Happy shooting thanks to Donald Trump
Ex-President Donald Trump will address the annual National Rifle Association (NRA) meeting in Houston, Texas today.
Despite the shooting spree at an elementary school in the same state three days earlier, the largest commercial for guns of all kinds is actually to take place.
While the NRA condemned the killing spree as a "horrific and evil crime," it also pointed out that it was "the act of a single, deranged criminal."
Unfortunately, even insane criminals in states like Texas have free access to all sorts of guns.
At the NRA annual meeting, the mentally disturbed individual offenders of tomorrow now have a large selection and should easily find what they are looking for.
In the exhibition hall, "the latest weapons and equipment from the most popular companies in the industry will be presented," advertised the NRA in advance.
And further, "Make plans now to join other Second Amendment patriots for a weekend of freedom for the whole family as we celebrate liberty, firearms and the Second Amendment."
As long as
Donald Trump and his fellow
Republicans set the tone, the gun madness will not change much.
Despite all the massacres, they
still see themselves as advocates for a wild west understanding of freedom
, according to which owning a gun is an expression of freedom and self-determination.
It is also true that many Republicans allow themselves to be impressed or paid for by the organized gun lobby and are simply corrupt.
Republican senators have been blocking all attempts that could at least curb gun abuse for years.
Only the citizens of the USA could change that.
At the ballot box.
If they really wanted it.
Debate on tougher US laws: Lord of the massacres
The Big Questions of Catholics
The big questions of the present are being negotiated in Stuttgart today, under the umbrella of the Catholic Church.
Recently, when the church was mainly concerned with its own moral abyss, that was less often the case.
At the Catholic Church Congress today, the climate activist Luisa Neubauer is discussing the way our capitalist economy works with Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the EU Commission: »Can it be a little less?« – that is the key question.
Since the free market has long since reached the limits of the earth, the only answer can actually be: it has to.
Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir will speak on the question »How do we save our forests?«, and Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze on the no less fundamental topic »Share coats.
Today!
Fair consumption of clothing«.
If the contributions are only half as substantial as the titles of the events promise, it could be a profitable church congress.
And then comes the chancellor.
His event is entitled "Germany's Politics in Uncertain Times".
The organizers write:
"It is part of the good tradition of Catholic Days that the German head of government takes a stand on current issues."
It has probably not gotten around to you that this chancellor is reluctant to comment on questions.
At least he rarely gives concrete answers.
Whether the federal government actually intends to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine as well would be a specific question that would also be of keen interest to the Ukrainians.
And if yes, when?
The few planned anti-aircraft tanks, which should be delivered sometime in July, but then possibly without ammunition, are not of much help in view of the acute Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
In uncertain times, the federal government seems to continue to give uncertain answers.
You can find more news and background information on the war in Ukraine here:
That happened overnight:
From the Ukrainian perspective, the EU is taking too much time with new sanctions.
Russian attacks could depopulate the Donbass.
And: Refugees show great interest in integration courses.
The overview.
How anti-ship missiles could decide Ukraine's naval battle:
Experts believe that twelve Harpoon anti-ship missiles could be used to break the Russian naval blockade.
Grain exports would be conceivable again.
The projectiles used to hit a holiday home settlement.
»The human species is and will remain unpredictable«:
The Anglicist Ulrich Horstmann declared in 2012 that the third world war did not happen thanks to the radiance of apocalyptic books and films.
Is that still valid?
And why did he long for the nuclear catastrophe in a polemic?
»Russia will always find buyers for its energy«:
maximum price, tariff or embargo?
EU adviser Daniel Gros considers the previous energy sanctions against Putin to be ineffective.
He is critical of Economics Minister Habeck's proposal for a price cap on oil.
System error in the hospital
What is worse for mothers and fathers than that a child gets cancer?
That they get cancer and there are not enough beds, doctors and nurses in the clinic.
That the best possible therapy is not guaranteed.
This is exactly what is often the case in Germany.
Around 2,200 children and young people in Germany are diagnosed with cancer every year.
The chances of recovery are good and they are getting better and better - thanks to new, gentler therapies and the fact that knowledge about the disease is growing every day.
But the financing of children's oncology is sewn on edge, as is the entire inpatient care in pediatrics.
Therapies have to be postponed because there is currently no bed available, there is a lack of money for research staff or in psychological care.
Without the many millions of euros that private support organizations collect year after year for the children's cancer wards, things would look even bleaker.
More than ten percent of the donations flow into standard care - they cover services that should not be a luxury, but standard.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach has promised to take the children's hospitals out of the flat-rate system.
Children are not small adults, taking care of them requires a lot more effort.
And that costs money that the flat rates do not allow for.
Will the minister do more for the youngest patients than his predecessors?
"That would be important," says my colleague Julia Koch, who vividly described the problem.
System errors in Germany's hospitals: how much should it cost to heal Luis?
Winner of the day...
…are
Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík
, two courageous resistance fighters from the Czechoslovak army in exile, who 80 years ago in Prague today assassinated SS leader Reinhard Heydrich, who died of his injuries shortly afterwards.
They had previously been trained in Britain and smuggled into their home country.
The operation, codenamed "Anthropoid," was the only successful attack on one of the leading Nazis.
Heydrich was deputy Reich Protector in the so-called Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
As head of the Gestapo, he was also instrumental in organizing the mass extermination of millions of European Jews.
The foreign ministers of Great Britain and the Czech Republic are meeting today in Prague at the site of the attack to appreciate the crime.
Perhaps courageous resistance fighters would help again these days.
The latest news from the night
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany accuses Scholz of weak leadership:
Andriy Melnyk likes to choose unusually clear words for a diplomat.
This also applies to his assessment of Olaf Scholz' performance in Davos: "Ukraine is being let down by Berlin."
Russia and China block stricter sanctions against North Korea:
After several missile tests by the North Korean regime, the USA wanted to increase the pressure on the country with a resolution.
However, Russia and China prevented the project from succeeding.
Alan White is dead:
he made music with John Lennon and George Harrison and drummed for the British progressive rock band Yes for 50 years.
Alan White has died at the age of 72.
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
Is a chancellor candidacy at 69 conceivable, Mr. Merz?
The good state election results for the Union inspire the party.
Here opposition leader Merz talks about his image and the question of why feminist foreign policy suddenly plays a role for him too.
These are the most popular employers in Germany:
Those who study economics and engineering would most like to work at Mercedes-Benz.
The annual study shows who else is in demand, who is no longer - and what starting salaries are paid.
Is the Depp vs. Heard trial the end of #MeToo?
The mud fight between Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shows how brutal the global public can be: a lot is unclear, but the woman is finished off.
How the television spectacle "Wünsch dir was" ended:
"Wünsch dir was" responded to the annoyance of busy Saturday evening shows with TV experiments, provocations, small scandals.
In 1972 the broadcasters got bored and pulled the plug.
I wish you a happy Friday despite everything.
Your Markus Feldenkirchen