1. The poison of fear
His supporters were convinced that the federal government thought it possible, now doctors from the Berlin Chartité have found evidence that the Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny was actually poisoned. As the clinic announced, the findings indicated "an intoxication by a substance from the active substance group of cholinesterase inhibitors", although the specific substance is not yet known.
Navalny supporters at demo: "We know who is to blame"
Photo: Igor Volkov / dpaNavalny is in a coma and has been treated in the Berlin clinic since the weekend (read more about the background here). One of his colleagues Lyubow Sobol told my colleague Christina Hebel:
"I think Vladimir Putin has decided to take action against Navalny sooner rather than later, not to wait any longer. I have no doubt that the Kremlin and Putin are behind the poisoning. Navalny is Putin's main opponent, without his knowledge, without Such an operation does not give his instructions. Putin makes all decisions concerning Navalny. "
But she also said, "I think we will never know the truth." In any case, there is still no evidence that the Kremlin was involved, but there are plausible suspicions.
Read the entire conversation with Navalny's colleague Sobol here
2. Trump Show, next part
Something starts that night in the US that I have the impression has been going on in an endless loop for years: the Trump Show . But of course there is a special quality when the Republicans hold their electoral party conference and officially nominate their president as a candidate. "The program is: Trump, Trump and Trump again," reports my colleague Roland Nelles from Washington. "He should be right at the center of the party congress and speak every evening at prime time."
How Trump tries to steal the election: You can find the SPIEGEL cover story here.
The US president's people promise to send "messages of encouragement" . With over 176,000 corona deaths in the USA and a dwindling economy, all they really have is the tried and tested means of spreading "alternative facts" . (Side note: co-inventor of this method, Kellyann Conway , retires from her job as Trump's adviser after her daughter accused her via Twitter of "ruining her life".)
The Trump Show will try to use reality TV to tell a comeback story: How Americans under Trump stand up and find jobs again. That a vaccine, a cure, a cure, something against Corona has already been found. The pandemic is ending, the ascent can only be achieved with me - that's what the spin will be. Joe Biden and his Democrats, but also the media, will again have to serve as villains and enemies of the people. Television for the unrealistic .
Sometimes I wonder when did she start that Trump show - and when did I start watching. Clicking through old videos, I land at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011. The President's name is Barack Obama, he had recently had his birth certificate published to dispel doubts that he was born outside the United States. Trump sits in the audience, he had stirred up these doubts. Obama scoffs at Trump : He could now turn to more important questions - whether, for example, the moon landing was faked. A picture of the White House is faded in, transformed into the kitschy Trump Hotel with pink lettering. Trump as US President was still a joke at the time. The show isn't over yet.
Read more about the planned party congress here: How Trump wants to be celebrated
3. Sick, recover, sick
In March, a 33-year-old man was hospitalized in Hong Kong with a sore throat, cough, fever and headache. His corona test is positive. He recovers quickly, with symptoms only lasting about three days.
The same man is flying to Spain in the summer. In mid-August he travels back to Hong Kong via Great Britain. On arrival, it can be tested at the airport. Around four and a half months after his first infection, he again received a positive result .
On all viruses: is Corona bringing us to our knees?
Photo: Bertrand Blay / iStockphoto / Getty ImagesAs I read this, I ask my colleague Katherine Rydlink on our health team how bad this news is. " So far there is a single case report from Hong Kong that confirms this," she reassures me. "Before that, there were a few known cases in which patients tested positive again after recovery, but it was assumed that the virus was dormant in them." The difference now: the researchers found a different genome sequence in the 33-year-old . Katehrine says: "A clear indication that he is infected again." However, the study has not yet been published, only text fragments can be found on Twitter. "And the WHO has announced that you have to look at it holistically and not overreact now."
Read more about the background here: First case of renewed infection with Sars-CoV-2 confirmed
What else is important today
Special police arrest two well-known members of the opposition in Belarus: the ruler Lukashenko is cracking down on the protests in the country. Now two prominent leaders of the democracy movement have been arrested by the special police.
Doctor prevails against radical opponents of abortion: According to a court, Kristina Hänel does not have to be compared to doctors in concentration camps because she carries out abortions. A radical anti-abortion opponent also has to pay the doctor 6,000 euros.
Little hope of plastic-free seas: Several million tons of plastic swim in the oceans. Environmentalists are trying to reduce the amount with the help of floating barriers. But that won't solve the problem, a study shows.
"New, a guarantor between the posts": Neymar disappointing, new gigantic. After Bayern's Champions League title, the international press vacillates between tears and frustration, recognition - and homage. The overview.
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL +
Does Scholz fail before it even starts? Olaf Scholz wants to run for the Bundestag in Potsdam. That irritates some local comrades.
Grandma’s times - now at TikTok: Light blue and white wooden houses, homemade bread and fluttering lace clothes: Young women stage pastoral country life on social media. Why?
"I would probably even have flown out of the concentration camp": Maxim Biller questions Germans, being German and one's own Jewish life in Germany. You can measure your success by the number of your enemies - there are many.
Which is not so important today
My Chair Lady
Photo: ddp / ddp / INTERTOPICS / PictureLuxStark's play: According to media reports, the actress Sophie Turner , 24, known as Sansa Stark, Queen of the North from the series "Game of Thrones", has furnished her home with the wooden throne on which she liked to sit as the mistress of Castle Winterfell. On Instagram, she published a photo of the furniture with the words: "Welcome home".
Typo of the day , now corrected: "After up to 500 people were allowed to gather in August"
Cartoon of the day: New strategy against the pandemic
And tonight?
Maybe hear Deep Purple again? After all, the new record "Whoosh!" Made it to number one on the German album charts. And: "Deep Purple is the last dinosaur from the Mesozoic Rock, 'Whoosh!' maybe a last sign of life, "says my colleague Arno Frank. His advice: "Listen to it with mildness. Better still listen to the 1973 live album 'Made In Japan'. It shows both Ian Gillan and Deep Purple at the peak of their work."
Gillian also revealed to Arno that his legendary scream in the chorus of "Child in Time" wasn't a scream at all: "I did it because I could. In an earlier band I discovered that I could sing as high as ours Singer. I used that on Deep Purple. " (Here you can read more about it.)
Ian Gillan
Photo: Ben WolfWith this in mind: Listen when it's at its best.
Sincerely
yours, Oliver Trenkamp
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