Today we are talking about Russia's farewell to the Internet, the impeachment against Donald Trump, Angela Merkel's visit to India and a rare moment of happiness for the SPD.
The new Russian firewall
Zoltan math / EPA-EFE / REX
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Today Russia wants to disconnect from the worldwide Internet, at least in theory. So far, the Russian Internet has been connected to the rest of the world without the interposition of a "Great Firewall", as in China . This has benefited the Russian opposition, which was able to expose the corruption of high-profile Kremlin officials and politicians on YouTube videos - and used the Internet to organize mass protests.
This is to change a law that comes into force today. The Internet providers have to rebuild their servers so that the Russian telecommunications agency Roskomnadzor can control them directly. Already so far, the providers have blocked by official order thousands of pages, in the future, the state should be able to directly.
The unanswered question is whether a country that has been connected to the Internet from the beginning can be largely decoupled - the situation in Russia is different from that in China, where access to the Internet has always been severely limited. Taking away the Internet from the citizens is definitely more difficult than withholding them from the beginning. By contrast, there were massive protests in the spring. By the way, do you know what firewall in Russian means? "Firewall" - exactly, as a foreign word from the German.
- Parliamentary decision: how Russia wants to disconnect from the Internet
Impeachment is entering a new phase
It is only the third time in US history that it has come to this: The US House of Representatives yesterday decided to officially publicize the Impeachment Investigation of President Donald Trump from the Capitol's back rooms and secret rooms - a vote in which almost all Democrats voted in favor, and all Republicans against. This shows how enormously polarized this investigation is, and as long as the Republican front defends the president so consistently, the Democrats will have a hard time.
Today, the US Congress will only take a break for a week, until November 11, when the public hearing of witnesses will begin. Until then, however, the Democrats still want to try to hear crucial witnesses behind closed doors, in particular John Bolton, the fired security adviser Donald Trump.
- Trump's Foreign Policy and the Ukraine Affair: The Revenge of Diplomats
What Merkel does in India
STR / EPA EFE / REX
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets today on her trip to India with many people who are not named Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Friedrich Merz or Jens Spahn. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes them in the morning with military honors, later they visit together the cremation site of Mahathma Gandhi. Of course, many business representatives are also present.
For many, many years, India has been seen as a land of the future for western entrepreneurs, but it has only partially fulfilled their hopes for a long time, while China has long since moved away. In India, there are also many domestic and foreign policy issues that the Chancellor can not completely ignore: on the one hand, the Kashmir crisis, the authoritative crackdown by Delhi on its own population in the disputed region and the associated tensions with Pakistan. And there is the Prime Minister's nationalist agenda, which wants to rebuild India into a Hindu state and increasingly discriminate against the 200 million Muslims in the country.
Merkel's trip is certainly a nice change from the trouble at home, moreover, she still persistently silent. But there are problems enough.
- Cashmere crisis: "You can do what you want with us"
Story of the day
UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor / PA / DPA
John Bercow, Speaker of the British House of Commons, became as famous as no "Mr. Speaker" before him: for his inimitable "Ooooordeeeer" cries calling for order from parliamentarians and the Prime Minister and for his elaborate remarks. He sometimes seemed like a ringmaster, who himself wants to be the most conspicuous circus horse. But he also strengthened Parliament's role in the Brexit struggle - it was Bercov's merit that Boris Johnson failed to beat him like that.
It came to Brexit at night, unlike Johnson wanted, so far not. But Bercow had his last appearance as Speaker yesterday. He is ceded, probably to ensure that the current parliament still chooses his successor.
- SPIEGEL interview with John Bercow: "I'm a Marmite character you love - or hate"
Winner of the day ...
Andreas Arnold / DPA
... is Family Minister Franziska Giffey. She is allowed to keep her doctoral degree. In case of a loss of the academic degree, the Social Democrat would have given up her post. That it did not come to that, is also good news for the SPD. Thus, the crisis-ridden party does not lose another hope. The acquittal is too late for Giffey to compete for the party presidency. But that must not be a disadvantage for them, one of the few remaining talents of the party.
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
- Donald Trump moves from New York to Florida: This is mainly for tax reasons. In his native city, the pain of farewell is limited
- North Korea tests "super-sized" rocket launcher: According to the regime, the target of the war machine is the destruction of group targets by the enemy - with "superpower"
- Katie Hill expects: Because of a sex affair, the Democrat back - but before she held in the US Congress still a haunting speech
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
- Assange father in interview: "My son is decaying in prison"
- New DNA Test: What the animal smuggler betrays
- Column from Tel Aviv: One would have to put away the drying rack
- If a Syrian comes to Rotenburg (Wümme): What, you do not want to haggle?
I wish you a nice start to the day!
cordially
Your Mathieu von Rohr
