1.
Germany is arming, Russia is recruiting
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Soldiers of the Bundeswehr: The "special fund" is coming
Photo:
Philipp Schulze / dpa
The German army gets more money: Today the Bundesrat voted to change the Basic Law so that the Bundeswehr gets its own special fund.
Where "wealth" is a euphemism for rearmament loans: In future, the debt brake will not apply to the 100 billion with which the state wants to buy new combat aircraft, helicopters, ships, tanks, ammunition, night vision devices and radios.
The Russian army is looking for soldiers: Because Putin's troops in Ukraine are suffering high casualties, but the ruler shies away from general mobilization, the military is resorting to other means, as my colleague Christina lever, our correspondent in Moscow, reports.
The age limit for professional soldiers was raised from 40 to 65, and there is also more pay: At least 200,000 rubles a month, about 3,000 euros, await future professional soldiers, which previously only mercenary troops like the Wagner Group paid.
"For many, that's an incredible amount of money," says Christina.
"In some regions it is seven times the average salary." Putin also ordered that the families of the fighters be paid more than 12 million rubles, about 190,000 euros, in the event of their death.
In addition, able-bodied men apparently receive chat messages requesting them to enlist ("We're waiting for you.") and official military mail with a summons, according to a reservist.
"All over the country, from Kaliningrad in the west to far into the eastern Amur region, men of fighting age are being drafted," reports Christina.
At least two million Russians are part of the country's reserve, exact numbers are a state secret.
»The Russian army is trying to organize the supply of soldiers by all means.
It lures, threatens and even simulates a mobilization by sending masses of summonses to reservists, which some, out of ignorance and fear, misunderstand as a call-up order.« With an official mobilization, the war would become part of the everyday life of the Russians,
which the Kremlin wants to avoid at all costs.
That is why a “covert mobilization” is now taking place.
The most depressing quote comes from a reserve corporal: “The cannon fodder goes to the recruiting offices themselves.”
Read the full story here: Russia's methods of recruiting new soldiers - "Sign Here"
And here is more news and background information on the war in Ukraine:
Who should get German weapons in the future - and who shouldn't?
The Greens want to tighten the guidelines for arms exports - despite the war in Ukraine and the announced turning point.
Chancellery and FDP are skeptical.
Finally admit it!
Angela Merkel and Gerhard Schröder agree on one thing: They did nothing wrong in dealing with Vladimir Putin.
Why so unsure?
Britons sentenced to death were regular soldiers:
Two Britons were sentenced to death as "mercenaries" by pro-Russian separatists.
According to the Ukrainian side, however, they were soldiers, which means that a death sentence violates the Geneva Convention.
CFOs warn against bloc formation:
Germany's companies are preparing for far-reaching geopolitical changes.
They expect serious consequences for supply chains, production and strategy.
The auto industry in particular is suffering greatly.
Find all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine here: The News Update
2.
Investment, world announcement
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Hedge fund manager Ray Dalio: "By the time inflation hits, it's already too late"
Photo: Brad Trent / Redux / laif
The interview that my colleagues Michael Braecher and Henning Jauernig conducted with star investor Ray Dalio is also full of depressing quotes.
Its hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, founded in 1975, is now one of the largest in the world with more than $140 billion in assets under management.
According to Dalio, the United States is so divided that civil war is imminent: "I think it's likely that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans will accept defeat in the 2024 US presidential election," says the investor.
"Then the Supreme Court will have to make a decision that could be questioned by the states." Internationally, it also looks bleak: "In addition, the country is on the verge of war with China and Russia."
Like every journalist, Henning and Michael were pleased that their interviewee took a clear position.
"But we were surprised at how bleak Dalio portrayed the prospects for his American homeland," says Michael.
The video call with the investor became a tour de force through economic history: For his new book, Dalio dealt with the rise and fall of the Dutch kingdom, for example, and now he is predicting the economic decline of the USA.
»One can argue about Dalio's theses, but one thing is certain: he is not only an investment professional, but also a marketing expert«.
And in case you're wondering how the star investor keeps his inner calm despite the bleak prospects: »After the conversation, he told us that he meditates regularly.
And that since 1969!« says Michael.
Read the whole conversation here: He predicts dark times for the West and reveals how investors can still protect their wealth
3.
No handout from ring bearer
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Minister-President Schröder, Lord Mayor Harten at the presentation of the ring of honor on May 29, 1996 in Cuxhaven: »My basic attitude will not change«
Photo: Bernd Schlüsselburg
Freudian misreaders reading this report: Gerhard Schröder's Cuxhaven wedding ring has disappeared.
Whom did the former chancellor marry in Cuxhaven?
Oh, it's a ring of honor, once awarded for his contribution to port development.
Now the mayor is demanding the ring back because Schröder's position on the war in Ukraine and his job as head of the supervisory board of the Russian oil company Rosneft "are not compatible with the dignity of a ring of honor in the city".
As any Tolkien reader knows, such a Ring dispute can quickly escalate.
And as at times in Middle-earth, the whereabouts of the Cuxhaven gem became a mystery, reports my colleague Veit Medick.
In any case, it seems to be untraceable in the Schröder house.
The former chancellor brushed the mayor off: he was honored as prime minister at the time, which is why he recommended contacting the state chancellery in Hanover.
"There," Schröder wrote, "this award will certainly be archived." Unfortunately, nothing is known about the whereabouts of the ring.
"You can smile at the case, but it certainly touches on larger issues in the local debate culture," says Veit.
Dealing with Schröder offers all kinds of insights into how easily justified criticism can lead to overreactions.
"As reprehensible as the former chancellor's dealings may be, some attempts at punishment seem to be driven primarily by the desire to quickly join the good and morally right side."
In order to place the, gnihi, ring finger in the wound, however, it may soon no longer be necessary to have humans: Japanese scientists have developed a robotic finger that is covered with artificial skin.
Apparently it is made of human cells and can heal itself.
It is said that the researchers would try to cross the line between living flesh and machine.
The finger can even sweat - on the one hand impressive, on the other hand there is a greater risk that a ring will slip off.
Read the whole story about Schröder's denied honor here: Hello Gerd, where is the ring?
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What else is important today
Trump accuses committee of inquiry of “witch hunts”:
A committee of inquiry blames Donald Trump for the attack on the US Capitol in Washington.
But the ex-president reacted to the allegations according to a well-known pattern.
Investigations focus on tracks and vehicles:
One week after the train accident that killed five, investigators are still looking for the causes.
According to experts, incorrect action by those responsible during the train journey is considered rather unlikely.
CDU and Greens want to govern together:
In NRW there should be a black-green coalition with CDU Prime Minister Wüst at the top.
The Christian Democrats and the Greens have agreed on this.
Now the party congresses have to agree.
The Federal Council decides on the right to internet that is not particularly fast:
The Federal Council has approved an ordinance on the minimum internet service.
Some countries already consider the minimum values to be »no longer up-to-date«.
But the Federal Network Agency is trying to calm things down.
What we recommend at SPIEGEL+ today
The new ideology of China's Communist Party:
criticism of the tough zero-Covid policy is taboo in China.
In the future, too, citizens will have to reckon with harsh measures - but the price for this is enormous.
This is how the body could learn to defeat cancer:
A Biontech drug has significantly extended the life of seriously ill people with pancreatic cancer.
But why has this success only been achieved in every second patient?
Why 140 million dollars shouldn't be enough for one season:
Less money, more competition - that's how Formula 1 wanted to go in the future.
But teams like Ferrari or Red Bull are rebelling because of the inflation.
Will the cleverest budget puller win the World Cup?
Which is less important today
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Photo:
Jordan Strauss/AP
Ring exchange
:
Britney Spears
, 40, remarried.
According to consistent media reports, she said yes to fitness trainer
Sam Asghari
, 28, on Thursday evening in front of around 60 guests .
Just before the party, ex-husband Jason Alexander, 40, who was briefly married to the singer in 2004, caused a stir.
He is said to have tried to disrupt the ceremony.
However, the celebratory mood seemed to prevail, and a spokesman issued the PR quote: "I am absolutely thrilled that the day has come and that they are married."
Typo of the Day
, now corrected: Finally, Committee Chief Thompson asks Officer Edwards one last question: What was the moment of January 6th that stuck with you the most?
Cartoon of the day:
appeal for donations
And on the weekend?
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Grosz (Franziska Weisz, left) undercover with activists (Gina Haller, middle, and Jana Julia Roth): Tell me what music you listen to and I'll tell you where you stand.
Photo: NDR/O-Young Kwon
Maybe watch “Tatort” again on Sunday evening?
It's about Hamburg's autonomous scene, a television thriller in pogo mode.
"The use of music as a code of attitude works perfectly in this 'crime scene'," says my colleague Christian Buß.
»Punk is presented in all its conflicting, irreconcilable facets, which stand for the conflicting, irreconcilable facets of being left.« In flashbacks and dialogues, the filmmakers tell a coherent story about the radicalization of the undercover investigator;
»of a dissolution of boundaries between the St. Pauli riot and HSV philistinism on the outskirts«.
Hey!
Hey!
Let's go!
Have a nice weekend, cordially
Yours, Oliver Trenkamp
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