1.
Take a deep breath
Yes, the number of infections is falling.
Yes, the vaccination rate is increasing.
Yes, the
corona restrictions are
annoying and painful.
Now comes the but: completely abolishing the mask requirement, as demanded by the AfD and the FDP, is about as useful as canceling a minimally invasive operation and thus risking a later amputation.
Enlarge image
Not nice, but necessary
Photo: Jens Kalaene / dpa
Masks provide effective protection against infection
- and are at best uncomfortable.
They let the ears stick out further and the glasses fog up.
Unlike contact bans and curfews, they are a very mild tool in the fight against the pandemic.
(More about masks here.)
Numerous experts warn: If we stop not only with the rapid tests, but also with wearing a mask, there is a threat of a fourth wave.
The virus is still there, not enough people have been vaccinated yet, young children remain largely defenseless, and the new mutants are more infectious than the variant of the virus that circulated last summer.
At least in closed rooms, the mask requirement should continue to apply and where many people meet.
Outside it could fall, at least gradually.
Read more here: Experts and politicians warn of the end of the general mask requirement
2.
Your enemy's friend is a "systemic challenge"
China an "enemy" or an "adversary"?
No, NATO does not want to go that far, that was clear before the summit that began today in Brussels.
But NATO does not want to simply accept China's growing influence.
So all 30 member states have agreed to classify China's behavior as a "systemic challenge" in the final declaration, as reported by the Reuters news agency.
Specifically, it says: "China's proven ambitions and its assertive behavior represent systemic challenges for the rule-based international order and in areas that are relevant to the security of the alliance."
In any case, it sounds closer to "enemy" than to "friend", I would say.
Chancellor Merkel pleaded at the meeting to find the right balance between deterrence and dialogue - similar to what happened with Russia.
Read more here: NATO classifies China as a “systemic challenge”
3.
I don't want to be a penguin
Lonely polar bear on ice floe
- the motif has become one of the most widely used symbolic images for climate change, like dark figures in hooded sweaters in front of screens for the darknet or hacker attacks. One loses sight of the fact that not only the important hunting grounds for polar bears are melting away in the Arctic, but also that the home of many penguins in the
Antarctic
is changing as a result of climate change.
As always with the climate, a lot has to do with a lot: What happens to the penguins can affect the cuckoo in Germany and the koala in Australia. "The importance of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean for the global climate cycle has recently become increasingly clear to research," says my colleague Jörg Römer from our science department. That is why researchers are now demanding: It is time to finally better protect the region.
Why is the appeal being loud now? As of today, experts and researchers will be sitting together in Paris, shortly before the 60th anniversary of the
Antarctic Treaty
. At that time, twelve countries agreed to use the ice continent exclusively in a peaceful and scientific manner - a historic agreement from which a complex »Antarctic Treaty System« emerged. Now the question is how to proceed. "One can only wish that the diplomats take a step further and get their way to a protection zone - for example in the Weddell Sea," says Jörg. So that you don't have to google, a quick jump to Wikipedia: The Weddell Sea is the largest of the around 14 marginal seas of the Southern Ocean on the Antarctic continent.
Jörg's whole story can be found here: »There is great concern that the region is heading for a critical tipping point«
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What else is important today
Imprisoned opposition
activist
must attend press conference:
The Belarusian regime once again had the imprisoned journalist Roman Protassevich publicly demonstrated - this time at a press conference in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Great demand in pharmacies for digital vaccination certificates:
the pharmacies issued around 140,000 digital vaccination certificates on Monday morning.
Despite technical problems, the association speaks of a successful start.
Schick meets from almost 50 meters:
The Scots had disappeared from the big football stage for 23 years.
On their comeback they failed because of the outstanding Czech goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík - and a stroke of genius by Patrik Schick.
US Bishops Consider Denying Communion to Joe Biden:
Can Politicians Who Advocate Abortion or LGBTQ Rights Receive Communion?
The Catholic Church in the USA disputes this.
President Biden would also make a decision.
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL +
How a brazen forgery became an influential conspiracy myth: In
1905 a pamphlet was published in Russia that fantasized about a Jewish world conspiracy.
A pure fantasy product, also extremely confused.
Nevertheless, the "Protocols" fuel anti-Semitism to this day.
How did that happen?
Why it was wise that Spain's lead wolf had to stay at home:
Corona, quarantine, was there something?
Spain coach Luis Enrique doesn't want to hear about any more problems.
He relies on a new guard - against a lot of resistance, but probably rightly.
"Bitcoins are only good for two things: for speculating and for ransom payments":
The hype about crypto currencies is getting ludicrous.
But the world's top central banker, Agustín Carstens, has bad news for fans of replacement money.
Which is less important today
Reality without TV
:
Sarah Knappik
, 34, model, had a child - and that apparently about eight weeks ago, as she informed the "Bild" newspaper, two weeks earlier than planned and by caesarean section.
Mother and daughter are doing well.
Knappik was best known for her participation in “Germany's Next Top Model” in 2008, as well as the jungle camp three years later.
Most recently she was seen on "Promi Big Brother" and "Like me - I'm Famous".
"A normal birth would have been too dangerous for me because of its size," she said.
"Marly was 57 cm tall two weeks before the due date and weighed 4114 grams."
Typo of the day
, corrected in the meantime: "There are successes, which is why it is possible to relax in out-of-the-way areas."
Cartoon of the day:
Germany goes digital
And tonight?
If you don't care about soccer and you don't care about the weather and you have recovered from bingo watching during the shutdown, you could watch the new episodes
"Lupine" on Netflix
.
They have been available since the end of last week, which has led to spontaneous cheers in at least one home office in Hamburg.
Omar Sy plays the modern version of the gentleman crook Arsène Lupine in the series - the original is over a hundred years old, and almost every child in France knows it.
The first season with Omar Sy ended with a nasty cliffhanger, beware of spoilers: where is his son?
Was he really kidnapped by his opponent?
Photo: Emmanuel Guimier / Netflix
If he were British, his dream role would be that of James Bond, Sy said years ago.
Because he's French, be it Lupine: “He's playful, he's clever, he steals, he's surrounded by women.
He's also a character who slips into other roles.
He's the best for an actor. "
»Lupine« is definitely more exciting than most bonds.
I correct myself: Even if you are interested in football, you are actually drawn to the sun and the last night of the series was not long ago, you should watch the new "Lupine" episodes.
(Click here for the series on Netflix.)
Have a nice evening.
Sincerely
yours, Oliver Trenkamp
Here you can order the "Lage am Abend" by email.