Today we are concerned with the question of whether the courage of the demonstrators in Belarus is paying off - the final is imminent in Minsk. We also take care of Europe's inexorably rising Corona numbers and Trump's dirty election tricks.
The brave people of Minsk
The days of decision in Minsk are unbelievable scenes from Belarus : Thousands of people pour fearlessly onto the streets and squares of the cities; Women hug soldiers and hand them flowers. The workforce of the largest state-owned factories collectively go to work and demonstrate against the autocrat Alexander Lukashenko , who on television calls in vain to stay at home; even the Minsk Metro workforce is on strike. The strike as a means of political change was last used so effectively in Europe in 1980 in Poland - it is a big difference to the Maidan in Kiev six years ago. The EU foreign ministers have finally woken up - and havenew EU sanctions announced against the regime in Minsk ; it is high time she sent a diplomatic mission to Belarus.
Lukashenko's legitimacy is in ruins for all to see , his dictatorship is wavering, and there can hardly be any return to the status quo ante. The courage of the people who take to the streets is admirable. Change is in the air in Belarus, but it is uncertain whether it will really happen, whether the military and police will still bloodily suppress everything or even a Russian intervention will take place. Minsk is experiencing one of those revolutionary moments when anything seems possible - but which is also unpredictable. The regime has arrested more than 6,700 people at demonstrations so far - they are mistreated and humiliated in prison. But for the past two days, the regime's security forces have held back.
Our correspondent Christian Esch has been in Minsk since yesterday, he was in front of the parliament and on the streets of the city - and was impressed by how peaceful and cheerful the demonstrations were. He will research for us on site and report on SPIEGEL.de during the course of the day.
Wave of protests in Belarus: Thousands of women demonstrate against violence
The Europe-wide return of Corona
Mask wearer in front of the Eiffel Tower
Photo: Michel Euler / dpaWe want to avoid the vague term "second wave" here - but it cannot be denied: Corona infections are increasing massively in many countries and regions in Europe. For the whole of Spain (except the Canary Islands) is now a travel warning of the Foreign Office, a holiday destination applies Croatia reports a record number of new infections, also so far been relatively spared remained Greece recorded increasing numbers. Paris has recently become an "active corona zone" - in parts of the city a mask must be worn at all times in the open air.
The numbers are also rising again in Denmark , Austria , Switzerland and, more recently, Italy - and, as is well known, also in Germany , where 1,449 new infections were recently reported, as much as at the beginning of May. The summer feeling that began with an opening up Europe could end abruptly if the numbers continue like this - and of course the thought is obvious that it is not only the general summer vacation to blame, but also the spreading new carelessness ( Return of hugs in the circle of friends, farewell to the distance, return of events). Presumably, the RKI therefore explicitly warned yesterday: "Gatherings - especially indoors - should be avoided as far as possible and celebrations should be limited to the closest family and friends."
SPIEGEL title about the mask dispute in Germany: The Zünd material
Trump relies on snail mail and Kanye
Kanye visits Trump 2018 in the Oval Office
Photo: SEBASTIAN SMITH / AFPIn the run-up to the US election, dirty tricks are already being used . In various states, lawyers have now registered the presidential candidate Kanye West - the rapper, who once came out as a Trump fan, was represented in at least one case by lawyers who otherwise work for Donald Trump's re-election campaign. Does Trump want to establish the bipolar musician as a spoilsport in hopes of drawing black votes from Joe Biden? The thesis is supported by the fact that Trump's daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Trump recently met with Kanye West, as the New York Times reported. Coordination of the two candidates West and Trump would be illegal. Kusher explained that they had been friends for a long time and had just talked nicely.
The more serious story is the attack on the American post office that Trump is currently launching in public: The post office boss appointed by Trump recently announced a major personnel reorganization, then it became known that the post office had removed sorting machines in various distribution centers, which led to massive delays leads - and now it has become known that the Post has warned numerous states that it will probably not be able to deliver ballot papers in time. Trump has repeatedly asserted (without evidence) that the postal vote, which has been expanded due to the pandemic, will lead to massive fraud - but now it is he who apparently wants to prevent the votes of the postal voters from arriving on time.
US Postal Vote Concern: The mail has been delivered
Story of the day: How are the people in Beirut?
A broken picture window with a view over Beirut
Photo: Lorenzo Tugnoli / DER SPIEGELThe noise that SPIEGEL correspondent Christoph Reuter had in his ear the whole time while walking through his Beirut was the trickling, crunching and clinking of broken glass : the catastrophe, the explosion of 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate not only destroyed and devastated entire neighborhoods, she also broke almost all the window panes. In a report, Reuter and his colleague Thore Schröder visit the people of the city and explain the bewilderment, the despair, but also the anger. The text reads: "All the illusions that the Lebanese still had about their state are shattered like the picture windows of the high-rise buildings with a sea view. Hezbollah and the other rulers do not want to give way. And they have the weapons. On the other hand, it is growing Anger since the city awoke from shock. " Click here for the text - accompanied by impressive photos by Lorenzo Tugnoli.
Beirut after the disaster: In the ruins of a city
Winner of the day ...
THE MIRROR
... is Harald Schmidt . He has recorded around 500 video columns for SPIEGEL +, now he's quitting. We will miss the anarchic power of his appearances, and the readers too. My colleague Oliver Trenkamp pays tribute to him here - a big thank you goes to the master who always stops when it is most beautiful. And here is a best of his videos. We are curious to see when Schmidt will appear where next.
The latest news from the night
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I wish you a nice weekend.
Your Mathieu von Rohr
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