's World"). Because you really want a happy and (punctual) journey.
The compact news overview in the morning: current and opinionated. Every morning (weekdays) at 6 o'clock. Order directly here:
The latest news from the night
- Kurds in Syria ask Assad for help: It is an act of desperation. But pressed by the Turks, they know no alternative
- Justin Trudeau appears in a bullet-proof vest: Earlier, there had been threats against Canada's premier. But he does not want to deviate from his course
- Right-wing populists win in Poland: The PIS remains in power. Her recipe for triumph: national and social
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
- Esoterics instead of science: the strange relationship of the Greens to homeopathy
- Organized crime: Is the use of V-people unconstitutional?
- US trade war against China: Trump's pawn sacrifice
- "Luhansk People's Republic": In Donbass, where the separatists rule
I wish you a good start into the week!
warmly
Your Roland Nelles