1.
Germany in red-green-yellow
"Now nobody believes us how nice it was here haha, haha." Probably no song has been quoted so often by journalists in the past few weeks as "You forgot the color film" from Angela Merkel's taps playlist, including by me .
As if we had all learned from format radio, which annoys you with the same hit over and over again.
It was the last time at this point, I promise.
Today the Merkel era finally ended.
The members of the Bundestag adopted the former Chancellor with long standing applause.
Merkel waved from the official gallery (here the video, here a text to say goodbye).
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taking leave
Photo:
Janine Schmitz / photothek.de / imago images / photothek
Normally you don't need color film during ongoing sessions in the Bundestag, nor are you allowed to take pictures with your smartphone - there is a strict ban on photography in the plenary hall.
But for today the President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas has decided on an exception.
“So that I don't have to make 736 calls to order, I allow all members of parliament to take photos, but please be discreet.” And: “Don't be too early to look forward to it.
That's just for today.
The strict rules will apply again from tomorrow. "My colleague Dirk Kurbjuweit notes:" Cheers like at a children's party, applause. "(You can find his report here.)
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Restart.
Photo:
Sean Gallup / Getty Images
The trigger, gnihi, for your decision: the election of the new chancellor.
Olaf Scholz becomes the ninth in the history of the Federal Republic.
Or the eighth, when as a chancellor you only count the men and not count the one female chancellor.
Or the tenth, if you count Walter Scheel, who was in office for a week after Willy Brandt's resignation.
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Photo:
via www.imago-images.de / imago images / Political-Moments
Scholz receives 395 votes, many congratulations and a little later the certificate of appointment from the Federal President. Then it goes back to parliament, take the oath (without the words "So help me God" - here the video). Shortly after the oath of office, some MPs approach Scholz again, also to congratulate, of course. But not only: Some want a cell phone photo with the new Federal Chancellor, for example Cem Özdemir, the - at this moment still - designated Minister of Agriculture. Some stretch out their arms and phones so that they can take a selfie with Scholz - will the word "Scholzie" catch on?
Then again to Bellevue Palace to see the Federal President.
The ministers receive their certificates of appointment, Habeck, Lindner, Baerbock, Wissing, Lauterbach, all the well-known names that are now being given new job titles.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier calls on the new government to take decisive action against the corona pandemic: “In an acute emergency, it is important not to listen to the loudest, but to ensure that the pandemic does not persist for another year and public life can become a matter of course again. «After his brief speech, the microphone remains on for a moment.
You can hear Steinmeier say: "And now: photo."
Read more about Scholz's first day as Chancellor here: The droning song of democracy
2.
Winter in gray
"It's nice that we have 82 million national coaches again and not 82 million virologists," said Leon Goretzka, back in the summer at the EM. Now the SPD has sent the national player to the next Federal Assembly as an elector, where he can vote for the future Federal President in February. And the 82 million national coaches have long since become 82 million virologists again.
Many of them probably had a queasy feeling in their stomachs when they first heard about the new virus variant, which is now called Omicron, about two weeks ago.
So many mutations?
Does the modified virus cancel out vaccination?
Is it any more contagious than Delta?
But some clung to the vague hope: we still don't know enough.
The real experts warned to calm down: give us a few days, we have to investigate.
Waiting for studies and results.
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Vaccination in Johannesburg
Photo:
Shiraaz Mohamed / dpa
“Now such results are available for the first time. And they partially confirm the fears, «reports my colleague Jörg Römer. Omikron could at least partially bypass the protection of the Biontech vaccine. Alex Sigal, head of research at a laboratory at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, reported on Twitter that the neutralization of the variant had decreased significantly compared to an earlier Covid-19 strain. "So people are more susceptible to breakthrough infections with the new mutation," writes Jörg. The Frankfurt virologist Sandra Ciesek also presented the first laboratory samples almost at the same time, which confirm a strong immune escape from Omikron. Here, too, there is a clear decrease in antibody protection against the mutant.
Ciesek had also examined various vaccines, in addition to the Biontech agent, the neutralizing effect after two doses of Moderna and after cross-vaccination with AstraZeneca and Biontech. Even people who have been vaccinated twice usually do not have enough antibodies to switch off the virus. Charité virologist Christian Drosten sees the data as another strong argument in favor of booster vaccinations. "Third dose is needed," he wrote on Twitter. "It doesn't look good for a double vaccine."
My colleague Julia Merlot followed up on the observation that the course of illnesses in South Africa has so far been more harmless than in Delta.
But even if this were to be confirmed, it would not look good: "If you assume that the variant is twice as contagious as Delta, but only leads to hospital cases half as often, then there would still be a lot more sick people than before." says Julia.
"The reason: the higher number of infections has an exponential effect on the number of cases, but the lower number of serious illnesses only linearly." Minister Lauterbach, please take over.
Read more about the vaccination against Omikron here: data from Germany and South Africa
And here is more about how contagious Omicron is: Problematic despite evidence of mild disease processes
3.
Law in the home office
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Crashes into the symbolic hell are not considered an accident at work, are they?
Photo:
Simona Pilolla / Westend61 / IMAGO
Should you collapse wearied by the dreary news, stay upright!
At least until the next time in the kitchen.
In terms of insurance, it could possibly prove to be cheaper if your fall occurs while you are on a "business trip inside your home".
The Federal Social Court ruled today: The accident protection also applies in the home office.
Read more here: Falling in the home office counts as an accident at work
(Would you like to have the "Situation in the evening" conveniently delivered to your inbox by email? Here you can order the daily briefing as a newsletter.)
What else is important today
Police prevent a march in front of Prime Minister Schwesig's private house:
Again opponents of the corona measures wanted to intimidate a politician at home - and marched to Manuela Schwesig's home.
The police are now examining the threat to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's government.
Audi manager Wortmann moves to the VW board of directors:
The restructuring of the board of management at Volkswagen is bigger than previously known.
According to SPIEGEL information, Audi sales director Hildegard Wortmann is to move into the top committee.
A new top manager for the VW brand has also been found.
Forest fires release record amounts of carbon dioxide:
Scientists have analyzed the global forest fires of 2021 - and bad news: the fires caused twice as much CO2 as Germany produces per year.
British Foreign Minister warns Putin of attack:
The Kremlin sees no breakthroughs on important issues after the video summit between Putin and Biden.
Great Britain's foreign minister is now making it clear that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a "mistake".
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL +
The party that should never have
happened
:
Christmas 2020 fell into the water everywhere due to the pandemic.
All over?
Maybe not in Downing Street.
There, a little Advent farce brings Boris Johnson into an explanation problem.
Once again.
Why green electricity is becoming scarce:
Germany is facing the greatest restructuring of modern times.
But where should all the sustainable energy come from?
What now has to change radically in politics and authorities - five examples.
How to Talk to Children About Death:
Understanding death is difficult even for adults.
How can you explain your finality to children and comfort them at the same time?
Here grief counselor Nadine von Kameke talks about her experiences.
The wind brought death:
the first intercontinental weapons weren't rockets - they were balloons made of paper by school children.
Japan let the »Fu-Go« float towards the USA.
Shortly before the end of the war in 1945, they killed a picnic group in Oregon.
Which is less important today
Price increase:
Günther Jauch
, 65, and RTL call for a "3 million euro week" for the beginning of January.
As the broadcaster announced, candidates can win three million euros for the first time in the quiz show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
Typo of the day
, now corrected: "In the energy world of the future, the charging infrastructure will play a decisive role; it is a prerequisite for reaching the green zero."
Cartoon of the day:
In anticipation
And tonight?
You could finally get started with Christmas gift planning.
A team led by my colleague Sebastian Hammelehle recommends the best non-fiction books and novels of the year.
Who has dominated the debates, who perfectly scoffs - and whose work should you read at a snail's pace?
You can find the overview here.
Have a nice evening.
Sincerely,
Oliver Trenkamp
Here you can order the "Lage am Abend" by email.
